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.

 

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.

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.

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. 

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.