Approaches to Subluxations

Chiropractic is a lot more than just pushing on someone’s back to make it feel better. At ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, we believe in putting the body in the optimal position to heal itself, using minimally invasive, non-addictive means. Part of that means using spinal adjustments to treat vertebral subluxation complexes, but those are more than just regular back pain. They’re misalignments in the spinal column that could become more severe if they’re not corrected.

 

The spinal column is made up of bones, called vertebrae, that are connected to each other by facet joints in back and spongy, shock-absorbing discs between their main bodies. The bundle of nerves that makes up the spinal cord runs through a canal made up of hollow spaces in the vertebrae behind their flat parts, and the nerves to the rest of our bodies branch out of the spinal cord through small holes in the vertebrae. A vertebral subluxation complex is what we call it when an injury causes a vertebra to move out of its usual position. This could compress the nerves exiting through it, causing them to experience pain, tingling, or numbness. It could also press down on blood vessels, prompt inflammation, and distort the shape of the spinal discs.

 

A subluxation may be painful, but the body can adjust to it. However, this would not be good for the spinal column’s overall integrity, and would likely further strain its supporting muscles and allow the affected area’s blood flow to remain restricted and its nerves to have difficulty relaying messages. A chiropractic adjustment is the most simple way of dealing with this. With a controlled, gentle amount of force, a chiropractor would return the vertebra to its optimal position. This would remove the impingement on the nerve and allow the body to heal fully. But it works better when the rest of the body hasn’t experienced wear from overuse due to compensating for a subluxation.

 

If you are experiencing back pain, visit Dr. Carmelino Caratozzolo at the ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355. We’ll help determine whether a vertebral subluxation complex is the cause and what your best course of treatment is.

Sunlight and Bone Strength

The summer’s long hours of sunlight are an opportunity to boost our spinal health. “How so?” you may ask. ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge is more than a chiropractic clinic; we take a holistic view of health that includes nutritional counseling. And for reasons we’ll explain in this post, getting exposure to sunlight will help our bodies to absorb the minerals they need to maintain strong bones.

 

One of the main components of bones is calcium. As living tissue, bones are constantly breaking down and rebuilding. But our bodies don’t produce calcium on their own; they have to absorb it from food. And when they aren’t getting enough calcium, the bones can’t regrow fast enough to keep pace with their natural resorption. This results in them becoming honeycombed, which is the condition known as osteoporosis. When vertebrae are honeycombed, they can easily fracture, leading to them slowly collapse and causing a person to stoop over.

 

Too much calcium is harmful, so our bodies’ absorption of it is regulated by Vitamin D. And in order to make Vitamin D, our skin needs to be exposed to direct sunlight. About fifteen minutes three times per week is enough for most people, although people who are older or who have darker skin may need a little more. Vitamin D and calcium are also commonly used to fortify foods such as dairy products, breakfast cereals, and orange juice. However, food may not be a sufficient source of Vitamin D and calcium, and getting sunlight in the summer months is also an opportunity for healthy exercise. With proper nutrition, osteoporosis doesn’t have to be inevitable, and peoples’ bones may remain strong throughout life.

 

We offer nutritional counseling as well as musculoskeletal pain relief. For a nutritional analysis, visit Dr. Carmelino Caratozzolo at the ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355.

Weightlifting Safety

Weightlifting is an excellent way to strengthen your musculoskeletal system. As a certified sports physician and chiropractor, ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge’s own Dr. Carmelino Caratozzolo has overseen many athletes and patients using weightlifting as a way to maintain their muscle tone, as well as the density of their bones. When done properly, weightlifting allows the muscles to support a person’s spine and joints and makes them more resilient to injury. But weightlifting needs to be done correctly for maximal benefit and to avoid accidents, and while we recommend that everybody considering it get a personal trainer, there are some general safety tips to keep in mind.

 

Anytime you work out, you should start with a warm-up of at least five minutes of aerobic exercise. These may include dynamic stretches, but not ones you do while holding a muscle still. You’ll also need to do at least five minutes of cooldown exercises at the end of the workout. It’s important to build strength throughout your body and to avoid overuse, so work each set of muscles twice a week, no more, and don’t work the same set two days in a row. You’ll also need to have someone else present when you lift heavy weights, although you’ll be working your way up to those gradually.

 

A fitness instructor will help you to determine your goals and the proper form for each lift, and sticking to that will keep your workouts efficient as well as safe. But for each lift, you need to avoid turning your head and keep your back as straight as possible. Inhale as you lower a weight, and exhale as you lift or press. Stop doing anything that hurts, and come to our office if you experience back or neck pain. Weightlifting is part of a healthy lifestyle, but like any form of exercise, comes with risks that can be mitigated by following gym and trainer rules.

 

For assistance with workout recoveries and relief from joint and back pain, visit Dr. Carmelino Caratozzolo at the ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355.

Electric Muscle Stimulation

When you’ve suffered an injury to your joints or muscles, you don’t necessarily need invasive procedures to recover. At ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, we take a holistic approach to wellness, providing complementary treatments that are meant to take advantage of the body’s innate potential for healing. Among the most versatile of those treatments is electric muscle stimulation, or EMS. Since a few of our treatments involve electricity and patients often benefit from multiple approaches, we wanted to explain a bit about why EMS works and what it’s for.

 

EMS forces muscles to rapidly contract. This causes them to produce natural painkillers called endorphins, and to push out waste-filled blood and let fresh blood flow in. Inflammation is one of the body’s natural responses to injury; it helps to restrict the flow of blood that potentially carries pathogens and makes cellular walls more permeable to antibodies. But since prolonged inflammation can lead to weakness and is painful, using EMS to reduce it will allow for faster recovery times and ease patient comfort.

 

Most people describe EMS as pleasant or tingly. The way it works is that a small electric pulse is generated in a vibrating machine and delivered into the body by wires attached to sticky pads. The pads are placed over the part of the back or limb that is sore. EMS is commonly used to treat people with subluxations in their backs or shoulder pain, but can also be used on people who have suffered strokes to help their muscles relearn how to respond to electric signals from the brain. Although it is not recommended for people with pacemakers or who are pregnant, it’s easy on the patient and often done along with other therapies.

 

Don’t wait any longer to get treatment for back or shoulder pain. If you’re interested in EMS, visit Dr. Carmelino Caratozzolo at the ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355.

How to Save Your Back While Driving

Your body is subjected to a lot of force in a moving car, especially behind the wheel as the driver. Without proper care and prevention, you may suffer from joint pain and long-term health issues. At ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, VA, Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo is passionate about preventative care, especially when it comes to the bad posture and body aches that come from driving. Here are a few tips and tricks to use the next time you’re on the road. 

 

Adjust Your Seat

One of the first steps to preventing bad posture while driving is adjusting your seat. Start by fixing your seat height, making sure you can see the road and dashboard. At the same time, your seat height should not strain your back or neck when bending down or turning towards the side. For shorter drivers, a cushion for more comfort and to reach the steering wheel is recommended. Keep your right foot relaxed on the pedals, with the heel touching the floor. Use the balls of your feet to press the accelerator or brake pedals. Unless using the clutch, the left foot should remain in the footrest. 

 

Adjust Your Steering Wheel

Your hands around the steering wheel should be in the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock positions. Bring the steering wheel towards you, taking care it doesn’t block any important information on your car’s dashboard. Your Woodbridge, VA chiropractor also recommends keeping your arms relaxed and elbows rested on the seat’s armrests.

 

Use the Mirror Trick

A simple technique that encourages good posture is the old mirror trick. In a sitting position at the driver’s seat, adjust your rear and side mirrors. This way you’re forced to sit up straight whenever you have to use them as you drive, resulting in terrific posture!

 

Take Breaks

If you’re driving a road trip, incorporate short stops along your route to stretch. A 15-minute break will do wonders to relax your muscles, increase blood flow, and reduce numbness in the lower limbs. 

 

To learn more about how to drive safely, contact Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center at 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355 today. 

 

 

Proper Workplace Posture

At ACT Wellness Center, we advise our patients to practice good posture at work. While back injuries aren’t always preventable, years of bad posture may have taken a toll on your back. Over time, putting unnecessary strain on your back adds up and can increase your back pain by up to 50%. You are doing a great disservice to your back and your body when you have poor posture.

When possible, we encourage our patients who work at a desk job to get up and stretch every half hour so your back stays loose and your muscles don’t tighten up. While at work remember to not slouch in your chair and to have your feet on the floor and your back pressed firmly against the chair. Your computer screen should also be in direct line with your eyesight so your neck strained from moving up and down all day.

Our doctors are specialized in spinal manipulation and can help treat your back pain. Remember, your health is the most important thing to us!

If you dealing with back pain it might be because of poor work habits. Our staff can help to provide you with pain relief and help you properly sit at work. Please contact ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, VA. You can set up an appointment with Dr. Carmelo F. Caratozzolo both online and over the phone. Schedule online at our website, www.actwellness.com, or call 703-491-9355. 

Chiropractic Treatments for Migraines

If you are suffering from migraines, our doctors at ACT Wellness Center encourages our patients to seek chiropractic care. Migraines can occur in any part of the head or in one location. Symptoms of migraines include blurred-vision, nausea, and light-headedness. While over the counter drugs are available to treat migraines, frequent migraines are a cause for concern.

Some possible causes of migraines are stress, diet, poor posture, anxiety, and your environment. Certain foods such as cheese and wine are known to trigger possible migraines and others can foods can be just as sensitive.

Migraines limit your ability to perform everyday activities and function normally. To treat your migraines it is important that we evaluate all possible causes, and begin treatment options. Studies have shown spinal manipulation to improve migraine headaches and provide long-term relief.

If you dealing with frequent headaches or migraines, we can help. Please contact ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, VA. You can set up an appointment with Dr. Carmelo F. Caratozzolo both online and over the phone. Schedule online at our website, www.actwellness.com, or call 703-491-9355. 

Buying Shoes for a Healthy Gait

A well-aligned skeletal system starts from the bottom up. Think about it: if there’s a misalignment in your foot or ankle bones, everything above them can be off-center enough to cause chronic soreness and fatigue. We perform extremity adjustments at the ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge and provide customized foot orthotics, allowing our patients to recover from imbalances in their knees, hips, and lower backs. But since we’re in the holiday shopping season, we thought we’d share some tips for buying shoes that will provide you with better support.

One of the most common mistakes people make when buying shoes is not getting both their feet measured. Often, people’s left and right feet are slightly different sizes, so they should know from the start whether they’ll need supportive orthotics for at least one shoe. They should also wear socks of a similar thickness to the ones they expect to wear with certain shoe types, and may want to go later in the day, when their feet have spread out a bit from bearing their weight.Shoe manufacturers are making more flip-flops, sandals, and dress shoes with arch support, but buyers still need to take care that both the bottom and side of their foot will be supported. Athletic shoes should also provide cushioning and stability to the ankle. 

If used daily, athletic shoes will probably be worn out after a few months, at which point they will need to be replaced. In general, shoes need to be replaced when their treads no longer have grip or when the shape of their cuff is distorted enough to stop providing ankle support. Buyers should remember to lace the shoe the way they intend to wear it, but if a shoe is uncomfortable after being worn in the store for ten minutes, it is unlikely to get any better.

If you still have doubts about how your gait is affecting your extremities, come in for an assessment at the ACT Wellness Center at 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Carmelino Caratozzolo, call 703-491-9355 or visit ACT Wellness.

 

 

Text Neck

Everything You Need to Know About Text Neck

As more and more teens are using social media, text neck is becoming an increasingly familiar term. Coined for the neck and back pain users gain while staring at a smartphone, the long-term effects of text neck syndrome on growth and development are unknown, but experts agree on the syndrome’s potentially detrimental effects on the spine. At ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, VA, Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo offers tips and tricks to alleviate this condition. Here is everything you need to know about text neck syndrome and how you and your child can practice good habits while using your cell phone. 

What Are the Effects of Text Neck?

Text neck has only been studied in adults so far, but experts believe the phenomenon is more prominent in kids and teens—a tech-savvy group that logs more hours in social media, texting, and screen time than any other generation. The effects of text neck in adults include neck and back pain as well as soreness. Common symptoms also include reduced mobility in the neck, shoulders, and upper back, muscle spasms, shoulder tightness, and pain. This excessive strain on the spine not only ruins good posture but leads to long-term health problems and invasive procedures like spine degeneration and surgery. 

Exercise

One of the best ways to prevent or at least limit the damaging effects of text neck syndrome is something simple: staying away from your phone! Your Woodbridge, VA chiropractor advises exercising regularly, going outside, and moving around to prevent the neck and back pain that comes from staring at technological devices for too long. In a world where many are turning to their devices for entertainment, breaking this habit and being active together will serve as an investment for your family’s overall health and wellness.

Take Breaks

With everything online today, sometimes it may be inevitable to use a device for long periods. Generally, try to avoid being hunched over your smartphone for multiple hours, but if this is the case, take frequent breaks so your body doesn’t reap the negative effects of text neck. 

Maintain a Neutral Position

While you use your phone, it’s important to stay in a neutral position, which is refraining from a hunched back or moving your face forward towards the screen. Keep your device at eye level instead of bending your neck towards your screen to also be safe during cell phone use.

Stretch

Alongside breaks, remember to stretch. Take a few minutes to arch your back and neck to relieve any tension and sore muscles before going back to your phone. Arch your back and neck to relieve sore muscles and tensions.

To learn more, contact Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center at 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355 today. 

Tension Headaches

Tension headaches (TH) affect about 1-3 percent of the world’s adult population, according to the World Health Organization. One of the most common headaches disorders, tension headaches are described as tightness or pressure around the neck and head. At ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, VA, Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo treats tension headaches with skilled expertise and a variety of therapies.

Symptoms of Tension Headaches

Dull aching pain in the head

Sensations of a tight band around the neck and head

Pressure around the neck and head

Tenderness of scalp, shoulders, and neck

Causes

It’s unknown what causes tension headaches. However, some scientific theories allude to stress, high levels of emotion, or muscle contractions in the face, shoulders, and neck as a cause for tension headaches. 

Treatment

Treating a tension headache involves different types of treatment such as medication, stress management, and physiotherapy. Located in Woodbridge, VA, Dr. Caratozzolo uses electric muscle stimulation (EMS) and massage therapy to treat patients with tension headaches. In a typical EMS therapy session, your trusted chiropractor will deliver a series of low-energy pulses into the affected area of the body. This non-invasive and painless procedure aims to target the trigger points of the muscle area and reduce swelling. 

If you’re looking to get a massage for your tension headache, Dr. Caratozzolo suggests a deep tissue massage or a relaxation massage that relieves stress and tension in the muscle and body. Contact our office today to learn more about the different types of massage to treat tension headaches!

To learn more, contact Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center at 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355 today.

How to Keep Your Spine Healthy

Health is wealth, as the popular saying goes. That’s why taking care of your body including your spine is important because it allows you to live longer and keeps dangerous diseases away. At ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, VA, Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo is passionate about helping patients achieve healthy spines, the key to lifelong wellness. Here are three tips to keep your spine healthy.

Exercise and Diet

Eating healthy and staying fit should be a no-brainer tip for better spinal health. If you want to take the extra step for spinal health, Dr. Caratozzolo will work with you to create a diet and exercise plan that fits your preferences and life. Good habits like exercise and healthy eating set you up for a strong and robust spine!

Correct Posture

Bad posture equals a host of issues for your spine. Slouched and hunched stances not only strain your spine but also cause back and neck pain. 

One of the best things you can do for your body right now is to correct your posture. If you’re sitting at a desk, keep your feet firmly planted on the ground. Relax shoulders and position your knees at the same height as your hips. Feel free to use cushions or pillows to support your lower back.

If you’re standing, let your arms hang naturally on their sides. Stand up tall and straight, with your shoulders back and most of your weight on the balls of your feet. For long periods of standing, your Woodbridge, VA chiropractor recommends shifting your weight on each foot.

Spinal Adjustments

Spinal adjustments are the holy grail of chiropractic care. This treatment focuses on adjusting spinal misalignment or subluxation. Your spine misaligns because of many factors including injury and age. Dr. Caratozzolo uses gentle manipulations to revert your spine to its original position. These adjustments to your spine not only relieve pain when it comes to injury or chronic conditions but also serve as a preventative treatment.  Since your spine is connected to your entire body, adjustments are beneficial for reducing and preventing anxiety, stress, sleep, and mobility problems. Spinal adjustments also strengthen natural immunity and prevent injury risks. 

To learn more, contact Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center at 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355 today.

Chiropractic Care for Bicyclists

According to People For Bikes, about 47.88 million Americans participated in bicycle riding in 2018. Cycling, a popular sport, and leisure activity is only growing with thousands of riders today. At ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, VA, many of Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo’s patients are avid bicyclists. Here are five ways bicyclists benefit from chiropractic care.

Correct Posture

A biker’s position places more pressure on your neck and back. Your trusted Woodbridge, VA chiropractor evaluates your spine for misalignment and damage. Through a variety of spinal manipulations, we will correct your posture and provide different tips and tricks to maintain good spinal health the next time you get on a bicycle.

Relieve Joint Pain
Cycling places a strain on your joints, especially around the hip and knee areas. Using treatments like exercise and massage therapies, we loosen stiff muscles and strengthen your joints. 

Treat Injuries
Like any sport, biking has its fair share of accidents. At ACT Wellness Center, Dr. Caratozzolo is skilled in treating common bike injuries. This includes impact injuries, tendonitis, head and spine trauma, ruptured discs, and much more. 

Manage Shoulder & Neck Pain

One of the most common ailments bikers face is shoulder and neck pain. Hunching over your handlebars while trekking over long trails increases the tension on your spine. At ACT Wellness Center, we recommend spinal manipulations, acupuncture, or massage depending on the level of injury. 

Preventative Care

Even if you don’t suffer from injuries or biking-induced pain, we strongly encourage riders to visit our  Woodbridge, VA office today. We believe prevention is the best medicine for overall health. Our care improves mobility, flexibility, and strength, so you can enjoy bicycling free of pain and illnesses!

To learn more, contact Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center at 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355 today. 

Immune System

With the coronavirus pandemic spanning the entire globe, building your immune system is more important now than ever. At ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, VA, Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo treats weakened immune systems without drugs or surgery, promoting wellness and overall health for our patients today.

Subluxation

Spinal misalignment or subluxation refers to when your spine or another vertebrae is misaligned or moved from its original position. This misalignment can impair the brain’s communication with the body’s neural pathways. Because everything is connected in the body, including the nervous system, the endocrine system, and the immune system, a subluxation can lower your immunity. Your Woodbridge, VA chiropractor will adjust your spine using a variety of spinal manipulations designed to relieve the pressure of a misaligned spine. 

Diet

At ACT Wellness Center, we aim to provide a holistic treatment plan that leaves our patients feeling better than ever before. This includes a diet plan. A poor diet with unhealthy foods wreaks havoc on your immune system and leaves a person vulnerable to multiple health problems and illnesses. Dr. Caratozzolo will work with you to develop a diet plan that perfectly fits your routine and lifestyle.

Sleep

Lack of sleep is another factor that impacts your immunity. To promote healthy sleep practices, we employ relaxation massages. Usually, sleeping trouble happens when a person is unable to relax and this massage does just the trick to wind down and sleep better.

To learn more, contact Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center at 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355 today. 

4 Tips for Computer Users

Spending long hours in front of the screen? The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we work, logging into meetings from Zoom instead of the office due to stay-at-home orders. But spending all day on the computer has detrimental effects on your spine health. That’s why Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo of ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, VA provides expert care and tips for patients who use the computer regularly for their work-related tasks. Here are four tips for computer users.

Proper Posture

Staring at your computer places immense strain on your neck and back. Don’t hunch your back or move your face closer to the screen. Instead, keep your body including your neck and back in a neutral position. Make sure your feet are flat on the ground with elbows remaining on your sides.

Take Breaks

Frequent breaks to stretch and move around are beneficial for lessening the strain that comes from sitting in front of your laptop for long hours. Your Woodbridge, VA chiropractor recommends 15 minutes for a stretch break or a walk to relax your muscles, increase blood flow, and reduce numbness. 

Change Positions

Dr. Caratozzolo advises all his patients to avoid staying in one position while working. If you primarily complete tasks while sitting in front of your computer, consider incorporating standing work. Whether it’s simply sending an email over a standing desk or taking a call while walking around the room, your spine will thank you for changing your work positions. 

Adjust Your Workspace

Adjust your workspace, so your body doesn’t have to do extra work to do work. Ensure your screen isn’t too far away that you have to move forward. The same for your keyboard. Your fingers need to reach the keys without your body twisting or turning. Another tip is using light touches to type on your computer. Hard strokes not only damage your device but also potentially wreck your tendons.

To learn more, contact Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center at 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355 today. 

How Your Chiropractor Can Help with Your Mental Health

Back pain, stiff ligaments, and dislocated joints—this is what we usually associate with chiropractic care. But at ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, VA, Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo believes in ensuring his patients’ overall wellness and that includes mental health. Here are four reasons why you should visit our office today for your mental health care.

A Mind-Body Connection

Chiropractors believe the entire body is connected and at ACT Wellness Center, our beliefs are no different. Our multidisciplinary approach to wellness puts a strong emphasis on the mind-body connection. This means no stone is unturned and we look at diet, massage therapies, exercise, and adjustments to provide a holistic treatment plan.

Decrease Pain

Chronic pain has a tremendous effect on an individual’s mood and mental health. Your  Woodbridge, VA chiropractor provides non-invasive procedures to relieve pain that clouds the mind and causes mental health illnesses like depression or anxiety.

Relaxation

Constant worry and a toll on mental health can wreak havoc on your body, not to mention your sleep and general ability to relax. From massage that invigorates soft tissues and reduces muscle tension to posture correction, we will drastically improve your sleep and promote relaxation for a better quality of life.

Fix Spinal Misalignment

Your spine is one of the most important parts of your body, connecting your neurological system so your brain and body can communicate. Stress and anxiety can be a result of a misaligned spine. After we adjust your spine, your body will trigger positive hormones such as cortisol and oxytocin, which lifts your mood, blocks pain, and gives you the “feel-good” hormone. 

Natural Treatments

While many traditional treatment plans for mental health disorders include therapy and medications, chiropractic care is a great alternative if you’re looking for an all-natural and no side effects approach to mental health. At ACT Wellness Center, we provide natural ways to treat common mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.

To learn more, contact Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center at 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355 today.

Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia is a debilitating condition that primarily targets the lower face and jaw. A painful condition akin to an electric shock passing through your face, trigeminal neuralgia occurs when the trigeminal nerve, which moves sensation between the brain and face, is irritated. At ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, VA, Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo is passionate about helping his patients manage their pain, including those suffering from trigeminal neuralgia. 

Causes

Trigeminal neuralgia develops when the trigeminal nerve faces pressure. This happens when the nerve comes in contact with an artery or vein, when the nerve has a tumor, or when a person has Multiple sclerosis (MS). 

Symptoms and Triggers

Trigeminal neuralgia has two types of symptoms: Type I and Type II. 

Type Ⅰ:

Sharp throbbing pin-like pain is usually triggered by touching an area of the body. 

Type Ⅱ:

Less extreme symptoms like burning sensations or dull aching pain on the face. 

Triggers:

Trigeminal neuralgia is spontaneous for many patients. Many attack triggers include daily activities such as shaving, brushing teeth, eating, scratching the face, smiling, sipping cold or hot drinks, blowing the nose, crying, and much more. 

How Chiropractic Care Helps

Chiropractic care is all about the mind and body. At ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, VA, this holistic approach is no different. We believe in strengthening the entire body to end the negative symptoms of many illnesses. Dr. Caratozzolo recommends plenty of exercises, a healthy diet, and avoiding foods like caffeine and sugar which are prone to triggering trigeminal neuralgia. Since trigeminal neuralgia is a nerve condition, Dr. Caratozzolo will perform spinal adjustments to help relieve the pain. When a spine is misaligned, nerves are interfering with the spinal cord and blocking the brain from sending signals all over the body. This is why spinal adjustments are beneficial to reduce any pain you’re experiencing, including trigeminal neuralgia.

To learn more, contact Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center at 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355 today. 

Everything You Need to Know About Ear Reflex Points

An ancient technique that dates back almost 3,000 years ago, ear reflex points, or auricular therapy, is a fantastic way to relieve pain without invasive medical treatments. At ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, VA, Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo does more than treat symptoms but also empowers patients to take charge of their own care for long-term health and wellness.

 

How Does Ear Reflex Points Work?

Your ears are full of nerve endings that connect to the brain. Each part of your body corresponds with different pressure points on the outer ear. At ACT Wellness Center, your trusted chiropractor will stimulate different reflex points on the ear to influence a medical condition or organ of the body, releasing endorphins. These endorphins block pain receptors and release feelings of pleasure. 

 

What Issues Can Ear Reflex Points Treat?

Stimulating different points of the ear treats almost 2,000 disorders and illnesses in the body a person may suffer from. These include chronic pain, arthritis, stress, anxiety, hypertension, nausea, muscle spasm, and toxin buildup. Through stimulation of these ear reflex points, your stiff muscles will relax and your pain will considerably reduce to a tolerable level.

 

It’s important to remember that ear reflex points are not meant to replace chiropractic adjustments. Your Woodridge, VA chiropractor believes these two therapies complement each other and their combination promotes optimal levels of healing. 

 

To learn more about ear reflex points, contact Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center in 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355 today. 

 

 

Why is My Back Stiff?

Nobody likes having a stiff back, and yet, back pain is one of the most common health complaints people have. Although there are several things that can cause the back muscles to be underdeveloped or overused, most of them are preventable with the right knowledge. At ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, we can provide noninvasive, nonaddictive treatments for all sorts of musculoskeletal problems, but to help our patients maintain their wellness, we wanted to discuss some of the most common reasons why people’s lifestyles cause them to develop excessive wear and tear.

 

In many people’s cases, back pain is the result of overusing some muscles and underusing others. A sedentary person who maintains any one position for a long time is going to suffer from a weak core, and some positions make particularly inefficient use of the back’s supporting muscles. Hunching forward toward a computer monitor or slouching backwards will cause the back muscles bearing all the upper body’s weight to tighten up. But a person who engages in exercise without properly warming up or strengthening their core could also be over relying on their back muscles to compensate for weak hamstrings and hip muscles. Eventually, the weakened back muscles will no longer be able to keep the spinal column aligned, allowing the lumbar vertebrae to become subluxated.

 

Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo is certified as a chiropractic sports physician and extremity practitioner who can educate patients on better posture and form, in addition to providing chiropractic adjustments. Our diagnostics will also help us to determine whether their spinal discs are suffering from dehydration and whether a skeletal abnormality is putting excess pressure on certain muscles. ACT Wellness Center offers a variety of wellness services, including nutritional counseling and customized orthotics, to help patients maintain the strength and balance of their musculoskeletal systems.

 

If you’re trying to improve your back’s strength and flexibility, schedule a visit to Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at the ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355.

 

Hip Labral Tears

Have you felt stiffness in your hip or heard a locking sound coming from the top of your leg when you move? If so, don’t dismiss that as a normal part of aging. You may be suffering from a treatable condition called a hip labral tear. At ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, we believe everyone can achieve a healthy lifestyle, and are committed to providing noninvasive solutions for pain. Our own Doctor Carmelo Caratozzolo is a certified chiropractic extremity practitioner, meaning he can assist people experiencing problems in their lower limbs.

 

The hip joint is a ball and socket, with the ball at the top of the femur fitting into a socket called the acetabulum. The acetabulum has a ring of cartilage, called a labrum, that secures and cushions the femoral head. But the labrum can be torn by an acute injury or degenerate over time, and if a person develops a bony spur over their joint, their femoral head may become impinged and not be able to move fully. Tears in the labrum may result in pain, swelling, and locking of the joint, which may be worse when a person engages in repetitive movements or subjects their hips to extended pressure.

 

Diagnosing a labral tear will require imaging and range of motion tests. Typically, labral tears are accompanied by other injuries, but they may be mild or not result in symptoms at all. Patients will need to temporarily reduce their activity and then work back to normalcy through physical therapy designed to improve their hip flexibility and strength. They may also require chiropractic extremity adjustments to their hips or joints further down their legs to correct for imbalances that may have been contributing to wear and tear, and they may benefit from low level laser therapy to improve blood flow and reduce inflammation.

 

To stop hip pain before it becomes debilitating, schedule a visit to Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at the ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355.

 

Tips To Prevent Back Pain While Working From Home

With over a million Americans working from home due to coronavirus stay at home orders, more and more chiropractors are reporting a rise in clients with back pain problems. At ACT Wellness Center in Woodridge, VA,  Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo specializes in non-invasive procedures that help alleviate back pain and body aches, but at the same time, believes prevention is key to ensure the overall health and wellness of his patients. Here are some tips that you can practice while working from home to save your body from aches, pain, and long term health issues.

Avoid the Bed or Couch

While it may seem like one of the perks of not attending meetings in a traditional office, using your bed or couch as a workplace can wreak havoc to your posture and allow for back pain, especially if you’re doing this daily. Instead, try to create a separation from your work and rest spaces by using a desk and chair and mimicking your normal workstation at the office as much possible. When sitting in a chair, make sure your feet can rest flat on the floor for blood to flow throughout your body without restriction. If your chair doesn’t have good lower back support, add pillows or a cushion for more comfort.

Incorporate Standing Work

Sitting for long hours in a desk and chair may strain your back and neck. A good way to lessen this strain is to alternate between sitting and standing while you work. Whether it's taking calls while you walk or installing a standing desk to rotate with a desk and chair, the important idea is to reduce the amount of time you’re spending in one work position. 

Take Breaks

Frequent breaks to stretch and move around are beneficial for lessening the strain that comes from staying in a sitting position for long hours. Your Woodbridge, VA, chiropractor states that simply taking a 15-minute break to stretch or to walk around the house will help relax your muscles, increase blood flow, and reduce numbness. Others recommend a change of scenery, like moving to a different workspace in the house. 

 

To learn more about reducing back pain while working from home, visit Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center, Woodbridge, VA. Call 703-491-9355.