Chiropractic is an integral part of medical treatment in the NFL. The most common issue NFL chiropractors treat is lower back pain.

The New York Giants’ team chiropractor, Dr. Robert DeStefano, D.C., describes health care in the NFL as a coordinated team, comprised of many types of medical professionals: orthopedists, athletic trainers, physical therapists, and more. A survey of NFL chiropractors found that before chiropractic treatment was common in the NFL, players generally sought chiropractors on their own or were referred to one by an athletic trainer. After treating one player, many others were quickly referred to see them.
Dr. Michael Miller, D.C., of the New England Patriots claims he became the first official team chiropractor in the NFL when he began treating Patriots players 30 years ago. When chiropractic treatment started becoming popular, chiropractors often met players in hotel rooms or parking lots to provide adjustments. Now they typically share the training room with other medical professionals who treat the team, or provide adjustments in the locker room.
Almost half of team chiropractors travel with their teams to away games, according to the Professional Football Chiropractic Society.

Common NFL Injuries

NFL players can suffer numerous injuries throughout their careers in practice, games, and even during off-season training. The NFL reported more than 4,000 injuries in 2011. Injuries can vary widely and are often related to a player’s position. Injuries commonly occur in the upper body, such as the neck and shoulder, as well as in the extremities, such as the lower leg, knee, ankle, and foot.
Another common and serious type of injury affecting NFL players are concussions. For many years the NFL denied the possibility of long-term health problems associated with repeated blows to the head. But in 2014 the NFL acknowledged the dangers of multiple concussions and estimated that brain injuries will affect as many as one in three retired players.
Brain injuries can cause players to develop neurological disorders such as dementia at higher rates. Due to these findings, the NFL has taken significant steps to cut down on traumatic brain injuries, including penalizing, fining, and even suspending players for certain types of hits to the head. The NFL has also developed elaborate sideline protocols to diagnose concussions during games. As a result, the number of NFL player concussions fell by 13 percent between 2012 and 2013. But due to the physical nature of the sport, concussions are an unavoidable injury for many NFL players.

What Do Chiropractors Treat NFL Players For?

NFL chiropractors spend a lot of time keeping their players in shape, giving an average of 30 to 50 treatments per week.
According to the 2002 survey of NFL chiropractors, the most common injury NFL chiropractors treat is lower back pain. They also frequently treat players for “burners” and “stingers,” nerve pain commonly associated with contact sports. They typically occur as a result of injury to the nerve supply of the upper arm, usually blows to the neck or shoulder. Untreated, these injuries can cause pain that radiates from the shoulder to the hand.
Other acute injuries treated by NFL chiropractors include muscle strains, whiplash, and neck pain.
Players can also develop chronic conditions such as carpal tunnel misalignment and temperomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. These conditions, like acute injuries, can seriously inhibit a player’s ability to take the field. Chiropractic realignment can relieve pain from these chronic injuries, while preventing them from getting worse.

Treatment for Concussions

NFL players may also seek chiropractic care for headaches, which are often a secondary complaint after a concussion.
Several case studies show that chiropractic treatment can assist with improvement in a wide range of post-concussion disorders. Some of those disorders include attention deficit, dizziness, visual dysfunction, delayed reaction, depression and trouble sleeping.
Chiropractors are often among several health professionals treating players after a game, and therefore have the opportunity to observe players for post-concussion signs and symptoms, such as dull headaches, fatigue, irritability, tinnitus, and anxiety, among other complaints. Catching these signs early is vital, since an untreated concussion can cause brain injury that leads to seizures and even death.

Chiropractic Care and Injury Prevention

Early in an NFL player’s career, injuries can mean the difference between years of playing professional football or just one short season. According to statistics website Statista.com, the average NFL career lasts just over three years, which means many players are racing the clock.
Throughout NFL history, players have been given numbing agents to “play through the pain.” This temporary relief for sports injuries can cause further damage and hinder healing. Understanding of pain has developed past this short-term strategy to deal with injuries, and chiropractors provide a valuable part of the solution.
In a news conference preceding the 2013 Super Bowl, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said preventing head injuries is his first priority moving forward with the league. “I’ll do anything that’s going to make the game safer and better,” he said.
As the NFL seeks to ensure the health of players, chiropractic care will continue to play an important role in injury rehabilitation and performance.
Image by: erika8213 / 123RF Stock Photo.

According to researchers at the University of Texas at Austin, it’s important to limit the amount of time spent sitting every day, regardless of how much exercise you get.

Exercise Resistance?

For the study, researchers at the University of Texas at Austin required seven healthy, young, male volunteers to wear monitors and engage in four active days followed by four sedentary days. On the active days, the participants walked as often as possible, logging more than 17,000 daily steps, and sat for roughly eight hours each day. On sedentary days, they sat for approximately 14 hours.
On the morning of the fourth day, they ran for an hour and then ate a high-fat, sugary breakfast. When the men were regularly active and ran, their bodies experienced a healthful reduction of triglycerides after breakfast, but when they sat for extended periods of time, running did not bring down the levels of triglycerides in their blood.
Based upon these observations, the researchers concluded that too much sitting might actually render a body “exercise resistant.” Inactivity seems to alter the physiology of the human body in ways that prevent exercise from improving the metabolism of fat, essentially blocking some of the normal, positive impacts of exercise. The researchers said the study underscores the importance of limiting sitting time, even among people who get some exercise.
A more general research review, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that sitting more than eight hours or so a day increases the risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and death.

The Importance of Activity

Exercise has long been linked to better health, helping maintain healthy blood pressure and weight levels, and reducing the risk of diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and other maladies. Active people are more likely to weigh less, be nonsmokers, and even be more educated (although it’s hard to ascertain which came first in these correlations).
And what about pain levels?
According to a Harvard Medical School report, the most common causes of joint pain are osteoarthritis, old injuries, repetitive or overly forceful movements, posture problems, aging, and inactivity. Being less active and limiting movement can weaken muscles and make joint problems worse, adversely affecting posture and causing pain to spike.
But the right type and amount of activity can reduce joint pain, strengthen muscles, restore flexibility, and allow for more pain-free movement and fewer limitations.
The message is clear: Getting up and moving is very important to your health. If you’re experiencing pain due to excessive sitting, or would like to learn more about how lack of activity can affect your health, contact Tuck Chiropractic Clinic to schedule an appointment.
Image by: ammentorp/123rf.

According to a research review from the University Health Network in Canada, sitting for 8 or more hours a day could raise your risk of severe health complications.

Negative Health Effects Associated with Sitting for Long Periods

This research analysis is the latest in a growing number of studies linking lack of physical activity with negative health effects. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, many cases of cancer are linked to daily lack of activity, including 43,000 cases of colon cancer and 49,000 cases of breast cancer.
Long-term sitting is linked to higher rates of disability after age 60. According to a study at Northwestern University led by Dorothy Dunlop, for people over 60, every additional hour of sitting per day increases risk of disability by 46 percent. According to Dunlop’s findings, that risk increases regardless of how much time seniors spend exercising.
Analysis of data collected in an ongoing study conducted on about 12,000 Australians estimates that spending 6 or more hours in front of the television on a daily basis decreases life span by approximately 4.8 years. Dr. J. Lennert Veerman analyzed data from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study and found that every hour spent in front of the TV decreases life expectancy by 21 minutes. By contrast, a cigarette decreases life expectancy by about 11 minutes.
Another review published in Diabetologia analyzed 18 studies. Dr. Emma Wilmot led the study, which found that those who sat the most hours on a daily basis had a 112 percent increase in relative chances of developing diabetes, 147 percent increase in risk of cardiovascular disease, and 49 percent increase in risk of premature death.
Research continues to show that sitting for long hours is linked to increased risk of developing several major, potentially fatal health problems.

Don’t Give up on Exercise

While sitting for long periods of time does increase risk regardless of exercise, those who sat for long periods of time and who exercised regularly experienced a third less risk of dying (during the studies analyzed) than those who did not exercise.
Also interesting is that other health risks such as obesity, smoking, and age were not a direct factor in heightening health risks. A person at a healthy weight, for instance, is still at a higher risk of dying from health problems if they sit for more than 8 hours a day.
Researchers across several studies agree: Daily, vigorous exercise for about 30 minutes a day and breaking up long periods of sitting with one- or two-minute breaks to stretch and move can reduce your risk of developing severe or fatal health problems.

Reducing Time Spent Sitting

Breaking up long periods of sitting can be difficult, especially if you are dealing with work restrictions. Dr. Alter and other researchers offered these tips to reduce your risk of increased health problems:

• Get up and move around for 2 or 3 minutes every half-hour or so of work
• If your workplace permits, try to stand for a few hours during the work day to cut back on sitting time
• Walk to a colleague’s office to deliver a message instead of sending an email, pace during phone conversations, and walk to a separate location to get lunch
• Cut TV time, which is the biggest culprit for sedentary time outside of working hours
• When you do watch TV, get up and move during commercial breaks
• Track how many hours a day you spend sitting, and make a plan to reduce that by at least 2 or 3 hours
• If you sit for long periods with no alternative and do not exercise, pick up regular, vigorous exercise, which can still increase your chances of living a longer, healthier life

At Tuck Chiropractic Clinic, we often treat patients with pain resulting, in large part, from a sedentary lifestyle. While sitting in a work environment is often unavoidable, one of the best ways to stay healthy is to sit less and exercise more. Taking short, frequent breaks during your workday can have a long-term, positive impact on your health and even extend your life.
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There are so many reasons to eat healthy, most of which we all know. However, the reality of eating healthy is sometimes inhibited by busy schedules, the need for quick go-to options, and the fear of trading taste for nutrition. Bearing that in mind, we began a series of Facebook Posts sharing what we have called “Tuck Test Kitchen” recipes. In these posts, we present our friends and followers with ideas to make their meals simpler and healthier. We have personally tried the recipes to ensure they are both easy and delicious.
For this recipe, “Perfect Sweet Potato Fries”, we wanted to share the step-by-step, in hopes that it would inspire you to give it a go. We found the original recipe for these baked fries on The Food Network website and generally followed it exactly as shown, except for extending the cooking time and reducing it in half. When we prepared this for a family of four (two adults, two young kids) and found that two large sweet potatoes resulted in a great amount. It’s easy to scale depending on the number of people you need to serve.
Ingredients:

• 5 Sweet Potatoes, washed with skin on
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil, for tossing (approximately 3-4 teaspoons)
• 1/2 Teaspoon Paprika (we love smoked paprika, if you have it!)
• 1 Teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 Teaspoon Pepper
• 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

 
Preheat the oven to 450°. Blend all the seasonings together in a small dish and set them aside. Next, slice the sweet potatoes (with skin on) into matchstick shapes. It is much easier to get consistent cuts if you have a mandoline slicer (just a little tip). 

Once all the sweet potatoes are cut toss them with the extra virgin olive oil. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray and then evenly distribute the fries across the sheet. Once they are laid out sprinkle them with the seasoning mixture. The original recipe called for a baking time of 20 minutes, we found that between 30-35 minutes makes them caramelize and was more in line with our tastes. Our advice: set the time for 20 minutes, check them, and bake longer if you aren’t quite satisfied with the texture. Just a warning, when they come out you are going to want to devour them instantly. Give it a few minutes so you don’t burn your mouth! They are amazing, satisfying, and healthy–truly a winner!

Not only will you feel good about eating these because the flavor is awesome but you will feel good about them because the nutritional value is also awesome. Sweet potatoes with skin on are one of the most nutritious foods and packed with a power punch of fiber, beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, iron, and folate. Extra virgin olive oil is also a healthy source of fat because it is high in monosaturated fat which can help lower cholesterol and control insulin levels.
We hope this recipe helps you as you pursue wellness in your life, since nutrition is such a critical component. If we can partner with you further to support your wellness goals, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Our wellness blog gives us the opportunity to regularly connect with patients, friends, and followers alike. We love sharing a wide variety of health and wellness information and also success stories from our patients. For our team, 2016 was an amazing year. As we celebrate welcoming a new year full of new possibilities we felt it was only fitting to reflect on the blog articles that were “the best” as determined by you, our audience! We have compiled data on which articles were the most read—and here you have it!

1. Supporting Those who Serve our Community Getting to work with incredible patients like Greg reminds us of the value of serving others before self and focusing on leaving a positive impact on those around us!
2. Dr. Ray Tuck’s Story No matter how well you know Dr. Tuck we thought you might enjoy a deeper look at who is and what he is all about.
3. Dr. Matthis: Why Chiropractic The answer to “why chiropractic?” for Matthis is a powerful, compelling, and personal story. It speaks volumes about the ability of chiropractic to leave a positive impact on lives—both patients and doctors alike.
4. Jennifer’s Story: Chiropractic and Migraines Jennifer knows her health can’t be isolated to just dealing with headaches, just exercise, or just a healthy diet. It is when chiropractic care is aligned with all other aspects of health that the most positive impact is felt.
5. Lessons in Wellness from a Lifetime Athlete We spoke with a local lifetime athlete who has spent her career encouraging current and developing athletes—we knew there was a lot we could learn from her.
6. 5 Tips for Staying Active at Work If we can’t just quit our jobs to get more active, what can we do during work hours to get moving and improve our physical fitness?
7. 5 Types of Food that Enhance Spinal Health Good nutrition is essential for a healthy metabolism and for tissue growth and repair. Nutrition determines the strength of your teeth, bones, connective tissues, and your spine.
8. If I Go Once, Do I Have to Keep Going? This is one of the most frequently asked questions about chiropractic. In this post, we provide detailed information on this not-so-simple topic.
9. An Open Letter to the Person with Back Pain We see you—your unique story—your unique goals—your unique pain. Now we simply ask, are you ready to come see us?
10. Overcoming Chronic Back Pain: Joyce’s Story Convenient and consistent chiropractic care allows Joyce to work hard, embrace life, and overcome chronic pain.

Copyright: nd3000 / 123RF Stock Photo

We are kicking off 2017 with a big and exciting announcement. As of January 2nd, we will have a new office open to serve the Bonsack, Botetourt, Northeast Roanoke and Vinton Communities. We are constantly striving for ways to improve accessibility and better serve you, our patients and know that convenient clinic locations are a key aspect of this. You can find our new office at:

Tuck Chiropractic-Botetourt
60 Summerfield Court
Roanoke, VA 24019

Our Vinton office and patients will also transition to this office, effective January 2nd. Exciting moves like this would not be possible without our supportive patients and community. Dr. AJ Labarbera explained, “The demand for a Tuck Chiropractic clinic in the Bonsack and Botetourt area grew such that we knew it was the right time to add this clinic location. We continuously work to improve our accessibility, so it is exciting to bring our brand to Botetourt. We strive to positively impact our community and know that convenient chiropractic care is key to accomplishing that goal.”  
We are also thrilled to be neighbors with Carilion Wellness. This strategic location is helpful to those that integrate chiropractic care with their overall wellness plan, to include exercise and fitness.
We would like to thank our patients and the community for making this opportunity possible. It is a privilege to help each of our patients eliminate pain and improve their quality of life. We look forward to continuing to serve the community in 2017 and beyond.

It’s always fun to pause and reflect on the Christmases of the past. This year, we decided to do so by pulling together pictures from when our doctors were little tots. We recently shared this video at our company-wide Christmas party and it made us laugh, so only felt it fair to share it with you also (in hopes it’ll at least make you chuckle as you see your doctor’s picture). Enjoy this slideshow and take a moment to pause and reflect on your special Christmases of the past. Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from the Tuck Chiropractic Clinic family to you!

It was 16 years ago and Joyce was crippled by pain. She said, “My back pain was so bad I was unable to straighten up.” Joyce wanted the pain to go away but felt like she didn’t have any options. She is allergic to prescription pain medications and can’t take most over the counter drugs because she donated one of her kidneys. Her husband suggested (and insisted) she see Dr. Jennifer Rathmann, at our Blacksburg clinic. During that visit, Joyce experienced tremendous relief and realized that chiropractic care manages her chronic back pain in ways medication can’t.
Chiropractic has been a complete game changer for Joyce. She experienced such relief that she has consistently received adjustments on a monthly or weekly basis since that initial visit back in 2000. Beyond the back pain, she also has arthritis in her neck, which is a condition that requires consistent wellness work. Dr. Rathmann not only provides adjustments but also helps with traction treatments, which relieve the pressure and neck pain from arthritis.
Keeping her pain in check allows Joyce to fulfill her duties at work. For the last 9 years, Joyce has worked for the United States Post Office as a mail carrier. Her day starts bright and early whens he shows up to sort the mail, which can take up to four hours. She then spends many hours delivering the mail, as many as seven. She explained, “We don’t have time to stop. You do it until all of the mail is delivered, no matter how long it takes.” The Christmas season, which is the most wonderful time of the year for most of us, is also the busiest time of year for her. The long periods of sitting each day, as she delivers mail, can wreck havoc on her back. Fortunately, she has an effective and flexible solution for those days. Joyce explained:

Working with the post office you don’t have time to stop. You go in each morning without knowing how much mail or packages there will be. Whenever I get through I can call over to Dr. Rathmann and they always do their best to fit me in, it’s wonderful.

Joyce still recalls her very first chiropractic adjustment, which was the day after Labor Day back in 2000. Dr. Rathmann remembers those early days too:

When Joyce first came to our office she was working a factory type of job where she was standing all day, doing a lot of repetitive lifting, twisting and turning. Now she is working at the Post Office and does a lot of the same type of activities in addition to long periods of daily driving. We are always happy to see Joyce walk into our Clinic, smiling, even after a long day at work. It really is my pleasure to help her!

The story of Joyce’s experience with Dr. Rathmann and the Tuck team is one about victory over pain but also about a special relationship that has developed in the process. Dr. Rathmann said, “Every September, Joyce comes in and wishes me a Happy Anniversary.” They have experienced the births of children and grandchildren during the tenure of their patient-doctor relationship and have been able to celebrate these major milestones together.
When Joyce isn’t busy at the post office she is busy with her biggest love, family. She has ten grandchildren ages four to 19. Each Sunday she takes her youngest grandbaby to church with her, and wouldn’t miss it for the world (and especially not for back pain). Convenient and consistent chiropractic care allows Joyce to work hard, embrace life, and overcome pain.