Archive for the ‘chiropractic’ Category
As a Portland Chiropractor I committed to assisting as many individuals as I can, including my many patients, to strengthen their back muscles in addition to improving their overall balance and well-being. Because, let’s face it, pain in the back isn’t “normal.” Your body is innately designed to move–stride, stroll, and frolic. You are even “structurally” designed to do certain tasks easily. But, these days, many of us require our body to function in ways that are harmful to our overall well-being and commonly generate pain, especially back pain. For example, as a result of the work that a lot of us do, we frequently find that we are sitting with poor posture in one place, especially in a computer chair, for long periods of time during the day. Hm-mm, could this be you? Back pain is frequently caused by this kind of “unnatural” position. In order for you to avoid back pain, you may need to make changes in the way that you are sitting.
Sitting in an ergonomic chair is highly recommended to prevent back pain that is the result of prolonged sitting or in an improper position. This type of “posture-improving” chair can commonly help prevent back pain from occurring or in relieving existing back pain almost right away. You may be wondering why. The answer is that an ergonomic chair puts your spine into proper alignment. Of course, this type of chair tends to be rather expensive. So, you might want to consider making a chair of your own using a Pilates ball. This sort of chair will generally cost around fifteen dollars, and the ball is available at many department stores in the exercise section. A Pilates ball can do excellent things for your back!
Now, I highly suggest that you see a good chiropractor first because you need to get out of pain before you attempt to strengthen your back! Through the gentle adjustment of your spine, as an experienced Portland Chiropractor, I can help to realign areas that have been tugged and pulled, and relieve stress on muscles that have been working overtime while you’ve been working nine to five! Once you are feeling pain-free, then it’s time to do a few simply things for yourself (for your back’s sake) to stay that way!
So, let’s get back to talking about that “do-it-yourself” but “just-as-effective” posture-improving chair. Sitting on a Pilates ball whenever you’re working at the computer is an excellent way for you to get your back into shape. First of all, it forces you to sit properly and to adjust your posture so that you are not slouching and putting your spine into an unnatural curve. Secondly, it assists in building up your core as you maintain your balance on the Pilates ball throughout your work day.
As a Portland Chiropractor, I stand by this motto for better back health: “Straighten, then strengthen.” Let me help get your back in action! Call today!
Saratoga Springs Chiropractor
Have you been a “Doubting Thomas” when it comes to chiropractic adjustments because someone, somewhere told you that it is a “far-out” alternative approach to pain relief? Worse yet, have you been discouraged from getting needed help from this most healing sort of treatment by a handful misinformed, but quite vociferous individuals who believe that chiropractic can actually be harmful? In either case, your Chiropractor in Saratoga Springs is eager to inform you that chiropractic treatment has been increasing in popularity for years, and that it is continuing to grow yearly as the favored healthcare choice for many people. And, that’s great news! Thousands of individuals, just like you, are reevaluating their choices and choosing chiropractic care because of the countless benefits that such treatment gives. Did you know that no other medical approach is less invasive to the body and, yet, is more successful in stimulating the body’s natural inherent to heal? chiropractor in Saratoga Springs will diagnose, and eliminate, the reason for your pain], and will never simply try to cover up your symptoms with drugs.
Let’s face it, if there’s a musculoskeletal system, as there is in the human body, there is the chance of musculoskeletal problems such as back pain and neck pain, pain in the shoulder, elbow, hip and knee joints, and ankle and foot pain. No one is immune from misalignment of the spine and joint inflammation. And, it can be seductive to take a drug when you want that pain to go away! However, by not finding the reason for your pain, and because a drug can’t eliminate the cause, the cause of it will likely get worse. Sports injuries, accidents, and the aging process are usually the culprits that generate musculoskeletal problems. However, regardless of the cause, any motion on an inflammed part of the body will create more pain and discomfort, as will as inactivity! And, naturally, certain musculoskeletal problems can often result in permanent disability if left untreated. Without chiropractic treatment as an option, you would only be left with just two choices: Continue to take drugs, which commonly have serious side effects, or live with increased pain! But, if you’re thinking what I’m thinking, then neither sounds like a good choice!
Your Chiropractor in Saratoga Springs has plenty more he wants you to know about chiropractic care. Because in addition to being the best, non-invasive “first option” when you are suffering from back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, hip pain, knee pain, and even foot pain and hand pain, the benefits of chiropractic care go far beyond the ability to correct a specific painful challenge. If this has you curious, let me explain thatan individual who vists a chiropractor for relief of a specific pain, not only benefits from less pain, but also improved circulation, decreased or the elimination of lactic acid, more effective travel of oxygen and nutrients within the body, better ease of movement, less general pain and soreness, faster recovery time, a more relaxed feeling, and the prevention of future injury! I guess it’s not surprise why chiropractic treatment is the first (and best) choice of more and more people!
Hope that you’re convinced and you’re no longer a “Doubting Thomas” where your health is concerned. Give your chiropractor in Saratoga Springs a call if you’re in pain. Don’t wait for the pain to worsen, when he can help you today! Once you discover the amazing benefits of chiropractic, I’m pretty sure that you’ll probably want to tell a friend. To paraphrase another excellent saying: “Friends don’t let friends live in pain!”
Let you, there’s nothing better than being a chiropractor! I love what I do and I love my patients, too! I have a downtown chiropractic office that absolutely buzzes with health excitement, whether it’s my patients coming for their regular chiropractic checkups, seeking help for an acute musculoskeletal problem, or looking to the wonders of chiropractic to aid them after and accident or injury, they always know that they’re going to find out “what’s new” in the healing science and art of the Chiropractic “I” World! And, what’s new right now is that in October, when National Chiropractic Health Month (NCHM) is celebrated, the theme will be “Get TechnoHealthy!”
What does that theme have to do with you? Well, the focus will be on how chiropractors, like me, can help you to stay healthy and injury free while toting the gadgets you love, or if you work long hours in front of a computer. Did you know that excessive use of mobile devices, and incorrect posture while using smart phones (and other gadgets) or while sitting in front of a computer can lead to neck, back, wrist, and even thumb pain? In fact, the problem is becoming so widespread that earlier this year a spokesperson for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said that musculoskeletal injuries remain one of the biggest workplace health and safety problems in American industry.
Chiropractic care, of course, can treat these conditions naturally, but your chiropractor can teach you how to take breaks, to stretch and exercise to prevent pain and injury, and how not to maintain the same stooped-over posture for long periods of time or to repeat the same motions endlessly.
Your chiropractor knows a lot about the musculoskeletal system and how modern day technology can often affect it in painful, and sometimes debilitating ways. Don’t wait for October. If you’re experiencing neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, wrist pain, or even thumb pain, see your chiropractor today! It’s time to learn how to use modern technology and stay pain-free at the same time.
No brag, just fact, chiropractors like me, your Walnut Creek chiropractor, have a superior reputation when it comes to relieving back pain. This is due to the fact that chiropractors are authorities when it comes to the spine. In fact, the word “chiropractor” and “spine” are almost synonymous! Anyone who’s ever suffered from back pain — be it mild, moderate, or severe — who has chosen chiropractic treatment — whether from a chiropractor in Walnut Creek or anywhere else in the world where chiropractic treatment is available — has discovered the power of this extraordinary non-invasive, drug-free method for relieving back pain. Of course, since chiropractors are also experts when it comes to caring for the rest of the musculoskeletal system, chiropractic care can frequently eliminate neck pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain, hip pain, knee pain, and ankle pain. Chiropractic treatment can also give relief from conditions such as stress headaches, migraines, carpal tunnel, and plantar fascitis. The healing capabilities of chiropractic are legend!
There are moments, even for chiropractors, the success of chiropractic treatment and its superiority in helping people get rid of pain and get their life back again can seem, well, almost miraculous. I feel gratified when I read the variety of testimonials given by chiropractic patients who have not only experienced pain relief through chiropractic treatment, but also experienced more energy and vitality, stress reduction and peace of mind, and a greater ability to sleep at night.
Still, sometimes I come across something, like this particular research article I read in the scientific periodical, Journal of Pediatric, Maternal and Family Health, and I am moved to a new level of admiration for my profession. The research detailed the case of a severely disabled 16-year-old girl experiencing spasticity and sleep disturbances due to Cerebral Palsy. It was her inability to sleep through the night that caused her family the most distress. To compound the young girl’s condition,when she was seven years old, surgeons fused metal rods in her spine, from neck to base.
The mother of the girl hoped that chiropractic treatment could correct her daughter’s spinal subluxations and ease her often horrendous pain. One can only imagine that the examination was difficult. Fortunately the chiropractor was able to determine that there were several subluxations that could be safely corrected. The chiropractor treated the girl twice per week. By her sixth adjustment, the girl was sleeping normally through the night. By her ninth visit she showed an improvement in her muscle spasticity as measured by specific instruments.
Yet, even though complete recovery was not expected, the authors of the research article noted that “the patient and her family were able to return to a normal sleep schedule as well as enjoy improved quality of life.”
Improved quality of life. Who could ask for more from any type of health care? No one! But, do you want to know something? More chiropractors experience just that with their patients than medical doctors do.
Raw milk has become such a hot topic of debate recently; police are even getting involved. Rawesome Foods, a natural food store in Venice, California, was the target of a police raid that confiscated over $10,000 worth of raw dairy products. Is raw dairy a do or a don’t? Check out both sides of the argument and give us your opinion on this dairy dilemma.
Do: Raw food enthusiasts believe that raw milk contains important bacteria that build up the immune system and prevent allergies as well as lactose intolerance. Since raw milk is banned in many states, people will drive for hours to buy raw milk from farms in neighboring states. Those who support raw milk believe that pasteurization kills not only the dangerous bacteria, which may or may not be harmful, but also the important nutrients that are in the milk in its purest form. They consider it a superfood full of nutrients and beneficial enzymes.
Don’t: Others are happy to stick with the milk that is readily available at grocery stores throughout the country. The dangers are very real, they believe, and it is not worth the risk to drink milk raw. Bacteria found in raw milk such as E. coli, salmonella, and listeria can make people sick or even be lethal.
What do you think? Should pasteurization be legally necessary for all milk products? Should the bans on raw milk in some states be lifted?
You can listen to the story on NPR’s All things Considered here.
As a chiropractor and healthcare provider, I would be remiss if I didn’t address the vital issue of excess weight and how it negatively affects every part of the human body. I explain the health challenges to my overweight patients and hammer away on the subject in my blogs because in addition to the cardio-vascular diseases caused by obesity, much of the back pain, hip pain, and knee pain that people experience is influenced by the undue stress excess weight puts on the joints of the body. And, though it may not surprise you, an expert panel in a report out just today said that people in this country must slash their calories and increase physical activity because the obesity epidemic is “the single greatest threat to public health in this century.”
We all know that dieting isn’t easy, but the advisory committee for the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans gave this clear-cut advice: “People in this country need to cut the calories they consume from added sugars and solid fats (butter, marbled meats) and start eating a more nutrient-rich, plant-based diet.”
The report called for many changes in the food environment. To read more, go to: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2010-06-15-
Let’s face it, you can’t stop kids from carrying backpacks especially with school lockers being removed from many schools. And, we, adults use them, too, for plenty of activities in addition to hiking. But, not all backpacks are equal when it comes to their impact on the musculoskeletal system of young and old, alike. That’s why the endorsement of nine backpackes and daypackes from The North Face, announced today by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is so important. The endorsed styles are the Big Shot, Borealis, Box Shot, Cornice, Hotshot, On Sight, Recon, Surge, and Yavapai. \
Here’s what a panel of doctors of chiropractic found with regard to the benefits of The North Face packs:
• Injection molded shoulder straps: creating innovative flex points to alleviate clavicle and pressure point strain;
• Anatomically correct shoulder straps: constructed in a shape specifically suited for males or females;
• Back panels with improved fit: featuring a recessed channel designed to take pressure off the spine and a more comfortable fabrication for load-bearing activities; and
• Updated interior organization: providing ample pockets and dividers for storing and organizing the necessities of school, work and play .
“After careful study and consultation with Scott Bautch, DC, The North Face designers revised specific backpacks and daypacks, making improvements to fit, comfort and usability,” said Scott McGuire, equipment product director for The North Face. “Improvements to features such as shoulder straps, back panels and hipbelts increase both the function and comfort of this collection.”
For additional information and to purchase the new ACA-endorsed packs visit www.thenorthface.com.
You’ve no doubt surmised from reading my past blogs that, as a chiropractor, my philosophy is a resounding “motion is life,” and that I believe that daily exercise is one of the most important elements to health and longevity, mentally as well as physically. So, naturally, whenever I run across a new study that validates the importance of exercise, I like to pass it along to my patients. And, that’s just what I’m doing here. A new study by researchers from the University of Essex, and published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, found that just five minutes of exercise a day in “the great outdoors” can improve mental health. That’s right, “green activity” like walking in the park, cycling around vineyards, and gardening, or even farming, can actually boost a person’s mood and self esteem.
Even though plenty of studies in the past have confirmed that outdoor exercise can not only increase a sense of well-being, but reduce the risk of mental illness in general, there hasn’t been a study focusing on just how much time outdoors is needed to produce positive benefits. What may come as a surprise to many people is just how little time is required. The study found that the largest positive effect on self-esteem came from just a five-minute “tip-toe through the tulips.” Surely, we all have five minutes to devote to your sense of well-being. Of course, if you don’t live or work close to a park, allow time for the commute.
You can read more on this study in the journal Environmental Science & Technology or go to msnbc.com/health
Here’s another research finding to file under “Duh, you think?” Recent scientific research found that junk food is addictive. Hey, mom, don’t blame your kid when he has a meltdown when his “fix” at McDonald’s is replaced by a nutritious home-cooked meal that includes (yikes!) vegetables! And, you dieters out there, stop beating yourself up when you find that no matter how many fresh fruits and vegetables you add to your diet, you still find yourself at a midnight In-N-Out Burger drive-thru. It’s an addiction, man!
The study found that eating junk food can actually change the chemistry in your brain. How? High-calorie foods affect your brain in much the same way as cocaine and heroin, and can lead to compulsive eating habits that resemble drug addiction. Plus, foods stripped of healthy nutrients, like junk food, make you more hungry because your body “thinks” you need more food when, in fact, what you really crave is more nutrients.
Chiropractors, like me, work with our patients to achieve overall health through regular chiropractic care, a nutritious diet, good hydration, and daily exercise. If any one of these components is missing, your good health and longevity are at risk. See your chiropractor today. He or she can help you “kick” your junk food “addiction.” For more on this study, go to reuters.com.“Move it or lose it” captures the chiropractic philosophy in a nutshell, especially when it comes to aging. As we age, our joints lose much of their “natural” mobility mostly due to wear and tear over the years and age-related moisture decline. Unless we, boomers, make a concerted effort to get regular exercise and stretch daily, and perhaps to get periodic chiropractic manipulation to maintain or increase joint mobility, boomers are cruising towards a future of mobility-related disabilities that will be costly both in healthcare needs and quality of life in general. Which direction are a large number of baby boomers cruising? According to new study, the number of middle-aged Americans with certain mobility-related disabilities, (including walking a quarter-mile and climbing 10 steps) is on the rise. That’s right! The study, based on a National Health Interview Survey carried out each year from 1997 to 2007, which included up to 15,000 individuals annually, revealed that more than 40 percent (that’s too close to half!) of 50 to 64 year olds reported having problems with at least one of nine physical functions and many reported more than one difficulty.
There was also an increase in the number of people using special equipment, like a cane or wheelchair, to get around. Moreover, an increased number of people reported needing help with daily personal care activities, such as getting out of bed and moving around the home. “This a disappointing trend with potentially far-reaching and long-term negative consequences,” said Richard Suzman, director of the Division of Behavioral and Social Research at the National Institute on Aging, which funded the study. “If people have such difficulties in middle age, how can we expect that this age group — today’s baby boomers — will be able to take care of itself with advancing age? If it continues, this trend could have a significant effect on the need for long-term care in the future.”The researchers note that the study was based on people’s self-reports, which could affect the results.
For more on the study, which was published in the April issue of the journal Health Affairs, go to LiveScience.com.