As a chiropractor with a commitment to healing, I recognize the challenges many patients face with regard to injuries, limited motion and the quest to regain full mobility. This point has added meaning for athletes and those who enjoy the rigor of golf and tennis, outdoor sports where the warmth of the environment - the beauty and semi-tropical splendor of Central Florida, in my case - is a key part of the overall experience: The chance to compete, on the courts and amidst the greens, with someone who shares your passion for these respective activities.
There is, after all, something artistic - the poetry of the pose, so to speak - when a tennis player extends their body and executes the seamless follow-through of a perfect serve, or a golfer has the posture and alignment of a sculpture-made-real - climaxed by the sound of a long-distance drive, the ball approaching the hole with near exactitude.
But, for every individual who witnesses that moment and endures the elements while seeking their own ace or hole-in-one, there are others - many of them my patients - who suffer a variety of injuries, muscle tears, and knee, joint and elbow problems from all those matches, tournaments, tees and countless miles spent wearing tennis whites or golf shoe spikes.
No doubt these issues are common among employees throughout corporate America, but the best way to address this issue and promote a culture of wellness comes with knowing one's options. That is, before undergoing surgery or some other invasive procedure - and in an attempt to find and support less drastic and more holistic choices - companies should educate workers about the advantages of chiropractic medicine, the technological advances within this profession and the use of Acoustic Compression Therapy (ACT), which relieves musculoskeletal pain - without the need for prescription medications.
Again, the numbers make this topic a matter of concern for companies - given, particularly, the statistics (54 injuries per 1,000 tennis matches played) - and the corresponding injuries related to this sport, which include sprained ankles, shoulder pain, calf strain, stress fractures of the back and the dreaded tennis elbow with soreness on the lateral side of the upper arm.
For golfers, the statistics are no less alarming. In fact, injuries to the wrist and hand - as well as harm to the back and elbow - often compromise a player's game, resulting in shorter shots, constant pain (from overuse or a traumatic blow, like hitting a root or rock), bone fractures and tendonitis.
And, aside from the use of splinting, ice and anti-inflammatory medicines, conventional treatment - including cortisone injections - is hardly appealing. These same individuals, by the millions, work in pain. Their daily routines, the assignments and responsibilities they oversee, are one of compromise and capitulation, not enhanced productivity and positive morale.
In so many words: Pain is, well, painful - extremely so - with no temporary remission during office hours and job performance. Simply stated, the body does not suppress pain for the good of camaraderie and business success.
New Technology for Old (but Persistent) Problems: Restoring Range of Motion and Dealing with Scar Tissue
Thankfully, new techniques - of which ACT is a prime example - are also a metaphor for the union between proven science and breakthrough equipment, which relieves pain and postpones or completely avoids surgery. This form of WellWave technology, based on the science of lithotripsy and the use of high-energy sound waves to break up stones in the kidney, bladder or ureter, now addresses a variety of musculoskeletal conditions.
The benefits, which I can attest to and my patients can confirm, include improved circulation (which mitigates pain and muscle tightness) and healing. To the person reading these facts, and for everyone with an injury or a series of injuries, bear in mind that this topic is not exclusive to golf and tennis players: People with similar problems, caused by running, weightlifting or other high-impact sports, can be candidates for ACT.
This group further includes patients dealing with an excessive amount of scar tissue, which may compress nerves and blood vessels, and restrict physical movement and proper physiological functioning. The result is pain, similar to the way a bulging or herniated disc can put pressure on a nerve and induce significant discomfort.
The scar tissue itself is often the product of surgery or a particular injury, but can also be the effect of general inflammation. The fact is: Everyone has scar tissue of some sort, and, depending on the severity of the affected area(s), ACT can potentially relieve this pain and pressure. The point is that this therapy - and the chance to strengthen quality of life for employees within the workforce - is a symbol of genuine health care reform.
With three to five treatments, and no side effects, patients can see dramatic results (sometimes after only a single 10-minute treatment) and enjoy greater range of motion. The cost-effective nature of ACT, due to the extensive and credible research of independent scientists, is a testament, above all, to options; the most important of which is the option to forgo surgery, and endure months of physical therapy, healing, scarring (ACT can reduce this effect, too) without any guarantee of marked improvement.
My advice is to reap the rewards of this renaissance in chiropractic medicine, where the latest resources and the most dynamic types of technology can transform personal health and mobility. In turn, those assets can broaden our conception of wellness - for the aid of employees and the satisfaction of employers.
About the Author
Dr. Joseph Terranova is the co-owner/founder for the Injury Health Center. The Injury Health Center has five locations in Orlando, Kissimmee, Ocoee, St. Petersburg and Daytona, Florida. Dr. Terranova has a bachelor of science degree from Excelsior College in New York.
He earned his doctorate degree from Life University in Marietta Georgia in 1999. He is well versed in many chiropractic techniques including Diversified, Activator, Thompson, and S.O.T.
