Archive for July, 2009

Can a Chiropractor Help Scoliosis?

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

Scoliosis: An Introduction

When the body is seen from behind, a normal spine looks straight without much deviation from side-to-side. Therefore, if the spine is observed to have a lateral, or side-to-side, curvature, the individual might have a condition called scoliosis.This affliction frequently gives the appearance of the person leaning to one side although it should not be confused with unsatisfactory posture. Scoliosis is a puzzling deformity that is characterized by both lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebra often causing a symptomatic “rib hump” in the mid or thoracic spine. This is created by the vertebrae in the zone of the major curve rotating toward the concavity and pushing their attached ribs posterior thus creating the distinctive rib hump seen in thoracic scoliosis. If the thoracic curve and rib rotation are severe, greater than 70 degrees, pulmonary and cardiac function can be interfered with. Frequently later in life in untreated severe idiopathic infantile and juvenile scoliosis patients, this amount of curve and resulting cardiac and pulmonary changes can be life threatening.

Anatomy

If you were to observe the trunk from a side view, the spine would disclose four normal curves: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. The thoracic, in the chest area, has a normal round curve, “reversed C,” called a kyphosis, while in the lower spine there is a healthy “C” curve, known as swayback or lordosis. Hyperlordosis is the term used to describe increased swayback, while increased kyphosis in the thoracic spine is called hyperkyphosis. Changes from normal that are visible from a side view generally accompany scoliosis changes. Postural exercises can correct some round back deformities that are simply due to poor posture. A small number of patients with kyphosis have more rigid deformities than the postural type, which are coincidental with vertebral deformity. This type of deformity, called Scheuermann’s kyphosis, is much more difficult to treat than postural kyphosis, and it’s cause is unknown.

Even a nonprofessional can help to identify a child or adult with scoliosis simply by observing the person in a standing position, preferably bare-chested and in shorts, and observing the following:

  • One shoulder may be higher than the other.
  • One scapula (shoulder blade) may be higher or more prominent than the other.
  • There may be more space between the arm and the body on one side when the arms hang loosely at the side.
  • One hip may seem to be more elevated or more prominent than the other.
  • The head is not aligned with the pelvis.
  • One side of the back appears more elevated than the other when the individual is observed from the rear and asked to flex forward until the the spine is horizontal.

Once scoliosis is detected, the child or adult should be sent to a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, for further assessment. your chiropractor would be happy to help.

There are many different roots and many types of scoliosis, however the most prevalent, by far, is Idiopathic Scoliosis, which accounts for approximately 85 % of all cases. “Idiopathic” means “no known cause” and is witnessed with equal occurrence in boys and girls in the mild or low curve magnitudes. This affliction can be sub-classified into infantile, juvenile and adolescent types, based upon the age of onset. Idiopathic Scoliosis may be due to genetic or hereditary influences as it commonly runs in families. However girls, for unknown reasons are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves grow in size and require treatment. As the term “Idiopathic Scoliosis” suggests, this kind of scoliosis usually happens when children are finishing their last major growth spurt. It is a good idea to have this age group examined by a professional on a regular basis because young people are reluctant to allow their body to be viewed by parents or other adults.

If a scoliotic curve is discovered in the growing adolescent, it is vital that the curves be monitored for change by periodic examination and from time to time standing X-rays. In ninety percent of cases, the scoliosis is mild and does not require active treatment, but increases in spinal deformity demand evaluation to decide if a brace or other treatment is required. In a small number of patients, surgical treatment may be necessary.~Surgery may be required for a small number of people.

Brace support (orthosis) is recommended for both juvenile and adolescent children when an increase in their scoliosis or kyphosis is identified, or when new symptoms of moderate scoliosis or abnormal kyphosis are diagnosed. There are quite a few styles of braces, all designed to prevent curves from increasing by acting as a buttress for the spine during active skeletal growth. Braces normally will not make the spine completely straight, and cannot always keep a curve from increasing. However, bracing is effectual in stopping curve progression in a significant portion of skeletally-immature adolescents.

Scoliosis has no simple solution. The majority of cases, even though frequently monitored, are not actively treated. Severe conditions are infrequently treated surgically, but the common medical treatment for moderate cases is a brace. You may want to see your local chiropractor first.

Specialized exercise, electric stimulation of spinal muscles, nutritional programs, and chiropractic treatments are among the complementary modalities used in addition to bracing. It appears that the most effective results have been sustained with a multi-faceted approach to the management of this affliction.

There are chiropractors, that have excellent success managing scoliosis symptoms.

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Chiropractic Care Can Relieve Your Child’s Earaches and Ear Infections

Sunday, July 12th, 2009

childrens chiropractic

Earache is the most prevalent purpose for office visits to pediatricians. More than 70 percent of children will have had not less than one earache by the age of three, and nearly one-third will have had three or more earache episodes. What you might not expect, however, is that earache is also the most general basis for children under the age of five years to be escorted by parents to the chiropractor’s office.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help Earache and Ear Infections

A pediatrician who suspects that a child with an earache has a middle ear infection will usually prescribe antibiotics as a standard course of treatment. Advanced study, however, has ascertained that this type of treatment is often misguided. The basis for the child’s middle ear infection may not be due to bacteria, and inasmuch as antibiotics are only effective against bacterial pathogens, many times there will be no positive response. This is because numerous cases of middle ear infection can be generated by a virus, and viruses do not respond to antibiotics. This may be the reason why children develop chronic ear infections.

One of a variety of determinations that a Honolulu chiropractor can make is whether the earache or ear infection is produced by inflamation of the small nerves in the spine, called free nerve endings.

When these nerve endings are inflamed, an abnormal tension is generated in the small muscles of the neck. This muscle tension can put pressure on the lymphatic drainage ducts resulting in inadequate drainage from inside the ear, thereby preventing the body from being able to naturally correct the problem. Furthermore, balance can also be affected.

Inadequate drainage of lymphatic ducts can be discovered by a chiropractor if there is elevated tension in the neck and paraspinal muscles on the side with the earache. In addition, the chiropractor will look to see which spinal vertebrae are either slightly out of alignment or not moving within their normal range. This condition may have been the result of any one of the many bangs, jolts and falls that almost all children experience in the early years of their life. Restoration of normal lymph drainage is usually accomplished with a short regimen of treatments that include spinal adjustments and manipulation of the neck muscles. If your child is suffering from an earache or an ear infection, see your Honolulu chiropractor as soon as possible.

Advanced Research and Guidelines

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), ear infection, the most prevalent childhood illness second only to the common cold, accounts for nearly 30 million doctor visits every year. In addition, at least 6 million courses of antibiotics are unnecessarily prescribed for the affliction.Just recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new guidelines for treating pediatric ear inflammation, and specifically recommended a period of “watchful waiting” since, in many cases, infections clear up on their own, without medication.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) endorses the AAP on the guidelines and underlines that chiropractic treatment is a “good first option” for treating ear infection conservatively. “Doctors of chiropractic have been treating children for decades with great success – helping them to avoid painful ear infections, antibiotic overuse and resistance, and ear tube surgery,” said ACA President Donald Krippendorf, DC. “Particularly when dealing with young children, drugs and surgery should be an absolute last resort.”

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Chiropractic and the Health of Your Child

Friday, July 10th, 2009

Is It Safe To Adjust Children? FAQ#7

The adverse effects of drugs on the health of children has many moms and dads disturbed. Parents want to know if there is something better that they can do for their child than to give them pharmaceuticals.

Parents are adverse to simply mask symptoms with medication, and they are frightened about side effects. Their intent to achieve a healthier state for their children has inspired moms and dads to look for health care options that support their child’s own innate ability to be healthy.

Chiropractic care is that option because it assists a child’s nervous system in functioning optimally. When the nervous system is optimally functioning, the immune system, which is directed by the nervous system, is able to do what it’s meant to do, which is keep your child healthy.  As the adage goes, “the best offense is a good defense.” Everyday, children are exposed to all sorts of airborn, food-born, and contact bacteria. So many bacteria, in fact, that it would be impossible to immunize them against them all. Your Camarillo Chiropractor is very 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.

Most illnesses that affect children are avoidable. Chiropractic adjustments assists in removing interferences to the inherent healing power that runs through your child’s body. When that power is unleashed, the changes that take place many times appear to be profound.
Furthermore, a child is less inclined to be injured at play or in sports when his or her spine is in alignment. In addition, children who get adjusted on a regular basis don’t appear to experience as many “growing pains” as other children.
Lately, we are finding at your Chiropractor that more and more parents are bringing their children to us for general childhood health concerns. All children are entitled to express their absolute potential. Chiropractic care for children at your chiropractor is safe, gentle and effective.

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Adjust Your Posture, Correct Your Knee Pain

Thursday, July 9th, 2009

San Jose Chiropractor: Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions

Knee pain and disability is widespread, second only to spinal problems within the musculoskeletal system. Deficient mechanics of the knee, as well as faulty foot mechanics as compensation for foot pain as a rule produce painful knee problems. Additional causes most often include overuse of the knee joint, ailments as the result of arthritic changes in the joint, and traumatic injury from sports and falls.

Non-trauma knee problems: Poor mechanics of the knee joint and the related stress on the soft tissues of the knee are, by far, the most prevailing cause of non-traumatic pain. Normally, the part of the knee affected is the patella or knee-cap. Many times the patella does not move fluidly or does not move sufficiently on the femur during bending of the knee causing abnormal stress on the tendons, cartilage and ligaments. This distinct condition is often called chondromalacia patella (CMP) or Patella Femoral Syndrome (Knee Cap Pain). The condition usually begins when there are imbalances in the quadriceps muscles of the thigh that connect to and move the patella. Lower back ailments, particularly in the sacroiliac joints, are one of the primary reasons for imbalances in the muscles having to do with knee movement, and ensuing knee problems. Pain and dysfunction can also be generated by imbalances in the muscle groups that attach to the knee. For example, pain on the medial or inside of the knee occurs when the muscles on the insides of the thigh are stressed and rigid.   Mechanical knee pain is also caused by gait deviations such as pronation.

Indications of overuse include pain during activities such as climbing stairs, running, jumping, as well as pain upon getting up after prolonged sitting. A number of women are likely to be predisposed to painful overuse ailments for anatomical reasons, but such problems are often due to wearing high heels on a regular basis.

The main treatment for mechanical or overuse injuries to the knee is to re-establish proper balance of the muscles, restore proper movement to the patella and other joints of the knee, and to correct any subluxations of the sacroiliac joints and bones of the foot.  In certain cases, a brace is adopted to aid with the positioning of the patella or to secure the joint. Chiropractors, such as your San Jose chiropractor, are experts in providing knowledgeable assessment and management of these ailments.

Knee problems due to trauma: Traumatic injuries often occur during sports that involve running and jumping, such as football, basketball, and skiing. When the knee is pulled or bent beyond the strength of the ligaments that hold the joint together, tearing of these tissues can take place causing a sprain. The muscles that facilitate movement of the knee can also be torn during injury creating a strain or pull of the muscle. As with a sprain, a muscle strain can vary from a slight injury that requires little care to a severe injury requiring surgery. Furthermore the two special knee “cartilages” located between the tibia and femur (called the menisci), which provide for smooth motion and cushioning, may also be torn during traumatic injury. This serious injury frequently needs surgical repair, or even removal if damaged severely.

Traumatic knee injuries can cause serious pain and swelling and need immediate diagnosis and care. In the majority of cases an experienced chiropractor, such as your San Jose Chiropractor, can take excellent care of these conditions, but there are some injuries that may necessitate the craft of an orthopedic surgeon. Nevertheless, it is very important to stabilize the injured joint as soon as possible and to use ice on the hurt area, if possible, until the injury can be assessed.

Conditions such as poor mechanics and problems due to overuse, as well as traumatic injuries, need to be eliminated at an early stage. If not, the tissues of the knee joint, particularly the cartilage, will eventually erode. As a result the bones will rub on one another, and changes such as bone spurs can take place. This painful condition, known as degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis, commonly advances with age. Common treatment may involve medications such as NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). However, there are natural anti-inflammatory supplements that produce excellent results such as rosemary, glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, bioflavinoids, curcumin. Conservative treatment, such as chiropractic, can be extremely beneficial in alleviating the pain. Your San Jose chiropractor is very knowledgeable about anti-inflammatory supplements. In addition, people can often aid themselves by keeping their weight down, doing exercises (especially in the pool), and wearing cushioned shoes or insoles.

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Can Weight Reduction Help Painful Arthritis?

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

San Diego Chiropractor: Chiropractic and Arthritis

Are you suffering from painful arthritis? Do you also have a difficult time with your weight?  If so, it’s conceivable that you’re having back pain not only as the result of arthritis, but also as a consequence of the burden your weight is putting on your spine.  The body was not designed to carry around extraneous weight in the form of body fat.  If you are carrying around just an additional 20 or 30 pounds day in and day out, your spine, which supports the body, is being put under a tremendous amount of strain. This type of burden can produce aberrations of the vertebral column. These misaligned vertebra can cause arthritic changes in the spine and persist in aggravating the degenerative changes that have already taken place. Moreover, your body may counteract in other ways, like your hips moving forward or tilting to counterbalance the excess poundage.  This can compress the sciatic nerve, which is extremely painful.

A new survey by the NPD Group, a leading market research company based in Rosemont, Ill., indicates that about 62% of adults and 34% of children are overweight or obese. The ubiquitousness of arthritis increases with accumulating weight. Research suggests that cultivating a healthy weight lessens the risk of developing arthritis in the first place and may decelerate degenerative progression. A loss of just 11 pounds can decrease the occurrence (incidence) of new knee osteoarthritis and would be extraordinarily beneficial in reducing back pain as well.

In order for a person to get rid of their back pain, knee pain, and pain in the joints in other places in the body, a healthy diet and regular exercise is imperative.  Although this fact probably doesn’t strike you as anything new, it really is the only way for you to get out of pain and regain your life.

First of all, we’ll address the dieting issue.  There are a huge number of different ways to diet and most of them work only on a temporary basis.  Sadly, the diet industry is not interested in having you lose weight permanently because as a result they would lose you as a customer.  If you want weight productively, you are simply going to need to eat a healthy diet and additionally to cut your calories so that you use more calories than you take in.  Dropping a lot of pounds too fast is not only ineffectual long-term, but perilous. Losing about 2 pounds every week will help you to lose the weight permanently and healthfully.

Research has proved that exercise and physical activity not only decreases pain and augments function, but actually postpones disability. No less than one-half hour of moderate physical activity, a minimum of 3 days a week, has been confirmed to be effective. Even at 10-minute intervals such movement is beneficial.

Chiropractic manipulation is a highly beneficial way to get movement back in the joints of your spine and other areas of, and can be a smart first step before starting an exercise program. A well-aligned spine makes exercise and physical activity a lot easier and will slow down arthritic degenerative changes. The Annals of Internal Medicine published the findings of a survey of 232 people who had arthritis and were under a rheumatologist’s care.  Of those people, 63% responded to the survey by stating that they were taking advantage of some type of “complementary care” as named by the study.  Of those individuals, 31% were using chiropractic. Undoubtedly the most notable statistic was that 73% of those using chiropractic found it beneficial.  Explaining why they’d tried the non-medical chiropractic care, those surveyed provided a number of reasons: 1) to curb pain, 2) they’d heard that it helps, 3) they felt assured that it is safe, 4) it had aided someone they knew, and 5) because their prescription medication wasn’t doing the job.

Chiropractors, also called doctors of chiropractic, have been aiding people suffering from back pain due to arthritis and other arthritic problems for over a hundred years. Not only can arthritic pain and degenerative changes in the spine be produced by the misaligned vertebra that your San Diego chiropractor will adjust, if left untreated misalignments can lower resistance and immunity, which can cause new health conditions.

It is always a good idea to visit a health care professional to get information about diet and exercise. If you are interested in qualified advice on the sort of lifestyle changes that you will required to help you to manage your arthritis, your chiropractor will be very happy to help you. Furthermore, in addition to getting your spine in alignment through gentle adjustments, your chiropractor will analyze any faulty gait patterns or posture irregularities that may be adding to your arthritic pain.

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Chiropractic: A Natural Aid for Arthritis

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

Chicago Chiropractor and Arthritis

Introduction

One of the most commonly misunderstood conditions among sufferers is arthritis..Often the word, “arthritis,” brings to mind a future that includes crippled and twisted joints.  However “arthritis” is generic word that includes many different conditions from the benign to the severe. For our purposes we will restrict this discussion to the most common forms of arthritis.

Osteoarthritis and Chiropractic Care

Osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis, or degenerative joint disease (DJD) are the labels for the most common form of arthritis, which is also called, spondylosis, if it occurs in the spine. Essentially, the condition is due to the erosion of the cartilage that lines the joint surfaces, and it is found not only in humans, but also in all mammals. When joint cartilage is harmed, the sensitive bone tissue that is normally protected by the cartilage becomes stressed causing degenerative changes in the joint. Sometimes the bone around the joint will proliferate and make osteophytes, or what are often called bone spurs. These spurs can create painful irritation to other tissues adjacent to the joint, in this way complicating the already painful condition.

As a rule areas of the body that develop degenerative joints are in the spine, especially in the lower neck and lower back, the knees, the hips and the fingers. Previous trauma, certain occupations and activities, weight, diet, and heredity all appear to affect both the onset and severity of DJD.

The symptoms of DJD always involve some degree of pain and/or stiffness in the body part involved. If the weight-bearing joints, such as the hips or knees are involved, ones mobility can be affected particularly in the more advanced stages of the condition.  As a last resort joints can be surgically replaced with synthetic devices. This should be done only in severe cases where the joint is appreciably worn and movement is intolerable due to severe pain.

Prevention is always the best option, beginning at an early age.

  • One should always be certain that, especially when young, all injuries to joints are properly managed to insure proper healing to avoid future disability.
  • Shoes with good support and shock absorption should be worn by those whose jobs require extended periods of standing or walking.
  • Excess body weight can produce increased stress upon the weight bearing joints of the body.
  • Care should be taken to protect knees from pain aad strain when kneeling on hard surfaces.
  • Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables as they include natural vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are crucial for the health of the joints, as well as the rest of the body.

Recently there have been some studies that reveal that the nutritional supplement, Glucosamine, can help with DJD and may actually help rebuild joint cartilage. However, it must be used over a long-term period and does not work in all conditions.

Chiropractic adjustments are not only a smart idea, but an effectual treatment for arthritis, and can assist in restoring proper mobility and function to the spinal joints, thereby giving patients great relief. Your Chicago chiropractor has many of years of experience in helping people with arthritis pain. Other forms of chiropractic care may include joint mobilization, massage, ultrasound, cold laser, or electro-therapy, all of which may be helpful in the relief of painful and stiff joints. Occasionally a brace is required to help stabilize the joint in an effort to alleviate pain. Movement is vital to the maintenance of arthritic joints. A chiropractor often suggests gentle, mobilizing activities such as stretching, yoga, and tai chi can be beneficial.

Gout

An high level of uric acid in the blood and the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints create gouty arthritis. The most common joints are the big toes, the knees, ankles and wrists, and is often characterized by excruciating pain and swelling. A large number of people who develop gout are predisposed through heredity, though episodes are generally brought on by binge eating of inflammatory foods, when dehydrated or fasting, or after a major surgery or illness. Foods that must be avoided contain a natural substance called Purines that are metabolized in the liver to form uric acid. People with this condition cannot effectively metabolize uric acid, thus the proliferation in the bloodstream and the subsequent joint problems. The foods most correlated with high purine content are: red meat especially organ meat, certain seafood, legumes, mushrooms and other foods as well. There are other dietary restrictions that must be followed including avoiding alcohol.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of systemic origin. The direct cause is not known, but it is thought to be due to a problem with the immune system. The most common joints affected are the small joints of the hands and fingers, the feet, knees, and shoulder, though other areas of the body can be affected as well. Morning stiffness aggravated by movement is most often associated with the disease. Frequently people complain of general malaise and fatigue, and the disease in its more advanced forms can affect many of the other body systems. Rheumatoid arthritis can be easily identified through definitive blood tests. Though, currently, there is no cure, in addition to medication and vitamin and diet therapy, treatment should include chiropractic manipulations to mobilize joints and help to relieve the pain and stiffness accompanying this disease. Additional modalities such as ultrasound, heat, electro-therapy, and massage may also be valuable. Your Chicago chiropractor is dedicated to assisting sufferers in getting relief from the pain and suffering associated with arthritis.

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Whiplash is a Pain in the Neck

Monday, July 6th, 2009

Chiropractic and Neck Pain

Whenever we arise in the morning with a stiff and painful neck, the inclination is to blame the predicament on our pillow, bed, or sleep position during that night. We also make an effort to figure out what is occurring when sudden neck movement causes a sharp pain that feels as if “something” has slipped out of position or that a nerve is being “pinched.” Though it may seem so, one single incident is seldom the cause of most neck problems, but rather the cumulative effects of unsuitable sitting posture, unhealthy work and lifestyle habits, and lack of beneficial exercise for strength and flexibility. Obviously, some neck problems are due to traumatic events such as a whiplash accident, a fall, or a sports injury.

In order to understand neck pain, it is necessary to understand the anatomy of the spine. The spinal bones or vertebrae of the neck consist of posterior joints, called facets, that attach vertebrae to one another and serve to guide the motion of the spine. Inter-vertebral discs, composed of tough cartilage, join the “bodies” of the vertebrae. This tough cartilage covers the nucleus, a soft material in the center of the inter-vertebral discs. The discs act as shock absorbers and spacers between the vertebrae. In a canal found between the body and the facets of the vertebrae is the spinal cord. Spinal nerves leave the spine between the vertebrae and impart energy to muscles and organs of the body. Additionally, they carry sensory impulses, including pain information, from the body to the brain.  The nerves that leave from the neck are assigned to the entire upper extremity including the shoulder, elbow and hand, as well as structures of the head and neck. The natural forward curve of the neck balances the weight of the head and alleviates stress on neck vertebrae. For more information please feel free to visit your Colorado Springs Chiropractor.

Risk Factors: Neck Pain and Computer Use

A larger majority of people are now making their living sitting at a desk in front of a computer. The use of computers has risen significantly, and many individuals spend eight to ten hours a day slumped over the keyboard and staring at the monitor. When we sit with our head in a forward bent position-the posture that most desk workers take on-the ligaments that hold the facets together and the muscles in the neck are put under tremendous strain. In addition, the normal forward curve of the neck becomes reversed producing more stress upon all the surrounding tissues of the neck. All of this can lead to spinal problems including disc herniation and subluxations, which are the principal causes of spinal nerve irritation. Conjointly with general pain, spinal nerve irritation in the neck can cause symptoms such as headaches, eye problems, giddiness, arm and hand pain (and paraesthesia), as well as shoulder pain.

Headaches and Chiropractic Care

Headaches or migraines are commonly associated with misalignments of the cervical spine. When the cervical vertebrae lose their essential position or motion, sensitive nerves and blood vessels that are connected with structures in the head are stretched or irritated thus creating symptoms from a dull ache to throbbing pain. In many instances the tight knots in the muscles of the neck, called trigger points, can also refer pain to the head.  Many other factors are related to headaches such as toxic fumes, certain foods, additives such as MSG, alcohol, caffeine, and stress. Nevertheless one must always look at the tissues and alignment of the neck when contemplating the origin of headaches and migraines. Chiropractic care has been shown to exceptionally beneficial in the treatment of headaches. Your Colorado Springs Chiropractor can give you further information regarding treatment and pain relief.

Whiplash and Chiropractic Care

Unfortunately, many people are involved in car accidents. Rear-end collisions are the most common. During such an accident, the passenger in the front automobile gets his or her head forcefully wrenched backward and then forward causing injury to the structures of the back and front of the neck. This type of trauma is often called a whiplash. Even at low speeds, the amount of force produced by such an accident is very strong and can cause injury to the ligaments, muscles, facet joints, discs, and spinal nerves. Whiplash injury includes neck pain and immobility, and other symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vertigo, arm and should pain, tingling in the hands and fingers, and weakness of the arms and hand. Immediate evaluation and x-rays are vital in order to rule out a fracture. Usually in most cases, the injuries are principally to the soft tissues and joints. Proper management is vital in recovery from the pain and symptoms of whiplash, and also to prevent future disability. Your Colorado Springs Chiropractor is has years of experience in treating whiplash injury, and is more than capable of managing the case from beginning to end.

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Chiropractic Treatment Helps Low Back Pain

Sunday, July 5th, 2009

Can Chiropractic Help Back Pain?

Low Back Pain

Low back pain is second in commonality only to the common cold. It affects more than 80% of people. Although most of us are aware that the common cold is due to a viral infection, back pain is often perplexing to its sufferers. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor is an expert at solving that mystery.

Anatomy

Knowledge of the anatomy of the spine is essential in understanding back pain. The spinal bones or vertebrae of the lower back are made of posterior joints called facets that link vertebrae to one another and serve to direct the motion of the spine. Inter-vertebral discs, made of strong cartilage, connect the bodies of the vertebrae. This dense cartilage encases the nucleus, a soft material in the center of the inter-vertebral discs. The main function of the disc is as a shock absorber and spacer between the vertebrae. Ligaments and muscles also connect the vertebrae. The sacrum is a wedge-shaped bone at the bottom of the spine. It is joined to the two pelvic bones at the sacroiliac joint. In a canal positioned between the body and the facets of the vertebrae is the spinal cord. The spinal nerves exit the spine between the vertebrae.

Causes of Back Pain

Most back pain patients have not experienced any trauma, accidents or major injuries prior to the onset of their problem. The cumulative effects of unhealthy sitting posture, poor work habits, incorrect lifting, lack of proper exercise, and other negative lifestyle-related factors cause most back pain.  These cumulative factors produce stresses and imbalances on the spine and, therefore, people may injure their back merely by bending over to pick up a piece of paper. The instability of the spine makes it vulnerable to even the most simple movements, such as bending. When this comes about, the surrounding back muscles go into spasm to protect the stressed or injured tissues of the back. Chiropractors are back pain specialists. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor can help you to get out of pain quickly.

Disc Problems & Sciatica

Prolonged sitting, particularly in a awkward position produces increased pressure on the intervertebral discs and imbalances in the muscles surrounding the spine. Eventually the lower spine loses its customary function and no longer can make room for the normal day-to-day stresses in ones life. Ultimately, the intervertebral disc develops small fissures, or cracks, permitting the soft nucleus to protrude the disc outward. If the disc pushes on sensitive tissues, it produces the pain that is often referred to as a slipped disc. Sciatica develops when the disc presses on the spinal nerve. The symptoms of sciatica include pain, tingling, numbness, and often weakness in the lower extremities. Sometimes if the disc protrusion or herniation is large and the condition is not managed correctly, surgery is necessary to clear away the herniated disc material. With chiropractic adjustments and care, which often includes postural exercises, most disc complications, including sciatica, can be mended. If you are experiencing any of the problems defined above, it is very important for you to seek chiropractic attention.

Spondylosis

Repetitive injury to the discs, facet joints, and surrounding ligaments may cause increased wear and tear and weight-bearing stress on the spine. This stress can adversely affect the cartilage around the joints and engender calcium to deposit in the tissues around the vertebrae, forming bone spurs. These spurs can compress adjacent nerves, blood vessels and soft tissue resulting in symptoms ranging from minor pain and numbness to gross sensory loss and muscular atrophy. This compression causes a form of arthritis, called Spondylosis, that can also occur as part of the aging process of the spine. Nevertheless, determinants such as previous trauma, unhealthy lifestyle, and repetitive stress injury influence the time of onset in life. Regular chiropractic adjustments and overall chiropractic management is extraordinarily helpful in slowing the aging process of the spine, as well as helping Spondylosis sufferers in managing their condition. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor has helped many Spondylosis sufferers.

Sacroiliac Problems

Another common area of dysfunction or injury in the low back is in the sacroiliac joints. These weight-bearing joints link the upper part of the body to the lower pelvic portion and are usually very strong and stable. However with disturbances such as falls, sports injuries, or lifting heavy objects, the joints can become unstable and relocate to an abnormal position.  This condition is called a sacroiliac subluxation. Pregnancy can also cause this condition. Sacroiliac subluxation causes imbalances in the lower extremities giving a person a functional long and short leg. Pain happens particularly with prolonged standing and walking, or during and after physical activity, and the individual may experience a lack of energy and feeling tired easily.  Often this imbalance can affect structures further up the spine and people can develop neck and shoulder pain, as well as headaches. Chiropractic adjustments and treatment are extremely effective in fixing this problem by establishing proper alignment of the joints.. Ask your Fort Worth chiropractor how you can experience effective pain relief.

Spinal Subluxation

Subluxated or misaligned facets joints are a prevalent disorder of the lower back, as well as the entire spine. Subluxations can happen on their own or in conjunction with disc problems and Spondylosis. Subluxations are not only painful, but they can compress the nerves as they exit the foramen (or spaces) between the vertebrae, causing paraesthesia. Paraesthesia is an alteration of sensation described as a tingling, burning or “funny feeling.” Paraesthesia in the upper extremities oftenoriginates from nerve problems in the neck, while paraesthesia in the lower extremities is most often associated with nerve challengesin the lumbar region (lower back). Visceral problems such as asthma and gastric conditions can also becorrelated with, or complicated by, spinal subluxations and nerve compression. Subluxations are best eliminated by chiropractic adjustments.

Trauma

Trauma such as a fall, car accident, or sports injury can create over-stretching or tearing of the tissues of the spine and lower back and produce extensive pain and immobility. Corrective chiropractic treatment at the onset of symptoms is very important in order to avoid long term disability and the development of any of the above conditions. If you experience a trauma, call your chiropractor as soon as possible.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is often associated with low back pain. Chiropractic care offers exceptional pain relief.

When it comes to the spine, chiropractors have more education and training than medical doctors. I can provides state of the art diagnosis and skilled treatment for any of the above-mentioned conditions of the spine and lower back.

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Carpal Tunnel Pain and Chiropractic Therapies

Saturday, July 4th, 2009

Ventura Chiropractor

Introduction

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome falls into the category of neurological conditions referred to as nerve entrapment disorders and is easily the most common of these disorders. As the name suggests, these conditions occur when a nerve is trapped or constricted between other tissues of the body causing irritation and dysfunction of the nerve.

Anatomy

The carpal tunnel rests within the underside of the wrist. It is a tunnel, or passage, through which the Median nerve travels on its way to energize and animate the hand and fingers. In addition to the median nerve, the carpal tunnel includes the nine tendons of the forearm muscles that are responsible for bending and flexing of the fingers and thumb. There are also arteries and lymphatic vessels that provide circulation to the hand located within the tunnel. The bottom and sides of this tunnel are formed by wrist bones and the top of the tunnel is covered by a sinewy band of connective tissue called the transverse carpal ligament. The diameter of the carpal tunnel is about the same as the index finger making the carpal tunnel an intensely-packed space. The flexor tendons, arteries and median nerve are intended to glide smoothly past each other during wrist and finger movement.

If the tendon size increases from inflammation or hypertrophy (growth), or if the carpal tunnel size shrinks due to  an improper use of the carpal bones, the median nerve can become compressed or entrapped by the carpal tunnel. The initiatory symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome usually include pain, numbness, paraesthesia (pins and needles) and tingling in the fingers and hands especially the thumb and adjacent two fingers.  These symptoms are especially noticeable in the night and often wake people from their sleep as the individual has to sit up in bed and shake-out and/or rub the hands in order decrease these unpleasant feelings.  In addition, activity can cause the hands to feel clumsy or weak, and fatigue easily. Over time, the ability to grasp small objects using the thumb and fingers can be affected dangerously and if left untreated, can lead to total dysfunction of the hand.

The following are generic causes and corresponding conditions:

  • repetitive and forceful grasping with the hands
  • prolonged computer usage especially with poor wrist position
  • activities that require repetitive bending of the wrist
  • broken or dislocated bones in the wrist which produce swelling
  • arthritis, especially the rheumatoid type
  • thyroid gland imbalance
  • sugar diabetes
  • hormonal changes associated with menopause or pregnancy

Although any of the above can can be a contributing factor to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, in many cases the cause is unknown. Nevertheless, those who work with equipment that vibrates and/or perform their jobs in extreme temperatures often develop carpal tunnel symptoms.  In addition, repetitive housework as seemingly inconsequential as wringing clothes by hand, can bring on carpal tunnel symptoms. However, the continuing increase in computer use is the most compelling explanation for the number of individuals who are suffering with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome today. The repetitive motions of typing on the keyboard and moving the mouse over extended periods of time is a primary indicator for many people with CTS.

Treatment

Competent diagnosis and treatment is vital to relieving the painful and debilitating symptoms of CTS. Your Ventura Chiropractor is highly skilled in the diagnosis and managment of CTS. Chiropractors are equipped to deal with this problem and can offer many sufferers with relief.  In addition to chiropractic adjustments of the wrist joints, treatment by chiropractor may include inflammation reduction therapy such as ultrasound or low level laser. Electromusclestim can often help to strengthen the weak muscles of the forearm and soft tissue massage is effective in stretching contracted tissues. You might be advised to wear a splint or support, particularly at night, to help hold the wrist in a neutral position to decompress the carpal tunnel. Your Ventura Chiropractor will also give you specific exercises to stretch and/or strengthen muscles of the forearm and hand.

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Chiropractic Therapy Can Help Elbow Pain

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

“Tennis Elbow” is the common name for elbow pain originating on the outside or lateral side of the elbow. This condition arises from an irritation or inflammation of the tendons of one or more forearm muscles at their attachment to the bony protuberance close to the elbow joint, called the lateral epicondyle. The medical term for this condition is lateral epicondylitis, meaning an inflammation of the epicondyle. When the inflammation occurs on the inside, or medial side, of the elbow, the problem is often referred to as “Golfer’s Elbow” or medical epicondylitis. Golfer’s Elbow, however, is not as widespread as Tennis Elbow.

Tennis and golf are not the only activities that are capable of causing epicondylitis. Any activity that requires repetitive gripping of objects can result in the affliction. Inappropriate wrist and arm posture while carrying heavy bags, knitting, chopping food, and/or using a computer can also cause “tennis” or “golfer’s” elbow. With sports, the condition arises when someone,  who is new to a particular game, uses an improper technique, tests new rackets or clubs, or extends the intensity or duration of exercise without effective preparation.

Some cases involving epicondylitis can be attributed to complications farther up the arm or even in the neck. The nerves that give movement to the forearm muscles may become inflamed due to a disc condition or spinal subluxation, thereby causing the muscles to tense and inserting marked strain on the tendon attachment(s).  In these circumstances, it predisposes someone to elbow pain from any of the above-mentioned causes. If left untreated, joints of the elbow can become subluxated further, and even arthritis can be a complication of the condition. Assessment and treatment by a qualified chiropractor, such as your Mount Laurel Chiropractor can remedy the problem and eliminate future complications.

Appropriate treatment is essential because epicondylitis seldom, if ever, resolves on its own. Determination of the exact cause of the problem and a treatment plan are extremely important. This might include modalities such as ultrasound, electro-therapy, massage, hot and cold therapies, bracing, and home stretching and exercises. Mount Laurel Chiropractic care has proved, repeatedly, to be extremely effective in the most comprehensive management of epicondylities.

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