Blog Archive

Remarkably, about 70% of the general population will experience shoulder pain at some point. The simplest things like sleeping can be nearly impossible. Even small movements can produce excruciating pain. In this blog, Brian Murphy, DC, MS, and the team of experienced and compassionate health care specialists at Stamford Spine...

Over 51 million Americans suffer from chronic pain. If you count yourself among the millions of people who suffer from chronic hip pain, movement and even sitting still can be painful, even debilitating, wreaking havoc on your quality of life. Finding relief, especially when you don’t want to depend on...

Sometimes the mere thought of looming deadlines and the seemingly never-ending demands on your time can make you feel overwhelmed and stressed out. Before you know it, you feel that pain at the back of your head or your temples and forehead – another tension headache. Nine out of 10...

Back pain sidelines about 2% of the U.S. workforce every day. Remarkably, about 80-90% of people in the United States will have back pain at some point in their lives. If you count yourself among the 16 million adults who suffer from chronic back pain, you’re all too aware of...

The nine months leading up to your child's birth can be the most exhilarating time of your life. As each month passes, your baby grows a little more, and you anticipate all those benchmarks along the way – hearing your baby’s heartbeat for the first time or that sonogram photo...

An estimated 127.4 million Americans are affected by disabling musculoskeletal conditions, which include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, low back pain, osteoporosis, gout, and more. Remarkably, about 7 in 10 musculoskeletal sufferers experience neck pain at some point in their lives. While many suffer from this condition, it’s not unusual for patients...

If you or someone you love is among the more than 39 million Americans who suffer from migraines, you understand how migraines can literally steal countless hours of your life. Your day may start perfectly fine and then those familiar aura symptoms start to kick in. Then the nausea arrives...

Whether you’re surfing the internet, watching your favorite drama on television, or clicking through a story on your phone or tablet, you’d be hard-pressed to escape the numerous advertisements for over-the-counter pain medicines or the latest new prescription drug.  While it’s true that relieving and managing pain are major preoccupations,...

Back pain is a common issue that affects the general population, regardless of what you do for a living, how old you are, or your gender. Lower back pain is the culprit for many back pain sufferers, and the effects can be debilitating. In fact, back pain isn’t only the...

There’s little question that a massage just plain feels good, which is likely why 28% of women and 26% of men in the United States avail themselves of this fantastic wellness tool. But massages can extend far past a soothing hour and promote joint health, which is good news for...

Whiplash refers to an injury that affects the muscles, tendons, or other soft tissues in the neck. It occurs when the head undergoes a sudden and forceful movement in one direction, followed by a quick movement back in the opposite direction. This type of injury is most commonly associated with...

Scoliosis refers to an abnormal curvature of the spine, where the natural forward-and-backward curve becomes distorted. This condition causes the spine to rotate and develop a side-to-side curve. The severity of these curves can range from mild, at around 10 degrees, to severe, exceeding 100 degrees. The majority of scoliosis...

Herniated discs can cause a variety of different symptoms. However, those symptoms can vary depending on where the disc herniation occurs in the spine. Now, we will take a closer look at the symptoms of herniated discs based on where they develop in your back. Cervical disc herniation Cervical disc...

Elbow tendonitis, also called lateral epicondylitis, is an inflammation of the connective tissue that fastens the muscles in the forearm to the elbow. The tendons attach to the outside edge of the upper arm bone, where it meets the elbow. This type of elbow pain is also called tennis elbow....

Cervicogenic headaches are pain that develops in the neck, and it can be felt up to different portions of the head. It is a type of headache that results from another condition, such as a neck trauma or an infection. People may confuse cervicogenic headaches with migraine and tension headaches,...

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is when your blood pressure is higher than normal. Your blood pressure changes throughout the day based on your activities. Having blood pressure measures consistently above normal may result in a diagnosis of high blood pressure (or hypertension). The higher your blood pressure levels...

Deep tissue massage therapy is similar to Swedish massage. However, a deep tissue massage combines slow strokes and notable finger pressure. The purpose is to release the tension and tightness held deeply in your muscles and your connective tissues. The focus stays on the deepest layers of muscle tissue, tendons,...

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles covering your shoulder joint and attaching to your shoulder blade. It comprises four muscles and their tendons; the Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres minor, and Subscapularis (SITS). The rotator cuff tendons and muscles stabilize your shoulder and allow a full range of movement and...

Achilles tendonitis is a regular injury for athletes, it occurs when the tendon that connects the back of your leg to your heel becomes swollen and painful near the bottom of the foot. There are two large muscles in the calf. These create the power needed to push off with...

Neuropathy, not to be confused with restless leg syndrome which generally is prominent at night whereas neuropathy can occur at any time, is one of the most common ailments affecting more than 20 million people in the United States (as per the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website),...

Have you ever wondered what exactly foam rolling can do to help your muscles? Dr. Brian Murphy with Stamford Spine is answering some frequently asked questions about the benefits of foam rolling and who can benefit! What is foam rolling? Foam rolling is a self muscle release technique that is...

Stretching the muscles is beneficial for a number of reasons. It can improve the joint range of motion, enhance muscle ability of loading, decrease the risk of injury and enable the muscles to work more effectively. If the muscle shortens and tightens, it will not be able to extend all...

There’s nothing worse than waking up in the morning with a sore neck that is difficult to move! But if you find yourself dealing with a stiff neck, Dr. Murphy explains the possible causes and offers a few tips to help! Why am I waking up with a stiff neck?...

With the kids back in school comes the excitement of new school supplies. That includes a new backpack! But when it comes to how your child’s backpack can impact their posture, Dr. Murphy says there are several things you can do to help! Below, he explains why it’s important to...

Whether you’re experiencing muscle or joint pain, you may be wondering when to consider seeing a chiropractor. Dr. Murphy with Stamford Spine is explaining how to make that decision with this Q&A! When should I consider seeing a chiropractor after an injury? If the injury involved impact like a motor vehicle accident...

At Stamford Spine, we can use massage therapy in your chiropractic treatment plan to treat both muscle and joint pain. It is good at reducing muscle pain, while chiropractic adjustments are good at reducing joint pain. So when used together, these modalities help to alleviate the daily pains that come from poor posture...

Tennis Elbow is an overuse syndrome that causes tendonitis of forearm muscles that attach on the outside of your elbow. For many it can flare up beginning around this time of year because it can be caused by many different types of activities that require gripping and are often enjoyed...

It’s that time of year when we are all beginning to do work in our backyards. While we want to make sure our hard work shows in our yards, we also want to make sure it isn’t causing back problems. So what can you do when preventing back pain while...

Preventing back pain while traveling begins at home when you are packing your bags and continues throughout your trip. The past year has many of us looking forward to traveling again! But, whether we are exploring new places or soaking in old favorites, back pain can really spoil our plans...

Tension headaches are a very common type of headache that many of us have probably experienced at some point. They usually feel like an achy, dull type of head pain or like a tight band is wrapped around the head. The pain can be located anywhere on the skull. Often,...

Good posture means holding your body properly. This can reduce neck and back pain, while also helping us to sit and stand straighter. It probably comes as no surprise that the biggest cause of bad posture is a poor ergonomic workstation setup. When you spend long hours with your head positioned...

Using flexible adhesive tape to treat a patient at Stamford Spine. What is “taping”? Who do we use it on? Flexible adhesive tape or kinesiology tape (KT) is a wonderful tool for chiropractors. The therapeutic technique is safe and gentle. We apply tape to the skin to reduce pain in muscles and joints....

You may remember the round bruises on Michael Phelps’ back and shoulders during the Rio Olympic Games or the round marks on Gwenyth Paltrow’s back at the 2004 premier of “Anchorman.” Both were the result of “cupping” and when many say they heard about the therapy for the first time....

Do you spend a lot of time looking down at your phone? If you answered yes, you aren’t alone! According to ZD Net, the average Americans spends a little over 5 hours a day on their cell phone. So, the amount of time you spend looking down at you phone may...

Before you have children, you often hear about feeling a love like you’ve never felt before! You also hear about the sleepless nights and tantruming toddlers. But the one thing that might surprise you is the backache that can come along with parenthood, particularly for moms. Why are backaches particularly...

There’s nothing worse than waking up with an aching neck and back. It takes that 6-9 hours of sleep and throws it right out the window! So, what can you do to eliminate pain and have a more restful night of sleep? Believe it or not, having the proper pillow...

Oftentimes Headache Pain is Coming From the Neck Headaches are extremely common. They affect nearly half of the population. Headaches can be caused by any number of factors, including dehydration, lack of proper sleep, stress, poor posture, hunger, certain foods or drinks, and hormonal changes. Those suffering from headaches typically...

The current COVID-19 outbreak has forced us to make some changes in the way we practice. In the office we’re doing everything we can to maintain a safe and healthy environment for patients that come in for treatment. We’ve had several requests for alternative options for those patients who want...

Walking is something we recommend to almost all of our patients. Research shows that there are numerous health benefits of walking, and it is a safe activity for people who are experiencing pain. Here are some of the reasons why walking is one of our favorite exercises to recommend to...

Sometimes injuries happen at the most inopportune moments. As long as you are not in immediate danger and don’t suspect any serious injuries, such as a fracture or dislocation, there are some steps you should take in the initial stages of healing. Use the mnemonic “PRICE” as a way to...

Whether you work at an office or regularly spend time working on a computer at home, it’s important to make sure your workstation is set up properly. One of the most common complaints we hear from patients with back or neck pain is that their pain worsens when they’re sitting...

There are certain times of year when your immune system could use an extra boost. Here are our recommendations for 3 supplements you can take to support optimal immune function. Vitamin C Vitamin C is one of the most widely-known supplements for immune support. It acts to protect immune cells...

Unfortunately there are often flu and other illness outbreaks that spread throughout our communities. Although sometimes it feels like catching a cold is inevitable, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself and support your immune system. Here are our top tips to protect yourself from getting sick....

With springtime almost here and the days getting longer, many of us are excited to get outside and start exercising again. While outdoor exercise is great for so many different health reasons, we need to be careful to ease back into our exercise routines so that we can avoid sprain/strain...

1. Incorporate regular physical activity throughout the day Our bodies are designed for regular movement. We evolved to spend our days walking, running, climbing, squatting, lifting, and reaching. Unfortunately modern society requires that most of us spend a large portion of our day sitting, whether that’s in the car, at...

One of the most common issues we hear from patients suffering from back pain is difficulty while driving. Driving can intensify neck, mid back, and low back pain by forcing us to sit in a suboptimal posture for a sustained period of time. Most cars do not have proper lumbar...

Our patients regularly ask us about information and recommendations for nutritional supplements. While recommendations can vary greatly based on a person’s health status and individual needs, there are some recommendations we make to most patients regarding supplements for optimal health. 1. Multivitamin A good quality multivitamin is one of the...

What happens during an adjustment? Chiropractors use chiropractic adjustments, also known as joint manipulation, in order to restore proper motion to joints that aren’t moving well. We often perform adjustments by using our hands to apply a quick, gentle force to the joints that are stiff. Sometimes we use a...

Chiropractors are spine specialists… but they treat other areas of the body as well One of the most common misconceptions about chiropractic is that chiropractors only treat back pain. We regularly speak to patients who are surprised to find out that we can also treat their ankle sprain or carpal...

Studies show that about 83% of people involved in car accidents suffer whiplash injuries, which commonly involve neck pain, upper back pain, shoulder pain and headaches. Other symptoms of whiplash injury include numbness and tingling into the arms, muscle weakness, visual disturbances, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, decreased concentration, and memory...

As chiropractors, we typically see people when they are in pain. One of our main goals is to help them relieve their pain. However, it is equally important for us to figure out what caused their pain in the first place so that we can prevent future injury down the...

Low back pain is one of the most common conditions we see on a day to day basis. 80% of people will experience low back pain at some point in their lifetimes. Low back pain can be caused by any number of underlying injuries, but some of the most common...

At Stamford Spine we offer massage therapy in addition to our chiropractic services. Many people think of massage as a luxury, but there are numerous health benefits of massage therapy. Not only can massage be a great way to relieve stress and tension, but studies show that massage therapy is...

There is often confusion around what chiropractic treatment consists of and what types of conditions chiropractors treat. In general, chiropractors treat joint and muscle injuries using a conservative approach. This means chiropractic treatment does not involve any medications or surgery. The ultimate goal of chiropractic care is to restore the body’s proper...

We believe that using a variety of non-invasive treatments is the best way to combat most issues. Dr. Murphy and Dr. Tortorici are highly trained in the latest conservative therapies to treat muscle and joint pain. What this means for you is a truly customized plan to address your particular...

Caring for your muscles and joints is essential to maintaining your overall health and wellbeing. Decreased pain and increased mobility are just two of the many benefits of chiropractic care. When the joints of your spine and other parts of your body are not moving properly, this can lead to...

Dr. Murphy and Dr. Tortorici have extensive backgrounds in chiropractic services, nutrition, exercise science, and soft tissue massage. This makes them uniquely skilled at providing patient-centered holistic care to patients throughout the lower Fairfield County area. They place great importance on maintaining a practice that offers a variety evidence-based, conservative...