Muscle knots, also known as myofascial trigger points, are contracted, tense muscles that can be painful to the touch. Although muscle knots can occur anywhere on the body, they are most frequently found in the back, shoulders, and neck. To…

Osteoarthritis of the spine is a condition where cartilage between the vertebrae wears away. This can lead to pain and stiffness as there is no cushioning left in the joints. It is estimated that around 80% of Americans will experience…

Bone spurs are small bony growths that form on the edges of vertebrae. Bone spurs are your body's response to the presence of inflammation or injury to cartilage, tendons, joints, and ligaments. Bone spurs are usually caused by arthritis and…

If you have mild to moderate acute back pain, it can seem like nothing helps to alleviate the occasional discomfort. A massage sounds great, but who really has the time to schedule one after every workout or every rough week…

Biportal endoscopic spine surgery (BESS) is a revolutionary surgical procedure that provides a minimally invasive alternative to traditional approaches.  It utilizes fiber-optic cameras placed on either side of the patient's body to provide a complete view of the surgical site…

There are few types of exercises that are as effective at building core strength as planks are. Plank exercises are a simple but challenging workout where your body is elevated parallel to the ground to improve stability. Although crunches are…

Increasing back strength is a great way to avoid injuries and having to deal with back pain later down the line. It can also be very beneficial when trying to recover quickly after spine surgery. Below, we will discuss methods…

Opioids are a type of drug derived from the opium poppy plant that is used to relieve pain. Not only do opioids alleviate pain, but they also create a euphoric or "high" sensation, which has been found to be highly…