spine Archive

Burners and Stingers

What is a burner or stinger? When the bundle of nerves (brachial plexus) that run from the back of your neck into your arm is stretched or pinched, you can get “burners” and “stingers”. How does it occur? A stinger is almost always seen in contact sports when the head and neck are forcibly moved or hit [...]
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Low Back Pain

Don’t underestimate it. Lumbar (lower back) pain affects 75-85% of the population in a lifetime. Most back pain episodes resolve spontaneously. By using cryotherapy (ice), anti-inflammatories, exercising lightly and avoiding the activity that caused the pain, can be beneficial. Unfortunately, chronic (long-term) back pain can be a significant problem for a smaller percentage of the population and [...]
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Neck Pain

We all have woken up with a “crick” in the neck. Fortunately, the pain resolves, especially if we stretch, use moist heat or ice, exercise gently, and use anti-inflammatory medication. But sometimes the “crick” does not resolve, leaving you to battle with muscle spasm and neck stiffness. Additionally the neck and upper back is often the area [...]
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Whiplash

Crash! One minute you’re slowing down, the next minute you’ve been rear-ended. Your head bounces forward and snaps back. Pain is not always experienced immediately. Often it takes a 24 hour period for the muscle spasm to increase and the pain to set in. You’re left with a stiff neck, pain and a headache. Initially, it is [...]
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Posture

Posture “Stand up straight! Keep your shoulders back!” Your mother was right. It is important to be conscious of your posture. Postural awareness prevents and alleviates back and neck pain, allows for optimal use of your muscles and reduces fatigue. And, don’t forget, good posture makes you look younger and slimmer. There is really no downside. Atlanta Sports [...]
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Spinal Traction

Spinal traction is used to “gap” the spinal joints, thereby reducing compressive forces on spinal structures. Think of spinal traction as the opposite of gravity. Spinal Traction can be applied by the therapist’s hands – manual traction– or by the use of a machine – mechanical traction. It can be applied to the neck – cervical [...]
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