Sports Chiropractic in Denver Colorado
Not only do chiropractors who practice sports chiropractic treat sports injuries, they initiate care that is preventative- care that prepares the athlete to achieve more and get injured les Read More
Sports Injuries
Therapeutic Laser Pain Relief
Therapeutic laser for pain relief and tissue healing has become a ‘go-to’ alternative treatment modality for chronic pain syndromes in our chiropractic clinic in Lakewood. In fact, it’s hard to imagine practicing without it. I’ve used it with great success for the treatment of acute injuries such as recently sprained ankles, as well as chronic conditions like low back disc herniations and carpal tunnel syndrome. As a chiropractor and complimentary and alternative practitioner, I’m always to willing to research and? explore new natural healing methods. Nothing is stopping medical doctors from doing the same but it’s peculiar how many just don’t. So, while most of mainstream medicine remains on the sidelines, there are some practitioners of sports medicine, who are highly motivated to find new ways to heal soft-tissue injuries by using such treatments as laser therapy. Here’s an interesting story I found that flew under the radar regarding sports injuries and laser therapy… In the week before the Super Bowl, Boston based registered nurse Ellen Spicuzza treated more than 10 Patriot players with laser therapy for soft tissue injuries. “A couple of days prior to the Super Bowl weekend, I treated Patriot wide receiver David Givens, who had a ‘locked-up’ hamstring,” she said. She applied laser therapy over?the “belly” of his hamstring muscle for about five minutes, she said. “The laser released it.” Spicuzza, an independent nurse/physical therapist in Boston, usually treats Patriot players’ injuries with medical massage. For the Super Bowl, she, for the first time, used... Read More
Top 5 Reasons to Try Laser Therapy for Pain Relief Before Cortisone Injections
Cortisone Injections vs. Laser Therapy Cortisone Injections (also know as Corticosteroid Injections or Cortisol Injections) can be effective at reducing pain associated with inflammation. Cortisone is an anti-inflammatory medication that mimics the effects of a naturally existing hormone in our bodies known as Cortisol. Cortisol is released by the body during times of emotional stress or injury. Most spine injections, back pain injections, and arthritis injections involve corticosteroids. Prolotherapy is a type of injection but does not use corticosteroids. TOP 5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE GETTING CORTISONE INJECTIONS #1: By Blocking the Inflammation You May Also Slow the Healing Blocking inflammation often provides significant, albeit temporary, pain relief. However, inflammation is the primary healing mechanism of the body. Inhibiting the inflammatory process with cortisone injections or anti-inflammatory medications (Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen, Aleve, etc.) can delay or even stop the healing process. Delayed healing of injured tissue usually leads to the over-accumulation of scar tissue and weakening of the muscles, ligaments and tendons. This can make the injured tissue more susceptible to injury in the future. Why Laser Therapy May Be an Great Alternative to Cortisone Injections… Did you like this? Share it:Tweet Read More
Colorado Sports Chiropractor
Being a Colorado sports chiropractor is the best. It’s a year-round affair. Colorado is perpetually regarded as one of the healthiest states in the union. One of the biggest reasons, I believe, is due to the high participatory level of outdoor activities and sports. (Which is why I chose to be a Colorado sports chiropractor and make Denver my home) A few years ago I was given the honor of being Colorado Sports Chiropractor of the Year by the Colorado Chiropractic Association and CEPA’s (The chiropractic association for the Care of Elite and Professional Athlete’s) National Chiropractor of the Year. (blush, blush) Because it’s just what I do, I understand it. But you may not even be aware that a Colorado sports chiropractor can play an important role in the management and treatment of not only your injuries but your ability to perform and excel in your sport- whether it’s on a team or for you individually. Here are some of the top athletes in the world explaining why they include chiropractic care in their sports medicine routine. Colorado sports chiropractor treatment has allowed me to have some amazing experiences with these athletes. In the video below, you’ll see my good friend and mentor Nick Athens taking care of the San Francisco 49ers. (This is where I worked before moving my sports injury clinic to Colorado.) Did you like this? Share it:Tweet Read More
Chiropractic Sports Injury Clinic- How Long Should You Ice?
DO NOT LEAVE ICE ON TOO LONG after an injury! Listen to this story… Researchers at the Dept. of Accident and Emergency Medicine at Southern General Hospital in Glasgow and Accident and Emergency Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock, Scotland, made news of a case of a P.E. teacher who used a bag of frozen potatoes to get rid of pain in her foot. She let the bag sit on her foot for at least 40 minutes and the pain actually went away… temporarily! The report says the foot became discolored and the pain returned- with a vengeance. The woman lost feeling in a few of her toes. She was diagnosed with frostbite, then underwent surgery to treat the permanent nerve damage in two of her toes. Maybe you’ve heard that after an acute injury, it’s best to ice the area for at least 20 minutes at a time. Maybe you did it for the same reasons as her. It’s possible you’ve also heard that icing reduces inflammation. It can. But do you know why? Don’t take my word for it, let’s investigate the “20 minutes concept.” I want you to do a little experiment. *Please don’t perform this experiment if you have a serious health disorder or aversion to cold- just read along. Get an ice pack and a watch. Put the ice pack on your arm or leg for 1 minute. (After 1 minute has elapsed, do away with the ice pack.) What color is the skin where the... Read More
Only Dead Fish Swim Downstream
I’m a big fan of milking the magic out of everyday life- not really following the ‘someday when things are just right’ philosophy. It’s a beautiful winter day here in Colorado. In reality, it’s the only winter day. I’ve had a number of my young adult patients inquire about being a chiropractor. Of all the rewarding aspects of my job, when this happens I feel like I’ve made a difference in someone’s life. Even if it’s just temporary and something important was etched in his mind. Over the years I’ve had a handful of patients who’ve had a great experience in the office then one thing leads to another and… Aha! A moment of inspiration occurs. “I want to be a chiropractor!” “I was helped and I want to live a life helping others.” The same thing happened to me. And many others in my profession for that matter. In fact, it seems ubiquitous. It’s truly humbling and heartwarming when ‘the moment of truth’ happens. When you become inspired to do something that feels like a calling rather than a job. To see a boy become a man, a girl become a woman… of character and purpose. Chiropractic is a tough profession in a lot of ways. You’re always the underdog because it’s not mainstream medicine. You’re usually perceived as not being a real doctor. When a parent of a child says to me, “Hey, you got my kid feeling better, naturally, when no one else could, that’s real... Read More