Chiropractic Sacramento

Amidst a great deal of emotion and rhetoric coming out of Connecticut this week regarding the stroke issue The Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation has just released a very clear position statement on the issue of chiropractic and strokes.

Atlanta, GA, January 07, 2010 –(PR.com)– According to the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation there is no human experimental evidence that chiropractic adjustments or neck manipulations are causally related to strokes.

“While plaintiff’s attorneys and expert witness make claims and statements contending that such a causative link exists, the fact remains that these are based largely on anecdotes, case reports, and case controlled studies and cannot be used to prove causation” stated Foundation President Christopher Kent DC, JD a chiropractic researcher and attorney.

According to researchers and the scientific method itself there are all sorts of biases and distortions that effect conclusions drawn from such studies and other criteria must be used to determine whether such a link exists.

“What this boils down to is a simple lack of understanding of biostatistics and epidemiology” stated Foundation Vice President Matthew McCoy DC, MPH, a chiropractic researcher and public health expert. “Words like ‘association’ and ‘causation’ and ‘risk’ have very specific meanings when it comes to their use in epidemiology and it’s clear that laypersons involved in this debate are using these terms inappropriately.”

While the experience of a stroke can be devastating and no one would suggest ignoring the concerns of those who have suffered one, the reality is that when it comes to the contention that chiropractic causes strokes – the evidence just isn’t there. And while the strokes these people have experienced are indeed real, McCoy suggests there are often other issues involved and offered an example. “Millions of people visit a dentist every year and a certain number of those same people get into car accidents on their way home. If we were to run the stats on it we might find that there is a statistical association between visiting a dentist and getting into a car accident on the way home. But no one would even consider suggesting that the dentists are causing the car accidents.”

Self described chiropractic stroke victims say there is a risk and that people should be advised about it prior to undergoing chiropractic care. The majority of chiropractors would agree that patients should be informed of the risks, benefits and alternatives of any health care intervention, but according to Dr. Kent “Such informed consent must be based on appropriate information and since there is no scientific evidence that chiropractic adjustments or neck manipulations actually cause strokes, it is inappropriate to require a doctor to suggest that such a risk exists.”

Dr. McCoy added another often overlooked issue “Chiropractors utilize a number of techniques to address joint dysfunction and vertebral subluxation and in fact there are over 300 named chiropractic techniques and many do not employ the type of manipulation that has been alleged to be a factor in vertebrobasilar accidents. This adds to the inappropriate nature of such a disclosure.”

In the end, chiropractic has an impressive safety record compared to traditional medical care with estimates are that anywhere from 100,000 (Institute of medicine) to 750,000 (Null et al) people die every year from medical care. In comparison, other than some minor soreness following chiropractic treatment, research has shown chiropractic to be very safe.

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Though movement can often be painful if you have arthritis, achy knees and joints are not reason enough to stop exercising. In fact, not exercising can make the symptoms of arthritis much worse. Regular, modest exercise improves joint stability and strengthens muscles, according to the December issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource. In addition, exercise  improves mood, sleep, energy levels and day-to-day functioning. People with arthritis who exercise regularly actually report less pain.That’s right. Exercise can actually relieve the aches and pains of arthritis.

Why is this so? When a person avoids exercise, joints become even less mobile and the surrounding muscles shrink, causing increased fatigue and pain. Read more…

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What does the term, “vertigo, ” mean? Vertigo is a term for the dizzy disturbance that a person suffers within a stationary setting. The perception is that the external world is tilting and even spinning. Vertigo may be unexpected and short- lived or persistent. But remember, in any case, the exact reason for vertigo needs to be identified and the appropriate treatment undertaken.

There are lots of causative factors for the disorder of Vertigo. An inner ear condition, known as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, will at times take place as the impact of a sustained head trauma or intense cold. Often this particular vertigo may be the result of the aging process. The trigger, often times though, usually is unknown. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo is a wordy diagnosis, but it characterizes completely this non- progressive malady that is a result of, as its name implies, a quick change in head position. The discomforts are ordinarily unforeseen and varied.

It is usually advantageous to look at the performance of the inner ear in an effort fathom what sparks this frequently crippling symptoms of this type of vertigo. The brain senses motion and maintains balance employing the fluid found in the inner ear. Also in the inner ear are miniature calcium carbonate crystals, called otoconia. These crystals usually float in the inner ear fluid if dislodged. As the crystals strike against the sensitive nerve endings in the inner ear, they trigger the complaints of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or BPPV.

The good news is that chiropractic therapy can get rid of the discomforts of BPPV very quickly and effectively employing a technique called the Epley maneuver. By means of the use of this practice, a chiropractor turns the head of a BPPV victim into several different positions, letting gravity move the calcium carbonate crystals into an area of the inner ear that is away from the nerve endings where they will generate no subsequent wooziness.

Your chiropractor has assisted countless individuals for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo making use of the Epley Maneuver technique. Generally, with only one treatment many patients no longer suffer from vertigo. Chiropractic Sacramento can help. Make an appointment today!

Technorati Tags: BPPV, chiropractic, chiropractor, dizziness, epleys, vertigo

ScienceDaily — Laboratory experiments suggest that the resin of certain trees of the Middle East, known commonly as the “myrrh” of the Christmas story, may have cholesterol-lowering properties. Research published in the International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health discusses the hypocholesterolemic effects of myrrh and other plant products.

Myrrh is a rust-coloured resin obtained from several species of Commiphora and Balsamodendron tree, native to the Middle East and Ethiopia. It is perhaps best known as one of the gifts of the Magi offered to the infant Jesus, along with gold and frankincense. At the time, myrrh was revered as an embalming ointment and is also an ingredient in incense.

Nadia Saleh Al-Amoudi of the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, at the King Abd Al-Aziz University, in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, explains that myrrh is known to have medicinal properties, including antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Read more…

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Sacramento Chiropractor

Injuries are not uncommon with any type of sport. You can frequently avoid getting injured in a certain sport by finding out what injury is likely to happen, and then do what it takes to avoid it. Sadly, sports injuries can’t always be avoided. As a result, it’s advantageous to be in good physical shape to make getting injured less probable, or less traumatic.   The most critical thing that you can do is to be confident that you have the proper fitness level prior to beginning to play a sport, such as golf. By cultivating a healthy lifestyle, keeping your joints mobile and your muscles limber, preparing your body before activity, using proper form and good postures while actively playing, and giving yourself sufficient cool down and relaxation time, you will probably keep your body safe from injury.

It isn’t simply amateur golfers who suffer from injuries. It has been estimated that almost one-third of pro golfers play injured concurrently. On the brighter side, general good health and fitness can reduce the number of injuries that you may incur and might actually prevent them totally.

Effective body strength in the muscle regions most employed while playing golf is vital. However, before you make an effort to build muscle strength, it’s important to make sure your spine is aligned and has good mobility. A proficient golf swing hinges on your spine’s capacity to efficiently move in a rotational fashion. Back injuries are the most prevalent type of injuries experienced by golfers. To be certain that your spine is in appropriate alignment and there is good movement in the vertebrae, see your chiropractor in Sacramento. Chiropractic care can go a long way in helping you to avert back injury.

Once you’re “straightened” it’s time to strengthen. Being prepared for your golf game is essential to safe, injury-free action on the green. Golf stretching and flexibility routines will warm up your muscles and make injury them less likely. Whole body range of motion (ROM) exercises will increase flexibility, often rather speedily, in all areas of the body. Additionally, elastic band conditioning offers targeted golf range of motion advantages and can increase needed power in the shoulders, hips and deep muscles of the core. Due to the fact that elastic band training provides the dynamic resistance that general weight lifting does not, sports professionals, such as your chiropractor, are making them a part of their golf conditioning programs.

Along with back injuries, a large number of golfers have painful “Golfer’s Elbow.” Though golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow are almost the same injuries, there is a minor difference between them. Whereas the outside of the upper arm is impinged in tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow affects the inner arm. Golfer’s elbow, like tennis elbow, can be the consequence of a single extreme action, such as (in golf) thrusting down on the mat at the driving range or thrusting down on a hard fairway surface. Repetitive stress from smaller shocks, however, is generally the reason. In addition, it can happen to those who all at once begin to play too much golf. As a case in point, if players that ordinarily play golf once or twice a month choose to enter into a tournament, they are conceivably at risk for contracting the injury.

Golf makes exclusive requests of our body. Fatigue can be a challenge because the game generally lasts longer than the majority of other sports. Once the body is fatigued, poor posture and lack of coordination normally follow. These two factors combined can produce a variety of injuries. Additionally, the shoulder muscles are susceptible to injury due to the constant swinging of the golf clubs. Just as it is essential for you to stretch and warm up before you start your golf game, be sure that you rest your body suitable between games.

An unexpected injury sometimes connected with golf is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. But, as it a condition that occurs as the result of repetitive stress, numerous games of golf played over several months continuously may create this injury. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be a serious injury producing disability and on occasion requiring surgery. However, if a health professional, such as your chiropractor, detects it at an early stage, chiropractic care and, sometimes, the use of a brace will relieve the problem.

Injuries are assumed to be an inescapable part of life for many golfers. But, a healthy, mobile spine, dedicated preparation, specific exercise and muscle conditioning, attaining and sustaining a a suitable fitness level, and sensible rest and recuperation after your game is over, can make injuries far less a part of your golfing experience.

Technorati Tags: back pain, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, chiropractic, chiropractor, Golfer's Elbow, shoulder pain

Breathing properly can make a huge difference both mentally and physically. Unfortunately there are several barriers that may prevent you from breathing from your abdominal area. Poor posture, stress and anxiety and even tight clothing may prompt you to breathe using your chest muscles rather than the diaphragm.

Diaphragmatic breathing, also called belly breathing, is an easy deep breathing practice that coaches you on how to use your diaphragm for breathing. The diaphragm is the sheet of muscle located at the bottom of your lungs. When you inhale properly, the diaphragm flattens and shrinks while your chest area expands. The vacuum this action creates pulls air into your lungs; as you exhale, the diaphragm relaxes and the chest cavity is reduced.

Deep breathing exercises are often prescribed as a complementary treatment for people with excessive stress and anxiety in their life. If you often feel tense and anxious or you simply want to want to boost your energy levels and endurance, try diaphragmatic breathing.

Clear your Mind

You can stand, lie down and sit comfortably in a chair; no yoga cross-legged positions are necessary. Try to clear your mind of the stresses of life such as the chores left still to do or the fact you still have a ton of holiday cards to send off. If you cannot calm yourself, you will not be able to adequately perform the deep breathing exercises for your mental and physical health.

Develop Better Posture

How you hold your body, your posture, is an important facet to performing diaphragmatic breathing properly. With the right posture, you can get a lot more air into your lungs which in turn mean more energy because of the increase of oxygen flowing throughout the blood vessels. Imagine a string stretching from your diaphragm to your chest. When your posture is correct and you breathe deeply, that imaginary string will pull taut, feeling like the area from your chest to your belly button is lengthening. Read more…

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Good news for my fellow cheese lovers: A study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that women who indulged daily in one ounce of full-fat cheese gained fewer pounds over time than their peers who refrained.

Self.com, which shares this little slice of information, says that conjugated linoleic acid found in whole dairy may actually fuel the metabolism. One ounce — a 1-inch cube or a piece about the size of your thumb — may not seem like enough cheesy goodness, but Self offers the following ways to enjoy a smaller portion of some of your favorite full-fat cheeses (No more of that reduced-fat cheese imposter!):

>>Goat cheese
One ounce of this creamy choice contains 76 calories and 6 grams of fat (4 g saturated) and boasts 5 g of filling protein. It’s also a good source of copper, which keeps your immune system humming. Swap out mayo and smear goat cheese on a wrap or mix with chopped nuts and dried fruit for a filling toast topper.

>>Parmesan
At 111 calories per serving, it seems like a splurge, but Parmesan comes with loads of needed nutrients: A single ounce contains nearly as much bone-building calcium as a glass of milk and 10 g protein—more per ounce than chicken breast. Grate and sprinkle over a bowl of salad greens for a punch of flavor.

>>Cheddar
It’s easy to warm up to this classic queso: It gets perfectly gooey—not greasy—when heated and has 6 percent more calcium than American cheese. An extra sharp cheddar adds zing to favorite foods like tacos and veggie burgers.

>>Monterey Jack
Nosh on Monterey Jack and a piece of fruit for a salty-sweet balance of carbs, fiber, protein and fat that can tide you over until your next meal. In the mood for something spicy? Choose pepper Jack cheese, a twist on Monterey Jack that includes hot peppers such as jalepeños. Eat 1 ounce of either to secure about 20 percent of your daily requirement of calcium and 6 g protein for 110 calories.

>>Ricotta
Good news, lasagna lovers! Even full-fat ricotta is a low-cal wonder: It weighs in at a scant 49 calories and 4 g fat (2 g saturated) per ounce and has the lowest amount of sodium of any cheese out there. For a decadent-tasting dish, toss ricotta with pasta and fresh herbs or stir into jarred tomato sauce for an easy upgrade.

>>Provolone
This mellow, firm cheese is versatile enough to go with most deli meats. One slice offers 21 percent of your daily requirement for calcium, along with other bone-building minerals phosphorus and selenium. Layer it on top of lean meat for 100 calories and 7 g fat (5 g saturated).

>>Mozzarella
Net 22 percent of your daily calcium with one serving of this luscious pick. Mozzarella contains 85 calories and 6 g fat (4 g saturated) per ounce. It’s an ideal fit for omelets because it won’t overwhelm the mild flavor of eggs and meshes well with most vegetables. Cheese for breakfast? Yes, please!

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