The general population is going to chiropractors in record numbers. Seniors, the fastest segment of the population is no exception. According to a recent August 24th 1999 article in USA Today, more than 80% of senior’s age 65 or greater are aware of what the article termed alternative medicine. This awareness has lead to a fairly fast growing utilization of these services. The breakdown for usage of chiropractic and other non-medical health care is as follows:
Chiropractic lead the way with a utilization of 32%, second was massage therapy at 16%, followed by acupuncture 9%, homeopathy at 4%, naturopathy 3% and Chinese medicine 3%.
A recent study published in Topics in Clinical Chiropractic of a randomized clinical trial showed data that found chiropractic geriatric patients were "less likely to have been hospitalized, less likely to have used a nursing home, more likely to report a better health status, more likely to exercise vigorously, and more likely to be mobile in the community."
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Sunday, August 1, 2010
Relief of Symptoms in Cervical Spinal Stenosis Through Specific Chiropractic
From the June 2004 issue of the peer reviewed scientific journal, The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, comes a documented case study of a 70 year old woman who was injured in a side-impact motor vehicle accident. The report noted that within hours of the accident, the woman developed headaches, neck pain, and a burning sensation on the left side of her face and the entire left side of her body, including her arms and legs.
She was taken to the emergency room where an MRI was performed and she was initially diagnosed as having had a CVA (cerebral vascular accident or stroke). Later she was seen by a neurologist who felt that she had not suffered a CVA and after additional tests her diagnosis was changed to "cervical myelopathy". Cervical myelopathy is a form of spinal cord injury resulting in spinal cord compression. A cervical MRI was performed and revealed significant spinal stenosis with spinal cord deformation.
The patient started chiropractic care two weeks after the accident. She stated that her goal was to avoid spinal surgery. Her symptoms included headaches, neck pain, and a problem she described as an “odd sensation like my left face, body, arm, and leg are hot and burning.”
Specific chiropractic care was initiated and the patient was adjusted each office visit for 18 sessions over 55 days at a frequency of 3 times per week for the first 2 weeks and then once per week for the duration of the treatment period. Within just two weeks the patient reported that her burning sensation had decreased by about 90%. She also experienced quick resolution of her muscular aches and pains. In just under 2 months the patient had reported complete resolution of her symptoms.
In this study the author concluded, "Resolution of the signs and symptoms of cervical stenosis with MRI-documented spinal cord compression through chiropractic techniques is reported." In other words, this patient was spared surgery and the quality of her life was dramatically improved.
http://chiromedltd.com
She was taken to the emergency room where an MRI was performed and she was initially diagnosed as having had a CVA (cerebral vascular accident or stroke). Later she was seen by a neurologist who felt that she had not suffered a CVA and after additional tests her diagnosis was changed to "cervical myelopathy". Cervical myelopathy is a form of spinal cord injury resulting in spinal cord compression. A cervical MRI was performed and revealed significant spinal stenosis with spinal cord deformation.
The patient started chiropractic care two weeks after the accident. She stated that her goal was to avoid spinal surgery. Her symptoms included headaches, neck pain, and a problem she described as an “odd sensation like my left face, body, arm, and leg are hot and burning.”
Specific chiropractic care was initiated and the patient was adjusted each office visit for 18 sessions over 55 days at a frequency of 3 times per week for the first 2 weeks and then once per week for the duration of the treatment period. Within just two weeks the patient reported that her burning sensation had decreased by about 90%. She also experienced quick resolution of her muscular aches and pains. In just under 2 months the patient had reported complete resolution of her symptoms.
In this study the author concluded, "Resolution of the signs and symptoms of cervical stenosis with MRI-documented spinal cord compression through chiropractic techniques is reported." In other words, this patient was spared surgery and the quality of her life was dramatically improved.
http://chiromedltd.com
Golfers Love Chiropractic
The Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ reported a story about professional golfers using chiropractic on a regular basis. Dr. Tom La Fountain is a chiropractor who travels with the PGA tour and regularly provides chiropractic to the pros. Dr. La Fountain reports that up to 85 percent of the injuries on the PGA Tour and Senior Tour relate to the spine, and about 70 to 75 percent of those golfers receive regular chiropractic care.
The August 21, 2000 issue of the Salt Lake Tribune reported that senior pro golfer, Doug Tewell was delayed entering the Senior PGA tour due to spinal problems. Tewell injured his back while playing a round of golf with his son in Oklahoma. The injury kept him in bed for three days and required the use of a walker for two weeks. On the recommendation of fellow pro Bob Tway, Tewell decided to see a chiropractor. His comments in the Tribune article summed up his reactions, "the most incredible thing, just a few little jerks," Tewell said. "I thought I had met Oral Roberts."
Professional women golfers also utilize chiropractic. Dr. David E. Stude, a chiropractor and associate professor and faculty clinician at Northwestern Health Sciences University, lectures across the country with Lisa Masters, an LPGA golf pro, emphasizing the importance of chiropractic care for golfers. Dr. Stude states, "Normally, each vertebra in the spine moves independently a certain number of degrees when our whole body is involved in an activity. If that is not happening, for example, if two or more segments move as a whole unit, rather than moving independently, it can lead to one kind of vertebral mechanical dysfunction."
http://chiromedltd.com
The August 21, 2000 issue of the Salt Lake Tribune reported that senior pro golfer, Doug Tewell was delayed entering the Senior PGA tour due to spinal problems. Tewell injured his back while playing a round of golf with his son in Oklahoma. The injury kept him in bed for three days and required the use of a walker for two weeks. On the recommendation of fellow pro Bob Tway, Tewell decided to see a chiropractor. His comments in the Tribune article summed up his reactions, "the most incredible thing, just a few little jerks," Tewell said. "I thought I had met Oral Roberts."
Professional women golfers also utilize chiropractic. Dr. David E. Stude, a chiropractor and associate professor and faculty clinician at Northwestern Health Sciences University, lectures across the country with Lisa Masters, an LPGA golf pro, emphasizing the importance of chiropractic care for golfers. Dr. Stude states, "Normally, each vertebra in the spine moves independently a certain number of degrees when our whole body is involved in an activity. If that is not happening, for example, if two or more segments move as a whole unit, rather than moving independently, it can lead to one kind of vertebral mechanical dysfunction."
http://chiromedltd.com
Correct Posture Month
May is Correct Posture Month. In a May 6, 2004 Yahoo news release is a story from the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) proclaiming May as Correct Posture Month. The article notes that a new study published in the journal 'Spine' revealed an urgent need for health promotion programs to increase awareness and reduce risks in the school environment, such as heavy backpacks, desks and chairs that don't fit their users, and an absence of physical activity during recess.
During Correct Posture Month, the ACA is urging school administrators, teachers, and parents' organizations to more closely examine these unexpected dangers lurking in our schools. Parents and schools need to become more aware of the risks associated with heavy backpacks, improper computer ergonomics and physical inactivity.
The article listed a series of recommendations related to posture in several different categories. These are:
• Make sure your child's backpack weighs no more than 10 percent of his or her bodyweight. A backpack should never hang more than four inches below the waistline.
• Make sure your child's workstation chair fits him or her correctly. Limit your child's time at the computer and make sure he or she takes periodic breaks during computing time.
• Children should participate in at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day.
• Make sure your kids are getting plenty of rest.
The release noted that young children are suffering from back pain much earlier than previous generations, and the use of overweight backpacks is a contributing factor. The release also noted that at least 70 percent of America's 30 million elementary school students use computers, according to a recent New York Times article. As a result, many children are already suffering from chronic pain in the hands, back, neck and shoulders, as well as repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
The release also recommends chiropractic care for children. They note that a doctor of chiropractic can offer advice on lifestyle changes to keep children fit and healthy.
http://chiromedltd.com
During Correct Posture Month, the ACA is urging school administrators, teachers, and parents' organizations to more closely examine these unexpected dangers lurking in our schools. Parents and schools need to become more aware of the risks associated with heavy backpacks, improper computer ergonomics and physical inactivity.
The article listed a series of recommendations related to posture in several different categories. These are:
• Make sure your child's backpack weighs no more than 10 percent of his or her bodyweight. A backpack should never hang more than four inches below the waistline.
• Make sure your child's workstation chair fits him or her correctly. Limit your child's time at the computer and make sure he or she takes periodic breaks during computing time.
• Children should participate in at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day.
• Make sure your kids are getting plenty of rest.
The release noted that young children are suffering from back pain much earlier than previous generations, and the use of overweight backpacks is a contributing factor. The release also noted that at least 70 percent of America's 30 million elementary school students use computers, according to a recent New York Times article. As a result, many children are already suffering from chronic pain in the hands, back, neck and shoulders, as well as repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
The release also recommends chiropractic care for children. They note that a doctor of chiropractic can offer advice on lifestyle changes to keep children fit and healthy.
http://chiromedltd.com
Chiropractor Helps Pro Golfer Set Record
Thomas Bjorn is a professional golfer from Denmark who made a bit of sports history at the 87th PGA Championship when he shot a round of 63 and tied the record for the lowest score in a major PGA tournament. However, this accomplishment of sports history and Bjorn's second place finish in the 2005 PGA Tournament might not have been possible without the chiropractic care Bjorn received during the practice rounds prior to the start of the tournament.
The August 15, 2005 Daily Record of New Jersey tells the story of how a local Morris County chiropractor can take at least partial credit for Thomas Bjorn's record-setting round Saturday at the PGA Championship. Dr. Patrick Ryan was seeing patients when he received a call from a colleague in London who was the chiropractor for Bjorn. Shortly after this Bjorn, drove straight to Ryan's practice in Randolph NJ, complaining of a restriction in his neck that kept him from turning his head properly in his swing. According to the Daily Record, Bjorn had been forced to stop practicing after six holes prior to the tournament because of pain in his neck that affected his swing.
Dr. Ryan performed scans on Bjorn and reviewed information from his London chiropractor and came to the conclusion that Bjorn was suffering from a subluxation of the first thoracic vertebra, the point where the head and shoulders meet. This created severe muscle spasm at the base of Bjorn's neck and prevented proper rotation.
Bjorn then received an adjustment, and asked to return the next day. On the following visit a new scan showed Bjorn's imbalance had improved from severe to mild. Bjorn reported that he felt terrific. On Saturday, Bjorn shot a 7-under-par 63. That score tied the record for the best round of golf ever in a major tournament. In interviews after the tournament, the Danish pro credited a new pain-free swing.
http://chiromedltd.com
The August 15, 2005 Daily Record of New Jersey tells the story of how a local Morris County chiropractor can take at least partial credit for Thomas Bjorn's record-setting round Saturday at the PGA Championship. Dr. Patrick Ryan was seeing patients when he received a call from a colleague in London who was the chiropractor for Bjorn. Shortly after this Bjorn, drove straight to Ryan's practice in Randolph NJ, complaining of a restriction in his neck that kept him from turning his head properly in his swing. According to the Daily Record, Bjorn had been forced to stop practicing after six holes prior to the tournament because of pain in his neck that affected his swing.
Dr. Ryan performed scans on Bjorn and reviewed information from his London chiropractor and came to the conclusion that Bjorn was suffering from a subluxation of the first thoracic vertebra, the point where the head and shoulders meet. This created severe muscle spasm at the base of Bjorn's neck and prevented proper rotation.
Bjorn then received an adjustment, and asked to return the next day. On the following visit a new scan showed Bjorn's imbalance had improved from severe to mild. Bjorn reported that he felt terrific. On Saturday, Bjorn shot a 7-under-par 63. That score tied the record for the best round of golf ever in a major tournament. In interviews after the tournament, the Danish pro credited a new pain-free swing.
http://chiromedltd.com
Chiropractic's Role in Sports
As more athletes discover the benefits of chiropractic care not only for injuries but additionally for increased performance, more athletes and teams are using chiropractic to gain an important edge. A recent study published in the March/April 2002 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, (JMPT) examined the usage of chiropractic care by National Football League teams throughout the US.
The Journal article reported on the results of a survey of NFL trainers on their usage and referral to chiropractic care. Participants of the survey were head athletic trainers of the 36 National Football League teams. They were all men, and all had at least 17 years of experience and had served with their present team in their current position for a minimum of 1 year .
The results of the survey showed that 45% percent of the trainers themselves have been treated by a chiropractor. Presently 31% of NFL teams use chiropractors in an official capacity as part of their staffs. However, even though not necessarily on the staff of the NFL team a full 77% of the trainers have referred to a chiropractor for evaluation or treatment. Probably the most telling result of the survey is that 100% of trainers agree that some players use chiropractic care without referral from team medical staff.
Several other questions were also asked in the survey and the answers were as follows:
• Should trainers refer players with suspected spinal subluxations to chiropractors? - Five percent of trainers strongly agree, 48% agree, 24% disagree, and 19% have no opinion.
• Is there a role for the doctor of chiropractic in the NFL? - Eighty-one percent agree that there is a role for the chiropractor in the NFL, 5% strongly agree, 14% have no opinion, and none disagree.
• Is the role of the sport chiropractor different from that of the team physician? - All (100%) of the trainers see these roles as different from each other.
In addition to NFL players, many athletes from many sports depend on chiropractic care. One such athlete is John Stockton, a professional basketball player and future hall of famer with the Utah Jazz. In an April 2, 2002 article that appeared in the Toronto Star, writer Doug Smith asks and answers the question concerning John Stockton's longevity, "What is the secret to John Stockton's continued success on the NBA basketball court at age 40? A Good Chiropractor." When asked to explain his usage of chiropractic John's response was, "I'm not a good enough expert on what that (chiropractic) entails, but it's not just adjustments, it's balancing muscles and overall health." John then added, "it's been great for me, and for my family." The article reports that along with chiropractic, Stockton says that a love for the game and fun with his family are two other secrets to his continued success.
http://chiromedltd.com
The Journal article reported on the results of a survey of NFL trainers on their usage and referral to chiropractic care. Participants of the survey were head athletic trainers of the 36 National Football League teams. They were all men, and all had at least 17 years of experience and had served with their present team in their current position for a minimum of 1 year .
The results of the survey showed that 45% percent of the trainers themselves have been treated by a chiropractor. Presently 31% of NFL teams use chiropractors in an official capacity as part of their staffs. However, even though not necessarily on the staff of the NFL team a full 77% of the trainers have referred to a chiropractor for evaluation or treatment. Probably the most telling result of the survey is that 100% of trainers agree that some players use chiropractic care without referral from team medical staff.
Several other questions were also asked in the survey and the answers were as follows:
• Should trainers refer players with suspected spinal subluxations to chiropractors? - Five percent of trainers strongly agree, 48% agree, 24% disagree, and 19% have no opinion.
• Is there a role for the doctor of chiropractic in the NFL? - Eighty-one percent agree that there is a role for the chiropractor in the NFL, 5% strongly agree, 14% have no opinion, and none disagree.
• Is the role of the sport chiropractor different from that of the team physician? - All (100%) of the trainers see these roles as different from each other.
In addition to NFL players, many athletes from many sports depend on chiropractic care. One such athlete is John Stockton, a professional basketball player and future hall of famer with the Utah Jazz. In an April 2, 2002 article that appeared in the Toronto Star, writer Doug Smith asks and answers the question concerning John Stockton's longevity, "What is the secret to John Stockton's continued success on the NBA basketball court at age 40? A Good Chiropractor." When asked to explain his usage of chiropractic John's response was, "I'm not a good enough expert on what that (chiropractic) entails, but it's not just adjustments, it's balancing muscles and overall health." John then added, "it's been great for me, and for my family." The article reports that along with chiropractic, Stockton says that a love for the game and fun with his family are two other secrets to his continued success.
http://chiromedltd.com
Chiropractic Helps Patients with Acute Back Pain and Sciatica with Disc Protrusion
A new study from Italy published in the March issue of The Spine Journal, showed that chiropractic care was effective in helping patients with acute back pain and sciatica with disc protrusion. This randomized double-blind clinical trial involved 102 ambulatory patients with at least moderate pain or radiating pain, who had an MRI study showing disc protrusion.
The patients were divided into two groups. One group received chiropractic adjustments 5 days per week by experienced chiropractors, with a maximum of 20 visits. The second group received what the study termed, "simulated manipulations" in order to have a group for comparison to those receiving real chiropractic care.
The results showed that those who got the real chiropractic care improved significantly over the group that received the simulated manipulations. In the group that received the chiropractic care, 55% were free of radiating pain in the follow ups compared to 20% of patients who got the simulated manipulations. Additionally, when measuring local pain, 28% of those who received real chiropractic were free of local pain, versus only 6% of those who got the simulated manipulation.
The results also showed improvements in days of pain with the group that received the real care reporting 6 less days of pain than those in the simulated care group. In addition to these benefits the group with the real care reported using less medications to help with the pain as a result of the chiropractic care.
In this study none of the patients in either group had any adverse effects, and one from each group did report no results at all and were listed as "treatment failures". The researchers conclusions were, "Active manipulations have more effect than simulated manipulations on pain relief for acute back pain and sciatica with disc protrusion."
http://chiromedltd.com
The patients were divided into two groups. One group received chiropractic adjustments 5 days per week by experienced chiropractors, with a maximum of 20 visits. The second group received what the study termed, "simulated manipulations" in order to have a group for comparison to those receiving real chiropractic care.
The results showed that those who got the real chiropractic care improved significantly over the group that received the simulated manipulations. In the group that received the chiropractic care, 55% were free of radiating pain in the follow ups compared to 20% of patients who got the simulated manipulations. Additionally, when measuring local pain, 28% of those who received real chiropractic were free of local pain, versus only 6% of those who got the simulated manipulation.
The results also showed improvements in days of pain with the group that received the real care reporting 6 less days of pain than those in the simulated care group. In addition to these benefits the group with the real care reported using less medications to help with the pain as a result of the chiropractic care.
In this study none of the patients in either group had any adverse effects, and one from each group did report no results at all and were listed as "treatment failures". The researchers conclusions were, "Active manipulations have more effect than simulated manipulations on pain relief for acute back pain and sciatica with disc protrusion."
http://chiromedltd.com
Chiropractic Care for Pregnancy
"Pregnancy Today" magazine describes them as "the journal for parents to be". On June 13, 2004 they ran a story written by Patti Larson a mother and author, about her experiences while being pregnant and the help she received with Chiropractic care. She began the story by explaining the emotions she and her husband experienced when she found out for sure she was pregnant.
As a woman in her mid-30s having her first baby, she described her concerns and questions by asking, "When will morning sickness start? How long will I be able to work? Will I make it through delivery with little pain and swearing?" She also noted that her diet and sleep habits were good, but although she had great intentions, her exercise regime was less than desirable.
She did however, mention the one thing she saw as a big factor in helping her. "What ultimately saved me from suffering undue tiredness, aches and stress from my ballooning body shape and shifting hormones was chiropractic care." She continued, "I already made regular visits to my chiropractor prior to pregnancy, so it seemed natural to continue. My chiropractor recommended I continue with weekly visits, adding that I should come in more often if I felt I needed it."
Dr. Jeff Ptak, her chiropractor in Santa Monica, Calif., explained why chiropractic care made such a positive difference, during her pregnancy. "Chiropractic care addresses the functioning nervous system," he said. "When the nervous system is not unduly stressed from environmental factors – physical, emotional or chemical stress – the body will work according to its unique genetic plan. A stressful birth will stress all parties involved and remain until the nervous system stress is cleared. Chiropractic, by allowing the body to handle stress, helps expecting mothers, new mothers and their newborn children handle life with greater ease."
Leslie Stewart, a certified nurse-midwife also agrees. "Chiropractic care can actually help with labor. Some women who run past their due date have used treatment to help start labor, rather than having a hospital induce them."
The article author, Patti Larson, noted that she not only continued care through her pregnancy, but also after the birth of her daughter Madeline. She concluded the article by saying, "Madeline received regular adjustments her second week after entering the world. She never had colic, ear infections, colds or any symptoms of sickness throughout her first 12 months of life when children are often most susceptible. Some people cringe when I tell them she sees a chiropractor, yet everyone agrees that she is one of the most alert, active babies they have ever seen. Some say I’m lucky, but I tell them it’s really very simple – just stay well adjusted!"
http://chiromedltd.com
As a woman in her mid-30s having her first baby, she described her concerns and questions by asking, "When will morning sickness start? How long will I be able to work? Will I make it through delivery with little pain and swearing?" She also noted that her diet and sleep habits were good, but although she had great intentions, her exercise regime was less than desirable.
She did however, mention the one thing she saw as a big factor in helping her. "What ultimately saved me from suffering undue tiredness, aches and stress from my ballooning body shape and shifting hormones was chiropractic care." She continued, "I already made regular visits to my chiropractor prior to pregnancy, so it seemed natural to continue. My chiropractor recommended I continue with weekly visits, adding that I should come in more often if I felt I needed it."
Dr. Jeff Ptak, her chiropractor in Santa Monica, Calif., explained why chiropractic care made such a positive difference, during her pregnancy. "Chiropractic care addresses the functioning nervous system," he said. "When the nervous system is not unduly stressed from environmental factors – physical, emotional or chemical stress – the body will work according to its unique genetic plan. A stressful birth will stress all parties involved and remain until the nervous system stress is cleared. Chiropractic, by allowing the body to handle stress, helps expecting mothers, new mothers and their newborn children handle life with greater ease."
Leslie Stewart, a certified nurse-midwife also agrees. "Chiropractic care can actually help with labor. Some women who run past their due date have used treatment to help start labor, rather than having a hospital induce them."
The article author, Patti Larson, noted that she not only continued care through her pregnancy, but also after the birth of her daughter Madeline. She concluded the article by saying, "Madeline received regular adjustments her second week after entering the world. She never had colic, ear infections, colds or any symptoms of sickness throughout her first 12 months of life when children are often most susceptible. Some people cringe when I tell them she sees a chiropractor, yet everyone agrees that she is one of the most alert, active babies they have ever seen. Some say I’m lucky, but I tell them it’s really very simple – just stay well adjusted!"
http://chiromedltd.com
Chiropractic Care for Children Receives More Press
Two recent news articles feature chiropractic care for general wellness and for children. One article from the August 28, 2003 Press & Sun Bulletin from Binghamton NY, starts off by featuring 5-year-old Michael Smolinsky as he receives his chiropractic adjustment. Michael's mother Joanne noted that her son started seeing Dr. McAulliffe three years ago because, after nine months of chronic ear infections, she didn't know where to turn. All of the pediatricians and ear, nose and throat doctors she took her son to couldn't figure out what was wrong and just kept prescribing medication that didn't seem to help.
"It concerned me," Joanne Smolinsky said. "How much medicine can you put into a 2-year-old child?" She then recalled that doctors suggested putting tubes in Michael's ears to drain excess fluids. The idea of putting her son under anesthesia scared her, and after talking to her chiropractor she decided to give chiropractic a shot. Her medical doctors didn't support the idea, so she couldn't get a referral for insurance purposes. After receiving chiropractic every six weeks for three years, Michael has had only one ear infection in that time. He also experienced the same good results with dizzy spells that he had been previously having.
Another article featured in the August 18, 2003 Star Online News of North Carolina, starts off by saying, "In recent years, chiropractors nationwide have been increasingly successful in beating the "back-pain only" rap with statistics and growing testimonials about chiropractic care's benefits, for everything from stress and fatigue to sinus trouble and asthma. And whether young or old, folks in Southeastern North Carolina, too, are making use of what's renewing itself as one of the hottest trends in healthcare."
This story highlighted 3-year-old Christian Kent of Leland. When Christian was a mere 6 months old, he developed recurring ear infections. These ear infections would clear up with medicine, but they would always return. After a year and numerous trips to an ear, nose and throat specialist, it was determined that at a year and a half old, he needed tubes in his ears. Cindy Kent, Christian's mother remembers her initial reaction, "I thought, 'Oh no'." she then continued. "Instead, we brought him to the chiropractor and after six adjustments, the ear infection was gone."
"People should be focused on correcting the root of the problem," said Dr. Reese, a chiropractor interviewed for the article. "This is not an alternative, but its own distinct form of health care. People should have a chiropractor, just like they should have a doctor, a dentist or a mechanic."
http://chiromedltd.com
"It concerned me," Joanne Smolinsky said. "How much medicine can you put into a 2-year-old child?" She then recalled that doctors suggested putting tubes in Michael's ears to drain excess fluids. The idea of putting her son under anesthesia scared her, and after talking to her chiropractor she decided to give chiropractic a shot. Her medical doctors didn't support the idea, so she couldn't get a referral for insurance purposes. After receiving chiropractic every six weeks for three years, Michael has had only one ear infection in that time. He also experienced the same good results with dizzy spells that he had been previously having.
Another article featured in the August 18, 2003 Star Online News of North Carolina, starts off by saying, "In recent years, chiropractors nationwide have been increasingly successful in beating the "back-pain only" rap with statistics and growing testimonials about chiropractic care's benefits, for everything from stress and fatigue to sinus trouble and asthma. And whether young or old, folks in Southeastern North Carolina, too, are making use of what's renewing itself as one of the hottest trends in healthcare."
This story highlighted 3-year-old Christian Kent of Leland. When Christian was a mere 6 months old, he developed recurring ear infections. These ear infections would clear up with medicine, but they would always return. After a year and numerous trips to an ear, nose and throat specialist, it was determined that at a year and a half old, he needed tubes in his ears. Cindy Kent, Christian's mother remembers her initial reaction, "I thought, 'Oh no'." she then continued. "Instead, we brought him to the chiropractor and after six adjustments, the ear infection was gone."
"People should be focused on correcting the root of the problem," said Dr. Reese, a chiropractor interviewed for the article. "This is not an alternative, but its own distinct form of health care. People should have a chiropractor, just like they should have a doctor, a dentist or a mechanic."
http://chiromedltd.com
Chiropractic Adjustments Affect the Autonomic Nervous System, Study Shows
In a recent study published in the September 2000 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics, researchers showed that chiropractic adjustments have an effect on the Autonomic Nervous System. This research was designed to measure the changes in "Edge Light Pupil Cycle Time" (ELPCT) which is one of the light reflexes of the eyes. This reflex is controlled by the Autonomic Nervous System. The results showed a decrease in the Edge Light Pupil Cycle Time therefore showing a direct link between a chiropractic adjustment and a response in the Autonomic Nervous System.
The implications of this research go well beyond the eye itself. The Autonomic Nervous System is that part of the nervous system responsible for the control and function of internal body organs. Chiropractors have said for over 100 years that interference to the nervous system creates a situation whereby various parts of the body will not be functioning at their fullest innate potential. Despite all the reported cases of people with a variety of internal problems responding to chiropractic care, the medical community would always dismiss these cases as a coincidence.
This new research adds much credibility to the reports of miraculous results under chiropractic by scientifically showing a link between chiropractic adjustments of the spine and the part of the nervous system responsible for the control of internal organs. This clearly validates and reinforces the great results that chiropractors have reported to see over the last 100 years. Chiropractic care can have a positive effect on organ system health problems.
http://chiromedltd.com
The implications of this research go well beyond the eye itself. The Autonomic Nervous System is that part of the nervous system responsible for the control and function of internal body organs. Chiropractors have said for over 100 years that interference to the nervous system creates a situation whereby various parts of the body will not be functioning at their fullest innate potential. Despite all the reported cases of people with a variety of internal problems responding to chiropractic care, the medical community would always dismiss these cases as a coincidence.
This new research adds much credibility to the reports of miraculous results under chiropractic by scientifically showing a link between chiropractic adjustments of the spine and the part of the nervous system responsible for the control of internal organs. This clearly validates and reinforces the great results that chiropractors have reported to see over the last 100 years. Chiropractic care can have a positive effect on organ system health problems.
http://chiromedltd.com
Arnold Schwarzenegger; A Chiropractic Champion
Arnold Schwarzenegger was again the featured speaker at the International Chiropractors Association's 10th Annual Symposium on Natural Fitness held February 22-23, 2002 in Columbus, Ohio. Arnold spoke about his personal experience with chiropractic; crediting the care he received throughout the years for his success in bodybuilding and for his ability to maintain such a rigorous filmmaking schedule. His comments included the following:
"Chiropractic is about health and fitness and there is such a strong relationship between the two. This is why I'm so excited to have the chiropractors here from all over the world each year, because you represent exactly the same thing. Chiropractic is about health and fitness. Chiropractic is about natural, preventive health care. It can help families be healthier and also spend time together doing something important to all their lives. What we're trying to do is not just promote the sport of bodybuilding, but fitness and health. Fitness, for us, is everything in a naturally healthy lifestyle. So that's why it is so great for us to work together."
Arnold, as well as many former and present athletes realizes that chiropractic can help them increase performance and maintain good health. The nervous system controls and coordinates all body function. Chiropractors work by removing interference to the nervous system thus allowing the body to function at its maximum potential. Athletes understand that even the slightest advantage in ability can make the difference in competition.
This year’s event, hosted by Arnold Schwarzenegger himself, included a multitude of fitness stars including bodybuilding champion and fitness author Mr. Lee Haney. Lee Haney, one of the greatest fitness stars of all times made his second appearance at the ICA Symposium this year. Mr. Haney holds the record of having won the coveted bodybuilding title of Mr. Olympia for eight straight years, besting Arnold himself who won that title for seven. He also serves in the influential and prestigious position of Chairman of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness, a position in which he has not hesitated to support the vital role of chiropractic in fitness and health.
Arnold Schwarzenegger was the headline speaker at the 9th Annual Symposium on Natural Fitness held March 2-4, 2001 in Columbus, Ohio, hosted by the International Chiropractors Association (ICA). A strong supporter of chiropractic and a chiropractic patient himself for many years, "Arnold" told the group of chiropractors: "I depend on chiropractic and so does my whole family. . I have been making a movie in Mexico and all of us on the set saw the chiropractor to keep us going. All of the crew, electricians, stunt people, actors, all of us, were adjusted regularly by this great woman chiropractor who worked around the clock to take care of us all. That's what chiropractors does; take care of people like no other kind of healer."
Each year the ICA's Symposium on Natural Fitness is held in conjunction with the "Arnold Classic" a bodybuilding and fitness event. At this event athletes and chiropractors from all over the world get together to celebrate health and fitness. Many of the top competitors from these events follow Arnolds lead by being regular chiropractic patients. Schwarzenegger, a chiropractic patient himself for years, summed his feelings for chiropractic up by saying, "It is truly one of the few professions that really helps people in a straightforward way with no monkey business, like some of the other professions promise to help, but this chiropractic is the real thing."
http://chiromedltd.com
"Chiropractic is about health and fitness and there is such a strong relationship between the two. This is why I'm so excited to have the chiropractors here from all over the world each year, because you represent exactly the same thing. Chiropractic is about health and fitness. Chiropractic is about natural, preventive health care. It can help families be healthier and also spend time together doing something important to all their lives. What we're trying to do is not just promote the sport of bodybuilding, but fitness and health. Fitness, for us, is everything in a naturally healthy lifestyle. So that's why it is so great for us to work together."
Arnold, as well as many former and present athletes realizes that chiropractic can help them increase performance and maintain good health. The nervous system controls and coordinates all body function. Chiropractors work by removing interference to the nervous system thus allowing the body to function at its maximum potential. Athletes understand that even the slightest advantage in ability can make the difference in competition.
This year’s event, hosted by Arnold Schwarzenegger himself, included a multitude of fitness stars including bodybuilding champion and fitness author Mr. Lee Haney. Lee Haney, one of the greatest fitness stars of all times made his second appearance at the ICA Symposium this year. Mr. Haney holds the record of having won the coveted bodybuilding title of Mr. Olympia for eight straight years, besting Arnold himself who won that title for seven. He also serves in the influential and prestigious position of Chairman of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness, a position in which he has not hesitated to support the vital role of chiropractic in fitness and health.
Arnold Schwarzenegger was the headline speaker at the 9th Annual Symposium on Natural Fitness held March 2-4, 2001 in Columbus, Ohio, hosted by the International Chiropractors Association (ICA). A strong supporter of chiropractic and a chiropractic patient himself for many years, "Arnold" told the group of chiropractors: "I depend on chiropractic and so does my whole family. . I have been making a movie in Mexico and all of us on the set saw the chiropractor to keep us going. All of the crew, electricians, stunt people, actors, all of us, were adjusted regularly by this great woman chiropractor who worked around the clock to take care of us all. That's what chiropractors does; take care of people like no other kind of healer."
Each year the ICA's Symposium on Natural Fitness is held in conjunction with the "Arnold Classic" a bodybuilding and fitness event. At this event athletes and chiropractors from all over the world get together to celebrate health and fitness. Many of the top competitors from these events follow Arnolds lead by being regular chiropractic patients. Schwarzenegger, a chiropractic patient himself for years, summed his feelings for chiropractic up by saying, "It is truly one of the few professions that really helps people in a straightforward way with no monkey business, like some of the other professions promise to help, but this chiropractic is the real thing."
http://chiromedltd.com
Abnormal Sleeping Patterns Helped With Chiropractic - A Case Study
A case study published in the July 2006 issue of the peer-reviewed, scientific publication, the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics (JCCP) documented the effects of chiropractic care on a nine month old infant girl with a history of disturbed sleep. The JCCP is the official publication of the Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics of the International Chiropractors Association.
The study article starts off by noting that the average 9 month old should sleep approximately 14 hours per day. In this case study a nine month old infant girl was presented for chiropractic care with a history of severely disrupted sleep and fussiness. Additionally, the infant was refusing to breastfeed on one side and exhibited, what was called a generally unsettled behavior. It was also noted that the child would not turn her head to the left. These problems had been occurring since birth.
The examination confirmed a reduced range of neck motion to the left and significant muscle tension in the left and upper neck. Upon touching the neck the child exhibited signs of being in pain by crying and moving away. It was determined that subluxations were present, and an appropriate course of adjustments was initiated.
The results in this case were very impressive. The study noted that on the afternoon after the infants first adjustment the baby girl fell asleep for 5 hours. This was followed by nighttime sleep of 2 periods of 6 hours each. Over the next three weeks of care the daytime sleep got shorter, but the nighttime sleep remained between 6 and 8 hours.
In addition to the dramatic sleep improvement, the child also improved her range of neck motion and was able to turn her head to the left in response to sound on the left side. Additionally the infant began to feed freely and comfortably.
In their conclusion, the authors of the case study noted that the dramatic improvements after just one adjustment indicated that the vertebral subluxation found in this case was at least in part responsible for the disrupted sleep pattern.
http://chiromedltd.com
The study article starts off by noting that the average 9 month old should sleep approximately 14 hours per day. In this case study a nine month old infant girl was presented for chiropractic care with a history of severely disrupted sleep and fussiness. Additionally, the infant was refusing to breastfeed on one side and exhibited, what was called a generally unsettled behavior. It was also noted that the child would not turn her head to the left. These problems had been occurring since birth.
The examination confirmed a reduced range of neck motion to the left and significant muscle tension in the left and upper neck. Upon touching the neck the child exhibited signs of being in pain by crying and moving away. It was determined that subluxations were present, and an appropriate course of adjustments was initiated.
The results in this case were very impressive. The study noted that on the afternoon after the infants first adjustment the baby girl fell asleep for 5 hours. This was followed by nighttime sleep of 2 periods of 6 hours each. Over the next three weeks of care the daytime sleep got shorter, but the nighttime sleep remained between 6 and 8 hours.
In addition to the dramatic sleep improvement, the child also improved her range of neck motion and was able to turn her head to the left in response to sound on the left side. Additionally the infant began to feed freely and comfortably.
In their conclusion, the authors of the case study noted that the dramatic improvements after just one adjustment indicated that the vertebral subluxation found in this case was at least in part responsible for the disrupted sleep pattern.
http://chiromedltd.com
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Chiropractic Relief for Migraine Sufferers
Chiropractic Relief for Migraine Sufferers
Why This Type of Healthcare May Help You
Migraines are extremely painful headaches that millions of people suffer from every year. Chiropractors may be able to help with alternative forms of treatment.
Migraine sufferers are commonly looking for new ways to get treatment of this painful problem. Chiropractors offer a form of treatment that is more natural and holistic. Chiropractic doctors do not depend on traditional medical and pharmaceutical methods to treat these painful headaches. Instead, chiropractors rely on methods like massage, acupuncture, spinal manipulation and readjustment. These non-traditional methods offer migraine sufferers an alternative way of dealing with and controlling the pain.
Massage
Many people think of massage as a relaxing experience. However, it can also be an excellent way of dealing with tight, painful muscle spasms. As many migraine sufferers know, painful muscle spasms in the neck can sometimes bring on severe migraines. Muscle spasms can also occur during a migraine, making it all the more painful. A chiropractor can use ultrasound from an ultrasound machine along with deep tissue massage to help a person that suffers from these types of muscle spasms. The chiropractor will usually suggest an intense ultrasound and massage treatment to start with. This treatment can then be adjusted to meet the needs of the patient.
Spinal Manipulation
Rebecca S. Fischer, D.C., F.I.A.C.A. , reports that 78% of all headaches can be related to biomechanical problems in the upper cervical spine. This can essentially and effectively be treated by a chiropractor. A chiropractor will commonly use spinal manipulation to help realign the spine and return it to its natural position. Realigning a person’s spine can actually help support proper blood flow and enhance nerve conduction within the body.
Periodic Adjustment
Periodic adjustment or readjustment is the method of keeping the spine and cervical bones aligned properly. This adjustment is done on a more regular basis. The method helps to provide relief by improving the alignment of the body and even the improves the posture, thus reducing the number of migraines that a patient suffers from. Some people are skeptical of this kind of treatment until they realize the benefits. When this occurs, people will return to their chiropractor on a periodic basis to obtain this type of therapy. Some people become so aware of their bodies that they believe they can feel when their spine and cervical bones are becoming misaligned.
Acupuncture
The acupuncture method has been used for centuries by the Chinese culture as a method of reducing and relieving chronic pain. Acupuncture is also commonly used by chiropractors to treat severe and recurrent migraines. Chiropractors have to be specially trained before providing acupuncture. The Mayo Clinic website reports that acupuncture is the method of strategically placing pins at varying lengths into the body. Acupuncture helps to reduce pain during a migraine attack and can ultimately reduce the number of recurring migraines a person suffers from.
Chiropractic Care for Back Pain
Long maligned by the medical establishment, chiropractic care may be a more effective, less costly alternative to traditional therapies, studies show.
http://chiromedltd.com
Why This Type of Healthcare May Help You
Migraines are extremely painful headaches that millions of people suffer from every year. Chiropractors may be able to help with alternative forms of treatment.
Migraine sufferers are commonly looking for new ways to get treatment of this painful problem. Chiropractors offer a form of treatment that is more natural and holistic. Chiropractic doctors do not depend on traditional medical and pharmaceutical methods to treat these painful headaches. Instead, chiropractors rely on methods like massage, acupuncture, spinal manipulation and readjustment. These non-traditional methods offer migraine sufferers an alternative way of dealing with and controlling the pain.
Massage
Many people think of massage as a relaxing experience. However, it can also be an excellent way of dealing with tight, painful muscle spasms. As many migraine sufferers know, painful muscle spasms in the neck can sometimes bring on severe migraines. Muscle spasms can also occur during a migraine, making it all the more painful. A chiropractor can use ultrasound from an ultrasound machine along with deep tissue massage to help a person that suffers from these types of muscle spasms. The chiropractor will usually suggest an intense ultrasound and massage treatment to start with. This treatment can then be adjusted to meet the needs of the patient.
Spinal Manipulation
Rebecca S. Fischer, D.C., F.I.A.C.A. , reports that 78% of all headaches can be related to biomechanical problems in the upper cervical spine. This can essentially and effectively be treated by a chiropractor. A chiropractor will commonly use spinal manipulation to help realign the spine and return it to its natural position. Realigning a person’s spine can actually help support proper blood flow and enhance nerve conduction within the body.
Periodic Adjustment
Periodic adjustment or readjustment is the method of keeping the spine and cervical bones aligned properly. This adjustment is done on a more regular basis. The method helps to provide relief by improving the alignment of the body and even the improves the posture, thus reducing the number of migraines that a patient suffers from. Some people are skeptical of this kind of treatment until they realize the benefits. When this occurs, people will return to their chiropractor on a periodic basis to obtain this type of therapy. Some people become so aware of their bodies that they believe they can feel when their spine and cervical bones are becoming misaligned.
Acupuncture
The acupuncture method has been used for centuries by the Chinese culture as a method of reducing and relieving chronic pain. Acupuncture is also commonly used by chiropractors to treat severe and recurrent migraines. Chiropractors have to be specially trained before providing acupuncture. The Mayo Clinic website reports that acupuncture is the method of strategically placing pins at varying lengths into the body. Acupuncture helps to reduce pain during a migraine attack and can ultimately reduce the number of recurring migraines a person suffers from.
Chiropractic Care for Back Pain
Long maligned by the medical establishment, chiropractic care may be a more effective, less costly alternative to traditional therapies, studies show.
http://chiromedltd.com
Chiropractic and Children
Chiropractic and Children
It's All About Function
What can chiropractic do for your child? Why do millions of parents bring their children to Doctors of Chiropractic every year? Is it only for highly dramatic health conditions? Is it only for when my child is hurting? Not at all!
Chiropractic's purpose is to remove interferences to the natural healing power running through the body. When that power is unleashed the healing that results may be profound.
Today we find more parents bringing their children to chiropractors for day-to-day health concerns we're all familiar with: colds, sore throats, ear infections, fevers, colic, asthma, tonsillitis, allergies, bed-wetting, infections, pains, falls, stomach-aches, and the hundred and one little and big things children go through as they grow up.
Chiropractors Do Not Treat Disease
It’s most important to understand that chiropractic is not a treatment for disease. Its purpose is to remove spinal nerve stress, a serious and often painless condition most children (and adults) have in their bodies. Spinal nerve stress interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system, can weaken internal organs and organ systems, lower resistance, reduce healing potential and set the stage for sickness and disorders of all kinds.
When a chiropractor frees the nervous system from spinal stress, the healing power of the body is unleashed: the immune system functions more efficiently, resistance to disease increases, and your child's body functions more efficiently. Your child can respond to internal and external environmental stresses such as germs, changes in temperature, humidity, toxins, pollen and all the other stresses he/she comes in contact with more efficiently.
So although children with diseases are often brought to the chiropractor, the chiropractor is not treating their diseases but is instead freeing them of spinal nerve stress, thus permitting their body's natural healing potential to function at its best.
What Exactly Is Nerve Stress?
Spinal nerve stress (also referred to as vertebral subluxations, the subluxation complex, or “pinched nerves”) is a misalignment or distortion of the spinal column, skull, hips, and related tissues (the structural system) that irritate, stretch, impinge or otherwise interfere with the proper function of the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, spinal nerves and outlying or peripheral nerves). Since the nervous system controls the function of the body, any interference to it can have wide-ranging effects.
How Is Spinal Stress Caused?
Spinal nerve stress can be caused by physical, chemical and/or emotional stress. Physical stress may start in the womb, with the baby lying in a distorted or twisted manner. Spinal nerve stress in newborns is more common than previously realized This may be caused by a traumatic or difficult birth which can introduce great stress to the infant's skull, spinal column and pelvis. Throughout childhood, the normal childhood traumas every child experiences can be a source of spinal and cranial trauma. Most of the time, the pain from the initial injury “goes away” however the damage incurred continues to affect the future function of the child’s nerve system.
How Does the Chiropractor Correct Spinal Nerve Stress?
This is accomplished first by analyzing the spinal column and related structures for balance and proper function. Where the spinal column is found to be functioning improperly, the Doctor of Chiropractic performs precise corrective procedures called spinal adjustments.
Using his/her hands and/or specialized instruments to gently and specifically correct those abnormal areas, the spine and cranium regain their intended state of balance and the nerve system is freed from stress.
It’s All About Function!
Today's parents are more concerned than ever about the adverse effects drugs have on their children. Parents are increasingly asking, when handed a prescription for a child's recurrent problem, "Is this really all I can do for my child? Is there a safer alternative?”
Parents are hesitant to merely mask symptoms with drugs and are worried about side effects. Their desire to achieve a state of true health—has led parents to seek health care options which support their children’s own natural ability to be healthy.
Chiropractic care is one such option. All children function better with 100% nerve function. All children deserve the right to express their fullest potential. Chiropractic care for children is safe, gentle and effective. It allows for the opportunity for maximum potential for well-being.
Http://chiromedltd.com
It's All About Function
What can chiropractic do for your child? Why do millions of parents bring their children to Doctors of Chiropractic every year? Is it only for highly dramatic health conditions? Is it only for when my child is hurting? Not at all!
Chiropractic's purpose is to remove interferences to the natural healing power running through the body. When that power is unleashed the healing that results may be profound.
Today we find more parents bringing their children to chiropractors for day-to-day health concerns we're all familiar with: colds, sore throats, ear infections, fevers, colic, asthma, tonsillitis, allergies, bed-wetting, infections, pains, falls, stomach-aches, and the hundred and one little and big things children go through as they grow up.
Chiropractors Do Not Treat Disease
It’s most important to understand that chiropractic is not a treatment for disease. Its purpose is to remove spinal nerve stress, a serious and often painless condition most children (and adults) have in their bodies. Spinal nerve stress interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system, can weaken internal organs and organ systems, lower resistance, reduce healing potential and set the stage for sickness and disorders of all kinds.
When a chiropractor frees the nervous system from spinal stress, the healing power of the body is unleashed: the immune system functions more efficiently, resistance to disease increases, and your child's body functions more efficiently. Your child can respond to internal and external environmental stresses such as germs, changes in temperature, humidity, toxins, pollen and all the other stresses he/she comes in contact with more efficiently.
So although children with diseases are often brought to the chiropractor, the chiropractor is not treating their diseases but is instead freeing them of spinal nerve stress, thus permitting their body's natural healing potential to function at its best.
What Exactly Is Nerve Stress?
Spinal nerve stress (also referred to as vertebral subluxations, the subluxation complex, or “pinched nerves”) is a misalignment or distortion of the spinal column, skull, hips, and related tissues (the structural system) that irritate, stretch, impinge or otherwise interfere with the proper function of the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, spinal nerves and outlying or peripheral nerves). Since the nervous system controls the function of the body, any interference to it can have wide-ranging effects.
How Is Spinal Stress Caused?
Spinal nerve stress can be caused by physical, chemical and/or emotional stress. Physical stress may start in the womb, with the baby lying in a distorted or twisted manner. Spinal nerve stress in newborns is more common than previously realized This may be caused by a traumatic or difficult birth which can introduce great stress to the infant's skull, spinal column and pelvis. Throughout childhood, the normal childhood traumas every child experiences can be a source of spinal and cranial trauma. Most of the time, the pain from the initial injury “goes away” however the damage incurred continues to affect the future function of the child’s nerve system.
How Does the Chiropractor Correct Spinal Nerve Stress?
This is accomplished first by analyzing the spinal column and related structures for balance and proper function. Where the spinal column is found to be functioning improperly, the Doctor of Chiropractic performs precise corrective procedures called spinal adjustments.
Using his/her hands and/or specialized instruments to gently and specifically correct those abnormal areas, the spine and cranium regain their intended state of balance and the nerve system is freed from stress.
It’s All About Function!
Today's parents are more concerned than ever about the adverse effects drugs have on their children. Parents are increasingly asking, when handed a prescription for a child's recurrent problem, "Is this really all I can do for my child? Is there a safer alternative?”
Parents are hesitant to merely mask symptoms with drugs and are worried about side effects. Their desire to achieve a state of true health—has led parents to seek health care options which support their children’s own natural ability to be healthy.
Chiropractic care is one such option. All children function better with 100% nerve function. All children deserve the right to express their fullest potential. Chiropractic care for children is safe, gentle and effective. It allows for the opportunity for maximum potential for well-being.
Http://chiromedltd.com
Active Release Techniques for Sports Injuries
Active Release Techniques for Sports Injuries
ART Claims to Help Treat Damaged Soft Tissue - Does It Work?
When they are not candidates for surgery, most victims of overuse injuries are referred to a physical therapist. They then follow a prescribed stretching and strengthening.
Developed in the 1980s by a P. Michael Leahy, a chiropractor in Colorado Springs, ART is a type of soft- tissue manipulation designed to treat repetitive strain injuries. The practice claims to break up scar tissue that entraps muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves, allowing the injured person to regain pain-free, full range of motion. A key principle of ART is that patients are often required to move their limbs during treatment, hence the word “active”. Also, ART practitioners manipulate tissues longitudinally, while massage therapists apply lateral pressure to tissues..
Athletes Who Might Benefit From ART
ART was originally used to treat elite athletes, but since the mid 1990’s, the practice has become more mainstream. Karen Slota, a chiropractor and ART practitioner in Royal Oak, Mich., says most of her patients are bodybuilders and endurance athletes – both of whom are likely to sustain repetitive strain injuries. Typical candidates include runners and cyclists with injuries such as tendinitis and IT band syndrome, as well as swimmers with rotator cuff injuries. Slota says she also sees many endurance athletes on a preventative basis.
Does ART Work?
Unfortunately, very little research has been performed on ART. A 1998 University of California at San Diego study found that 71 percent of patients reported improvement after four weeks of receiving ART. However, only 7 percent said their pain was completely gone. Also, the study wasn’t randomized and did not use a control group.
More recent studies have looked at the effects of ART on specific parts of the body. A 2006 study published in the Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association found ART to be effective in helping treat lateral epicondylosis (tennis elbow). Another study, published in 2006 in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, found that ART increased hamstring flexibility in healthy male subjects.
Read on
Returning to Sports After ACL Tear
Anterior cruciate ligament tear is a devastating injury for high level athletes. Return to top form requires dedication to physical therapy and patience.
What to Expect
Imagine if chiropractic and massage therapy were to gain up on someone. This is what ART resembles. An ART practitioner palpates the patient to find problem areas and then applies direct tension while guiding the patient through various movements. For example, a patient might be asked to bring her knee to her chest, while the ART practitioner applies pressure to the pelvic area. More than 500 specific movements comprise a practitioner’s repertoire.
ART usually takes about six to 10 sessions, but this can vary depending on the severity of the injury and how long the patient has been injured. The treatment may be covered by insurance, based on state law and one’s insurance policy.
Finding a Practitioner
An ART practitioner must first be licensed or certified to perform soft-tissue treatment and then pass an ART training course. Courses are offered for the lower and upper extremities and spine. ART practitioners include chiropractors, physical therapists, massage therapists, athletic trainers and physicians. For a list of certified ART practitioners, visit www.activerelease.com/providersearch.asp.
www.chiromedltd.com
ART Claims to Help Treat Damaged Soft Tissue - Does It Work?
When they are not candidates for surgery, most victims of overuse injuries are referred to a physical therapist. They then follow a prescribed stretching and strengthening.
Developed in the 1980s by a P. Michael Leahy, a chiropractor in Colorado Springs, ART is a type of soft- tissue manipulation designed to treat repetitive strain injuries. The practice claims to break up scar tissue that entraps muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves, allowing the injured person to regain pain-free, full range of motion. A key principle of ART is that patients are often required to move their limbs during treatment, hence the word “active”. Also, ART practitioners manipulate tissues longitudinally, while massage therapists apply lateral pressure to tissues..
Athletes Who Might Benefit From ART
ART was originally used to treat elite athletes, but since the mid 1990’s, the practice has become more mainstream. Karen Slota, a chiropractor and ART practitioner in Royal Oak, Mich., says most of her patients are bodybuilders and endurance athletes – both of whom are likely to sustain repetitive strain injuries. Typical candidates include runners and cyclists with injuries such as tendinitis and IT band syndrome, as well as swimmers with rotator cuff injuries. Slota says she also sees many endurance athletes on a preventative basis.
Does ART Work?
Unfortunately, very little research has been performed on ART. A 1998 University of California at San Diego study found that 71 percent of patients reported improvement after four weeks of receiving ART. However, only 7 percent said their pain was completely gone. Also, the study wasn’t randomized and did not use a control group.
More recent studies have looked at the effects of ART on specific parts of the body. A 2006 study published in the Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association found ART to be effective in helping treat lateral epicondylosis (tennis elbow). Another study, published in 2006 in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, found that ART increased hamstring flexibility in healthy male subjects.
Read on
Returning to Sports After ACL Tear
Anterior cruciate ligament tear is a devastating injury for high level athletes. Return to top form requires dedication to physical therapy and patience.
What to Expect
Imagine if chiropractic and massage therapy were to gain up on someone. This is what ART resembles. An ART practitioner palpates the patient to find problem areas and then applies direct tension while guiding the patient through various movements. For example, a patient might be asked to bring her knee to her chest, while the ART practitioner applies pressure to the pelvic area. More than 500 specific movements comprise a practitioner’s repertoire.
ART usually takes about six to 10 sessions, but this can vary depending on the severity of the injury and how long the patient has been injured. The treatment may be covered by insurance, based on state law and one’s insurance policy.
Finding a Practitioner
An ART practitioner must first be licensed or certified to perform soft-tissue treatment and then pass an ART training course. Courses are offered for the lower and upper extremities and spine. ART practitioners include chiropractors, physical therapists, massage therapists, athletic trainers and physicians. For a list of certified ART practitioners, visit www.activerelease.com/providersearch.asp.
www.chiromedltd.com
The Importance of Exercise
The Importance of Exercise
Proper exercise can significantly reduce the back pain many patients experience. Although the idea of working out whilst in pain seems to be counter-productive, gentle movement can reduce pain in the long run. Please note that before beginning any form of exercise routine, a patient should consult their physician. It is important to understand how your body will respond to exercise and know your individual limits.
Many patients experience increased pain when they begin to exercise. This is perfectly normal. When muscles are put to work for the first time, they have to stretch, adapt, and grow. These minor pains will prove worthwhile in the long run. As you build up strength, movement will become more fluid and less painful. As long as you remain in contact with your doctor and report any major issues, there should be little to worry about.
Basic movements help to tone and build up the core muscles that support the spine. By strengthening your core, flexibility increases and posture improves. Core exercises prevent future pain and can reduce overall discomfort. A strong spine and core help you to avoid a number of injuries. Exercise improves balance and flexibility; two skills necessary to avoid injury, especially in older patients.
Exercise can teach you to manage your own pain. Patients who suffer from chronic pain may be skeptical, but it is true: exercise can reduce pain. Pain sufferers can learn to manage and overcome pain. Unfortunately, exercise cannot remove all pain. It is a tool that can provide pain management, not removal.
As well as improving physical wellbeing, exercise provides several psychological benefits. Often, exercise makes the patient feel better about themselves on the whole. Patients who simply get up and get moving around can experience improvement in self-esteem. Slight weight loss or a drop in clothing size might boost the self-esteem further. All of these positive reinforcements inspire patients to commit to their exercise routine.
Depending on your specific exercise regimen, you may meet others who share your interest in fitness. You might meet people in at class at your local gym or just on a walk around the neighborhood. Interacting with others prevents exercise from being a monotonous activity. It might be a good idea to work-out with a friend. Work-out partners often help to keep you motivated and focused on staying in shape.
Oftentimes, patients just do not know how to get started. Walking can be a great way to get active. It is free and can be done virtually anywhere. A bit of sun and fresh air can do a world of good. Walking can also help you to gain confidence and motivate you to increase the intensity of your workout over time. Remember not to move too quickly. Learning to manage your back pain is a slow process that requires plenty of patience and time.
http://chiromedltd.com
Proper exercise can significantly reduce the back pain many patients experience. Although the idea of working out whilst in pain seems to be counter-productive, gentle movement can reduce pain in the long run. Please note that before beginning any form of exercise routine, a patient should consult their physician. It is important to understand how your body will respond to exercise and know your individual limits.
Many patients experience increased pain when they begin to exercise. This is perfectly normal. When muscles are put to work for the first time, they have to stretch, adapt, and grow. These minor pains will prove worthwhile in the long run. As you build up strength, movement will become more fluid and less painful. As long as you remain in contact with your doctor and report any major issues, there should be little to worry about.
Basic movements help to tone and build up the core muscles that support the spine. By strengthening your core, flexibility increases and posture improves. Core exercises prevent future pain and can reduce overall discomfort. A strong spine and core help you to avoid a number of injuries. Exercise improves balance and flexibility; two skills necessary to avoid injury, especially in older patients.
Exercise can teach you to manage your own pain. Patients who suffer from chronic pain may be skeptical, but it is true: exercise can reduce pain. Pain sufferers can learn to manage and overcome pain. Unfortunately, exercise cannot remove all pain. It is a tool that can provide pain management, not removal.
As well as improving physical wellbeing, exercise provides several psychological benefits. Often, exercise makes the patient feel better about themselves on the whole. Patients who simply get up and get moving around can experience improvement in self-esteem. Slight weight loss or a drop in clothing size might boost the self-esteem further. All of these positive reinforcements inspire patients to commit to their exercise routine.
Depending on your specific exercise regimen, you may meet others who share your interest in fitness. You might meet people in at class at your local gym or just on a walk around the neighborhood. Interacting with others prevents exercise from being a monotonous activity. It might be a good idea to work-out with a friend. Work-out partners often help to keep you motivated and focused on staying in shape.
Oftentimes, patients just do not know how to get started. Walking can be a great way to get active. It is free and can be done virtually anywhere. A bit of sun and fresh air can do a world of good. Walking can also help you to gain confidence and motivate you to increase the intensity of your workout over time. Remember not to move too quickly. Learning to manage your back pain is a slow process that requires plenty of patience and time.
http://chiromedltd.com
The Illusion of Patient Education
The Illusion of Patient Education
Perhaps the greatest fallacy about patient education is the notion that it has occurred. Many offices will assault new patients with patient orientation lectures, videos, brochures, anatomical models, wall posters; everything short of a Vulcan Mind Meld. When asked whether these technologies work, many doctors can only judge their success by how many patients seemingly reject their patient education overtures!
Having been involved in chiropractic patient education, I've reached several conclusions that might assist you in making your patient education efforts more effective and accountable.
Certainly, there is a segment of the population uninterested in the importance of proper spinal biomechanics, the ramifications of poor posture, loss of spinal curves, subluxations or human physiology. Yet, that shouldn't dissuade you from your responsibility to help change the way other patients think about their health and the chiropractic role in it. The long-term practice benefits of effective patient education may be difficult to measure and it may not produce the instant gratification we all seek. However, better compliance, improved retention and the increased ability to describe and defend chiropractic are the most likely and obvious outcomes resulting from appropriate patient education. Besides excellent clinical results, there may be no better way to grow your practice from within.
In the same way you can operate your automobile without knowing how your automatic transmission works, so too, can patients operate their own bodies. However, drivers who understand how their transmissions, anti-lock brakes, turbo and other features of their cars work are more likely to find that their cars last longer and need repairs less often. So too, with one's own personal health.
Patient education also improves the healing response. A study at a Minneapolis hospital that was mentioned in Tom Peter's book, Thriving On Chaos, demonstrated this among two groups of cardiac patients. One group was pretty much kept in the dark about the procedures. The other was given detailed explanations about the operation, how it would be performed, post-surgical expectations, etc. The "educated" patients recovered twice as quickly. Apparently, without appropriate patient education the mind/body connection is overlooked.
Here are some of the conclusions I've reached after talking to thousands of doctors and meeting hundreds of patients at focus group luncheons:
Conclusion #1
Patients do what they do--because they think the way they think.
Patients may be unaware or uninterested in the thought processes that cause them to make certain decisions about their health. But, the decisions and disciplines that cause some people to ignore their seat belts (even though it's the law), regularly neglect to floss their teeth (even though the materials are affordable and readily accessible) and overlook countless other health measures is based on a belief system. People who don't prioritize their health are hard for many doctors to comprehend. It is probably the high value you place on health that attracted you to a career in health care in the first place! If you want to change a patient's behavior, you will need to change the way they think. And even then, there is no guarantee.
Action step: Make sure you examine each patient's mouth. How they treat their teeth and gums is probably a good indication of how they will treat their spine. If they don't value their health the way you do, don't take their rejection personally. Do what you can to enlarge their vision and pay particular attention to those who do value their health. Ask your patients, "What do you hope to do better or enjoy more when you regain your health?" Find out what they value. Relate, attach or explain the significance of chiropractic in the context of something they want or value.
Conclusion #2
Doctors ignore the context in which their patient education is received.
After a new patient has settled into your new patient protocol, has filled out your paperwork, has seen a video and who knows what, it's easy to forget the important "pre-existing complaint" that patients bring with them: a Newtonian, mechanistic model of their bodies that has been heavily influenced by a lifetime of symptom-treating. Changing this outlook is highly unlikely with a 12 minute tap dance in front of the X-ray view box and some snappy tableside chatter in the adjusting room. You may claim you don't treat symptoms and profess that you address the "cause" of their problem, yet the philosophical distinction falls on deaf ears. True, you may be their last resort before surgery or a lifetime of muscle relaxers, but most patients want you to "fix them" (and hurry up already!) with about as much involvement on their part as getting their hair cut or their oil changed. Ignoring the context of your patient education efforts, regardless of what it is, almost assures that your efforts will be ineffective or irrelevant.
Action step: One way to understand the suitability of the "soil" of the patient education "seeds" you wish to plant is to ask better questions. When they describe their particular health complaint asks, "Why do you think that is?" When patients mention they're doing better, ask, "Why do you think that is?" When patients observe a lack of progress, ask, "Why do you think that is?" Look for ways to uncover their theories about how their body functions and what might be involved. You'll be surprised by the "old wives tales" and twisted logic that actually govern their health behavior.
Conclusion #3
Most alleged patient education occurs at the report of findings.
Second to the consultation, the single-most important communication occurs at the report of findings. Besides adjusting technique, there may be no other aspect of practice in which there is so much dogma. One-day reports, two-day reports, three-day reports, group reports, holding X-rays hostage, spouse-must-be-present reports and no report at all blur the purpose of a report of findings: report your findings. Which can be done in about a minute. Making it meaningful to the patient is the hard part.
While you're waxing eloquently about the loss of curves, degenerative changes and soft tissue changes, patients are worring about the cost of care, how they're going to get to your office three times a week and afraid they've traded a dependency on pain pills for a dependency on chiropractic adjustments!
Action step: Answer the four questions patient's want answered, 1. What's wrong?, 2. Can chiropractic help?, 3. How long will it take?, and 4. How much will it cost? Besides the patient education necessary for them to understand your answers to these four questions, make sure some type of education occurs on subsequent visits to your office. Don't be fooled by their polite eye contact.
Conclusion #4
Most patient education consists of nothing more than "data dumps."
Whether you start with the patient's presenting complaint, point out postural deficiencies or explain the colorful history of chiropractic, most patient education is a one-sided affair. Data is delivered with the speed of a semi-automatic assault rifle. Re-exam dates, hip height differences in millimeters, hypolordotic curves, phases of degeneration and treatment recommendations are sandwiched between deductible amounts, a request to bring in their kids and a slam at their previous doctor. Patients are often numbed by the data and are on their own to convert it into usable, meaningful information.
Action step: Ask patients questions along the way to insure their understanding. Like airline pilots who repeat the directions given them by the air traffic controller, follow up your education efforts with questions that can reveal the patient's understanding. Avoid the X-ray view box monologue. Use the nervous system's afferent/efferent model to create a feedback loop to monitor your patient's assimilation.
Conclusion #5
Most patient education depends upon the spoken word.
The most expensive, inconsistent and least likely to be remembered communication media is the spoken word. Yet, most doctors close the heavy door of their report rooms, assume a somber carriage and plunge into a "fireside chat" with scripted precision. You can almost see the doctor's words entering a patient's ear and emerging out the other. Sensing you're on a roll, or merely out of respect, many patients avoid interrupting you. Pausing only long enough to inhale, the verbal assault continues until the staff taps on the door indicating things are backing up in the reception room.
Action step: We are visual creatures. Most of us remember pictures, colors and images much longer than the spoken word. Besides being easier to remember, pictures have less ambiguity. Sure, use X-rays and surface EMG printouts, but collect other images that can add impact to your patient communications. Look for metaphorical representations of the points you want to make. Find a picture of braces on teeth and point to it ("Even with the constant pressure from braces, how long does it take to reposition teeth?" Or how about, "What do you suppose would happen if they took braces off too soon?") Fill your office with pictures, drawings, illustrations, models and other visual devices. Pictures are worth a thousand words--or more!
Conclusion #6
Most efforts are the identical, regardless of the patient's preferred communication channel.
Some patients make decisions based on facts, others on feelings. Some are visually oriented. Others respond to touch. Some respond to testimonials, others to the bottom line. And, while a strong case can be made for the value of a systematized approach, without adapting the message to each patient, this one-size-fits-all approach is doomed. The fact is, most doctors are led to communicate with their patients using approaches that they would respond to.
Action step: Ask patients on your new patient admitting paperwork how they remember important things in their life? How do they make decisions, by facts or feelings? Learning the best ways to explain chiropractic is just as important as asking questions about their presenting health complaint.
The Conclusion
We all remember the professors who were using 15-year old notes and who were clearly not enjoying their jobs as teachers. The material was not to blame, it was a lack of creativity and a lost sense of purpose that turned countless lectures and whole semesters into a bizarre form of punishment. All too many patients are meeting these teachers as doctors, who make chiropractic either too technical or take on a "healthier than thou" attitude and never truly connect with patients. To these patients, chiropractic care is merely an esoteric, low-tech version of aspirin.
Effective chiropractic patient education is essential. Imagine, that instead of merely 100 years of great results we could claim 100 years of truly educated patients! Then, when your patients were asked to spell the word "relief" their answer would be quite different.
http://chiromedltd.com
Perhaps the greatest fallacy about patient education is the notion that it has occurred. Many offices will assault new patients with patient orientation lectures, videos, brochures, anatomical models, wall posters; everything short of a Vulcan Mind Meld. When asked whether these technologies work, many doctors can only judge their success by how many patients seemingly reject their patient education overtures!
Having been involved in chiropractic patient education, I've reached several conclusions that might assist you in making your patient education efforts more effective and accountable.
Certainly, there is a segment of the population uninterested in the importance of proper spinal biomechanics, the ramifications of poor posture, loss of spinal curves, subluxations or human physiology. Yet, that shouldn't dissuade you from your responsibility to help change the way other patients think about their health and the chiropractic role in it. The long-term practice benefits of effective patient education may be difficult to measure and it may not produce the instant gratification we all seek. However, better compliance, improved retention and the increased ability to describe and defend chiropractic are the most likely and obvious outcomes resulting from appropriate patient education. Besides excellent clinical results, there may be no better way to grow your practice from within.
In the same way you can operate your automobile without knowing how your automatic transmission works, so too, can patients operate their own bodies. However, drivers who understand how their transmissions, anti-lock brakes, turbo and other features of their cars work are more likely to find that their cars last longer and need repairs less often. So too, with one's own personal health.
Patient education also improves the healing response. A study at a Minneapolis hospital that was mentioned in Tom Peter's book, Thriving On Chaos, demonstrated this among two groups of cardiac patients. One group was pretty much kept in the dark about the procedures. The other was given detailed explanations about the operation, how it would be performed, post-surgical expectations, etc. The "educated" patients recovered twice as quickly. Apparently, without appropriate patient education the mind/body connection is overlooked.
Here are some of the conclusions I've reached after talking to thousands of doctors and meeting hundreds of patients at focus group luncheons:
Conclusion #1
Patients do what they do--because they think the way they think.
Patients may be unaware or uninterested in the thought processes that cause them to make certain decisions about their health. But, the decisions and disciplines that cause some people to ignore their seat belts (even though it's the law), regularly neglect to floss their teeth (even though the materials are affordable and readily accessible) and overlook countless other health measures is based on a belief system. People who don't prioritize their health are hard for many doctors to comprehend. It is probably the high value you place on health that attracted you to a career in health care in the first place! If you want to change a patient's behavior, you will need to change the way they think. And even then, there is no guarantee.
Action step: Make sure you examine each patient's mouth. How they treat their teeth and gums is probably a good indication of how they will treat their spine. If they don't value their health the way you do, don't take their rejection personally. Do what you can to enlarge their vision and pay particular attention to those who do value their health. Ask your patients, "What do you hope to do better or enjoy more when you regain your health?" Find out what they value. Relate, attach or explain the significance of chiropractic in the context of something they want or value.
Conclusion #2
Doctors ignore the context in which their patient education is received.
After a new patient has settled into your new patient protocol, has filled out your paperwork, has seen a video and who knows what, it's easy to forget the important "pre-existing complaint" that patients bring with them: a Newtonian, mechanistic model of their bodies that has been heavily influenced by a lifetime of symptom-treating. Changing this outlook is highly unlikely with a 12 minute tap dance in front of the X-ray view box and some snappy tableside chatter in the adjusting room. You may claim you don't treat symptoms and profess that you address the "cause" of their problem, yet the philosophical distinction falls on deaf ears. True, you may be their last resort before surgery or a lifetime of muscle relaxers, but most patients want you to "fix them" (and hurry up already!) with about as much involvement on their part as getting their hair cut or their oil changed. Ignoring the context of your patient education efforts, regardless of what it is, almost assures that your efforts will be ineffective or irrelevant.
Action step: One way to understand the suitability of the "soil" of the patient education "seeds" you wish to plant is to ask better questions. When they describe their particular health complaint asks, "Why do you think that is?" When patients mention they're doing better, ask, "Why do you think that is?" When patients observe a lack of progress, ask, "Why do you think that is?" Look for ways to uncover their theories about how their body functions and what might be involved. You'll be surprised by the "old wives tales" and twisted logic that actually govern their health behavior.
Conclusion #3
Most alleged patient education occurs at the report of findings.
Second to the consultation, the single-most important communication occurs at the report of findings. Besides adjusting technique, there may be no other aspect of practice in which there is so much dogma. One-day reports, two-day reports, three-day reports, group reports, holding X-rays hostage, spouse-must-be-present reports and no report at all blur the purpose of a report of findings: report your findings. Which can be done in about a minute. Making it meaningful to the patient is the hard part.
While you're waxing eloquently about the loss of curves, degenerative changes and soft tissue changes, patients are worring about the cost of care, how they're going to get to your office three times a week and afraid they've traded a dependency on pain pills for a dependency on chiropractic adjustments!
Action step: Answer the four questions patient's want answered, 1. What's wrong?, 2. Can chiropractic help?, 3. How long will it take?, and 4. How much will it cost? Besides the patient education necessary for them to understand your answers to these four questions, make sure some type of education occurs on subsequent visits to your office. Don't be fooled by their polite eye contact.
Conclusion #4
Most patient education consists of nothing more than "data dumps."
Whether you start with the patient's presenting complaint, point out postural deficiencies or explain the colorful history of chiropractic, most patient education is a one-sided affair. Data is delivered with the speed of a semi-automatic assault rifle. Re-exam dates, hip height differences in millimeters, hypolordotic curves, phases of degeneration and treatment recommendations are sandwiched between deductible amounts, a request to bring in their kids and a slam at their previous doctor. Patients are often numbed by the data and are on their own to convert it into usable, meaningful information.
Action step: Ask patients questions along the way to insure their understanding. Like airline pilots who repeat the directions given them by the air traffic controller, follow up your education efforts with questions that can reveal the patient's understanding. Avoid the X-ray view box monologue. Use the nervous system's afferent/efferent model to create a feedback loop to monitor your patient's assimilation.
Conclusion #5
Most patient education depends upon the spoken word.
The most expensive, inconsistent and least likely to be remembered communication media is the spoken word. Yet, most doctors close the heavy door of their report rooms, assume a somber carriage and plunge into a "fireside chat" with scripted precision. You can almost see the doctor's words entering a patient's ear and emerging out the other. Sensing you're on a roll, or merely out of respect, many patients avoid interrupting you. Pausing only long enough to inhale, the verbal assault continues until the staff taps on the door indicating things are backing up in the reception room.
Action step: We are visual creatures. Most of us remember pictures, colors and images much longer than the spoken word. Besides being easier to remember, pictures have less ambiguity. Sure, use X-rays and surface EMG printouts, but collect other images that can add impact to your patient communications. Look for metaphorical representations of the points you want to make. Find a picture of braces on teeth and point to it ("Even with the constant pressure from braces, how long does it take to reposition teeth?" Or how about, "What do you suppose would happen if they took braces off too soon?") Fill your office with pictures, drawings, illustrations, models and other visual devices. Pictures are worth a thousand words--or more!
Conclusion #6
Most efforts are the identical, regardless of the patient's preferred communication channel.
Some patients make decisions based on facts, others on feelings. Some are visually oriented. Others respond to touch. Some respond to testimonials, others to the bottom line. And, while a strong case can be made for the value of a systematized approach, without adapting the message to each patient, this one-size-fits-all approach is doomed. The fact is, most doctors are led to communicate with their patients using approaches that they would respond to.
Action step: Ask patients on your new patient admitting paperwork how they remember important things in their life? How do they make decisions, by facts or feelings? Learning the best ways to explain chiropractic is just as important as asking questions about their presenting health complaint.
The Conclusion
We all remember the professors who were using 15-year old notes and who were clearly not enjoying their jobs as teachers. The material was not to blame, it was a lack of creativity and a lost sense of purpose that turned countless lectures and whole semesters into a bizarre form of punishment. All too many patients are meeting these teachers as doctors, who make chiropractic either too technical or take on a "healthier than thou" attitude and never truly connect with patients. To these patients, chiropractic care is merely an esoteric, low-tech version of aspirin.
Effective chiropractic patient education is essential. Imagine, that instead of merely 100 years of great results we could claim 100 years of truly educated patients! Then, when your patients were asked to spell the word "relief" their answer would be quite different.
http://chiromedltd.com
How Chiropractors Treat Neck and Back Pain
How Chiropractors Treat Neck and Back Pain
Chiropractors have a very special skill set and provide a beneficial service to all who seek them out. While pain medication can certainly be helpful as a first line treatment for pain, a pill will not have the intimate knowledge of vertebrae and the body's skeletal and muscular structures. A Chiropractor, on the other hand, has the experience and training to get to the root cause of neck and back pain.
So how do Chiropractors treat neck and back pain? Chiropractors have a number of treatment methods for people who suffer from neck pains and back pains. Chiropractors base their treatment on the belief that most of the body's pain is the result of a misalignment in the spine so most forms of Chiropractic treatment involve an examination of the patient's spinal column to make sure that nothing is out of place. Often the Chiropractor will work the muscles immediately surrounding the spine in an attempt to relieve the pressure on the spinal nerves.
The Chiropractor, while focusing on the spine and back muscles, will work with the rest of the patient's body as well. Chiropractors are well versed in things like pressure points and massage techniques and may put some of these techniques to use as he or she attempts to relieve a patient's pain.
Chiropractors are also well known for their ability to "crack" a muscle or section of the spine back into place. This "crack" is actually a very controlled and swift motion in which the Chiropractor quickly pushes a joint beyond its usual motion range and then puts it back into place. Patients who have been through this explain that they experience a very fast jolt that, though not painful, is often shocking and then they feel the pain begin to subside. The term "crack" comes from the sound the joint makes as it is momentarily thrust outside of its comfort range.
Finally, Chiropractors do work with a patient's internal systems as well as external systems. A Chiropractor might recommend a change in diet as well as giving a patient some exercises to do to help reduce the pain in the back and the neck.
Many residents of the United Kingdom both fear the Chiropractor ("the back cracker") and assume that Chiropractic care is unnecessary. People fear the Chiropractor because they assume that a visit to his/her office will be painful. The truth is that visits to the Chiropractor usually do not hurt and Chiropractic treatment can do the patient quite a lot of good.
http://chiromedltd.com
Chiropractors have a very special skill set and provide a beneficial service to all who seek them out. While pain medication can certainly be helpful as a first line treatment for pain, a pill will not have the intimate knowledge of vertebrae and the body's skeletal and muscular structures. A Chiropractor, on the other hand, has the experience and training to get to the root cause of neck and back pain.
So how do Chiropractors treat neck and back pain? Chiropractors have a number of treatment methods for people who suffer from neck pains and back pains. Chiropractors base their treatment on the belief that most of the body's pain is the result of a misalignment in the spine so most forms of Chiropractic treatment involve an examination of the patient's spinal column to make sure that nothing is out of place. Often the Chiropractor will work the muscles immediately surrounding the spine in an attempt to relieve the pressure on the spinal nerves.
The Chiropractor, while focusing on the spine and back muscles, will work with the rest of the patient's body as well. Chiropractors are well versed in things like pressure points and massage techniques and may put some of these techniques to use as he or she attempts to relieve a patient's pain.
Chiropractors are also well known for their ability to "crack" a muscle or section of the spine back into place. This "crack" is actually a very controlled and swift motion in which the Chiropractor quickly pushes a joint beyond its usual motion range and then puts it back into place. Patients who have been through this explain that they experience a very fast jolt that, though not painful, is often shocking and then they feel the pain begin to subside. The term "crack" comes from the sound the joint makes as it is momentarily thrust outside of its comfort range.
Finally, Chiropractors do work with a patient's internal systems as well as external systems. A Chiropractor might recommend a change in diet as well as giving a patient some exercises to do to help reduce the pain in the back and the neck.
Many residents of the United Kingdom both fear the Chiropractor ("the back cracker") and assume that Chiropractic care is unnecessary. People fear the Chiropractor because they assume that a visit to his/her office will be painful. The truth is that visits to the Chiropractor usually do not hurt and Chiropractic treatment can do the patient quite a lot of good.
http://chiromedltd.com
Electric Muscle Stimulation Therapy
Electric Muscle Stimulation Therapy
Chiropractic Treatment and Pain Management
Muscle stimulators can sound intimidating to new and even seasoned visitors to a chiropractic office, but the reality of this therapy is much less frightening.
When dealing with acute, sub-acute and chronic pain, electrical stimulation is not the first solution that comes to mind for many sufferers. Instead, it is very common for people to ignore reoccurring back, neck, and joint discomfort for years and temporarily alleviate symptoms with analgesic medications without seeing a chiropractor.
Studies of analgesic medications reveal that these drugs do lessen the pain but they do not treat the source of the problem. Over time as the body develops a tolerance to painkillers, higher doses are required for relief. This means more physical dependence on medication, more side effects, and more toxins that the body has to combat as it tries to heal itself.
What is EMS and What Can it Do?
Electric muscle stimulation mimics the body's nervous system by sending safe, low frequency electrical pulses to the affected area, causing the muscle to contract and increasing temperature and blood circulation. The same natural process of the body to repair injuries works with EMS to relieve other common nervous system disorders, including constant headaches, numbness of limbs, and back pain.
By utilizing and encouraging the body's natural healing mechanisms, EMS and similar therapies can drastically reduce the dependence on medications and unnecessary surgeries and resolve the symptoms of underlying causes much quicker.
How Did EMS Originate?
For over two centuries, scientists have experimented with electricity in relation to human anatomy. According to the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Luigi Galvani was one of the first physicians and physicists to suggest that electric currents have an effect on muscle tissue and response.
Although his theories were controversial, Galvani's experiments and those of his contemporaries, such as Alessandro Volta, and others after him, such as scientist Michael Faraday, paved the way for advancements in electrophysiology and neurology, fields of science that chiropractors study intensely in their coursework to understand the relationship and function of muscle groups and nerves in order to treat pain.
Which Conditions Does This Sort of Therapy Treat?
Reputable research shows EMS is used to help treat and even prevent a surprising number of medical issues. These can include, but are not limited to:
Active Release Techniques for Sports Injuries
When they are not candidates for surgery, most victims of overuse injuries are referred to a physical therapist. They then follow a prescribed stretching and strengthening.
• carpal tunnel
• connective and dermal tissue repair
• increase in the range of motion in joints caused by such problems as arthritis and injury
• muscle atrophy
• muscle spasms
• muscle tension associated with long periods of sitting, standing, or lifting heavy objects
• post-surgical muscle regeneration
• sciatica
• sports injuries
• tennis elbow
• ulcers and chronic wounds
What Can Be Expected During a First Treatment?
This therapy should always be explained to patients beforehand so if there are questions or concerns there is an opportunity to discuss them. It is very natural to feel nervous or unsure but the chiropractic assistant on hand is there to provide a comfortable and relaxing experience. He or she will have a clean, cushioned table set up much like the ones used for chiropractic adjustments and this is where patients will sit or lie down depending on the area being treated.
Generally only two EMS pads are necessary but chiropractors may want to treat two areas at once and it is not uncommon to have two sets of pads on different areas. The assistant should begin at a very low frequency and gradually increase at intervals until the patient is comfortable. If the frequency is too high, patients will feel the muscle tense and tighten and can ask the assistant to turn the frequency down at any time.
What Does Electric Stimulation Feel Like?
A gentle tingling that develops into a massage-like sensation as the frequency is increased. The therapy normally lasts anywhere from ten to 15 minutes, often with the use of hot or cold compresses depending on the type of pain. Patients should always feel relaxed and comfortable. EMS is intended to help, not hurt.
Is EMS Only Applied to Back Muscles?
No. Experienced chiropractors and assistants can apply the pads to forearms, knees, elbows, calves, and hands - generally anywhere there is discomfort or a condition that can benefit from electric stimulation. A certified chiropractor will make the proper diagnosis and trained assistants will administer the therapy based on specific instructions.
What Are the Side Effects and Who Should Not Use EMS?
According to experts at the Natural Standard and Harvard Medical School, side effects from EMS are generally very mild. Patients may experience tenderness for a day or so afterward where muscles are already sore from inflammation. Short-term redness and skin irritation may also occur. Those who use implanted medical devices and pregnant women should avoid this therapy.
For further advice, talk to a chiropractor who will thoroughly assess patient medical history and who can recommend alternative treatments.
How Popular is EMS?
For some chiropractors, EMS is a passive therapy used exclusively for acute pain and for a short period of time. For others, depending on the severity of pain, EMS is a necessary tool in extensive rehabilitation and may be used during every visit. In addition to EMS, long-term progressive therapies, such as massage therapy and specialized stretches to retrain muscle groups, have been introduced into chiropractic care routines.
Although EMS is not new in terms of chiropractic treatments, it has been proven to effectively relieve pain over time and contribute to total body wellness. There are many patients who eventually reach a point where doing simple stretches at home and visiting a chiropractor once a month or once or twice a year is sufficient for pain free living. For more information, schedule a personal consultation with a trusted chiropractor to discuss whether or not EMS therapy can be part of a lifestyle solution.
Sources:
Dr. Shawn K. Brohl, D.C, C.C.S.P. Spring Meadows Chiropractic/Healthsource, Toledo, Ohio.
IMPACT Chiropractic. Wellness Vs. Medical Care (accessed December 17th, 2009).
Intelihealth: Natural Standard and the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (accessed December 17th, 2009).
National High Magnetic Field. Pioneers: Luigi Galvani (accessed December 17th, 2009).
Spine-Health. Types of Back Pain: Acute Pain, Chronic Pain, and Neuropathic Pain (accessed December 16th, 2009).
http://chiromedltd.com
Chiropractic Treatment and Pain Management
Muscle stimulators can sound intimidating to new and even seasoned visitors to a chiropractic office, but the reality of this therapy is much less frightening.
When dealing with acute, sub-acute and chronic pain, electrical stimulation is not the first solution that comes to mind for many sufferers. Instead, it is very common for people to ignore reoccurring back, neck, and joint discomfort for years and temporarily alleviate symptoms with analgesic medications without seeing a chiropractor.
Studies of analgesic medications reveal that these drugs do lessen the pain but they do not treat the source of the problem. Over time as the body develops a tolerance to painkillers, higher doses are required for relief. This means more physical dependence on medication, more side effects, and more toxins that the body has to combat as it tries to heal itself.
What is EMS and What Can it Do?
Electric muscle stimulation mimics the body's nervous system by sending safe, low frequency electrical pulses to the affected area, causing the muscle to contract and increasing temperature and blood circulation. The same natural process of the body to repair injuries works with EMS to relieve other common nervous system disorders, including constant headaches, numbness of limbs, and back pain.
By utilizing and encouraging the body's natural healing mechanisms, EMS and similar therapies can drastically reduce the dependence on medications and unnecessary surgeries and resolve the symptoms of underlying causes much quicker.
How Did EMS Originate?
For over two centuries, scientists have experimented with electricity in relation to human anatomy. According to the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Luigi Galvani was one of the first physicians and physicists to suggest that electric currents have an effect on muscle tissue and response.
Although his theories were controversial, Galvani's experiments and those of his contemporaries, such as Alessandro Volta, and others after him, such as scientist Michael Faraday, paved the way for advancements in electrophysiology and neurology, fields of science that chiropractors study intensely in their coursework to understand the relationship and function of muscle groups and nerves in order to treat pain.
Which Conditions Does This Sort of Therapy Treat?
Reputable research shows EMS is used to help treat and even prevent a surprising number of medical issues. These can include, but are not limited to:
Active Release Techniques for Sports Injuries
When they are not candidates for surgery, most victims of overuse injuries are referred to a physical therapist. They then follow a prescribed stretching and strengthening.
• carpal tunnel
• connective and dermal tissue repair
• increase in the range of motion in joints caused by such problems as arthritis and injury
• muscle atrophy
• muscle spasms
• muscle tension associated with long periods of sitting, standing, or lifting heavy objects
• post-surgical muscle regeneration
• sciatica
• sports injuries
• tennis elbow
• ulcers and chronic wounds
What Can Be Expected During a First Treatment?
This therapy should always be explained to patients beforehand so if there are questions or concerns there is an opportunity to discuss them. It is very natural to feel nervous or unsure but the chiropractic assistant on hand is there to provide a comfortable and relaxing experience. He or she will have a clean, cushioned table set up much like the ones used for chiropractic adjustments and this is where patients will sit or lie down depending on the area being treated.
Generally only two EMS pads are necessary but chiropractors may want to treat two areas at once and it is not uncommon to have two sets of pads on different areas. The assistant should begin at a very low frequency and gradually increase at intervals until the patient is comfortable. If the frequency is too high, patients will feel the muscle tense and tighten and can ask the assistant to turn the frequency down at any time.
What Does Electric Stimulation Feel Like?
A gentle tingling that develops into a massage-like sensation as the frequency is increased. The therapy normally lasts anywhere from ten to 15 minutes, often with the use of hot or cold compresses depending on the type of pain. Patients should always feel relaxed and comfortable. EMS is intended to help, not hurt.
Is EMS Only Applied to Back Muscles?
No. Experienced chiropractors and assistants can apply the pads to forearms, knees, elbows, calves, and hands - generally anywhere there is discomfort or a condition that can benefit from electric stimulation. A certified chiropractor will make the proper diagnosis and trained assistants will administer the therapy based on specific instructions.
What Are the Side Effects and Who Should Not Use EMS?
According to experts at the Natural Standard and Harvard Medical School, side effects from EMS are generally very mild. Patients may experience tenderness for a day or so afterward where muscles are already sore from inflammation. Short-term redness and skin irritation may also occur. Those who use implanted medical devices and pregnant women should avoid this therapy.
For further advice, talk to a chiropractor who will thoroughly assess patient medical history and who can recommend alternative treatments.
How Popular is EMS?
For some chiropractors, EMS is a passive therapy used exclusively for acute pain and for a short period of time. For others, depending on the severity of pain, EMS is a necessary tool in extensive rehabilitation and may be used during every visit. In addition to EMS, long-term progressive therapies, such as massage therapy and specialized stretches to retrain muscle groups, have been introduced into chiropractic care routines.
Although EMS is not new in terms of chiropractic treatments, it has been proven to effectively relieve pain over time and contribute to total body wellness. There are many patients who eventually reach a point where doing simple stretches at home and visiting a chiropractor once a month or once or twice a year is sufficient for pain free living. For more information, schedule a personal consultation with a trusted chiropractor to discuss whether or not EMS therapy can be part of a lifestyle solution.
Sources:
Dr. Shawn K. Brohl, D.C, C.C.S.P. Spring Meadows Chiropractic/Healthsource, Toledo, Ohio.
IMPACT Chiropractic. Wellness Vs. Medical Care (accessed December 17th, 2009).
Intelihealth: Natural Standard and the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (accessed December 17th, 2009).
National High Magnetic Field. Pioneers: Luigi Galvani (accessed December 17th, 2009).
Spine-Health. Types of Back Pain: Acute Pain, Chronic Pain, and Neuropathic Pain (accessed December 16th, 2009).
http://chiromedltd.com
Computer Related Back, Neck and Shoulder Pain
Computer Related Back, Neck and Shoulder Pain
Tips and Treatments for Posture Problems and Back Injuries
Millions of people are at risk of chronic nerve damage to their backs, necks and shoulders because of poor posture when using computers and laptops.
Back and neck pain is a natural result of prolonged sitting at work especially with computers. Bad posture can cause headaches, excessive tension in necks, chests, shoulders, arms and forearms, back, hips, thighs and legs.
All of the above cause increased fatigue to the muscles and ligaments supporting the lower back and can eventually lead to tissue injury and spinal joint dysfunction.
Symptoms of Back Problems due to Excessive Computer use Include:
• Back and neck muscle spasm and pain
• Back and neck soft tissue inflammation
• Back, neck and shoulder pain on movement and involvement of other muscles as a reaction
• Referred pain to buttocks and thighs or up the spine
Preventing back and neck pain while sitting is not an exact science as there are many differing opinions. However, there are some common denominators on which most chiropractors and other medical professionals agree:
Posture When Using Computers – What Not to Do
• Do not slouch in front of the computer or lie in bed and work on a laptop.
• Do not work for hours in front of a computer without breaks.
• Do not ignore back twinges and back pain, hoping that the problem will resolve itself.
• Avoid taking pain medication or anti-inflammatories when in pain from using a computer. This will serve to mask the symptoms but can lead to serious injury or permanent nerve damage in the long term.
• Do not sit on one leg or sit with legs crossed as this causes additional strain to the back.
• Do not perch a laptop on the lap and stare down at the screen – this places extra strain on the neck, spine and arms.
• Do not look up or down at the monitor. The top of the screen should be even with the user’s forehead and directly in front, at arms’ length.
Posture When Using Computers – What to Do
• Buy an ergonomic office chair with lumbar support and no armrests.
• Adjust the height of the chair so the upper thighs are parallel to the floor.
• Adjust the back support so the back is firmly supported and angled slightly backward, while the feet are supported on the floor or footrest.
• Buy an ergonomic keyboard and mouse and ensure that the height is adjusted to keep hands, wrists and board to the back.
• Have a break every hour and do stretching exercises like neck rolls, chin tucks, cupping head in hands behind the head and extension exercises.
Visiting a Chiropractic Clinic
A chiropractor is a medical professional who treats spinal column dysfunction. Back and neck pain may be the result of the back being badly aligned and the chiropractor sets out to relieve the problem by manual manipulation, exercise, massage and the application of heat, cold and light.
Massage Therapy to Relieve Back and Neck Pain
If done correctly, massage therapy can help to relieve back pain and tension. It is best to find a therapist trained in techniques that address back pain issues and has knowledge of muscle imbalances relating to back pain, such as sports injuries. Massage therapy should never be considered a substitute for proper medical attention.
Laptops and Back Problems
As more and more schools are switching to laptop computers, more physical problems are surfacing.
1. 'What Can Massage therapy really do for your Back pain?' Steven Hefferon, Certified Massage Therapist, The Healthy Back Institute
2. 'Common Computer Related Injuries' – Dr. Vic Weatherall
3. Hoving JL, Koes BW, de Vet HC, van der Windt DA, Assendelft WJ et al. Manual Therapy, Physical Therapy, or Continued Care by a General Practitioner for Patients with Neck Pain: A Randomized, Controlled Trial. Ann Intern Med. 2002; 136:713-722.
http://chiromedltd.com
Tips and Treatments for Posture Problems and Back Injuries
Millions of people are at risk of chronic nerve damage to their backs, necks and shoulders because of poor posture when using computers and laptops.
Back and neck pain is a natural result of prolonged sitting at work especially with computers. Bad posture can cause headaches, excessive tension in necks, chests, shoulders, arms and forearms, back, hips, thighs and legs.
All of the above cause increased fatigue to the muscles and ligaments supporting the lower back and can eventually lead to tissue injury and spinal joint dysfunction.
Symptoms of Back Problems due to Excessive Computer use Include:
• Back and neck muscle spasm and pain
• Back and neck soft tissue inflammation
• Back, neck and shoulder pain on movement and involvement of other muscles as a reaction
• Referred pain to buttocks and thighs or up the spine
Preventing back and neck pain while sitting is not an exact science as there are many differing opinions. However, there are some common denominators on which most chiropractors and other medical professionals agree:
Posture When Using Computers – What Not to Do
• Do not slouch in front of the computer or lie in bed and work on a laptop.
• Do not work for hours in front of a computer without breaks.
• Do not ignore back twinges and back pain, hoping that the problem will resolve itself.
• Avoid taking pain medication or anti-inflammatories when in pain from using a computer. This will serve to mask the symptoms but can lead to serious injury or permanent nerve damage in the long term.
• Do not sit on one leg or sit with legs crossed as this causes additional strain to the back.
• Do not perch a laptop on the lap and stare down at the screen – this places extra strain on the neck, spine and arms.
• Do not look up or down at the monitor. The top of the screen should be even with the user’s forehead and directly in front, at arms’ length.
Posture When Using Computers – What to Do
• Buy an ergonomic office chair with lumbar support and no armrests.
• Adjust the height of the chair so the upper thighs are parallel to the floor.
• Adjust the back support so the back is firmly supported and angled slightly backward, while the feet are supported on the floor or footrest.
• Buy an ergonomic keyboard and mouse and ensure that the height is adjusted to keep hands, wrists and board to the back.
• Have a break every hour and do stretching exercises like neck rolls, chin tucks, cupping head in hands behind the head and extension exercises.
Visiting a Chiropractic Clinic
A chiropractor is a medical professional who treats spinal column dysfunction. Back and neck pain may be the result of the back being badly aligned and the chiropractor sets out to relieve the problem by manual manipulation, exercise, massage and the application of heat, cold and light.
Massage Therapy to Relieve Back and Neck Pain
If done correctly, massage therapy can help to relieve back pain and tension. It is best to find a therapist trained in techniques that address back pain issues and has knowledge of muscle imbalances relating to back pain, such as sports injuries. Massage therapy should never be considered a substitute for proper medical attention.
Laptops and Back Problems
As more and more schools are switching to laptop computers, more physical problems are surfacing.
1. 'What Can Massage therapy really do for your Back pain?' Steven Hefferon, Certified Massage Therapist, The Healthy Back Institute
2. 'Common Computer Related Injuries' – Dr. Vic Weatherall
3. Hoving JL, Koes BW, de Vet HC, van der Windt DA, Assendelft WJ et al. Manual Therapy, Physical Therapy, or Continued Care by a General Practitioner for Patients with Neck Pain: A Randomized, Controlled Trial. Ann Intern Med. 2002; 136:713-722.
http://chiromedltd.com
Chiropractors Can Help
Chiropractors Can Help
Chiropractic Care is Safe & Effective
Chiropractors are highly educated and skilled professionals.
Are you in pain? Consider chiropractic care. Every year more Americans seek the help of a chiropractor for relief from muscle, joint and spinal pain conditions, states The American Chiropractic Association. Chiropractors can assess, diagnose and determine what course of treatment would be best suited to your injury and/or needs.
How Safe is Chiropractic?
According to the latest research and studies, chiropractic treatments are more effective and economical in treating many clinical conditions. In fact, chiropractic treatments have been rigorously examined for safety. More than six government inquiries worldwide have all concluded contemporary chiropractic health care is safe, effective and cost-efficient.
Chiropractors are trained to recognize when their patients may be at risk, and adapt the treatment accordingly. If you take a closer look at prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, thousands of people die each year from toxic reactions. Taking this into account, medical doctors nation-wide should advise patients of alternatives to drugs for their ailments.
What Do Chiropractors Do Exactly?
The first step your chiropractor will take during a consultation will be to complete a case history to review important aspects of your health. This examination involves checking your posture, testing your muscle strength and reflexes. Other orthopedic and neurological tests may be performed. These tests are designed to determine if there are areas of abnormal spinal function. Based on the examination findings, X-rays or other types of diagnostic imaging may be necessary.
If your chiropractor identifies areas of abnormal spinal function, he/she will recommend a chiropractic care program of adjustments. Your chiropractic program is specific to your needs - it is based upon your age, condition, lifestyle, and unique spinal problems. If you are wondering if you can feel abnormal spinal function - not always. You may not even have any symptoms. It is important to note a chiropractor never does adjustments when there is no spinal problem present.
What is a Chiropractic Adjustment?
You first need to understand a chiropractic adjustment is a scientific procedure done with a skill that comes with years of education and practice. When a chiropractor is adjusting your spinal bones he/she introduces a gentle force into your spine selecting one of the hundreds of ways using carefully directed and controlled pressure to restore better position and motion to fixated spinal joints.
Chiropractic Care and Health and Wellness
Health is an important link to wellness, and, chiropractic treatment can be one of the components to help you heal and achieve your wellness goal.
The American Chiropractic Association explains, "the adjustment momentarily loosens the joint and helps it back into proper alignment, relieving pressure on the joint and surrounding nerves."
Only the body knows exactly where these spinal bones should go. But it is the skill and scientific technique of the chiropractor who makes a reasonable determination of the general direction these bones have to move. In effect, the chiropractor is the guide.
What's that Sound?
When a joint is adjusted, a gas bubble escapes causing the popping noise. This sound is called fluidic attraction. It is the reaction that takes place between the joint surfaces of the body. Joints are smooth like glass and bathed in fluid. When they slide together in normal activity, there is no sound. However, when they are moved, as in a chiropractic adjustment, you may hear a pop much like popping your knuckles.
Chiropractic treatment helps relieve pain, improve movement and flexibility, and correct posture and gait, to name just a few benefits. To be sure your spine is healthy; consult a chiropractor for a spinal examination just as you would go to a dentist or doctor for a checkup.
Chiropractic Care is Safe & Effective
Chiropractors are highly educated and skilled professionals.
Are you in pain? Consider chiropractic care. Every year more Americans seek the help of a chiropractor for relief from muscle, joint and spinal pain conditions, states The American Chiropractic Association. Chiropractors can assess, diagnose and determine what course of treatment would be best suited to your injury and/or needs.
How Safe is Chiropractic?
According to the latest research and studies, chiropractic treatments are more effective and economical in treating many clinical conditions. In fact, chiropractic treatments have been rigorously examined for safety. More than six government inquiries worldwide have all concluded contemporary chiropractic health care is safe, effective and cost-efficient.
Chiropractors are trained to recognize when their patients may be at risk, and adapt the treatment accordingly. If you take a closer look at prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, thousands of people die each year from toxic reactions. Taking this into account, medical doctors nation-wide should advise patients of alternatives to drugs for their ailments.
What Do Chiropractors Do Exactly?
The first step your chiropractor will take during a consultation will be to complete a case history to review important aspects of your health. This examination involves checking your posture, testing your muscle strength and reflexes. Other orthopedic and neurological tests may be performed. These tests are designed to determine if there are areas of abnormal spinal function. Based on the examination findings, X-rays or other types of diagnostic imaging may be necessary.
If your chiropractor identifies areas of abnormal spinal function, he/she will recommend a chiropractic care program of adjustments. Your chiropractic program is specific to your needs - it is based upon your age, condition, lifestyle, and unique spinal problems. If you are wondering if you can feel abnormal spinal function - not always. You may not even have any symptoms. It is important to note a chiropractor never does adjustments when there is no spinal problem present.
What is a Chiropractic Adjustment?
You first need to understand a chiropractic adjustment is a scientific procedure done with a skill that comes with years of education and practice. When a chiropractor is adjusting your spinal bones he/she introduces a gentle force into your spine selecting one of the hundreds of ways using carefully directed and controlled pressure to restore better position and motion to fixated spinal joints.
Chiropractic Care and Health and Wellness
Health is an important link to wellness, and, chiropractic treatment can be one of the components to help you heal and achieve your wellness goal.
The American Chiropractic Association explains, "the adjustment momentarily loosens the joint and helps it back into proper alignment, relieving pressure on the joint and surrounding nerves."
Only the body knows exactly where these spinal bones should go. But it is the skill and scientific technique of the chiropractor who makes a reasonable determination of the general direction these bones have to move. In effect, the chiropractor is the guide.
What's that Sound?
When a joint is adjusted, a gas bubble escapes causing the popping noise. This sound is called fluidic attraction. It is the reaction that takes place between the joint surfaces of the body. Joints are smooth like glass and bathed in fluid. When they slide together in normal activity, there is no sound. However, when they are moved, as in a chiropractic adjustment, you may hear a pop much like popping your knuckles.
Chiropractic treatment helps relieve pain, improve movement and flexibility, and correct posture and gait, to name just a few benefits. To be sure your spine is healthy; consult a chiropractor for a spinal examination just as you would go to a dentist or doctor for a checkup.
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