Chiropractor In Walnut Creek Is Moved By Powerful Chiropractic Story

March 7th, 2011 by admin No comments »

It may not surprise you that chiropractors like me, your Walnut Creek chiropractor, have an exemplary reputation when it comes to getting rid of 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 approach to relieving back pain. It goes without saying that, in addition, since chiropractors are also experts when it comes to addressing the rest of the musculoskeletal system, chiropractic care can frequently eliminate 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 numerous!

At times, even for chiropractors, the success of chiropractic treatment and its ability to help people get out of pain and back into participating in life can seem, well, almost miraculous. When I hear from chiropractic patients who’ve not only gotten rid of their pain through chiropractic treatment, but also more life and energy, stress reduction and peace of mind, and a greater ability to get a good night’s sleep, I feel gratified.

Still, a research article I read recently in the scientific periodical, Journal of Pediatric, Maternal and Family Health, brought tears to my eyes (and I’m generally a pretty macho guy!). The research detailed the case of a severely disabled sixteen year old girl experiencing spasticity and sleep disturbances due to Cerebral Palsy. Her family was most distressed about her inability to sleep through the night. The girl, confined to a wheelchair, had metal rods surgically fused from her neck down to the base of her spine since the age of seven.

The mother of the girl brought her to a chiropractor for correction of misalignment that she hoped would help to decrease her daughter’s often horrendous pain. One can only imagine that the examination was difficult. But the chiropractor was able to ascertain that there were several subluxations that could be safely addressed. The chiropractor treated the girl 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.

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, let me tell you, more chiropractors are told those words by their patients than doctors offering traditional medical care.

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Decatur Veterinarian Discusses New Research That Confirms Physiotherapy Relieves Painful Arthritis In Dogs

September 4th, 2010 by admin No comments »

Does it seem peculiar to you that a Decatur veterinarian is writing about arthritis? Well, let me explain. I believe that many people don’t know that arthritis isn’t limited to humans. Sadly, it’s true. Many animals can suffer from painful arthritis, too, including your dog or cat. And, arthritis is just as painful for pets as it is for humans, especially for certain pets, like dogs, who tend to do what “their” humans do. Arthritis in humans can make simple activities, like taking a walk and climbing stairs extremely painful. Because dogs frequently accompany their owners, dogs can experience the same kind of pain and debilitating problems doing the activities that their owners do.

Just going for a walk, let alone catching a frisbee or running in the ocean waves, can be very difficult and prohibitively painful for a dog with arthritis. In other words, arthritis can take the fun out of doing what dogs do best…have fun! As a attentive veterinarian in Decatur I am relieved to tell you that treatment for canine arthritis is not entirely confined to the use of painkilling drugs. Just as humans suffering from arthritis often benefit from physiotherapy that helps to improve joint motion, dogs can, too. Physiotherapy, in humans, helps to decrease arthritic inflammation and increase function of the affected joints and limbs. You may be wondering how physiotherapy affects canine joints and limbs, as well as what exercises are most effective.

Although physiotherapy for dogs isn’t new, until recently there hasn’t been adequate research done to satisfactorily document its effects on canine arthritis. However, a recent study by researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, and published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research, confirmed the efficacy of physiotherapy in relieving arthritic inflammation and immobility in dogs.

The researchers used a specially-designed treadmill and delicate computer algorithms to examine the movements of the joints in the front and back legs of dogs while the dogs performed three different types of exercises: walking uphill, walking downhill and walking over low obstacles.

The experiments showed that the three exercises had express and particular effects on the motion of the dogs’ joints. Walking uphill caused significantly greater bending at the hip, as opposed to walking downhill, which caused the hip to be less bent and the tarsal joint to be less extended. But, the most consequential effects came when the dogs walked over low obstacles. This resulted in additional bending of all joints except the hip and shoulder, and greater extensions of the carpal and stifle joints.

You may be wondering, at this point, what all of of this means for your dog? First of all, it indicates that walking uphill is an easy exercise that could be used to improve your dog’s joint flexibility, especially at the hip joint, and that adding low obstacles could aid in improving the bending of the joints in the forelimbs and hind limbs. Adding low obtacles should be avoided, however, if your dog has recently undergone surgery for the tibia, because such activity could result in increased bending of the joints and potentially strain the tendon that joins the knee to the shin.

And, as a dog loving Decatur veterinarian, I would like to make one final suggestion for “man’s best friend,” since walking downhill wasn’t  shown to be effective anyway, perhaps a nice ride downhill in the car would be a nice treat for your dog once you’ve exercised him or her uphill!

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Raw Milk: A Do or a Don’t?

August 21st, 2010 by author No comments »

via Integrative Nutrition Blog by Integrative nutrition on 8/4/10

Raw milk has become such a hot topic of debate recently; police are even getting involved.   Rawesome Foods, a natural food store in Venice, California, was the target of a police raid that confiscated over $10,000 worth of raw dairy products.  Is raw dairy a do or a don’t?  Check out both sides of the argument and give us your opinion on this dairy dilemma.

Do: Raw food enthusiasts believe that raw milk contains important bacteria that build up the immune system and prevent allergies as well as lactose intolerance. Since raw milk is banned in many states, people will drive for hours to buy raw milk from farms in neighboring states. Those who support raw milk believe that pasteurization kills not only the dangerous bacteria, which may or may not be harmful, but also the important nutrients that are in the milk in its purest form. They consider it a superfood full of nutrients and beneficial enzymes. 

Don’t: Others are happy to stick with the milk that is readily available at grocery stores throughout the country. The dangers are very real, they believe, and it is not worth the risk to drink milk raw. Bacteria found in raw milk such as E. coli, salmonella, and listeria can make people sick or even be lethal.

What do you think? Should pasteurization be legally necessary for all milk products? Should the bans on raw milk in some states be lifted?

You can listen to the story on NPR’s All things Considered here.

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Obesity: The Greatest Threat to Public Health in This Century?

June 15th, 2010 by author No comments »

As a chiropractor and healthcare provider, I would be remiss if I didn’t address the vital issue of excess weight and how it negatively affects every part of the human body. I explain the health challenges to my overweight patients and hammer away on the subject in my blogs because in addition to the cardio-vascular diseases caused by obesity, much of the back pain, hip pain, and knee pain that people experience is influenced by the undue stress excess weight puts on the joints of the body. And, though it may not surprise you, an expert panel in a report out just today said that people in this country must slash their calories and increase physical activity because the obesity epidemic is “the single greatest threat to public health in this century.” 

We all know that dieting isn’t easy, but the advisory committee for the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans gave this clear-cut advice: “People in this country need to cut the calories they consume from added sugars and solid fats (butter, marbled meats) and start eating a more nutrient-rich, plant-based diet.”

The report called for many changes in the food environment. To read more, go to: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2010-06-15-

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Santa Barbara Chiropractor: ChiropracticTreatment Can Ease The Pain Of Spinal Osteoarthritis (Spondylosis)

May 30th, 2010 by admin No comments »

Santa Barbara Chiropractor

You have, no doubt, heard the old saying, When you consider the alternative, getting old isn’t so bad.” But, if the aging process is creating pain in your body, you are painfully aware that aging is no joke! As a Santa Barbara chiropractor, when it comes to musculoskeletal problems, I see too many age-related breakdowns that probably would not have taken place if the original cause had been eliminated earlier. Poor posture, improper gait, and repetitive overuse frequently produce needless stress in the back, neck, hip, knees, and even the feet that can result in painful challenges over time. But, as another saying goes, “Hindsight is 20-20.” If we only knew back then how our aging body would feel today!

Back pain is number one on the list as the most prevalent musculoskeletal problem to take place as we age. Age-related back pain is most commonly produced by a degenerative disorder known as Spondylosis (spine osteoarthritis).

Spinal osteoarthritis is caused by advanced erosion and weight-bearing pressure on the spine that, over time, does harm to the discs, joints, and surrounding ligaments. The area of the body and measure of the degenerative process of spondylosis varies from person to person. It might affect the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back), or lumbar (low back) areas of the spine. Spondylosisi symptoms very from person to person and depend on the severity of the degeneration, and can extend from minor pain and numbness to severe sensory loss and muscular atrophy.

Calcium is deposited in the tissues around the vertebrae due to repetitive stresses that abnormally affect the cartilage around the joints Adjacent nerves, blood vessels, and soft tissue can be constricted by these calcific deposits, also called bone spurs. This kind of compression is at the root of Spondylosis.

Regular chiropractic adjustments and overall chiropractic management has been shown to significantly slow the aging process of the spine whether or not you are suffering from spondylosis. It may be true that “you can’t un-ring a bell” or “turn back the hands of time,” but it’s never too late to give your spine the good treatment it deserves. Chiropractors are experts when it comes to treatment of the spine. See your Santa Barbara Chiropractor today, for the health of your spine.

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Corona Chiropractor Explains How Chiropractic Treatment Can Relieve Hip Pain

May 26th, 2010 by admin No comments »

Corona Chiropractor

Where hip pain relief is concerned, your chiropractor in Corona provides highly successful non-invasive, drug-free treatment. Whenever possible, surgery should be seen as a last resort. Therefore, before you schedule a surgery to replace that hip, ask yourself the following questions: Is it out of the question for you to get a good night’s sleep because your hip pain wakes you up at night? When you get out of bed in the morning, and/or when you get out of your car, are you stiff and do you find it initially difficult to move your legs? Do you feel pain whenever you rotate or twist them or when you cross your legs? If so, you may have imbalances and misalignments in your lower extremities that, in addition to causing your hip pain, can lead to osteoarthritis in your hips in the future if not treated. The good news is that whether or not degenerative changes have already taken place, chiropractic treatment can help!

You may be getting older and it may be true that your hip joints aren’t what they used to be. Even so, did you know that your hip pain (and related problems), which normally point to age-related degenerative conditions, may not actually be created by osteoarthritis? That’s right. In the majority of cases, rather than being the original source of your pain, osteoarthritis of the hip joint is frequently the result of a prior injury (or injuries) to your hips.

More often than not, hip problems have to do with asymmetry or imbalance when you are in motion, as when you are walking. If you tend to walk “pronated” like a duck, with your toes pointing away from your body, eventually you will feel pain in your hips as a result of the asymmetrical stress on your hip joints and your body’s efforts to compensate. Fortunately, you can make changes in your gait pattern at any age, and your chiropractor in Corona can show you how to do it.

Moreover, you may have had gait changes as the result of an ankle sprain or knee strain, and since “the knee bone’s connected to the hip bone,” these biomechanical alterations cause hip pain. Of course, if not corrected, your hip joints will suffer further consequences, namely, the wear and tear that produces degenerative changes.

Other situations that can sometimes impact the hip joints are starting a new job or beginning a new sport that necessitates your moving your body in unfamiliar ways. Also, ferrying a child (or grandchild) on one hip can create hip pain. Even your sitting position or driving for extended periods of time on a regular basis can cause hip injury and pain.

See? Not every pain is caused by “old age,” even though we may experience more pain as a consequence of the progressive nature of untreated injuries.

And important aspect of the chiropractic management of your hip problem, along with your adjustments, your Corona Chiropractor will suggest appropriate rehabilitative exercises that include gentle muscle stretching and strengthening, and will also analyze your gait and may recommend simple pattern changes.

Your hip pain won’t vanish on its own. Hip pain is a sign that there’s a problem that requires correcting. If neglected, it is very likely that at some point you will require that hip replacement surgery. So, don’t wait until it’s too late. Your Corona Chiropractor can get you out of pain, get your body back into balance, and help you get to back to enjoying your life again!

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Chiropractic Internet Marketing Strategy: Do it Yourself or Outsource?

May 16th, 2010 by admin No comments »

Here’s an interesting question for you to consider: Do you want to keep your chiropractic internet marketing in-house or do you want to hire a professional? There are pros and cons to both, and the answer lies in your particular situation. Let’s check out the advantages and  disadvantages of both.

Advantages of in-house chiropractic internet marketing

  1. There is a lower monthly cost involved in using someone already employed by you.
  2. The staff knows your practice intimately.  Your staff has a good understanding of your clinic’s particular services and, therefore, is able to describe your specialties easier than those who don’t know the specifics of your particular practice.
  3. You can communicate anytime. Being in-house it is easier to set up times to have meetings or just to chat about situations on the fly.

Disadvantages of in-house chiropractic website marketing

  1. The staff may not be fully aware of what SEO (search engine optimization) is, let alone how to accomplish it. In that case, a lot of education and training will be needed to make sure SEO gets done right.
  2. The staff may be overworked. Sometimes the time it takes to do SEO can be underestimated. It is an ongoing process that can actually be a full-time job.  If a marketing manager has been told to do SEO as well as his or her full time job, obviously that person will be overworked and feel overwhelmed.
  3. Attention needs to be paid to detail. This goes together with Point #2. If the staff is overworked, they have no time to check out search engine news and keep up-to-date on how the search engines have changed the game each week and what needs to be done to implement those changes to keep your clinic internet presence up in the rankings.

Advantages of using an outside professional

  1. Chiropractic marketing companies are specialists in the field.  They have experience in working on numerous clinics and their websites and optimizing them for SEO.  They know, first hand, what works effectively and what doesn’t.
  2. There is a dedicated team at the company who will be working on your site and can give it the attention it requires.
  3. The company has a specific plan and won’t be just jumping around, going from short term tactic to short term tactic with no organized strategy and no clear way to reach your desired goals. In other words, they have an “integrated” internet marketing strategy.

Disadvantages of a chiropractic internet marketing company

  1. Let’s face it, it can get expensive, but costs vary widely from company to company. Some companies out there are charging $600-$700 a month for their services. It is definitely worth your while to shop around and research before you buy.
  2. There is usually a commitment. Most chiropractic internet marketing companies will want you to sign up for at least six months to a year.
  3. Account management can be a problem. With high turnover rates at many companies, especially the big ones, there may be a chance that you’ll get handed from account manager to account manager just when you were building a relationship of trust. You may have to start over again, maybe even have to redesign and reiterate your strategy with the new manager.

Now that you’ve taken a moment to look at the pros and cons of both keeping your internet marketing in-house or hiring a professional, the solution to SEO and your internet marketing strategy will depend on the size of your practice, the time and staffing you can devote to it, and your overall long-term goals.

Now, of course, we are a chiropractic internet marketing company that specializes in helping chiropractors with their internet presence. So, I will admit that I am a bit biased on the side of your hiring an expert to do it right. If you are thinking of hiring a company to develop and implement your internet marketing strategy, it is tremendously important for you to hire one that specializes in chiropractic clinics. Why? Because we understand the chiropractic profession intimately. Therefore, in the long run it will save you both time and money not having to explain what chiropractic is about to some general SEO company. There are several of us out there.

If you are going to go with an outside company, be sure to read the fine print. Look at the bottom of their page for a disclaimer. If they have one, read about their “typical” results. You don’t want to be fooled by outrageous claims even though such hype can be enticing. Remember, your internet marketing strategy is just one stream of new patient leads. Even though chiropractic internet marketing is fast becoming a great source for new patient leads, and even though internet marketing gets more important with every passing day,  and even though it is a crucial area in which to generate new patient leads, it is still not the only source of marketing you will need to succeed in your practice.

Whether you choose to keep your internet marketing in-house or to hire a professional, you want to be sure that the time and money you spend on SEO gets you where you want to go. A member of your staff that does your internet marketing for “free,” while squeezing those efforts in-between other tasks, may “cost” you in the long run. A professional whose sole focus is internet marketing, won’t lose sight of your goals. Internet marketing is essential to your practice, so choose your chiropractic internet path wisely.

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You Say Tomato and I Say…Sunscreen

May 14th, 2010 by author No comments »

Aah, summertime. Time to head for the beach or a nice sunny park. So, bring out the picnic basket and blanket, the toys and swimsuits, and the sunscreen and tomatoes. Tomatoes!? Yep, that’s what I said. Tomatoes are high in lycopene, an antioxidant, which not only increases collagen in the skin and adds up to fewer lines and furrows, but actually helps to protect the skin again sunburn. According to Prevention Magazine, a recent study found that volunteers that consumed five tablespoons of tomato paste daily for three months had 25 percent more protection against sunburn.

It’s always nice to come across “natural” alternatives to chemical products, isn’t it? And, in this case, it’s a tasty choice. But, that said, it is always a good idea to cover up and protect your skin if you are going to be out in the sun for extended periods. Because, let’s face it, a juicy tomato or pasta marinara can go just so far!

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Wichita Chiropractor Advises: Don’t Let The Pain of Sciatica Ruin Your Life

May 6th, 2010 by admin No comments »

Wichita Chiropractor

As a Wichita Chiropractor for more than twenty years, I have helped many individuals suffering from sciatic pain, so I know from experience just how incapacitating sciatic pain can be. Those who suffer from sciatica are sadly all too familiar with the deep radiating pain that persists during the day and restricts almost all of their daily activities.

Could your low back pain be generated by sciatica? You are probably experiencing sciatica if your pain radiates from your low back, through your buttock(s), down the large sciatic nerve in the back of one or both legs, and possibly radiates into your knee(s). Moreover, not solely motion, but even sitting can be painful. Frequently lying down will reduce, or sometimes even temporarily get rid of the pain. However, you should be warned that sciatica will not go away without proper treatment.

Radiculopathy

A radiculopathy is a medical term used to describe a condition where a disc has protruded from its normal position in the spine and is putting pressure on the radicular nerve (nerve root) that forms part of the sciatic nerve in the lower back. This type of pressure is extremely painful.

Prolonged sitting, especially in an improper position, can create imbalances in the muscles surrounding the spine and added pressure on the intervertebral discs. A specific event or injury isn’t commonly the cause of sciatica, more often sciatica has a tendency to develop over time as a consequence of everyday wear and tear on the structures of the lower spine. Over the course of time the lower spine can lose its normal functioning capabilities during common stresses.

If this occurs, the intervertebral disc incurs small fissures or cracks that then permit the soft nucleus to protrude the disc outward. If the disc pushes on sensitive tissues, it causes the pain that is frequently called a ruptured, or slipped, disc. Sciatica is the result of the disc pressing on the spinal nerve. With chiropractic adjustments and management, which often includes postural exercises, the majority of disc conditions, including sciatica, can be completely relieved.

Periformis Syndrome

Periformis syndrome is another condition that results in sciatic pain. Periformis syndrome develops when the periformis muscle, for any reason, goes into spasm and irritates the sciatic nerve, which runs “deep to the muscle.” In addition to chiropractic treatment, this particular sciatica can be significantly relieved by sciatica stretches that your chiropractor can recommend.

If you are experiencing sciatic pain, it is crucial for you to seek chiropractic attention. If you are in the Wichita area, as your Chiropractor in Wichita, I invite you to come in to see if I can get you out of pain and help you to get your life back!

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Surgery As a Last Resort at Any Age

May 6th, 2010 by author No comments »

As a chiropractor, it is my professional point of view that surgery should be the last resort for conditions of the back, hips, and knees. chiropractic treatment is a conservative, non-invasive and drug-free approach to problems relating to the musculoskeletal system. That said, I am also of the persuasion that surgery for most health problems should be a last resort as well. As I’ve said before, there is no such thing as a “minor” surgery. All surgeries, no matter how small, carry big risks. But, not only is surgery risky, there is no “undoing” this permanent attempt at correcting a problem. However, until just a few years ago, I would not have imagined that weigh loss would fall under the “only have surgery as a last resort” category. But, more and more adults are having bariatric surgery or other weight-loss surgery as an attempt to remedy their obesity. Again, surgery is surgery, and this type of surgery has high risks for already “at risk” obese adults. What has been even more disturbing to me is the fact that some parents are opting for surgery for their obese children, even though the risks of bariatric surgery are not only substantial in general, but the long-term safety and effectiveness in children remain largely unknown.

Now, what I am about to pass along will probably fall into the “duh, you think” category for most of us, but in reviewing studies on the “obesity epidemic,” scientists from Britain and the United States  lifestyle changes such as better diet and more exercise should always be the first option, and treatment with drugs should be used rarely. In other words, bariatric surgery, or weight-loss surgery, such as operations to apply gastric bands to limit the stomach size of severely overweight people, should be a last resort.

 

Yes, it is true that childhood obesity can adversely affect almost every organ in the body and often has serious consequences, including high blood pressure, abnormal blood fats, insulin resistance or diabetes, fatty liver disease, and psychosocial complications, it is also true that parents need education (and perhaps intervention) and schools need to provide better food options and more daily exercise for children, and communities need to support parental efforts as well. No “toys” as a prize for buying high caloric kids meals is just the beginning. In my opinion as a healthcare provider, without education and support, even children who undergo bariatric surgery will continue to crave high caloric foods and still not get the healthy exercise they need.

 

 

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