Category: Newsletter Library

The 3 Most Frequently Asked Chiropractic Care Questions and The Answers to Them

Most people have a few questions when considering chiropractic care to naturally treat pain and injuries. If you’ve been wondering if chiropractic is a good option for you, you’ll want to take a look at these commonly asked questions.

What Kinds of Conditions Do Chiropractors Treat?

Chiropractic treatment focuses on your muscles, vertebrae, joints, tendons, and ligaments. The treatment may be a good choice if you experience joint, muscle or nerve pain after a car accident, fall or another type of injury.

Accidents aren’t the only cause of pain. Fortunately, your chiropractor can also treat back, neck or shoulder pain related to poor posture, overuse injuries, tendonitis, bursitis, arthritis, and other conditions.

Pain and stiffness can occur when your spine becomes misaligned. Spinal misalignments cause your muscles and joints to become tight and stiff, and are responsible for pain and decreased range of motion. Misaligned vertebrae in your spine and tight muscles may also press on your nerves, triggering or increasing pain.

Chiropractic treatments are designed to improve the alignment of the spine, ease muscle tension and stiffness, relieve pressure on nerves, decrease inflammation, and improve range of motion and flexibility.

Chiropractic treatment can helpful for many conditions, including:

• Whiplash
• Headaches and Migraines
• Spinal Disc Issues
• Spinal Stenosis
• Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Pinched Nerves
• Dizziness
• Text Neck
• Leg Length Discrepancy
• Fibromyalgia
• Immune System Issues
• Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)
• Tingling and Numbness in the Hands, Feet, Arms, and Legs
• Sciatica
• Scoliosis
• Pain in the Back, Neck, Head, Shoulders, Arms, Ribs, Hips, Legs, Feet and Pelvis
• Poor Posture
• Sprains and Strains
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

What Treatments Do Chiropractors Offer?

If you’ve ever seen a character on a TV show or movie receive chiropractic care, you may assume that spinal manipulations are the only treatments chiropractors offer. During spinal manipulation, your chiropractor uses quick, hands-on pressure to realign the small vertebrae in your spinal column. Many people refer to this as “cracking the neck,” but the cracking sounds produced during manipulation are actually gas bubbles released from the joints.

Improving the alignment of the spine with spinal manipulation reduces inflammation, improves flexibility and range of motion, enhances blood flow and decreases pressure on the joints, nerves, muscles, and ligaments.

In 2017, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a systematic review of studies that evaluated the effectiveness of spinal manipulation in treating acute low back pain. The review noted that manipulation was associated with less pain and improved function six weeks after treatment.

Other studies have shown spinal manipulation and chiropractic treatments to be effective in treating whiplash, neck pain, plantar fasciitis, hip and knee osteoarthritis, migraines and other conditions.

In addition to spinal manipulation, your chiropractor may also offer these treatments:

• Massage. Massage is often used in conjunction with chiropractic treatments and may be helpful in decreasing pain, easing muscle tension and reducing stress. Massage increases blood flow to the injured area and promotes healing.
• Soft Tissue Mobilization. Mobilization involves gently moving and stretching the soft tissues in your body to decrease pain and other symptoms caused by sprains, strains, stress injuries, scar tissue, plantar fasciitis, bursitis, tendonitis, and other conditions.
• Heat and Cold. Both hot and cold packs may be used at various times during your treatment.
• Ultrasound Treatment. A small handheld device directs ultrasound waves to your tissues. The treatments relax your muscles, decrease swelling and improve blood flow.
• Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation (TENS). TENS treatment uses a gentle, low-voltage electrical current that blocks pain signals.

Am I a Good Candidate for Chiropractic Treatment?

Chiropractic care is a safe, effective treatment option for most people. During your first visit, your chiropractor will perform a thorough examination, order X-rays or other diagnostic tests, and discuss your medical history and symptoms before recommending a treatment plan.

Although medication can temporarily dull your pain, your symptoms will return unless you address the cause. Chiropractic treatment treats the source of your pain, eliminating or reducing the need for pain killers or other medications. It’s a good choice if you’re experiencing sudden or chronic pain or have other symptoms, such as:

• Pain that affects any part of your body or shoots down your arms or legs
• Joint pain
• Muscle pain, weakness, tingling or numbness
• Difficulty walking, maintaining your balance, or sitting or standing without pain
• Frequent headaches, fatigue or difficulty concentrating due to your symptoms

Chiropractic treatment can help relieve your symptoms naturally. Contact us if you’re ready to schedule an appointment.

Sources:

Journal of the American Medical Association: Association of Spinal Manipulative Therapy with Clinical Benefit and Harm for Acute Low Back Pain, 4/11/17

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28399251

Spine Universe: What Disorders Do Chiropractors Treat?

https://www.spineuniverse.com/treatments/chiropractic/what-disorders-do-chiropractors-treat

U.S. News & World Report: Surprise: Chiropractors Can Treat These 5 Conditions, 11/30/15

https://health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/articles/2015/11/30/surprise-chiropractors-can-treat-these-5-conditions

American Chiropractic Association: What is Chiropractic?

https://www.acatoday.org/patients/why-choose-chiropractic/what-is-chiropractic

Chiropractic Treatment May Relieve Your Vertigo

It’s hard to focus on anything when the room feels as if it’s constantly spinning due to vertigo. The condition affects nearly 40 percent of us at some point in our lives, according to University of California San Francisco Health. If vertigo has disrupted your life, chiropractic treatment may offer the relief you desperately need.

When You Can’t Get Off the Merry-Go-Round

Vertigo can make you feel as if you’re on an amusement park ride that never ends. In addition to the spinning sensation, you may also experience dizziness, nausea, vomiting, difficulty walking and speaking, headaches, sweating, and jerky eye movements.

Medications can stop or reduce nausea and vomiting and help you feel less dizzy, but your symptoms may return if you stop taking the medication. Chiropractic treatment targets the source of your problem without the use of medication.

Common Causes of Vertigo

Vertigo can be caused by:

• Injuries. You may first notice vertigo after a head or neck injury.
• Misalignments and Dislocations. Vertigo may be more likely to occur if your spine isn’t aligned properly or your vertebrae are dislocated.
• Inner Ear Problems. Your inner ear plays an important role in balance. Infections and conditions that affect the inner ear can be the cause of vertigo.
• Meniere’s Disease. The disease causes vertigo, ringing in your ears and hearing loss.
• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). BPPV can be caused by aging or head trauma and occurs when calcium carbonate crystals in the inner ear become dislodged and enter the semicircular canals deep inside your ears. The crystals interfere with the normal movement of fluid in the canals, triggering vertigo symptoms.
• Your Habits. Vertigo can sometimes occur if your diet is unhealthy or you consume or use caffeine, alcohol or other substances that affect the nervous system.

A Visit to the Chiropractor Can Improve Your Symptoms

Chiropractors offer several treatments that may relieve your vertigo. If you’ve injured your neck or head or have a spinal misalignment, a chiropractic adjustment may ease your symptoms. During the adjustment, your doctor uses his hands or a small instrument to gently realign your spine. If the joints in your neck don’t move properly, your brain may misinterpret the information it receives from your body. Adjustments can improve movement in joints and reduce vertigo.

Results of a feasibility study published by the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine confirmed that spinal adjustments can be helpful in treating vertigo symptoms. After chiropractic treatment for 13 months, most subjects noticed improved balance. Less dizziness and neck pain were also reported.

You may benefit from the Epley maneuver if BPPV is the cause of your vertigo. The maneuver is designed to re-position the crystals in your inner ears. Your chiropractor moves your body through a series of quick position changes that take advantage of the effects of gravity to restore normal crystal position. You may also be taught a few exercises you can do at home that will reduce vertigo.

If your chiropractor believes that diet or stress may cause or contribute to your condition, he or she can offer healthy eating tips or recommend a few helpful stress-relief techniques and activities.

Do you suffer from vertigo? Chiropractic care offers a natural solution for your condition. Contact us to schedule an appointment.

Sources:

Journal of Chiropractic Medicine: Effects of Chiropractic Care on Dizziness, Neck Pain, and Balance: A Single-Group, Preexperimental, Feasibility Study, 12/09

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2786230/

Medical News Today: What’s to Know About the Epley Maneuver, 8/30/17

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319171.php

American Chiropractic Association: Essential Skills for Managing Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, 10/9/18

https://www.acatoday.org/News-Publications/Publications/ACA-Blogs/ArtMID/6925/ArticleID/392/Essential-Skills-for-Managing-Benign-Paroxysmal-Positional-Vertigo

How to Extend the Effects of Your Chiropractic Adjustment

Depending on the things you do after your visit to the chiropractor, the effects of your treatment can last days or just a few hours. Fortunately, you can extend the positive effects of your adjustments by following a few simple guidelines.

Pay Attention to Your Posture

Poor posture can contribute to spinal misalignments, tight muscles and other uncomfortable symptoms. Although you may feel better after the adjustment, your results won’t last very long if you slouch or spend hours hunched over your laptop or phone. When you use your phone or another digital device, hold it at eye level if possible. Constantly looking down at devices puts enormous strain on your neck and may even cause permanent damage to your spine if you don’t change your habits.

Use Ergonomic Furniture

Slouching may be unavoidable if your chair and desk force your body into an uncomfortable position. Ergonomic chairs keep your spine properly aligned, support your lower back, and distribute your weight evenly. When they’re combined with ergonomic desks and keyboards, you may be much less likely to experience aches and pains at the end of the day.

Standing desks offer another ergonomic option. Using a standing desk several times throughout the day can reduce pain in your upper back and neck and may improve your productivity. The desks are adjustable and move up and down to allow you to move easily from a seated to a standing position.

Take Regular Breaks

Improving your posture and using ergonomic furniture can help you keep your spine properly aligned, but pain may still be a problem if you spend long hours at your desk. Add frequent breaks to your daily schedule to prevent pain and discomfort. Take a short walk (even if it’s only to the end of the hall) and do a few stretches before you return to your desk.

Avoid Awkward Movements or Lifting

Activities that involve awkward movements or require you to contort your body can cause aches and pains. Painting the ceiling or digging new posts for your fence the day after your treatment can reverse the results of your adjustment.

Poor lifting techniques can also ruin the effects of chiropractic adjustments. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and use your knees and legs, rather than your back, when you lift.

Fill Your Water Bottle

Water helps your body get rid of toxins that are released after an adjustment. Increasing your water intake for a few days after your treatment can be very beneficial. Water improves joint lubrication, which may help keep your joints become more flexible. Upping your water intake can also help you avoid dehydration, a condition that can cause headaches, muscle weakness, dizziness, fatigue, and irritability.

Get a Little Exercise

Although you won’t want to participate in strenuous activities soon after an adjustment, low-impact exercise will help keep your muscles loose and improve your range of motion. Walking, swimming, biking, yoga, Pilates and other forms of exercise will enhance your adjustment results.

Your chiropractor may have taught you a few exercises you can do at home to improve the strength and flexibility of your muscles. These exercises are an important part of your treatment plan and should be performed as often as your chiropractor recommends.

Don’t Skimp on Sleep

Sleep plays a pivotal role in the healing process. While you’re sleeping, your body repairs muscles and tissues and produces hormones that reduce inflammation. If you don’t get seven to eight hours of sleep every night, you may be unwittingly sabotaging the effects of your chiropractic treatment.

Do you sleep on your back? This position may be a factor in your pain. The American Chiropractic Association notes that you put approximately 50 pounds of pressure on your back when you sleep on it.

Chiropractic adjustments offer a simple, natural way to control pain in your joints and muscles. Contact us if you’re ready to schedule an appointment.

Sources:

CEO World Magazine: 7 Benefits of Ergonomic Office Chairs You Shouldn’t Miss

https://ceoworld.biz/2019/03/18/7-benefits-of-ergonomic-office-chair-you-shouldnt-miss/

American Chiropractic Association: Tips for a Healthy Spine

https://www.acatoday.org/Patients/Health-Wellness-Information/Spinal-Health

Spine-Health: Exercise and Chiropractic Therapy

https://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/exercise-and-chiropractic-therapy

Chiropractic Care May Help Your Headache Pain

Headaches are often dismissed as minor ailments that can be easily cured simply by popping a few over-the-counter pain relievers. Although pain medication may be helpful for occasional headaches, it’s not always effective for chronic headache pain. Pain relievers can also cause liver or kidney damage and other serious side effects if you take too many of them. Fortunately, chiropractic care offers a drug-free treatment option.

What Kind of Headache Do You Have?

Chiropractors often treat patients who have these types of headaches:

Tension Headaches: Tension headaches occur when the muscles in your neck and head contract and become too tight. You may feel tightness and pain in your forehead only, or the pain may wrap around to the back your head and your neck. The headaches can be caused by stress, poor posture, or even looking down at your cellphone for hours.
Migraine Headaches: Migraine, the sixth most disabling illness in the world, affects 18 percent of women, 6 percent of men and 10 percent of children in the U.S., according to the Migraine Research Foundation. Pain, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, in addition to other unpleasant symptoms, can affect the quality of your life and make it difficult to work or care for your family.
Cluster Headaches: These extremely painful headaches typically occur on one side of the head and last 10 minutes to several hours. They’re called “cluster” headaches because sufferers usually get multiple headaches in one day. The headaches can disappear for months at a time and may reappear at the same times every year.
How Do Chiropractors Treat Headaches?

Treatment options depend on the type of headache you have, but may include:

Spinal Manipulation: Manipulation relieves pressure on your joints, realigns your spine, improves blood flow, and helps relax tight muscles. Your chiropractor uses his or her hands or an activator to apply quick, forceful pressure to the vertebrae. Spinal manipulation is particularly helpful if nerve irritation triggers your migraines or cluster headaches. Manipulation relieves pressure on your nerves, easing your pain and reducing the frequency of your headaches.
Spinal Mobilization: Spinal mobilization involves gentle, hands-on pressure that stretches your spine, improves joint function, and helps ease tension in the muscles between the vertebrae. Since tense muscles can be an issue no matter what type of headache you experience, mobilization can be very effective.
Massage: Massage is often included in treatment plans for headaches. The therapy loosens tight muscles, improves range of motion, increases blood flow, and may help reduce the frequency of your headaches. Regular massages also reduce stress, which can be a factor if you get tension headaches.
Flexion-Distraction Therapy: This therapy is performed on a segmented table that moves or drops as your chiropractor gently manipulates your vertebrae. Flexion-distraction therapy reduces stiffness, improves range of motion in your back and neck, and may even help decrease the number of headaches you get every month.
Your treatment plan might include a few other types of therapy, including ice and heat therapy, ultrasound treatment, or electrotherapy. Improving your posture and strengthening the muscles that support your head and neck may also be helpful. Your chiropractor can recommend exercises, make suggestions that will help you improve your posture, and provide advice about a healthy diet.

Is Chiropractic Treatment Effective?

In a case series published in Global Advances in Health and Medicine, researchers discussed the case of a 31-year-old patient whose migraines become chronic after two pregnancies. After chiropractic treatment, she experienced fewer migraines. During the 10th month, she reported no headaches during the entire month.

Another case study published in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care examined the case of a 44-year old woman who suffered from daily headaches that didn’t respond to pain medication. During her treatment, spinal manipulation, ultrasound, and other therapies were used. After three months of treatment, her headache pain began to subside. The pain was completely eliminated by six months.

Are you tired of living with headache or migraine pain? We can help you control your symptoms naturally. Contact us to schedule an appointment.

Sources:

Migraine Research Foundation: About Migraine

https://migraineresearchfoundation.org/about-migraine/migraine-facts/

American Chiropractic Association: Headaches and Chiropractic

https://www.acatoday.org/Patients/Health-Wellness-Information/Headaches-and-Chiropractic

NCBI: Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care: Long-Term Relief from Tension-Type Headache and Major Depression Following Chiropractic Treatment, May/June 2018

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6069670/

Global Advances in Health and Medicine: Integrating Chiropractic Care into the Treatment of Migraine Headaches in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Case Series, 3/28/19

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2164956119835778

Could Flexion-Distraction Therapy Help My Pain?

Most of us experience pain in our muscles and joints occasionally. If we’re lucky, the uncomfortable symptoms subside after just a few days. For some people, pain becomes a chronic condition that lasts months or years.

Although pain medication can be helpful, it often causes nausea, dizziness and other unpleasant side effects that can make it difficult to drive or keep up with your usual workload. Flexion-distraction therapy, a natural, non-surgical technique offered by your chiropractor, provides an effective, alternative pain relief option.

What Is Flexion-Distraction Therapy?

Flexion-distraction therapy is performed on a segmented table that moves as your chiropractor slowly manipulates your spine. The manipulations, combined with the movements of the table, stretch and decompress your spine, relieving your back, leg, neck, or arm pain.

As your chiropractor performs the gentle manipulations, a section of the treatment table drops or moves, changing the positioning of your body. When your body drops slightly, gravity enhances the effects of treatment and helps realign your spine.

What Are the Benefits of the Treatment?

Flexion-distraction therapy can:

• Reduce pressure on your spinal nerves and discs
• Decrease bulging of herniated discs
• Improve range of motion and mobility
• Help you manage chronic back pain
• Relieve stiffness
• Decrease neck pain and headaches
• Eliminate or delay the need for surgery in some cases
• Promote good disc health
• Relieve pain and numbness in the back, buttocks, arms, and legs
• Improve posture

In a study published in The Journal of Physical Therapy Science, researchers examined the effects of flexion-distraction manipulation on patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. The condition occurs when the spinal canal narrows and presses against the nerves that serve the lower back and legs, causing pain, weakness, numbness, and cramping.

Study participants who received flexion-distraction manipulation as part of their therapy experienced a greater reduction of their painful symptoms than those patients whose treatment did not include the technique.

Will Flexion-Distraction Help Me?

In addition to improving spinal stenosis symptoms, flexion-distraction can also be used to treat many other types of back pain. It may reduce pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis and improve spinal movement in patients who have scoliosis.

Flexion-distraction therapy can be helpful if you have sacroiliac syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, sciatica, spondylolisthesis, sprains, and strains. It’s also very effective in treating muscle spasms or low back pain unrelated to a specific condition.

The technique is gentle enough to use after spinal surgery and can be an important part of your recovery treatment plan. If you have osteoporosis or another condition that affects your bones, some treatments may be too risky. Luckily, flexion-distraction is gentle enough that it can be a safe therapy option for people who have brittle bones or are frail.

Flexion-distraction therapy may even be helpful in treating knee pain. In a study published in The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, patients who had either acute or chronic knee pain received flexion-distraction therapy for two to three weeks. At the end of the treatment period, the mean pain scale score dropped from 7.7 to 1.8. Patients who suffered from chronic knee pain maintained their results by receiving the therapy once every month.

Are you tired of living in pain? Flexion-distraction therapy may offer the ideal way to relieve your symptoms, whether you’ve been experiencing pain for a few days or weeks, or you have a chronic condition. Call us to schedule your appointment.

Sources:

NCBI: European Spine Journal: The Global Spine Care Initiative, 9/27/18

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29480409

NCBI: Journal of Physical Therapy Science: Effects of Flexion-Distraction Manipulation Therapy on Pain and Disability in Patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis, 6/30/15

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4500015/

Chiropractic Economics: The Extensive Benefits of a Chiropractic Flexion Table, 9/15/16

The extensive benefits of a chiropractic flexion table

NCBI The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association: Innovative Application of Cox Flexion Distraction Decompression to the Knee: A Retrospective Case Series

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5596966/

How Dehydration Affects the Body

Healthy nutrition includes drinking at least 4 to 8 glasses of water every day. Admittedly, this is a wide range, but 4 8-ounce glasses of water represents the minimum intake for adult men and women. A useful frame of reference is the presence or absence of thirst. Optimally, you should never feel as if your mouth and throat are dry and that you “need” a drink of water. For example, hikers are frequently reminded by trail guides to drink water continuously throughout a hike. Experienced trail guides add the friendly warning that “if you feel thirsty, it’s too late” to ward off a headache and other symptoms of dehydration such as dizziness and confusion.

Sufficient water intake is critically important in maintaining normal physiological processes and eliminating metabolic waste products. All cells are aqueous environments. Drinking appropriate amounts of water every day aids each and every one of your body’s cells in performing its numerous functions so that you remain healthy and well. Also, water is a key component of the intervertebral discs. These shock-absorbing cartilaginous structures assist your spinal column in supporting the weight of your head and torso and distributing mechanical loads so that you can effectively perform physical tasks such as carrying weights.

The intervertebral discs consist of a fibrocartilaginous outer ring (the annulus fibrosus) and a gelatinous center (the nucleus pulposus). Water is a significant component of both structures, especially the nucleus pulposus. Intervertebral discs begin to degenerate by the age of 4, and begin to gradually lose their blood supply, turgor, weight-distributing, and shock-absorbing capabilities. If dehydration has affected the intervertebral discs and has begun to result in clinically significant degeneration of a disc or discs, a person may experience back injury, and ultimately chronic back pain. Thus, for many reasons, ensuring optimal daily hydration is critically important for all members of the family, including children, adults, and older adults.

Sufficient daily water intake should be accompanied by the components of a healthy diet, including eating regularly from a wide variety of food groups, including fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and possibly dairy products. For example, all family members should eat at least 5 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables every day. As well, a complete healthy lifestyle includes regular vigorous exercise. Five sessions per week of at least 30 minutes per session is recommended. Regular exercise provides mechanical challenges to bones, joints, intervertebral discs, and other musculoskeletal soft tissues, enabling these structures to obtain and maintain optimal strength, flexibility, and resilience.

Regular chiropractic care helps coordinate all your healthy lifestyle activities. By detecting and correcting spinal misalignments as well as removing sources of nerve interference, regular chiropractic care helps all members of the family get the most out of their nutritional and exercise programs. As a result, regular chiropractic care assists children, adults, and seniors to achieve long-term health and well-being.

Huang YC, et al: Intervertebral disc regeneration: do nutrients lead the way? Nat Rev Rheumatol 10(9):561-566, 2014

Amin DB1 et al: Effect of degeneration on the six degree of freedom mechanical properties of human lumbar spine segments. J Orthop Res 34(8):1399-1409, 2016

Von Forell GA, et al: Low Back Pain: A Biomechanical Rational Based on “Patterns” of Disc Degeneration. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 40(15):1165-1172, 2015

What is Your Posture Telling You About Your Health?

Most of us started hearing about posture way back in grade school when our parents and teachers began to tell us to “stand up straight”. We were told to have “good posture”, often with the implication that such an achievement was associated with strength of character, discipline, and definiteness of purpose. But, typically, the means of accomplishing good posture were never exactly disclosed, other than the child’s being encouraged to “suck in your stomach” and “pull your shoulders back”. Unfortunately, these directives did not result in a pleasing, biomechanically effective, natural posture. Rather, these commands caused children to develop tight muscles. Fortunately, it is possible to attain good posture in ways that support a person’s well-being.

A person’s posture is primarily associated with the function of her or his spine. The adult human spine is most commonly composed of 26 movable segments. The neck contains 7 vertebrae, the mid back contains 12 vertebrae, the lower back contains 5 vertebrae, and there is 1 sacrum and 1 coccyx. The neck (cervical spine) is normally convex to the front, the mid back (thoracic spine) is normally convex to the rear, and the lower back (lumbar spine) is normally convex to the front. The sacrum and coccyx are oriented convexly to the rear. These alternating curves from top to bottom create biomechanical balance and participate in creating spinal flexibility. As a result, the spine is able to distribute biomechanical loads effectively and efficiently, resulting in ease of motion and strength throughout the course of one’s daily activities.

But various musculoskeletal habits, physical and mental stress, diet and nutrition, injury, and spinal biomechanical dysfunction can all impact a person’s posture. Over time, any and all of these circumstances can diminish the degree of curvature of affected spinal regions, reducing the normal biomechanical curves of the spine. Most typically, the spinal curvatures are flattened, resulting in loss of the normal curves in the neck, mid back, and lower back. The straightened regions of vertebrae lose their biomechanical resilience, with accompanying muscle tension, muscle spasms, and pain in various regions of the spine. As well, seemingly innocuous movements such as bending over to pick up a dropped pen or pencil, or bending over to place groceries in the trunk of one’s car, may result in sudden, significant pain and injuries lingering for 2-3 weeks or more.

Regular chiropractic care provides substantial assistance to all members of the family regarding restoring and maintaining graceful, functional posture. Improved posture enables us to perform smoothly our activities of daily living. By detecting, analyzing, and correcting spinal biomechanical dysfunction and nerve interference, regular chiropractic care helps reestablish normal spinal biomechanics and improve physiological function and performance throughout the body. As a result, regular chiropractic care helps the entire family achieve higher levels of long-term health and well-being.

Yoganandan N, et al: Fatigue responses of the human cervical spine intervertebral discs. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 69:30-38, 2017

Mörl F, Bradl I: Lumbar posture and muscular activity while sitting during office work. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 23(2):362-368, 2013

Żak M, Pezowicz C: Analysis of the impact of the course of hydration on the mechanical properties of the annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc. Eur Spine J 25(9):2681-2690, 2016

Can Chiropractic Improve Symptoms of Asthma?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of May 2018, 1 in 13 Americans have asthma, representing 26.5 million people. Of these 26.5 million, 6.1 million children and 20.4 million adults suffer from this chronic disease.

The annual costs of asthma to society are approximately $80 billion in the US alone This substantial amount includes medical expenses, missed school or work days, transportation expenses to medical appointments, and lost productivity. Effective clinical management of asthma continues to pose significant public health challenges to the patients and the U.S. healthcare delivery system.

Standard treatment for asthma consists of a variety of medications. The gold standard of treatment is inhaled corticosteroids. Asthma inhalers are so much a part of daily life that they appear regularly as hand-held props in television programming and in film. In these shows, the difficulty of the moment for the character is acted out by having the player pull out her or his inhaler and take a quick puff. Additional standard medications include long-acting beta agonists, which open the airways, and leukotriene modifiers such as montelukast (Singular), which help to prevent wheezing and shortness of breath. Short-term relief during an asthma attack may be provided by rapid-acting bronchodilators such as albuterol (ProAir and Ventolin).

The primary challenge of asthma is that it is a chronic condition. There is no real end-point of the disorder and there is no cure. For most people, asthma symptoms persist long-term and likely require life-long medication. As well, there are numerous side effects associated with medication usage. For example, side effects of leukotriene modifiers may include depression, hallucinations, and suicidal thinking. Use of long-acting beta antagonists may enhance the risk of a severe asthma attack. Side effects of albuterol may include headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, and sleep problems.

Importantly, regular chiropractic care is a key component of a comprehensive asthma management program. Chiropractic care detects and analyzes spinal joint dysfunction and associated nerve irritation and nerve interference that may contribute to the presence of asthma in a child or adult. As a chronic disorder, asthma has complex physiological causes and nerve interference may be a factor in the development of many, if not all, of these factors.

Next, chiropractic care corrects spinal dysfunction, helping to restore more normal spinal biomechanics and directly address the sources of nerve interference. Over time, regular chiropractic care helps to reduce the physiological stressors that are implicated in the symptoms of asthma and helps both children and adults obtain greater levels of long-term health and well-being.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Asthma Surveillance Data. https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/most_recent_data.htm, last updated May 2018

Tursynbek N, et al: The Economic Burden of Asthma in the United States, 2008–2013. Ann Am Thoracic Soc 15(3):348-356, 2018

McClafferty H: An overview of integrative therapies in asthma treatment. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 14(10):464, 2014

Can your diet affect joint pain?

Joint pain may be experienced as a result of an acute injury, such as an ankle sprain, knee sprain, or rotator cuff tear. Joint pain may also accompany varying types of joint inflammation, including osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease), rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and joint inflammation secondary to lupus erythematosus and irritable bowel syndrome. Of the numerous causes of joint inflammation, osteoarthritis is by far the most common, frequently affecting the lower back, neck, hips, knees, shoulders, and wrists. Many factors are associated with the development of osteoarthritis, including overuse, too little use, faulty biomechanics, and overall lack of exercise. Joint pain related to osteoarthritis may be improved and ameliorated to a certain extent by engaging in a comprehensive program of restoring more efficient biomechanics, targeted exercise, and healthy nutrition.

Diet is frequently implicated in various systemic inflammatory disorders and, in consequence, various joint inflammatory conditions. For example, celiac disease, a chronic inflammatory disorder, is often associated with gluten insensitivity or gluten intolerance. Malabsorption syndrome and leaky gut syndrome, both of which may be associated with joint inflammation, may be associated with gluten insensitivity or gluten intolerance. The inclusion of nutritional supplementation such as probiotics and prebiotics is helpful in the overall management of malabsorption syndrome and leaky gut syndrome. As well, instituting a gluten-free diet may be of assistance in managing gluten sensitivity, gluten intolerance, and conditions such as celiac disease.

Additionally, sugar, refined carbohydrates, saturated fats, monosodium glutamate, and alcohol are known causes and potentiators of joint inflammation. For certain individuals, dairy products, eggs, tomatoes, nuts, and coffee may exacerbate existing joint inflammation. In contrast, for most people, diets containing at least five servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily help prevent the development of joint inflammation and help reduce inflammatory processes and thus ameliorate a primary cause of joint pain.

Exercise helps to improve joint range of motion, strengthen supporting muscle groups, and increase the resiliency and flexibility of local soft tissues such as tendons and ligaments. Optimally, exercise is done five days a week for at least 30 minutes each day. Beneficial forms of exercise include walking, swimming, bicycling, yoga, and strength training. If you haven’t exercised in some time, start slowly and gently, building up your capacity and stamina.

Regular chiropractic care plays a key role in the effective management of joint pain. By detecting and correcting sources of spinal nerve irritation and nerve interference, regular chiropractic care helps to optimize the functioning of your entire physiology. Potential causes of joint pain in the neck, mid back, and lower back are addressed directly, and joint pain in other locations is benefited by more normalized communication between those sites and the nerve system as a whole. In this way, regular chiropractic care helps improve the long-term overall health and well-being of you and your family.

Basu A et al: Dietary fruits and arthritis. Food Funct 9(1):70-77, 2018

Oliviero F, et al: Anti-inflammatory effects of polyphenols in arthritis. J Sci Food Agric 98(5):1653-1659, 2018

Aryaeian N, et al: The effect of ginger supplementation on some immunity and inflammation intermediate genes expression in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. Gene 698:179-185, 2019

Many people of all ages experience depression and/or anxiety, whether on an occasional, frequent, or consistent basis. These symptoms may be transient, only occurring at a particular stage in one’s life, or they may represent a specific condition such as a depressive disorder or a panic disorder.

Panic disorders are characterized by attacks of anxiety and overwhelming fear known as panic attacks. During a panic attack, a person may experience pounding or racing of the heart, breathing problems, dizziness, weakness, chills, and nausea. Additionally, during a panic attack a person may experience a feeling of being out of control and a feeling of impending doom.

Chiropractic care has a distinct and specific role to play in the management of panic attacks. Spinal bio mechanical dysfunction and spinal nerve irritation may be implicated in the causation of panic attacks, as such dysfunction and irritation can heighten physiological stress and participate in triggering feelings of anxiety. In other words, if your body is already on high-alert status owing to internal bio mechanical stress and neurophysiological irritation, then emotional and/or environmental triggers can more easily shift your adaptive responses into panic mode.

Regular chiropractic care helps one avoid such detrimental, cascading effects by detecting, analyzing, and correcting sources of spinal biomechanical dysfunction and spinal nerve irritation. By helping reduce baseline levels of internal physiological stress and restoring improved function throughout the body, regular chiropractic care helps mediate one’s response to anxiety-provoking phenomena. It also helps alleviate muscular tension and pain and improve the functioning of one’s cardiorespiratory, gastrointestinal, immune, and hormonal systems. Regular chiropractic care helps one gain higher levels of health and well-being as well as reduce the overall frequency and severity of panic attacks.

Engaging in healthy lifestyle choices, such as maintaining a nutritious diet and participating in regular, vigorous exercise, assists regular chiropractic care in improving one’s health. Daily nutritious food intake enables your body to work properly. Nutritious foods help build strong cells and tissues and help remove toxins that accumulate from metabolic activity. Regular, vigorous exercise could include doing at least 30 minutes per day of activities such as walking, running, bike riding, swimming, and weight training on a five-day-per-week schedule. These healthful action steps work together to provide more energy, more restful sleep, and an overall positive mental attitude. There may also be unexpected benefits as your body and mind begin to work in harmony. Overall, the combination of healthy lifestyle activities and regular chiropractic care helps to optimize how your body works and reduces the impact of potentially anxiety-causing internal and external stressors.

Metzler DH, et al: Anxiety Disorders in Primary Care. Prim Care 43(2):245-261, 2016

Locke AB, et al: Diagnosis and management of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults. Am Fam Physician 91(9):617-624, 2015

Williams JW Jr, et al: An Overview of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapies for Anxiety and Depressive Disorders: Supplement to Efficacy of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapies for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Washington, DC: Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Evidence-based Synthesis Program Reports, 2011