Marathon Spine & Wellness

02/14/2026

“Your rib is out.”

“Your hip is off.”

If you’ve ever been told that — and then it keeps happening week after week — it’s worth asking a better question:

👉 What’s actually causing the pain?

Most rib and mid-back pain isn’t a bone slipping out of place. It’s often irritated joints in the neck referring pain somewhere else entirely.

Most back and hip pain isn't your hips moving out of place or becoming suddenly uneven.

When we understand pain correctly, treatment changes — and outcomes improve.

In our latest blog, I break down:
• Why bones don’t just pop “out”
• How referred pain really works
• What "spinal adjustments" actually do
• And why we also use exercise, laser, dry needling, and focused shockwave to address pain from multiple angles

Your body isn’t fragile.
You’re not broken.
And you deserve an explanation that makes sense.

Read the full post here 👇

If you’ve ever been told your “rib is out” or your “hip is off,” you’re not alone. Those phrases have been used in chiropractic offices for decades because they’re simple and easy to understand.But simple doesn’t always mean accurate.And the way we explain your pain matters — becau...

02/07/2026

Restless legs keeping you up at night? 😴

That constant urge to move, tingling, or aching in your legs isn’t just annoying—it’s often a sign of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), a neurological condition that affects millions and seriously disrupts sleep.

Studies have shown that conservative, evidence-based care works—and many of the most effective strategies don’t start with medication.

In our office, we focus on proven approaches like:

✔️ Customized exercise programs
✔️ Pneumatic compression therapy to improve circulation
✔️ Massage & hands-on techniques
✔️ Magnesium & nutritional guidance (when appropriate)
✔️ Sleep-support strategies
✔️ Collaboration with your medical provider for iron testing or medication review

Studies consistently highlight movement-based care and circulation-focused therapies as some of the most effective non-drug treatments for RLS.

If restless legs are stealing your rest, it’s time for a smarter, evidence-based plan.

👉 Read our latest post to learn what actually worksand how we can help you sleep better again.

https://www.marathonspine.com/post/evidence-based-care-for-restless-legs-syndrome-what-actually-works-and-how-our-office-can-help

If you’ve ever felt an uncontrollable urge to move your legs at night—often paired with aching, crawling, or tingling sensations—you may be dealing with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). This neurological condition affects an estimated 3% of adults and frequently disrupts sleep, energy levels, and...

02/06/2026

Sudden Hip Pain? Start Conservative Before Imaging or Surgery.

Hip pain that comes on quickly can be scary—but research shows that most non-traumatic cases improve best with conservative care first, not immediate imaging or surgery.

Large studies comparing treatments for conditions like gluteal tendinopathy and hip osteoarthritis consistently find:

✅ Exercise + education = the best long-term results for pain and function
⚡ Shockwave therapy can outperform cortisone injections for certain arthritic or tendon-related hip problems
💉 Cortisone shots may help short-term, but don’t match rehab-based care over time
🔦 Laser therapy has limited evidence for sudden mechanical hip pain
📸 Imaging isn’t usually needed early unless red flags or trauma are present

At Marathon Spine & Wellness, we focus on what the science actually supports:

✔️ Thorough evaluations to identify the true cause (not just x-rays alone)
✔️ Personalized movement programs—everyone leaves with a self-care plan
✔️ Progressive rehab instead of outdated advice like “just rest”
✔️ Advanced options like laser or focused shockwave when appropriate
✔️ A goal of helping you avoid unnecessary surgery and procedures

If your hip pain is limiting walking, sleep, workouts, or work—don’t ignore it. Early, targeted conservative care often prevents months of frustration.

Want more detail on evidence based treatment for hip pain? Check out our most recent article here:

https://www.marathonspine.com/post/sudden-hip-pain-what-research-says-works-best

Dealing with hip pain? Reach out and let us help you get moving again—confidently.

Sudden hip pain can be alarming. Whether it strikes while running, getting out of a chair, or seemingly out of nowhere, many people immediately wonder:Do I need an injection? An MRI? Surgery?The good news: high-quality medical research consistently shows that most non-traumatic hip pain responds bes...

02/05/2026

🧠💪 Exercise Isn’t Just Safe for Back Pain — It’s One of the Best Tools We Have

New research published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport followed people with chronic low back pain during a structured exercise program—and the results were clear:

✅ Pain decreased the most during the first few weeks
✅ Exercise continued to reduce pain throughout the program
✅ Physical activity helped patients manage flare-ups even weeks into training

The takeaway? Movement is medicine.

At Marathon Spine & Wellness, we regularly recommend different forms of exercise for our patients because no two bodies (or pain days) are the same. That’s why everyone leaves our office with a self-care routine tailored to:
✔️ Their injury or condition
✔️ Their activity goals
✔️ Where they’re at that day

🔄 This also challenges outdated advice like:
❌ “Just rest more”
❌ “Stop running”
❌ “Stop lifting”

While rest is sometimes necessary—such as with fractures or complete tissue tears (and select exceptions)—most musculoskeletal injuries actually recover better with the right kind of movement, not complete shutdown.

If pain is holding you back, the goal isn’t to stop moving—it’s to move smarter.

01/29/2026

Sciatic pain shooting down your leg? 😣

If you’re searching for a chiropractor for sciatica, we just published a new article explaining:

✅ What sciatica really is
✅ What to expect at Marathon Spine & Wellness
✅ Evidence-based treatment options
✅ Why we focus on time, outcomes, and personalized care

Most cases don’t start with imaging or injections—they start with a thorough exam and a smart, conservative plan.

👉 Read the full article and learn how we help Marathon get back to moving comfortably.

Sciatica is one of the most common—and frustrating—causes of leg pain we see in our Marathon community. Sharp, burning, or electric sensations traveling from the low back into the buttock and down the leg can interfere with work, farming, athletics, and daily life.If you’re searching for a chi...

01/21/2026

Neck pain and stiffness aren’t just an inconvenience—they can quietly impact your sleep, work, and overall quality of life.

A recent randomized controlled trial involving over 300 patients looked at focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy (fESWT) for people with cervical spondylosis (age-related wear and tear of the neck).

Here’s what the researchers found:
• Less neck pain
• Improved neck movement
• Better daily function
• Higher quality of life scores
• No increase in side effects compared to placebo

In fact, over 90% of patients receiving real shockwave therapy saw meaningful improvement—significantly more than those who received a sham treatment.

This matters because many people with chronic neck pain are looking for non-surgical, evidence-based options that go beyond medication alone. Research like this helps guide smarter, more targeted care focused on restoring motion and function—not just masking symptoms.

If chronic neck pain has been limiting you, understanding your options is the first step toward lasting relief.

01/19/2026

Chronic pain is becoming more common — and it’s showing up closer to home.

A large national study following U.S. adults over more than two decades found that chronic pain is increasing across the country. Interestingly, suburban areas are now emerging as pain “hotspots,” not just rural communities.

This matters because chronic pain is one of the leading causes of disability and loss of independence as we age. And while age plays a role, pain is often influenced by how we move, how we work, how we recover, and how long we wait to address small issues before they become bigger ones.

Pain doesn’t always start with an injury — sometimes it slowly becomes the “new normal.”

Paying attention early, staying active, and understanding your body can make a meaningful difference.

01/16/2026

Shoulder Pain That Just Won’t Go Away? The Labrum Might Be the Reason.

New research in The American Journal of Sports Medicine helps explain why labral tears can be so painful. After a SLAP or Bankart tear, the labrum develops new nerve fibers, which may directly drive the pain patients feel—not just the structural damage itself.

So how do we approach this clinically?

🔍 How labral tears are identified
A proper shoulder exam matters. We use:

-Targeted orthopedic labral tests
-Strength and stability assessments
-Movement analysis to identify instability patterns

This helps determine whether the labrum is truly the pain driver—or if something else is contributing.

🖥️ Imaging options
Advanced imaging (like MRI or MR-arthrogram) can be helpful in certain cases, especially when symptoms persist or surgical decisions are being considered. Imaging should support the exam—not replace it.

⚙️ Conservative treatment options we often start with
Many patients improve without surgery using a structured plan that may include:

1. Shockwave therapy to stimulate healing and reduce pain signaling
2. Dry needling to address surrounding muscular dysfunction
3. Laser therapy to support tissue recovery
4. Stability and strengthening exercises focused on the rotator cuff and scapular control

🏥 What about surgery?
Long-term data from the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery shows that not all labral repairs have the same outcome. Recurrence of instability is more likely in:

-Patients under 20 years old
-Certain labral tear types (like ALPSA lesions)
-Tears located between 3–5 o’clock on the labrum
-This highlights why careful patient selection and conservative care first are often critical steps.

📌 Bottom line:
Labral tears aren’t “just structural”—they’re neurological, mechanical, and stability-related. A thorough exam and smart treatment plan can often reduce pain and improve function without rushing to surgery.

If shoulder pain is limiting your work, workouts, or sleep, getting the right diagnosis is the first step toward the right solution.

01/16/2026

🧠 Do You Really Need an X-Ray to Know What’s Causing Your Back or Neck Pain?

It’s one of the most common questions we hear—and the answer may surprise you.

In our latest blog post, we explain why more imaging isn’t always better care, and how a thorough examination often tells us far more than routine X-rays.

We cover:
• Why many painful spine conditions don’t show up well on X-rays
• How pain doesn’t always equal damage
• When imaging truly helps—and when it doesn’t change outcomes

This is our longest blog post yet because it reflects what we’re passionate about as chiropractors: taking time with our patients, practicing the art of diagnosis, and building evidence-based plans focused on real outcomes.

💡 Small “did you know”:
When imaging is needed, we often utilize more MRI's than X-rays —and in most cases, MRIs can be done for around $650 in Wausau!

👉 https://www.marathonspine.com/post/understanding-what-x-rays-can-and-can-t-tell-us-about-pain

If you’ve ever wondered why imaging is—or isn’t—recommended, this one’s worth a few minutes.

01/15/2026

New Research: Shockwave Therapy Shows Strong Results for Chronic Shoulder Pain

A 2025 study in the Journal of Orthopaedic Science looked at patients with calcific rotator cuff tendinopathy—a common cause of long-lasting shoulder pain that doesn’t respond well to rest, injections, or basic rehab.

The researchers found that focused shockwave therapy led to:
✔️ Significant pain and function improvement
✔️ High rates of calcium deposit resorption
✔️ Fewer treatment sessions needed when deposits fully resolved

Most notably, patients whose calcium deposits completely resorbed had better overall outcomes than those with partial improvement.

📖 Hiraoka et al., 2025

Shockwave therapy works by delivering targeted acoustic energy to irritated tendon tissue, helping stimulate healing and, in some cases, break down stubborn calcifications that keep symptoms lingering.

If you’ve been told your shoulder pain is “just arthritis or inflammation” or feel stuck in a cycle of flare-ups, this research highlights why addressing the underlying tendon changes matters—not just masking symptoms.

As always, the right treatment depends on the correct diagnosis, which is why a thorough evaluation is key before starting any intervention.

01/15/2026

Spinal Pain & Brain Health: A Connection Worth Talking About 🧠🦴

A recent study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found a significant association between spinal pain and cognitive impairment in older adults. The link was especially strong in a few subgroups—those who are older, female, or have less formal education.

While this study doesn’t prove cause and effect, it reinforces something we talk about often: spinal and joint health matter far beyond just pain. Chronic spinal pain can limit movement, reduce physical activity, disrupt sleep, and increase stress—all factors that play a role in long-term brain and body health.

👉 One key takeaway:
Healthy aging doesn’t start at retirement—it starts earlier in life.

Regular movement, strength training, mobility work, and staying active help maintain joint health, spinal function, and independence later on. The goal isn’t just to “get out of pain,” but to keep moving well for decades.

How we help at Marathon Spine & Wellness:
✔️ Improve spinal and joint mobility
✔️ Reduce pain that limits activity
✔️ Prescribe individualized exercise and movement plans
✔️ Support long-term function—not just short-term relief

Whether you’re managing current pain or looking to stay active and sharp as you age, investing in your mobility now pays dividends later.

📍 Questions about mobility, spinal pain, or staying active as you age? We’re happy to help.

Yang H, Haldeman S, Hurwitz EL, Tavares PA, Green BN, Dale H, de Luca K. Association of Cognitive Impairment and Spinal Pain in the Older Adult Population in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2025 Sep 11.

01/14/2026

🦵 Tendon Pain? Slowing Down Is Only Part of the Solution.

Current evidence supports high-load, slow-velocity resistance exercise as a cornerstone treatment for patellar and Achilles tendinopathy, especially in active individuals and athletes.

In simple terms: heavy, slow, controlled movement helps tendons get stronger and tolerate load again.

🔬 A 2023 review in the Journal of Sport Rehabilitation reinforces this approach—focusing on slow calf raises, controlled squats, and other exercises that emphasize the lowering (eccentric) phase.

But exercise isn’t always enough—especially in more painful, chronic, or stubborn cases.

➡️ That’s where supportive therapies can help:

Dry Needling to reduce muscle tone, improve neuromuscular control, and help patients tolerate loading sooner

Class IV Laser Therapy to support tissue healing, decrease pain, and calm irritated tendon tissue

Shockwave Therapy to stimulate tendon remodeling in chronic cases that haven’t responded to rest or basic rehab

These tools don’t replace exercise—they help make exercise possible and more effective.

The key is combining:
✔️ Proper diagnosis
✔️ The right loading strategy
✔️ Adjunct therapies when needed
✔️ Gradual return to sport or activity

If knee or Achilles pain keeps coming back despite stretching, rest, or “taking time off,” it may be time for a smarter loading plan with the right support.

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📚 Taylor JD, Corbitt A, Mathis RA. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 2023