A chiropractor doctor is a medical professional who deals with disorder and dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system. Because the profession has doctors practicing with many different styles of treatment and differing opinions on patient care, confusion remains among the general public and potential patients as to what they can expect at a chiropractic visit. Chiropractic is a conservative form of health treatment that translates into “done by hand”. The profession began back in 1895, founded by a D.D. Palmer in Davenport, Iowa. For the past 115 years, there have been many advances in research of the benefits of chiropractic care. There have also been splits between physicians within the field of chiropractic, many still embracing the original teachings and many who have become more entwined with mainstream medicine. Since the beginnings of the profession, the intentions of a chiropractic physician have been to treat illness without the aid of medication. However, recently in New Mexico, a new bill has now been passed to allow chiropractors a small scope of medication prescription rights. This new additional treatment tool may, in the future, be extended to other states as well. Because of the separation of chiropractic beliefs between chiropractic physicians, some oppose this bill, not agreeing with the addition of certain medication rights, while others welcome the change and acknowledgement of being more closely tied to mainstream medicine.

Health Professionals

A chiropractic doctor may practice in many different locations. Many are self-employed, working in and running their own clinic within a community. Other chiropractic physicians work as associates within a clinic, treating patients along with the chiropractor who owns the clinic. Some chiropractors work in multi-disciplinary settings, working along with physical therapists, medical doctors and other health professionals. Many hospitals throughout the country now employ chiropractic physicians and a number of military hospitals offer chiropractic employment as well. There are even chiropractic physicians among the medical staff for olympic athletes. Aside from chiropractic manipulation, many chiropractors offer diagnostic imaging in their clinics, modalities such as massage therapy, traction, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, nutritional counseling, heat and ice therapy, physical therapy rehab and decompression treatments. Many can offer their patients orthopedic and neurologic testing for a more accurate diagnosis when necessary. Many medical doctors will refer their patients to a chiropractic physician when conservative care is warranted. This referral system is important for the chiropractic profession as it creates relationships and stronger connections between providers while also benefiting and improving patient care.

References Cited in this Article

www.nih.gov

www.acatoday.org

whiplash

When the soft tissues of the neck become injured and produce pain and dysfunction, the condition is referred to as whiplash. This term is not a medical term but since its first usage in 1928, most people have used the term whiplash to describe cervical soft tissue injuries. Someone can sustain whiplash during a car accident, during a fall, an assault or participating in sports. The most common cause of whiplash is being involved in a motor vehicle accident as the speed of the cars during a collision causes sudden movement to the otherwise stationary bodies within the cars. The soft tissues of the cervical spine become injured when an abnormal or sudden movement to the neck causes the muscles to be strained beyond their normal range of motion. Because whiplash involves abnormal movement in the neck and often times with sudden forceful movement, whiplash is also referred to as acceleration flexion-extension injury, a cervical sprain or strain or a soft tissue cervical hyperextension injury. Whatever the name, the result is the same, pain and tenderness in the neck, inflammation, muscle spasms, headache, difficulty in moving the head and possibly radiating pain into the shoulders and upper extremities.

Neck Pain

Even though whiplash is a sprain or strain of the neck muscles, it is advised to seek medical attention immediately following the onset of neck pain. While for most people, the pain is a result of acutely sore muscles that have been strained beyond their normal range of motion, some neck pain may be a sign of something more serious. If the symptoms of neck pain are accompanied by dizziness or a feeling of numbness, tingling and weakness into the arms or legs, a trip to the emergency room is recommended. If serious conditions are ruled out during an emergency visit, a patient will be sent home with instructions to ice the cervical muscles for 20 minutes per each hour during the initial 24 hours, separating the ice from the skin with a thin towel. OTC medications will also be recommended such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce the pain and inflammation in the neck. Follow-up treatments such as chiropractic care or massage therapy may also be helpful in speeding the recovery time and helping to relax the strained muscles of the neck. Chiropractic modalities such as ultrasound, electric stimulation, mild traction and physical therapy exercises will be offered for pain relief. In general, people who have sustained a whiplash injury will fully recover within a time period of 6 weeks. A small amount of people will experience symptoms on and off for up to a year. There is no way to know how long symptoms will last but it is thought that if symptoms of whiplash appear very soon after the injury, then the healing process may take longer.

References Cited in this Article

www.emedicinehealth.com

www.nih.gov

www.mayoclinic.com

The temporomandibular joint connects the mandible (lower jaw) to the temporal bone of the skull located in front of the ear. This joint is present on both sides of the face and these two joints allow the jaw to move. Any dysfunction to these joints can lead to pain in the head, neck, facial muscles and ears. The inability to fully open the mouth may also occur as well as a clicking sound when the jaw moves and the jaw may also lock in position when open, which would indicate that the joint is dislocated. The TMJ consists of muscles, bones, nerves and blood vessels. Some of the muscles associated with the TMJ are also referred to as the muscles of mastication, meaning the muscles that allow movement for chewing. These muscles enable the jaw to open and close and the TMJ also works to provide movement that includes rotation and a hinge action, allowing the mouth to open and close and to open wider, such as is necessary during a yawn. Dysfunction that occurs to this joint is referred to as TMJ syndrome. This syndrome can be caused by injury to the joint, wear and tear as we age or improper habits such as grinding or clenching of the teeth.

Myofascial Release Techniques

It is important to seek treatment for TMJ syndrome when symptoms first present. Early symptoms are the same as later symptoms, just less intense. Early treatment will help to avoid any episodes of the jaw locking or severe pain throughout the face, ears and neck. A physical examination will be performed and the jaw will be examined, the physician noting any pain or tenderness and the range of motion of the joint. Imaging may be utilized but is not always necessary. Conservative care is normally adequate for treatment as the symptoms of TMJ syndrome do not usually last for long periods of time. Applying warm packs to the joint will help to alleviate pain and icing the area will help if there is any inflammation present. Chiropractic care generally focuses on trigger points within the muscles associated with the TMJ. Trigger points within the medial pterygoid muscle can cause pain in the face, the TMJ, ears, nose and neck. Myofascial release techniques such as stripping of the muscle and compression to the trigger points can be done to relieve tension and reduce pain. These techniques are rather painful but work well to alleviate symptoms of TMJ syndrome. Chiropractic care may also include joint mobilization with the use of the activator method. This method utilizes a small activator tool that is capable of delivering a low-impact, high frequency adjustment to small areas of the body, such as the TMJ. If grinding or clenching of the teeth is an issue, night guards can help to prevent these habits during sleep.

References Cited in this Article

www.emedicinehealth.com

www.altmd.com

Are you pregnant and experiencing agonizing and unrelenting back pain?  You’re not alone; Pregnancy and Back Pain almost always go hand-in-hand.  The reasons why this happens is due to the following: you’re gaining weight, you’re walking in a different way, and your hormones are relaxing the muscles and ligaments in your body. 

How to ease back pain at home

There’s absolutely no reason to do nothing about the back pain while pregnant.  Here is a list of some common things to perform at home to reduce the effects: sleep on your side holding a body pillow between your legs and arms, sit and stand appropriately, always practice good posture by tucking the buttocks under bringing the chin and head to anatomical position, when lifting lift with your legs and also only objects that aren’t too heavy, wear proper fit shoes with a good arch support, exercise regularly but not strenuously, perform pelvic tilt exercises, and try heat or cold compresses at home. 

How to ease back pain outside of the home

While performing at home regimens is necessary, sometimes it’s just not enough to ease the pain and discomfort of back pain.  Some women choose to seek out the care of Chiropractors, Massage therapists, and Acupuncturists.  Some Chiropractors are skilled in the Webster technique, a technique which stabilizes the women’s pelvis by adjusting the sacrum and performing soft tissue techniques to the ligaments of the pelvis like the round, broad, and the sacro-tuberous ligaments.  Massage therapists may receive additional training in the art of pregnancy massage.  In these classes, the massage therapists are trained in proper bolstering of pillows, proper draping, and techniques to not only reduce the patient’s back pain but also the therapist who is performing the massage session.  It is always important to obtain clearance from the OBGYN before administering massage therapy, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy.  Skeptics claim that it could possibly cause a spontaneous abortion and must be contraindicated.  However, this has not been proven recently.  In addition, Acupuncture may provide the pregnant patient with reduced back pain and a sense of calm as well.  Acupuncturists will help to balance the patient’s chakras and meridians.  In the third trimester upon the delivery date, they will be able to induce delivery by applying pressure to specific points on the hands and feet.  These points may also reduce the pain that the pregnant women feels while laboring.   

It’s time to take control!  Some common conditions about Arthritis include but are not limited to the following:  What is Arthritis, who is at risk, What are the types of Arthritis, What are my treatment options, What can I do?  Arthritis is a group of conditions involving damage to the joints of the body.  The word “arthro” means joint and the suffix “itis” literally means inflammation.  46 million Americans of 1 in 5 people are affected with some kind of Arthritis.  Over the age of 65 years old, 2/3 of Americans are affected.  This is the most common cause of disability in the United States.  Medical costs for this condition top $81 billion annually and accounts for $47 billion in lost wages annually.  There are 750,000 hospitalizations per year due to Arthritis and 36 million out-patients cases annually.  The percent of adults with Arthritis is expected to increase in 48 states between 2005 and 2030. 

Types of Arthritis

There are two types of Arthritis primary and secondary.  Primary Arthritis includes the following subtypes: Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Gout, AS, and Septic Arthritis.  Secondary Arthritis includes: Psoriatic, SLE, Reactive, and autoimmune disorders. 

Signs and Treatment of Osteoarthritis (DJD)

DJD can cause joint pain, stiffness, crepitus, loss of motion, and eventual weakness.  What are my treatment options for Arthritis?  Go see a doctor now, determine your current status, discuss your course of action, and direct you mind and focus to getting better.  Treatment goals should be reducing pain, promoting healing, restoring function, regaining strength and stability, changing your habits, and maintaining homeostasis or balance within your body.  Your diet should include the following: lean protein, complex carbohydrates, good fats, multi-vitamins, flaxseed oil, Glucosamine Sulfate, and at least 6-8 hours of rest per night. 

Alternative Treatment

The Archives of Internal Medicine said the number of people seeking alternative healthcare is on the rise.  Recent studies have shown that people are seeking natural healthcare providers that offer a drug-free approach to pain relief rather than a traditional medical approach.  Thomas Edison once said, “The doctor of the future will give his patients no medicine, but will interest his or her patients in the care of the human frame, in a proper diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.”  Furthermore, Mark Twain stated, “Be careful about reading health books.  You may die of a misprint.”  Chiropractic care, physical therapy, massage therapy, and acupuncture are all great adjuncts in helping to treat and manage the signs and symptoms of Arthritis.    

Childhood should be a time of fun, growth, and preparation for a healthy and happy adulthood.  Many times children spend this time with problems such as fatigue, poor concentration, headaches, and back pain.  Problems with a child’s spine can start as early as childbirth.  80% of all childbirths result in some trauma to the baby’s spine.  This can result in Nerve Impingement Syndrome.  40% of children will fall on their head’s by one year of age.  Between the ages of two to five years of age, a child will have fallen nearly 200 times. 

Chiropractic Care

Children should be evaluated by a Chiropractic physician to see if there are areas of subluxation, or mis-alignment to the spinal column.  Subluxation can cause interference to the nervous system.  The nervous system is the most important organ system in the human body controlling and coordinating every organ and body part.  A mis-alignment of the spine will cause that nerve to not function at optimal level possibly causing disease to that particular organ in which it innervates.  The Chiropractor’s sole job is to remove the subluxation freeing up the nervous system to allow the body to heal itself from within.  This will in turn take much-needed pressure off the joints, ligaments, nerves, and muscles.  Children respond very favorably to Chiropractic Care and they definitely need it with all the bumps and bruises that they ensue.  Many Americans wonder why I should have my child adjusted.  My answer to that is why shouldn’t you?  Kids suffer more trauma than most adults.  Children’s spines are very delicate because there still maturing.  Their growth plates have not fused and they go through many growth spurts.  Why not let this process take place free of interference to the nervous system? 

What conditions can my child benefit from with Chiropractic care?

Chiropractic care can benefit a host of conditions.  Commonly in children we see Chiropractic care helping the following conditions but not limited to: ear infections, sinus problems, allergies, colic, digestive problems, bed-wetting, asthma, sports-related injuries, carrying back packs that are too heavy, and much more.  Your Chiropractor will take a detailed case history, perform a physical examination, and take the necessary x-rays if needed for proper diagnosis of your child.  Once a diagnosis is given, treatment may begin so your child can get back outside playing.  The key is to get your child evaluated early and often!  They and their spine will thank you later in life.  Kids and Chiropractic just makes complete sense.

Health is functioning at 100% of your full potential.  In 1999 Golf Magazine Tiger Woods stated, “We are playing for a lot of money out here and most guys realize how important it is to take care of your body and stay in shape.  That’s the equipment you really take care of-your body!”  Where exactly do you stand?  Is your golf game better than it was five years ago?  Will your golf game be better five years from now than it is today?  Proper mechanics can prevent pain and injury.  The most common injuries occur in the soft tissue such as: muscles, ligaments, tendons, and the joints of the body more commonly seen in the lower back, elbow, shoulder, and wrist.  Professional golfers have more overuse injuries than weekend players due to repetition.  However, the amateurs are much more likely to get injured because they aren’t conditioned enough.  What are the causes of golf injuries?  They are overuse, not stretching prior to playing, poor mechanics, hitting the ground when you swing, overuse, over-swinging, twisting the spine while swinging, and an incorrect grip on the club.  There are 30 million golfers in the United States alone!  There are several factors which are involved in a basic golf game and they include: basic introduction, shot- making skills, physical conditioning, equipment fitting, course instruction, and mental alertness.  There are many physical factors that can determine a golfer’s physical capabilities.  80% of all golfers play with a golf injury at some point in their life.  Why would you want to be in that statistic?  Be one of the 20% that resolves the golf injury.  Age brings about reduced muscle mass, less endurance and flexibility, and poor balance.  The highest proportion of injury is located in the wrists, elbows, and shoulders. 

Golfer’s Elbow

Medial Epicondylitis is also known as Golfer’s Elbow; this particular condition is seen very frequently in golfer’s.  This is caused from overuse –period.  Other activities that can cause this include: typing, splitting wood and hammering nails.  Initial treatment includes rest followed by restricting the activity that caused it in the first place.  Ice the elbow several times a day and have it evaluated by a physician.  Prevention tips include: larger club grips, soft neutral grips, irons with less vibration components, graphite shafts, selecting proper club length, and strengthening your forearm muscles will all help with Golf Injury Prevention.

To lose weight effectively and also feel better avoid the bad fats.  The ones to avoid include: trans-fatty acids, and oxidized fats.  Remember that fast food comes from hydrogenated oils.  Drink spring water.  On average you should consume half your body weight of water in ounces per day; not the recommended 6-8 glasses.  Every individual has a different body type so this measure is not the ideal.  According to published reports, the US has 10x the antibiotics than some comparable country’s water supply.  What does this mean?  Don’t drink the tap water!  There are 3 Secrets to Preventing and Reducing Type II Diabetes. 

Secret number one:

Eliminate drugs that aren’t needed.  Every single medication has side effects; the pain-relieving drugs are typically the worst.  These medications can lead to permanent irreversible damage to the liver and/or kidneys; even OTC pain relievers.  Doctors understand that NSAIDs patients get gastric disorders more than individuals who don’t consume these drugs.  Metabolism is totally dependent on whether the body works properly or not. 

Secret number two:

Get out there and move!  The more physical activity you endure the more calories you burn.  Those individuals who exercise regularly have a lower death rate.  Brisk walking of thirty minutes per day can lower the risk of breast cancer by 70 % or more.  Begin by establishing what activity you do and what may prevent you from exercising.  The most common barrier to exercising is pain.  If we can overcome this barrier, you should have no excuse not to exercise. 

Secret number three:

Get out of pain naturally.  The United States spends about $470 billion per year on chronic pain costs.  Most Americans would like to seek an alternative healthcare approach than just being placed on chronic pain reliever drugs.  Chiropractors are experts at getting individuals out of pain.  They work to stabilize the most important system in the human body, the nervous system!  The nervous system controls and coordinates every organ and body part in the entire human body.  Chiropractor’s exam for areas of mis-alignments of the spine, known as subluxations.  Subluxations will cause the nerve flow to that particular organ or body part to not function at an optimal level.  This can in turn cause disease.  They will remove this interference to the nervous system allowing the body to heal itself from within. 

Sleep refreshes unlike anything else.  Sleep is almost always refreshing but more importantly it is absolutely necessary for our survival.  On average, most Americans will spend a third of their lives asleep.  Most of us are unaware of how important this is until were unable to perform this simple task.  For millions of people, poor sleep leads to higher stress, difficulty concentrating, and ultimately health problems.  So just how many of us are losing sleep?  Over one-third of Americans are losing sleep at least one night per week, 65% report that they regularly lose sleep due to stress, and a staggering only 3% say they never lose sleep. 

Too busy to sleep

The question remains, are Americans becoming too busy to sleep?  In 1910, Americans averaged about 9 hours of sleep per night compared to 6.5 in 2011.  Sleep is imperative for our nervous system to function properly.  During sleep our brains are extremely active.  This activity is described as neuron function.  Individuals that suffer from sleep loss deplete their neurons with energy and allow their brain to be polluted with byproducts of normal cellular activity. 

Five stages

There are five stages of sleep.  During the first stage, muscle activity slows down and there is occasional muscle twitching being performed.  The second stage is the largest of all five stages and causes breathing to become shallower and the heart rate to decrease slightly.  The third stage is the deep sleep stage and delta waves become evident.  The fourth stage is even deeper yet generating more delta waves and rhythmic breathing.  Dreaming occurs in the fifth stage and rapid eye movement is present. 

Sleep pattern

So how much sleep do we actually need?  The Harvard Women’s Health Watch states there are six reasons to get enough sleep and include: mood, memory, cardiovascular health, sickness, disease, and safety.  It is crucial to maintain a specific sleeping cycle.  This may be especially challenging to individuals who work in emergency services such as firemen, policemen, military personnel, and medical personnel.  Their sleep schedules are constantly being interrupted by swing shifts and emergency situations.  Our sleep cycle is regulated by circadian patterns located in our brain.  A regular waking time in the morning strengthens the circadian function and can help initiate sleep onset at night.  Establishing a set time for sleep and a pattern is key whether this be reading or watching television before bedtime.  It’s important to create a sleeping environment that is tranquil and calm to prepare your mind and body for Power of Sleep. 

Sleeping tips

Some important sleeping tips include: not eating 2-3 hours before bedtime, and regular exercise to stimulate the body to release chemicals in the brain, sleep on a comfortable mattress since you sleep a third of your life, receive regular Chiropractic care to clear energy blockage throughout the body. 

Running is a sport of passion; why else would runners push their bodies to the limit.  Running injuries are unfortunate but a very common occurrence.  Fast and proper identification of running injuries is the key to receiving effective treatment.  Chiropractic, physical therapy, and massage therapy can help to keep you on the trails!  If you are a long time runner or just starting out, ask your chiropractor about common running injuries to watch out for.  Some very common injuries include but are not limited to the following: ITB Syndrome (Iliotibial Band), Plantar Fasciitis, heel spurs and stress fractures, Achilles tendonitis, Patellar tracking disorder, pelvic imbalance, and a spinal subluxation.  It is crucial to work yourself up to a large run; this is a gradual process that should involve training, adequate stretching, and of course chiropractic care.  Running into Problems while you’re on a run is not ideal!  Injuries to athletes of all ages can have long term effect on the overall health and fitness of the individual.  In many cases, sports injuries can be due to overuse of a particular area of the body.  Don’t let sports injuries prevent you from doing what you love; don’t let surgery be your first choice or your last option.  Discuss conservative treatment options with your Chiropractor before your condition requires surgical intervention.  Chiropractors, physical therapists, and massage therapists have extensive experience rehabilitating a number of conditions. 

Chiropractic care

Chiropractic works to restore balance to the most important body system in the human body-the nervous system.  The nervous system controls and coordinates every organ and body part.  Chiropractors eliminate interference to the nervous system by eliminating subluxations, or mis-alignments to the spine.  Their goal is to allow the nervous system to function at optimal level or in the top 10% of health.  If there is interference to that particular nerve, the organ that corresponds to that nerve may not function properly and disease may ensue.  Chiropractors deliver a HVLA (high velocity low amplitude) thrust to correct the subluxation allowing the body to function properly.  This will in turn alleviate muscle tension and fixation of immobile joints.  In addition to regular adjustments, your Chiropractor may incorporate corrective rehabilitation such as mechanical traction to re-shape the curves in your spinal column.  These may be abnormal from a car accident, trauma, or repetitive stress injury.  They may also provide passive modalities such as electrical muscle stimulation and ultrasound, massage therapy, acupuncture, and assisted resisted technique type of stretching.