Sometimes in a car accident people injure an area that has been injured in the past. An old neck or shoulder injury can be easily aggravated by the impact of a motor vehicle collision. When the injured person goes to the doctor, the massage therapist, and the attorney for help with the accident, the patient needs to know how to deal with this new injury as well as old, preexisting conditions.

My friend and colleague, Jim Dwyer, an attorney at Heiling Dwyer & Associates, is a great source for personal injury information. One of the things he likes to educate people about is revealing to your health care team any information about current and old similar injuries. That old back problem from college soccer, the car accident in ‘98, and the foot pain you were experiencing two months before the accident are all important to document.

“Honesty and candor are critical to a full recovery and a successful claim.”

With some of you I have talked about my process of becoming an “affiliate” at Numinosity, the wellness center where my office is located. This transition will be completed March 1, 2009. I anticipate the changes should all be positive for clients. Becoming an affiliate will be similar to hiring an assistant or receptionist. The front desk folks (Amber and Cecily) will schedule your appointments with me, process payments, and handle any insurance billing.

Back in November 2008 I (finally) purchased a digital table warmer to help keep you cozy and warm in the flannel sheets during your winter massage sessions. I’ve gotten rave reviews for the new “toy” which lays flat on the table under the sheets. I turn it on about 15-20 minutes before your appointment for maximum comfort. Come in and check it out for yourself!

The rotatores are tiny, thick muscles that help “stitch” the vertebrae together. These muscles of the back compose the deepest layer and are responsible for the ability to rotate or twist your spine.

Individual rotatore muscles attach the transverse process of one vertebra to the spinous process of another; this gives it a diagonal placement which causes the rotation when the muscle is put to use. The whole group of rotatores are placed from the lumbar to the cervical vetebrae. Along with two other groups of small spinal muscles, they make up the transversospinalis group.

People with very tight or contracted rotatores may appear to have a stiff back with very limited ability to make minute, subtle spinal movements. Trigger points in the rotatores refer pain close to the source; generally a client will describe pain right next to the spine. Often releasing tension in the deep spinal muscles can make chiropractic adjustment easier. Occasionally, a client will have a “spontaneous adjustment” after trigger points are released.