Exercise is Better than Drugs for Chronic Pain  This past week, the Centers for Disease Control released clinical guidelines on the use of opioid medications for chronic pain. Chronic pain was defined as pain lasting greater than 3 months, or pain lasting past the time required for tissue healing after injury. It is important to know that clinical guidelines are derived from a thorough review and analysis of medical research studies. Among other recommendations, the CDC concludes that, ou...

What to do when you have an acute episode of back pain Last week, we posted a link to a news release from Excellus on back pain management. Excellus has analyzed information on back pain treatment in upstate New York over the course of the past several years. Some of the findings are alarming, particularly the increased utilization of medications and surgery to treat what really amounts to a normal aspect of life. Yes, back pain is a normal part of our life experience. Most of us by far will ex...

More and more Upstate New Yorkers are turning to surgery and perscription meds for relief from back pain. This can often lead to far worse outcomes. When experiencing back pain one of the best resources is your Physical Therapist. With Direct Access you can skip the visit to your PCP and go right to your PT. PTs can evaluate your injury/pain and offer exercises, stretches and modailities to will give you the relief you need!  Below is a portion of a recent article from BCBS:  ROCHE...

Is Spinal Manipulation an Effective Treatment for Back Pain? Manipulation has been employed in the treatment of back pain since the time of Hippocrates, who has been referred to as the father of western medicine.  Spinal manipulation involves the application of passive forces to the spine by a healthcare practitioner for the purpose of relieving pain and improving function. Chiropractors, physical therapists, osteopaths, and some medical providers perform spinal manipulation. There is p...

The Problem with Sedentary Behavior  A recent article[1] published in the Annals of Internal Medicine creates an interesting perspective on sedentary behavior. The authors conducted an extensive search of previous research investigating the relationships between sedentary time and health. What they found should be of concern for those who spend a lot of time sitting, watching TV, or otherwise being physically inactive. They indeed found that a higher amount of sedentary time is linked to a...