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.

 

Upper Crossed Syndrome

When people hunch over, they tend to develop an ache in their backs, necks, and shoulders. And when they continue to hold that position, they may end up weakening some muscles and overdeveloping others. “Upper Crossed Syndrome” is a term chiropractors use to describe a particular pattern of deformity in the upper body that usually results from poor posture. At ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, we provide treatments for this condition that will help a patient return to health, but they’ll have to continue maintaining good posture to avoid a relapse.

 

The trapezius and levator scapula are muscles that connect from the vertebrae to the bones of the shoulders. When a person hunches forward, those muscles get stretched and swollen, while the muscles in front of the chest become tight. In contrast, the muscles on the sides of the neck and lower in the shoulder become small and weak. When seen from the side, a line drawn between the tight muscles and a line drawn between the weak ones would form an x. The practical consequence of this is that the neck will be curved too far inward and the upper back too far outward, resulting in pain from the head to the ribs.

 

There are many strengthening exercises a person could do to restore the alignment of their neck and upper thorax, although we encourage patients to ask our chiropractor, Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo, for professional guidance on proper form. We can also determine whether a patient has incurred subluxations from the pressure being exerted on their vertebrae, and our chiropractic adjustments can help to gently stretch or relax their muscles in addition to realigning their spines.

 

Upper Crossed Syndrome is usually reversible, but treating it often requires lifestyle changes.  For help restoring upper body musculoskeletal health, schedule a visit to Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at the ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355.

 

Back Pain in Teen Athletes

As children become teenagers, those who are athletic tend to become more competitive and push themselves harder. At ACT Wellness Center, we’re happy to see our patients engaged in healthy exercise. Occasionally, teens getting accustomed to work-outs are also at risk for overuse injuries, and since our own Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo is a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician, we wanted to supply some information about the most common musculoskeletal ailments.

 

It’s not unusual for teenagers to strain their back muscles. In most cases, only ice and a few days’ rest is needed, but if the pain recurs, they may benefit from low level laser therapy and electric muscle stimulation. These treatments will loosen the swollen muscles, allowing nutrient-rich blood to flow more freely. But there may also be a subluxation of the spinal column in play, including a fractured facet joint, spondylolisthesis (in which one vertebrae has slid forward over another), or a herniated disc. These patients may require a chiropractic adjustment to relieve pressure on the surrounding muscles, allowing them to recover more comfortably.

 

An examination will be required to determine whether the spinal column is misaligned. Disc herniation is less likely in teenagers than in adults, but they are at greater risk for spondylolisthesis. Female athletes, in particular, are vulnerable to osteoporosis if they don’t get adequate nutrition. ACT Wellness Center also offers vitamins and supplements to be taken under expert guidance, as well as recommendations for physical therapy.

 

If your teenager is having recurrent bouts of back, hip, or shoulder pain, schedule a visit to Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at the ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355.

Upper Back Pain

Do you frequently suffer from upper back pain? If so, you’re in good company. Although pain in the upper back isn’t as common as in the neck or lower back, it’s still one of the most common ailments. Some surveys have found that almost ten percent of men and twenty percent of women are suffering from it at any given time. The good news is that upper back pain usually responds well to safe, holistic treatments, and that the ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge provides a variety of complementary therapies and postural correction techniques.

The upper back, or thoracic spine, is made up of twelve vertebrae. They have additional joints that connect to the ribs, making them less mobile than the other vertebrae and therefore less likely to suffer acute injuries. However, they may still suffer from wear and tear, especially when the muscles near them are overused. People who make repetitive motions with their arms, such as painters, may strain their back and shoulder muscles. But people who simply sit with bad posture, such as office workers and truck drivers, also run a risk that their tendons will tighten. Swelling in the thoracic region could also compress one of the spinal nerves, which could result in pain or numbness radiating into the chest.

We offer several means of relieving upper back pain and reducing inflammation, including chiropractic adjustments, low level laser therapy, and pulsed electromagnetic therapy. But to prevent a relapse, patients will need to do therapeutic stretches and make sure they don’t sit in the same position for too long in the future.

For fast, non-addictive, and minimally invasive relief from upper back pain, visit Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355.

 

Chiropractic Approach to Whiplash

Whiplash is a scary name, and the syndrome can cause someone a lot of problems. Pain from damaged neck muscles and ligaments could radiate to the shoulder or to the head, and a person with swelling would also experience limited movement. We provide a variety of safe, complementary treatments at the ACT Wellness Center for people who have suffered whiplash, but because symptoms don’t always appear right away, we need for everyone to understand why seeking treatment is important.

 

Another name for whiplash is “cervical acceleration-deceleration syndrome,” because it affects the neck, or cervical region, and it is caused by the head being whipped back and forth. Most often, this kind of injury appears in people who have been in motor vehicle accidents. Small tears in the soft tissues of the neck cause a wide variety of symptoms; some people experience pain as constant and throbbing, others describe it as sharp and shooting, and some people experience tingling or numbness. Symptoms often aren’t felt for over twenty-four hours after the accident and may only be noticeable when a person makes certain movements, but they can get worse with time.

 

Keeping the neck completely immobile may allow the muscles to further atrophy. We’ll devise an individualized plan of treatment for patients after examining their range of motion and taking x-rays, but usually patients should expect their care to include chiropractic adjustments and prescribed stretches at home. The slow, gentle use of force delivered by an adjustment will put joints back in their proper place while stretching out tight tissues, and doing stretches regularly will keep the muscles strong and limber. We may also reduce inflammation by applying cold laser therapy and by providing nutritional advice.

 

If you have recently suffered whiplash, don’t delay scheduling a visit to Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355.

Lower Back Pain and Indoor Cycling

To keep your spine aligned, you need strong muscles to support it. Exercise is a key element of overall health. Indoor cycling, often also called spinning is a popular way to get aerobic exercise.  If the exercise is not done correctly or the rider's position is bad, injuries can occur; problems with the lower back and knees are most common. At ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, we work with our patients to devise routines that will keep them strong and flexible. This week, we’re going to take a look at why that is and how to prevent it.

 

To prevent injury and aid comfort it is crucial to make sure the bio-mechanical position of the rider is correct. Posture is always one of the first things to examine when a person is struggling with back pain. Bicycles need to be fitted to the person using them. If a person has to stretch too far forward to reach the handle bars, that will put strain on their lower back. A well-trained group cycling instructor can help you to adjust the seat and the handlebar height prior to riding. In addition, bicycle stores are usually able to fit their customers; and people inheriting a used bicycle should be properly fitted as well.

 

Professional cyclists can be assured of good equipment, but they still suffer from high rates of lower back pain due to uneven work-out routines. The lumbar or lower region of the spine is supported by muscles that connect to the pelvis and femurs. As those muscles get tired, the lumbar vertebrae sway side-to-side, causing joint fatigue. People who cycle regularly also need to remember to strengthen the core muscles supporting their lumbar spines. This can be done through exercises including bird-dogging and planking. Our chiropractor, Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo, is a Chiropractic Sports Physician and can help patients to identify which exercises are safest and most effective for them. He can also help people suffering from lower back pain to return to activity sooner through corrective chiropractic care.

 

To reduce the risk of athletic injuries and learn more about injury prevention, visit Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355.

Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

Do you feel pain or stiffness in your lower body? A joint problem might be to blame, but there are several joint dysfunctions that could cause similar symptoms. At ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, we provide natural, holistic pain management with special emphasis on musculoskeletal disorders. This week, we want to educate our patients about one of the lesser-known causes of lower back pain: sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

 

The sacrum is the structure of fused vertebrae that dangles beneath the lumbar region of the spine. It connects on both sides to the iliac crests, which are the highest bones of the pelvis, and the two connections are called the sacroiliac joints. These joints can suffer stress, especially when their supporting lower back and pelvis muscles are weak or tight; typically they don’t have very much mobility.  Inflammation of these joints is called sacroiliitis, and it may cause a person to feel sore in their lower back and buttock. Usually, only one side is inflamed at a time.

 

Although sacroiliac joint dysfunction is less likely than a herniated lumbar disc to compress a nerve, it could still cause pain to radiate outwards. A person is especially likely to feel pain when they put weight on the joint. We can make a diagnosis by testing how a patient responds to pressure on different bones. If a person has a sacroiliac issue, we can treat them by performing chiropractic adjustments, and by reducing their inflammation through low level laser therapy and electric muscle stimulation. Our chiropractor, Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo, is a Chiropractic Sports Physician and Certified Chiropractic Extremity Practitioner; he may also recommend therapeutic exercises to strengthen the lower back and pelvic regions.

If you suspect you have sacroiliac joint dysfunction or a similar disorder, visit Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355.