I have been a grateful and amazed patient of Dr. Coffman’s for over 10 yrs.  During that time, I have also referred many friends and family members to her.

In the beginning, I had no idea what a D.O. specializing in neuromuscular manipulation was; all I knew was that my children’s pediatrician told me Dr. Coffman had helped a lot with her back pain and might be able to help with mine.  I had been to many doctors and physical therapists to reduce the pain with minimal effect, and figured I had nothing to lose and no other ideas.  Since then, Dr. Coffman has rid me of mid and lower back pain as well as hip pain and eased sitting pain.  Thanks to her, one of my legs is no longer shorter than the other which corrected my gait, my sinuses flow better, and pain in my back after the incessant coughing of one bout of pneumonia is gone.

She helped my teenage daughter avoid unnecessary surgery for what was thought to be scoliosis by treating her and teaching her exercises to balance the strong muscles on her dominant side from competitive swimming with exercises to develop stronger muscles on the nondominant side; by the time we met with the surgeon, he said, “What scoliosis?” since the curvature measured by her pediatrician had disappeared!

Dr. Coffman helped a friend who runs marathons prevent hip pain during marathons by treatment before the races and helped another friend with pain as well as ridding her of bumps on her fingers that had been there for years!

When my brother was immobilized by pain immediately after a fall on his back, her treatment had him up within two days and back to normal construction work.

Dr. Coffman is a caring doctor with remarkable knowledge and skill in her profession.  If you wonder whether she can help you, I strongly recommend that you call and ask.

M.D., Ph.D.

When I came to see Dr. Coffman, I was suffering from tinnitus, TMJ Dysfunction, anxiety, and a very stiff neck.  I had been to see several specialists in these areas who concluded that nothing could be done aside from taking medication.  Although specialists certainly have their place, their focus can sometimes be too narrow.  Dr. Coffman’s approach, on the other hand, took my whole body into account, and she discerned that I was out of alignment (a result of having severe scoliosis including spine surgery as a teenager).

From the very first adjustment I began to notice a marked improvement in my condition, and following this subsequent treatments, I’ve experienced a “chain reaction” of positive changes throughout my body-my right hip is sinking down to its correct position, my left shoulder is doing the same, my head and neck are steadily coming back to center, and my ailments are diminishing.

As if this wasn’t remarkable enough, Dr. Coffman, through her treatments and advice, has awakened me to the possibilities of energy medicine.  Not only do I feel my energies humming through my body for the first time, I have also become aware of my innate ability to heal.  I now feel empowered to take control of my own well-being through techniques she has shown me, techniques that are very effective and completely free.

Dr. Coffman is different from other doctors because she listens, has a healing touch, and empowers you to help yourself.    ~ T.C.

A few years ago I consulted an allopathic orthopedist about a shoulder with limited range of motion and mild pain.  An MRI showed, according to the orthopedist, “multiple pathologies, including a possible partial rotator cuff tear.”  He recommended arthroscopic surgery, with my right arm immobilized for six weeks.  I consulted Dr. Coffman, who has been my osteopath for more than ten years.  She manipulated my shoulder and other related areas and prescribed a daily exercise that is very much like a yoga sun salutation.  My range of motion has improved and I no longer have chronic pain.

Dr. Coffman has helped me manage shoulder, back, hip and foot issues for years.  My quarterly “tune-ups” always address whatever musculoskeletal problems I have at the time and keep me balanced and fit for weeks.  She is a good listener and has fine, gentle manipulation skills.  I have recommended her practice to many friends and coworkers.

T.S.

My pain all started with a knee injury from running. After limping around with it for a month, I found myself having extreme back and hip pain. I had consulted with other doctors who wanted to inject my back with steroids, which was not appealing to me at all. I was able to get the inflammation down to a more manageable level by using some physical therapy modalities, but it never went away.

Each day, I woke up with pain shooting into my hip and down my legs.At times, I couldn’t tolerate standing or sitting. I was unsure how difficult each day would be until my feet hit the floor in the morning. I found Dr. Coffman through a friend and prayed that she would be the one to help me get relief. I made that first appointment hoping for help, but feeling like
pain was going to be a part of life forever. At least, that was what other doctors had led me to believe.

Dr. Coffman was able to utilize very gentle muscle techniques that gave me unbelievable results in that very first visit. I walked out feeling comfortable for the first time in five months. I was astounded and a little skeptical that
it would last. I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only did it last, I was able to function again. I received a few more treatments and have to honestly say, that in those treatments, Dr. Coffman gave me my life back. I am now able to exercise, keep up with my young family and do my job without pain.

Dr. Coffman has treated me in the most holistic manner that I have ever experienced. She understands my lifestyle and looks beyond just my immediate medical needs. I am forever grateful for the help that she has given me in getting back into life!

Guidelines for finding a better fit.

1 Add one size up on the bra-band and one cup size down from the recommended bra-fitting guideline.

For Example if a trained bra-fitter measures you as a 38C,  try starting with a 40B.  This will give the ribs room to breathe while maintaining a similar cup volume.

2. Add a bra-extender to the back of the bra. These can be found wherever sewing notions are sold for a few dollars.

* White bra-extenders can be tinted to a beige-tan shade by soaking in black coffee (liquid) overnight.  Let it dry and rinse.

3.  Look for styles that offer a leotard-style back. Like a scoop where the straps curve together to meet instead of being sewn onto the band at right angles.

4. Avoid the under-wire! Metal or plastic.  Many styles can have the casing snipped and the wire removed while retaining the fit of the bra.

5. Warner’s style “Back to Smooth” offers all of the above characteristics  and can be viewed online as a starting point.

6. Warner’s offers more styles for those with a slight build.  Bali offers several wireless styles for fuller figures.

7. Elastic and spandex want to be their natural size all day, too. As a rule of thumb measure your own ribcage with a full breath in the area of the bra-band.  Measure the garment you are considering and compare.  Even the super-stretchy pull-over bras can cause a problem due to their “sizing”  A Medium is usually too small for even a 34 inch chest!

8. Sports Bras. Follow the above rule of thumb. Try to balance the need for restriction versus the need for oxygen in your activity.

9. Camisoles and tanks often have a shelf-bra built in.  The elastic band is usually too small even after sizing up.  Snipping the side seams and adding some bias tape or leaving it open will give the ribs their breath!  Sometimes removing the elastic from the back half of the garment is needed.

Tips on hosiery and socks:

1. As noted above, elastic and spandex will try to recoil all day so be aware of its initial size!

2. Wear the least hose possible. For example, avoid  pantyhose if knee hi’s will suffice.

3. Avoid “control-top”  and snip the waist band vertically if necessary of pantyhose.

4. Be sure toes have plenty of room to wiggle in hose or socks.

5. If your socks are leaving a mark or dent in the leg they are too tight and inhibiting the flow of circulation.

Many ladies have arrived in the office with ill-fitting undergarments. Tight fitting  undergarments such as bras, shapers and hosiery actually defeat our best intentions for a healthy body and figure!

We have all heard the recommendation “Breathe!”  Optimal breathing is vital to our health for both oxygenation and waste-toxin removal.

Here is how it affects us:

With tight clothing the ribs and abdomen are not able to expand properly.  This decreases total oxygenation and the flow of lymph back into circulation. Oxygen is required for fat to be utilized and  “burned-off” and our lymph is the fluid that removes waste from the tissues.  Restrictive clothing (shapers)  decreases both our quantity of oxygen and the capability to carry it to tissue. The body will  actually retain fluid and and a layer of fat in response.

Snug bra-bands and and underwires  produce long-term deformities of the ribs.  Women frequently have a flare of the ribs just below the bra in the front.  The chest wall itself can becomes compressed and does not expand with  the breath.

Tight stockings, pantyhose or elastic socks play a role in the tension and deformity of the foot even if the shoe has a reasonable shape.  Modern day binding of the feet has occurred!

See ” A better Fit” for recommendations in fitting undergarments, camisoles and hosiery.

The Osteopathic Cranial Academy offers osteopathic training in the cranial field to qualified physicians, M.D. and D.O.  and dentists.  It is a “meeting place” for each of us.  Link to Cranialacademy.org for more osteopathic history and information.

In September I attended an inspiring course through the American Osteopathic Cranial Academy.  Dr. Maurice Bensoussan of the French Cranial Academy inspired us all with his teaching of Orthopedics, Posture and the Primary Respiratory System.

A heartfelt thank you I extend to Dr. Bensoussan and the French Academy faculty for coming to Rhode Island and sharing their skills.  I extend much gratitude to all our colleagues ,D.O., M.D., and D.D.S., who attended the course and brought their experience to share.  It was truly an amazing event.

My daughter had an overbite–can’t remember the technical term for it–and was in braces for 4 months. When the harsher wire was put on she complained of terrible pain and her jaw locking up. We went to see Dr. Coffman who consulted with our orthodontist. He agreed to take off the wire for a while. Maria did her magic on the jaw a few times over the course of a few months and when we went back to the orthodontist the jaw had moved to the place he was hoping to get to by using the harsh wire. This was done without any wires at all! If you are considering braces please see Dr. Coffman first!

-T.M.

During a routine osteopathic treatment with Dr. Coffman, I jokingly asked her for a facelift. She felt drawn to work on my nose and we both felt noticeable movement. I was so suprised to look in the mirror the next day and find that the bump in my nose had remarkably diminished !! Also, my nose was much more uplifted in appearance. Wow. After years of disliking my profile due to several injuries I am happy to look in the mirror! It never ceases to amaze me how gentle manipulation can have such profound results.

– L.B., Virginia