Sciatica is a painful condition that affects millions of people worldwide, with an estimated prevalence of 10-40% in the general population most commonly in people aged 40-50 years old (1). Sciatica refers to the pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which is the largest nerve in the body. The sciatic nerve runs from the lower back …
Dr. LoRang’s Cold Plunge Protocols
Whether you’re new to cold immersion therapy or an experienced plunger, Dr. LoRang has created plunging protocols for beginner and moderate levels to help individuals lay the foundation for their own creation of the plunging protocol perfect for them*! *Please note that our cold plunge tub will typically be set at 50°F. Should you want it colder, please call 515-421-4018 …
Cold Plunge: What is it? What are the benefits?
What is “cold plunging”? Cold plunges and cold immersion therapies have been used for centuries as a way to improve health and wellness. Cold plunging is the practice of immersing the body in a full tub of ice-cold water ranging from 59° to 39° (anything below 60° is going to have benefits!) for 2-5 minutes. Sounds simple, right? And it …
360° Breathing: Can One Breathe Away Pain?
Did you ever think that breathing a certain way may help decrease pain and anxiety? Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, the research shows that it might actually be true! (1,2,3,5) What is 360° breathing? 360 degree breathing is a deep breathing technique that involves using your breath to create expansion in your rib cage and abdomen. It …
Snap, Crackle, Pop: Joint Cavitation Explained
What’s that Cracking Sound? The origin of the noise produced during spinal manipulation has been cause for wonder for as long as joints have made noise. Some popular beliefs for the creation of the cracking noise include ligaments snapping, bones cracking, or bubbles collapsing inside the joint. Research has historically been lacking in its ability to explain the mechanism for …
Arm and Hand Numbness Can be a Real Pain in the Neck!
“Neck pain is the fourth leading cause of disability, with an annual prevalence rate exceeding 30%” (1). Neck pain, while unfortunately very common, can be quite the debilitating condition. Losing the ability to turn your head during simple and necessary daily activities, such as driving, adversely impacts one’s quality of life. Getting through episodes of neck pain quickly is …
Meniscus Tear: What’s best – Physical Therapy or Surgery? (You’ll be surprised!)
So you find out you have a meniscus tear – now what? Is surgery the next step? Could you try physical therapy instead? Are there exercises you can do on your own to make it better? You’ll be surprised by what the research shows below! What is a meniscus and what are symptoms that it may be torn? The meniscus …
September is Drug-Free Pain Management Awareness Month
September is Drug-Free Pain Management Awareness Month in the State of Iowa! Recently, Governor Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation establishing September as Drug-Free Pain Management Awareness Month in the State of Iowa! According to the proclamation, the opioid epidemic among Americans is considered a national crisis. Here are the scary statistics: the leading cause of injury death in the …
Jaw Pain: A Big Pain in a Small Joint
Many of our patients experience temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and dysfunction. It can be debilitating, chronic, and can significantly affect quality of life. Eating some of your favorite foods can become painful and limited. TMJ pain can radiate into the neck and even cause headaches. Often, it can feel that TMJ problems will never go away. So, what is TMJ? …
Is Your Shoulder Pain an Illusion?
First things first: Is your pain coming from the shoulder or the neck? Shoulder pain affects millions of people each year. According to population surveys, shoulder pain affects 18-26% of adults at any point in time [1–4], making it one of the most common areas of pain. So if you have shoulder pain you are not alone–your pain is not …