ALTMED Medical and Physical Therapy

04/30/2026

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Email from ALT-MED Medical and Physical Therapy Health is a constant effort...but the rewards are tremendous May 2026 Baby Geese Everywhere Just an FYI... I am finally going to have hip surgery and wi

03/10/2026

CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN - WHAT WORKS!

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) affects roughly Around 28% of U.S. adults reported chronic low back/sciatic pain in 2022, with 44% of those suffering for five years or longer. As the leading cause of disability worldwide, with 619 million cases globally in 2020, prevalence is rising due to aging and obesity.

It is common knowledge that physical exercise can be beneficial for chronic back pain. However, there are so many different types of physical exercise. It can be difficult to discern which is best.

One large medical study (meta-analysis) looked at 118 trials (9710 participants) (click here). It concluded that all types of physical exercises were effective to varying degrees for improving pain and disability. Interestingly, stretching exercises were not very effective at reducing pain and McKenzie exercises, a common physical therapy approach, was inferior for reducing disability.

The most effective approaches for pain improvement were Pilates, mind-body, and core-based exercises. Pilates, strength and core-based exercises took home the gold for reducing disability.

On final analysis, Pilates had the highest likelihood for reducing pain (93%) and disability (98%).

Examining non-traditional therapies for chronic back pain (click here) a large medical study, again a meta-analysis, identified 29 randomized controlled trials involving 3803 patients comparing yoga, qigong and tai chi. Outcomes included pain scores, physical functioning and quality of life.

There are many types of yoga each with a different focus on holding positions often with a specific breathing pattern. Yoga is done to increase flexibility, strength and stress reduction.

Tai Chi and Qigong are both types of Chinese-based mind/body practices. There are numerous different styles of tai chi. However, all are considered a form of martial art using short and long, constant sequences of positions to improve balance and strength.

Qigong is much older than tai chi. It is somewhat different in that it focuses on simple movements and breathing patterns repeated to enhance “energy”, balance and health.

Qigong was most effective for pain relief and improving physical function. Yoga was second. Of note, my energy therapy uses a form of qigong and the results for pain are very good. Tai chi was best in the measurement of quality of life.

Combing movement therapies may be better than any single therapy. Interestingly, the ALT-MED approach to chronic low back pain is often to combine my qigong energy therapies with martial art-based exercises taught by our physical therapist Daryl. The results are impressive and lasting.

03/10/2026

Dr. Massey's 5-year Health Plan

The only known constants in the universe are movement and change. Everything in the universe moves and everything in the universe changes. These two concepts are the key to your own health and happiness.

Your body is constantly changing because of an ever-moving, ever-changing physical and mental environment. Your health at this moment is not the same as your health of yesterday nor will it be identical to your health of tomorrow.

Unfortunately, for most people, health is not a priority and has become less important leading to illness and disease. Can this change? The answer is yes. Although there does not seem to be an answer to aging itself, the slope of the inevitable decline in health can be adjusted…improved. Some people have discovered this secret changing the angle of the downward slope. So can you.

Let’s be clear. Medications can reduce symptoms but do not result in health. Most supplements can reduce symptoms but also do not result in heath. They stabilize and buy time for the person to engage in those lifestyle changes that heal and rebuild the body.

Knowledge is power and knowing what your body is lacking and what to focus on is the first step in solid health. Maybe you have a poor diet. Maybe you are inflexible. Maybe you are not strong. Maybe you carry too much stress. If you don’t know what to focus on, success in health is unlikely. We all know health costs much less than illness in money, time and emotional effort.

I am starting a program (soon) that measures your physical health - strength and flexibility - as well as your metabolic health. It is the starting point to identifying weaknesses and turning them into strengths. It is your health blueprint for the next five years or longer. More information coming soon!

03/10/2026

New Office

Finally finished the move and Daryl has done a fantastic job of decorating.

My computer died during the move and I had to get another. Having some difficulty but otherwise working well.

Office visits, physical therapy and massage therapy, energy work and vitamin C therapy all back on track.

If you are using google maps for directions...google ALT-MED and you will get proper directions. If you google 473 Army Trail Road it is hit and miss.

We look forward to seeing y'all soon...bring chocolate as a house warming gift :)

Patrick Massey MD PhD MhD

Daryl Massey PT MPT

12/04/2024

My most recent medical newsletter...hope you enjoy and feel free to pass on...

Email from ALT-MED Medical and Physical Therapy Winter is here...are you ready? December 2024 Long Dark Of Winter In this issue: Ultra-processed food and Crohn's disease Weight loss medications Immune

10/20/2024

10/14/2024

Upcoming Lecture on Weight Management

Patrick Massey MD, PhD MhD

Date: Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Time: 6:00pm to 7:30pm

Location:
Baker Community Center
101 S. 2nd St
St. Charles, IL 60174

Cost: $25.00 – Registration Begins Soon

Weight management is a popular topic in medicine and TV advertising. However, long-term success is more than fad diets, medications and calories-in and calories-out. In today’s complex world, reaching a healthy weight depends on many lifestyle issues like stress, sleep, dietary quality, physical/mental exercise, chronic illnesses, and medications.

Join Dr. Massey as he discusses the many factors of weight management and how you can make meaningful and lasting changes to achieve your weight goals.

Dr. Massey will discuss the following:

Obesity – US is #1 in industrialized nations
Obesity and risk of chronic illness
Sleep deprivation = weight gain
Diets – all work and all fail
Medications – often work but ultimately fail
Stress – how it dramatically causes increase in weight
Metabolic syndrome – insulin resistance prevents weight loss
Sub-clinical hypothyroidism – labs look OK but still fatigued and gain weight
Physical exercise – pluses and minuses
Mental exercise – one of the keys to metabolic balance
Food quality – slowly poisoned by additives
Medications – can affect metabolism…profoundly

09/27/2024

My latest blog on how to recharge your energy to maximize healing and longevity

New Blog Energy = Health Never too late to start In my initial blogs, I discussed some of the ways we lose the bio-energy that is essential for healing. In this new blog I discuss how to recharge you

09/05/2024

https://conta.cc/3AOwpop

Alzheimer's Disease and You Never too early to start Prevention and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease Neurological conditions are now the leading cause of disability world-wide, affecting nearly half

08/16/2024

Blink twice and summer is gone...time to get healthy. My August health newsletter https://conta.cc/3ApcwEf