Highland Chiropractor

It will probably come as no surprise to you that humans require air and water, in that order, for survival. And, the odds are pretty good that you, along with most other adults, haven’t tried to hold your breath to see how long you could go without breathing (or in order to see if mom or dad would give in and give you what you wanted) since you were a child. But, how often do you forgo the other necessity of life…drinking water? And, not just drinking water, but drinking enough water. In order for the human body to function optimally, it needs water (and plenty of it!) Every cell, tissue, organ and system in your body relies on the water you drink. Would it surprise you to know that your saliva, and the fluids around your joints, are essentially water? It’s true, and in addition to creating dry mouth, dehydration often causes make your joints ache. Moreover, your temperature and metabolism, as well as your blood circulation, are moderated by water. And, there are many more wonderful reasons to drink sufficient water, such as the improvement of nutrient absorption and toxin removal, and the reduction of heartburn, hypertension, exhaustion, headaches. Even back pain has been attributed to staying well-hydrated. As a Highland Chiropractor it is my practice to ask my patients with back pain and joint pain if they are drinking sufficient water each day, and I advise all of my patients to drink plenty of water on a daily basis.

When it comes to staying well-hydrated, “water on the brain” is a very good thing! Drinking enough water is fundamental for complete health in all the ways described above one day researchers may find even more. Now, none of us would be foolish enough to try to go through the day without breathing, yet all too often many of us go through our day either not drinking water at all or not drinking a sufficient amount. Every human body requires proper hydration no matter what physical activity an individual may engage in throughout the day. When it comes to functional challenges caused by dehydration, athletes (and you’d think they’d be far more cognizant of the importance of hydration than non-athletes!) are markedly at risk. Researcher, Susan Yeargin, assistant professor of athletic training in Indiana State’s College of Nursing, Health, and Human Services, said of athletes,”Physiologically, their core body temperature could be higher than it should have been if they were hydrated. Their heart rate will be higher, and they’re going to perceive that they’re working harder than they actually are.”

Wondering how much water is enough water? Chiropractors like me, your chiropractor in Highland, agree with most health care professionals in advising at least eight, 8-ounce glasses of water per day for the majority of our patients. However, for our patients who are athletes, or for patients who carry around excess weight or exercise or work where it’s hot, we advise even more! So, how can you tell if you’re drinking “enough” water? It’s simple! The answer is in the color of your urine. If you’re well-hydrated, your urine will be a light, pale yellow!

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The survey, reported in the publication’s May 2009 issue, found that more than half of the respondents had “pain (that) severely limited their daily routine for a week or longer, and 88 percent said it recurred throughout the year.” The report stated that while many go to a primary care physician first for diagnosis and treatment, the majority were disappointed with the results.

On the other hand, 59 percent reported that they were “highly satisfied” with the care they received from chiropractors. The next highest rated practitioners were physical therapists (55 percent) and acupuncturists (53 percent), followed by “specialized” physicians (44 percent) and primary care physicians (34 percent).

Respondents were also asked to rate the types of treatments they received. Again, chiropractic/spinal manipulation got top honors, with 58 percent rating it as “helping a lot.” Spinal injections were next highest, rated at 51 percent, followed by massage (48 percent) and physical therapy (46 percent). Other highly rated treatments included prescription medications (45 percent), yoga (44 percent), movement therapy and acupuncture (both 41 percent).

According to a Dynamic Chiropractic article on that report, “Chiropractic ranked first out of 11 treatments, including massage, acupuncture, and exercise, in its ability to treat back pain. More readers said that chiropractic ‘helped me feel much better’ than any of the other therapies.” Prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs ranked eighth and 10th, respectively.

So, if you’ve been “highly satisfied” with your chiropractic care, you’re not alone! In fact, more and more people are turning to chiropractic treatment not only for back pain relief, but for a wide variety of painful conditions from sports and repetitive stress injuries to arthritis.

A public version of the report can be found on the Consumer Reports Web site

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Back pain is commonly a mystery to most people who suffer from it, and chiropractors are proficient at solving the puzzle. Why is it that nearly all back pain sufferers have not experienced any trauma, accidents, or major injuries prior to the onset of their condition? The answer is that the cumulative effects of awkward sitting posture, poor work habits, improper lifting, lack of regular exercise, and other unhealthy lifestyle-related determinants cause most back pain. These factors eventually add up and produce stresses and imbalances on the spine producing subluxations that can turn into serious back afflictions. The process is not unlike the front end of your car being out of alignment. As you continue to drive, there is disproportionate wear and tear on your tires. If you don’t get the problem fixed, the situation could worsen until a tire “blows.” When the spine is misaligned, the health of the spine is jeopardized. In other words, it’s not only a problem waiting to happen, it’s a problem waiting to get worse. And then, something as seemingly benign as bending over to pick up a piece of paper can be the “final factor” that causes back injury. When this takes place, the surrounding back muscles go into spasm to protect the stressed or injured tissues of the back.

Chiropractors have more education, training, and experience than medical doctors regarding knowledge of dysfunctions of the spine. They provide expert diagnosis and experienced treatment for all muscular-skeletal problems. In addition to giving welcomed relief to individuals suffering from back pain, but they are knowledgeable about what will assist you in avoiding further back pain. Along with effectual adjustments and other productive chiropractic therapies, your chiropractor will give you an individual exercise strategy and suggest additional healthy lifestyle changes that will keep you well-adjusted and pain-free in the future.

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Anatomy

If a person were to look at the trunk from a side view, the spine would disclose four normal curves: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. In the lower spine there is a healthy “C-shaped” curve called swayback or lordosis, while the thoracic curve in the chest region has a “reverse C” called a kyphosis. Increased kyphosis in the thoracic area is called hyperkyphosis, while increased swayback is termed, hyperlordosis. Scoliosis changes frequently accompany diversions from normal on a side view. A few round back deformities are simply due to bad posture and can often be resolved with postural exercises. A small percentage of individuals with kyphosis have more rigid deformities than the postural type, which are associated with vertebral deformity. This type of deformity, called Scheuermann’s kyphosis, is much more problematic to treat than postural kyphosis, and it’s cause is unknown.

Even a layman can help to identify a child or adult with scoliosis just by observing the person in a standing position, preferably with no shirt and in boxers, and observing the following:

* One shoulder may be more elevated than the other.

* One scapula (shoulder blade) may be raised or more prominent than the other.

* With the arms hanging loosely at the sides, there may be more area between the arm and the body on one side.

* One hip may appear to be raised or more conspicuous than the other.

* The head is not centered over the pelvis.

* When the person is observed from the rear and asked to bend forward until the spine is horizontal, one side of the back seems higher than the other.

The child or adult should be sent to a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, for further assessment once scoliosis is identified. your chiropractor would be happy to help.

There are a variety of origins and many varieties of scoliosis, however the most prevalent, by far, is Idiopathic Scoliosis, which accounts for about 85 % of all cases. “Idiopathic” means “no known cause” and is seen with equal occurrence in boys and girls in the mild or low curve magnitudes. Depending on the age of onset, this condition can be sub-classified into infantile, juvenile and adolescent categories. Idiopathic Scoliosis may be caused by genetic or hereditary influences as it frequently runs in families. However girls, for unknown reasons are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves grow in size and require treatment. The most general time for the development of Idiopathic Scoliosis is during adolescence when children are completing the last major growth spurt. Unfortunately, at this age young people are reluctant to allow their body to be looked at by parents and other adults, so it is very important to have this age group viewed on a regular basis.

It is very important that if a scoliotic curve is discovered in a growing adolescent, the curves be monitored for any change by a periodic examination and on occasion standing x-rays. In ninety percent of conditions, the scoliosis is mild and does not require active treatment, however increases in spinal deformity necessitate evaluation to decide if a brace or other therapy is necessary. In a small number of individuals, surgical treatment may be needed.~Surgery may be required for a small number of people.

Brace therapy (orthosis) is recommended for newly-diagnosed conditions of moderate scoliosis or abnormal kyphosis, as well as when an increase in scoliosis or kyphosis is discovered in both juvenile and adolescent children. There are a number of kinds of braces, all designed to prevent curves from increasing through acting as a buttress for the spine during active skeletal growth. Braces generally won’t make the spine completely straight, and cannot always keep a curve from increasing. However, bracing is effectual in preventing curve progression in a very large percentage of skeletally-immature adolescents.

There is no simple resolution for scoliosis. Nearly all cases, even though frequently monitored, are not actively treated. The usual medical treatment for moderate conditions is a brace, whereas severe cases are sometimes treated surgically. You may want to see your local chiropractor first.

Along with bracing, many other modalities have been used successfully like specialized exercise, electric stimulation of spinal muscles, nutritional programs, and chiropractic treatments. It looks as if the most beneficial results have been supported with a multi-faceted approach to the treatment of this abnormality.

There are chiropractors, that have years of experience managing scoliosis cases.

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Anatomy

To understand back pain, it is useful to understand the anatomy of the spine. The spinal bones or vertebrae of the lower back are comprised of posterior joints called facets that join vertebrae to one another and serve to dictate the action of the spine. The inter-vertebral discs link the bodies of the vertebrae and are composed of a form of strong cartilage that encases a soft material in the center, called the nucleus. The discs act as shock absorbers and spacers between the vertebrae. Ligaments and muscles also join the vertebrae. The sacrum is a wedge-shaped bone at the bottom of the spine. It is connected to the two pelvic bones at the sacroiliac joint. The spinal cord is situated between the facets of the vertebrae. The spinal nerves exit the spine between the vertebrae.

Causes of Back Pain

A large number of back pain patients have not experienced any trauma, accidents or major injuries prior to the onset of their problem. The cumulative effects of improper sitting posture, harmful work habits, incorrect lifting, lack of regular exercise, and other unhealthy lifestyle-related factors create most back pain.  These cumulative factors produce stresses and imbalances on the spine and, therefore, people may injure their back just by bending over to pick up a piece of paper. The spine was already at risk and just the simple act of bending was enough to set off the problem. When this occurs, the surrounding back muscles go into spasm to protect the stressed or injured tissues of the back. Chiropractors are back pain specialists. Your **LINK** can help you to get out of pain quickly.

Disc Problems & Sciatica

Prolonged sitting, especially in a awkward position causes increased pressure on the intervertebral discs and imbalances in the muscles surrounding the spine. After a while the lower spine loses its ability to function normally during everyday stresses. Ultimately, the intervertebral disc develops small fissures, or cracks, allowing the soft nucleus to bulge the disc outward. If the disc pushes on sensitive tissues, it creates the pain that is often referred to as a slipped disc. Sciatica develops when the disc presses on the spinal nerve. The symptoms of sciatica include pain, tingling, numbness, and often weakness in the lower extremities. Regrettably, if the disc protrusion or herniation is large and the condition isn’t managed properly, surgery may berequired to dispose of the herniated disc material. With chiropractic adjustments and care, which often includes postural exercises, most disc complications, including sciatica, can be resolved. If you are experiencing any of the conditions defined above, it is very important for you to seek chiropractic treatment. Your your Chicago chiropractor is available to help you.

Spondylosis

Increased erosion and weight-bearing stress on the spine occurs when there is repetitive damage to the discs, facet joints, and surrounding ligaments. Bone spurs are formed when the cartilage around the joints is adversely affected by stress that engenders calcium to deposit in the tissues around the vertebrae. These spurs can constrict adjacent nerves, blood vessels and soft tissue resulting in symptoms ranging from minor pain and numbness to gross sensory loss and muscular atrophy. This condition – known as Spondylosis – is a form of arthritis that seems to affect almost everyone at some point in life, as it is a common part of the aging process of the spine as well. Nevertheless, determinants such as previous trauma, unhealthy lifestyle, and repetitive stress injury influence the time of onset in life. Regular chiropractic care and overall chiropractic management is very effective in slowing the aging process of the spine, and in helping Spondylosis sufferers manage their condition. Your Chicago chiropractor has helped many Spondylosis sufferers.

Sacroiliac Problems

Another common area of dysfunction or injury in the low back are the sacroiliac joints. These weight-bearing joints link the upper part of the body to the lower pelvic portion and are normally very strong and stable. However with trauma such as falls, sports injuries and lifting heavy objects, the joints can become unstable and move to an abnormal position.  This condition is called a sacroiliac subluxation. Women may get this condition during or after their pregnancy. Sacroiliac subluxation causes imbalances in the lower extremities giving a person a functional long and short leg. Pain occurs particularly with prolonged standing, walking, or during and after physical activity, and the individual may experience a lack of energy and fatigue.  Other symptoms such as neck and shoulder pain, as well as headaches, can develop further up the spine. Chiropractic adjustments establish the proper alignment of the joints and are extremely affective in correcting sacroiliac problems. Ask your Chicago chiropractor how you can get affective pain relief.

Spinal Subluxation

A very common disorder of the lower back, as well as the entire spine, is subluxated or misaligned facet joints. Subluxations can exist on their own or in conjunction with disc problems and Spondylosis. They not only cause pain, but they can also compromise the spinal nerves as they exit the foramen or spaces between the vertebrae, and create nerve compression, known as paraethesia. Paraesthesia is an alteration of sensation described as a tingling, burning or “funny feeling.” Paraesthesia in the upper extremities usually originates from nerve problems in the neck, while paraesthesia in the lower extremities is most often associated with nerve problems in the lumbar region (lower back). Visceral problems such as asthma and gastric conditions can also be associated with, or complicated by, spinal subluxations and nerve compression. Subluxations are best corrected with chiropractic adjustments.

Trauma

Trauma such as a fall, car accident, or sports injury can cause over-stretching or tearing of the tissues of the spine and lower back and create considerable pain and immobility. Proper chiropractic management at the onset of symptoms is very important in order avoid long term disability and the development of any of the above conditions. If you experience a trauma, call your Chicago chiropractor as soon as possible.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is often associated with low back pain. Chiropractic care offers exceptional pain relief.

When it comes to the spine, chiropractors have more education and training than medical doctors. Your Chicago chiropractor provides state of the art diagnosis and skilled treatment for any of the above mentioned conditions of the spine and lower back.

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