Anthony N. Pannozzo, M.D. FAAPM&R

Golf Tips and Lessons: How to Swing a Golf Club

Golf is a relaxing and entertaining way to stay active. As with most athletic activities, proper technique is necessary for optimal performance and injury avoidance. In this video, a professional golf instructor demonstrates the most effective way to swing a golf club.

First, assume an “athletic position.” Keep your knees and elbows bent, with no straight angles. Next, bring the club back while transferring your weight onto your back foot. As you swing, transfer your weight back to the leading foot before contacting the ball. This minimizes the loft of the shot while increasing distance. Throughout the swing, rotate your body around the hips and spine, ending in a front-facing position.

A pain-free golf game is the best golf game. For treatment and prevention of all types of sports injuries, contact Pain Centers Nationwide at (888) 481-1476.

The Hidden Dangers of Stress, Anxiety, and Tension for Those Living Active Lives

An active and vibrant life is unfortunately often a stressful one. We handle situations every day that strain us both mentally and physically. While anxiety, stress, and tension are common conditions, they can be harmful and even dangerous in excess.

Stress

In biology, stress is defined as an organism’s inability to adequately respond to environmental demands. Our bodies respond to internal and external stress in many ways: our pupils dilate, our heart rate accelerates, and we secrete sweat. Some degree of stress is natural and even healthy—it is a natural motivator. However, excessive stress can strain your body in dangerous ways and cause harmful complications. Stress-related disorders include headaches, insomnia, cardiac complications, and digestive issues such as ulcers, constipation, and heartburn. These painful issues can be treated through lifestyle changes, medication, and individualized therapy plans.

Anxiety

Anxiety is the emotional aspect of dealing with stress. It is typically characterized by excessive worrying, obsessive thought patterns, and social avoidance. Like stress, anxiety is often helpful but can quickly grow out of control. Anxiety can physically manifest with many symptoms, including but not limited to fatigue, depression headaches, muscle aches, and weakness.

Additionally, relationships and productivity can be adversely affected by excessive anxiety. Anxiety is treatable through medication and therapy.

Tension

Physical tension can be painful and dangerous during activity. Improper stretching or warming up before exercise can lead to injury, including strains, spasms, and tears. In addition to exercise-related injuries, tension can cause chronic headaches. The most common variety of headache, the tension headache, is caused by excessive tightness in the cranial, neck, and shoulder muscles. Psychological stress can also contribute to tension headaches. Muscle tension and tension headaches can be relieved through posture improvement, stretching, physical therapy, and massage.

An active life doesn’t need to be a stressful and painful one. We can help. For assistance dealing with the complications of an active lifestyle, contact us at the Pain Centers Nationwide by calling (888) 481-1476 today.

Check Out Dr. Anthony Pannozzo's Recent Blog Topics and Helpful Links!

Check out these websites and articles to learn more about our recent blog topics and to get the information you need to lead a pain-free life.

• To find out more about migraines, visit the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke’s website.
• Women can have migraines that are triggered by hormones which fluctuate during the month. Learn more about how migraines affect women by checking out this website.
• For more information about some of the common sports injuries that athletes face, read through this article on this helpful page.
• Are you wondering how to prevent sports injuries? This great site from WebMD has tips to prevent and treat common sports injuries.
• To learn about good posture, check out this website for tips and ideas to keep your core healthy and strong.

For headache relief and treatment options, come to the offices of Anthony N. Pannozzo, MD FAAPM&R. Call us at (888) 481-1476 to schedule your appointment.

What Exactly Is A Migraine?

Migraines can be extraordinarily painful and debilitating conditions. As every migraine sufferer knows, there’s a world of difference between a migraine and a regular headache. If you have ever wondered what exactly a migraine is, you've come to the right place for answers.

What is a Migraine?

A migraine is a type of vascular headache. The blood vessels in and around the brain swell, causing the nerves associated with those vessels to swell as well. The nerves then release chemicals that cause pain and inflammation, leading to more vascular dilation and more pain.

Migraines are generally accompanied by visual problems. Many people report flashing lights, blinding lights, blind spots, or zig-zag patterns immediately before, during, or after a migraine. For some people, visual disturbances are the first sign that a migraine is on the way.

Migraine sufferers also complain of nausea and vomiting. This can make taking oral medications for pain relief difficult. Other symptoms associated with migraines include sensitivity to light or noise, pale and clammy skin, and cold hands or feet.

What Causes Migraines?

These debilitating headaches can be caused by many things called triggers. For some people, migraines can seem to occur out of the blue with no clear trigger, but a good doctor can find out what the causes of your headaches are. Some common triggers of migraines include stress, hormones, fatigue, certain smells, caffeine, nitrites, aspartame, and MSG.

Migraine Headache Treatment Options

No matter what causes your migraine headache, you need immediate relief—migraines can incapacitate the patient for hours or days at a time. Some sufferers find headache relief in dark, cool, quiet rooms, but others need prescription medication to ease the pain.

If you suffer from migraines or other headaches, visit the office of Anthony N. Pannozzo, MD FAAPM&R. We specialize in migraine headache relief. Call us at (888) 481-1476 to schedule your appointment.

Sit Up Straight! How Poor Posture Costs Us Dearly

You can hear your Mother in the background: “Johnny, sit up straight! Susie, don't slouch!” Well, turns out dear old Mom was on to something. This video explains how poor posture can cost you dearly.

As the video explains, sports injuries, work related injuries, headaches, and other aches and pains can be attributed to poor posture. Not having the core strength necessary to hold your body in the proper posture can lead to injuries to the back, legs, arms, and neck.

If you suffer from headaches and are seeking relief, make an appointment with Anthony N. Pannozzo, MD FAAPM&R. Our office specializes in sports injuries and headache treatments, and we even offer migraine relief. Call us at (888) 481-1476.