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 Lincroft, 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 Lincroft, 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 Lincroft, 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 Lincroft, 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.
Richard O'Donnell | For NJ Advance MediaBoys Basketball: Freehold Township and Christian Brothers on January 5, 2023.Jayden Holmes-Cotter (55) of Freehold Township with the layup during the basketball game between Freehold Township and Christian Brothers at Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, NJ on January 5, 2023....
Richard O'Donnell | For NJ Advance Media
Boys Basketball: Freehold Township and Christian Brothers on January 5, 2023.
Jayden Holmes-Cotter (55) of Freehold Township with the layup during the basketball game between Freehold Township and Christian Brothers at Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, NJ on January 5, 2023.Get Photo
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Richard O'Donnell | For NJ Advance Media
Boys Basketball: Freehold Township and Christian Brothers on January 5, 2023.
Jayden Holmes-Cotter (55) of Freehold Township has heavy coverage from Justin Fuerbacher (15) and Joe White (12) of Christian Brothers during the basketball game between Freehold Township and Christian Brothers at Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, NJ on January 5, 2023.Get Photo
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Richard O'Donnell | For NJ Advance Media
Boys Basketball: Freehold Township and Christian Brothers on January 5, 2023.
Freehold Township Head Coach Brian Golub looking on during the basketball game between Freehold Township and Christian Brothers at Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, NJ on January 5, 2023.Get Photo
Lovato grew up in Middletown, and his father used to own Joyce's, the Lincroft deli. Lovato grew up making sandwiches behind the counter.|Updated Fri, Feb 10, 2023 at 8:08 pm ETMIDDLETOWN, NJ — Nearly all of America will tune into Super Bowl LVII this Sunday.But Middletown residents will be watching one player in particular: Rick Lovato, a long snapper for the Philadelphia Eagles.That's because Lovato, 30, grew up in the Lincroft section of Middletown. This is actually his second time going to the Super Bo...
|Updated Fri, Feb 10, 2023 at 8:08 pm ET
MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Nearly all of America will tune into Super Bowl LVII this Sunday.
But Middletown residents will be watching one player in particular: Rick Lovato, a long snapper for the Philadelphia Eagles.
That's because Lovato, 30, grew up in the Lincroft section of Middletown. This is actually his second time going to the Super Bowl with the Eagles; he was on the team when they won in 2018.
"Middletown could not be prouder to see a great athlete and already Super Bowl champion Rick Lovato return back to the Super Bowl this weekend," said Middletown Mayor Tony Perry Friday afternoon. "I'm sure MJ's and all the bars throughout town will be packed Sunday night to see a hometown kid try and bring back yet another Vince Lombardi trophy."
Lovato got his start on local Pop Warner teams and then played varsity for Middletown High School South, from which he graduated in 2011. Middletown South was 12-1 in Lovato's junior year, and went to the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 3 final his junior and senior years.
In fact, it was at Middletown South that Lovato, then a freshman, started with special teams: A long snapper means he's the one who snaps the ball for punts and field goal kicks.
His father, Rick, Sr., used to own Joyce’s, the Lincroft deli, and Lovato grew up making sandwiches behind the counter.
"Once you know Rick, Sr. you know the whole family," said Perry. "He's a great guy. Great family. I think his parents recently moved out of town. But it's just amazing to see Rick, Jr. representing Middletown in everything that he does."
Lovato was on the Eagles when they won Super Bowl LII in 2018, and Perry said Lovato returned to Middletown after that win. He came to the old town hall, where Perry said he and other Councilmembers got to meet him.
He played college football for Old Dominion, appearing in all 50 games as their long snapper. Now headed to his second Super Bowl, Lovato has come a long way since he went undrafted in the 2015 NFL draft. He was then signed by the Chicago Bears, and has also played for the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins.
"Go Birds," said the Middletown mayor. "We're rooting for you because of Rick Lovato."
Kickoff for the Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will be at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
The students are Michael Gao, Amanda Guan, Kevin Guan, Amanda Lin and Kevin Liu, who attend High Technology High School in Lincroft.LINCROFT, NJ — For 14 straight hours in early March, a small group of High Technology High School students competed in an international online math modeling competition.The students — Michael Gao, Amanda Guan, Kevin Guan, Amanda Lin and Kevin Liu, all students who attend High Technology High School in the Lincroft section of Middletown — are one of the eight finalist teams in ...
LINCROFT, NJ — For 14 straight hours in early March, a small group of High Technology High School students competed in an international online math modeling competition.
The students — Michael Gao, Amanda Guan, Kevin Guan, Amanda Lin and Kevin Liu, all students who attend High Technology High School in the Lincroft section of Middletown — are one of the eight finalist teams in MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge (M3 Challenge).
“Pure math is interesting, but it's even more beautiful to see how the patterns in math find their way into real-life phenomena," said local teen and team captain Kevin Guan.
This is a unique international competition that drew nearly 3,000 11th and 12th graders in the U.S. and sixth-form students in the U.K.
The team, whose work underwent intense scrutiny by judges in the first two rounds of assessment, has one last hurdle on April 24, when they present their findings to a panel of professional mathematicians for final validation.
Using mathematical modeling, these Monmouth County teens had to come up with solutions to real-world questions: How many e-bikes will be sold in the next two years? Of the many factors that contribute to e-bike use and sales growth, which are most significant? For a given country or region, can we quantify the impact that e-bike use has on carbon emissions, traffic congestion or other key factors?
“M3 Challenge is a special opportunity for students to study and analyze current real-world phenomena that have wide ranging impacts on society,” says High Technology teacher-coach Raymond Eng. “Especially this year’s problem — e-bikes are an early-stage technology with tremendous possibilities where the many impacts are not yet fully defined or understood. The student team must synthesize a mathematical model from a select amount of data and incomplete information. M3 Challenge is a new experience for students where there is not a definitive answer. The team gets to experience what an analyst must deal with in the real world.”
A total of 650 teams submitted papers detailing their recommendations. Roughly 45% of those submissions included technical computing to support and enhance their solutions, and those coding skills make them eligible for additional scholarship prizes.
"News feeds, magazines, and everyday discussions seem to be filled with talk of ‘the future of the automobile,’” says M3 Challenge judge and lead problem developer Neil Nicholson, from the University of Notre Dame. “In the past couple years, though, the rise in popularity of smaller electric personal transportation devices has somewhat changed the conversation. While these changes can be meaningful at the individual level, they also are shaping larger scale policy-related questions. It is really interesting to see how the modelers attacked these questions, because understanding how the past influences the future will surely provide insight into these big real-world issues."
Now in its 18th year, M3 Challenge is a program of Philadelphia-based Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) and is sponsored by MathWorks.
Winning teams will be awarded a share of $100,000 in scholarships, with the champion team receiving $20,000 in 2023.
To access this year’s challenge problem, visit https://m3challenge.siam.org/practice-problems/2023-problem-ride-wind-without-getting-winded-growth-e-bike-use.
Sebastian Bach, the frontman for the classic late '80s hair band, has finally sold his longtime home in Lincroft that had been condemned after Hurricane Irene.(Left, handout; top right, Getty Images; bottom right, Trulia)Sebastian Bach, the Skid Row frontman who made New Jersey his home for 21 years, has finally sold the Lincroft home that was condemned after massive flooding from H...
Sebastian Bach, the frontman for the classic late '80s hair band, has finally sold his longtime home in Lincroft that had been condemned after Hurricane Irene.
(Left, handout; top right, Getty Images; bottom right, Trulia)
Sebastian Bach, the Skid Row frontman who made New Jersey his home for 21 years, has finally sold the Lincroft home that was condemned after massive flooding from Hurricane Irene in 2011, and tells NJ Advance Media what New Jersey has meant to him -- and why he had to move on.
Jersey natives Rachel Bolan and Dave "The Snake" Sabo formed Skid Row in Toms River in 1986, and recruited Bach (real name: Sebastian Bierk), a Canadian, in 1987. The band found major success with its first two albums, "Skid Row" and "Slave to the Grind," and opened for Bon Jovi and Guns 'N Roses, but Bach was fired by the band in 1996 in a clash of personalities.
"To me, New Jersey is Skid Row," Bach, who now lives in Los Angeles, tells NJ Advance Media at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, where he was promoting his latest TV project, "Breaking Band," in which he and other musicians mentor younger bands. (The show premieres on AXS on Sunday at 9:30 p.m.)
"That's why I moved there. That's the reason I bought a house there. New Jersey means so much to me about rock and roll. The Stone Pony, you know, Asbury Park. The beach. The boardwalk. The Count Basie Theatre, downtown Red Bank. Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash. Vintage Vinyl. I lived in those places for 20 years. For me, walking around Jersey is, like, haunted.
"I played Giants Stadium when I was 20 years old for 75,000 people. New Jersey is Skid Row. We came from there. We are New Jersey. So without Skid Row, I can't be in New Jersey."
The contemporary house he bought in 1988, which was featured on "MTV Cribs" and filled with Skid Row and other rock memorabilia, is located on three acres of land adjacent to a large swath of undeveloped forestland. "I knew every rock. I knew every tree. I knew every pile of dirt. I knew every inch of those woods," Bach recalls. After long stints on the road, that's where, he says, "I became a human being again."
The house had never flooded until Hurricane Irene hit in 2011. According to Bach's Facebook post in the aftermath, the stormwaters "snapped the bridge in half next to my house and sent the bridge straight into my garage, knocking the house half off its foundation." Bach lost precious memorabilia, including Skid Row master tapes and KISS gargoyles from the 1979 tour, and the home was condemned.
"How I wish there was a reason to do a box set or something before Hurricane Irene hit," he wrote. "Nobody cared. Now it's too late. Don't know what you got till it's gone, indeed."
He put the house on the market in 2012, and at once point was asking as much as $669,000 for it, but it sold for $272,500 -- about $85,000 less than what he paid nearly 20 years ago, according to Zillow.
Check out the "MTV Cribs" episode (warning, explicit language) that featured Bach's home:
Vicki Hyman may be reached at vhyman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @vickihy or like her on Facebook. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook, and check out TV Hangover, the podcast from Vicki Hyman and co-host Erin Medley on iTunes, Stitcher or listen here.