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Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Chiropractic Care for Sports Injuries

At Bergen Physical Medicine, we have seen many athletes turn to chiropractic after an injury.  Medical doctors typically treat a sports injury by alleviating symptoms with medication and recommending rest from activity.  Chiropractic has an approach to rehabilitating sports injuries that considers a patient’s entire body and its natural ability to heal itself.  This always results in less time ‘benched’ from activity and a quicker recovery.  Even professional athletes with very healthy bodies have relied too much on medication, and now professionals are seeking chiropractors to rehabilitate sports injuries.


You don’t need to be a professional athlete to rehabilitate a sports injury the right way.  A chiropractor will focus on repairing any damage to hard and soft tissue with chiropractic adjustments to the spine and extremities.  If you are in pain from an injury your chiropractor will of course advise the best pain relief strategy for you.  However, your only prescription will likely include physical therapy exercises for you to perform on your own.  Start rehabbing sports injuries with your chiropractor now for a lifetime of healthy activity!


To learn more about all the services we provide, visit www.bergenphysicalmedicine.com for more information. To schedule an appointment at Bergen Physical Medicine in Fairview, NJ, call 201-945-9993. 

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Your First Chiropractic Visit

Bergen Physical Medicine welcomes first-time chiropractic patients.  New chiropractic patients often arrive frustrated, having tried other treatment methods and not found relief from their pain or discomfort.  Chiropractic takes a systemic approach to care, meaning the whole body and the body’s ability to heal itself are considered in every case. This is why your initial consultation and assessment with a chiropractor is especially important.  We will work to understand your goals for treatment, and take a very detailed record of your current condition using a physical exam and sometimes x-rays.  From there we can form a treatment plan to target any issues and improve overall health.


What surprises most new patients is that chiropractic does not incorporate drugs as part of treatment.  Chiropractic focuses on treating the root cause of any pain, rather than masking symptoms with medication.  Whether you are in serious pain or looking to restore your body’s natural balance, we welcome you to experience chiropractic treatment and find the relief you’re looking for.


To learn more about all the services we provide, visit www.bergenphysicalmedicine.com for more information. To schedule an appointment at Bergen Physical Medicine in Fairview, NJ, call 201-945-9993. 

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Adjust Your Sitting Position for Less Back Pain

At Bergen Physical Medicine we treat patients and relieve pain, but patient self-care is just as important for their continued health. Simple changes to everyday habits can help you to live a pain-free life.  So many of us spend much of a typical day sitting, between working at computer desks, watching TV, and commuting to work. All of this sitting can cause back pain, making it the most common reason patients visit the chiropractor.  Making a few adjustments to how you sit can ease this stress, help alleviate back pain, and minimize future visits.


Believe it or not, you’ll put less stress on your back when you don’t sit up straight. Leaning back just enough so that your thighs are at a 135-degree angle with your torso is an optimal seated position for preventing back pain. Long periods of sitting are what really increase the risk of muscle pulls, strains, and cramps. So if you don’t have time to walk around and stretch at the office, try switching between sitting and standing, and look for opportunities to lean back a little!  


If you suffer from back pain, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about the services we provide at the office, visit www.bergenphysicalmedicine.com for more information. To schedule an appointment at Bergen Physical Medicine in Fairview, NJ, call 201-945-9993. 

Friday, June 2, 2017

Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Electric Muscles Stimulation is one of the most flexible therapies we provide at Bergen Physical Medicine. A popular way of alleviating pain and restoring muscle function, electric muscle stimulation, or EMS, is used to help rebuild atrophied muscles, reduce downtime between sporting events, and provide low-risk, non-addictive comfort to people suffering from pinched nerves.


The electric pulse is through wires from a machine to sticky pads on the targeted parts of a patient’s body. Electricity causes the muscles immediately beneath the skin to convulse, sending a surge of blood to bush out blockages which naturally accumulate as a result of cellular respiration. In this way, EMS functions similarly to sports massages. The removal of blockages reduces swelling and allows nutrients to reach the muscles more quickly.


EMS is also used to re-establish connections between the nerves and the spinal system. Convulsing the muscles causes electrical channels to be reopened between the central and peripheral nerves. This also allows signals responsible for producing endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, to reach the part of the body being treated with EMS.


Dr. Brian M. Wraith operates Bergen Physical Medicine at 323 Bergen Boulevard, Fairview, New Jersey, 07022. To schedule an appointment, call 201-945-9993 or visit BergenPhysicalMedicine.com and fill out a contact sheet.


 

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Pinched Nerves

Physical therapists and chiropractors of all sorts are familiar with pinched nerves, and Dr. Brian M. Wraith of Bergen Physical Medicine is no exception. People accustomed to going to a chiropractor for help with herniated discs are familiar with how leaking spinal fluid compresses nerves, resulting in pain, tingling, or loss of function in the area of the compression or in an area the nerve leads to. But it is possible for any nerve to become pinched.


Pinched nerves tend to occur most frequently in areas where nerves don’t have a lot of soft tissue to cushion them from bones or outside forces. Some particular risk factors are scar tissue and swelling.  Scar tissue takes up additional space inside the body, reducing the space for a nerve and swelling causes increased pressure inside the body, resulting in pressure on a nerve. 


Nerves have their own protective covering, and can usually heal in time. However, the proper treatment can speed up healing and provide pain relief. Dr. Wraith’s office offers chiropractic, physical therapy, massage therapy to help patients reduce the pressure on a pinched nerve and take precautions against further compression.


Dr. Brian M. Wraith operates Bergen Physical Medicine at 323 Bergen Boulevard, Fairview, New Jersey, 07022. To schedule an appointment, call 201-945-9993 or visit BergenPhysicalMedicine.com and fill out a contact sheet.

Friday, May 12, 2017

Physical Therapy for a Stronger Pelvis

The most common type of bulging disc occurs in the lumbar spine (low back). Bulging discs occur because a weakened or deteriorated disc's gel-like inside forces the outer wall of the disc to extend out of its normal position.  Bulging discs can produce both localized and radiating pain (pain that travels) and often lead to disc herniation which occurs when the wall of the disc fails, allowing the gel-like material to leave the core of the disc and partially leak out.  Though this condition has numerous causes, bulging discs can worsen if the pelvic floor is weak. One of the keys to keeping your pelvic floor strong is to strengthen it through physical exercises, which is why our doctors at Bergen Physical Medicine would like to demonstrate some go-to moves for this purpose.


Bridge – Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor, hip-width apart. Inhale, engage your pelvic floor, and lift your hips. Hold up for 10 seconds, lower your hips back down and release your pelvic floor. Repeat 10 times.


Wall Squat – Stand against a wall, feet hip-width apart. Inhale, engage your pelvic floor, and lower yourself into a squat as if you are sitting back in a chair. Hold for 10 seconds. Rise back up to standing and release your pelvic floor. Rest for 10 seconds and repeat 10 times.


Jumping Jacks – We don’t need to explain how to do this one, but be sure to engage your pelvic floor as you jump your leg apart and bring your arms overhead. Release your pelvic floor as you hop your legs back together. Repeat for 30 to 60 seconds.


If you experience pelvic pain, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about the services we provide at the office, visit www.bergenphysicalmedicine.com for more information. To schedule an appointment at Bergen Physical Medicine in Fairview, NJ, call 201-945-9993.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Take Care of You

At Bergen Physical Medicine, we believe that your top priority should always be yourself. Often-ignored but totally necessary, self-care is any action or behavior that helps us avoid triggering health problems and benefits us by improving our mental and physical health. Since self-care is a very individual thing, there’s no set prescription for how or when to do it. However, we do suggest utilizing some or all of these tips to treat you to a little rest and relaxation.



  • Indulge in a massage – set aside some time to experience the complete and total bliss of a massage. It soothes both the mind and muscles, improves sleep quality, and reduces stress.

  • Unplug – these days it seems like we’re all glued to our phones, laptops, or even both at the same time. Taking a break from social media, email, blogging, and so on can help us recharge and gives our brain the downtime it needs to work at an optimal level.

  • Get outside – Ditching the comfort of your home is a great way to improve mental and physical health.

  • Acupuncture - Acupuncture is a centuries old system of medicine designed to bring balance to your body's systems.  Don't worry; the needles don’t hurt.


To learn about the services we provide at the office, visit www.bergenphysicalmedicine.com for more information. To schedule an appointment at Bergen Physical Medicine in Fairview, NJ, call 201-945-9993. 

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Physical therapists and chiropractic physicians frequently treat patients with nerve-related symptoms.  Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common and many patients don't even realize that it is a nerve related condition or that they even have carpal tunnel syndrome. 


The carpal tunnel syndrome sufferer typically experiences at least one of the following symptoms at the hand or wrist and may experience all of them: pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness.  Some patients also report a shock-like pain radiating up the arm.


The median nerve which travels through the carpal tunnel at the wrist is actually an extension of a spinal nerve.  Pinching or irritation of the median nerve can cause symptoms to travel into the hand and up the arm. 


Carpal tunnel syndrome can be identified through a physical examination and through specific nerve tests which we perform in our office. Specific massage techniques, exercises, and stretching as well as acupuncture, therapeutic ultrasound, and electrical stimulation are among the treatments we offer which patients have found helped them to greatly reduce their symptoms and get their hands working again.


Dr. Brian M. Wraith operates Bergen Physical Medicine at 323 Bergen Boulevard, Fairview, New Jersey, 07022. To schedule an appointment, call 201-945-9993 or visit BergenPhysicalMedicine.com and fill out a contact sheet.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Treat Pain with Physical Therapy

If you have suffered an injury, or suffer from chronic pain, physical therapy can help you return to your prior level of function, and additionally, encourage activities and lifestyle changes to prevent further injuries from occurring. Physical therapy nearly always involves an exercise that is specifically designed to heal your condition. At Bergen Physical Medicine, we can develop an individualized physical therapy treatment plan to suit your needs.


Physical therapists such as ours are health care professionals who treat patients with conditions such as back pain, neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and sports injuries. Goals of this treatment method are to reduce or eliminate pain, improve mobility, and improve your balance to prevent yourself from falling. In a physical therapy session, our doctor will have you stretching and performing low-impact aerobics training, strengthening exercises and pain relief exercises. Each patient responds differently to therapy, however, if you stick with it, you will reap the benefits.  


If you wish to inquire about physical therapy or to see if you are a candidate, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at the office, visit www.bergenphysicalmedicine.com for more information. To schedule an appointment at Bergen Physical Medicine in Fairview, NJ, call 201-945-9993. 

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Whiplash Treatment

Whiplash is a generic term applied to injuries of the neck caused when the head moves violently on the neck.  In whiplash, the vertebral joints, spinal discs, ligaments, muscles and nerve roots may be injured. Whiplash is often the result of a car accident. The most common initial symptoms are pain or stiffness of the neck, which patients often expect to resolve without medical intervention. If left untreated the symptoms can progress to chronic pain, chronic loss of range of motion, headaches, altered posture and radiating pain.  An evaluation is necessary to appropriately diagnose and treat whiplash.  At Bergen Physical Medicine the physicians have been treating whiplash for over a decade and offer a variety of gentle non-surgical treatments for whiplash.


If you have recently been involved in an automobile accident, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about the services we provide at the office, visit www.bergenphysicalmedicine.com for more information. To schedule an appointment at Bergen Physical Medicine in Fairview, NJ, call 201-945-9993. 


 

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Chiropractic Adjustment Goals

A chiropractic adjustment is a specialized procedure performed by a chiropractic physician, it is a common therapeutic treatment for lower back pain. To complete the adjustment, one of the chiropractic physicians at Bergen Physical Medicine will locate areas of spinal misalignment or dysfunction (spinal subluxation) and apply a specific gentle force to correct it. In addition to relieving your back pain, people have reported that chiropractic adjustments benefit headaches, ear infections, neck pain, joint pain, and arthritis. 


At Bergen Physical Medicine, we pride ourselves on taking a natural, drugless approach to helping our patients reach their health goals. Essentially, the basic principle of chiropractic itself is that the body has the amazing ability to heal itself (under proper conditions). The objective of a chiropractic adjustment is to reduce the subluxation with the goals of increasing range of motion, reducing nerve irritability and improving function.


If you think you may benefit from a chiropractic adjustment, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at the office, visit www.bergenphysicalmedicine.com for more information. To schedule an appointment at Bergen Physical Medicine in Fairview, NJ, call 201-945-9993. 

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Chiropractic Treatment for Headaches

There are many different types of headaches with a multitude of symptoms.  The majority of headaches are the result dysfunction of the neck.  Thankfully, the physical therapists or chiropractic physicians at Bergen Physical Medicine can treat your symptoms through non-surgical techniques such as spinal adjustments, posture correction exercises, stretches, and massage.  They may also provide nutritional advice, advice on workplace set up and correct posture.


If you suffer from headaches we can help. To learn about the services we provide at the office, visit www.bergenphysicalmedicine.com for more information. To schedule an appointment at Bergen Physical Medicine in Fairview, NJ, call 201-945-9993.