Category: Newsletter Library

Do You Have a Herniated Disc?

A herniated disc, also called a “slipped” disc, could be the source of that nagging pain in your lower back or legs. Fortunately, your chiropractor offers several treatments that can help ease your pain.

How Do Herniated Discs Cause Pain?

Rubbery, round discs cushion the spaces between the vertebrae in your spine and serve as shock absorbers when you jump, bend, twist, walk, and run. Each disc is composed of a soft, jelly-like core covered by a tougher outer layer. A herniation occurs when the softcore protrudes through a tear in the outer layer of the disc.

If the herniation is minor, you may not notice any symptoms. Larger herniations press against the nerves in your spinal column, triggering pain and other symptoms.

Although an injury or fall can cause a herniated disc, the condition is often related to wear and tear that happens as you age. Discs naturally degenerate over time and become stiffer, flatter, and more prone to tearing. One day, you may bend to pick up your dropped keys and feel an unexpected pain in your back.

In addition to age, gender can be a factor in the condition. Men between the ages of 20 and 50 are more likely to develop herniated discs, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Other risk factors include:

• Not Getting Enough Exercise
• Using Your Back Muscles to Lift Instead of Your Leg Muscles
• Smoking
• Participating in Physically Demanding Work or Hobbies
• Being Overweight or Obese
• Driving for Hours at a Time on a Regular Basis

What Symptoms Will I Experience if I Have a Herniated Disc?

Symptoms vary depending on the location of the herniated disc. If the problem disc is in your neck, you might notice neck pain that radiates to your shoulder, arm, and hand, along with numbness, tingling, and weakness.

The lower back is a common site for herniated discs. If the inner core of the disc presses on the nerves that travel to your legs, you may experience numbness, tingling, weakness, and pain in your back, legs, or feet. Your symptoms might be worse at night or may worsen if you’ve been sitting or standing for a while.

In severe cases, herniated discs can affect your ability to control your bowels and bladder or make walking difficult.

What Can Be Done to Ease Herniated Disc Symptoms?

Rest and heat or ice packs can decrease pain and inflammation. Although resting as much as possible may seem like a good idea, it’s best to start moving after a day or two. Too much rest can lead to muscle spasms and stiff joints.

If your pain continues despite home care measures, your chiropractor can offer treatments that may be helpful including:

• Massage: Massage loosens tight muscles and joints, improves blood flow, and triggers the release of endorphins that act as natural pain killers.
• Spinal Manipulation: Gentle, hands-on manipulation improves the alignment of your spine and can decrease pressure on your nerves. In a study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, researchers studied whether spinal manipulation was as effective as surgery in treating sciatica caused by herniated discs. They discovered that 60 percent of patients received just as much benefit from spinal manipulation without the invasiveness of surgery.
• Flexion-Distraction: This therapy takes place on a special therapy table that stretches your spine. Flexion-distraction is used to reposition the disc and increase its height.
• Ultrasound Therapy: Applying ultrasound waves relaxes the muscles in your back, reduces pain, and promotes healing.
• Electric Muscle Stimulation (EMS): EMS uses a low-frequency electrical current to warm and relax tight muscles, improve blood flow, spur the production of endorphins, and speed healing.

Are you struggling with back pain? We can help you relieve your pain naturally. Contact us to schedule an appointment.

Sources:

Mayo Clinic: Herniated Disc

Spine Universe: Chiropractic Care and Back Pain: Non-Invasive Treatment for Bulging, Ruptured or Herniated Discs

PubMed: Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics: Manipulation or Microdiskectomy for Sciatica? A Prospective Randomized Clinical Study, 10/10

Harvard Health Publishing: Don’t Take Back Pain Sitting Down, 3/20

Summer Activities That Can Lead to Back Pain

Now that it’s summertime, many of us are catching up on yard work and enjoying outdoor activities. Unfortunately, back pain can be a consequence if you work or play too hard and don’t follow a few simple back precautions. These activities are common causes of back pain.

Gardening and Yard Work

Weeding, mowing, planting, raking, and other lawn and garden tasks can take a toll on the muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints in your back. Muscles in your back can be strained when you lift heavy bags of mulch or gravel, while stiffness and muscle spasms may be a consequence of sitting in the same position for hours when planting flowers and shrubs.

Following a few of these tips can help you avoid back pain:

• Ask for help when lifting heavy items or use a wheelbarrow or dolly to move items safely from one place to another.
• Take frequent breaks when painting or planting to prevent your back from stiffening up.
• Don’t twist your body when you lift or dig.
• Use your arm and leg muscles to push your mower. Better yet, consider buying a riding mower if you have a big yard.
• Raise your flower beds to reduce the amount of bending you’ll need to do to tend to your plants.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Road trips are a summer tradition for many American families. Unfortunately, spending hours sitting in a car (or plane or train) can cause back pain and stiffness. If your vehicle’s seat isn’t comfortable, use cushions that provide lumbar (low back) and neck support.

Make time in your schedule for frequent stops if you’re traveling by car. If you’re a passenger on a plane or train, get up from your seat and take a walk through the car or cabin every two hours. Walking not only helps you avoid back pain, but may also decrease your risk of a blood clot due to inactivity.

Golf, Tennis, and Other Sports or Outdoor Activities

Swinging a golf club, tennis racquet, or baseball bat can strain your back muscles and joints, particularly if your form is off or your posture is bad. According to the American Chiropractic Association, a force equal to 10 times your body weight is exerted on your spine during a golf swing. Playing these sports may also increase your risk of elbow and hip pain.

Working with a professional or coach can help you ensure that you’re using the best form when you swing. If you don’t have a pro or coach, you’ll find plenty of information on stances, swings, and body mechanics in online videos.

Hiking or biking may also increase your risk of back pain or injuries. If you’re a hiker, make sure you wear hiking shoes or boots that offer adequate support for your feet. You can also use a walking stick to improve your balance and reduce pressure on your back.

Spending hours in one position during a long bike ride may lead to back spasms and a reduced range of motion. Make sure your bike is the right size for your body. If you have to stretch to reach the handlebars or the seat is too high, you’re more likely to strain your lower back.

Spectator Sports

You don’t actually have to participate in a sport to suffer a sports-related injury. In fact, just watching the game can be a painful experience.

If your back hurts after spending a few hours at your child’s sporting event, the seats may be to blame. Bleachers or uncomfortable seats can increase pressure on your lower back and trigger painful inflammation. If you’ll be a frequent spectator this summer, avoid back pain by bringing a portable stadium seat with an attached back, and stand and stretch at regular intervals.

Chiropractic Care Helps You Avoid Summer Back Pain

Regular chiropractic treatments will keep your spine properly aligned and your muscles, ligaments, and tendons loose and flexible. Your visits may include several types of treatments, including massage, ice and cold therapy, transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS), traction, and spinal manipulation and mobilization.

Treatments are tailored to your specific sport or activity. For example, chiropractic treatments can correct postural imbalances that improve your golf swing and help you avoid back pain. Does your favorite sport involve running or jumping? Your chiropractor can create a treatment plan that helps reduce strain on your joints and muscles.

Are you tired of living with back pain? Scheduling regular chiropractic visits this summer offers a simple solution. Contact our office to make your appointment.

Sources:

American Chiropractic Association: Chiropractic and Golf — A Winning Combination, 1/7/16

Palmer College of Chiropractic: Sports Chiropractic

SPINE-Health: Chiropractic Treatment for Lower Back Pain

The Benefits of Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy

Pregnancy may be one of the most joyous times of your life, but it’s often accompanied by a few aches and pains. Chiropractic treatment improves your comfort during pregnancy and also offers a few other advantages.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help You

The position of your bones and organs shifts as your body accommodates your growing fetus. In addition to causing an aching back, pelvic pain, or sciatica, these changes can also make labor and delivery a little more difficult.

Thanks to chiropractic treatment, you may experience:

• Fewer Aches and Pains During Pregnancy. Pain can occur if the vertebrae in your spine become misaligned. These misalignments, called subluxations, may also stress your muscles, ligaments, and tendons, or press on nerves, increasing your pain. Your chiropractor uses gentle, hands-on pressure or handheld device to realign your vertebrae. Seventy-three percent of pregnant women who receive chiropractic treatment reported an improvement in lower back and pelvic pain in a study reported in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics.
• Less Nausea. Chiropractic treatment helps keep your nerves, hormones, and organs functioning optimally. If the treatment is part of your pregnancy care plan, you may discover that morning sickness eases or disappears.
• Better Balance. A shifting center of balance during pregnancy can increase your risk of falls. When your spine and pelvis are properly aligned, you’re less likely to experience issues with balance or gait (the way you walk).
• More Room for Growth. Keeping your pelvis properly aligned with chiropractic treatment ensures that your baby has plenty of room to grow. Treatments help keep pelvic ligaments and muscles balanced as the size of your uterus increases.
• Reduced Risk of Breech or Cesarean Birth. A properly aligned pelvis gives the fetus ample room to move into the head-down position before birth. Regular visits to the chiropractor just may lower your risk of a breech or Cesarean birth.
• Improvement of Hip and Round Ligament Pain. Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy relax the joints that connect your pelvis to your spine. As these joints become more relaxed, hip pain can occur due to increased stress on the muscles and ligaments. Chiropractic care offers a simple solution for both hip and round ligament pain. Round ligament pain occurs when the ligaments that the uterus stretch later in pregnancy, causing sharp, stabbing pains in the lower abdomen and groin.
• Shorter Labor: According to a narrative review published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, first-time mothers who received chiropractic treatment during pregnancy had 25 percent shorter labors, while those who had had more than one child saw labor shortened by 31 percent.
• Fewer Headaches. Headaches don’t stop just because you’re pregnant. Unfortunately, you may not be able to use your usual pain reliever if you suffer from tension or migraine headaches. Spinal manipulation, massage, and other therapies can ease your pain and reduce the frequency of your headaches.
• Less Stress: Stress and anxiety tend to intensify pain. Massage therapy offered during your visit to the chiropractor triggers the release of serotonin. The hormone acts as a natural stress reliever and helps balance your moods.

Regular chiropractic care during pregnancy offers important benefits for your health and comfort. Contact our office to schedule your appointment.

Sources:

Journal of Chiropractic Medicine: Pregnancy and Chiropractic: A Narrative Review of the Literature, 12/7/06

American Pregnancy Association: Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy

Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics: Outcome of Pregnancy-Related Lumbopelvic Pain Treated According to a Diagnosis-Based Decision Rule: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study, 10/1/09

American Chiropractic Association: 5 Conditions Chiropractic Care Can Improve During Pregnancy, 10/19/18

10 Ways to Prevent Back Pain During Summer Yard Work

Love it or hate it, yard work can’t be avoided during the summer months. Mowing, weeding, trimming, and mulching keeps your yard looking its best. But maintaining your yard isn’t without its dangers. These 10 tips can help you avoid nagging back pain or injuries this summer.

Warm-Up

Keep your muscles and joints flexible by performing a few warm-up exercises before you begin working. Lunges, jumping jacks, stretches, or even a few laps around the yard get your blood flowing, relax your muscles, and improve flexibility along with range of motion.

Wear Supportive Shoes

Your feet support the weight of your entire body and help keep your bones and joints properly aligned and balanced. Wearing worn-out or unsupportive shoes while you mow or complete other yard work may increase your risk of back pain.

For safety’s sake, wear closed shoes that provide adequate support for your arches. If you have flat feet or another foot issue, you may benefit from wearing orthotics in your shoes. The custom shoe inserts add arch support, keep your feet properly aligned in your shoes and absorb shock.

Flip flops and sandals aren’t good choices for yard work. Even if you choose styles that offer arch support, you may be more likely to slip or fall if your lawn, deck, patio, or walkways are wet.

Don’t Put Your Back Into It

Poor lifting techniques can lead to stressed or strained back muscles. Before you attempt to lift a bag of mulch or move a heavy flower pot, place your feet about 18″ apart to improve stability. Bending your knees when you lift reduces stress on your back. As you pick up the object, hold it close to your body, and use the muscles in your legs, not your back, to lift.

Know Your Limitations

You may be able to lift those large paving stones by yourself, but should you? If you know you’ll struggle to carry objects even a few feet, it’s best to ask for help. Although you may not notice any immediate problems, soreness and pain can set in just a few hours later.

Back pain should never be ignored, as it can become a chronic condition. Twenty percent of people who experience acute (sudden) pain develop chronic back pain after 12 months, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Stores Bags of Topsoil and Mulch in a Dry Location

Rain-soaked bags of mulch or topsoil become much heavier and difficult to move. Keep the bags in a covered area to prevent them from becoming soaked by rain or your sprinkler system.

Let Your Equipment Handle the Heavy Work

Rearranging the potted plants on your deck, patio, or porch is much easier when you place the plants on rolling plant stands. Use a dolly, wheelbarrow, or a tractor to move heavier items.

Upgrade Your Mower

Mowing your lawn not only keeps grassy areas presentable but also qualifies as aerobic exercise. Unfortunately, pushing the mower may cause muscle tension, stiffness, or back spasms. If mowing leaves you in pain, consider switching to a self-propelled or riding mower.

Alternate Hands

Most people primarily use their dominant hands when using garden tools. Digging or raking with your right hand for hours may stress the right side of your body and cause back pain. Avoid a backache by alternating hands occasionally.

Bend and Stretch

You’re more likely to suffer from muscle or joint pain if you remain in one position too long. Hunching over to weed the flower bed or stain the deck can cause aches and pains in your back and neck. Stand and stretch every 20 minutes to work out the kinks.

Visit Your Chiropractor

Regular visits to your chiropractor can help you avoid back pain. Even minor imbalances in your spine can increase your risk of pain. When your vertebrae aren’t properly aligned, muscle tension may increase. Tight muscles are more likely to become injured during heavy lifting or tasks that require repetitive movements.

Spinal manipulation, massage, soft tissue mobilization, and other therapies improve spinal alignment, correct imbalances, and relieve tight muscles, reducing your risk of back pain when you work in your yard.

Does your yard look beautiful but your back hurts? Chiropractic treatment can help ease your painful symptoms.

Sources:

Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Materials Handling: Heavy Lifting

Chiropractic Economics: Understand the Relationship Between Low Back Pain and the Feet, 10/14/16

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Low Back Pain Fact Sheet

Spine Health: 6 Tips to Protect Your Lower Back

The Importance of Good Posture For Your Back and Spine

Your parents were right when they nagged you about the importance of good posture. Poor posture can trigger back pain and may even affect the alignment of your entire body. Learning about the many negative effects of poor posture during National Correct Posture Month in May just might prompt you to make a few positive changes to your posture.

How Poor Posture Affects Your Back

Slouching throws off the alignment of your spine, stressing your muscles and joints while also increasing your risk of back pain. Normally, all the parts of your spine function as a single unit to support your weight. If your back isn’t properly aligned, one area may be required to support a greater percentage of your total body weight. Over time, this imbalance can lead to chronic pain in your back.

Poor posture may also play a role in:

• Back Injuries. You’re more likely to hurt yourself if your spine, joints, muscles, and ligaments are tight or aren’t properly aligned. These issues can also affect your balance and increase your risk of a fall.
• Arthritis and Joint Pain. Tight muscles can put unnecessary stress on your joints and cause excessive wear that causes or worsens these conditions.
• Increased Pain. Tight muscles are painful enough on their own, but muscle tension can also have other consequences. These muscles may press on nerves, increasing back pain, or even pull the vertebrae in your spine out of alignment. Vertebrae are the small bones that make up your spinal column.
• Decreased Flexibility. Your flexibility and range of motion can be affected if poor posture causes spinal misalignments and tightens muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
• Muscle Fatigue. It takes much more effort to move tight muscles and joints than loose ones. If you don’t practice good posture, you may find that you get tired more easily when you exercise.
• The Way You Walk. Poor posture can change your gait, which can trigger imbalances throughout your entire body.
• Headaches. Misaligned vertebrae and tight muscles in the neck, shoulders, and upper back can be a factor in tension headaches and migraines.

Practicing the Perfect Posture

Improving your posture may be a simple way to decrease the aches and pains in your back. Although many of us automatically assume a military posture when prompted to stop slouching, this posture could actually make your back problems worse.

A more natural standing posture is more beneficial for your back. The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) recommends standing with your knees slightly bent and shoulder-width apart with your shoulders pulled back. As you stand, focus on keeping your weight on the balls of your feet while tucking your stomach. (Rounding your back can cause your stomach to protrude.)

Pay attention to the position of your neck too. Many people hold their heads forward or to one side and aren’t aware that they’re doing this. The ACA recommends that your keep your head level and make sure that your earlobes are over your shoulders.

Your Chiropractor Can Help You Improve Your Posture and Ease Your Pain

Medication isn’t the only way to treat back pain. Chiropractic treatment can ease your symptoms without any side effects. South African researchers discovered that the therapy is an effective way to treat postural kyphosis, a condition that causes the upper back to appear rounded due to slouching.

Study participants were divided into three groups. The first group received spinal manipulation therapy only, while the second group received the therapy and also performed strengthening and stretching exercises. (Spinal manipulation uses quick, hands-on thrusts to improve the alignment of your vertebrae.) The third group only participated in the exercises. At the end of the study, the second group had the most dramatic changes in posture.

In addition to offering spinal manipulation and other treatments, your chiropractor can recommend exercises that will strengthen the muscles in your back and abdomen. He or she can also discuss other changes that may improve your posture, such as using ergonomic office furniture, changing your sleeping position, or losing a few extra pounds.

Do you have back pain due to poor posture? Chiropractic treatment can help relieve your pain naturally and improve your posture.

Sources:

Health SA Gesondheid: Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy of the Thoracic Spine in Combination with Stretch and Strengthening Exercises, In Improving Postural Kyphosis in Women, 12/16

PostureMonth.org: Strong Posture Keeps Your Body Looking Good and Moving Well

Harvard Health Publishing: Posture and Back Health

American Chiropractic Association: Maintaining Good Posture

How Your Sleeping Position Can Lead to Back Problems

It’s not always easy to narrow down the cause of early morning back pain, particularly if you don’t remember doing anything that could trigger the pain. If you haven’t fallen, lifted heavy items, or exercised intensely recently, your sleeping position may be to blame for your pain. Focusing on improving your sleeping position during National Better Sleep Month in May just may help ease your back pain.

The Way You Sleep Can Stress Your Back

Your preferred sleeping may be the same one you used when you were five. Back then, you could easily fall asleep in any position and not experience any consequences. Unfortunately, wear and tear in addition to the natural effects of aging can make your back more susceptible to aches and pains if you continue to sleep in certain sleeping positions.

Positions that fail to keep your head, neck, and back properly aligned and supported are more likely to trigger back pain. Stress on your joints, muscles, and ligaments increases if you don’t maintain the natural curvature of your back as you sleep.

Exploring Common Sleeping Positions and Their Effects on Your Back

Do you fall asleep in one of these positions? Here’s how they may affect your back:

• Stomach. Sleeping on your stomach may be comfortable, but it’s not very good for your back. Stomach sleeping forces you to arch your lower back, which may cause morning pain. Turning your head in this position may also strain the muscles in your neck and shoulders. If you can’t fall asleep unless you lie on your stomach, try placing a pillow under your hips to prevent your lower back from arching too much.
• Fetal Position. The fetal position is a favorite of many people. In fact, 47 percent of people prefer sleeping curled in the position, according to The Better Sleep Council. Although this position isn’t bad for your back, it can lead to aches and pains in other parts of your body as you age. If you wake up with aching knees or hips, try to open up your position a little, if possible. Putting a pillow between your legs may help with knee or hip pain.
• Side. Sleeping on your side can reduce your risk of back pain, as long as you alternate sides. When you consistently sleep on the same side, muscle imbalances that contribute to back pain can occur. Using a pillow between your legs can also improve your comfort in this position.
• Back. Lying on your back is the ideal sleeping position if you want to avoid pain. The position helps preserve the natural alignment of your spine and doesn’t stress any part of your body. Adding a pillow under your legs can make the position even more comfortable if you’re a back sleeper.

How to Improve Your Sleep and Avoid Back Pain

In addition to sleeping on your back or side, these tips may help you wake up refreshed and pain-free:

• Choose the Right Pillow. Pillows that are too thick or thin can disrupt the alignment of your neck. Your pillow should keep your head in a natural position and not cause it to droop down or tilt upward.
• Replace Your Mattress. A worn-out mattress may cause or worsen your back pain. Mattresses typically last 10 years or longer, according to Consumer Reports. It’s time to replace yours if you regularly wake up in pain or if the mattress sags or appears lumpy.
• Select the Best Mattress Type for Your Body. Price shouldn’t be the only factor you consider when you buy a new mattress. Saving a little money isn’t worth it if your new mattress causes you to constantly wake up with back pain. The perfect mattress should support and cushion your body without creating pressure points. The Cleveland Clinic recommends choosing a softer mattress if your hips are wider than your waist and a more rigid mattress if your hips and waist form a straight line.

Do you suffer from nagging back pain? Your chiropractor offers treatments that can help ease your pain.

Sources:

The Better Sleep Council: Starfish or Freefall? What Your Sleep Position Can Tell You

Consumer Reports: How Long Does a Mattress Last?

A Guide to Scoliosis: Treatment, Symptoms, and Causes

Scoliosis occurs when the spine curves sideways. Although you may associate the condition with teenagers, it can affect adults too. An estimated 7 million people in the United States have scoliosis, according to the National Scoliosis Foundation.

Scoliosis Symptoms

The bony vertebrae that make up your spine normally form a straight line from the bottom of your back to the top of your neck. If you have scoliosis, your spine curves to the side, forming an “S” or “C” shape.

Scoliosis symptoms vary depending on the degree of curvature and may include:

• Pain in the back, neck, shoulders, hips, or ribs
• Uneven hips, shoulders, shoulder blades, or waist
• Muscle spasms

If the curvature progresses, the vertebrae may begin to press on nerves and organs, causing difficulty breathing, heart issues, or constipation. Limited mobility and physical deformity may also occur.

Scoliosis in Children

Scoliosis usually becomes apparent during growth spurts in the pre-teen and teenage years. Fortunately, most children who develop scoliosis only have mild curvatures and may never need treatment. It’s not always possible to determine the cause of scoliosis. The condition may be more likely to occur after an injury that affects the spine or if your child has muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy.

A scoliosis diagnosis can be a surprise to both parents and children. The condition is often detected during annual wellness exams or scoliosis screenings at school.

Your child’s doctor may not recommend treatment unless the curve progresses beyond 30 degrees. If your child has been diagnosed with scoliosis, their spine will be X-rayed periodically. One or more of these treatments may be needed if the curvature continues to progress:

• Physical Therapy: Physical therapy exercises strengthen the muscles that support the back and improve flexibility.
• A Brace: Wearing a back brace while your child is still growing can stop the curvature from growing worse in some cases. Braces are worn under clothing for up to 23 hours per day, depending on the type.

Scoliosis in Adults

Scoliosis that begins during childhood can continue to affect you during adulthood. You may experience minor worsening of your curvature as you grow older, which can trigger or worsen back pain, stiffness, and muscle cramps. Numbness in the legs may be a problem if a nerve becomes pinched.

You might develop scoliosis for the first time as an adult if the discs that cushion your spine begin to break down or you develop arthritis or spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis occurs due to the narrowing of the spinal canal that protects your spinal cord. Adult scoliosis can cause pain or numbness in your back and legs. Some treatment options include chiropractic, physical therapy, and short-term use of braces.

How Chiropractic Treatment Can Help

Chiropractic treatment may help ease scoliosis-related pain in both children and adults. When vertebrae become misaligned, they can press on nerves, causing pain. Muscle tension and spasms may also occur if your spine isn’t properly aligned. Regular chiropractic treatments improve spinal alignment and may also decrease inflammation, improve nerve function, and increase flexibility and range of motion.

Twenty-eight adult scoliosis patients saw improvements in disability, pain, and Cobb angle in a study that appeared in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine in 2011. Cobb angle is used to determine the degree of side-to-side curvature. The patients completed a six-month exercise-based chiropractic program that began after the clinical part of their treatment was over.

Chiropractic treatment offers a simple, natural way to help you manage your scoliosis symptoms.

Sources:

National Scoliosis Foundation: Information and Support

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Scoliosis in Children and Teens

Mayo Clinic: Scoliosis

Journal of Chiropractic Medicine: Outcomes for Adult Scoliosis Patients Receiving Chiropractic Rehabilitation: a 24-month Retrospective Analysis, 9/11

Electrotherapy Offers Natural Pain Relief

Do you struggle to keep your pain under control? Over-the-counter prescription medication relieves symptoms but often causes nausea, dizziness and other side effects that make working, exercising, or taking care of your family difficult. Electrotherapy may offer a better way to manage your pain.

How Does Electrotherapy Work?

Electrotherapy prevents pain signals from reaching your brain by interrupting them with low-voltage electrical impulses. If the signals aren’t received by the brain, you don’t feel pain. The treatment also triggers the releases of endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers.

In addition to providing pain relief, electrotherapy can be used to loosen tight muscles, promote healing, increase muscle tone, reduce swelling, improve range of motion, and strengthen muscles. Although the therapy can be helpful no matter how long you’ve had pain, it’s particularly beneficial if used immediately after an injury.

During treatments, electrical impulses are delivered through adhesive electrodes attached to your skin or a belt worn around your body. Electrodes may be applied directly over the painful area or on a nerve that serves the area.

Electrotherapy treatment isn’t usually painful. Many people mention feeling a tingling or pricking sensation when the electrical current is activated. The therapy can reduce pain for as long as 24 hours after a treatment.

Is Electrotherapy Right for Me?

Electrotherapy may be helpful if you have:

• Arthritis
• Muscle or Joint Pain
• Bursitis
• Tendonitis
• Fibromyalgia
• Endometriosis
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Whiplash
• Muscle Spasms
• Sprains and Strains
• Migraines
• Incontinence
• Pain After Surgery
• Muscle Atrophy
• Menstrual Pain
• Shingles
• Phantom Limb Pain
• Cluster or Tension Headaches
• Back or Neck Pain
• Trigeminal Neuralgia
• Sciatica
• Sports Injuries

Electrotherapy can relieve your pain completely or help you reduce your reliance on painkillers. In a study published in the Western Journal of Emergency Medicine, 100 percent of emergency patients who received the treatment found it helpful in reducing pain when combined with other treatments.

The therapy may not be a good option if you’re pregnant, have a heart condition, epilepsy, a pacemaker, defibrillator, infusion pump, or metal implant.

What Types of Electrotherapy Treatments Are Available?

Electrotherapy may be part of your chiropractic treatment plan, in addition to spinal manipulation, massage, soft tissue mobilization, or ultrasound therapy. Your chiropractor might recommend one or more of these types of electrotherapy:

• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS). TENS treatment uses both high and low-frequency electrical pulses to decrease chronic or sudden pain. A dial controls the intensity of the pulses. Portable home TENS units are fairly small and can be worn during your usual daily activities.
• Inferential Current (IFC). IFC treatment may be the next step if your pain doesn’t respond to TENS therapy. The IFC device produces currents that penetrate the muscles and deeper layers of the skin.
• Galvanic Stimulation (GS). The galvanic stimulator generates short bursts of pulsed electrical currents. Depending on the setting, the machine can be used to reduce swelling or improve blood flow. Increasing blood flow to an injured area offers a simple way to speed healing time while reducing swelling and can improve the range of motion of an injured or painful area.

Pain doesn’t have to control your life. Electrotherapy and chiropractic treatments can help ease your pain and improve your mobility. Contact us to schedule your appointment.

Sources:

SPINE-health: All About Electrotherapy and Pain Relief, 4/21/17

Medical News Today: What Is a TENS Unit and Does It Work?

Healthline: Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation Unit

Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in the Emergency Department for Pain Relief: A Preliminary Study of Feasibility and Efficacy, 89/18

Should You Exercise After an Injury?

When your muscles and joints are sore and strained from an injury, hitting the gym probably doesn’t seem like a very good idea. Although full-out workouts could potentially worsen your condition, moderate exercise may be just what you need to speed the healing process.

How You Can Benefit from Exercise

For years, doctors advised patients with injuries to take it easy. Unfortunately, after spending a week or two on the couch, many people found moving difficult. During the recommended period of rest, muscles stiffened and scar tissue grew. Creaky, stiff joints slowed recovery time and made it more difficult to complete everyday tasks.

The truth is that exercise may actually help ease aches and pains while also reducing the length of your recovery.

Exercise helps:

• Keep Your Muscles and Joints Limber and Flexible
• Reduce Inflammation
• Decrease Scar Tissue Formation
• Strengthen the Muscles That Support Your Joints
• Improve Range of Motion
• Enhance Balance
• Prevent a Re-Injury
• Improve Circulation

Things to Keep In Mind When Exercising

Check with your chiropractor before you begin exercising after an injury. He or she can advise you when it’s safe to start working out again and recommend specific exercises. (If you have a heart condition, ask your cardiologist or family doctor if it’s safe for you to exercise.)

Exercise after an injury involves gently working the injured area or keeping other areas of your body mobile and flexible if it’s too soon to exercise a sore muscle or joint. If you hurt your ankle, concentrate on upper body exercises for a few days. Once your chiropractor approves, try adding walking, strengthening or low-impact aerobic exercises to your workout regimen.

Weight lifting is an excellent way to strengthen your muscles and help you avoid new injuries, but it should be approached with caution. If you don’t decrease your usual weight load, you may worsen your injury. Start with light weights at first, and stop if you experience any pain. Talk to your chiropractor about the best way to begin or re-start a weight training regimen.

When back pain is the problem, exercises that don’t strain your back or abdominal muscles or involve twisting can help keep your muscles and joints loose. Swimming, walking or riding a stationary bicycle can elevate your heart rate, improve blood flow, and increase mobility and range of motion. As healing progresses, your chiropractor may recommend exercises that strengthen and tone the muscles in your back and core.

In a study included in a systematic review published in Healthcare, low back pain sufferers who participated in aerobic exercise or strengthening exercises experienced a significant decrease in pain.

Chiropractic Care May Enhance the Effects of Exercise

Exercise is even more helpful when it’s combined with chiropractic treatment. During treatments, your chiropractor may realign the vertebrae in your spine with hands-on manipulation. They may also use soft tissue mobilization or massage to loosen tight muscles and tendons.

During a systematic review conducted by the Ontario Protocol for Traffic Injury Management Collaboration, researchers discovered that soft tissue therapy offered an effective way to treat tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, and plantar fasciitis.

The effects of your treatment will last longer if you perform exercises to stretch and strengthen your muscles. Even minor muscle strains or stiffness can stress your back and alter the alignment of your spine, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion.

It’s important to exercise every day and only perform the exercises approved by your chiropractor. Don’t increase the intensity or duration of your workout without approval. Starting a vigorous workout routine too soon can result in new injuries or worsening of your current injury.

Do you want to reduce your recovery time and learn the best exercises that won’t further irritate your injury? Contact our office to schedule an appointment.

Sources:

SPINE Health: Exercise and Chiropractic Therapy, 3/14/13

Ace Fitness: Getting Back to Fitness After an Injury

Healthcare: A Systematic Review of the Effects of Exercise and Physical Activity on Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain, 6/16

Manual Therapy: The Effectiveness of Soft-Tissue Therapy for the Management of Musculoskeletal Disorders and injuries of the Upper and Lower Extremities, 8/29/15

The Advantages of Long-Term Chiropractic Care

How long has it been since you’ve seen your chiropractor? Chiropractic visits not only offer relief of chronic or acute (sudden) pain but may also provide long-term health benefits. Making time for regular chiropractic care offers a simple way to protect your health.

Why You Should Consider Long-Term Care

Scheduling regular visits to the chiropractor help prevent pain from returning. Although you’ll feel much better after a few weeks or months of chiropractic care, your symptoms could recur if you don’t receive periodic spinal adjustments and other treatments. In fact, the American College of Physicians includes spinal manipulation in its guidelines for treating non-radiating low back pain. Regular maintenance appointments keep your spine properly aligned and your muscles and joints flexible.

Long-term care also:

• Helps You Avoid Posture-Related Aches and Pains. Working in tight spaces or spending hours in the same position stresses your muscles and joints, increasing your risk of injuries or chronic pain. Whether you’re a truck driver, office worker, plumber or mechanic, long-term care can help you avoid aches and pains related to your posture or job.
• Lowers Your Risk of Developing Text Neck. Text neck is a fairly new condition related to the use of digital devices. Looking downward at your smartphone or other devices for hours at a time stresses your neck and spine, causing neck and shoulder pain, muscle spasms, wrist pain, headaches, or numbness in the fingers. Regular chiropractic adjustments, in addition to changing the way you hold your devices, help you avoid these unpleasant symptoms.
• Improves Range of Motion and Flexibility. Chiropractic treatment keeps muscles and joints loose and flexible. Lack of flexibility can impair blood flow to the cartilage at the ends of your bones, causing the cartilage to break down prematurely. When muscles in your legs, arms, neck or back are tight, range of motion decreases and your risk of muscle strains and other muscle or joint issues soars. Poor flexibility or range of motion may also affect your balance and can be a factor in falls.
• Enhances Organ and Immune System Function. Spinal misalignments cause bones or tissues to press on nerves, affecting their ability to send signals throughout your body. These misalignments, called subluxations, can interfere with the normal functioning of your organs and immune system. Adjustments relieve pressure on your nerves and help you stay healthy.
• Helps You Avoid Sports Injuries. You’re more likely to injure yourself if your body isn’t properly aligned and balanced when you participate in your favorite sport or activity. Regular chiropractic visits help you maintain proper spinal alignment, reducing your risk of strains, sprains, and other sports-related injuries. Long-term care can also quicken recovery time after a workout.
• Eliminates or Reduces Reliance on Pain Medication. Are you worried about the potential side effects of prescription pain relievers or the possibility of addiction? Chiropractic care helps ease your pain naturally and may help you avoid medication completely.
• Makes Breathing Easier. Spinal adjustments relieve pressure on the thoracic nerves that serve the lungs and loosen muscles, making it easier to take deep breaths.
• Keeps Arthritis Pain Under Control. Chiropractic care helps reduce pain, decrease inflammation, and improve joint mobility and flexibility in people who have arthritis.
• Decreases Headache Frequency. Tight muscles, nerve pressure, and spinal misalignment can be factors in tension headaches and migraines. Thanks to long-term chiropractic care, you may experience fewer headache days each month.
• Treats the Source of Your Pain. Although medication can be helpful in relieving pain, the effects soon wear off, causing a spike in your pain level. If you don’t identify and address the cause of your pain, symptoms can continue for weeks, months or years. Chiropractic care treats the source of your pain, not just the symptoms, and offers an effective long-term way to keep pain under control.

Could long-term chiropractic help you improve your health? Contact us to schedule your next appointment.

Sources:

Palmer College of Chiropractic: Benefits of Chiropractic

American College of Physicians: American College of Physicians Issues Guideline for Treating Nonradicular Low Back Pain

Chiropractic Economics: Text Neck Pain, Treatment and Prevention, 10/30/19