There are myths about chiropractic care, methods, and doctors. Some myths may have dissuaded you from previously using chiropractic care. We would like to clear the air and help you determine myth from reality.

Myth: Treatment is expensive.

Reality:  total back care costs have been found to be lower for patients who received treatment (either initially or during the course of their care) from a chiropractor.

Myth:  It isn’t covered by insurance.

Reality: Chiropractic care for acute conditions is included in most  health insurance plans. Patients usually need to make a co-pay at the time of their appointment.

Myth:  Treatment is a lifetime commitment.

Reality: People who feel better after treatment usually do so after a few visits. If you are being treated for a specific problem, the treatment plan ends when the problem is resolved. If your problem is chronic, recurrent, or wish to avoid future problems, you may benefit from preventative care.

Myth: Chiropractors crack bones.

Reality: Some chiropractic techniques involve adjusting the spine or extremity joints. The opening of the joint space creates the “popping” sound sometimes heard during the adjustment. An adjustment does not affect the bones on either side of a joint and is completely safe.

Myth: Spinal adjustments hurt.

Reality: Most patients report not experiencing any discomfort in the process of the adjustment. The likelihood of initial soreness or increased pain after a chiropractic adjustment is similar to that of starting an exercising program.

Source: www.chirocare.com

*Doctors of Chiropractic are pioneers in the field of non-invasive care promoting science-based approaches to a variety of ailments with over 100 years history of safe and effective care.

*Doctors of Chiropractic are trained to identify neurological problems and find individual non-invasive treatment modalities. We can also assess your nutritional status and help you find the diet that will help you manage your condition.

*Typically, when a new patient visits a Doctor of Chiropractic, one of the first things the doctor will assess is functional capacity. The DC will focus on decreasing pain and returning the patient to normal daily activities, including exercise. In the intermediate stage, a chiropractor will continue therapeutic care, but also begin to address factors that may have led to the patient’s pain by recommending lifestyle modifications.

*Chiropractic care has also been shown to improve coordination and speed in athletes. Most professional sports teams have chiropractors on staff.

Biofreeze® is a popular over-the-counter pain reliever. While menthol (the active ingredient in Biofreeze) has been classified as a counterirritant providing pain relief, recent research has suggested the mechanism behind Biofreeze is related to the stimulation of cold receptors in the skin.

Dr. Robert Topp and his colleagues at Marquette University and the University of Louisville have spent several years researching the mechanisms behind Biofreeze in comparison to ice (Olive et al., 2010; Topp et al., 2011; Topp et al., 2011). Ice is commonly used immediately after injury to reduce pain and swelling because of its vasoconstrictive effect, thereby reducing blood flow to the area of application. This decrease in blood flow is thought to slow the tissue metabolism of the injured area, thus sparing healthy tissue and reducing swelling. Ice is thought to decrease pain through a counterirritant effect (the Gate Control theory) and subsequent increase in pain threshold, although ice is relatively painful at first application before numbness sets in.

Dr. Topp and his colleagues recently investigated the effects of 3.5% topical menthol (Biofreeze gel) to ice, as well as a combination of both, on blood flow and discomfort. 19 subjects had the treatments applied to their right forearm on different days: Biofreeze, Ice Bag, or Biofreeze + Ice. Blood flow was measured at the radial artery in the wrist using high-resolution ultrasound at 5 minute intervals after application for 20 minutes. The researchers also measured discomfort on a 10 point scale.

All 3 conditions significantly decreased blood flow over 15 minutes after application:

• Ice: 20% to 24% decrease
• Biofreeze: 17% to 24% decrease
• Biofreeze + Ice: 36% to 39% decrease

After 20 minutes, only the Biofreeze + Ice (-38%) and ice alone (-27%) treatments exhibited significant reductions in blood flow. Discomfort was significantly less using Biofreeze than in the 2 ice conditions throughout the 20 minute application.

Based on their findings, the researchers believe that menthol reduces blood flow through a spinal reflex, which may account for a rapid decrease in blood flow after application. They also noted the nervous system was quick to adapt to the menthol application, accounting for the short-lived (15 minute) reduction in blood flow. In contrast, ice requires 15 to 20 minutes to evoke a maximal effect on reducing blood flow. Interestingly, combining ice and Biofreeze resulted in the largest and most sustained decrease in blood flow.

Dr. Topp and his colleagues concluded that menthol and ice reduce blood flow through different mechanisms, and when combined, have an additive effect. The difference in discomfort between the initial application of ice and menthol also supports the theory of different mechanism behind their action.

The researchers concluded that menthol can be used immediately post-injury “to initiate reduction in blood flow, which can be enhanced when ice is added.” Furthermore, topical menthol produces less discomfort with application, which may provide more immediate pain relief after an acute injury compared to ice application. When ice is not immediately available, Biofreeze is an excellent choice to reduce pain and initiate vasoconstriction, which is indicated immediately after an acute injury.

Disclosure: This study was supported by Performance Health

REFERENCE: Topp R, Ledford ER, Jacks DE. 2013. Topical menthol, ice, peripheral blood flow, and perceived discomfort. J Athletic Train. 48(2):220-225.

Visit the Biofreeze Learning Portal here

Chiropractic is just as important for children as it is for adults. The habits they form now can affect the rest of their lives. Here are some tips about how to implement good back health in your child’s daily life. As a parent, you should lead by example and take note of these guidelines:

*Posture

*Backpack Control

*Sports

Posture – As they spend more time in front of computers and playing games in front of the television, it becomes clear that some children are developing poor posture. Follow the advice below to help you take control of their posture and habits at an early age.

SIT UP: An adjustable chair with an armrest will shift their weight closer to the center of their spine and allow them to sit up higher. Keep the monitor at eye level to avoid leaning forward to focus on the screen.

TAKE BREAKS: Teach your children to take breaks and get up and move around regularly. Sitting in one position is never good for circulation, and blood flow must continue in order to prevent aches.

GO OUTSIDE: Try to get them interested in outdoor sports that promote strong back muscles and posture.

SLEEP TIGHT: Ensure your children sleep on low pillows so their necks are not needlessly strained.  It is helpful to teach kids to sleep on their backs instead of their sides so their spines remain straight.

KEEP A HEALTHY BALANCE: Make sure your kids get enough calcium, which is essential for healthy bones and reduces the risk of joint and muscle-related injuries. Avoid sugar-loaded, caffeinated and carbonated drinks.

Article provided by:

www.chirocare.com

“It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it” –Lena Horne

Body mechanics refers to the way we move during every day activities. Good body mechanics may be able to prevent or correct problems with posture (the way you stand, sit, or lie.) Good body mechanics may also protect your body, especially your back, from pain and injury. Using good body mechanics is important for everyone.

A Chiropractor can help teach you how to use good body mechanics to help keep your spine healthy and prevent injury. Having your body in the right position helps protect your back and allows you to use your body in a safe way.

When lifting an object:

• Your feet should be apart, in a standing position.
• Keep your back straight.
• Lower your body to get close to the object.
• Bend from your hips and knees. DO NOT bend at the waist.
• When turning, rotate your whole body, not just your back.
• Hold the object by putting your hands around it.
• Keeping your knees bent and your back straight, lift the object using your arm and leg muscles. Do not use your back muscles.
• If the object is too heavy ask another person to help you.
• Many devices are available to help move or lift heavy objects. If you need help from a device, ask caregivers how to get one.

“Patients with chronic low-back pain treated by chiropractors showed greater improvement and satisfaction at one month than patients treated by family physicians. Satisfaction scores were higher for chiropractic patients. A higher proportion of chiropractic patients (56 percent vs. 13 percent) reported that their low-back pain was better or much better, whereas nearly one-third of medical patients reported their low-back pain was worse or much worse.”

– Nyiendo et al (2000), Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics

In a Randomized controlled trial, 183 patients with neck pain were randomly allocated to manual therapy (spinal mobilization), physiotherapy (mainly exercise) or general practitioner care (counseling, education and drugs) in a 52-week study. The clinical outcomes measures showed that manual therapy resulted in faster recovery than physiotherapy and general practitioner care. Moreover, total costs of the manual therapy-treated patients were about one-third of the costs of physiotherapy or general practitioner care.

 – Korthals-de Bos et al (2003), British Medical Journal

(NaturalNews) The nervous system and immune system are hardwired and work together to create optimal responses for the body to adapt and heal appropriately. Neural dysfunctions due to spinal misalignments are stressful to the body and cause abnormal changes that lead to a poorly coordinated immune response. Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to boost the coordinated responses of the nervous system and immune system.

The autonomic nervous system is hardwired into the lymphoid organs such as the spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, and bone marrow that produce the body’s immune response. Growing evidence is showing that immune function is regulated in part by the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system.

Subluxation is the term for misalignments of the spine that cause compression and irritation of nerve pathways affecting organ systems of the body. Subluxations are an example of physical nerve stress that affects neuronal control. According to researchers, such stressful conditions lead to altered measures of immune function & increased susceptibility to a variety of diseases.

Inflammatory based disease is influenced by both the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Nerve stimulation directly affects the growth and function of inflammatory cells. Researchers found that dysfunction in this pathway results in the development of various inflammatory syndromes such as rheumatoid arthritis and behavioral syndromes such as depression. Additionally, this dysfunctional neuro-endo-immune response plays a significant role in immune-compromised conditions such as chronic infections and cancer.

Chiropractors analyze the spine for subluxations and give corrective adjustments to reduce the stress on the nervous system. A 1992 research group found that when a thoracic adjustment was applied to a subluxated area the white blood cell (neutrophil) count collected rose significantly.

In 1975, Ronald Pero, Ph.D., chief of cancer prevention research at New York’s Preventive Medicine Institute and professor in Environmental Health at New York University, began researching the most scientifically valid ways to estimate individual susceptibility to various chronic diseases. He has conducted a tremendous amount of research in this area that includes over 160 published reports in peer reviewed journals.

Pero and his colleagues discovered that various DNA-repairing enzymes could be significantly altered following exposure to carcinogenic chemicals. He found strong evidence that an individual’s susceptibility to cancer could be determined by these enzymes. Lack of those enzymes, Pero said, ‘definitely limits not only your lifespan, but also your ability to resist serious disease consequences.’

Pero was fascinated by the relationship cancer-inducing agents had on the endocrine system. Since the nervous system regulates hormone balance, he hypothesized that the nervous system had to also have a strong influence on one’s susceptibility to cancer.

To support this argument he found a substantial amount of literature linking various kinds of spinal cord injuries and cancer. Pero found that these injuries led to a very high rate of lymphomas and lymphatic leukemias. This understanding led Pero to consider Chiropractic care as a means of reducing the risk of immune breakdown and disease.

Pero’s team measured 107 individuals who had received long-term Chiropractic care. The chiropractic patients were shown to have a 200% greater immune competence than people who had not received chiropractic care, and a 400% greater immune competence than people with cancer or serious diseases. Interestingly, Pero found no decline with the various age groups in the study demonstrating that the DNA repairing enzymes were just as present in long-term chiropractic senior groups as they were in the younger groups.

Pero concluded, ‘Chiropractic may optimize whatever genetic abilities you have so that you can fully resist serious disease…I have never seen a group other than this show a 200% increase over normal patients.’

http://www.discoverchiropracticnow.com/index.php?id=487

Kent, Christopher. Models of Vertebral Subluxation: A Review. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. August 1996, Vol 1:1. Pg 4-5

Sternberg EM, Chrousos GP, Wilder RL, Gold PW. The stress response and the regulation of inflammatory disease. Ann Intern Med 1992; 117 (10):854

Brennan PC, Triano JJ, McGregor M, et al. Enhanced neutrophil respiratory burst as a biological marker for manipulation forces: duration of the effect and association with substance P and tumor necrosis factor. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1992; 15(2):83

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/031206_chiropractic_immunity.html#ixzz2LTjnLtVd

Are you currently pregnant or thinking about having a baby soon? If you answered yes to either question, hopefully you are also seeing a chiropractor. A woman’s body goes through countless changes while pregnant. Low back pain is almost imminent during pregnancy; chiropractic care offers a non-invasive, safe form of care to help alleviate pain and make having a baby easier.

Diversified chiropractic adjustments are safe for mom and baby throughout the duration of the pregnancy. Special tables and pillows are used so pregnant women can lie in the prone (face down) position while being treated. Chiropractic adjustments help put motion into joints that are not moving as well as they should be; the same goes for the joint in the front of the pelvis, which is placed under an enormous amount of stress throughout pregnancy. Symphysis dysfunction and diastasis can happen during pregnancy; referred pain from the broad and round ligaments can cause intense pain often mimicking diastasis. Soft tissue techniques can be applied to relax tension in the round ligaments. Wedge-shaped blocks can also be used to help the pelvis return to a normal position and ease pain. Chiropractic care offers a variety of safe forms for pain relief without the use of invasive procedures or prescription drugs. Chiropractic appointments should be scheduled at the same intervals as OB/GYN appointments, or more frequently if necessary.

Dr. Langford is specially trained in the Webster Breech Technique. This hands-on technique helps to reduce uterine torsion so the baby can turn itself into the proper position for a safe, less painful delivery. No one likes to be in pain; pain can also cause a great deal of anxiety and stress, neither of which are good for mom or baby. Getting adjusted regularly while pregnant can help ease or eliminate pain and make the process of having a baby much easier.

Complete article at: http://www.naturalnews.com/037042_pregnancy_chiropractic_pain_relief.html
Monday, September 03, 2012 by: Melissa A. Bartoszewski, DC

A vigorous exercise regimen, a healthy lifestyle and
proper lifting are important.
Moving a joint through its full range of motion serves
several important purposes. Joints are not supplied
directly with blood as are other organs, so “use it or
lose it” applies to joint function.
Cartilage within a joint is nourished by synovial fluid,
which is “forced” into the joint cartilage through a
process called imbibition. This occurs only when the
joint is moved, which is why movement is critical to
joint health.
A spinal disc is made up of two parts: a larger, outermost,
ligament-like portion called the annulus fibrosus
and an inner gelatinous portion called the nucleus pulposus.
These two structures are primarily waterbased.
They also rely on movement and imbibition for
nourishment. Therefore, movement in the spine is
also critical to the health of the spinal joints.

Proper diet and nutrition and a tobacco-free lifestyle
also contribute to joint health by allowing the joints to
absorb enough healthy nutrients for long-term stability
and resistance to wear and tear.

The use of kinesiology tape can provide therapeutic input focused on the neural component of an injury. Kinesiology tape is a specialized form of athletic tape able to interact with the body’s sensory system due to the unique manufacturing characteristics of the tape.  The tape is manufactured to be the same weight, thickness, and elasticity of human skin; therefore it works with the body to help achieve therapeutic effects.  Special adhesives in the manufacture allow the tape to be worn continuously, even while bathing and exercising, for multiple days. This allows patients to leave following their adjustment with an extension of their treatment that is providing ongoing stimulation to help accelerate the intended clinical objectives.