Saturday, July 6, 2013

Surprising Health Benefits of Massage Therapy


There Is More to Massage Than Meets the Eye

When most people think of a massage, they think of relaxation and stress relief. The stereotype(s) for massage therapy can be pretty narrow minded, but by digging a little deeper, you'll begin to see how it can be a key component in improving your overall health and wellness. "Stress" can be broken down to reflect specialized treatments according to your current lifestyle, habits and amount/presence of inducers. This article is designed to provide expert advice and insight into the unexpected health benefits of massage therapy.

Chiropractic Massage Therapy

To achieve optimal results and improve your health, it's recommended to combine chiropractic care with clinical massage therapy. The combination of the two will provide patients lasting pain relief/management, better sleep, slow degeneration (aging process), stronger immune systems, enhanced athletic performance, increased energy and general good vibes. It's important to remember that whether through a cleaner or medicine, health "doesn't come in a bottle." It's a fact that your nerves have a major impact on your health and controlling nerve impulses will put you on the right path to wellness.

In short, nerve impulses tell your body what to do (heartbeat, breathing, sweating, itching etc) and the combination of chiropractic care allows a therapist to ease the pressure and choking of the nerves and free the flow of nerve impulses. Everything in your body will feel better as a result, especially your muscles. Included below is a broader explanation of several unexpected benefits.

Unexpected Benefits and Results

Boosting Your Immune System - Did you know 80-90% of stress is disease related? Cortisol (the hormone released when we're stressed) hurts your white blood cells which protect your immune system. Since massage decreases cortisol, it will boost and strengthen your immune system and help prevent sickness and disease. The central theme is that it is a natural and drug-free way to stay healthy.

Get Better Sleep - Increase delta waves (induces a deep sleep and stronger recovery). Regular massages make it easier to fall asleep (by releasing serotonin, dopamine, and increasing delta waves). More sound sleep means better interactions with friends and family, better performance at work, less sweating the small stuff (which means less cortisol released, which means better health, which means less stress, so on, so on, you get the idea).

Enhanced Athletic Performance - Massage reduces the likelihood of specific injuries and allows you to use your full-range of motion to compete at the highest level.

Why Go To A Chiropractor?


Researchers say that over 80% of the total population will likely suffer from at least one of the wide array of vertebrogenic disorders during certain periods of our lives. A vertebrogenic disorder is an impairment of the body that is normally caused by faults in the spinal column. Not only do vertrebrogenic disorders cause extreme discomfort and pain in the neck and back area, they also produce tension headaches, bursts of migraine, neuralgia, dizziness, some pain in the arms and shoulders, a gush of pain in the abdomen and chest, hip pains, sciatica or pain in the knees and leg, disc disorders, digestive disorders and menstrual cycle pains.

You may doubt the connection on how the spine could affect so many parts in the body and cause so much harm. The spine is where most of your body nerves are connected to. These spinal nerves serve different parts of the body and once it gets irritated by spinal disorders you will suffer a milieu of disorders all over your body.

Chiropractic care is a profession in health care which is dedicated to diagnosing, treating, and preventing disorders associated with the neuromusculoskeletal system. It is a non-surgical treatment that focuses on spinal manipulation and treating surrounding spinal structures. Chiropractic care usually treats pains in the lower back, midsection, and neck, joints in the arms and legs and headaches. Chiropractors can also provide great relief for people suffering from arthritis. Typically, spinal problems begin during stages of childhood. Spinal disorder symptoms don't usually appear during childhood. If they are identified early, these spinal disorders are reversible. That is why spinal examinations for children should be undertaken to see if your child has spinal column problems that would lead to the development of spinal disorders.

Chiropractors usually perform different techniques such as Diversified technique, Extremity manipulating/adjusting, Activator Methods, Thompson, gonstead, cox flexion/distraction, Sacro Occipital Technique, Manipulative/Adjustive Instruments, Cranial, Applied Kinesiology, NIMMO/Receptor Tonus, Logan Basic, Palmer upper cervical, Pierce-Stillwagon, Meric, Toggle Recoil, Bio-Energetic Synchronization, Atlas Orthogonal, Chiropractic Biophysics, Contact Reflex Analysis, Neuro Vascular Technique, Toftness, Vector Point Therapy, Motion Palpation, Advanced BioStructural Correction and others.

Chiropractors treat their patient's condition by using exact, gentle spine manipulations that makes you feel amazing. Mostly chiropractors are doctors who have had a university education for 7 years studying the art of hands-on healing. Aside from spine manipulations, chiropractic doctors will also help you in physical therapy. They have an array of equipment such as ultrasound, traction, electrical stimulation and etc. to help in reducing back pain and inflammation. They will also recommend various exercises such as strengthening, cardio and stretching exercises to assist in the healing process. These exercises will also aid in decreasing lower back pains, increase back strength and restore your range of motion. They can also help in pelvic stabilization and in patient ergonomics. Other than these services, a chiropractor will provide patient education. They will give advice regarding the lifestyle modifications you would need to make such as your diet and other nutritional programs, self care strategies and coping treatments.

Are you currently suffering from lower back pains or having constant headaches that don't seem to go away? Have you been recently injured or had a car accident and have back trauma? Do you play sports and have stiff joints and shooting pains after every game? Are you a pregnant mom who has an aching back? Are you getting old and is unable to enjoy your retirement due to back aches and pains that don't seem to go away? Are you trying to find a good alternative to health care? Have you got apprehensions regarding your child's growth and long term well being? Are you short on budget and would want a way to ease your back pains without paying for expensive surgical treatments?

Then, chiropractic care is the right treatment for you. Chiropractic care is a great treatment for people who have back issues such as back aches and back pains. Not only does chiropractic care help in treating your back issues but will also assure you that any spinal disorders will be avoided in the future with proper care and prevention. Chiropractic care is healthy for the body, affordable and a great way to relieve you from pain, aches and stress.

Is Chiropractic Care Safe?


The idea of manipulating and adjusting the bones in your body is enough to scare some people. In fact, an entire field of medicine has been completely devoted to these very practices. The area of chiropractics has been around for many years, and is gaining more popularity with each passing year. Despite the popularity of chiropractic health care however, many of us still cannot help but wonder about the safety issues of manipulating the bones in the body. So, is chiropractic care safe? This article provides answers to that question.

First of all, it should be pointed out that the question "is chiropractic care safe?" is a very difficult question to answer with a blanket statement that covers everything. Overall, it can be said that chiropractic care is generally accepted as a safe form of medical treatment. But, that is not to say that every chiropractic provider that you visit will use totally safe practices. Just as other kinds of doctors are certified, chiropractors must receive certification from the state in which they operate. If you visit a chiropractor that is not certified, you are very likely to receive unsafe care.

The idea behind chiropractic care is to adjust the bones in the body to relieve stress on your joints in very safe ways. Think about how often people crack their knuckles or bend their back in an awkward position to get a crack out of their spine - these people are not practicing safety. Chiropractic care makes an attempt to give patients the same relief that they might get from cracking their own joints, only by doing it in a very safe way. The positions and procedures involved in chiropractic care have been developed through centuries of practice.

Chiropractic care is different from other fields of medicine because most of the time it is not recognized as something that is completely necessary. While it may be necessary to visit a hospital to receive general checkups, many people would rather choose to visit a chiropractor to deal with symptoms of bodily aches and pains. However, there are many people that absolutely swear by the services provided by their chiropractor.

So, is chiropractic care safe? Millions of people around the world consider it to be completely safe, as practiced by a properly certified and licensed Doctor. However, the real choice is left up to you. Do as much research as you can about the subject and try to come to a conclusion about this for yourself.

Advice on Knee Pain and Weakness From a Licensed Chiropractor


Here we will address the knee pain and weakness suffered by the elderly, obese, and out of shape people. Most people don't realize that the majority of knee pain is actually coming from trigger points. This is why some people are tested and after receiving the results, they are told their tests revealed nothing out of the ordinary (or everything is normal); however their knee pain is still present. Some patients present with the same pain after rounds of surgeries and physical therapy and other forms of care. There are even times when there may be some type of degeneration in their knees. Degeneration in a joint is not always the culprit causing the pain you are feeling. Your knee may be misaligned due to the damage to the joint, however, the muscles (trigger points), in many cases will be the primary cause of your knee pain. The muscles can cause the same problem with your spine. I have seen degeneration in several joints in the spine and the patient will exhibit no sign of pain. (Therefore, degeneration doesn't cause all the pain you may experience in your joints. It depends on the severity of the degeneration and the misalignment). Trigger points will refer a pain pattern to specific areas. These particular points reside in the muscle or muscle tendons and the treatment is to have an experienced practitioner turn them off. In addition to pain, weakness will hamper the functionality of the knee.

Here are some exercises that have helped my patients to strengthen their knees after experiencing weakness. The weakness can be addressed by standing in front of a chair as though you're going to sit down. Simply sit down and then stand up. You will do this exercise several times a day throughout the day. Some of you may find this exercise difficult. To make it easier, start by sitting down. Slide forward in the chair while in the sitting position until your buttocks are resting on the front part of the chair. Now, right before you stand, take a deep breath and then stand, releasing the breath on your way up. Start with a chair that has arms and work your way up to a chair that doesn't have arms. If this exercise starts to hurt, stop until your knees feel better and start more slowly next time.

Next, sit up straight and perform leg extensions by simply straightening both legs from a natural sitting position with the knees bent. Squeeze the muscles supporting the knee for a count of three. Return to the bended knee start position. Repeat this movement eight times, and then rest. Perform the entire action twice more (3 sets total). If you are having difficulty performing this action with both legs simultaneously, start with one leg first, and alternate to the other leg. After both legs are stronger, start to perform this exercise with both legs at the same time. Once your knees start to feel stronger, you are ready to add a walking program to your exercise regimen. Please consult your doctor before attempting these exercises.

Sciatica and Chiropractic Treatment - Does it Help Or Harm?


Sciatica and chiropractic treatment, now there's a subject for a long discussion. Sciatica pain can be caused by a variety of underlying causes, and where there are many causes, there are also many different kinds of treatments; chiropractic treatments among them.

There are those who believe chiropractic treatment helps any kind of back pain and there are others who believe it should be avoided altogether. The truth is most likely somewhere down the middle.

There are several causes of sciatica pain that benefit from various kinds of chiropractic treatments, not during an acute flare up, but in the treatment of a chronic sciatica history.

Aside from spinal adjustments, the chiropractor has different ways to relieve sciatica pain and help you regain mobility and strength, as some chiropractors use physical therapy alongside the manipulations. A chiropractor will also be able to teach you about exercise, proper body mechanics and ergonomics to prevent back pain from recurring. Among the exercises there will most likely be stretching and strengthening exercises to relieve and retrain the various muscle groups that hold up the spine.

Once a chiropractor used spinal manipulation to bring you relief, massage therapy may be a good next step, since massages help loosening up tight muscles and stretching the muscles can help keeping the adjustment where it is supposed to be. Oftentimes massage therapy is also used to prepare the patient's tensed muscles for a spinal adjustment.

So what are some of the risks of chiropractic treatment for sciatica pain? Not all causes of sciatica pain benefit from such treatment or are even considered unsafe, as for example advanced osteoarthritis of the spine. Rotational adjustments to the neck have a minimal but serious risk (one to two in a million) of stroke. If your pain is in the lower back you could ask not to have your neck treated. Claims have also been made that chiropractic treatment has actually caused disks to herniate. When adjustment are being performed too often and too forcefully hypermobility of the joints can be a result, as can microscopic tearing and consequently scarring in ligaments, both of which rather worsen your condition in the long run.

Is chiropractic treatment the solution for your sciatica pain? It's probably not the solution, but a valid part of it. Are there risks? Most certainly there are, but then there are risks in any kind of medical treatments. Spinal injections aren't risk free either, not the procedure, nor the side effects of the medication. In the end you have to inform yourself about your options, weigh the risks, choose the right professionals and decide which kind of treatment you are comfortable with.

In my opinion, Chiropractic Treatment should never be seen as a total solution, since the adjustments and other procedures don't remove the cause of the sciatica pain, but alleviate the pain and pressure. Chiropractics need to be part of a treatment plan that has to have the strengthening and restoration of muscle strength and structure as a goal, as any serious chiropractor would point out him/herself, to bring your body to the point where it can take care of the spine itself through muscle tissue, ligaments and tendons strong enough to do the job right.

Career In Chiropractic Care - Excellent Job Opportunities Available


Chiropractic job market is hot. Irrespective of whether the general job market is up or down, the demand for chiropractic care givers is growing. Chiropractic care professionals have no problems with job security or stability. Thanks to the baby boomers that are now aging and asking for choices in health care and also chiropractic care being the 'in' thing, job market for chiropractic care is expanding. Insurance companies have also accepted chiropractic care as legitimate and are issuing more policies covering chiropractic treatment.

While it has become easy to find employment as a chiropractic care professional, there is also the option of starting one's own practice after you have gained yourself a good reputation. With more and more Americans accepting holistic treatment for the betterment of their health and as an option to surgery, chiropractic jobs are only set to increase further.

The numbers also support the soundness of a decision to take up a chiropractic job. A salary survey for chiropractic jobs conducted in 2002 estimated the average annual salary for this profession at $65,330. People in private practice of course, earned far higher amounts than those in jobs in chiropractic care profession. Average income for an independent practitioner was nearly $81,000. Factors that impact the earning potential of chiropractic jobs include reputation, location, and advanced licensing in related disciplines like orthopaedics and geriatric care. As the salaries prove, this is a lucrative job market.

Increase in awareness about holistic healthcare and an aversion to medication that involves high cost or side effects has also led to the growth of chiropractic care. Americans are more aware now and also willing to try alternative remedies. Besides, in certain cases surgery cannot be performed due to medical reasons, leaving only the alternative of chiropractic care. Surgery involves pain and discomfort. On the other hand, chiropractic care alleviates pain. Side effects of medicines are also not a cause for fear if opting for chiropractic care. This treatment is a natural and gentle alternative to conventional medicine.

Patients also tend to form a lifelong bond with their chiropractors, rarely if ever changing them once they start treatment. So starting your chiropractic care practice in a location that does not have an oversupply of chiropractors would surely prove to be rewarding. Patients tend to change their chiropractor only if the chiropractor is retiring.

Without a doubt, chiropractic jobs are increasing by the day. This is a speciality area and with its holistic practices will be in demand in the foreseeable future. Making your career in chiropractic jobs will prove to be a good and remunerative decision. Conducting thorough research in chiropractic jobs will be your first step to starting a career with a bright future.

How a Chiropractor Can Help Reflux


If you suffer from reflux, or if your baby suffers from reflux, a visit to a chiropractor may help reduce the symptoms of this disease. Fortunately, babies often outgrow reflux once they have reached four months of age. The reason babies experience reflux is because they have immature sphincter muscles or because they have suffered trauma during the birth process.

Chiropractic Treatment for Babies suffering from Reflux
Babies, who are treated for reflux by a chiropractor in the first four months of their lives, respond very well to chiropractic treatment.

The neck and back vertebrae of your baby can go out of alignment during the birth process. This is particularly true if your baby's delivery included forceps or a vacuum extraction, if the baby was delivered by a C- section, or if you needed to push the baby out for an extended period of time. If your baby suffers from reflux, chiropractic care can readjust any misalignment your baby may have suffered during his birth.

Reflux is a common condition in babies under four months because the baby may have an immature or weak valve between his oesophagus and his stomach. Reflux occurs when milk escapes from the baby's stomach and flows up through the baby's oesophagus and back into the baby's mouth. When this happens the baby will vomit, often quite forcefully. The contents of a baby's stomach are acidic, so this can cause pain and irritation in your baby when he vomits.

Chiropractic treatments can help your baby. The adjustments will help the nerves from the spine to have improved control of the upper valve of the baby's stomach and will correct any misalignment suffered during the birth process. The technique to adjust a baby is very gentle and you should see an improvement in your baby's condition within two or three visits to a chiropractor.

A visit to a chiropractor is a drug free method of helping your baby to cope with the discomfort of reflux.

Chiropractic Treatment for Older Children and Adults suffering from Reflux
Patients who are treated by their chiropractor for upper back or neck problems may find the treatment will also help relieve reflux.

If you have not considered chiropractic treatments for your reflux, you may be surprised to find spinal adjustments will ease the discomfort of reflux. Reflux may cause you to feel discomfort in your upper back between your shoulder blades. You may be helped by chiropractic adjustments to the spine. Chiropractic adjustments help to keep your nerve supply to the oesophagus and stomach in good condition.

Patients with hiatal hernias may benefit from chiropractic treatment. A hiatal hernia occurs when the top section of your stomach herniates through your diaphragm. The diaphragm muscle may pinch the top part of your stomach and this can cause you to suffer from reflux.

The holistic care offered by your chiropractor may help you to control the severity and discomfort caused by reflux. Chiropractic care may mean you can take fewer drugs or no drugs at all, to control your condition. Babies who suffer from reflux will benefit from chiropractic visits and parents will soon see a happier and more contented baby.

By Dr Maria Ananakis (Chiropractor)

Friday, July 5, 2013

Lumbago and Relief of Lower Back Pain Through a Chiropractor Clinic


Lumbago, or lower back pain, refers to a condition involving the soft and muscular tissues of the lumbosacral region of the spine. Lower back pain can be a condition related to sprain or strain of the area due to many factors, including but not limited to physical trauma; mechanical, inflammatory, neoplastic, metabolic disorders, and many other types of degenerative diseases; or even mental illness such as depression. If you are seeking relief of lower back pain, a chiropractor in Simi Valley can help.

Often times though, lower back pain can be associated with a misalignment of the spinal features of the Lumbosacral area of the spine. This area is comprised of a series of 10 vertebrae, beginning from the top with the first five representing the lumbar curve, and ending with a fused section of the next five known as the sacral curve.

The lumbar curve is made up of 5 vertebrae, which are connected to each other by discs. These discs allow the movement of the vertebrae and act as shock absorbers. If any of these vertebrae or discs become out of alignment, the surrounding tissues, muscles, and nerves can become irritated and/or inflamed, resulting in pain and discomfort. Spinal manipulation through a chiropractor can help to realign the subluxated vertebrae, which in turn encourages the affected areas to return to their natural condition.

Lumbago or pain in the lower back can also be addressed by the application of heat and cold, physical therapy, and rest. When supervised by a chiropractor clinic, many patients experience fast pain relief from this type of a combined effort of an action plan and spinal manipulation.

Understanding the relationship between lumbago, the lumbosacral region of the spine, and the effects of spinal manipulation from a chiropractic specialist can help to empower individuals experiencing lower back pain. With the information necessary to successfully choose a course of treatment that meets their needs and addresses their desires for quick help with back pain, a full recovery can be achieved.

Purchasing A Chiropractic Practice - Important Things A Buyer Must Know


Many a times in our lives we would have come across situations when not only would our hearts be fluttering with excitement but also with fear in our minds. It happens when we about to make our first speech or when we are expecting the arrival of a new baby to the family. This can happen not only at the personal level but also when it comes to handling your professional life. For a chiropractor, it does not matter whether they are just in the beginning stages of their practice or have been in long term practice, the very idea of thinking of buying a chiropractic practice which is up for sale can truly be a traumatic experience. It is quite common to find that a majority of doctors who take up chiropractic practice either do it alone or they start a business along with others.

If you are just new to chiropractic practice and plan to buy one which is up for sale then you must know that there is nothing to be afraid of and as a matter of fact there are lots of benefits in doing so. If you plan to start your practice from scratch then the cost can be pretty expensive as a number of factors like buying start up equipment like treatment tables and exercise equipment etc can be really expensive. In the case of an already established business all this comes equipped and you also would not have to go looking for clients as the business will already have an established client base. Do not get disheartened if you find some of the loyal clients of the earlier chiropractor moving away as most of the clients would prefer to stay on.

Before you consider buying a chiropractor practice which is up for sale find out why the present wants to sell his or her practice. This is very important as this will reveal to you the owner?s real motive behind the sale. Find out details like what s causing them to sell their business, whether it because of poor clientèle or location of the business or whether the present chiropractor is retiring or moving away to another place. Find out details on how the business is really doing so that if you plan to buy such a practice then you or your group of partners would not have to face any monetary problems. Make sure to have the building in which the practice is to be thoroughly inspected and surveyed to avoid any problems in the future after you take over.

Many who start to practice would dream of starting up their very own office. For such people it is best that they begin by hunting for an already established chiropractic practice which already has all the necessary equipment along with a good client base and is ideally situated in a good location and is up for sale. Think carefully before you take the important decision.

Chiropractic Care Common Myths and Mistakes!


When it comes to personal health, most people are very skeptical about trying alternative treatments. There are so many myths that surround alternative care. These myths ultimately result in the fear of trying anything outside of traditional medical care.

The top 7 myths about chiropractic treatment are: It is painful, it is too expensive, it is not scientific, once you start it is a life-long commitment, chiropractors are not "real doctors", it is dangerous, and chiropractic care only treats back pain. Let us take a closer look into the validity of these myths.

1. "Chiropractic treatment is a painful process". Spinal and joint adjustments are virtually painless. Most patients experience immediate pain relief after the first session. There are some cases where patients will experience some pain and stiffness at the site of the adjustment, headaches, fatigue, and/or muscle spasms. It all depends on the patient's health and physical conditions/injuries, but most do not experience any pain during or after the session.

2. "Chiropractic care is too expensive". When you break down the cost of traditional methods of care, chiropractic treatment is only a fraction of the cost. A study done by the state of Florida's workman's comp. board did a research in 1988 which showed that the average cost per patient for chiropractic treatment is $558 compared to $1,100 per patient for traditional medical care.

3. "Chiropractic care is not based on scientific evidence". There are numerous studies, which can be found online, that confirm the validity of chiropractic treatment as a viable alternative to traditional methods of medical care. Chiropractic care is physically and mentally beneficial, has very few side effects, and is far more cost effective when compared to traditional medical treatment.

4. "Once a patient receives their first chiropractic session, they will have to go for the rest of their life". Everyone goes to the doctor for a yearly physical or the dentist for their routine cleaning. With chiropractic care, once the immediate issue is resolved/under control, routine check-ups are recommended but not required. This is due to the fact that your spine and joints are compressed by every day activities. It is recommended that you get periodical adjustments as a preventative measure against misalignments, but it is not a requirement. Some people only make an appointment when something hurts or doesn't feel right, and then discontinue the treatment when the issue is resolved. Others believe that being proactive by getting regular chiropractic treatment is more beneficial to their health and overall well being.

5. "Chiropractors are not real doctors". To become a chiropractor, several things must take place before and just after graduation. First, they must complete 2 to 4 years of pre-med schooling. After that, they must complete 4 to 5 years at a chiropractic college. Just before or right after graduation from the chiropractic college, they must log in several hundred clinical hours. This is a hands-on experience with real patients. Once that has been completed, the last step is passing the state and national board test(s). The curriculum is very close and almost as rigorous as those attending medical school.

6. "Chiropractic adjustments are dangerous". If adjustments are made by a licensed and highly qualified/skilled/experienced chiropractor, the risk of spinal injury is extremely rare. More physicians are recommending spinal adjustments before a patient decides to pursue traditional methods of treatment such as medications and surgery. The risks are much greater with all of the side effects from medication and the possible complications of surgery. Chiropractic care is virtually painless and is a much safer choice.

7. "Chiropractic care only treats back pain". Chiropractic care can treat or help lessen the symptoms of numerous conditions such as soft tissue disorders/conditions, migraine headaches, Fibromyalgia, ear infections in children, ADHD/ADD, Autism, and depression. Yes, the treatments can be effective for back, spine, neck pain along with a plethora of other disorders and conditions.

Now that you are aware of the myths and the truth about chiropractic care, you can make your appointment with a chiropractor licensed in your state to begin your journey to living a better and healthier life.

Ask the Doctor - Can Chiropractic Help Headaches?


Headaches are painful, elusive, and one of the most common physical symptoms that people face throughout their lifetime. Pain can occur with a variety of intensity, frequency, location, and duration, and often is debilitating. Just as there are many types and causes of headaches, there are also many treatments that can relieve them without the use of medications.

According to the National Headache Foundation, more than 45 million Americans suffer from chronic, recurring headaches. Of those 45 million people, an estimated 28 million suffer from migraine headaches, an extremely painful condition that may include unpleasant additional symptoms, such as vomiting and visual disruption. It is interesting to note that about 20% of children complain of headaches.

Over the years, the trend toward suffering from headaches has escalated significantly, largely due to such lifestyle issues as greater stress, increased use of visual screens (mobile phones, texting, computers, etc), more caffeine, specific food chemicals, and poor eating habits. These can be added to basic physical triggers, such as hormonal changes, lack of a proper curve in the neck, whiplash injuries, slips and falls, heavy weights on the shoulders and neck (such as backpacks and laptop cases), and other factors. According to chiropractor specialist Dr. George B. McClelland of Christiansburg, Virginia, "Today, Americans engage in more sedentary activities than they used to, and more hours are spent in one fixed position or posture. This can increase joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck, upper back, and scalp, causing your head to ache."

Types of Headaches

Headaches originate in diverse ways, including but not limited to:

• Tension: the most common type of headache, a muscle-contractive pain.
• Cervicogenic: pain from subluxation (misalignment) of the neck and upper back.
• Dietary: stemming from food chemicals, such as MSG, and commercial food processing techniques.
• Exertional: head pain that develops after exercising.
• Hormonal: most common in females with active reproductive cycles, using hormone-based birth control, or undergoing life-stage hormonal changes.
• Hypertension-based: a vascular (blood vessel related) issue that is usually worse during the night.
• Medication-induced: the side effect of many prescribed, store-bought medications.
• Sinus: deep constant pain at the front of the head and in the cheeks, with possible fever, a feeling of fullness in the ears, and actual swelling.
• Temporomandibular jaw (TMJ)-induced: a result of joint inflammation and clenching the teeth, which typically accompanies the disorder.
• Cluster: the least common type of headache, consisting of a severe, intense group of attacks behind one eye.

More than 150 headache categories have been identified. The majority involve symptoms that encompass pulsating, throbbing, or squeezing pain and can last just a few minutes to hours and even several days. Additional signals associated with headaches frequently include light sensitivity; auras, sometimes provoked by certain odors or noise; and more intense symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and stomach cramps, visual disturbances, floaters, fever, dizziness, and loss of skin tone. Numerous options exist for headache treatment, and the approach to care typically varies with the type of headache that is occurring.

Headache Treatment and Care

Treatment and care for headaches includes prescription and over-the-counter medications, chiropractic care, acupuncture, trigger point therapy and massage, night guards to prevent teeth grinding, dietary modifications, and changes in lifestyle. Various medications have been shown to alleviate headaches, and, often, a simple conversation with your family physician and alteration of your medication regimen can reduce and even end the pain.

As early as 1995, an article in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) reported that chiropractic adjustments were determined to be effective in relieving headaches when following the chiropractor's treatment plan and produced more benefit than most prescribed medications. Then, in 2001, a study performed at Duke University showed that spinal adjustments helped curb the majority of headaches that arose from muscle spasms and headaches stemming from the neck. The effect of adjustments was also reported to last much longer than the duration of most prescribed medications.

A recent study reported in the JMPT showed that people who took appropriate pain medications did get relief; however, those who were under chiropractic care experienced greater relief and had far fewer side effects than participants taking medication. Chiropractic care has proved to be particularly effective at easing the pain and correcting the origination of many kinds of headaches.

Proactive Measures

A variety of proactive measures can help lower the likelihood of developing a headache. • If you typically stay in a fixed position for long periods doing computer work or another kind of laborious activity, try stretching every 45 minutes.
• Avoid staring at computer screens for long periods of time. Tilt your head from side to side and stretch. Raise your computer monitor to a position slightly above eye level.
• Have your eyes checked by a doctor to make sure that your vision has not changed.
• Try to avoid teeth clenching where possible and have periodic dental checkups.
• Avoid placing too many pillows underneath your neck when lying down and reading or watching television.
• Stay hydrated, as many headaches occur because of a lack of water intake throughout the day.
• Limit intake of red wines and red meats, as both are known headache triggers.
• Consult your physician about the many medications that cause headaches as side effects, and determine whether you are taking any of them.
• If you are a woman who experiences difficult menstrual cycles, consult your obstetrician/gynecologist and discuss altering any related medications you are taking.
• Avoid foods with caffeine, MSG, and other excitotoxins that contain MSG, such as hydrolyzed protein and autolyzed yeast, bouillon, sodium caseinate, natural flavors, and spices.

Studies show that one of eight people in the US sees a chiropractor. Consult your family chiropractor regarding a headache treatment plan that is right for you. Many headaches are caused by a lack of neck curve that results in muscle spasms and spinal cord tension as well as misalignments. Massage therapy can "do wonders" for tension in the head and neck, and acupuncture has become increasingly popular as a care option. More people than ever are gravitating toward natural methods of managing their headaches, and evidence points to the fact that, to a large extent, they are achieving the relief they seek.

Chiropractors - How They Help Ease the Many Causes of Back Pain


The main job of chiropractors is to help relieve any pain or pressure associated with the spine. If there's any tightness or tension in the spine, it's going to be painful. That's why this particular type of doctor can help alleviate such pain by manually adjusting the spine and relieving any pressure. As a result, the patient usually feels much better after leaving a session. There are numerous causes of back pain. Explore a few of them below.

Bad Posture

If your parents or teacher ever told you to sit up straight, they had your well being in mind. That's because bad posture is really not good for your spine. When you're crouched over in a bad position, you're spine is not relaxed. This can result in pain for you and over time, it can truly get worse if you don't do something about it. Chiropractors can help you feel a bit better by manipulating your back to help relieve the pain. Then, one of the best things to do in order to prevent more pain in the future is to simply become more aware of your posture and try to sit correctly.

Lifting Up Something Too Heavy

This is one of the most common reasons why people complain about back pain. Trying to pick up something that is too heavy can put a tremendous amount of pain on your back, particularly the lower part. Doing so can cause the area to feel inflamed, usually like a burning sensation. Many times, chiropractors will provide a combination massage therapy or physical therapy as well as prescribe medicine to help with the pain.

Injured Playing Sports

Pain can usually be felt in the back simply by moving or twisting a certain way. However, athletes are extremely susceptible to getting hurt simply because of the nature of the activity. A hard hit, an aggressive move or simply getting tangled up with a cluster of other athletes during a game can result in the person injuring their back or spine. There are chiropractors that specialize in treating sports-related injuries. Many times, it's a matter of having the patient visit the doctor on a regular basis until the area of discomfort is relieved.

Tension and Stress

Most people know that stress helps no one, yet we all do it at some point or another. The bad thing is that this can cause all your muscles to tighten or get stiff. In addition, when some people have stress, they tend to get major discomfort or pain in a certain part of their neck or back. This type of tension is not healthy and can really make the pain almost unbearable at a certain point. Chiropractors know just what to do to help relieve this pain. Well, the main thing would be to get rid of the issue that's stressing you, but the main thing is to have a professional assess the problem and offer a solution, whether it is by manipulation such as cracking the back or doing massage therapy, or medications.

Why Do Chiropractors Want You to Keep Coming Back?


How many chiropractors does it take to screw in a light bulb? Just one but it will take about 10 visits.

One of the things that separates any conservative intervention from the quick-fix world of drugs and surgery, is the number of required treatments. Physical therapy, massage, acupuncture and chiropractic alike require a treatment plan with follow-up care and re-evaluation for a person to experience the full potential of the treatment. This article will focus on the aspects and phases of a chiropractic treatment plan and why it is necessary to have follow-up visits.

Every health problem, regardless of the severity, location or chronicity has a natural course of resolution.  Some conditions will take 4-6 weeks for the body to heal itself without intervention such as a sprain, strain, or some fractures.  Other conditions end in death or permanent disability if there is no intervention used, like some cancers.  This concept is known as: Natural History.  The goals of a health practitioner's treatment are to 1) decrease the total healing time relative to a condition's natural history 2) alter the natural history of conditions that won't improve or may become worse if left alone and 3) to decrease the symptoms of a condition as the body heals.  In this regard, Chiropractic is no different than any other health method.

Most people begin seeing a chiropractor because they have some level of pain.  Maybe their problem is acute, meaning that it has come on recently and often the symptoms are at peak intensity.  Some see the chiropractor because they have subacute problems which have passed through that acute stage but there is still some lingering disability or pain.  Others will see the chiropractor for chronic pain which doesn't seem to improve or recurs often over months and even years.  There is a smaller percentage of people who don't have symptoms at all but wish to use Chiropractic care to keep them healthy and prevent potential problems.

Regardless ot the reason for seeing a chiropractor there are phases of care which are aimed at helping a person to overcome whatever challenge they are facing and return to full, symptom-free health.  The first phase of care is focused on helping a person to diminish their symptoms.  It is not uncommon for somebody to leave after a first chiropractic visit for any type of injury with their symptoms decreased in intensity by at least half.  For many people this is their primary concern: get rid of the pain.  Subsequent treatments usually will result in fewer and fewer symptoms until there is no pain, numbness, tingling, limitation in range of motion, etc.  Treatments in this phase may happen at a frequency of 2-3 times per week.

The second phase of care is corrective where the patient and chiropractor work to improve the function of problem areas.  For example, there may be an imbalance of muscle strength, recurrent restriction of movement, or reflexive postural challenges which must be corrected for long term recovery.  Treatments in this phase will occur less frequently than acute care (once every 7-14 days).

The third phase of care is rehabilitation.  Rehabilitation is focused on ensuring that the problem heals completely and in a way that the tissues and nervous system recover to a point where a person returns to their full function if not better.  The treatment frequency is similar to corrective care and may even be performed at the same time.  Most rehabilitation work is done by the patient at home in the form of exercise which the chiropractor will evaluate during visits.

Finally, care enters the wellness phase where the patient is encouraged to receive treatment on a regular but less frequent basis (every 4-6 weeks).  This care is focused on reducing the chances that injury will occur and treating problems early to decrease the overall healing time.   Wellness care is part of a healthy lifestyle just like exercise, eating healthy, and good hygiene.  Research has shown that this approach is effective for reducing the amount of disability that people experience after they have been injured.

Most people are only thinking about getting out of pain when they seek treatment.  With chiropractic the goal is much greater.  The goal is to help you completely recover from an injury or condition.  While it is possible to be completely pain free after one visit, no intervention medical, chiropractic or otherwise can take somebody through the complete healing process in one visit.  To answer the question: Why Do Chiropractors Want You to Keep Coming Back?  the answer is that the chiropractor understands what is necessary to help you heal completely and then maintain the highest level of health over a lifetime. 

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Chiropractic Care for Tinnitus


Tinnitus may bother you and may make you unhappy. Going to an ear specialist is the common thing that tinnitus sufferers do hoping that it will be removed. However, the treatment given can only give temporary relief. If you are too much bothered by tinnitus, there is a better way to solve this. Go to a chiropractor and this problem will be eliminated.

Treating tinnitus via chiropractic care may take time so do not expect that the symptoms will be eliminated in just one or two visits. Therapy needs to be done for quite some time and it will take weeks before you can see results. Thus, if you consider having chiropractic treatment, you need to be uncomplaining and just trust your chiropractor.

Firstly, you need to know that the goal of chiropractic care is to undo the disturbances in your spine, which creates problems in the flow of your blood and damages your nerves. These abnormalities in your blood flow and nerve damage give way to tinnitus. Thus, chiropractic management can lessen the buzzing in your ears.

If you had chiropractic treatment, your blood flow will improve resulting to the elimination of tinnitus. However, if the ringing in your ears is a symptom of a disease, then chiropractic care may not be effective. Remember, tinnitus is a symptom and not a disease. If it is a symptom, chiropractic treatment will surely work for you.

Chiropractic care is an alternative treatment to tinnitus, as it can enhance your nerves responsible for sending messages into your brain. Thus, this treatment will assuage the ringing in your ears.

Your chiropractor will also advise you to change your lifestyle, which you need to follow. Symptoms and diseases anyway can be corrected with a healthy way of life.

You also need to know that tinnitus can lead to loss of hearing. This happens when patients take drugs to be relieved of the ringing even as a doctor prescribed these drugs. This should not dishearten you as chiropractic care can correct this impairment.

In fact, chiropractic started when the Father of Chiropractic Medicine, Dr. Daniel David Palmer, was able to bring back his patient's sense of hearing via spinal manipulation.

The superior cervical and cranial bones influence some parts of our brainstem that produces sound. If there are subluxations in our cervical and spinal system, this will affect our physiologic nervous system and affects circulation to our head and inner ear. This is what happened to the first patient of chiropractic care. Spinal manipulation corrects the spinal subluxations that lead to the elimination of tinnitus.

Home Chiropractic Care - Simple Step-By-Step Instructions


Sometimes due to time constraint or even expensive fee, people are reluctant to see chiropractors to heal their back and neck pain. They just let the pain linger and torture them. However, now, we will give list down some simple chiropractic care techniques that is safe to perform everywhere without having the chiropractor to monitor the patients, so that they can conduct chiropractic care at their own home at any time.

Yet, before administering chiropractic care at home, it is prudent that the patient visits a chiropractor or professional physician to go through an examination. They will then recommend to the patient which chiropractic care techniques that he can use at home to alleviate the patient?s pain. They can also forbid the patient to carry out such chiropractic care if they think the patient?s body is too weak to do so. This is necessary so that the patient?s health will not deteriorate while conducting this chiropractic care.

The main objective of chiropractic care at home is prevention. Heavier jobs are best handled by professional chiropractors and all we can do is to prevent the pain from attacking us. Most of chiropractors will suggest eight simple stretches as a start of the chiropractic care. However, should you feel that these eight stretches put heavy strains to your body, you can just select which ones you want to do. It is better than having heavy injuries while practicing the chiropractic care, which can be fatal. The eight basic stretches comprise of :

Bending forward; you can do this by first standing and then trying to touch your toes. You can also do this from the chair by laying your chest flat on your knees and let the arms hang freely.

Flamingo stretching; this is done from the standing position on one foot, and then with your hand, try to lift your other foot as high as you can behind your back.

Standing in the corner; this exercise is done by standing close to a corner of our room, then put your forearms each on the wall and bend forward.

Crossing your arms; this exercise stretches your shoulder and triceps. Simply put one arm over your chest and use the other arm to pull on the elbow.

Neck stretches; slowly move your head to the right, left or forward, with your hands giving a soft pull in respective three directions.

Scratch your back; place your hand on the back, and move the other free hand to help you push the other hand down your back as far as you can.

Shrugging; simply move your shoulders by shrugging and moving it in a circular direction with your arms hanging free.

Lower back twists; while sitting down, cross your legs and place your left hand over the outside of your right leg and pull as far as you can.

For further details, please contact chiropractor or chiropractic care giver that you know. They may give you more exercises or alter some exercises above, but the above exercises are adequate enough if you want to conduct chiropractic care at home.

Chiropractic Proven Effective in Treating Headaches


According to a report published by Wrong Diagnosis in the latter half of 2010, over 16% of Americans get headaches annually. In general numbers, this figure crosses a whopping 45 million and several of these people get headaches on a daily basis. Quite clearly, headaches are one of the most common problems that most of the people from all over the world suffer. The sad part is that many times people don't pay sufficient attention to their headaches and just suffer until their condition gets really miserable.

There are several types of headaches, such as common headaches, migraine headaches, cluster headaches, and tension headaches. Headaches are often a symptom of something that's not right with your body and therefore, you should see a doctor when you suffer headaches.

For instance, carcinogenic headache is a common type of headache which is often misunderstood by people in terms of its diagnosis. This pain is associated with the skeletal structure of head or the neck muscles. Also, it has a relationship with Migraine headache as well. To support this fact, Bondi conducted a study which indicated that 64% of the migraine patients also had neck pain along with their migraine. If you notice that intensity or pattern of the pain increases or decreases with the motion or change of position of your head, it's a clear indication of carcinogenic headache. At the same time, the chiropractic treatment has been found more cost-effective as compared to the traditional medication.

Chiropractic care has been found quite effective in reducing pain caused by carcinogenic headaches, according to several studies. As per the study by Haas, Spaceman, Peterson, Anticking, and Varese last year, chiropractic care has been proven effective for nearly 50% people who suffered from carcinogenic headaches. These people were given chiropractic treatment for up to duration of 24 weeks. This research also observed that the quantity of traditional medication required by these patients had also been reduced significantly over the course of 24 weeks.

Indeed, Chiropractic methods of treatment have been quite impressive in the way they managed, reduced and even totally cured the patients suffering from this complex kind of headache. At the same time, the chiropractic treatment has been found more cost-effective as compared to the traditional medication. These factors have resulted in a wider acceptance of chiropractic care as the first choice for the treatment of headaches, such as carcinogenic headache and migraine.

What You Need To Know About How To Become A Chiropractor


There are many things that will be necessary to become a chiropractor. As someone that has a scientific mind, that wants to help people to better their lives and has the willingness to work hard to make that happen, there are many benefits to providing chiropractic care to patients. Most people do not realize the true benefit that using a chiropractor can provide to your daily life. Yet, they are necessary and it is often necessary to seek out this profession if you can tolerate hard work and long hours.

To become a chiropractor, the first thing that will need to be done is the enrollment into a chiropractor school. This process is often the most costly of steps but can be the ideal way to find out if this is something for you. Here, you will learn a great deal about becoming a chiropractor. Additionally, you will find that you will need to have a love of science to truly take in all that is present here. Once you attend a chiropractor school, you are off to an internship.

Here, you will learn about becoming a chiropractor through first hand knowledge. Often, this first hand approach can be the most beneficial to your career. It will teach you not only to deal with the aches and the pains that people face but also help you to handle the personal side of the equation. Nothing is simple when it comes to dealing with patients including their inability to understand what they truly need to do to overcome pain.

Once your internship is done and you are licensed, you are a chiropractor. But, your journey probably does not stop there. In fact, you may then determine that opening up your own office is necessary. This means getting together all that is necessary to do. That means pulling together everything from chiropractic tables to chiropractic software to manage your business with. Of course, this is no little feat, especially if you are starting from scratch and on your own. Yet, to become a chiropractor practicing in his own business, this is the best route to take.

When you do become a chiropractor, you will find that there are many rewarding aspects to the job. You get to help people with pain that they just can not describe. You get to provide individuals with the very best way in which they can find these pains relieved. Ultimately, you take away the very thing that is hurting them the most. The need for more chiropractors is out there and it is continuously growing. Yet, establishing yourself from the get go can be the most rewarding of all things that you do when it comes to becoming a chiropractor.

Top 8 Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic


What is Chiropractic?

Does it really work and how?

Is Chiropractic Safe?

At what age should a person have a chiropractic check-up?

Does it hurt?

Does my insurance cover Chiropractic? / Is Chiropractic expensive?

How much time does a chiropractic visit take?

Once I start care do I have to go forever? / Does my body become dependent on chiropractic care?

What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a natural healing science, art and philosophy primarily concerned with detecting and then eliminating interference to your nervous system. Since your nervous system controls every aspect of your body, chiropractic can have a major impact on multiple areas of your health. Founded in 1895, it is the world's largest drug-free healthcare system and the 3rd largest primary healthcare system in the USA behind medicine and dentistry. Over 25 million Americans will see their chiropractor this year.

Does it really work and how?

Yes Virginia, chiropractic is the real deal! Chiropractic is firmly grounded in science and has an ever-growing body of research showing it to be safe, effective, comfortable and affordable. The latest estimates show that over 85% of Olympic athletes utilize chiropractic care to enhance performance and stay healthy as do most professional athletes. No question that it works!

Chiropractic is based on the fact that every structure and function of your body is controlled by the nervous system. If there is interference to the nervous system, then whatever body part or function that nerve was controlling will stop working at 100%.

For example, if a person suffers a pinched (irritated) bundle of nerves in their lower back they frequently experience back pain and muscle spasms. What most people do not realize is that the nerves in the low back not only control the muscles but other organs as well including the colon, bladder and reproductive organs. Irritation to the same nerve bundle can, in addition to muscle spasms, cause symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, bladder control issues and menstrual cycle problems. What surprises many is that a person with a pinched nerve bundle in their low back may have the other symptoms but no pain and no muscle spasms! Only about 10% of your nervous system tells you about pain so you can have a problem in 90% of your nervous system and NO PAIN.

Chiropractors focus on the spine because this is where the delicate nerves are most likely to be compressed or irritated as they pass through on their way to control all parts of your body.

The majority of spinal problems arise from physical, mechanical stress to your body such as accidents, injuries, prolonged sitting etc.. These stresses and injuries result in stiff immovable joints which in turn cause surrounding joints to become overworked, loose and eventually damaged. The treatment to correct these problems also has to be physical and mechanical in nature.

It is crazy to think that taking a drug is going to loosen up a stiff, damaged spinal joint. The drug may cover up the pain and symptoms but will do nothing to correct the physical cause of the pain. In fact taking drugs over time will allow the joint to become more and more permanently damaged.

Chiropractors employ many gently methods of physically restoring the normal motion and function to your spine which reduces nerve interference and allows your body to heal itself. These treatments are called spinal adjustments and are typically, not only pain-fee, but an enjoyable experience.

Is Chiropractic Safe?

Yes, chiropractic care is exceptionally safe! The minuscule risks of chiropractic care have been greatly exaggerated by our competition in order to scare you away from the safest form of healthcare and back to medicine, the most dangerous form. Chiropractic has a better safety record than any drug, even baby aspirin and Tylenol! Medical treatment has become the 3rd leading cause of death in the USA, right behind heart disease and cancer, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans every year.

An interesting statistic is that you are more likely to be killed by being struck by lightning than killed by a vending machine and you are more likely to be killed a vending machine than by a shark and more likely to be killed by a shark than by a chiropractor!

Now knowing how safe, conservative and effective chiropractic care is, doesn't it make sense to you to start with chiropractic first and then if you don't get well go on to more radical and dangerous forms of care like drugs and surgery? We are a backward society that often starts with the most invasive dangerous treatments first and then sees the chiropractor afterward as a last resort. Insanity.

Please help us permanently dispel this myth about chiropractic care being risky. Educate your friends and family. Spread the word and save a life!

At what age should a person have a chiropractic check-up?

Chiropractic care has fantastic benefits for all ages and ideally a person should have their first check-up shortly after birth.

I know what you may be thinking, "Infant check-up!!?" Why would a brand new baby need chiropractic care? Stop for a minute and just think about what a baby goes though coming into this world. Even during a normal natural delivery there are tremendous pressures on the baby's neck, back and pelvis of up to 90 pounds per square inch.

With modern medicine turning childbirth into a medical procedure instead of a natural process, infant trauma and injuries are sky rocketing. You see when you drug the mother, her ability to feel and push the baby out is impaired which forces the doctor to have to pull and twist the baby out from the birth canal. Babies are not designed to be pulled and stretched during delivery which is unnatural and causes injury, they are designed to be compressed and pushed out of the birth canal which is natural and much safer. This is the same reason c-section deliveries have a much higher rate of spinal injury compared to natural childbirth.

It takes just a split second for a spinal injury to occur during birth. An unexpected push from the mother, a pull at the wrong angle from the doctor, too much force from the doctor, the use of forceps or vacuum and you have a sprain or even worse injury to the baby's spine. This injury, called a vertebral subluxation, if undetected and left untreated can plague the baby for the rest of their life, limiting them from reaching their full potential. "As the twig is bent so grows the tree!"

OK, chiropractic is safe and good for babies but what about senior citizens? I have heard the most ignorant statement repeatedly from seniors: "I know, at my age, I have arthritis so there is no point in trying to fix my spine" WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

ALL ages can benefit from chiropractic care. Even a single chiropractic adjustment in the right circumstances has resulted in unbelievable improvement in the quality-of-life of many patients. Until you are dead, your body has an incredible ability to heal and improve. Never give up on improving your health! If your doctor ever tells you "You'll just have to learn to live with it" he/she is actually telling you it is time to find a new doctor, one that will help keep you improving and maintaining your health and well-being for life.

Does treatment hurt?

For most people the chiropractic treatments, called spinal adjustments, are not only comfortable but are actually an enjoyable experience. All treatment is geared to each individual's comfort level and the old "No Pain No Gain" approach is never used. It is heartwarming to see children who are so small they can't even get up on the adjusting table by themselves, fighting with their siblings to be the FIRST one adjusted. Pediatricians would be green with envy to see how even the smallest kids are happy to be in the chiropractic office and how they love to get adjusted.

Does my insurance cover Chiropractic?

Although most insurance policies have some coverage, the reality is that in most cases it is very limited and so highly managed that, like most other health services, it pays for only a portion of needed care.

There is currently a prevalent form of craziness that I call "Insurance Insanity". It has 2 main parts: Firstly many people have this notion that if they can just somehow obtain really great health insurance (which by the way no longer exists) that this in some way protects them and makes them healthy. Secondly, they think that if a service is not covered by their insurance that they really don't need it. CRAZY! A prime example is a patient who needed about $1,200 worth of chiropractic care, who had the money but refused the necessary treatment because he felt it was too expensive. When asked if it was more cost-effective to let his spine continue degenerate to the point where he will need a $200,000 surgery which would leave him disabled for life? His straight-faced answer was "Well, my insurance will cover the cost of the surgery." Now that my friend is just plain crazy.

When it comes to care, if you need it, you need it! Regardless of if it is covered, regardless of if you can "afford" it and regardless of if you want it! If you need it, you need it.

A much better question to ask is "What is the best value for my healthcare dollar?". Investing your money is all about value not amount. For example, I believe that a dollar wasted is too much but spending a half of a million dollars to buy a one million dollar house is an extraordinary deal.

The truth that any patient with a severely degenerated spine would gladly sign over the deed to their million dollar house, to the doctor, if he could restore their health. The sad fact is that once damaged, there is no cure. There are no spine and nervous system replacements and it is very unlikely there ever will be. What is absolutely tragic is that this type of degeneration is almost 100% preventable with regular check-ups and proper chiropractic maintenance.

Chiropractic is an exceptional value for your healthcare dollar. If you need it, the benefits you receive from chiropractic are incalculable compared to the amount of money spent! In fact they are priceless.

How much time does a chiropractic visit take?

For your first visit, allow 45 minutes to 1 hour. On this visit you will need to complete some obligatory health forms, you will have a chance to sit down and consult with the doctor to review your symptoms, history, lifestyle and your health goals.

The next step is a chiropractic physical examination, some very high-tech nervous system scans, possibly an x-ray study and finally, if you are in pain, some first aid care and home instructions.

Typically on the second visit allow 30 to 45 minutes. On this visit you will receive your doctor's report of findings where he will let you know if he can help you, he will show you what is wrong and why, how long care will take, how much care will cost and finally he will let you know of your options for care. You will then receive your first full chiropractic adjustment (treatment).

On subsequent visits allow 10 to 20 minutes door to door. The actual treatments may only take a few minutes once your work-up is complete and you have set up your treatment plan and goals.

Once I start care do I have to go forever?

In a great practice the doctor should support all clients at the level and frequency that they choose. There should never be any pressure to do anything you are not 100% behind. You may take advantage of all the phenomenal health and wellness benefits for as long and as often as you choose. Great doctors should always respect and support the wishes of their clients.

Does my body become dependent on chiropractic care?

This question always make me smile. There is absolutely nothing about chiropractic care that makes you dependent on care. There is however something that is highly addicting about feeling really good. It is funny but once people start feeling great they tend to want to stay feeling great. Chiropractic care helps your body to function at a much higher level which feels fantastic. Chiropractic care is similar to exercise but without all the sweating. If you consistently work out, the benefit is you become physically fit which feels much better that being unfit and out of shape. Most people who are in great shape continue to work out because they like the feeling of being in shape. What happens if they stop exercising? They continue to feel good for a time but all too quickly lose their conditioning and lose the benefits of feeling great. Now I ask you is exercise addicting? Does your body become dependent on exercise? Of course not and there is also nothing about chiropractic care that makes you dependent either.

Conclusion: Safe conservative chiropractic care is an essential part of a natural wellness lifestyle. Not only will you enjoy less pain and an enhanced quality of life but you will avoid permanent damage and degeneration to your body.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Learning More About the Causes of Back Pain


If you are a person, who is experiencing back pain problems, this is the best article for you. As back pain has been reporting as a common problem, a lot of researches as well as studies have been conducted in the market. However, there are different types of back pains and the reason of the problem varies from one person to another. Therefore, in order to find a good treatment for your problem, you should find out the actual cause of your problem. Moreover, it is also very important to learn the causes and avoid these activities when you are experiencing a back pain.

Below listed are some of the common causes of back pain:

Bad posture:

This is an area where most of the people do not care which can also cause different types of back pain. You should know the right posture for sitting, standing or sleeping. The back of the human body is a strong structure of bones, muscles as well as elastic disks. This will help you to twist, bend and carry weight. However, the flexibility of the back make it vulnerable to pain and injury.

Inactive lifestyle and stress:

Due to various reasons, most of the individuals are not able to maintain a good lifestyle. Moreover, most of the professionals are not able to maintain a good diet and exercise routine due to their office schedules and commitments. If you are one amongst them, this could badly affect your health and cause problems like back discomfort and other pains. Lack of exercise will weaken your muscles and stress will lead you to muscle tension, which can cause unprepared muscles to the spasm.

High heels:

Wearing high heels can also cause numerous problems in your back. As they push the center of gravity of the body forward, many women tend to bend the knees and move torsos forward, which can cause pains.

Apart from these, there are many other common causes of back discomfort, which you have to know.

Chiropractors: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly


Before I begin, let me give you a little insight to where my perspective on the healing comes from. By training, I'm a scientist. I am really good at looking at issues critically and deciphering facts and problems based on factual evidence and sound theories. At the same time, I always had an interest in alternative medicine and while I lived in Seattle for 5 years, I had the chance to experience directly and learn various healing modalities such as naturopathic physician care, acupuncture, homeopathy, Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques (NAET). Some of my knowledge comes from being the inquisitive patient, some comes from discussions with students of Bastyr College of Naturopathic medicine who I befriended while in Seattle. While in Seattle I also took several classes on Reiki, and became a Reiki Master/Teacher and hence I have the insiders perspective on how energy healing works and what it can and can't do.

I am a strong advocate of alternative therapies in conjunction with or sometimes instead of traditional medicine. However, recently, I have been really bothered by practices of chiropractors (some not all) and I feel that there are many out there that take advantage of the general lack of understanding of how the human body works in patients to keep their businesses going. I write this article with the goal to educate moms on the good, the bad, and the ugly associated with chiropractic care, especially as many chiropractors now advocate for 'maintenance care' not only for adults but also for children.

As you will see below, I do believe that chiropractic adjustments can be very useful, especially when they are performed as part of the whole body healing, but unfortunately, when done in isolation, chiropractic adjustments often only set you up on a path of going, and going, and going back to your chiropractor for more treatments, rather than getting well.

The work of a chiropractor is to manipulate the spine to remove misalignments. Misalignments in the spine are often referred to as subluxations. Traditional chiropractic philosophy is based on the belief that misalignments in the spine are the root cause of illness. Hence they remove the misalignments in the spine with the hope that the illness will go away as well. The idea behind this theory is that all body organs are connected to the spine through nerves. If there is misalignment in the spine, it will cause a problem with the nerves and then other organs connected to them. If you consider long term chiropractic care for yourself or your family, be sure that this theory of all illness originating from spine misalignments resonates with you. It doesn't with me. Here is why.

The spine connects to joints, then to muscles and ligaments that support the spine and its structure. If there is a problem within the spine, the muscles in the close proximity to the spine misalignment (and often not only in that region) will also be affected. Typically some muscles will become overly tight and some will become weak, as muscles work in pairs. This is what's commonly referred to a muscle imbalance. In addition to the musculoskeletal system in your body, there is a biochemical system, and an emotional system. The biochemical system includes your blood chemistry, hormones, vitamins, minerals, and hence this system is vital to your well-being. Emotions, including moods and attitudes have also been shown to contribute to and to aid illnesses. The musculoskeletal, the biochemical, and the emotional systems within our body are very intimately connected to create our well-being or sickness. If we become ill, all of these systems will be affected and disease will manifest in all. I think it's naive to believe that all disease starts from the spine. For example, if you never go out in the sun and eventually become Vitamin D deficient, it is likely that you will develop problems in your spine since Vitamin D deficiency leads to muscles weakness. This in turn will likely lead to spine misalignments. Similarly, severe emotional trauma, never addressed properly, over time may lead to sickness which will likely cause some spine misalignment. I believe that it's correct to say that most illness will manifest itself in the spine, but that is not the same as saying that all illness originates in the spine. One thing to keep in mind is that the somewhat simplistic philosophy behind chiropractic and illness was developed at time when people had no choice but to eat minimally processed foods from local sources, before there were any chemicals in the environment, and at a time before drugs, vaccinations, and other environmental factors were impacting our health. In our modern society, there are other factors that contribute to creating illness, which must be addressed.

In my opinion, removing the cause of the illness is the best approach for curing it. Finding the cause of the illness is often the tricky part. This is where a doctor with a broad range of expertise and education is most helpful. Ideally, the physician you pick as your doctor is familiar with how disease manifests itself in the musculoskeletal system, as well as in the biochemical and emotional system. Such a physician can best determine how to get all these systems back into balance.

Chiropractic treatments have the best chance of curing problems most directly related to disturbances in the musculoskeletal system of the body. Many joint, and muscle pains can be aided by chiropractic manipulation. The question is, whether the pain will stay away. If the treatment is for an injury such as back pain due to someone lifting a heavy object in awkward manner, one to several chiropractic adjustments will usually get rid of the pain for good. The reason is that the cause of the pain was the spinal misalignment, and once removed, the patient is usually pain free.

What about chronic pain though? Moms often develop neck and shoulder pain from nursing and carrying their children. Lower back pain and sciatica are also quite common. All chiropractors happily address these conditions, but how they are addressed varies greatly between chiropractors.

It is a very common chiropractic practice to manipulate the spine to try to get it back to its proper alignment, and ask the patient to come back multiple times in a week, often for long periods of time. The reason for the multiple return visits is not addressing the cause of the spine misalignment. If the cause of the problem is not removed, few hours to a few days after the adjustment, the spine slowly returns to its previous state.

Why? Because the muscles that are tight are pulling it in the direction of previous misalignment and the weak muscles can't support the corrected structure. So the patient goes back to the chiropractor, and the process is repeated. 5, 10, 20, 40, sometimes 60 times, usually 1 to 3 times a week over a course of weeks. Then once a week, then once a month. After all those adjustments, it is possible that the muscles over time slowly adapt into the new corrected shape from the repeated adjustments, but typically if treatment is stopped, the spine will go back to the misalignment as the cause of the problem was never addressed by the chiropractic practitioner. Many moms I know have chronic neck or lower back pain, and all feel better after visiting a chiropractor. The problem is that they need to keep seeing the chiropractor in order to feel better.

The underlying reason for chronic pain is often postural patterns (such as forward rounded shoulders from computer use) and muscle imbalances (strong quadriceps and weak hamstrings in runners or after pregnancy). That's only part of the picture though. Spine misalignment can also be caused by and exacerbated by a food allergy, such as dairy intolerance, or vitamin deficiency. The misalignments due to these factors can be as severe as from chronic postural patterns. Chiropractic adjustments will keep making the patient feel better after every adjustment, however if the cause is never addressed, the problem will keep coming back. In these examples, it would make most sense to address the cause of the illness (vitamin D deficiency or dairy intolerance) rather than the symptom (spine misalignment).

A good chiropractor should be able to determine what the cause of the muscle imbalance and/or spine misalignment is, whether it is purely structural or whether there is an underlying problem such as a nutrient deficiency, a food sensitivity, a toxic overload, or a hormonal imbalance. This takes not only a good chiropractor but an inquisitive mind set as well as good doctoring skills. These are not taught in all chiropractic schools, and the good chiropractors have usually had lots of other training, for example in applied kinesiology.

Hence in my view, chiropractic adjustments are useful to address some musculoskeletal issues. For sure, for acute injuries to the system. When it comes to chronic pain though, the key to getting rid of the issue is addressing the cause. A practitioner who understands how the body works will use a combination of spinal manipulation with physical therapy to address tight and weak muscles, and offer a plan on removing the cause of the ailment (postural habits, etc). This would be similar to the work of a physical therapist skilled in spinal manipulation. Often however even that is not enough. A chiropractor with a firm belief that removing spine misalignments is all that is needed to treat a person will likely keep a person with a vitamin deficiency or a food allergy in treatment for months (and be unsuccessful). I think that is plain ignorant. To treat a person, all aspects of the body have to be considered and for that a holistic practitioner acknowledging the whole body approach to healing is needed. A good chiropractor will recognize the limitation of his or her work and will refer a patient to someone else if spinal manipulation is not producing lasting results.

Long term Chiropractic Care

Many chiropractors think that regular spinal manipulations are necessary to stay healthy. After all, in their minds, all disease originates in the spine, and hence small misalignments should be frequently removed for optimal health. It is not clear to me whether these chiropractors actually believe this or whether they simply understand that they will have clients for life, as long as the client believes that he or she should see the chiropractor once a month for optimal health. Of course, services are not limited to adults. Many chiropractors now offer a family package and start adjusting children from infancy; For maintenance: once a month for the rest of their lives.

Maintenance may be a good idea a couple times a year or after accidents to prevent the problem of "as the twig is bent, so grows the tree". However, there is more to good maintenance healthcare than adjusting. The biochemical and emotional systems also need maintenance, and typically people with more balanced chemical and emotional systems will need less adjustments to stay feeling good. A good alternative to using a chiropractor for health maintenance is using a practitioner who can address the full spectrum of healthcare and preventive maintenance, such as a Naturopathic Doctor also trained in physical medicine.

In summary:

The good: chiropractic manipulation can be extremely helpful in reducing or removing pain, often chronic.

The bad: Typical chiropractors address only the structural component of the problem. Some will often guidance on how to stretch and strengthen affected muscle groups to help the spine in alignment. Most do not tackle the chemical/hormonal aspect of the problem which are often the hidden cause of spinal misalignments. There is also an emotional aspect of spinal alignments which is rarely addressed.

The ugly: Chiropractors often set up their practice with the intention of keeping the clients coming and coming and coming. It's not uncommon to see packages of 60 to 80 visits sold upfront: not only for you - but for your entire family, whether they are ill or not!

Optimal Solution: Finding a practitioner who understands the relationship between the musculoskeletal, biochemical, and emotional systems in your body, and can get to the cause of your problem. This can be a holistic chiropractor, naturopathic doctor trained in spinal manipulation, or perhaps a chiropractor who's also an acupuncturist.

Understanding the Chiropractic Subluxation


It is axiomatic that consistently accurate clinical decisions are irrevocably intertwined with the understanding that the subluxation is not a random, unpredictable biomechanical event. But rather, a neuropathological state which exhibits multifaceted, measurable manifestations in the neuromusculoskeletal system which occur in patterns as predictable as a mathematical formula.

The role of the chiropractor, then, is not simply the mobilization of a stuck joint' as some have wrongly imagined, but correction of patterns of functional neuropathology. In this, the chiropractor must make a carefully weighted decision in each and every patient consultation, keeping accurate and exhaustive records in order to facilitate recognition of recurring patterns of subluxation.

That functional neuropathology accompanies disease and biological imbalance, and freedom from such neuropathology is necessary for the individual to enjoy the benefits of homeostasis, has always been, and always will be, the fundamental philosophic premise upon which the science and art of chiropractic is predicated (Palmer 1910).

The relentless search for the specific in each individual which, when corrected, will result in the elimination of neuropathology, and the restoration of homeostasis (Strang 1984) remains the original franchise of the chiropractor.

The subluxation complex is based on precise, predictable patterns of neuropathology, kinesiopathology and compensation pattern (Lantz 1995). Each of these elements of the subluxation complex must be present every time and in every case before a precise chiropractic adjustment of the subluxation complex can occur.

The inherent importance of the above rule is that it provides for specific subluxation diagnosis. Working in this way and in particular in allowing the neuropathology to guide examination and diagnosis provides for the treatment of one subluxation complex and not of many compensations which display one but not all of the properties required for subluxation diagnosis.

Additionally, the precise and predictable patterns allow for the testing and proving of subluxation correction before any care is implemented. The neuropathology of the subluxation complex, involves the synthesis of four neuro-physiological mechanisms which provide an explanation of the neurological effect that the subluxation has on neurological function.

Mechanism #1: The Effect of Dural Tension

The major mechanical attachments of the dura are at the cranium, upper cervical spine and lumbar-sacral junction and involve attachments to the occiput, ligamentum flavum, rectus capitis posterior minor, directly to C2 and C3 and via Hoffman's and Trolard's ligaments to L5 and sacrum (Snell 1992, Barbaix et al. 2000, Wadhwani et al. 2004).

Cerebro-spinal fluid flow is dependent upon, among others, the appropriate function of the contractible meninges (Greitz 1993). If the biomechanical lie of the dura is changed due to aberrant kinesiology, then the contractible function of the meninges becomes impaired and thus contributes to a change in CSF flow, changing the CSF pressure and affecting the function of a number of central nervous system structures.

Kinesiopathology results in a change in the lie of the dura, and is associated with a change in CSF pressure. This results in aberrant reticular formation function causing the processing of inappropriate neurological signals which reach the cerebral cortex and must be processed into a meaningful efferent output.

The cerebral cortex is also challenged by a change in CSF pressure and in so doing fails to adequately synthesize the sensory information resulting in the process known as dysafferentation (Seaman 1998, Knutson 1999).

Mechanism #2: Noxious Mechanoreceptor Input from the Dura

The major innervation of the dura is through slow reacting type C fibres and fast reacting type A fibres, principally at the cervico-cranial junction (Snell 1992). Additionally the ventral dura is richly innervated by the sinuvertebral nerve plexus and from a number of perivascular nerve plexi (Groen et al. 1988, Fricke et al. 2001).

As with any ascending sensory information, the ascending tract for the transmission of nociceptive information is mainly via the spinothalamic tract. This tract communicates directly with the thalamus but also sends some fibres via the reticular formation. The spinoreticular tract is also thought to be involved in nociception (Mense 2004).

If dural tension is created by aberrant kinesiology the contractibility of the meninges is effected (Greitz 1993) and nociceptor stimulation will occur. This creates a noxious input from the dural system into the central nervous system creating a type of sensory overload. The sensory information must be adequately processed by the reticular formation and thalamus so that the cortex receives appropriate sensory information.

Failure to adequately process sensory information into appropriate efferent information is known as dysafferentation.

Mechanism #3: Noxious Mechanoreceptor Input from the Facet Joints

The facet joints are innervated by a variety of types of nerve endings. Principally types I,II, III and IV have been recognised (Mclain 1994, Mclain and Pickar 1998, Snell,1992). The type IV nerve ending is a free nerve ending and is particularly relevant to nociception.

The mechanoreceptor pathways which feed in to the CNS are the spinothalamic and spinocerebellar tracts and the posterior columns. This contribution of sensory information is transmitted via a number of central nervous system structures including the cerebellum, reticular formation and thalamus.

Aberrant kinesiopathology, changes the orientation of the facet joint and its capsule and may expose the synovium to mechanical stress (Inami et al. 2000). Aberrant facet position and the physiological irritation of the anatomical structures can result in the sensory overload discussed in mechanism 2.

Mechanism #4: Aberrant Sympathetic Activity

The superior cervical ganglion communicates with the upper four cervical nerves via the grey rami communicantes (Snell 1992). Furthermore the sympathetic fibres communicate with the ventral nerve plexus which surrounds the vertebral column (Groen et al. 1990).

The sympathetic nervous system has many functions but one of particular relevance to central nervous system function is the control of cerebral hemodynamics including the Circle of Willis. The Circle of Willis provides the blood supply to the cerebral cortex.

Aberrant sympathetic activity which may occur due to excessive facet irritation (Suseki et al. 1996) or in very extreme cases through prolonged stress (Kadojic et al. 1999) results in vasoconstriction and a change in cerebral hemodynamics.

If this is the case, the already challenged cerebral cortex will again be negatively influenced adding to the inability to adequately synthesis afferent information in to appropriate (motor) output.

The Common Elements

Each of the discussed neurological mechanisms contributes to the neuropathology of the subluxation. Each mechanism results in the process known as DYSAFFERENTATION and it is this which is crucial to the understanding of the neurological effect of the subluxation complex.

Additionally, all sensory pathways decussate. This means that adverse sensory events initiated on the left side of the body are interpreted by the right brain and vice versa. Finally, the effect on the autonomic nervous system is noted by the interconnections of the reticular formation and the superior cervical ganglion.

The Chiropractic Adjustment

The chiropractic adjustment is a precise and specific intrusion into the nervous system. Delivering any adjustive thrust, and in particular, repeated adjustive thrusts to a compensated region of the spine or extremities must be assiduously avoided at all times if inappropriate neurological input is to be avoided.

Repeated adjustive thrusts will put the patient at risk of developing an iatrogenic hypermobility syndrome at that level (Cox 1997). The chiropractic adjustment can be seen as providing a sort of resetting mechanism to the nervous system. It overrides the gating mechanism and activates specific neurological pathways (Carrick 1997).

The Subluxation-Compensation Relationship

One of the most poorly misunderstood clinical relationships is that of the compensatory response to the subluxation. A compensation is a biomechanical aberration which is invariably devoid of the full complement of physical examination findings that would define it as a subluxation (Herbst 1968) and will be manifest as a predictable pattern of movement loss, hypermobility or both (Davies 2000) with little capacity to cause neuropathology (Plaugher 1993).

Compensation is a kinesiopathologic response to the subluxation and may involve a single motion segment or a whole area of the spine (Gatterman 1995).

Compensation is frequently found as far from the subluxation as the occiput is from the sacrum. Compensatory kinesiopathologic response to the subluxation may be demonstrated on postural assessment and motion palpation examination with the elements related alteration of primary curve contour and disc shape most reliably seen on X-ray.

When is a Subluxation really a Subluxation?

The essence of sound decision-making in chiropractic is the result of a process of clinical logic and deductive reasoning which has taken into account all the available physical evidence. The conclusion that a chiropractic adjustment is an appropriate clinical intervention should only be arrived at when adequate evidence of all five fundamental aspects of the subluxation can be demonstrated.

It is illogical to decide to 'adjust' a given spinal motion segment when only hypomobility, for example, can be demonstrated. Such hypomobility, existing in the absence of other findings, almost certainly represents a compensation (Davies 1997.)

The Importance of Chiropractic Health


Defining Chiropractic health:

Chiropractic health pertains to target the link between body structure and function, especially spinal areas. Nerves are in charge of control over each movement and function in your body including organs, muscles and general system. Nerve endings originate from the brain in a novel muscular bundle frequently referred to as the spinal nerve. The cord in turn travels down the complete backbone until it reaches its last destination in the form of spinal vertebrae. The vertebrae is the actual link between the backbone and different organs and body parts. In the event of Chiropractic health problems caused by pressure or misalignment of vertebrae the never endings get strangled and pinched, which leads to an impulse decrease to organ and body parts which in turn leads to enormous discomfort or agony.

Consulting your chiropractor is absolutely essential to consult with your Chiropractor with any backbone, back or associated problem as quickly as any signs or symptoms appear. Chiropractors are specialist physicians with relevant education and trained to diagnose, investigate and treat subluxation occurrences. Physical examination, x-rays, neurological- and ortho assessments could be conducted during your consultation. Extra info and suggestions may also be supplied in the form of dietary and rehabilitation programmes as a part of patient treatment.

Defining vertebral subluxation:

Vertebral subluxation, refers to a malformation in the vertebrae, resulting in nerve message interferences between body and mind, starting from slight to extremely serious. These malformation can end up in discomfort, discomfort, imbalances, sleepiness and immune deficiency. Vertebral subluxation is sometimes misdiagnosed and may doubtless take years for visible symptoms to appear. If not treated the condition can surely lead to a very significant problem known as incessant strain injuries or RSI.

What are the main causes of subluxations?

A number of internal and external factors make a contribution to the development of subluxation including nutrition deficiencies, stress, bio-mechanical Problems, poor posture, over-extension and mental Problems.

What are the types of Problems encountered? Subluxation and associate symptoms are treated by Chiropractors with major success. These Problems include slipped discs, back pain, migraine, neck, should, leg and hip discomfort, whiplash, knee or foot Problems.

Are there any treatment options for RSI? RSI's are ordinarily treated by a mixture of palpation skills and instruments. The focus of the treatment is to restore nerve impulse functions by correcting the spinal bones by means of relative adjustments.

Chiropractic health problems and children:

Subluxation is a major medical problem not just restricted to adults. The condition can develop at any stage including birth. It is thus critical for oldsters to have their newborns examined by chiropractor shortly after birth. Earlier detection can increase the childs' possibilities of working and living typically noticeably. The extent of damage caused by the issue may also reduced significantly with early diagnoses and treatment.

Correction ease:

Chiropractors often believe that the bulk of adults who suffer from chiropractic Problems might have ceased further development of damage if they'd proper chiropractic care at a young age. Childrens' spines are a lot easier to adjust when compared to adults with similar Problems. Muscles are less taut at a young age making diagnoses and treatment easier. Adjustment duration is also shorter with kids than adults.

Chiropractic health Problems are definitely not restricted to only adults. Subluxation can raise it's unnattractive head at any life stage including birth. It is thus insistent for folks or guardian to have newborns as well as toddlers examined by chiropractor frequently, particularly when born. Early detection can significantly increases a childs' probabilities of functioning and living usually. The extent of damage may also be reduced noticeably with early diagnoses and treatment.

Straightforwardness of treatment:

Medical research has shown that adults who suffer from chiropractic health Problems might have possibly ceased further problem development of damage, if proper chiropractic care had been got at a young age. Kids' spines are easier to adjust when put next to kids or adults with similar Problems. This can be assigned to the kids slack and relaxed muscles, making general diagnoses and treatment so far easier. Adjustment times are also shorter with children than adults.

Treating Ear Infections With Chiropractic


Ear infections are the most common reason for a visit to a pediatrician in the U.S. Viruses and bacteria from colds and other respiratory infections can cause fluid to become built up in the Eustachian tubes.

The Eustachian tubes connect the middle ears to the back of the throat and nose. The primary purposes of the eustachian tubes are to regulate pressure in the middle ears, drain normal fluids from the middle ears, and prevent fluids from the nose and throat from entering the middle ears.

Adolescents under the age of 15 are more prone to ear infections because their eustachian tubes are shorter and more horizontal than a mature adult's eustachian tubes. This increases the chances for the fluid to become trapped, causing pressure, inflammation, and infection.

While antibiotics can help relieve some ear infections caused by bacterial infections, antibiotics are not always effective and are not recommended as a first line of therapy for viral ear infections. Many adolescents suffer from chronic, recurring ear infections.

In cases of acute and chronic, recurring ear infections, a chiropractor may be able to assist. Chiropractic treatments for infections include manipulation of the ears, cranial bones and cervical vertebrae,this procedure is most commonly known as an adjustment. Misaligned vertebrae can cause pressure on the structures that surround and drain the middle ear. Thus a misaligned vertebra often keeps the middle ear from properly draining fluid. A chiropractic manipulation can help realign the vertebrae, restore motion, and relieve the pressure within the ears. This ultimately allows the fluid to drain and the inflammation to subside.

Chronic ear infections can cause hearing problems, often leading to speech impediments and other developmental delays in adolescents. In severe cases of chronic, recurring ear infections that are not treated conservatively, surgery may be recommended in which small tubes are placed in the child's ears. In many cases, a chiropractor can help avoid the need for surgery and help the child heal naturally. The key is not waiting but seeking care as a preventative or immediately when problems are identified.

Chiropractic is a safe and effective healthcare treatment. A substantial amount of clinical studies have proven chiropractic adjustments to be a safe and effective treatment for people of all ages. It is an all-natural, holistic healthcare practice and is recognized by the National Institutes of Health as a Complimentary Alternative Medicine (CAM). It has helped millions of people rehabilitate from chronic and debilitating pain and dysfunction.

Treatment by a chiropractor for an ear infection may require only a couple visits to a couple weeks and should be followed with a preventative care program. More severe cases may require extended treatments. Many chiropractors regularly see and treat children for infections during the winter and flu season and during seasonal allergy periods.

Adults with seasonal allergies and other ear, nose and throat irritations may also find relief with chiropractic.

A cervical manipulation or "Adjustment" should never be attempted by anyone other than a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic or Osteopathy. A visit to your local chiropractor could help you safely and effectively manage you or your child's chronic ear infection and improve your overall health.