Carolina Back Institute

Join Us at the Durant Medical Center Health Fair!

You’re invited to join us this Saturday, May 19th, where the medical practices in the Durant Medical Center are partnering to host the Third Annual Durant Medical Center Health Fair!

All children and their families are included in this FREE health fair on Saturday, May 19th from 10 am – 2 pm located at the Durant Medical Center located at 10880 Durant Road in Raleigh, NC. We are sponsoring the event along with Kamm, McKenzie Ob/Gyn, Raleigh Orthopaedic Clinic, Wake Internal Medicine & Pediatrics and Alta Oak Ridge.

The health fair’s purpose is to create more awareness about health care. Free screenings will be offered, including blood pressure, Vein & PAD, Child ID Cards, sleep disorders, and glucose screenings.  Stormy, the Carolina Hurricanes mascot will make an appearance, and there will be a jump castle and face painting!

Along with the free screenings, the American Red Cross Blood Drive will be available to take blood donations! We have a goal of donating 32 units and would greatly appreciate your contributions.

Carolina Back Institute is the region's premiere center for non-surgical spine and joint care. We treat chronic and acute pain of the back, neck, and extremities. We have locations in Raleigh & Cary. For more information, visit our website or contact us by calling (919) 781-9950 today.

Carolina Back Institute Supports the Triangle Arthritis Walk!

Last week, two of our finest, Danielle and Kelly, supported the 2012 Triangle Arthritis Walk in Durham! 

The Arthritis Walk is the signature fundraising event for the Arthritis Foundation. Every year people get together to celebrate movement and make a positive impact on the lives of people living with arthritis by raising funds for arthritis research, education and life improvement programs in communities across the country.

Way to go Kelly and Danielle!!

A Brief Look at the World of Ergonomics

Ergonomics is the science of fitting the conditions of a workplace to the needs and capabilities of the working population. Not only can successful and effective ergonomics improve the productivity of a workplace, but it can also prevent injury and illness and assist with pain management. For the most part, ergonomic risk is associated with repetitive hand movements, frequent heavy lifting, or prolonged awkward postures.

When determining the ergonomic value of a product, such as a keyboard, mouse, or desk chair, two major factors are considered: efficiency and comfort.

Comfort: Physical comfort, or how the product feels when used, is the aspect of an ergonomic design that is usually noticed first by the user. Comfort is an extremely important aspect of ergonomic design, as it affects the psychological relationship between the user and the product. If the user is not pleased with the feel of the product, they are unlikely to use it; if a product is comfortable, its utility will increase in the workplace.

Efficiency: After the user has deemed a product comfortable, its ergonomic capability is further evaluated by looking at its efficiency in reducing the risk of repetitive and chronic injury. An ergonomic keyboard, for example, positions the wrists and forearms in a more energetically efficient posture, preventing repetitive typing injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome. An ergonomically designed desk chair is fully adjustable to allow the user’s feet to rest on the floor and the spine to be straight and supported. In any job setting, an ergonomic design is meant to keep workers comfortable and less prone to work-related injuries.

Choosing more ergonomic workplace conditions can help you to manage issues of chronic joint pain that are caused by prolonged, repetitive, and strenuous motion. If you are interested in learning more about the treatments available to alleviate acute and chronic joint and back pain, contact the experts at Carolina Back Institute by calling (919) 781-9950.

Avoiding Injuries To Your Spine

Our recent blogs have discussed prevention and diagnosis of common injuries and conditions that might have you in pain. Read the related articles listed below to get more information that will help you stay healthy. If you do sustain an injury or you want to learn more about spinal health, contact Carolina Back Institute at (919) 781-9950 or visit our website today.

• See the effects of degenerative disc disease for yourself with this article from Spine-Health.com.
• SpineUniverse.com explains the anatomy of spinal discs with this helpful diagram.
• Choose the right supportive shoes for your favorite activities with these tips from WebMD.com.
• This MedicineNet.com article explains the importance of warming up your muscles before exercise.
• Find out how you can prevent some common sports injuries with the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disorders.

Discogram: Taking a Closer Look at the Health of Your Vertebral Discs

The vertebral discs are an important part of the spinal anatomy because they provide a supportive cushion between each of the vertebrae. In doing so, they offer stability and shock absorption to protect the more delicate structures of the spine. As you get older, the discs lose some of their supportive qualities because of physiological changes that occur naturally. Injury can also alter your disc anatomy and cause you pain or discomfort. Your spine specialist can help you assess the health of your spinal discs with a discogram so that proper care and treatment can be recommended.

What is a discogram?

A discogram is not a tool that is used in the initial diagnosis of back pain, but it is used when back pain has not responded to medication, physical therapy, or other treatments. Getting a discogram is painless, as it is simply a high definition X-ray that focuses on the tissue of the spinal discs. Using this screening tool, your doctor can determine whether the vertebral discs have lost any mass and whether they are in the proper position. During the discogram, dye may be injected into certain discs, and it will show whether or not the wall of the disc has broken. Below are a few of the conditions that may be diagnosed with this test.

• Disc degeneration. Flattening of the discs due to loss of water content. Severe disc degeneration will cause vertebrae to grind against each other.
• Herniated disc. Protrusion of the disc caused by outward pressure on the center of the structure. Nerves may be irritated by the misplaced tissue.
• Ruptured disc. Breaking of the disc wall that results from extreme disc herniation. The inner contents of the disc will spill out and aggravate nearby structures.

You can find out what state your vertebral discs are in by scheduling a visit to Carolina Back Institute. We have two locations with a skilled staff dedicated to accurately diagnosing and treating back pain without surgery. Visit our website or contact us by calling us at (919) 781-9950 today!