Your chiropractor in Grand Rapids has treated many men, women and children who suffer from the unusual side-to-side, or lateral, curvature of the spine called scoliosis. Your chiropractor wants you to be aware that there is a major difference between bad posture and the condition referred to as scoliosis. Bad posture is easily correctable, while scoliosis, an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine, is considerably more difficult to change.

Even prior to seeing your chiropractor in Grand Rapids, there are several ways for you to observe the difference between poor posture and scoliosis. If you were to look at a person with scoliosis in a standing position, you would probably be able to see that one shoulder is higher than the other, and that the scapula (shoulder blade) is raised or more prominent. In addition, if the person’s arms were hanging loosely at his or her sides, you might notice a wider space between the arm and the body on one side. Moreover, one hip might elevated or more prominent than the other. And finally, the head will not appear to be in plumb with the pelvis.

Scoliosis is often mild in nature, but it can be quite severe. In fact, both pulmonary and cardiac functions can be restricted if the curve and rib rotation are severe enough. In the majority of cases of scoliosis, the cause is unknown. This type of scoliosis (Idiopathic) tends to run in families and is thought to have a genetic component.

In general, Idiopathic Scoliosis takes place during adolescence when the body is completing the final major growth spurt. This type of scoliosis is most frequently found in girls. If found, a scoliotic curve should be monitored for any progression. Your chiropractor in Grand Rapids will not only provide periodic examinations, but will suggest standing x-rays if needed.

As mentioned above, most (nearly 90 percent) of scoliotic curvatures are mild to moderate, and make a brace unnecessary. In these cases, regular chiropractic care is beneficial in both in decreasing and adjusting any compensatory musculoskeletal conditions that might happen.

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Walnut Creek Chiropractor

I’m just giving the facts, here, so let me say with great professional satisfaction that chiropractors like me, your Walnut Creek chiropractor, have a superior reputation when it comes to relieving back pain. This is due to the fact that chiropractors are spine authorities. In fact, if I had my way, the word “chiropractor” would follow the word “spine” in the dictionary! Anyone who’s ever suffered from back pain — be it mild, moderate, or severe — who has chosen chiropractic treatment — whether from a chiropractor in Walnut Creek or anywhere else in the world where chiropractic treatment is available — has discovered the power of this exceptional non-invasive, drug-free method for relieving back pain. And, you won’t find it surprising to know that since chiropractors are also experts when it comes to addressing the rest of the musculoskeletal system, chiropractic care can often get rid of neck pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain, hip pain, knee pain, and ankle pain. Chiropractic treatment can also give relief from conditions like stress headaches, migraines, carpal tunnel, and plantar fascitis.  The healing capabilities of chiropractic are many!

Sometimes, even for chiropractors, the potency of chiropractic treatment and its superiority to help people get rid of pain and back into participating in life can seem, well, almost miraculous. I feel gratified when I read the variety of testimonials given by chiropractic patients who have not only experienced pain relief through chiropractic treatment, but also experienced more life and energy, stress reduction and peace of mind, and a greater ability to get a good night’s sleep.

Still, sometimes I come across something, like this particular research article I read in the scientific periodical, Journal of Pediatric, Maternal and Family Health, and I am moved to a new level of admiration for my profession. The research detailed the case of a severely disabled 16-year-old girl suffering from Cerebral Palsy with muscle spasticity and sleep disturbances. It was her inability to sleep through the night that caused her family the most distress. To compound the young girl’s condition,when she was seven years old, surgeons fused metal rods in her spine, from neck to base.

The mother of the girl hoped that chiropractic treatment could correct her daughter’s spinal subluxations and help to decrease her all too frequent severe pain. One can only imagine that the examination was difficult. Fortunately the chiropractor was able to determine that there were several subluxations that could be safely addressed. Care was initiated at a frequency of twice per week. By her sixth adjustment, the girl was sleeping normally through the night. A measurable improvement in her muscle spasticity was found by her ninth visit.

Yet, even though full recovery was not expected, the authors of the research article noted that “the patient and her family were able to return to a normal sleep schedule as well as enjoy improved quality of life.”

Improved quality of life. Can anyone ask for more from treatment? Not likely!  But, do you want to know something? More chiropractors hear those words from their patients than medical doctors do.

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The Mediterranean-style diet, for instance, not only promotes a life-long dedication to good nutrition, but includes foods that build a strong immune system, are easily digested, and provide natures own health therapies, like: Plenty of fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods; using herbs and spices, instead of salt, to flavor foods; eating fish and poultry, while limiting red meat and alcohol consumption; and, using healthy fats like olive oil and canola oil, rather than butter.
Add  whole grains and beans, and a regular exercise to this type of healthy eating, and a person will likely find themselves not only free of heart disease and cancer, but less likely to be laid up with colds and the flu!

So, eat your vegetables and fruit, munch on those grains, choose fish and fowl over red meat, and get moving in your life, and you may not only live a good, long life, but a long life of good health!

Technorati Tags: alternative health doctors, chiropractic, chiropractors, healthy lifestyle, Mediterraneran-style diet

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I believe that exercise, often in the form of sports activities, keeps the body healthy and strong. But, as a chiropractor I see a lot of sports related injuries, not just the weekend warriors, but young student-athletes. Sports activities seem to inevitably lead to sports injuries, and some are far more serious than others. That’s why I am happy to see that there is currently a focus on concussions, especially repeated concussions, among young athletes who participate in school sports. The question people are asking is: Are schools doing enough to protect their student-athletes? Do you, as a parent, feel that your child is safe when participating in sports at school?  Many parents worry that their young athletes are at risk for serious sports injuries, especially concussions. In fact, the latest C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health found that nearly two-thirds of parents of young athletes between the ages 12 – 17 worry that their children will get a concussion while playing school sports.

To make matters worse, researchers have found that youth athletes are more likely to sustain concussions and to take longer to recover from concussions than adults. Furthermore, if a second concussion occurs before a child’s brain recovers from the first, there is a possibility of long-term neurologic conditions.

When surveyed, most parents indicated that they would strongly support school requirements, such as:

    * If a student-athlete sustained a concussion, he or she would need to be evaluated and cleared by a doctor before returning to sports – 84 percent

    * Coaches should to receive education about the risks of concussions

    * After a concussion there should be a mandatory period of non-participation in sports

    * A certified trainer should be on-site for practices and games

High school athletic organizations, injury prevention groups and professional sports leagues have become increasingly active in promoting policies to minimize the risks of repeat concussions among young athletes. But, let’s face it, parents are in a unique position to recognize concussion signs and symptoms that occur outside of school, and to work with coaches, trainers, and other health care personnel to ensure that their child is appropriately monitored throughout his or her recovery and return to play.

Source: University of Michigan Health System

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Okay, as a chiropractor I continue to advise my patients, young and old alike, that routine exercise is a vital component to good health. And, since one in three children in the US is either overweight or obese, it’s apparent that getting enough exercise is becoming a national crisis. That said, exercise, especially when it involves sports activities, should be engaged in with the utmost caution. And, not just for the middle-aged “weekend warrior,” but for children as well. In fact, here’s a shocking statistic regarding kids and the “great American pastime”: According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2008, nearly 200,000 children aged 14 and younger, were treated in hospitals, doctor’s offices and emergency rooms for baseball-related injuries.

Why do so many injuries occur? Well, for thing, young athletes today are taking on the kind of intense fitness regimen that can lead to overworked limbs, and overworked limbs, particularly arms overworked from repetitive throwing, can result in injury. In this case, it the old saying “it isn’t whether you win or lose but how you play the game,” couldn’t be more true and truer still is how you practice “pre-game.” Coaches and parents need to advise their young baseball players to not only practice proper form, but to avoid over-exertion. And, kids need to step up and let the coach or a parent know when they’ve had “enough” practice for one day.

The  American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends the following tips, which we, chiropractors, fully support:

• Always take time to warm up and stretch before and after play. Research studies have shown that cold muscles are more prone to injury, specifically:

• If a child is pitching, he should concentrate on stretching his arm, shoulder and back muscles.

• If a child is catching, the focus should be on the legs and back.

• Children should not be encouraged to play through pain. It is important that they take breaks.

• Limit the number of teams on which your child is playing in one season. Kids who play on more than one team are especially at risk for overuse injuries.

• Wear a batting helmet at the plate, in the “on deck” circle waiting for your turn at bat, and during base running.

• Coaches must teach and allow practice of proper sliding techniques before using a bag, including breakaway bases. Players younger than 10 should not be taught to slide.

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“Motion is Life.” That is my mission statement as a chiropractor, and my goal is to get as many of my patients as possible moving into pain-free daily exercise routines. There’s just no getting around it, our bodies are meant to move, and when we don’t let them (or in some cases “make them”), every system in our body suffers. Exercising is crucial to our overall well-being, and not just for physical health and strength, but mental “power” as well. In fact, a new study, led by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, has found evidence that regular exercise speeds learning and improves blood flow to the brain.

I’m sure that if you already exercise you are aware that your thinking tends to become more clear and sharp after a good workout and cool down, even though you may have been unaware that by exercising you were actually increasing the volume of blood flowing to your motor cortex. The point is, exercise is clearly a “smart” thing to do. So, keep it up if already exercise, and if you don’t, GET MOVING. But, see your chiropractor first to be sure you’re well-adjusted!

The findings are available in the journal Neuroscience.

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I just read an interesting article in the health section of newyorktimes.com about the “financial” benefits of protecting your joints. As a chiropractor, when it comes to the health of the joints of the musculoskeletal system, protecting the joints from injury and unnecessary wear and tear are key to preventing painful and often debilitating problems as our body ages. As I mentioned in past articles, degenerative arthritis can be appreciably decreased and even avoided with proper education, exercise, and treatment. However, I have found that, unfortunately, it’s hard for people to “get motivated” now to do something about potential problems. But, adding a financial incentive may just do the trick!

Did you know that more than 400,000 people a year have one or more hips or knees replaced? And, did you know that the cost for a new hip or knee is $30,000 to $40,000? Even if you have insurance, your out-of-pocket expenses can still be quite substantial, especially when you include the cost of days off from work.

The article offered several “preventative measures” that might help your joints to stay healthy longer. And, with the exception of its suggestion that glucosamine and chondroitin “probably are of limited benefit,” I am in agreement with the article’s joint protection suggestions.

• control your weight
• stay active in “low impact” exercise and sports
• try to avoid injury
• get fit
• be skeptical*

The article in its entirety is well worth the read (and implementation), even if your current motivation is a only financial one. Click on the link for more information.

* I have witnessed the highly beneficial results of glucosamine ahd chondroitin supplementation.

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Aah, Springtime! The fragrance of daffodils, lilacs, and hyacinth fills the air. However, for some people it's "Achoo!" Springtime because, unfortunately, along with the lovely fragrance of spring blooms comes pollen and other materials that ride on the sweet air currents as well! Seasonal allergies can make your everyday life miserable. Rather than relaxation, a walk in the park can produce itchy eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, or even a skin rash.

Fortunately, if you're one of those people whose immune system virtually "freaks out" when spring is in the air, chiropractic treatment may help to relieve your allergy symptoms. How?
Well, even though chiropractic care doesn't actually treat allergies, per se, chiropractic manipulation affects the entire nervous system, including the autoimmune system, which is the source of your allergic responses. When the detritus of spring floats your way, your autoimmune system, whose task it is to help you to adapt and respond appropriately to your environment, becomes overactive. Since chiropractic adjustments can lessen or even completely eliminate disturbances in the nervous system and bring back balance and harmony to the whole body, along with a variety of healthy corrections, chiropractic adjustments provide homeostasis to the autoimmune system as well. A healthy immune system responds appropriately to so-called allergens in the environment, including pollen.

So, if you want to get back into harmony with birds and the bees and the flowers and trees, give your chiropractor a call. Springtime should be nothing to sneeze at!

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The study, conducted by Dr. X. Henry Hu of Merck & Co.and colleagues, found that one in five migraine sufferers had "avoided" a work-related commitment because they were afraid of getting a migraine, while 27 percent reported canceling a work commitment for this reason, and round 28 percent said they had avoided or canceled social commitments due to fear of migraines.

I have treated many patients who told me how much they'd "feared" the onset of a migraine and limited their activities in life because of that fear, so I do understand how devastating the fear of migraines can be. And, yet, the only "solution" this study offered?

This study is "important," said Dr. Hu, because the unpredictability of migraines could contribute to people's anxiety and fear about them and early treatment with migraine drugs called triptans can help reduce headache severity. "Because of the lack of predictability of future migraine attacks, migraine sufferers may benefit from increased education on the importance of keeping medications available at all times," he and his colleagues concluded.

My conclusion? If you suffer from migraines, give your chiropractor a call today!

SOURCE: Headache, published online March 25, 2010.

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