Dr. Zeitler is pleased to announce the addition of his new office effective January 1, 2009. Ridgefield Performance Chiropractic is located at 20 Prospect Street, Ridgefield, CT within Susi Laura Massage. To make an appointment please contact Dr. Zeitler at (203) 417-3375.
Newtown/Ridgefield Performance Chiropractic are multidisciplinary state-of-the-art practices. Below are some of the different treatments that we provide.
- State of the Art Chiropractic Treatments
- Active Release Techniques - CREDENTIALED SINCE 2001 (Upper Extremity, Lower Extremity, Spine, Biomechanics, Long Nerve Entrapment, Masters)
- Sound Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (S.A.S.T.M.)
- Kinesio Taping (certified by Kinesio Taping)
- Specific Proprioceptive Response Taping Technique (S.P.R.T.)
- McKenzie Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (certified by the McKenzie Institute)
- Rehabilitation & Exercise Strengthening (3 year diplomate program)
- Nutrition (Masters Degree)
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Congratulations for choosing our office. We are serious about getting our patients well, and take it very personally. If you have any questions pertaining to your healthcare, feel free to ask. What can you expect on your first visit? Dr. Zeitler conducts a complete history, and orthopedic, neurological, chiropractic and functional examination. Upon completion of the history, examination and review of any diagnositic information, Dr. Zeitler discusses your diagnosis and treatment plan. Each treatment plan is tailored to the individual patient with the objective being to return a patient to normal function as quickly as possible, and focusing on education and rehabilitation to prevent reinjury. In order to make the examination and treatment more comfortable for the patient, Dr. Zeitler encourages patients to bring a pair of shorts and a t-shirt or tank top. The initial examination takes between 30 to 45 minutes and treatment takes between 15 to 20 minutes excluding therapies. |
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Expertise in the Treatment of Neuromusculoskeletal Conditions
Dr. Eugene Zeitler is a board certified Chiropractor who treats patients with neuromusculoskeletal injuries. He has worked directly with orthopedic surgeons in a group practice for the last several years.
Ø Active Release Techniques (ART) certified since 2001
Ø Specific Proprioceptive Response Taping Technique (S.P.R.T.)
Ø McKenzie Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy
Ø Rehabilitation
Ø Functional Training
Ø Nutrition (Masters Degree)
which provide a well-rounded treatment approach for spinal injuries, herniated discs, sciatica, myofascial pain syndrome, tendonitis, bursitis, sprains and strains, rotator cuff injuries, tennis and golfer’s elbow, nerve entrapments such as carpal tunnel syndrome, iliotibial band syndrome, knee injuries, shin splints, ankle injuries, achilles injuries and plantar fascitis.
Patient Education
Dr. Zeitler specializes in working with active individuals, athletes and patients who are interested in being educated about their injury and how to prevent it in the future. An integral part of his treatment plan includes patient education. Discussing with a patient their mechanism of injury, providing information on self-care and actively rehabilitating the patient is extremely important in preventing reinjury. Unless a patient understands how they got hurt and what they can do to prevent reinjury then the most important aspect of treatment has been neglected.
Active Release Techniques (ART) Certified Since 2001
ART is the most advanced and comprehensive soft tissue (muscle, nerve, tendon, ligament and fascia) technique available. It was developed by Dr. Michael Leahy who devised this unique technique to address soft tissue injuries which did not respond to typical treatment methods. ART provides a way to diagnose and treat the underlying causes of a variety of conditions collectively called cumulative trauma disorders. These disorders are also known as repetitive stress injuries or "overuse" syndromes. These syndromes are given familiar names like rotator cuff syndrome, golfer's elbow, tennis elbow, tendonitis and plantar fascitis. Other conditions that fall directly into this category are post-operative scar tissue, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic low back pain, and hyper extension/flexion injury (whiplash). Dr Leahy's technique has been so successful that it is now considered the gold standard of treatment by many professional athletes and it is the first soft tissue technique to receive a medical patent.
As one of only two fully credentialed (upper extremity, lower extremity, spine, long nerve entrapment & biomechanics) ART providers in Connecticut, Dr. Zeitler is one of the most experienced ART providers in Connecticut. In addition, Dr. Zeitler has completed the ART Masters Program which is an advanced ART certification where the doctor works directly with Dr. Leahy to improve their technique. Dr. Zeitler has practiced ART since 2001 and has worked at multiple Ironman Triathlons, at various local triathlons (Pat Griskus Sprint & Olympic, Pawling, Ridgefield and Lake Waramaug 1/2 Ironman) and with members of the U.S. Olympic Team performing ART Performance Care. Dr. Zeitler has also worked as part of the medical team for the New York City Marathon. This training and experience gives Dr. Zeitler special insight into sports related injuries experienced by runners, bikers, swimmers and various other athletes. Dr. Zeitler is also a certified ART Exclusive Provider (EPN) which allows him to work for ART with corporations using ART to treat employees with the goal being to reduce medical costs and decrease lost work days due to injury. For more information on this program please visit ART Corporate Solutions at www.artcorpsolutions.com.
ART has been studied at the University of California resulting in highly effective treatment of overuse injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow. According to the orthopedic surgeon who performed the research, ART promoted healing of various injuries 60-70% better than standard forms of treatment. Seeing as success rates with ART are so high and costs are so low, the Colorado Compensation Insurance Authority is funding a study comparing ART to more conventional or typical treatments for cumulative trauma injuries.
ART is a hands-on therapy wherein the doctor uses a unique combination of pressure, tension, and motion to reduce scar tissue adhesions, which cause pain. This separates, releases, and stretches the connective tissue adhesions, restores vascular and lymph circulation, and increases your range of motion, flexibility, and strength. The average number of treatments typically ranges between 4-14 visits and takes approximately 15 minutes per visit.
The treatments can be a bit uncomfortable, but pain is an important indicator, noting that the problem has been located and signals that the treatments are correcting the injury. Patients often refer to it as "good pain."
Regardless of your activity level you can benefit from Active Release. From patients who are victims of car accidents to the proudest weekend warrior -- Active Release has proven to be a fast, effective, and non-invasive way to heal a wide variety of soft tissue injuries.
Understanding Soft Tissue Dysfunction
To understand soft tissue injury, you must understand the basic mechanism of cumulative injury. Cumulative trauma disorder is a major injury problem in the workforce and the general population in this country. Federal statistics show that it now surpasses back pain, and worsening by 670 percent in the last 5 years. Unfortunately, past conventional therapies such as massage, heat, cold, electrical stimulation, rest, and exercise often fail to treat these conditions effectively.
Symptoms of cumulative trauma disorders are sensations of tingling, burning, aching and weaknesses. When a muscle, tendon, ligament, or nerve is damaged from trauma or overuse, the body will attempt to repair the damage with scar tissue. These scar tissue adhesions when left untreated perpetuate the cumulative injury cycle and result in progressive loss of function and increased pain. Loss of flexibility, strength, and range of motion are common after effects of soft tissue dysfunction. While many will attribute this to "just getting old," that is rarely the case.
Why Active Release is Different
Active Release is a highly successful approach to injuries of muscles, tendons, nerves, and the surrounding soft tissues. While procedures such as massage, physiotherapy and chiropractic care relieve muscle and motion dysfunction, they do not always address the underlying problems caused by scar tissue formation. This is where Active Release differentiates from conventional treatments.
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The three most common
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All three are a part of the cumulative injury cycle. Soft tissue structures in the body change or adapt with time: these changes are predictable and can be felt by the doctor. Chronic or "older" injuries actually feel different from acute or recent ones. |
Active Release has proven to be especially valuable for athletes, from the professional to the beginner. In most cases, athletes with acute or long-standing muscular strain/sprain injuries experience complete recovery in a short period of time.
Because of the soft tissue component, where other treatments fail, ART succeeds. The bottom line is that patients get well quickly, completely, and with much less expense. For more information on ART go to www.activerelease.com.
ART Performance Care
ART Performance Care is the study of the human body in motion and addresses the sites which prevent optimum performance. Treatment goals focus on increasing range of motion, improving strength of muscle contraction and restoring normal biomechanics to improve overall performance. This type of care caters to the competitive athlete from the high school level to the professional level.
Sound Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (S.A.S.T.M.)
S.A.S.T.M. is a technique that utilitzes multiple specially designed instruments to assist in the breakdown of fascial restrictions and scar tissue in muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. The goal is to induce controlled microtrauma to the tissue stimulating a local inflammatory response. This causes the reabsorption of fibrotic tissue and facilitates a cascade of healing activities resulting in the remodeling of tissues. S.A.S.T.M. works extremely well with all soft tissue injuries and is a great adjunct to ART. Dr. Zeitler is one of only four doctors certified in Connecticut. For more information go to www.SASTM.com.
Kinesio Taping
Kinesio Taping (KT) is a taping technique developed by Dr. Kenzo Kase, a Japanese Chiropractor, in the 1970's. This technique has been used very successfully in Japan for 30 years, but received tremendous exposure over the last two summer olympics. KT has been used by several elite athletes including; Kerri Walsh, Phil Dalhausser, Ernie Els, David Beckham, Robby Ginepri, Patty Schnyder, Bret Boone and Lance Armstrong (none of whom have endorsement deals with KT). In fact, in Lance Armstrong's 2003 book, "Every Second Counts," he refers to KT as "a special hot-pink athletic tape that came from Japan and seemed to have magical powers." The tape actually comes in four colors; tan, black, pink and blue with each tape being exactly the same except for the color (in Eastern medicine different colors have different healing properties).
KT has four effects:
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Normalize muscle function
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Improve lymphatic and blood flow
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Reduce pain
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Correct joint malalignment and improve proprioception
The tape is designed to have the thickness and stretch properties of normal human tissue. After having the tape on for approximately 15 minutes it feels like a layer of skin. The tape moves with the body allowing normal human biomechanics. In addition, it has a lifting property which helps relieve pain and improve blood flow. Unlike typical athletic taping which is used to stabilize a joint, KT is used to enhance normal human motion, improve blood and lymph flow and reduce pain. These physiological effects enhance the body's healing processes providing a better environment for tissue healing to take place. For more information go to www.kinesiotaping.com.
Specific Proprioceptive Response Taping Technique (SPRT)
SPRT is a taping technique developed by Chiropractor, Dr. Tim Brown. Dr. Brown has worked for years with professional volleyball players and surfers and is a consultant for the NBA, NFL and MLB. His functional taping technique is designed to facilitate, support, and enhance the bodies normal anatomy and physiology. The objective of the specific taping methods is to mimic the injured tissue using a minimal amount of tape to allow for normal function and range of motion. The placement of the tape provides adjustable compression, approximation, alignment and balance to the injured tissue. SPRT should increase a patient's function and decrease pain while comfortably supporting and limiting movement that exacerbates symptomotology.
McKenzie Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy
The McKenzie Method is an active patient-centered philosophy that treats neck and back pain. Dr. Zeitler is trained in McKenzie therapy for the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. Once a patient is taught the McKenzie Method, they can use the exercises to control their pain by following a few simple guidelines. This technique is highly effective at treating herniated or “slipped discs.” Further information regarding the McKenzie Method can be found at www.mckenziemdt.org.
Rehabilitation
Dr. Zeitler has completed a three year diplomate program in rehabilitation. Every rehabilitation plan devised by Dr. Zeitler is customized to meet each patient's needs depending on their injury and ability level. This low tech rehabilitation approach gives the patient the freedom to perform many of the exercises at home with minimal or no equipment. The goal is to restore normal function, improve range of motion, balance, coordination, endurance, strength, power and prevent reinjury. Rehabilitation is a vital component to every treatment plan. The single greatest predictor of reinjury is an initial injury which has not been rehabilitated. This is especially true for athletes who place a tremendous amount of stress on their joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons. Presently, there are less than 150 Chiropractors in the U.S. with this diplomate. Dr. Zeitler is also a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).
Dr. Zeitler utilizes Chiropractic manipulation, ART, S.A.S.T.M., McKenzie therapy, manual therapy, rehabilitation and nutrition in order to provide the most effective care for his patients. In some instances, a multi-disciplinary approach, including blood tests and diagnostic imaging are utilized to improve and properly diagnose a patient’s condition. For those patients who are looking to improve their performance ART Performance Care is available.
Nutrition
Nutrition is the fuel that runs our energy systems, the building blocks nurturing every cell in the human body. In addition, it is responsible for the production of hormones and the development of a healthy immune system. Nutrition is responsible for nearly every chemical reaction that occurs in the human body. Proper healing and immune functions require adequate nutrition, not only from a caloric standpoint, but also from a nutrient standpoint.
Nutrition is made up of macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients are water, proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Micronutrients consist of vitamins, minerals and conditionally essential nutrients. Vitamins can be further broken down into fat-soluble and water-soluble depending on how they are absorbed and transported in the body. Minerals can be broken down into macrominerals and microminerals depending on their level of intake and their content in the human body. Conditionally essential nutrients are nutrients that the body can typically make unless the body is under a great deal of stress, or has sustained an injury or illness.
Vitamins function as coenzymes, assisting enzymes so they may speed up chemical reactions. In addition, they act as antioxidants and help to express genes. Minerals in the human body function as structural components in the body, for example calcium in bones; coenzymes, maintenance of pH, electrolyte balance and nerve and muscle function. For example, some people get cramps when they work out and this can be due to the loss of electrolytes in sweat. The functions of conditionally essential nutrients vary depending on the nutrient itself.
My Philosophy
My personal philosophy is that proper nutrition is extremely important not only to prevent disease, but also to treat nutrient depletion caused by disease. When our bodies are depleted of nutrients not only can we not defend or heal, but we are also in a state of physical weakness, making us more vulernable to illness. Fortunately in the United States most people consume enough calories, vitamins and minerals to avoid overt nutritional deficiency states. However, we are seeing a rise in various chronic diseases that are caused by subclinical nutrient deficiencies as a result of our poor food selections. While various supplements can help with nutritional deficiencies, food selection is first and foremost step in any treatment plan. Once this is has been addressed then supplements should be incorporated. Lifestyle modifications such as an exercise program and stress reduction, should also be introduced.
Sports Nutrition
Presently under construction.