Dr. Curtis McElroy

Tag: osteopathic treatment

  • Is Tech Neck Reversible

    Is Tech Neck Reversible?

    Tech neck is simply the soreness you feel in your neck when you’ve spent too much time looking down at your mobile device.

    More than just soreness, you may be experiencing actual pain in your neck and upper back. It’s become more common now that smartphones and tablets are used by more people around the world. The soreness and pain can become chronic if not treated, and sometimes require the help of a medical professional and physical therapy.

    It can be reversed!

    Before it becomes medically necessary to feel relief, you can do a few things yourself to reverse “tech-neck” and the symptoms. These include:

    Limit your device usage. It really is that simple. Be aware of how much time you’ve been spending on your device and make a point of setting it aside for a few hours.

    Take micro-breaks. Set an alarm on your device for every hour and when it goes off, set the device down and walk away. Take a micro-break of 1-2 minutes. Stretch your body and give your neck a break.

    Bruegger’s. This is an exercise you can do during each break you take. Sit at the edge of your seat. Spread your legs hip wide and turn your feet out at a 45-degree angle. Let your arms hang loosely at your side. Have your palms facing forward. Sit up straight in a neutral position (neither leaning forward or backward). Tilt your head back so it is directly over your shoulders (align your head with your neck with your spine). Take 5 deep breaths, slowly inhaling and slowly exhaling. Repeat as needed. Doing this every hour for 1-2 minutes should provide great relief. Make it a habit and you should stop the “tech neck” symptoms.

    Neck stretches. Start by relaxing your shoulders and lightly holding on to your thighs or your chair. Tilt your head toward your left shoulder and hold for 15 seconds. Use your hand to gently pull your head toward your shoulder. Let the weight of your head stretch your muscles. Repeat 2 to 4 times toward each shoulder.

    Diagonal neck stretch. Turn your head in the direction toward your right. Tilt your head down toward your chest while on a diagonal and hold for 15 seconds. Keep your breathing steady. Do the same as you look toward your left. Repeat 2 to 4 times each side.

    Use a Cervical Roll. The neck naturally has a C-shaped curve and it can be flattened or reversed by “tech neck”. A cervical roll is a simple way to get the curve back. Take a small hand towel and roll it lengthwise. Rubber band or tape it to keep the roll tight. Lay on your back on a flat surface and place the roll at the base of your neck. Don’t put it under your head. Relax and rest on the roll for 15 minutes a day.

    Get adjusted. Osteopathic and Chiropractic adjustments help restore normal joint and skeletal functions, relieving and eliminating muscle tension. Getting a neck adjustment is a simple treatment that will help reverse the effects of “tech neck”.

  • Osteopathic Treatment Of Muscular Strains

    Osteopathic Treatment of Muscular Strains

    Osteopathic treatment is the treatment of the body as a whole.

    The osteopathic physician, or D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) also believes that healing comes from within.  The treatment of osteopathic medicine is done by manipulation, stretching, ice, rest, exercises and other similar treatments.

    Osteopathic medicine is not to be confused with chiropractic medicine or physical therapy.

    Osteopathic medicine was founded in 1874 by a man named Andrew Taylor Still.  An osteopath is a physician and may also be a primary care physician as well.

    Osteopathic medicine is becoming widely recognized in the United States.  The first school for this type of medicine was started in Missouri in 1892.

    On first visiting the osteopathic physician, he or she would evaluate you to determine exactly where the area of discomfort was initiated.  He or she would then move your body in a variety of ways and if further diagnosis were necessary an MRI or x-ray would be prescribed.  A medical history would also be discussed and charted.  You should plan on an hour-long visit upon initial examination.

    Osteopathic treatment of muscle strain may involve ice, rest, and/or manipulation such as a force or pressure to the strained area.  Other possibilities of treatment for a muscle strain might also involve traction, counterforce movements in a certain direction, thrusting movements, or a counterstrain technique.  It is important to mention here that one should never attempt or have anyone untrained attempt these movements on your body.

    Only a licensed, qualified Doctor of Osteopathic medicine is trained to do this.  Greater injury can result if an unqualified or untrained individual attempts these same movements and techniques.  Depending on the approach that is used for your specific injury there may be some muscle soreness that develops after an osteopathic session.  This is entirely normal and to be expected.  Should this last longer than a couple of days you will need to consult with your osteopathic physician.

    If you have tried other methods for healing, such as seeking out the advice of your physician or chiropractic medicine and were not satisfied, you might try an osteopathic physician.  Osteopathic medicine is becoming more readily available and a much more commonly sought out treatment in the United States.

    Consult with your physician as to where you can find an Osteopathic medical facility in the area.  Many people have been helped using this form of treatment.  The sooner that you facilitate treatment for you injury, the sooner that you will be able to be discomfort free and back onto the road to living a normal lifestyle as you had previously.  Osteopathic medical treatment is not for everyone, but it very well may be the best source of medical treatment for your muscle strain injury.

     

     

     

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