The Grove Center will be closed due to Hurricane Sandy!

Due to the storm, our office will be closed on Tuesday, October 30. If you have an appointment scheduled with Dr. Sorrentino on 10/30 or 10/31, we will be contacting you to reschedule as she is not going to be able to make it to our office this week.

Provided we have power, we (Dr. Grove and staff) will be back in the office on Wednesday, October 31.

Stay safe everyone!

Don’t let your upper trapezius do all the work to keep you warm. Relax! 

When we get cold, one of the most common things we do is shrug our shoulders and round them forward to protect our neck and heart area. 
   

This can cause neck pain, shoulder pain, upper back discomfort and tightness, as well as increased chest tightness.
Avoid all these by pulling your shoulders back and down. Making sure you pull from your shoulder blades.

Hold that a few seconds and repeat 8 to 10 times.

This also happens when you sit in front of a computer for too long. Your shoulders round forward and you lean your head forward and down for a better view. But in the long run, it really affects your posture, neck, shoulders, and upper back.
Work on sitting up straight with shoulders pulled back and neck aligned with your upper back. When you need a break, do the exercises above and relax a little!!


  

Our New Athletic Trainer!

Our New Athletic Trainer---- Francine Salas

Being an athlete most of her life, Francine suffered from aches, pains, and tendonitis from time to time. While attending Binghamton University she swam for the D1 Swimming and Diving team, but unfortunately spent a lot of time in the training room due to back pain. Not knowing what an Athletic Trainer was, she was interested in finding out more, especially if it meant she could treat herself for those aches and pains. She completed an Athletic Injury Care and Prevention class and interned many hours in the training room. Her senior year she became a full time student-trainer for the swim team and got a chance to travel to all competitions and even to spring training in Florida.


Francine got accepted into Shenandoah University’s AT Masters program where she completed 2 years including internships at Shepherd University, Handley HS, and Strasburg HS working with football, volleyball, track, baseball, softball, soccer, basketball, and tennis, and at Capitol Rehab working with active and older individuals. 

Also being a Personal Trainer, Francine took a position at Gold’s Gym in Arlington, VA. Not being enough of a challenge in the rehab area she decided to get another job as a rehab specialist at a Chiropractic Clinic. During that time, she also provided first aid and AT care for different northern VA rugby team/events, including the Cherry Blossom Rugby tournament back in April 2011.
She finally became certified in July 2011 and started working for a Physical Therapy Clinic in Florida which consisted of an outreach program to a High School every afternoon after school and completing physical therapy hours at the clinic in the mornings.


Francine moved back to Virginia when she found the Athletic Training position at The Grove Center. It suits perfectly with her athletic and strength & conditioning background. She can also contribute greatly to the practice with her knowledge from athletic injuries and illnesses. 

What is the difference between an Athletic Trainer and a Personal Trainer?

Scope of Practice --- Athletic Trainer

• An ATC specializes in the treatment, prevention, assessment, education, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries and illnesses.
• On the traditional field of sports, athletic trainers also provide immediate care for acute injuries and illnesses.
• These health professionals also have the knowledge to design strength and conditioning programs for athletes and individuals with or without injuries based on their goals.

     --- Personal Trainer

• Design programs based on clients’ fitness goals.
• A personal trainer educates clients on how to exercise and follow a nutrition program that will help reach their goals.
• They conduct weekly or daily personal training sessions for each client individually or in small groups.
• Refer clients to a healthcare professional when appropriate.  

Education --- Athletic Trainer

• Need a bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Athletic Training to be eligible to take the BOC (Board of Certification) exam.
• In order to legally practice in most states in the United States, athletic trainers need to be BOC certified and be licensed by the Department Of Health in the state they practice in.

     --- Personal Trainer

• A 4 year degree in kinesiology, exercise physiology, or any other exercise-related field is optional.  
• A Personal Trainer Certification is required to work as a personal trainer in most facilities/gyms. A degree is generally not required to be eligible to take a CPT exam.

Field of Practice --- Athletic Trainer

• Sports teams in high school, college, universities, and professional leagues.
• Clinical settings for out-patient and in-patient facilities as well as industrial settings.

      --- Personal Trainer

• Corporate or small gyms, fitness facilities, and other health clubs.
• Private practice like a small studio or in-home training.

Cigarette Smoking and Vitamin Depletion
Smokers lose vitamin C from the bloodstream, and vitamin E from tissues in the body. Additionally, the regenerative effect of vitamin C on vitamin E suffers when cigarette smoke is introduced into the body.
Cigarette smoking speeds up the production of free radicals, and at the same time, depletes levels of important antioxidants in the body. Not a good situation for smokers, who especially need the health benefits of antioxidants.
The Bottom Line
Cigarette smoke is an extremely toxic brew of over 4,000 chemical compounds. Some of those chemicals are poisonous, cancer-causing or both, and include things like:

• benzene (used in pesticides and gasoline)
• formaldehyde (used to preserve corpses)
• hydrogen cyanide (gassing agent used in Nazi Germany)
• carbon monoxide (in car exhaust and is deadly in large amounts)
• arsenic (used in rat poison)

Cigarette smoke is dangerous to breathe in, whether it is firsthand through a burning cigarette, or secondhand from smoke lingering in the air. While scientists still have much to learn about the composition of cigarette smoke, we do know there are links between smoking and vitamin depletion, and that this compromises our body's ability to manage the toxins in cigarette smoke. This may predispose us to the diseases that follow tobacco use.


Sources:

Martin, Terri. "Smoking and Vitamin Depletion: How Smoking Depletes our Bodies of Essential Vitamins." About.com Guide. 8 Aug. 2011 <http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/tobaccorelateddiseases/a/Smoking-And-Vitamin-Depletion.htm>

Got back pain?

Are you sitting in your office all day? Taking notes in class for hours? Is it painful when you have to bend down to pick something up off from the floor? Does your back hurt simply just sitting for a long period of time? If you answered yes to just ONE of those questions, check out the Foundation Training to help make the pain go away!

On the September 22nd Dynamic Chiropractic newspaper, there's an article written by Marc Heller, DC called "A New Way to Strengthen the Core and Relieve Low Back Pain".  It talks about "foundation training and how it uses a 'braced spine' position as a way to strengthen and tone the back extensors...". Heller mentions it connects with yoga, however, not the traditional yoga that's about relaxing and stretching but the foundation training is more to "emphasize co-contraction, activating muscles as you lengthen them." The exercises

Check out the video on how to do "the founder"!

Here is their official website where you can learn more about it!! http://foundationtraining.com/home




References:

Heller, Marc. "A New Way to Strengthen the Core and Relieve Low Back Pain." Dynamic Chiropractic 22 September 2012. Print.

Don't Let Allergies Get You Down

We know it's coming but that doesn't make it any more welcome, and this year the mild winter seems to have brought it sooner this year – allergy season. If anything can take the fun out of the warmer weather that has come early, it is the high pollen counts and other seasonal allergies. Over-the-counter allergy medicines can provide some relief, but the cost can add up. Instead, here are some alternative, natural remedies suggested by abc that may be just as effective.

1 – Quercetin

This is an herbal supplement that when taken with vitamin C has been effective in reducing inflammation, sinus pain, and congestion.

2 – Saline/Salt Water

Flushing out the sinuses with warm salt water helps wash out any lingering pollen and other allergens that can continue causing allergy symptoms.

3 – Antioxidants in Food

Grape seed extract has been effective in reducing allergy symptoms. In addition, bananas and onions can have an anti-inflammatory response that helps to boost the immune system.

4 – Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Studies have shown fewer allergy symptoms in people who ate foods or took supplements containing these fatty acids.

So this year instead of suffering through horrible allergies all season long. Try some of these natural remedies before rushing to the store and stocking up on medicine. Then enjoy the gorgeous weather!

References:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/AllergyAndAsthmaResourceCenter/story?id=675663&page=1#.T5GMlsyzRCg