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

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

Basic Guidelines:

1. Carbohydrates: AVOID all refined carbs (white flour products). Eat whole grain bread, oatmeal, granola, nuts. Avoid artificial sweeteners and limit sugar intake to a max. of 40g/2000 calories. Eat roughly 14 grams / 1000 calories consumed of soluble dietary fiber such as apples, oats, and legumes vs. insoluble fiber such as bran. Your total carb intake from all sources should be between 30-55% of your total calories.
2. Fats: AVOID saturated fats (these clog up circulation, lead to inflammation and pain).  That means <10% of total calories consumed, so limit or eliminate foods such as cheese, beef, milk, oils, ice cream, cakes, cookies, mayonnaise, margarine, chips and chicken skin. Eat mono- and poly-unsaturated fats and include regular amounts of omega 3-fats. Eat < 300mg/day of cholesterol; Try to avoid ALL trans fats such as cakes, cookies, crackers, pies, bread, margarine, fried potatoes, chips, shortening.  Take omega 3 fatty acids like alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) as these help make other omega 3 fats like EPA and DHA, and are very helpful for the brain.  ALA is found in flaxseed, linseed oil, or cod liver oil. Limit total fat intake to 20-35% of calories consumed.
3. Protein: Go easy on red meat as they are high in saturated fat. Instead, eat more fish and vegetable protein (legumes and soybeans are great). When eating meat or poultry, remove all visible fat and skin before eating. Maintain protein at 20-40% of total caloric intake.  AVOID: processed meats, especially salt-cured, smoked or nitrate-cured.
4. Fruits & Vegetables: Whole fruits are superior to juices.  Include blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, kiwis, peaches, mango, cantaloupe melon and apples. Some FM sufferers cannot tolerate citrus fruits but if you can, fruits like oranges and grapefruits are great.  Vegetables are crucial. Good choices include carrots, squash, sweet potato, spinach, kale, collard greens, broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts.  These foods reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases (diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancers).
5. Dairy Products:  Choose organic varieties of milk. This also applies to yogurt and cheese.
6. Healthy drinks: Drink 8 glasses of water a day or diluted fruit juices, or herbal teas.  Drinking water helps flush out toxins.  Avoid coffee, tea, and alcohol as these increase fatigue, increase muscle pain and interfere with normal sleeping patterns. Limit or eliminate alcohol.
7. Healthy Snacks: Chopped vegetables, unsalted nuts and/or seeds; AVOID ALL commercial snack foods (except salt-free air-popped popcorn) as these are high in trans fats & salt.  Avoid chocolate and candy.
8. Junk Food: Regular consumption of this is BAD for FM patients due to the high levels of fat, sodium, calories and general lack of nutrition.
9. Artificial Sweeteners:  AVOID them!  Examples: aspartame, NutraSweet, & saccharine.
10. MSG:  (monosodium glutamate (MSG) and Sodium (Salt) can aggravate FM!
11. QUANTITY:  Eat smaller light meals, especially in the evenings.

We recognize the importance of including chiropractic in your treatment planning and realize you have a choice of providers. 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! FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW WE TREAT FIBROMYALGIA LOG ON TO : WWW.STOPYOURFIBRONOW.COM

The carpal tunnel is made up from 8 bones (2 rows of 4 carpal bones that are stacked on top of each other) that are arranged in the shape of a horse shoe.  The “roof” of the tunnel is a ligament (transverse carpal ligament) that stretches tightly across the two ends of the horseshoe completing the formation of a tunnel – actually, an upside down tunnel when looking at the palm side of the wrist).  The contents of the tunnel include 9 tendons and their covering (sheath), blood vessels and on top of all that just under the roof is the median nerve – the culprit that creates most of the symptoms of CTS.  The cause of CTS is simply anything that causes the contents inside the tunnel to swell, which then compresses the median nerve up into the roof or ligament, pinching the nerve. This can create numbness, tingling, the falling asleep sensation and weakness.  It’s important to point out that the median nerve starts out from the neck, passes through the shoulder, past the elbow, through the wrist’s carpal tunnel and ends in the hand – specifically fingers 2,3, and 4.  Therefore, the ENTIRE nerve must be looked at for all CTS cases as pinching can occur anywhere along its course from the neck to the hand.

It’s said that pictures say a thousand words, so let’s take a look!

Using the pictures here, familiarize yourself with the words and re-read the 2nd paragraph above, periodically looking at these pictures until you feel you understand where everything goes.  Once you’ve accomplished that, you’ll be able to better appreciate CTS, how the anatomy relates to the condition, and appreciate the need to reduce the swelling inside the tunnel when symptoms occur.  The treatment is simple: “PRICE” – P protect R rest I ice C compress E elevate – accomplished by bracing (especially at night), ice cup massage (5 min. until numb 5x/day), rest (light duty work), and therapy (see your chiropractor!).

We realize that you have a choice in who you are considering 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 CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME!  FOR MORE INFORMATION LOG ON TO WWW.RELIEFFROMCARPALTUNNEL.COM

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

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

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

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

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