Michael Russo, D.C. is a graduate of the New York Chiropractic College. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Bridgeport. Dr. Russo has been practicing locally in Branford for the past 18 years. He specializes in the treatment of pain associated with musculoskeletal conditions and sports injuries. He is a member of the Connecticut Chiropractic Association, American Chiropractic Association and the ACA Council of Sports Injury & Physical Fitness. He is certified by The National College of Chiropractic in Exercise and Rehabilitation Therapy. He employs a wide variety of time-proven, natural, non-invasive techniques to improve the health of his patients.
Dr. Andrea Benko graduated with her Bachelors degree from the University of Connecticut, and her Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1998. After graduation she practiced in Wisconsin with Allied Health Chiropractic Centers, working in practices focusing on Workers Compensation and Personal Injuries.
Returning home to Connecticut in 2003, Dr. Benko began focusing more on holistic health, studying Reiki (2003) and then Reflexology (2008) and becoming nationally certified in foot reflexology with The American Reflexology Certification board in 2008. She joined Back to Health of Branford in 2009. In 2011, she did her fellowship in acupuncture with the International Academy of Medical Acupuncture. Practicing at Back to Health today, she takes a holistic approach to chiropractic utilizing low force, adjusting techniques combined with soft tissue work.
Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, like back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches. Doctors of Chiropractic – often referred to as chiropractors or chiropractic physicians – practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment.Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling.
The most common procedure performed by chiropractors is known as “spinal manipulation,” also called “chiropractic adjustment.” The purpose of manipulation is to restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that are restricted in their movement, as a result of an injury. Injury can be caused by a single traumatic event, such as improper lifting of a heavy object, or through repetitive stresses, such as sitting in an awkward position with poor spinal posture for an extended period of time. In either case, injured tissues undergo physical and chemical changes that can cause inflammation, pain, and diminished function for the sufferer.
Manipulation, or adjustment of the affected joint and tissues restores mobility, which alleviates pain and muscle tightness, and allows tissues to heal. In many cases, such as lower back pain, chiropractic care may be the primary method of treatment. Chiropractors will refer patients to the appropriate health care provider when chiropractic care is not best for the patient’s condition.
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