Rodney Oberdorf, DC

03/19/2026

Exercise in Nature, When Possible.

According to a recent study, engaging in physical activity in natural settings and green spaces—such as parks, countryside areas, and shorelines—may shift attention away from feelings of fatigue and toward calming external surroundings, providing additional physical and mental health benefits.

03/19/2026

The Four Grades of Whiplash Associated Disorders

Whiplash occurs when the head suddenly accelerates and then rapidly decelerates, placing excessive strain on the soft tissues that support the neck. In addition to neck pain and stiffness, this motion can produce a variety of symptoms collectively known as whiplash-associated disorders (WAD). To better define and manage these injuries, the Quebec Task Force on Whiplash-Associated Disorders (1995) developed a classification system that grades whiplash severity from I to IV.

Whiplash occurs when the head suddenly accelerates and then rapidly decelerates, placing excessive strain on the soft tissues that support the neck. In addition to neck pain and stiffness, this motion can produce a variety of symptoms collectively known as whiplash-associated disorders (WAD). To

03/19/2026

Wrist Tendonitis vs. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Fast and repetitive hand and finger movements with little rest time can cause the sheaths that cover the tendons passing through the carpal tunnel to become inflamed, placing increased pressure within the tunnel, compressing the median nerve, and stimulating the symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. Injury or overuse of the tendons themselves can also cause symptoms that may be thought of as carpal tunnel syndrome. How does a doctor of chiropractic determine which condition a patient has, carpal tunnel syndrome or wrist tendonitis?

Fast and repetitive hand and finger movements with little rest time can cause the sheaths that cover the tendons passing through the carpal tunnel to become inflamed, placing increased pressure within the tunnel, compressing the median nerve, and stimulating the symptoms associated with carpal tu

03/18/2026

Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementia Cases Will Quadruple by 2050.

Following an analysis of data from the Global Burden of Disease Study, researchers report that the number of older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias (ADOD) increased from 18.1 million worldwide in 1990 to 49.1 million in 2021. With the aging on the global population and worsening metabolic health, it’s expected that 191 million seniors will be living with ADOD in 2050.

03/18/2026

Reducing the Risk for Chronic Whiplash-Related Pain

A study published in 2019 found that nearly half of whiplash associated disorders (WAD) sufferers are still symptomatic one year after their injury. Why is that, and what can one do to reduce their risk for chronic WAD symptoms?

A study published in 2019 found that nearly half of whiplash associated disorders (WAD) sufferers are still symptomatic one year after their injury. Why is that, and what can one do to reduce their risk for chronic WAD symptoms? The most common source of pain from WAD injuries arises from

03/17/2026

A Multi-Pronged Treatment Approach for Neck Pain

Non-specific mechanical neck pain is a common condition that affects up to 70% of the population at some point during their lifetime, and between 15-20% may have some degree neck pain at any given moment. The descriptor non-specific refers to the fact the condition arises from musculoskeletal strain or dysfunction in the neck region in the absence of a specific underlying medical pathology like degenerative disk disease, meningitis, rheumatoid arthritis, tumors, osteoporosis, and more. Because of the musculoskeletal nature of non-specific mechanical neck pain, patients often seek out chiropractic care; in fact, neck pain is the second most common reason people visit a chiropractor. When managing the condition, chiropractors will often use a combination of treatments, with manual therapies and stabilization exercises providing an excellent option.

Non-specific mechanical neck pain is a common condition that affects up to 70% of the population at some point during their lifetime, and between 15-20% may have some degree neck pain at any given moment. The descriptor non-specific refers to the fact the condition arises from

03/16/2026

Electronic Tablet-Related Neck Pain

When individuals use their smartphone, they often adopt an awkward posture in which their head rests forward of their shoulders. This forward head posture, or “text neck,” places added strain on the muscles in the back of the neck, shoulders, and upper back, which can lead to musculoskeletal pain. Researchers are now looking into how electronic tablet use affects posture and can elevate the risk for pain in the neck, shoulders, and upper back.

When individuals use their smartphone, they often adopt an awkward posture in which their head rests forward of their shoulders. This forward head posture, or “text neck,” places added strain on the muscles in the back of the neck, shoulders, and upper back, which can lead to musculos

03/16/2026

A Practical Tool for Assessing Health and Longevity

As we age, it is natural to become more concerned about our longevity, especially if we have experienced health challenges or engaged in unhealthy behaviors earlier in life. One way to assess probabilistic near-term (under five years) and long-term (10–25 years) mortality risk is to use an assessment known as the Deficit Index, also called the Frailty Index. Essentially, the index evaluates health across many different domains. Each item is scored as 0 (not present), 0.5 (a mild or partial problem), or 1 (a severe or fully present problem). The individual deficit scores are added together and then divided by the total number of items assessed (61 in this example) to produce a final index value between 0 and 1. Below are commonly included deficit domains:

03/16/2026

Unprocessed Carbs Linked to Lower Dementia Risk.

Using data from the UK Biobank study, researchers report that a diet rich in fruits, legumes, and whole grains was associated with a 16% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, whereas a high intake of ultra-processed carbohydrates was linked to a 14% higher risk of the neurodegenerative condition. These findings suggest that diets emphasizing slower-digesting carbohydrates that minimize blood glucose spikes may help support brain health and reduce dementia risk as part of broader healthy aging strategies.

03/12/2026

Whiplash-Related Somatosensory Tinnitus

Most people associate tinnitus with excessive noise exposure, such as the ringing that can follow a rock concert. However, tinnitus can also develop following a whiplash event, such as the rapid acceleration and deceleration of the head and neck that occurs during a motor vehicle collision. While a crash may involve loud noises that can temporarily affect hearing, the persistent nature of tinnitus associated with whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) suggests a different underlying mechanism.

Most people associate tinnitus with excessive noise exposure, such as the ringing that can follow a rock concert. However, tinnitus can also develop following a whiplash event, such as the rapid acceleration and deceleration of the head and neck that occurs during a motor vehicle collision. While

03/11/2026

Heart-Healthy Lifestyle Really Does Reduce Heart Attack Risk.

The American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 is a set of health-related behaviors and clinical measures—including not smoking, achieving adequate sleep duration, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a nutritious diet, engaging in regular physical activity, and having healthy levels of blood glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure—that are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Using data from the UK Biobank, researchers found that individuals who met all eight metrics did indeed have a substantially lower risk of heart attack, and among those who did experience myocardial infarction, the event occurred later in life compared with individuals with fewer optimal metrics.

03/11/2026

Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Seniors with Low Back Pain

While low back pain can affect people of all ages, it’s particularly problematic for older adults and is one of the top three reasons they see a doctor. Despite this, low back pain among seniors often persists for longer than three months, and in the presence of multiple comorbidities (which is often the case with advancing age), low back pain may be under treated or mismanaged. While guidelines for the management of low back pain often emphasize conservative approaches first and foremost, older patients tend to be underrepresented in the studies used to formulate such recommendations. Let’s take a look at the current research on the utilization of spinal manipulative therapy—the primary form of treatment provided by doctors of chiropractic—for the management of low back pain in older adults.

While low back pain can affect people of all ages, it’s particularly problematic for older adults and is one of the top three reasons they see a doctor. Despite this, low back pain among seniors often persists for longer than three months, and in the presence of multiple comorbidities (whic