Why Fibromyalgia Sufferers Choose Chiropractic Over Traditional Medicine?

Fibromyalgia is a condition with no known medical cure. It is characterized by chronic and debilitating pain all over the body, and heightened pain under pressure. Its symptoms can cause patients to suffer from widespread pain, poor sleep, chronic tiredness and even depression. The causes of fibromyalgia are unknown. Some theories cite that the patient’s low pain threshold may be attributed to increased sensitivity in the brain to pain signals. [1] Other possible causes could be a genetic predisposition [2]; stress; the disruption of normal dopamine related neurotransmission [3]; abnormal serotonin levels [4] and deficient growth hormone secretion [5]. While there is currently no cure for the condition, its symptoms can be alleviated by chiropractic treatment.

Chiropractic treatment uses manipulation, which is a technique involving short and quick thrusts to the vertebrae in the spine to shift vertebrae back into their correct position. The treatment found in chiropractic care is based on the idea that illnesses and pain in the body arise from misalignments in the body’s skeletal structure. In order for the body to function healthily, the spine and the skeletal structure need to be set in the correct position – otherwise problems like chronic pain can arise.

Fibromyalgia causes numerous, tender points to occur all over the body, including back and neck pain and leg cramps. As a result of these symptoms, sufferers of fibromyalgia have sought treatment from chiropractors. Because the adjustments made during treatment help to restore the posture of the skeletal system, many sufferers find that treatment can help to reduce a significant amount of pain. Some fibromyalgia sufferers experience a condition known as cervical spinal stenosis, which results in compression of the spine’s meninges, which are the coverings of the upper spine. This can result in debilitating pain all over the body. A chiropractor may be able to help with cervical spinal stenosis by adjusting the spine around the head and neck, releasing this compression and eliminating the symptoms attributed to it.[6]

The effectiveness of chiropractic care has been studied in sufferers of fibromyalgia [6], where patients were asked which method of treatment, medical or alternative, helped the best with their condition. The majority voted for chiropractic treatment. In addition, the effectiveness was tested by using spinal manipulation to relieve fibromyalgia symptoms, and after 15 treatments, results concluded that patients had reduced fatigue and pain as well as improved sleep quality.

While fibromyalgia sufferers continue to look for a cure, it is great to know that there are ways to alleviate the symptoms and live a more normal life. If you or someone you know suffers from undiagnosed chronic pain or fibromyalgia, please share this article with them and encourage them to get a chiropractic consultation.

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References Used:

[1] Fibromyalgia. Accessed September 2011

[2] Buskila D, Sarzi-Puttini P (2006). "Biology and therapy of fibromyalgia. Genetic aspects of fibromyalgia syndrome". Arthritis Res Ther. 8 (5): 218. doi:10.1186/ar2005. PMC 1779444. PMID 16887010.

[3] Cervenka S, Pålhagen SE, Comley RA et al. (August 2006). "Support for dopaminergic hypoactivity in restless legs syndrome: a PET study on D2-receptor binding". Brain 129 (Pt 8): 2017–28.doi:10.1093/brain/awl163. PMID 16816393. Retrieved 2008-05-21.

[4] Moldofsky H, Scarisbrick P, England R, Smythe H (1975)."Musculoskeletal symptoms and non-REM sleep disturbance in patients with "fibrositis syndrome" and healthy subjects". Psychosom Med 37(4): 341–51. PMID 169541. Retrieved 2008-05-21.

[5] Anderberg UM, Liu Z, Berglund L, Nyberg F (1999). "Elevated plasma levels of neuropeptide Y in female fibromyalgia patients". Eur J Pain 3 (1): 19–30.

[6] Chiropractic Care and Fibromyalgia. Accessed September 2011

Using Chiropractic Services To Improve Golf Performance

PGA golfers Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington have used chiropractic services for years in order to improve and maintain their golfing performance. Their successes suggest a benefit of chiropractic care, but it’s hard to know if it’s because of the care or because they are world-class athletes. Can chiropractic care help the average golfer improve their performance as well?

The very nature of the game of golf suggests a good match for players with chiropractic care. Golfing can involve considerable strain on the spine. Golfers need to move from a standing position quickly to club head speeds, requiring good posture, balance, and the ability to rotate the spine properly. Poor posture can create exaggerated or flattened spinal curves that can seriously affect swing performance. In fact, Tom Ward, PGA Golf Instructor, says, “Over 50% of all golfers will experience some sort of pain due to poor posture and the problems that arise from loss of proper curves in the spine.”[1]

By working with your spinal range of motion, chiropractic care can help correct golf injuries, maintain performance, and improve the posture needed to perform a good golf swing. When the chiropractor aligns all the vertebrae, the spine can move better. An individualized treatment plan including chiropractic adjustments, specific rehabilitation exercises and muscle techniques may make a significant difference in your overall performance and enjoyment of the sport.

Recent research confirms that chiropractic care can indeed lead to improved golf performance. A recent study published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine demonstrated that the combination of chiropractic care and stretching are associated with greater improvements in golfers swing when compared to stretching alone.[2]

Two groups of golfers participated in the study. One group received a program of stretching only, and the second received both stretching and spinal manipulation. The stretching program was the same for both groups, and both groups had similar average ages, handicaps, and initial swings. All 43 participants initially performed three full swing maneuvers, and the average distances were recorded. Over a 4-week period, all participants hit 3 balls before and after treatment.

After 4 weeks, the stretching only group showed no improvement in swing performance. However the stretching and manipulation group did improve their swing performance and there was greater driving distance right after treatment each week. So it appears that yes, chiropractic care can help not only top golfers such as Woods and Harrington, but it can help you improve your golf game too.

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References:

[1] Tom Ward, PGA Instructor. Golf Tips – The Importance of a Well Aligned Body to Your Golf Game.

[2] Journal of Chiropractic Medicine (2009) 8, 165-170.

Chiropractic Care for Improved Triathlon Performance Training and Recovery

A triathlon is an athletic event incorporating back-to-back running, cycling and swimming. Triathlons exert great strain on the body, which may challenge athletes on both physical and mental levels. The extreme training a triathlete must endure can put the body under great cumulative stress, and it’s not uncommon for the athletes to suffer from a broad range of injuries and overuse stresses.

There are numerous worldwide triathlon events, such as Ironman, Half-Ironman, Olympic and Spring. The majority of these events advocate the use of chiropractic care to aid not only in treating injuries, but also to improve performance. Chiropractic care offers the possibility of enhanced finishing times and a greater likelihood of triathletes finishing events.

Chiropractic treatment is a practice that focuses on the neuromuscular skeletal system and its use optimizes biomechanics. For these reasons, Fremont chiropractic care is ideal for athletes looking to treat or prevent injuries.

One type of chiropractic treatment used by many triathletes is the “Active Release Technique,” which is a form of soft tissue treatment based on an advanced movement massage system. It is very effective in locating and treating the cause of soft tissue conditions. Active Release Techniques are used in most of the large name triathlons. Many triathletes suffer from injuries attributed to repetitive strain and stress, since excessive training can result in muscle restrictions due to adhesion formation. Before treatment takes place, a biomechanical analysis of the athlete is conducted to determine the exact location of restrictions in the body along the kinetic chain.

Active Release Techniques focus on specific tissues that have become restricted physically, and are then manipulated back into their original texture, tension and position. Once the soft tissues are repositioned, specific exercises are then carried out in order to aid the recovery of damaged tissues. Unlike most treatments, treating the injured triathlete with chiropractic care does not require extended rest periods before improvements are seen. It is very common that injured athletes who receive the Active Release Technique show signs of improvement in just a few sessions. For those who are looking to invest only in preventive treatment, improvement in performance is also achieved in the span of a few sessions.

A possible reason that chiropractic care prior to an event can result in performance enhancement may be that spinal adjustments improve the body’s maximal oxygen consumption ability. Since prevention is easier than treatment of an injury, many professional athletes invest in preventive and performance enhancing chiropractic treatment.

 

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References:

[1] Triathalon. Accessed September 2011

[2] Sports Injuries Performance. Accessed September 2011

Chiropractic Plays a Vital Role in Sport and Life

Chiropractic Testimonial Video – Dr. Terry Schroeder – Head Coach US Men’s Olympic Water Polo Team

In this video, Dr. Terry Schroeder, head coach for the US Men’s Olympic Water Polo team and some of his athletes discuss the vital role that chiropractic plays in sport and life. Now the head coach of the team, Dr. Schroeder competed for the US in 4 Olympics himself. He also happens to be a chiropractor.

Elite athletes know that any small difference in preparation, fitness, function or flexibility can make the difference between a Gold and a Silver medal – or no medal at all. In the video, Dr. Schroeder shares how every member of the men’s team now includes chiropractic adjustments in their regime. Although some were reluctant at first, after seeing the results teammates were getting, they all eventually came around. After all elite athletes are always looking for ‘an edge’.

In the sport of water polo, necks and shoulders take a constant beating from defenders. The shoulders in particular are prone to overuse injuries and hyper-extension. Shoulder injuries will sideline a player completely making it nearly impossible to train in the pool. As athletes of all level know, missing practice while recovering from an injury is vital time lost. Prevention and proactive care is the better route.

In the video you’ll hear Dr. Terry Schroeder’s personal story of how he was first introduced to chiropractic and also see him adjusting players on a portable adjusting table right on the pool deck.

We hope that be sharing examples of Olympic athletes using chiropractic care we can help spread the word among collegiate, high school and recreational athletes. Whatever your sport, we can help you achieve peak performance and prevent injuries.

Chiropractic and Immunity

Chiropractic care can truly help improve your immunity and also let you to establish a way for your body to mend faster and respond to various ecological conditions at its very best. There are several ways that your body deteriorates over time specifically when your spine gets out of alignment. With such misalignments , your defense system gets affected and will demand some kind of reset. By reducing the alignment issues you make a free flow of neurons from your neck to the spine and vice versa.

Imagine that the nervous system is connected to every aspect of the body. This includes your lymph nodes, your organs, spinal column, and many others. There is a lot of proof that the immune system is regulated by the result of what is transpiring to your central nervous system. This data keeps growing each day not just by the work of doctors of chiropractic but also medical doctors who are referring individuals to chiropractors just for this cause.

The misalignment of the spine that is resulting in compression of spinal discs and irritation of the nerves is called subluxation. It is an illustration of how your nerve stress impacts your overall condition from tingling of your feet to the pain you could receive on your back if you are experiencing chronic back pain. The chiropractors who have studied wellness, take a look at spine for these type of subluxations. Once they’ve discovered that there is a misalignment where pinched nerves could occur, they then establish a certain course of action that is suitable for your ailment.

Dr. Ronald Pero, who studied cancer prevention in 1975, found that you can prevent cancer by controlling the right amount of enzymes in your body. If you do not have these types of enzymes or the correct amount, he suggests that you do, or you will be limiting your potential lifespan. But in addition to that it could also determine your resistance to extremely serious illnesses.

As a result of his discoveries it was determined that individuals who had long-term chiropractic care had a significantly greater immune system than those who had not had chiropractic. The reason this was considered to be the case is that the central nervous system is impacted by any misalignment in your spine clearly as discussed above, it can affect lymph nodes and other body organs in your body. So, chiropractic can improve your defenses by keeping your neurons flowing in your nervous system in good health.

Is Chiropractic Care For You?

Out of sight, out of mind. We tend to take our bones and joints for granted – that is, until something tweaks, pops, twists, jams or breaks. Sometimes the pain does not result from an injury, but from sitting or standing too long without the proper support or posture. When it hurts even to sit or stand, whom can you go to for help? One possibility might be a chiropractor, or “DC.” Chiropractors specialize in the musculoskeletal system. That is, our bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons and how they work together to keep our body mobile. Chiropractors have earned a pre-medical undergraduate degree and an additional degree after four to five years at chiropractic school.

Chiropractic adjustment aims to improve alignment, relieve joint or spinal pain, and increase the range of motion without surgery or the prescription of drugs. A conventional medical treatment, however, may accompany chiropractic treatment. Chiropractic has proven effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia.

The doctor applies a sudden, controlled force to the joint, moving it past the usual range of motion without hyper extending the joint. The patient may need one manual adjustment or use a series of manipulations. Treatment may also include massage or hot compresses. Ideally, chiropractic not only relieves pain and restores function, but also helps to prevent future injuries. Consequently, the patient will probably have to make four to six visits since most problems are ongoing and like any form of treatment, it will take time to improve the condition.

Like many medical treatments, chiropractics may be administered in conjunction with a nutritional and exercise plan to maintain a healthy musculoskeletal system. Of course, all treatment will be based on a medical history taken by the chiropractor. Although chiropractics can help with back, neck, and shoulder pain and headaches, if a patient has osteoporosis or inflammatory arthritis then chiropractics might not be an appropriate treatment.

Facebook Chiropractic – A New Way to Help Patients

There are many ways that chiropractors can stay in touch with their patients. Is Facebook chiropractic one of the ways? Using Facebook chiropractors can lead the way in managing the health of their patients. The increasing use of social media by hundreds of millions of people has turned these tools into effective and powerful ways to keep the communication open and continuous.

Chiropractors have led the way in many aspects of health care communication, including the mailing of newsletters, ongoing seminars and participation in community events. There has never been a better time to increase social media communications because of the spiraling costs of health care. By leveraging the power of social media, chiropractors create an atmosphere of sharing and collaboration, which was simply not possible before the Internet.

By using Facebook chiropractors not only will be able to communicate one on one with their patients, but also allow the collective group to benefit from the experiences of others. Here is an example of how this would work. A patient complains of lower back pain. After diagnosing the problem, the doctor might recommend a few office visits but, in addition, recommends a set of exercises to build up the strength of the patient’s lower back and abdomen area. Other patients who may have a similar ailment can benefit from the posting of discussions around lower back strength training, thereby perhaps avoiding their own serious problem.

Facebook for chiropractic information is not just a one way dialogue either. Because Facebook is such a social “environment,” the dialogue is multi-faceted and many to many. The chiropractors may initiate a dialogue around a particular health issue, but the group is able to participate and provide their own experiences, as well. The goal with this type of communication is to collectively benefit the whole through collaboration and ongoing dialogue.

There simply is no better communication tool today than Facebook for advancing chiropractic care in our increasingly connected world.

Tips On Finding A Good Oakland Chiropractor

Today an estimated 6%-12% of the population in the United States is turning to chiropractic medicine to help with a variety of different ailments. Finding the right professional can be challenging, since there are so many different approaches and philosophies in chiropractic medicine. Each person has to take into consideration their own needs, and what they are going in to see them for. Here are some tips for choosing the right chiropractic services, whether in Oakland, California, or somewhere else in the country.

A good place to start is by consulting your healthcare provider, to see what kind of treatments are needed. They may also have a list of doctors in your area, ones that are qualified for you. You can also talk to friends and family, to see which one they go to, but keep in mind that while one person may go to a chiropractor for help, they may not be going for the same reasons you are. If you find that one particular doctor is recommended, then it may be a good idea to contact them and find out more information.

Many people don’t really know what questions to ask a chiropractor when they first contact them. First of all, don’t speak to a receptionist; ask to speak with the doctor themselves. If they are not available at that time, make arrangements to talk to them personally. One of the most important things to start with is what kind of experience they have dealing with your type of condition. Ask them what kinds of techniques they use, are they just bone cracking, or is it a combination of massage, heat compresses, etc. Other important things to ask are if they take new patients, and will they accept your insurance coverage.

Here are also some definite things to be on the look out for when speaking to a chiropractor, to avoid the wrong doctor. If they try to sell you a miracle cure for your ailment, either with some kind of sales pitch or scare tactics or if they insist on EMG, or X-Rays, or other expensive tests, these could be signs they are trying to milk your insurance company. Also be leery of any doctor that calls you out of the blue, and tells you they are new in the area, then tries to get you to set up an appointment.

You shouldn’t have to wait a month or more for an appointment, since many conditions are ongoing, and could get worse. You should have to wait no longer than a week for any appointment, and any one that tells you that they can fix your problem in the first one or two treatments is lying. It usually takes at least four to six treatments for their techniques to sink in and actually start being beneficial.

Some other things to be observant about are when you come in for your first appointment. Is the receptionist friendly? First impressions can be an early indication of how their treatment of you is going to be. Is the office itself neat and orderly? Does the secretary give you forms to fill out right away? These are just some of the things to watch out for. Many Chiropractors in Oakland are very nice, and can fulfill your needs. It is a good idea to check their services online, rather than the local phone book.

San Leandro Chiropractors Offer Natural Relief From Pain

Everyone thinks they know what chiropractors do. They assume that it’s all about being given a spinal adjustment, usually with many pops and cracks and twists and turnings. Right? The truth, however, is that a chiropractor is a certified health professional who specializes in the musculoskeletal system – a system that is more than just muscles and bones, but also contains ligaments, cartilage and joints – and can use their knowledge to help you combat pain in more than just your back, but your whole body as well.

Everyone has suffered some injury to a muscle or bone in their body, whether it’s a sprained ankle, a twisted elbow, or even a fall that caused the muscles of your back to tighten and ache. These injuries are not just painful, they can often lead to long-term pain and suffering, especially for severe injuries. When this happens to you, you should consider visiting Discover Chiropractic, servicing San Leandro to learn about their drug free philosophy towards treating your injuries.

Many people visit their chiropractor for more than just back problems. People who suffer from migraines have found relief, as have people with breathing problems, fibromyalgia, arthritis and other joint pains. And many athletes have a personal chiropractor they visit for help recovering from an injury or strain.

Discover Chiropractic, servicing San Leandro do much more than just look at your back and make a few adjustments, they examine your whole body to discover how they might best be able to help you. And they can help you with more than just your joints. In many cases, they are also lifestyle coaches, and can help you with diet and exercise plans. Whatever your health needs, they are here to help you.

Before you pick your family’s chiropractor, you need to first make certain you’re choosing the right one. Get references, and don’t be afraid to ask to visit the offices and meet with the chiropractors. This is an important decision, and not one to be made lightly. In the course of your investigations, you’ll soon find out that San Leandro Chiropractors are well regarded and highly thought of. It doesn’t matter if you’re visiting a chiropractor for the first time, or you’ve have a dozen visits in the past. They’re here to help you with everything from sore backs to aching feet, from headaches to arthritis.

San Leandro Chiropractors are not just here to help you with your back, they’re also able to help you stay healthy, happy and pain free, all without resorting to drugs. Many illnesses have their root in the bones, ligaments, nerves or muscles of the body, and with their extensive knowledge of the musculoskeletal system, they are able to help you overcome your pain and get your health back.

What Newark Chiropractors Can Do for You

Chiropractors have been around for a long, long time, centuries in fact. The field of chiropractic medicine has made many advances over the years as more information is coming to light. Newark chiropractic services perform spinal manipulations, among other things, but they do a lot more than simply relieve back pain or realign the spine. In fact, they can help you heal your whole body.

Discover Chiropractic can help you with your joints, back and neck, to relieve trauma to the joints, neck or spine, or to address other illnesses, like headaches (including migraines), digestive issues and sinus infections. Newark chiropractors receive extensive education and training so that they can help you heal yourself, without using drugs.

When you see a chiropractor, he or she will examine, diagnose and treat you so that you can return to good health. More than just people whom fix back and neck misalignments, they can diagnose what’s wrong with you so that you can receive the best treatment to return you to your normal life. Newark chiropractors can also give you advice and rehabilitative therapy, nutrition, exercise, diet, and can also coach you to adopt a better lifestyle.

Many of us can experience neck or back pain just because of everyday life. For example, if you sit all day at your desk at work, you stress your back and neck out considerably. This is especially true when it comes to your lower back. You can get back pain even if you’re very healthy just because you may have lifted something wrong, or because you’ve needed to sit for long periods time, or simply because you’ve moved wrong getting up out of bed in the morning. Because of that, it’s a very good thing indeed that Newark chiropractors can help you fix what ails you.

Many people all over the world use chiropractic services to help them manage or even cure a number of health issues, including the treatment of asthma and stopping smoking. Newark chiropractors can treat a number of ailments, successfully and without medication. If you need to find a family chiropractor or chiropractic clinic, just look through your local directory.

If you have health problems including unexplained and unwanted weight loss or gain, neck pain, back pain, headaches, sinus problems, allergies, asthma, digestive difficulties, ear infections, fibromyalgia, whiplash, sports injuries, injuries sustained in an accident, chronic illnesses like arthritis, and more, a Discover Chiropractic can take a history of your lifestyle, diagnose you accurately, treat your problem and get you going toward better health.

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