Chiropractor - Neck Pain and Those Poor Body Aches

When the body goes through an accident, it typically causes the body to go into protection mode and tighten up the muscles when the impact is about to occur. This is one of the worst things that a person can do at such a time. People that are under the influence during an accident are typically not hurt as bad because their response times are slower and their bodies are more relaxed. While drinking is not something that is suggested at all, allowing your body to relax during an accident can bring some definite advantages.

The head gets thrown forward and backwards when the impact occurs and when the airbag explodes at more than two hundred miles per hour the people in the car will be hit in the face and chest area directly. While the airbags do save lives, as it has been proven, it also causes very visible injuries that are noticeable almost immediately.

When the accident occurs, the head is typically forced into a movement that causes pulling and strain to the neck muscles and it nearly always results in a headache on the spot. As the car comes to a stop the body is jerked from side to side and can cause damage to the lower and mid back and hip area. These types of pains often show up after the accident has occurred due to the overwhelming pain from other injuries that have occurred and are felt more instantly.

When the emergency room begins their evaluation they will typically treat the pains with pain killers and muscle relaxers. While this does work to take the edge off of the injury, the underlying injuries are left to heal by themselves. Many times the body will require other help to eliminate the long term damages that have been caused.

It can be very stressful to visit the chiropractor for the first time. Many people worry about what the chiropractor will do that cannot be done at a regular doctor's office. They are often also concerned with getting physical treatment and not using medication to help. The chiropractors have been educated intensively on the structure of the body and how it works internally and they are also licensed to practice these types of services. They are extremely familiar with the muscle groups and what is necessary to speed up the healing process in the body.

Once the initial x-rays and exam are completed the chiropractor will put together a plan for treatment that will almost always take effect immediately. The treatment plan may include manipulations, sonic vibrations with heat packs, and massage therapy. The manipulations are what most people fear because it can be heard. It is just like cracking your knuckles. It allows the bones to align and it causes the muscles to relax around the joints. It is not painful but it can be a source of fear for those that have not been to a chiropractor before.

Immediately after the collision, until the specialist can be seen, the person should be extremely careful. The Fort Collins Chiropractor that specializes in bodily injuries that are affecting a person's daily activities and overall health is often the best path to follow. Living in chronic pain is not something that is necessary when a simple phone call can get the sufferer some relive.

Whiplash Injuries and Chiropractic Care

The term whiplash is used to describe injuries to the neck muscles that are caused by a sudden jerk of the head backward, sideways and or forward like what happens in most accidents. No matter if the injury took place as a result of a sports injury, an accident at the workplace or in a car accident, the injury should be treated with chiropractic treatments. Whiplash injuries can be tricky as they do not always show up immediately and can take years to develop. There are some basic symptoms of whiplash that include blurred vision, irritability, nausea, pain between the shoulder blades, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, difficulty swallowing, and pains I the neck or stiffness in the neck. When someone begins to experience such side effects they should get to a chiropractor to have a checkup.

One of the best choices to cure whiplash is to take advantage of the mechanisms that the chiropractor has in place to help with neck sprains. The focus of the chiropractic care that deals with curing whiplash is to treat the spinal discs, improve muscular strength, reduce muscle spasms, and optimize the motion that is available in the spine.

Applying a general treatment path for whiplash is not possible as the signs and complexities are different depending on the person and what they went through. This makes the chiropractor apply specific treatments that will help to treat the dysfunctions from the injury and it is designed by looking at the results of the chiropractic exam.

Of the many different treatments that are applied, many of the chiropractors will use the following types of treatment:

1. Chiropractic Manipulation to Treat Whiplash: One of the most common whiplash treatments for chiropractic adjustment, joint dysfunction, or manipulating the spine involves moving the injured joint gently on in short bursts in the direction that it has become difficult to move it in. This is done by the chiropractic doctor so no more damage is created.

2. Muscle Stimulation or Relaxation as a Treatment For Whiplash: This chiropractic treatment technique uses stretches that are gentle of the muscles that are tense and sometimes forcing the inhibited muscle to contract. A more vigorous stretch routine may be put in place if the muscles are extremely tight and the chiropractic doctor feels it is necessary.

3. Miscellaneous exercises for Whiplash: There are several different exercises that are used for whiplash that include Stabilization/Sensorimotor exercise and McKenzie exercises. These are used as a portion of the chiropractic care in cases of injuries like whiplash.

The McKenzie exercises have been created to cut down on disc derangement that is a result of an injury like whiplash. It requires simple movements to be made in the injured area and is typically taught by the chiropractor and then practiced at home.

Stabilization and sensorimotor exercise techniques are used to correct any flowed movement patterns that occur during activities that are routine and are part of a person's normal life. It trains the nervous system to control the movement patterns and to coordinate which improves the ability of the neck muscles to control the stability in the neck area.

Lifestyle and Ergonomic changes: All of these treatments are designed to minimize any strains in the body while going about the daily activities that a person has. The advice from the chiropractor will be to avoid or minimize the impact of activities that are completed through the day at work, home, or during any recreational times that affect the whiplash injury. More importantly, the chiropractor will teach the injured person how to go about their day with "self use" in mind so they do not cause more damage or more pain. They also use stress reducing techniques as part of the chiropractic treatment if it is necessary.

When a person is treated for whiplash by chiropractic professionals, they may be asked to perform treatments that have been described here as well as other treatments. They may also be referred to another medical professional in order to get the best treatment possible for their injury.

Chiropractic Facts

Chiropractic has been around for years, but only in last 30 or so years has it begun to become mainstream. Before that, the American Medical Association had a vendetta and was on a constant mission to destroy the practice. Since that unfortunate time, people have been seeing the benefits of chiropractic and now it is widely accepted. Although this is true, there still remain many misunderstandings.

First, a lot of folks don't think chiropractors are real doctors. It is true that they are not medical doctors, but neither is a dentist. Chiropractors are real doctors, just of chiropractic, not medicine. In fact, chiropractors study all the same things that medical doctors do, just not the medication part. Instead, they study adjustment techniques and practice them.

Another common myth is that medical doctors don't like chiropractors. This can be true, but is not in general. Doctors are smart people and many have seen the positive results and research that has proven over and over again that chiropractic is effective. It is effective in a different way than medicine though. Medicine is largely focused on treating people after they have problems and treating symptoms. Chiropractic focuses on prevention and allowing the body to heal itself.

Some folks also have heard that once you start going to the chiropractor, you have to keep going. This is true in the same sense that going to your medical doctor is something you have to keep doing. Exercise is also something that doesn't benefit you by doing only once. There is nothing about chiropractic itself that makes you need to keep coming back, but your body experiences forces that pull it "out of whack," and chiropractors put it back. So in a sense, you only need to go as often as you get out of whack.

The fact of the matter is that chiropractic has been tested over and over for decades and has been shown to be an effective as a preventative and a treatment. But this of course depends on the problem. For instance, someone with a broken arm will not find much relief with a chiropractor. They need an orthopaedic doctor. On the other hand, following the healing of the bone, a chiropractor would be a great choice to help rehabilitate your arm's muscles and ligaments so that it doesn't hurt you for the rest of your life.

It is important to understand the chiropractic facts, because chiropractic is essential for the highest quality of life.

Chiropractic Care: Can It Help Women's Infertility?

It may be that you do not wish to have a baby yet during your first 2 or 3 years of marriage. Nevertheless, every parent hopes to have children and women wish to conceive. Having a child will complete your dream of having a family.

If you are having a difficulty to conceive, you can try some methods to make this possible. Chiropractic care can assist you in this concern. Aside from not being expensive, it is also painless and does not require you to go under surgery.

Studies have been conducted showing that infertility can be resolved with chiropractic care. Even if the woman has had earlier medical issues such as miscarriage, amenorrhea, obstructed fallopian tubes, colitis and has been infertile for some time, she can get pregnant via chiropractic care.

A woman who has problems getting pregnant may have issues concerning her nervous system. It can be brought by stress, poor diet, and a poor way of life. Once the nervous system of a woman is unhealthy, her reproductive system is similarly unhealthy.

The role of chiropractors in women's infertility is their knowledge in reinstating the functions of the nervous system. Chiropractic medicine is focused in removing the blockage in our nervous system as well as in our musculoskeletal system. Once the vertebra is realigned, all the blockage or disturbances in our nervous system will likewise be eliminated. For women who are having infertility issues, this would mean that she would have a healthy reproductive system since the latter is dependent on the health of the nervous system. Thus, it follows that a healthy nervous system would result to a woman's healthy reproductive system. With a healthy reproductive system, chances of getting pregnant are higher.

Likewise, chiropractic care can reinforce a woman's menstrual flow. This reinforcement can also help a woman to get pregnant easily. This is because the eggs will be easily led and transferred to the fallopian tubes resulting to pregnancy.

The chiropractor's specialty is to release the deterrents to our nerves by spinal adjustment. These deterrents may have happened because of some incidents in the past such as falls when we were still a child, disease, stress, bad posture, and mishaps. During chiropractic care, these blockages are adjusted or removed.

Chiropractors who had women patients with problems of conceiving easily get pregnant after receiving chiropractic care. Nonetheless, let me just tell you that it worked for some and it may work for you, too, but not for everyone. It is a choice that women can try to resolve infertility particularly if you had a previous accident or disease.

So for women or parents wanting to complete their family, go and seek a chiropractor to help you. He may help you solve your problem. You lose nothing anyway if you submit yourselves to a chiropractor. In fact, he can address other health issues, which have been bothering you for the past years

For more information on the benefits of chiropractic care, visit theminneapolischiropractors.com. You will get the needed facts and answers to your questions. They likewise have a video so you can have a glimpse of how a chiropractor performs spinal manipulation to his patients.

Therapies Used by Your Local Chiropractor

Ultrasound therapy is used by chiropractors as one of the many combinations of treatments. This type of ultrasound is called therapeutic ultrasonograpy and is different than diagnostic ultrasound. Treatment only takes 3 to 5 minutes. It's done with a wand device which makes sound waves that produce heat and can help joints, muscles or tendons to heal faster. One way it works is by increasing blood flow which occurs from tissue heated between 40 to 45 degrees Celsius. Another way it works is by vibrating tissue which stimulates and repairs cells where they're inflamed.

Therapeutic ultrasound reduces muscle spasms, inflammation and swelling from the heated sound waves. It improves lower back pain and stiffness. Other health problems that may be treated with this therapy are fibrositis, osteoarthritis, periartritis, radiculitis, myalgia, sciatica, sprains, whiplash and rheumatoid arthritis. There are some important safety measures when using this treatment. The wand needs to be kept moving and used with a gel. The gel increases conductivity of the sound waves. They won't be transferred effectively without the use of gel. The gel is also needed because the wand could break or a patient could be supposedly burned inside.

Another therapy chiropractors may use is called Infrared therapy. This therapy uses high-intensity infrared light that can penetrate two inches into the skin and deeply into parts of the body. The deep penetration results in better circulation which can remove toxins, bring in needed nutrients and relieve pain. Increased blood circulation can strengthen the cardiovascular system. It stimulates healing and renews cells, nerves and muscle tissue. It's also used to reduce pain, stiffness, swelling and inflammation. Infrared devices work at a temperature of 40-45 degrees Celsius.

Infrared therapy can sometimes be used as an alternative to medication or surgery. It often relieves pain and there are no side effects. Infrared therapy has worked for some patients when other treatments failed. Chiropractor Robert Ensley in California says he has accurately diagnosed acute and chronic pain syndromes with the infrared camera. This camera also determines the best type of treatment for each patient. It also monitors the effects of the treatment and evaluates when it should be stopped. According to Dr. Ensley the infrared imaging camera allows visualizing with live images, the physiology of the automatic nervous system. It can show what the patients symptoms or pain is coming from.

Ultrasound therapy is recommended by chiropractors for patients with many kinds of injuries and ailments. Scientific and medical tests have shown it relieves pain and helps healing. The sound waves can't be heard by humans or animals. Anodyne Infrared Therapy has been cleared by the FDA and is used by many chiropractors. This is a non-invasive and safe treatment that produces warmth. It is used to heal all types of injuries faster and manages pain. The treatments are from 30 to 45 minutes long. If the injuries are minor it only takes 3 to 5 minutes for a treatment. Serious injuries may take up to 20 treatments to successfully work.

Is Chiropractic Care Safe? The Truth May Shock You

Okay, so you've got some back pain. What's the first thing that pops into your mind? If you're like most people, you probably think about a visit to the chiropractor. But is chiropractic care actually safe?

Did you know that chiropractic manipulation of the neck is actually quite dangerous? There are certain plaque deposits and small blood clots that form naturally in your neck, and it is possible for chiropractic adjustments to loosen those. If they get released into the blood stream, these plaque deposits or blood clots can travel up to your brain and cause a stroke, serious disability, or even death.

In fact, a study conducted in Switzerland, showed that 1 in every 400,000 chiropractic patients suffer a stroke. That may not sound like much, but when you compare that to the overall average of stroke incidence (only 1 in 1,500,000) it is quite shocking. If you see a chiropractor, you may be nearly quadrupling your risk of a stroke. Is back pain relief worth that risk?

It is important to know as well that chiropractors are not medical doctors. Surprisingly a lot of people do not realize this. Chiropractors are trained in their own way, however, it is to understand that they do not have the same basic training and schooling that a medical doctor would have.

Many people may visit a chiropractor complaining of numbness or pain in their back, neck, or hips. The chiropractor examines the patient and many times will recommend that the patient be treated with chiropractic manipulation. However, often times the diagnosis from the chiropractor is completely wrong and might even overlook obvious conditions that even a first year medical or nursing student could diagnose.

This causes people that in some instances may be at risk for serious medical diseases to put off proper medical treatment or delay it until the condition worsens. Unfortunately, many people place the trust of their medical health in the hands of someone who is not a medical doctor.

This is incredibly dangerous. Spinal adjustments can help to correct certain problems, but you should always seek medical attention first from a medical doctor to rule out any serious cause of your symptoms. Discuss with your medical doctor if chiropractic care would benefit your situation, and if your doctor believes it would help, then you can seek the help of a chiropractor. That is, of course, if you ware willing to accept the risks of stroke and death discussed earlier.

Chiropractic Care - The Costs

Take the cost of medications + physical therapy + doctor visits (your primary care physician and specialists) + surgery. Add that all up and what do you get? You get a plethora of medical bills that, even with insurance, you will be paying off for the rest of your life. People are constantly complaining about how much they have to pay for medical care and wish there was something less expensive and just as effective, if not more, than traditional methods of treatment. Don't worry, there is an extremely simple solution to this ever growing problem...chiropractic care.

"Isn't chiropractic care expensive"? When compared to traditional methods of healthcare, the answer if no. Each chiropractic clinic creates its own prices for the various services they provide. That being said, the average cost of basic services is anywhere from $34 to $100. Your initial consultation and full exam will run higher than a regular session, because all the preliminaries (X-rays, complete physical and paperwork) must be handled before beginning any therapy sessions. Once the initial session is out of the way, fees for the actual therapy sessions will be much lower than the first visit. Another factor that can affect chiropractic fees is living in different areas of the United States. For example, you should expect to pay higher fees if you live in the south, but pay lower fees if you live in the mid-west.

There are other fees that patients should be aware of. Almost every chiropractor will require X-rays, MRI's and/or Thermal Scans, unless you bring current and usable test results/scans with you to your first visit. On the other hand, some doctors prefer to do their own testing at their clinic or at a location they frequently do business with. These are not covered in the initial consultation/session fee; although, the chiropractic clinic/office will sometimes offer a special discount. Chiropractic clinics may reduce the amount of regular session fees over time if long-term treatment is recommended. They also offer special package deals or set up a payment plan that you and your budget can live with. Every chiropractic clinic/office is different, so make sure you ask about their fees for each service. It is also important to get any fees, discounts and/or special offer in writing. This insures that there is no chance of any misunderstandings.

Massage therapy is a service that some chiropractors provide. It is recommended by about 50% of chiropractic clinics and will cost about $40 per session. Acupressure and acupuncture is recommended by about 20% of chiropractic clinics. The initial visit/consultation will cost around $100 to $150, and the follow-up sessions average out to around $65 each visit. Again, each chiropractic clinic/office is different so make sure you ask about any and all fees up front before receiving any treatment and get the fee schedule, discounts and/or special offers in writing.

Another plus is most insurance companies are now covering chiropractic services. They are beginning to realize that chiropractic care is not only a recognized and proven method of healthcare, but is more cost effective when compared to traditional medical treatments. Insurance companies look at the bottom line. With chiropractic care, they are only paying a small fraction of the cost for treatment when compared to the thousands of dollars they would spend on prescription medication, numerous hours of physical therapy, doctor and specialist office visits, long-term medical care or more evasive treatment(s) such as surgery. Chiropractic care is by far the smartest choice for rehabilitation.

You have finally made your appointment for an initial visit/consultation with a chiropractor, so what's next? You need to be fully aware of what to expect on this first visit. Just about every visit the chiropractor will do manual adjustments. The areas to be adjusted are at the discretion of your doctor. S/he will be able to tell which areas are needing the most attention. The response to treatment is a major factor in determining your treatment plan and it can change from session to session. S/he may also add other treatments to work in conjunction with the adjustments. Some of these additional treatments are ice/heat therapy, physical therapy (on land and/or in the water), massage therapy, TENS unit, acupressure and/or acupuncture. By having open and honest communication with your chiropractor, s/he will be able to devise a treatment plan tailored to meet your specific needs.

The key to obtaining optimal health is find a properly licensed chiropractor that is highly skilled/experienced in treating patients that have similar injuries/conditions as you. Once you have found one, write down all of your questions and bring them to your initial visit. Be sure to ask about fees, payment plans and discounts they may offer. The mark of a great chiropractor is if s/he values your health and well being over the all mighty dollar. By choosing chiropractic therapy, you have taken the first step in building a better and healthier you.

What You, The Savvy Patient, Should Know About Insurance Coverage For MN Chiropractors

MN Chiropractors are covered by many insurances, including major medical, medicare, Minnesota No-Fault and Minnesota Worker's Compensation. Space limitation allows me to only cover major medical, Minnesota No-Fault and Medicare coverage here.

Most major medical (your regular health insurance) insurances cover chiropractic services in Minnesota. Two of the major Minnesota health insurers are Medica and Health Partners. Both of these insurers generally cover chiropractic services although the amount of coverage does vary from policy to policy. In the case of Medica and Health Partners chiropractic care is available through two unique networks of chiropractors. Maximum coverage is available only when you are treated by a chiropractor in the insurer's designated network. The list of chiropractors in your insurance carriers network is generally found in your Provider Manual.

Medica and Health Partners will usually cover the following services performed by a chiropractor:

• 
  Examinations - the initial examination is required by health insurers and by professional standards in order for the chiropractor to establish a diagnosis. The diagnosis communicates to the insurance company the reason and justification for any additional services provided by the chiropractor. The examination allows the chiropractor to figure out what problem underlies your (the patient's) complaints and / or health issue.


• 
  Chiropractic adjustments - adjustments of the spine and joints of the extremities. Adjustments are gentle manipulations of joints made to restore ideal joint function. Adjustments often provide immediate relief of pain. Sequential adjustments (on follow up treatment visits) are needed to retrain normal joint movement. Abnormal joint movement is often the source of local mechanical irritation which underlies joint inflammation and pain. Correcting abnormal joint movement with a series of joint adjustments eliminates the mechanical irritation to the joint and thus the inflammation and pain.


• 
  Physiotherapy - numerous additional therapies such as electrical muscle stimulation, traction and other therapeutic activities are used to help promote healing of an area of complaint. For instance electrical muscle stimulation relaxes tight and sore muscles, promotes blood flow to muscles and blocks the sensation of pain locally.


• 
  Acupuncture - is used to promote healing and alleviate pain. Using the ancient Chinese principal of chi or vital energy, acupuncture balances energy flows in the body to promote healing.

MinnesotaNo-Fault (Auto)

If your are injured in an automobile accident in Minnesota, you are covered for chiropractic services from the chiropractor of your choosing. This is the law in Minnesota. You are not required to go to a doctor or chiropractor chosen by the insurance company for treatment of your auto accident injuries.

Beware of MinnesotaIME's ("Independent" Medical Examiners)

(However, your insurance carrier can send you to one of their own doctor's on a limited basis. Usually this involves a single visit. Almost universally the auto insurance carrier sends their insured to their doctor-who is euphemistically referred to as an "Independent" Medical Examiner-to refute any injuries that were sustained in an accident. At best, auto insurance companies send their clients to IME's when they want to stop paying for further treatment of the clients injuries. IME's are notorious for overlooking obvious injuries related to the motor vehicle accidents in question. In my 25 years of practice in Minnesota, having seen countless numbers of my patients sent to IME's by insurance companies, I can count on one hand the number of times an IME has acknowledged the obvious injury sustained by a patient, and the need for continued care.)

I personally experienced the truth of what goes on between IME's and insurance companies in Minnesota on one occasion. I had given a presentation to the state wide convention for the Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association. My topic was Whiplash Injuries. An insurance adjuster in the audience was impressed by my presentation and later on contacted me. He wanted to send me a patient to examine-my role being one of an IME. After examining the patient I wrote a lengthy report detailing my findings and stating that the patient had definitely sustained injuries in the motor vehicle accident in question, and still needed ongoing care. The adjuster never sent me another patient. (It also took a long time for me to get paid by the insurance company for the work that I did).

MinnesotaNo-Fault insurance covers all of the above services (mentioned under major medical insurance) plus some.

Examinations, chiropractic adjustments, physiotherapy, acupuncture and (in addition) massage are all covered chiropractic services under Minnesota No-Fault. Your chiropractor has to appropriately document your condition and show that the treatments provided are directly related to the injuries that you sustained in a motor vehicle accident. If that is done appropriately, there should be no problem getting your chiropractic services covered.

Medicare

Medicare is a federally mandated (provided) benefit. But your Medicare benefits are sometimes provided through a local insurance company. In either case, Medicare only covers chiropractic adjustments.

While Medicare will only pay for chiropractic adjustments when you see a chiropractor, the chiropractor is required to do an examination to establish a diagnosis for Medicare. But even though Medicare requires that the chiropractor do an examination to establish a diagnosis, Medicare will not pay for the examination. It is difficult to get this fact across to patients (because it is so illogical). So if you have Medicare and see a chiropractor, expect to pay for an examination on the first visit. Examinations are not covered by your supplemental to Medicare. Your supplemental to Medicare only covers the portion of the chiropractic adjustment that Medicare will not pay for. What?

While I said that Medicare covers chiropractic adjustments, they do not cover 100% of the chiropractic adjustment. They only cover 80% of the adjustment. The other 20% is either your responsibility (out-of-pocket), or if you have supplemental coverage it will cover the remaining portion.

The bottom line on insurance coverage for MN chiropractors is "Yes, they are covered-depending on a number of variables".

It can be very complicated. But the bottom line is that most Minnesota insurances do cover MN chiropractors (to different degrees depending on the type of insurance and your specific policy).

Modern Naturopathy History: A Chiropractic Legacy

Dr. Benedict Lust (M.D., D.C., N.D.) a German doctor and chiropractor who emigrated to the U.S. in 1892, was America's first naturopathic physician. Although ridiculed by the establishment for his 'revolutionary' ideas of exercise, vegetarianism and healthy living, Benedict Lust, founded the first health food store as we know it, and crystallized the focus of naturopathy on diet and nutrition as the chief route to health. He also started the country's health spa, in Butler NJ, and founded the first naturopathic college, the American School of Naturopathy and chiropractic in 1902, in New York.

"Where there is no official recognition and regulation, you will find plotters, the thieves, the charlatans operating on the same basis as the conscientious practitioners... Frankly such conditions cannot be remedied until suitable safeguards are erected by law, or by the profession itself, around the practice of Naturopathy."

- Benedict Lust, circa 1902, the founding father of naturopathy.

Naturopathic medicine grew through the 1910s and 1920s, but by the 1930s and 1940s, pressure from the pharmaceutical companies, political leaders, the rise of antibiotics, and numerous other factors caused a severe decline: In 1910, when the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching published the Flexner Report which criticized many aspects of medical education in various institutions (natural and conventional), it was mostly seen as an attack on low-quality natural medicine education. It caused many such programs to shut down and contributed to the popularity of conventional medicine. Schools were closed, sanatoriums shut down, and doctors had their privileges revoked. However, because chiropractic colleges excided the standards of education forced upon the medical institution by the "Flexner" reform, most of them stayed open and flourished. But Naturopathic medicine, with its herbs, Nature Cure, and holistic view of the body was considered unscientific and based on unproven folk tradition. It therefore was almost lost.

However naturopathic medicine did not go away. It was kept alive by chiropractors in Portland, Oregon where graduates of the Western States Chiropractic College could enrol in a 2-year postgraduate course of study and receive a degree in naturopathy. This lasted until 1956 when the program was dropped. To keep the practice of naturopathy going, several naturopaths and chiropractors founded the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1956 in Portland, Oregon. It moved briefly to Seattle and then returned to Portland where it is today. Very slowly Naturopathic medicine began to rise.

CHRONOLOGICAL EVENTS LEADING TO THE BIRTH OF MODERN NATUROPATHY

Chiropractic education was introduced in Portland as early as 1904 when Drs. John and Eva Marsh opened Marshes' School and Cure. In 1909, the college changed its name to Pacific College of Chiropractic.

The institution absorbed the Lindlahr College of Naturopathy in 1926 and introduced one of the first four-year courses in the profession in 1928.

Pacific College of Chiropractic entered a new phase in January 1929, when the college was purchased for $20,000 by the former dean of the National College of Chiropractic in Chicago, William Alfred Budden, DC, ND (a chiropractor and naturopath). The timing was terrible, for the U.S. stock market crash and the onset of the Great Depression were only nine months away. Dr. Budden would struggle for years to keep the school afloat, eventually re-chartering the institution as the non-profit Western States College, including instruction leading to degrees in chiropractic and naturopathy. During his tenure at the reins of the institution (he died "in the saddle" in 1954), the Western States College, School of Chiropractic and School of Naturopathy, would exert a profound influence on the course of the profession, both through Budden's activities within the National Chiropractic Association's Council on Education (today's CCE), and by way of the several exceptional doctors he trained.

In 1932 the Pacific Chiropractic College was reorganized and became Western States College and Drugless Physicians (1932 - 1956). The College also offered a degree in naturopathy from the mid-thirties through the mid-fifties. Now called the Western States Chiropractic College (1956 - present).

Western States College has struggled on through the decades since Budden's demise. The school eventually divorced itself from naturopathic education, as the NCA had been urging since 1939, but maintained a very broad instructional program. Chiropractic and naturopathy were taught together until about 1955 when the National Chiropractic Association stopped granting accreditation to schools that also taught naturopathy.

In the mid-1950's, when Western States Chiropractic College in Portland decided to discontinue naturopathic training, Dr. Bastyr knew it was time to take action, so he and few colleagues decided to open a school in Seattle. In 1956 National College of Naturopathic Medicine was born and Dr. Bastyr and other practitioners became teachers. Dr. John Bastyr, the naturopathic physician for whom Bastyr University in Seattle is named.

A chiropractor, Dr. John Bartholomew Bastyr, N.D., D.C (1912-1995), is credited with being the Father of Modern Naturopathic Medicine. Because of Bastyr's influence naturopaths have been at the forefront of the rebirth of homeopathy in this country. He made sure that homeopathy shared equal emphasis with nutrition, hydrotherapy and botanical medicine in naturopathic education. Dr. Bastyr considered manipulation the most important therapy in his practice.

He immediately went on in his studies of choice and received doctorate degrees in naturopathy and chiropractic from Northwest Drugless Institute and Seattle Chiropractic College, respectively. He became licensed to practice naturopathic medicine in 1936.

National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM) is the oldest programmatically accredited naturopathic medical school in North America. NCNM had its beginnings in the early 1950's, in response to the termination of the naturopathic program at Western States Chiropractic College. Members of the profession from Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia planned the founding of the College and in May 1956, in Portland, Oregon.

Chiropractors Use Adjustments to Alleviate Head and Neck Pain

Headaches and neck pain can be the result of poor posture, stress, or accidents that jar the spinal column out of alignment. If you've been in a car accident in particular, it's likely that you've experienced or are still suffering from the physical trauma of being violently jarred during the accident. A chiropractor has the training and knowledge needed to help bring your head, neck and back into proper alignment again.

A headache may be related to stressful situations going on in your life or to something as simple as poor posture. However, headaches can be a result of an auto accident that has wrenched the victim's neck out of its proper position. A patient may have a headache, known as referred pain, along with pain in the neck. In these cases, the head hurts when the neck is turned in certain ways, or the victim may experience muscle spasms. This type of pain may be the result of whiplash caused by an auto accident. Whiplash is commonly defined as injury to the neck when the head and neck column are suddenly and violently thrust backward and then forward. The neck discs and ligaments are injured when they move well beyond their usual range of motion.

Chiropractors offer chiropractic adjustments that can help the cervical spine, or neck, return as much as possible to its condition before the auto accident. A chiropractic adjustment gently moves the cervical spine in the direction of the injury, either by using a short thrust or gentle movement in the direction of the injury. In addition, muscle relaxation or stimulation can be gently but repeatedly stretched to help the muscle that is unusually tight or tense due to injury. A chiropractor can also provide focused pressure on trigger points to help relieve the pain related to the injury.

Whiplash can become a debilitating chronic condition if it's not treated promptly and properly. A chiropractor will first treat the pain resulting from the severe trauma to the neck and spinal column. Once the pain has been alleviated, the chiropractor can begin focusing on helping the patient regain the movement and range of motion needed for a normal lifestyle. Through manipulation, stress relief and encouragement, the patient who may feel he'll never return to the activities he enjoyed before the accident can gradually add them back to his daily life.

If you or someone you know has been in a car accident and are experiencing some of the symptoms listed above, you should go see a chiropractor and with the use of X-rays determine if you have a larger underlying problem that needs to be addressed.

Chiropractor - Many Find Relief After an Auto Accident

When the accident occurs, the body's natural instinct is to tense up and to brace itself for the impact that is coming. This is not a good thing for the condition of the body. People that are under the influence tend to be less hurt because their bodies react slower and they are not as tense during the accident which lowers their chance of injuries. While drinking is not a good idea at any time, learning to be more relaxed if an accident occurs can offer some very good advantages.

As the impact of an accident occurs, the head is typically thrown in a forward motion and then back at a very hard pace and if the airbag explodes is does so at a speed of around two hundred miles per hour. This hits the passengers and driver right in the face and chest area. While airbags have been proved to save lives it does not reduce the pain that comes when it explodes. It usually leaves injuries that are noticeable immediately.

In the instant that the accident occurs, the movement of the head strains and pulls on the muscles in the neck which often times results in a headache immediately. When the car comes to a stop, bodies are jerked from side to side and the chances of an injury to the lower and mid back as well as the hips may occur. These pains tend to appear slowly after the accident because the other pains are more apparent almost immediately.

When the person arrives at the emergency room they are almost immediately treated with pain killers and muscle relaxers. While this does work to remove the edge, the damage that is there is left without treatment with a hope that the body will work to heal itself over time. While this may work in some cases, the body does need some assistance to heal the damage that may cause long lasting discomfort.

The first visit to a chiropractor may be somewhat scary. People are often concerned about what will be done there that cannot be done at a regular doctors office. Others simply fear that they will have to go through it without the assistance of medication. It should help the anxiety when you consider that chiropractors are licensed and that they have completed a vast amount of education regarding the human body structure and how the body works internally. They are trained in the muscles of the body as well as how the body heals and how to make the healing occur quicker.

Once the patient has completed the x-rays and the beginning examination the chiropractors will lay out a plan for treatment that often times begins on the spot. Some of the treatments may use sonic vibrations combined with heat packs, massage and manipulation. Many people are afraid of the manipulations because you can hear the results. Just like cracking your knuckles, the bones are aligned and the muscles that are around the joints are relaxed. While it will not be painful, it can still be scary for someone that has not visited a chiropractor before.

Directly after the collision, people should practice extreme care until they are able to visit with the specialist. One thing to consider is to get medical treatment from a Fort Collins Chiropractor that has a specialization in bodily injuries that can cause a direct impact in the overall health and efficiency of the body. Living with the pain and suffering should not be an option when relief from the pain can be as close as a phone call.

Whiplash Injuries - Chiropractic Care

Whiplash is the term that is used to refer to neck muscle injuries that have been caused due to a sudden jerk of the head forward, backward, and sideways. No matter if the whiplash is a result of an accident, a sports injury, or an accident at the workplace, a chiropractic check up is defiantly in order. Whiplash injuries do not show up until years after the accident in some case and that is why it is a large danger for those that suffer it. Some of the common symptoms of whiplash include blurred vision, irritability, fatigue, headache, neck pain and stiffness, problems swallowing, nausea, dizziness, and pain found between the shoulder blades. Those that experience these pains or symptoms should defiantly see a chiropractor.

The treatments provided at a chiropractor are focused on cures for neck sprains so the choice to visit for whiplash is a good one. Chiropractic care is focused on treating spinal discs, improving strength in muscles, cutting down on muscle spasms, and getting the most motion from the spine.

There is no standard treatment plan for whiplash since each condition may have differences and some are more severe than others. The treatment that is provided will be specific to each individual injury and the issues that are revealed during the exam by the chiropractor.

Many chiropractic doctors use different treatments for whiplash but most all include the following:

1. Manipulation by the Chiropractor for Whiplash: The manipulation by the chiropractor, or gentle movement or short thrust on the joint that is injured in the direction that is being restricted by the injury, is the basic treatment for whiplash and treats chiropractic adjustment, joint dysfunction, and spinal manipulation.

2. Stimulation or Relaxation of the Muscles as a Treatment for Whiplash: This chiropractic treatment technique uses gentle stretches of the muscles that are strained and have a lot of tension or uses repeated contractions of the inhibited muscles. More vigorous stretches many be needed if the muscles are extremely tight.

3. Multiple exercises for Whiplash: Several different types of exercises, like Stabilization/Sensorimotor exercise and McKenzie exercises are used in the treatment for injuries like whiplash and are a part of the chiropractic care.

McKenzie exercises are designed specifically for disc derangement reduction that is caused by a whiplash injury. These exercises are usually taught to the patient by the chiropractor but are used at home for self care for the injury.

Stabilization and sensorimotor exercise techniques are used to correct any movement capabilities that are limiting the daily activities in a person's life. It is used to train the nervous system to control and coordinate during movement patterns. It also increases the stability in the neck by working muscles that aid in this.

Lifestyle and ergonomic changes: This form of treatment for whiplash involves making changes in daily activities so that there is a lower amount of strain on the body. This advice from the chiropractor deals with factors that occur in work, recreational activities, and home life that may bring about dysfunctions that are a result of the whiplash. More importantly, the chiropractor will teach the patient about the "use of self" and some methods to reduce stress that is the result of a chiropractic problem.

Treatment for whiplash by a chiropractor could involve any of these treatments or others that have not been discusses. They may also feel that the patient needs to be seen by another health professional and give a referral if it is necessary.

The Heart Benefits of Chiropractic Adjustments

Chiropractic adjustments have proven conclusively to help patients with musculoskeletal pain, but there is reason to believe that there are other benefits that are not as immediately evident. The Palmer Chiropractic College infers that the central organ of the body that keeps life going might also improve because of chiropractic adjustments.

Until recently, not much was considered about heart health for those undergoing chiropractic manipulations, but the Palmer Chiropractic College has been investigating the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems to analyze heart rate variations in relation to chiropractic care. What has been evident from the study is that not only has pain been reduced, but the heart rate of those participants dropped.

Chiropractors can expect to be presented with a myocardial infarction once, if not more, in their professional careers. It is not uncommon for a patient to experience pain of an impending heart attack, while believing it to be something else. It can present as persistent shoulder pain for instance, or radiate into the shoulder blade. Although it is not a regular occurrence, patients do have heart attacks while receiving chiropractic manipulations.

Benefits to the Heart

Although much more study should be applied to the topic, there is good reason to believe that chiropractic adjustments may be a preventative against heart attacks. In conjunction with that, regular visits to the chiropractor may lead to lower blood pressure and strengthening of the cardiovascular system. The subsequent reduction in heart rate also should reduce chest pain associated with the heart.

In the modern era of chiropractic care, providers are offering a lot more than adjustments as well in the office such as physical rehabilitation. These exercises are great for the cardiovascular system as well. This may include core stabilization, stretching and strengthening, balance training, acupuncture, and spinal decompression therapy.

Anxiety and Blood Pressure

Those undergoing chiropractic adjustments experience a drop in blood pressure levels immediately following the procedure. Concurrently, the anxiety levels drop too. This fact sustains the idea that chiropractic treatments are beneficial to the cardiovascular system.

Choosing a Chiropractor

Recognition that there are benefits for the heart through chiropractic adjustments does not reduce the necessity for careful selection of a chiropractor and timing for treatments. Anyone with an existing heart problem should let a chiropractor know about it prior to any treatment. A good chiropractor will make sure that any heart patient has a thorough examination before proceeding with adjustments.

How Chiropractors Take a Holistic Approach in Treating Allergies

Allergies are a common health condition many individuals experience. In the US alone, it is estimated that allergy-associated problems affect 20% of the total population - and that is a conservative estimate. It is believed that the figure is higher than that if 'non-traditional' allergies are included such as migraine headache or digestive reactions to foods and substances.

With the estimated figure above, no wonder that there are lots of individuals who are going to chiropractors asking help to address allergy-related issues. Many choose this alternative as it is a more natural approach compared to conventional medical treatments.

So, how do chiropractors address allergy problems?

Chiropractors take a holistic approach to treating allergy problems; they do not address the allergy alone but the root cause of the problem as well. Here are some techniques used by chiropractors to address allergies and sensitivities:

• Meridian Stress Assessment - it is a computerized analysis that measures the electrical (galvanic) conductivity in your acupoints. A chiropractor stimulates the body with sub-sensory electric signals, which serves as the 'electrical blueprints' of a suspected allergen. The result or change in readings of the acupoints is analyzed. An out-of-range acupoints reading indicates sensitivity and severity.


• Kinesiology - also known as muscle testing and is used to simple conditions. The procedure includes testing of a strong muscle with an allergen and examining that muscle if it weakens after the exposure.


• ASERT treatment - stands for Allergy and Sensitivity Elimination Reprogramming Technique, a unique procedure that involves laser stimulation of both the central nervous system and the acupoints with 'electrical blueprints' of the identified allergens, which reprograms the brain/body with the new message telling that these substances cause no harm.


• Nutritional and Lifestyle Counseling - in addition to some laboratory procedures, a patient with allergy issues may be given nutritional and lifestyle counseling, which helps that person adjusts to eating a much healthier foods and embrace a much healthier lifestyle. He may also receive customized or specialized diet guidelines (e.g. therapeutic elimination diet or cleansing protocols).

Finding a good chiropractor in your area

You might want to consider going to a chiropractor to seek for help so it is imperative that you go to a proven-reputable one. The Internet can be a great help to find some prospects. You can search through local directories such as Google Places, Yahoo Local, Yelp, etc. - they are huge repositories of local businesses info in your area, including chiropractor local listings.

Cervical Spondylosis and the Balanced Approach of Chiropractic Care

Cervical spondylosis, also known as spinal arthritis, neck arthritis, or cervical osteoarthritis, is a disorder caused by abnormal growth of the bones of the neck and degeneration and mineral deposits in the cushions between the vertebrae. Over time, these changes can press down on one or more of the nerve roots. In advanced cases, the spinal cord becomes affected. Progressive neck pain is a key indication of this disorder. However, other body parts such as arms and legs can be affected as well.

Aging is the major risk factor of cervical spondylosis. It becomes more common as people age and tends to develop earlier in men than women. More than 85% of people over age 60 are affected, and by the age of 70, it is estimated that nearly 100% of men and 96% of women will have some degree of spondylosis. Other factors that can make a person more likely to develop spondylosis are genetics, smoking, occupation, mental health issues, past neck injury, severe arthritis, and past spine surgery.

Symptoms often develop slowly over time, but may start suddenly. Common symptoms include neck pain (which may radiate to the arms or shoulders), neck stiffness that worsens over time, loss of sensation or abnormal sensations in the shoulders, arms, or legs, weakness of the arms or legs, and headaches. Less common symptoms include loss of balance and loss of control over bladder or bowels. Cervical spondylosis may lead to certain complications such as chronic neck pain, fecal incontinence or urinary incontinence, progressive loss of muscle function or feeling, and permanent disability.

When the symptoms are too severe, most of the doctors may recommend surgery. However, there are other treatments available that do not require surgeries such as chiropractic treatment. They do not prescribe drugs or use surgery. Chiropractic approach includes ice/heat therapy, ultrasound, massage, lifestyle modification, and spinal adjustments.

A chiropractor works to restore mobility in the spinal joints and surrounding tissues and to strengthen the surrounding muscles to support the spine and restore its alignment. Chiropractic method is a balanced approach combining the best of its offers with the best stretching and strengthening therapies. Chiropractors believe that a healthy nervous system is synonymous with a healthy body.

Because cervical spondylosis is a part of the aging process, there is not much that can be done to prevent it. However, by doing healthy lifestyle habits and considering chiropractic care can be helpful to slow down its progress, reduce symptoms, and prevent complications. Any form of treatment will not reverse arthritis but chiropractic care can offer increased amount of cervical range of motion and maximum pain relief in a natural way.

The 5 Most Common Concerns About Chiropractic

"So what's the deal with chiropractic?", I was asked last week. As in, "what's really going on with that popping sound and is it really beneficial or is it kind of a fraud treatment?" This type of question is becoming more and more common in conversations I have with friends of friends or random restaurant/bar encounters. It's clear that general curiosity and skepticism are linked to my profession, but the only people asking me questions meet me in a setting that makes them feel they have "special access" to my honesty. So here they are! The 5 most common questions/concerns/reasons people avoid trying chiropractic care and my honest responses and solutions.

1-Fear of Neck Popping

Steven Seagal has no doubt made my profession a little more challenging. Hollywood has put more than a little fear into the hearts of people on my table when I take their head and neck into my hands. I think that over 80% of my using the word "relax" is connected to neck adjustments. This fear has created several types of chiropractic options. If this is a fear of yours, look for chiropractors that use tools to adjust, deep tissue techniques, or "non-rotatory" adjustments (adjustments with out the rotation or turning of your head). As for the traditional "popping" sound from an adjustment, I want you to know it's not a bone crunching, breaking or snapping. It's as simple as a pop you get from your knees when you squat down or a pop from the pull of a finger. The sound comes from the joints being stretched open and creating a small air bubble. This air bubble cushion creates more space for a "pinched nerve", allows better motion of the joint and indirectly relaxes muscles by releasing endorphins (your natural opiates!). But as I tell my patients, it's common to have that tensing, neck-protecting, survival mode fear and it's OK to opt-out of the "popping" adjustment.

2-Fear of the Lifetime Sales Pitch

I have fielded phone calls and seen faces of hesitation about signing up for an initial chiropractic appointment due to a fear of having to sign up for life. And I've met plenty of people in my profession that treat a care-plan like a car sale. There are tons of big words and analogies to use to convince someone to buy-in to an extensive treatment plan that they may not need. But questioning a doctor's opinion of an X-ray or diagnosis makes most people nervous. But guess what...you should! If your doctor can't explain to you in better terms, can't back up their reasoning, or makes you feel bad for asking questions-get another doctor. In my opinion, educating you is part of what we get paid to do. And the X-rays and testing we do to make a diagnosis is always an open topic to you. Know, however, your symptoms are not always directly correlated to your X-rays. Radiologist Medical Doctors will tell you there are "picture problems" and there are "problem problems", meaning that just because something shows up on an MRI or X-ray (picture) doesn't mean it's the definite cause of the pain/symptom/problem. Imaging is only necessary in a small number of cases, but there are plenty of chiropractors who often use a "scary" X-ray to pitch a long-term plan. So ask questions until you decide fully if the explanation makes sense and feels right to you.

3-Treatments Don't Last Long

Just getting an adjustment can do wonders to reset the nerves, joints, and even muscles in your body but it's by no means the total solution to correcting a problem. As simple laws of physics state, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. In daily life this equates to the idea that if you continue poor postural habits, have an inflammatory diet, and disregard the need to stretch and do some form of exercise you will have a reaction of discontent from your body over time. This also means that getting an adjustment is only going to create a long-term benefit if you also treat the muscles and ligaments and make changes at home too. The principal that muscles and ligaments stretch across joints and move them has created my theory on care. I've worked for chiropractors that use a combination of cold laser therapy, hot stone massage, focused deep tissue, rehab exercise and even infrared sauna heat to address the bones, joints, muscles and ligaments involved in your injury. There are also many chiropractors that stay up-to-date with nutritional seminars and sports exercise techniques to help you change your daily activities to make them helpful instead of harmful. Don't be afraid to ask for a referral to a physical therapist, yoga instructor or massage therapist to help your chiropractic care be more efficient and longer lasting!

4-Cost

Healthcare is expensive no doubt. And if you are shopping around for options, you should be aware of a few things. A typical 1st visit to an MD runs between $80 and $150 for the cash rate and you can expect to also pay for a prescription muscle relaxer, pain killer and/or anti-inflammatory medication. For your first visit with a chiropractor, you should be able to find a good doctor for around $50-100 including either your first treatment or an X-ray (if necessary). You will be expected to return to an M.D. after the course of medications to report changes or get a refill and you will pay about the same amount as the first visit and possibly end up with a referral to a physical therapist or massage therapist. You can get the same referral from a chiropractor with most insurance companies (this usually excludes HMO's). Everyone differs in treatments necessary but in general you should notice a difference in your pain levels by visit 6-8. So for chiropractic beginner treatment course, expect to pay about $35-$45 per treatment for a total of about a $300 investment to get a qualified diagnosis from a doctor and 6-8 treatments. This is highly cost-effective compared to the 2-3 visits you'd get with an MD plus cost of muscle relaxers or anti-inflammatory meds that may only calm and mask a problem. Physical therapy and massage are fantastic treatment methods too, but PT's and Licensed Massage Practitioners are not licensed/trained to give a diagnosis-they are only allowed to treat a problem already diagnosed as safe for them to treat so you may have to see an M.D. or D.C. first.

5-Fear of Becoming Addicted

People definitely enjoy good chiropractic treatments which has created a fear of becoming addicted or reliant on the care. I'd say this fear is as valid as an addiction to working out at the gym or taking yoga classes. Workouts, yoga and good chiropractic feel great because they release endorphins (natural happy molecules) into your body and help you connect with how your body feels. And the more you do them, the more you become aware when something feels "off" or "uncomfortable" which makes you want to do them more. So I don't deny that people can get a little bit addicted to care, but as long as you do the exercises and stretches recommended, you shouldn't feel that you rely on seeing a chiropractor (or any other medical professional) to "fix" you. Your care should be designed to help you figure out what needs to change in your life to be able to take care of your problems on your own and to only see your provider occasionally if the scales of a balanced life tip and you need a little extra help.

Do Chiropractors Work With Massage Therapists?

Chiropractic and massage therapy work very well together. So much so, that it's not uncommon for chiropractors to employ or lease space to massage therapists in their very own office.

Some people have visited a massage therapist for stress relief or to deal with a chronic neck or back pain problem. When they didn't quite get the lasting relief they were looking for, they went to see a chiropractor.

While the chiropractor can work wonders on moving the spine and returning it's normal function, some patients end up missing their regular massages. They begin to think that they are "cheating" on their chiropractor and get nervous about whether or not they should even mention their visits.

Your chiropractor will usually be very happy you are seeing a massage therapist (depending on your condition). While the chiropractor adjusts the spine to affect the nerves and the surrounding soft tissues (including the muscles), they may not be able to spend the half hour or an hour that you may need to really get our muscles relaxed.

Having a professional massage your and relax any muscle tightness and spasm will help the chiropractor's ability to give you a more relaxed, pain-free spinal adjustment. The more tense the muscles are when the doctor administers the adjustment, the less comfortable it can be.

From a long term stand point, the Doctor of Chiropractic is also happy to have the improved blood flow and relaxed muscles too. While the doctor moves the bones, it's ultimately the muscles that will end up maintaining the bones in their proper place.

If you typically spend all day sitting at the computer and your muscles tend to get very tense (like most of us), it makes sense that you'll benefit from regular massages. Your chiropractor will not object to this in most cases. Where some people experience problems is when they have a herniated disc, or other condition that involves a lot of inflammation.

When your muscles are very inflammed, a deep tissue massage may tend to increase the inflammation, making things temporarily more painful. When the muscles are more painful, they are more difficult to work with and can keep the chiropractor from being able to work on your spine to the degree that they would prefer.

Talk over any treatments that you are considering or currently doing with any health care provider. Many are okay, and don't think you're "cheating" on anyone.

The Surprising Benefits Of Seeing A Chiropractor

Chiropractors diagnose and treat individuals with problems related to the musculoskeletal system. Chiropractors have reported that there is a recent upsurge in the number of patients seeking out chiropractic care in lieu of more invasive treatments with a "traditional" practitioner. Abnormalities in the musculoskeletal system can often affect a patient's nervous system and overall general health. Chiropractic treatments generally focus on the spine using spinal manipulation. There are treatments for other joints and soft tissues. The chiropractic science is based on the belief that misalignments of spinal joints disrupts the nervous system and causes a break down in disease resistance. This results in poor overall health. Chiropractors deliver lifestyle counseling, exercise regimens, and health advisement.

Various Benefits

Multitudes of people seek the care of a chiropractor on a regular basis. There are many benefits of chiropractic care that will ultimately increase the quality of life. Some of these benefits are:

Total reduction in pain throughout entire body.
Decrease in the amount of joint pain especially for those with arthritis.
Relief of pressure on spine which decrease pain of the legs, knees, feet, and back.
Reduction in the amount of stiffness to treated areas.
Fewer muscle spasms.
Increase in range of motion.
Improved coordination.
Increased energy level.
Better self esteem.
Individual will feel much better overall.

Once there has been total realignment, pressure is relieved throughout the entire body. This stimulates the healing process allowing the body to heal as it normally would. Chiropractic treatments not only alleviate pain but help to heal joints and tissues as well.

Immediate Relief

Treatments offered by chiropractors often result in immediate relief for many individuals. These doctors have the skills to realign limbs and joints creating a sudden decline in pain. There are instances when manipulation can leave an individual achy and somewhat sore. This is due to the fact that body may have been misaligned for quite a long period of time. Chiropractors often report that many of their patients receive an almost immediate alleviation of pain and require just one chiropractic adjustment to become pain-free, although this is not typical of all patients.

Additional Info

Chiropractors are not licensed to prescribe medications. Many times, during the course of treatment, a chiropractor may discover that an individual has additional health problems and needs medical attention outside their realm of medicine. The patient will be referred for a consult with the proper type of health care professional. Most all chiropractors agree that there are numerous factors that may affect an individual's overall health. These include diet, exercise, heredity, environment, and rest. The wide variety of information on these factors, which most chiropractors provide to their patients, is another added benefit.

Contact a chiropractor now to find out if chiropractic care is right for treating your neck, back, shoulder, knee, joint, or other chronic or acute pain.

Chiropractic Care Can Help With Scoliosis

An abnormal curve of spine that results in a S or C shape that comes out laterally and makes non-visible and visible defect to the person is known as scoliosis. This does not take place because of lack of care of certain actions that result in spine curvature. This is not even contagious. Chiropractic treatment can always be helpful in case of this condition. It is a natural treatment method and can provide long term solution for scoliosis.

Scoliosis is known as an idiopathic disease. This is because no one knows for sure the exact reason or its cause. It is a wrong notion that this is caused by being too athletic or carrying heavy things. This can affect people of any age but you can usually see it in between childhood and adolescence when the growth takes place and the curvature in the spine is easily visible.

Scoliosis can change the appearance of a person if there are uneven shoulders and the lump on the back of a person is visible. In case of double curvature where the spine bends twice, it is not easily seen. Using pilates, an exercise pattern is created along with thoughtful breathing and movement that can help make your body more flexible and efficient.

Other methods that can help are application of heating pads, massage, hydrotherapy and ice for temporary pain relief. Before you get into other treatment methods like surgery or braces, you should go for chiropractic treatment for scoliosis. This treatment method focuses on rehabilitative as well as manipulative treatment methods. It is said to be more effective than other methods to treat this condition.

This condition can fix itself for some people. So, you should not worry too much. But one thing to keep in mind is to not ignore it. Ignoring this condition can lead to serious consequences over time and hence you should go to your chiropractor if you see symptoms build up over time. Chiropractic provides you improved range of mobility by spinal manipulation. You can feel overall wellness once you take up this form of treatment. There are many advantages of chiropractic as it helps the body to heal on its own. Scoliosis can be easily treated with the help of this treatment method. You can expect long term results from chiropractic. If you are suffering from scoliosis and do not know what to do, contact your chiropractor soon.

Low Back Pain and Hock Problems in Horses - Animal Chiropractic

Low Back and Hock Issues

The Hock of your horse is the anatomical equivalent to your heel and Achilles tendon. The muscle just above the hock would be equal to your calf muscle. Many times I see owners getting the hocks injected for swelling and inflammation. The injection is great for reducing the pain and swelling but what about the cause. That's right the cause... How about the low back. The hock issue can cause strain on the low back and the low back can put strain on the hock. Many owners never find out why the hocks continue to get irritated.

The low back can have subluxations and or muscle strain which will cause your horse to push harder off the hock. Sometimes your Vet may tell you it is a conformation problem combined with the work you are asking of your horse. This may be true in some cases but what can be done to minimize the stress and resultant inflammation? This question usually revolves around getting the hocks injected periodically.

You have to think about it this way... the hock inflammation is a symptom and injecting the symptom does not fix the cause, ie spraying water on the smoke detector instead of the fire somewhere else in the house. So what can be done? Many times there may be a subluxation complex {joints irritating nerves} within the sacroiliac [pelvic joint] inhibiting collection and adding hock stress. Sometimes there can be a muscle issue with trigger points within the calf muscle equivalent causing tension in the Achilles tendon. This Achilles tendon tension may result in abnormal hock movement and inflammation.

The stifle may even have a hand in the altered movement. To add to all of this there may even be a lower cervical [neck] subluxation causing erroneous biomechanics in the spine and transfer the abnormal weight shift of your horse to the hocks. Finally there may be a hoof issue causing the problem as well. What can you do about all this. Well first of all beyond hock injections having an Equine Chiropractor evaluate your horse for subluxation and biomechanics along with your farrier is imperative. The biomechanics [how your horse moves] of the entire horse is often never addressed. If there is not an inborn abnormality within the hocks [rare] or a disease process then the cause must be biomechanical and your chiropractor and farrier are experts in this field.

Custom Orthotics, Chiropractors Use This to Improve Balance and Alignment Reducing Spine Problems

As a Doctor of chiropractic I treat many patients for alignment and pain related issues with their spine, joints, and feet using many techniques and tools to return them to proper functional health. One of the most promising solutions I've found for my patients, are specifically designed shoe inserts which help solve many alignment problems in the back.

Posture Issues and Imbalance:

During standing and walking our bodies are subjected to forces and postures that can inflict great stress and strain throughout our back, pelvic joints and muscles. When foot imbalance occurs, there is negative impact on your knees, hips, pelvis, and spine. Foot imbalance contributes to fatigue, misalignment, and pain in areas throughout your body; they may occur even if you're not experiencing foot pain. Other problems that create imbalance are your lifestyle, age, weight and activity levels. Any one of these factors will greatly contribute to the slow degeneration of discs in the spine, certain joints, and the bones and ligaments in your feet.

When a patient comes in for the initial exam, most will receive x-rays to verify pelvic stability in their hips and many patients receive a free foot and posture analysis. Employing a special digital postural analysis system instantly delivers impressions of your feet which provides immediate answers that will tell if you have a pronation (flat arch) or supination (high arch) in each foot. If the test indicates one or the other, you can be assured that your feet are not providing the proper support for your vertebrae or other parts of the body.

If there is an imbalance detected from the scan along with any problems detected in the x-rays, a combination of custom shoe inserts and chiropractic therapy will start the correction of spinal issues and joint related problems.

The digital scan of your feet is sent directly to the manufacturer where the inserts are custom made to match the exact dimensions of each foot taking into account any pronated or supinated areas found in the three arches of each foot.

Health Benefits of Inserts (Spinal/Pelvic Stabilizers) For Your Back:

Once you've fitted the custom stabilizers in each shoe, you will need to break them in on a gradual basis. It is recommended that every patient start by wearing them for 2-3 hours daily. Over the next 2 weeks you will feel less stress and fatigue through out your legs and back, especially your hips, knees, and feet. You'll definitely feel an improved difference in how your lower back feels if your job requires you to be on your feet for extended periods of time.

By having properly designed inserts in your shoes, any excessive arch problems will, over time, be eliminated which improves your feet ability to absorb the shock and pounding they must take everyday. This also helps reduce the repetitive stress in the discs in your spine and other joints and muscles which permits smoother function and helps decrease arthritic symptoms.

You may be asking, "Is one pair of inserts good for using in any style of shoe you work or play in?" The answer depends on the design of the shoe, dress or casual, slip on or tied, narrow or wide. As you can see, it's not always a "one size fits all". As your life and activity levels change, so does the shape of your feet. And different shoe styles require different size inserts. There is no harm in having more than one pair of stabilizers for dress or recreation, but it is recommended that whenever you get your first set of inserts, you consider taking them with you to your favorite shoe store and fit them in shoes you're considering for purchase. This way, you will know that you have an exact fit, saving you time, money and your back.

For more information on back problems and other chiropractic services please visit your local DC or just take a little time to do some searching on the net and you will find out why the issues I've discussed above are vitally important to deal with sooner than later.

Kettlebells and Chiropractic - A Winning Combination!

After 18 years as a successful chiropractor I have finally discovered what I believe to be the very best tool for improving the back-strength and overall health of my patients. That tool is the kettlebell - something I had never heard of until a few years ago. I have to admit that initially they intimidated me...until I needed them for my own injury.

The Doctor Becomes a Patient

Growing up I was always extremely athletic in high school and college. I lettered in volleyball, softball, and basketball, and I became a Doctor of Chiropractic because I knew firsthand how important a strong and well-aligned body is for physical activity.

As an athlete and a doctor I never experienced any problems with back pain - until about 8 years ago. I was adjusting a very large male patient (6′3″ 300lbs), something I never had a problem with in the past because of my use of proper techniques.

Somehow this time was different. When I applied my force into this patient's body to adjust his hips - nothing moved. I felt like I had just attempted to pass my hands through a pillar of marble. The resulting wave of resistance immediately reverberated through my entire spine. At that moment I knew I was injured.

I did everything I tell my injured patients to do. I stretched, iced, went for massage, received chiropractic care, physical therapy, and acupuncture treatments. Being in the healthcare profession, the treatment I received was the best available. At times I was in the offices of other providers 5-6 times per week.

Frustration with Traditional Methods

The treatments kept my back functioning so that I could do my job but the repair and healing of my body did not progress. If I sneezed it would throw my back into spasms. If I slept wrong I would have to wear a back support for a week. This was more than pain and inconvenience - my very livelihood was at stake! Nobody wants to put their trust in a chiropractor who clearly has a bad back herself. So I did everything I could to hide and mask my pain from my patients.

Two years into this constant pain I knew I had to try something different. I hired a personal trainer (a former N.F.L. player) who I hoped would whip me into shape. After 6 months, although I gained arm and leg strength, my body did not tone up the way I expected and my back pain did not improve. In fact it got worse. There would be times when I would spend half an hour on the treadmill in the evening and not be able to get out of bed the next morning.

Impressing A Skeptic

About this time I came across a book titled Beyond Stretching, by Pavel Tsatsouline. There was something different here. There were stretches in this book that I had never seen before. Even my physical therapy associates were impressed with this new and cutting-edge material. I had a feeling that Pavel could help me with my back, and hoped this might be the answer to restore my health and the future of my practice.

Fortunately I live close to Seattle because at that time Pavel was visiting the city twice each year. I took his stretching, strengthening and abdominal class. I was impressed - not something easily accomplished because I do body work myself, but also because I had experienced so many disappointments.

After attending Pavel's classes my stretching improved and my pain was decreasing. In fact, I was so impressed that I encouraged all of my patients and colleagues to attend Pavel's seminars. I had patients drive 70-80 miles one-way to attend Pavel's seminars, and I would bring no fewer than 10 people with me each time. I always made sure to bring my most acute patients - the ones I knew would experience the most benefit by attending.

When Pavel witnessed my third trek to Seattle with patients in tow, he was impressed with my commitment and suggested that I train with kettlebells - round cast-iron weights, like cannonballs with handles. He even implied that I should become certified as a kettlebell trainer to assist my patients. Well, I was more than slightly intimidated - in my mind there was no way I could throw around this big piece of iron without inflicting further injury. But everything Pavel had showed me so far was helping, and I was intrigued. I ended up purchasing a kettlebell, but picked it up maybe five times before it began to gather dust at home. I was so out of shape that I would get winded swinging the kettlebell only twenty times. Being an athlete, I think it hurt my ego more than anything else!

One Demonstration Makes All the Difference

Then in October 2004 I was fortunate enough to attend another one of Pavels stretching and strengthening seminars that included a quick kettlebell demonstration. One of the people who spoke was Dave Werner, RKC. He related his experience with severe lower back pain, nerve damage in his leg, and using a cane to walk.

I couldn't believe it - this man had recovered and looked like an Olympic athlete! Right then I knew I had to give kettlebells another chance. I not only needed to try them for myself, but for the benefit of all my patients that were in the same predicament as me.

I hired Dave to show me what to do, and one month into my training I sneezed - and had NO PAIN!! For almost five years I had been in pain from the slightest movement, and after one month of training with kettlebells I was able to sneeze and not have pain. That may not seem like much to you, but for me it was a miracle. I started training harder and signed up for the April 2005 RKC. People must have thought I was crazy because I hadn't exercised in well over a year due to my pain and now I wanted to go and subject myself to three days of Russian boot camp!

The more I trained in preparation for the RKC the more my fitness improved, and my back pain quickly became a thing of the past. I made it to the RKC and survived - believe me, I had lots of sore muscles, but never a twinge in my lower back. I had been given my life back!

Sharing the Secret

When I returned from the training I soon began working with one of my worst back injury patients. The type of patient I see has extreme back pain and most of them have such poor body mechanics and muscle tone that they can't even do a squat correctly. They're afraid to move their body, believing they can prevent spasms by not moving, so I start them out slowly. This particular patient had constant pain and couldn't do even simple household chores such as vacuuming or cleaning dishes.

I started her out with the 4 Kg. bell, doing squats and swings in 5 sets of 5 reps each. If you've ever lifted the 4 Kg. bell, it weighs almost nothing, but it was heavy enough for her body and started improving her strength. We continued her chiropractic adjustments twice per week to control her pain and prevent spasms. After three weeks I introduced an 8 Kg. bell for one of the five sets, and her spine was starting to hold so I reduced her office visits to once per week. After training her for five weeks she had only minimal pain. Soon after this she vacuumed her whole house without assistance - something she had not done in three years. You've never seen someone so excited about being able to vacuum the floor!

Soon after she was able to go almost two weeks before she needed an adjustment and I then added a figure eight with the 8 Kg. bell to expand her range of motion. It's important for those with chronic back pain to expand their abilities so they don't give in to the fear of triggering a back spasm. Kettlebells allow this incremental increase, and it builds confidence in patients like nothing I've seen before.

Kettlebells - the Missing Ingredient?

I've seen the kettlebell workout help one of my associates with his asthma. Another eliminated her wrist and knee pain after 6 weeks of doing kettlebells. Like me, she was very worried about her career as a chiropractor because her wrists kept giving out. Now she is stronger and more confident that she can do her job for years to come.

I'm still amazed at the improvement in back stability that comes with kettlebell training. I feel like a kid again! I can honestly say I started getting in the best shape of my life - after only 8 months of training! I now work a full day in my practice and then train people with kettlebells one-on-one and in groups 4-5 nights a week.

I now believe kettlebells to be the single most important tool that can be added to a recovery training schedule. There are too many people out there who cannot enjoy life, who are merely existing because of their back pain. Their abdominals and back muscles are so weak from repeated spasms that they fall apart with any activity. I believe all of them can be helped with kettlebells.

It's important to start slowly, primarily because of the weakness and lost muscle tone that develops from repeated muscle spasms, but also because of the mental block created by the fear of pain. Kettlebells allow you to do this. I know, because I've been there. But at 44 years old I now feel better than I did in my twenty's, and I can't wait to see how I will be a year from now. I give a huge thanks to Pavel Tsatsouline for giving me my life back!

Chiropractic Patient Appreciation Event

The patient appreciation event is an event every chiropractor should plan for at least once a year. What is the patient appreciation event? A patient appreciation event is an event where the chiropractor simply thanks patients for regularly visiting his practice to address health issues.

A recent survey conducted by the US Chamber of Commerce found that the reason people leave their current supplier (in this case healthcare provider) is because of a perceived attitude of indifference. In today's fast-paced world, most companies and professional practices make the mistake of not simply showing their appreciation to their customers.

By simply staging an event to indicate that you appreciate your patients, you will find that you build much goodwill and loyalty with your current patients. It is recommended that the ideal venue for staging such an event would be a lunch or dinner event.

Following are the steps for deploying a patient appreciation event:

-Set a date for the event.

-Develop marketing communications to announce the event. The communication should, first of all, express appreciation to customers for visiting your practice. It should also indicate that as part of your ongoing dedication to the health of your patients, you strive to keep current on the latest healthcare practices in order to provide your patients with the very best in chiropractic care.

-Place a sign at your front check-in desk announcing the patient appreciation event so that when patients visit your office they were reminded of the event.

-Arrange for a location for the event and handle all of the logistics such as deciding on the meals to be served and what else will occur at the event.

-It is suggested that during a portion of the event the chiropractor addresses the group and again thank them for being a patient. He should then deliver a short speech with information on the latest healthcare trends and how it affects patient health.

-During the event, the chiropractor should announce that he always values feedback from patients on what can be done to provide a higher level of service. He should indicate that he is passing out a questionnaire about rating the level of service provided and to seek suggestions from those attending   to improve the level of service provided.

-After the event, a personal thank you note should be sent to all who attended to again express appreciation.

Staging a patient appreciation event positions a practice in a very positive way. Experience of other chiropractors who staged a patient appreciation event indicates that the impact from such an event on practice profitability and patient satisfaction with services provided can be very positive.

Now is the time to begin planning for your first patient appreciation event. After staging such an event, if your experiences are like those of most chiropractors, you'll find staging such an event is a very positive experience. If you have never staged such an event, you might talk to other chiropractors who have and learn of their experiences and obtain advice from them how to best stage such an event.

How to Get a Good Ranking With Google Places

When Google first came out, people were awed by the clean interface of this easy to use search engine. Since then, Google has dominated the search engine industry and they will continue to do so for many more years to come. In fact, the word Google often comes to mind when anybody thinks of looking for something on the Internet. Aside from that, there are also new devices like smart phones and tablets that can be used to access the Internet. If you consider all of these factors, it only goes to show that more and more people will use Google to search for the websites and services they need on the Internet. The fact that Google has also released new features like Google Maps and Google Places only adds to the search engine's appeal.

If you own a business that relies on web traffic for a steady flow of customers, then you simply cannot ignore Google. To cater to the growing needs of small local business owners, Google has also created Google Places. This is a new search tool that will help users locate businesses and service providers that operate within their immediate vicinity. This tool used to be called Google Local and it was formerly an add-on feature to Google's popular Google Maps service. Since then, it has grown into an indispensable tool for many Google users and local business owners.

Google Places is a very useful tool and it has become very popular in recent times. While online shopping has become very popular and many people are attracted to the idea of buying the things that they need without having to leave the comforts of their home, there are still some situations where you will need to visit an actual physical location. When you are in need of a good tailor or a convenient laundry shop, you will have to go to a physical location to have your measurements taken or to do your laundry. Google Places was created to help people deal with these kinds of needs. These days, you can just do a local search for a dentist in New York or a Chiropractor in Chicago and Google Places will handle the rest.

If you are a local business owner, then Google Places is perhaps a very useful tool that you can use to get more customers. If you want your business to be ready for the future, then you will have to make sure that you rank well in searches involving Google Places. The competition these days is getting tougher and tougher and you will need every advantage you can get to keep ahead of the competition. This is why achieving and maintaining a good ranking in Google Places will allow you to get more customers and earn more profits.

If you want to rank well on Google Places, the first thing you will have to do is to sign up for a Google account. After that, you can then add a new listing. You can use this to register your business for Google Places. Make sure that you get all the little details like your contact numbers and your business address right. You should also provide as much relevant information as you can. It will also help if you can add other things like videos and pictures. Once you have entered all of the required information, you will have to choose a method that Google can use to verify your information. This can be done through telephone or post. This is a crucial step so make sure to get it right. After your information has been verified, then you are now eligible to be a part of Google Places.

Chiropractors - Be Proactive To Avoid OSHA Citations and Fines

As I learn more about chiropractic I am quickly realizing they have a huge job to communicate what chiropractic is to the general public. That mission can be easily side tracked while trying to run a business worrying about the day in and day out details. One detail that commonly gets over looked is a clinics regulatory obligation to provide a safe workplace under the OSHA Act.

A quick fact - Employers with one or more employees must comply with OSHA regulations. This is no different for Chiropractic Clinics they are required to meet minimum OSHA requirements if they have one or more employees. Knowing and understanding what OSHA regulations apply to you is key to avoiding citations and fines.

As stated above, chiropractors have more import items to worry about when running a clinic then OSHA compliance. However, not being proactive could be a mistake. While OSHA inspections are not common place in the SIC code 8041 (chiropractic clinics) they do occur. When a fine is assessed the average cost is $1028.00 before any informal settlements.

Being proactive, and getting your OSHA compliance house in order can help you avoid this potentially costly trap. When developing an OSHA compliance strategy consider the following 3 key components

- A safety program manual that addresses only the programs that are required for your chiropractic clinic that meets minimum OSHA requirements. To complete this you can develop one yourself, find a local safety consultant or search the internet to find a provider. A word of caution, many safety manuals are available online and may meet your needs for providing the required safety programs but not address the next 2 items below.

- Ensure required safety training is completed and documented. Many of the safety programs you will need to develop and maintain require training at different intervals. Annually, is a common frequency but is not always the requirement. Take the time to develop a training matrix so you know when and who needs to be trained.

- OSHA doesn't require that you complete physical inspections but they do require that you maintain compliance with standard requirements. As an example, the machine guarding standard would require guards in certain machinery be maintained. The best way to ensure guards are in place when required is to complete routine inspections so you can see they are on and working as intended.

Being proactive when developing your safety program, safety training and inspection strategies can pay off if you do get an OSHA inspection and they don't have to be time consuming or expensive. There are many safety professionals that want to help you succeed. They understand your mission is to talk to the public about chiropractic. Not OSHA compliance and the details that come with a compliance program.

How X-Ray Helps Doctors See the Real Truth

X-rays usually worry people due to the popular dangers of radiation and its possible effects. But X-ray has a lot of uses that makes it more beneficial than dangerous especially in terms of diagnosing abnormalities and health issues.

In chiropractic care, these diagnostic images allow chiropractor's to look into the bones and joints as well as soft tissues more clearly. With the use of x-ray, they Chiropractic doctors can evaluate the condition of the bones and provide accurate diagnosis. However, x-rays are not really necessary in all cases.

What do Chiropractic Doctors See on Your X-Rays?

A chiropractic doctor will take necessary x-ray images to look into bones and joints as well as affected or related soft tissues, muscles and fat. The details of muscles and fat are not usually food on x-rays compared to the bones and joints which are clearly shown. X-rays taken on weight-bearing positions (standing) will show the different normal and abnormal curves of the spine as well as the severity of damage or changes in joints.

Doctors can evaluate the over-all health of your bones, verify whether or not there are congenital abnormalities with your bones, any fractures and dislocations, infections, arthritic conditions as well as tumors in your bones and joints. These can significantly change the way your treatment should progress.

Do You Need X-Ray for Your Chiropractic Care?

Before, almost all patients in chiropractic care needs an x-ray examination. But these days, new research and education made the need for x-rays less often. Today, x-rays are required depending on the case information from your physical information as well as the information you give to your Chiropractic doctor. Chiropractor's will definitely need x-rays in cases of trauma to evaluate fractures as well as cancer patients undergoing chiropractic care. These two cases demonstrate the clinical thinking underlying the decision as to whether or not an x-ray examination is needed.

Older patients may be required x-ray examinations to find chiropractic-relevant issues as they are more likely to have "brittle bone disease." An x-ray exam will help chiropractor's decide on the type of treatment to give.

X-ray Safety and Necessity

Many people are wary of undergoing x-ray examinations because of the exposure to radiation. This should not be the case, x-ray uses minimal radiation exposure and the risk of damage to the cells is exceptionally low. You can trust your chiropractor to be well-trained in the safety of your x-ray examination.

Your doctor will only take the necessary views and special screens may be used to lessen the amount of energy used. In most cases, x-rays are filtered to ensure that unnecessary frequencies are not used. Chiropractor's who specifically need frequent x-rays for diagnosis and treatment will use collimation to narrow down the size of the beam and prefer films that shortens exposure time. Doctors who take x-rays are required to have their equipment regularly inspected and are licensed to take x-rays.

Chiropractic Manipulation Helps Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Osteoarthritis of the hip is a common joint disorder, which can cause pain, inflammation, and stiffness. Age is a top contributing factor for the disorder. Other factors include family history, obesity, overuse, or a previous fracture or injury. Hip pain caused by osteoarthritis is often combined with stiffness, swelling, limited range of motion, and difficulty walking or sitting for extended periods of time.

Positive lifestyle changes can help reduce the symptoms associated with osteoarthritis. Maintaining a healthy diet and weight, getting ample rest, getting your alignment checked and exercising regularly can help limit your pain and stiffness. Exercise helps with strength and movement of the joints. Swimming is particularly beneficial since it can help improve strength and mobility of the joints but is non-weight bearing.

Chiropractic care for osteoarthritis of the hip has been studied and has been recommended as an effective treatment. In a major study, "Comparison of manual therapy and exercise therapy in osteoarthritis of the hip: a randomized clinical trial," researchers compared the effectiveness of chiropractic mobilizations and manipulations of the hip joint with an exercise only program (no manipulations or mobilizations).1 The study followed more than one hundred patients with osteoarthritis of the hip in a single-blind, randomized clinical trial. Half of the participants received the chiropractic manual therapy and the other half received the exercise program. Success rates for the manual therapy group were 81% compared to only 50% for the exercise group. "The manual therapy group had significantly better outcomes on pain, stiffness, hip function, and range of motion."1

The research showed that while exercise can be beneficial for patients with osteoarthritis of the hip, that manual therapy provided by a chiropractor is superior to exercise alone and can greatly improve a patient's quality of life.

Chiropractic is a natural form of healing that uses manual therapies (commonly adjustments) and other physiotherapy modalities. A chiropractic adjustment is one of the most common forms of manual therapy used by chiropractors. In this study, adjustments were made to the hip and spine (manipulation or mobilization). A manipulation is a high velocity action performed with specific, directed force, which helps to move the joint beyond the patient's passive (or resting) range of motion to achieve its full range of movement. Mobilization is a low velocity action applied within the patient's normal (active) range of motion.

Chiropractic adjustments are intended to restore proper body alignment, range, and quality of motion. The patients in this study who received the adjustments experienced a better outcome in managing their hip pain. Further, more than six months after the adjustments, the patients were still experiencing the positive benefits of the manual therapy, suggesting the long- term effects of the therapy.

Chiropractic care is a safe and cost effective alternative to surgery. While some patients with osteoarthritis of the hip will inevitably need surgery, it is well worth the effort to a visit to a chiropractor first. Hip adjustments by a chiropractor may help you avoid or at least delay the need for surgery.

References
1. Hoeksma HL, Dekker J, Ronday HK, et al. Comparison of manual therapy and exercise therapy in osteoarthritis of the hip: a randomized clinical trial. Arthritis Rheum. Oct 15 2004;51(5):722-729.