HEADACHES
Did you ever stop to think what headache pain means? There is a
good reason for the pain - just as there is a good reason for the
red light and siren on a police, or other emergency vehicle. Headache
pain is nature's signal warning you that something is amiss somewhere
in your body. When your head aches, it does so because something
is wrong - perhaps something quite serious. It is a signal, also,
to do something about it - to remove the cause of the headache before
more serious damage occurs. Although few laymen are capable of diagnosing
their own ills, millions will gulp pain relievers to deaden headaches.
They will do this day after day, ignoring nature's danger signals.
To do this is like disconnecting the warning signal at a railroad
crossing, then driving across the tracts in the path of an oncoming
train. Disaster could result!
TYPES OF HEADACHES
There are many types of headaches. Some, such as those following
overindulgence in food or drink, have simple explanations. But any
head pain should send a thinking person to his or her doctor of
chiropractic immediately! The intermediate causes of headaches may
include eye trouble, digestive, eliminative, kidney or heart troubles,
infected tonsils, meningitis, nerve involvement from spinal conditions,
and in rare cases, brain trouble itself. In women, disorders of
the generative system often are responsible for headaches. One of
the most frequent cause of headaches is misalignment of one or more
of the cervical vertebrae. These small spinal bones in the neck
region, when displaced by unusual stress, can affect the function
of nerve fibers passing between them from the spinal cord, thereby
producing pain in the cranial region.
REFERRED PAIN
The irritation of one set of nerve fibers often is communicated
to another which serves an entirely different function in your body.
This condition produces "referred pains", and may be localized in
one region or organ while the originating cause of the trouble is
in another part of the body. Your doctor of chiropractic, by eliminating
the basic cause of the headache, also may help your body overcome
the associated condition for which the head pain may be a warning
signal. Chiropractors explain that the activity of every part of
the body is controlled by the brain. The function of every cell,
tissue, gland, muscle and organ in your body ultimately depends
on the commands of your brain - given automatically and without
conscious effort on your part. These commands, or nerve impulses,
are transmitted from the brain through the spinal cord, then along
various nerve trunks to a vast multitude of smaller nerves throughout
the body.
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NERVE ENERGY
If all parts of the body receive their proper amounts of nerve
energy, transmitted from the brain without interference en route,
your body will function at maximum health. Often however, the stresses
of daily activity, bodily jolts or sudden twists will cause one
or more of your spinal vertebrae, which serve to protect the spinal
cord, to slip ever so slightly out of normal position and become
subluxated. Subluxated vertebrae cause an impediment in the amount
of nerve energy flowing through one or more nerve trunks emanating
from the spinal cord. When the part of your body served by the affected
nerves receives an abnormal amount of energy - either too much or
too little - it is unable to function properly. The chiropractor,
by careful examination of his or her patient, and making skilled
adjustment of the spine, helps to restore the troublesome vertebrae
to their proper positions, thereby eliminating the cause of the
nerve interference. With the spinal cause of the nerve interference
corrected, permitting unimpeded flow of nerve impulses, your body
then is capable of using its own mighty restorative powers to return
its affected parts to full health. Preserve and protect your health
through chiropractic care - the most modern, most efficient way
to perfect health. Whiplash Imagine... you are a passenger in an
automobile stopped at an intersection. Suddenly, the driver shouts,
"Brace yourself!" With insufficient time to respond, you instinctively
tense yourself for the crash. Before you can control your reactions,
your body is thrust forward with the car and your head and neck
are whipped backward. You are the victim of a rear end collision.
Unexpected jolts and severe impacts can cause whip-like head and
neck motions, resulting in cervical (neck) sprain, cervical syndrome,
acute cervical traumatic neuralgia, cervical fixation, and more
commonly "whiplash." Common producers of whiplash are falls, automobile
accidents, or any force which overcome normally stabilizing and
controlling structures in the neck and head. Your head is delicately
balanced on 7 cervical vertebrae (neck bones) with a weight ratio
of approximately 10 to 1. As your head is thrust backward, several
thousand pounds of force must be dissipated and absorbed through
the neck. The degree of this force determines the impact and resulting
damage to the neck. In a whiplash case, cervical ligaments may be
torn and intervertebral discs may be compressed. Because ligaments
and discs have no pain fibers, symptoms may not appear for days,
weeks, or even months. But muscle spasms and inflammation around
the cervical nerves and nerve roots, can produce loss of normal
neck motion, headaches, dizziness, and neuralgia (pain along the
course of a nerve) usually within 12 to 24 hours. As the inflammation
subsides, these symptoms may seem negligible; but the damage is
there, along with the possibility of compounding disc degeneration
and exostosis (spurring of arthritic formation) Early detection
of probable damage and appropriate care are essential in preventing
serious consequences. The chiropractor's use of x-ray and other
analytical procedures detect even minute misalignments of the cervical
vertebrae... vertebrae which may have been displaced by the impact
and allowed to move by the torn ligaments. With specific chiropractic
adjustments, the vertebrae can be restored to their normal functioning
position. Correction of the primary injury, rather than the relief
from it, is essential to normal repair of ligaments, discs, and
muscles. Whiplash injuries can produce partial or even total disability.
Early care is essential to minimize these effects. Because healing
time can be quite prolonged, it is important to allow adequate time
for complete correction.
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PAIN IS CHARACTERISTIC
The basic characteristic of this condition is pain. This pain may
be the result of inflammation of the sciatic nerve, of its sheath,
or an impingement upon the sensory nerve fibers which have their
peripheral termination in the sciatic nerve. For this reason sciatica
can be classified under one or two heads: either as neuritis of
the nerve tissue, or as neuralgia. If the condition is one of neuritis,
it is marked by congestion, swelling, redness and pain in the nerve
substance.
EFFECT ON NERVES
Such a condition, when it first exists, gives rise to a marked
degree of pain. As it progresses, the pain becomes less pronounced
and congestion is gradually eliminated by the overgrowth of connecting
tissue which binds the nerve fibers together. This connective tissue
contracts, not only eliminating the congestion in the nerve, but
producing compression on the filaments which it contains. For this
reason the carrying capacity of these nerve fibers is decreased
and the effects which are noted depend entirely upon the function
of those fibers.
MOTOR NERVES
Some nerves are given the function of transmitting vital energy
in the form of motor impulses. If they are impinged upon, the condition
is one of partial paralysis, which gradually progresses until complete
paralysis results.
SENSORY NERVES
If it is the sensory fibers which are affected, the condition gradually
progresses until such time as a complete loss of sensibility manifests
itself. The member becomes insensible to heat, cold, pressure and
other sensations which can be felt only if the sensory nerves have
their normal carrying capacity. We have determined, then, what change
occurs in the nerve tissue. Logically, the way to correct the condition
is to eliminate those factors which produce the abnormality.
SPINAL COLUMN
The spinal column consists of 26 bone segments called vertebrae,
sacrum, and coccyx. The spinal cord passes through the vertebrae.
Between these vertebrae are openings from which the great nerve
trunks emit vital life force. This vital life force is carried by
these nerve trunks from the brain to the various organs, muscles,
and tissues of the body. Slipped Disc
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CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition in which the nerves
which pass through a narrow canal in the wrist (the carpal bones)
are compressed or entrapped, causing the nerves to become irritated.
This can induce burning pain or tingling sensation in the hand or
fingers, and is aggravated by constant pressure on the nerves (by
poor hand position at the computer for example). It classically
wakes you up during the night with pain and tingling in the fingers,
and can persist for months if not corrected. Unfortunately these
symptoms are very often misdiagnosed as CTS, when nerve entrapment
in the wrist is not the real cause of the trouble. Since most doctors
are not well trained in recognizing the true causes of nerve related
problems, they too often call any symptoms below the elbow "carpal
tunnel syndrome," when in fact these problems are more often caused
by nerve irritation in the neck.
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LOW BACK PAIN
The most common region of the body people injure is the lower back.
One out every five people who are on disability can't work because
of low back pain. It's a common problem, and you are not alone if
you suffer from lower back pain. Almost all of us (85%) will have
at least one bout of Low Back Pain ("LBP") during our lives which
is severe enough to cause us to be temporarily disabled from work
or school! Since the medical treatment of LBP has been so ineffective,
the Federal Government's Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
made up a 23 member panel of experts and had them take three years
to review 3,400 research studies on LBP. They were asked to conclude
what forms of care work best to help this problem. The panel of
experts was made up of medical doctors, osteopaths, chiropractors,
therapists and was headed up by a prominent orthopedic surgeon.
They concluded that most of the commonly used medical procedures
were ineffective, terribly expensive and sometimes dangerous! Prescription
drugs were "not recommended" and had a potential for dangerous side
effects. There was said to be "no evidence to support the use of
invasive epidural injections"although doctors often prescribe the
procedure. Common medical interventions like surgery, injections,
hospital traction, TENs units, physical therapy and even acupuncture
were all rejected as being unproven, ineffective or dangerous to
the patient! The guidelines stated that some interventions cause
patients to be even more disabled after treatment! Surgery is the
"most obvious example," and "surgical procedures rarely lead to
improved outcome." It may be difficult to convince surgeons to stop
doing spinal surgery since it has become a multi-billion dollar
industry. The fact remains, they felt surgery doesn't work as well
in most cases, especially in the long term. The panel of experts
did recommend what chiropractors have always professed: manual adjusting
of the spine gives the most consistently effective results over
all other interventions! Spinal adjustments, as performed by chiropractors,
was the only recommended intervention whose benefit included not
only symptomatic relief of pain, but also functional improvement!
Isn't that what you want if you have a problem? To improve the underlying
cause of the trouble and restore proper function? That is what chiropractors
do! Reinforcing our Federal Government's guidelines was a separate
unbiased study on LBP by the Canadian Government's Ministry of Health,
which concluded that chiropractic care is much more cost effective,
extremely safe and is more effective than medical treatment of back
pain. There can be many different reasons for back pain (see diagram).
Some can be slow and insidious like arthritis or disc degeneration,
or sudden and acute like a disc herniation from trauma. Very rarely,
tumors or infection can be a reason for back pain, so we prudently
examine you and review your health history, and may take x-rays
or do computerized muscle function tests to determine the cause
of your particular trouble. As a chiropractor, I always look to
correct the underlying causes of any dysfunction so that we can
restore perfect function. Commonly, some of the bones in the spine
may not be moving properly, putting pressure upon or irritating
the spinal nerves, causing your pain. This is called a "subluxation"
and can usually be easily corrected. This helps to end your pain,
and more importantly helps to restore proper nerve function. This
is important because the nerves from your lower back control the
functions of the organs in the pelvis (bowel, bladder, uterus, ovaries,
prostate, etc.) besides controlling the muscles and sensation in
the low back and legs. That is why chiropractors can often help
bowel and bladder troubles, and often eliminate menstrual pain in
women, and sometimes even affect sexual dysfunction in men (without
drugs), besides getting people out of pain. We allow your body to
express its inherent health, and its ability to function perfectly.
It is up to you, how you care for your own body and correct any
problems you may have, but we suggest taking the safest and most
effective route to return to full function. Call us to make an appointment,
so that you might be able to be pain free with everything working
well again. Let's work together so you can enjoy life, and be truly
healthy, the way you were designed to be!
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WHICH CAME FIRST,
THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG?
The age old question could be applied to disc problems of the human
spine. What caused the problem, the disc or the spine? Popular opinion
today most often blames the disc, but chiropractic science takes
exception to this opinion. Chiropractic has found spinal misalignments,
called subluxations, cause unusual stress to the discs and thus
the discs become involved. Disc conditions are serious spinal problems
regardless of their origins. They deserve attention so that destructive
change does not take place and result in extensive damage to your
spine.
DISC STRUCTURE
Let's examine the intervertebral disc. It has a tough outer covering
called the annulus fibrosis; inside is a jelly-like mass known as
the nucleus pulposis. These intervetebral discs arc as cushions
between your vertebrae and form part of the ligamentous network
which aids in maintaining the structural stability of your spine.
TWO KINDS OF DISC PROBLEMS
Disc problems generally are due to an injury or they are degenerative.
If degeneration is due to the aging process, little can be done
to correct the condition. The disc flattens - this is why people
seem to shrink with age - when spinal discs lose their bulk, there
is a definite loss of height. Disc degeneration also can be caused
by a disturbance in its normal nutrition, a condition fairly common
in young and middle-aged persons. This is where a chiropractic examination
can identify a potentially dangerous situation. Nutritional degeneration
is not caused by what you may lack in your diet; this term refers
to starved disc tissue. The disc is nourished by absorbing essential
elements from tissue fluids which surround it. Normally there is
a constant interchange of waste and nutritional products between
the tissues and the surrounding fluid. If fluid movement in any
area is limited, waste products will build up and nutritional substances
will be consumed quickly. Eventually this causes localized starvation
of the tissue. The other general category of disc involvement is
"trauma." A fall or blow to any part of the spine may result in
injury to the disc. The disc will react to injury by becoming inflamed.
Symptoms of inflammation include pain, heat, and swelling. Injury
also may cause the nucleus puplosis to shift from its centrally
balanced position. The vertebra adjacent to the shifted disc (which
has lost its normal balance) will cause the shift to bulge and impinge
on adjacent nerve tissue. This pressure will irritate affected nerves,
distorting nerve impulses to cells, tissue, muscles, or organs.
SLIPPED DISC
Actually a disc cannot slip. It is adhered firmly to the bones
(vertebra) of the spine. The center of the disc, however, is a semi-soft
pulpy substance called the nucleus, and it can shift or slip from
its normal position. The nucleus should be located in the center
of the disc space. In this position it acts as the resistive substance.
The sides of the disc are made up of strong fibers which hold the
nucleus in its central position. As the spine moves and rotates,
the disc allows space for this movement, received by the human body.
They are the cushions between the 24 vertebrae of your spine. When
the spine is in proper alignment no unusual pressures are applied
to the discs, but when the vertebrae become misaligned (subluxated)
the discs come under unusual strain.
DISC DEGENERATION AND DETERIORATION
People feel degeneration and deterioration are signs of complete
destruction, and there is no hope for repair. As time passes, the
aging process causes degeneration and deterioration of the spinal
discs. Normal deterioration causes little problems, however, if
the misalignments (subluxations) are allowed to exist in the spine,
the discs can become wedged. This can produce early deterioration
and degenerative change. Such degeneration is destructive and will
cause a narrowing of discs on one side. Between the 24 vertebrae
of the human spine are openings for the spinal nerves. When a disc
becomes narrow on one side it may cause a narrowing of the nerve
opening. If the disc bulges to one side, it may get in the way of
the nerve opening, causing interference to the spinal nerves. The
often mentioned "pinched nerve" is a result of this occurrence.
It is important that spinal alignment is maintained so that unusual
stress on the disc do not cause early and abnormal degenerative
changes.
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SHOULDER JOINT
INJURIES
The shoulder joint, like other body joints, also can become infected
or injured. A strained or torn tendon, resulting from a fall or
unusual strain, is a frequent type of shoulder injury. Such injuries
can produce a vertebral misalignment called a subluxation.
SUBLUXATION AND CHIROPRACTIC
The brain produces electrical impulses of energy constantly, generating
power to muscles and organs. A vertebral misalignment irritates
the nerve, which distorts these impulses. Without the normal supply
of nerve energy, sprains, infections, or torn muscles cannot heal.
Chiropractors are trained to located subluxations and to relieve
pressure by correcting the subluxated vertebrae.
SHOULDER PAIN AND SPINAL ADJUSTMENTS
Inflammation and pressure resulting from subluxations are relieved
by spinal adjustments. Adjustments restore the normal energy impulses,
allowing nature's healing process to proceed. Gradually, the shoulder
pains subside.
SEE YOUR CHIROPRACTOR WHEN PAIN BEGINS
Immediate attention to shoulder pain can prevent secondary complications;
statistics show early treatment helps ensure favorable results.
Don't wait for pain to vanish. Consult your chiropractor when shoulder
pain begins.
THE SPINAL COLUMN: KEY TO HEALTH
The spinal column consists of 26 bone segments called the vertebrae,
sacrum and coccyx. The spinal cord passes through these vertebrae
and the great nerve trunks transmit energy from the openings between
the vertebrae. For this reason, chiropractors consider the spinal
column the key to good health.
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MUSCULAR TENSION
Numerous ligaments and muscles are attached to the spine. These
ligaments and muscles extend from the spine in opposite directions,
with an equal number on either side. Normally these muscles have
an equal pull, keeping the spine in the median line. However, when
a set of ligaments and muscles exert a stronger pull than the ones
on the other side of the spine, a curvature develops. Why do the
muscles on one side contract and pull harder than those on the other?
REASON FOR TENSION
Every muscle is supported by nerve fibers which carry motor impulses
from the brain to the muscle tissue. Normally these impulses are
barely sufficient to maintain the tone of that muscle, which manifests
itself as a slight contraction. If anything occurs to produce an
excessive expression of these motor impulses, the muscle is excessively
contracted. In the case of the muscles along the spine, this causes
the vertebrae to be pulled.
FAR-REACHING EFFECTS
There are many far-reaching effects of spinal curvature which the
patient does not realize. The curvature forces segments of the spine
to assume an unnatural position; this may strain muscles or ligaments,
crowd the internal organs or impair circulation. Spinal curvature
may irritate the spinal cord and nerve trunks also. These nerve
trunks supply various organs of the body. Therefore, it may be said
that any organ could be affected, and any bodily function impaired,
because of spinal curvature.
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CAUSE OF COLDS
According to most authorities, the common cold is caused by a virus.
This microscopic germ spreads quickly from one person to another.
Most viruses cause the body to manufacture "antibodies" to fight
recurrence of the same disease. This protection is called immunity.
Unlike other viruses, the cold virus fails to confer immunity upon
the cold sufferer; thus, a person can have several colds in the
course of a single year.
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
Allergies, inhalation of noxious fumes, wet feet, allowing the
body to become chilled and vertebral subluxation all can contribute
to colds because they lower body resistance. However, in the absence
of a virus, these contributing factors will not produce a cold.
This was demonstrated by travelers to the Arctic and by shipwrecked
men, compelled to spend many weeks at sea on rafts or open boats
CHIROPRACTIC HELPS
Although chilling does not affect individuals whose tissue resistance
is high because of normal nerve supply, poor nerve supply does lower
resistance; this allows virus to grow rapidly in unhealthy tissue
and a cold is often the result. The science of chiropractic is based
on the premise that adequate nerve supply is of prime importance
in regulating the function of the body. Chiropractors use this scientific
principle to maintain good health and correct disease. The upper
respiratory tract and other vital parts of the body need a strong
normal nerve supply. In most cases of common cold the nervous system
is functioning poorly. A patient with a cold should see a chiropractor.
Your chiropractor is most qualified, through examination and spinal
analysis, to locate and correct abnormal functioning of the nervous
system.
CHIROPRACTIC WORKS
Headquarters for the central nervous system of the body is the
brain. Vital nerve energy is transmitted from the brain to the various
parts of the body by means of the spinal cord and the spinal nerves,
which branch from the spinal cord. Abnormally stimulated or decreased
nerve supply causes the body to function improperly. Many factors
can interfere with correct nerve supply: a blocked nerve can stop
transmission of nerve impulses; administration of drugs can stimulate
or inhibit normal nerve impulses; misalignment of the spinal column
often figures in abnormal nerve transmission. Chiropractic adjustments
can correct these problems and restore good health. Visit your chiropractor
regularly to avoid future health problems.
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WHEN LEG PAINS OCCUR
Considering the tasks our legs perform, leg pains are not surprising.
Lifting, pushing, extreme temperatures, accidents - any of these
can cause trauma resulting in leg problems. Fast pace and long working
hours, even mental pressure can result in spinal stress which irritates
tissue. Pain can mount until it is unbearable. To the postman, policeman,
factory worker, housewife, farmer - leg problems are more than an
inconvenience, they can restrict job performance.
THIGH AND LOWER LEG DISEASES
There are many painful leg diseases. Examples are rheumatism, neuritis,
and sciatica. Rheumatism is cause by abnormal conditions of the
muscles; the lower back, hips and thighs are particularly susceptible
to the problem Neuritis is an abnormality in the nervous system.
Nerves become inflamed, accompanied by congestion, swelling, heat
and redness in the affected areas. Sciatica is an abnormal condition
of the great sciatic nerve, supplying the tissue of the thigh and
lower leg. HOW
EXCESS EMOTION CAN BE PHYSICALLY HARMFUL
When you are angry, your blood pressure elevates and your body
chemistry changes; even your blood clotting level alters and it
is possible to bleed to death from a minor cut. Unbearable tension
can squeeze veins shut and restrict circulation - the tension headache
which can result from such stress. People ordinarily learn to work
in the midst of noise and confusion, but some people, suffering
from nervousness, become more and more agitated. When such people
can no longer cope with the problems and annoyances of life, they
suffer what is commonly called a "nervous breakdown." The technical
term for this is "neurasthenia." Statistics show six out of every
hundred persons nervous to the point where they are unable to carry
on major activities.
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WHAT CAN CHIROPRACTIC
DO ABOUT NERVOUSNESS?
Chiropractic can help nervous conditions to clear up; the explanation
for this lies with the brain and its part in the mental process
of an individual. Our knowledge of external conditions is received
through our senses: sight, taste, smell, touch, and hearing. The
eye may see, but the interpretation of what the eye sees occurs
in the brain; the ear picks up sounds, but again, the interpretation
of these sound waves occurs in the brain. This is true of all our
special senses. If our brain's interpretation of commonplace events
becomes distorted, we many find ourselves extremely nervous.
NERVE IMPULSES
To function properly, the brain must receive tiny electrical-type
impulses which are transmitted continuously over your intricate
nervous system. Just as the liver, stomach, or any other organ of
the body is supplied with nerve fibers to carry theses "messages"
which maintain normal function, so the tissues of the brain must
receive proper nerve impulses to function normally. The nerve fibers
which convey these impulses from one part of the brain to another,
from the spinal cord back into the cranial cavity, are called "recurrent"
fibers. If something happens to prevent these fibers from carrying
the proper vital nerve energy, the tissues they supply become abnormal
in their function. SUBLUXATION A subluxation is a misalignment of
the vertebrae of the spinal column. This vertebral subluxation produces
an irritation of the nerve trunk and, in turn, produces a distortion
in the impulses transmitted over that nerve. Chiropractors are highly
skilled in locating spinal subluxations and restoring spinal integrity
by chiropractic adjustments. When the vertebrae are adjusted to
their normal position, the impaired nerve functions normally and
the cause of nervousness has been eliminated.
YOUR BRAIN PLAYS A PART
The command post known as the brain would take exception if it
could speak. Here all functions of the body are controlled including
that of the stomach. Many of the body processes are handled automatically,
with or without our thinking about them. Billions of commands streak
from the brain through the spinal cord to nerve trunks and to branches,
large and small. If the messages are clear and concise, good health
usually prevails. If the communication becomes garbled, a variety
of events leading to ill-health may well arise. The most vulnerable
area for nerve transmission lies in the spinal column; the flexible
shaft housing the spinal cord. When one or more joints of the spine
are malfunctioning, the transference of command from the brain to
the stomach may be distorted. Your doctor of chiropractic is an
expert in the spinal musculo-skeletal field. His lengthy studies
and experience enables him to adjust segments of the spine so that
normal nerve impulses, if affected, may again flow unimpeded. Depending
on the patient's need the doctor of chiropractic may be able to
maintain or restore the individual's good health. His professional
career is dedicated to locating any interruption of the nervous
system messages from the brain throughout the body.
SPINAL NERVE STRESS
In order to understand how chiropractic care is important for prenatal
care we should first learn what chiropractic is: a method of keeping
the body free from spinal nerve stress. Spinal nerve stress (vertebral
subluxations) upset body function, interferes with health and causes
disease. It is however, important to note that chiropractic is not
a treatment for diseases, but a method of ensuring that the spinal
column is functioning properly.
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SPINAL EXAMINATION
The doctor of chiropractic examines the spinal column for misalignments
causing spine and nerve stress (called vertebral subluxation). Vertebral
subluxations damage the nervous system and affect the workings of
the entire body. If subluxations are present the chiropractor will
correct them with a chiropractic spinal "adjustment" in order to
release the spinal stress. Without subluxations the body will function
better, have higher resistance to disease and express more wholeness
(health) than a body with uncorrected subluxations. That is the
essential message of chiropractic. All this is extremely important
for the pregnant woman who needs to have her body as healthy and
strong as possible in order to handle the rigors of pregnancy and
childbirth. Chiropractic care will help ensure that the reproductive
and other systems so essential for a healthy pregnancy receive an
un-interfered with nerve supply form the spinal column. The slightest
interference to the nerve supply could adversely affect the mother
and the developing fetus.
PREGNANT WOMEN HAVE SPECIAL CONCERNS
There are so many things pregnant women worry about: staying pregnant,
carrying the baby to full term, "morning sickness", the baby developing
normally, backaches, leg pain, and if their labor will be safe and
(hopefully) easy. Can chiropractic care help ease their minds? The
experience of many professionals has shown that it can. Chiropractic
care during pregnancy can help women become pregnant and maintain
pregnancy, control vomiting during pregnancy, deliver full-term
infants with ease and produce infants healthier than the normal
population. In the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association
a number of practitioners commented on the effectiveness of spinal
care for pregnant women. The following are a small sampling of their
responses: For normal patients, correction of vertebral subluxations
definitely helps normal function and rehabilitation. Manipulation
can be of great value in normalizing the body functions of women
with problems of pregnancy such as toxemia. Manipulative therapy...normalizes
functions of the pituitary, adrenal, ovarian, and placental systems,
including the craniosacral respiratory mechanisms. This shortens
the labor by 50 to 60 percent and lessens medication requirement
by at least 50 percent...Postpartum depression is a rarity in patients
recieving...manipulative therapy.
SPINAL ADJUSTMENTS
Chiropractic care is especially needed during pregnancy because
of the many physical and chemical changes the woman's body is going
through. Not only is her center of gravity changing because of the
added physical weight she is carrying, but her spinal structure
becomes more flexible due to a hormone produced by her ovaries called
relaxin. Relaxin relaxes the ligaments in the pelvis, preparing
them for stretching during childbirth and can, in an already unstable
spine, aggravate spinal problems. A doctor of chiropractic can check
the spine to ensure that the pelvis and vertebrae are functioning
together as a unit and are properly balanced. Scoliosis The normal
spine provides perfect alignment of all body parts. A slight curve
inward at the neck, or cervical spine, balances the weight of the
head and allows a clear channel for the spinal cord and nerves.
The curve of the neck plays an important part in determining the
overall shape and structure of the rest of the spine, affecting
the entire skeleton and its ability to maintain balance. From a
gentle curve outward in the upper back, or lumbar spine, the normal
spine again has a slight inward curve in the lower back, or lumbar
spine, which bears most of the body's weight and supports internal
organs. In the normal spine, the outward curve of the tailbone,
or coccyx, aligns with the natural curve in the thoracic area.
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WHAT IS SCOLIOSIS?
Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. Its a spinal disorder,
not a disease. Although in its earliest stages it may be very difficult
to detect, scoliosis is in general characterized by a sideward curve
that can produce a raised or drop-effect to shoulders or hips, a
prominent shoulder blade, or one hip somewhat higher than the other.
It may also manifest as an exaggerated curve along the length of
the spine. One example is the "swayback", in which the head and
stomach are thrust forward, the upper chest area back. It is more
pronounced and not to be confused with "poor posture". More easily
noticeable to the untrained eye is the "humpback", which gives the
whole torso a pulled up effect with shoulders raised and a humped
protrusion of the upper back.
WHAT CAUSES SCOLIOSIS?
The root causes of scoliosis are not completely understood. It
is true that it may "run" in some families, indicating hereditary
factors. Again, it may simply appear as an isolated case in one
individual. A variety of nerve and muscle disorders can produce
scoliosis, as well as diseases like polio or an injury in childhood
that causes vertebrae to develop abnormally. Scoliosis often appears
during the early teen years, and may make pronounced progress during
periods of rapid growth. However, it is also found in young children
as well. Regular checkups for signs of scoliosis should continue
until full growth is reached.
HOW IS SCOLIOSIS DETECTED?
Visual and manual inspection of the back are simple tests conducted
during a checkup. The misalignment of shoulders, or hips, or the
appearance of a hump in the rib or waist area when a child bends
forward, can provide the trained eye an early sign of possible scoliosis.
The doctor of chiropractic, with intensive training and knowledge
of the spine and nerves, is eminently qualified to check for and
treat scoliosis. Though there are no preventives or medications
to treat scoliosis, early detection is important to treatment. The
chiropractor may make mechanical adjustments to prevent further
malformation or alleviate some of the more debilitating aspects
of scoliosis. Some scoliosis may be so mild that little treatment
is required, but that is a decision for a qualified health professional,
such as a chiropractor. The sensible course to follow during a child's
growing years is a regular schedule of checkups by your chiropractor.
Not only in the detection and treatment of scoliosis, but in full
monitoring of growth and development, you child should make friends
with a doctor of chiropractic. He or she will also teach your child
to be more aware of the role of proper exercise and diet, and care
of the spine to prevent problems in the years ahead.
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WHAT IS FIBROMYALGIA?
Fibromyalgia, a mysteriously debilitating syndrome, is taking an
increasing toll on our population. It is characterized by the constant
presence of pain so severe that it is often incapacitating. In the
United States, three to six million people may be afflicted with
its symptoms. It is estimated that 15% to 20% of patients seen by
rheumatologists have fibromyalgia. The condition mainly affects
women aged 25 to 50 years. For many years the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia
was perplexing. Patients are plagued with symptoms which include
chronic muscle pain, aching, stiffness, disturbed sleep, and fatigue.
Finally, research revealed a consistent finding on physical examination:
the presence of 18 specific points in muscles, tendons, or bones
that are tender and painful to the touch. Many subsequent studies
have shown that these tender points can be used to distinguish fibromyalgia
from other painful joint and muscle conditions. The identifying
criteria for diagnosing fibromyalgia is pain or tenderness experienced
in at least 11 or the 18 points.
WHAT MAY CAUSE SYMPTOMS OF FIBROMYALGIA
In order to better understand the origin of fibromyalgia, some
scientists conducted several studies that examined muscle chemistry,
physiology and structure. They found that victims of the syndrome
appeared to have reduced circulation to their muscle cells and damage
to the cells' energy producing mechanism. This strongly suggests
an energy deficient state in the muscle tissues. They hypothesized
that any condition that reduced circulation enough to prevent adequate
oxygen from getting to the muscles cells might result in fibromyalgia.
It is also known that in persons with fibromyalgia the body breaks
down muscle protein at an unusually high rate and converts it to
glucose for energy. This increased level of muscle tissue breakdown
has been interpreted as one of the main reasons for the pain, aching
and fatigue.
CONVENTIONAL TREATMENTS FALL SHORT
Despite long years of research, there is still no ideal conventional
medical treatment for fibromyalgia. An antidepressant drug, known
as amitriptyline, has been shown to provide some short-term relief.
However, it is also know to have potential adverse side effects,
and its long-term effects are still not known. Other studies have
tested the effects of other anti-inflammatory medications and found
them to be no more beneficial than a placebo. Of the variety of
conventional treatments tested on fibromyalgia patients, generally
all have yielded poor to moderate results.
NATURAL NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT
Some new research indicates that fibromyalgia may be associated
with certain deficiencies that may be managed naturally through
nutrition. For the body to manufacture energy, it requires the presence
of certain compounds, including oxygen, magnesium, ADP, phosphate,
and fuel for energy. A shortage of any of these may mean that the
body cannot efficiently manufacture ATP (energy storage molecules),
causing the individual to experience fatigue and muscle pain. It
is interesting to note that some studies have suggested that patients
with fibromyalgia tend to be deficient in magnesium, which is one
of the most crucial nutrients needed for ATP energy production.
Another problem that may result from a magnesium deficiency is an
increased susceptibility to aluminum toxicity, which may play a
role in fibromyalgia as well. Some scientists have speculated that
aluminum toxicity may be prevented by providing the body with adequate
amounts of magnesium. In addition, some studies have suggested that
a naturally occurring compound, known as malic acid, may be a powerful
aluminum detoxifier and may be especially helpful in ridding aluminum
from brain tissues. In a recently published study, a combined preparation
of both magnesium and malic acid were given to patients with Fibromyalgia
The results of the study were encouraging: All patients reported
significant relief of pain within 48 hours of treatment and, within
4 to 8 weeks, all patients had a significant and measurable decrease
in the pain and tenderness of the 18 tender spots associated with
fibromyalgia. Other nutrients that may be helpful include manganese,
because it may support normal body metabolism and, therefore, normal
energy levels; and vitamin B1 (thiamin), because it may support
proper oxygen metabolism. Vitamin B1 deficiency symptoms are strikingly
similar to many of the symptoms experienced by fibromyalgia patients.
These include confusion, muscle fatigue, depression, and numbness
or tingling in the hands and feet. In addition to nutritional support,
mild exercise may help alleviate some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
According to a study published in the American Journal of Medicine,
fitness training in patients with fibromyalgia may help improve
subjective complaints of pain.
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KNEE PAIN
There is no single cause for painful knee joints. Of course, the
most obvious factor is a traumatic injury, such as falling hard
on the knee joint, or being struck on or near the knee. Traumatic
injuries usually happen suddenly and with great force. Chronic injuries
develop over a longer period of time, and are often the result of
repeated stress to the knee. This stress can cause the knee joints
to move out of normal alignment; in some cases, your kneecaps may
either be closer to each other ("knock kneed") or farther
apart than they should be. Other possible reasons for chronic injuries
may include obesity, ligament weakness, not having enough protection
from heel-strike shock, foot/ankle problems, improper exercise or
lifting techniques, etc. Organic conditions would include infections
and tumors. Your doctor will give you a thorough examination - which
may include range of motion (ROM) and orthopedic testing, looking
for possible alignment/tracking problems, and testing for signs
of muscle or ligament weakness - to help determine the cause of
your knee pain.
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