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Santa Barbara Chiropractor: ChiropracticTreatment Can Ease The Pain Of Spinal Osteoarthritis (Spondylosis)

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Santa Barbara Chiropractor

I’ve always loved the old saying, “Growing old isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative.” However, it’s nothing to joke about if the aging process is creating pain in your body! As a Santa Barbara chiropractor, I treat a lot of people suffering from age-related problems that likely would not have occurred if the original cause had been treated earlier in life, particularly when it comes to musculoskeletal breakdowns. Pain in the back, neck, hips, knees, and even the feet are frequently the result of needless stresses due to poor posture, improper gait, and repetitive overuse. If we only aware years ago how our aging body would feel today, eh? However, as they say, “hindsight is 20-20.”

As you can see from the list of complaints above, there are plenty of musculoskeletal problems that can, and frequently do, take place as we get older, however painful back problems are one of the most prevalent. Back pain that is age-related is generally the result of a degenerative disorder known as Spondylosis (spine osteoarthritis).

Spinal osteoarthritis is caused by prolonged deterioration and weight-bearing pressure on the spine that, over time, damages discs, joints, and surrounding ligaments. The specific area(s) and measure of the degenerative process of spondylosis is individual, varying from person to person. The areas that are generally affected are the cervical (neck), thoriacic (mid-back), or lumbar (low back). Depending on the severity of degeneration, Spondylosis symptoms vary from person-to-person as well, and can run a spectrum from minor pain and numbness to extreme sensory loss and muscular atrophy.

Repetitive stresses negatively affect the cartilage surrounding the joints and can encourage calcium to deposit in the tissues around the vertebrae. Adjacent nerves, blood vessels, and soft tissue can be constricted by these calcific deposits, also called bone spurs. This type of compression is at the root of Spondylosis.

Regular chiropractic adjustments and overall chiropractic management is beneficial in significantly slowing the aging process of the spine whether or not you are suffering from spondylosis. Even though “you can’t un-ring a bell” or “turn back the hands of time,” but it’s never too late to give your spine the consideration it deserves. When it comes to treating the spine, chiropractors are experts! See your Santa Barbara Chiropractor today, for the health of your spine.

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San Diego Chiropractor Asks: Could Those Extra Pounds Be Putting Your Joints on Overload?

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

San Diego Chiropractor

As a Chiropractor in San Diego, I counsel many individuals who come to my clinic who want to lose weight. I know how hard it can be, and I also know how important it is to lose those extra pounds. What’s an extra pound or two? Over time, extra weight can add up to a large number of health problems from heart and pulmonary diseases and diabetes to back problems and joint degeneration. Even a few additional pounds put undue stress on organs, like the heart, not to mention on joints in the low back, hips, and knees. Over half (62%) of men and women in America are overweight or obese, according to recent studies. That is a very significant percentage and an enormous problem (no pun intended).

Though we try to pretend otherwise, most of us know that the human body has not evolved to carry around surplus weight in the form of body fat. A mere excess of 20 or 30 pounds can, in point of fact, overload and encumber the joints and muscles of the body. Added weight in the tummy, for instance, requires that the body compensate (counterbalance the weight) by tilting the pelvis forward. This shift puts pressure on the joints of the low back. Painful inflammation results as this joint compression restricts nerve activity. Most men and women who are overweightsuffer from low back pain caused by  a compressed sciatic nerve or spinal misalignments that constrict nerves as a consequence of weight-bearing stresses. If left untreated, misaligned vertebra generally create new arthritic changes in the spine over time, as well as persist in irritating the degenerative changes that have already taken place.

Here are the ways in which chiropractic treatment can help. Perhaps, it should go without saying that a “normal” body weight is necessary in order for the musculoskeletal system to act and respond in the way it is meant to. Chiropractic treatment can not only relieve pain generated by excess weight compensation, but it can aid in weight reduction. Here’s how. Chiropractic adjustments relieve nerve impingements in the vertebral column and assist in getting mobility back into the joints of the musculoskeletal system, especially in the low back, hips, and knees. And, obviously exercise and physical activity is a lot easier, and more beneficial for the body, when the spine is in alignment and the joints have good motion. Not only will exercise help with weight reduction, but it can actually reduce degenerative changes as we age.

Healthcare professionals, like your chiropractor, can talk to you about your diet and exercise options. In addition to caring for men and women suffering from back pain and joint inflammation, chiropractors offer qualified advice on the kinds of lifestyle corrections that can help you to stay healthier, more energetic, and more active through the years. Arthritis and immobility due to aging don’t have to be unavoidable. The structure of the human body is intended to carry a person through an entire lifetime of pain-free movement.

So, if you’ve been thinking that a few extra pounds won’t hurt, think again! As your chiropractor in San Diego, and someone who cares deeply about your overall health, I’d like to help you to make healthier choices. Make an appointment today!

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Your Chiropractor in Wichita Has Years of Experience Successfully Treating Sciatica

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

Wichita Chiropractor

As a Wichita Chiropractor for more than twenty years, I have treated a significant number of individuals suffering from sciatic pain, so I know from experience just how debilitating the pain from sciatica can be. Sciatica sufferers are regrettably all too familiar with the type of deep pain that often radiates through the lower part of their body, accompanies their waking hours each day and inhibits almost all of their daily activities.

Could your low back pain be generated by sciatica? You are more than likely experiencing sciatica if your pain radiates from your low back, through your buttock(s), down the large sciatic nerve in the back of one or both legs, and possibly radiates into your knee(s). Also, sitting, as well as movement, can be painful. Often lying down will lessen, or perhaps even temporarily eliminate the pain. But, it’s important for you to be aware that sciatica cannot be corrected without proper care.

Radiculopathy

One of the clinical diagnoses of sciatica is known as a “radiculopathy”, a medical term that means simply that a disc has protruded from its normal position in the spine and is putting pressure on the radicular nerve (nerve root) in the lower back, which forms part of the sciatic nerve. Such pressure can cause excruciating pain.

Added pressure on the intervertebral discs, as well as imbalances in the muscles encasing the spine, can happen during and after extended sitting, particularly in an improper position. Usually, a specific event or injury doesn’t cause sciatica, instead sciatica has a tendency to develop over time as a result of everyday wear and tear on the structures of the lower spine. Over the course of time the lower spine can lose its normal functioning capabilities during ordinary stresses.

Ultimately, the intervertebral disc undergoes small fissures or cracks that then allow the soft nucleus to protrude the disc outward. Pain is generated as the disc pushes on sensitive tissues. This occurrence is often referred to as a ruptured, or slipped, disc. If the disc presses on the spinal nerve, a person can develop sciatica. With chiropractic adjustments and management, which frequently includes postural exercises, the majority of disc conditions, including sciatica, can be significantly decreased.

Periformis Syndrome

Another condition that creates sciatic pain is periformis syndrome. Periformis syndrome develops when the periformis muscle, which is superficial to the sciatic nerve, goes into spasm and irritates the nerve. In addition to chiropractic treatment, this type of sciatica can be significantly relieved by sciatica stretches that your chiropractor will suggest.

It is vital for you to seek chiropractic attention if you are experiencing sciatic pain. If you are in the Wichita area, as your Chiropractor in Wichita, I invite you to come in to see if I can get you out of pain and help you to get your life back!

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Your Chiropractor in Oxnard Offers An Unexpected Solution to Your Allergy Problems

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

Oxnard Chiropractor

Dr. Donald Bolt, your Chiropractor in Oxnard, is aware that allergies can make your daily activities  miserable. A stroll in the park, snuggling with your favorite feline, a shellfish pasta, or even something as minute as a nut will often bring about such unwelcome complaints as itchy eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, or a skin rash.

On the other hand, in certain cases an individual’s allergic reactions can go from just plain irritating to acute and even life-threatening as the air passageway begins to close and breathing becomes labored. This acceleration of symptoms can often produce a state of extreme stress plus a trip to the ER.

Allergies can, indeed, change into a very significant upheaval and make you feel sidelined and not able to participate in everyday activities. In fact, should you be one of those unfortunate people who have allergies, it might perhaps seem to you that, from time to time, your environment is a surprisingly antagonistic space and that the world around you is, actually, out to get you!

You might ask yourself as to why it is that others tend to be so unsusceptible to the exact same environmental stresses that send your system into overwhelm. Other people seem to be either unaware of or plainly`totally unresponsive to the potential irritants that lie in wait at just about every turn, while your system reacts, or rather overreacts, to them. Why you? A appropriate question. The answer is that many folks, not unlike yourself, have a hyperactive immune system that literally “goes wild” when you come upon typical substances such as pollen, dander, shellfish, or nut products.

Can your Oxnard Chiropractor help you in finding relief from your allergy symptoms? The answer is a unquestionable “Yes,” and the explanation will possibly surprise you. Plenty of chiropractic patients have noticed that they enjoy freedom from their allergy symptoms following a chiropractic treatment, although chiropractic care doesn’t necessarily target allergies, per se. The scientific explanation for the decrease in allergy symptoms is due to the fact that chiropractic treatment has an effect on the whole nervous system, which includes your autoimmune system, which is the origin of your hypersensitive responses. In the event that there’s a perturbation within the nervous system, coupled with other problems, the autoimmune system, whose responsibility it is to assist you to adapt and react appropriately to your environment, may easily become under-active or overactive. Where your allergies are concerned, the reaction is the latter (it becomes overactive).

Because chiropractic manipulations are intended to reduce or even totally eliminate disruptions within the nervous system and recreate equilibrium and tranquility to the entire body, as well as a variety of corrections, the adjustments administer homeostasis to the autoimmune system also. A robust immune system reacts normal to so-called allergens in the natural world.

So, as already mentioned, your Oxnard Chiropractor doesn’t necessarily address allergies, still that doesn’t imply your allergies won’t improve or disappear completely. On the other hand, one could point out, instead, that relief from your allergies is simply the “side-effect” of your rebalanced nervous system. If you want to get back into a balanced relationship with your natural environment as soon as possible, visit Dr. Bolt, your Chiropractor in Oxnard, today. He can help you to start living your life again!

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Santa Clara Chiropractor: "No Pain, No Gain?" Not When It Comes to Aging

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

It probably goes without saying that as we age our body feels and acts differently than it used to when we were younger. It just doesn’t seem fair that as our mind appears to improve and become more “inventive,”  our body seems to become less “cooperative.” We’re stiff in the morning; certain activities during the day make us sore in the evening; and, if we’re not mindful, even a movement as simple as turning too hastily or bending over to pick up a dropped pencil, can send our back or some other muscle group into spasm. Fortunately, there is help available that is not only beneficial in slowing down the aging process of the body, but can aid us in avoiding some of those problems completely.

Take arthritis for example. Most of us would agree that, barring pharmaceuticals, traditional medicine fails to take care of this age-related affliction. What is the reason? The answer is that most medical professionals focus only on the symptoms of arthritis. The chiropractic procedure is to look for the root of the condition and get rid of the pain at its source.  For over one hundred years, chiropractors, like your Santa Clara Chiropractor, have been caring for people suffering from back pain and other conditions created by arthritic changes in the musculoskeletal system.

Repetitive stresses, years of poor gait and improper posture, and lack of beneficial movement cause wear of certain joints over time and create the arthritic changes the body goes through as you get older. Chiropractic treatment restores motion back into your joints and reduces pain, and it ameliorates any vertebral misalignment that may be causing irritation and restriction. In addition, did you know that misaligned vertebra, along with causing arthritic changes in the spine and escalating pain, can also weaker your resistance and immunity? It’s true, and this might be one of the reasons why it may seem to you that as you get older you develop more health problems and that it often takes longer for you to feel better again. According to studies done on men and women, those who received regular chiropractic care stayed healthier. In fact, you could say that, as you get older, chiropractic adjustments are good for what ails you!

When it comes to the health of the musculoskeletal system, chiropractors are experts whether it’s the small, growing frame of an infant or the full-grown body of a mature adult.  Your chiropractor is well aware of the body’s aging process and has exceptional observational and diagnostic skills that aid in detecting spinal misalignments and joint problems. A chiropractic examination can, in fact, often reveal some age-related conditions before they’ve had a chance to create noticeable pain. Furthermore, your Santa Clara Chiropractor can assess your posture and observe your gait to identify faulty patterns that could generate more arthritic changes in the future.

So, if feeling your age has become a painful experience, call your Santa Clara Chiropractor today!

Dr. David Hoewisch is a Santa Clara Chiropractor with over 25 years of experience helping thousands of patients get out of pain and get their lives back. His office is located at 1221 Lafayette St., Santa Clara, CA, 95050. Dr. Hoewisch has traveled around the world and is an avid outdoor enthusiast. He is a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) and learned sign language at an early age. He treats many deaf patients in his clinic. For more information go to his website at http://www.santaclarachiropractor.net

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Sacramento Chiropractor: Golf Injuries Can Be Averted

Friday, November 20th, 2009

Sacramento Chiropractor

Injuries are not uncommon with any kind of sport. So, it’s a good idea to find out what injury is likely to happen in a favorite sport and then to do what it takes to avoid it. Unfortunately, sports injuries can’t always be avoided. As a result, it’s advantageous to be in good physical shape to make incurring injury less probable, or less traumatic.   The most important thing that you can do is to be sure that you have the proper fitness level prior to beginning to play a sport, such as golf. You just might keep your body safe from injury if you stick to these general guidelines: Perpetuate a healthy lifestyle; make sure your joints are mobile and your muscles are limber; prepare your body before to activity; use proper form and good postures while actively playing; give yourself plenty of cool down and relaxation time.

Golf injuries don’t just happen to amateurs. Close to one-third of pro golfers playing concurrently are playing with injury. The good news is that overall good health and fitness can reduce how many injuries you may acquire and might possibly preclude them completely.

It is crucial for you to have good body strength in the muscle zones most employed while playing golf. However, before you try to build muscle strength, it’s prudent to make sure your spine is aligned and has good mobility. A injury-free golf swing hinges on your spine’s facility to efficiently rotate adequately. Back injuries are the most widespread type of injuries suffered by golfers. Your Sacramento chiropractor will establish that your spine is in appropriate alignment and that there is effectual movement of the vertebrae. Chiropractic treatment can go a long way in helping you to avert back injury.

It’s time to strengthen once you’re “straightened.” Being prepared for your round of golf is crucial to safe, injury-free action on the green. Golf stretching and flexibility exercises will warm up your muscles and make straining them less likely. Flexibility in all parts of the body can be developed relatively fast as the result of full body range of motion (ROM) exercises. Additionally, elastic band conditioning offers targeted golf range of motion improvements and can advance needed strength in the shoulders, hips and deep muscles of the core. Because elastic band training offers the dynamic resistance that regular weight lifting does not, sports professionals, such as your chiropractor, are making them a part of their golf conditioning programs.

Along with back injuries, many golfers suffer from “Golfer’s Elbow.” There is a small difference between golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow despite the fact that they are nearly identical injuries. Whereas the outside of the upper arm is disturbed in tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow affects the inner arm. Golfer’s elbow, like tennis elbow, can be the consequence of a single extreme action, such as (in golf) thrusting down on the mat at the driving range or thrusting down on a hard fairway surface. Although, it generally is produced by repetitive stress from smaller shocks. Moreover, it can occur for those who abruptly begin to play too much golf. As a case in point, if players that ordinarily play golf once or twice a month decide to play in a tournament, they are conceivably at risk for contracting the injury.

Golf makes exclusive requirements on our body. Fatigue can be problematic because the game usually lasts longer than many other sports. When the body is fatigued, unhealthy posture and decreased coordination frequently follow. This combination can create a variety of injuries. In addition, due to repetitive swinging of the golf clubs, the shoulder muscles are subject to injury. Just as it is vital for you to stretch and warm up prior to starting your golf game, be sure to rest your body properly between games.

An unexpected injury sometimes related to golf is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. But, this injury can be caused by a large number of games of golf played over several months repetitively because it is a condition that happens due to repetitive stress Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be a severe injury creating disability and on occasion needing surgery. However, chiropractic management and, sometimes the use of a brace will help the condition if a health professional, such as your chiropractor, detects it at an early stage.

Injuries are assumed to be inevitable part of life for a good majority golfers. However, a healthy, mobile spine, good preparation, specific exercise and muscle conditioning, reaching and maintaining a a good fitness level, and prudent rest and recuperation after your game is over, can help to make injuries much less a part of your golfing experience.

Dr. Yong Kim is a Sacramento chiropractor with over thirteen years of experience helping thousands of patients get out of pain and get their lives back. His office is located at 1707 Professional Drive, Sacramento, CA 95825. He has special training in the area of sports injuries. Dr Kim is himself an avid health enthusiast. For more information go to his website at http://www.sacramentochiropractor.org

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Seattle Chiropractor: Chiropractic Care Can Get Rid of Foot Pain AND Help Your Sinus Problems!

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

It’s not surprising that Seattle Chiropractic has treated hundreds of people suffering from foot pain, and knows all too well how prevalent painful foot problems are nowadays. Here’s why: We all know that movement is good for every part of body, right? From our head to our toes, our good health is highly affected by how much physical exercise we get on a regular basis. If that’s the case, why do so many people suffer from aches and pains in their feet? After all, aren’t our feet made for walking? The answer, of course, is “yes,” but they aren’t designed for mistreatment.

The normal, healthy person takes 3,000-5,000 steps each day, not including activities such as running and aerobic exercise. Unfortunately, many times those steps are made by people walking inadequately, with clumsy gait patterns and unhealthy posture.

Furthermore, a significant number of individuals wear badly-designed, improperly-fitting shoes. Walking and exercising on feet that are inhibited from functioning as they were meant to cannot help but to cause aches and pains not only in various places in the feet, but in other parts of the body, as well.  For example, if an individual over-pronates (walks like a duck) in shoes that are poorly-made or unevenly-worn, or in any pair of high heels, that person is not only likely to develop foot and ankle conditions, but will more than likely experience problems of the back, knees and legs.

One of the most recognized foot problems is Plantar Fascitis (heel pain), which is usually caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is an extraordinary, multi-tasking band of connective tissue that encompasses the muscles on the bottom of the foot, fixes the heel bone to the ball of the foot, supports the arch, safeguards the foot, and absorbs shock. Obviously, the healthy function of the plantar fascia is crucial for pain-free movement of the foot.

There are many factors that can be considered reasons for the development of Plantar Fascitis. One factor is short and tight calf muscles. Undue stress on the smaller and weaker plantar muscles and fascia occurs when calf muscles get short and tight, exerting a strong pull on the back of the heel bone. You may be wondering how calf muscles get short and tight. Aside from aerobics, volleyball, running, basketball, tennis, and similar activities that involve running and jumping, the wearing of high heels can create the problem.

Other factors that contribute to Plantar Fascitis include sudden strenuous activity after a period of prolonged inactivity, abnormal gait patterns (such as over-pronation), inappropriate footwear, walking on hard or uneven surfaces (especially barefooted), and obesity.

Once an individual develops Plantar Fascitis, the condition is frequently difficult to manage and can become exceedingly painful and tenacious. Plantar Fascitis won’t go away without proper treatment.

If you are suffering from the pain of Plantar Fascitis, your chiropractor will be able to determine the cause of your problem and what chiropractic therapies would be most beneficial. Such care might include ultrasound therapy, laser, joint manipulation, Graston technique, muscle stretching and strengthening exercises, special taping and, in some cases, orthotics.

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How Your Chiropractor Can Relieve Your Child's Earaches and Ear Infections

Monday, July 20th, 2009

childrens chiropractic

The most prevailing basis for visits to a pediatrician is earache. More than 70 percent of children will have had at least one earache by the age of three, and approximately one-third will have had three or more earache occurrences. What you might not know, however, is that earache is also the most general occurrence for children under the age of five years to be brought to the chiropractor’s office.

How Chiropractic Care Relates to Earache and Ear Infections

A pediatrician who thinks that a child with an earache has a middle ear infection will generally prescribe antibiotics as a standard course of treatment. Advanced research, however, has concluded that this is often misguided. The basis for the child’s middle ear infection may not be due to bacteria, and because antibiotics are only effective against bacterial pathogens, many times there will be no positive reaction. The reason for this is that numerous cases of middle ear infection can be caused by a virus, and viruses do not respond to antibiotics. This may be the reason why children develop chronic ear infections.

One of the intentions of a Honolulu chiropractor is to determine whether or not the body’s ineffectiveness in combatting the earache or ear infection is generated by inflamation of the small nerves in the spine (called free nerve endings).

An aberrant tension in the small muscles of the neck is produced when these nerve endings are irritated. This muscle tension can produce pressure on the lymphatic drainage ducts resulting in inadequate drainage from inside the ear, thereby stopping the body from being able to naturally correct the problem. Furthermore, balance can also be affected.

Diagnosis by a chiropractor of such a problem is made by the discovery of increased tension in the neck and paraspinal muscles. Normally more tension is felt on the side of earache. In addition, the chiropractor will check to see which spinal vertebrae are either slightly out of alignment or not moving within their normal range. There are many reasons for such aproblem due to the many bangs, jolts, and falls most children encounter growing up. Restoration of normal lymph drainage is normally accomplished with a short course of treatments that include spinal adjustments and manipulation of the neck muscles. If your child is struggling with an earache or an ear infection, call your Honolulu chiropractor as soon as possible.

Advanced Research and Guidelines

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), ear infection, the most widespread childhood illness after the common cold, accounts for nearly 30 million doctor visits each year. Furthermore, at least 6 million courses of antibiotics are causelessly prescribed for the problem.Just recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new guidelines for treating pediatric ear inflammation, and specifically recommended a period of “watchful waiting” since, in many cases, infections clear up on their own, without medication.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) endorses the AAP on the guidelines and emphasizes that chiropractic care is a “good first option” for treating ear infection conservatively. “Doctors of chiropractic have been treating children for decades with great success – helping them to avoid painful ear infections, antibiotic overuse and resistance, and ear tube surgery,” said ACA President Donald Krippendorf, DC. “Particularly when dealing with young children, drugs and surgery should be an absolute last resort.”

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Can Appropriate Posture Help With Knee Pain Reduction?

Saturday, July 18th, 2009

San Jose Chiropractor: Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions

In addition to spinal complaints, knee pain and disability is one of the most frequent dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system. Conditions concerning the knee can be divided into several categories including unsatisfactory of the knee and faulty foot mechanics that compensate for foot pain, general overuse of the knee joint,  inflammation due to arthritic changes in the joint, and traumatic injury from events such as sports and falls.

Non-trauma knee problems: Deficient mechanics of the knee joint and the associated stress on the soft tissues of the knee are, by far, the most common cause of non-traumatic pain. Normally, the part of the knee involved is the patella or knee-cap. Frequently the patella does not move fluidly or does not move adequately on the femur during bending of the knee producing too much stress on the tendons, cartilage and ligaments. This distinct condition is frequently called chondromalacia patella (CMP) or Patella Femoral Syndrome (Knee Cap Pain). The problem generally originates when there are imbalances in the quadriceps muscles of the thigh that attach to and move the patella. Lower back problems, especially in the sacroiliac joints, are one of the main reasons for imbalances in the muscles related to knee movement, and resultant knee problems. Pain and dysfunction can also be generated by imbalances in the muscle groups that connect to the knee. For example, the muscles on the inside of the thigh, when strained and tight, can produce pain on the medial or inside of the knee.   Mechanical knee pain is also produced by gait abnormalities such as pronation.

Symptoms of overuse include pain during activities such as climbing stairs, running, jumping, as well as pain upon rising after prolonged sitting. Some women seem to be predisposed to painful overuse problems for anatomical reasons, but such problems are often due to wearing high heels on a regular basis.

It is important to re-establish proper muscle balance, restore appropriate motion to the patella and other knee joints, and to correct any subluxations of the sacroiliac joints and bones of the foot.  In certain cases, a brace is required to aid with the positioning of the patella or to support the joint. Chiropractors, such as your San Jose chiropractor, are experts in supplying knowledgeable diagnosis and management of these problems.

Knee problems due to trauma: Traumatic injuries commonly occur during activities that involve running and jumping, such as football, basketball, and skiing. When the knee is extended or contorted beyond the facility of the ligaments that hold the joint together, tearing of these tissues can occur producing a sprain. The muscles that give motion to the knee can also be torn during injury causing a strain or pull of the muscle. As with a sprain, a muscle strain can range from a slight injury that requires little treatment to a serious injury requiring surgery. The knee also is comprised of two special “cartilages” – the menisci – between the tibia and the femur that allow smooth movement and cushioning. These cartilages can also be torn during trauma, and often need surgical repair, or even removal if damaged severely.

Traumatic knee injuries can produce serious pain and swelling and necessitate prompt evaluation and attention. In most instances a qualified chiropractor, such as your San Jose Chiropractor, can take excellent care of these types of injuries, however there are some injuries that do need the skills of an orthopedic surgeon. Whatever the case, it is crucial to stabilize the injured joint immediately and to put ice on the hurt area, if possible, until the injury can be examined.

Conditions such as poor mechanics and problems due to overuse, as well as traumatic injuries, need to be fixed at an early stage. If not, the tissues of the knee joint, particularly the cartilage, will eventually erode. In that event the bones will rub on one another, and changes such as bone spurs can occur. This painful problem, known as degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis, often advances with age. Common treatment may involve medications such as NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). However, there are natural anti-inflammatory supplements that are highly effectual such as rosemary, glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, bioflavinoids, curcumin. Conservative treatment, such as chiropractic, can be extremely beneficial in relieving the pain. Your San Jose chiropractor is will gladly discuss anti-inflammatory supplements. In addition, sufferers can often aid themselves by keeping their weight down, doing exercises (especially in the pool), and wearing cushioned shoes or insoles.

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Getting Rid of Excess Pounds Can Decrease Your Arthritis Pain

Friday, July 17th, 2009

San Diego Chiropractor: Chiropractic and Arthritis

Do you suffer from painful arthritis? Do you also have a problem with your weight?  If you’ve answered in the affirmative to both questions, it’s conceivable that you’re having back pain not only due to arthritis, but also because of the strain your weight is putting on your spine.  The body was not designed to carry around additional weight in the form of body fat.  Your spine, which supports your body, is being put under a lot of strain even if you are just carrying an additional 20 or 30 pounds on a regular basis. This kind of burden can produce abnormalities of the vertebral column. These misaligned vertebra can generate arthritic changes in the spine and continue to aggravate the degenerative changes that are present already. Furthermore, your body may compensate in other ways, for instance your hips moving forward or tilting to support the excess pounds.  This can compress the sciatic nerve, which is extremely painful.

A new survey by the NPD Group, a leading market research organization based in Rosemont, Ill., shows that approximately 62% of men and women and 34% of children are overweight or obese. The pervasiveness of arthritis escalates with increasing weight. Research implies that sustaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of developing arthritis in the first place and may slow degenerative progression. A reduction of just 11 pounds can reduce the occurrence (incidence) of new knee osteoarthritis and would do a great deal to reduce back pain as well.

A healthy diet and regular exercise is imperative for anyone who wants to overcome their back pain, knee pain, and joint pain in other places in the body.  Even though it’s an obvious solution, it really is the only solution for you to get out of pain and get your life back.

First of all, let’s talk about the issue of dieting.  There are a huge number of different ways to diet and many of them are effective only as a Band-Aid.  Shamefully, the diet industry is not interested in having you lose weight permanently because consequently they would lose you as a customer.  In order for you to lose weight productively, you must eat a healthy diet and additionally to cut your calories so that you use more calories than you take in.  Don’t attempt to lose 20 pounds every week because that is a temporary and unsafe fix. A healthy weight loss rate is about 2 pounds every week in order for it to be truly effective.

With regard to exercise, research has shown that physical activity reduces pain, improves function, and delays disability. No less than 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, no fewer than 3 days a week, has been shown to be effective. Even at 10-minute intervals such movement is beneficial.

In addition to the good your joints will get from exercise, chiropractic treatment is a proved way to get motion back in the joints of your spine and other places in your body. A well-adjusted spine makes exercise and physical activity much easier and actually slows down arthritic degenerative changes. The Annals of Internal Medicine published the results of a survey of 232 people who were under a rheumatologist’s care for their arthritis.  Of those people, 63% answered the survey by indicating they were using some kind of “complementary care” as named by the study.  Of those responders, 31% were using chiropractic. Likely the most notable statistic was that 73% of those using chiropractic found it beneficial.  Answering why they’d tried the non-medical chiropractic care, people offered a number of reasons: 1) to reduce pain, 2) they’d been told that it helps, 3) they felt confident that it is safe, 4) it had aided someone they knew, and 5) because their prescription medication wasn’t stopping the pain.

Chiropractors, also called doctors of chiropractic, have been assisting people suffering from back pain due to arthritis as well as other arthritic problems for over a hundred years. Your San Diego chiropractor treats misaligned vertebra that, in addition to creating arthritic pain and degenerative changes in the spine, can weaken resistance and immunity, thereby causing new health challenges.

It is always a good idea to consult a health care professional to get information about diet and exercise. Your chiropractor is an experienced resource for information on the kind of lifestyle changes that you will require to help you to manage your arthritis. By the same token, besides correcting any misalignments in your spine, your chiropractor will analyze any faulty gait patterns or posture irregularities that may be compounding your arthritic pain.

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