David Perna, D.C.

Humans evolved outdoors, in the sunshine. Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation produces a hormone known as “vitamin D”. Vitamin D is critical for human health. The nucleus of all of our cells have vitamin D receptors. There is evidence that vitamin D influences the expression of about 10% of human genes.With very rare exceptions, humans [..]

The brain is supplied by blood from two arterial sources: the paired internal carotid arteries and the paired vertebral arteries. The blood supply to brain from the carotid arteries is referred to as the anterior circulation to the brain. The blood supply to brain from the vertebral arteries is referred to as the posterior circulation to the brain.The vertebral arteries are exceptionally unique: [..]

Chiropractic is well known for the management of pain in the back, neck, arms, and legs, but what about enhancing sleep quality? Chronic, long-term sleep-related disorders affect an estimated 1.5 million Americans each year and account for an estimated $16 billion in medical costs annually, not including indirect costs due to lost productivity and other [..]

In “Part I” we began our discussion about wellness and introduced many different types of wellness programs. Here, we will continue the investigation of how chiropractic and wellness are a winning combination!As of this writing, the Affordable Care Act has specific qualifications as to who would qualify (as well as to protect consumers like you [..]

In 1982, Richard Rothman, MD, PhD and Frederick Simeone, MD, published the second edition of their book The Spine (1). Chapter 2 of the book is titled (2): “Applied Anatomy of the Spine” Anatomist Wesley Parke, PhD, writes this chapter, stating: “Although the 23 or 24 individual motor segments must be considered in relation to [..]

Whiplash injury is an inertial mechanical injury. Consequently, chiropractors, as a consequence of the mechanical nature of their clinical practice, treat many whiplash-injured patients. Although chiropractors manage a wide range of clinical syndromes and findings, the emphasis of chiropractic clinical practice is to treat, primarily through spinal adjusting, regions of spinal hypomobility (less than normal motion). However, chiropractors [..]

This article is part 2 of a 2 part series. For part 1, Click Here. Low back pain (LBP) is a reality in most of our lives at one point or another. It can range from being a “nag” to being totally disabling. Let’s look at some exercises for the low back that can be [..]

This article is part 2 of a 2 part series. For part 1, Click Here. Low back pain (LBP) is a reality in most of our lives at one point or another. It can range from being a “nag” to being totally disabling. Let’s look at some exercises for the low back that can be [..]

Whiplash usually occurs as a result of a car crash when the head moves in a fast, uncontrolled way in many possible directions. The forwards-backwards movement is described in a classic “whiplash” injury but side-to-side, rotational, or a combination of movements often occur, especially if we add in the factor of the head being turned [..]

Fibromyalgia (FM) management must include dietary considerations, just ask ANY FM sufferer! Last month, we concentrated on the types of foods that reduce inflammation, but the question remains, what foods should we go out of our way to avoid? In other words, what should we NOT eat (and why)? Let’s take a look!As we all [..]

Did you know that Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) can affect anyone? None of us are immune to developing CTS as roughly 1 out of 20 of us will develop CTS in our lifetime! This month, let’s look at some of the risk factors for developing CTS:Race: Caucasians carry the greatest risk of developing CTS.Gender: Women [..]

Sinus headaches refer to pain in the head, typically in and around the face. Most of us are knowledgeable about two of our four sinuses: the frontal (forehead) and maxillary (our “cheek bones”). The other two sinuses (called ethmoid and sphenoid) are much less understood. Many patients ask chiropractors about sinus problems, as all of [..]