CBS : Chiropractic and ADHD

A recent report on the June 15 CBS Early Show recommended chiropractic as a potential treatment option for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

In speaking with CBS anchor Julie Chen, medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton noted that some studies have shown alternative treatments such as chiropractic and dietary changes to be beneficial for children with ADHD.
To view the segment, click here.

The report stemmed from a recently released study in The American Journal of Psychiatry suggesting that children and teens who take stimulants like Ritalin for ADHD have an increased risk for sudden cardiac death; however, the FDA says the study has major limitations.

Chiropractic & Hyperbarics for a Herniated Disc.

Searching through Google today I came across some research that was not surprising to see but I was not expecting to find.  In the National Defense Medical Journal published in Japan in 1999 a research team determined that Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) was an effective for treatment of lumbar disc herniations!

Now as a chiropractic physician this did not surprise me because I know that getting nutrients to a damaged intervertebral disc is key to speeding up the healing process, and that HBOT could only increase the rate at which oxygen is pushed into the deep tissues. I see patients everyday who have disc herniations and by the use of conservative chiropractic care and the use of a Cox Decompression table I create a negative pressure on that damaged disc that enables it to pull in the nutrients from the fluid that surround it.

Now it only makes sense to me that if you are doing good with chiropractic care, that is creating that external force to heal a disc that if that was coupled with HBOT your results would only come faster. Beyond the one publish article I found many case studies in which hyperbarics was coupled with chiropractic and there was MRI confirmation of reduction of many disc hernations.

Consumer Reports & WebMD agree Chiropractic is #1 for Back Pain

Hands-On Relief From Back Pain

From Massage to Acupuncture, People Favor Hands-on Therapies to Treat Back Pain

By Bill Hendrick
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

April 6, 2009 — Back pain can be a big pain in the neck. To deal with it, many U.S. adults favor hands-on therapies such as chiropractic manipulation, massage, and physical therapy, a new survey says.

Consumer Reports says in its May issue that 80% of adults in the U.S. report having been bothered by back pain at some point in their lives. The Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center surveyed 14,000 subscribers who reported experiencing back pain in the past year but who had never undergone back surgery. More than half said the pain severely limited their daily routines for at least a week, and many said it interfered with sex, sleep, and weight control.

It found that:

· 88% of respondents said back pain recurred through the year.

· 35% said they’d never consulted a professional to help with lower back pain.

Of those who’d sought help:

· 58% said chiropractic manipulation had helped a lot.

· 48% said massage had eased their pain.

· 46% said physical therapy had benefited them.

The respondents were also asked about their satisfaction with various treatments. Of those reporting they were highly satisfied:

· 59% had seen chiropractors

· 55% had seen physical therapists

· 53% had seen acupuncturists

· 44% had seen physician specialists

· 34% had seen primary care doctors

Consumer Reports says most respondents had tried five or six different treatments and that many with prolonged pain said they hadn’t seen a health professional because they didn’t believe anything could help.

The survey also found that:

· 45% of people who took prescription drugs said they helped a lot.

· 55% of people given a prescription drug received an opioid pain reliever, even though the publication says there’s little research to support the use of such medications for acute low-back pain.

“There are almost always better solutions than opioids for low-back pain,” says Orly Avitzur, MD, a neurologist and medical advisor to Consumers Union. “They have numerous adverse effects, such as drowsiness, respiratory depression, constipation, and nausea.”

Also, she says, overdose is a major concern.

Consumer Reports advises people with low back pain to:

· Discuss the problem with a primary care doctor.

· Consider seeing a chiropractor or physical therapist.

· Use caution when considering surgery.

· Get a second opinion before deciding on surgery.

It conducted a separate survey of about 1,000 people who’d had back surgery in the past five years and found that only 60% were completely or very satisfied with the results.  And more than 50% reported at least one problem with recovery.

“Patients should be aware that significant problems during recovery may be underestimated,” Consumer Reports says in a news release.

Exercise Your Pain Away

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 80 percent of Americans will experience back pain at some time in their life.

The traditional treatment for low back pain is increasing core strength to increase flexibility on tight muscles, provide better stabilization of the spine and exercises to correct the muscle imbalances. The muscles surrounding the spine provide stability and support of the spinal column. All the muscles between the hips and shoulders are included. These muscles are referred to as the core muscles. Back pain can be caused by muscle imbalances of any of these muscles. If the back of the thighs are weaker than the front of the thighs, there will be uneven pull on the front of the spinal column. This muscle imbalance can be caused from long periods of standing or sitting, improper strength training or running, this lordotic curve or sway back of the vertebral column can be painful.

By exercising core muscles you will be able to continue working out without sacrificing your back. Check with your doctor before starting ANY exercise program!

What exercise can I do to reduce low back pain?

Pelvic tilt

Lie on your back with your knees bent. In this relaxed position, the small of your back will not be touching the floor. Tighten your abdominal muscles so that the small of your back presses flat against the floor. Hold for five seconds then relax. Repeat three times and gradually build to 10 repetitions.

Knees-to-chest

Lie on your back with both legs straight. Bring one knee up to your chest, pressing the small of your back into the floor (pelvic tilt). Hold for five seconds and repeat five times. Repeat exercise on other leg.

Back stretch

Lie on your stomach. Use your arms to push your upper body off the floor. Hold for five seconds. Let your back relax and sag. Repeat 10 times.

Discontinue any exercise that produces or increases pain in the leg!

These and other core exercises combined with chiropractic care can keep you strong, mobile and free of pain. In the end it’s all about free movement!

Conservative Care: The First Line of Treatment For a Slipped Disc

You go to your family doctor with low back and leg pain and ask about seeing a chiropractor. “Oh, no,” says the doctor,” they’ll try to pop it back into place which will not only be painful, but make matters much worse.” Is this true? What is the chiropractic approach to treating a “slipped disc”?

Chiropractic is conservative care, which means it is non-surgical and drugless. In treating low back “slipped discs”, most spine experts agree that conservative care should be tried before surgery is considered, except in severe cases.

Chiropractic care has a long history of successfully providing conservative care for disc conditions – and no; chiropractors don’t try to “pop a disc back in place”.

What is a “slipped” disc?
The disc is a circle of cartilage between each vertebra in the spine that acts as both a shock absorber and a shock distributor. If you jump up and down, imagine what would happen to the stack of bony vertebra that make up the spine without the cushioning of the discs. Move your back side to side. Again, you can visualize the give and take of the discs between the vertebrae. Without discs, the spine simply could not function.

Discs don’t really “slip”. Instead, they bulge, herniate, or rupture. Saying a disc has “slipped” does suggest that something has “slipped out” and is not where it’s supposed to be, which is what happens in disc injuries.

Discs are made up of concentric circles or rings of fibrous material with a tough gelatinous center. When cracks or fissures occur in the fibrous rings, the gelatinous material in the center can begin to push out. A number of different factors may cause the disc to “slip”.

The low back “slipped disc” is almost always the result of a process. As is often the case with joint and back injuries, the problem starts small and then builds until it becomes symptomatic. The spine functions as a whole, so if we have mechanical disturbances in one part of the spine, even as far away from the low back as the neck, it can influence conditions in another area of the spine. Imbalances in the pelvis, problems in the sacroiliac joints, low back facet fixations, as well as joint restrictions in the midback and the neck, can contribute to the process of disc degeneration and eventual injury.

What is the chiropractic approach to conservative care of the disc?
First we should address a misconception. Chiropractors do not attempt to “pop a disc back in place” with forceful adjusting or manipulative techniques. Most disc conditions are treated in chiropractic with a gentle program of low-force techniques.

Another misconception is that chiropractic care involves a few quick treatments, again usually seen as popping the back, which will fix the disc. Instead, chiropractors who treat disc conditions integrate their low force adjusting techniques in an organized protocol of evaluation and treatment.

If a patient is not responding to conservative care using this protocol, the chiropractor will refer the patient for imaging studies and possibly a surgical consultation.

Flexion-distraction technique (COX ® Decompression) has become the most widely used approach to treating symptomatic disc injuries involving back pain and the often-accompanying leg pain. Flexion-distraction involves the use of a specialized table that gently distracts or stretches the spine and which allows the chiropractor to isolate the area of disc involvement while slightly flexing the spine in a pumping rhythm. There is no pain involved in the treatment.

Chiropractors are holistic doctors and even specific conditions, such as a “slipped”, herniated, or ruptured discs, are treated in a whole body context. The chiropractor considers stress and nutritional and lifestyle factors, especially as they relate to pain perception and reduction of inflammation. Conditioning and exercise, stress management, and improved nutrition and eating habits are all considered when the acute phase of pain and inflammation has been resolved.

New Pain Therapy has Old Roots.

A 55-year-old man notices he isn’t getting the distance he wants on his golf swing because his low back is stiff. A 33-year-old runner has to cut her run short because of a pulled hamstring that doesn’t seem to heal. An avid, league tennis player has to finish her match serving underhand because her shoulder hurts when she serves. What do all these injuries have in common? Scar tissue.

When a person is injured, the body lays down scar tissue in order to protect the injured area. Scar tissue adhesions can occur from microtrauma, like a repetitive motion injury such as a golf or tennis swing, or from macrotrauma, such as a pulled muscle or blunt trauma from falling or in contact sports. The scar tissue limits range of motion, and in many instances causes pain, which prevents the patient from functioning as he or she did before the injury.

Gua Sha – Pronounced gwa sa, the technique uses a massage tool with a blunt edge to loosen scar tissue and improve circulation in the painful area. This traditional Chinese manual therapy is over 2000 years old and is gaining recognition from Western clinicians as a method of quickly decreasing or eliminating pain and improving function (improved flexibility, range of motion, and strength ) associated with chronic injuries like tendonitis, muscle strains, joint sprains, scar tissue adhesions and following surgery when pain persists long after the procedure. Gua Sha can help anyone with a soft tissue injury or chronic muscle tightness.  GRASTON TECHNIQUE IS GUA SHA!

The ancient Chinese art of Gua Sha, cross-friction massage, and modern technology into a soft-tissue treatment that has been getting world-renowned attention. These instruments are part of the Graston Technique which has been utilized by more than 50 major professional and amateur sports organizations. Trainers and clinicians at these organizations are treating elite athletes every day and counting on the Graston Technique to get them injury free, allowing them to compete at the highest level.

Once the tissue has been identified, the instruments are used to break up the scar tissue so that it can be absorbed by the body. Patients usually receive two treatments per week over 4-5 weeks; however, most patients have a positive response by the 3rd or 4th treatment.

Historically, the Graston Technique has resolved 87% or more of all conditions treated. It is equally effective in restoring function to acute and chronic injuries as well as assisting in post-surgical recovery. Graston and Gua Sha has had amazing results with conditions as diverse as neck pain, low back pain, tennis elbow, carpel tunnel syndrome, sprain/strains to plantar fasciitis and fibromyalgia.

Vitamin D might take away your pain !

Researched conducted by the University of Minnesota found that 93% of all subjects with non-specific musculoskeletal pain were vitamin D deficient. Taking Vitamin D and CoQ10 can help alleviate muscle pain caused by cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. Vitamin D can also be synthesized naturally by the body upon exposure to sunlight.

Here at Crossroad Chiropractic we  believe  nutrition is an extremely important part of your health. We can direct you to the proper supplements and quality companies.

Jerry Rice talks about Chiropractic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CAsGNlQEnI

Nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches.

If you have a headache, you’re not alone. Nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea.

What do you do when you suffer from a pounding headache? Do you grit your teeth and carry on? Lie down? Pop a pill and hope the pain goes away? There is a better alternative.

New research shows that spinal manipulation – the primary form of care provided by doctors of chiropractic – may be an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck.

A report released in 2001 by researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, NC, found that spinal manipulation resulted in almost immediate improvement for those headaches that originate in the neck, and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of tension-type headache than a commonly prescribed medication.

Also, a 1995 study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that spinal manipulative therapy is an effective treatment for tension headaches and that those who ceased chiropractic treatment after four weeks experienced a sustained therapeutic benefit in contrast with those patients who received a commonly prescribed medication.

Ninety-five percent of headaches are primary headaches, such as tension, migraine, or cluster headaches. These types of headaches are not caused by disease. The headache itself is the primary concern.

“The greatest majority of primary headaches are associated with muscle tension in the neck,” says Dr. George B. McClelland, a doctor of chiropractic from Christiansburg, VA, and chairman of the American Chiropractic Association’s (ACA) Board of Governors. “Today, Americans engage in more sedentary activities than they used to, and more hours are spent in one fixed position or posture. This can increase joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck, upper back and scalp, causing your head to ache.”

Dr. McClelland says your doctor of chiropractic may do one or more of the following if you suffer from a primary headache:

· Perform spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustments to improve spinal function and alleviate the stress on your system.

· Provide nutritional advice, recommending a change in diet and perhaps the addition of B complex vitamins.

· Offer advice on posture, ergonomics (work postures), exercises and relaxation techniques. This advice should help to relieve the recurring joint irritation and tension in the muscles of the neck and upper back.

“Doctors of chiropractic undergo extensive training to help their patients in many ways – not just back pain,” says Dr. McClelland. “They know how tension in the spine relates to problems in other parts of the body, and they can take steps to relieve those problems.”

If your headache is symptomatic of a health problem that needs the care of another discipline, your doctor of chiropractic will refer you to an appropriate specialist.

The American Pregnancy Association & Chiropractic Care

At Crossroad Chiropractic we have treated many pregnant women with symptomatic relief of the discomfort that comes with the changes that affects a woman’s body during pregnancy.  When a woman becomes pregnant the new distribution of body weight may cause an imbalance in a woman’s posture and thus cause back pain due to structural and biomechanical deficiencies. Due to an altered center of gravity the lumbar spine is pulled forward and a great deal of stress is placed on the muscles of the lower back which may lead to increased stress on the discs and joints of the spine.

The American Pregnancy Association states: Chiropractic care during pregnancy may provide benefits for women who are pregnant. Potential benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy include:

•           Maintaining a healthier pregnancy

•           Controlling symptoms of nausea

•           Reducing the time of labor and delivery

•           Relieving back, neck or joint pain

•           Prevent a potential cesarean section

Chiropractic care is a safe and effective form of treatment for the aches and pains most often associated with pregnancy without the uses of X-rays or potentially harmful drug therapies. Through the use of many non-force techniques and specially designed tables, low back pain and sciatica, some of the most common forms of pregnancy related pain can be alleviated with conservative Chiropractic care. Allow us to assist you though this most joyous time, giving you the gift of the most comfortable pregnancy possible.