AUTO ACCIDENTS AND CHIROPRACTIC CARE

Auto injuries are some of the most significant injuries the human body can endure.  Most of the time the victim doesn't even feel the full extent of the injuries for weeks or even months after the accident.  The initial shock from the trauma creates a fight or flight response that delays the onset of pain perception as if it never happened.  Then after the dust settles and you try to go back to your daily routine, the aches and pains start to show up.  I've seen it time and time again in my office with patients that wait to see a professional until weeks after the accident, because they thought they were fine.  This not only makes it more difficult to help the patient, but more scar tissue has formed and the injured areas have had more time to settle in. The most common injuries from car accidents are soft tissue related and are maintained within the muscle tissues or ligaments, but from time to time undiagnosed concussions, brain trauma, fractures and even spinal dislocations can be present without the patient's knowledge.  Because of this, it is always best to get some type of evaluation no matter how small the accident is.  Even in minor accidents, 50% of the victims end up with permanent impairment that will require ongoing treatment to manage.

Chiropractic is helpful in these situations because we can combine spinal manipulation with massage and stretching techniques to keep the injuries from worsening or causing permanent discomfort and limitation.  In my practice, we run a very thorough examination that includes Digital X-Rays, Nerve Scans, Orthopedic and Neurologic Testing to accurately determine the severity of the injuries.  Most urgent cares and emergency rooms are only going to look for life threatening conditions due to the high volume of patients they have to see.  They very rarely can diagnose or help treat the most common injuries associated with car accidents.  So if you or someone you know has been in an accident, please encourage them to see and Chiropractor to have their injuries evaluated before it's too late.

Back pain steals hours of comfort and years of life

Approximately 700 million people around the world suffer from back pain. Researchers estimate that nearly 85% of the population will suffer from some form of back pain in their lifetime. Recent research revealed a significant concern for anyone suffering with low back pain. Researchers warn that those experiencing low back pain have a 13% increased risk of early death. One of the most important preventative health care measures awaits through the pursuit of eliminating the source of low back pain before problems become permanent and deadly.

Low back pain historically plagues individuals with the nagging inconvenience of discomfort without much prognosis for resolution other than pills or minimally successful surgery. New studies consistently reveal that pain represents a much greater issue. One particular study found an amplified risk of early death in those experiencing pain verses those without spinal problems.

An Associate Professor at the University of Sydney and contributed to the new research. "This is a significant finding as many people think that back pain is not life-threatening," Paulo Ferreira said.

The pool of people affected by these findings continues to grow. Statistics show that five out of every six people will suffer from back pain at some point in their life. A connection to early death means that the prevention and treatment of lower back pain becomes an issue much greater than daily discomfort. Ridding back pain not only resolves the issue of daily aches but also produces the opportunity for greater longevity.

Chiropractors help men, women, and children of all ages reduce and eliminate back pain. Mounting research confirms that the benefits of Chiropractic adjustments extend far beyond pain relief. The link between the presence of low back pain and increased risk of early death exists in the science of subluxations. Subluxations identify as small, subtle shifts in vertebral alignment and movement. These shifts interfere with the nervous system and the vital autonomic functions of the body. Undetected and uncorrected subluxations negatively impact the control panel of all function in the body.

Chiropractors passionately pursue the detection and correction of vertebral subluxation in men, women, children, and infants. Chiropractic care not only addresses back pain but also targets improved performance and function in the nervous system. The goal of Chiropractic adjustments involves the optimal function of the body and the avoidance of needless pain, suffering, surgery, and early death.

The best time for everyone to get their first adjustment happens just after birth when the nervous system needs to overcome the early subluxations that occur from the birthing process. The next best time to get that first adjustment occurs whenever a person decides they want a lifetime of improved health that cannot be found in bottles of pills and daily therapy for pain and discomfort. Millions of people need spinal care in order to steer their path towards better health care. Longevity and quality of life depend on it.

European Journal of Pain - February 17th 2017 doi: 10.1002/ejp.996
“Is this back pain killing me? All-cause and cardiovascular-specific mortality in older Danish Twins with spinal pain.”
M. Fernandez, E. Boyle, J. Hartvigsen, M.L. Ferreira, K.M. Refshauge, C.G. Maher, K. Christensen, J.L. Hopper, P.H. Ferreira

MD sets out to disprove Chiropractic by assessing spines during autopsies...

The importance of the spine remains irrefutable in every laboratory, research center, doctor’s office, and hospital all over the world today. Unfortunately, most doctors remain unaware of the significant contribution the spine plays on overall health and function.
Many of the unwanted symptoms people suffer from have a direct or indirect connection to the spine. The current medical research provides a thorough explanation for how the chiropractic adjustment profoundly influences all aspects of human health and performance. And it’s all about the brain. An intimate connection exists between the health of the spine and the function of the brain. And as most people know, the brain directs all function of the body.
Dating back to the 1920’s when Chiropractic was in its early stages, the connection between the spine and entire body through the nervous system has been widely debated. In the early 1920’s, a Medical Doctor by the name of Henry Winsor caught word that Chiropractic patients were experiencing significant health benefits with problems seemingly unrelated to the spine. Upon his investigation, Dr. Winsor found that many chiropractic patients were being told a chiropractic adjustment could influence more than just their back. Concerned and skeptical with what he was hearing, Dr. Winsor set out to disprove the theory that a Chiropractic adjustment could influence any area of the body outside of the spine once and for all. So, he began his own research.
Dr. Winsor figured that if he dissected the spines of the deceased and proved no correlation between the health of the spine and organ disease or dysfunction, he would put this entire theory to rest. So, he got access and permission to dissect and analyze the spines of 50 human cadavers. His findings sent shock waves throughout the medical profession.
Not only did Dr. Winsor find a link between the health of the spine and function of organs, he noted a direct correlation between the recorded diseased organs and the alignment of their spine in that area. Out of 221 diseased organs, he found 212 links between a curvature of the spine in the area of the nervous system that controlled that diseased organs. In other words, whenever there was a diseased organ, there was a misalignment in the spine that controlled the nervous system function to that organ. These findings were revolutionary in understanding the explanation for why so many patients were experiencing health benefits and disease reduction to specific organs after starting to receive specific Chiropractic adjustments. And after evaluating the 9 organ problems with no apparent relationship to the spine, it was determined that the connection was still present because the nervous system has multiple areas of the spine that influence organs. In the end, a 100% correlation occurred between the abnormal alignment and condition of a specific area of the spine and the nervous system that supplied the corresponding organ.
In the end, the same doctor that set out to debunk the truth about Chiropractic and its influence on organ function proved the opposite. Chiropractic helps family members of all ages get and keep their life back without the use of drugs or surgery. And even up until today, this study serves an important role to help explain the necessity for all family members to receive regular spine and nervous system evaluations all throughout life to achieve an increased health expression.

The Medical Times - November 1921, pp./267-271
“Sympathetic segmental disturbances – II. The evidences of the association, in dissected cadavers, of visceral disease with vertebral deformities of the same sympathetic segments.” H. Winsor.

Chiropractic Newsflash

Chiropractic 101

Bad Posture leads to early DEMISE!

WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM?

I Often get asked what type of food should I eat or what types of exercises should I do to be healthier.  Both of which are great questions, but I respond with how healthy is your spine?  If they aren't patients of mine, they will typically say "great," it doesn't hurt me at all.  I then respond with that's great, but do you know what percentage of your nervous system even has pain sensation in it?  Most people don't even fully understand what the nervous system is.  For those reading this, it's your brain, spinal cord, 31 pairs of spinal nerves and hundreds of thousands of peripheral nerves than innervate every cell, tissue and organ in your body.  Most people aren't aware of the fact that the health of every system in their bodies is based on the health of their nervous system.  For example, your cardiovascular system, respiratory system and even your immune system are limited by the health of your nervous system.  If you nervous system is 70% functional then your other systems can only be 70% functional at best, not matter how well you eat or how much you exercise.   So how do you know how healthy your nervous system is you may be asking.  You have to get it evaluated by a trained Doctor.  We have special nerve function tests that we use in my office that were developed by NASA to determine how healthy their astronauts were and now we use it on our patients.  They are very non-invasive and easy to perform.

Some to keep in mind is where does your nervous system reside.  Well your brain is obviously in your skull, but your spinal cord exists through the center of your spinal column.  In between each vertebrae exits each of the 31 pairs of spinal nerves.  Take a guess what would happen if your spine is out of alignment and pushing on your spinal cord or spinal nerve?  You got it, it would alter the health and function of your nervous system negatively.  Now begs the question, how well aligned do you think your spine is? Very few people would say perfectly aligned.  But oh yes I forgot, it's not hurting you right?  Well pain is only present 10-20% of the time.  That means 80-90% of the time your nervous system is dysfunctional, you won't even know it.  Think about heart disease, cancer and even cavities in your teeth.  They don't gradually hurt more and more as they grow in severity.  It takes a long time before symptoms are even present.  The journal of pathology states that 70% of disease and dysfunctional will occur before any pain is present.  So, for those of you wondering what you should eat or what exercises work best, it's all for nothing if you don't have a healthy spine or nervous system.  Do yourself a favor and find a Chiropractor near you and get checked out.  If you need a referral to someone great, don't hesitate to ask.  If you want to check with your family doctor first, go for it.  They don't work with the spine and nervous system.  They manage symptoms with drugs and remove or repair damaged parts of your body surgically.  If you want drugs and surgery definitely don't go to a Chiropractor.

In closing, I love and appreciate you all and hope you all live healthy, happy and fulfilling lives.

Yours in Health,
Dr. Josh

Dr. Oz Gets Rolfed on the Oprah Show

What is Rolfing?  Is this something that could help ease muscle tension?

If you're plagued by muscle pain, Dr. Oz recommends a technique called Rolfing, which he describes as "even deeper than a deep-tissue massage."

This technique, which was developed by Dr. Ida Pauline Rolf, aims to separate bound-up connective tissues (or fascia), which link the muscles.  "Rolfing literally releases the joints," Dr. Oz says.  "When you talk to folks about the impact it has on them, a lot of them just stand taller.  A lot is just freeing you up to live the way you're supposed to live."

In January 2006, Dr. Oz volunteered to get Rolfed to demonstrate its medical benefits.  Certified Rolfer Jonathan Martine says this massage method works with your body instead of on it.  "What I'm looking at doing here is is releasing the fascia, which is the wrapping around the muscles," he says.

The procedure may seem painful, but Jonathan says he works within the body's limits.  "If I'm trying to force you into position to be upright, and you're not read to be there, it's going to be challenging," he says.

You don't even have to strip down to have this procedure.  "We work at a level of comfort for the client," Jonathan says. "I work with people in a bra and underwear or running shorts.  I worked with a rancher from Nebraska that had his clothes on for most of the sessions."

Please Note:  If you are curious as to how rolfing can help restore your muscles to optimum function, mobility and range of motion, call us at 858-457-0123 to book a complimentary 30-min consultation with our Rolfer, Michael Boblett.  Michael is one of the top 3 out of only 15 rolfers in San Diego.

He helps crossfit competitors, weightlifters, marathon runners, triathletes, dancers as well as non-active patients suffering from car accidents and other injuries get back to their jobs, their training and their competitions so they can continue doing what they love!

Source: Oprah.com

Adjusting to Pregnancy

The above is the actual headline from the August 7, 2007 Milford Daily News in Massachusetts. This article addresses the benefits of chiropractic care in pregnancy. The article starts by following the story of one chiropractic patient, Amanda Giampaoli-Martinez, who was receiving chiropractic care throughout her pregnancy. The story notes that when Amanda was ready to give birth she called her chiropractor Dr. Maryam Ahsan, to be present at the birth. 

It was not two minutes after the birth of Amanda's new baby girl, Arianna, that she was checked by Dr. Maryam. New mother Amanda recalled the activity by stating, "Dr. Maryam was driving when I called her and asked if she could come to the hospital. She just turned her car around." Giampaoli-Martinez continued, "When I was having bad pain, (Dr. Ahsan) put me on my side and adjusted me while I was on the table." Ms. Giampaoli-Martinez was pleased with her results and noted, "I went three times a week, and after a month my back pain was gone. I was also having shooting leg pain and the hip alignment helped to take that away."

The article explains that the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association teaches a technique named after the associations late founder Dr. Larry Webster, called the Webster Technique. The article explains that the Webster Technique decreases intrauterine constraint, resulting in a quicker, less difficult delivery. This technique became prominent after it was discovered that certain adjustments had a high success rate in reversing the position of breech babies.

Dr. Jeanne Ohm, executive director of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, explained the procedure, "There is no deep tissue massage with this technique. It's a really light force," she said. "Chiropractors will check the woman's sacrum (pelvis bone) and press on different areas to restore balance. They (patients) turn her on her back and check her belly and a round ligament for tightness." Dr. Ohm continued, "There are no known contraindications or complications to the adjustments. No one's ever called back to report a problem, and I would definitely be the first to know. Osteopathic studies have shown the adjustments reduce labor time and fight dystocia (abnormal or overly long childbirth)."

The article also interviewed Dr. David Bilstrom, a board certified physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist, and director of Oasis Center for Health in Hinsdale. He feels that most medical doctors are unfamiliar with chiropractic care. He states, "Chiropractic care tends to be quite safe. In the right hands, I would feel very comfortable seeing the treatment done."

If you are a mommy-to-be, schedule a free initial consultation with us to find out more about how chiropractic care can help reduce stress for you and your baby: 858-457-0123.

Source:  www.chiropracticresearch.org

Tips for Controlling Your Appetite

With a new year upon us, weight loss may be on your list of resolutions. Hopefully you will incorporate some - if not all - of the tips below to kick off the new year with a healthier outlook and begin a journey to creating a new YOU!  -- Dr. Josh

When it comes to the math behind weight loss, it's all about "calories in, calories out." However, it's not always that black and white. If you suffer from constant food cravings, it may not always be an issue of hunger. 

Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to remedy the situation. If you're certain that you are eating as you should for your metabolic type and you still feel hungry all the time, use these tips to help curb your appetite. 

1) Don't Skip Meals

You should be eating three square meals a day, plus one snack. You should also be making sure to space your meals throughout the day so that you don't go longer than four hours without eating. This is incredibly important when it comes to avoiding that nasty stomach grumble because it will keep your blood sugar levels and hunger hormones stable. But my most important rule here? You MUST eat breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day (your mother was right about this one). Eating a hearty breakfast helps reduce levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin, keeping you satisfied throughout the morning.

2) Hydrate!

When you feel as if you're starving, pour yourself a huge glass of water or grab a bottle of seltzer - it will help quell the urge to snack. If you feel like you just can't look another glass of ice water in the eye, try mixing things up by adding a slice of lemon (or lime) or getting creative with a sprig of fresh mint. Water is one of the best things you can put in your body. It keeps you hydrated and flushes out any toxins that may have taken up residence in your system. So, do you really need another reason to become BFF with H2O? Didn't think so.

3) Catch Some Zzz's

I know, I know - you're all as crazy busy as I am! No matter what I have going on, I always make a point to get seven hours of shut- eye. Sleep is not just a luxury - it's a necessity! Two hormones, leptin and ghrelin, regulate our appetite, and both are directly affected by how much sleep we get. These hormones work in a kind of "checks and balances" system to control feelings of hunger and fullness. Getting seven hours of shut-eye each night helps the hormones work properly, which in turn will help curb your appetite.

4) Think Before You Snack

Hunger isn't always the reason behind eating. For a lot of people, there are a number of emotional triggers, such as feeling bored or stressed, that are often disguised as hunger. So, the next time you feel hungry between meals, consider the last time you ate. If it was less than three to four hours earlier, your stomach isn't growling, and you're not weak or tired, you're probably emotionally unsatisfied in some way rather than genuinely physically hungry. Keep a journal handy to write down every time you find yourself reaching for some food when you know you're not hungry so that you can recognize the feelings and intercept before they get worse.

5) Think About Something Else

Like I mentioned, eating can be a soothing mechanism if you find yourself bored, stressed, or emotional. If you know that these hunger pangs you're experiencing are NOT due to a lack of food, find a way of diverting your attention so that you don't fall victim to the instant gratification. Steer yourself toward positive feelings of self-worth and you'll choose activities and behaviors that inherently contradict self-loathing and self-destructiveness.

Call a friend you haven't talked to in a while, paint your finger nails, pick up a book or magazine, or even better - get outside and do something active! By taking your mind off of those hunger pains, they'll most likely disappear.

6) Take it One Day at a Time

Just because you might be struggling with hunger does not mean all is lost. You can and will lose weight. Even if you're eating a little more than your calorie allowance, you can still lose - it just might take a little longer. Exercise is also a crucial component of a healthy weight-loss journey. Working out harder and more often will help burn the extra calories you might take in if you have a bad day.

7) Stick With It

Sometimes we slip up, and that's okay - healthy living is not an all-or-nothing proposition. Allowing yourself to make mistakes and understanding that you can get back on the wagon and keep moving forward is crucial. I know you can do this. Believe in yourself and try to incorporate my suggestions into your life, and let's see how you do.

Source:  JillianMichaels.com

Health by the Numbers: 46

46 percent of 9-11 year-olds who are "sometimes" or "very often" on diets, and 82% of their families are "sometimes" or "very often" on diets.

Over one-half of teenage girls and nearly one-third of teenage boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors such as skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting, and taking laxatives 

35-57% of adolescent girls engage in crash dieting, fasting, self-induced vomiting, diet pills, or laxatives. 

Source:  www.NationalEatingDisorders.org

Chiropractic Helps Women Avoid C-Section

From the April 1, 2007 issue of the Monterey Herald in California comes an article with a story of a woman who was having trouble with her pregnancy. Jennifer Hernandez was 36 years of age, and 32 weeks pregnant when her obstetrician told her she was facing a Caesarean delivery because the baby in her womb was in a high-risk position.  

Hernandez's obstetrician performed an ultrasound which showed that her baby was 180 degrees from the normal head-down position for birth. With this news and wanting to avoid a possible C-section, she then sought the services of Dr. Anne Lundquist, a prenatal chiropractor certified since 2001 in the Webster In-Utero Constraint Technique.

Hernandez reported her reaction after starting chiropractic care, "I felt a great relief after the first adjustment." The article then noted that after two sessions with Dr. Lundquist, a new ultrasound showed the baby was in the proper head-down position. "Immediately after the first treatment I felt he moved," Hernandez said.

Dr. Jeanne Ohm, a chiropractor and executive coordinator of the Philadelphia-based International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, the organization that certifies chiropractors in the technique, described the technique by saying, "It reduces interference to the nervous system, balances out pelvic muscles and ligaments, which in turn removes torsion to the uterus. It allows the baby to get into the best possible position for birth."

Dr. Ohm, who has 25 years of chiropractic experience and 10 at teaching the "Webster" technique noted that the technique doesn't involve any risk. However, the article did note that the success rate drops if the patients have passed the 34-week mark of their pregnancies.

Source: www.ChiropracticResearch.org

Teaching Positive Action Instead of Preaching Perfection to Achieve Wellness

What steps are you taking to leading a happy, healthy and peaceful life?  At our wellness center, we don't preach perfection. Instead we promote wellness by teaching positive action!   There is always something you can do to achieve better health today! 

Focus on the positive food choices or physical activity you make daily.  It all adds up and it all counts!   Slowly but surely you can add on new layers of action to enhance your evolving health regimen.  Maybe you can start adding two vegetables to your daily diet or eating leaner cuts of protein.  Maybe you stopped skipping breakfast and started drinking a protein smoothie or eating a bowl of oatmeal with berries.  Maybe you started substituting caffeinated or sugary drinks with water or herbal teas. Whatever changes you make, keep up the good work and your body will reward you with better health in no time!

 

Our purpose is to help as many people as possible get healthy and stay healthy.  It is our pleasure to serve you, your family and our community in wellness today.

5 Reasons To Avoid Artificial Sweeteners

By Margaret Wertheim, www.MindBodyGreen.com

September 29, 2013

Cutting your sugar intake is crucial in order to prevent diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Unfortunate the average American consumes 76 pounds of added sugar per year. That's 23 teaspoons a day! The largest contributor to sugar intake? Soda and sugar-sweetened beverages.  

For many, the seemingly easy fix is to start using artificial sweeteners such sucralose, saccharin, aspartame, and acesulfame potassium, instead of sugar. Unfortunately, these artificial sweeteners have some pretty dark downsides:

1. Artificial sweeteners may actually increase sugar cravings.

Because artificial sweeteners are so much sweeter than sugar, they tend to make you crave sugar more.

2. They're linked to diabetes.  In a study of more than 5,000 people, drinking one diet soda or more on a daily basis was associated with a 67% increased risk for diabetes. This is a very striking result! Switching to diet soda is often recommended to people with diabetes or pre-diabetes. This recommendation is ill-advised as it seems that diet soda may actually play a role in increasing diabetes risk.

3. They have been linked to cancer in animals.  In animal studies, artificial sweeteners like sucralose, saccharin, and aspartame have been associated with an increased risk of cancer.

4. They can be harmful during pregnancy.  A study in women noted that artificial sweetener consumption during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk for pre-term labor.

5. Artificial sweeteners, specifically sucralose, may change how your body responds to carbohydrates.  Your blood sugar and insulin levels may actually rise higher when you have carbohydrates with or after drinking a sucralose-sweetened beverage.One of the functions of insulin in your body is to trigger fat storage. If your insulin levels are higher, it is more likely that you will gain weight or it may be harder for you to lose weight.

So can you have a healthy relationship with sweets?

The bottom line is that artificial sweeteners may actually play a role in exacerbating the very conditions that they are meant to address. Instead of drinking diet soda, try sparkling water with a splash of 100% fruit juice. Alternatively, add cucumber or lemon slices to your water for a refreshing and healthy beverage. For other desserts, use natural sweeteners or use fruit, which is naturally sweet, to make healthier desserts.

Healthy by Numbers: 20

20 represents the percentage of all American meals eaten in the car.

Eating on the go can lead to poor food choices, poor digestion and malabsorption of nutrients.  Also because you are concentrating more on driving than eating, you can wind up eating more food - and therefore calories - than you should.  This doesn't do your body any good!

Be more mindful of your eating!
Planning ahead is the key to avoiding eating in the car. Making healthy food choices and eating in a peaceful environment allows you to savor the flavors of your food, eat less, digest properly and have more energy throughout the day.

Source: www.DoSomething.org

Chiropractic Care May Reduce Anxiety

The above headline appeared on the October 1, 2004, "Newswise", and the October 6, 2004 "News-Medical.net". These news stories stemmed from a published report appearing in the September 20, 2004 issue of the peer-reviewed periodical, "Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research" Anxiety(JVSR). The report was a case study of a 19-year old female diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) who suffered from psychiatric symptoms as well as other problems for two years.

This case study noted that this patient's previous medical treatment had included multiple emergency room visits; private specialists; and a rotation of drug therapies including Paxil, Xanax, and Celexa all of which had failed to help her. The patient's history also included at least three motor vehicle accidents between 1995 and 1997, including one where her head shattered the windshield.

The articles note that according to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety is the most common mental health illness. It affects more than 19 million Americans ages 18-54. Patients suffering from General Anxiety Disorder make three to five times more visits to doctors' offices and emergency rooms and the Anxiety Disorders Association of America reports that direct healthcare costs and lost productivity of these conditions cost more than $42 billion per year.

In December, 2001, the patient started chiropractic care for correction of nerve interference called "subluxations". This patient's results were then documented over a four month course of care. It was observed that medication was discontinued successfully. Additionally, the articles noted that after a four-month course of chiropractic care, the young woman reported an 80% reduction in her anxiety symptoms, including a 90% decrease in her headaches. The patient was able to resume a normal lifestyle without resorting to prescription or over-the-counter drugs.

The research was co-authored by Dr. Madeline Behrendt, Associate Editor of JVSR, and Dr. Nathan Olsen, a chiropractor in private practice in Boise, Idaho. They noted in their conclusion that, "These improvements suggest positive changes in mental health function may be associated with subluxation correction from the application of chiropractic care."

Dr. Behrendt additionally commented, "This young woman spent two years in crisis, going from emergency room to private specialist, spending thousands of dollars for tests and drug therapy, without any resolution of her problems. A simple, non-invasive spinal screening ultimately provided the findings that made the difference: her spine was subluxated, impinging on nerves, and altering the proper function of her nervous system." Behrendt continued by asking, "How many other people are suffering unnecessarily because they are missing the proper screening?"

www.ChiropracticResearch.org 

ADHD Helped With Chiropractic, A Case Study

In the October 2004 issue of the peer-reviewed research publication, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT), comes a case study of a child with ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), who was helped with chiropractic. 

The case was of a 5 year old boy who had been diagnosed with ADHD at age 2. The childs pediatrician prescribed methylphenidate (Ritalin), Adderall, and Haldol for the next 3 years. The combination of drugs was unsuccessful in helping the child. 

At age 5 the child was brought to a chiropractor to see if chiropractic care would help. The history taken at that time noted that during the childs birth, there were complications during his delivery process. The results of this trauma and complications resulted in a 4-day stay in the neonatal intensive care unit. The childs mother reported no other incidence of trauma.

The chiropractic examination and x-rays showed noticeable spinal distortion including a reversal of the normal neck curve indicative of subluxations. Chiropractic care was begun and the childs progress was monitored.

According to his mother, positive changes in her son's general behavior were noticed around the twelfth visit. By the 27th visit the patient had experienced considerable improvement.

The child was brought by the mother to the medical doctor for a follow up visit and questioned the usage of the Ritalin. Themedical doctor reviewed and examined the child and based on that assessment and his clinical experience, the MD felt that the young boy was no longer exhibiting symptoms associated with ADHD. He then took the boy off the medications that he had been taking for 3 years.

The conclusion of the author of the JMPT case study noted, The patient experienced significant reduction in symptoms. Additionally, the medical doctor concluded that the reduction in symptoms was significant enough to discontinue the medication.

www.ChiropracticResearch.org

"Challenging Dr. Caldwell: Part I" by Michael Boblett

Chiropractors are not all equal.

I have visited chiropractors since before most of my readers were born - starting in the 1960s.  In that time, I've had my share of disappointments.  In that time, I have seen lots of chiropractors who did the same adjustments again and again, providing only temporary relief.  It was like being hooked on a drug that's expensive, temporary, and ultimately unsatisfying. 

So what was missing?  Proper assessment.

Why is assessment important?  Without good assessment, healers offer bandaids instead of cures.  Without good assessment, health practitioners will chase down the same symptoms over and over again.  So without good assessment, clients are caught in a vicious cycle of visit after visit after visit with no real change in the underlying problems.   

But a truly professional assessment requires thorough study of the client's shifting patterns.  In chiropractic, proper assessment requires periodic X-rays, nerve scans, physical palpation - and lots and lots of prior knowledge.  

That's how Dr. Caldwell got me here, both as a colleague and as a client.  Because I started out as his client, NOT his colleague.  When I first set foot in UTC Chiropractic, I had my own separate practice.  And I had no intention of closing down my two offices.

I'll even admit that I was skeptical.  I have a lot of experience.  Ten years' worth.  I'm good at what I do.  And I'm  good at assessment.  

So when Dr. Caldwell offered a discounted assessment at a business network meeting, I opened up my wallet, pulled out some cash, and walked up to him with a smirk on my face.  As I handed him the money, I said:  "OK, big guy, you're on.  Prove to me that you're good at assessing structures!"

It was a set-up.  I admit it.

You see, for years I've been taking classes from various Rolfer, Structural Integrators, Active Release Technicians, and others.  And I have a simple method for assessing the assessors: my own body.

Without going into details, I'll just say that I have a very complicated medical history.  That's especially true of my bone structure.  My skeleton is a roadmap of 61 years of injuries, infections, visceral misalignments, and lots and lots of exercise, some of it stupidly done.

So when a teacher claims to be able to assess a skeletal structure, I try hard to be one of the models in that class.  I try hard to be the guy standing up there with a list of obscure symptoms and a set of patterns that defy analysis.  In Dr. Caldwell's own words, I'm a Rubik's Cube of skeletal distortions.  

Over the years, I've found three kinds of assessors:

First, there are the ones who try to make stuff up.  They use a lot of big words in Greek and Latin, point to this or that area, and come up with a fairy tale that bears no relation to reality.  I see through these people quickly.

Second, there are the people who tell the truth - but it's stuff I already know.  Actually, these people impress me a lot, because they're in a distinct minority among practitioners.  

Third and most rarely, there are the people who tell me stuff I DIDN'T already know.  That's Dr. Caldwell - and a handful of very senior people with established reputations.  

For example, Dr. Caldwell took X-rays.  Well, who doesn't?  But THEN he was able to look 'em over and point out things I'd never noticed before.  And believe me, I've been looking at X-rays of myself since before Dr. Caldwell was born.  He also performed a set of nerve scans that explained connections between symptoms I'd never seen as connected.  I'd had previous chiropractors explain that the spine was a central switchboard.  But I never worked with a man who took to time to go over my vertebral impingements and say:  "OK, how's your digestion?  How's your thyroid gland?  Do you get migraines?"  

Duh!  But it's the obvious stuff that's hardest to see.  That's what genius is.  Genius is what makes the rest of us slap our foreheads.  So from that first session, I was Dr. Caldwell's loyal client.  

But why did I move into his practice?

Oops, times up!  For that, you'll have to read my next column:  "Challenging Dr.  Caldwell, Part II."

Michael Boblett is a Certified Advanced Rolfer, Egoscue Postural Specialist and skilled practitioner of Neural Release with 10 years of experience and over 1,500 hours of study in deep-tissue, nerve-activation, and therapeutic movement work.  Michael has a strong knowledge of muscles, nerves, movement patterns and the kinds of restrictions that can interfere with your strength and freedom. 

With his time-tested strategies for low back, neck, shoulder, foot, hamstring, knee and hip dysfunction, Michael has experience working with triathletes, marathoners, cyclists, golfers, power lifters, yoga practitioners and even the busy professional chained to their desks all day to rehab tired and sore muscles, improve sports performance and slow down the aging process.  

Do your muscles need rehab?  

Call us at 858-457-0123 to book an introductory session today!

Health By the Numbers: 2

This number out of three adults in the United States are overweight or obese while one out of three children are overweight or obese.

Health is a Journey, Not a Destination

 

At UTC Chiropractic, our purpose is to help you learn how to better take care of your body and your health.  Everyone is on their own path to wellness. No matter where you are on your journey, we can help you get farther down your path.  It's up to you how quickly you would like to travel but there is no FINAL destination in that, striving for wellness is a continuous journey with challenges to meet along the way in the form of physical, mental, emotional and chemical stressors.  We are here to help you better handle these stressors  while on your journey to wellness.  You will reap the benefits of every positive healthy step you take along the way.  And every day you move in the right direction along your path, we are here to walk beside you.  And we are here to walk behind you to push you and motivate you to keep going! And even when you take a few detours, a couple steps back or a step in the wrong direction, we are here to help get you back on track! 

The benefit of being a patient at our wellness center is that whoever you care about, we care about too!  If you have a friend who needs assistance down his or her own path to achieving wellness, have them call us to schedule an initial consultation with me.  They have nothing to lose except 30 minutes of their time and everything to gain - information, perspective, guidance, motivation, support and guidance.

At our wellness center, our purpose is to help people achieve optimal wellness!   We believe that when you feel great, you will do great in life!  

Did You Know This....About Sugar?

The average American consumes 22 teaspoons of sugar daily while the average child consumes 32 teaspoons daily.

Refined sugar is linked to: insomnia, dizziness, allergies, 

manic depression, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hypoglycemia, 

colon & pancreatic cancer, hair loss, ADD/ADHD, breakouts & skin irritation, 

obesity, Type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome.

It can exacerbate mood swings, personality changes, irritability, asthma, arthritis, heart disease, cholesterol,  gallstones and endocrine problems.  According to the American Dietetic and Diabetic Associations, increased sugar consumption is the leading cause of degenerative disease.

Free Adjustments for 10 Breast Cancer Survivors

At UTC Chiropractic, our purpose is to help build a stronger and healthier community by helping as many people as possible achieve optimal health and well-being.

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are donating (5) chiropractic adjustments and (1) 30-minute massage to the first 10 breast cancer survivors who are not currently under chiropractic care during the month of October only.

If you or someone you know is a breast cancer survivor, please call us at 858-457-0123 to schedule your complimentary appointments today.  This Special Offer expires October 31, 2013.

Superman for a Stronger Back

 

With all the talk about the recent release of Man of Steel, let us remind you of a classic - the Superman. A good supplement to all those crunches, the Superman is a great way to strengthen your lower back and tone your glutes. All you need to do this exercise is your body weight, no equipment (or movie ticket) necessary.   Here's how:

• Lie face down on your stomach with arms and legs extended. Keep your neck in a neutral position.
• Keeping your arms and legs straight (but not locked) and torso stationary, simultaneously lift your arms and legs up toward the ceiling to form an elongated "u" shape with your body - back arches and arms and legs lift several inches off the floor.
• Hold for two to five seconds and lower back down to complete one.
• Do three sets of 12.

Exhale as you lift your arms and legs and inhale as you lower them back down. When you have completed all three sets, or even in between each set, take a Child's Pose to stretch your back.

How Safe is Chiropractic for My Child?

Chiropractic is one of the safest forms of health care. A baby's spine is very supple during the first few months of life and there are Chiropractic techniques that apply only a slight pressure to make spinal adjustments. Under normal circumstances, chiropractic adjustments are painless and will not hurt your child. In Chiropractic do not use drugs which sometimes cause more harmful side effects than the progression of many diseases. Drugs can also create the potential for addiction, even in young children. In Chiropractic we do not perform any invasive procedures (such as surgery) which sometimes can have irreversible adverse effects. These are some of the reasons why malpractice insurance rates for chiropractors are only a fraction of what other physicians pay and why more than 30 million Americans choose chiropractic care for their children and themselves.

Chiropractic Shown to be Safe for Children

In a literature research study conducted by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) the risk of injury as a result of chiropractic adjustments was shown to be extremely low for adults and even smaller for the pediatric patient. In reviewing 31 years of medical literature the ICPA found only one questionable report of injury to a child following chiropractic care of a child. This ICPA concluded "the potential risk to children is so low it can not be accurately estimated". The above safety rate of chiropractic care for children should be compared to the adverse reaction rate for medicine described in the article below.

  

Source:  www.ChiropracticResearch.org

Are You Reaching Your Health & Fitness Goals?

Now that kids are back at school, it's time to buckle down with your routines and evaluate where you are on your Wellness Plan.  Are you reaching your health and fitness goals?  Do you even remember your goals or are they forgotten and washed away with summer along with the beach sand from between your toes?   

Let's talk about building a healthier body.  If you asked me to build your dream house, I would ask you many questions.  I would need to know what you want it to look like: how many bedrooms, what kind of floor plan, how many bathrooms, what type of flooring, do you want a fireplace, how many floors and which direction do you want certain rooms to face etc.  Once I have all the answers from you and all the limitations such as budget, location, time frame, zoning etc., then I have my architect design a blueprint.  Once you approve this blueprint, I start building.  One wall, one window, one tile of flooring at a time.  But every now and then, you will want to stop by to see my progress on your dream house, right?  I mean, would you spend all this time and money without checking in to see if I am doing my job right? Together we would determine if this dream house is coming along the way you had hoped it would.  We will find out if we come across any challenges or set-backs like problems with the soil, climate, labor, inspections etc.

When it comes to building a better body, think of your body and its ability to function properly as your dream house. Mike Boblett and I are your builders and Sharon and I are your architects where we will design and present to you a blueprint to help you achieve the healthy body of your dreams.  This blueprint is called your Wellness Plan.  Every time you come in for an adjustment or deep tissue muscle work, we are building your dream body according to your Wellness Plan.

But after every 12 adjustments, you should sit with me for a health re-evaluation or as I call it a "sit down showdown" to see just where you are with your progress.  This re-examination is intended to help evaluate how well you are reaching the goals you set for yourself on your Wellness Plan.  Not only will we look to see how your nervous system function scans are improving, but I will also ask how your symptoms are changing as well as what you are doing outside of our wellness center to be a part of the solution - such as eating, sleeping, exercising and stretching regimen.

If you have not been re-evaluated, please take the time to do so because it is the only way for us to know how well I am doing my job and to help you achieve the results you desire in a timely manner.

Together, let's build your dream body!

At our wellness center, we believe that when you feel great, you will do great in life!  

Health By Numbers: 2

2  

America's rank in obesity in the world!

Not too long ago the United Nations issued a report essentially dethroning the United States as the Western Hemisphere's most obese nation. We are now ranked No. 2, right behind Mexico, a country where reportedly 33 percent of its population is obese.

However, we should not think of our move to No. 2 as cause for celebration. The United States is still facing a serious health issue when it comes to adult and child obesity. It really doesn't matter if we are ranked No. 2 or No. 100. Whatever the ranking, we have a serious obesity problem in this country that needs to be addressed.

 Source: www.articles.mcall.com

Chiropractic Care for Childhood Asthma

It is estimated that up to 

15 million people suffer from asthma.

Of those, 14.8 million are children under the age of 18. In 1993 alone, there were 198,000 hospitalizations for asthma. In that same sample year, 342 people under the age of 25 died due to this problem. In money terms, the direct cost of managing a patient with severe asthma has been estimated at more than $18,000 per year.

The following statistics about asthma come from the

Better Health & Medical Network:

• Asthma has increased 46% from 1982-1993 with an 80% growth in children under 18.
• In the 5-17 age group, asthma causes an annual loss of more than 10 million school days per year.
• Asthma accounts for more childhood hospitalizations than any other childhood disease.
• Children with asthma spend approximately 7.3 million days per year restricted to bed rest.
• In 1990, there were 7.1 million physician visits for asthma.
• Health care costs for asthma were estimated at $6.2 billion, which is almost 1% of the total US health care costs.
• More than 5,200 Americans died from asthma in 1991.

Recent articles in publications such as "The American Chiropractor", and "Today's Chiropractic" describe strong links between people who suffer from these conditions and nerve interference from subluxation. Subluxations are when bones in the spine pressure or irritate nerves causing abnormal nerve function. 

An article appearing in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research Vol. 1 No. 4, also demonstrated the positive effects of chiropractic care on 81 children with asthma.

According to Richard Pistolese, research assistant for the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, "Based upon information currently available, chiropractic care represents a safe non-pharmacological health care approach, that may be associated with a decrease in asthma-related impairment, reduced respiratory effort, and a decrease incidence of asthma attacks." Pistolese goes further to say, "The correction of vertebral subluxation is a non-invasive procedure, which could reduce or eliminate the need for medication, and potentially ease the severity of the asthmatic condition."

 

Source:  www.ChiropracticResearch.org