It's hard to deny that we live in a world where health issues seem to be increasingly common. From allergies that baffle doctors to chronic pain that never seems to go away, it's no secret that many individuals struggle to maintain good health. Respiratory issues, reproductive complications, and other conditions add to the mix, making it clear that we're all susceptible to some kind of malady.
Unfortunately, many modern doctors still believe that throwing pills at the problem or scheduling surgery is the best way to provide long-term relief. While certain serious conditions can warrant such extreme treatments, a large percentage of Americans are looking for something far less harmful and much more holistic. They're looking high and low for a reliable, well-studied solution that doesn't require time off work or sketchy pain medications.
At NJ Sports Spine & Wellness, one of the most effective and exciting treatments we've seen work for such patients is acupuncture in Allenhurst, NJ - a modern take on an ancient treatment that has been used for thousands of years.
If you're new to holistic healing, acupuncture may seem intimidating. You might be wondering how needles pressed into your skin could possibly make you feel better. Wouldn't someone pushing a needle into your back be painful? As it turns out, acupuncture is far from painful and is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after treatments for chronic pain and for regulating issues relating to:
In fact, acupuncture has been studied and practiced for over 2,500 years and, more recently, has been researched and supported by many scientific studies. While acupuncture may not be a "miracle" treatment for every type of pain or condition, it has been shown to be effective in treating a wide range of issues, from depression and allergies to morning sickness and cramps.
Acupuncture is a therapy in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that aims to balance the body's energy, called qi, which flows through pathways called meridians. This balance is crucial for overall wellness, as disruptions to qi can lead to health concerns. According to TCM, inserting small stainless-steel needles into specific points called acupoints along the meridians can help rebalance the flow of qi and restore overall health.
These acupoints are believed to release certain chemicals when stimulated, which can trigger an immune response and promote physiological homeostasis. Recent research suggests that this therapy may help alleviate symptoms of various health ailments.
In fact, the National Institute of Health conducted a survey on complementary health approaches, revealing that acupuncture usage in the United States has increased by 50 percent between 2002 and 2012. As of 2012, 6.4 percent of American adults have reported using acupuncture as a form of treatment.
One of the most common questions from new patients interested in acupuncture typically revolves around whether it really works or whether it's all "new age" malarky. We get it - for most folks, the thought of inserting stainless-steel needles into one's back, arms, or neck sounds loony. However, with the ever-increasing popularity of acupuncture in New Jersey and other locations, numerous studies centering on acupuncture's effectiveness have taken place.
Extensive research has been conducted on the effectiveness of acupuncture for various conditions. A February 2022 analysis published in the BMJ, which evaluated over 2,000 scientific reviews of acupuncture therapies, revealed that acupuncture's efficacy is strongest for:
Additionally, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), acupuncture is most effective for pain relief in cases of chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis, lower back pain, and tension headaches. Additionally, a review of 11 clinical trials found that acupuncture may also alleviate symptoms associated with cancer treatment, as noted by the NIH.
When meeting with your acupuncturist for the first time, they will discuss your condition with you before conducting a physical examination to identify areas of your body that might respond to acupuncture. The needles used in acupuncture are incredibly thin, sterile, and disposable, with your acupuncturist inserting them at different depths ranging from a fraction of an inch to several inches.
Acupuncture needles are less painful than medical needles used for vaccines or blood draws. This is because acupuncture needles are thinner and solid, not hollow. During the treatment, you may experience some muscle sensations like dull aches or tingling.
Your practitioner will ask you to report any deep heaviness or numbness, which are positive signs that the treatment is working. Depending on the condition you're treating and the supplemental treatments you're undergoing, like physical therapy, acupuncture needles will remain in place for several minutes or up to 30 minutes.
Once your first acupuncture treatment is finished, it's normal to feel extra relaxed and calm. For that reason, some patients like to arrange for a ride home after their first or second session. With that said, you shouldn't experience much pain at all, and it's quite possible for you to return to work after acupuncture.
This is another common question that we get at New Jersey Sports Spine & Wellness. The simple answer is, "It depends." While we understand that that's not a satisfying answer for some, it's important to understand that every patient is different. Everyone has different bodies and, by proxy, different bodily conditions and issues that need to be addressed.
During your initial consultation at our office, your licensed acupuncturist will go over your needs and goals as it relates to acupuncture therapy. Once your therapist has a good sense of the scope of your needs, they can give you a loose idea of how many sessions you'll need.
Generally speaking, most patients have appointments once a week. Others may require more or less frequent sessions. It's important to note that the full benefits of acupuncture may not be immediately evident after the first or even the second session. It's common for normal patients to undergo up to five treatments to realize the full benefits of acupuncture.
There's no question that acupuncture is more popular than ever as a non-invasive, non-addictive way to reclaim balance and well-being. But what types of conditions can this traditional therapy help alleviate in the modern world? Advances in acupuncture techniques and applications have resulted in some very promising benefits.
Did you know that regular acupuncture treatments can help reduce the pain associated with osteoarthritis? In May 2017, a meta-analysis was published, which studied approximately 18,000 patients with chronic pain, such as low back, neck, and shoulder pain, knee OA, and headache or migraine. The analysis found that the benefits of acupuncture therapy in reducing pain lasted for more than 12 months.
That's wonderful news for athletes and other people who push their bodies daily to accomplish goals or bring home money for rent and bills. In fact, many medical experts consider acupuncture as a viable option for managing chronic pain in conjunction with traditional methods like physical therapy and chiropractic care. The idea behind this approach is that acupuncture may trigger the body's natural healing response to alleviate pain.
When a licensed acupuncturist in New Jersey inserts an acupuncture needle, it penetrates your fascia, a connective tissue that wraps around your organs and muscles. Like a slight tickle on your arm, your body realizes that something is happening and responds by delivering lymph fluid, blood, and other important nutrients to speed up healing in affected areas like your knees, back, neck, joints, and more.
If you're like other people who suffer from migraines, you know that once one of them hits, it can be next to impossible to function properly throughout the day. Fortunately, acupuncture in Allenhurst, NJ may be a viable solution if you have to endure migraines often.
A study conducted in 2009 by the Center for Complementary Medicine at the University of Munich analyzed 11 studies involving 2,137 patients who received acupuncture treatment for chronic tension-type headaches. The researchers concluded that acupuncture could be an effective non-pharmacological solution for frequent headaches.
The study compared the effects of acupuncture sessions with sham acupuncture and no treatment at all. Both groups that received acupuncture treatment, whether needles were placed randomly or strategically, reported a reduction in headache symptoms, while the control group reported no change. The group that received real acupuncture treatment also reported a decrease in the number of headache days and intensity of pain in a follow-up survey.
For individuals who struggle with insomnia and other sleep disturbances, acupuncture is a promising therapy. Although sedatives are commonly prescribed for insomnia, long-term use can lead to negative side effects such as dependence and excessive drowsiness.
A study conducted on 72 participants and published in Sleep Medicine in 2017 found that individuals who received acupuncture three times a week for four weeks experienced significant improvements in sleep quality and anxiety compared to those who received sham acupuncture.
Similarly, a review of 30 randomized, controlled trials found that acupuncture was more effective in improving sleep quality and daytime functioning than sham acupuncture.
While many patients choose acupuncture as a way to avoid surgery altogether, those who need surgery also use it for improved recovery. Because, at the end of the day, recovering from surgery is no easy feat. Patients may experience various symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, pain around the incision, restlessness, sleep troubles, constipation, and sore throat.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, healthcare providers may use acupuncture as a way to alleviate some of these symptoms and help with healing. A study published in Integrative Cancer Therapies in January 2017 involving 172 participants found that patients who received acupuncture after surgery reported significant improvements in sleep, anxiety, pain, fatigue, nausea, and drowsiness.
Did you know that supplementing physical therapy with acupuncture and vice versa can have profoundly beneficial effects for patients in New Jersey and across the country? If you're like most, chances are you didn't.
The truth is that acupuncture and physical therapy have both been proven effective in reducing pain and inflammation. While many people view them as separate methods, combining the two modalities can produce a synergistic effect that enhances pain relief and delivers long-lasting benefits to patients.
Physical therapists work with patients of all ages and abilities, from children to elderly adults, to help them overcome physical limitations and improve their quality of life. At NJ Sports Spine & Wellness, our physical therapists help treat a wide range of conditions, from neck pain and spinal cord injuries to back pain and arthritis.
To effectively reduce pain and treat tissue injury, a combination of acupuncture and physical therapy can be very helpful. Acupuncture helps to reduce inflammation and release muscle tightness and trigger points, allowing the patient to better receive manual therapy or exercise-based physical therapy techniques. In doing so, acupuncture can actually create a window of time that allows your body to respond better to other treatments at New Jersey Sports Spine & Wellness, such as physical therapy and chiropractic care.
There are many benefits of combining physical therapy with acupuncture in Allenhurst, NJ, including the following:
You may be wondering, "Are there any studies showing these benefits?" As it turns out, there are many. One such study, published on the NIH's website, was conducted on patients suffering from frozen shoulder.
Patients who received acupuncture experienced a significant reduction in pain, while those who underwent physical therapy saw an improvement in range of motion. However, the best outcome was observed in patients who received a combination of both treatments, with reduced pain, increased their range of motion, and improved quality of life. This study highlights the potential benefits of using acupuncture and physical therapy as complementary treatments for frozen shoulder.
It makes sense, then, that people from all walks of life are combining acupuncture with chiropractic treatments at New Jersey Sports Spine & Wellness, including:
At New Jersey Sports Spine & Wellness, our doctors, practitioners, occupational therapists, and physical therapist specialize in a range of therapies and treatments. Much like physical therapy and acupuncture, combining chiropractic care with acupuncture therapy gives patients a new way to reclaim their mobility, reduce chronic pain, and maintain a healthy quality of life.
Chiropractic care and acupuncture in Allenhurst, NJ are natural healing practices that don't rely on drugs to improve the body's health. They focus on correcting imbalances in the body's structural and supportive systems, promoting natural healing, and ultimately leading to better health. These practices have a proven track record of helping patients improve their quality of life and overcome physical difficulties.
Integrating chiropractic and acupuncture as a dual-modality treatment offers the most efficient solution for removing blockages from the body, promoting balance, and accelerating healing. Rather than using these treatments sequentially, a combined approach allows for maximum benefits at one time.
Chiropractic targets subluxations in the nervous system through manual adjustments, facilitating the central nervous system to promote healing, while acupuncture removes blockages that may hinder the body's internal balance. Together, these treatments work synergistically to optimize energy flow and restore harmony in the body.
When our physical well-being becomes imbalanced, and our innate healing mechanisms are compromised, illnesses can manifest. The integration of acupuncture and chiropractic practices can effectively address a wide range of health conditions that they individually target, such as:
Curious if combining chiropractic care or physical therapy with acupuncture is right for your body? The best way to find out is to make an appointment at our sports rehab clinic in New Jersey. Once our team of medical professionals has a chance to evaluate your conditions, we can explore the best options to provide the most relief in the shortest amount of time possible.
New Jersey Sports Spine & Wellness consists of a team of athletic trainers, chiropractors, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other professionals. We're very proud and passionate about caring for our patients, many of whom are suffering from debilitating conditions like back and neck pain, plantar fasciitis, sports-related injuries, and more. If you're trying to get on the road to pain relief and recovery, acupuncture may be the non-surgical solution you need to reclaim your life. Contact our office today to learn whether this exciting treatment is right for you.
Jersey Shore towns raked in more than $52 million from beach badge sales in 2024, according to financial records obtained by NJ Advance Media.Beach badges or tags are required by most towns for access between Memorial Day and Labor Day.Ocean City saw the highest revenue, taking in more than $6.2 million in beach badge sales for the 2024 season. Badges were $10 for a daily, and $...
Jersey Shore towns raked in more than $52 million from beach badge sales in 2024, according to financial records obtained by NJ Advance Media.
Beach badges or tags are required by most towns for access between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Ocean City saw the highest revenue, taking in more than $6.2 million in beach badge sales for the 2024 season. Badges were $10 for a daily, and $30 for the season last summer. (See revenue for every town in the chart below.)
That’s a significant increase from Ocean City’s 2021 revenue of $4.2 million. Badge prices doubled from between 2022 and 2023, going from $5 to $10. Prices are not expected to increase for the 2025 season.
Belmar had the second highest revenue at $4.9 million. Daily badges cost $12, and season badges were $80 last summer. That’s an increase of $1.2 million from its 2022 sales, when daily badges were $10 and season badges were $70.
Towns are not allowed to earn a profit from beach badge sales and all revenue earned must be used to maintain and run the beaches.
Jersey Shore town administrators have said that post-pandemic costs of running a beach have risen, with increases in everything from lifeguard salaries to trash bags.
Beach badge prices have been increasing in New Jersey to keep up with the rising costs.
In 2018, the average daily badge cost about $8. In 2024, it rose to $10.50. Not all towns have announced their 2025 badge prices yet.
Some towns, like Atlantic City and the Wildwoods, have never charged for access.
Island Beach State Park, a state-owned beach, and Sandy Hook, a federally-owned beach, charge by the car and are excluded from these revenue figures.
Can’t see the chart? Click here.
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Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieKausch.
LOCH ARBOUR - Though it had changed hands many times over the years, Ocean Township natives Patti Englert and her son Phil Villapiano always loved the local restaurant/bar located on Main Street in their Loch Arbour community and had long dreamed of owning it someday.So when that opportunity finally presented itself nearly three years ago, they, along with Villapiano’s business partners Andrea Pappas and Greg Bartz — now the owners of ...
LOCH ARBOUR - Though it had changed hands many times over the years, Ocean Township natives Patti Englert and her son Phil Villapiano always loved the local restaurant/bar located on Main Street in their Loch Arbour community and had long dreamed of owning it someday.
So when that opportunity finally presented itself nearly three years ago, they, along with Villapiano’s business partners Andrea Pappas and Greg Bartz — now the owners of Deal Lake Bar + Co. in Loch Arbour — didn’t hesitate to seize the moment.
Growing up with a father who supplied steel and aluminum to contractors for the home-building process, “I enjoyed real estate, worked as a real estate agent for a period of time, and then began investing in homes and flipping them when my kids were in college,” said Englert, 67, an Interlaken resident. “Having gone to Loch Arbour Beach Club all the time as a kid, I knew the property our restaurant is on and had always loved it.”
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Her son echoed that sentiment. “I’d always wanted to own that location,” said Villapiano, 40, an Oceanport resident with a background in hospitality management. “It’s always been the local bar and hangout for Ocean Township residents, especially ourselves, so it just felt like a no-brainer for a group like ours to keep that tradition going.”
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Operating as everything from Harvey’s, Cats, Parkhill’s, and, most recently, McGillicuddy's Lakeside Taphouse, “we’d been keeping our eye on it,” Villapiano said of the business, which had turned over multiple times since the 1960s. “But in 2019, a colleague of mine informed me that it was up for sale and we knew that the time was right.”
“Phil and I had looked at a couple of other restaurant/bar investment opportunities, but nothing fit the bill — either the owner wasn’t committed to selling, there was a lot of red tape involved in the sale, or the property conditions weren’t ideal,” Englert said. “But with its location right on Deal Lake just blocks from the ocean, this was a local place that we knew and loved and it was really attractive to us.”
Englert purchased the property in March 2019 and Villapiano and his close friends of over 20 years, Pappas and Bartz, joined him as official owners of the new venture, which offers elevated pub food in a relaxed and casual setting.
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Situated just steps away from the more city-like ambiance of Asbury Park, “we wanted to retain the local feel that we’d all loved growing up but modernize the space and provide a great sports and entertainment venue that offered a fun bar scene while maintaining a family-friendly, inclusive atmosphere,” Villapiano said of their vision.
Following extensive renovations undertaken by Englert — including installation of a brand-new kitchen, floors, ceilings, electrical circuitry, restrooms, and an HVAC system with air purification capabilities as well as industrial chic new lighting, tables and chairs, bars, windows and doors that maximize the beautiful water views, and large-screen TVs — the team officially opened Deal Lake Bar + Co. on Sept. 4, 2020, to a positive response.
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In the bright and airy 5,300-square-foot establishment that seats over 250 people inside and out, “our burgers are our best seller and are second-to-none,” said Villapiano, who added that the restaurant’s ‘Burger on the DL,’ made in smash style, is one of their signature offerings.
“Our freshly-made rotisserie chicken, offered in full or half portions or shredded, and our tuna tacos and giant pretzel are also very popular,” he said. “Guests love our lightly pan-fried appetizer of Brussels sprouts with spiced balsamic seasoning as well as our entrées like crispy salmon, flat iron steak, pork chops and fish and chips. And for dessert, we bring in locally-sourced Igloo Ice Cream sandwiches and both our cookie skillet and brownie skillet dishes are made to order with ice cream.”
On the beverage side, “we’re lucky to have Colleen Nealon, one of the area’s top mixologists, working for us, so our drinks are super cool, creative and very fresh and unique,” Villapiano said. “One of our most popular — the ‘Juicy Lucy,’ which features a blend of orange and vanilla vodka, orange juice, and coconut cream — has become a staple at Deal Lake Bar + Co., and our variety of martinis and bourbon drinks (featuring logoed ice cubes made by Ocean Township-based Clear Cut Ice Co.) are big hits too.”
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He noted that the bar menu also includes an extensive list of local beers, including brews by Ocean Township-based Kane Brewing and Bradley Beach-based Bradley Brew Project. Additionally, the venue currently features live music on Thursdays and Saturdays (and every Thursday through Sunday in the warm weather months).
“Our motto at Deal Lake Bar + Co. is ‘good times at all times,’” Villapiano said. “That’s our culture and our friendly, professional and fun staff members truly embody that spirit.”
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Among challenges, Villapiano confirmed that staffing has been hard during the pandemic.
“We retain a really great staff of 50 employees who are incredibly dedicated and happy to be with us, but finding them can be difficult,” he said. “In addition, food prices are going up and it’s hard to sell certain items at prices that customers can get behind. For instance, the cost of basic menu items like chicken wings has gone up significantly, but people will only pay so much for an order of wings, so they’ve almost become a loss-leader for us,” he said.
Despite that, Englert and the Deal Lake Bar + Co. business team couldn’t be happier about the great reviews and tremendous support they’ve received from customers.
“Local people love and appreciate the investment we’ve made and the experience Deal Lake Bar + Co. offers and we’re thrilled to have created this destination for our community,” said Englert, who hopes it will feel like a home away from home for area residents. “Being on Deal Lake and having a great outdoor patio with a large bar has been a real draw.”
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“We hope to continue servicing the local scene and keeping everybody happy — everything we do is about enabling people to have a good time,” Villapiano agreed of their mission. “And based on our proximity to the most popular city on the Jersey Shore, we also want to continue offering a bit of a respite from the hustle and bustle of Asbury Park.”
As a mom, Englert couldn’t be prouder of the team’s accomplishments. “Seeing my son’s dream come true and the success that he, Andrea, and Greg are enjoying brings me the most happiness,” she said of her favorite part of her role as landlord.
“It’s hard to make it in the restaurant industry in the best of times, let alone during a pandemic” she confirmed, “and it’s exciting to see their business not only surviving but thriving.”
Location: 601 Main Street, Loch Arbour
Phone: 848-217-7049
Owners: Andrea Pappas, Greg Bartz and Phil Villapiano
Opened: September 2020
Website: www.deallakebarco.com