Is Chiropractic Safe for Elderly Patients?

One of the more common concerns that elderly patients have about chiropractic care is…Is it safe?

As we know…it’s not like we get bigger and stronger as we age…although, regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle (and chiropractic care) will help preserve us and slow down the effects of aging.

In any case…most elderly patients are concerned that chiropractic adjustments could harm them, because of the force involved, or the twisting and “cracking”. Heck…I would be concerned too.

But here’s the deal. It’s not only elderly patients that may require special care…it’s every patient. What about children? Does a chiropractor do the same adjustments on them as an adult? What about a patient with whiplash? What about someone that is very sensitive to the touch and has a low pain threshold?

Chiropractic is a philosophy, science, and an art.

The philosophy is based on the premise that nature is perfect and cannot be improved upon. The science is the understanding of the relationship between the nervous system, the spine, and health. When the spine is in alignment the nervous system functions properly and can control and coordinate all body functions as intended. This is when the body is in a state of balance, harmony, or homeostasis. Or as chiropractors like to say…a state of ease.

When the spine is out of alignment it interferes with this process and creates imbalances which can lead to sickness and dis-ease. The art of chiropractic is locating, identifying, and correcting subluxations so that the body can heal itself and restore health and function.

This can be done in hundreds of different ways. As long as the objective and outcome is the correction of subluxations than it is considered chiropractic (in my opinion).

Chiropractic techniques vary and can be used with very small amounts of force. They also can be done without any uncomfortable twisting.  Knowing what chiropractic technique, and what level of force, and what complimentary therapies to use with each patient…especially the elderly patient, is the art of chiropractic.

At our office, we incorporate chiropractic techniques that can be custom tailored to your body. They can be very gentle techniques…or more aggressive techniques when indicated.  Complimentary therapies like cold laser can also be used to effectively reduce pain without any sensation at all.

So I guess the moral of the story is that chiropractic is safe and effective and makes sense for the elderly patient. But chances are…it won’t be the same treatment we do for the 20 year old grandson. There is a chiropractic technique, and level of treatment and intensity for everyone…and applying it is an art…the art of chiropractic.

For more information on us, log on to: www.painfree-greatposture.com

“The Only Proven Effective Treatment” for Chronic Whiplash?

You may have wondered, “If I get hurt in a car accident, who should I go to for treatment of my whiplash problem?”  This can be quite a challenge as you have many choices available in the healthcare system ranging from drug-related approaches from anti-inflammatory over-the-counter types all the way to potentially addicting narcotic medications.  On the other side of the fence, there are nutritional based products such as vitamins and herbs as well as “alternative” or “complementary” forms of treatment such as chiropractic, exercise, and meditation, with many others in between.  Trying to figure out which approach or perhaps combined approaches would best serve your needs is truly challenging.  To help answer this question, one study reported the superiority of chiropractic management for patients with chronic whiplash, as well as which type of chronic whiplash patients responded best to the care.  The research paper begins with the comment from a leading orthopedic medical journal stating, “Conventional [meaning medical] treatment of patients with whiplash symptoms is disappointing.”  In the study, 93 patients were divided into three groups consisting of:

Group 1: Patients with a “coat-hanger” pain distribution (neck and upper shoulders) and loss of neck range of motion (ROM), but no neurological deficits;
Group 2: Patients with neurological problems (arm/hand numbness and/or weakness) plus neck pain and ROM loss); and,
Group 3: Patients who reported severe neck pain but had normal neck ROM and no neurological losses.

The average time from injury to first treatment was 12 months and an average of 19 treatments over a 4 month time frame was utilized.  The patients were graded on a 4-point scale that described their symptoms before and after treatment.

Grade A patients were pain free;
Grade B patients reported their pain as a “nuisance;”
Grade C patients had partial activity limitations due to pain; and
Grade D patients were disabled.

Here are the results:

Group 1: 72% reported improvement as follows: 24% were asymptomatic, 24% improved by 2 grades, 24% by 1 grade, and 28% reported no improvement.
Group 2: 94% reported improvement as follows: 38% were asymptomatic, 43% improved by 2 grades, 13% by 1 grade, and 6% had no improvement.
Group 3: 27% reported improvement as follows: 0% were asymptomatic, 9% improved by 2 grades, 18% by 1 grade, 64% showed no improvement, and 9% got worse.

This study is very important as it illustrates how effective chiropractic care is for patients who have sustained a motor vehicle crash with a resulting whiplash injury.  It’s important to note the type of patient presentation that responded best to care had neurological complaints and associated abnormal neck range of motion.  This differs from other non-chiropractic studies where it is reported that patients with neurological dysfunction responded poorly when compared to a group similar to the Group A patient here (neck/shoulder pain, reduced neck ROM, and with normal neurological function).  We realize you have a choice in where you go for your health care needs and we truly appreciate your consideration in allowing us to help you through this potentially difficult process.

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR WHIPLASH! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 262-251-8306 For more information log on to www.painfree-greatposture.com or www.thechiropracticimpactreport.com

Headaches: Causes and Treatment

Few conditions leave their victims as miserable and agitated as headaches.  There are many causes of headaches including stress, odors, bright lights, noise, fatigue, certain foods, hormonal shifts, allergies, as well as genetic predisposition.  With all the possible causes of headaches, it’s not surprising many people seek help from many different approaches such as conventional medical therapies like pharmaceuticals and injections.  Others prefer a non-drug treatment approach such as chiropractic, massage therapy, acupuncture, and nutritional counseling.

Usually, there is not one specific cause of headaches so treatment can focus on various areas.  For example, muscles that attach to the base of the skull in the neck and upper back are often very short and tight, resulting in pressure or a squeezing effect on the surrounding nerves and blood vessels — resulting in headaches.  Chiropractic treatment includes methods aimed at reducing the tightness found in the joints and muscles. One of these approaches is called spinal manipulation or “adjustments” where the joints in the neck are moved to restore motion and reduce joint fixations. By relaxing the muscles and tension between the joints, the nerves in the neck are less pressured which, in turn, can reduce headaches.  The top three nerves that exit the upper neck travel into the head and are often the culprit behind the onset of headaches.  The second nerve from the top is the one responsible for causing radiating pain over the top of the skull which communicates with other nerves sometimes causing the pain behind the eye.

Other treatment approaches that chiropractic utilizes include stress management, diet modifications (as certain foods can trigger headaches), nutritional supplementation (such as fish oil, Vit. D, feverfew and others), and sleep restoration.

If you, a family member or a friend require care, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our service.  We are proud that chiropractic care has consistently scored the highest level of satisfaction when compared to other forms of health care provision and we look forward in serving you and your family presently and in the future.

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR HEADACHES! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 262-251-8306 Or log on to www.painfree-greatposture.com

Treatment Alternatives for Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a condition that usually affects different organ systems in the body, causing a number of symptoms. Some of these include:

1)      The muscles (the musculoskeletal system): tender, achy, stiff, tight muscles, trigger or tender points all over the body;
2)      The nerves (the nervous system): headaches, light headedness, sleep disruption, depression, anxiety, numbness/tingling (overlaps with the cardiovascular system);
3)      The stomach and intestines (the gastrointestinal system): diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel, leaky gut, heart burn, lack of appetite, abdominal cramping;
4)      Breathing (the respiratory system): hyperventilation, rapid / shallow breathing patterns;
5)      The heart (the cardiovascular system): racing heart rate – palpitations, feeling cold all the time, numbness/tingling (overlaps with the nervous system);

Because of the multiple systems involved, there are many challenges to managing Fibromyalgia.  Studies suggest a balance between several approaches works best.  Some of these approaches include biomedical treatments, organ-specific treatments, and cognitive interpersonal treatments.  Within these categories, the following can be broken down further:

1)      General – those treatments directed at the whole body such as anti-inflammatory measures.  These include (but are not limited to) medications (corticosteroids, NSAID’s – such as Advil, Aleve) and nutrients (ginger, turmeric, boswellia, Vitamin D, and others).  Other anti-inflammatory measures include diet, such as the Paleo Diet or “caveman diet.”  This diet eliminates grains or flour-based products from the diet.  That means no more breads, pastas, crackers, cookies – anything made with flour.  This approach emphasizes consuming fruits, vegetables, grass-fed lean meats and fish.  The main ingredients in grains that are of concern in the Paleo Diet are gluten and lectins
2)      Central – those treatments directed at the chemical factors in the brain that control mood, depression, anxiety and so on.  These include (but are not limited to) medications (tricyclic antidepressants, muscle relaxers like Cyclobenzaprine, SSRI, SNRI and Trmadol) and certain nutrients (neurotransmitter support such as 5-HTP – tryptophan, DHEA and others).
3)      Psychotherapy and active behavioral therapy – treatments that are supportive of nervous system such as cognitive behavior therapy, aerobic exercise, patient education, multidisciplinary therapy, hypnotherapy, biofeedback, and strength training.
4)      Passive physical intervention – chiropractic therapy, massage therapy and other forms of manual therapy, and acupuncture.

The goal of this article is to look at fibromyalgia from a holistic perspective so that those struggling with FM and similar conditions can better appreciate the concept of multidisciplinary treatment, of which chiropractic care plays a significant role.  Coordination of care and finding the “right” health care providers cannot be over-emphasized.

We recognize the importance of including chiropractic in your treatment planning and realize you have a choice of providers. Chiropractic care can be a life changer for fibromyalgia sufferers, choosing one with experience treating FM is very important.  If you, a friend or family member requires care for FM, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR FIBROMYALGIA! Log on to www.stopyourfibronow.com

Exercises For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition resulting in hand and sometimes neck and arm complaints.  This can include numbness or tingling in the fingers, leading to dexterity problems such as difficulty buttoning clothing or picking up small objects.  There are also issues with strength loss / weakness noticed such as when turning door knobs, opening jars, and even problems with turning the key to start a car. One big problem with CTS is people often wait too long before having it treated thinking it will “…go away” or disappear just like it started.  CTS rarely gets better without some form of treatment and seeing a chiropractor makes perfect sense prior to considering surgical intervention.

So, the question remains, “what can I do for CTS?”  There are several things a CTS sufferer can do to help manage this condition.  Some risk factors such as gender and age cannot be changed but other factors can be changed including taking “mini-breaks” throughout the work day and/or work station modifications, managing weight as obesity (defined as a BMI >30 and a waist size >35” for women and >40” for men), wearing a wrist splint, as well as performing exercises to stretch the wrist area.

A study out of the University of Oklahoma reported 2 out of 3 patients with mild to moderate CTS avoided surgery by performing specific exercises.  The concept of a 5-minute warm-up stretch each day before starting the workday is similar to a runner stretching before a run to prevent injury.

Step A:  Extend and stretch both wrists and fingers acutely as if they are in a standing push-up position. Hold for a count of 5.
Step B:  Straighten both wrists and relax fingers.
Step C:  Make a tight fist with both hands.
Step D:  Then, bend both wrists down while keeping the fist. Hold for a count of 5.
Step E:  Straighten both wrists and relax fingers, for a count of 5.
Step F:  Then, let your arms hang loosely at the side and shake them for a few seconds.

This exercise should be repeated 10 times and can be repeated several times a day.

Chiropractic is a perfect choice when considering a health care provider for the treatment of CTS as these exercises can easily be taught to you at our office.  In addition, many other non-surgical treatment options for CTS are available.

We realize you have a choice in who you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs.  If you, a friend or family member require care for CTS, we would be honored to render our services.

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR NON_SURGICAL TREATMENT FOR CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME!  Log on to www.relieffromcarpaltunnel.com

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome After a Car Accident

One of the common injuries that happen in a car accident is carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).  CTS is a condition that causes pain or numbness in the first three fingers of the hand.  You can get it anytime you have swelling in the wrists, that compresses the median nerve.

Usually the swelling is caused by repetitive motions like computer work, assembly work or even knitting.  The overuse causes the tendons in the wrist to swell until they compress the nerve.

However, the wrists can also swell as the result of a car accident.  If your hands were on the steering wheel, at the time of impact, they can be jammed, injuring the wrists and causing them to swell.  This can cause carpal tunnel syndrome.

Also, if the neck is injured, the median nerve can get irritated where the nerve fibers exit between the bones of the neck.  This injury will cause the same symptoms as CTS, without the wrists being injured.

It is important to have your wrists, arms and neck evaluated if you have pain or numbness after a car accident.  Pain relievers and muscle relaxants do not properly treat these injuries.  They can easily become chronic if not treated correctly.

For more information on CTS treatment, log on to www.relieffromcarpaltunnel.com.  More information on car accident related injuries can be found at www.thechiropracticimpactreport.com

Can Chronic Pain be Aggravated by Bad Weather?

Anyone who has treated chronic pain patients will tell you that patients seem to feel worse on days when the weather is bad.

In an research paper titled “The Relationship of Diagnosis and Weather Sensitivity in Chronic Pain Patients” (JNMS Vol.3, No.1, Spring 1995) the authors found that people with many different types of pain syndromes were adversely affected by bad weather.

They said “The onset of aching and tenderness around joints as an indication of impending storms has been a wives’ tale for centuries.  Clinicians have long observed that the weather seems to influence a number of physical conditions.  Numerous past surveys have reported weather sensitivity in patients with chronic pain.  Accounts date back to Hippocrates…”

So, the pain you may feel when the weather changes is not a psychological, “all in your head”, made up thing.  Its real.

The authors also found that this type of pain indicates bone and joint problems and not muscle problems.  So if you are experiencing this type of pain, treatments that focus on muscles won’t help it.  Treatments, like chiropractic, that focus on the joints, will help.

The authors found that spine pain, bulging discs, carpal tunnel syndrome, spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease were the most weather affected conditions.

To find out more about how I treat these conditions log on to www.newbackpainreliefinfo.com or www.relieffromcarpaltunnel.com