SEPTEMBER 2017 NEWSLETTER

Heads Up: Can Chiropractic Care Treat Concussions?

What is a Concussion? Injuries to the head and neck during sports, accidents, and other

traumatic events are common. Two of the most frequently occurring

conditions in the head and neck area are whiplash (a particular neck

injury from high velocity forces) and concussion (a closed-head injury, sometimes called mild

traumatic brain injury). These two injuries could both occur during the same incident, but not

always in ways that are immediately obvious. Because I explore whiplash more thoroughly in

another essay on this website, I’m choosing here to focus on concussion. A concussion is a type

of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the

body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), between 2001 and 2009, an estimated

173,285 people under age 19 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for concussions related to sports and

recreation activities. Other causes include car and bicycle accidents, work-related injuries, falls, and fights.

A hard blow to the head can shake the brain inside the skull, resulting in bruising, broken blood

vessels, or nerve damage to the brain. There no outward bleeding or opening in the skull, it

could result in a closed brain injury. An open brain injury is when an object penetrates the skull

and goes into the brain.

How Can You Tell If You Have Had a Concussion?

Concussions are usually not life threatening. Even so, their effects can be serious.

Concussive symptoms usually fall in one of four categories:

Thinking/remembering

Physical

Emotional/mood

Sleep

Red Flags

Any difficulty walking

Any loss of consciousness, confusion, or significant

agitation

One pupil (the black part in the middle of the eye) larger

than the other

Loss of ability to identify people, places, the date, or self

Loss of motion or sensation, weakness, numbness or loss of coordination

Persistent, worsening headache

Repeated vomiting

Slurred speech or difficulty with expression

Seizures

Kids will not stop crying and cannot be consoled

Kids will not nurse or eat

Get to the ER right away if you have any of these danger signs after any type of head injury, no matter how

minor it may seem.

What Do Chiropractors Do for People with Concussions?

Most medical journals will say, “There are no treatments for concussions other than prevention of an

additional injury. “

Any blow to the head will cause a misalignment of the cervical spine (a symptom similar

to whiplash). A chiropractor can evaluate whether you demonstrate signs of neck injuries

commonly associated with concussions, and provide you with relief of neck pain and

headaches.

According to the literature reviews, one of the most important recommendations that a

chiropractor will tell you what to do for concussion is this: If you or your loved one is in

sports and suffers a blow to the head, and/or experiences signs of a concussion, do not let

them continue playing the sport. He or she needs to rest until totally healed from the

concussion. Only after symptoms subside is it time to get back into the game. Ease into

the sports play again. Don’t expect to jump back in, full force. This will prevent the

return of symptoms.

Additional guidelines your chiropractor will give you for concussion include no alcohol,

recreational drugs, aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications, and sleep agents should be

consumed. Use Tylenol for pain, if necessary. By all means, do not drive until you can

return to the sport.

Chiropractors can help with a range of other sports injuries, and one study even found

that it was the most effective conservative method for reducing sports-related back pain.

Tip of The Month

Can Yoga Help Patients with Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is one of

the most common

complaints in the

developed world. One

of the biggest

problems with chronic

pain is its effect on the

brain, both physically

and emotionally.

“Psychic exhaustion”

is a term often used to

describe this crippling

effect. In fact, a study

done at the Stanford

University School of

Medicine identified a

set of changes in key

parts of the brain that may explain chronic

pain’s capacity to stifle motivation. Dr.

Robert Malenka, the co-director of the

Stanford Institute for Neuro-Innovation and

Translational Neuroscience writes, “With

chronic pain, your whole life changes in a

way that doesn’t happen with acute pain.

Yet this absence of motivation caused by

chronic pain, which can continue even when

the pain is transiently relieved, has been

largely ignored by medical science.”

Dr. M. Catherine Bushnell, a

scientific director at the National Institutes

of Health notes, “Imaging studies in

multiple types of chronic pain patients show

their brains differ from healthy control

subjects. Studies of people with depression

show they also have reduced gray matter,

and this could contribute to the gray matter

changes in pain patients who are depressed.

Our research shows

that gray matter loss is

directly related to the

pain when we take

depression into

account.”

So, what does

yoga have to do with

chronic pain? Dr.

Bushnell adds that

studies show yoga

practitioners have

more gray matter than

non-yoga practitioners

in multiple brain

regions, including

those involved in pain

modulation. She adds, “Some gray matter

increases in yogis correspond to duration of

yoga practice, which suggests there is a

causative link between yoga and gray

matter increases.” If further research

confirms yoga benefits the brains of people

who already have chronic pain, someday

doctors may prescribe yoga to this class of

patients as part of their overall treatment

strategy.

Remember, we’re always here to

help your body heal

and maintain the pain free body you

deserve.

This information should not be substituted for

medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health

care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done

through the advice and counsel of a health care

professional who is familiar with your updated

medical history.

Beginners, all levels welcome. Open to public. Guests

welcome. Be prepared to be amazed by your own ability!

Learn proper body alignment, breathing techniques, a better way to move.

Bring your own yoga mat. Dress comfortably.

Pre-register at the front desk: 724-444-6644.

Instructor: Kimberly Hanley, RYT200 $12 per person per class

Package: 6 classes for $60 (to be used within a 12 week period)

Tuesdays 6 pm- 6:45 at HealthyWays, first floor.

Massage is More than You Think! See for Yourself!!!

***Schedule A Massage Today*** It takes a skilled therapist to pinpoint your

pain source, and with chiropractic and rehab exercises, you will see

improvements within a short period of time.

Schedule with Kimberly today: 724-444-6644

Natural Weapon Against Urinary Tract Infections.

If you suffer from a urinary tract infection (UTI), especially a drug-

resistant UTI, this information may be very helpful. Doctors and

researchers have known for quite some time that bacteria evolve and

become resistant or “immune” to treatments such as antibiotics. One

of the most commonly known and dangerous is Methicillin-Resistant

Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), which is an infection caused by a

strain of staph bacteria that's become resistant to the antibiotics commonly

used to treat ordinary staph infections. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is one of

the most common extra intestinal bacterial infections and the second most common infectious disease

encountered in community practice. UTI alone poses a serious health problem affecting about 150 million people

each year around the world. Antibiotics have revolutionized medicine in many respects and their discovery was

a turning point in medicinal history. Regrettably, the misuse of these wonder drugs has been accompanied by the

rapid appearance of resistant strains.

Because of the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, there is an urgent need to explore

alternative non-antibiotic treatments to help effectively manage these infections. Garlic (Allium sativum) has

been traditionally used for the treatment of different diseases since ancient times. Researchers from the University

of East London took aqueous extracts of allicin, a compound found in garlic, and formulated a simple cream.

When the cream was applied to vast swathes of the so-called “superbug” MRSA (methicillin resistant

Staphylococcus aureus), it eliminated them. In a study conducted at the Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences

in India, researchers found that “even crude extracts of [garlic] showed good activity against multidrug resistant

strains where antibiotic therapy had limited or no effect.” This provides hope for developing alternative

treatments which may be of help in fighting the menace of growing antibacterial resistance around the world.

Featured Product of the Month

RockTape

First used by acupuncturists and chiropractors in Japan,

today kinesiology tape is used by practitioners throughout the

world to treat injuries and improve sports performance,

including shin splints, plantar fasciitis, runner’s knee and back

pain.

RockTape microscopically lifts the skin away from the muscle

and fascia below, creating a decompressive effect.

Stretchier, stickier and stronger than the competition,

RockTape is preferred by athletes and medical professionals

throughout the world.

RockTape is made from 97% cotton and 3% nylon. The

adhesive is a hypo-allergenic, acrylic-based and contains no

latex.

Ask How This Can Benefit You!

WELCOME NEW PATIENTS

Katrina M. from Gibsonia.

Ellen K. from Gibsonia.

Kara B. from Gibsonia.

Brian B. from Gibsonia.

Nancy K. from Allison Park. Referred by Linda S. Thank You!

Melanie S. from Butler. Referred by Robbie C. Thank You!

Kelly S. from Glenshaw. Referred by Carson S. Thank You!

Adam H. from Bairdford.

Noah N. from Gibsonia. Referred by Lynn N. Thank You!

Jose P. From Gibsonia. Referred by Christine P. Thank You!

Caitlyn T. from Gibsonia. Referred by Melissa H. Thank You!

Dennis C. from Valencia. Referred by Chris C. Thank You!

Colleen P. from Gibsonia. Referred by Don R. Thank You!

Audrey A. from Wildwood. Referred by Joe A. Thank You!

Brian M. from Gibsonia.

Daniel A. from Gibsonia. Referred by Arlene G. Thank You!

Patient of the Month Congratulations to Kaila O., September’s Patient of the Month! We are excited to

present Kaila with a Free 30 Minute Massage and Restaurant Gift Certificate to thank her for

being an exemplary patient. We look forward to naming each of you as patient of the month!

Patient Testimonials

Pam D.

I highly recommend Dr. Pettinato' office if you need chiropractic care, massage, or

rehabilitation. Dr. Joe and Dr. Kate are excellent chiropractors. The office is amazingly clean

and cheerful. The staff are all extremely friendly and accommodating. When you walk out of

there you feel better physically and emotionally!

John H.

Phenomial service and care! Dr. Joe and his staff helped my family and I through debilitating

back and neck pain. Utilizing his staff's full service (chirp, rehab, and pain mgmt) we are all

returning to full mobility and function.

Caila O.

I came to Pettinato Chiropractic Center as the result of a torn hamstring as well as chronic

migraines. Doctor Joe and his team provided professional service and top notch care. He took

the time to perform x-rays, listen to my symptoms, and co-develop a plan for recovery. I can

definitely say I am well on the road to recovery. I have already referred one coworker, and will

continue to recommend his practice for any health related needs.