ASK THE DOCTORS Neck pain is a frequent reason for clients to see a massage therapist, one cause of neck pain and disability that poses challenges is Torticollis means literally, "twisted neck." A person with torticollis exhibits involuntary muscle contractions that lead to abnormal positions, and/or tremor or spasmodic movements of neck and head. Acute or acquired Torticolis (sometimes called "wry neck") is the most common form of torticollis characterized by constant muscle spasms in the neck. It appears in a broad spectrum of the population from children to adults. Acquired torticollis is caused by maintaining muscles in shortened positions for a prolonged period. The acute form might manifest as a result of a head or neck injury such as whiplash or concussion, in which symptoms may appear immediately or be delayed. The condition seemingly appears "overnight" when, for example, a person has slept with his/her neck in an awkward position or a cold draft on their neck muscles. Other activities likely to produce acquired torticollis include holding the telephone between the head and shoulder, or playing an instrument, such as the violin, for long periods. The sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle is most commonly involved in acute or acquired torticollis. Because it is a rotator, any position that rotates the head to the opposite side for long periods may lead to the condition. Your practitioner will be able to palpate - and usually observe - shortening and hypertonicity in the muscle. Visual indicators can be similar with each variation of torticollis. The muscles of the cervical region may be tight due to local muscle spasm. Motions that turn the head in the opposite direction of the contraction are likely painful and limited. There may be pain associated with further rotation to the contracted side depending on the severity of the condition and the percentage of muscle fibers recruited for the activity. Acquired torticollis is not serious and symptoms generally improve within a couple of weeks. This condition responds well to massage; however, care should be used in treatment, as the muscles are often painful from spasm and trigger-point activity. In order to rule out more serious neurological or structural disorders, it is a wise idea to have the client evaluated by their doctor prior to treatment. Armando’s is well known for their massage, located at 2101 Estero Blvd on Fort Myers Beach. in the same location and family owned for over 21 years You can reach them at: 239-483-1200, go to: www.armandosdayspa.com Or Just Search “Best Massage” on the web.... You’ll find Them! Dear Doctor: My husband was in agony recently, and it turned out he was passing a kidney stone. Why does that hurt so much, and what can he do to keep it from happening again? Dear Reader: It can be shocking, after passing a kidney stone, to see the relatively small size of the object that caused so much pain. As the name suggests, kidney stones are hard, pebblelike objects formed from the minerals and salts found within the kidney. They can range in size from a grain of sand to a large marble. When stones leave the kidney, they pass into the ureter, which is the duct that carries urine to the bladder. The ureter can’t stretch to accommodate a foreign object, which makes the passage of larger stones difficult -- or even impossible. Pain from kidney stones often comes in waves because the ureter goes into spasm to try to force out the stone. When a stone reaches the junction where the ureter meets the bladder, it can cause a sharp, sometimes burning pain during urination. When a kidney stone blocks the ureter, it causes a backup of urine into the kidney. The resulting pressure causes widespread pain and discomfort, including in the back, belly and groin. The blockage can also lead to infection, which adds fever and chills to the daunting list of symptoms. Nausea, vomiting, cloudy urine, smelly urine, blood in the urine and urinary urgency are also common symptoms. Treatment ranges from hydration and pain meds to make patients more comfortable while passing smaller stones to using shock wave therapy to break larger stones into particles small enough to pass to surgical options for difficult cases. If you’ve had kidney stones, you can take steps to lessen the odds of a recurrence. First, drink plenty of water throughout the day. Hydrating dilutes your urine, inhibiting the growth of salts and minerals that may aggregate into stones. Also, avoid the use of a sauna, hot tub or steam bath; intensive and extensive workouts; a hot yoga class; and even relaxing on a hot summer day, which can result in sweating and loss of water that, in turn, leads to a drop in urine production. As you drink water during the day, you can add a generous squeeze of lime or lemon, both of which are high in natural citrate, a substance that helps prevent stone formation. Be aware of your diet. The most common type of kidney stones are calcium stones, which are usually made up of calcium and oxalate, a chemical found in most foods. Foods high in oxalate include beets, spinach, peanuts, sweet potatoes, tea and chocolate. Red meat, organ meats and shellfish are high in purines, which lead to a higher production of uric acid. This is tied to the formation of uric acid stones, another common type of kidney stone. Fructose, phosphate, salt and alcohol also play a role in kidney stone production. If this all sounds a bit overwhelming, consider asking your doctor to help you create a lifestyle plan to reduce your risk of getting kidney stones. Your Neck Pain Could Be Torticolis Lifestyle Changes Could Help Prevent Kidney Stones Eve Glazier, M.D., MBA, and Elizabeth Ko, M.D. Sun Bay Paper Available Do you like this News Paper? Interested in having your own Franchise in your hometown or in taking over this one? 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