Articles

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

October 15, 2021

Are you experiencing pain as well as numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and fingers? Do your fingers or hands feel like they’re “falling asleep” while you type at a keyboard, grip a steering wheel, work out at the gym, or pick up groceries or even your child? There are several conditions of the head, neck, shoulder, elbow, and wrist that cause sensations of tingling, numbness, pain, and weakness with grip strength. More common conditions include carpal tunnel syndrome1, tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)2, compression of the nerves exiting the neck spine (cervical radiculopathy)3, and pinched nerve (impingement syndromes) of the shoulder. Less common injuries involve brachial...

Dead butt! (syndrome)

October 13, 2021

Yes, it’s a real thing! The phrase “dead butt” refers to a painful condition caused by inflammation in the tendons of the gluteus medius muscle, one of several major muscles composing the buttocks. This condition, known medically as gluteus medius tendinopathy1, is also called “dead butt syndrome.” What is dead butt syndrome? Do the muscles in your backside die? While the name may have a level of seriousness to it, our bodies are naturally very resilient; unless the muscle is cut off from its blood supply, it doesn’t die easily. However, gluteus medius syndrome can be painful, and pain experienced during this tendinopathy...

Understanding Pain: Why do we “pick the scab?”

October 13, 2021

Our chiropractors in Woodbury, MN, will help you get back to the activities you love through proper movement and strengthening exercises your spine needs! An excerpt from Back Mechanic by Stuart McGill PhD “Many back pain sufferers would experience a huge breakthrough in their recovery if they only realized that it was their flawed movement patterns that kept them pain-sensitive. Much like a scab forming on our skin, our backs are constantly trying to patch and heal themselves. We, however, by continuing to repeat harmful movement patterns in our daily lives cause re-injury. We are essentially “picking the scab.” It is...

It’s not all humerus: Shoulder pain

October 1, 2021

Although most shoulder problems are relatively short-lived, pain in the shoulder can indicate a more complex issue. To understand shoulder pain, we begin with a review of how the shoulder works and functions in the human body. What is the shoulder? The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint1,2 made by the connection of the humerus, or the arm bone, in a shallow socket known as the glenoid fossa. The glenoid fossa is part of another bone called the scapula, more commonly known as the shoulder blade. In the front of the shoulder lies the clavicle, also known as the collar bone. On one...

The 5 Best Strategies to Restart Your Exercise Program

September 18, 2021

For most people, exercise goals are simple: Feel strong enough to accomplish any normal daily activity, play some recreational sports at a decent level and not wake up not being able to walk. Recently, I was on a run in Woodbury, and I saw a young man running with a ‘Marathon Finisher’ t-shirt. He looked to be about 65-70 years old. I was running next to him for a few minutes and asked him which race he was training for next. He answered with “Nothing special, just my 100th birthday.” I could not believe he looked so young and moving...

Pulling your leg: When muscle strains are no joke!

July 1, 2021

Many muscle strains are minor and usually heal with rest.1,6 An example of this is feeling sore from lifting furniture. Lifting requires our muscles and lifting something too heavy can result in small muscle fiber tears. Typically, muscle fiber tears that occur from healthy exertion heal quickly, and the muscle remains intact and whole. However, muscle strains can also be significant and result in large tears, bruising, and even reduced movement or loss of function.1,2,3,6 Use that same bundle of rubber bands from earlier, cut several in half, or even break most of them by overstretching. Your pliable bundle cannot...

No longer the bee’s knees: Knee pain

June 15, 2021

Knee pain is a common issue that affects people of all ages. The knee is a hinge-joint providing our body with flexibility, support, and a wide range of motion for our legs.1 This weight-bearing joint bears significant stress as we perform our usual routines, and it serves a powerful role in gait (walking patterns) and locomotion (the ability to walk forward)....

Carpal Tunnel: Hands-On!

June 1, 2021

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can come on suddenly or gradually1,4, depending on the cause. Acute injuries can damage or tear ligaments and tendons, fracture bones, create inflammation, cause swelling, and compress or pinch the nerve directly. Repetitive injuries, such as working an assembly line, grasping a steering wheel to drive, or typing on a keyboard, can cause injury to the wrist tendons. This causes swelling and other mechanical problems in the wrist, including carpal tunnel syndrome....

Vitamin D: The Truth

May 30, 2021

Vitamin D is an essential fat soluble vitamin that is essential for bone and immune health. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated commonly with rickets, but recent research suggests that deficiency is prevalent in other disease states. These include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, falls among the elderly, overall mortality, cancer, multiple sclerosis, cognition, and chronic pain. Most citizens of Westernized countries are deficient in Vitamin D, making it a pandemic!...

Really…I’m Deficient

May 24, 2021

Vitamin deficiencies are prevalent, some even reaching epidemic status in the United States. Deficiencies that are common in developing countries are appearing en masse from much the same reasons: (1) Dietary consumption of nutrients are inadequate due to overconsumption of meat, processed, and convenience foods and (2) under consumption of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Many Americans underestimate the importance and impact of nutrient deficiencies on health. Below are five common nutrient deficiencies and how to correct them....