Prevention Of Abdominal Pain With The Help Of Chiropractic

Abdominal pain is also known as stomach ache and bellyache. It is simply defined as the pain that is caused in belly. The abdomen starts from below your chest and goes till your groin. So, you can feel the discomfort in any area from your chest to your groin. This is a very common condition. Since there are many organs in the abdomen, the pain can arise anywhere or in any organ. Pancreas, colon, stomach, liver, small intestine and the gall bladder are the organs that fall under abdomen. The pain can either be mild or severe and it can put you in a position of discomfort. Acute and chronic abdominal pain are the two categories of abdominal pain. The reasons for abdominal pain depend on the age of the patient and the seriousness of his or her condition. It can equally be caused to children or adults.

The pain in case of minor abdominal cramp can lead to serious conditions like colon cancer and appendicitis if not paid attention. At times, serious abdominal pain can be caused from simple situations like viral gastroenteritis and gastric problem. You should go for chiropractic treatment as it is one of the best ways to handle and treat abdominal pain. Some of the possible causes of this discomfort can be food poisoning, constipation problem, gastric problem, food allergy, viral gastroenteritis, heartburn, urinary tract infection, hernia, kidney stones, Crohn's disease, pelvic inflammatory disease, lactose intolerance, endometriosis, pancreatitis, parasite infections, muscle strain, inflammation of the gall bladder, GERD ad irritable bowel syndrome.

In case you are experiencing serious or mild pain, you should consult your chiropractor. If the discomfort becomes sudden and sharp or having pain in the neck or shoulder, in the chest or if blood is being eliminated from your body, then you should go for treatment immediately.

Chiropractic Care for Neck Injuries

The neck or cervical spine can be injured in many ways. A common injury to the neck is whiplash which can occur in an automobile accident, sports injury or fall. The neck is forced into hyperextension during rear-end collisions, falling backwards or being struck from behind in various sporting games.

Hyperextension of the neck results in backward slipping of vertebrae which leads to impinged and swollen nerves. Stretching of the anterior ligament and anterior vertebral disc of the cervical spine also occurs. Hyperextension is followed by hyper-flexion which stretches the posterior ligament and posterior vertebral disc also creating swollen and irritated nerves. Whiplash results in an abnormal position of the cervical spine, misaligned vertebrae and stretched ligaments.

If the forces of injury are great enough or the underlying health of the disc is poor injury can result in a herniation or bulge of the cervical disc. In addition to neck pain symptoms of arm and hand pain, numbness or tingling, weakness in the upper extremity may also occur.

Neck injury resulting in cervical sprain and/or strain, spinal joint restrictions, and non-surgical cervical disc bulges respond very well to chiropractic care. The treatment approaches utilized depend on the diagnosis, severity and stage of recovery for the injury.

A chiropractor in Torrance is well trained in the diagnosis and treatment of neck injuries.

A thorough exam will determine areas of restricted motion, disc injury, muscle spasm and ligament injury. Diagnostic imaging is often required in cases of trauma to fully assess the degree of injury. A complete orthopedic and neurological exam will also be performed.

With all the information gathered an effective treatment plan will be implemented. Your Chiropractor in Torrance uses a combination of spinal manipulation, manual soft tissue techniques, physiotherapy modalities and rehabilitative exercises to reduce your pain, restore function and get you back to health. Nutritional therapies are also very valuable to reduce inflammation and pain naturally and to assist the body in the healing process.

Spinal manipulation techniques utilize non-force and gentle thrusting techniques to restore motion to the spine, improve alignment and restore normal nervous system function. The type of manipulative therapy applied will be appropriate for the degree and stage of recovery for the injury. Examples of non-force techniques include flexion-distraction technique and instrument assisted manipulation. Non-force techniques are preferable for disc injuries, ligament damage resulting in hyper-mobility of the spine and when the patient is in a lot of pain.

Manual therapies are used to treat injured soft tissues such as ligaments and muscles. Trigger point therapy relieves tight painful points on a muscle. Isometric relaxation techniques use resistance and stretching to treat muscles in spasm or that have become shortened. Therapeutic massage helps to increase circulation, remove toxins and reduce tension in the soft tissue.

In addition to spinal manipulation and manual therapies, physiotherapy modalities such as ultra-sound and interferential electrical stimulation are very helpful in reducing pain, swelling, spasms and stiffness. Increased blood circulation enhances healing.

Rehabilitative exercises following a neck injury are extremely important. Initially range of motion exercises will be implemented and done to tolerance. Strengthening and postural exercises will follow to help restore strength to the injured muscles and return normal postural alignment to the body.

Chiropractic care for your neck injury is an effective, safe, non-surgical and cost effective approach to return you to your normal activities so you can enjoy your life.

Chiropractic And Short Leg Syndrome

A short leg syndrome, or limb leg discrepancy, is characterized with one leg shorter than the other leg, which is commonly seen in children than adult. It is categorized into two types: structural and functional. Structural type is described having a shorter leg primarily due to hip disorder or anatomical hip abnormality, decrease knee joint space, or a history of fracture or injury. On the other hand, the functional type does not contain an unequal leg length. This second type has the same leg length, but one leg appears shorter than the other one. This is believed to be under a biochemical cause.

A syndrome is a collection of symptoms. These symptoms include short leg, pain on the hips and knees discomforts, nerve swelling on the lumbar area and sciatic nerve, pain on the ankles and foot, and poor balance when in standing position or while running or walking. If this condition is left untreated, then complications may occur like weakness or paralysis of the lower extremities.

Chiropractic care is considered as one of the most effective alternative healthcare systems in handling and treating short leg syndrome. People are seeking other methods of treatment aside from taking pain reliever medications and surgery. It is known that most pain killer drugs have side effects that may be harmful to the human body. Chiropractic is known to treat different nerve, muscle, bone and joint problems and disorders.

Spinal manipulation is the most customary method of treatment that chiropractors use. It is done by delivering several gentle thrusts on the spinal column. Its main objective is to bring the spine back to its standard anatomical position and structure. Chiropractors believe that nerve compression is the primary cause of physical discomfort and pain. Therefore, to alleviate pain, the nerves must be decompressed.

In treating short leg syndrome using chiropractic care, chiropractors perform different kinds of treatments without the use of pharmaceutical drugs or invasive procedures. Prior to any procedure or treatment to be given to the patient, a diagnosis is needed. Diagnosis can be obtained from medical history, physical assessment, and laboratory tests. Once a diagnosis has been verified, the chiropractor designs the most appropriate chiropractic therapy program for the patient.

Chiropractors also teach their patients about home exercise and home care treatments. These are very important for the patient to follow to obtain the best result. Chiropractors emphasize to their patients the advantages of maintaining a good posture, exercise, maintaining normal body weight, and proper lifting techniques. These health teachings are essential to prevent the recurrence of the disorder and pain. Compliance of the patient is one of the most important things to consider. This is primarily because no matter if the best therapy program is provided to the patient, without the cooperation of the patient, then success is unachievable.

Short leg syndrome is manageable through chiropractic care. Chiropractic care aims to restore physical functioning without difficulties and preserve human health as much as possible. Chiropractors believe that the body can heal on its own if all body parts are functioning properly. Therefore, any deformity or misalignment must be treated as soon as possible. Remember, prevention is still the best treatment and cure.

Chiropractic Approach for Weight Loss

Excess weight is associated with many health problems, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, breast cancer, colon cancer, and gallbladder disease. Being overweight can bring you feeling of embarrassment, make you feel uncomfortable, and lower your self-esteem.

Having excess weight is usually caused by excessive food intake and physical strain. While obesity can be developed for other, internal reasons such as a result of the violation as hypothalamic-small but highly important department brain decreased pancreatic secretions and the thyroid glands, adrenal.

Overeating has various causes which include stress, boredom, food or comfort issues and malnutrition. Malnutrition is the most common physical reason for overeating. Your body is getting plenty of calories, but can still be deficient in one or more nutrients. Your body has the tendency to continue the feeling of hunger which makes you keep on eating; trying to obtain the nutrient you are deficient with. Because of it, you get to eat more than you should and put on weight. Most of the people try to lose weight by eating less, but doing so may even bring nutrient deficiency, which only increases their hunger sensation.

The increased deficiency in nutrients causing increased hunger makes it extremely hard for people to simply cut down on the amount of the food they eat which makes the reason why most diets fail. Many studies suggest a multifaceted approach to weight loss which would include behavior modification, nutritional guidance, and physical activity. A chiropractor is very helpful for people who are considering weight loss. Chiropractors offer nutritional guidance which can help patients evaluate their nutritional needs with their current lifestyle.

To achieve weight loss success, evaluating your individual needs should be the first step. In addition, your chiropractor also gives encouragement and advice. Chiropractic strategies for weight loss include spinal manipulation, massage, and nutritional advice.

Studies have shown that spinal manipulation has been effective in weight loss management. Spinal manipulation improves flexibility and takes the pressure off the spinal cord. Aligning the spine helps in the absorption of essential nutrients and distribution of oxygen. If done properly and regularly, you can lose weight gradually with manipulation and chiropractic weight loss exercise combined.

Research shows that massage can have a beneficial effect on the body's muscle-building capabilities and fitness levels, which in turn increases your capacity to control or lose weight. Chiropractic massages can help tone and strengthen your muscles. When your muscles become firm and well-toned, the excess fats in the adipose tissues in your body will be reduced.

The chiropractor will advise you to observe a healthy lifestyle as there would be no drugs, no alcohols and no vices. You'll be advised to get enough sleep, no drinking of coffee and no smoking; but rather, drinking plenty of water and natural fruit juices. Having this lifestyle will help in your weight loss program due to reduction of calorie intake and substitution of nutritious foods.

A body that is flexible, relaxed, and is making better use of its oxygen and nutrients, is far more likely to be successful in a diet and exercise routine. Anything that benefits the overall wellness of your body or mind, will simultaneously prepare you for success in losing weight. While undergoing chiropractic care, you can achieve not only ideal weight, but also healthy mind and body.

What to Do When Your Chiropractic Office Receives an Insurance Audit

Unfortunately, for many chiropractors, it's no longer IF you receive an audit letter from a third party insurance payer (such as Medicare, Blue Cross, Aetna, etc) but WHEN you receive one! Despite the fear and anxiety that receiving an audit notice can bring, going into a complete panic will not help. Instead, here are a few tips for handling your chiropractic audit effectively, efficiently and successfully:

1. Extreme Behavior is Not Necessary! Although receiving an audit letter can certainly bring out extreme emotions, responding in the extreme will not help. In other words, do not panic and do not ignore the letter. Just because you received notice of an intended audit -- whether it is from Medicare or any other third party payer -- does not mean that you are guilty of some offense. Some audits are completely random and conducted routinely with no suspicion cast toward your billing activities, documentation ability or treatment parameters. So do not panic in the presence of an audit letter. Don't assume that your documentation is substandard. Don't automatically determine they will find your records insufficient and make plans to be subversive. On the other hand, do not ignore the audit letter. Instead, plan to take action.

2. Know Your State Laws! You do have legal rights depending on the state in which you practice in regards to how audits can be conducted in your state. For example, if you are an out of network provider, there is a possibility that the carrier cannot audit unless they suspect fraud. On the other hand a governmental entity like Medicare definitely can audit you, so move on to the next step. Perform your due diligence immediately and research this issue.

3. Choose Your Battles. Once you have determined the audit is legitimate, you need to figure out exactly what is being audited. Are they requesting a chart audit where they want to look at your medical records? Do they want to perform a site visit? Once you've determined which type of audit they're intending to conduct on your practice, you need to formulate response to that audit in a timely manner. In some types of audits, no answer is the worst possible answer you could give. So you want to respond in a timely manner to the request for the audit. Also, provide what is requested: nothing more, nothing less. The auditors do not want to review a 42 page explanation of your chart notes; they should stand for themselves. Furthermore, any additional material you provide beyond what is requested can be used against you as well. One tip: do not respond to phone or fax audit requests. Get it in writing!

4. Bad is Better Than Bogus. Once a chiropractor receives an audit notice, the most common question I am asked is: "What do I need to do to prepare for this audit?" To be blunt: the time to prepare for your audit is not when an audit request letter is in your hands! Never take matters into your own hands and alter medical records to improve what appears to be incomplete or insufficient documentation. Poorly done records are still better than the best records that have been fraudulently contrived. Better to have bad notes, than bogus ones.

5. Be on Time! If you have to respond in 30 days, then respond in 30 days! If the time frame that the carrier is requesting is not reasonable due to some sort of extenuating circumstances, contact the auditor for an extension. If it's going to take you more time to produce the information, ask for an extension.

6. Should You Appeal? Quite frankly, not all insurance reviews are accurate. Therefore, to protect your interests, appeals are sometimes necessary. Particularly if you have high dollar value claims in question, you want to consider appealing. If your "audit" letter is actually a demand for repayment, your best option may be to start the appeals process. Do not automatically presume that the payer's review is final or even correct. If appropriate, an appeal can save you thousands of dollars in unnecessary repayments and headaches.

7. Is help needed? You may need to obtain the assistance of a certified professional coder or a certified professional medical auditor whose expertise is in chiropractic to help defend you. A healthcare attorney may also be wise, especially if there are several zeros in your demand or repayment letter. Again, before you hit the panic button or get out your checkbook, it may be critical to the success of your defense or appeal to get professional help. The reality is that your license, your lifestyle and your livelihood may all depend on it!

My first hope is that you don't receive an audit letter. But if and when you do, keep this list in mind so that you can successfully defend your claims!

Why I Became a Chiropractor

In 1986 I was 18 years old and terrified of heights. That's why as I stood in the doorway of the airplane I was about to depart from at a ridiculously high altitude the thought was passing through my head that there are definitely easier ways to make a living. But then again I was of the Top Gun Generation that joined the US Navy because they wanted to be Maverick or Goose on Combat Air Patrol searching for unidentified Bogies.

Unfortunately somewhere between swearing in before boot camp and my current gut wrenching predicament the Naval Aviator goal got messed up and in lieu of cruising along at Mach 2 with my hair on fire I was instead about to jump out of a perfectly good airplane flying along miles above the ground. Like my Chief said, "I didn't have to like it I just had to do it!"

Its funny how life- if you'll excuse the Gumpism- is really like a box of Chocolates. You think your getting one thing when in reality you get something else. Sometimes its good, sometimes you put the chocolate back half eaten more wise for the experience.

The Red light blinked and turned on. Time for final equipment check. I turned to the guy to my right and checked his straps. He was fine. While he checked my straps I turned to the guy to my left and checked his straps. He was fine too. I received a tap on my shoulder telling me that I was OK and ready to go. I turned towards the door.

In 2 seconds I was about to jump out of this airplane and take another bite from the box.

The red light turned green and the jump master yelled, "GO! GO! GO!". Before I knew it I was out the door and falling to earth at 32 feet per second per second.

By the way, Hello! How are you doing? The guy falling through the air without the greatest of ease, is me Petty Officer Second Class Dennis T. Borja originally from the island of Guam. Did I mention that I hate heights?

I counted: one one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand four. I looked in what I thought was the up direction and saw no one above me so I waved one hand above my head to signal to the other jumpers that I was about to deploy my chute and with the other hand I yanked on the rip cord as hard as I could.

I listened to hear the relieving sound of unfurling silk and I felt for the sudden jolt as the air cells in my chute deployed. I waited...I waited...it felt like an eternity as I waited but all I heard was the wind rushing by my free falling body.

Did I mention that I was afraid of heights and my body was currently traveling towards the earth at between 120 and 156 miles per hour?

I yanked even harder on the handle but still nothing happened. The fringes of panic were starting to set in as the ground started to come at me faster and faster. Then the training kicked in as the drill instructor voice in my head started to yell obscenities too foul for this PG-13 letter. The general gist of what he was saying was fix the problem and do it now.

I looked above me to confirm that my main chute had indeed not deployed. Nothing but blue sky. I reached for the handle of my reserve chute and gave it a huge yank. I waited...I waited...but still nothing! Did I mention that I was afraid of heights and all this excitement wasn't helping matters much?

I remember yelling further obscenities followed by a very dramatic, "today is not a good day to die and I gave it one last pull." My canopy finally blossomed round!

When a parachute deploys you go from a terminal velocity of over 100 miles per hour to about 30 miles per hour in about 2 seconds. If you are in the correct position when this happens the force is harmlessly dissipated throughout your parachute harness in much the same way a seatbelt saves you in a motor vehicle accident. Unfortunately when my reserve parachute deployed my body was positioned sideways and parallel to the ground.

This meant that the full force of the parachute opening was at just the right angle and just the right amount of force to make my head touch my feet sideways in a very unnatural fashion.

By the time I landed my back was in so much pain I couldn't even stand up. To make matters worse my left leg was going numb. They rushed me to the hospital.

The doctor whose help I sought gave me pain medication that did not help. She then referred me to a Physical therapist. Several weeks of this care also did not help and to make matters worse my foot was beginning to go numb. I was then referred to a surgeon.

After reviewing my case the surgeon said that there was nothing that could be done for me because I wasn't bad enough. I was about to give up when the surgeon suggested that I try a Chiropractor.

I walked into the office of a chiropractor not knowing what to expect. I explained what had happened to me and she stated, "I can't promise that I can help you but I will do my best". The Doctor adjusted me 3 times over the course of two days and on the third adjustment it was like a light going off in my head I was suddenly pain and symptom free. The Chiropractor succeeded in helping me. Furthermore she did it without the use of drugs or surgery.

This single event was so earth shattering to me that it made me realize that I too wanted to become a Chiropractor. After 8 and a half years of service to my country in the US Navy I got out and went to school for another 8 plus years to became a Doctor of Chiropractic so that I could make a difference in people's lives the way that that chiropractor had made a difference in my life.

Chiropractor Logo Design - Branding Your Chiropractic Business

Are you new chiropractor who is looking to spice up your marketing efforts and establish your business' identity with a chiropractor logo design? You may be frustrated and have no clue where to start - but your options are nearly limitless. Your business logo is a once-in-a-lifetime investment in your "brand" identity, which makes it the perfect tool to help set the stage for your branding efforts and can grow and expand as your business grows. Your logo becomes a mainstay that your clients will come to recognize you with - and thus it must be done right the first time! (Changing it later can be a huge headache anyway).

Professional Appeal of Chiropractor Logo Design

Your new chiropractor logo can enhance your current image or create a new one. If you have an existing logo, perhaps you need to have it changed or updated. Or perhaps you have remodeled and renovated your office and want to start from scratch and throw out the old, ineffective logo that you have now. Either way, a great logo can be key to successful marketing of your business to potential clients, providing continuity to your existing clients, and giving your chiropractic practice a professional appeal that sets you apart from others in your field.

Avoiding Template Logo Design

One common mistake to avoid when designing your new logo is to avoid the temptation to take the easy way out by going with a template solution. Template logos are typically not original work and many people will be using the same design - which is incredibly tacky and unprofessional in the eyes of your customer base. Some of these solutions may also include clip art logos that are not licensed or may be in use by a ton of other businesses. And because these ready-made solutions involve no direct creativity that is tailored for your particular needs, this type of window shopping for logos may be a cheap "out" for your business, but the product you receive will not be of the quality that you will be proud of in the long run.

Simple Chiropractor Logo Designs Make Sense

Nearly 100% of the time, designing a simple logo just makes sense. Complex logos don't work well for two reasons. They are difficult to reproduce onto a diverse number of mediums that you may use. And they are difficult for your audience to remember (which may be even more important). Go for simple lines and simple symbols or graphics, as well as a minimal amount of text to make your logo usable and memorable.

Appropriate Logo Designs

Don't worry so much that the logo you design for your chiropractic business conveys what you do. The most successful logos don't have true meaning. For example, there are no Big Macs and fries in the McDonald's golden arches logo and there are no athletic shoes or clothing in the Nike swoosh logo. Although a symbol that portrays your business may be appropriate, it is not a necessary element in order to have a great logo.

Creating a Chiropractor Logo Design for Your Audience

Create your logo for your intended market audience or niche. You may be an outrageous and fun-loving person who likes to party - but if your target audience is the forty and over crowd, your logo should be designed for that audience, not for your pleasure. In other words, your likes are pretty much less important than your needs when it comes to creating the best logo for your business - and if your clients are made up of a different niche or genre than you are - you have to forego your tastes in favor of theirs. It's good business sense.