David Perna, D.C.

Simply put, spinal stenosis describes a narrowing at the openings of the spine. When spinal stenosis exists in the cervical spine, it’s called cervical spinal stenosis (CSS). This condition is usually the result of wear-and-tear or aging, and hence, is most common over the age of 50. However, CSS can occur at any age if [..]

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is caused when the median nerve is compressed as it passes through the tight bony carpal tunnel at the wrist. The condition can result in pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand, and it can affect one’s ability to carry out everyday life and work tasks. Here are a few [..]

Adhesive capsulitis (also known as “frozen shoulder”) is the end result of inflammation, scarring, thickening, and shrinkage of the capsule that surrounds the humeral head or “ball” part of the ball and socket joint. Adhesive capsulitis dramatically reduces the range of motion of the affected joint, which can severely impact one’s ability to carry out [..]

Whiplash is a non-medical term that represents a large range of injuries to the neck caused by or related to a rapid, sudden movement of the neck often to and beyond the end-ranges of motion that results in injury to soft tissues and sometimes bony tissues in the neck. Cervical acceleration-deceleration (CAD) describes the mechanism [..]

Hypertension is usually a silent disease that leads to cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and renal morbidity and mortality. This condition can seriously affect quality of life, reduce life expectancy, and place significant burdens on the healthcare system. Classic medications used to treat hypertension can involve side effects including headache, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea, weakness, fatigue, [..]

Pain is a huge problem in America. Approximately half of adults in America suffer from chronic pain (1).Classic, uncomplicated pain starts in peripheral tissues, initiating an electrical signal that travels along the pain nerve (nociceptor) to the brain. Pain is an electrical signal interpreted by the brain.The primary reason for the initiation of pain from [..]

Treatment guidelines published around the world note that ruling out “red flags” is a healthcare provider’s number one responsibility, which is in line with the decree exhorted by all healthcare professionals when first entering practice to do no harm. When detected, red flags prompt a doctor to stop and immediately send the patient to the [..]

There are many different types of arthritis, with the most common being osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative joint disease (DJD). Osteoarthritis is often referred to as the “wear-and-tear” type of arthritis, as the smooth, cushion-like, shiny cartilage covering the joints that allows for a nice gliding surface wears down. This can cause pain, swelling, [..]

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition that arises when the median nerve is compressed as it passes through the narrow, rigid carpal tunnel, resulting in numbness, tingling, pain, and/or weakness in the hand and wrist. The underlying cause of CTS can be obvious and easy to trace, such as an injury to the wrist, [..]

About a quarter of adults experience frequent knee pain, which results in limited function, reduced mobility, and impaired quality of life. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of knee pain in those over 50 years of age, and it is the #1 reason for total knee replacement (TKR). The rate of TKR in the [..]

Recent studies suggest that in a rear-end collision, the injuries collectively described as whiplash associated disorders (WAD) result from the simultaneous hyperextension of the lower cervical spine and hyperflexion of the upper cervical spine. This can lead to a variety of injuries to the bony and/or soft tissues of the neck, some of which may [..]

Due to concern about the side effects and the long-term use of medications typically prescribed to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), there is an increasing demand for alternative forms of treatment for patients with the condition, with dietary medications and supplementation showing promise. Research has shown that deficiencies in zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium, selenium, glutathione, and/or [..]