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Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Reaching a Diagnosis

At Bergen Physical Medicine, it doesn’t matter if you’re suffering from back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, or have recently been injured in a car accident, because we are here to provide you with relief whatever the cause. Once you schedule an appointment with one of our doctors, they will need to assess what is causing you strife. Each one does this by classifying your injury into one of three categories. These categories of chiropractic diagnosis include: 



  • Potentially serious: tumor, infection, fracture, major neurological problem, local open wound or burn, prolonged bleeding, artificial joint implant problems, pacemaker problems, joint infection

  • Nerve problem: when the nerve root in the low back is pinched or compressed, causing a radiculopathy (sciatica). Typical causes of nerve root pinching include a lumbar herniated disc, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis

  • Non-specific: mechanical back pain in the lumbar spine. This type of lower back pain is the most common presentation and includes pain for which there is no identifiable cause.


If you think you may benefit from chiropractic treatment, please give us a call. To schedule an appointment with Bergen Physical Medicine in Fairview, NJ, call our office at (201) 945-9993. More information about our practice and the services we provide may be found on our website, www.bergenphysicalmedicine.com

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Goals of Therapeutic Exercise

Therapeutic exercise is defined as a bodily movement prescribed to correct impairment, improve musculoskeletal function, or maintain a state of well-being. At Bergen Physical Medicine, if you suffer from shoulder pain, back pain, neck pain and hip pain, we guarantee to have an exercise method that will heal you in no time.


Therapeutic exercise seeks to accomplish the following goals: enable ambulation, release contracted muscles, tendons, and fascia, mobilize joints, improve circulation, improve respiratory capacity, improve coordination, reduce rigidity, improve balance and promote relaxation. In addition, therapeutic exercise helps improve muscle strength and exercise performance. No matter which types of exercise may be needed to remedy a patient’s specific condition, the final goal of rehabilitation is to achieve an optimal level of mobility by the end of the treatment procedure.


If you think that you can benefit from therapeutic exercise, give us a call. To schedule an appointment with Bergen Physical Medicine in Fairview, NJ, call our office at (201) 945-9993. More information about our practice and the services we provide may be found on our website, www.bergenphysicalmedicine.com

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Acute Pain Characteristics

We’ve all experienced different levels of pain. Acute pain, however, is a type of pain that typically lasts less than three to six months, or pain that is directly related to soft tissue damage, such as a sprained ankle or even a paper cut. Acute pain is normal and it warns you that you’ve been injured. It has the ability to start suddenly but usually doesn’t last long. If you are experiencing acute back in your back or your neck, you may just need a chiropractic adjustment from one of our doctors at Bergen Physical Medicine.  


The main characteristic to remember about acute pain is that it doesn’t last long. For example, if you burn yourself on the stove, the pain usually lasts up to a few days, if not a few hours. When the injury heals and you continue having pain beyond the time of expected recovery, that is when pain becomes chronic and that is what you want to avoid. Chronic pain can last for weeks, months, even years. This is why it’s important to let us know if your pain is lasting longer than expected.


If you are experiencing acute pain in your neck or back, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To schedule an appointment with Bergen Physical Medicine in Fairview, NJ, call our office at (201) 945-9993. More information about our practice and the services we provide may be found on our website, www.bergenphysicalmedicine.com

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease is very common as we age. Sometimes it causes pain, while other times there are no symptoms at all. So, what is it? Well, here at Bergen Physical Medicine in Fairview, NJ, we intend to explain it.


First, it will help to know more about the spinal structures that are involved. A spinal disc is a cushion that is between each of the individual vertebrae in the spine. Spinal discs absorb shock and help with spinal movement. They are rubbery, disc-shaped, and have a soft center. As we age, our discs can begin to degenerate. The outer layer can become tougher, less flexible, and can develop tiny cracks. This can cause herniated discs, bulging discs, osteoarthritis, and spinal stenosis.  A herniated disc is when some of that softer center part bulges out through a small tear in the tougher, rubbery outer layer. A bulging disc is when the tougher outer layer of the disc extends past where it should. Osteoarthritis is the breakdown of the cartilage between the vertebrae. Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal which holds the spinal cord. Each different condition can cause symptoms ranging from pain to numbness in a limb, to tingling, to nerve disruption. Symptoms can be mild or severe.


Chiropractic treatment for disc degeneration may include spinal adjustments, physical therapy, and spinal decompression among other forms of treatment deemed necessary by your chiropractor. Patients usually find quick relief from pain and other symptoms once their body is aligned.


To schedule an appointment with Bergen Physical Medicine in Fairview, NJ, call our office at (201) 945-9993. More information about our practice and the services we provide may be found on our website, www.bergenphysicalmedicine.com

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

The Three Collisions in a Car Accident

There are many different types of injuries that can occur during a car accident. Because some of them are not obvious or apparent, it is important to seek an evaluation from a chiropractor. Here at Bergen Physical Medicine in Fairview, NJ, we can perform an examination following an accident to be sure there are no hidden injuries that need treatment.


When the human body goes through trauma, it releases endorphins, our natural pain reliever. Because these endorphins can be present for months following an accident, it can be responsible for covering up injuries. A common injury to show up days, weeks, or even months later, is whiplash. Keep reading to learn more about how the body reacts during a crash.


Three Collisions


There are three collisions in a car accident. The first collision happens when the car hits the object that is stopping its motion; whether it is another car, a tree, a pole, etc.


The second collision happens inside of the vehicle. This happens when a passenger hits the steering wheel, their seatbelt, the windshield, etc.


The third (and less obvious) collision happens inside of a person’s body. When the body comes to a stop because it has hit the windshield, seatbelt, etc., the organs and structures inside of the body still move forward until they crash into something else in the body and stop. This could be the heart crashing into the ribcage, the brain crashing into the skull, or the spine jolting forward or backward in the body. Because these injuries may be unseen or hidden by endorphins, it is vital to be examined by a chiropractor as soon as possible following a car accident.


If you have recently been in a car accident, or suspect you are suffering injuries caused by an accident in the past, be sure to come see us. To schedule an appointment at Bergen Physical Medicine in Fairview, NJ, call us at (201) 945-9993. More information about our practice can be found on our website, www.bergenphysicalmedicine.com

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Benefits of Massage Therapy

Many types of massages offer benefits beyond simple relaxation. Throughout the years, massage therapy has been known to fight a large number of conditions. Some of the benefits of this therapy include relief from joint and muscle pain, increased blood circulation, as well as stress and depression reduction. With this type of therapy utilized at Bergen Physical Medicine, our licensed massage therapists can help bring your body to a healthier state.


There is a wide variety of massage therapy styles with a wide variety of pressures, movements, and techniques. These all involve pressing, rubbing, or manipulating muscles and other soft tissues with hands and fingers. Massage therapy is recommended for a number of conditions and illnesses. Some of the conditions it is recommended for include: arthritis, TMJ disorders, immune system issues, muscle spasms, insomnia, fibromyalgia and many others.


If you believe you will benefit from chiropractic massage therapy, wait no longer and give us a call today! 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, October 12, 2016

Reasons You May Need Custom Foot Orthotics

Custom-made foot orthotic devices may control pain if you have a specific problem, such as an unusual-shaped foot, or if your foot rolls toward the arch (pronation). At Bergen Physical Medicine, we provide our patients with custom foot orthotics because a healthy posture begins with proper alignment, and proper alignment begins in the feet.


Orthotic shoe devices are molded pieces of rubber, leather, metal, plastic, or other synthetic material that are inserted into a shoe. They balance the foot in a neutral position and cushion the foot from too much pounding. Orthotics will often help to realign the bones within the foot and ankle and therefore, take pressure off other parts of the body such as the back, neck, shoulders, and hips. These devices are really for anyone with an issue or discomfort related to walking or imbalances in the body that are known to cause related pain. Generally, the greatest benefit is that they can be worn on a daily basis.


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

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Goals of Acupuncture Treatment

You may have heard of people turning to acupuncture to quit smoking, or to assist in their weight loss journey, but it does much more than those two things. Acupuncture is part of a system of medicine called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  Because TCM uses different terminology and techniques people often question its validity but it is a system of medicine that has been honed over thousands of years and is very effective.  TCM can be used to treat headaches, bursitis, low back pain, asthma, Fibromyalgia, and myofascial pain to name a few more. Acupuncture is based on the premise that energy, called chi (say “chee”), flows through your body along pathways called meridians. Imbalance in the moment of chi results in poor health which is identified by the patient's symptoms.   


Acupuncture treatments often include massage, cupping, herbs and the placement of very thin needles into your skin at specific points on your body. This is done to influence the energy flow.  To begin the acupuncture process here at Bergen Physical Medicine, our doctor will perform the appropriate evaluation and determine you are a candidate for acupuncture. 


If you think you may benefit from acupuncture, 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, September 28, 2016

Benefits of Chiropractic Care

If you have stiff joints, a pain in your neck, arms, legs, or if you suffer from frequent headaches, then you are immediately a chiropractic candidate. However, if you want to improve your overall health and well-being, the chiropractic physicians at Bergen Physical Medicine, can assist you as well. Chiropractic Physicians such as ours use hands-on spinal adjustments and other treatments to restore proper alignment, increase the range of motion and facilitate healing of the body’s musculoskeletal structure, with an emphasis on the spine which houses your central nervous system, all without surgery or medication. The benefits from this type of treatment are endless.


Most people are unaware of all the benefits of keeping your spine and nervous system healthy. Chiropractors don’t just crack your neck and send you on your way. In fact, they do much more than that. In general, proper chiropractic treatment involves very little risk and the rewards can be significant. It may sound silly, but with regular chiropractic care, you can improve your mood, your quality of sleep, and your energy levels, all without hospitals or medicine.


If you think you may benefit from chiropractic care, 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.