Back injury problems due to improper lifting techniques are all too common, especially work related lifting injuries.  According to FamilyDoctor.org, the proper way to lift a heavy item is to get as close as possible to the item and use your legs and arms to lift, bending your legs and keeping the back straight as you lift up.  The heavy load should be held at chest-level to avoid straining your back muscles. Of course, these tips may be a little too late if you have improperly lifted a heavy item and have caused work related lifting injuries. Sometimes people who lift weights for exercise also hurt their shoulders, knees or cause a herniated disk, stretched ligament or sprain in the back, but work related lifting injuries are most common.  These injuries are often seen in jobs that require physical labor such as bending, lifting, moving and carrying heavy items.

SYMPTOMS OF  LIFTING INJURIES
If you injure your back or another area of your body through lifting something heavy, you will probably know it right away.  You may feel pain, stiffness or muscle spasms immediately and continued symptoms that might continue for several days or for several weeks. For work related lifting injuries, this may mean that you will be unable to perform your typical job duties and may need to file for workmen’s compensation as a result.  Ask your manager or human resources representative for more information.

TRADITIONAL TREATMENTS FOR LIFTING INJURIES
A doctor can generally diagnose injuries caused by lifting and may use additional diagnostic tools such as an MRI or an x-ray if a herniated disc is suspected.

In addition, a doctor may prescribe short-term bed rest and anti-inflammatory pain medicine such as ibuprofen to help manage pain. Ice packs may also reduce swelling and pain.  You may be prohibited from working or lifting items for a certain amount of time if the issue is caused by work related lifting injuries.

HEALING LIFTING INJURIES THROUGH CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT
While traditional treatment methods may help improve the symptoms of a lifting injury, a skilled chiropractor can help treat the issue and re-align the bones, joints and muscles to shorten the severity of the symptoms and improve the condition of the spine, joints and muscles.  This is called spinal manipulation and adjustment.

In addition, hydrotherapy like  heat and ice treatments,  help reduce pain and swelling and using active release therapy to get tight, tense muscles to relax and release.  This can reduce muscle spasms and pain.


Resources:  http://fremontchiropractic.com/

Have you or someone you know been involved in a motor vehicle collision? One of the most common injuries from a car crash is the damaging effect of whiplash. Whiplash occurs when a sudden, jarring movement of the head is sustained backward, forward or even to the side. Whiplash destabilizes the spine and causes severe pain as well as these other indicators:

• Blurred vision
• Neck pain
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Shoulder pain
• Reduced range of motion in the neck
• Arm pain
• Neck stiffness
• Low back pain

It is critical that chiropractic care is sought immediately after an automobile accident since allowing the effects of whiplash to go untreated can induce long-term pain. The seriousness of the physical effects of an accident is not always known or felt immediately following. It can take days, weeks or even months for major symptoms to show up, which is why chiropractic care is essential to maintaining the health of a spine that has been through a trauma.

Any body part that is jarred or thrown forward unexpectedly and beyond normal limits can sustain stretched ligaments and even tears. Those supporting the head and neck are especially vulnerable to this kind of tearing during a collision. Since chiropractors specialize in the care of bones, muscles, nerves and connective tissue, they are crucial to visit after an accident. All those major parts of the body are important to keep in optimal health and correct alignment so they can function properly and all body systems can operate seamlessly.

Early care and treatment means full healing and recovery is quickly realized. Even a car crash that is seemingly minor with limited damage to the car itself can cause serious injury to the driver and passengers. Chiropractic treatments are the right step toward restoring the body. They relieve pain, make necessary adjustments to spine alignment and may include massage or foam roller techniques. Beyond treatment, advice for optimal nutrition, as well as exercises to continue healing on your own after appointments.




Resource:  https://www.lifetimefitness.com

Injuries from falls are one of the leading causes of accidents that cause injury. With well over 1 million injuries each year in the US,  slip and fall injuries can be caused by a whole host of things including a slick or rough surface, problems with shoes, and the mental and/or physical state of the person who took the fall.

What Happens When You Have a “Slip and Fall” Injury?
When a person suffers a slip and fall injury, they often suffer trauma to the bones, joints, muscles and ligaments along with the nervous system from the impact of the fall. This trauma can cause misalignments in the spine and interruptions in the signals within the nervous system.  If you have back pain after a slip and fall injury, it’s best to check with a professional chiropractor for further investigation of long term injuries.

Slip and Fall Back Injury Treatment
A chiropractor’s work is to adjust the spine to correct those misalignments and remove the interference within the nervous system caused by the injuries. Once the interference is removed, the body is then free to heal itself and return to a state of health.

Because chiropractors focus on correcting physical alignment to facilitate the body’s own healing mechanisms, they are very much involved in the area of personal injury treatment. They are adept at treating soft tissue injuries and sprains with drug-free, non-invasive, healing techniques.

Chiropractors have on-site x-ray machines to discover if there has been any serious injury to the discs that make up the bone structure of the spine. If they discover a serious compromise they are able to begin a program complete with adjustments and formulated exercise for treatment of the back pain. Chiropractors are holistic healers who consider the entire body when diagnosing and treating their patients.

Slip and Fall Injury Treatment
The rehabilitation process consists of a series of exercises designed to return strength and flexibility to the area where the injuries occurred. In the beginning, the chiropractor may move the injured parts through their normal range of motion until the patient has healed to the point where they can perform the exercises on their own.

Slip and fall injuries can often occur with older people within their own homes. As we advance in age, if we do not remain active and continue to perform weight-bearing exercises to keep our hips and legs strong, supple and limber, we are more prone to developing brittle bones and weakened skeletal systems.

You can prevent slip and fall injuries by strengthening the body by walking for exercise for at least 30 minutes each day and being careful when walking at night or in icy conditions or other severe weather conditions. Keeping your body strong and healthy and keeping alert for hazards in your physical environment is an effective way to prevent slip and fall injuries.



Resource: http://corewellnesscentre.ca/chiropractic-treatment-for-slip-and-fall-injuries

Many severe attacks of back pain develop from something as insignificant as bending over a bathroom sink, reaching to pick up a small item, sneezing, or reaching into a low cabinet. Usually, there has been a series of small accidents leading up to this cause for the back injury. Heavy lifting, falls, or severe strain are early precipitation factors in many back injuries. Usually they have occurred previously and have been forgotten.

Faulty spinal dynamics are often a cause of severe back pain. Faulty spinal alignment, over a period of time, will cause gradual weakening of disc fibers and other ligaments. In this weakened condition, all it takes is a simple movement, such as reaching into the cupboard, for an injury to occur.

When such an incident occurs:

1. Lie down immediately in any position that is comfortable.
   
   
2. Place an ice pack directly to the area of pain, cover with a towel, and keep in place for 20-30 minutes. (If you do not have an ice pack, place 6-10 ice cubes in a plastic bag.) This will hurt at first, but after several minutes the area will be desensitized and you will feel better. Do not remove the pack for 20-30 minutes. Reapply the ice as instructed by your doctor.
   
   
3. Call your chiropractic physician and make arrangements to go to the office as soon as possible. In some cases, it may be suggested that you remain at home in bed for a period of time.
   
   
4. Do not sit in a recliner of any kind, as this will aggravate the condition.
   
   
5. Maintain a positive outlook. Under chiropractic care, back injury conditions usually respond favorably. However, it takes time, so be patient. Let your chiropractic physician determine what is best for your situation.
   
   

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