What to Expect On Your 1st Visit - Part III

What Conditions Respond Best to Graston Technique?

It has been 8 months since I started incorporating Graston Technique into my Chiropractic Practice.  I have to admit to being somewhat of "Soft Tissue" Snob prior to taking Graston's M1 course and implementing into my treatment protocols.  I never thought that I would feel comfortable utilizing an Instrument over my own two hands.  The impact on my clinical outcomes has been large.  Routine soft tissue injuries are remediating in as little as 2-3 treatments where they typically took 6-8.  The biggest improvement has come in treating post-op hip and knee replacements.  For years we have seen patients who had knee or hip replacements only to suffer lower back symptoms.  In addition these patients would complain of post-op stiffness and pain about the replaced joint after their release form PT.  With the use of Graston Instruments I have noted drastic improvement on these patient's Range-of-Motion and pain.  In addition the corresponding lower back pain and hip pain typically remiss much faster. 

Listen to what some of the Graston Instructors say about the success they have experienced.    

Dr. David J. Marcon
463 Ohio Pike, Suite 104
Cincinnati,;Ohio 45255
9513) 474-1111
www.marconchiropractic.com

Graston Technique for Neck pain and radiation

I have been utilizing soft tissue manipulation in my Chiropractic practice for over 24 years.  I have studied many soft tissue techniques over those years adapting some of the protocols but never investing myself in one in specific and I certainly had not purchased instruments to assist in the treatment.  This past December I became certified in Graston Technique which is an Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulative technique.  I have not seen such immediate changes in my 25 years of practice.  Please watch this video of Graston being used on a Patient with Neck issues.  The treatment is very gentle and takes as little as 5 minutes to work an entire area of concern.  Most patients see results within the first 1-2 treatments and many are asymptomatic in just a few weeks.  This is astounding since many of the patients I used the technique on at first were chronic sufferers with a lot of scar tissue.   

Dr David J. Marcon, DC, CCSP, NSCA-CPT

Perfect Pushup ER Lie Detector | Feat. Kelly Starrett | Ep. 261 | Mobili...

Cincinnati Magazine Publisher & President Leaving

Cincinnati Magazine Publisher & President John Lunn is leaving to fill the same position with Texas Monthly.  John and his family have been patients of mine for years and are true believers in Chiropractic Wellness.  I will miss John and the great discussions we had over the years.

Best wishes in Texas John, Laurie,Brittany and Alex.

Cincinnati Business Courier

How to Recover Faster from Low-Back Pain: Stay Active!

Low back pain patients who remain active are better off than those who are less active.

Researchers evaluated how patients recovered from low back pain in relation to their activity levels. Some patients were advised to “stay active” despite the pain while others were told to adjust their levels of activity based on their pain.Those who remained active ended up recovering more quickly and feeling less depressed. On the other hand, patients who adjusted their activity levels felt more depressed and were less mobile.

Researchers suggest that back pain patients remain active and continue their daily activities when possible. This will likely promote a positive outlook and increase your physical mobility to put you on the path towards recovery. Consult with a doctor in your area to learn more about how you can stay active even with back pain.

Olaya-Contreras, Patricia. Biopsychosocial analyses of acute and chronic pain, especially in the spine: The effect of distress on pain intensity and disability. Institute of Clinical Sciences at the Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg. 2011. 

Written by: Michael Melton on February 17, 2015.

Years ago the remedy for lower back pain was bed rest.  More recently, we have learned that inactivity not only lengthens the disability but also increases the likelihood that degenerative changes will occur.  This is why post-op orthopedic patients are out of bed and walking within hours of their procedures.  More esoteric is the fact that movement helps us forget about how bad we feel and makes us feel better emotionally.  Nothing worse than sitting around doing nothing, thinking about how bad we feel and depressed about missing work (income).  This is why I stress stretching, modest activity and maintaining as much of your Daily routine as your status allows.  Oh and of course Chiropractic care!!

Dr. David J. Marcon

How Injuries Can Ruin More Than Your Body

  I consider myself pretty lucky.  From playing numerous sports all through grade school to intramural sports in college and partaking in numerous other physical activities in my 22 years of life, I have never had any serious injuries, unless you count a sprained ankle.  No concussions, broken bones, trips to the emergency room, surgeries, torn ligaments or muscles.  I never knew what it was like for an athlete to deal with a serious setback in their fitness goal.  That was until this past summer when I tore my trapezius muscle.   

Over this past summer, June 22 to be exact, I tore my trap muscle.  I had no idea that it happened either.  I was doing some dynamic stretching warming up for deadlifts that morning.  As soon as I bent over to touch my foot I felt something strange happen to my upper back.  I can’t explain the feeling, it just felt different.  I still did my workout that day just fine.  I iced my trap that night just as a precaution and thought everything should be fine.  However, the next day it felt like someone poured concrete into my neck.  I couldn't move at all! I had to roll off my bed in order to even get out of bed.  I then crawled to my phone like a newborn baby.  I managed to call my mom and asked her to make an appointment with my uncle who is a chiropractor.  When I finally managed to get to my uncle’s, he told me to lie on his table so he could inspect the damage.  He could tell there was a lot of inflammation and that I probably strained or slightly tore my trap.  He said I would need to take a few weeks off from using the muscle.  He adjusted me, which helps in speeding up the recovery.  To be honest, I do not remember the rest of the visit.  My mind blacked out given the pain and all the worries. 

So after a few weeks off I was back at it, doing Crossfit.  Just a little bump in the road, I told myself.  That was until I strained my trap again in late September.  This time I knew exactly what it was when I felt it happen.  This time, thankfully, it wasn't as bad.  So after another trip to my uncle I decided to rehab my trap back by swimming.  After a month of swimming I felt great.  I still did Crossfit here and there, but not as intense.

Late November, I decided to start doing Crossfit again and I wanted to join a box so I could have a coach and a good program so that my injury wouldn't come back.  I joined a box downtown called Queen City Crossfit and I fell in love with it.  Loved the coaches, members, the programming, and the extra push and encouragement everyone gave during the workouts.  My coach knew about my trap injury and would only push me to where I was not risking injury recurring.  I started to feel confident enough again in my body that I could go harder during workouts.  Well I was wrong.  I strained my trap again for a third time in a matter of months. 

I was pissed off at my body.  Why is my body not letting me push myself to the limit that I am so accustomed to?  Where did I screw up?  Am I ever going to be 100% again?  All these questions blew up in my mind.  I decided it was in my best interest to stop going to my box and doing the thing I love.  I told myself I would not put a time limit on how long my recovery should be.   I have been taking it very easy working out and rehabbing my trap back to health.  From many visits to my uncle this past month and long talks with my mom who also dealt with a sports injury tearing her ACL playing tennis, I still do not know if I am emotionally ready to start working out again at the same intensity I am accustomed to.  That’s right, I said emotionally ready.  Physically, my trap feels better for the most part. After messing up my trap the third time, I know what exercises I need to work on. However, there are not any exercises I know that can help me forget about my injury.  I still am scared every day I work out that I might tear my trap again and be forced to take another month or more off. 

The human body is an amazing organism.  It will constantly fix itself know matter what you did to it given time, rest, and nutrition.  However, your body cannot fix your mind.  My trap injury has definitely changed my perspective on sports injuries.  Coming back from an injury is tough because it is like getting put in a cage with a lion and it bites your arm off.  After surgeons give you a new, stronger arm, they put you back in the cage with the lion.  Of course you are scared because you think the lion is going to bite your arm off again.  However, if you have the confidence and forget about the fear, you can beat that lion. Well this week I decided I need to go back in the cage with the lion and continue with my fitness journey without that fear.  I decided that life is too short to be fearful of reaching for your goals. 

Thanks Uncle Dave and mom for giving me the support I needed to get me through this injury.

Ryan Morrison is a senior at the University of Cincinnati studying Food & Nutrition leading a certification as a Registered Dietitian.  Ryan currently works at the University of Cincinnati Department of Environmental Health & Safety and at the University's Recreational Center where he conducts group fitness classes.     And of course he is my Nephew.