David Perna, D.C.

Neck pain and stiffness are very common complaints, and these problems can come and go chronically for years, even decades. Numerous studies point to exercises and chiropractic care as two of the best approaches for gaining control over this common, potentially long-lasting, and sometimes disabling condition. However, focusing only on the neck may NOT be [..]

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common reasons patients seek out Chiropractic care, and they appreciate being told what is causing their back pain. This is why doctors gather a careful and complete history from new patients and perform a physical examination. Once the "pain generator" is determined, a doctor can discuss [..]

Pathophysiology, Safety, Effectiveness IntroductionA pioneering study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 1994 (1). Researchers from Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach, California, performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations on 98 people who did not have back pain. Sixty-four percent of the 98 asymptomatic subjects were found to have abnormal lumber spine discs. [..]

When patients seek chiropractic care, the focus is on improving ALL aspects of health, not just the presenting complaint of back or neck pain. The “Triangle of Health” is represented by an equilateral triangle where one side represents structure (something that chiropractic SPECIFICALLY manages), chemical (where we look closely at diet and nutrition), and emotional [..]

Whiplash is a common problem following motor vehicle collisions and because prevention is considered the best medicine, here are some tips to AVOID car crashes altogether…Don’t eat, take your eyes off the road while talking, fiddle with the radio, talk on your cell phone, or text/play with apps while driving! The National Safety Council estimates [..]

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a condition that the medical community has long had difficulty defining. As previously stated, FM is often considered a “musculoskeletal disorder” (MSK) because of the aches and pains it produces in the muscles and joints. However, this is not really accurate since FM includes many other symptoms beyond just severe muscle pain, [..]

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition caused by compression of the median nerve as it travels through the carpal tunnel at the wrist, possibly resulting in numbness, tingling, and eventually weakness in the thumb and the index, middle, and ring fingers. “True” CTS occurs when the median nerve is pinched while it travels through [..]

Neck pain is one of the most common complaints patients have when they come to a chiropractic office for the first time, second only to low back pain. Neck pain affects all of us at some point in life, and for some, it can become a chronic, permanent problem that can interfere with many desired [..]

Low back pain (LBP) can strike at any time or place, often when we least expect it. There are “self-help” approaches that can be of great benefit, but many of these approaches can fail, or worse, irritate the condition. Here are some “do’s and don’ts” when self-managing low back pain! Ice vs. Heat? Typically, people [..]

Anheuser-Busch is the world’s leading brewing company. One of their wholesalers, Brewers Distributing, is located in Peoria, IL. Many of their employees spend most of their time moving around heavy cases and kegs of beer. “Having noticed a large number of workers compensation cases due to lifting-related injuries, the company decided to introduce several workplace [..]

Chiropractic is often sought after for managing conditions associated with the nerves, muscles, bones, and joints (or the “neuromusculoskeletal system”), and typically NOT for conditions associated with blood sugar (which is also called dysinsulinism, since insulin controls our blood sugar levels). Insulin controls the level of our blood sugar and is secreted by the endocrine [..]

Whiplash—or “whiplash associated disorders” (WAD)—is a relatively common injury usually linked with a motor vehicle collision (MVC) during which the head is whipped forwards and backwards (when rear-ended) or sideways (if T-boned). Let’s look at some facts: 1) WAD is often ignored or mistreated due to a lack of understanding about the condition. 2) WAD [..]