Event Pictures and Updates from the Seacoast Staff to our fabulous Patients!
Concussion Awareness
Concussions are becoming a much talked about topic in the national athletic field. Teams are providing more resources to assess head injuries and treating them with more importance.
Adolescents and children are also susceptible from suffering a concussion especially if they participate in contact sports or skiing. Concussions should be taken seriously, and professional help should be sought if you believe you may have one.
Here are a couple common questions about concussions:
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a brain injury caused by a blow to the head or body. It can also be caused by a fall or any injury where the brain is rattled inside the skull.
What causes a concussion?
Your brain is an organ that is surrounded by fluid in the skull, which acts like a cushion to protect your brain. When your head or body is hit hard, the brain hits the skull and causes the concussion. Concussions can happen during a car crash, a fall or participating in a sporting activity.
What are the symptoms of a concussion?
Concussions are becoming a much talked about topic in the national athletic field. Teams are providing more resources to assess head injuries and treating them with more importance.
Adolescents and children are also susceptible from suffering a concussion especially if they participate in contact sports or skiing. Concussions should be taken seriously, and professional help should be sought if you believe you may have one.
Here are a couple common questions about concussions:
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a brain injury caused by a blow to the head or body. It can also be caused by a fall or any injury where the brain is rattled inside the skull.
What causes a concussion?
Your brain is an organ that is surrounded by fluid in the skull, which acts like a cushion to protect your brain. When your head or body is hit hard, the brain hits the skull and causes the concussion. Concussions can happen during a car crash, a fall or participating in a sporting activity.
What are the symptoms of a concussion?
- Loss of consciousness
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Blurry vision
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Balance issues
- Fatigue
- Trouble concentrating, thinking or remembering
Backpack Misuse Leading to Back and Neck Pain
With students in the process of returning back to school, many parents should be aware of their children's backpacks. Young children are becoming more susceptible to back pain because of too much weight in the backpacks they carry around or how they wear them. This misuse can lead to lower back pain, neck pain and shoulder pain.
Here are some things you can do, to prevent your children from becoming injured:
If your child is complaining of neck, shoulder or lower back pain, give us a call at 603.431.4200 to schedule and appointment with Dr. Tamara Lovelace or Dr. Erica Brown, who are both licensed and trained to treat patients of all ages, with a gentler treatment approach for children.
With students in the process of returning back to school, many parents should be aware of their children's backpacks. Young children are becoming more susceptible to back pain because of too much weight in the backpacks they carry around or how they wear them. This misuse can lead to lower back pain, neck pain and shoulder pain.
Here are some things you can do, to prevent your children from becoming injured:
- Advise your child to wear both backpack straps rather then just one. When wearing only one side, the weight becomes disproportionate, and can create pain in the shoulder and neck region.
- Your child's backpack should way no more then 5-10% of their body weight. If the backpack becomes too heavy, it causes the child to bend forward in an effort to support the weight, which can lead to lower back pain.
- Getting a bigger backpack is not necessarily better. The bigger they are, the more your child will likely carry. By getting a smaller backpack, it limits the items to necessities.
- A backpack should never hang more then four inches below the waistline. When it hangs too low, it increases the weight on the shoulders, causing your child to bend forward when walking.
- Purchase a backpack that has wide, padded straps. This allows extra cushioning on the shoulder area and will create less pain.
- If your child's back is still too heavy, discuss with the teacher about the possibly of leaving the heaviest books at school, and only take home the necessary handouts and workbooks.
If your child is complaining of neck, shoulder or lower back pain, give us a call at 603.431.4200 to schedule and appointment with Dr. Tamara Lovelace or Dr. Erica Brown, who are both licensed and trained to treat patients of all ages, with a gentler treatment approach for children.
Dr. Lovelace Heads to Sweden for World Cup!
Dr. Lovelace will be traveling to Sweden in August to work as the Medical Director for the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup! She is honored to be invited for this spectacular event that showcases the top BMX Supercross athletes in the world. Dr Lovelace has worked with many of these athletes previously as the Team Doctor for Team USA at the previous World Cup races in Manchester, England.
Dr. Lovelace will be out of the office for this event from August 13th through August 17th. While she is out of town Dr Erica Brown and the other providers at SEACOAST Spine and Sports Injuries Clinic will be up to speed on her patients' treatment plans, and will be available to ensure patients continue to progress in their recovery.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Lovelace before she leaves or for after she returns, please give us a call at 603.431.4200.
Dr. Lovelace will be traveling to Sweden in August to work as the Medical Director for the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup! She is honored to be invited for this spectacular event that showcases the top BMX Supercross athletes in the world. Dr Lovelace has worked with many of these athletes previously as the Team Doctor for Team USA at the previous World Cup races in Manchester, England.
Dr. Lovelace will be out of the office for this event from August 13th through August 17th. While she is out of town Dr Erica Brown and the other providers at SEACOAST Spine and Sports Injuries Clinic will be up to speed on her patients' treatment plans, and will be available to ensure patients continue to progress in their recovery.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Lovelace before she leaves or for after she returns, please give us a call at 603.431.4200.
Emily Eames to Join Medical Team in Los Angeles for Summer Dew Tour!
Licensed massage therapist, Emily Eames, will be traveling to Los Angeles, California in August to provide medical coverage for the NBC Summer Dew Tour. This will be the second stop on this year's Dew Tour and will showcase some of the top BMX and Skateboard athletes. Emily is excited to join other medical professionals to ensure all the athletes are in peak condition to excel in their competitions.
Emily will be out of the office August 12th through August 16th to attend this event. To schedule an appointment with one of our other massage therapists when she is out of the office, or to schedule an appointment for after she returns, you may request an appointment online here or reach us at 603.431.4200.
Licensed massage therapist, Emily Eames, will be traveling to Los Angeles, California in August to provide medical coverage for the NBC Summer Dew Tour. This will be the second stop on this year's Dew Tour and will showcase some of the top BMX and Skateboard athletes. Emily is excited to join other medical professionals to ensure all the athletes are in peak condition to excel in their competitions.
Emily will be out of the office August 12th through August 16th to attend this event. To schedule an appointment with one of our other massage therapists when she is out of the office, or to schedule an appointment for after she returns, you may request an appointment online here or reach us at 603.431.4200.
Dr. Lovelace Appointed to New Hampshire Board of Chiropractic Examiners
Dr. Tamara Lovelace has been appointed by Governor Maggie Hassan to the New Hampshire Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
The New Hampshire Board of Chiropractic Examiners regulates and licenses the chiropractic professional in the state of New Hampshire. The Board's mission is protection of the public as well as the licensing and regulation of the chiropractic profession. The Board of Chiropractic is a five member board consisting of five members appointed by the Governor for five year terms. There are four Doctors of Chiropractic and one Public Member.
The Board of Chiropractic is responsible for assuring that applicants are qualified to practice in the state of New Hampshire and that they adhere to professional and ethical standards once they are licensed.
For more information on the New Hampshire Board of Chiropractic Examiners, please visit http://www.nh.gov/chiropractic/
Dr. Tamara Lovelace has been appointed by Governor Maggie Hassan to the New Hampshire Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
The New Hampshire Board of Chiropractic Examiners regulates and licenses the chiropractic professional in the state of New Hampshire. The Board's mission is protection of the public as well as the licensing and regulation of the chiropractic profession. The Board of Chiropractic is a five member board consisting of five members appointed by the Governor for five year terms. There are four Doctors of Chiropractic and one Public Member.
The Board of Chiropractic is responsible for assuring that applicants are qualified to practice in the state of New Hampshire and that they adhere to professional and ethical standards once they are licensed.
For more information on the New Hampshire Board of Chiropractic Examiners, please visit http://www.nh.gov/chiropractic/
What Does it Mean to Throw Out Your Back?
The nerve supply to your spine varies in a way that you can feel some things, but your pain threshold is very high. When you throw your back out, it's typically because you have a back problem that's been building up over time, but didn't notice it until the damage is advanced enough to feel it.
It is common thought that when you throw your back out, the spasms are due to tightness building up in the muscles. But that is only part of the problem. The other contributing factor is stress and inflammation built up in the joints, and the muscles become tight to protect an inflamed and misaligned joint.
Chiropractic manipulation is the only thorough way to fix those misaligned joints. Painkillers can be helpful in eliminating the acute pain, but because it doesn't solve the underlying problem, it can result in throwing your back out multiple times in your life, leading to chronic low back pain.
The first goal of treatment with chiropractic manipulation is to treat and decrease the associated pain with throwing your back out. The second goal is to correct the underlying problem that caused this, targeting the inflamed and misaligned joints to prevent it from happening again.
The nerve supply to your spine varies in a way that you can feel some things, but your pain threshold is very high. When you throw your back out, it's typically because you have a back problem that's been building up over time, but didn't notice it until the damage is advanced enough to feel it.
It is common thought that when you throw your back out, the spasms are due to tightness building up in the muscles. But that is only part of the problem. The other contributing factor is stress and inflammation built up in the joints, and the muscles become tight to protect an inflamed and misaligned joint.
Chiropractic manipulation is the only thorough way to fix those misaligned joints. Painkillers can be helpful in eliminating the acute pain, but because it doesn't solve the underlying problem, it can result in throwing your back out multiple times in your life, leading to chronic low back pain.
The first goal of treatment with chiropractic manipulation is to treat and decrease the associated pain with throwing your back out. The second goal is to correct the underlying problem that caused this, targeting the inflamed and misaligned joints to prevent it from happening again.
Dr. Tamara Lovelace Featured in New Hampshire Magazine
Dr. Lovelace has been voted as a Top Chiropractor in New Hampshire for 2015 and was selected for a highlighted spotlight article.
The list of Top Chiropractors in New Hampshire is the result of extensive surveying of the practitioners in the state. The purpose is to assist people in selecting the most knowledgeable and trusting doctors in Chiropractic Care.
"Top Chiropractor Dr. Tamara Lovelace blends her disciplines as a chiropractic sports doctor with physical therapy, orthopedics and rehabilitation. This year the Portsmouth chiropractor has been selected to work with the Olympic Team USA’s bobsled, skeleton and luge teams as well as with their BMX supercross team. It’s a challenging assignment for any doctor, requiring skills ranging from trauma management to musculoskeletal treatment of virtually every part of the body."
To read the full spotlight article, please visit
http://www.nhmagazine.com/June-2015/2015-New-Hampshire-TOp-Chiropractors/
Dr. Lovelace has been voted as a Top Chiropractor in New Hampshire for 2015 and was selected for a highlighted spotlight article.
The list of Top Chiropractors in New Hampshire is the result of extensive surveying of the practitioners in the state. The purpose is to assist people in selecting the most knowledgeable and trusting doctors in Chiropractic Care.
"Top Chiropractor Dr. Tamara Lovelace blends her disciplines as a chiropractic sports doctor with physical therapy, orthopedics and rehabilitation. This year the Portsmouth chiropractor has been selected to work with the Olympic Team USA’s bobsled, skeleton and luge teams as well as with their BMX supercross team. It’s a challenging assignment for any doctor, requiring skills ranging from trauma management to musculoskeletal treatment of virtually every part of the body."
To read the full spotlight article, please visit
http://www.nhmagazine.com/June-2015/2015-New-Hampshire-TOp-Chiropractors/
Does Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) actually help acute low- back pain?
A recent study conducted by a team of researchers led by Dr. Christopher Williams from the George Institute for Global Health at the University of Sydney, Australia investigated the efficiency of paracetamol, more commonly known as acetaminophen. Their overall findings were that acetaminophen, which is commonly used as the first line of defense for acute low-back pain, was no more successful in treating the pain then a placebo.
After they discovered that previous studies assessing the effectiveness of this drug had methodological flaws and no trial had compared acetaminophen to a placebo, they conducted the Paracetamol for Low- Back Pain Study.
In this study, they randomly selected 1,652 participants of an average 45 years old with low back pain to either receive regular doses of paracetamol for up to 4 weeks, take paracetamol as needed or a placebo.
Their findings showed that acetaminophen was no better at aiding in recovery and reducing short- term low back pain than the placebo group. The average time of recovery for the regular paracetamol group was 17 days, 17 days for the as-needed paracetamol group and 16 days for the placebo group.
When commenting on their findings, Dr. Williams stated that " The results suggest we need to reconsider the universal recommendation to provide paracetamol as a first- line treatment for low- back pain, although understanding why paracetamol works for other pain states but not low- back pain would help direct future treatments."
The researchers stated that although the results from this study were clear, they were still limitations to the study and more research needed to be done to verify these results.
To read the full article, visit http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/280112.php.
For more information about what you can do to ease low- back pain, ask one of the providers at Seacoast Spine and Sports Injuries today.
A recent study conducted by a team of researchers led by Dr. Christopher Williams from the George Institute for Global Health at the University of Sydney, Australia investigated the efficiency of paracetamol, more commonly known as acetaminophen. Their overall findings were that acetaminophen, which is commonly used as the first line of defense for acute low-back pain, was no more successful in treating the pain then a placebo.
After they discovered that previous studies assessing the effectiveness of this drug had methodological flaws and no trial had compared acetaminophen to a placebo, they conducted the Paracetamol for Low- Back Pain Study.
In this study, they randomly selected 1,652 participants of an average 45 years old with low back pain to either receive regular doses of paracetamol for up to 4 weeks, take paracetamol as needed or a placebo.
Their findings showed that acetaminophen was no better at aiding in recovery and reducing short- term low back pain than the placebo group. The average time of recovery for the regular paracetamol group was 17 days, 17 days for the as-needed paracetamol group and 16 days for the placebo group.
When commenting on their findings, Dr. Williams stated that " The results suggest we need to reconsider the universal recommendation to provide paracetamol as a first- line treatment for low- back pain, although understanding why paracetamol works for other pain states but not low- back pain would help direct future treatments."
The researchers stated that although the results from this study were clear, they were still limitations to the study and more research needed to be done to verify these results.
To read the full article, visit http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/280112.php.
For more information about what you can do to ease low- back pain, ask one of the providers at Seacoast Spine and Sports Injuries today.
The Hidden Healthy Benefit of Chocolate
Chocolate has the secret benefit of containing antioxidants which are imperative for a healthy body. Antioxidants are involved in the prevention of cellular damage due to free radicals, which can lead to diseases and illnesses. While all chocolate provides antioxidants, the type of chocolate determines just how much.
Generally, the darker the chocolate, the more antioxidants it contains. When looking at a chocolate package, the percentage on the wrapper indicates the percentage of cocoa used in the product. According to a recent study, it was confirmed that the higher the cocoa mass, the higher the level of antioxidants available.
The more processing of the chocolate, means the more of a decrease in the levels of antioxidants. For example, while milk chocolate is delicious, it includes milk to produce a less intense, creamier flavor, and contains less cocoa mass which results in the reduction of antioxidant content.
The best chocolate for you should contain approximately only these four ingredients:
Cocoa or cocoa mass- The part of the cocoa bean that includes antioxidants and is used to make chocolate.
Sugar or evaporated cane juice- This is used to sweeten chocolate and reduce the bitter taste of pure cocoa.
Cocoa butter- A fat used to produce smooth the texture and flavor of the chocolate.
Cocoa solids or liquor- This is derived from the cocoa bean and includes antioxidants.
As with all other sweets, all types of chocolates includes significant amounts of fat and calories, and should be enjoyed in moderation!
Chocolate has the secret benefit of containing antioxidants which are imperative for a healthy body. Antioxidants are involved in the prevention of cellular damage due to free radicals, which can lead to diseases and illnesses. While all chocolate provides antioxidants, the type of chocolate determines just how much.
Generally, the darker the chocolate, the more antioxidants it contains. When looking at a chocolate package, the percentage on the wrapper indicates the percentage of cocoa used in the product. According to a recent study, it was confirmed that the higher the cocoa mass, the higher the level of antioxidants available.
The more processing of the chocolate, means the more of a decrease in the levels of antioxidants. For example, while milk chocolate is delicious, it includes milk to produce a less intense, creamier flavor, and contains less cocoa mass which results in the reduction of antioxidant content.
The best chocolate for you should contain approximately only these four ingredients:
Cocoa or cocoa mass- The part of the cocoa bean that includes antioxidants and is used to make chocolate.
Sugar or evaporated cane juice- This is used to sweeten chocolate and reduce the bitter taste of pure cocoa.
Cocoa butter- A fat used to produce smooth the texture and flavor of the chocolate.
Cocoa solids or liquor- This is derived from the cocoa bean and includes antioxidants.
As with all other sweets, all types of chocolates includes significant amounts of fat and calories, and should be enjoyed in moderation!
Foam Rolling Exercises For Runners
Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic helps local athletes train for the Chicago marathon.
Spend any time with local runners Pattie Leblanc, Scott Heffner and Kristy Seid and their friendship and the fun they have together is obvious. Leblanc, of Dover, Heffner, of Salisbury, Mass., and Seid, of Portsmouth met as members of a Runner’s Alley training group in Portsmouth a few years ago and they all agree that they didn’t really enjoy running at first but the social aspect of training with others soon changed that. The weekly training runs were the beginning of friendship, adventure and a mutual love of running that will bring them to the starting line of the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 12, a first marathon for each of them.
Leblanc has been running for about four years, her first race a half marathon that she said she signed up for and told everyone she knew so she couldn’t back out. She said she trained and completed the race but really hated running for a long time. Seid started running in 2012 as a stress reliever and said she ran in the Will Run for Beer series in 2013, increasing her mileage too quickly and suffering a stress fracture in her foot which put her on the sidelines for two months. Heffner has been running on and off for 15 years but he said he started again a few years ago as a way to get back into shape after divorce. After joining the Runner’s Alley group he said he started to love to run and it stopped being about getting into shape, a sentiment echoed by Leblanc and Seid.
The Chicago Marathon is the second largest in the country with over 38,000 finishers in 2013. The race is so popular that the registration system could not handle the demand in 2013, resulting in confusion and eventual suspension of registration. To avoid these problems, registration for 2014 was handled by lottery, a tricky and nerve-wracking process for runners who plan to run with training partners. Leblanc and Seid both work for Liberty Mutual, a sponsor of the race and they were picked to be part of the 50-plus member corporate team. Heffner, who works for Wentworth-Douglass, was picked as part of the Chicago registration lottery, continuing a lucky streak since he was also picked via lottery to run in the Mt. Washington Road Race earlier this year.
A first marathon is a learning experience for runners who discover how well their bodies handle higher mileage. Heffner said he decided to use Zosha Training for marathon coaching, a local running coaching company founded by his friend Daryle Lamoureux. Training plans and one-on-one coaching worked and Heffner said he needed Lamoureux’s voice of reason to convince him to slow down on the long runs and complete them at a conversational pace; these long runs helped to bring the group even closer, said Heffner. Seid said the group text messages each other every day.
Marathon training is all about lots of running and the group’s weekly mileage peaked in the upper 30s to low 40s. Their training included three 20-mile runs and one epic and memorable 22-mile run, when the group decided to run along the coast from Salisbury, Mass., to Kittery, Maine, early on Sept. 20, a beautiful and sunny morning. All three are healthy heading into the marathon although they have dealt with injuries. Leblanc had an on-going foot problem that was corrected with help from a gait analysis at the Seacoast Spine and Sports Injury Clinic in Portsmouth and Heffner worked through issues with his hamstring and plantar fasciitis.
Learning what to eat the night before a long run can be as important as the fuel a runner takes in along the way, and they each figured out what worked best through trial and error. Leblanc also consulted a dietician for advice and upped her protein and monitored her weight to be sure she wasn’t losing. Keeping up with higher calorie demands is just a standard part of marathon training though, and Heffner lists chicken and waffles along with a sense of accomplishment as key rewards of completing long runs.
Well into their taper weeks and the training winding down, the group is looking at Chicago not as the end but more of a celebration – of an amazing training experience and one more adventure to experience together. They are already discussing the Las Vegas Rock and Roll marathon next, and potentially the Disney marathon to follow. Seid said that Heffner is someone who will do anything and he agrees that he now rarely says no to adventure in his life. He is trying to convince the group to run the Great Wall Marathon in China; so far, Seid and Leblanc are firmly saying no. For now.
See the original article on Fosters.com
Leblanc has been running for about four years, her first race a half marathon that she said she signed up for and told everyone she knew so she couldn’t back out. She said she trained and completed the race but really hated running for a long time. Seid started running in 2012 as a stress reliever and said she ran in the Will Run for Beer series in 2013, increasing her mileage too quickly and suffering a stress fracture in her foot which put her on the sidelines for two months. Heffner has been running on and off for 15 years but he said he started again a few years ago as a way to get back into shape after divorce. After joining the Runner’s Alley group he said he started to love to run and it stopped being about getting into shape, a sentiment echoed by Leblanc and Seid.
The Chicago Marathon is the second largest in the country with over 38,000 finishers in 2013. The race is so popular that the registration system could not handle the demand in 2013, resulting in confusion and eventual suspension of registration. To avoid these problems, registration for 2014 was handled by lottery, a tricky and nerve-wracking process for runners who plan to run with training partners. Leblanc and Seid both work for Liberty Mutual, a sponsor of the race and they were picked to be part of the 50-plus member corporate team. Heffner, who works for Wentworth-Douglass, was picked as part of the Chicago registration lottery, continuing a lucky streak since he was also picked via lottery to run in the Mt. Washington Road Race earlier this year.
A first marathon is a learning experience for runners who discover how well their bodies handle higher mileage. Heffner said he decided to use Zosha Training for marathon coaching, a local running coaching company founded by his friend Daryle Lamoureux. Training plans and one-on-one coaching worked and Heffner said he needed Lamoureux’s voice of reason to convince him to slow down on the long runs and complete them at a conversational pace; these long runs helped to bring the group even closer, said Heffner. Seid said the group text messages each other every day.
Marathon training is all about lots of running and the group’s weekly mileage peaked in the upper 30s to low 40s. Their training included three 20-mile runs and one epic and memorable 22-mile run, when the group decided to run along the coast from Salisbury, Mass., to Kittery, Maine, early on Sept. 20, a beautiful and sunny morning. All three are healthy heading into the marathon although they have dealt with injuries. Leblanc had an on-going foot problem that was corrected with help from a gait analysis at the Seacoast Spine and Sports Injury Clinic in Portsmouth and Heffner worked through issues with his hamstring and plantar fasciitis.
Learning what to eat the night before a long run can be as important as the fuel a runner takes in along the way, and they each figured out what worked best through trial and error. Leblanc also consulted a dietician for advice and upped her protein and monitored her weight to be sure she wasn’t losing. Keeping up with higher calorie demands is just a standard part of marathon training though, and Heffner lists chicken and waffles along with a sense of accomplishment as key rewards of completing long runs.
Well into their taper weeks and the training winding down, the group is looking at Chicago not as the end but more of a celebration – of an amazing training experience and one more adventure to experience together. They are already discussing the Las Vegas Rock and Roll marathon next, and potentially the Disney marathon to follow. Seid said that Heffner is someone who will do anything and he agrees that he now rarely says no to adventure in his life. He is trying to convince the group to run the Great Wall Marathon in China; so far, Seid and Leblanc are firmly saying no. For now.
See the original article on Fosters.com
Local doctor helps athletes at nationally televised Dew Tour
Thursday, June 19, 2014
PORTSMOUTH — Dr. Tamara Lovelace has been invited to be a part of the medical team for the nationally televised Dew Tour for the 9th year consecutive year.
The Dew Tour is an extreme sports event organized by NBC Sports that displays incredible athletic competition in BMX, FMX, skateboarding, surfing, freestyle skiing and snowboarding. The first stop of this year’s summer tour stops will be held in l Ocean City, Md., with events in skateboarding and BMX. Past winners included Olympic athletes such as Shaun White.
Lovelace is excited for another year of great competition and is honored to be part of it. She is the Director of Athlete Medical and Rehabilitation and her expertise will ensure that athletes reach the peak of their health and athletic performance as they prepare for their competitions.
Action sports bring with them an increased number of injuries and Lovelace will also be there to assess and treat any injuries that may unfortunately occur.
Having competed in national and international events herself, Lovelace knows the importance of keeping your body in optimal shape to achieve your athletic goals. She displays this knowledge and expertise at her clinic, Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic, in historic downtown Portsmouth.
--About the Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic --
The Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic treats a variety of patients from the weekend warriors to professional athletes. She is joined by a staff of chiropractic sports doctors and massage therapists that have the highest level of training in their fields. They use this advanced training to help their patients recover from a variety of injuries, getting them back to doing the activities they love.
The Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic is located at 12 Portwalk Place in Portsmouth, NH. Call 603-431-4200 today to see how its staff can help you achieve your fitness goals.
PORTSMOUTH — Dr. Tamara Lovelace has been invited to be a part of the medical team for the nationally televised Dew Tour for the 9th year consecutive year.
The Dew Tour is an extreme sports event organized by NBC Sports that displays incredible athletic competition in BMX, FMX, skateboarding, surfing, freestyle skiing and snowboarding. The first stop of this year’s summer tour stops will be held in l Ocean City, Md., with events in skateboarding and BMX. Past winners included Olympic athletes such as Shaun White.
Lovelace is excited for another year of great competition and is honored to be part of it. She is the Director of Athlete Medical and Rehabilitation and her expertise will ensure that athletes reach the peak of their health and athletic performance as they prepare for their competitions.
Action sports bring with them an increased number of injuries and Lovelace will also be there to assess and treat any injuries that may unfortunately occur.
Having competed in national and international events herself, Lovelace knows the importance of keeping your body in optimal shape to achieve your athletic goals. She displays this knowledge and expertise at her clinic, Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic, in historic downtown Portsmouth.
--About the Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic --
The Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic treats a variety of patients from the weekend warriors to professional athletes. She is joined by a staff of chiropractic sports doctors and massage therapists that have the highest level of training in their fields. They use this advanced training to help their patients recover from a variety of injuries, getting them back to doing the activities they love.
The Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic is located at 12 Portwalk Place in Portsmouth, NH. Call 603-431-4200 today to see how its staff can help you achieve your fitness goals.
The Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic provides
medical coverage in the local community!
The providers at Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic provided medical coverage for first annual Portsmouth Challenge on June 28th. This fabulous event was essentially a scaled down version of a Tough Mudder. Dr. Erica Brown and our fabulous massage therapists were there to provide injury evaluations, first aid, and soft tissue massages at the finish line. They were joined by members of the New England Sports Medicine Council, of which Dr. Tamara Lovelace is the president, who provided coverage along the obstacle course for any serious injuries. We are happy to report that no one was seriously injured, and everyone had a wonderful time!
Our very own, Dr. Erica Brown helping one of the participants.
Dr. Lovelace Completes the Dew!
Dr Lovelace is back in the office after another successful Dew Tour stop in Ocean City, Maryland. This year's competition saw Jamie Bestwick win his 10th consecutive Dew Cup on the BMX Vert ramp, hometown hero Bucky Lasek win the Dew Cup for Skate Bowl, Andy Buckworth take the cup for BMX Park, and Pierre-Luc Gagnon take home his 5th Dew cup for Skate Vert. All in all it was a great weekend of competition on the beaches of Ocean City. Check out our FaceBook page for links to some of the highlights from these amazing competitions.
The next stops for the Dew Tour are in Portland Oregon, Brooklyn New York, and Breckenridge Colorado. We can't wait to see what kind of excitement these upcoming stops bring!
The next stops for the Dew Tour are in Portland Oregon, Brooklyn New York, and Breckenridge Colorado. We can't wait to see what kind of excitement these upcoming stops bring!
Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries helps local athletes on race day!
The staff and providers of The Seacoast Spine and Sports Injuries Clinic have been busy providing medical coverage and soft tissue massage for local athletes during the month of May. Our staff worked the NH Children's Museum 5K in Dover, as well as Cycle the Seacoast and Race for the Cure in Portsmouth. We will also be providing coverage at the Runner's Alley Memorial Day 5K in Portsmouth on May 25th. We enjoy giving back to these incredible athletes and supporting the local community that supports us! Congratulations to all who participated in these great events!
Dr. Tamara Lovelace is now Internationally Certified!
Recently, Dr Tamara Lovelace earned the coveted designation of International Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (ICCSP) from the International Federation of Sports Chiropractic (FICS)! She adds this designation to her already long and impressive list of credentials and designations, making her undoubtedly one of the most highly credentialed chiropractic sports doctors not only in the New England region, but in the United States!
FICS is an international organization whose goals are to promote excellence in education and practice in sports chiropractic around the world as well as to promote research in sports chiropractic. With this new designation, Dr. Lovelace is qualified to work internationally sanctioned events such as the World Games, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Congratulations Dr. Lovelace!
FICS is an international organization whose goals are to promote excellence in education and practice in sports chiropractic around the world as well as to promote research in sports chiropractic. With this new designation, Dr. Lovelace is qualified to work internationally sanctioned events such as the World Games, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Congratulations Dr. Lovelace!
2014 Top Doctor's Poll NH Magazine
Our very own, Dr. Tamara Lovelace was named the 2014 Readers' Poll Leading Physician for Alternative and Complementary Health Care in NH Magazine!! She is featured in the April issue of NH Magazine! We are so very proud of her and all her accomplishments! Congratulations Dr. Lovelace!
S-T-R-E-T-C-H
By Sara Kotila, LMT
If you have ever been on my massage table, you probably know that I am an advocate of at home self care. Stretching is one of the easiest and most beneficial ways to take care of yourself between sessions. One because it help to reinforce the work being done in the treatment room, Two it can help prevent injury and more importantly—it makes my job easier.
Over time, the accumulation of stress takes its toll on our muscles and joints. Joint pain can lead to muscle tightening which will lead to the pain-spasm-pain cycle of dysfunction. Stretching helps us be proactive about preventing muscle and joint dysfunction. Here are some tips to make the most out of your stretching routine.
Static vs. dynamic stretching: Static stretching involves holding a stretch for a prolonged period of time, approximately 10-20 seconds in repetitions of 3. Dynamic stretching, on the other hand, is held for a shorter period of time—usually 1-3 seconds with higher repetitions, usually 10-20. Think of dynamic stretching as a warm up for the body and static stretching for post workout injury prevention.
Harder, Faster, Longer: Many people believe in the old “no pain no gain” method when it comes to working out. This could not be further from the truth, especially when it comes to stretching. Stretching too fast or too strong will trigger the muscle spindle stretch reflex that causes spasm. There needs to be a delicate balance between too much and not enough. Not enough stretch and the stretch is ineffective, too much and it causes injury. Stretch slowly. This allows you to stretch the muscle to the point of resistance then it should be stretched just slightly beyond that.
Call for Back Up: Partner assisted stretching can allow you to stretch your muscles in different ways that you might not be able to stretch alone. You will also get a deeper more effective stretch by adding a layer of resistance. This stretching, more commonly known as contract relax (CR) or proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, (PNF) utilizes your Golgi tendon organ reflex to allow a muscle to relax by actively contracting it against the resistance of your partner. The muscle is contracted for a count of 5 and is performed for 3-5 repetitions. Active contraction of the musculature has the added benefit of strengthening and improving neural pathways from the central nervous system.
Timing is everything: The most common resistance to at home self care is, time—I just can’t fit anything else into my day. Optimally, a stretching routine that targets the entire body is best, but if time is the issue, make them most of your stretching by targeting muscle groups you use most. For example, if you sit at a computer all day, you will probably need to stretch your neck and shoulders or wrists to prevent repetitive stress injuries like carpal tunnel. If you are on your feet all day stretching your back and spine will help reduce muscle fatigue. Do these stretches in a shorter amount of time on days you’re busiest and a longer stretch routine on weekends, where time is a bit more flexible.
If you have ever been on my massage table, you probably know that I am an advocate of at home self care. Stretching is one of the easiest and most beneficial ways to take care of yourself between sessions. One because it help to reinforce the work being done in the treatment room, Two it can help prevent injury and more importantly—it makes my job easier.
Over time, the accumulation of stress takes its toll on our muscles and joints. Joint pain can lead to muscle tightening which will lead to the pain-spasm-pain cycle of dysfunction. Stretching helps us be proactive about preventing muscle and joint dysfunction. Here are some tips to make the most out of your stretching routine.
Static vs. dynamic stretching: Static stretching involves holding a stretch for a prolonged period of time, approximately 10-20 seconds in repetitions of 3. Dynamic stretching, on the other hand, is held for a shorter period of time—usually 1-3 seconds with higher repetitions, usually 10-20. Think of dynamic stretching as a warm up for the body and static stretching for post workout injury prevention.
Harder, Faster, Longer: Many people believe in the old “no pain no gain” method when it comes to working out. This could not be further from the truth, especially when it comes to stretching. Stretching too fast or too strong will trigger the muscle spindle stretch reflex that causes spasm. There needs to be a delicate balance between too much and not enough. Not enough stretch and the stretch is ineffective, too much and it causes injury. Stretch slowly. This allows you to stretch the muscle to the point of resistance then it should be stretched just slightly beyond that.
Call for Back Up: Partner assisted stretching can allow you to stretch your muscles in different ways that you might not be able to stretch alone. You will also get a deeper more effective stretch by adding a layer of resistance. This stretching, more commonly known as contract relax (CR) or proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, (PNF) utilizes your Golgi tendon organ reflex to allow a muscle to relax by actively contracting it against the resistance of your partner. The muscle is contracted for a count of 5 and is performed for 3-5 repetitions. Active contraction of the musculature has the added benefit of strengthening and improving neural pathways from the central nervous system.
Timing is everything: The most common resistance to at home self care is, time—I just can’t fit anything else into my day. Optimally, a stretching routine that targets the entire body is best, but if time is the issue, make them most of your stretching by targeting muscle groups you use most. For example, if you sit at a computer all day, you will probably need to stretch your neck and shoulders or wrists to prevent repetitive stress injuries like carpal tunnel. If you are on your feet all day stretching your back and spine will help reduce muscle fatigue. Do these stretches in a shorter amount of time on days you’re busiest and a longer stretch routine on weekends, where time is a bit more flexible.
Grinding Your Teeth can lead to TMJ
By Erica Brown DC, MS
In this would of high stress, it is no wonder many of us go to the dentist to find that we are now part of the large group of Americans that grind our teeth at night. This can lead to a lot of clicking and popping while chewing, the bite not lining up correctly between upper and lower jaw, an inability to open the mouth wide, and a lot of pain in one or both sides of the jaw. While your mouth guard keeps your teeth from becoming damaged further, many of these symptoms remain. This is where chiropractic care can benefit.
The symptoms listed above are frequently caused by tight muscles in the jaw and a decrease in movement of one of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ). When we spend the whole night clenching, we are using the muscles that open and close our mouth, which like any other muscle, can become tight. The tight muscles pull on the TMJ, which is a common the cause of misalignments, pain, popping, and clicking.
As chiropractors, we look at the amount of movement in the TMJ on both sides as well as how your jaw moves when opening and closing your mouth. For example, if you look in a mirror while opening your jaw slowly, many people will see that their jaw moves to one side or the other. This is one indication that tight muscles are present. If you think you would benefit from TMJ treatment, please call our office to schedule your next appointment with your provider.
In this would of high stress, it is no wonder many of us go to the dentist to find that we are now part of the large group of Americans that grind our teeth at night. This can lead to a lot of clicking and popping while chewing, the bite not lining up correctly between upper and lower jaw, an inability to open the mouth wide, and a lot of pain in one or both sides of the jaw. While your mouth guard keeps your teeth from becoming damaged further, many of these symptoms remain. This is where chiropractic care can benefit.
The symptoms listed above are frequently caused by tight muscles in the jaw and a decrease in movement of one of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ). When we spend the whole night clenching, we are using the muscles that open and close our mouth, which like any other muscle, can become tight. The tight muscles pull on the TMJ, which is a common the cause of misalignments, pain, popping, and clicking.
As chiropractors, we look at the amount of movement in the TMJ on both sides as well as how your jaw moves when opening and closing your mouth. For example, if you look in a mirror while opening your jaw slowly, many people will see that their jaw moves to one side or the other. This is one indication that tight muscles are present. If you think you would benefit from TMJ treatment, please call our office to schedule your next appointment with your provider.
Communicating with Your Therapist
By Sara Kotila, LMT
Communication is one of the most important parts of any relationship. Whether it's personal or professional, communication helps to make sure every one is on the same page and communicating with your massage therapist is no different. Beyond your medical intake information, communicating with your therapist ensures they are doing a good job by listening to your wants and needs. It also helps us to avoid misinterpretation. Here are 3 more reasons why communicating with your therapist is key.
#1. It ensures your get the area(s) of concern addressed: Often times we massage therapists have an idea of what we think should happen in a session. We are taught in massage school a “routine” and until we are far enough in our careers to deviate from that routine, many of us stick to what we know. Telling your therapist that your shoulder is bothering you will let us know that “hey, I need to spend some extra time there” We will stash it away in our mental notebook and in many cases will dictate how we perform our massage—we might start face down when originally we wanted to start face up.
#2. It helps you build a treatment plan based on your specific goals: WHY are you getting massage? Do you want to help control your migraines? Are you running a marathon in the Spring? Did you hurt your back helping your son/daughter move into their first apartment? Often times a client will have more than one issue with their body, having a goal in mind helps your therapist prioritize WHERE to focus their time in your session. If you are not sure what your goal is your therapist can talk with you and together you can decide on the treatment plan that is right for you.
#3. It helps you build trust: Choosing a massage therapist is a personal thing. Whether you are getting massage for pain management, injury prevention or stress relief, you need to trust the person working on you. If you cannot communicate openly maybe that isn't the therapist for you. If you're uncomfortable speaking up to your therapist about such things as room temperature (too cold/too hot), amount of pressure (too much/not enough), or an uncomfortable stretch, you put yourself in a position to not enjoy the experience or worse--get hurt by something they did.
We want you to speak up: If you like something that we did in a particular session or are getting great results by working with us--tell us. It's validation for the work that we do and makes us better massage therapists. If we do something you don't like--tell us. As great as we are with muscles, we are not mind readers, we can use subtle clues like you've stopped breathing or you've curled your hand into a fist to let us know the pressure is too deep, but if you are not happy--tell us. I promise you will not hurt our feelings!
Communication is one of the most important parts of any relationship. Whether it's personal or professional, communication helps to make sure every one is on the same page and communicating with your massage therapist is no different. Beyond your medical intake information, communicating with your therapist ensures they are doing a good job by listening to your wants and needs. It also helps us to avoid misinterpretation. Here are 3 more reasons why communicating with your therapist is key.
#1. It ensures your get the area(s) of concern addressed: Often times we massage therapists have an idea of what we think should happen in a session. We are taught in massage school a “routine” and until we are far enough in our careers to deviate from that routine, many of us stick to what we know. Telling your therapist that your shoulder is bothering you will let us know that “hey, I need to spend some extra time there” We will stash it away in our mental notebook and in many cases will dictate how we perform our massage—we might start face down when originally we wanted to start face up.
#2. It helps you build a treatment plan based on your specific goals: WHY are you getting massage? Do you want to help control your migraines? Are you running a marathon in the Spring? Did you hurt your back helping your son/daughter move into their first apartment? Often times a client will have more than one issue with their body, having a goal in mind helps your therapist prioritize WHERE to focus their time in your session. If you are not sure what your goal is your therapist can talk with you and together you can decide on the treatment plan that is right for you.
#3. It helps you build trust: Choosing a massage therapist is a personal thing. Whether you are getting massage for pain management, injury prevention or stress relief, you need to trust the person working on you. If you cannot communicate openly maybe that isn't the therapist for you. If you're uncomfortable speaking up to your therapist about such things as room temperature (too cold/too hot), amount of pressure (too much/not enough), or an uncomfortable stretch, you put yourself in a position to not enjoy the experience or worse--get hurt by something they did.
We want you to speak up: If you like something that we did in a particular session or are getting great results by working with us--tell us. It's validation for the work that we do and makes us better massage therapists. If we do something you don't like--tell us. As great as we are with muscles, we are not mind readers, we can use subtle clues like you've stopped breathing or you've curled your hand into a fist to let us know the pressure is too deep, but if you are not happy--tell us. I promise you will not hurt our feelings!
Preventing Winter Injuries
The winter season is upon us and with that comes snow and all the dangers that it brings. Our main focus for the season is to help our patients get through it injury free.
The first type of injury that can affect our enjoyment of the season is the slip and fall. Not only can one injure their hand or arm, but the back can be injured in the fall as well. Although you cannot control all walking areas around you, you can make sure that all of the walkways and driveways around your home are well sanded and salted to reduce the likelihood of a fall. One small tip, if you are out of sand and have a cat, kitty litter works great for black ice. You can also limit your chances of a slip and fall by limiting the number of items that you carry in or out of the car at a time. This will help you to remain balanced on slippery surfaces. Don't be afraid to take more than one trip, or ask for help after going to the grocery store. The second, and far more common injury, is back pain from shoveling. The twisting motion used while moving snow from one place to another can really hurt the back if it is not done properly. The most important thing to remember is to activate your core. This is done by pushing out through the front and sides of your abdomen, firing all the muscles through that whole area that are used in twisting motions. This will make the movement come from your core muscles and not from the back. The second thing to do to insure an injury free winter is to keep the back straight while shoveling. Do not hunch over when digging up the snow, but rather bend at the knees and hips to get low enough to pick the snow up.
Keeping these tips in mind, we can all have a happy and healthy winter season.
Of course, accidents do happen, no matter how hard we try to prevent them, and if you do end up injuring yourself this winter. Please call us at the office to make an appointment with any one of our fantastic providers. We all know what a New England winter can do to your body, call us so we can help!
The first type of injury that can affect our enjoyment of the season is the slip and fall. Not only can one injure their hand or arm, but the back can be injured in the fall as well. Although you cannot control all walking areas around you, you can make sure that all of the walkways and driveways around your home are well sanded and salted to reduce the likelihood of a fall. One small tip, if you are out of sand and have a cat, kitty litter works great for black ice. You can also limit your chances of a slip and fall by limiting the number of items that you carry in or out of the car at a time. This will help you to remain balanced on slippery surfaces. Don't be afraid to take more than one trip, or ask for help after going to the grocery store. The second, and far more common injury, is back pain from shoveling. The twisting motion used while moving snow from one place to another can really hurt the back if it is not done properly. The most important thing to remember is to activate your core. This is done by pushing out through the front and sides of your abdomen, firing all the muscles through that whole area that are used in twisting motions. This will make the movement come from your core muscles and not from the back. The second thing to do to insure an injury free winter is to keep the back straight while shoveling. Do not hunch over when digging up the snow, but rather bend at the knees and hips to get low enough to pick the snow up.
Keeping these tips in mind, we can all have a happy and healthy winter season.
Of course, accidents do happen, no matter how hard we try to prevent them, and if you do end up injuring yourself this winter. Please call us at the office to make an appointment with any one of our fantastic providers. We all know what a New England winter can do to your body, call us so we can help!
SEACOAST Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic provides medical coverage for the Seacoast Half Marathon
As the President of the New England Sports Medicine Council, Dr. Tamara Lovelace coordinated a team of chiropractic sports doctors and massage therapists to provide medical coverage for the Seacoast Half Marathon. This marathon had over 1400 participants! It was a wonderful way for our clinic to spend a Sunday in the sun. Our very own Dr. Erica Brown, Sara Kotila, Cristyn Peters, and of course Dr. Tamara Lovelace were at the event supporting our local athletes by providing medical aid, massages and stretching the runners.
Surprising Ways Posture Can Effect Your Health
I often catch myself slouching in my chair or sitting on the couch and have to move due to back pain and the nagging voice inside my head (the one that sounds like my mother) says “sit up straight, don’t slouch…shoulders back.” Adapted over time due to a more sedentary lifestyle, people are more prone to slouching than ever before. For some, slouching feels more comfortable because their body is so used to being uncomfortable that they just accept it. Truth is, poor posture can lead to more issues than just an aching back. While there is some controversy whether or not chronic posture patterns can be improved, massage has been shown to relieve the symptoms of certain posture related conditions.
Neck Pain We sit at our ergonomically incorrect desks working on our computers for hours and have developed an addiction to texting that some professionals equate to smoking addiction. “Text-neck” a term coined in 2008 by Dr. Dean Fishman which is not limited to our use of smartphones, but our entire digital world, refers to the strain put on the spine and neck muscles from looking in a forward and downward position while using any handheld device. Since the body will always try to keep the eyes level with the horizon, this has caused out bodies to adapt by increasing the strain equivalent to hanging a watermelon around our necks.
“For every inch of Forward Head Posture, it can increase the weight of the head on the spine by an additional 10 pounds.” -Kapandji, Physiology of Joints, Vol. 3
Due to the increased stress on the muscles, it is not uncommon for the head to feel as though it weighs as much as 30 pounds. Many people with forward head posture often experience headaches as a result and while massage may not fix your poor posture, it can give you relief from headaches by relaxing the muscles. It can also help make you more aware of your body which can help you correct your posture.
Difficulty Breathing In addition to neck pain, forward head posture can cause difficulty breathing. When you have poor posture your shoulders and rib cage round forward. When you’re rounded forward, you decrease the amount of space for your organs such as lungs, diaphragm and intestines resulting in shallow breathing. This then causes your fascia around your muscles and organs to constrict. Imagine Saran wrap around a bottle of water. If the Saran wrap is too tight it squeezes the bottle creating less room for the water inside. Breathing is essential to life. When we can’t breathe and deprive our bodies of oxygen, this often leads to other issues such as depression, fatigue, dizziness, and foggy brain. It is estimated that trying to breathe in a slumped position can decrease your lung capacity as much as 30% since your diaphragm cannot fully rise. Massage can help you breathe easier by working with the intercostal muscles of the ribs as well as the diaphragm.
Digestive Issues When organs are cramped in a smaller space due to poor posture, often this can lead to digestive issues ranging from bloating to constipation since the body cannot function optimally. Normal functions of digestion, or peristalsis, which keep thing movin’ along get backed up tighter than I95 during rush hour traffic on a holiday weekend. So sitting up will help increase the amount of space for your digestive organs. Additionally, light abdominal massage has been shown to help with digestive issues and is often something you can do yourself.
So when you find yourself slouching in your seat take a moment to straighten up. Your muscles (and organs) will thank you!
- Sara Kotila, LMT
Neck Pain We sit at our ergonomically incorrect desks working on our computers for hours and have developed an addiction to texting that some professionals equate to smoking addiction. “Text-neck” a term coined in 2008 by Dr. Dean Fishman which is not limited to our use of smartphones, but our entire digital world, refers to the strain put on the spine and neck muscles from looking in a forward and downward position while using any handheld device. Since the body will always try to keep the eyes level with the horizon, this has caused out bodies to adapt by increasing the strain equivalent to hanging a watermelon around our necks.
“For every inch of Forward Head Posture, it can increase the weight of the head on the spine by an additional 10 pounds.” -Kapandji, Physiology of Joints, Vol. 3
Due to the increased stress on the muscles, it is not uncommon for the head to feel as though it weighs as much as 30 pounds. Many people with forward head posture often experience headaches as a result and while massage may not fix your poor posture, it can give you relief from headaches by relaxing the muscles. It can also help make you more aware of your body which can help you correct your posture.
Difficulty Breathing In addition to neck pain, forward head posture can cause difficulty breathing. When you have poor posture your shoulders and rib cage round forward. When you’re rounded forward, you decrease the amount of space for your organs such as lungs, diaphragm and intestines resulting in shallow breathing. This then causes your fascia around your muscles and organs to constrict. Imagine Saran wrap around a bottle of water. If the Saran wrap is too tight it squeezes the bottle creating less room for the water inside. Breathing is essential to life. When we can’t breathe and deprive our bodies of oxygen, this often leads to other issues such as depression, fatigue, dizziness, and foggy brain. It is estimated that trying to breathe in a slumped position can decrease your lung capacity as much as 30% since your diaphragm cannot fully rise. Massage can help you breathe easier by working with the intercostal muscles of the ribs as well as the diaphragm.
Digestive Issues When organs are cramped in a smaller space due to poor posture, often this can lead to digestive issues ranging from bloating to constipation since the body cannot function optimally. Normal functions of digestion, or peristalsis, which keep thing movin’ along get backed up tighter than I95 during rush hour traffic on a holiday weekend. So sitting up will help increase the amount of space for your digestive organs. Additionally, light abdominal massage has been shown to help with digestive issues and is often something you can do yourself.
So when you find yourself slouching in your seat take a moment to straighten up. Your muscles (and organs) will thank you!
- Sara Kotila, LMT
Dr. Tamara Lovelace invited to the Olympic Training Center
This month Dr. Tamara Lovelace is working the Lake Placid Olympic Bobsled and Luge Selection Races at the US Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, NY! This race is the first in a series of races that determines who will make up the US Olympic Bobsled Team at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. She is working as part of the Sports Medicine team at the Olympic Training Center providing care to enable the athletes to go into this important race knowing that they are at their best, allowing them to achieve their optimum levels of performance uninhibited by injury. She will also be trackside on race day to provide any care or medical attention necessary. Given Dr Lovelace's extensive experience and expertise in working with head injuries and traumatic injuries, her skills are very valuable when working with high risk sports such as Bobsled, Luge, and Skeleton, where the athletes are hurtling down a track made of ice at speeds up to 90 miles per hour.
While at the Olympic Training Center, in addition to working with athletes from the bobsled, skeleton, and luge teams, she has also had the opportunity to work with athletes preparing to compete in Sochi as part of the biathlon team, and alpine and aerial ski teams. This is the third time Dr. Lovelace has been asked to come to the US Olympic Training Center to provide treatment to the athletes. The US Olympic Training Centers are the facilities where the US Olympic athletes live and train for their events. Dr. Lovelace is honored and thrilled to be part of such an incredible organization and to help our nation's athletes achieve their goals. Only the best of the best have the opportunity to work at these facilities, Dr Lovelace was selected out of countless other healthcare providers to provide chiropractic sports medicine coverage for the athletes. She is well on her way of her own goal of working at the Olympic Games. All of us at The SEACOAST Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic are extremely proud of what Dr. Lovelace has and will achieve. We are honored to be a part of her journey.
The Importance of Joint Health and Function in Sports
Whether you are an elite athlete or simply going out for an occasional walk, your joints can have a huge effect on your ability to perform these activities. The most obvious issue that one can have with a joint is pain. Pain can occur for many different reasons. It could be from muscle, ligament, tendon, or even from a joint above or below the affected area. Chiropractic can help with these issues through adjustments, taping, biomechanical assessment, and exercises.
Another type of joint issue is one where the joint is not functioning optimally, this can impede athletic performance. The primary example of this is a joint that does not have the motion that it is designed to have. This can happen in any joint of the body, including the spine, shoulders, hips, knees, hands, and feet. In a chiropractic assessment, Dr Lovelace and Dr Brown are looking for areas that are moving less than they should, then restoring their normal motion with chiropractic adjustments and mobilization techniques. With this return to normal motion, the body is now able to move in ways that it was previously unable.
Keeping your body in motion is not only important to your joints, but also important for you as a whole. The more you are vertical and moving, the better. Our bodies were not designed to sit all day. As we become a society that requires this more and more, our joints can pay the price. If a joint is not used regularly, the structures around the joint become weak, which makes us more prone to injury when we are active. Keep your body going for many years to come by getting out there and getting active!
If you feel that Dr. Erica Brown, Dr Tamara Lovelace, or any of the providers at The SEACOAST Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic can help you with your joint function or assist you in achieving optimum health, wellness, or athletic performance and function, please do not hesitate to call (603) 431-4200 for an appointment.
- Dr. Erica Brown, DC, MS
Another type of joint issue is one where the joint is not functioning optimally, this can impede athletic performance. The primary example of this is a joint that does not have the motion that it is designed to have. This can happen in any joint of the body, including the spine, shoulders, hips, knees, hands, and feet. In a chiropractic assessment, Dr Lovelace and Dr Brown are looking for areas that are moving less than they should, then restoring their normal motion with chiropractic adjustments and mobilization techniques. With this return to normal motion, the body is now able to move in ways that it was previously unable.
Keeping your body in motion is not only important to your joints, but also important for you as a whole. The more you are vertical and moving, the better. Our bodies were not designed to sit all day. As we become a society that requires this more and more, our joints can pay the price. If a joint is not used regularly, the structures around the joint become weak, which makes us more prone to injury when we are active. Keep your body going for many years to come by getting out there and getting active!
If you feel that Dr. Erica Brown, Dr Tamara Lovelace, or any of the providers at The SEACOAST Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic can help you with your joint function or assist you in achieving optimum health, wellness, or athletic performance and function, please do not hesitate to call (603) 431-4200 for an appointment.
- Dr. Erica Brown, DC, MS
Clinic's Grand Opening Featured in the Portsmouth Herald
Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic opens downtown.
By Suzanne Laurent
news@seacoastonline.com
April 16, 2013 10:41 AM
PORTSMOUTH — Dr. Tamara Lovelace recently opened a second clinic dedicated to helping athletes and others heal from injuries and to improving other physical limitations.
Lovelace, a chiropractic sports doctor, is the clinical director of Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic at 200 Portwalk Place in the city's downtown. The gleaming new 2,300-square-foot street-level space has two rooms for chiropractic care, two massage treatment rooms and a spacious rehabilitation gym.
The hallway is lined with vintage Olympics posters. “I just returned from Lake Placid (N.Y.) where I was working with Olympic athletes,” Lovelace said.
Lovelace has worked with professional action sports athletes since 2005 and as the director of athlete medical and rehabilitation for the Dew Tour since 2008. She also worked at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs in June 2012. “I love winter sports and am hoping to be chosen to go as a team doctor for the Winter Olympics in Souchi (Russia) in 2014,” Lovelace said. She has more than 10 years experience working with trained athletes.“My favorite athlete was an Olympic female fencer,” Lovelace said. “She was such a role model for her team and younger women.”
Lovelace graduated with a double major in medical microbiology/immunology and pharmacology from the University of Alberta. She was a week away from starting medical school, when she had second thoughts.“I wanted to do cancer drug search and hopefully find a cure for breast cancer after my aunt died from the disease,” Lovelace said. “But, I wasn't sure I could stand to see my patients die if I went into oncology. It wasn't a healthy career choice for me.”
Lovelace decided to go into sports medicine and chiropractic medicine.“I danced professionally as a ballerina and had been going to a chiropractor since I was 12,” she said. “I thought instead of trying to save lives, I could improve the quality of peoples' lives.”
Lovelace attended the University of Western States in Oregon becoming a doctor of chiropractic medicine. She went on to take a three-year residency program in radiology at the same university. In 2011 she completed a program in advanced sports medicine that gives her the designation of Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, the highest designation a chiropractic physician can achieve in this field. “I moved to Alton Bay in and opened my first practice,” Lovelace said. There, she is also the team doctor for the Prospect Mountain Timberwolves and the Kingswood Knights.
“I especially like seeing the kids perform better after helping them heal and improve after being injured,” she said.
Lovelace opened her Portsmouth practice in February and is getting ready for an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony April 17. She has been busy networking with orthopedic surgeons, physiatrists and other health practitioners in the area to let them know about what her clinic can offer to their patients who are injured or recovering from surgery. “I'm thinking of purchasing an anti-gravity treadmill,” Lovelace said. “Athletes like to keep moving, but they need to heal.”Lovelace has been involved in competitive paddle sports, including outrigger canoe and dragon boat racing. She enjoys winter sports, especially downhill skiing. She uses her chiropractic and sports medicine training along with her own athletic experiences to help her patients reach their full athletic potential and improve their quality of life.
Along with chiropractic treatment, Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic offers physical therapy and massage therapy with licensed massage therapist Audra Michel.
AT A GLANCE
Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic Open House
Where: 12 Portwalk Place, Portsmouth
When: Wednesday, April 17, 5 to 7 p.m.
Discount: Massages are 50 percent off through Friday, April 19, and 25 percent off through May 17
More: Free sports nutrition seminar: Taking your workout to a new level with Joanne Knight, a holistic health coach, May 4, 2 to 3 p.m. at Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic.
news@seacoastonline.com
April 16, 2013 10:41 AM
PORTSMOUTH — Dr. Tamara Lovelace recently opened a second clinic dedicated to helping athletes and others heal from injuries and to improving other physical limitations.
Lovelace, a chiropractic sports doctor, is the clinical director of Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic at 200 Portwalk Place in the city's downtown. The gleaming new 2,300-square-foot street-level space has two rooms for chiropractic care, two massage treatment rooms and a spacious rehabilitation gym.
The hallway is lined with vintage Olympics posters. “I just returned from Lake Placid (N.Y.) where I was working with Olympic athletes,” Lovelace said.
Lovelace has worked with professional action sports athletes since 2005 and as the director of athlete medical and rehabilitation for the Dew Tour since 2008. She also worked at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs in June 2012. “I love winter sports and am hoping to be chosen to go as a team doctor for the Winter Olympics in Souchi (Russia) in 2014,” Lovelace said. She has more than 10 years experience working with trained athletes.“My favorite athlete was an Olympic female fencer,” Lovelace said. “She was such a role model for her team and younger women.”
Lovelace graduated with a double major in medical microbiology/immunology and pharmacology from the University of Alberta. She was a week away from starting medical school, when she had second thoughts.“I wanted to do cancer drug search and hopefully find a cure for breast cancer after my aunt died from the disease,” Lovelace said. “But, I wasn't sure I could stand to see my patients die if I went into oncology. It wasn't a healthy career choice for me.”
Lovelace decided to go into sports medicine and chiropractic medicine.“I danced professionally as a ballerina and had been going to a chiropractor since I was 12,” she said. “I thought instead of trying to save lives, I could improve the quality of peoples' lives.”
Lovelace attended the University of Western States in Oregon becoming a doctor of chiropractic medicine. She went on to take a three-year residency program in radiology at the same university. In 2011 she completed a program in advanced sports medicine that gives her the designation of Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, the highest designation a chiropractic physician can achieve in this field. “I moved to Alton Bay in and opened my first practice,” Lovelace said. There, she is also the team doctor for the Prospect Mountain Timberwolves and the Kingswood Knights.
“I especially like seeing the kids perform better after helping them heal and improve after being injured,” she said.
Lovelace opened her Portsmouth practice in February and is getting ready for an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony April 17. She has been busy networking with orthopedic surgeons, physiatrists and other health practitioners in the area to let them know about what her clinic can offer to their patients who are injured or recovering from surgery. “I'm thinking of purchasing an anti-gravity treadmill,” Lovelace said. “Athletes like to keep moving, but they need to heal.”Lovelace has been involved in competitive paddle sports, including outrigger canoe and dragon boat racing. She enjoys winter sports, especially downhill skiing. She uses her chiropractic and sports medicine training along with her own athletic experiences to help her patients reach their full athletic potential and improve their quality of life.
Along with chiropractic treatment, Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic offers physical therapy and massage therapy with licensed massage therapist Audra Michel.
AT A GLANCE
Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic Open House
Where: 12 Portwalk Place, Portsmouth
When: Wednesday, April 17, 5 to 7 p.m.
Discount: Massages are 50 percent off through Friday, April 19, and 25 percent off through May 17
More: Free sports nutrition seminar: Taking your workout to a new level with Joanne Knight, a holistic health coach, May 4, 2 to 3 p.m. at Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic.
Dr Tamara Lovelace Featured in The Baysider!
Dr Tamara Lovelace was featured on page A10 of the February 21st, 2013 edition of The Baysider.
Here is the article for those who might have missed it in The Baysider:
Alton chiropractor helps U.S. Olympic athletes at Lake Placid training center
Team doctor for the Prospect Mountain Timberwolves and the Kingswood Knights helps Team USA as they prepare for Sochi
Being in optimum health and peak athletic performance is essential when you are trying to reach your ultimate goal, a medal in the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Olympic athletes need care, not only in the unfortunate event of an injury, but also when pushing their bodies to perform at their maximum potential. Doctors of chiropractic who specialize in sports injuries and physical fitness, such as Dr. Lovelace, are the ideal practitioners to provide that care, being uniquely equipped to handle both injury and recovery treatment, as well as to help athletes prepare for the competition, and the USOC agrees.
With the 2014 Winter Olympics now less than a year away, Dr. Tamara Lovelace of The SEACOAST Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic was invited to spend two weeks at the United States Olympic Training Center (USOTC) in Lake Placid, NY providing chiropractic sports medicine coverage at the center’s Sports Medicine Clinic.
The US Olympic Training Centers are the facilities where the US Olympic athletes live and train in preparation for their upcoming events, including qualifying events, World games and international events, and of course, the Olympic Games. There are three training centers in the US, one in Chula Vista, California, a second in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and a third in Lake Placid, NY. The Lake Placid Olympic Training Center is where athletes competing in bobsled, luge, ice hockey, biathalon, figure skating, skiing, and speed skating.
A HUGE HONOR
This is Dr. Lovelace’s second time to be invited to come to one of the US Olympic Training Centers to provide care and treatment to the nation’s elite athletes. She spent two weeks in June of 2012 helping athletes reach the peak of their health and athletic performance as they prepared for their competitions in London for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. To be invited back for a second clinical rotation is a huge honor and a good indication that she is on track to reach her own personal goal of providing chiropractic medical coverage at the Olympic Games.
The road to the Olympics is a long one for both athletes and medical professionals. The US Olympic Training Center’s volunteer medical staff program is a sports medicine internship program and the starting point for any chiropractor, medical doctor, physical therapist, athletic trainer, or massage therapist who is seeking selection to an Olympic or Paralympic Games. In order to be chosen for a volunteer rotation at one of the US Olympic Training Centers applicants must go through a rigorous application process that requires advanced certification is sports medicine, 5+ years of experience in the field, 3+ years experience as a team doctor and past experience working events hosted by a National Governing Body. Needless to say, these criteria are in place to ensure that only the best of the best are working with our nation’s top athletes. Once at the US Olympic Training Center, volunteer chiropractors, medical doctors, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and massage therapists work together with the USOTCs full-time medical staff, as a coordinated sports medicine team to provide the best care and treatment possible to these elite athletes. Volunteers that provide exceptional care during this initial volunteer rotation may be invited back for future volunteer rotations, and ultimately will be put into a pool from which medical staff is selected for US Olympic Committee-sponsored events, such as the Olympic Games.
Dr. Lovelace stated, “I am incredibly excited and honored to be asked to represent my profession at the training center in Lake Placid. I only hope to provide the same skill and expertise in my treatments that the athletes with whom I will be working perform their sport. I am so humbled to be able to play a small part in helping these amazing athletes achieve their goals.”
Dr. Tamara Lovelace is a well-respected member of the national sports medicine community. Aside from her work in her Alton clinic, she volunteers her time as the team doctor for both the Prospect Mountain Timberwolves and the Kingswood Knights, and she is the President of the New England Sports Medicine Council, a multidisciplinary council representing the New England states of New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, that offers mentorship, educational opportunities, and medical coverage for sporting events. Dr. Lovelace is a Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, the highest level of training that one can achieve in the field of chiropractic sports medicine, and she councils high school coaches on avoiding and managing concussions in sports. In addition to her work here in New Hampshire and the rest of New England, Dr. Lovelace is the Director of Athlete Medical and Rehabilitation for NBCSports Dew Tour, an action sports tour that includes sports such as freestyle skiing and snowboarding on both the slopestyle and superpipe courses, as well as FMX, BMX, and skateboard competitions on street, park and vert ramp courses. Finally, Dr. Lovelace is opening a brand new facility in downtown Portsmouth this month. The SEACOAST Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic will bring to the Seacoast area the same premium care of sports injuries and other musculoskeletal injuries that Dr. Lovelace brings to the athletes of the US Olympic Teams. This new facility is located at 200 Portwalk Place at 99 Hanover Street in Portsmouth, NH, and will include the services of not only Dr. Lovelace, but also an equally skilled team of providers, including massage therapists, physical therapists, and athletic trainers.
Here is the article for those who might have missed it in The Baysider:
Alton chiropractor helps U.S. Olympic athletes at Lake Placid training center
Team doctor for the Prospect Mountain Timberwolves and the Kingswood Knights helps Team USA as they prepare for Sochi
Being in optimum health and peak athletic performance is essential when you are trying to reach your ultimate goal, a medal in the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Olympic athletes need care, not only in the unfortunate event of an injury, but also when pushing their bodies to perform at their maximum potential. Doctors of chiropractic who specialize in sports injuries and physical fitness, such as Dr. Lovelace, are the ideal practitioners to provide that care, being uniquely equipped to handle both injury and recovery treatment, as well as to help athletes prepare for the competition, and the USOC agrees.
With the 2014 Winter Olympics now less than a year away, Dr. Tamara Lovelace of The SEACOAST Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic was invited to spend two weeks at the United States Olympic Training Center (USOTC) in Lake Placid, NY providing chiropractic sports medicine coverage at the center’s Sports Medicine Clinic.
The US Olympic Training Centers are the facilities where the US Olympic athletes live and train in preparation for their upcoming events, including qualifying events, World games and international events, and of course, the Olympic Games. There are three training centers in the US, one in Chula Vista, California, a second in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and a third in Lake Placid, NY. The Lake Placid Olympic Training Center is where athletes competing in bobsled, luge, ice hockey, biathalon, figure skating, skiing, and speed skating.
A HUGE HONOR
This is Dr. Lovelace’s second time to be invited to come to one of the US Olympic Training Centers to provide care and treatment to the nation’s elite athletes. She spent two weeks in June of 2012 helping athletes reach the peak of their health and athletic performance as they prepared for their competitions in London for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. To be invited back for a second clinical rotation is a huge honor and a good indication that she is on track to reach her own personal goal of providing chiropractic medical coverage at the Olympic Games.
The road to the Olympics is a long one for both athletes and medical professionals. The US Olympic Training Center’s volunteer medical staff program is a sports medicine internship program and the starting point for any chiropractor, medical doctor, physical therapist, athletic trainer, or massage therapist who is seeking selection to an Olympic or Paralympic Games. In order to be chosen for a volunteer rotation at one of the US Olympic Training Centers applicants must go through a rigorous application process that requires advanced certification is sports medicine, 5+ years of experience in the field, 3+ years experience as a team doctor and past experience working events hosted by a National Governing Body. Needless to say, these criteria are in place to ensure that only the best of the best are working with our nation’s top athletes. Once at the US Olympic Training Center, volunteer chiropractors, medical doctors, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and massage therapists work together with the USOTCs full-time medical staff, as a coordinated sports medicine team to provide the best care and treatment possible to these elite athletes. Volunteers that provide exceptional care during this initial volunteer rotation may be invited back for future volunteer rotations, and ultimately will be put into a pool from which medical staff is selected for US Olympic Committee-sponsored events, such as the Olympic Games.
Dr. Lovelace stated, “I am incredibly excited and honored to be asked to represent my profession at the training center in Lake Placid. I only hope to provide the same skill and expertise in my treatments that the athletes with whom I will be working perform their sport. I am so humbled to be able to play a small part in helping these amazing athletes achieve their goals.”
Dr. Tamara Lovelace is a well-respected member of the national sports medicine community. Aside from her work in her Alton clinic, she volunteers her time as the team doctor for both the Prospect Mountain Timberwolves and the Kingswood Knights, and she is the President of the New England Sports Medicine Council, a multidisciplinary council representing the New England states of New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, that offers mentorship, educational opportunities, and medical coverage for sporting events. Dr. Lovelace is a Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, the highest level of training that one can achieve in the field of chiropractic sports medicine, and she councils high school coaches on avoiding and managing concussions in sports. In addition to her work here in New Hampshire and the rest of New England, Dr. Lovelace is the Director of Athlete Medical and Rehabilitation for NBCSports Dew Tour, an action sports tour that includes sports such as freestyle skiing and snowboarding on both the slopestyle and superpipe courses, as well as FMX, BMX, and skateboard competitions on street, park and vert ramp courses. Finally, Dr. Lovelace is opening a brand new facility in downtown Portsmouth this month. The SEACOAST Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic will bring to the Seacoast area the same premium care of sports injuries and other musculoskeletal injuries that Dr. Lovelace brings to the athletes of the US Olympic Teams. This new facility is located at 200 Portwalk Place at 99 Hanover Street in Portsmouth, NH, and will include the services of not only Dr. Lovelace, but also an equally skilled team of providers, including massage therapists, physical therapists, and athletic trainers.
We've Got Your Back When Shoveling Out
February brings lots of snow for New Hampshire and with it comes the dreaded task of snow removal. Shoveling your driveway and walkways is already a hassle; don't let it be a pain in the neck and back, too. The American Chiropractic Association suggests the following tips to help you avoid muscle strain and other injuries when shoveling:
- Use a lightweight, ergonomically-designed shovel.
- If possible, push the snow aside instead of lifting. If you need to lift, bend your knees, allowing the muscles of your legs and arms to do the work instead of your back.
- Do not throw snow over your shoulder or to the side. This requires twisting or turning motions that can cause injury.
- Take frequent breaks - a fatigued body asks for injury.
- Stop immediately and seek medical attention if you feel faint, dizzy or have chest pain.
If after a few days you continue to feel soreness or muscle strain, it may be time to visit your local chiropractic office. A good rule of thumb is that a pain that does not go away on its own after a few days is unlikely to go away on its own at all - this is when you want to visit your chiropractor for a little assistance!