Tuesday, January 25, 2011 by admin.

As I write this, a gentle snow is falling, adding a white outline to the trees outside my window. Who would ever think shoveling snow could be so dangerous to your health? The tragedy of the fatal or near-fatal heart attack or stroke caused by shoveling snow tends to overshadow a much more common problem -back pain.

A shovel of snow weighs 5-10 pounds. This may feel more like 20-40f pounds because of leverage due to the l9ng handle of the shovel. The average driveway will hol,d hundreds of pounds of snow, requiring numerous repetitions.

We have found bending and twisting is one of the most common ways to put your back out of alignment resulting in a back sprain/strain. You are at high risk for a back injury when combining repetitive lifting, bending and twisting.

Snow presents a challenge to most people in that the cold air is invigorating. You feel like working and warming up. This may lead to fatigue, numbing your senses and masking the severity of back strain. Typically, you want to get the job done, which results in too much exertion without enough rest breaks.

The following tips are helpful for staying safe:

1. Dress warm enough, but not too much to sweat while you work. This can lead to rapid cooling when you stop.

2. Use a pusher-type shovel. Spray it with Teflon so snow will not cling.

3. Try not to lift snow or throw it if possible.

4. Keep one hand close to the base of the shovel to balance weight and lessen the back strain.

5. Don’t bend and twist simultaneously. Act like a robot and pivot with your feet rather than twist.

6. Bend your knees and keep your back straight as possible when you lift.

7. Work slowly. Shovel 5 minutes and rest 2 minutes.

8. If you feel tired or short of breath, stop and rest. Stand up straight and breathe deeply.

9. If you feel a twinge of back pain, stop and rest. If need be, apply ice to the area. Ignoring these signals often results in a much more significant back strain.

10. If you suspect heart attack or stroke, call 911 immediately. It is much better to be safe than sorry concerning these conditions. Both are life-threatening.

Chiropractic care is extremely effective in treating a back sprain/strain. If your pain does not resolve with rest and ice, come in for treatment within the same week. The sooner we treat you, the faster you heal.

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Monday, January 10, 2011 by admin.

Our community appreciation week was a great success, thanks to your support!

We recently sent $1,085.00 to Kentuckiana Children’s Center. We raised this with your $35 contribution from each new patient.

Many children with special needs will be helped as a result!

Drs. Konicki and Schumacher

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Thursday, January 6, 2011 by admin.

Dear Patients,

On November 20,2009 the President issued Executive Order 13520 - Reducing Improper Payments and Eliminating Waste in Federal Programs. This means that Medicare is being very aggressive about not paying for any chiropractic treatment that they perceive as “maintenance care”.

Medicare pays for only one thing in a chiropractic office — a chiropractic adjustment when your condition or pain is acute. This would be a new injury or a flare-up of your condition or pain that you have had already. For example, you always have low back pain that is mild, but for some reason it has flared-up to a more severe level.

Medicare will pay for your chiropractic adjustment until you “calm down” or get rid of your pain. They do not pay for ongoing chiropractic care, monthly visits, preventative care. They do not pay for ongoing, chronic pain that is always there and stays the same.

Other things Medicare will not pay  for in our office:

Examinations

X-rays

Physical Therapy

Supplements

Back Braces

Treatment for joints other than your spine, such as shoulders and knees

Lastly, Medicare will not pay for any special tests such as MRI’s or CT scans that we order on your behalf. These can only be paid through Medicare if your M.D. or D.O. orders the test.

You can still have preventative maintenance adjustments, but at your cost. We believe that regular maintenance care is valuable and worthwhile. Our goal is to keep you active, moving and doing all the things you want in life. Chiropractic care is a healthy and powerful tool to keep you going without the use of drugs or surgery.

Yours in Health,

Drs. Konicki and Schumacher

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