Hurt in a Car Accident? You're More Likely to be in Pain Longer Than Other Types of Accidents

Of all the "accidents" you can have, the one that leaves you in pain for the longest is a car accident.  That's according to a new study from the university of Aberdeen School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Car Accident Victims In Pain Longer

The link between long term pain and car accidents may seem obvious since it's a physically traumatic experience, but it's a really important correlation. Often car accident victims suddenly experience pain weeks or months after the crash but they don't put the two events together.

Physical therapists see this happen all the time.  A patient has what they consider a minor accident, they don't have any immediate pain, but sometime later on their body responds to the trauma.  The time between the accident and the pain can be misleading.

The accident may be over and your auto insurance has probably covered all the costs of fixing your car, but the long term effects on your body may be just beginning.

For more information on how physical therapy can help you recover from a car accident injury, contact our office at (941) 922-9312 or you can visit the Sarasota Physical Medicine website for more information.

A Fender Bender for Your Car can be a Major Injury for Your Body

Let's say you're in a car accident.  Someone rear ends you at a stoplight.  When you look at the damage to your car's back end, it's pretty minor.  A pushed in bumper, maybe some dings and paint scrapes.  "Great news," says your insurance agent.  "That means you weren't badly hurt either!"  Wrong.

Don't assume there's a relationship between vehicle damage and bodily injury in an accident.  A car is built out of solid materials. It absorbs the energy of an impact in a different way than your body.  You may have serious head and neck injuries even though your car only shows a dented fender.  It really doesn't matter which way you hit a car.  The damage you can expect is pretty much based on physics.  But when you're sitting in the car and moving about, the position of your head, the direction of the impact, the forces on your spine all affect how badly you'll be hurt.    

Don't underestimate your injuries in a car accident.  Often people in fender benders refuse medical treatment because they feel fine in the minutes after a crash.  That feeling often goes away as the hours count down and the pain sets in.  Never ever assume that you can predict how badly you're hurt from how badly your car is damaged.

For more information on the impact of vehicle accidents on your body and how physical therapy can help you recover faster, contact Sarasota Physical Medicine or call us at (941) 922-9312.

Looking for a Simple Way to Get Into Shape? Start Walking!

How many steps does it take to start living a healthier lifestyle?  Only one step at a time.  On April 6th everyone across the US is invited to take that first step by being part of the National Start! Walking Day.  Take 30 minutes for yourself.  Get out from behind that desk, or up from that couch, and get out for your health.  Walking is one of the easiest fitness routines you can start.  It doesn't require special gear or fancy shoes.  All you need is a little bit of motivation.  Find a buddy, make a date, make yourself a promise--to get out and get walking.  Call our office at Sarasota Physical Medicine (922-9312) if you need a pep talk or some moral support.  We want to help you live a longer healthier life, one step at a time!

Why You Should Worry More About Everyday Exposure to Radiation and Less About Japan's Nuclear Crisis. & Iodine.

How Iodine Protects from Radiation

Recent non-stop news of the Japanese nuclear accident can cause even the most sensible people to react irrationally when it comes to their health.  Worries about nuclear fallout and radiation poisoning make most of us think "what would we do if it happened here?"  Well guess what.  You're exposed to radiation every day.  Here's what you should know about it. 

Radiation is a naturally occurring thing.  We take in doses of radiation every day from the sun, the soil, the water we drink, the food we eat and the electronics we use.  In most cases, our bodies process and handle these low doses pretty well, but the one area of our body most susceptible to radiation is the thyroid.  This gland can be more susceptible to cancers because of how it regulates metabolic rates.  Exposure to high levels of radiation causes this glad to go haywire.  But there's a natural supplement that can help:  Iodine.

Your thyroid needs natural iodine to create hormones. When you're exposed to high levels of radioactive iodine, that's when you have a problem.  One treatment is to supplement your body with stable, non-radioactive iodine.  When your thyroid has high levels of this good iodine, it doesn't store any of the radioactive iodine, basically letting it pass through your body.  So once again, nature provides our bodies with something to help sustain and regulate our systems and fight off harmful toxins.   In fact many doctors recommend patients take iodine supplements to keep your thyroid healthy. 

So as you watch the news reports about radiation contamination in Japan, be rational about what's really a threat to your health.  Make sensible decisions and live a life of peace with the things you do everyday. You’ll be way ahead of the people who react irrationally out of fear.

Go to the Sarasota Physical Medicine for more information and videos about how we can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Sarasota Chiropractors Treat Car Accident Injuries

What's the connection between car accidents and chiropractors? Well, car accident injuries usually involve the spine and can cause back pain, neck pain, headaches and other symptoms. Chiropractors are spine specialists. It's what they do. And that makes them exceptionally qualified to help people who've been hurt in accidents. At Sarasota Physical Medicine, patients not only get chiropractic treatment, they also have a rehabilitation plan put together that includes physical therapy and therapeutic massage. Watch our latest video for more details about they types of symptoms and treatments available for accident victims.



For more information contact Sarasota Physical Medicine at (941) 922-9312 or go to their website at http://www.srqchiro.com

Lower Back Pain From Brushing Your Teeth.... Yes it's possible!

It’s called lower back pain, pinched nerve, sciatica, some people even call it a pain in the you know what. But any way you label it, lower back pain can be debilitating. Sarasota Chiropractors,  Dr. Haley and Dr. Lamourt, talk about the causes of back pain and explain some of the treatment options available to you.

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LOSE WEIGHT IN ONLY 3 EASY STEPS! SAVE MONEY TOO! FREE WEIGHT LOSS PLAN!

We've uncovered the secret to guaranteed weight loss.  In only 3 easy steps you'll shed pounds, feel better and probably live longer.  No need to buy any expensive equipment.  No pre-packaged foods to pay for.  No diet books to read.  This is the easiest most common sense weight loss system you've ever heard of.  We learned the secrets to this plan and now want to share it with YOU!  Are you ready for it?  Because this will change your life.  Okay, here it is: 

1.  Eat Less
2.  Exercise More
3.  Mentally commit to eating less and exercising more.

Okay.  I know that's not the answer you were looking for.  You were probably hoping for a short cut, a DIY diet plan, or an exercise fad that promises to make you leaner and stronger in just 5 minutes a day.  There is NO SUCH THING!  Loosing weight is not rocket science.  Everyone knows how to do it.  Eating less and exercising more are the easy part.  It's step 3 that gets you every single time.  No matter how much exercise you do, you won't loose a pound on your hips and thighs until you workout your mind first. 

The 3 "easy steps" to my magic weight loss plan above are really in the wrong order.  The first step in EVERY weight loss plan starts with a decision and a commitment.  Diets are just a list of instructions and rules to follow.  They won't work unless you DECIDE to follow them.  Every time you put food in your mouth, you're making a series of decisions leading up to the moment of chew.  It doesn't really matter WHY you're reaching for a bag of chips.  Maybe you're hungry or have a salt craving.  Maybe you're eating to punish yourself for something or because you feel out of control.  Whatever the reason, it is YOUR decision that gets the food from the fridge into your mouth and onto your hips.  Once you DECIDE to make a change, you've taken the first step.  The next step is to COMMIT to the change no matter how uncomfortable it makes you feel.

Being hungry, cranky, and irritable are side effects of making healthier choices at first.  Yes, it really sucks.  But there is no "easy" way around it, no matter what the diet industry tells you.  Nothing about changing your addictions is easy.  And that's exactly what food is to most people.  We eat for pleasure, not nutrition.  And pleasure seeking is one of the most primal urges in the human condition.  That's where the powerful mind comes in.  You CAN override these impulses to eat too much if you are COMMITTED to making better DECISIONS. 

The real secret to loosing weight is found between your ears.  No matter how many carbs you cut, or diet books and DVDs you buy, none of it will work until your mind catches up with your mouth.  

For help and advice on living a healthier life, contact us at Sarasota Physical Medicine (941) 922-9312.

A New Year, A New Medicare Deductible. Do You Know Your Coverage Levels?

Okay everyone; It's time to hit the reset button.  The new year means a new start.  Time to begin new healthy habits like eating well, exercising and managing your medicare budget.  Making sure you have the health coverage you need for the coming year is something most people don't think about.  Here's what you need to know:

The Medicare deductible that you'll pay out of pocket for 2011 is $162.  The good news is that there's no limit to Medicare coverage for chiropractic treatment, so you can see us at Sarasota Physical Medicine throughout the year as often as you medically need to.

Medicare also covers physical therapy, but there is a limit to how much.   For 2011 the PT limit is $1,860 for the entire year.  Once you've used your annual coverage amount, Medicare will only pay above that for physical therapy when your doctor shows you need additional treatment and we request an extension.  So if you do need additional physical therapy, Sarasota Physical Medicine will handle that paperwork for you, so you can focus on getting better.

Here's a warning to patients who were converted from Medicare to an HMO: Not all plans are accepted by hospitals and doctors offices.  Check with your doctors to see which HMO plans they accept.  Be careful, because once you choose a plan, you're stuck with it for the entire year.  If you choose wrong, then you won't be able to see the doctor you know and trust for a whole year of your health care. Names of some of the larger HMOs are Freedom, Universal, and Medicare Complete.

If you have any questions about your coverage, call Sarasota Physical Medicine and we'll help you navigate through the Medicare/HMO paperwork.  We're experienced at dealing with all the red tape, rules and regulations, so you don't have to go through this alone.

So this year, let Sarasota Physical Medicine help you get a healthy start to 2011. Get back to doing the things you love: golfing, gardening, walking, swimming, playing with your grandchildren.  These are the moments that make life meaningful.  Let us help you make life less painful so you can enjoy them.   Happy New Year everyone!

For more information, contact us at (941) 922-9312 or go to srqchiro.com

When We Ask if You're on Drugs, it's Not What You Think.

There is a very simple question that we ask our patients during an office visit:  Are you taking any medications right now?  For some reason, the longer someone takes a drug, the less they consider it a "medication."  This happens most often with patients taking blood pressure and cholesterol lowering drugs. These drugs serve a short term purpose to make your body think your levels are under control, but staying on them for the rest of your life isn't a good long term health plan.  And just because you're used to them, doesn't mean you're not taking "medicine."

According to johnshopkinshealthalerts.com, blood pressure meds have some pretty rotten side effects, including: Constipation, dizziness, frequent urination,  potassium loss, swollen or bleeding gums, upset stomach and more.  According to WebMD, cholesterol drug side effects are even worse: Abnormal liver function, muscle aches, skin rashes, and even decreased sexual drive.  Feeling any of these side effects shouldn't be normal. So what if you could stop taking those medications?  It's possible.  Really.

The way to kick this drug habit for many people is simply living a healthier lifestyle.  That means eating better, exercising, and getting the right vitamins and mineral balance in your body. That's really what chiropractic care is all about.  So many of the symptoms of high blood pressure and high cholesterol are directly related to what you do with your body.  Eating high fat meals, smoking, too much sodium in processed foods, being overweight; these are some of the root causes of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.  Change your lifestyle, and you'll change your life.

Taking a pill might be easier, but in the long run you'll still be unhealthy. Why do patients agree to a lifetime commitment to a drug, but won't make a lifetime commitment to themselves?  It is hard.  We know that.  But that's why we're here.  As Chiropractic Physicians, we treat patients so that their body can find a balance and work at its best.  Why not make being healthy your new "drug."  Then when we ask if you're on any medications, you can say "no" and really mean it.