At the Miami Back Institute we offer comprehensive non-surgical treatment of back pain from a team of physicians and allied healthcare professionals. Our multidisciplinary team approach allows for the rapid diagnosis and treatment, enabling patients to return to their highest possible level of functioning.

We provide personalized, patient-centered care to people of all ages with all types of spinal disorders, including neck and low back pain; arm and leg pain (radiculopathy) due to spinal disorders; cervical, thoracic and lumbar disc herniations; spinal stenosis; adolescent and adult scoliosis; traumatic injuries to the spine; and degenerative and disc disorders.

The Miami Back Institute services include:

Treatments

Diagnostic Testing

Determining your Treatment

One of our physicians will take your medical history and perform a physical examination. After diagnostic testing to confirm your diagnosis and locate the source of your pain, our physician will determine which treatment is most beneficial to you. A course of action will be designed and decided upon by you and your physician.

The best treatment for each patient must be based on an accurate diagnosis. At the Miami Back Institute, we pride ourselves on making correct and complete diagnoses, and then offering our patients the most effective treatment for their unique problems.

Conservative Treatments

Many patients improve without surgery. Non-surgical treatments may include a short period of rest, oral medications, chiropractic, physical therapy, exercise, or epidural steroid injection therapy. Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy may be used for cases of disc herniation, sciatica, arm or leg pain chronic back pain or failed back syndrome. Additional therapies such as ultrasound, electric stimulation, hot packs, cold packs, and manual ("hands on") therapy may be prescribed to reduce your pain and muscle spasm, which will make it easier to start an exercise program. Traction may also provide pain relief for some patients. Bracing, such as a lumbar corset, may help relieve your back pain. The goals of non-surgical treatment are to reduce the irritation of the nerves and disks and to improve the physical condition of the patient to protect the spine and increase overall function.

For patients with chronic pain due to fibrous adhesions, we utilize Manipulation under Anesthesia to improve function and relieve pain.

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy is non-surgical and non-invasive, and typically does not involve pain medications. The treatment is not only safe and painless, but also comfortable and relaxing. The course of therapy includes approximately 20 treatment sessions over 4-6 weeks. Each procedure is performed with a unique physio-therapeutic device and is performed by a certified clinician, specializing in back pain care. The treatment sessions are brief, lasting approximately 30 minutes.

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy distracts the vertebrae surrounding an injured disc 5 to 7 millimeters. The 25 to 30 minute treatment provides static, intermittent, and cycling forces on structures that may be causing low back pain. During treatment, intradiscal pressure is dropped from positive 25 millimeters mercury to negative 150 millimeters mercury. This negative pressure promotes the diffusion of water, oxygen, and nutrients into the vertebral disc area, thereby re-hydrating the degenerated disc. Repeated pressure differential promotes retraction of a herniated nucleus pulposus (the elastic core of the intervertebral disc).

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy can:

• reduce pressure on the vertebral joints

• promote retraction of herniated discs

• promote self healing and rehabilitation of damaged discs

• thereby relieving low back pain.

Why should you consider Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy?

1.     Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy is proven and effective. The procedure has been studied extensively, has been clinically validated and thousands of patients have been successfully treated.

2.     Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy is non-surgical and non-invasive. The complications from surgery can be severe and may result in debilitating conditions. Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy is painless and involves no recovery time.

3.     Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy is convenient. Treatment sessions last only 25 to 30 minutes. And because the procedure is non-invasive, most Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy patients can carry-on with normal daily activities. Additionally, patients can expect only minimal absence from work.

4.     Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy is cost-effective. The cost of treatment is minimal compared to the cost of surgery. And, in most cases, financing is available for those without insurance or with less than comprehensive insurance. Several payment options are available and a monthly payment plan can be a much better financial decision than a 10% or 20% insurance co-payment on back surgery.

What are some common causes of lower back pain?

Herniated or Bulging Disc. A herniated disc is a common cause of severe back pain and sciatica. Discs are soft flexible "shock absorbers" that separate each of the bones, or vertebrae, in the spine. These discs have a rigid outside rim, but are soft and gel-like inside. Activity, stress, or a mechanical problem in the spine can cause one of the discs to bulge and become misshapen. A disc becomes herniated when it degenerates to the point that the gelatin within the disc protrudes outward. Classic low back pain occurs if this material extrudes or bulges far enough to press against a nerve root.

Degenerative Disc Disease. This condition is a major cause of chronic low back pain. Because the discs in the spine do not have a dedicated blood supply, the discs must rely on a process called diffusion to receive their supply of water, nutrients, and oxygen. If the flow of these elements is disrupted, the vertebral discs can degenerate. This degeneration can cause spinal structures to pinch (impinge) nerve roots, thereby causing pain. Vertebral discs can also degenerate simply due to the aging process.

Posterior Facet Syndrome. The facet joints can wear down. In such cases, a nerve can become pinched (impinged) and cause pain.

Sciatica. Sciatica refers to a pain felt along the length of the sciatic nerve. The pain is usually felt in the buttock where it radiates down the back of the leg. At some time, up to 40% of people experience pain caused by compression of this nerve.

Acute Back Pain. Acute low back pain generally lasts less than six months. A few cases may resolve without medical attention, although many reoccur.

Chronic Back Pain. Chronic low back pain persists beyond six months.

How can I relieve my lower back pain?
There are a variety of options available to relieve lower back pain. Many options involve surgery, painful injections, and heavy drug therapy. The complications from back surgery can be severe and may result in permanent debilitating conditions. Additionally, surgery can be extremely expensive and can require a long recovery period lasting several months. Pain medications can make it difficult to carry-on with normal day-to-day activities.

Now there is a new option:  Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy.  This innovative approach to relieve lower back pain is non-surgical, non-invasive and typically does not involve pain medications. The treatment is not only safe and painless, but also comfortable and relaxing.

In most cases, all non-invasive remedies should be exhausted before anyone is referred for surgery. Be sure to ask your doctor about non-invasive treatments for back pain.

For patients with a history of back pain and who are currently experiencing symptoms that are interfering with activities, the first step is proper diagnostic testing to determine the cause of the symptoms and the severity of the problem.

To see if you qualify for treatment call today for a free consultation.

(305) 461-4848

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How does Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy work?
A: Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy provides a computer directed method of applying and achieving physical therapy treatment objectives without requiring the patient to participate in any exhaustive or painful exercise regimen. It is performed by a certified clinician. The Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy device gently manipulates the offending spinal segment, while helping stretch and re-tone underlying musculature. The result is improved lumbar health and pain elimination in about 68% of patients treated.

Q: If I use Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy, when will I start feeling better?
A: Many patients start feeling improvement by the second week of the treatment.

Q: Are there any side effects to the treatments?
A: Most patients do not experience any adverse side effects from undergoing Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy.
Occasionally, a few patients experience muscle spasm for a limited time.

Q: Are there any drugs used in the treatment?
A: Although drug therapy is not a mainstay of Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy, some clinicians advocate the use of anti-inflammatory medications and muscle relaxants.

Q: How long does it take to complete the treatment?
A: Each treatment session lasts approximately 30 minutes and is repeated approximately 20 times over the course of 35 days. The number of sessions depends on the severity of the problem.

Q: How successful is Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy?
A: In a prospective randomized clinical trial, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy achieved a success rate of over 68%. Thousands of patients have been successfully treated with Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy.

Q: Does Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy involve surgery or injections?
A: No. Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy is completely non-invasive, is non-surgical and involves no injections. Not only is Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy safe and painless, it's also comfortable and relaxing.

Q: How can I get more information or get started?
A: Simply call our office at (305) 461-484 and make an appointment.  Your initial consultation is free and we will determine if you qualify for treatment.

To see if you qualify for treatment call today for a free consultation.

(305) 461-4848

Chiropractic 

Chiropractors that specialize in the treatment of low back pain attempt to improve the function of the joints and the nervous system by adjusting vertebral subluxations. Manual spinal adjustments are the key to chiropractic treatment, and in fact, the word "chiropractor" is derived from the two Greek words "cheiros" and "praktikos", which together mean, "done by hand".

Chiropractic adjustments are very popular in the United States, with as many as 40 million Americans receiving regular treatment. Because there are major philosophical and theoretical differences between the ways in which chiropractors and medical doctors treat back pain, there has always been a rift between these two groups. Recently, the chasm between chiropractors and medical doctors has started to narrow as they have begun to share information and provide each other with more insight into their respective methodologies, practices, and treatments.

Chiropractors today are more likely to refer a patient to a medical doctor when they suspect that an underlying condition may be responsible for back pain, and some chiropractors insist that their patients have a primary care physician that they can communicate with in order to ensure that the patient is receiving the best quality care. In this sense, Chiropractors are becoming part of the broader spectrum of providers that treat back pain.

Chiropractors frequently have different methods of adjustment, but the theory behind the success of chiropractic treatment is that realigning the spine relieves pressure on the spinal nerves, which can help to restore natural nerve function throughout the body. As such, they believe that a "well-aligned" body is more likely to be in a state of natural balance and the patient will experience less pain and disability. Many chiropractors today have incorporated electrical stimulation, diathermy, ultrasound and a variety of other therapies, but the mainstay remains manual spinal manipulation or adjustment.

What should you expect when visiting a chiropractor?

When you visit a chiropractor for the first time, you will probably be asked for a general medical history and also asked to complete a questionnaire about the type of back pain that you are having. A hands-on examination will typically be performed, which involves moving your neck and limbs around to determine your limitations. Sometimes the chiropractor will take x-rays of your back to determine which vertebrae are misaligned. The diagnosis and treatment of vertebral subluxations is one of the sticking points between medical doctors and chiropractors, since there is often some disagreement between these two groups about what constitutes a spine that is out of alignment. The final treatment phase of a visit to a chiropractor is based on manipulation of the spine in an attempt to correct subluxations and misalignments. Some chiropractors also use vitamins, massage, and electrical therapies as part of their treatment.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is an important treatment option for most back pain sufferers. A physical therapist is trained to carry out your doctor's orders to stretch, strengthen, and exercise your back in a safe and effective way. It is important that physical therapy is coupled with education, so that patients can be empowered to take charge of their own recovery.

Physical therapists are trained to give instruction on posture, educate patients about basic anatomy and physiology, and instruct patients in body mechanics, stretching, strengthening and conditioning exercises. The physical therapist also works with the physician to determine if other types of treatments including ultrasound, heat, diathermy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), electrical stimulation, hydrotherapy, massage or spinal manipulation may be indicated.

What should you expect from a visit to the physical therapist?

The physical therapist will do an evaluation and will determine if there are any joint limitations or muscle weakness as well as pinpointing the pain distribution in your back. Heat therapy and massage, as well as ultrasound may be used to ease back pain. In the past these types of treatments, which demanded little from the patient, and soothed the pain were used as the mainstay of treatment. Unfortunately, while these "modalities," as they are called by physical therapists, feel good at the time, the pain relief produced by massage and ultrasound treatments are often only temporary.

More recently physical therapists have demanded physical activity from their patients, which may cause minor pain at the beginning of the course of treatment, but has longer lasting therapeutic effects: strengthening the back and relieving pain in the long run. Physical therapists that treat patients with movement, exercise, strengthening and conditioning, encouraging gradual increase in activity, are usually the most successful.

The initial treatment ranges from passive modalities such as ultrasound, back school and spinal rehabilitation classes. The second phase focuses on flexibility and strengthening, conditioning exercises, and muscle endurance training. Our physicians will design a physical therapy program specific for your injury, and incorporate the treatment with other nonoperative measures such as injections or medications.

Therapy may include:

·         Modalities, such as ultrasound or electrical stimulation

·         Exercise programs for spine strengthening and flexibility

·         Spine stabilization programs with the therapist

In addition to emphasizing physical therapy, we also encourage an educational program to better understand the mechanics of the spine. This may include back school, videos, or informational Newsletters.

Massage Therapy

Designed to aid in the treatment of pain or injuries, orthopaedic massage offers a conceptual approach to the management of soft tissue spasm and dysfunctions. The Neuromuscular (Trigger Point Therapy) massage is geared toward the trigger points of the body, which are highly sensitive areas in the muscle that cause localized pain and/or refer pain to other areas of the body. The therapist applies concentrated finger pressure to these points to break the cycles of spasm and pain. Numerous research studies conducted in the United States, Europe, and Asia have documented that far beyond simply "feeling good", massage therapy has an impressive range of physical, mental, and emotional benefits.

Benefits of Massage

·         Stimulates the release of endorphins - the bodys natural painkiller

·         Calms the nervous system

·         Improves sleep Strengthens the immune system

·         Aids in the removal of toxins from the body

·         Reduces muscular tension Improves circulation of blood & lymph

·         Increases the flow of oxygen and nutrients to cells and tissues

·         Calms the nervous system

·         Improves posture

·         Increases flexibility & improves joint range of motion 

·         Enhances overall performance               

·         Relieves mental & physical stress 

·         Overall feeling of well-being

Exercise Rehabilitation

Regular exercise is an essential part of having a healthy back. In the treatment of back pain, almost every healthcare provider agrees that exercise plays an important role in recovery. Every day we make demands on our bodies that can stress our backs. It's a well known fact that the more fit you are, and the stronger your back is, the more easily your body can deal with the stress and strain of every day activity.

Unfortunately, when most people start to experience back pain, they become less active. As a result, the muscles that support the spinal column become weaker and have less endurance. If your back loses enough muscle tone, the muscles can shrink, contract and tighten. Your back may feel tight much of the time, tire easily, and start to feel uncomfortable even when you are sitting in a chair. The feelings associated with chronic back pain and spinal fatigue make most people feel drained, tired and depressed. It becomes harder and harder to break the cycle of pain causing inactivity, which causes more pain, which then causes more inactivity. Eventually, this scenario can lead to other health problems that are the direct result of inactivity, such as heart attacks, strokes and obesity.

Therefore, exercise is an important part of the "use it or lose it" theory of overall spine health. Patients with chronic low back pain are particularly susceptible to suffering from the ill effects of too little exercise. If it hurts when you move your back, and is less uncomfortable when you don't, then you have the perfect incentive to become less active with time. Although this may seem like a logical reaction to pain, it is almost certain that avoiding physical activity will make the pain become even worse over time. This knowledge comes from the unhappy experience that doctors have had in the past with prescribing prolonged bed rest and inactivity for back pain, which over time, only aggravated the situation and made it more difficult to treat in the long run. We now know that if you want to relieve the physical pain of many types of back pain while also making yourself stronger both mentally and physically, you need to get moving.

A commitment to a physical conditioning program that is approved by your physician is important to everyone, but it is especially important to those with chronic back pain. Exercise has many benefits, and has even been called a healthy "non-chemical tranquilizer," because the process of stretching and strengthening the muscles of the back produces a feeling of relaxation and well being similar to that produced by many muscle relaxants and pain relievers. Low back pain is often described as a "psychobiological" problem, meaning that it includes both physical and psychological components. Exercise can help treat both parts of this problem, by providing you with a healthy means of relieving some of the frustration and sense of helplessness associated with low back pain, in addition to treating the problem at its very heart.

Exercise can be the key to your recovery, as well as a good prevention against future pain. Our physicians have developed an exercise routine with easy explanations and diagrams to help you follow them properly. The purpose of these exercises is to promote flexibility and strengthen the spinal musculature

Neurophysiological Testing

     EMG Testing

     Nerve Conduction Velocity

     Dermatosensory Evoked Potentials

     Somatosensory Evoked Potentials

EMG - electromyogram This test, most commonly performed by neurologists involves measuring the conduction and signals across nerves and muscles. It is usually ordered to diagnose a neuropathy (nerve dysfunction) such as seen in nerve damage or neurologic disease. The test may be best suited to assess nerve disruption and recovery after trauma but can be helpful in differentiating between peripheral nerve problems (diabetes, crush injury) and more central nerve problems (nerve root compression, spinal cord injury).

SSEP - somatosensory evoked potentials, MEP - motor evoked potentials. Surgery of the spine, in the past, had the terrible reputation of being very risky regarding nerve function and potential paralysis. Newer techniques of nerve monitoring (SSEP, MEP) during surgery can provide continuous information about nerve structures to markedly reduce the chance of injury. A surgeon can thus get ongoing information about nerve conduction during an operation. If changes are noted during certain maneuvers then modifications can be made to avoid nerve injury. Instrumentation used in the spine can also be tested during placement to ensure that nerve compression or irritation is not occurring. The SSEP and MEP monitoring techniques are of great help in increasing the safety of spine surgery, however they are not 100% reliable and rare cases of nerve dysfunction after surgery have been noted.In some cases when monitoring is not felt to be reliable a surgeon may perform a wake-up test briefly during surgery to ensure nerve function.

The EMG / Nerve Conduction Study is a useful test to study the nerves in the arms and legs. The test will determine whether or not you have a pinched nerve in the back, neck, or extremities. This is a very useful test if your doctor wants to confirm that you have a carpal tunnel syndrome, a peripheral neuropathy, or other nerve entrapment syndromes. The EMG/Nerve Conduction study is a non-invasive test and should not cause you any discomfort.

The EMG / NCS can provide the following information:

·         Presence of a nerve injury

·         Age of the nerve injury (acute vs. chronic process)

·         Area of the nerve injury (proximal vs. distal)

·         Severity of the nerve injury

·         Whether the nerve is healing

This test is often correlated with MRIs and physical exam to evaluate whether a condition may require surgery.

Functional Capacity testing

     Computerized Muscle Testing

     Computerized Goniometry

     NIOSH Lift Tests

Radiology / X-Ray

The X-Ray is a type of radiographic image that evaluates bones, joints and degenerative lesions in the spine. The x-ray is a minimally invasive procedure done in the office and requires only passive involvement on the part of the patient. With new equipment and advanced technology today, patients are exposed to minimal amounts of radiation during routine x-ray evaluation of the spine. The x-ray is a simple test, and can be very helpful in its ability to demonstrate bony abnormalities. Most often, an x-ray of the spine will be the first diagnostic tool used in evaluating back and neck pain, and it is usually done before consideration of an MRI or a CT scan.

The common spine X-Ray involves taking a picture of the spine by shooting an X-Ray beam through the body and recording the amount of radiation. Bones of the spine (vertebrae) which are in the middle of the body absorb the X-Rays while soft tissues such as the lungs, abdomen and even muscle tissue permit X-Rays to pass through easily. An X-Ray picture shows a clear image of dense tissues such as the bones and not much of the soft tissues. This image can offer essential information on the structure of the bones, the relationship of one bone to the next one and the overall alignment of the spine.

It is important to realize that the spine is a complex three dimensional structure and that X-Rays only offer a two dimensional analysis of the spine. Therefore, to maximize the understanding of spinal shape and alignment it is important to obtain two X-Rays of the spine, one seen from the front and the other seen from the side.

Good quality X-Rays will permit not only an analysis of the individual bones of the spine but also the overall contour of the spinal column. This is very important in such conditions such as scoliosis or kyphosis where complete analysis of spinal contour is essential.

In addition to standing and recumbent X-Rays, a physician may request a series of dynamic X-Rays to diagnose a spinal problem. These involve obtaining a set of pictures with the patient maximally bending forward and backward. This will permit an analysis of any possible instability (abnormal amounts of movement between vertebrae in the spine. Side bending X-Rays can offer significant information on the flexibility of a spinal deformity such as scoliosis. These bending films can help a surgeon in the decision-making process regarding levels of spinal fusion and overall spinal balance

Medical Pain Management

On occasion we may recommend that you get injections or management of your medications.

Trigger Point Injections are injections of local anesthetics (sometimes combined with corticosteroids) directly into painful soft tissue or muscles along the spine or over the back of the pelvis. While generally useful for localized pain, trigger point injections do not help heal a herniated lumbar disc.

Epidural Injections or "blocks" may be recommended if you have severe leg pain. These are injections of corticosteroid into the epidural space (the area around the spinal nerves), performed by a doctor with special training in this technique. The initial injection may be followed by one or two more injections at a later date, and should be done as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation and treatment program.

Selective Nerve Root Sleeve Block is an injection like an epidural, but it is injected around the nerve root sheath. This is used for leg and arm pain and for determining which nerve root is responsible for your pain. It can be therapeutic and diagnostic. You will need a driver to take you home and no pain medications should be taken after midnight the night before your injection.

Facet Injections are injections of corticosteroids and local anesthetics directly into the painful facet joints of your low back. This helps reduce pain and inflammation. If helpful, they can be followed by a Facet Rhizotomy, in which the sensory nerve in this joint is disabled giving long-term relief.

Sacroiliac Joint Blocks are injections that are primarily used for diagnosing and treating the low back pain associated with sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction. The SI joint lies next to the spine and connects the sacrum (bottom of the spine) with the pelvis (hip). In an SI joint block approach, a physician uses fluoroscopic guidance (live x-ray) and inserts a needle into the sacroiliac joint to inject Lidocaine (a numbing agent) and a steroid (an anti-inflammatory medication). It takes a highly skilled and experienced physician to be able to insert a needle into the sacroiliac joint. An SI joint block may be repeated up to three times per year. For the treatment to be successful, the injection should be followed by physical therapy and/or chiropractic manipulations to provide mobilization and range of motion exercises.

If you continue to have back pain despite surgical intervention, your doctor may recommend you for consideration of a Dorsal Column Stimulator (DCS). This stimulates the cord for symptomatic pain. This procedure is performed by a surgeon in conjunction with a pain management specialist.

Oral Medications used to control pain are called analgesics. Most pain can be treated with non-prescription medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen. If you have severe persistent pain, your doctor might prescribe narcotics for a short time. Sometimes, but not often, a doctor will prescribe muscle relaxants. All medication should be taken only as directed.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) are analgesics and are used to reduce swelling and inflammation. These include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and a variety of prescription drugs. If your doctor gives you anti-inflammatory medications, you should watch for side effects such as stomach upset or bleeding. Chronic use of prescription or over-the-counter NSAIDS should be monitored by your physician for the development of any potential problems.

Corticosteroid medications - taken orally or by injection - are sometimes prescribed for more severe back and leg pain because of their very powerful anti-inflammatory effect. Corticosteroids, like NSAIDS, can have side effects. Risks and benefits of this medication should be discussed with your physician.

Antidepressants - These drugs may be effective treatments for specific types of pain, or pain with specific causes. For example, antidepressants will be prescribed to help relieve certain types of neuropathic pain -- it doesn't necessarily mean your doctor thinks you are depressed. There are risks, side effects and drug interactions with any medication, so a medical professional should always be consulted prior to taking medications.

Chiropractic - The Treatment Choice of the Pros

What do Tiger Woods, Barry Bonds, Lance Armstrong, Joe Montana, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emmett Smith, and many other pro athletes have in common?  It’s no secret anymore.  Professional athletes from around the world have a common denominator for enhancing their performance and treating their back and joint problems. 

Chiropractic care has become the conservative treatment of choice for back and joint pain for many athletes, including some of the top names in professional sports today.  The chiropractic profession is the largest non-allopathic healthcare group and a large body of scientific evidence now supports the use of chiropractic treatment for many musculoskeletal disorders.

Here is what just a few of the world's top athletes have to say about Chiropractic
and the effect it has had on their careers.

TOP ATHLETES UTILIZE CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR BETTER PERFORMANCE
There are an increasing number of articles appearing in the lay press about how leading sport figures value chiropractic care for their enhanced athletic performance and health.

A powerful example of this appeared in the October 16, 1998 issue of USA Today in an article featuring Emmett Smith, a football star from the Dallas Cowboys. Emmett Smith is considered one of the best players in the game and at the time the article appeared was in his ninth season as a professional. The article discusses his healthy lifestyle which includes regular chiropractic care. “I started doing this about four or five years ago,” Smith was quoted in the article about his involvement with chiropractic care. “I believe that what I’m doing is what helps me go on. I think Warren Moon (Seattle’s 41 year old quarter back) does the same thing. So I’ve become a big believer in servicing my body and making sure it is lined up properly and functioning the way it is supposed to on Sunday.”

Smith is part of an ever-growing lineup of professional athletes who regularly receive chiropractic treatment. During the NBA basketball finals, star players Scotty Pippin, and John Stockton were recognized among those who received chiropractic care during breaks in the sixth and final games of the championship series.

World heavyweight champion boxer Evander Holyfield has been under chiropractic care for years and regularly receives adjustments during training as well as immediately prior to his fights. These athletes and many more recognize the contribution chiropractic treatment makes to their health and performance.

Here is a list of some of the athletes and teams that use chiropractic treatment as part of their health and performance regimen.

Football
Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers
Irving Fryar, Miami Dolphins
Emmett Smith, Dallas Cowboys
Crawford Kerr, Dallas Cowboys
Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Dallas Cowboys
Charles Haley, Dallas Cowboys
Roger Craig, San Francisco 49ers
Bob Hayes, Dallas Cowboys
Sean Landeta, NY Giants
Paul Fraze, NY Jets Lineman
Mark Brunell, Jacksonville Jaguars
Ricky Bell
Dammone Johnson
Alex Karras, Detroit Lions
Mark May, Washington Redskins
Gary Clark, Miami Dolphins
Terry Kirby, Miami Dolphins
Keith Jackson, Green Bay Packers
Mike Ingram, Green Bay Packers
Mike Timson, Chicago Bears
Bill Fralic, Atlanta Falcons
Warren Moon, Houston Oilers
Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins
Brian Hansen, New York Jets
Terance Mathis, Atlanta Falcons
Gary Downs, Atlanta Falcons
Byron Hanspard, Atlanta Falcons
Ruffin Hamilton, Atlanta Falcons
Craig Sauer, Atlanta Falcons
Lester Archambeau, Atlanta Falcons
Ronnie Bradford, Atlanta Falcons
Tim Dwight, Atlanta Falcons
Bob Christian, Atlanta Falcons
Joe Profit, Atlanta Falcons
Lenny McGill, Carolina Panthers
Kansas City Chiefs
Atlanta Falcons Team
San Francisco 49ers Team
Detroit Lions Team
Denver Broncos Team
Dallas Cowboys Team

Baseball
Jose Canseco, Boston Red Sox
Wade Boggs, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Greg Mathews, Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher
Ryne Sandberg, Chicago Cubs
Mark McGuire, St. Louis Cardinals
John Smoltz, Atlanta Braves
Chris Sabo, Cincinnati Reds
Robby Thompson, San Francisco Giants
Kurt Manwaring, San Francisco Giants
Mark Portugal, San Francisco Giants
Brett Butler, San Francisco Giants
Wes Parker, Los Angeles Dodgers
Don Sutton, Los Angeles Dodgers
Roberto Clemente, Pittsburg Pirates
Rick Monday, Chicago Cubs
Jeff Reardon, New York Mets

Basketballl
Dan Schayes, Phoenix Suns
Gerald Wilkins, NY Knicks
Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
Charles Barkley, Houston Rockets
Robert Parish, Boston Celtics
Jack Sikma, Milwaukee Bucks
Scottie Pippin, Chicago Bulls
John Stockton, Utah Jazz

Bodybuilding
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Actor/Bodybuilder
Dr. Frank Columbo, Actor “Conan the Barbarian” Movies/ Mr. Olympia, Mr. Universe, Mr. World, Mr. International, Mr. Europe, Mr. Italy
Lee Haney, Mr. Olympia (1984-91)
Clifta Coulter, Miss USA
John Defendis, Mr. USA
Grace Lewis, World Champion Power lifter, Record Holder
Kevin Levrone, Reigning National Champ
Rick Valente, Host of ESPN’s “Body Shaping”

Golfers
Tiger Woods
Vijay Singh
Fred Funk
Barbara Bunkowsky
Sandra Palmer
Lynn Connelly
Beth Daniel
Jan Stephenson
Donna White
Kim Bauer
Patty Sheehan
Lynn Adams
Sally Little
Amy Alcott
Patti Rizzo

Boxing
Muhammad Ali
Evander Holyfield
Rocky Marciano
Jack Dempsey
Tony Lopez
Michael Carbajol

Hockey
Wayne Gretzky
Brett Hall
Detroit Redwings Team

Dancers
Shirley MacLaine
Liza Minnelli
Marcello Angelini
Daniella Buson

Biathletes
Kenny Sousa
Joel Thompson
Brent Steiner
Fred Klaven

Aerobics Archery
Mindy Mylrea, World Champion
Larry & Todd Wise, World Champions
Bernard Horn, Mens Champion

Dancers
Shirley MacLaine
Liza Minnelli
Marcello Angelini
Daniella Buson

Biathletes
Kenny Sousa
Joel Thompson
Brent Steiner
Fred Klaven

Gymnastics
Mary Lou Retton
Olga Korbut

Kick-Boxing
Jorge Angat, Jr., US Lightweight Champion

Olympic Events
Dan O’Brien, Decathlon
Joe Greene, Long Jump
Donovan Bailey, 100 Meter
Alberto Juantorena, 400 & 800 Meter
Bruce Jenner, Decathalon
Mac Wilkins, Discus
Dwight Stones, Hi-Jump
Edwin Moses, Hurdles
Maria Maricich, Skiing
Suzy Chaffee, Skiing
Mary Decker, Track
Willie Banks, Triple Jump
Joseph Arvay, Wrestler
Nancy Ditz, Marathon

Soccer
Gregg Blasingame, Atlanta Attack Professional Soccer Team
Brian Haynes, Atlanta Attack Professional Soccer Team
Dr. George Billauer, Team Chiropractor for the 1994 US World Cup Soccer Team

Surfing
Ritchie Rudolph, Professional
Mark Kechele, Professional
Jeff Booth, Professional

Tennis
Jim Connors
John McEnroe
Ivan Lendl
Billy Jean King
Tracy Austin

Triathletes
Mark Allen
Craig Reynolds
Larry Rhoads

Volleyball
Sinjin Smith
Randy Stoklos
Kent Steffes
Tim Hovland
Craig Moothart
Mary Jo Peppler

OUR SERVICES

At the Miami Back Institute we offer comprehensive non-surgical treatment of back pain from a team of physicians and allied healthcare professionals.  Our multidisciplinary team approach allows for the rapid diagnosis and treatment, enabling patients to return to their highest possible level of functioning.

We provide personalized, patient-centered care to people of all ages with all types of spinal disorders, including neck and low back pain; arm and leg pain (radiculopathy) due to spinal disorders; cervical, thoracic and lumbar disc herniations; spinal stenosis; adolescent and adult scoliosis; traumatic injuries to the spine; and degenerative and disc disorders.

The "Back Pain Team" at the Miami Back Institute provides patients with state of the art treatment including:

The Miami Back Institute services include:

·         Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy

·         Physical Medicine

·         Chiropractic

·         Physical Therapy

·         Exercise Rehabilitation

·         Massage Therapy

·         Neurophysiological Testing                

·         Functional Capacity testing

·         Radiology / X-Ray

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Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy is non-surgical, non-invasive, and typically does not involve pain medications. The treatment is not only safe and painless, but also comfortable and relaxing. The course of therapy includes approximately 20 treatment sessions over 4-6 weeks. Each procedure is performed with a unique physio-therapeutic device and is performed by a certified clinician, specializing in back pain care. The treatment sessions are brief, lasting approximately 30 minutes.

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy distracts the vertebrae surrounding an injured disc 5 to 7 millimeters. The 25 to 30 minute treatment provides static, intermittent, and cycling forces on structures that may be causing low back pain.  During treatment, intradiscal pressure is dropped from a positive 25 millimeters mercury to a negative 150 millimeters mercury. This negative pressure promotes the diffusion of water, oxygen, and nutrients into the vertebral disc area, thereby re-hydrating the degenerated disc. Repeated pressure differentialpromotes retraction of a herniated nucleus pulposus (the elastic core of the intervertebral disc).

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy can: