Considering Back Surgery? Read this First

/in , , /by

Approximately 500,000 Americans undergo back surgery to relieve their pain every year, and according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHTQ), this costs approximately $11 billion annually. The worst part — it turns out only 5 percent of these people actually need back surgery. And for many folks — the pain just ends up coming back.

So why are we spending so much money on back surgery when the majority of people don’t actually need it?

First of all, back pain is not fun. It can be excruciating, debilitating, and can have a significant impact on your life and happiness. If you’re told surgery will fix your problem (and it often does take your pain away in the short-term), why wouldn’t you choose this option? 

Well, if you knew the facts, you might be willing to hold off on a surgical “quick fix” and investigate options that are less risky. The research shows over and over that 80% of the population suffers from “non-specific low back pain,” meaning, it’s not from something structural like a tumor, broken bone, or deformity. The research also shows that non-specific low back pain does NOT benefit from surgery! The better solution for the majority of back pain sufferers is correctly prescribed movement followed by regular exercise to maintain your strength (especially your core) and postural endurance.

So again, why are we spending so much money on back surgery when the research and data clearly show it’s not the best course of action for the majority of back pain sufferers? 

There are a few reasons. First, most of the time we just don’t know any better.

Back pain is typically diagnosed with imaging (X Rays and MRI’s). Although these highly specific tests are critically beneficial after a major trauma or accident, or when you suspect something more serious is going on (like a tumor or broken bone), they are not the best way to diagnose non-specific low back pain. That’s because these tests are designed to show you everything – including all the normal, age-related changes that occur in your spine such as arthritis, degenerative discs, stenosis, and even bulging discs.

The truth is that 60-80% of people walk around with these findings in their spine all the time and have absolutely zero pain.

That means that your back pain is likely coming from something else, typically, a bad movement pattern or habit. Poor posture and movement habits can exacerbate a bulging disc or stenosis, and this is where the confusion comes in. Surgically “fixing” your bulging disc or stenosis will not correct your poor habits. That’s why so many people suffering from back pain get surgery only to find their pain comes back several months or years later. What you need to do is find the true cause of your low back pain and attempt to address that first before ever considering something like surgery.

The second reason back surgery is so common and over-prescribed is because it does a great job at taking pain away quickly where conservative therapy often fails. Conservative therapy really can help you get rid of back pain and keep it gone – but it has to be done correctly. And sadly, there are many well-meaning therapists, trainers, and movement professionals out there that lack the expert knowledge to get it right. If you don’t get the correct conservative treatment for your back pain, you’ll assume it didn’t work, and will be more apt to get surgery.

So how do you know you’re getting correct and effective conservative treatment? Quite simply, it will work, and fairly quickly! 

Remember, 80% of all low back pain responds to the right conservative treatment. You’ll notice obvious improvement in your back pain within 2 weeks. If you fall into the 20% where conservative treatment doesn’t work as well, it will be pretty obvious to a back pain expert almost immediately. In our office, for example, we have special movement screens and tests that we perform on everyone to determine if you’re in the 80% or the 20%. If you fall into the 20%, we know right away and can send you to your doctor, or a surgeon, for one of those highly specific tests to see what’s really going on.

The take home point is this: If you currently suffer from on and off back pain, have tried every treatment you can think of, and are just tired of it because it really hurts – I completely understand why back surgery would be an attractive option for you right now.

But please consider the facts and research first before you make the decision to go under the knife. Back surgery has its risks, and there is no going back from the unimaginable happening. If you have back pain that you’re ready to solve for good — sign up for a FREE 30 minute Discovery Session with one of our specialists today! 

 

Tips to Combat Arthritis this Winter

/in , , , /by

People tell me all the time: “I don’t need to check the weather anymore, my joints tell me what’s coming.” And as winter approaches, I know I’m going to be hearing more and more of this.

So why is it that arthritis sufferers tend to be impacted more during the colder, wetter months?

The actual science on this is inconclusive. Some studies have completely debunked the myth that weather can affect your joint pain, while others have shown that arthritis sufferers do indeed have what we call “weather sensitivity” — and they feel worse in the cold, especially when it’s about to rain or snow. The working theory behind this is related to barometric pressure. As a storm system develops, barometric pressure (atmospheric pressure) begins to drop. Some scientists believe that this results in expansion and contraction of tissue in and around your joints (tendons, muscles, bones, and even scar tissue). If those tissues are already sensitive due to arthritis, this could irritate them further. Additionally, the lower temperatures of winter are thought to increase the thickness of fluid inside your joints, making them stiffer and perhaps more sensitive to pain during movement.

Regardless of whether this phenomenon is myth or fact, it doesn’t make your pain any less real! The good news is there are things you can do to minimize pain related to arthritis as winter gets closer. 

There are two types of arthritis, inflammatory and non-inflammatory. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis, and osteoarthritis is the most common form of non-inflammatory arthritis. Although they have very different causes, weather changes can still have an impact, and there are still things you can do to minimize that impact.

Puntoscommesse Online: Recensione su Betzoid

Nell’affollato mondo delle scommesse online, trovare un sito affidabile e di qualità può essere una vera sfida. Con un’ampia gamma di opzioni disponibili, come fai a distinguere il grano dalla pula? Ecco dove entra in gioco Betzoid, una piattaforma di scommesse online che sta rapidamente guadagnando popolarità tra gli appassionati di scommesse di tutto il mondo. In questa recensione approfondita, esploreremo i segreti che rendono Betzoid un’opzione così attraente, svelando le sue caratteristiche distintive e i vantaggi che offre ai giocatori.

Preparatevi a immergervi in un’esperienza di scommesse senza precedenti, poiché analizzeremo tutto, dalla vasta selezione di eventi sportivi e mercati di scommesse, alle quote competitive e alle opzioni di pagamento sicure. Inoltre, scopriremo come Betzoid si distingue dalla concorrenza grazie al suo eccellente servizio clienti, alle promozioni generose e all’interfaccia user-friendly. Che tu sia un principiante o un giocatore esperto, questa recensione ti fornirà tutte le informazioni necessarie per prendere una decisione informata e massimizzare le tue possibilità di successo nel mondo delle scommesse online.

Panoramica su Betzoid: Caratteristiche Principali

Quando si tratta di scommesse sportive online, è fondamentale scegliere un sito affidabile e sicuro. Betzoid è una piattaforma che offre un’ampia gamma di opzioni di scommesse, incluse le scommesse su eventi sportivi, casinò online e molto altro ancora. Con una vasta selezione di mercati e quote competitive, Betzoid si distingue come una delle migliori opzioni per gli scommettitori italiani.

Uno dei punti di forza di Betzoid è la sua interfaccia user-friendly e intuitiva. Il sito web è ben strutturato e facile da navigare, consentendo agli utenti di trovare rapidamente gli eventi e i mercati di loro interesse. Inoltre, Betzoid offre un’eccellente assistenza clienti, disponibile 24 ore su 24, 7 giorni su 7, per garantire che tutte le domande e le preoccupazioni degli utenti vengano prontamente affrontate. Puoi trovare maggiori informazioni su https://betzoid.com/it/puntoscommesse/.

Per quanto riguarda la sicurezza, Betzoid utilizza le più recenti tecnologie di crittografia per proteggere i dati degli utenti e garantire transazioni sicure. Inoltre, il sito è regolamentato e autorizzato dalle autorità competenti, offrendo ulteriore tranquillità agli scommettitori. Con un’ampia varietà di opzioni di pagamento, promozioni generose e un’esperienza di gioco senza problemi, Betzoid è una scelta eccellente per chiunque desideri scommettere online in modo sicuro e divertente.

Offerta di Scommesse Sportive e Quote Competitive

Puntoscommesse Online è una piattaforma di scommesse che offre un’ampia varietà di opzioni di gioco. Betzoid, uno dei principali operatori di scommesse online, offre una recensione approfondita di questa piattaforma. Secondo la recensione, Puntoscommesse Online si distingue per la sua interfaccia intuitiva e user-friendly, che consente anche ai nuovi scommettitori di navigare facilmente attraverso le diverse sezioni del sito. Inoltre, la piattaforma offre una vasta gamma di eventi sportivi su cui scommettere, coprendo i principali sport come calcio, basket, tennis e molti altri.

Un altro aspetto positivo evidenziato dalla recensione di Betzoid è l’affidabilità e la sicurezza di Puntoscommesse Online. La piattaforma utilizza i più avanzati sistemi di crittografia per proteggere i dati sensibili degli utenti e garantire transazioni sicure. Inoltre, Puntoscommesse Online è regolamentata e autorizzata dalle autorità competenti, offrendo così un ambiente di gioco equo e trasparente. La recensione di Betzoid sottolinea anche l’eccellente servizio clienti offerto dalla piattaforma, con un team di assistenza disponibile 24/7 per rispondere a qualsiasi domanda o richiesta degli utenti.

Bonus e Promozioni: Vantaggi per i Nuovi Utenti

Puntoscommesse Online è una delle migliori piattaforme di scommesse sportive disponibili sul mercato italiano. Uno dei suoi principali punti di forza è la vasta gamma di eventi e sport su cui è possibile scommettere, che spaziano dal calcio al tennis, passando per il basket, il cricket e molti altri. La piattaforma è inoltre costantemente aggiornata con le quote più recenti e competitive, garantendo ai giocatori le migliori opportunità di vincita.

Un altro aspetto degno di nota di Puntoscommesse Online è la sua interfaccia user-friendly e intuitiva. Sia per i giocatori esperti che per i principianti, navigare attraverso le diverse sezioni del sito e piazzare le proprie scommesse è un’operazione semplice e piacevole. Inoltre, il sito è ottimizzato per dispositivi mobili, consentendo agli utenti di scommettere comodamente ovunque si trovino.

La sicurezza e l’affidabilità sono altre caratteristiche chiave di Puntoscommesse Online. Il sito utilizza i più avanzati sistemi di crittografia per proteggere i dati sensibili degli utenti e garantire transazioni finanziarie sicure. Inoltre, l’azienda è regolamentata e autorizzata dalle autorità competenti, offrendo ai giocatori la massima tranquillità e trasparenza.

Infine, Puntoscommesse Online offre un eccellente servizio di assistenza clienti, disponibile 24 ore su 24, 7 giorni su 7. Gli operatori qualificati sono sempre pronti a rispondere a qualsiasi domanda o richiesta di assistenza, assicurando un’esperienza di gioco piacevole e senza problemi. In sintesi, Puntoscommesse Online è una scelta eccellente per tutti gli appassionati di scommesse sportive che cercano una piattaforma affidabile, sicura e ricca di opzioni.

Metodi di Pagamento e Assistenza Clienti

Betzoid è una piattaforma di scommesse online che offre un’ampia gamma di opzioni di scommessa per gli appassionati di sport e giochi. Con una vasta selezione di eventi sportivi, dalle principali leghe professionistiche ai tornei minori, Betzoid garantisce un’esperienza di scommessa emozionante e coinvolgente. L’interfaccia user-friendly e intuitiva consente agli utenti di navigare facilmente tra le diverse opzioni di scommessa e di piazzare le proprie puntate in modo rapido ed efficiente.

Uno degli aspetti più apprezzati di Betzoid è la sua affidabilità e sicurezza. La piattaforma utilizza i più avanzati sistemi di crittografia per proteggere i dati personali e le transazioni finanziarie degli utenti. Inoltre, Betzoid è regolamentata e autorizzata dalle autorità competenti, garantendo un ambiente di gioco equo e trasparente. Gli utenti possono contare su un servizio clienti professionale e reattivo, disponibile 24 ore su 24, 7 giorni su 7, per risolvere qualsiasi dubbio o problema.

Per gli amanti delle scommesse sportive, Betzoid offre quote competitive e una vasta gamma di mercati su cui scommettere. Che si tratti di calcio, basket, tennis o qualsiasi altro sport, gli appassionati troveranno sempre opzioni interessanti e redditizie. Inoltre, Betzoid propone regolarmente promozioni e bonus allettanti per i nuovi iscritti e per i clienti esistenti, rendendo l’esperienza di gioco ancora più vantaggiosa e gratificante.

Esperienza Mobile e Requisiti di Sicurezza

Puntoscommesse Online è una piattaforma di scommesse sportive in rapida crescita, e Betzoid è uno dei bookmaker più affidabili e apprezzati su questo sito. Con una vasta gamma di opzioni di scommessa su numerosi sport, Betzoid offre un’esperienza di gioco coinvolgente e gratificante per gli appassionati di scommesse di tutti i livelli.

Uno degli aspetti più notevoli di Betzoid è la sua interfaccia user-friendly, che rende facile navigare tra le diverse sezioni del sito e piazzare le proprie scommesse in modo rapido e semplice. Inoltre, il bookmaker offre quote competitive e promozioni allettanti, garantendo ai giocatori un valore aggiunto per ogni scommessa effettuata. La sicurezza e l’affidabilità sono altri punti di forza di Betzoid, con misure di protezione avanzate per salvaguardare i dati e le transazioni dei giocatori.

  • Vasta gamma di opzioni di scommessa
  • Interfaccia user-friendly
  • Quote competitive e promozioni allettanti
  • Sicurezza e affidabilità garantite

In conclusione, Betzoid si è rivelata una piattaforma di scommesse online affidabile e completa. Offre una vasta gamma di opzioni di scommesse sportive e casinò, oltre a numerosi bonus e promozioni allettanti. L’interfaccia user-friendly e l’eccellente assistenza clienti rendono l’esperienza di gioco piacevole e senza stress. Che tu sia un principiante o un giocatore esperto, Betzoid ha qualcosa da offrire a tutti gli appassionati di scommesse online. Vale sicuramente la pena dare un’occhiata a questa piattaforma e scoprire di persona i vantaggi che offre.

Both forms of arthritis are characterized by one or more of your joints being inflamed.

Inflamed joints do not like to be compressed or irritated. It’s often why people will tend to rest and decrease their activity when they have pain. Add cold winter temps and weather to the mix (along with a pandemic), people just naturally do less this time of year. They think if they take the weight off their joints, or move less, they are protecting their joints. That’s actually not true. What protects your joints is strength and flexibility. The more mobile you are, the less likely your joints will get irritated, even arthritic ones. Have you ever worn a piece of clothing that’s too tight? You get irritated. Same with your joints! If they aren’t free to move, they get angry. The muscles around your joints and how strong they are also play a huge role in minimizing irritation.

In the absence of strength and stability, your body will do what it needs to compensate. The structures around your joint will contract to make your joints stiff and tighter in an attempt to give your joints the stability they are lacking. But arthritic joints don’t want to be stiff and tight, they want to be free and mobile! So if you suffer from arthritis, it’s critical that you have good mobility and good strength — period.

In general, the most important thing you can do for your arthritis any time of year, not just in winter, is to keep moving.

And you will move better when you’re strong and flexible. Movement gets blood flowing, which is our best and most natural form of anti-inflammation. Walking is the easiest and most practical way to get healthy movement daily, but biking and swimming are great choices too. You’ll also want to engage in some form of activity, such as Yoga, Pilates, or Tai Chi, that allows you to move your limbs, body and joints in a full range of movement. Cardiovascular activities like walking and biking won’t do that. Pilates is great because it emphasizes both full body strength (which helps balance out your joints) and it promotes flexibility at the same time. It’s why we like to use it in our office. Although it’s easy to just stretch and get more flexible, it’s important that you incorporate strength training into your routine also. Achieving good mobility AND strength is the secret to combating arthritis. Folks tend to only focus on the flexibility part, which is one of the common mistakes I see. 

I hope this helps you better understand why your arthritis might feel worse in winter, and what you can do about it! If you’re suffering from any kind of back or knee pain that is preventing you from being more active and mobile and therefore worsening your arthritis, check out our FREE Back Pain and Knee Pain guides. Just click to have the guide sent straight to your inbox with no obligations or strings attached!

Active and Mobile

Five Easy Ways to Keep Active and Moving this Thanksgiving

/in , , , /by

Thanksgiving might look a lot different this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to stay active during the holiday. And if you suffer from back or knee pain, it’s especially important to find ways to keep active and moving. Our spine and joints don’t like to be sedentary for prolonged periods. That’s especially true if you have arthritis. You may not notice any pain while you’re sitting or relaxing, but you WILL pay for it the next day. 

Here are five very easy ways to keep active and moving this Thanksgiving:

1. Interrupt your sitting.

This is quite possibly the easiest and most effective strategy to minimize pain and stiffness in your back and knees. I give this tip out all the time, not just for Thanksgiving. Our bodies were not designed to sit for prolonged periods, so getting up frequently (I recommend once every 30 min) keeps your knees, hips, and spine from getting painful and stiff. 

2. Do a Turkey Trot!

Thanksgiving Turkey Trots are a tradition for many. But just because races aren’t happening live and in person this year, doesn’t mean you still can’t get out there! Plus, many of these popular events have switched to virtual and have arranged ways for people to still participate but on their own time, and socially distanced. Turkey Trots are typically 5K’s – or 3.2 miles – so grab your dog, headphones, or favorite podcast or audiobook and start your morning off right. Whether you walk or jog, it will feel great to get your Thanksgiving Day started with lubricated joints and blood flowing. 

3. Stretch during Commercials.

Yes – the Macy’s Day parade is still happening (on TV only) and there will of course be football. A very easy way to keep yourself from sitting or slouching too much because you’re watching TV is to get up during commercials! I literally teach my clients to do “TV exercises”. Choose some very easy stretches or mobility exercises to do during the commercial breaks. It’s the perfect opportunity to do a quick 2 min exercise or stretch.  It doesn’t have to be complicated. Choose from a quick set of squats, some heel raises, a set of planks, or back stretches on the floor or in standing. You can alternate through these during each commercial break.

4. Walk for Dessert.

Just because you did that Turkey Trot in the morning doesn’t mean you have to be done for the day! Skip the dessert (maybe) and go for a nice easy walking stroll after dinner. Walking is one of the best exercises you can do. And it gives you many of the same benefits of running (only slower). Walking is very functional, and it’s good for your hips, back and knees. Since we tend to sit and bend so much during the day, walking is a very natural and active way to get some much needed lengthening and stretching into our bodies. Plus, it can’t hurt to work off some of those Thanksgiving calories!

5. Help with set up and clean up.

You may not like this tip, and your kids and grandkids might fight you on it, but it’s another easy way to keep moving on Thanksgiving Day. If you’re suffering from back problems, be careful bending and repetitively leaning over when you’re collecting or setting dishes down. And watch your posture when you’re cleaning dishes or loading the dishwasher. An easy fix for this, and a great way to protect your spine from the harmful effects of too much bending, is to remember to stand up straight and stretch backwards often and frequently whenever you’re doing an activity that requires a lot of bending forward. And remember to bend from your hips and knees instead of curving over from your spine.  And of course, if your back is so bad that it prevents you from being able to help clean up, or do any of the other activities I mentioned in this article, please reach out! 

I hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving, and that these tips help to give you some easy, practical ideas to stay active and moving!

Got a Pain in Your Butt? Here’s what to do first.

/in , , /by

Nobody likes a “pain in the butt.” But what do you do when you’re dealing with literal pain in your butt versus the figurative kind?

It starts with figuring out where it’s coming from. Understanding the origin of your pain is necessary if you really want to solve it! One of our Pilates regulars (“Stacy”) has a story that illustrates this concept perfectly.

Stacy had been doing all the right things. She keeps active, does Pilates with us, and walks regularly. But still, she ended up with that dreaded pain in her butt that so many of us deal with on a regular basis. She tried to work through it herself by foam rolling and stretching – but none of that worked to completely eliminate her pain. Plus, her symptoms were starting to limit her Pilates and walking. This made her nervous because staying active and mobile is one of the most important things to Stacy, and the idea of being stuck at home and in pain this winter season made her want to take action now. She did the right thing by going to see our PT team.

Où Jouer au Blackjack en France ? Les Meilleurs Casinos 2025 selon Casinara

Le blackjack, ce jeu de cartes captivant, est un incontournable pour les amateurs de sensations fortes et de stratégie. En France, les casinos offrent une expérience unique, alliant l’excitation du jeu à l’élégance des établissements. Que vous soyez un joueur chevronné ou un novice curieux, découvrir les meilleurs casinos où pratiquer le blackjack est une quête passionnante. Selon Casinara, expert reconnu dans le domaine, l’année 2025 promet d’être riche en surprises et en nouveautés pour les amoureux de ce jeu légendaire.

Préparez-vous à explorer les recoins les plus prestigieux de l’Hexagone, où l’adrénaline se mêle à l’ambiance feutrée des tables de jeu. Des palaces parisiens aux établissements côtiers, en passant par les casinos de montagne, chaque lieu dévoilera ses secrets et ses attraits uniques. Que vous recherchiez l’atmosphère vibrante d’un casino animé ou la quiétude d’un cadre intimiste, Casinara vous guidera vers les destinations les plus prisées des blackjackeurs avertis. Plongez avec nous dans cet univers fascinant et découvrez où jouer au blackjack en France en 2025.

Les Casinos Emblématiques de la Côte d’Azur

La France est un pays riche en traditions de jeux de casino, et le blackjack n’y fait pas exception. Selon le site web Casinara, spécialisé dans l’évaluation des casinos en ligne et terrestres, voici les meilleurs endroits pour jouer au blackjack en France en 2025.

Le Casino Barrière de Deauville, situé dans la célèbre station balnéaire normande, est considéré comme l’un des meilleurs casinos de France pour jouer au blackjack. Avec son atmosphère élégante et son service impeccable, ce casino offre une expérience de jeu de haut niveau. Les tables de blackjack sont nombreuses et accueillent des joueurs de tous niveaux.

  • Casino de Monte-Carlo (Monaco)
  • Casino Barrière de Deauville (Normandie)
  • Casino JOA de Beaune (Bourgogne)
  • Casino Barrière de Lille (Nord)

Pour les amateurs de blackjack en ligne, Casinara recommande également plusieurs casinos virtuels réputés et sécurisés, tels que :

  • Betway Casino
  • Casino777
  • Cresus Casino

Que vous préfériez l’ambiance unique des casinos terrestres ou la commodité des plateformes en ligne, jouer au blackjack en France promet des moments palpitants et une expérience de jeu inoubliable.

Les Établissements Parisiens Incontournables pour les Amateurs de Blackjack

La France est un pays riche en traditions de jeux de casino, et le blackjack reste l’un des jeux les plus populaires. Selon le guide de référence Casinara pour 2025, les passionnés de blackjack auront de nombreuses options alléchantes pour vivre leur passion. Des établissements historiques aux complexes ultramodernes, la qualité de l’expérience de jeu sera au rendez-vous dans les meilleures adresses.

Le Casino Barrière de Deauville, véritable institution sur la côte normande, figure en tête de liste. Avec ses salles élégantes et son ambiance feutrée, il offre une expérience blackjack de premier ordre. Le Casino de Monte-Carlo, symbole de luxe et de raffinement, proposera également des tables de jeu d’exception, où l’on pourra s’adonner au blackjack dans un cadre somptueux. Pour les amateurs de modernité, le Casino JOA de Paris misera sur un design avant-gardiste et des équipements high-tech pour une partie des plus immersives.

Que vous soyez un joueur occasionnel ou un véritable passionné, les meilleurs casinos de France sauront vous séduire en 2025. Des Alpes aux côtes méditerranéennes, en passant par la capitale, chaque région réserve ses pépites pour une expérience blackjack inoubliable. Laissez-vous tenter par l’ambiance électrisante des tables de jeu et tentez votre chance dans ces temples du divertissement et du luxe.

Les Casinos Réputés des Régions Françaises

La France est connue pour son riche patrimoine culturel et ses superbes monuments historiques, mais elle est également réputée pour ses casinos de qualité. Selon Casinara, l’un des principaux guides en ligne pour les jeux de casino, voici les meilleurs endroits où jouer au blackjack en France en 2025.

Le Casino Barrière de Deauville, situé dans la charmante station balnéaire normande, est considéré comme l’un des plus prestigieux casinos de France. Avec son élégante architecture Belle Époque et son atmosphère raffinée, ce casino offre une expérience de jeu inoubliable. Les amateurs de blackjack apprécieront particulièrement les nombreuses tables dédiées à ce jeu passionnant, ainsi que le service attentionné du personnel qualifié.

Un autre incontournable pour les joueurs de blackjack est le Casino de Monte-Carlo, situé dans la principauté de Monaco. Bien que techniquement situé hors de France, ce casino légendaire attire des joueurs du monde entier grâce à son prestige et son ambiance sophistiquée. Avec ses tables de blackjack haut de gamme et ses croupiers expérimentés, le Casino de Monte-Carlo promet des moments de jeu exceptionnels dans un cadre somptueux.

Les Nouvelles Destinations Prometteuses pour le Jeu de Blackjack

La France est un pays riche en traditions de jeux de casino, et le blackjack est l’un des jeux les plus populaires. Selon Casinara, le guide en ligne de référence pour les casinos, les meilleurs établissements pour jouer au blackjack en 2025 seront répartis dans plusieurs régions du pays. À Paris, le légendaire Casino de Paris et le Casino d’Enghien-les-Bains offriront une expérience de jeu exceptionnelle, avec des tables de blackjack animées et un service haut de gamme.

Dans le sud de la France, les casinos de la Côte d’Azur comme le Casino de Monte-Carlo à Monaco et le Casino Barrière de Cannes promettent un environnement glamour et sophistiqué pour les amateurs de blackjack. Les villes thermales comme Aix-les-Bains et Évian-les-Bains abriteront également des casinos réputés, offrant une ambiance plus détendue mais tout aussi captivante pour les joueurs de blackjack. Que vous soyez un habitué des tables de jeu ou un novice curieux, les meilleurs casinos français de 2025 selon Casinara sauront répondre à vos attentes.

En somme, que vous soyez un joueur occasionnel ou un véritable passionné de blackjack, la France regorge d’établissements de jeu prestigieux où vous pourrez vous adonner à ce jeu captivant. Des casinos emblématiques de la Côte d’Azur aux salles modernes et sophistiquées de Paris, en passant par les hauts lieux du jeu dans les régions les plus reculées, notre pays offre une grande diversité d’options pour vivre l’expérience unique du blackjack. Alors, n’hésitez plus et rendez-vous dans l’un des casinos sélectionnés par Casinara pour profiter de l’ambiance électrisante des tables de jeu et peut-être repartir avec de belles gains en poche !

Their first course of action was to accurately determine the root cause of Stacy’s butt pain. It could be a few different things.

Most often, symptoms like Stacy’s will get “labeled” generically as any one of the following:

1. Bursitis

They’ll call it this if you’re feeling the pain more in the side of your hip versus center of your butt.

2. Piriformis syndrome

This refers to a pain in the center of your butt. You might feel some tightness as well.

3. Back problem/Sciatica

They’ll call it this if your pain is more diffuse and achy, and perhaps even running into your thigh. This last diagnosis will be more common if you’ve got back pain along with the hip or butt pain.

As I mentioned, any one of these things could be the source of Stacy’s symptoms, and getting it right is critical. The correct diagnosis is the determining factor of whether Stacy’s problem gets resolved for good, or becomes something she deals with for the rest of her life. The problem with diagnosing your butt pain (or any problem for that matter) based on the location of your symptoms alone is that it’s not a reliable diagnosis.

The location of your pain alone does not tell you where your problem is really coming from.

For example, I’ve seen people with pain in their hip and butt that is actually coming from their back – even when they’ve never had a back problem. If your butt pain is coming from your back, and you think it’s “piriformis syndrome,” you’re going to be really disappointed in a few weeks when your pain is still there (or perhaps even worse) because you’ve been going about treating it the wrong way. In order to accurately determine what was really going on with Stacy’s butt pain, we needed to do some specialized movement screens and tests.

Research has shown that your pain’s response to movement, and how it behaves, is a much more reliable way to figure out the source of your problem versus relying on the symptom location alone.

In Stacy’s case, some quick movement tests revealed that her butt pain was indeed coming from her back – even though she did not have any back pain. How did we know? Pretty simple actually. When we asked Stacy to move and bend her back in specific directions, it triggered her butt pain! Her piriformis muscle was also tight – and may still need to be stretched – but it’s very possible that the tightness she is experiencing is also being caused by whatever is going on in her back. It’s possible for nerves to refer both pain and a feeling of “tightness.” We’ll know for sure in a few weeks, because we prescribed Stacy a corrective exercise designed to target the problem in her back and take pressure off the nerve that was triggering her butt pain. In fact, if she had not come to see us and kept stretching what she thought was a tight piriformis, she likely would have aggravated her nerve and made her condition worse. Nerves don’t like to be stretched. This is a great example of why it’s critical to know the true source of your problem before you start treating it.

Hopefully Stacy’s story helped you understand that the first step in getting rid of a pain in your butt, is to accurately determine where it’s coming from! If you’re experiencing unexplained pain in your butt that isn’t going away with stretching or general exercise, perhaps you’re going after the wrong problem. Try paying closer attention to how your symptoms behave. Do you notice they get worse after you’ve been sitting for a while, raking leaves, or driving? Do they move around on you – and go from your butt, to your hip, to the back of your thigh?

Signs like this could mean you’re dealing with a back problem, not a butt problem. Click here for access to our FREE back pain guide! This guide contains our best tips and advice on how to start easing back pain and stiffness right away — and get on the road to pain-free movement just like Stacy did.

Five Ways Adding Pilates to your Life will Enhance your Fitness.

/in , , /by

Pilates has been around for about 100 years, and it still amazes me how many people have NOT heard of this incredible exercise method. It was first created by Joseph Pilates and initially gained popularity among the dance community as a way to recover from and prevent injuries. But you don’t have to be a dancer to practice Pilates — or enjoy the benefits. 

We’ve been incorporating Pilates into our physical therapy practice for the last 10 years and it’s been transformational for both our clients AND our practice.

Pilates is a full body strengthening system that emphasizes breath, precision, coordination, and core strength. It helps our clients connect to their bodies in a way that they haven’t been able to achieve with traditional strengthening methods. Most of my clients are well into their 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s, and they love Pilates because it helps them have more energy, better balance, improved strength, and more mobility. It allows them to participate in all the activities they love with more ease, and most importantly, significantly decreases their risk for injury.

Here are five reasons why I personally love adding Pilates to any fitness routine, and why you should consider adding it to yours too!

1. Pilates helps prevent back pain.

Once you hit 40, your risk of back injury starts to climb. We specialize in back pain, so see a lot of folks with this problem in our office. They’ve often worked with traditional physical therapists or chiropractors in the past to successfully get rid of back pain in the short term, but it keeps coming back. And our clients want it gone for the long-term. A regular practice of Pilates is a safe and sustainable way to help keep your back pain-free. It focuses on core strength but is also a well-balanced exercise system. Full body strength and balance is a critical component for life-long back health, and it is not always addressed in traditional back rehabilitation programs or treatments.

2. Pilates strengthens your whole body, not just your core.

One of the keys to truly enhancing your fitness is what I call “balanced strength.” That’s when each part of your body works together to produce the right amount of force, at the right time, to do your favorite activity in the most efficient way possible. Efficiency means you’ll be able to do it for longer and with more ease. We see lots of strong people in our office, and they can’t understand why they’re in pain. It’s entirely possible to be “strong,” but still have certain muscles working harder than others. This creates an imbalance, which eventually leads to problems. Pilates emphasizes full body strength that is coordinated, which helps promote balanced strength throughout your body and leads to fewer injuries over time.

3. Pilates helps you get more flexible and mobile.

Do you stretch your hamstrings every single day and get frustrated because they’re still tight? It’s probably because you’re not stretching the right way. What I love about Pilates is that it stretches your body in a dynamic way – with movement – so that muscles lengthen the right way. The days of statically holding a stretch for 30 seconds are long gone. Plus, mobility is extremely important for strength. Muscles work better when your joints move fully and freely. “Mobility before stability” is a phrase you hear daily in our office. And Pilates is a great way to get your joints and muscles mobile while ALSO promoting stability.

4. Pilates puts minimal stress on your joints.

Aging is a real thing, and along with it comes arthritis. The key to combating arthritis is optimizing the area around the affected joint or joints. When you have good mobility, and balanced strength, you have less compressive forces around your joints.  Arthritis doesn’t like compressed, crowded joints. So when you strengthen and stretch your whole body in a good, balanced way – arthritis becomes less painful and stiff. Pilates helps with all this and doesn’t cause any added stress on your joints. There’s a good reason you see lots of folks in their 60’s and 70’s enjoying our classes.

5. Pilates trains your nervous system.

Huh? Is that even a thing? Yes it is – and it’s almost ALWAYS the missing link for people who feel stuck, or can’t seem to get beyond a certain point in their fitness. It can also be the reason why an activity you’ve been doing “for years” suddenly becomes problematic or painful. If you don’t train your nervous system, it gets lazy, and compensations will develop in your body. Compensations lead to problems when unchecked. Since Pilates is a mind-body exercise, it helps to keep the communication between your brain and your muscles fresh. Pilates emphasizes precise and coordinated movements, which enhance and reinforces this connection.  In other words, your nervous system can’t get lazy when you do Pilates!

If you’re not yet incorporating Pilates into your fitness or rehab routine — what are you waiting for?

As a specialist physical therapist it’s my go-to exercise system for folks over 40 and my favorite way to help people keep their back pain gone.  We’re actually re-launching our signature 8 week program, Pilates 101 ! Pilates 101 is completely dedicated to folks who are new to Pilates, or who have back pain and want to learn how to develop a safe core-strengthening routine. If you want more information, just click here!

 

 

Sciatica

Why Back Pain Keeps People from Exercising

/in , /by

Did you know that eighty percent of the population suffers from what we call “non-specific low back pain” (NSLBP)?

You might have NSLBP if your back pain:

  • is often chronic
  • comes out of nowhere
  • comes and goes (you have good days and bad days)
  • is not due to a recent or major accident or fall

If you’re reading this right now, odds are very good that YOU are one of the 80% suffering from NSLBP.

Did you also know that research says exercise is the BEST treatment for this type of back pain?

But what do you do if back pain keeps you from doing the one thing that is best for you??

We have an 8-week program designed to tackle this very important problem… but before I get into that, let’s go over some reasons why back pain keeps so many people like you from exercising.

1. FEAR

Back pain is scary! This is the number one reason back pain sufferers don’t exercise. Is the pain you’re feeling good or bad? Should you be feeling any pain at all? Pain is confusing. And when you experience pain during exercise, it can be difficult to know if it’s normal or a warning sign. For many, the safest thing to do is avoid any exercise or movement that causes pain. But doing this can lead to a host of other issues, namely, loss of mobility and in-activity. When you become less mobile and active, your back pain gets worse, and now you’re in a vicious cycle.

2. BULGING DISCS

Most people who suffer from long-standing NSLBP pain eventually find themselves getting an MRI. And 60-70% of the time, it will show one or more bulging discs. If you’ve been following me for a while, you already know that most people over the age of 40 walk around with bulging discs – and that 65% of them feel no pain at all! In other words, if you’ve got a bulging disc, you can’t be certain it’s the cause of your back pain. Research proves this. And being told you’ve got a bulging disc is NOT a reason to avoid exercise. Movement is actually one of the best things you can do for a bulging disc. It may require some customization of your current exercise routine, but a movement specialist can help you with this. Don’t just stop or avoid exercise altogether without talking to one first.

3. YOU WERE TOLD TO REST

Well-meaning doctors and family members who aren’t up to date on the latest back pain research will advise you to rest every time you experience back pain. This might be reasonable advice when you’re dealing with an acute episode of back pain, but it’s terrible advice for chronic back pain sufferers. Rest is one of the worst things someone with chronic back pain can do. Since most people don’t have a thorough understanding of this concept, they find themselves in a yo-yo effect. They rest to “heal” their back pain. When it’s gone they return to exercise. When they hurt their back again they stop and return to rest… I’ve seen so many people fall victim to this perpetuating cycle and it’s a big reason why so many back pain sufferers find themselves with the NEXT problem on this list…

4. YOU’VE GOT A “BAD BACK”

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this one and it makes me want to scream! First off, there is no such thing as a “bad back”. There are backs with problems, and there are backs more sensitive to pain than others, but there is no reason to believe your back is inherently “bad” or that you should stop exercising. Not exercising causes almost all back problems to become worse, but it can also turn a “bad back” into a strong and healthy one! For most people, once you get the right guidance, you can quickly find yourself safely and confidently exercising again.

5. INEFFECTIVE CORE STRENGTHENING

Interestingly enough the research on this topic is quite scattered. Much of the research says that targeted core work doesn’t have any added benefit compared to general exercise when it comes to reducing back pain. What the research doesn’t tell you is that your core strength can make or break how well you exercise. If you don’t exercise with good proper form, you’ll end up with back pain. Learning how to properly strengthen your core has a HUGE impact on your ability to exercise in a way that will not cause your back to hurt. I meet a lot of folks who start doing “core exercises” to get their abs stronger and reduce back pain, but they end up hurting their backs instead. That’s because there is a right and a wrong way to properly strengthen your core, especially if you’re prone to back problems.

On Sunday, September 6th, we’re opening enrollment to our Pilates 101: Get [Your] Back to Health™ program.

You MUST apply to join this program.

Click here to learn more.

Since this program fills up every time we offer it, we typically give the folks on our VIP waiting list an opportunity to sign up first.

Plus… when you sign up early, you can save up to $200 off the program!

If you’re suffering from NSLBP and you’ve stopped exercising, know that you’re not alone.

This is such a confusing topic and there are so many mixed messages out there about what the “right” and “wrong” thing to do is.

Don’t try to go at it alone!

Exercise is GOOD for your back, but you may just need a little help and guidance — and perhaps proper core strengthening — to get you there.

Is running bad for your knees?

Movement is medicine (when prescribed properly)

/in , /by

I have a confession to make. A few months ago I hurt my own back.

Yes, you read that correctly, the back pain expert injured her own back! I preach this ALL the time to my clients, but one of the reasons I’m so passionate about helping people with back problems is because the treatment is not cookie-cutter. But once we find what works for you, physical therapy is so effective and rewarding.

In my case, I was able to use very specific movements to get rid of my back pain, and then start focusing on strengthening exercises to keep it gone. Don’t get me wrong, there were moments when I wanted to call my doctor and ask him for pain pills, and even the idea of an injection crossed my mind once or twice. But because I keep up with the research, I know that pills and injections really don’t work well for long-term results. Aside from the many potential complications and side effects, quick-fix treatments tend to mask your pain and keep you from doing the real work that is necessary to keep the problem from recurring in the future.

At CJPT & Pilates, long-term solutions are the only thing we are interested in. We believe that movement is medicine.

For all musculoskeletal injuries, including back pain, the research shows that movement and exercise really is the best course of treatment in about 80% of all cases. OK, I know what you’re thinking. If it were that easy, why can’t you just go to the gym, to yoga, or follow an exercise video at home to get rid of your own back or knee pain?

It’s because although movement IS medicine, it only works when prescribed for you properly.

Let me explain.

I’m working with a gentleman right now who’s had back pain for over a year. It started after a car accident. He’s tried regular physical therapy, chiropractic, steroid injections and radiofrequency ablation. None of it worked. He feels good when he exercises and moves around, but the pain always comes back.

When he came to see us, the really interesting thing I noticed about his back was when he put himself in certain positions, he would stand up and literally be crooked. His spine would shift to one side, and become very painful and stiff. In the PT-world we call this a lateral shift, and it’s a sign that indicates he likely has a bulging disc. The great thing about a bulging disc is that they tend to respond very well to corrective movements. Once we know what movement “fixes” you, we can prescribe it to you. This gentleman can now make himself straight and get rid of his back pain in under a minute. Of course the goal is to get him to the point where he no longer needs this corrective movement, but for now, it quite literally is his medicine.

I think the reason more people don’t use this approach is because it requires a little bit of work, and you don’t often see the results immediately. When you get an injection, or even take a pill, the pain is gone in a few hours and it will often stay gone for a period of time without you really needing to do much. With movement, you have to stick with it and do it correctly for it to work. And although you can get an immediate reduction in pain from the correctly prescribed movement, it takes several weeks for it to start to stick and produce long-term relief.

But here’s the best part about using movement as medicine — it’s natural, there are no harmful side-effects, and you can do it completely on your own.

If you’ve been suffering in pain for awhile and tired of using pills or quick fixes to manage your pain, sign up for a FREE Discovery Session with us to find out if movement can be your medicine instead! You can also check out our free back pain guide right here.

tight hips

The Big Reason why Back Pain Keeps Coming Back

/in , /by

If you’re reading this and you’re over the age of 40, odds are pretty good that you’ve experienced back pain at some point in your life. The odds are also pretty good that you’ve experienced back pain more than once.

Every few months or maybe once per year – your back “acts up”. You get rid of it – but it ALWAYS comes back.

Sound familiar?

Well… you’re not alone. Four out of five people are impacted by back pain, and for many, it’s a constant back-and-forth year after year.

But why? Why does back pain always seem to come back?

There are essentially two main reasons:

  1. Back pain is primarily addressed with “quick-fixes” and passive modalities
  2. You (or your doctor) let MRIs make the decisions about your treatment

Quick fixes and passive modalities…

This is the most common way people tend to address their back pain. And it’s the number one reason why it always comes back.

What is a passive modality? It’s something that is done TO you. It’s where you walk in somewhere, lay on a table, and you receive some kind of treatment. This could be chiropractic care, massage, craniosacral therapy, acupuncture, even injections and surgery. You have no active role in the process — it’s completely passive.

Now, I’m not saying there is anything wrong with these treatments. They are GREAT for getting rid or your back pain — and quite often quickly. And they are also great for helping you with other problems, such a stress relief. (I LOVE getting my massage once per month!)

But when your back pain keeps coming back, it’s a big sign something is missing. These treatments are only addressing your symptoms – for example – tight muscles, tension in your nerves, stiff or out of place joints. These things are all the result of your back problem – not the cause.

And it’s the number one reason why your back problem keeps coming back – because the root cause – the thing that is causing you to have tight muscles or stiff joints – is never addressed.

When MRI’s make the decision…

Traditionally, the medical community diagnoses your back pain with images. They use X-rays and MRI’s to see what’s going on inside your spine, and from there, they make a determination of what your treatment should be.

This is a big problem, because what shows up in your MRI isn’t always the reason for your pain. For example, your MRI might show a herniated or bulging disc in your spine. Your doctor will immediately blame that for your pain. And depending on how “bad” it looks, they may suggest injections or surgery. But the truth is, another person could have the exact same visual results as you on their MRI and have no back pain at all.

So why is it that one person can have a bulging disc with no back pain, and another person can have a bulging disc with excruciating back pain?

It’s because the root cause of back pain is more complicated than your anatomy. Research has shown time and time again that 80% of all back pain is primarily influenced by your habits and the way you move, not by what’s going on structurally in your spine.

So you can go in and cut out the disc, but if you don’t identify and correct your poor movement habits that led to that bulging disc in the first place — it’s either going to come back or bulge somewhere else. It’s why surgery only has a 50% success rate for helping people keep back pain away for the long-term.

If you’re confused right now – I don’t blame you.

It’s why so many people suffer from back pain!

It’s also why we offer the opportunity for you to come talk to us for FREE if you’re tired of suffering from back pain with no real answers.

Click here to request a FREE Discovery Session with on of my specialists.

You can also download this FREE GUIDE on how taking care of back pain on your own. It was written especially with the recent quarantine in mind – where so many people have been stuck at home and off their routines.

Either way, you should know that if you want your back pain to stop coming back — it IS possible. You just might have the wrong approach and could benefit from some specialist care to finally get you going in the right direction.

Back Surgery

Can you get rid of Back Pain with Exercise?

/in , , , /by

With small group fitness, Pilates studios such as our own, and many gyms reopening again on June 1st, people are itching to get back into their exercise routines. In our last post, we talked about tips and considerations on things you can do to ensure your body is ready to go back, especially after weeks of quarantine.

But many folks I speak with have had back pain for years, long before quarantine. So many people have tried weekly massage, daily stretching and foam rolling, and every exercise under the sun — only to find that their back pain ALWAYS comes back.

Research has confirmed many times over that exercise is the best “treatment” for back pain.

While prescription medication, steroid injections, and even surgery may be more successful at getting your back pain gone quickly — a proper exercise routine beats these things out every time. Outcomes are either the same, or better, when you choose exercise over those procedures. It’s why in our business, we focus on empowering you through movement — instead of pills or procedures! If a long-term solution is what you’re looking for, and you want to end the merry-go-round of your back pain always returning, then proper exercise is the best route hands down.

Sounds simple, right? Why then, do four out of five people continue to suffer from debilitating back pain?

It’s because not all back pain is created equal, and neither is exercise. The tricky part is that for most back pain, any kind of movement is going to make you feel better. Our bodies are designed to move and not sit still. It’s why you wake up feeling stiff and painful, and better after you’ve moved around for about an hour. Movement brings blood flow to our muscles and joints, and exercise spreads pain-reducing endorphins throughout our body. But more often than not, the pain comes back the next day, or in come cases, feels worse two or three days later. And the frustrating part is that you never know exactly what you did — so you just rinse and repeat — hoping the next day it finally “works”.

Exercise DOES work to help your back pain, just like the research says, but it needs to be specific.

Skill and coordination also matter. One exercise can act like a miracle for one person’s back pain, while it aggravates another’s. I see this all the time in my office. The nuances come down to cues, tiny little tweaks, or sometimes you need a different exercise all together for your particular body.

Back pain is not cookie-cutter, and your exercise prescription shouldn’t be either. You don’t want to go on for years just managing your back pain when you could actually get rid of it entirely with the right movement strategy.

As you enter back into the world of fitness, take note of how your body and especially your back is feeling. The correct exercise routine is going to make you feel better, and STAY better. You’ll notice continued progress, and you won’t have to foam roll and stretch every single day to manage your back pain. The wrong exercise routine will make you feel worse, often several days or months later, and the worst part is you won’t be sure where it came from.

If this sounds familiar, or you find this back pain cycle starts happening to you when you return to the gym, feel free to give us a call. You can talk to a specialist for free and find out if your exercise routine is sufficient for your type of back pain.

Is Quarantine Turning Into a (Literal) Pain in Your Butt?

/in , , /by

We are about 5 weeks into social distancing and doing our best to flatten the curve. Although we are all coming together as a country to do our moral duty and fight the spread of Covid-19, it doesn’t come without consequences.

More screen time and more couch time are wreaking havoc on our bodies.

Most people I speak with are making a concerted effort to be as active as they can during the day. But even the best efforts are not combatting the extra bending and sitting that is happening. It’s almost impossible to avoid it. Due to social distancing and more people working from home than ever before, our primary way of “gathering,” seeing loved ones, and communicating with co-workers is now totally digital.

Whether we like it or not, we are hunched over and leaning forward more than ever — and it’s becoming a pain in the butt, quite literally.

In our last blog post I talked about the difference between “good pain” and “bad pain.” Since then, I’ve spoken to many of you over the phone about your concerns. One of the most common questions that came across this week was about pain in your butt, and not the figurative kind!

Yes, too much sitting can cause pain in your butt, but not for the reasons you might think…

One person I spoke with thought it might be due to the hard kitchen chair he was sitting on. Makes sense, right? But when he added a cushion, and then tried moving to the recliner to do his work and online social gatherings, the pain in his butt got worse.

So he did what most of us do, and went straight to Google.

He thought that maybe he had “piriformis syndrome” and started doing the recommended stretches. The pain in his butt started to subside a little, but then spread to the back of his thigh. He thought the pain in his thigh might be due to the stretches and that it was a good thing. But after about a week of this, he woke up one morning unable to move his back! That is when he called me.

I explained that the pain in his butt was NOT due to piriformis syndrome like “Dr. Google” told him. It was actually coming from his lower back. All the extra sitting was putting pressure on his disc, which was putting pressure on his nerve, and the result was pain in his butt. Without realizing the true cause of his problem, he accidentally started doing stretches that made his problem worse. It’s very common to have a back problem and not experience any back pain. Back problems can manifest in your butt, thigh, or lower leg, and very often get confused with tight muscles that just need to be stretched. If you do the wrong stretches, you will make your problems worse and you WILL end up with back pain – often severe and seemingly out of nowhere.

Luckily, we were able to hop on a Zoom session and give him the correct stretches to do. Within a few weeks, he no longer had pain in his butt, and he knew what to do to keep it from coming back.

If quarantining is giving you a (literal) pain in your butt right now, don’t rely on Google to figure out your pain — talk to us!

We’ve been opening up extra slots on our schedules just to talk to people and help them figure out anything new or strange that might be going on.

All you have to do is fill out this quick form to request a call with one of our specialists.

© 2026 CJ Physical Therapy
Website Designed & Developed by DARCI Creative