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How to Fix Cops’ Joint, Back, & Shoulder Pain
Advanced Back and Neck Care • Sep 25, 2016

Why joint, back and shoulder pain are common in cops (and how to fix it)

There will never be a day when officers leave their duty belts and ballistic vests in the squad, so start taking preventative measures now — and take them often

Injuries are inevitable in law enforcement. Back, shoulder, and neck pain are all too common to the profession, and can be credited to everything from your duty belt and armor to your long-term immobility in the squad.

There are two things officers can do to spend as little time as possible recovering and getting back to patrol feeling completely healed: address the problem quickly and accurately, and take preventative measures early and often.

Steve A. Mora, MD., is an Orthopedic Surgeon in Orange County (Calif.) and sees many police officers in his line of work. He offered some advice on prevention, treatment, and rehab for chronic or incident-caused injuries commonly found in law enforcement.

Prevention Officers are most commonly injured on duty one of two ways: In an instant, face-to- face physical altercation, or from repetitive movements and habits that cause a gradual injury by wearing down joints or muscles.

Constant training and challenging physical exercise have always been key to preventing injuries, but one common practice is often overlooked — especially by male officers. Core strengthening and stretching programs such as yoga and Pilates two or three times a week can help prevent chronic pains. In a poll conducted by PoliceOne, only 0.4 percent of the 9,000 members polled admitted that yoga and/or Pilates was their preferred method of exercise.

“The most important part is the stretching. By keeping soft tissues stretched around joints, those joints are able to move in healthy way,” explained Mora.

If you can directly link a body pain with a repetitive motion you make, modify that motion. For example, Dr. Mora noticed a lot of officers complaining of knee pain, stemming from exiting the patrol car over and over each day and pivoting on that knee. Modify the motion so that you’re not always relying on that knee, or seek a specific stretch that will target that joint.

Treatment

The first and most important step, according to Dr. Mora, is to make sure you’re diagnosed properly. You know better than anyone else the difference between a pulled muscle and a more serious injury.

“It’s okay to ask questions or to request a consultation with a specialist a little sooner than you normally would,” Mora said.

Tendon injuries and ruptures that happen as a result of a physical confrontation can often mimic simpler injuries, when in fact they need more attention than that.

“Most agencies have op-med clinics that take care of the initial evaluation or treatment and will do a referral — but that’s where the ball can be dropped, and it’s not intentional, but it can cause delays in treatment.”

You can ensure you’ve been diagnosed properly by seeking the right orthopedic surgeon, physical therapist, or other specialist. Dr. Mora advises that you look for a
doctor who has had a fellowship in sports medicine or specializes in shoulder or knee injuries.

Chasing suspects, wrestling aggressors, and scaling walls are both common in law enforcement and common causes of back and shoulder pain. Injuries such as rotator cuff tears are popular in law enforcement — and they become increasingly difficult to surgically repair if left untreated for months at a time.

“If you feel it’s [the muscle] weakening, or you can no longer reach behind your back or your head, it’s time to start the diagnostic process,” Mora advised.

Rehabilitation “The post-op rehab is just as important as the surgery,” Mora wrote on his medical blog. “These patients need to go to physical therapists who understand their job and physical requirements. [You need to] choose physical therapists who are in tune with [your] needs and who also understand Workers’ Compensation rules.

“Therapy needs to be efficient and effective. I also implement a specific home exercise program which augments the rehab. I look at all the angles including nutrition, endocrine, and soft tissue recovery.”

Police officers, Mora observed, prefer not to be out of work — or even on desk duty — unless it’s absolutely necessary. Getting back into the habit of pursuing suspects, hopping fences, and undergoing strenuous training means surgery needs to be effective and healing needs to be complete.

One product Mora recommends to his post-op police patients is form-fitting posture garments such as AlignMed. The tight garments help with posture as well as shoulder and lower back positioning, and deliver the body queues to keep the body properly aligned during the healing period.

Alternatives to Painkillers Officers have a better understanding than most of the toll painkillers can take on a person. They see narcotics dependence not only in the communities in which they police, but even among their colleagues who have suffered similar injuries. So it’s no surprise that so many are hesitant to take narcotics for their post-op pain.

Alternatives include the practice of physical therapy and chiropractors. If painkillers are still necessary in conjunction with other methods, work with your doctor to
outline a clear treatment plan. Find out what the long-term recovery plan looks like and how long you’ll be taking narcotics, and ensure that the use of narcotics are not the sole recovery method.

The Future of Officer Health “Research has shown that the weight distribution while using a heavy gun belt affects posture and leads to injuries,” Mora wrote. “There is work being done on trying to find ways to unload the gun belt including alternatives such as utility vests, gun outriggers, pressure offset mechanisms and unique posture apparel designed to offset the weight of the bullet proof vest.”

There will never be a day when officers leave their duty belts and ballistic vests in the squad, so start taking preventative measures now — and take them often.

 

 

About the author
As the Associate Editor for PoliceOne, Loraine Burger writes and edits news articles, product articles, columns, and case studies about public safety, community relations, and law enforcement. Loraine has developed relationships with law enforcement officers nationwide at agencies large and small to better understand the issues affecting police, whether on the street, at the office or at home.

By Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., DACBN, MS, CFMP 13 Mar, 2024
https://www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com/public/2000.cfm ** Feel free to use this article on your website. Compliments from Functional Medicine University . ** Read my past articles: http://www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com/public/department88.cfm ===================== View Rick Bramos Fitness YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_x4I27Z0DfYkfcroXxAhcA/videos Here is Rick's New Video of the Week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W__EwtXJkyY Rick is now offering phone consultations for those wanting to lose weight or simply to improve their fitness. Rick can be reached at 2days2fitness@gmail.com for more details. ===================== ATTENTION DOCTORS AND ALL HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS Tell your friends and colleagues about Clinical Rounds. This is a great introduction to the field of functional medicine. Here is the webpage to subscribe: http://www.clinicalrounds.com Take care, Ron P.S. Please visit our facebook page and "Like It" Of course if you really like it. :) http://www.facebook.com/pages/Functional-Medicine-University/161486170671332
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At the very least, you'll want to keep this to a minimum. Inflammation is often visible—think red skin or a swollen knee. However, inflammation can also occur on the inside, and it's not always so easy to detect. "Inflammation is a physiological process involved in the defense of our body and the repair of tissues," says Jenna Stangland, RD , a Momentous advisor. Stangland explains that inflammation can be triggered by infections, trauma, toxins or allergic reactions. Sometimes, it becomes chronic in the muscles and tissues. Unfortunately, Stangland says chronic inflammation carries risks. "Chronic inflammation can end up stimulating the development of cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune disease, neurological disease or cancer," Stangland says. "This type of inflammation can last several months as a result of inability to combat and reduce it." Diet isn't a cure-all for chronic inflammation or the diseases it can trigger. However, it's an important tool. "Diet plays a significant role in inflammation, as certain foods can either promote or reduce inflammation in the body," says Michelle Routhenstein, MS, RD, CDCES, CDN , a preventive cardiology dietitian at EntirelyNourished.com . One food in particular is worth avoiding. RDs shared the food to limit if you have chronic inflammation. Related: The One Diet That Will Actually Lower Your Heart Attack Risk, According to Cardiologists
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Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., DACBN, MS, CFMP
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18 or 80 most anyone can do these. Remember create a habit first.  Perform these exercises just twice a week.
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Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., DACBN, MS, CFMP Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia. Its symptoms vary but may start with mild memory loss or difficulty remembering words or names. As it progresses, Alzheimer's causes worsening confusion and memory loss, changes in personality, the inability to perform everyday tasks and more. Alzheimer's is caused by a slow build-up of protein plaques and tangles in the brain that eventually cause brain cells to stop working properly. This build-up usually starts years before a person experiences symptoms. Alzheimer's-related memory loss is caused by brain cells working improperly and dying-a process known as neurodegeneration. Alzheimer's is estimated to account for about 60% of dementia cases. Diagnosing Alzheimer's Until recently, it has been difficult to identify the biological changes that indicate Alzheimer's. The typical evaluation, which includes physical exam, blood and urine tests and cognitive testing may provide ambiguous or conflicting answers, which can result in delayed referrals until symptoms become clearer. That has changed with new technology and testing. Labcorp has developed a new test called the Amyloid-Tau-Neurodegeneration (ATN) Profile ( ATN Profile) to help doctors detect evidence of biological changes consistent with Alzheimer's. These tests are the first objective tools that doctors have to help evaluate Alzheimer's, meaning that with a simple blood test , doctors and other health professionals allowed to order labs can get a clearer answers on Alzheimer's and its progression and get patients on a care plan earlier. This will in fact give physicians a simple, objective test for Alzheimer's disease pathology that can help shorten the time to diagnosis. Labcorp is the first company to make a fully blood-based ATN Profile commercially available. What is ATN? The ATN framework establishes a means for classifying biomarkers based on the biological evidence of Alzheimer's disease that each marker provides These markers are divided into three categories to reflect the three primary biological changes associated with Alzheimer's: A for amyloid plaques: Accumulations of beta-amyloid 42 proteins begin to form plaques in the brain years before initial symptom onset T for tau tangles: The beta-amyloid 42 accumulation causes misfolding of tau proteins, which tangle into knots and disrupt normal brain cell function N for neurodegeneratio : Brain cell functional impairment causes the cells to die, which exacerbates the characteristic cognitive impairment symptoms observed in Alzheimer's patients
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Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., DACBN, MS, CFMP Medical literature is very clear that oral dental health plays a significant role in your cardiovascular health. As odd as it sounds, regularly brushing and flossing your teeth could be what stands between you and a future heart attack. Research has linked bacteria from the Streptococcus genus to fatty plaque buildup in heart arteries. A new study published in the journal Circulation has pinpointed two specific oral microorganisms that play a role in whether we develop atherosclerosis (clogged arteries). In all people there should be a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria in our mouth (teeth). However when this balance is upset, it kicks off a chain of events that makes atherosclerosis far more likely to occur. The researchers used advanced technology for the study to reexamine the gut and oral bacteria assessments and cardiac imaging from 8,973 volunteers in the earlier SCAPIS study. Search in the medical literature has actually identified three bacteria associated with atherosclerosis when they were found in large numbers in the mouth. They include: Streptococcus anginosus Streptococcus oralis Streptococcus mutans The scientists who have published their research have two theories about why these bacteria might be a contributing factor for atherosclerosis. 1:These bacteria (streptococcus species) set off systemic low-grade inflammation that leads to plaque accumulation in heart arteries. 2: In an attempt to evade our immune system, the bacteria in our mouth enter our bloodstream and set up shop in our arteries. Steps to take to decrease the potential of Streptococcus genus compromising our cardiovascular health include: Regularly brushing your teeth Flossing Consider using a waterpik water flosser (this is my dentist strongest recommendations to clean out bacteria deep in the back molars.) This oral health appliance provides a stream of pulsating water to floss between your teeth and below the gumline. Don't forget the most important step of ideal dental health and that is regular dental cleanings. Here are some additional recommendations to be certain your oral health has the best opportunity to be bacteria free. Stop the Sugar Salt Water Rinse Tea Tree Oil and/or Oregano oil products. These essential oils have natural antibacterial qualities. If you battle gingivitis, look for mouthwash or toothpaste made with tea tree oil (never use straight oil) and/or Oregano oil. Olive Leaf Extract: Olive leaf extract is another natural antibacterial that can be used in mouthwash or toothpaste. One of my personal go to preventive measures to ensure optimal oral health is the Dentalcidin Oral Care System by Biocidin Botanicals. Clear here for more details on this dental care system. Start protecting your heart and reducing your risk of heart complications today by focusing on your oral care. You can find a qualified and certified functional medicine practitioner by going to: www.FunctionalMedicineDoctors.com References: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1882761608000045 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1043276015000454 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1594668/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3275337/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33825326/ https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/iai.00897-19 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37435755/ The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Grisanti and his functional medicine community. Dr. Grisanti encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. Visit www.FunctionalMedicineUniversity.com for more information on our training in functional medicine. Look for practitioners who have successfully completed the Functional Medicine University's Certification Program (CFMP) www.functionalmedicinedoctors.com . This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Dr. Grisanti is required
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