More Scare Tactics: Does Anybody Really Need a Hands-Free Soap Dispenser?

Posted on February 7, 2012 | Leave a comment

I have been paying attention to ads recently and I have noticed that the “fear factor” in advertising is not only confined to drug companies.

Even the soap industry is getting into “scare tactics.” The other day I heard an ad about a pump soap dispenser that you don’t have to touch. The ad said that regular soap pumps might have germs on them and that you should not take the chance of touching them and contracting a disease.

How silly. If you are using the pump, aren’t you about to wash your hands…with SOAP? And if there were some bacteria present on the pump, washing your hands should kill them.

The scary truth about soap is not the germs that may be on the pump but the fact that “Antibacterial” soaps are doing more harm than good. They are helping to breed “superbugs” which are resistant to our natural defenses. Plus, too frequent hand washing can dry out your skin, breaking down your natural barrier to bacteria and opening the door to the very danger you were hoping to prevent.

While personal hygiene is important, washing your hands after you touch anything is not the secret to staying healthy. Maintaining a strong immune system is your best defense against illness. And that’s where The Back Care Center can help. Regular chiropractic adjustments combined with nutritional support can help keep you and your immune system healthy and strong.

If you have any questions about what you can be doing to avoid illness, call us. It isn’t about not being scared of germs and bacteria – it’s about having the best life you can.

Have a great and healthy day!
Dr. David Schwartz,
The Back Care Center of Dumont, NJ
For appointments, call 201-387-7463

 

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Posted in Dumont NJ, Staying Healthy, The Back Care Center

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Health Care Scare Tactics

Posted on January 27, 2012 | Leave a comment

I was driving the other day and noticed 4 or 5 ads on the radio about “Health Care”. The one thing they had in common was the way the ads were designed to make listeners scared. In truth, they worked and while driving, I began to wonder how much of a risk I was taking by not looking into the medications they were suggesting.

When I heard one piece from a high risk pregnancy group say that “not everyone needs their help but why take the chance” a light bulb went off in my head. How crazy! I STILL felt fear, even though my wife and I are NOT expecting any more children and I realized that all these ads are supposed to scare you into action, even if that action isn’t the right one for you.

For 25 plus years, I have been telling people about the beauty and the benefits of being healthy. And all the while media and drug companies have been focused on scaring people into compliance by making it sound like “DISEASE” is around every corner waiting to steal your health from your unsuspecting hands.

The truth is, health is a wonderful thing. It allows you to enjoy time with family, succeed at your job, play hard at sports or just enjoy time to relax. It doesn’t come in pill form and can only be pursued by taking positive actions. Of course, there is a time for medication and disease care and I am thankful for the advances in medicine during those times. But the time to work on your health is now and every moment of your life in the future. Not only because it is so difficult to recover when lost but because being healthy adds so much to your life every day.

If you have any questions about what you can be doing to improve your health, call us. It isn’t about not being scared of disease – it’s about having the best life you can.

Have a great and healthy day!
Dr. David Schwartz,
The Back Care Center of Dumont, NJ
For appointments, call 201-387-7463

 

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Posted in Dumont NJ, Staying Healthy, The Back Care Center

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Introducing Kinesio Taping at The Back Care Center of Dumont, NJ

Posted on January 26, 2012 | 1 Comment

As some of you already know, I have been using a new technique, Kinesio Taping, to help patients with necks, shoulders, hands and lower backs. Kinesio Tape is a self adhesive, elastic tape that can be used in a variety of beneficial ways.

When applied correctly, the tape can help with pain and swelling. It can be used to strengthen weak muscles or give ones that are working too hard a rest. I use Kinesio Taping for my patients to help them hold their adjustments longer and enhance the healing effect of care.

With the tape, my patients say it feels like I’m still working on them even when they’ve gone home. The combination of chiropractic adjustments with taping is making care better than ever and the results are speaking for themselves.

You can read more about Kinesio Taping here, or on the website of its inventor, Dr. Kenzo Kase. And if you’re interested in finding out whether your recovery can be assisted through Kinesio Taping, call us for an appointment.

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Posted in Dumont NJ, Services, The Back Care Center

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The Back Care Center of Dumont NJ will be closed this Saturday, 1-7-12

Posted on January 6, 2012 | Leave a comment

Dr. Schwartz will be at a training seminar this weekend and so the office will be closed Saturday, January 7, 2012.

See you Monday. And have a great and healthy weekend.

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The Back Care Center of Dumont NJ will be closed Sat. Dec. 24 and Sat Dec. 31

Posted on December 22, 2011 | Leave a comment

Happy Holidays from the Back Care Center of Dumont, NJ!

The Back Care Center will be open normal hours over the next three weeks, except for the next two Saturdays (Dec 24 and Dec. 31) when the office will be closed.

Dr. David Schwartz and the staff of The Back Care Center of Dumont, NJ want to wish all of our patients, neighbors and friends in Dumont, Bergenfield, Closter, Cresskill, Englewood, Harrington Park, New Milford, Ridgefield Park and Teaneck a wonderful holiday season and a happy and healthy new year.

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Invest in your own health

Posted on December 1, 2011 | Leave a comment

Recently a new patient came to me with lower back pain that radiated into the leg. He had been battling the problem for three years and it was gradually getting worse. After examining him and looking at his X-rays and his MRI report, I knew two things. First, if he didn’t get this problem taken care of he would end up needing a risky surgery on his lower back. The second thing I knew was that I could help him before it got that bad.

The only problem was his insurance coverage wasn’t great and he was going to have to be responsible for part of the cost of his care. I try to keep my fees affordable but he wanted to know if I could guarantee my results. Sadly, there are no guarantees with health care. All any doctor can do is provide the very best service possible and do what he believes is the right thing for the patient.

What I could guarantee was that doing nothing to deal with a growing problem would be a poor choice. He was concerned that pain was going to prevent him from being able to do his job, and with money so tight he didn’t want to spend anything on his health. But the truth was that if he didn’t “invest” in his health it would cost him not only much more money but also potentially his job and the quality of his life with his family.

In this case, the patient and I both felt very strongly that the treatment I recommended was his best choice. We gave him a reasonable payment option and he has chosen to begin spinal decompression therapy. I expect that his ROI (return on investment) will be excellent.

My concern is for others with problems like my patient. Insurance costs are climbing and coverage is more limited with each passing year. But in the end, ignoring your health will become the most costly investment you didn’t make.

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Posted in Alternatives to Surgery, Avoid Surgery, Back Pain, Dumont NJ, Spinal Decompression Therapy, The Back Care Center

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In case we forgot to mention, power is back on and the office is open

Posted on November 4, 2011 | Leave a comment

Once again, power has been restored and The Back Care Center of Dumont, NJ is open for business.

Dr. David Schwartz and the staff at the Back Care Center hope you made it through this latest emergency in the best of health. But storms like this can lead to injuries. Shoveling, picking up fallen tree limbs and branches, and coping with the stress and anxiety of the emergency can all contribute to neck and back pain.

If so, give us a call and come on down for a chiropractic adjustment or a little massage therapy.

And as always, we hope you have a great and healthy day.

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Power Out, All Appointments Cancelled

Posted on October 31, 2011 | Leave a comment

Didn’t we just do this?

Only this time, the October nor’easter did what Hurricane Irene couldn’t, and The Back Center will be closed today because the power is out and there is no heat in the office.

If you do have an emergency, call Dr. Dave at 201-637-8236.

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Is surgery the only answer when competitive athletes get hurt?

Posted on September 22, 2011 | Leave a comment

The other day was Sunday or “Football Day” as it is referred to by many of my friends. I watched a bit and caught the wrap up Monday before making it into the office. Several players, including Michael Vick, were hurt during the day and had to leave the games.*

Injuries really aren’t surprising considering how rough competition can get. Even at a college or high school level, sports are violent and players get hurt. The consequence of these injuries may stop an athlete from participating in any competition and the pain can be felt for the rest of their life.

The big question is. “What do competitive athletes do when they get hurt?” The pressure to get back into the game is immense. Often they are faced with the choice of losing their place on the team or undergoing some type of risky surgery.

It made me think about my own experience and that of several other chiropractors who were high school and college athletes. After potentially career ending injuries of different types we were all offered surgery as a cure but chose to undergo chiropractic care, recovered fully and got back to playing that same season. (Unlike surgery, where the recovery time and subsequent rehab often makes an injury “season-ending.”)

Over the past 25 years of practice here at The Back Care Center of Dumont, NJ we’ve helped many injured athletes. We’ve also kept many of our younger athletes injury free with good support programs, exercise regimens and regular chiropractic adjustments. And if you’re a golfer, we have specific and extensive experience in Golf fitness, with 2 Titleist Certified Golf Fitness Professionals and a PGA Golf Pro on staff.

So get out there and play safe. And if you do suffer an injury, think about giving us a call before you consider more radical treatments like surgery. We may be able to get you back in the game before it’s too late.

 

*By the way, Vick’s injury was a concussion, which thankfully the NFL is finally taking seriously. (Even Madden 12 Football is taking them seriously, with concussions resulting in the player being sidelined for the rest of the game, no exceptions. If you don’t play Madden, then you can learn all about it from this article by Alan Schwarz (no relation!) in the NY Times.

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Posted in Alternatives to Surgery, Dumont NJ, Exercise, The Back Care Center

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What do you think about Peyton Manning’s Spinal Fusion Surgery?

Posted on September 15, 2011 | Leave a comment

If you’ve been watching the news, you’ve probably heard that the Indianapolis Colts’ Quarterback, Peyton Manning, just had surgery for the 3rd time on his neck. He had the disc between two cervical vertebrae removed and replaced with a shaved piece of his own hip to fuse the two spinal bones together. The procedure will leave him with a permanent area of pain in his hip and potentially some loss of motion in his neck, but it might allow him to continue playing football. (Having just signed a 5-year, $90 million dollar contract, let’s hope so!)

As a chiropractor who works with neck and disc injuries, I wonder if there was another way to treat this injury. I have helped many people with herniated discs in their neck.  While Peyton Manning is not my typical patient, there have been several professional athletes who have chosen to use spinal decompression therapy as an alternative to surgery and have extended their carriers as a result.

It is my hope that Peyton recovers and is able to return to his place with the Colts.  However, considering this is his 3rd attempt to fix his neck and after seeing so many disc injuries in my own practice, I fear that his future is anything but certain.

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Posted in Alternatives to Surgery, Dumont NJ, Spinal Decompression Therapy, The Back Care Center

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