David Perna, D.C.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is characterized by 30-60 second bouts of high-intensity output followed by a very low-intensity exercise (like walking or slow pedaling) which allows one's heart rate and breathing to recover before the next high-intensity segment. Studies have shown HIIT can produce similar results as low-intensity aerobic exercise, but with significant differences in [..]

All healthcare disciplines are associated with risks of injury or death. Rare but sensational occurrences are often exploited by the media, leading the public to believe that rare events are commonplace. In contrast, common occurrences are often under reported, leading the public to have higher confidence in the safety of certain healthcare disciplines and procedures. [..]

Previously, we discussed how herniated disks can resorb all by themselves, especially large herniated disks. But what about a damaged nerve—can it self-repair too? First, it’s important to realize that damage can occur when enough pressure is applied to any living tissue. The anatomy of our nerves includes many micro-structures such as the blood vessels [..]

Cervical spondylosis (CS) is another term for osteoarthritis (OA) of the neck. It is a common, age-related condition that you will probably develop if you live long enough. Or, if you suffered a neck injury as a youth, it can develop within five to ten years of the injury, depending on the severity. It is [..]

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can be an extremely painful and activity-limiting condition. It affects many people of all ages and genders, though women are affected more often than men. But how do you know if what you are suffering from is truly CTS or if it's another condition that's producing the symptoms in your hand [..]

One of the most common causes of shoulder pain is a rotator cuff (RC) tear. To determine just how common this is, one study looked at a population of 683 people regardless of whether or not they had shoulder complaints. There were 229 males and 454 females for a total of 1,366 shoulders. (The participants' [..]

Whiplash is an injury to the soft-tissues of the neck often referred to as a sprain or strain. Because there are a unique set of symptoms associated with whiplash, doctors and researchers commonly use the term “whiplash associated disorders” or WAD to describe the condition. WAD commonly occurs as a result of a car crash, [..]

Here are a few ways to improve your sleep quality in spite of a busy lifestyle: 1) SET A SCHEDULE: Set a time for BOTH going to bed AND getting up in the morning, preferably at the same times each day—even on weekends. 2) EXERCISE: Try to get 20-30 minutes of exercise every day (but [..]

Low back pain (LBP) from a herniated disk often leads to surgical intervention. However, there are patients with this painful malady who can successfully “ride it out” and repeat MRI imaging six to twelve months later often fails to show little, if any, evidence of the original herniated disk that was initially very obvious. How [..]

The connection between our sinuses and headaches is well established, but what about the relationship between neck pain and our sinuses? Is there a connection? Sinusitis is very common in the spring when pollen counts are high and times when the cold and flu are rampant. It usually manifests with a clear runny nose and [..]

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) often responds well to non-surgical care and there is good evidence supporting chiropractic treatment for CTS. But the question frequently arises, “When should I consider surgery for my CTS?” Let’s take a look… CTS is basically the pinching of the median nerve as it travels through a tight tunnel at the [..]

Pain is a big problem in America. Of the 238 million adults in America, approximately 116 million suffer from chronic pain (1, 2, 3). The majority of pain and its suffering are musculoskeletal, and is quantified by body region as follows (4):Lower-Back Pain 28.1%Knee Pain 19.5%Severe Headache 16.1%Neck Pain 15.1%Shoulder Pain 09.0%Finger Pain 07.6%Hip Pain 07.1%As noted, [..]