Managing Sciatica with Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy (PT) is one of the leading forms of treatment for sciatica. But, before we can discuss how PT relieves pressure on the sciatic nerve, we need to define what sciatica is and why it can occur.
What is Sciatica?
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve that supplies sensation to your lower body becomes pinched. The longest nerve in your body, your sciatic nerve runs from your lower…
A Patient’s Guide to Scoliosis Surgery
If you have severe scoliosis (>50 degrees), then your doctor may suggest surgery to fix your condition. This is especially true if you are an adult who has reached spinal maturity. As we age, degenerative changes in our spine become more common. Unfortunately, this also means that your scoliosis will only continue to worsen.
If your child has severe scoliosis, then your doctor will likely…
Pinpointing the Benefits of Acupuncture for Back Pain
A staple of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), acupuncture or “needling” has been used to treat back pain for over 2000 years.
Needless to say, 2000 years ago, our concept of biology was in its earliest stages. The ancients had yet to invent technologies, like microscopes, that would enable them to study diseases. But, they understood that something vital must exist beneath the surface. In…
Beat Tech Neck & Cervical Kyphosis
Tech Neck. The modern epidemic that is plaguing the world with cervical neck pain, shoulder discomfort, abnormal curvature, and chronic headaches. These days, we spend hours, upon hours, upon hours of our time on computers, tablets, and smartphones. And, while in the throes of the latest Facebook post, work email, or e-book, we crane our necks into an exaggerated, forward curve ... without even…
How Does Multiple Sclerosis Affect Spine Health?
An Autoimmune Disorder of Another Nature
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) occurs when—for inexplicable reasons—the body’s immune system attacks our Central Nervous System (CNS). Although traditionally thought of as an autoimmune disease, doctors are now rethinking this concept. But… why? Because autoimmune diseases usually have an identifiable, triggering antigen. In other words, we can typically discern…
Pain Management Techniques for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
An extremely common condition, lumbar spinal stenosis can occur naturally with the aging process. As we age, most of the structures in our body—and our spine in particular—undergo some form of degeneration. Our hair turns gray; our skin begins to wrinkle; and our metabolism tends to slow. And, as many of us have also experienced, the aging process wears away at our bones. Specifically, aging…
Adolescent & Pediatric Options for Scoliosis Bracing
Scoliosis Bracing (aka Orthotics) remains a valid and widely used option for the treatment of childhood and adolescent spinal deformity. Although doctors have used bracing as a scoliosis intervention for centuries, modern advances in brace design have changed the game. In fact, advances in orthotic materials have enabled doctors to slow or halt the progression of abnormal curvature.
However,…
Your Guide to Artificial Disc Replacement
Our intervertebral discs ensure the health of our spine. Without these discs, our vertebrae would lock into place like a puzzle, functioning like a stiff and rigid column. Furthermore, our vertebrae would rub together, bone-against-bone as we moved, turned, or bent at the waist. As a matter of fact, this would make movements like stooping or twisting impossible. Bone spurs would grow. Vertebrae…
Ultrasound Therapy for Strains & Sprains
The Fascinating Evolution of Ultrasound Technology
Ultrasound—also known as sonography—is a diagnostic and therapeutic technique that has been in use for almost a century. Fun fact: The original idea for sonography was inspired by the way in which bats navigate their world through echolocation. Simply put, bats emit high-pitched sound waves that bounce off the proximate world and return…
Atlantic Health System Announces New Scoliosis Center
The Advanced Spine Center of New Jersey would like to extend a warm welcome to a new partner in the world of spine health: The Scoliosis and Spinal Deformity Center at Atlantic Orthopedic Institute. With its December 2017 opening in Morristown, New Jersey, this innovative center is a state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical facility. This sophisticated clinic is fully equipped to diagnose and…