How to Improve Your Odds of Crash Survival

You might ask, what does this headline have to do with chiropractic?  It’s often said case management or patient care is much more than just what we do to our patients (such as in chiropractic, applying a spinal adjustment). The patient education portion of our care plan can frequently make or break a successful outcome in a case.  It is the goal of this Health Update to potentially save your life by empowering you with the knowledge needed when it’s time to purchase your next car.  This is about what specific automobile features contribute to crash survival – hence, saving lives!

Did you know the car you choose can improve the odds of crash survival by 400%? In the popular magazine Consumer Reports, they wrote, “Ultimately, safety is active and passive, balancing the ability to avoid an accident and to survive one.” Typically, the first thing we do as consumers when we consider safety in a particular car is to look at the crash-test results.  While this is important, we must first consider the size and weight so we compare crash-test results between cars in the same weight class since statistics show there are two times as many occupant deaths annually in small vs. large cars. Keeping size and weight in the foreground, when evaluating crash-test results, the front and rear end “crumple zone” of the car should be designed to absorb crash forces by buckling and bending in a serious collision. If you’ve ever watched race cars crash, you usually see car parts bend and break off as they bounce off the guard rail or other cars, sometimes to the point where all that is left is the cage surrounding the driver.  Amazingly, the race car driver often climbs out of the cage and walks away, seemingly unharmed.

The next important car feature to consider is a car with a structurally superior passenger compartment. Look for a high quality “restraint system” made up of 3 components: seat belts, airbags, and head restraints. These work together to keep us safe and in place during a crash while the outside of the car crumples, absorbing the energy of the crash.

So where do you look to get this information?  There are several resources available:

1. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) tests front end impacts at 35 mph, and in 1997 added side impact tests at 38 mph.  They also test for the rollover potential for SUVs and trucks and grade the results for each category from 1 to 5 stars representing the likelihood of suffering a life-threatening injury in a crash.
2. Since 1995, the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) has used a method reviewed by Consumer Reports as being more realistic by crashing only half of the vehicle at similar speeds into fixed barriers, since most crashes are not direct, whole car strikes.
3. Consumer Reports is a 3rd option. They integrate the data from both NHTSA and IIHS and gives us their “CR Safety Assessment,” and run 40 new cars each year through numerous individual tests.

Other important “accident avoiding” features often overlooked include: Tires – greatly impact braking and emergency handling so REPLACE them as needed; Braking-check for the distance required to stop the car at different speeds- the shorter, the better; Emergency Handling-data about accident avoidance and choosing a vehicle with electronic stability control (ESC), especially in SUVs is wise; Acceleration-the quicker a car can get to highway speeds, the better; Driver position and visibility-a good view of the surroundings, especially the “blind spots” is important.  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.

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR WHIPLASH! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 262-251-8306 OR FOR MORE INFORMATION LOG ON TO: WWW.THECHIROPRACTICIMPACTREPORT.COM

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

Depression – What Works?

Depression can come from many different causes.  While I do recognize that some people may need medication to help their depression, it is pretty clear that medication alone is not the answer.

Did you know that several studies have shown the benefit of exercise as an anti-depressant ?  In fact, one study showed that exercise for 30 minutes, five days a week was as effective as psychotherapy in cases of mild to moderate depression.

Speaking of psychotherapy, one type of therapy seems to work the best.  Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the most effective type of psychotherapy.  If you feel your depression is serious enough to see a therapist, this is the type of therapist to look for.

You should also have your vitamin D levels checked.  A 2008 study in the Journal of Internal Medicine found a relationship between low serum levels of Vitamin D and depression.  Supplementation of Vitamin D seemed to reduce the symptoms.  From my own clinical experience, I would suggest you get you D levels checked, especially if your depression symptoms get worse in winter.

Omega 3 fatty acids have also been found to be very effective in treating depression.  A study in the British Journal of Psychiatry found that those receiving Omega 3’s along with therapy did significantly better than those with just therapy alone.  It is also important to get rid of all trans-fats and omega-6 based oils.  These include any hydrogenated fat, soy oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, vegetable oil and corn oil.  Use only olive oil, flax oil, walnut oil or coconut oil.  Also, cut down on the amount of meat you eat.  You don’t need to be a vegetarian, but you shouldn’t eat more than 8 oz. at any one meal and no more than a pound a day.

One little tidbit that I have found to work well is to incorporate brown rice in the diet.  Brown rice has anti-inflammatory properties which is good for the brain.  Also, I learned from a Chinese medicine practitioner, that sleep and dream quality goes up when incorporating brown rice in the diet.  I found that if you replace wheat and corn with brown rice, you can make a major positive impact on your health.

I have also found that many people who are depressed, also suffer from chronic pain.  To find out more about how I treat these disorders, you can set up a free consultation by calling Jennifer at 262-251-8306.  She will set up an appointment with me and we can go over your situation.  Then, I can make some recommendations.  To learn more about me, you can log on to www.painfree-greatposture.com

Why We Hurt?

A book I highly recommend to anyone who deals with chronic pain is called Why We Hurt by Dr. Greg Fors.

He wrote the book after his daughter was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.  He is a doctor of chiropractic and he was broken hearted watching his daughter crawl up the stairs to bed because she couldn’t walk.  He thought “how could this be ?  She has eaten nothing but organic food her whole life and she has been receiving good chiropractic care.  Why would she have this problem.”

So, he did a lot of studying.  He learned from some of the best experts in the country.  He was able to find out what was wrong with his daughter and cure it.

What was the problem ?  She had a claustidium infection in her small intestine that was spilling toxins into her system.  The toxins caused her to hurt all over like she had the flu.  Once the infection was treated properly, the pain went away.

The book is a great read.  The information in it is fantastic for both patients and doctors.  Though it is written for patients.  It outlines many different testing procedures that are helpful in finding out what is wrong and how to fix it.

Due to an arrangement I have with Labcorp Labs and Genova Diagnostics, I am able to order and analyze all the blood, urine and stool tests outlined in the book.  Because I have taken seminars with Dr. Fors, I have access to him if I have any questions, which is a huge help.  He’s a great guy.

If you are suffering from chronic pain, fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue, then this book would be a great thing for you to have.  You can get it at Amazon.com.

To find out more about how I treat chronic pain, log on to www.stopyourfibronow.com or go to my web-site www.painfree-greatposture.com.

What Many People Don’t Know About Chiropractic And What We Can Do For YOU*

*Especially if you have back pain

In just a moment I’m going to tell you some very interesting information about Chiropractic that most people do not know – but more importantly – what it can do for you and how it might even change your life.

This is really good stuff… especially if you have back pain now or have ever had back pain in the past.

But first, there is something else you should know about.  I think you’ll really like it.

Did you the use of Aspirin dates all the way back to around 400 B.C.?  It’s true.  The father of medicine, Hippocrates, who lived sometime between 460 B.C. and 377 B.C., left historical records that included the use of the bark of the willow tree to treat fever, headache and various pains.

It wasn’t until 1829 that scientists started figuring out what was going on.  That’s when they discovered a compound called salicin in the willow plant was responsible for the pain relief.

In that same year, scientists were able to turn salicin into salicylic acid.  The problem was that salicylic acid was very rough of the stomach and mouth… which limited its use.  Then, in 1853 a German scientist named Charles Frederic Gerhardt buffered (neutralized) the harshness of the acid by coating salicylic acid with sodium and acetyl chloride.  Although it worked, it was time consuming and Gerhardt stopped working on it because he didn’t think it was worth it.

OOOOPS!

In 1897 a German pharmacist working for a German pharmaceutical company Bayer, started looking for a solution for his father’s rheumatism.  His name was Felix Hoffmann and he “re-discovered” Gerhardt’s work and in 1899 patented a “new” pain reliever under the name Aspirin.

As a quick and interesting aside: During that same month, Hoffmann synthesized heroin by accident.  His discovery of heroin obviously didn’t end up working out as well as aspirin!

But, one of the truly remarkable thing about all this is:

Scientists did not have a clue how aspirin worked until 1971!  In that year, John Vane theorized how it worked for which he was awarded a Nobel prize in 1982.

Today, over 70 million pounds of aspirin are produced annually all over the world making it the world’s most widely used drug… and scientists still theorize about the exact mechanisms of aspirin.

So what’s all this have to do with Chiropractic and your back pain?

Here’s what:  Believe it or not – Chiropractic and aspirin have many things in common.

First — they can both be traced WAY back in history.

In fact, Hippocrates, who used a form of aspirin back in 400 B.C., also used a form of spinal manipulation.… and so did ancient Egyptians and many other cultures.

But, it was not until 1895 that D.D. Palmer invented “Chiropractic.”   Chiropractic was new and different because Palmer theorized the nervous system controlled every function of the body and Chiropractic adjustments (specific spinal manipulations) removed interference to blocked or pinched nerves.  This, in turn, not only relieved pain… it helped the entire body function better and heal from all sorts of illnesses and diseases.

Just like willow bark and eventually aspirin, spinal manipulation got results and became very popular… but the mechanisms were not understood.

But here’s were Chiropractic & Aspirin differ – in a very big way…

Doctors and scientists had no clue how aspirin worked – but it was hailed by the medical community as a wonder drug and mass-produced.

Doctors and scientists were not sure how Chiropractic worked – so it was branded unscientific and quackery.

Seems a little unfair – don’t you think?

Thank goodness in many areas, research has finally caught up with Chiropractic!

For example, Chiropractic’s ability to help relieve back pain is well researched.  It is a safe, effective and cost-effective way to relieve back pain.

How Does Chiropractic Work?…FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK:

Many times when you have back pain it is caused by a spinal joint sprain – or “subluxation.”  Ligaments hold two bones together to form a joint and a sprain occurs when a ligament is injured by over stretching it.

This can happen due to small micro traumas over several years or one acute event like a car accident, sports injury or slip and fall.  When the ligament becomes stretched and injured joints do not function properly, delicate nerve fibers can be injured.

Over time, even if untreated, pain can go away even though the spinal joint is not functioning properly.  This can lead to flare-ups in the future and degeneration as the joint moves improperly and wears out.  This is why something small – like bending over to pick up a pencil – can cause severe back pain.

Chiropractic adjustments and treatments are designed to normalize spinal motion as much as possible.  This allows the spinal joints to heal better.

Here’s a simple way to look at it:

If you broke your arm and didn’t get the bone set properly – it would heal out of place and crooked.  The pain might go away in the short term – but there would most likely be big problems in the future.  The best thing to do is put everything in place and then let it heal properly.

Chiropractors are experts at getting your spinal bones and joint “in place” and working properly so they can heal correctly.

Chiropractors are also experts at keeping spines functioning properly to minimize future problems – much like periodic Dental check-ups and cleaning prevent tooth decay and loss down the road.

So, if you have back pain, you might want to try something that has a history starting in 400 B.C. with the father of medicine – Hippocrates – and has been practiced, improved and proven to help back pain.

If you do, just give us a call at 262-251-8306 and we will help you in any way that we can; conservatively and affordably!

I hope you found this information interesting and helpful.

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

Why Choose Chiropractic?

Why would you go to a chiropractor instead of an MD, DO or physical therapist?

One thing that makes chiropractic unique is that from day one, chiropractors are trained to think of the body as being designed to function properly.  As long as the body is given proper air, food, water, safety and rest, it will function at its best.

We view disease as a process that happens when the body is not functioning as it should.

Chiropractors focus on the spine because it contains the spinal cord and nerve roots that can get be injured, when the spine misaligns.  The spinal cord and nerve roots carry messages to and from the brain.  If the messages don’t get thru, the body will not function like it should.  Re-aligning the spine helps the body to function better.

But then we go even deeper to find out what caused the spine to misalign in the first place.  Was it caused by a trauma, a bad mattress, a toxin that affected the muscles,  a diet filled with junk, exhaustion from not sleeping or …?  Once the body is given what it needs, it will function like it should and pain will go away.

This way of looking at the body is much different than modern medicine.  Modern medicine treats the body by using drugs to mask symptoms.  The underlying problems are then ignored until they get so bad that surgery becomes necessary.  This is a bad way of thinking and it is probably why our healthcare system is in a shambles today.

Now, I’m not saying that drugs aren’t totally necessary.  I’ve treated many patients who have needed medication because the pain was so intense they couldn’t do anything without it.  But, they got the problem treated properly, so their body functioned better and they no longer needed to take the pills.  Last I checked, there is no pill that will move a bone away from a nerve.

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

How to Improve Posture

Unlike what you may have been told, posture is the way your body appears when you are relaxed.  It is not how it appears when you are working like heck to hold yourself upright.  Posture cannot be controlled by muscles, exercise, tractioning your body or any other thing except getting the skeletal structure corrected.   In the past, Chiropractors, osteopaths, physical therapists and others have not been able to consistently correct posture problems.   Advanced Biostructural Correction is an innovative technique that can correct posture without bracing or exercise.  You stand the way you are supposed to, without effort.  Take a look at these pre and post treatment photos.

To make an appointment for a Free No Obligation Consultation to see how we might be able to help your posture problem, call Jennifer at 262-251-8306.

Is Chiropractic Safe After Spinal Surgery?

If you have had back surgery, chances are you are still in pain.  Studies show that 53% of patients who have undergone spinal surgery are still in pain or feeling worse.

In my opinion, spinal surgery has such a high failure rate because it fails to address the spinal alignment problems that created the need for the surgery in the first place.

I have had many patients tell me that their surgeon warned them to “Never see a chiropractor !”  But, out of desperation, they came to see me anyway, just to try and get some relief.  Unfortunately, if you asked these same surgeons, “what does a chiropractor do that is so bad ?”  they probably wouldn’t have much of an answer for you.

The good news is, chiropractic procedures can be done on patients after they have had spinal surgery.  The bad news is, it is more difficult to get a good outcome.  Difficult, but not impossible.

It is more difficult because structures that were once there, are now removed.  This is the case when a laminectomy is done.  Or, vertebrae have been fused together, which makes it more difficult to work around that area.

However, realigning the areas above and below the surgery sight can provide a great deal of relief.  I have had many patients get excellent pain relief, freedom of movement and reduction in pain medication after a good course of chiropractic treatment.

If you are in pain after spinal surgery, I would definitely suggest trying specific chiropractic techniques.  And, I would look for someone who has training and experience in treating post-surgical spinal cases.  If the treatment is working, you should feel at least some relief after a couple of weeks of treatment.  From there, your doctor should be able to make further recommendations for treatment, based on his findings and how you have responded.

For more information on the care I provide, log on to www.newbackpainreliefinfo.com.

The best thing to do, if you have had spinal surgery is to get a hold of any X-rays, CT’s or MRI’s you have had since your surgery and bring them with you to the free evaluation.  Then, I can tell you what I can do for you.  Some people with spinal fusions, I can’t treat.  Almost all laminectomy patients can be treated.  Basically, I need to see what was done, and the only way for me to do that is to see films.

If you don’t have access to your films, come in for the free evaluation anyway and we can talk about your situation.  I can get a good idea of what is going on and then send you for imaging if I think I might be able to help.