How to Read and Work Without Neck Pain

Just about everything you do involves looking down.  You have to see what you are doing.  When you look down for a extended period of time, it puts more pressure on the muscles, joints and nerves in your neck.  The result is neck pain.

Reading is especially difficult, because you tend to stay in one position for so long.  It is best for your neck to have your head looking straight, not down.  But, it is difficult to keep a book straight out in front of you.  Holding a book out in front, tires out your arms.  You don’t want that either.

Here’s a little invention that I recommend to my patients that do a lot of reading, knitting or other work that forces the head down.  They are called prism glasses and they bend light so that you can have your head facing straight and your work in your lap.  Or, you can lay flat on your back and have your book rest on your stomach.

My wife and I use them all the time and they work great.  You can get them online or in our office.  For people with neck pain and headaches, they can really help.

For more health tips, log on to www.painfree-greatposture.com

Swimmer’s Shoulder Secrets

Swimmer’s shoulder is a term for tendonitis of the shoulder caused by strenuous swimming.  The condition involves the biceps tendon, which gets inflamed as a result of it moving around in a groove it sits in.  During swimming motions, the tendon slides back and forth in the groove, which irritates and swells the tendon.

Normally, treatment is designed to get the swelling down.  This usually involves icing and rest.  After the swelling subsides, the symptoms get better.  Then a program designed to strengthen the muscles of the shoulder girdle can help to keep it from re-occuring.

As a swimmer, I have had a few bouts with swimmer’s shoulder.  So I can empathize with those who suffer from it.  Based on my own experiences, I can tell you that the “normal” treatments offered for swimmer’s shoulder, only take you so far.  They really don’t fix the underlying problems that make you prone to getting it.

So here are some secrets I have found, that have worked for me and my patients.

1. Work on your posture.  If you stand with your head in front of your shoulders, it changes the way your shoulder moves and you will put more stress on the rotator cuff muscles and biceps tendon.  In effect, you never let those structures rest when you are out of the pool.  Without the proper recovery, you are constantly straining your shoulder and it will never heal.
2. Have someone (preferably trained) massage the back of your arm and shoulder.   A typical scenario for swimmer’s shoulder is the triceps, latissimus and teres muscles get overworked from pulling so much.  These muscles fatigue and go into spasm causing the shoulder to become imbalanced.   This gives the pain in the front of the shoulder, but the primary problem is in the back of it.  You will typically find trigger points in the triceps area and in the back of the armpit.
3. Switch up your strokes.  Front Crawl (freestyle) is the stroke used most often in training.  But, if it is used exclusively, without training other muscle groups, it can cause problems in the shoulders.  Switch up with backstroke and other strokes whenever you can.
4. Improve you strokes.  Faulty stroke mechanics often lead to shoulder problems.  The power in swimming comes from the core, not exclusively from the shoulders.  There are many philosophies of coaching.   But the information I like best comes from www.totalimmersion.net .
5. Consider chiropractic treatment when you have swimmer’s shoulder.  Surgery for swimmer’s shoulder is not all it’s cracked up to be.  The rehab is long and you just aren’t the same after.  Chiropractic treatment can fix most cases of swimmer’s shoulder in a surprisingly short period of time, without the risks and side effects of surgery.

For more information on chiropractic treatment log on to www.painfree-greatposture.com

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

Dr. Paul Kramer here.  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 and discs hold two bones together to form a joint.  A sprain occurs when a joint is over stretched.

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 re-align spinal bones in order to take pressure off ligaments, discs and nerve tissue..  This allows the spine 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!

Or log on to www.newbcakpainreliefinfo.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

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.

Why I Wear Vibram Five Fingers

A few months ago I started wearing Vibram Five Finger shoes after reading the book “Born to Run” by Christopher McDougall.

I’ve been an advocate of barefoot training for almost 8 years now and I have been working out in stocking feet or barefoot most of that time.  I started doing it in order to overcome metatarsal fractures to my right foot.

All of the experts told me I needed arch supports, but when I wore them, my feet hurt worse.  In fact, I broke the fifth metatarsal again while in my arch supported shoes.

Then I started working out barefoot and it was the only time my feet didn’t hurt.  In my office, I would wear a dress shoe that I had custom tailored to have no arch support.  It worked better than “off the rack” shoes, but I still had some pain in my feet and in my back after a long day of treating people.

In treating my patients, I and several doctors from around the country, have noticed that people who wear arch supports have bad posture.  This is contrary to what the experts tell you when you buy them.  We have suggested that our patients wear flat shoes with no arches and the results have been excellent.

A few months ago, I bought the Vibram Five Fingers and to break them in, I wore them to the office.  They looked funny with my white coat and tie, but my patients got a kick out of them.  At the end of the day, I was less tired and much less sore.  So I decided to make them a part of my daily wardrobe.  I love them.

It is not a totally easy transition.  I did notice that if I have to maintain good posture or my feet will start to hurt when I walk.  If I stand tall…no problems.

I ran two miles in them the other day and I feel really good.  I’m looking forward to doing some outdoor running this summer when the weather is nicer.

To find out more about how I treat patients with foot problems, log on to www.stopyourfootpain.com

What Kind of Shoes Should I Wear?

To answer this question properly, I’ll start by telling you what you shouldn’t wear.  The answer is probably going to knock you over.  Are you ready ?!

You should not wear shoes with arch supports. I’ll say it again, you should not wear shoes with arch supports.

I’ve been studying this issue for the last seven years.  I can tell you without a doubt that people who wear arch supports have the worst spines.  I’ve seen it over and over again.  The more expensive and exotic the support, the worse the problems are in the spine.  Especially, if the patient has been told to wear the supports every waking moment.

You see, arch supports rob the feet of their ability to compensate for uneven surfaces.  Instead of the feet doing the compensating, the knees, hips and spine do it.  The spine gets extra wear and tear, and you see many extra problems.

This flies in the face of everything that is currently being taught in chiropractic, orthopedics and podiatry.  And, you might think I’m crazy, but a recent study agrees with me.

In 2008, a research paper published in the British Journal of Sports medicine did a comprehensive review of over 35 years of research on footwear.  They concluded that there is not one published study that shows that shoes with arch supports prevent injury.  The author even contacted the major shoes companies and asked for their research and the companies wouldn’t respond.

Arch supports are one of those things doctors have dreamed up that works good on paper, but doesn’t work in the real world.

What should you wear ? If you are walking or running, you should wear flat shoes.  If you are doing a lot of standing, wear shoes with a small heel.  The heel will help you stand up straighter.  A lot of women’s shoes have about an 1 ½ inch heal and this is perfect for someone who stands in one place a lot.

Change your shoes often and walk barefoot whenever possible.  Barefoot walking will help you strengthen your feet.  If you’ve been in arch supports a long time, you will have to do this gradually because your feet are probably very weak.

For more information on how I treat foot pain, log on to www.stopyourfootpain.com.

Can Neck Problems Cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Neck problems are a common cause of pain and numbness in the hands.  The nerve involved in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is called the Median Nerve and it runs from your first three fingers, thru the carpal tunnel, up your arm, to your neck.

CTS happens when the tendons of the wrist swell and compress the median nerve as it passes thru the carpal tunnel.

However, if the nerve is pinched at the neck, you can get the same pain and numbness in the hands as when you have CTS.  The symptoms are the same, but the nerve is compressed in the neck, not the wrist.

You can also have a condition called “double crush” where the nerve is compressed at both sites.  Chiropractors have known for decades that the reason CTS surgery has such a high failure rate, is because undiagnosed neck problems are not addressed.  A growing body of research is supporting treatment of the wrist and the neck for CTS.

An article appearing in the March 2009 issue of the Journal Of Orthopedic Sports and Physical Therapy showed that people with CTS have larger postural distortions in the neck and less range of motion than normal healthy people.  Other studies have confirmed that pinched nerves in the neck are often mis-diagnosed as CTS.

If you are interested in more information on how I treat CTS log on to www.ReliefFromCarpalTunnel.com and order a free report.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2009;39(9):658-664, Epub 19 March 2009.
doi:10.2519/jospt.2009.3058