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San Leandro Chiropractor

Understanding Chiropractic Care

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Chiropractic profession promotes holistic care with main focus on maintaining proper physical vertebral alignment in order to maintain a good health. It is a scientific fact that structural imbalances could lead to nervous system dysfunction and lead to a variety of symptoms such as pain, aches, discomforts and other conditions. The goal of care is to restore the body to its maximum potential without drugs or surgery. Doctors of Chiropractic check the physiological function of neuromusculoskeletal system by utilizing orthopedic and neurological exams. Besides specific chiropractic adjustment, therapies such as massage, moist heat, electric stimulation, ultrasound, and Erchonia PL 5000 Laser can be utilized in order to restore a balance to the system.   Diet and exercise advise can be given to a patient by a Doctor of Chiropractic.

CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENT:

Chiropractic use controlled forces, called adjustments, when there are restrictions around joints that the body is unable to overcome itself. Such barriers include scar tissue and pain, swelling (edema), and muscle spasm.

Chiropractic examination helps to discover joints with limited range of motion weather they are painful or not. Specific chiropractic adjustment applied to a subluxated (restricted) joint can restore range of motion when the body’s own musculature cannot.

Adjustments help to relieve pain, as well as, restore and maintain normal movement, biomechanics and function.

The controlled force of chiropractic adjustments safely generates the energy required to overcome such limitations or restrictions and bring the joint back to its normal and full range of motion.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         CHIROPRACTIC PROMOTES HEALTH NATURALLY:

The goal of chiropractic care is to bring back and retain the health of the whole person and not just treat separate symptoms or diseases.

Chiropractic care is not focusing on illness, instead it personalizes the care and helps to achieve maximum potential for a patient’s well being and improves the quality of human life.

 Chiropractic care is focused at restoring and maintaining normal structure, nervous system function, joint and muscle.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        RESTORING FUNCTION AND CHIROPRACTIC CARE:

Function means the ability to perform everyday activities of daily living as well as work activities. It includes range of motion, coordination, strength and flexibility.

Improving function is the key to long term pain relief. When function is not restored completely, any pain relief is temporary and accelerates the risk factor of chronic pain return. Good functioning joints do not have any pain, perform better and are not likely to get injured or degenerate. Bottom line – Chiropractic helps to minimize the pain and maximize the function.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         BENEFITS AND GOALS OF CARE:

The benefits of Chiropractic care include good function, tissue healing and pain relief.

Each patient will require different frequency and different amount of time to achieve each of these goal

When pain is gone it does not mean that soft tissue  has healed completely nor that the function has been restored.

It takes much longer time for soft tissue restoration vs. pain relief. It takes much longer time to restore the function vs. for tissue to heal.

Chiropractors carefully monitor pain, tissue healing and function using specific outcome measures to know when a patient has achieved maximum benefit and it is time to end care or shift to a prevention/wellness program. 

CHIROPRACTIC, MOTION AND NUTRITION OF DISCS AND JOINTS: 

Maintaining good motion is critical to the survival of discs and joints. A vertebral joint that can not move is not able to nourish itself. A healthy exchange of nutrients and wastes only occurs by physically pumping fluids into and out of the disc via spinal motion because discs and cartilage have no blood supply – process called imbibition. Movement stirs fluid through joints, washing nutrients in and waste products  out. Lack of motion may lead to poor nutrition and disc degeneration.

The discs in the spine live because of the movement. Doctor of Chiropractic locates joints that have restricted range of motion, whether they are painful or not, and specific adjustments and exercises help restore and maintain normal motion and nutrition.

This post was based on Dr. Malik Slosbergs’s research.

Question:  Did this article help you to understand what is the goal of chiropractic care?

Back Packs Safety – Back to School and 14 Helpful Tips

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It is not a secret that heavy back (BP) packs for school children are the leading cause of lower back and shoulder pain. I have seen too many children in my almost ten years of my practice suffering from this problem unnecessary. About 40,000,000 students go to school every day. It is crucial that every child carries their schoolpacks properly in order to avoid neck, lower back and shoulder pain.

Make sure the backpack is the right size for your child. The proper size is equal to 75% of your child’s back, meaning the space between the waste and the shoulder blades.
* A child’s back pack weight should never exceed 15% of their body weight according to The Congress of Chiropractic State Association. So this little chart should be helpful.
50 pound child carrying copacity should be no more than 7.5 pounds
80 pound child carrying copacity should be no more than 12 pounds
100 pound child carrying copacity should be no more than 15 pounds
130 pound child carrying copacity should be no more than 19.5 pounds
150 pound child carrying copacity should be no more than 22.5 pounds
* Choose a backpack with padded shoulder straps that sit on both shoulders. BP with one strap such as messenger bags distribute all the weight on one shoulder instead of evenly on both shoulders. Also, bak pack without padded shoulder straps can cause pressure on the nerves that surround the child’s armpits.
Safety tips on how to avoid backpack injuries

  1. Wear both shoulder straps evenly to properly distribute BP weight.
  2. Get the correct size BP for your child.
  3. The BP should not extend below the lower back. Bigger is not better.
  4. Lighten the load and put the heaviest items in the BP first keeping them the closest to the body.
  5. Lift the BP with your legs and not with your back and place it on one shoulder strap at a time.
  6. Do not leave BP on the floor to avoid someone tripping on them.
  7. Choose a quality BP that has wide well-cushioned shoulder straps with a lumbar support/padding.
  8. Talk to teachers about reducing the need to bring home textbooks or if at all possible have an extra set for home use.
  9. Bend at the knees.
  10. Using both of your hands, check the weight of the BP.
  11. Never sling the BP onto one shoulder and avoid swinging the BP.
  12. Use both shoulder straps at all times. Make them snug but not too tight. Carrying on one shoulder can cause long-term neck, shoulder, back, and postural problems.
  13. Use the stabilizing waste strap if the BP has one present.
  14. Look for signs that BP is poorly fitted or overloaded on a daily basis. A couple signs that the BP is overloaded or not being worn properly is pain, red marks from the  straps, or poor posture.

Being a Safe Backpack Advocate

School’s authorities and children’s  parents must work together in resolving heavy BP issue. The following things can be done by school’s authorities:

  1. allowing students more time in between classes to use lockers
  2. purchasing paperback books
  3. implementing school education programs about safe backpack use
  4. purchasing books on CD-ROM or putting some curriculum on the school’s website, when possible

Adjustment of the backpack would be necessary if one of the following things happened:

  1. Your child struggles to get the BP on or off have back pain and  lean forward to carry the BP
  2. If your child has back pain or numbness or weakness in the arms or legs, talk to your family doctor, chiropractor or physical therapist.

Some  Facts were taken from The Founders of  Backpack Safety America International TM. Visit them at www.backpacksafe.com

The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) endorses the use of Air Pack brand backpacks which are available at www.airpacks.com

Please Leave some comments with your favorite back to school story!

Chiropractic Rehabilitation and 4 Stages of Soft Tissue Healing

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The healing process is divided into four broad stages which are not mutually exclusive and overlap considerably.

1. Initial vascular reaction – Active Swelling

2. Inflammatory response – Passive Congestion

3. Proliferative phase – Repair

4. Remodeling 

Wound healing refers to the body’s replacement of destroyed tissue by living tissue (Walter & Israel 1987). It comprises of two essential components whose differentiation is based on resultant tissue: Regeneration and Repair.

TISSUE INJURY CAUSES RESTRICTION OF MOTION DUE TO:

  1. Inflammation & Swelling
  2. Pain
  3. Muscle Spasm 

THE MAJOR GOALS OF CHIROPRACTIC CARE:

  1. Relieve Pain
  2. Promote Full Healing
  3. Restore & Maintain Full Function
  4. Reduce the Likelihood of Re-Injury
  5. Prevent Accelerated Degeneration 

Chiropractic Care Should Continue Throughout the Repair Stage. It Take Longer For Tissues to Heal & Normal Function to be Restored Than it Takes for Pain Relief. Pain Relief is not the Only Goal.  Chiropractic Helps:

  1. Restore Normal Motion, Function & Biomechanics
  2. Improve Alignment of New Connective Tissue
  3. Prevent Shortening of Scar Tissue & Chronic Stiffness
  4. Restore & Maintain Flexibility of Ligaments & Muscles
  5.  Restore Normal Muscle Tone
  6. Promote Quicker, More Effective Healing
  7. Restore & Maintain Normal Sensation
  8. Reduce the Risk of Re-Injury and Degeneration 

STAGES OF SOFT TISSUE HEALING

 

STAGE I: ACTIVE SWELLING

  1. Swelling Occurs for 12 to 72 hours
  2. Motion is lost and pain increases 

Goals of Care: Minimize pain and swelling

Care:

  1. Rest & Support of Injured Area
  2. Ice to Block Swelling, Pain, and Spasm 

STAGE II: PASSIVE CONGESTION   

Fluid trapped in tissues restricts motion, causes pain, & delays healing. Begins by second to fourth day

Goals of Care for Passive Congestion:

  1. Remove fluid
  2. Pain Relief
  3. Begin to restore range of motion 

Care:

  1. Chiropractic Adjustments Help
  • restore motion
  • block pain
  • restore normal sensation
  • relax tight muscles
  • remove swelling
  • accelerate healing
  1. Heat and Cold to Remove Fluid
  2. Controlled Motion Exercises
  3. Physical Therapy helps in Some Cases
  4. Acupuncture Can Help With Pain Control 

STAGE III: REPAIR

Beginning 5 days after injury, scar tissue is made for up to 6 weeks. 

Lack of motion causes excess scar tissue in dense patterns disrupting normal function causing:

  1. Excess Scarring
  2. Chronic Stiffness
  3. Limited Range of Motion
  4. Poor Biomechanics
  5. Chronic Pain
  6. Weak Muscles & Ligaments
  7. Loss of Normal Sensation
  8. Poor Nutrition
  9. Increased risk of Re-Injury
  10. Accelerated Degeneration 

If Motion is Restored & Maintained, Tissues Heal in a Much More Functional Way.

Coals of Repair Stage:

  1. Restore Normal Range of Motion
  2. Restore Sensation
  3. Promote Full Healing
  4. Relieve Pain 

STAGE IV: REMODELING 

Connective tissue remodels for better strength & flexibility. This often takes 3 to 14 week but may take up to 1 year with severe injury. 

Chiropractic Helps Achieve these Goals:

  1. Improve & Maintain Motion & Flexibility
  2. Restore & Maintain Function
  3. Reduce Chronic Pain
  4. Reduce Risk of Re-Injury & Degeneration

This Post was based on Dr. Malik Slosberg’s Research.

13 Facts for Chiropractic and Wellness Care

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In medicine, there are different ways to treat a patient. Some go for a surgery and this is usually the case when the patient’s problem cannot be resolved by other means. Surgery is the last resort with any injury or chronic pain. Some go for physical therapy while others prefer the chiropractic treatment. Many people utilize chiropractic services on a daily bases. However, how many people understand the theory scientific explanation behind chiropractic treatments. The philosophy in chiropractic care is that our body has the ability to heal itself without any medications. Our body naturally has the capacity to heal. It is also said that every few years, we get a completely new body. Our skin shed to make way for new skin and so do our organs but it does take awhile and with this knowledge we know that our body can really heal itself. It is the human spine that forms the foundation of our body and when it’s in the right position and there are no hindrances to it, we are at our best shape both in mind and body. The goal of chiropractic treatment is to achieve healing by regulating and maintaining a stable condition for our body.

1. Chiropractic Care Focuses on Health and Optimal Function

  1. Chiropractic offers a holistic approach
  2. The patient is the center of care, not a disease or symptoms
  3. The goal of care is to achieve a more effective life, to restore & maintain full function & well being

The Continuum of Health:

       ↑      Optimal Health                                                                                    

↑      Fitness           

↑      Good Function      

●      No Symptoms  

↓      Minor Symptoms/Dysfunction

↓      Moderate Symptoms/Dysfunction/Pathology

↓      Sever Symptoms/Pathology/Disease

↓      Death

2. Health  is More Than the Absence of Symptoms, Health is Viewed in Positive Terms of

  1. Human Potential
  2. Quality of life
  3. Optimal Function
  4. Resistance to disease
  5. Vitality
  6. Strenght
  7. Endurance
  8. Balance
  9. Coordination 

3. Patients and Chiropractors Work Actively Together to Maintain Health

  1. Health care is a dynamic process & a cooperative effort
  2. Patient education & self-care are important goals
  3. Patients are empowered to take responsibility & control of their own health

4. Symptoms Don’t Tell the Whole Story:

  1. Many problems arise gradually & symptoms appear only when problems are advanced
  2. Wellness care helps detect & correct problems at an early stage by restoring & maintaining normal function & biomechanics
  3. Good functioning muscles & joints are healthier & more resistant to injury, illness or degeneration. 

5. Chiropractic Care Focuses on a Natural Approach

  1. Chiropractic uses natural & conservative methods to promote the body’s own healing capacity
  2. It encourages healthful living: good nutrition, exercise, stress management & posture. 

6. Regular Chiropractic Care Helps

  1. Restore & Maintain full range of motion
  2. Promote full function
  3. Improve biomechanics
  4. Optimize performance & coordination
  5. Maintain joint stability
  6. Induce a sense of well-being & relaxation
  7. Improve nutrition to discs & other joints
  8. Reduce the risk of injury & degeneration 

7. Motion and Nutrition of Discs and Joints

  1. Chiropractors check the spine regularly to evaluate the motion of joints
  2. Good motion is essential for the health & nutrition of discs & joints because it permits the exchange of nutrients, fluid & waste
  3. Without movements, discs & joints may degenerate quickly
  4. Motion also reduces the formation of fibrosis (scar tissue)
  5. Fibrosis occurs in motionless joints & can lead to stiffness & degeneration 

8. Loss of Motion Can Occur Without Pain or Symptoms

  1. A chiropractic exam can detect disturbed motion & mechanics whether there are symptoms or not
  2. Through adjustments & exercises, motion and nutrition can be restored & maintained 

9. Coordination and Control of Muscle Tone, Balance and Joint Stability

  1. Restricted, painful injured or degenerated joints transmit information to the nervous system which is not harmonious with input from other muscles & joints
  2. This disturbs coordination, fine motor control & joint stability
  3. Chiropractors identify such joints and use adjustments & exercises to help normalize sensory input, function & motion
  4. This improves agility, balance, coordination, stability & fine motor control 

10. Joints Can Have Disturbed Biomechanics Without Pain or Other Symptoms

  1. Disturbed biomechanics can:   a) Alter load distribution, Increase risk of injury, b) Accelerate degeneration, c) Reduce optimal performance
  2. Chiropractors identify such joints & by adjustments, help restore normal biomechanics and load distribution
  3. This helps optimize function & may reduce the risk of future problems or injuries 

11. Well-Being and Relaxation

  1. In daily life we are exposed to many stresses that can make us tense
  2. This tension can be stored in our bodies
  3. Chiropractors check for signs of tension & by adjustments, help relax muscles, restore motion, & reduce stress
  4. Relaxation & a sense of well- being are very common results of chiropractic care 

12. As a partner with Exercise and Sports

  1. Chiropractic care isn’t a substitute for exercise but a valuable partner that can help enhance its benefits
  2. Joints with good biomechanics, relaxed muscle tone & stability will benefit the most from exercise & be the least likely to be injured 

13. Chiropractic and Athletic Performance

  1. Many athletes seek regular chiropractic care because  they find it improves their performance & reduces the risk of injury
  2. Some studies suggest chiropractic can improve athletic  ability, agility, balance, kinesthetic awareness, power & speed reaction time.

 This post was based on Dr. Malik Slosberg’s research.

Question: What is Your Opinion About Wellness?  What is Your Definition of  Wellness?