Tracy Bretl, DO, SC

10/11/2018

Something else to consider with infant colic -

The infant is vulnerable to forces in the uterus before birth and during the process of birth, especially with a mom with a small pelvis or with slow dilatation of the cervix. The base of the skull is formed in cartilage and the vault in membrane. Eight of the bones are in two to four parts (a total of twenty) at birth to allow for compression of the head as it passes through the birth canal (allowing protection of the central nervous system). The bones of the vault overlap and the cartilaginous base will compress, bend, or twist depending on the forces of labor and birth.
The actions of crying, breathing, and suckling, aid in restoring the normal relationships of the bones in the head and pelvis. If these actions do not accomplish this, entrapment of cranial nerves can occur. At birth, the occiput (the bone that directly above the neck) is in four parts - the base, two condyles, and the squama. Entrapment of cranial nerves IX, X, and XI (glossopharyngeal, vagus, and spinal accessory, respectively – the nerves involved in eating and digestion) may occur via compression of the jugular foramen (a hole or passageway from the head formed by the occiput and the temporal bone). Alteration in vagus nerve function can cause excessive crying. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) can be used to allow the inherent forces to restore the normal relationship of the bones - alleviating the entrapment and relieving the symptoms.
A controlled, randomized clinical trial was performed on the effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment on the signs associated with infant colic. Of the infants that qualified for the study (with signs of infant colic), half were treated with osteopathic manipulation. Those treated showed a statistically significant decrease in crying and an increase in time spent sleeping. The group that was not treated showed no statistical improvement.

05/20/2018

Zerona is the first Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared non-invasive body contouring device that effectively and safely removes fat from the waist, hips, thighs, and upper arms in two weeks. In a level 1 clinical trial, the FDA determined that a cumulative reduction of at least 3 inches were clinically significant. Participants in the study were treated every other day for two weeks for a total of six treatments. Each treatment consisted of 20 minutes with the lasers directed at the front of the patient and 20 minutes with the lasers directed at the back of the patient. After two weeks of treatment the patients lost an average of 3.5 inches from the waist, hips, and thighs, cumulatively. Level 1 clinical trials require the highest testing standards in the industry.
Zerona works by painlessly creating a small pore or hole in the fat cell wall. The fat empties out of the pore in the cell wall, shrinking the cell (like making raisins out of grapes), but the cell remains healthy and alive. Fat cells are recognized as organs that regulate aspects of metabolism such as appetite, energy levels, and food breakdown. The shrinking of the fat cells causes a reduction in the thickness of the fat layer under the skin, causing a reduction in the measurement of the area at which the laser was directed.
The fatty debris/triglycerides enter into the space between the tissue which is regulated by the lymphatic system. The lymph nodes release an enzyme to break triglycerides down into safe free fatty acids which are removed naturally by the body.
Maximum results are achieved by following the recommended protocol, which includes:
​Take appropriate supplements.
​Hydrate – Drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day (but not over a gallon).
​Eliminate Alcohol and Limit Caffeine Intake – Both dehydrate the body and you want to be as hydrated as possible. If you choose to have a caffeinated beverage, drink two additional glasses of water immediately afterwards.
​Eat 4-5 Smaller Meals – The liver will be able to process food more efficiently. Stay away from processed foods – the liver needs to stop processing fat to process those foods.
​Exercise – 30-45 minutes of moderate exercise each day. Walking, yoga, pilates, and swimming are all good activities. Anything too demanding like weight lifting or power walking will build up lactic acid and the body will burn sugar instead of fat. If you have been in a regular exercise routine for 6+ months, keep it up. Concentrate more on cardio and less on weights.
​Compression Garments – You should wear them at least eight hours per day. They help push the liquefied fat into the lymphatic system and speed up the processing of the fat and also help with skin contracture.
​Keep Appointments – Keep your scheduled appointment with no more than three days between appointments.
Zerona non-invasive body contouring is an alternative to liposuction. It can be used to jump start a diet or exercise program or on ‘problem’ areas not addressed by exercise.

05/05/2018

Osteopathic Medicine basics -

Osteopathic Medicine is a distinctive form of medical care based on the philosophy developed by Andrew Taylor Still (1828-1917) who stressed the concept of wellness and recognized treating the whole person. Osteopathic physicians use all modalities available through modern medicine, including medication and surgery. They can also use Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) which is a set of manual medicine techniques that can be used to diagnose injury and illness, relieve pain, restore range of motion, and enhance the body’s ability to heal.
DOs and MDs complete the same amount of schooling, four years of college and four years of medical school. They also both complete graduate medical education through internships/residencies/fellowships and must pass comparable examinations for licensing. DOs receive training in manipulation of the musculoskeletal system – the body’s interconnected system of nerves, muscles, connective tissue, and bones – which makes up almost two-thirds of the body’s mass.
Osteopathic Medicine was founded by A. T. Still in 1874. Dr. Still was a Civil War surgeon for the Union Army. After three of his children died of spinal meningitis in 1864, he felt that the medical practices of the times were ineffective. He spent the next ten years studying the human body and put forth four principles.
1. The human being is a dynamic unit of function. There are a number of unifying systems in the body. The circulatory system supplies blood to tissues and organs. The nervous system connects and integrates all of the body’s functions. Another unifying system is a connective tissue matrix called fascia. Fascia is a continuous sheath of living tissue surrounding every muscle, organ, nerve, and blood vessel, from head to toe. The primary function of fascia is to support and lubricate. The fascia provides a pathway for blood vessels and lymphatic vessels along with nerves. These systems organize the body into a unified continuous whole. No single part exists independently, thus, when a part of the body does not function correctly, the entire person is affected.
2. The body possesses self-regulatory mechanisms and has the inherent ability to heal itself. The human body is always working to maintain balanced function. Various systems in the body work to regulate blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar. Wounds heal by inherent forces and processes in the body. At times the body’s self-healing forces can be impaired by disease or structural imbalance. The osteopathic physician is trained to assist these mechanisms to help the body to better and more quickly heal itself.
3. Structure and function are inter-related. Every structure in the body is alive and in motion. When this motion is impaired, the tissues will not function as needed. This alteration can result in symptoms and may even result in disease. A dramatic example of the importance of structure and function is found in looking at the influenza epidemic of 1917-1918. Osteopathic physicians treated their patients with osteopathic manipulation and had a mortality rate of less than one percent while those not treated with osteopathic manipulation had a mortality rate of 30-40 percent.
4. Rational treatment is based on the understanding of body unity, self-regulatory mechanisms, and inter-relatedness of structure and function. An osteopathic medical approach to treatment typically integrates osteopathic manipulation to restore structural relationships in the tissues, enhance fluid movement throughout the body, and creates the optimal conditions for healing to occur.
Today, one in five medical students is attending an osteopathic medical school.

05/03/2018

It's a great day for a Structural Exam! Who in Mequon is struggling with pain these days?

03/21/2016

Important information for those who have had a concussion...

Post-concussion syndrome is a complex disorder which can last for weeks and sometimes months after the injury that causes the concussion. A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury which usually occurs after a blow to the head. Loss of consciousness is not required for a diagnosis of concussion or post-concussion syndrome. The risk of post-concussion syndrome does not appear to be associated with the initial injury.
In most people, post-concussion syndrome symptoms occur within the first seven to 10 days after injury and go away within three months, though the symptoms can continue for a year or more. Treatment of post-concussion syndrome is directed at alleviating symptoms. Symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, loss of concentration, and noise and light sensitivity.
Headaches that occur after a concussion can vary from feeling like muscle tension headaches to migraine headaches. Muscle tension headaches can be associated with a neck injury that happened along with the head injury.
In some cases, people may experience emotional or behavior changes after a mild brain injury. If confusion and/or amnesia occur, it is important to consult a physician. If a concussion occurs while playing a sport, do not go back into the game and consult a physician.
Some experts believe post-concussion syndrome symptoms are caused by structural damage to the brain or disruption of neurotransmitter systems as a result of the impact of the concussion. Others believe symptoms are related to psychological factors as symptoms are similar to those diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. In many cases, both the physiologic effects of brain trauma and emotional reactions to these effects play a role in the development of symptoms. Researchers have not determined why some people develop post-concussion syndrome symptoms and some do not.
Risk factors for developing post-concussion syndrome can include age, gender, and trauma. Older persons and women and those with concussion resulting from car collisions, falls, assaults, and sports injuries are more likely to develop post-concussion syndrome.
An emergency room physician is often the one who makes the initial diagnosis of concussion. Most people will follow up with their general practitioner who may then refer the person to a neurologist or physiatrist.
Depending on the symptoms present, the doctor may order a brain scan to check for potential problems that could be causing the symptoms. A computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be done to detect brain abnormalities.
A person experiencing dizziness may be referred to a physician specializing in ear, nose, and throat problems. A person experiencing anxiety or depression or problems with memory or problem-solving may be referred to a psychologist or psychiatrist.
Medications can be used for several of the symptoms of post-concussion syndrome.
Osteopathic manipulative treatment can be used to address the structural abnormalities that can be found in post-concussion syndrome. Normalizing structure can normalize function, improving or alleviating a number of the symptoms present in post-concussion syndrome.
Education regarding post-concussion syndrome and knowing there are treatment options can ease the person’s fears and help provide peace of mind.

01/28/2014

Appeared on The Morning Blend this morning with Kathleen Fictum. Thank you, Kathleen!
http://www.themorningblend.com/videos/241701851.html

The Zerona Laser treatment is non-invasive body contouring and is cleared by the FDA. It removes fat and reduces inches. Dr. Tracy Bretl tells us more on how the Zerona Laser works and shows us some great results. Check out www.tracybretldo.com

03/05/2013

Appeared on the Morning Blend this morning with Kathleen Fictum.
http://www.themorningblend.com/videos/195045401.html

The Zerona Laser treatment is non-invasive body contouring and is cleared by the FDA. It removes fat and reduces inches. Dr. Tracy Bretl tells us more on how the Zerona Laser works and shows us some great results. Check out www.tracybretldo.com

12/11/2012

Appeared on The Morning Blend this morning with Haley Bretl.
http://www.themorningblend.com/videos/182668481.html

Dr. Bretl recently introduced ZERONA laser treatment into her practice. The ZERONA laser is an FDA cleared laser for non-invasive body contouring. Painlessly reduce at least 3 inches and remove body fat without surgery in two weeks. Dr. Bretl is ava