Chiropractic Care for Text Neck Syndrome

Are you addicted to your smartphone? If so, you may be due for a visit to the chiropractor. That’s because there is a new, silent epidemic known as “text neck” that is becoming increasingly more prevalent among people everywhere that are simply straining the neck during smart phone use.

What is “text neck” and is it serious? Not only is this an epidemic, but it could wreck your spine. Take a closer look at what many chiropractors are adding to their list of physical ailments to treat and why you need to visit your chiropractor now before it’s too late.

What is Text Neck

A new term that may start to come up in your conversations this year is “text neck,” a phrase to refer to the burden on the spine from keeping the neck bent forward and down on a regular basis for use of a smart device.

Since people are on their phones for hours and hours each day, it’s putting the neck and spine at a 15-60 degree angle with the weight of the human head taking effect on the cervical spine.  Text neck is a health condition affecting more and more as many choose to hunch over to text, navigate the web, watch videos, and more on their smart devices for several minutes and even hours at a time.

The modern day Forward Head Posture

While text neck is a relatively new term, it does take a play on an older health condition known as Forward Head Posture. Texting has only been around for a dozen or so years, while Forward Head Posture, or FHP, was the original health condition describing this positioning of the head forward from the center of the shoulders causing the head to shift the body’s gravity and cause serious health conditions. Being a completely preventable condition doesn’t keep many from getting it, since people are often attached to their phones for their work and personal lives.

Preventing and treating Text Neck

With proper exercise and awareness of your posture, you can prevent and correct text neck from happening to you. It’s important to keep your spine and posture aligned regularly, which means that when it’s time to use your smart device, you need to be aware of your posture and positioning of your body. With the right exercises and techniques to hold your device properly, you can limit the strain on your neck and spine.

Not only can text neck cause pain to the neck, shoulders, and spine, but it could lead to other conditions including migraine and disc herniation. This is why it’s more important than ever to avoid hunching over and keeping your posture nice and straight, while paying a visit to the chiropractor to get adjustments and realigned.

Be sure to hold your phone at eye level going forward, otherwise you could end up with a spine curvature, pain, and other side effects. Taking a break from texting or navigating and relying on a laptop or browsing by voice-activated Bluetooth technology will allow you to better focus on what you’re doing, keep your body safe from poor posture, and make it easier to connect with less disruption to your daily life.

If you’re experiencing tightness or discomfort around your neck, shoulders, and upper back, it may be a sign that you are experiencing the effects of Text Neck that your chiropractor will need to help you correct. Improve your posture going forward so that you can enjoy the perks of technology in your hands without harming your body in order to do so.

CBC’s Article: Smartphone-related neck pain on the increase

 

Chiropractic Care for Treating Disc Problems

Do you suffer with disc problems that are causing pain in your spine and other areas? Disc problems can really burden the sufferer between the stiffness in the back, the pain in different areas, and the tingling and weakness affecting the nerves. Chiropractors are constantly seeing people needing treatment for disc herniation and bulging disc problems. Take a look at what it means to have a disc problem and how chiropractors are treating them.

What do spinal discs do?

Spinal discs are those spongy pads that live on the spinal column between your vertebrae. These discs are flat, sensitive, circular capsules only about an inch in diameter and covered in a tougher outer membrane. They are your spine’s shock absorbers during movement and they work to hold the spine in place.

While these sacs are only fluid-filled sacs in childhood, they begin to solidify into adulthood in which the bloody supply stops so that the inner material can harden. Adults are more prone to disc injuries and degeneration since discs harden with age and become like hard rubber by middle age.

Types of disc problems

Some of the disc problems people sometimes encounter are slipped discs or bulging discus. A herniated disc is a bulging disc that occurs when fluid pushes out through a crack in the exterior. This can cause pain or numbness to the nearby nerves in your arm or leg, but in some cases, no symptoms occur from the herniated disc.

If you get a herniated disc, you will either have a prolapse or a protrusion. A protrusion means that the disc is bulging and pushing it out of shape while a prolapsed disc is one that bulges out so much that it becomes separated from the other discs. A severe prolapsed disc could be bad enough to affect daily activities like sitting, standing, and walking.

Symptoms and treatment

Do you have pain in your leg, buttock, or foot? Do you find it painful to do certain movements in your arm, neck, or shoulder? Is your spine stiff or tender? Do you have unexplained numbness, weakness, or tingling in certain body parties? These are all signs and symptoms of disc issues in your spine.

Chiropractic can definitely help you with this problem. There are safe ways to treat bulging or herniated discs. Your chiropractor will likely take digital images and ask about your history to see what type of issue may be occurring and how to treat it.

If you are suffering from a disc problem, talk to us right away so that you can get your spine issues corrected and get back to your daily routines again.

 

How Clothing and Shoes Might be Hurting You

There are millions of things in this world that could harm you every day, but the least thing you’d probably guess is that your clothes would be one of them. Believe it or not, your clothing and shoes are more likely to hurt you than anything else, seeing that improper clothing is on your body all day long, all throughout the week.

You probably had your suspicions that your high heel pain wasn’t great for your feet and that the oversized purse was harming your shoulders. Take a look at these clothing items and more that you may not have suspected are hurting you every day.

Your favorite pair of jeans

You love rocking a pair of skinny jeans on a night out in the city or when you want to dress up for a shopping excursion. Did you know that those skinny jeans, while looking great, are actually restricting your hips and your knees from total movement?

While you’ve probably already noticed some restriction, over time this can change the way we hold our bodies and even the way we walk. In the long-term, you’ll end up with a change on posture in movement which puts unfamiliar pressure on your joints that will decrease your shock absorption. This will lead to more wear and tear on your joints.

Those high heels you wear to work

While you want to look professional and feel confident at work, those high heels you are wearing to the office each day are horrible for your body. With the feet’s normal function to be a shock absorber for the skeleton, weight distribution is off when the high heels force the body’s weight to be on the balls of the feet. Your normal balance is off, your nerves and bones will get damaged, and your hips will misalign.

Heavy jewelry will cause a strain

You love that beautiful necklace you were gifted at your last birthday, but have you noticed the weight of it is straining your body? When you wear bulky, heavy, chunky jewelry, you end up with weight on the back of your neck and even your shoulders, which leads to neck and shoulder strain, posture issues, and even headaches. Opt for dainty pieces or lightweight jewelry.

Your favorite oversized purse

Who doesn’t love a huge bag that you can just throw anything in to? An oversized purse, often referred to as a Mary Poppins bag, is likely to become really heavy when overstuffed thanks to all the extra room inside. When it becomes too heavy, your favorite shoulder for carrying purses will end up imbalanced and misaligned, while pulling your strained neck and shoulders.

Shoes and coats

Lastly, be sure to watch out for lesser known clothing and shoe options that harm the body. Backless shoes are really popular this time of year, but your balance will have to work harder without support of the back of the shoe.

Your legs and lower back may feel strained with a backless shoe this spring and summer. When the weather cools down and it’s time to choose a warm coat, watch out for hooded coats with the heavy fur that will just end up restricting movement and weighing down your neck, back, and shoulders.

Don’t let your clothing choices harm your body when you have so many other things to think about in the day. Avoid these no-no’s next time you shop, and talk to us about getting an adjustment if you’ve already been doing these things. Your body will thank you for smarter clothing choices and preventative care.

 

 

 

Health-E-News May 2017
empowering you to optimal health

 

Chiropractic care helps relieve problems due to pregnancy

Many physiological and biomechanical changes occur over the course of pregnancy. Neuro-musculoskeletal symptoms may arise, such as low back pain, edema, and numbness and tingling. Many pregnant women seek out natural forms of therapy as opposed to pharmaceutical interventions to promote the wellbeing of the fetus.  

A 28 year old nulliparous woman is experiencing neuro-musculoskeletal symptoms 33 weeks into gestation. She presents tingling and numbness in her right hand which is aggravated by her work as a church organist. The patient also seeks care and relief of her swollen right leg and low back pain. Her chiropractic care started off with 2 visits per week for 4 weeks. She received adjustments on her thoracic spine, as well as on her upper and lower extremities. By the fourth visit, the patient reported diminishing edema and by the ninth visit, resolution of numbness and tingling in her right hand. Her lower back pain resolved progressively over the weeks of care. A week after the ninth visit, she delivered a healthy baby boy.

Natural methods of care should be the first type of intervention considered, especially for pregnant women. The body goes through incredible changes and it is an experience like no other. Besides caring for physiological difficulties, I am fascinated by the reduction in psychological stress associated with child birth. A mother’s love for the new born child should be reflective in the type of care she seeks. Chiropractic care strengthens the body’s natural healing abilities during and post birth. It is fascinating how our bodies respond to the positive stimuli that progresses the development experienced by the mother and child. The celebration of life through birth is congruent with the goals of chiropractic care; prosperous and vitalizing.

John Edwards DC & Joel Alcantara DC. Resolution of Peripheral Neuropathy, Lower Extremity Edema, and Low Back Pain in a Pregnant Female Undergoing Chiropractic Care. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal, & Family Health Chiropractic. 2015;3:86-91.

 

How to Make Sure you Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated on a regular basis can be tricky to remember. You already find chances to drink water throughout the day, but are you getting enough? It’s easy to tell if you’re dehydrated based on what your body is telling you, such as headaches or lethargy. How can you stay hydrated throughout the day aside from getting a few glasses of water in? Take a look at this guide to help you make sure you’re staying hydrated.

Signs of dehydration

You may not have realized that some of the symptoms you experience on the regular are actually signs of dehydration. Since feeling tired, getting a headache, and overall dizziness or lightheadedness could be caused from anything, you may not have associated these symptoms with your lack of hydration. Look out for these signs, as well as muscle cramps, constipation, dry or sticky mouth, and even dry skin indicating that you may be moderately dehydrated.

You’ll even notice that you aren’t urinating as often when you are dehydrated. If things get too serious, you’ll notice symptoms like rapid heartbeat and breathing, a fever, unconsciousness or delirium, and low blood pressure. This will also be accompanied by extreme thirst, confusion, dry skin with no bounce after being pinched, and sunken eyes.

How you can start hydrating yourself better

You’ve heard that you should drink eight glasses of water per day. It’s smart to take your current body weight and divide the number in half, using that as a guide of how many ounces of water you actually need in a day. If you can’t get all of that in your water intake, you can find other ways to secretly hydrate your body. Doing this through water-rich foods and other beverages is a great way to add some variety to your hydration needs for the day.

A great place to start is to incorporate water-rich foods into your daily diet. Start adding things like strawberries or watermelon to your breakfast and celery or cucumbers to your salad at lunch. These are great sources of hydration and since your body wants 20% of your daily water intake to be done through food, you’ll be covering your bases while enjoying other health benefits from these foods.

Your morning coffee is actually a wonderful source of water too. While it’s not as straightforward as a glass of water, about eight ounces of coffee will equal about four ounces of water. Then, be sure to choose a vegetable juice with breakfast since this tends to be a great alternative to water. You’ll find it to be a high quality beverage option for replenishing your cells, hydrating, and offering you important nutrients.

In addition to regular water, add in some coconut water into your day. It’s a great way to stay hydrated without overloading you on carbs. It offers a high level of potassium too, making your bodily fluids easier to regulate.

Now that you know the signs of dehydration and ways to stay hydrated, remember to make sure you are remaining hydrated throughout the day and the week. You’ll struggle with physical activity, pregnancy, and overall wellness if you are dehydrated. Before your next chiropractic adjustment, be sure to keep hydrated in order to see the best results from your treatment.

 

What is Kyphosis?

Do you know anyone who currently has kyphosis?

Kyphosis is a forward rounding of the back. Some rounding is normal, but the term “kyphosis” usually refers to an exaggerated rounding of the back (i.e. hunchback). While kyphosis can occur at any age, it’s most common in older women, due to things such as osteoporosis. In addition to an abnormally curved spine, kyphosis can also cause back pain and stiffness in some people. Mild cases of kyphosis may produce no noticeable signs or symptoms.

Age-related kyphosis often occurs after osteoporosis weakens spinal bones to the point that they crack and compress. Osteoporosis lowers the density of the bones in the spine and it allows for easy bending and compression. Other types of kyphosis are seen in infants or teens due to malformation of the spine or wedging of the spinal bones over time. Mild kyphosis causes few problems, but severe cases can cause pain and be disfiguring. Treatment for kyphosis depends on your age, the cause of the curvature and its effects. The powers of chiropractic can allow those who have kyphosis to heal their body.

This study looked at fifty-one subjects, 30 women and 21 men. Inclusion was based solely upon the patient presenting with a cervical kyphosis. All were patients in a private clinic where only the protocol of the Pierce Results system was followed in the evaluation and analysis of each patient. Curve measurements were performed using the Acu-Arc curve ruler. All 51 patients underwent chiropractic care in the office with follow up cervical x-rays at different intervals based upon clinical presentation.

Results of the study: The study involved 51 cases, 30 female and 21 male with an average age of 45. One hundred percent had some degree of positive change towards lordosis or a decrease in kyphosis. The average change in cervical kyphosis towards an established normal lordosis was a 56% correction. The average period of re-evaluation of lordosis was 12 weeks after onset of care consisting of 10 office visits. Results were statistically significant.

In conclusion, this analysis revealed changes in the structure of all 51 of the presenting cases. There are some variables in the time between the initial x-ray evaluation and the follow up x-ray where post measurements were taken. The time span ranged from 1 day to 35 weeks. This analysis demonstrated that consistent and efficient structural changes can be achieved in the cervical spine as a result of specific subluxation correction using the Pierce Results System™ of adjustment and analysis. The published literature has shown that rehab exercises and traction are required to achieve regular structural change, but the results of this study were attained without any use of traction, exercises, therapy, or rehab. In fact, 4 of the corrections were achieved with significant correction after one subluxation specific adjustment.

Galgano, J., Cooper, J., & Ramirez, C. (2016). Reduction of Cervical Kyphosis Following Subluxation Correction Utilizing the Pierce Results System of Chiropractic in 51 Patients: A Retrospective Analysis. A. Vertebral Subluxation Res., 2012(1), 1-7.

 

Top 3 Tips for Improving Posture

Are you ready to improve your posture? Now is the time to learn how to do it once and for all. You shouldn’t have to harm your spine on a daily basis due to poor posture you didn’t even realize you had. It’s a huge source of your neck and back pain, as well as your overall wellness issues.

Stop slouching at work and start sitting up straight in order to start correcting your neck and back pain once and for all. Take a look at these top three tips that you’ll need to improve your posture going forward.

Strengthen your core

One of the biggest reasons you struggle with neck and back pain is because your core is not strong enough to support it. This is the largest muscle group in your whole body and it needs to be strong to support the rest of your body. It’s responsible for much of your body’s movements. It’s important that you keep it strong through exercise and always working to improve your posture.
Join a yoga class to start improving your core strength, as well as your core’s flexibility and range of motion. Having this core strength through exercise will help your abdominal muscles which will in turn help to give you better posture. For some, good posture happens through tensing the glutes, which is the incorrect way to do it. Make sure you are focusing your posture efforts from your core that is built in strength through exercises like yoga.

Visit your Chiropractor

Next, make sure you are getting regular adjustments with your chiropractor. This will help you with body wellness as a whole. Adjustments help to make sure everything is aligned well so that your good posture can benefit you the best. While you are with your chiropractor, ask about good posture and the recommendations for achieving it best.

Your chiropractor will show you how to achieve good posture in your back by keeping it as straight and tall as you can. With the work put in to achieving good posture and regular adjustments, your neck and back pain will have no reason to return.

Set up a system to remind yourself

Just like drinking 8 glasses of water each day and flossing every morning, it can be challenging to remember good habits. Take the time to remind yourself to practice good posture, just like you have to learn good habits of drinking water and dental care. Find a reminder system that works for you, such as a note on your desk or a smart phone app that send reminders about your new habits. Good posture is not only about physically doing the work, but also mentally remembering to prioritize it.

Your neck and back pain from poor posture can be resolved by practicing good posture on a daily basis. Your chiropractor can help you with good tips on doing it properly, as well as regular adjustments to make sure your body is in tip top shape, and then you just need a good reminder system and some regular core exercise within your weekly routine. Common neck and back pain can be corrected from caring for your neck and back’s health on a daily basis, improving your quality of life.

 

Health-E-News April 2017
empowering you to optimal health

 

How Chiropractic Care Can Slow Down Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) Progression

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis can be associated with headaches, breathing and pain throughout the body including back, neck, hip and knee pain. If you suffer from any or multiple of these scoliosis related symptoms, chiropractic care can help. 

About 1-3% of children between the ages of 10-16 are affected by AIS. It is usually defined as a lateral curve of the spine that is bigger than 10 degrees, as well as rotation of the vertebra. While a typical spine will represent a straight line, those with scoliosis can expect to see more of an “S” or “C” shape in an x-ray. While there is no definitive cause for scoliosis, many factors including bone abnormality at birth, abnormal muscles or nerves can play a role in idiopathic scoliosis. 

A 21 year old female went to see the chiropractor for the first time and complained of back pain. She noted that walking or standing more than an hour increased her pain and when asked about the site of pain, she pointed to her lower thoracic and upper lumbar spine regions. 

She was advised to begin chiropractic care 3 times a week for the first 3 months, then 2 times a week for the following 3 months. Her treatment plan consisted of adjustments, traction and exercise in order to reduce the forward head posture, and essentially improve the lateral curvatures in her spine.

After her first 3 months of care, her thermal scan showed improvements and her pain scale reduce from the initial 4/10 to 0/10. Her results showed a reduction in progression of structural and postural changes of her spine. Overall, her physical pain, postural, structural and quality of life was improved after just a few months of chiropractic care. 

Nektalov, B. (2012, March 22). Improvement in a Patient with Scoliosis Undergoing Chiropractic Care: A Case Study. Maternal & Family Health, 31-37.

If you suffer from symptoms associated with scoliosis, know that there are numerous studies that display that there are benefits of chiropractic care to help those who suffer from scoliosis.

 

Chiropractic Care Can Resolve Neck Pain and Headaches in People with Dandy Walker Syndrome

Dandy Walker Syndrome (DWS) is a rare group of brain malformations that happen during birth. If you or anyone you know suffers from any or multiple symptoms that could be a result of DWS, chiropractic care can help. 

DWS involves the cerebellum, which controls movement. Therefore, the symptoms that commonly affect patients include slow motor development, enlargement of the skull, irritability, vomiting and convulsions. 

A 13 year old female went to see the chiropractor for the first time and complained of right sided headaches, neck pain and low back discomfort. Her history showed that she had been diagnosed with DWS since birth and has a device in order to drain excess fluid that causes swelling of the brain. Over the last 6 months, she had been experiencing neck pain, headaches around the area that the device was placed. 

On her first visit, she received adjustments to address the joint dysfunction and subluxations detected and 2 days later at her next visit, it was revealed that she had not experienced headaches or neck pain since beginning care. To address her low back pain, she was taught exercises and was instructed to perform them at home. Following these instructions, the patient reported that her back pain had subsided.

The implementation of the treatment plan on this adolescent with DWS was able to reduce the patient’s headache, neck pain and low back discomfort and ultimately improve the patient’s quality of life.

Maroon, S., Floyd, R., Varnum, C., & Alcantara, J. (2014, June 13). Resolution of Neck Pain and Headaches in a 13 year old Female with Dandy Walker Syndrome & Vertebral Subluxations. Maternal & Family Health, 30-36.

 

What does Type 2 diabetes have to do with my spine?

Insulin is a hormone that is responsible for storing energy in the body in the form of glycogen. This is accomplished by the absorption of glucose from the bloodstream, which is then converted and stored in fat, muscle, and liver cells. When insulin activity is disrupted, the likely culprit is Diabetes mellitus (DM).

DM may be separated into three categories: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM), Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). T1DM causes an individual’s immune system to attack insulin-producing cells and is thus considered an auto-immune disorder. Patients with T1DM tend to be very young and require daily insulin injections in order to survive. Alternatively, T2DM is seen in adults and involves insulin resistance. It affects approximately 17 million people in the United States and can be managed through proper diet and exercise. Finally, GD is glucose intolerance that affects about 2-4% of pregnant women per year.

A 67-year-old female suffering from T2DM, hypertension, and kidney failure sought the help of a chiropractor with the intention of improving her overall health and quality of life after experiencing great dissatisfaction with other medical interventions.  Some symptoms she experienced prior to chiropractic care included: headaches, digestive issues, musculoskeletal pain, and discomfort.

The chiropractic exam identified cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and pelvic range of motion loss and subsequent presence of subluxations in the same regions.

The patient was seen three times a week for four weeks. Visits involved spinal adjustments, physical rehabilitation, lumbar and cervical exercises, and the use of a wobble chair. The treatment duration exceeded the four-week recommendation and reached a total of 33 visits over a 3-month period.

Post-treatment results included the following: termination of several of the 92 pills she was prescribed including her insulin pills to make for a new total of 21 pills, her glucose levels reached normal range, occurrence and severity of spasms decreased, head posture improved, thoracic and lumbar subluxations improved, and general pain and discomfort improved as well.

T2DM is a growing global health issue and although current interventions have been proven to help manage this condition, alternative treatment options should be considered. Referring to the case study discussed above, chiropractic care is proving to be a likely competitor. More specifically, the patient was able to achieve normal glucose levels that were monitored using glucose level testing throughout her treatment, which resulted in the termination of her insulin pills. With a personally prescribed treatment plan, the patient was able to experience several benefits that improved her overall health in addition to the resolution of her T2DM, which ultimately improved her quality of life.

Yachter, D., & Jarry, M. (2015). Resolution of Type 2 diabetes Mellitus in a 67 Year old Female Patient following subluxation-based chiropractic care: A case study. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research. Retrieved from: http://www.mccoypress.net/annals/docs/2015-1369_diabetes.pdf

 

How to Keep Your Body Young As You Age

Aging is inevitable but having your body grow weary as it ages doesn’t have to be the case. There are natural ways to keep your body feeling and looking young despite aging, and it doesn’t require botox or plastic surgery to make it happen.

While you can always make visits to the gym a priority to keep your body looking and feeling youthful, there are even simpler decisions you can make on a daily basis to keep your body young. Take a look at these ways that you can keep yourself young as you age through mental, emotional, and physical care.

Drinking green tea

If you’re used to drinking coffee throughout the day for your caffeine fix and a hot beverage to warm you up, consider making the switch to green tea on occasion. Green tea has mega health benefits and one of those benefits is keeping your mind sharp and your weight more manageable.

As you age, you’ll have to deal with a foggier memory and less mental clarity than in your younger days. You’ll also notice a slowdown of the metabolism. Fight these signs of aging by incorporating green tea in your daily routine to help with your weight and keeping your brain sharp.

Incorporate more fats in your diet and cut the sugar

While you may be used to seeing “low fat” or “no fat” on products in the grocery store, these are actually replacing fats with more sugar. Excessive sugar is horrible for your body and all too common of a problem these days. It’s hard to avoid sugar and it’s hard to realize that fats are good for you, as long as they are healthy fats.

Look at your diet to see how much sugar you are getting because this is likely harming your body and aging you faster than normal. Remove the empty calories of sugar to stop stressing your body and choose foods with actual nutritional value. Choose more omega-3 fatty acids instead, to reduce the visible effects of aging and to keep your bones nice and strong.

Physical, mental, and emotional tips

What else can you do that will keep you young outside of changing your diet? This is where you need to look at your physical, emotional, and mental habits. Are you receiving chiropractic care on a regular basis? Even mental aerobics will help you maintain your youthful body.

Start going to the chiropractor to increase your vitality and improve your overall balance and movement as you age, and you’ll likely notice that those regular adjustments make a big difference. Make it a weekly habit to do a crossword or Sudoku puzzle to keep your mind sharp. When it comes to your emotional health, nothing will keep you young like falling in love will, so don’t be afraid to delve into your passions like a favorite hobby or volunteer work.

Using these tips, your body will be able to maintain its youthfulness to the best of its ability despite the inevitability of aging!

Health-E-News March 2017
empowering you to optimal health

 

Top 4 Myths You Should Know About Back Pain

Back pain can strike at any time and most people have some misconceptions about the commonality of it and the cause of it.  For some, the belief is that it’s just a normal part of aging, while others think that being physically active will prevent it.

There are a few common myths about back pain that can make people think a situation is worse than or not as serious as it truly is. Take a look at these four myths that have been busted in order to set the record straight for those that are misunderstanding their back pain.

Back pain means you’re going to need surgery

One common myth about back pain is that it automatically means that surgery is in your future. In reality, almost everyone ends up with back pain at one time or another. You won’t necessarily need surgery and if you do, it doesn’t always mean it’s going to be needed any time soon.

There are so many natural ways you can address the pain that may make the need for surgery obsolete. Chiropractic adjustments are one of the best treatments for back pain and can make a huge difference in correcting any problems causing pain.

Being active will prevent any potential of back pain

Another myth about back pain is that being physically active prevents any potential for back pain. While being physically active is a wise decision for keeping your body in peak condition, it doesn’t mean back pain won’t come find you too.

The best thing you can do to prevent the possibility of it is to continue to stay active, eat a highly nutritious diet, maintain great posture, and reduce stress in your environment. That is your best prevention for back pain, but it could still happen to you. Fortunately there are natural ways to heal your back pain, such as chiropractic adjustments, that will make it easier to treat a condition and will work wonderfully for someone who has been taking care of their health on a daily basis.

Back pain comes with aging anyways

Many people think that when you age, it’s inevitable you are going to get back pain. This is actually a big myth because back pain is not just a normal part of aging at all. While it’s common to end up with back pain as you age, this is because aging adults are more susceptible to illness and disease in general.

You can work on preventative care as you get older to keep your spine and back healthy, through proper exercise, nutrition, posture, removing stress, and getting adjustments.

Injuries aren’t as bad if the pain is low

Lastly, for those who get some minor back pain, they may assume that the injury isn’t so bad. Pain is actually an inaccurate indicator for the severity of back pain. Pain often takes days, or even weeks and months to really show itself. A mild back ache after an injury should not be taken as gospel of how serious the injury it is. Get it checked out and give it time to find out how serious the pain is going to get and how serious the injury actually was.

Any back pain should be checked out by your physician. If you haven’t experienced any, do the preventative maintenance to decrease your chances of getting it in the future.

 

How can You Improve a Bad Mood Naturally?

When we’re in the middle of the long winter season, bad moods may spring up more often than ever. If you find yourself in a bad mood, especially during the work day or while you’re trying to enjoy your family time at night, how do you cheer up in order to be your best self instead?

Sometimes you just have your bad days, but no matter what caused your bad mood, there are natural ways to cure the problem. You don’t need to call in sick or avoid your family dinner tonight; instead, you can use a few tricks to turn your day around. Each of these ideas only takes a few minutes and it can mean the difference between a day of complaining to a day that turned out to be really positive. Here are the tricks to improve your mood naturally.

Take a walk before you go to the office

If you’re dreading your work day, start the morning off differently by taking a short walk before leaving for work. Sometimes when you’re used to rushing around in the morning, getting the ice off the windshield, and trying to get through traffic, you find that there are days when you just can’t find the motivation to do it all. Today, take a short walk to get your blood pumping, get some vitamin D from the sun, and to enjoy the mood-enhancing endorphins that come with moving your body.

Clean your workspace

Another trick that will improve your work day is doing a little tidying at your work station. If you have a desk or office, make today the day you clean things, purge, file, and sort your belongings. Get in there and start dusting your workspace, making it sparkle, shine, and smell great in there.

Put things away and take care of projects that are burdening your mind. People always feel better with a clean desk and seeing projects get off their desk and done for good. You may find your focus and productivity improve big time for the rest of the day, making today a great day again.

Music and laughter

Sometimes putting on some tunes or having a laugh with a friend is just what you need. Put some music on at your desk that offers a happy beat where you can relax and enjoy yourself a little more today. During your break, call a friend for a quick laugh or catch up with a coworker on anything funny going on in their lives. You could even search for a short comedy routine video online for a quick pick-me-up.

Take care of your body

Lastly, your body may be telling you you’re not taking care of it well enough this time of year. It’s time to make sure you are getting 8 hours of sleep and visiting your chiropractor for regular adjustments. That poor sleep, back pain, and achy joints from the daily grind and shoveling the snow needs to be corrected. Start scheduling regular adjustments and getting to bed at a reasonable hour and you may find your whole world turns around because of it.

Don’t let your bad mood ruin your day, your week, or the whole winter season. Use these tips to perk up and feel like a new person naturally!

 

Have you ever thought about the way food affects your body? Food can have a major effect on you, especially when it comes to the nervous system. While you may be guilty of choosing fast food for lunch or unhealthy snacks late at night, it’s important to cut that out of your life as much as possible.

That’s because making the decision to choose healthy foods like nuts and bananas instead of soda and candy can offer you major benefits that you’ll notice when it comes to brain function. Take a closer look at how you can keep your mind sharper through your diet, by eating these foods that benefit your nervous system.

 

How Food Can Benefit Your Nervous System

Nuts

You’ve probably enjoyed snacking on nuts on occasion and love when they are found in your favorite candy bar. It turns out that nuts like almonds and cashews are wonderful for your nervous system. These nuts are rich in magnesium and you’ll also found selenium found in the brazil nut. The brazil nut is one of the best sources for this, and it benefits you in that it will relax your nervous system. Nuts are the perfect midday snack!

Your morning fruit

Who doesn’t love some fruit in the morning with breakfast? Start choosing bananas and you’ll benefit in a major way from the potassium found in it. Athletes are known for choosing bananas before a big game because they help to keep you and your brain hydrated through its electrolytes. Think like an athlete and choose a banana before going for a run or heading to the big board meeting.

Add spinach to that salad

You love a lunchtime salad but ordering one with spinach in it will have wonderful benefits. Spinach is really high in folate, as well as Vitamin B and B6. These nutrients will help you prevent getting dementia because dark leafy greens like this are known for breaking down homocysteines. Start choosing spinach throughout the week and keep your brain healthy.

The best juice for your mind

You love orange juice and apple juice with your morning eggs, but swapping your juice for pomegranate will be a great way to keep your mind healthy. Pomegranate juice is known for fighting free radicals which keeps your mind active.

Cook with garlic

Garlic makes dinner taste so good and it turns out that adding garlic to your food can prevent the mind’s aging process. Your brain will stay sharper longer when you choose garlic because of the antioxidant properties.

Dark chocolate for the win

When you choose healthy foods to benefit your nervous system, you may be surprised to hear that your favorite treat makes the list. Dark chocolate or cacao is a great nutrient for calming the mind. It has L-tryptophan in it which is the neurotransmitter that calms the mind. Have some dark chocolate for dessert and don’t feel guilty about it!

These are a few of the foods that are easy to incorporate into your weekly diet that will have major benefits to your nervous system!

Health-E-News January 2017
empowering you to optimal health

Boost Your Youth With These Top Exercises

As your body ages, it can become harder to keep your physical health in check and to keep your energy up. The good news is no matter what age you are, exercise will offer you health benefits without spending any money or a great deal of time.

All you need to do is dedicate a small amount of time each day to the right exercises and your body will feel the results whether it’s an increase in energy, weight loss, muscle strengthening, or flexibility. Take a look at the exercises that will offer you these physical benefits, as well as reducing the likelihood of age-related diseases including heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure, that you can do right in your own home, at a local class, or with a friend in the park.

Cardio

One of the most important exercises you can do throughout your life, but especially once you hit 40 years old, is cardio exercise. This is the best heart-healthy exercise you can do and it’s not hard to find a way to incorporate it into your day.

Start parking at the back of the lot and walking farther to get to the grocery store entrance. Take a nightly walk before dinner and find time to enjoy activities like bike rides, jogs, and hikes. If you love to run or swim, this is the perfect way to get your cardio exercise in, whether it’s at the gym or in your neighborhood.

Yoga

Have you ever tried yoga? It may be the perfect time to start. This ancient exercise originated in India in the sixth century to help with energy levels, stress management, and flexibility. It’s one of those exercises that can be done just about anywhere and most people will enjoy it giving you the perfect excuse to do it in a social way.

Strength Training

Sometimes lifting some weights and doing the right stretches is the most important way to give your body a break from all of the variations of cardio you’ve been doing. Make sure you take the time to tone your body in order to see better results in your other workouts.

Strength training can be simple with light weights from 1lb – 5lbs and can increase as your muscles get used to the weight. Since your muscles will naturally diminish as you age, it’s important that you make this a priority. You can strength train through lifting weights, doing push-ups, doing lunges, and more.

Tai Chi

If you’re looking for something out of the box, Tai chi is a great choice for those that like the idea of martial arts-type movements. This is a gentle exercise that offers excellent benefits, such as improved mental focus, increased balance, and reduced blood pressure. Work with a trainer and start learning the art of Tai Chi, originally a martial art, with great health benefits.

Other options

You can also delve into the art of Pilates, designed by Joseph Pilates, to work out the whole body at once. It’s a great exercise for improving your strength and flexibility without stressing out your muscles too much.

Try out Corrective Training if you suffer from joint pain, muscle imbalances, or even posture issues. You’ll do more of those lunges, squats, pushing and pulling like you would in strength training. Lastly, you can even use this time in your life to take up stand-up paddle boarding, especially if you love the idea of exercising on the water.
Don’t call it quits on your physical health as you hit your 40’s and older. It’s the most important time to keep your physical health in check and reap the benefits of doing so!

 

Text neck – new name for an old problem

Scholar’s neck, reader’s neck, and text neck all mean the same thing – a forward head posture (FHP). This is what occurs when the head is anterior to the vertical line of the body’s center of gravity. An easy way to measure this is by having someone look at where your ear is in relation to your shoulder; if your shoulder is right under your ear, then you have no FHP. However, if your ear is forward of your shoulder, this FHP can place a fair amount of stress on your spine.

An average of 2-4 hours per day is spent by most people with their heads tilted to read either books or smart phones. This means a person can accumulate 700-1400 hours a year of loading their spine in a damaging way. On the upper end of the spectrum is high school students and adolescents who may spend up to 5000 hours a year with this type of neck posture. This tilting of the head can increase the progression of a FHP and the many secondary ailments that accompany this problem, as well as change the structure of the spine – reducing the natural curve and thus changing the way the spine is loaded.

Having the head sit in front of the body allows for abnormal load to be placed on the cervical vertebrae, disks, tendons, and ligaments of the neck. After a while, the body adds more bone to this area in an attempt to handle the increased abnormal load, which can cause pain due to the degenerated disks and bone on bone contact. A FHP will lead to wear, tear, and degeneration of the many structures in the neck.

Other negative effects that may arise from a FHP include increased tension on the spinal cord, flattening of the small blood vessels of the neck, permanent changes in the curvature of the neck, changes in the way sensory information is received, and altering the flow of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). By affecting the flow of CSF, a whole other cascade of problems may arise because CSF is what helps circulate nutrients and chemicals as well as remove waste from structures in the central nervous system. Altering this flow can have a negative impact on the ability of the brain to function and may also change the structure of the spine itself.

In order to prevent the many negative consequences of FHP, it is important to ensure the spine is being cared for by restoring the natural curvature and reducing FHP as much as possible. Chiropractic can help reduce and prevent a FHP by adjusting the spine in order to return or maintain the natural curvature. This will in turn limit any abnormal loads placed on the spine and other structures of the neck, provide optimal flow of CSF throughout the spine, and allow for the best signalling possible between the central nervous system and the body.

Tully, G. (2016). Forward Head Posture and Decreased Lordotic Curvature of the Cervical Spine – The Potential Sequelae of Abnormal Alignment. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation, 2016(3), 21-24.

 

What You Should Know About Good Fats and Stress

You may be the type to shop at the grocery store for your favorite snacks that say they are “low-fat” and you feel good about finding a way to keep your diet in check while enjoying your favorite foods. What does it mean when something is “low-fat?” It likely means that they’ve reduced the content of good fast just to replace them with more sugar, something your body definitely doesn’t want.

What most people don’t realize is that fats aren’t the problem; it’s the sugars, high calories, carbohydrates, and the list of ingredients on the box that are filling your body with chemicals in order to lower that fat content.

While it may be a new concept for many, it’s important to get good fats into your diet, specifically to help with energy levels, to protect your organs, and to keep your body warm. Now another study is showing that filling your diet with the wrong things is going to affect how you handle stress. Take a look at the relationship between good fats and combatting stress.

Understanding good fats vs. bad fats

It’s first important to understand what makes a fat good or bad. Good fats and bad fats are compared by their substance of being solid vs. liquid. When you come across a fat that can be solid when it reaches room temperature, such as butter or lard, you’ve come across a bad fat that is made of trans fats which increase cholesterol.
These types of fats are filled with hydrogen to make them solid at room temperature. Compare that to a fat that is liquid at room temperature and now you have your goo fats. You should make 20%-30% of your calories coming from good fats which should include fats that your body doesn’t produce often, including nuts, plant-based oil, seeds, and fish, the “polyunsaturated fats.” This is a great way to combat cholesterol levels.

How fats and stress are related

Studies have been done to compare the effects of these various fights on women in their effort to fight stress. It turns out that the higher fat meals with higher calories, such as a Big Mac and fries, which is filled with bad saturated fats, struggled to burn as many calories when dealing with stress than women who eat a similar meal made with good fats.

Where to find good fats to fight stress

If you’ve made the decision to stick to the good fats, you may be wondering where to find them at the grocery store. You can find it in various stops around the store, from the produce section to the pantry goods. Stock up on blueberries, the fruit full of antioxidants that help combat stress. Grab avocado for more good fats that will help you combat overeating.

Grab plenty of salmon to make sure you are getting your omega-3 fatty acids which will decrease the effects of stress. Seeds like sunflower, flaxseed, and pumpkin will make a great snack this week to get you the magnesium you need to regulate emotions. Lastly, grab yogurt for breakfast and some dark chocolate for an afternoon pick-me-up and you’ll find more sources of good fats that help with your stress levels. The goal is to find foods that help balance your emotions and keep you feeling full, the keys to fighting stress.

The link between good fats and stress is that these good fats make stress easier to handle which will affect all areas of your life. Start choosing the good fats and cut bad fats out of your diet for better results!

 

Chiropractic and an improved quality of life go hand in hand.

The case of a 36-year old male undergoing chiropractic care highlights the importance of nervous system maintenance and the lifestyle changes that may accompany such care. He came into the clinic suffering from stress, headaches, eye pain, left leg pain for 14 years, feelings of depression, and a loss of interest in daily life. Years of sub-optimal lifestyle choices included alcoholism, smoking, lack of exercise, a diet full of caffeine, sugar, and fried foods, and a reliance on over the counter pain killers for gastrointestinal pains.

The patient received adjustments for an 11 month period, which focused on the subluxations around the upper cervical, mid thoracic, and pelvis. Following care it was reported that he was pain free and no longer relied on medication. In addition to the physical change, the client noted improved personal and occupational relationships and a better outlook on life. Many spontaneous life changes also took place during his time under chiropractic care such as the cessation of smoking, the uptake of regular exercise, better nutritional choices, and beginning relaxation exercises.

Removing vertebral subluxations is an important component of restoring nerve health and removing nerve system inference, which will lead to an enhancement in health and well-being. Beyond the correction of subluxations, other important components of wellness such as the psychological, spiritual, emotional, social, and physical can impact health. Taking that into account, partaking in health-enhancing activities in each domain would allow someone to achieve optimal well-being. It has been said that a healthy person makes healthier choices; which may only take small changes overtime until they become habits of improving health.

Pauli, Y. (2006). Quality of Life Improvements and Spontatneous Lifestyle Changes in a Patient Undergoing Subluxation-Centered Chiropractic Care: A Case Study. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation, 2006, 1-15.

 

 

 

 

Health-E-News December 2016
empowering you to optimal health

What Might Be Lurking in your Antibacterial Soap?

You can’t have a clean home without anti-bacterial cleaning products and soaps, right? Actually, it turns out that not only is your anti-bacterial soap is not the best option for sanitizing your skin, but it’s full of tons of active ingredients that aren’t good for you. When you start to read the labels of your anti-bacterial soap, you’ll start to notice a trend: you can’t pronounce any of the ingredients!

That’s likely because these ingredients are harmful, synthetic, and should be nixed right away. If your ingredient list is like reading a novel with words you can barely pronounce, it’s time to rethink what you’re putting on your body. It’s time to switch to natural soaps with ingredients you’re already using in your house. Take a look at what types of things on found in the antibacterial soap you have been using.

What is triclosan?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is taking notice of the use of triclosan, a prime ingredient found in most hand soaps. According to the FDA, this common hand soap ingredient and over a dozen others are now going to be banned because of their harmful effects.

If you think about how long you’ve been using these products, it can be disturbing to realize that these are now being banned by the US FDA when you’ve already applied them to your skin for many years. Triclosan and other harmful ingredients found in antibacterial soaps are HELPING bacteria to grow!

Understanding the harm in antibacterial soap

It’s important to look at what could be causing bacteria to grow from using antibacterial soap. Apparently over time, the triclosan and other ingredients are making the bacteria more resistant, which leads to mutation and growth. In addition, triclosan is harming the environment when it reaches lakes, streams, soil, and dust in the environment from going down your drain. 

Not only is it hurting you, but it’s hurting nature and turning into a dangerous dioxin, similar to a chemical pesticide. For these reasons, it only makes sense that the FDA would ban it from antibacterial soaps.

The good news and the bad news

The good news now is that the FDA is putting a stop to all of this right away, effective the first of the year for 2017, and your family and nature will be able to stay safe from getting this into your home in the future.

Hand soap will be changing their ingredients and other, regular soaps with water are just as effective as brands that spout having antibacterial agents. Now that the harmful chemicals are going to be avoided by the public, hand soaps can start to feature healthier ingredients to keep families safe around the country.

The bad news is that some companies have started replacing the banned triclosan with other ingredients that are actually just as harmful when combined together. While you may not see triclosan on that scary, long list of ingredients, there may be other ingredients listed that you don’t recognize that are just as harmful. The best way to defeat this problem is to stick with organic, natural brands that are using ingredients you’ve actually heard of and you can read the list of ingredients in just a few seconds.

After studying antibacterial soaps since the 70’s, the FDA has finally declared that the active ingredients such as triclosan and 18 others found in these soaps are harmful to people and the environment. With the ban of these ingredients taking place next year, it’s important going forward to choose soaps with ingredients that you recognize before choosing a new brand for your family’s daily use.

 

Do you know anyone who has experienced or is currently experiencing vertigo? Chiropractic can help.

Vertigo and dizziness are one of the most common reasons for consultation and referral to specialist care. Vertigo is categorized as a sensation of whirling and loss of balance, associated particularly with looking down from a great height, or caused by disease affecting the inner ear or the vestibular nerve. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common causes of vertigo. BPPV occurs when tiny calcium particles (canaliths) clump up in canals of the inner ear. The inner ear sends signals to the brain about head and body movements relative to gravity. Thus when the signal is interrupted, it will lead to BPPV.

 A 33-year-old female with BPPV presented to her chiropractor following a failed Epley maneuver, which is performed by the patient’s otolaryngologist (ENT) to help alleviate the symptoms of BPPV. She was prescribed medication, but refused to take it because she was nursing.

Chiropractic care of the patient began during the patient’s most severe episode of BPPV, even making her unable to drive to her appointment. Adjusting techniques were administered, along with cranial adjustments, manual therapy, and massage. Within three visits, the patient was able to drive herself to her visits and her symptoms had greatly improved. By the 14th visit, the patient presented symptom-free.

Stone-McCoy, P., & Taylor, C. (2016). The Resolution of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) in a 33-Year-Old Female Following Chiropractic Care: A Case Report & Selective Review of Literature. Annals of Vertebral subluxation Research, (3) 84-91.

 

Take the Stress Out of the Holidays With these 5 Techniques

Are you feeling the pressure of the holidays already? With Thanksgiving and the wild Black Friday behind us, it’s officially crunch time before Christmas and immediately following, New Year’s Eve. Whether you celebrate these holidays or not, you are likely going to get together with loved ones at some point over this holiday season and while it’s an exciting reunion, it also comes with its own stress from the change of pace.

You have to plan out and help cook meals, potentially host visitors in your home, provide gifts to your family, and decorate your home to set the mood for the celebrations. It can get overwhelming in a hurry, especially if you are already busy with life’s daily activities of work, staying healthy, family and children, and other commitments.

You can get through the holidays with little to no stress by following a few tips that will help you keep the stress in check. Take a look at these five techniques to take the stress out of your holiday celebrations.

Put your devices away

It may seem like the perfect time to share your holiday photos on social media, check out your friends’ updates, and stay in touch during this social month. Really what you should do is put the devices away and enjoy the company you’re with in the present.

All of the notifications, text messages, and phone calls are just going to distract you from relaxing with the company you’re with. Instead, turn off the gadgets and check in at a later time. You might find that your New Year’s resolution is to take time away from your devices on a more regular basis because of the stress reduction it allows.

Enjoy the party

Whether you are hosting or attending, sometimes that loud music you love is the perfect way to de-stress. You can put it on while you clean and decorate the house, while hosting dinner, or while attending another party. You’ll find that you may start to feel the music and your blood flow will increase while you feel calmer than ever.

Laugh with your loved ones

If you are worried about how the interactions will go, come up with an activity that will encourage laughter and fun. The best medicine to stress right now is laughter, and a great way to encourage it is through funny games, hilarious Christmas sweaters, and nights out enjoying a comedy show. Make this the time to laugh a little more because you’ll need it!

Give yourself a break

If you’re naturally a perfectionist, let this be the time of year that you give yourself a break. You already have more on your plate than normal with decorating the house, selecting and wrapping gifts, and attending holiday parties with family, friends, colleagues, and more. This is the time to avoid trying to strive for perfection and instead, realizing that the company around you doesn’t care about the details. Be willing to slow down some, cut down on the amount of projects you had planned, and try to enjoy the ride.

Exercise and rest

Lastly, believe it or not, this is the time to incorporate more physical exercise and more relaxation. The exercise will put you in a great mood and make you stronger for all of the work that’s ahead. Try jazzercise or another fun workout like a sleigh ride with the kids and watch as your mood boosts all day long.

On the other hand, it’s the perfect month to take a 4-day weekend before the festivities to let your body and mind relax and re-cooperate. Get the house ready, the decorations up, the parties planned, the gifts wrapped, and then take a mini vacation before attending all of these events. You’ll look and feel refreshed during all of these exciting gatherings that will allow you to make memories for a lifetime.

These five techniques are a sure way to take the stress out of your holiday season.

 

Chiropractic Care Boost the Immune System

If you’ve ever wondered about better ways to improve your immune system and avoid getting ill, you’re not alone. Many are looking for that trick or magic potion to keep them from getting sick, especially as we approach flu season. While many are getting their annual flu shot and overloading the hand sanitizer at the office, others have learned that it’s actually the perfect time to start making visits to the chiropractor. 

If you were worried about stopping into the chiropractor while recovering from a cold, don’t cancel your appointment; this is the perfect way to heal yourself from an illness more quickly. If you want to feel better from an illness you are struggling with or you want to try to avoid getting sick this season, start making regular chiropractic care a top priority as it actually boosts your immune system that fights off illness. 

How chiropractic care boosts your immune system

While chiropractor care is about giving your body the adjustment it needs, it’s actually benefiting your immune system at the same time. When your spine is adjusted and nerve interference is removed, a term known as subluxation, it’s helping to regulate your autonomic nervous system. 

Why does subluxation happen, causing nerve interference? This can happen from something as serious as a physical trauma or as simple as toxins in the environment or your food. It can even happen from your own thoughts, emotions, or stress. These issues cause interference which means your central nervous system won’t be able to function at full capacity. 

Why you need to get to the chiropractor now

Have you ever gone to the chiropractor to treat an issue and then found out that it’s being caused by something completely different? Since the brain, nerves, spinal cord, and a few other elements of your nervous system are controlling your other systems, it’s important to keep this system in check. If you go to the chiropractor for pain, you are likely having adjustments made that will help your nervous system which in turn, corrects the pain you came in for and potentially many other issues. 

You don’t want to deal with a nervous system that is not functioning properly since it communicates to the rest of the body. Having a nervous system that is out of whack could impact the rest of your body negatively. Getting to the chiropractor to keep this system in check is the best way to avoid negative effects on the rest of your body, especially when illness strikes. This has been proven time and time again, with patients as young as children getting treated for ear infections, ADD, seizures, and more through chiropractic care. 

Make the chiropractor your priority this cold and flu season

With the nervous system and immune system being linked so closely, it makes sense that your immune system won’t be running at top speed when your nervous system is damaged or infected. Your body wants the immune system to help with the healing during a sickness but can’t if your nervous system is running poorly. Fortunately, having chiropractic care will boost your immunity through regular adjustments. 

Chiropractors have been shown to improve immunity in those who get regular adjustments, to help patients get extra enzymes which can fight environmental exposures to toxins, and to help HIV positive patients through regular adjustments which can increase number of CD4 cells, the cells that are attacked from the disease. Studies have shown cases of increased enzymes in chiropractic patients which help resist environmental exposures making it a great idea to get adjustments during cold and flu season.

What is the best way to prepare yourself for cold and flu season? Make an appointment with us and boost your immune system through regular chiropractor care this winter.

Health-E-News September 2016
empowering you to optimal health

Are orthotics for you?

Back pain will affect seventy to eighty percent of adults at some point in their life, with millions currently affected in North America. There are many causes of back pain such as degenerative disease of the spine and hips, nerve injury, musculoskeletal disorders, lower extremity joint disease, and many more according to the literature. Focusing on the role the lower extremity plays in back pain; disorders such as flat feet alter the function of the foot due to the loss of an arch and produce abnormal motion, which can affect the biomechanics of the rest of the body. A case study looking at the relationship between lower extremity dysfunction, pelvic disorder, and back pain is discussed below.

A 26-year old male came to a Chiropractor with chronic back, leg, and ankle pain. The back pain arose three years ago following an injury lifting bricks. The pain in his leg and ankle began nine years prior and was felt in both legs, however following a broken ankle the pain in his right leg went away. Being flat footed since childhood, it was reported that after his right ankle had broken an arch in his right foot had formed and the left foot remained flat.

Upon examination it was noted that subluxations were present in the upper cervical, mid thoracic, upper lumbar, and sacral regions. During an examination of the lower extremities it was revealed that there was abnormal function of the left foot, where the collapsed arch existed. Adjustments were delivered to the areas where subluxations were present three times a week. The lower back pain resolved within three weeks of care, however the leg pain persisted. The patient was then fitted with orthotics to correct the alignment of the feet.

During a follow up examination, the patient reported a significant decrease in leg pain. Alignment problems can arise from childhood injuries and manifest in different ways during adulthood. Through the use of chiropractic care and orthotics, there was a correction of a collapsed arch as well as resolution of chronic back, leg, and ankle pain.

Mattson, R. (2008). Resolution of Chronic Back, Leg and Ankle Pain Following Chiropractic Intervention and the Use of Orthotics. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation, 2008, 1-4.

 

7 Top Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet

/While the Mediterranean Diet may be well-known for benefits, such as helping your waistline and your heart, it may have other benefits you’re unaware of. This type of diet isn’t hard to shop for at a grocery store and contains plenty of nutrient-packed foods. It’s actually an older diet plan coming from the way people used to and still do eat in Spain, Italy, Turkey and Greece.

Not only will the Mediterranean diet provide all seven benefits found on this list, but it’s also a very tasty way to eat. If you’ve been searching for a new diet plan you can actually sustain, consider the benefits gained from the Mediterranean Diet.

1. Type 2 Diabetes Protection: One of the major benefits you gain from practicing the Mediterranean diet is protection from type 2 diabetes. Since the diet includes many foods rich in fiber, it helps to slow down your digestion and keep your blood sugar from going haywire.
2. Increases Longevity: One of the best-known benefits of the Mediterranean diet is an increase in longevity. Those practicing the diet as a way of life reduce their chances of developing cancer or heart disease. Studies have actually shown, those following the Mediterranean diet have a 20% less chance of dying, regardless of age.
3. Better Bone Health: One of the newest benefits discovered about the Mediterranean Diet is better bone health. A study showed the quality of bone health in postmenopausal women improved after following the Mediterranean diet. This article details how the diet has proven to help with bone health.
4. Great for Healthy Weight Loss: When you want to lose weight, you often choose a diet leaving you hungry and irritated. The Mediterranean diet won’t do that. It will provide the healthy benefit of helping you lose weight, but will also allow you to feel fuller. Since the diet is sustainable, it becomes a way of life instead of just a fad diet you practice for a month and forget about.
5. Protects Cognitive Health: Following the Mediterranean diet has been shown to help with treating Parkinson’s disease and reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s. It’s an excellent choice for preserving your memory and helping keep your mind sharp.
6. Help you Stay Agile: The nutrients found in foods consumed when following the Mediterranean diet may help to reduce muscle weakness in seniors. This diet has also show to help with other signs of frailty.
7. Great for Relaxation and Relieving Stress: Those suffering from chronic stress often don’t live the quality of life they want. Following the Mediterranean diet has proven to reduce stress and help you relax. Eating at a slower pace and eating local foods nearly every day helps with your mood. Of course, adding in regular physical activity will also help to reduce stress.

Whether you’re worried you might be at risk for disease or you just want to shed a few pounds in a healthy way, the Mediterranean diet may be the answer. It’s a wonderful way to eat, live and remain happy without feeling hungry or like you’re stuck hating what you eat. If you want to diet in a better way, make the Mediterranean diet your new lifestyle choice.

 

4 Top Advantages of Chiropractic Care for Athletes

Chiropractic care has become more widely accepted over the 100-year history. Many athletes, from high school football stars to Olympians, count on chiropractors to help with physical ailments. Chiropractic focuses on the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system allowing for plenty of support for all types of injuries and ailments athletes may face.

Athletes gain several advantages from regular chiropractic care before, during and after performing. Chiropractic care has become so common in sports medicine, that every NFL team has their own team Chiropractor. Here are four of the main advantages gained by athletes using regular chiropractic care.

1. Helps Undo Punishment on the Body from Sports: When speaking of their personal successes, many athletes state that chiropractic care was a huge part of it. Top athletes, such as Dan O’Brien, Barry Bonds, and Arnold Schwarzenegger say their ability to perform was partly due to the chiropractor they saw regularly.
2. Drug-Free Treatment/Non-Invasive: The last thing an athlete wants to do is become hooked on pain medicine or go through an invasive surgery. Surgery could mean the end of the season or even the end of a career for some athletes, such as Prince Fielder. However, with chiropractic care, athletes get the help their body needs in order to continue to perform at their best. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady believes chiropractic care helps with performance. He even says he feels about three inches taller after seeing his chiropractor.
3. Improved Mobility: Seeing a chiropractor regularly also helps to increase mobility, which is a must for athletes. Chiropractic care fundamentally increases joint flexibility and allows for pain-free movement. Football players, weight lifters, runners and many others have all noticed an improvement in flexibility after receiving Chiropractic care.
4. Improved Strength and Endurance: Along with increased mobility, athletes using chiropractic care often show improved strength and endurance. World-class Olympic athletes have worked with chiropractors for many years to help with range of motion, strength and endurance when training. These athletes even take their own Chiropractor to the Olympic Games.

Olympic athletes need to do everything they can to shave off mili-seconds and they rely on Chiropractic to help them. Imagine what Chiropractic can do for you!

 

Great Reasons to Eat More Fruits & Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables should play a huge role in any diet. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to lose weight or just trying to eat healthy, making sure you get plenty of fruits and vegetables will provide plenty of necessary health benefits. There are several excellent reasons to eat more fruits and vegetables. Here are five of the most important.

Disease Prevention

The old adage, “an apple a day will keep the doctor away,” rings pretty true. Many fruits and vegetables help to prevent cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and some forms of cancer.

Fruits and vegetables with a high fiber content help protect you from coronary heart disease. In addition, potassium-rich foods, such as strawberries, bananas and potatoes can help to reduce blood pressure and decrease bone loss. Many fruits and vegetables also provide antioxidants and phytochemicals, which help to ensure healthy cells.

Low in Calories

One of the best reasons to eat more fruits and vegetables is the calorie content. Most are very low in calories. Reaching for an apple or a few grapes instead of a sugary snack is a great way to lose weight and maintain a healthier body. Some vegetables contain so few calories that you may burn more calories during the eating process than the vegetable actually provides.

Filling up on fruits and vegetables may help with weight loss, as well. Making substitutions, such as fresh applesauce for oil in a muffin recipe may not only provide a delicious treat, but a healthier one. You can also add sautéed vegetables to an omelet to fill up at breakfast without adding many calories.

Packed with Nutrients

Vegetables are rich in fiber, potassium, folate, vitamin A and vitamin C. Folate-rich foods, such as tomatoes, bell peppers and spinach are especially important for women of childbearing age. These foods help to prevent certain birth defects in babies.
Eating foods rich in vitamin A, such as carrots and sweet potatoes helps with eye health and skin health. The high content of fiber in vegetables, such as broccoli can also help with digestion.
Fruits are also packed with vitamins, fiber, folate and potassium. High fiber fruits help to protect against heart disease and fruits rich in vitamin C, such as oranges and strawberries help wounds heal and keep teeth healthy.

Convenient

You don’t have to cook most fruits and vegetables to enjoy them. Grabbing an apple, grapes or even a few carrots is effortless compared to the time it takes to cook a meal or prepare certain snacks. Even making a salad takes less prep time than most meals.
If you want to add something nutritious and delicious to your diet, add fruits and vegetables. You can fill up without consuming too many calories and your body will thank you for the many needed nutrients.