Spine Talk

Spine Talk

By Texas Back InstituteHealth & Fitness
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Spine Talk episodes

  • Dr. Isador Lieberman Talks About EOS Xray Technology
    For more info visit www.texasback.com/blog
    Low Radiation and 3-D Images: Two Reasons Your Next X-Ray Should be Taken with the IOS Machine
    (Stock photo of an x-ray of the spine)
    When Professor Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen (http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1901/rontgen-bio.html) discovered the x-ray while working with a cathode –ray tube in his laboratory in 1895, medical journals of the day immediately understood the significance of this discovery. This ray could pass through most substances, casting shadows of solid objects.
    What most excited the physicians and dentists about Roentgen’s discovery was that the ray could pass through the tissue of humans, but not bones and metal objects. According to an article (https://www.nde-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/Radiography/Introduction/history.htm) on the history of radiography, “Public fancy was caught by this invisible ray with the ability to pass through solid matter, and, in conjunction with a photographic plate, provide a picture of bones and interior body parts.
    “Scientific fancy was captured by the demonstration of a wavelength shorter than light. This generated new possibilities in physics, and for investigating the structure of matter. Much enthusiasm was generated about potential applications of rays as an aid in medicine and surgery. Within a month after the announcement of the discovery, several medical radiographs had been made in Europe and the United States, which were used by surgeons to guide them in their work. In June 1896, only 6 months after Roentgen announced his discovery, X-rays were being used by battlefield physicians to locate bullets in wounded soldiers.”
    Unfortunately, with most advances in medicine, there are unintended consequences which are discovered later. Such is the case with effect x-rays can have on the body.
    For more info visit www.texasback.com/blog
    9 min
  • Dr. Kevin Ju Introduction And ER Call During Boston Bombing
    As is the case with many successful people, Dr. Kevin Ju (http://texasback.com/doctors-profiles/doctor-kevin-ju/) was an over-achiever as a child and young adult. When he was growing up in Houston, his parents – a computer programmer mom and a chemical engineer dad – encouraged his curiosity about how things worked.
    “I spent a lot of time taking things such as microwave ovens and lamps apart and then putting them back together,” he said in a recent interview. “In spite of having no doctors in my family, I was interested in biology and the human body at a very early age. I was fortunate to do some research at Baylor Hospital when I was in high school and was allowed to shadow a surgeon early on. This got me interested in medicine.”
    Next stop for Dr. Ju was the prestigious Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. He majored in biology and wrote an honors thesis in neurobiology (http://neurobiology.stanford.edu/) as an undergraduate. He decided to attend medical school and was accepted to one of the best in the country.
    “I went to medical school at Harvard and then stayed in Boston for my residency training,” he said.
    His time in Boston was marked by a tragic event that forever changed the way this young, brilliant surgeon would perceive the world around him. No amount of academic success, parental support and training could have prepared him for what was to happen on the darkest day the city of Boston has ever witnessed.
    Read the full blog at www.texasback.com/blog
    14 min
  • Dr. Bosita Talks About Sleep And Back Pain
    “We’re all wired to sleep differently,” Dr. Bosita said in a recent interview. “Some of us are natural side-sleepers, some sleep on our backs and others sleep on our stomach and those natural sleeping positions can sometimes make back pain worse.
    “Many times, a person will feel uncomfortable when trying a new sleeping position because it doesn’t feel right. One of our goals at Texas Back Institute is to help our patients get their back pain under control so they can sleep in the most comfortable position for them.”
    “A person with spinal stenosis, for example, typically experiences pain when they extend their spine,” he noted. “If a person is a natural back-sleeper, the firmness of the mattress will have the effect of extending the spine a small amount, making the back and leg pain worse.
    “In some instances, people will roll over quickly and they will suddenly wake up because their back pain will get acutely worse. For someone who is sleeping fitfully, the mattress may be the cause and sudden movements can increase the back pain.
    “Regardless of the sleeping position, it’s my job to help our patients manage their pain so that they can sleep in any position.”
    View the full story at www.texasback.com/blog
    7 min
  • Dr. Lieberman Talks About Stretching For Scoliosis
    It’s rare when a world-class spine surgeon and internationally respected scoliosis expert is also an enthusiastic yoga practitioner. However, such is the case with Texas Back Institute’s Dr. Isador Lieberman (http://texasback.com/doctors-profiles/doctor-lieberman ). This high-energy physician is putting all of these skills in play during a special event on Saturday, June 25, 2016.
    For the second year, Dr. Lieberman, Texas Health Plano Scoliosis and Spine Tumor Center and Texas Back Institute ( http://texasback.com/about-us/ ) are combining forces for “Stretch for Scoliosis,” a two-hour, fun-filled event to promote the National Scoliosis Awareness Month. Held at the Plano Sports Authority, which is located at 6500 Preston Meadow Drive and running from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., this special workshop will teach parents and children about how core strength and flexibility can be improved.
    Screening for Scoliosis
    This event will also allow scoliosis specialists to screen adults and children for this very serious, however controllable spinal problem. Dr. Lieberman explains.
    “For those who might not be aware it, scoliosis is a curvature of the spine where people are either bent forward or sideways,” he noted. “This, of course, leads to discomfort and limited mobility.”
    “Over the years, we’ve been big advocates in trying to improve posture. As a surgeon, I can improve the posture of someone suffering from scoliosis, but there are many people who have unbalanced posture, with a spinal deformity – whether this situation is caused by scoliosis or other factors – who could benefit from an active program of posture exercises. This will help them regain their balance and improve their function.”
    “Yoga, Pilates as well as general stretching all help with this condition and we designed this Stretch for Scoliosis program with this in mind,” he said. “This is our second year and we are trying to raise the awareness of how to keep one’s back healthy and maintain good posture using an active exercise program which includes yoga and Pilates type exercises that will allow someone with a spinal deformity to have a better quality of life.”
    Read the full blog post here: www.texasback.com/blog
    8 min
  • Dr. Scott Kutz Talks About Eric Claptons Condition
    Eric Clapton, one of the world’s best-known blues and rock guitarists, has been playing his instrument professionally since 1962 and now, at age 71, he is being forced to seriously consider retirement. This has nothing to do with his popularity. In fact, he released a new album of songs entitled “I Still Do” in May 2016, to rave reviews.
    According to a recent article in the Washington Post, Clapton is experiencing nerve damage which is making it extremely painful to play guitar. He was quoted in the article. “I’ve had quite a lot of pain over the last year,” Clapton told “Classic Rock” Magazine. “It started with lower back pain and turned into what they call peripheral neuropathy, which is where you feel like you have electric shocks going down your leg. And I’ve had to figure out how to deal with some other things from getting old.”
    As the most recent addition to the Texas Back Institute team of spine experts, Dr. Scott Kutz, specializes in neurosurgery and, in addition to being an Eric Clapton fan, has several insights about this painful condition.
    “Peripheral neuropathy is a disorder affecting the peripheral nerves of the body, which is a part of the central nervous system,” he said. “This can affect one nerve, in which case it is known as a mono-neuropathy, or it can affect multiple nerves where it is known as a poly-neuropathy.
    “This condition is fairly common and there are several different types and multiple causes of neuropathy. In the case of a mono-neuropathy, the most common type is carpal tunnel syndrome , where the medial nerve is compressed in the area of the wrist and causes pain, tingling, numbness, swelling and it can affect one’s strength.
    For the Full story visit www.texasback.com/blog
    8 min
  • Dr. Shellock Talks About Pregnancy And Back Pain
    Why Do Pregnant Women Experience Back Pain?
    The Two Reasons Might Surprise You.
    There is not a more joyous time in the lives of a couple than when they are expecting a child. Words are inadequate to describe this experience. This process of bringing a new life into the world is simultaneously invigorating and more than a little scary!
    During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes many changes in order to accommodate the birth, and this often results in the expectant mom experiencing back pain. In most cases, this pain is common. However, to paraphrase a wise person: “Pain is not common if it is YOUR pain.”
    To explain why back pain often occurs in pregnant women, Dr. Jessica Shellock, a back specialist at Texas Back Institute was asked for her professional opinion. In the process giving this explanation, she also offered some suggestions on dealing with this pain.
    The Causes of Back Pain
    “There are two primary causes for back pain in women who are pregnant,” noted Dr. Shellock. “As the baby is growing in the uterus, its weight increases, which causes a strain on the lower back of the expectant mother. In order to accommodate this weight, a woman will change her posture – hyper-extending her lower back in order to maintain balance. This causes muscle strain and leads to pain.
    “The other reason for this pain is due to the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy,” she said. “Estrogen is a relaxant and it fluctuates in a woman’s body during this period of pregnancy. These hormones are preparing her body for childbirth. They loosen some of the ligaments, which allow the baby to pass through the birth canal. Both of these factors can cause increased fatigue and back pain.”
    “These changes in a woman’s body during pregnancy don’t typically cause long - term injuries,” Shellock said. “However, women who are prone to having back pain are going to be more likely to experience back pain during their pregnancy.
    “In most cases, after delivery, the pain will subside,” she said. “This is due to the woman losing that ‘baby weight’ and her hormones regrouping to their normal levels.”
    6 min
  • Dr. Boah Neurosurgeon Intro
    The Brain Trust at Texas Back Institute is Growing – Welcome Neurosurgeon Akwasi Boah
    The newest member of the world class surgical team at Texas Back Institute is a native of Brooklyn, New York and is a first generation Ghanaian American. Dr. Akwasi Boah was introduced to the medical profession as a toddler.
    “My father was a pediatrician and my mother was a nurse when I was born,” he said. “Later, my mother became an entrepreneur.”
    He graduated from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia with a degree in Interdisciplinary Health Services with a minor in Biology and was accepted by the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. Clearly, this medical school was a long way from his home!
    “I thought Atlanta was on another planet,” Dr. Boah laughed. “But I had one of the most amazing experiences of my life there. From there, I came back home for surgical training at New York University School of Medicine, and did a fellowship at Johns Hopkins in their Department of Neurosurgery.
    “As it turned out, I had a family member who lived in Dallas and when I came down to visit, I took the opportunity to meet with Texas Back Institute and thought this organization was just fantastic. They have internationally renowned surgeons and among the ‘spine universe,’ TBI is very well known.”
    Visit www.texasback.com/blog for more information.
    14 min
  • Dr Arakal Talks About The USA Olympic Taekwondo Team And Spine Health
    Olympians from all over the world are competing in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and American athletes, who come from just about every state, will also be “going for the Gold.” However, with these games, the state of Texas has something (else) to brag about. Every member of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Taekwando team hails from the Lone Star state. More on this team, later.
    Dr. Rajesh Arakal (http://texasback.com/doctors-profiles/doctor-arakal/), a spine surgeon at Texas Back Institute (http://texasback.com/about-us/), is also an enthusiastic martial arts practitioner. In a recent interview, he explained the difference between taekwando (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taekwondo) and other martial arts.
    “When I was in medical school, there was a dojo where a lot of us medical students, residents and doctors would attend,” he said. “We would meet twice a week for three to four hours, training for taekwondo and mixed martial arts. It was my first opportunity to be exposed to taekwondo and I truly appreciate the art form.
    “Historically, taekwondo originated in Korea,” Dr. Arakal noted. “It incorporated the countryside tools of the native farmers as a protection against invaders from Japan. As for karate, this originally came from Japan.
    “In many ways, taekwondo is a ‘circular’ sport. It’s a lot about balance. Because Koreans were somewhat smaller than say the Japanese, they required moves that would increase their reach. It became a sport that emphasized kicking – specifically round-kicks – so that the athlete could have a great arch of penetration when fighting an opponent. It negated the shorter stature of the people who were practicing.”
    See the full article at www.texasback.com/blog
    9 min
  • Dr. Isador Lieberman Talks About Health And Safety When Using A Rowing Machine
    Dr. Isador Lieberman, a spine surgeon at Texas Back Institute and dedicated physical fitness participant has a great deal of experience with all types of rowing machines, including the WaterRower.
    “I’ve been rowing for more than 20 years,” he said. “And I am well-aware of this particular type of rowing machine,”
    Besides its prominent “role” on the show, what makes this WaterRower so appealing?
    “I believe it’s the act of rowing and not the rowing machine itself,” he said. “Rowing is a very high-intensity exercise program, which when done properly, exercises just about every muscle in your body. You can burn off a lot of calories in a very short span of time. Plus, you get a full-body workout with minimal impact. So, you are not overwhelming the joints.”
    “Rowing as an exercise has tremendous appeal,” he said. “It is much more engaging than running, swimming, riding a stationary bike or road bike.”
    More Than 10 Million People are Rowing
    The exposure this machine has received from this show has increased the popularity of the entire category of equipment. It is estimated that more than 10 million people used a rowing machine last year. This does not surprise Dr. Lieberman.
    “I recommend rowing to a lot of my patients,” he said. “Plus, I have a number of friends who know that I am an avid rower and they ask me if rowing helps me burn off weight and if it helps me to get through the frustrations of the day. After I tell them, they go and buy their own rowing machine, and they become as addicted to it as I have.”
    Potential Injuries
    Who better than a spine surgeon would realize the potential for injuries from using a rowing machine?
    “First and foremost, when you’re rowing, you are pulling on the bar which is attached to the chain and a flywheel, or in the case of the WaterRower, the flywheel in the water. That provides the resistance. There are other rowing machines where the flywheel uses air resistance, whereby the rower is pulling on a big fan.”
    “Regardless of the type of machine, what is really critical is to maintain the proper form,” he said. “All too often I see people in the gym getting on these machines and then flailing their arms, back and legs. They are going to be prone to a low back injury. It’s important to keep the stability of the pelvis, the abdominal and back muscles are kept tight and you want to be pushing with your legs. You don’t want to be pulling with your lower back. Form is critically important.”
    “The second important consideration concerns the stirrups on the machine. You need proper shoes and you need to have your feet strapped in to these stirrups or footplates. Your feet need to be secure because as you are pulling back and moving forward, you don’t want your feet moving erratically. This could cause a twisted ankle or injury to the tendons around the feet.”
    How Long is Too Long on a Rowing Machine?
    “If you’ve got the stamina, and you’re using proper form, you can stay on the rowing machine until you exhaust your stamina,” Dr. Lieberman noted. “If you have poor form, you will be hurting your back within 30-seconds. It all depends on what kind of condition the participant is in.”
    “I know people who can be on a rowing machine for 45 minutes to an hour without even breaking a sweat. A lot also depends on how much resistance someone is rowing against and how much force you are putting into it. It’s similar to pedaling a bike. You can coast part of the way, or you can push the pedals for more speed and cover more territory.”
    For the full blog post visit www.texasback.com/blog
    9 min

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Texas Back Institute uses its experience, talent, state-of-the-art equipment, and technology to provide superior and innovative care for patients who suffer from back and neck pain.