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Surprise: Chiropractors Can Treat These 5 Conditions

4/30/2017

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1. Migraines and tension headaches

What Can a Doctor of Chiropractic Do?

Perform spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustments to improve spinal function and alleviate stress on your system.
Provide nutritional advice, recommending a change in diet or the addition of vitamins.
Offer advice on posture, ergonomics, exercises and relaxation techniques.

2. Stress and anxiety

What Can a Doctor of Chiropractic Do?

Chiropractors can release muscle tension, one effect of chronic stress that leads to nerve irritation and creates uneven pressures on the body's bony structures, which can cause the spinal column to become misaligned. This, in turn, helps the body return to a more balanced, relaxed state.
Chiropractic adjustments can reduce spinal nerve irritation and improve blood circulation, which can help signal the brain to turn off the "fight or flight" response and begin the healing process.
A doctor of chiropractic can suggest nutritional supplements, like B complex vitamins, to help the body cope with stress.
A chiropractor can also recommend relaxation techniques and discuss posture and environmental changes to help you recover from chronic stress.

3. Fibromyalgia

What Can a Doctor of Chiropractic Do?

Chiropractors are trained as neuromusculoskeletal specialists, and one of the main focuses of chiropractic care is the positive impact it can have on a person's nervous system. Therefore, chiropractic adjustments can improve a FM patient's nervous system, which gives them a better chance for recovery.
Chiropractic care can treat pressure points, back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches and pain from musculoskeletal injuries.
Chiropractors can also reduce a patient's overall pain through spinal adjustments that increase the mobility between spinal vertebrae, which have become restricted, locked or slightly out of proper position, thereby increasing cervical and lumbar range of motion.

4. Weak immune systems

What Can a Doctor of Chiropractic Do?

Chiropractic care is the only way to detect and eliminate subluxation, and chiropractic adjustments have been shown to reduce the stress on the nervous system, thereby boosting the coordinated responses of the nervous and immune systems.
One research group found that when an adjustment was applied to a subluxated area, the white blood cell count collected rose significantly.
Another study measured the effects of six months of regular chiropractic care on the immune system function of HIV patients. At the end of six months of care, the patients who had received regular adjustments showed a 48 percent increase in the number of CD4+ T cells, whereas patients who had not been adjusted showed an 8 percent decrease in CD4+ T cells.

5. Flexibility

What Can a Doctor of Chiropractic Do?

A chiropractor uses spinal adjustments and manipulations to other parts of the body to realign the bones and joints so as to reduce pain, restore range of motion and improve flexibility, balance and coordination.
Your chiropractor can also recommend specific exercises that can be done at home to increase your strength and flexibility so that you're able to maintain and build upon the gains from your chiropractic adjustments.
Regular chiropractic care can reduce or eliminate the source of your back and joint pain, allowing you to resume your normal activities and to remain more flexible into your golden years.

Source: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/articles/2015/11/30/surprise-chiropractors-can-treat-these-5-conditions

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8 Ways Chiropractic Benefits Athletes

3/31/2017

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1. Solid Body Maintenance in Professional Football - It’s no secret that professional football is a beast of a game and injuries are frequent. Even if football players avoid serious injury, it’s a sure bet that stiffness and soreness are just par for the course. In a 2002 survey, thirty-one percent of football teams in the National Football League reported having a chiropractor on staff. Athletes reported using chiropractic care quite frequently, noting its effectiveness. [2]

2. Improved Mobility in College Football - Osteopathic manipulative treatment, or OMT, is one of the main forms of chiropractic therapy used in sports medicine. The main goal with OMT is to promote flexibility and pain-free movement. Football players often rely on OMT as a preventative measure against injuries. A 2012 Virginia Tech study showed that OMT positively impacted sports performance in both offensive and defensive Virginia Tech football players. Most football players also reported a self-assessed improvement in athletic performance after OMT sessions. [3]

3. Helpful for Hockey Injuries - Like football, ice hockey is a full-contact sport and injuries are common. Chiropractic has been shown to reduce painful symptoms of recurrent shoulder instability related to hockey injuries. [4]

4. Relief for Sports Hernia - Five to twenty percent of all sports injuries involve groin pain. However, it’s not always the result of a line drive baseball. One of the most common causes of groin pain in athletes is athletic pubalgia, commonly referred to as sports hernia. [5] A study showed that soccer players who experienced sports hernia were relieved of discomfort following 8 weeks of a combination therapy that consisted of chiropractic care and rehabilitation exercises. [6]

5. Increased Strength in Martial Arts - Although mainly used for alleviating muscular and skeletal complaints, it seems that chiropractic can also promote physical strength. [7] [8] [9] In one study, national level judo athletes showed a 16% improvement in grip strength after undergoing only three chiropractic sessions. [10]

6. Support for All Olympic Athletes - For years, chiropractors have worked with world-class Olympic athletes to improve their strength, endurance, and range of motion while training. Olympic athletes also receive chiropractic care at the games. One particular set of games often overlooked at the Olympics is the Paralympics. These games include professional athletes with some type of physical disability who also use chiropractic care to enhance performance and overcome minor injuries. [11]

7. Soothes Tennis Elbow - A whopping 50 percent of tennis players can expect to get tennis elbow during their lifetime, and one-third of tennis players will experience it in severe fashion. The main goals of chiropractic therapy for tennis elbow is to relieve discomfort and redness, promote healing, rehabilitate the injured arm, and avoid recurrence. [12]Specific joint manipulation performed by a chiropractor has shown to be effective for discomfort associated with tennis elbow.

8. Keeps Baseball Players Swinging - Baseball is a game that demands quick bursts of energy. Whether it’s running the bases or swinging the bat, these fast-moving activities often come with rotator cuff injuries, neck pain, back strains, and hamstring pulls. Studies have shown that chiropractic helps prevent hamstring and other lower limb injuries in baseball players. [13] Another study revealed that muscle strength and long jump distance was greatly improved in baseball players who received regular chiropractic adjustments. [14]

Receiving the Benefits of Chiropractic - There’s no question that chiropractic care is a fantastic method of mechanical maintenance that has repeatedly been shown to benefit the machine that is the body of an athlete (and soldiers!). Are you an athlete who incorporates chiropractic care into your health and wellness plan? Please leave a comment and share your experience of the difference chiropractic has made for you!

http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/chiropractic-in-sports/

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Trigeminal Neuralgia & Acupuncture

2/28/2017

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Trigeminal neuralgia, a disorder of the trigeminal nerve, is a condition that produces intense, sporadic facial pain along one or more of the three branches of this nerve. The pain is severe and can last from seconds to minutes. Another name for this condition is "tic douloreaux" due to the fact that facial muscle spasms often accompany the pain. The pain can be triggered by normal activities such as eating, brushing of the teeth or even touching trigger points on the face during everyday activities such as washing the face or applying make-up. Wind, cold, heat, stress or fatigue may aggravate the condition. The pain is typically one sided, more common in women and more common in the over 40 population. The condition may become chronic and debilitating, often lasting for years.

The basic premise behind the theory of acupuncture is that energy flows thru the body on very specific pathways called meridians. When these pathways become blocked, pain and disease result. Inserting very fine needles into points on the pathways facilitates the smooth flow of energy and pain is relieved. There are many acupuncture points on the face that directly correlate to the three branches of the trigeminal nerve. One common approach to treat trigeminal neuralgia with acupuncture is to insert very fine needles into the corresponding facial points in an attempt to unblock the energy. Sometimes the needles are additionally stimulated with electricity to strengthen the treatment.

The basic premise behind the theory of acupuncture is that energy flows thru the body on very specific pathways called meridians. When these pathways become blocked, pain and disease result. Inserting very fine needles into points on the pathways facilitates the smooth flow of energy and pain is relieved. There are many acupuncture points on the face that directly correlate to the three branches of the trigeminal nerve. One common approach to treat trigeminal neuralgia with acupuncture is to insert very fine needles into the corresponding facial points in an attempt to unblock the energy. Sometimes the needles are additionally stimulated with electricity to strengthen the treatment.

In any case, acupuncture has been shown to be effective in treating trigeminal neuralgia. And without side effects!

http://wholehealthcenters.com/conditions-acupuncture-treats/110-trigeminal-neuralgia-a-acupuncture

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Chiropractic for Hip Pain

1/31/2017

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How Chiropractic Can Help Hip Pain

After performing a careful physical examination and evaluating your familial and personal history, a doctor of chiropractic can work to determine the source of your hip pain. Your chiropractor will create a personalized treatment plan that could include chiropractic adjustments, exercise therapy, posture advice, stretching, massage, coordination with other health practitioners, and more. Treatments will aim to reduce inflammation, relax any existing muscle spasms, strengthen weakened muscles, and improve the mobility of the joint.
Depending on the cause of your hip pain, chiropractic adjustments could help.
Multiple studies have found that chiropractic adjustments are effective in relieving sciatica, a common cause of pain in the hip and lower back. In a study comparing the efficacy of chiropractic to surgery for sciatica, 60% of chiropractic patients with severe sciatica had substantially improved symptoms that enabled them to avoid surgery.2 Cases studies have also suggested that chiropractic can relieve pain associated with sacroiliac joint dysfunction and Piriformis syndrome, which both frequently result in hip pain.3-4
Some patients with hip osteoarthritis (HOA) have also benefited from chiropractic care. In one study, 83% of HOA patients improved within nine visits to a chiropractor. Treatment included axial manipulation of the hip, stretching, and full kinetic chain treatment ( manipulative therapy to the spine, knee, ankle, or foot when appropriate).5
Natural treatments of hip pain can allow patients to avoid the costs and risks of surgery and drugs. Contact a chiropractor to learn more about non-invasive relief of hip pain.

see full article: http://www.chironexus.net/2012/10/how-chiropractic-can-help-with-hip-pain/

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Chiropractic for Plantar Fasciitis

12/31/2016

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Chiropractic care can help.

Pronounced as "plantar fash-ee-eye-tis". Plantar means "Foot". Fasciitis means "Inflammation". It is a condition that can lead to pain on the bottom of the foot.

Plantar Fasciitis is a serious and painful condition that occurs when the long, flat ligament along the bottom of the foot develops tears and inflammation. Serious cases of plantar fasciitis can possibly lead to ruptures in the ligament. This ligament is called the plantar fascia and it extends from your five toes and runs along the bottom of your foot, attaching to your heel. When you walk or run, you land on your heel and raise yourself on your toes as you shift your weight to your other foot, causing all your weight to be held up by your plantar fascia. Such repetitive force can pull the fascia from its attachment on your heel and cause damage and plantar fasciitis.

Many factors can cause plantar fasciitis to develop. When walking with a normal step, the plantar fascia ligament stretches as the foot strikes the ground. When walking with an abnormal step, or when putting repetitive pressure on the heel, the plantar fascia ligament can stretch irregularly, become stressed, and develop small tears. These small tears can cause the fascia ligament to become inflamed (plantar fasciitis).

The pain from plantar fasciitis can be described as a dull ache or sharp pain. Plantar fasciitis tends to worsen after standing or exercising for prolonged periods or after getting out of bed in the morning. Morning heel pain from plantar fasciitis is one of the most common symptoms. As the person walks, the fascia "warms up" and lengthens slightly, reducing the tension on the ligament and lessening the pain.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?
The repetitive stress of certain conditions or activities commonly leads to plantar fasciitis. Among those conditions that may cause plantar fasciitis:

Biomechanical factors, such as abnormal inward twisting of the foot (pronation), high arches, flat feet, or tight tendons along the back of the heel (Achilles tendon).
Excessive pronation has been found in about 85% of those who suffer from plantar fasciitis. Prontion can be responsible for added tension in the plantar fascia as the arch lowers during standing or walking.
Repetitive pressure on the feet, such as from jobs or activities that require prolonged walking or standing on hard or irregular surfaces. Running and exercise can also lead to wear and tear on the plantar fascia.
Aggravating factors, such as being overweight or having poorly cushioned shoes.
Natural process of aging which may cause tissue in the heels to weaken over time and/or promote wear and tear.
In rare cases, a single, traumatic injury to the foot such as from a motor vehicle accident can cause the onset of plantar fasciitis.

Chiropractic adjustments of your feet and appropriate lifestyle modifications can help restore function and relieve pain.

http://www.normandalechiropractic.com/chiropractic_plantar_fasciitis.html

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Chiropractic for Knee Injuries

11/30/2016

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When should I get Chiropractic treatment?

If knee pain is limiting your day-to-day or sporting activities.
You have been given painkillers or taken anti-inflammatories and been told to rest with no long-term improvement.
You have been told you have arthritis and there is nothing that can be done.
Knee pain or restricted motion.

Then Chiropractic treatment may be the answer.

The knee is a complex joint that relies heavily on ligaments and muscles for stability. When pain is perceived as coming from the knee, all the anatomical components need to be examined, and in addition to the knee joint, the low back, pelvis, hip, ankle and foot need to be examined due to the direct influence they have on the knee, and vice versa.

Our approach to assessing and treating the knee includes the evaluation of the other joints and muscles relating to the knee. This is for several reasons:

Pain can often be referred from other structures in the low back, pelvis and hip into the knee.
If other joints in the lower limbs are not working correctly they can put increased stress on the knee joint, resulting in injury over time. Therefore to resolve the knee pain, we may also treat other areas, to maximize long-term improvement.

What kind of treatment can I expect?
Of course, every patient receives a personalized plan for their specific condition, but typical treatment may include:

Reduce joint inflammation and reduce pain.

Avoid aggravating factors
Use of support
Ice to reduce inflammation, muscle spasm and pain
Soft tissue healing with ultrasound and interferential therapy

Normalize joint function.

Specific chiropractic manipulation techniques to areas of restricted movement in the knee and surrounding joints, to increase movement, improve the function and reduce pain.

Rehabilitation program.

When appropriate, we may introduce exercises to improve strength, endurance and stability, and to prevent new injuries.

http://www.normandalechiropractic.com/chiropractic_knee_injuries.html

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TCM Acupuncture for Anxiety and Mood Disorders

10/31/2016

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The increased stresses of the world, whether personal, occupational, or societal, can have a detrimental effect on one’s health. When one is not able to deal with stress, anxiety can develop and the symptoms of anxiety can overwhelm them. Acupuncture remains an effective treatment for anxiety. Research has shown acupuncture’s effectiveness and offers explanations on how this natural therapy can biochemically help control anxiety.

The human body has developed an ingenious way to deal with the stresses that we encounter. With stress, the body is programmed to turn on the necessary systems and shut off secondary ones. The body’s “fight or flight” mechanism (also known as the sympathetic system) turns on when stress is presented. Blood and energy is diverted to the systems that are required to fight or flee – such as the muscles of the body, the heart, and the cardiovascular systems. There are increases to the heart rate, energy is released from fat, and muscles become ready for quick action. In addition, secondary systems such as the digestive and reproductive are shut off because they are determined not to be necessary in this stressful situation.

Acupuncture remains an effective, natural, and safe treatment for people suffering from anxiety conditions because it is able to calm the sympathetic system by allowing the body to release neurotransmitters that can control a person’s stress level.
Acupuncture was developed about 2500 years ago and is centered around the development of Chinese society and Traditional Chinese Medicine which states that there are pathways or meridians in the body where energy or chi travels. Any disease, pain, or dysfunction is due to a blockage in these meridians. In the case of anxiety, when emotions are held over long periods of time, or when they result from a traumatic event, they can become the cause of illness. This will block the flow of chi. Fine needles are placed into specific acupoints which remove the blockage and allow the energy to flow again. With proper energy flow, the person’s health returns.
Since ancient times, acupuncture has been known as an effective treatment for stress and its disorders. There have been numerous references to the effects of the emotions on the body and psychosomatic illness, a relatively new concept in the West, but one that was recognized and written about 200 years B.C. Based on these references, acupuncture was found to be the treatment of choice.

Acupuncture remains an effective treatment for those suffering from anxiety, without the side effects seen with various drugs. With it’s effect on decreasing anxiety, acupuncture can help secondarily with the treatment of psychosomatic disorders. Research shows that there is a positive response of anxiety to acupuncture and that it should be considered a treatment for those suffering from this debilitating disorder.

-James Pascual, DAC, DC

Read Full Article: http://vitalitymagazine.com/article/tcm-acupuncture-for-anxiety-and-mood-disorders/

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Chiropractic for Fibromyalgia

9/30/2016

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How Do Chiropractors Treat Fibromyalgia?Based on the general and tender point evaluation, the chiropractor will make adjustments to the neck and spine. Manipulations are done using the hands and consist of a short, sharp thrust that may cause a popping sound (thus the common saying that a chiropractor "cracks" the back). The goal of these adjustments is to correct misalignment of the spine. Once the spine is correctly aligned, pain symptoms in any parts of the body, not just the spine and neck, should be reduced or disappear. When pain is reduced, other problems, such as disrupted sleep, fatigue, and depression, tend to disappear.

Patients usually see their chiropractor more frequently at the beginning of the treatment period in order to relieve pain. This is followed by regular but less frequent appointments to maintain gains made in healing. In chronic disorders such as fibromyalgia, treatment may be long term. There is no cure for fibromyalgia, but chiropractic treatment has helped many people by reducing symptoms and improving quality of life.
What is Fibromyalgia?Fibromyalgia is a syndrome, and not a specific disease. This means that people who have fibromyalgia exhibit a specific constellation of symptoms. The disorder is diagnosed by elimination when no other explanation can account for the symptoms. To have fibromyalgia, the individual must have widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body that lasts more or less continuously, for at least three months. The patient must also have pain in at least 11 of 18 tender points. A tender point is a pre-designated spot that is painful when 4 kg of pressure (about 9 lb, or enough to make the nail bed of the finger whiten) is applied.
Individuals with fibromyalgia may also experience other symptoms including:

Morning stiffness
Poor sleep or sleep disorders
Chronic headaches
Myofascial pain syndrome
Restless leg syndrome
Menstrual irregularities
Muscle twitches and/or muscle weakness
Fatigue
Depression
Anxiety

http://www.altmd.com/Articles/Chiropractic-for-Fibromyalgia

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Chiropractic for Babies

8/31/2016

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Taking Your Baby to the Chiropractor - One Mom's ExperienceBeing a parent to an infant is such a rewarding experience, albeit a trying one. One week you get the baby sleeping through the night, then the next week they hardly sleep a wink. I found myself in the same position with an eight-month-old baby. She was making life miserable so, out of desperation, I took her to the Chiropractor.
My daughter, Elliana, had been to the Chiropractor at three months and the simple, painless adjustment helped my little one with her symptoms of acid reflux, thus helping her sleep through the night. Then at eight months, sleeping became non-existent as my daughter was on the brink of huge developmental milestones, such as crawling, the arrival of her teeth, and learning to pull herself up. Of course with most babies, when they aren’t getting a good night’s sleep, it usually means they are cranky and fussy all day long.
The Chiropractor gently checked her, and said that she was misaligned on her right side. He then did a few gentle manipulations. As soon as we got home, she had a great nap and woke up refreshed and happier. I don’t think it is a coincidence that she was finally able to crawl and pull herself up a few days later, either. I think having the adjustment made moving a little bit easier for her to figure out.
I also credit the Chiropractic adjustment for helping her through her first bout of illness. About a week after the adjustment, we both caught a virus going around. While it hit her body pretty hard, she was still happy and calm throughout the sickness. I believe Chiropractic care helped her nervous system and immune system fight off the sickness faster and without the complications.

Is Chiropractic Care Safe for Babies?

It is natural for parents to fear the Chiropractor for their babies. As adults, getting an adjustment can mean a lot of pressure and cracks. However, Chiropractors do not take the same approach of adjustments for babies as they do adults. Instead, adjustments for babies are gentle and many times will go unnoticed by the baby.
Dr. Tammy Portolese of Portolese Family Chiropractic says, "When there is a misalignment of the spine, the nerves that flow out to all of the organs are compromised, so when we do an adjustment we're simply taking pressure, nerve stress, off the spine, so the body can express itself." She says that the pressure used on a baby is equivalent to the pressure one uses to check a tomato for ripeness. Chiropractic care has also proven to be safer and more effective than prescription medications and antibiotics.

Will My Baby Cry During a Chiropractic Adjustment?

This really depends on the baby and the age of the baby. Elliana did not cry when she received an adjustment at three months, but she cried at the eight month one. However, babies that do cry during an adjustment are not crying out of pain. Instead, it is usually out of fear from something new happening or the fact that a stranger is touching them.

What are the Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Infants?

Regular Chiropractic care can help relieve the following in babies:

Ear infections and ear aches
Colic and acid reflux
Fussiness
Feeding and breastfeeding/latching issues

Chiropractic care in babies also keeps babies healthier because their nervous system and immune system are supported. If you are still unsure of whether or not to take your baby to the Chiropractor, talk with your child’s Pediatrician. Many doctors agree with Chiropractic care, or at least recognize there are very little risks involved with Chiropractic care.

http://www.thejoint.com/california/long-beach/long-beach-31029/taking-your-baby-to-the-chiropractor-one-moms-expe

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How Chiropractic Treatment Helps Posture

7/31/2016

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Posture is position of the body while standing, sitting or lying down. Good posture, also referred to as neutral spine, has many health benefits, including the avoidance of injury back pain. Chiropractic can help improve and maintain posture.

Why is Posture ImportantAppearance benefits with good posture are obvious, but there are many less-obvious health benefits you should know. Good posture can:

Maintain correct alignment of bones and joints
Reduce stress on ligaments, minimizing risk of injury
Prevent muscle strain, overuse and pain
Conserve energy as muscles are used more efficiently
Decrease abnormal joint wear

Research has shown that poor postures may increase feelings of depression, affect your digestive tract and influence confidence and stress levels.

Signs You have Poor PostureThere are many indicators of poor posture, but some of the more common are hunched shoulders, rounded shoulders, rounded upper back, forward head carriage and arched lower back. Another indicator is back pain. Unsure if you have good posture? Talk to your chiropractor or schedule an appointment for a spinal examination.

Factors that Contribute to Poor Posture There are several common factors linked to poor posture:

Stress
Obesity
Pregnancy
Weak postural muscles
Abnormally tight muscles
High-heeled shoes

How to Maintain or Correct PostureThe first step is awareness! Bring your attention to your posture as you sit, stand or lie down. If you're sitting, keep both feet on the floor or a footrest, don't cross your legs and use low-back support. While standing, keep your knees slightly bent, relax your arms and pull your shoulders back. When lying down it's critical to choose the right mattress and pillow, and avoid sleeping on your stomach.

Importance of Chiropractic Care and TherapiesYour chiropractor can help you to maintain and correct your posture through chiropractic adjustments, exercises and recommendations on proper positions during different activities.

http://www.chiroone.net/how-chiropractic-helps/posture

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