September 2020 Newsletter: Are Benzos the new opioids?

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As I was checking my LinkedIn page I found an interesting article recently that I would like to share with all of you. It is titled Are Benzos the New Opioids? COVID-19 may be contributing to a troubling new trend. by Sherry McAllister. Here is a quick excerpt from her article. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic is the most stressful time in nearly seven out of 10 employees’ professional careers. Every demographic rated the pandemic more stressful than the September 11 terrorist attacks, the 2008 economic recession and other events.

This unyielding stress has prompted a 34% increase in anti-anxiety medications, such as benzodiazepines, from mid-February 2020 to mid-March 2020, according to an analysis from Express Scripts, a subsidiary of health insurer Cigna. The increase in anti-anxiety prescriptions due to pandemic stress could exacerbate another trend associated with benzodiazepines, also known as ‘benzos,’ which have increasingly been prescribed to help manage pain.”

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August 2020 Newsletter: WHAT TO DO FOLLOWING A CAR ACCIDENT

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You were just in a car accident. What do you do? First, stay calm. It may not seem like much but, experiencing some sense of shock is common. Second, you don’t want to be the second accident that day so make sure, if it is possible, to get off of the road and onto the shoulder of the road. Next, follow these steps to ensure you and your passengers are safe and recover correctly.  

  1. Assess passengers for injury.
  2. Call 911 to get the help you need.
  3. Exchange information with everyone involved in the accident. This includes driver’s licenses, registration and insurance information. 
  4. Get witness information.
  5. Take photos of your car from all angles to submit for your insurance claim.

Most injuries are not obvious to the naked eye. Better safe than sorry! Go to the ER or Urgent Care. Report the incident right away before you forget details of the incident. When they ask how you are, do not say, “I‘m fine.” Tell them that you will be seeing your doctor of chiropractic who will send a report. Call Your Insurance. Most motor vehicle injuries respond well to chiropractic care. State Farm estimated that 87.5% see a doctor of chiropractic. Call Your Doctor of Chiropractic to follow through on care. If your chiropractor orders tests it will be because they found reasons to do so. If a test comes back negative, then that problem is ruled out. If a test comes back positive, it will help with your care and the possible need for referral to a specialist who may be able to help you further. 

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July 2020 Newsletter: Are your kids wearing their backpacks correctly?

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ARE YOUR KIDS WEARING THEIR BACKPACK CORRECTLY?

A recent survey by Land’s End Direct Merchants found that more than 96 percent of children ages 8 to 12 will carry a backpack to school this year. Nearly 1/3 of those children will wear their bags improperly. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Commission, in 2013, approximately 22,200 strains, sprains, dislocations, and fractures from backpacks were treated in hospital emergency rooms, physicians’ offices, and clinics. There are four steps for safer backpack use; first, choose the right pack, pack their bag correctly, lift the bag correctly, and wear it properly. 

The most crucial step to helping protect your child’s spine is choosing the right backpack. We all want our kids to like the things we purchase them but make sure their backpack decision is not only focused on looks. The pack should have padded straps, a lumbar strap, and an angled design to keep it above their waist. Correctly packing the bag is critical for their backs; their packs should never weigh more than ten percent of their body weight. Remember no matter the weight we should be lifting with our legs never our back, and never sling the pack onto one shoulder. Wearing the pack correctly is vital. Encourage your children to use both straps when carrying the pack and to make sure that it is high and tight to their back.

BEFORE: In the first picture, notice the chin tuck and forward shoulder roll. AFTER: The second picture shows the backpack adjusted to a better position. His arms are down by his side and his shoulders are not rolled forward as far.

Are You Avoiding “Pack Back”?

Conditions arising from prolonged and/or repetitious use of backpacks or other devices made for carrying material belongings Include but are not limited to:

  • Low Back pain and stiffness
  • Hip and/or pain and/or numbness
  • Sciatica
  • Neck and upper back pain and stiffness
  • Shoulder and/or arm pain and/or numbness
  • Headaches
  • Recurring muscles tension
  • Fatigue

Need to be fitted for your backpack? Call us today to schedule your fitting with Dr. Donkin!

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July 2020 Newsletter: Happy 4th of July!

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We want to wish everyone a fantastic and safe 4th of July!

Exercises To Improve Your Posture

CHIN TUCK

Start with your shoulders rolled back and down. While looking straight ahead, place two fingers on your chin, slightly tuck your chin and move your head back. Hold for 3-5 seconds and then release. Repeat ten times. Tip: The more of a double chin you create, the better the results.

WALL ANGEL

Stand with your back against a flat wall with your feet about four inches from the base. Maintain a slight bend in your knees. Your glutes, spine, and head should all be against the wall. Bring your arms up with elbows bent, so your upper arms are parallel to the floor and squeeze your shoulder blades together, forming a letter “W.” Hold for 3 seconds. Next, straighten your elbows to raise your arms to form the letter “Y.” Make sure not to shrug your shoulders to your ears. Repeat this ten times, starting at “W,” holding for 3 seconds, and then raising your arms into a “Y.” Do 2-3 sets.

DOORWAY STRETCH

Standing in a doorway, lift your arm, so it’s parallel to the floor and bend at the elbow, so your fingers point toward the ceiling. Place your hand on the doorjamb. Slowly lean into your raised arm and push against the doorjamb for 7-10 seconds. Relax the pressure and then press your arm against the doorjamb again, this time coming into a slight lunge with your legs, so your chest moves forward past the doorjamb for 7-10 seconds. Repeat this stretch two to three times on each side.

HIP FLEXOR STRETCH

Kneel onto your right knee with toes down, and place your left foot flat on the floor in front of you. Place both hands on your left thigh and press your hips forward until you feel a good stretch in the hip flexors. Contract your abdominals and slightly tilt your pelvis back while keeping your chin parallel to the floor. Hold this pose for 20-30 seconds.

Tips From Dr. Donkin

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