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VSI® | Spine Solutions

5 hours ago

The most important things actually happen off the court: especially how you prepare your body for the sport. Following these tips will help you prevent a back pain flare-up during your favorite weekend activity

💡Bonus Tip: Stretch your hips and hamstrings first! Tight hips and hamstrings can force the back to overcompensate when playing a racket sport like pickleball.

Learn more from Dr. Haines' pickleball news feature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpyZoq20nkU&t=11s

#pickleball #pickleballtips #spinesurgoen

Ever wonder what a spine surgeon would say about your pickleball form?

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VSI® | Spine Solutions

5 hours ago

Tempo training is our new favorite summer workout hack: you slow down each rep, focus on form, and let quality do the heavy lifting to protect your back.

To learn more, check out the Fit & Well feature with tempo training demos from VSI PT Steven: https://www.fitandwell.com/exercise/dumbbell-workouts/this-simple-strength-training-trick-builds-more-muscle-and-better-technique-heres-how-to-try-tempo-training-in-your-next-home-workout

Slow reps, big results 🔥

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VSI® | Spine Solutions

12 hours ago

Jason Arnett, athletic trainer at VSI Phsyical Therapy, shares how to work out with a disc herniation

Can you still work out with a herniated disc? The answer may be yes — but how you move matters!

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VSI® | Spine Solutions

1 weeks ago

Answering Common EMG Questions, part #2:

“My EMG is normal…so why am I still in pain?”

Can you still have nerve pain or symptoms if your EMG results are normal?

☝️It’s another common concern Dr. Mehta hears from patients after an EMG or nerve conduction study.

A test that shows no significant nerve damage does NOT mean your pain, numbness, or tingling isn’t real. A nerve can still be irritated—sometimes from something like a pinched nerve or bulging disc—without having significant nerve damage.

And that distinction is important. A normal EMG can actually be good news because it helps us better understand what may—and may not—be causing your symptoms.

Have an EMG or Nerve Conduction Study question you’d like me to answer next? Leave a comment and it just might be featured in part 3.

#EMG #NerveConductionStudy #NervePain #PinchedNerve #Numbness #Tingling #AskTheDoctor

Can you still have nerve pain or symptoms if your EMG results are ‘normal’? Dr. Yash Mehta explains.

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VSI® | Spine Solutions

1 weeks ago

Pickleball may seem like an easy sport to pick up and start playing, but many people find out the hard way: It's not always easy on the body!

In honor of National Pickleball Day in August 2026, VSI spine surgeon and recreational pickleball player Dr. Colin Haines joined FOX 5 DC Weekend Live to explain why pickleball injuries will creep up on you and what players can do to protect their backs and stay on the court.

From repetitive bending and twisting to playing without a proper warm-up, Dr. Haines breaks down some of the movements that can put added stress on the spine. He also shares practical injury-prevention tips players of all ages can use before and during a match.

In this interview, Dr. Haines discusses:
- Why pickleball can be more physically demanding than it looks
- Common pickleball injuries, including lower back pain and disc injuries
- His 5/5 warm-up rule for preparing your body to play
- Stretches for the back, hips, and hamstrings
- Why tight hips and hamstrings can make your back work harder
- How proper court shoes can help prevent injury
- How to choose the right pickleball paddle grip
- Why bending and twisting to pick up the ball can strain your spine
- When pain, numbness, or tingling should be evaluated by a specialist

As Dr. Haines explains, the key is to treat pickleball like a real sport. Warming up, using the right equipment, listening to your body, and addressing persistent pain early can help you keep playing the sport you love.

If back pain or an injury is keeping you off the court, the specialists at VSI offer comprehensive treatment options designed to identify the source of your pain and help you get back to the activities that matter most to you. Learn more about VSI: VSIspine.com

For more tips, follow Dr. Haines on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.colin_haines/
Learn more about how to keep pain out of your pickleball game: https://www.spinemd.com/resources/how-to-keep-pain-out-of-your-pickleball-game/

#Pickleball #PickleballInjuries #BackPain #SpineHealth #PickleballTips #InjuryPrevention #SportsMedicine

Pickleball Injuries: How to Protect Your Back | Spine Surgeon Dr. Colin Haines on FOX 5 DC

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VSI® | Spine Solutions

2 weeks ago

Does taking Gabapentin or Lyrica affect EMG results?

☝️It’s one of the most common questions Dr. Mehta gets before an EMG or nerve conduction study.

While these medications can help reduce nerve pain, they don’t hide the overall health of your nerves. If there’s nerve damage or a problem coming from your neck, low back, or elsewhere, an EMG is still designed to detect it.

Have a question you’d like me to answer next? Leave a comment and it just might be featured in part 2.

#EMG #nerveconductionstudy #lyrica #gabapentin #askthedoctor

Does taking Gabapentin or Lyrica affect EMG results? Listen to find out.

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VSI® | Spine Solutions

4 weeks ago

Bertolotti Syndrome nearly ended tennis player Dilhan's career. Then he traveled across the world to Dr. Colin Haines of VSI.

Once the UK's #1 ranked junior player, Dilhan developed severe lower back pain and nerve pain that left him unable to stand for more than five minutes. After nearly two years searching across three continents for answers, he found Dr. Haines at VSI and finally got a diagnosis: Bertolotti Syndrome, a spine condition that's frequently mistaken for other types of back pain and often missed in young athletes. Dr. Haines treated Dilhan with a Bertolotti's syndrome surgery, a Bertolotti resection combined with PRP injections, and walks through what that recovery looked like.

Nearly a year post-surgery during the timing of the Mubadala DC Open, Dilhan is training five days a week again. This conversation covers what Bertolotti Syndrome is, why athlete back pain is so often misdiagnosed, and what a real recovery from spine surgery looks like, from the first few minutes of walking to a full return to competitive tennis.

Dr. Haines and the team at VSI in Reston, VA treat complex and often overlooked spine conditions for patients throughout Northern Virginia, the DC metro area, and, in Dilhan's case, internationally.

If lower back pain or nerve pain has you searching for answers without a clear diagnosis, schedule a consultation with VSI: https://www.spinemd.com/contact-us/schedule-appointment/. You can also read more about Bertolotti's resection here: https://www.spinemd.com/treatment/bertolotti-resection/

Follow Dilhan's recovery on Instagram: @dilhanwasantha | TikTok @dilhanwasanthatennis
Follow Dr. Haines on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.colin_haines/
Follow VSI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vsi_spine/
➡️ VSIspine.com

#BertolottiSyndrome #spinesurgerysuccess #backpainrelief #VSISpine #tennisinjuryrecovery

Bertolotti Syndrome Surgery: A Tennis Player's Comeback | Fox5 News

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VSI® | Spine Solutions

4 weeks ago

Could a piece of extra bone in your lower spine be the real reason your back pain won't go away?

In this video, VSI spine surgeon Dr. Colin Haines breaks down a real patient case involving Bertolotti syndrome, a condition that's frequently missed by spine specialists.

Libbi, an active and fit patient, had dealt with low back pain for years. Using her actual X-rays, Dr. Haines shows how an extra piece of bone at the L5-S1 level was rubbing against the sacrum, creating a bone-on-bone Bertolotti joint. But her case didn't stop there because that level had essentially stiffened and fused itself, the levels above it were forced to move more than they should, leading to disc degeneration at L4-5 and a spondylolisthesis (slippage) at L3-4.

Listen to Libbi's Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilstDeszUos

Dr. Haines explains how this "domino effect" is common with Bertolotti syndrome, and why the the discs above and the SI joints below often become the real source of ongoing pain. For Libbi, treatment ultimately meant a multi-level spinal fusion, and she's now living pain-free. Dr. Haines also discusses resection, a less invasive alternative that can sometimes be used when Bertolotti syndrome is caught earlier, before the surrounding levels break down.

If you've been living with unexplained low back pain, or you've been told your case is complicated, this video shows why an accurate diagnosis — and catching problems early — makes all the difference.

Key Points
0:00 – What Is Bertolotti Syndrome?
0:38 – How the Extra Bertolotti Bone Causes Pain
1:01 – Bertolotti Patient Case Study and X-Ray Review
2:23 – What is Spondylolisthesis?
2:28 – The Domino Effect on Neighboring Spine Levels (L4-5 and SI Joint)
2:55 – Post Op X-Rays: Multi-Level Fusion
4:19 – Recovery after Spinal Fusion: Patient Testimony
4:43 – When to See a Bertolotti Expert

Key Takeaways:
✔ Bertolotti syndrome is often missed, even by spine specialists
✔ Untreated, it can cause breakdown at the levels above and below it
✔ Catching it early may mean a minimally invasive procedure instead of a fusion
✔ You don't have to live with this kind of pain — effective treatments exist

To learn more about Bertolotti syndrome and treatment options, visit https://www.spinemd.com/conditions/bertolottis-syndrome/
Learn more about Dr. Colin Haines here: https://www.spinemd.com/medical_team/dr-colin-haines/
Read about Libbi's journey to VSI: https://www.spinemd.com/resources/podcasts/why-bertolotti-syndrome-is-missed/

Common FAQs about Bertolotti Syndrome

What is Bertolotti syndrome?
Bertolotti syndrome is a condition where an extra or abnormal bone segment forms at the base of the spine (typically at L5-S1), causing that bone to rub against the sacrum and leading to lower back pain.

What are common symptoms of Bertolotti syndrome?

- Chronic low back pain, often on one side
- Pain that worsens with activity or twisting
- Pain that spreads to the hip or SI joint area
- Stiffness at the lower spine

What treatment options are available for Bertolotti syndrome?
Treatment options can include physical therapy, targeted injections, and, when needed, surgical options such as resection of the extra bone or spinal fusion for more advanced cases.

#BertolottiSyndrome #BackPainRelief #SpineSurgery #LowBackPain #SpineHealth #BertolottiResection

Why Does Your Back Pain Keep Coming Back? A Bertolotti Syndrome Case Study

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VSI® | Spine Solutions

4 weeks ago

VSI® Surgeons Perform World’s First Spine Surgery with Stealth AXiS™ Autopilot Robotic System

Drs. Christopher Good, Colin Haines, and Ehsan Jazini lead groundbreaking spine surgery, using Medtronic's FDA-cleared Stealth AXiS™ Autopilot robotic system.

This next-generation platform combines AI-powered surgical planning, navigation, real-time segmental tracking, and robotic guidance into a single system, helping surgeons execute complex procedures with greater precision and confidence.

In this behind-the-scenes look, hear directly from Dr. Christopher Good as he explains how this groundbreaking technology is shaping the future of spine surgery and helping patients get back to the lives they love.

To learn more about this advanced, minimally invasive spine surgery at VSI, visit https://www.spinemd.com/resources/blog/worlds-first-spine-surgery-with-stealth-axis-autopilot/

Inside the World’s First Stealth AXiS™ Autopilot Spine Surgery | Explained by Dr. Good

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