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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.