Category: chiropractic


Could Chiropractic Treatment Be The Answer to Affordable Healthcare?

Filed Under: chiropractic
Mar.03, 2010

Call me a daydreamer if you want to, but as a chiropractor I am looking forward to the day when alternative medicine isn’t considered “alternative.” With today’s high costs for conventional medical procedures, as well as the exorbitant insurance premiums charged to cover them (when they do), and with the expanding health problems of aging baby boomers, it seems to me to be a good time to look at the non-invasive, drug-free, natural approach to health that chiropractic brings to the healthcare bargaining table.

Unlike surgery and the long rehabilitation process that it often requires, chiropractic treatment can help individuals to get out of pain and back into their daily activities (such as working) much faster. And, unlike pharmaceuticals that carry dangerous side effects that can actually end up costing whole lot more than the original condition they were supposed to improve due to the fact that previously “healthy” body parts become inhibited and diseased, there are no unhealthy or dangerous side effects with chiropractic treatments. But, there are side effects…positive ones, such as enhanced circulation, elimination of lactic acid, easier travel of oxygen and nutrients within the body, more flexibility, much less general pain and soreness, faster recovery time, and a more tranquil feeling.

Chiropractic: A gentle, natural, and cost-effective way to get healthy and stay that way!

Technorati Tags: , , ,

Tags: , , ,
read more

Chiropractic Care Can Help Arthritis

Filed Under: chiropractic
Aug.31, 2009

Arthritis is generally confusing to most suffers.Often the word, “arthritis,” produces fear of a future that includes crippled and twisted joints.  However, many conditions from benign to severe are filed under the term, arthritis. For our purposes we will limit this discussion to the most common forms of arthritis.

Osteoarthritis and Chiropractic Care

Osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis, or degenerative joint disease (DJD) are the names for the most common form of arthritis, which is also called, spondylosis, if it occurs in the spine. Basically, 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 injured, the sensitive bone tissue that is normally protected by the cartilage becomes stressed causing degenerative changes in the joint. Now and then, osteophytes, or bone spurs, can ensue when the bone around the joint increases quickly. Bone spurs produce painful inflammation to other tissues surrounding the joint aggravating the already grievous condition.

Degenerative joints as a rule occur in the lower neck and lower back, the knees, hips, and 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 perpetually 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.  In some cases, if the joint is sufficiently worn and the person can no longer walk without severe pain, the joints are surgically replaced with synthetic devices. Of course, one should make an effort to manage the condition early on in ones life to avoid the need for surgery.

The best management of DJD is, without exception, prevention that involves taking care of ones joints at an early age.

* Making sure that all injuries to joints are properly treated will help to avoid future problems.
* Shoes with suitable support and shock absorption should be worn by those whose jobs demand extended periods of standing or walking.
* Weight loss through proper diet will help to lessen stress on weight-bearing body joints.

* Care should be taken to cushion 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 show that the nutritional supplement, Glucosamine, can help with DJD and can possibly help rebuild joint cartilage. However, it must be used over time and does not work in all conditions.

Chiropractic adjustments aid in the restoration of proper mobility and function to the spinal joints. Chiropractic care is not only a smart idea, but extremely effective in relieving the debilitating pain of arthritis. Your Chicago chiropractor is highly trained when it comes to arthritic pain relief. In addition, chiropractic modalities such as joint mobilization, ultrasound, cold laser therapy, massage and electro-therapy may be used to aid in the treatment of painful and stiff joints. Sometimes a brace is used to help stabilize the joint in order 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 elevated level of uric acid in the blood and the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints produce gouty arthritis. The most common joints are the big toes, the knees, ankles and wrists, and is often characterized by excruciating pain and swelling. Most people who develop gout are predisposed through heredity, though episodes are more often than not brought on by binge eating of agitative foods, when dehydrated or fasting, or after a major surgery or illness. Certain foods such as red meat (especially organ meat), certain seafood, legumes, and mushrooms have the natural substance, Purines, that are metabolized in the liver to form uric acid. Since individuals with gout cannot efficiently metabolize uric acid, the accumulation in the bloodstream produces joint problems. In addition to the foods mentioned and additional foods containing Purines, other dietary restrictions need to be followed including the avoidance of 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 connected 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, while other areas of the body can be affected as well. The condition is usually associated with morning stiffness that is aggravated by motion. Further symptoms can include general malaise and fatigue, and in its more advanced stages other systems of the body may be affected. Rheumatoid arthritis can be easily identified through particularized blood tests. Though, currently, there is no cure, in addition to medication and vitamin and diet therapy, treatment should include chiropractic treatments to mobilize joints and help to relieve the pain and stiffness associated with this disease. Additional modalities such as ultrasound, heat, electro-therapy, and massage may also be helpful. Your Chicago chiropractor is dedicated to supporting individuals in getting relief from the pain and suffering associated with arthritis.

Technorati Tags: , , , ,

Tags: , , , ,
read more

Healthy Choices Create the Path to Longevity

Filed Under: chiropractic
Jul.29, 2009

Healthy Choices Create the Path to Longevity
by Guest Contributor Jamie G. Phillips, DC

It does seem, doesn’t it, that it doesn’t matter where we look nowadays, there are news stories and advertisements, alike, promoting the stupendous research on a plethora of natural supplements, not to mention the newest health claims of coffee and red wine that, indubitably, guarantee to reduce or prevent all causes of mortality? It would almost seem, in fact, that a quest for immortality has replaced our search for longevity!

To start with, let me make it super clear that I solidly believe that certain~particular things that we put into our bodies can be beneficial to our health. So, I’m definitely not opposed to taking supplements. Not only do I advocate them for my patients, but take them myself. Secondly, if confession is good for the soul, and red wine is good for the heart, then I’d like to take this opportunity to help both by stating for the record that I enjoy drinking a glass of red wine. The suggestion that it might have heart-healthy properties, well, that’s like icing on the cake, so to speak. And, lastly, as far as caffeine’s ability to genuinely reverse or prevent Alzheimer’s disease goes, I believe that if that were generally true, life would be far less frightening and far more enjoyable for many people and their families.

However, before taking ill-considered action, and indiscriminately adding another cup of coffee to your morning grind, another glass of red wine to your evening ritual, or an additional expenditure of your hard-earned cash on exotic herbs that promise to make you live forever, let’s rationally think about a couple of things.

For instance, let us consider the human condition. We are dynamic, biological beings, free to vigorously participate in life. We have not been restricted to a cage all our life, and we have not been bred to “unnaturally” incur the age-related afflictions that lab animals do, disease and debilitation that is then “eliminated” by resveratrol, caffeine, or some “amazing” supplement.

Essentially, our being dynamic and biological means that we are not “robots,” and that we are more than the sum total of our parts. We are each biologically unique in certain ways, that is, we respond differently to internal stimulating factors and external instigating influences. For example, though generally, smoking cigarettes is harmful, there is a small minority of people who appear to be able to smoke and live to be ninety years old without any obvious ill effects.

The outcomes upon which scientific research and testing are rely upon the isolation of a particular variable. That is the method that gives scientific study its legitimacy. However, because tests related to human health issues occur through this very method, and are most often done on lab animals, when it comes to human beings, the effects are very likely to be quite different. In fact, to paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, what might benefit some of the people all of the time, most likely won’t work for all of the people all of the time (and sometimes won’t work at all!).

Everyday you make considerable choices that affect both your health and longevity. Decisions such as what you’ll eat and how much exercise and rest you’ll get will either be good for you, or not so good. Obviously, your unhealthy choices are not beneficial for your long-term health. And, even though you know, by the way your individual body responds to certain things, you may often ignore these important health messages.

Then you, like many others, may enthusiastically jump on the bandwagon of the latest report that announces that researchers have uncovered THE VERY THING that has the potency to reverse all of the excessive and unhealthy things you have been doing to your body on a routine basis! Talk about wishful thinking!

Your human body is an elegantly complex, homeostatic system. In other words, every operation is interdependent and sensitively balanced. When you choose an unhealthy lifestyle, your fastidiously-responsive system gets “off balance.” Sooner or later, the imbalances created by choosing unhealthily, result in diseases and a shortened lifespan.

If supplements help you to feel more energetic and healthy, then as a chiropractor who takes them as well, I say great, take them! If it feels like the thing to do, drink that additional cup of coffee as well. And, have a little more red wine if it honestly feels beneficial. But, keep in mind that the only legitimate way for anyone to avert or reverse age-related health problems is by choosing a consistently healthy lifestyle. You won’t get healthier by chance. There is no “lucky charm” when it comes to health and longevity.

Jamie Phillips, DC, a Santa Barbara Chiropractor, has been in private chiropractic practice for 24 years. She is also a consultant for Bloczone Marketing, a chiropractic marketing company specializing in chiropractic websites that attract new patients. She can be reached at (805) 882-1956.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
read more

Scoliosis and Chiropractic therapies

Filed Under: chiropractic
Jun.01, 2009

Scoliosis an Introduction

When the body is viewed from behind, a normal spine looks straight without much disparity from laterally.Scoliosis is a condition that is often associated with a lateral, or side-to-side, curvature of the spine.The disorder shouldn’t be confused with poor posture, even though it often gives the appearance that the individual is leaning to one side. Characterized by both lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebra, this complicated deformity frequently produces a distinctive “rib hump” in the mid or thoracic spine. This is created by the vertebrae in the area of the major curve rotating toward the concavity and pushing their attached ribs posterior thereby creating the distinctive rib hump seen in thoracic scoliosis. If the thoracic curve and rib rotation are severe, exceeding 70 degrees, pulmonary and cardiac function can be obstructed. This degree of curve and subsequent cardiac and pulmonary changes are frequently seen later in life in untreated severe idiopathic infantile and juvenile scoliosis patients and, quite frequently, present a threat to life.

Anatomy

If a person were to look at the trunk from a side view, the spine would display four normal curves: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. In the lower spine there is a healthy “C-shaped” curve called swayback or lordosis, while the thoracic curve in the chest region has a “reverse C” called a kyphosis. Hyperlordosis is the term used to describe elevated swayback, while increased kyphosis in the thoracic spine is called hyperkyphosis. Changes from normal that are visible from a side view frequently accompany scoliosis changes. Postural exercises can resolve 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 class of deformity, called Scheuermann’s kyphosis, is much harder to treat than postural kyphosis, and it’s cause is unknown.

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

  • One shoulder may be more elevated than the other.
  • One scapula (shoulder blade) may be higher or more pronounced 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 look to be raised or more pronounced than the other.
  • The head is not centered over the pelvis.
  • One side of the back appears higher than the other when the individual is analyzed from the rear and asked to bend forward until the the spine is horizontal.

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

There are a variety of origins and many kinds of scoliosis, nevertheless the most prevalent, by far, is Idiopathic Scoliosis, which accounts for about 85 % of all cases. “Idiopathic” means “no known cause” and is seen with equal prevalence in boys and girls in the mild or low curve magnitudes. This condition can be sub-classified into infantile, juvenile and adolescent types, contingent upon the age of onset. Idiopathic Scoliosis may be caused by genetic or hereditary influences as it commonly runs in families. For reasons yet to be found, girls are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves develop in size and require treatment. The most frequent time for the development of Idiopathic Scoliosis is during adolescence when children are completing the last major growth spurt. Unfortunately, at this age young people are hesitant to allow their body to be looked at by parents and other adults, so it is very important to have this age group examined on a regular basis.

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

Brace treatment (orthosis) is recommended for both juvenile and adolescent children when an increase in their scoliosis or kyphosis is discovered, or when new conditions of moderate scoliosis or abnormal kyphosis are diagnosed. There are quite a few types of braces, all designed to prevent curves from increasing by acting as a buttress for the spine during active skeletal growth. Braces will not usually make the spine entirely straight, and cannot always keep a curve from increasing. Nevertheless, bracing is successful in preventing curve progression in a very large percentage of skeletally-immature adolescents.

Scoliosis has no simple resolution. Nearly all cases, even though regularly monitored, are not actively treated. The standard medical treatment for moderate instances is a brace, whereas severe conditions in some cases are treated surgically. You may want to see your local chiropractor first.

In addition to bracing, many other modalities have been used successfully such as specialized exercise, electric stimulation of spinal muscles, nutritional programs, and chiropractic treatments. It looks as if the best results have been maintained with a multi-faceted approach to the treatment of this condition.

There are chiropractors, that have excellent success treating scoliosis conditions.

Technorati Tags: , ,

Tags: , ,
read more

Tennis Elbow, Golfer’s Elbow, and Mount Laurel Chiropractic Treatment

Filed Under: chiropractic
May.14, 2009
Tennis Elbow, the common name for elbow pain originating on the outside, or lateral side, of the elbow occurs when one or more tendons of the forearm muscles become irritated or inflamed. These tendons join to the bony protuberance close to the elbow joint, referred to the lateral epicondyle, hence the medical name, “lateral epicondylitis,” meaning inflammation of the epicondyle. When the inflammation is present on the inside, or medial side, of the elbow, the affliction is frequently called “Golfer’s Elbow” or medical epicondylitis. Golfer’s Elbow, though, is not as commonplace as Tennis Elbow.

There are many whys and wherefores for epicondylitis – not just tennis and golf – as any activity or sport that involves repetitive gripping of objects can result in this problem. Improper wrist and arm posture while carrying heavy bags, knitting, chopping food, and/or using a computer are additional causes of “tennis” or “golfer’s” elbow. Using awkward techniques when beginning any sport, trying out new rackets or clubs, or extending the intensity or duration of an activity or exercise can also produce the condition.

A number of cases involving epicondylitis can be related to complications farther up the arm or even in the neck. If a person has a disc complication or spinal subluxation, the nerves that give movement to the forearm muscles may become inflamed making the muscles tense and placing marked strain on the tendon attachment(s).  When this happens, it predisposes a person to elbow pain from any of the above-mentioned causes. Complications such as further subluxations and arthritis can take place if the condition is ignored. Evaluation and treatment by a qualified chiropractor, such as your Mount Laurel chiropractor can correct the problem and assisting in avoiding future complications.

Epicondylitis is a condition that rarely resolves of its own accord and so requires proper health management. A qualified professional such as a chiropractor can determine the exact cause of the problem and initiate the proper care and treatment. In a chiropractic clinic 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 extraordinarily successful in the most comprehensive management of epicondylities.

 

Technorati Tags: , ,

Tags: , ,
read more

A Healthy Diet and Moderate Exercise Can Relieve Arthritis Suffering

Filed Under: chiropractic
Apr.22, 2009

A Healthy Diet and Moderate Exercise Can Relieve Arthritis Suffering

Are you suffering from painful arthritis? Do you also have a challenge with your weight?  If you do, it’s conceivable that you’re having back pain not only as the result of arthritis, but also because of the stress your weight is putting on your spine.  The body was not designed to carry around additional weight in the form of body fat.  Your spine, which supports your body, is being put under a great deal of strain even if you are only carrying a surplus 20 or 30 pounds on a regular basis. This sort of stress can created aberrations of the vertebral column. These misaligned vertebra can cause arthritic changes in the spine and persist in aggravating the degenerative changes that are present already. Furthermore, your body may counteract in other ways, such as by your hips moving forward or tilting to accommodate the additional pounds.  This can pinch the sciatic nerve, which is extraordinarily painful.

A current survey by the NPD Group, a leading market research firm based in Rosemont, Ill., reveals that around 62% of men and women and 34% of children are overweight or obese. The ubiquitousness of arthritis amplifies with growing weight. Research implies that sustaining a healthy weight decreases the risk of developing arthritis in the first place and may slow degenerative progression. A loss of just 11 pounds can decrease the occurrence (incidence) of new knee osteoarthritis and would do a great deal to decrease back pain as well.

A healthy diet and routine exercise is definitely necessary for anyone who is sincere about overcoming their back pain, knee pain, and pain in the joints in other places in the body.  Even though you have likely been advised about this for the better part of your life, it really is the only way for you to stop suffering and regain your life. 

First of all, we’ll address the dieting issue.  There are a huge number of different ways to diet and many of them work only on a temporary basis.  Obviously, if you were to lose weight for keeps, the diet industry would lose a life-long customer!  Eating a life-enriching diet (as a lifestyle choice and not a temporary fix) and decreasing your calories so that you are at a slight calorie “deficit,” is the only way to lose weight in a healthy, permanent manner.  Dropping a large amount of weight too rapidly is not only temporary, but unsafe. You should be losing about 2 pounds every week in order for it to be truly effective.

Research has shown that exercise and physical activity not only decreases pain and improves function, but genuinely slows the process of disability. A minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, a minimum of 3 days a week, has proved to be effective. You can get activity in 10-minute intervals.

Chiropractic adjustments are an excellent way to get mobility back in the joints of your spine and other places in, and can be a wise first step before you begin an exercise program. A spine in alignment makes exercise and physical activity a good deal easier and will slow down arthritic degenerative changes. The Annals of Internal Medicine released the findings of a survey of 232 people who were under a rheumatologist’s care for their arthritis.  Of those people, 63% answered the survey by saying they were taking advantage of some kind of “complementary care” as named by the study.  Of those responders, 31% were trying chiropractic. Undoubtedly the most notable statistic was that 73% of those using chiropractic found it helpful.  Answering why they’d tried the non-medical chiropractic care, the responders offered a number of reasons: 1) to reduce pain, 2) they’d been told that it helps, 3) they felt confident that it is safe, 4) it had assisted someone they knew, and 5) because their prescription medication wasn’t working.

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

It is always smart to consult a health care professional to discuss diet and exercise. Your chiropractor is an excellent resource for education about the type of lifestyle changes that you will find necessary to assist you in managing your arthritis. By the same token, in addition to correcting any misalignments in your spine, your chiropractor will evaluate any faulty gait patterns or posture irregularities that may be compounding your arthritic pain.

 

Technorati Tags: , , ,

Tags: , , ,
read more

Health Insurance and Chiropractic Reimbursment.

Filed Under: chiropractic
Apr.07, 2009

Just read this post on Oblogatory Anecdotes

Honolulu Chiropractor: What ever happened to the the days when we got paid fairly for the care that we give. It is so frustrating to be in health care at this time. I know of hundreds of my colleauges that suffer with this just as I do. It is getting crazy. And if our reimbursment is down and patient co-pays are up and insurance rates are increasing who is getting all the money? Hmm…

read more

Santa Barbara Chiropractor Wonders Will We Be Next?

Filed Under: chiropractic
Mar.29, 2009

As the economy seems to be down, and most business is suffering, I am just making an addition to my practice and moving part time to Santa Barbara and become a Santa Barbara Chiropractor.  I think many Chiropractors are doing such things in this state of the state!

While being a Ventura Chiropractor is very rewarding it is time for me to expand my vision and my dream, my daydream. I am hoping that this move will be a rewarding as I hope it will.

I intend to make this an ongoing commentary so I can look back at it for the chiropractic record.

Technorati Tags: ,

Tags: ,
read more
Powered by WordPress. Theme: Motion by 85ideas.