Stephen Becker, D.C.

When it comes to treating patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP), doctors of chiropractic commonly use a multi-modal approach that involves manual therapies, like spinal manipulation and mobilization, combined with supervised and/or home-based exercises. Why is that? In many cases, the superficial paraspinal muscles of patients with back pain will tighten as a reflex [..]

Experts report that 157 million work days are lost each year in the United States due to headaches at a cost of about $50 billion in work absenteeism and medical expenses. According to current estimates, about 18% of chronic headache patients are believed to have cervicogenic headaches (CGH), or headaches that originate from dysfunction in [..]

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a very common condition caused by inflammation of the median nerve that runs through the palm side of the wrist. When the median nerve is pinched and irritated, numbness, tingling, and/or weakness in the hand can result. Wrist splinting is a common recommendation given to CTS patients by all healthcare [..]

When people think of chiropractic care, they usually imagine back pain, neck pain, and headaches, as research STRONGLY supports chiropractic treatment for these complaints. But what about chiropractic care for shoulder pain? In 2010 and again in 2014, the United Kingdom government published landmark studies that reviewed previously published research on various forms of treatment [..]

Whiplash associated disorders (WAD) refers to a collection of neck-related symptoms that are most commonly associated with car crashes. Experts estimate that up to 50% of acute WAD-injured patients will develop some form of long-term disability. Being able to predict who is more likely to develop long-term disability is VERY important, as it can place [..]

Curcumin, a chemical found in turmeric that gives mustard and curry their yellow color, has long been known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant capabilities. Because of its prevalence in Indian cuisine, some researchers suspect that reduced inflammation in the brain from frequent curcumin use may explain why senior citizens in India have a lower prevalence [..]

The Role for Chiropractic Evaluationand Treatment of Concussion Patients••••••••••On November 14, 2015 favored Ultimate Fighting Champion Ronda Rousey was knocked unconscious by her underdog opponent Holly Holm. The internet is littered with video of the knockout. It occurred as a consequence of a single kick by Holm to Rousey. The kick was not delivered to [..]

Multiple studies have shown that hyper-pronation (HP), or too much rolling-inwards of the ankle, can have effects on the body far beyond the foot. For example, abnormal motion of the ankle can lead to slight changes in how the knees and pelvis move as you carry out your normal daily activities, placing added strain on [..]

Mechanical neck pain—neck pain without neurological compromise, often without a specific cause—is associated with a loss of mobility, poor activity tolerance, increased pressure pain sensitivity (or hypersensitivity to a normal stimulus), and increased joint position sense error (JPSE—difficulty reproducing the same movement when repeated multiple times). Patients with mechanical neck pain often seek treatment from [..]

Every career has its pros and cons when it comes to physical exertion, stress, work hours, the physical environment (temperature, cleanliness, etc.), and more. But when a worker develops carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), is it the job that’s the culprit or is there something else responsible for the patient’s symptoms? Since we spend about a [..]

Knee pain is a common complaint that will affect about 30% of the general population at some point in adulthood. Since running has a reputation for causing knee pain due to “wear and tear”, the question frequently arises as to whether or not running accelerates knee problems. So, what does the current body of research [..]

Did you know that an alarming 90% of neurologically injured whiplash patients DO NOT recover and have neck muscle dysfunction even up to a year after the date of their motor vehicle collision? There is suspicion among researchers that such ongoing issues are the result of the body’s initial response to injury to the brachial [..]