What is “Good Posture?”

Have you ever noticed how many people have terrible posture?  One of the most common faulty postures is called “forward head carriage” or “anterior based occiput.”  Other terms are  “hump back” or slouching. There are several reasons for this common postural fault.  One is the weight of the head is, on average, approximately 10-13 pounds and if it’s positioned too far forwards, the muscles in the upper back and neck tighten up much more than normal, fatigue and become painful. Also, the muscles that attach to the skull have different degrees of strength. They also attach and pull at different angles, contributing to the common forward head carriage posture.  The muscles of the chest are much stronger than those in the mid and upper back and tend to pull our shoulders forward. The following pictures offer a good view of both a faulty posture as well as a “good” posture. Notice the forward shift in the line in the pictures of poor posture and backwards shift in the good posture pictures.

As you can see, the weight of the head is back over the shoulders and the shoulder posture is appropriately positioned back in the image titled “Good Head Posture.”

It is important to understand correcting Forward Head Carriage can take time – in fact, it takes a minimum of 3 month before this becomes an automatic new “habit.”  Of course, it could take longer if you sit in slouchy chairs, soft chairs or wear arch supports.  The great benefit you receive with your care at our office is that forward head posture gets corrected without exercises or any strain on your part.  Your body stands more upright without you having to think about it.

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 NECK PAIN! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 262-251-8306 OR LOG ON TO: WWW.PAINFREE-GREATPOSTURE.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

The Dangers of Medication for Back Pain

The most common medications prescribed for back pain are non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.  (NSAID’s)  The medication works by stopping the swelling associated with injured tissues.  By controlling swelling, you can reduce the pain and promote healing.  At least that’s how they work in theory.

The research does show that NSAID’s are effective in reducing back pain.  However, there can be severe side effects.

16,500 people die every year as a result of taken prescription pain medication and another 20,000 people die from taken over the counter pain relievers. (New England Journal of Medicine 1999) The deaths occur mostly form gastro-intestinal bleeding because these drugs are really tough on the linings of the stomach and intestines.  But, there are other dangers as well.

The number one reason for liver failure in America is the use of NSAID’s.  The kidneys also get damaged and failure of these vital organs is also.  1000 doses of NSAID’s in a lifetime doubles the risk of renal disease. (New England Journal of Medicine 1994)

Those who consumed the highest amounts of NSAID’s increased their risk of dementia including Alzheimer’s dementia by 66% (Neurology, 2009)

What the drug companies won’t tell you is that chiropractic has been shown to be five times more effective than the NSAID’s Celebrex and Vioxx in the treatment of chronic  low back pain. (Spine 2003)  And, chiropractic has an impeccable safety record.

To find out more about how I treat back pain, log on to www.newbackpainreliefinfo.com

Is Obesity Linked to Low Back Pain?

Low back pain has been recognized as a problem of epidemic proportions.  It’s estimated that approximately 80% of the North American population will experience low back pain at some point in their adult lives.  It’s no surprise that more and more people are going to chiropractors to find relief.

What’s alarming is the apparent link between the incidence of low back pain and obesity.  According to the American Obesity Association, 64.5 % of adult Americans are considered overweight or obese.  Recent evidence suggests that obesity seriously impacts the musculoskeletal system.   Obesity increases the risk of low back pain, spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis.

Why obesity causes back pain hasn’t been totally investigated.  However, I think common sense can be applied here.  The laws of physics would tell you that the excess weight causes more wear and tear on the joints of the spine.  The extra stress would cause more degeneration and pain.

Also many of the foods that lead to obesity like sugar and toxic fats, also cause inflammation.  Inflammation causes pain and accelerates the production of arthritis.

In order to lose weight, overweight people will need to exercise.  However, if the person is suffering from back pain, they may not be able to do anything.  The inactivity leads to more weight gain, which leads to more back pain, and on and on.

The good news is that chiropractic care that focuses on posture correction can relieve pain and restore function in people even if they are over weight.  The treatment along with diet correction and exercise can lead to dramatic improvements in health.

For more information on how I treat back pain, log on to: www.newbackpainreliefinfo.com.

Whiplash – What Can I Do To Help?

Whiplash occurs when the neck is suddenly and forcefully jerked, and is typically associated with car crashes.  The speed at which the neck is forced upon impact is faster than we can contract our muscles in attempt to stop the forceful movement.  This results in muscle, tendon, and/or ligament over-stretching, even tearing.  Symptoms include stiff and painful neck movements, weakness or, the head “feels heavy” making it challenging to “hold up” as well as headache, and sometimes dizziness, ear noises, TMJ or jaw pain, and “mental fog.” What should be done if a whiplash injury occurs?

The amount or degree of damage to the soft tissues – that is, the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and disks of the neck — will be the deciding factors as to how much rest vs. activity should be initially performed.  If there are no fractures, dislocations or other injuries resulting in an unstable cervical spine (neck), studies have shown rest and a soft collar is actually harmful when compared to early return to activity and exercises.  Chiropractic treatment, which essentially exercises the joints of the neck, has been shown to speed recovery when performed sooner rather than later after a whiplash injury.  A handy way to classify the injury includes four categories: 1) Pain with no significant abnormal clinical findings; 2) Pain with mild clinical findings and range of motion loss; 3) Pain with neurological injury (resulting in radiating arm pain); and 4) Pain associated with fracture and/or dislocation.  Those suffering with category 1 or 2 injuries should minimize rest, collar use, proceed with life’s activities and not be afraid to do desired activities.  More aggressive exercise and, utilizing chiropractic adjustments as soon as possible is very effective in the first two categories of injury.  Category 4 (fractures and dislocations) injuries require the use of a rigid collar usually for 4-6 weeks as rest/protection is imperative. Category 3 demands careful monitoring by your chiropractor as neurological problems like arm pain and numbness, muscle strength weakness, must be watched during the healing process.  The use of ice is helpful with all four categories of injury and exercise training is important and can be started sooner in the first two categories of injury.

What can you do if you sustain a whiplash injury?  The first order of self-help is the use of ice.  This is a much better choice over the use of heat as ice reduces swelling and pain while heat can increase swelling because it brings in more blood flow into an already swollen area.  The heat may feel good during its use but most patients report the pain either returns shortly thereafter or feels worse.    The good news is that you will never hurt yourself by using ice but, you can make it hurt worse by using heat too soon so, when in doubt, use ice!  The next, very important, recommendation is to utilize exercises to stretch and strengthen the neck and upper back region. The “general rule” of exercise is slow repetitions staying within “reasonable” boundaries of pain.  That is, a good, stretch type of pain is encouraged while avoiding sharp pain.  We have discussed several very practical neck stretches and strengthening exercises previously and we will again address this in the future. Posture correction and keeping your head back over your shoulders is very helpful as well. We realize that you have a choice in where you choose for your healthcare services.  If you, a friend or family member requires care for whiplash, chiropractic care is a logical first choice and we would be honored to offer our services to you.

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR WHIPLASH!
FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 262-251-8306

Can Chronic Back Pain Shrink the Brain?

If you’re one of the millions of people with chronic back pain, scientists say your brain may age up to 20 times faster than normal.

In the first study of its kind, researchers from Northwestern University have found that chronic back pain actually shrinks the brain by as much as 11%. Specifically, it shrinks the gray matter, which makes up the part of the brain responsible for memory and information processing.

It is well documented that chronic back pain negatively impacts quality of life and increases anxiety and depression, but it has been assumed that any brain changes revert to a normal state after the pain stops. This is according to researcher A. Vania Apkarian who has an article in the Nov. 23, 2004 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.

Apkarian and colleagues compared 26 healthy volunteers with 26 patients who had chronic back pain in the lower region for more than a year. Some patients’ pain radiated through the buttock, thigh, and leg — a sign of sciatic nerve damage, or sciatica. The source of the pain was not considered.

MRI brain images and other sophisticated imaging tests, which measured gray matter size, were performed on all patients. After adjusting for age and gender factors, scientists found that, overall, chronic back pain patients lost about 5%-11% of gray matter a year — about the same as 10 to 20 years or normal aging, the researchers say. Typically, normal aging results in only about 0.5% of gray matter loss each year, they add.

Those with chronic back pain with sciatica had the largest decrease in gray matter. In addition, the more years someone has chronic back pain, the more brain loss they suffered.

What’s Behind the Brain Shrinkage?

By definition, chronic back pain is a state of persistent pain with associated negative mood and stress, says Apkarian. Therefore, one possible explanation for the decreased gray matter is that nerve cells are working overtime.

The researchers hypothesize that as chronic back pain persists, it may become more irreversible and less responsive to treatment due to these brain changes.

The good news is that chiropractic has been found to be a very effective and long lasting treatment for chronic low back pain.  The elimination of chronic pain now, may prevent future problems of anxiety, depression and dementia.

For more information on how I treat chronic back pain log on to www.newbackpainreliefinfo.com or visit my website at www.painfree-greatposture.com .

Back School 101… 3 Ways To Prevent Making Your Back Pain Worse

Chiropractic care for patients with low back pain (LBP) not only includes spinal manipulation or adjustments but also patient education in regards to heat/ice, performing daily activities and exercise.

Heat vs. Ice: This topic is controversial, as often, patients will be told by their friends and family to use the opposite of what we may recommend to our patients. In general, when pain is present, there is inflammation… so use ice to reduce swelling and pain. When heat is inappropriately utilized during this inflammatory phase of healing, vasodilation or, an increase in blood supply to the already swollen injured area often results in an increase in pain. The use of heat may be safely applied later in the healing process during the reparative phase of healing, but as long as pain is present, using ice is safer and more effective.

Daily Activities: Improper methods of performing sitting, bending, pulling, pushing, and lifting can perpetuate the inflammatory phase, slow down the healing process, and interfere/prevent people from returning to their desired activities of daily living, especially work. Improperly performing these routine activities is similar to picking at scab since you’re delaying the healing process and you can even make things worse for yourself.

Exercise: There are many exercises available for patients with low back pain. When deciding on the type of exercise, the position the patient feels best or, the least irritating is usually the direction to emphasize.

When bending backwards results in pain reduction (referred to as “extension-biased”), standing and bending backwards, performing a sagging type of pushup (“prone press-up”), laying backwards on large pillows or on a gym-ball are good exercises. The dosage or duration exercises must be determined individually and it is typically safer to start with 1 or 2 exercises and gradually increase the number as well as repetition and/or hold-times. If sharp/”bad” pain is noted, the patient is warned to discontinue that exercise and report this for further discussion with their chiropractor. It is normal and often a good sign when stretching/”good” pain is obtained at the end range of the exercise.

We recognized the importance of patient education in our approach to managing low back pain cases, and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR LOW BACK PAIN!  FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 262-251-8306

What Does Vitamin-D Have To Do With Back Pain?

Vitamin D deficiencies have long been the culprit of many aches and pains.  This problem is widespread, especially in the northern United States.  Because, the winters are long, people don’t get enough sunshine to make there own vitamin D.  Aches and pains are usually widespread, but a recently published article zeroed in on low back pain.

The article was published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine in 2009.  It found that some people with chronic low back pain or failed back surgery were deficient in Vitamin D.  When the Vitamin D deficiency was brought back to normal, through supplementation, their pain improved.  In some cases, the pain completely went away.

The article stated that physicians should have a high suspicion for vitamin D deficiency in patients with chronic low back pain.  It also recommended blood testing for patients before and after surgery.

Personally, I am recommending a vitamin D test for anyone in chronic pain.  This year, I have joined up with Labcorp labs, to provide this type of testing to my patients.

I have found that vitamin supplementation, combined with chiropractic care that focuses on rebuilding posture, yields dramatic results.

For more information on how I treat back pain log on to: www.newbackpainreliefinfo.com

Back Pain? You Need to Treat the Whole Body.

Yesterday, I had a patient say to me “wow, its amazing that everything in the body is connected.”  She said this after I had adjusted her low back and her neck pain went away.

I get this type of comment often and its sort of strange when you think about it.  The fact that everything in your body is connected is self-evident.  One part of the body cannot be damaged without all the other parts being affected.

Think about it.  When you get a sinus infection, what happens ?  You get a fever and chills from your body temperature elevating.  You heart rate goes up.  Your respiration changes.  Your appetite goes down.  Your head aches, the neck can get stiff, and on and on.  All caused by an infection in your nose.

American medicine tends to look at the body as a collection of a bunch of parts.  If the appendix gets infected, take it out.  If the blood pressure rises, take a pill to make the heartbeat weaker.  If the low back hurts, inject the area with numbing medication.

American medicine never seems to stop and consider that maybe the appendix is infected because of an intestinal problem.  Or the blood pressure is high because of dehydration.  Or the low back is hurting because of poor posture.

Now, I’m not saying that you don’t need to treat things medically.  For example, an appendix operation could save your life.  What I am saying is, that people need to focus on the issues that caused the condition to occur in the first place.  If you don’t, you are simply masking over issues that will come back to haunt you later.

When it comes to the spine, this is especially true.  John Bland MD author of Disorders of the Cervical Spine says:

“ We tend to divide the examination of the spine into regions: cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine clinical studies.  This is a mistake.  The three units are closely interrelated structurally and functionally-a whole person with a whole spine.  The cervical spine may be symptomatic because of a thoracic or lumbar spine abnormality and vice versa ! Sometimes treating a lumbar spine will relieve a cervical spine syndrome, or proper management of a cervical spine will relieve low backache.”

The spine needs to be treated as a whole unit.  To be even more accurate, the body needs to be treated as a whole.

To find out more about how I treat low back pain, log on to www.newbackpainreliefinfo.com.

Low Back Pain – Seasonal Injuries

Every season brings unique activities that require us to perform some physical activity we may not want to do but have no choice.  In the winter, shoveling snow comes to mind (at least in some parts of the country) while spring, summer and fall may include yard clean up, mowing, and raking.  All of these seasonal activities are, “…I have to..”  activities of daily living (ADLs), rather than ADLs we want to do.  Therefore, let’s talk about shoveling snow since that time of year is upon some of us, though hopefully on its way out!  Of course, if snow is not an issue based on where you live, this information can also be applied to gardening, digging a hole or some other yard related shoveling activity.

First, a few facts that help us appreciate why back pain is so common when we shovel: 1. When we bend over, approximately 2/3rds of our body weight is being lifted in addition to what we’re lifting.  Hence, a 180# person has to lift 120# of body weight every time he or she bends over.  2. A 5# weight equals 50# to our back when it is held out in front of us – consider the 10-20# weight on the end of a shovel! 3) Our legs are much stronger than our back and arms. If a person can bench press 300#, they can usually leg press 500# – almost 2x more weight. Yet, most of us use our arms, not our legs, when shoveling. 4) Most of us bend over using poor technique, lift the shovel with the arms and back (not the legs), and rapidly extend and twist the back when we throw the substance from the shovel – 3 bad things! 5) Then, this faulty action is repeated many, many times, and on top of that, it is not something we’re used to doing and hence, we’re not physically adapted or “in shape” for shoveling.  With all of these “truths,” it’s no wonder why we often can barely move after an hour of shoveling!  So what can we do about it?

I suppose hiring the neighborhood kid to do our shoveling makes the most sense but we’re not that smart!  We can’t change the fact that most of our body’s weight lies above our waist so that one we’re stuck with and, we’re not going to lose weight in time for shoveling. But, we can certainly put less material on the shovel so the load on our back is less. It’s important to squat down using our strong leg muscles while keeping our back as vertical/straight as possible- DO NOT BEND OVER.  Try sticking out your fanny (to keep an inward curve in your back), lift the shovel / load of material straight up with your legs, maintaining that arched back / butt out position.  Keep your arms / elbows straight and walk the shovel load over to the dumping location – DON’T try and throw the load a distance by twisting your body. Take multiple breaks and switch sides so you don’t “beat up” the same muscle groups repeatedly.

If you do hurt your back – using an analogy of a cut on your skin –avoid picking at the cut so it can heal.  If your back hurts after shoveling, use ice/rest followed by gentle stretching and modified activities – DON’T go back out and shovel (ie, don’t pick at your cut!). Some wise considerations for shoveling include warming up before starting, staying “in shape” by regular exercise throughout the year, maintaining a good nutritional diet and getting enough sleep.

If you, a family member or a friend require care, 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 LOW BACK PAIN!

For more information on how we treat back pain log on to: www.newbackpain reliefinfo.com