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.

Introduction to Spinal Spurs

Spinal spurs sound scary, and it’s true that they can cause pain. But with the right treatment, they are manageable. The ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge does more than relieve symptoms; we also put patients in the best position to care for their own wellness and avoid pricey and more dangerous interventions. Therefore, we wanted to say a bit about bone spurs in the spine and why they should be treated early. 

 Bones are alive, constantly breaking down and re-growing new tissue. Spurs are what happen when they grow tissue in an inappropriate place, often in response to inflammation. When a person’s spinal discs are degenerating, they are unable to absorb shocks and the discs’ protrusion may irritate nearby muscle and ligament tissue. The irritated tissue thickens with inflammation and distorts the vertebrae’s growth pattern. Additionally, people with osteoarthritis are at risk of developing bone spurs because the erosion of their joint cartilage causes their bones to rub together. The rubbing triggers inflammation in their joints and abnormal growth of replacement bone tissue. 

 

Spinal spurs could cause shooting pain, tingling, or numbness by compressing a nerve at its root. More commonly, they cause soreness. After using visual imaging to diagnose a bone spur, our treatment options include chiropractic adjustments to reduce stress on dislocated joints, soft tissue therapies such as electric muscle stimulation to reduce inflammation, and therapeutic stretches to improve flexibility. We may also recommend strengthening exercises to reduce the burden on the joints and improve posture. 

 

To prevent the development of spine spurs and manage symptoms associated with them, contact Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355. 

Piriformis Syndrome

Sciatica is one of the most common issues people seek relief for. At the ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge. we’re proud to say that we are able to treat it and other forms of nerve compression quickly and safely, but it’s important to recognize that sciatica can be caused by several things. A less-common but still significant cause of pelvic and leg pain is Piriformis Syndrome, and we want our patients to understand why it matters. 

 

 The sacrum is a body of fused vertebrae beneath the lumbar region of the spine. Several thick muscles in the pelvis connect to it, including the piriformis muscles. The piriformis muscles are wedge-shaped, located deep under several other tissues layers, and connect the sacrum to the tops of the femurs. There is one piriformis muscle on each side of the body. When functioning properly, they help to rotate the hip outward. The sciatic nerves originate from the lumbar spine, a bit above the sacrum, and run through the pelvis to the legs. They must pass through or around the piriformis muscles, and when a piriformis muscle is irritated, it could compress a sciatic nerve. 

 

Piriformis Syndrome shares symptoms with other lower back ailments, but it’s likelier to be the problem when the patient only feels pain or numbness on one side. At our office, we’ll perform imaging and range-of-motion tests to screen for other possibilities while making a diagnosis. We offer several options for reducing inflammation, including pulsed electromagnetic field therapy and electric muscle stimulation. Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo is also a chiropractic sports physician who can recommend stretches that will make the piriformis muscles more flexible in the future. 

 If you suffer from lower back, hip, or leg pain, contact Dr. Carmel Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355. 

COVID-19 Tips to Boost Immunity

Basic Principles of Boosting Immunity: Focus on healing foods and herbs that have strong antibacterial and antiviral properties is of primary importance, along with improving immune system function and eliminating foods that suppress it. 

 

Check with your medical doctor for any drug-herb interactions and/or contraindications first. 

 

Avoid/Omit:

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  Sugar (especially refined) 

  
  


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  Dairy 

  
  


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  Corn, soy, and wheat (gluten) 

  
  


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  Hydrogenated foods 

  
  


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  Excess animal protein 

  
  

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  Excess flour intake 

  
  


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  Highly processed foods 

  
  


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  GMO Foods 

  
  


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  Artificial ingredients 

  
  


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  Chronic stress 

  
  

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  Excessive EMF exposure 

  
  


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  Limited sunshine or vitamin D supplementation 

  
  

Increase: 

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  Vitamin C (peppers, kale, oranges, etc) 

  
  


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  Vitamin D (sunlight and/or fermented cod liver oil) 

  
  


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  Zinc (pumpkin seeds or supplement; don’t over-do it! too much zinc supplementation can inhibit the function of the immune system) 

  
  

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  Vitamin A (supplement or leafy green veggies, fish, eggs, orange & yellow veggies) 

  
  

 
Specific supplements that might help: 

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  Glutathione (not for long term use) 

  
  


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  Good multi-vitamin 

  
  


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  Magnesium   

  
  

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  Omega’s  

  
  


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  Probiotics (supplement or consider sauerkraut, coconut kefir, apple cider vinegar, and/or kombucha) 

  
  

 

Eat more Antibacterial foods: 

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  Garlic 

  
  


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  Coconut oil 

  
  


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  Ginger 

  
  


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  Fermented foods 

  
  


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  Lemons 

  
  

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  Horseradish 

  
  


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  Honey 

  
  


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  Cabbage 

  
  


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  Onions 

  
  


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  Turmeric 

  
  

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  Basil 

  
  


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  Cranberries 

  
  


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  Mushrooms 

  
  

 Anti-Viral Herbs: (check with your doctor for contraindications or herb/drug interactions *don’t use if allergic & pregnant) 

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  Astragalus 

  
  


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  Elderberry 

  
  


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  Lemon balm  

  
  


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  Licorice root  

  
  


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  Olive leaf  

  
  

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  Oregano oil  

  
  


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  Usnea – prevents ATP formation in bacteria 

  
  


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  Garlic 

  
  

Healthy living Fundamentals: 

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  Don’t smoke. 

  
  

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  Eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and low in saturated fat. 

  
  


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  Buy organic. 

  
  


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  Exercise regularly. 

  
  


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  Maintain a healthy weight. 

  
  


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  Control your blood pressure. 

  
  

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  If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation. 

  
  


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  Get adequate sleep. 

  
  


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  Avoid infection by practicing basic hygeine. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.

  
  


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  Follow-up with any regular medical screening tests that specifically target people in your age group and risk category. 

  
  


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  Stay Hydrated. 

  
  

 

When Home Remedies Are Not Appropriate:  

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  TRAUMA: Serious injury head for the emergency room. 

  
  


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  EXTREMELY HIGH FEVER: over 104 degrees F can be a dangerous situation, get emergency care.   

  
  


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  TROUBLE BREATHING: unresponsive, limp in your arms, or has glazed eyes, you need to get help. Call 911 or go to the emergency room right away.   

  
  

For additional guidance: Centers for Disease Control 

 

To learn more about boosting your immunity naturally, contact Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355.

COVID-19 Tips for Working at Home

We recognize that shelter in place is becoming a reality for many. Creating a dedicated office space can be a challenge, especially if you don’t have the right chair or desk. To prevent occurrences of back pain, people need to know how to position themselves at their home based office. 

 

You want your chair to be at a height that allows your feet to be flat on the floor while your back is straight. Your thighs should be sloping slightly down and you should be sitting as far back in your chair as possible, with your shoulder blades against the back. The armrests should be high enough so that your shoulders are slightly lifted, and you should be able to reach your keyboard by reaching straight forward. You shouldn’t have to twist your head to see your monitors; they should be directly at eye-level. You should also empty your back pockets, so your pelvis is level while you sit. 

 

People who spend a lot of time seated tend to develop musculoskeletal problems. This is unsurprising, since maintaining the same position for too long can cause the tendons to shorten and many people don’t know the best posture to hold while seated.  

 

To keep the blood circulating through your muscles, stretch every half hour. Be sure to stretch your back, neck, and hips, and to go for a walk about every ninety minutes. If you have a standing desk, you’ll also need to switch positions about every thirty minutes and make sure your shoes aren’t cramping your toes. 

 

During this COVID-19 crisis, we have decided to remain open. We still feel that we can play a positive part in keeping patients out of emergency rooms or doctor's offices that would otherwise present with pain and or other musculoskeletal symptoms. 

 

At the ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, we provide patients with pain relief that is fast-acting and minimally invasive, but we also have a philosophy of addressing the root of the problem. To treat musculoskeletal pain and learn more about good posture, contact Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355.

COVID-19 the Health and Safety of our Customers

The health and safety of our customers, employees and community are paramount to our concern. We are navigating these challenging times with everyone’s safety in mind and will keep you updated of any schedule changes. Currently, we are open with regular office hours and encourage you to continue getting adjusted. During this time of increased stress, we know that chiropractic care is vital and do not want any disruptions in our patients' care.

 

With this in mind we are taking the following precautions.

• We understand that some of our patients may be hesitant to be in a room full of people. We are spacing appointment visits out so that there is plenty of space for social distancing in our lobby and adjusting area.


• In addition we have added an air scrubbing unit to our HVAC system to keep the indoor air sanitized.


• We ask you, to please sanitize or wash your hands before getting adjusted. We have provided hand sanitizer for your convenience and offer antibacterial soap in our bathrooms.


• In addition, we have disposable paper masks for patients use and upon request Dr. C and staff can wear masks and gloves as well.

 

Please stay home if:

• You are having any of the following symptoms: runny nose, fever, cough, sore throat.


• You believe you have been exposed to someone who is positive with COVID-19.


• Regardless of your age, please carefully consider whether it is appropriate to come to the office if you have underlying health conditions and are immune compromised.

 

Many of you have asked what we are doing to increase our immune systems to stay healthy. Here's what we are doing:

• Getting Adjusted


• Eating Well


• Managing Stress


• Getting Plenty of Sleep


• Exercising


• Washing our hands


• Supplementing with Immune Boosting Supplements (Vit C, Vit D, Zinc, and Elderberry)

 

We love being a part of your healthcare and are here for each of you! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to discuss with us. For additional guidance: Centers for Disease Control

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been affected by COVID-19.

 

Dr. Caratozzolo and your ACT Wellness Team

ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia | 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.