Monday, November 28, 2016

Neck Pain and How Chiropractic Care May Help You




People experiencing neck pain often turn to chiropractic care for help. Some swear by chiropractic physicians, saying the work they perform not only relieves pain, but also addresses the source of their pain rather than covering it up with drugs. There are more than 60,000 licensed chiropractic physicians in the United States today, and about 8 percent of American adults and 3 percent of children have had chiropractic care to treat their pain, according to a recent survey. That's a higher percentage than those who use other alternative therapies like yoga, massage, and acupuncture.

Chiropractic: How Neck Pain Is Treated

The word chiropractic is from the Greek words for hand (cheir) and action (praxis) - practitioners primarily use their hands to treat muscle, joint, and nerve pain by adjusting the spine and any joints in the body that need it. Adjustments involve the chiropractic physician applying controlled gentle, relaxing force to a joint, pushing the joint into a more correct place. This is intended to loosen up joints that are restricted or painfully due to tissue damage or scarring caused by either trauma or repetitive stress. An example of trauma causing neck pain is whiplash, while a repetitive stress injury could be from consistently poor posture.

For neck pain in particular, chiropractic neck adjustments, called cervical manipulation, loosen up the joints of the cervical vertebrae in the neck, and this can reduce pain caused by pinched nerves and muscle spasms. Chiropractic physicians use their hands to twist the neck sharply and snap the vertebrae back into alignment.

Chiropractic: Finding a Practitioner

Chiropractic physicians are trained to diagnose patients through physical exams, x-rays if needed as well diagnostic tests. Treatment plans may include neck exercises to do on your own and suggestions for a healthier lifestyle; chiropractic physicians do not prescribe medication as part of their treatment. Practicing chiropractic physicians in the United States are required to receive a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from a properly accredited college. Admission to a chiropractic college requires three years of undergraduate work. Chiropractic College is a four-year, year round program, during which the chiropractic physicians-in-training will learn in the classroom and provide hands-on care to patients. For specialized training, chiropractic physicians undertake an additional two- or three-year residency.

When evaluating a chiropractic physician, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine suggests asking about the professional's licensing and training, and whether that training included the specific problem you're experiencing.

By restoring mobility in your joints, chiropractic offers neck pain treatment that aims to fix the source of the pain rather than just treat its symptoms. This no-drug, no-surgery approach may be the answer you've been looking for.

Because each individual case is different, the appropriate chiropractic treatment is unique to each patient and is directed at the primary dysfunctions detected during the chiropractic exam. However, chiropractors commonly employ different treatments often including: gentle relaxing manipulation often followed by muscle relaxation and/or gentle stimulation and various exercises

The primary treatment for joint dysfunction, relaxing spinal manipulation involves the chiropractor gently moving the involved joint into the direction in which it is restricted. Also known as a chiropractic adjustment, spinal manipulation may involve the application of a short thrust in that direction. In many cases, instead of a thrust, a slow relaxing mobilizing movement is used. This can be done for any joint in the body.

Although their main method of treatment is the spinal manipulation, many chiropractic doctors also use other therapies to treat their patients. The following is a brief description of some of the most common therapies chiropractic doctors offer.

Muscle relaxation and/or stimulation consist of gentle stretches to the muscle that has excessive tension or repeated contractions of the muscle that is inhibited may also be used. If the muscle is very tight, a more vigorous stretch may be applied by the chiropractor. Gentle finger pressure techniques may be applied to trigger points to relieve the pain associated with the tight muscles.

Cryotherapy is also often used. Gel ice packs are wrapped in towels and applied to the affected area. This helps reduce swelling and pain and helps with pain control. These ice packs are often placed over massaging pads at the same time.

Ice and Heat Therapy

Ice and heat have long been used to treat many painful conditions. Ice therapy is often used to reduce swelling and help control pain immediately after an injury. Heat therapy is used to relax the muscles, increase circulation, and can provide relief to patients with chronic pain. Depending on the patient's condition, a combination of ice and heat can be used. Your chiropractor will advise you on what is best for your condition.

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Friday, November 25, 2016

Is Chiropractic a Good Choice For Back Pain?


The spine is a very complicated structure. It is composed of twenty-four moveable bones (the vertebrae), five layers of music, nine common ligaments, the central and peripheral nervous systems, and various connective tissue. The vertebrae offer protection to the spinal cord. They are moveable and can twist and bend in a variety of positions. While this freedom of motion allows us to locomote and move our bodies in a variety of configurations, it also can set the stage for injuries. Joints that are pushed too far can suffer sprains and strains. Joints that don't get enough motion can get stuck. Abnormal gravitational loading on the joints and soft tissues cause degenerative changes such as arthritis and disc disease.

Chiropractic is the philosophy, art and science of natural healing. It is concerned with the integrity and function of the spine and nervous system. A doctor of chiropractic (D.C.) is a physician who is an expert at evaluating, diagnosing and treating problems with the spine. The process starts much like it would when visiting any other doctor.

There is some paperwork that is completed (including a description of the problem and a medical history). Then the chiropractor will have a consultation followed by an examination to discover the cause of the problem. In the examination, the chiropractor will do a variety of orthopedic and neurological tests. Following this, there may be diagnostic tests (such as x-ray, MRI, etc.). Then the chiropractor will diagnose the problem, give the patient a prognosis and present a treatment plan.

How does a chiropractor help to eliminate back pain? The prescribed therapies may vary greatly from doctor to doctor. These therapies may include chiropractic adjustments, physical medicine therapies (including ice, heat, decompression, massage, acupressure, ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation, diathermy, infrared, traction, acupuncture), active care rehabilitation (stretching, exercises for strengthening and stabilization), and nutritional therapies (such as professional strength supplements designed to reduce pain and inflammation at the chemical and cellular levels).

The chiropractic adjustment is concerned with restoring normal joint motion, re-aligning the vertebrae, relieving pressure on the nerves (which may be pinched due to vertebral misalignment), eliminating muscle spasms, and of course eliminating pain. The doctor of chiropractic has four years of specialized training in the art of delivering adjustments. The adjustment is a low-force correction in which the chiropractor gently slips the bone(s) back into their normal position while restoring normal joint motion. Adjustments are almost always pain-free and result in an incredible sense of relief and well being.

Many people have never been to a chiropractor. They may not have ever even considered going to a chiropractor. They may have thought that chiropractic is a new concept or experimental and unproven. But what they didn't realize is that spinal manipulation is nothing new. It has actually been around for thousands of years. Hippocrates (the father of medicine) himself said "look to the spine as the source of all disease". While bone setting has been around for millennia (as opposed to traditional western medicine which has only been around for 300 years), chiropractic as a profession started in 1895. Today there are over 70,000 chiropractors in the United States. It is a science-based form of health care that has become mainstream and accepted by the medical and scientific communities.

Not only is chiropractic extremely effective and all natural, it is also the safest form of health care known to humankind. Chiropractors pay the lowest malpractice premiums of any doctor. The reason for this is clear - they don't injure people. There have been hundreds of research studies done to investigate the risk associated with chiropractic adjustments. And the results came back that chiropractic is safer than drugs and surgery. One research paper showed that a patient has 100 times greater likelihood of being injured from taking a Motrin than from getting a chiropractic adjustment. So if your back is hurting, give chiropractic a try. You have nothing to lose but the pain.


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Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Chiropractic For Spinal Whiplash Injury


Spinal whiplash injuries are neck injuries caused due to vehicle accidents, accidental falls and sports activities. The sudden head movement due to car accidents may damage the muscles and ligaments of the neck or badly affect the spinal tissues or create spinal joint problems. Chiropractic treatment methods can effectively reduce the pain and dysfunctions due to spinal whiplash injury.

Effective Chiropractic Care to Reduce Pain

A wide array of advanced chiropractic techniques are offered to reduce spinal whiplash injury issues such as neck pain/stiffness, shoulder pain, headaches, blurred vision, arm and leg pain, numbness and tingling, irritability and more. Using various methods, chiropractic specialists try to restore the proper motion and position of spinal bones. Well-designed course of treatments will help to regain the normal spinal function and ensure natural healing for patients.

Spinal manipulation is the chiropractic technique most used to treat common spinal whiplash injury issues. It will help to realign the spinal joints and allow them to achieve natural range of movement.

A variety of muscle stimulation or relaxation techniques are also implemented to treat the muscle dysfunctions associated with whiplash. Your chiropractor will also suggest specific exercises to reduce the chance of future spinal misalignment problems. These exercise programs will help the patient to enhance the balance, coordination and movement patterns and achieve a healthy and active lifestyle.

Well-designed Treatment Approach

As each individual spinal whiplash case is different, chiropractors provide a custom treatment solution for each patient. Through a detailed evaluation of patient history, analyzing specific performance tests, chiropractors will find out the primary dysfunction. X-rays are also taken if there is any severe soft tissue damage or fracture. The chiropractor will decide which procedures are to be applied based on the findings during your initial examination.

A wide array of healthcare specialty clinics offers quality chiropractic care for spinal whiplash injury problems.


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Saturday, November 19, 2016

What is Chiropractic Care and How Can it Help Me?


A Chiropractic practitioner is a member of the physical health care providers. There discipline involves manipulation of the muscular, skeletal and nervous systems. There claim is that disorders in these systems can affect your overall health and these systems need to be brought into complimentary working relationships.

The most common reason to go to a local Chiropractor is if you are having headaches, back pain, neck pain, shoulder compression pain or any other pains in your muscles or in your spine.

Chiropractors are also doctors. They are doctors of Chiropractic medicine. What confuses some people is that they do not use medicine or any other drug. Their approach to medicine is holistic and involves a thorough knowledge of the skeletal system and the points of injury that could be causing your discomfort and your pain. A chiropractic doctor will diagnose your condition and offer therapy in his office that can be hands on manipulation of your spine, massage beds and other machines aimed at re aligning your muscular skeletal system to a healthy positioning.

Many chiropractic centers also offer counseling in lifestyle habits to encourage you to become healthy without drugs or surgery. The practice of chiropractic is commonly known as spinal manipulation. Most chiropractic patients go in regularly to have a chiropractic adjustment of their spine. Continued pressure on some muscles affect the spine and forces a restricted mobility because of the pain involved. These injured muscles or tissues continue to stress the spine and produce painful chemical reactions caused by the constriction of space between the injured tissues and the spine.

Inflammation, soreness. pain and compression of injured muscles cause an imbalance in your spine. A doctor of chiropractic realigns your spine and attempts to open up the injured tissues to normal body chemical transfers which lets your injured muscles and tissue heal naturally. Chiropractic procedures are not painful. They are a pain reliever without the pain medication. Chronic headache sufferers can probably find better and more long lasting relief by a spinal realignment than by prescription or over the counter medications that can in time affect other vital organs in your body.

Chiropractic doctors make their diagnosis based on your personal history and your initiating visits problem. They also use x rays and laboratory testing when they deem them to be necessary. Chiropractors can refer their patients to other health care practitioners if their patients condition is in need of it or can benefit from it.

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Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Chiropractic Care: A Migraine Headache Solution


Mostly everyone will agree that chiropractic care can certainly address all manner of physical ailments. In fact, the ability of talented chiropractors to treat physical injuries and strains in a holistic manner has allowed the field to grow as a popular alternative to traditional medical treatments. While many are well aware of the numerous benefits associated with chiropractic care, few realize the truly wide scope of treatment via chiropractic medicine. Case in point, few realize that chiropractors offer viable migraine headache treatment.

This might come as a great surprise to many because very few will automatically think a visit to a chiropractor's office is the right solution for dealing with a tension headache. Yet, as many will attest, exploring the treatment options made available by chiropractic care may be the best thing to do when dealing with serious migraine headache ailments.

A closer examination of how chiropractic care works quickly reveals that there should not be much surprise to its effectiveness with dealing with migraines. Chiropractic treatment can certainly alleviate the common underlying factors which can cause a migraine headache. For example, muscle tension in the neck region is a common factor that contributes to the presence of a migraine headache. Chiropractic treatment can reduce such tension which, in turn, can reduce the frequency in which migraine headaches occur.

There are scores of other physical ailments which can contribute to migraine headaches. These ailments can include limited mobility in the neck, excess tension in the shoulders or back, or postural misalignments in the spine. Once such problems are effectively addressed, the consistency of dealing with a migraine headache may very well be reduced.

Of course, questions will still arise regarding the safety and effectiveness of this methodology.

Is there any concrete proof that chiropractic treatment is a better option? And how can potential patients be sure that chiropractic care may be better for them than traditional treatments methods?

There has been quite a bit of research and work performed by those seeking to establish the merits of chiropractic care to treat a migraine headache. Recently, a study was performed that included a group of people who suffered from tension headaches. These headache sufferers fell into two groups - those that underwent six weeks of chiropractic care and those that took traditional medication for the same six week period. At the conclusion of the study, both groups of patients had experienced noticeable improvements. However, it was duly noted that the patients who underwent chiropractic care treatment had far fewer side effects. Once the six week treatment concluded, those that underwent chiropractic care did not experience a return of their headache symptoms. Those that had taken traditional medication saw their symptoms return almost immediately.

With such information available, it is strongly advised that anyone with a serious migraine headache problem should look towards an appointment with a well established chiropractor. The reason is simple: chiropractic medicine may very well be able to provide the much needed solution to your headache woes.

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Sunday, November 13, 2016

Chiropractic Effective And Natural For Back Pain


Several people seek chiropractic as a natural and safe method for the treatment of back pain. About 22 million Americans visit the chiropractor each year and thirty five percent of these are seeking the chiropractor for the treatment of back pain. Other common complaints that people visit them for are neck pain, headaches and arm and leg pain.

Chiropractors go through several years of schooling including both undergraduate and post graduate studies. Chiropractic school is a four year program. Students are trained on theory and knowledge in the classroom and then receive hands on training in the clinic. In the United States, chiropractors are required to have a license in the state they reside in order to practice. They are also required to take continuing education courses regularly to stay current in their education and techniques.

Chiropractic treatments involve hands-on methods to manipulate the spine in order to correct problem areas in the spine and other joints in the pelvis, arms or legs. The theory behind these adjustments is to remove nerve interference and restore normal function in the body. By removing this interference, the body is then able to do what it knows best, heal itself. Chiropractic adjustments are beneficial for injuries such as from car accidents, sporting injuries, falls, slips and chronic stress such as from slouching at the desk or sitting without proper back support.

Chiropractic is also helpful for injured muscles and connective tissue such as ligaments, tendons and cartilage. These are often injured in conjunction with misaligned spinal bones. Restoring motion of the vertebra often heals and relieves these surrounding structures. When visiting the chiropractor, they will perform a medical history, perform an evaluation and may also use diagnostic imaging to diagnose the problem and help determine the treatment that is most effective. Chiropractic is often used with conventional medicine. Chiropractors also refer to other healthcare providers when necessary.

Chiropractic treatment involves specific hands on adjustment to one or more problems areas of the spine to improve range of motion and alignment. The goal of the adjustment is not only to provide relief of symptoms, but to also restore normal function and prevent future problems.

Chiropractic is well known to be a safe and effective method of treatment for back pain and other musculoskeletal problems. Research also demonstrates its effectiveness for other conditions such as headaches, neck pain, arthritis and fibromyalgia. Chiropractors also incorporate other healthcare services such as nutrition and physical therapy to provide a multi-disciplinary approach.

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Thursday, November 10, 2016

Chiropractic Pain Relief Without the Side Effects


In the United States, Chiropractic is a natural way of healing which does not include any drugs or medicines. It is into existence for more than 100 years. Chiropractors in recent times are very skilled and highly trained in the field of health care. Chiropractors can help you in many ways like treatment of back pain, joint pain or arthritis.

Chiropractic care has proven to be very beneficial for people with chronic pain. The kind of treatment chiropractic provides is said to be beneficial for normal functioning of the spine and in reducing pain as well. Chiropractors are highly trained for this. A recent study compared chiropractic spinal adjustment to Celebrax/Bextra/Cox-2 inhibitors for the treatment of chronic pain. This was published in July 2003 in Spine which is number one orthopedic journal in the world. Chiropractic treatment was proven to be 5 times better in case of chronic spinal pain as compared to Cox-2 inhibitors. It was also observed that the medicine caused more pain, side effects and reactions as compared to the natural healing process of chiropractic treatment.

Chiropractic treatment has been practiced for many years and has many ways to treat old patients in a safe manner. Food advice also comes under chiropractic treatment as some food have bad effects on inflammation and cause harm. There are other kinds of foods that help our body to produce hormones that are anti-inflammatory. There are nutrients that can increase the production of anti-inflammatory hormones in our body and are completely safe. There are no reactions or side effects as our body makes these anti-inflammatories itself. It is said, prevention is better than cure. With chiropractic treatment, you can reduce the rate at which your spine ages. It has been observed that spinal manipulation can help the spine from aging and avoid arthritis and other similar problems.

You can find all the advantages of spinal manipulation in the scientific literature and chiropractic care is becoming popular day by day. Research is being carried out regarding the various aspects of chiropractic care. It is a sad thing to notice that there is not the right kind of awareness in the people regarding the effectiveness of chiropractic care and how naturally it can heal various problems like neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain. It is an important field of health care and should be given proper attention as it is free from drugs, side effects and pain.

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Monday, November 7, 2016

The Importance of Stretching After a Workout



Dr. Bejan Pazdel who deals with a lot of sports -oriented clients talks about the importance of stretching before AND after exercise.

See more about Pazdel Chiropractic at http://www.pazdelchiropractic.com

Friday, November 4, 2016

Just How Safe is Chiropractic Care For Children (And Adults)?


Is Chiropractic Care Safe for Children as Well as Adults?

The short answer to this important question is a resounding "Yes!" Children, as well as adults, are successfully - and safely - treated with chiropractic care every single day of the year. Children can safely receive chiropractic adjustments for treatment of almost any type of dysfunction of the spine, back or neck. However, because the bodies of infants, toddlers and young children are different from the bodies of adults, a specialized approach is necessary.

Chiropractic Care for Infants and Toddlers

Infants often experience trauma during the process of being born, and it's important for parents to pay close attention to any neck or spine misalignment that might have occurred. Infants are unable to tell you how they feel or whether they're suffering any pain, so look closely at your baby while he or she is sitting.

If your baby constantly looks in the same direction, it could eventually lead to an irritation. Chiropractic adjustments should be performed to provide relief for your infant. In addition to reducing your baby's discomfort, adjustments will permit an increased range of motion in his or her neck area. The stability of a baby's spine is crucial to healthy, proper development, and chiropractic adjustments are necessary to establish a normal pattern of motion as your infant grows.

Also, I have noticed that children who receive chiropractic care enjoy other long-term health benefits. They seem to be ill less often and suffer less frequently from ear infections.

Chiropractic Care for Children

Older kids usually quite active, and many are involved in sports and other activities which can expose them to back pain or issues with their spine or neck. In addition, some children endure migraine headaches. These can be treated through vertebral adjustments designed to eliminate or reduce the frequency of the migraines and the amount of discomfort they cause. It may have been different in the past, but now, children are frequently treated through chiropractic care.

How to Know When Your Child Needs Chiropractic Treatment: Look at the Symptoms

Spinal problems in children can be difficult to identify unless they reach a crucial stage or have become quite obvious. Nevertheless, early detection is essential to ensure that your child receives the medical care he or she needs to normalize bodily functions and relieve any associated discomfort. The common symptoms listed below can indicate a possible spinal dysfunction in your child:

* misaligned shoulders
* limited mobility of the neck or head
* recurring ear infections
* persistent colds
* abnormal sleeping patterns
* scoliosis
* bedwetting
* constant headaches
* for infants, difficulty breastfeeding

One typical reason parents obtain chiropractic care for their young children is trauma caused by an injury. Whenever a child experiences a physical injury, it can result in a spinal misalignment. Sometimes, the injured child does not feel any immediate pain or discomfort, but the problem is internal and sometimes does not manifest itself for a while.

Is Chiropractic Care Truly Safe?

Chiropractic practitioners use a gentle approach with children. As with adults, chiropractic treatments administered to children can be painless.

A pediatric chiropractor would begin with an evaluation of the child's condition, conducted by asking the parents a series of questions. If the child is old enough, the chiropractor will ask the child if there are any specific complaints or problems.

Children typically respond to chiropractic care much more rapidly than most adults. In fact, most children only require a few treatments to restore normal function in the affected regions of the body.


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Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Sciatica And Lower Back Disc Problems Can Be Helped With Chiropractic Care


Sciatica is an abnormal health condition which causes people to have problems with pain in their leg. Sometimes it is called sciatic nerve pain. It is associated with pain in the lower back, buttock and leg or foot. Sometimes the pain in the leg is described as a numbness, tingling, burning or an ache. For some people it is a mild annoyance but for others it may be excruciating.

Sciatic nerve problems will occur in 10% of people, most commonly affecting those aged 25 to 45 years old. The nerves originate in the lower back and travel all the way down to both feet. In the buttock area the sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body and is about the thickness of our thumb. As it travels down the leg the nerve decreases in size and gives branches off to various aspects of our legs and feet.

Normally there should be no problems with the sciatic nerve. However the most common problem affecting it tends to come from a problem from a disc in the lower back. The discs of the lowest part of our spine are called the lumbar discs. They are small pads or cushions between the bones of the lower spine which are called the lumbar vertebrae.

Generally what happens to the lumbar discs is that a portion of it bulges, protrudes or herniates backward putting pressure or impinging upon the sciatic nerve. Sometimes the term "slipped disc" is used but this is really not a true descriptive medical term. There can be various reasons for problems with the disc such as a sudden trauma or prolonged wear and tear occurring over time.

Most people with a lumbar disc and sciatic nerve problem experience the worst of their pain early in the morning towards the end of their normal sleep time and the first hour or two after arising from bed. People who have occupations requiring them to sit in an office or drive a vehicle tend to be particularly uncomfortable with this condition.

The typical medical treatment for sciatica tends to include medications aimed at reducing inflammation. At times surgery is undertaken. Most studies show that taking medication provides only temporary relief. Some experts feel that only 1% of disc and sciatic nerve problems actually need surgery.

Chiropractic care is a natural healthcare alternative to conventional treatment of sciatica and lumbar disc problems. Chiropractors will initially see a patient and discuss the problem with them, perform a physical examination, and evaluate x-rays and other imaging such as MRIs. Chiropractic treatment is aimed at gently tractioning and repositioning the lumbar bones so as to take pressure off the disc. By doing this the bulging or protruding area of the disc is reduced resulting in less irritation of the sciatic nerve. Chiropractors may also use electrical stimulation to relax muscles and recommend the patient use cold packs over the area to reduce inflammation. Chiropractors will also discuss utilizing rehabilitative exercises and lifestyle recommendations that patients will need to follow through on at home and work.

Some studies have shown that 90% of lumbar disc problems causing sciatica are helped with chiropractic care. The sooner the patient visits a doctor of chiropractic the sooner they are likely to experience relief, be able to sleep, work and enjoy life the way it is meant to be.

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