Test Post from Mendez Chiropractic Center http://www.chiropracticmendez.com
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
How a Chiropractor treats neck pain
Brought to you by: Mendez Chiropractic Center
Neck pain is quite common condition. A majority of people will experience neck pain at some point in their lives with women having higher percentages of chronic(longer lasting) pain. Pain medication often is the first action for defense against neck pain, but it generally does not solve the problem and many drugs involve risky side effects. Whereas, Chiropractic care is an alternative approach which generally does not involve any side-effects. Chiropractic treatment for neck pain, including spinal manipulation/adjustments, physiotherapy, (ultrasound, electric stim., ice pack) which are non-invasive and drug-free therapies.
The Doctor of Chiropractic will first have a consultation where he will ask about the intensity and duration of your pain and other questions that will yield vital clues to your 
condition. Then if necessary x-rays may be taken in order to rule out any other pathologies at can occur at that level. After all information is gathered and the Chiropractor determines the correct treatment plan and that there are no contradictions to his treatment, he then proceeds to the actual chiropractic treatment. Mild to moderate neck pain is usually the temporary result of improper posture or carelessness while performing daily activities, whereas severe pain can be a sign of a more serious problem like a pinched nerve or bulging disc. These conditions can be caused by an injury from some recent accident, or progressive age-related wear and tear. Chiropractic care is concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, particularly the spine. Though a chiropractic practitioner uses many of the same criteria as a medical doctor when diagnosing pain, Chiropractors place greater weight on the fact that the neck is simply one part of the integrated biomechanical system that is the human spine.
condition. Then if necessary x-rays may be taken in order to rule out any other pathologies at can occur at that level. After all information is gathered and the Chiropractor determines the correct treatment plan and that there are no contradictions to his treatment, he then proceeds to the actual chiropractic treatment. Mild to moderate neck pain is usually the temporary result of improper posture or carelessness while performing daily activities, whereas severe pain can be a sign of a more serious problem like a pinched nerve or bulging disc. These conditions can be caused by an injury from some recent accident, or progressive age-related wear and tear. Chiropractic care is concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, particularly the spine. Though a chiropractic practitioner uses many of the same criteria as a medical doctor when diagnosing pain, Chiropractors place greater weight on the fact that the neck is simply one part of the integrated biomechanical system that is the human spine.
Neck problem in some cases can also include accompanying shoulder or arm pain. This is
caused by the nerves that exit at the neck level are the ones that flow down into the arm and hands.
caused by the nerves that exit at the neck level are the ones that flow down into the arm and hands.
Spinal manipulation and spinal adjustments or also known as "chiropractic adjustments" and are an important part of the treatment plan for neck pain. Subluxations occur when one or more vertebrae move out of position, hence creating pressure and irritation near the spinal nerves. The drug-free chiropractic therapy merely involves the chiropractic doctor using his or her hands to correct the vertebral mis-alignment.
Opposing the popular belief, these spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustments are not painful. When a patient seeks chiropractic treatment for neck pain, the treatment plan devised is precise and gentle. Chiropractors are trained as experts in the spine and know how to manually return normal motion to constrained spinal joints. These experts do not just "pop" or "crack" bones until something "snaps" back into place. The Chiropractic adjustment can correct the vertebral subluxation, reduce pain in the soft tissues, boost circulation, and stimulate the nervous system of the body.
After Chiropractic adjustments and physiotherapy, the doctor may recommend the use of an ice pack on your neck to control swelling. This cold therapy can be done at home and is an add-on to traditional chiropractic treatment for neck pain.
Your Chiropractor may also suggest exercise, diet, or lifestyle changes to strengthen muscles, improve your range of motion, and prevent a painful relapse. If condition does not seem to be improving the patient may be referred to another specialist for further treatment.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Chiropractic For Seniors Seven Outstanding Benefits
Brought to you by: Mendez Chiropractic Center
Many seniors are unaware of the outstanding benefits that are possible through regular chiropractic care. I have compiled a list of seven of the most frequent benefits that chiropractic care provides for seniors.
1. Pain Relief
Chiropractic care is one of the most effective and safest forms of health care to treat pain due to spinal related conditions. Chiropractic is so effective because most causes of spinal disorders are related to abnormalities of the spine and the surrounding soft tissue structures. Doctors of chiropractic are specifically trained to identify and treat subluxations (misalignments of the vertebrae) and their subsequent effect on the central nervous system. Anti inflammatory medication and pain relievers merely mask the symptoms and have many undesirable side effects.
2. Increased Range of Motion of the Spine and Extremities
3. Increased Balance and Coordination
Many problems in balance and coordination in the aging population have been shown to come from injury or degenerative changes to the cervical spine (neck region). Structures known as mechanoreceptors are located in the posterior (back) joints of the cervical spine and are responsible for providing the brain with essential information important for balance and coordination. Mechanoreceptors in cervical posterior joints provide major input regarding the position of the head in relation to the body. With aging, mild defects impair mechanoreceptors function and results in a loss of proprioception (sense of body awareness). With decreased proprioception, body positioning in space is impaired and the patient becomes reliant on vision to know the location of a limb. To compensate for the loss of proprioception (sense of body awareness) in the legs, the feet are kept wider apart than usual. Steps become irregular and uneven in length. As impairment increases, the patient becomes unable to compensate. With severe loss of proprioception, the patient is unable to get up from a chair or rise after a fall without assistance.
Studies have shown that chiropractic care can help restore balance and coordination by stimulating the joint receptors (mechanoreceptors) in the cervical spine. This stimulation is thought to restore or normalize joint receptor functioning which leads to improvements in balance and coordination. (Caranasos, MD, Isreal, MD. Gait Disorders in the Elderly. Hospital Practice. 1991; June 15:67-94.Guyton, MD. Textbook of Medical Physiology. 9th edition. WB Saunders, Philadelphia 1996; 714.)
4. Decreased Joint Degeneration
A subluxated (misaligned) spine is much like a misaligned wheel on an automobile. This misalignment will cause the spine (and the wheel) to wear out prematurely. Since all moving parts will eventually wear down over time, it is very important to get your spine aligned periodically. Chiropractic care decreases spinal degeneration and other arthritic changes by normalizing the spinal alignment and reducing spinal stress.5. Increased Health and Well-Being
We commonly ask our patients what changes they notice once they are put of pain. Here are some regular responses we hear every day:
I feel great!
I can sleep through the night!
Now I can play in the garden!
I have so much energy!
Life is worth living now!
Yes, chiropractic is far more than mere pain relief.
Feeling good, staying healthy and doing the things that make us happy are what keeps us looking forward to each new day. Regular chiropractic care increase the quality of life and increase health and well being.
6. Decreased Incidence of Falling
Injuries due to falling are extremely common in the elderly population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are responsible for 90% of the 850,000 bone fractures which occur annually among Americans past the age of 65. Chiropractors reduce the risk of falls by normalizing the mechanoreceptors of the cervical spine by administering chiropractic adjustments. They also prescribe stretching and exercise programs to increase strength, flexibility, mobility, balance and coordination.
7. Keeps Seniors Out of Nursing Homes
While studying at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, I had the opportunity of meeting the president Dr. Ian Coulter. Dr. Coulter was involved with many research projects studying the benefits of chiropractic care and exercise.In 1996, he published an interesting study in the Journal, "Topics of Clinical Chiropractic" called "Chiropractic care for the Elderly."
The key points he noted in this study were:
* 44% of those who used chiropractic care reported having arthritis compared with 66% in the non-chiropractic care group
* those who used chiropractic care were more likely to do strenuous levels of exercise
* at three years follow-up, less than 5% of those who used chiropractic care lived in a nursing home while a staggering 48% of those who did not use chiropractic care did live in a nursing home
* at three years follow-up, only 26% of those who used chiropractic care were hospitalized compared with 48% of those in the non-chiropractic group
There is no need for seniors to suffer needlessly. Chiropractic provides amazing benefits and has an outstanding record of safety and effectiveness. Ask your family and friends for a chiropractor that they recommend. Take action now and make an appointment to see if chiropractic can help you!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Talking Chiropractic on the "Dr. Phil" Show
On the morning of Feb. 23, 2012, history was made when Dr. Fabrizio Mancini, a doctor of chiropractic and the president of Parker University in Dallas, Texas, and Dr. Patrick DeFazio, a Los Angeles doctor of chiropractic, were filmed for an upcoming episode of the "Dr. Phil" show at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, Calif.
The segment, which airs this Wednesday, March 14, began with Dr. Phil introducing Dr. Mancini as his chiropractor for 14 years and author of the book The Power of Self-Healing: Unlock Your Natural Healing Potential in 21 Days! This introduction set the stage for Dr. Mancini to talk about his book and the concepts of chiropractic. He stated that "the only way to truly fulfill your life potential is to fulfill your health potential." Dr. Mancini added that the difference between chiropractic and what he called the "sick care system" in the U.S. is that "we see patients as [people, not just diseases]."
Dr. Phil reinforced this notion, telling viewers, "I got chiropractic treatment from you [Dr. Mancini] 2 or 3 times a week." He went on to introduce his current personal chiropractor, Dr. DeFazio, who was given an opportunity to talk more about chiropractic and how it can, among other benefits, help relieve stresses on the body.
The show took an interesting turn when a man named Joe was introduced and came out in a wheelchair. Joe was only 5 years old when a drunk driver crashed into the family car, killing his father and sister, leaving both his legs paralyzed. It was clear that Joe was still very hurt and angry about the accident, particularly toward the woman who had caused him and his family so much pain.
After hearing Joe's story, Dr. Phil asked Dr. Mancini how he would approach Joe's situation using the concepts from his book. Dr. Mancini talked about the importance of chiropractic care for Joe, as well as the need to forgive the drunk driver. (At this point, the conversation addressed Joe's emotional and psychological issues, consistent with the typical focus of the program.)
As the show wound down, Dr. Phil thanked both Dr. Mancini and Dr. DeFazio for taking care of him over the years. He then thanked the audience and let them know they would each receive a copy of Dr. Mancini's book, which elicited a huge cheer from the audience.
After the show, a number of people working on the set asked about how to find a local chiropractor or remarked how much they had learned about the value of chiropractic. This was in addition to the many members of the audience who talked about chiropractic and asked Dr. Mancini to autograph their copy of his book.
This was an important positive event for chiropractic. The audience heard about chiropractic, the wellness philosophy and that Dr. Phil sees his doctor of chiropractic more than once a week. They were also taught that chiropractic can play a role in the health of everyone, including someone who is paralyzed. With its March 14 airing, a global audience will have the opportunity to learn about the power of chiropractic care.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Car Accidents and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Brought to you by: Mendez Chiropractic Center
When you woke up today, you thought this was like any other Monday. You’re on your way to work, and traffic is flowing smoother than normal. Suddenly, someone crashes into the back end of your car and you feel your head extend back over the headrest and then rebound forwards, almost hitting the steering with your forehead. It all happened so fast. After a few minutes, you notice your neck and head starting to hurt in a way you’ve not previously felt. When the police arrive and start asking questions about what had happened, you try to piece together what happened but you’re not quite sure of the sequence of events. Your memory just isn’t that clear. Within the first few days, in addition to significant neck and headache pain, you notice your memory seems fuzzy, and you easily lose your train of thought. Everything seems like an effort and you notice you’re quite irritable. When your chiropractor asks you if you’ve felt any of these symptoms, you look at them and say, "…how did you know? I just thought I was having a bad day – I didn’t know whiplash could cause these symptoms!"
As pointed out above, patients with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) don’t mention any of the previously described symptoms and in fact, may be embarrassed to discuss these symptoms with their chiropractor or physician when they first present after a car crash. This is because the symptoms are vague and hard to describe and, many feel the symptoms are caused by simply being tired or perhaps upset about the accident. When directly asked if any of these symptoms exist, the patient is often surprised there is an actual reason for feeling this way.
The cause of MTBI is due to the brain actually bouncing or rebounding off the inner walls of the bony skull during the “whiplash” process, when the head is forced back and forth after the impact. During that process, the brain which is suspended inside our skull, is forced forwards and literally ricochets off the skull and damages some of the nerve cells most commonly of either the brain stem (the part connected to the spinal cord), the frontal lobe (the part behind the forehead) and/or the temporal lobe (the part of the brain located on the side of the head). Depending on the direction and degree of force generated by the collision (front end, side impact or rear end collision), the area of the brain that may be damaged varies as it could be the area closest to initial impact or, the area on the opposite side, due to the rebound effect. Depending on which part of the brain is injured, the physical findings may include problems with walking, balance, coordination, strength/endurance, as well as difficulties with communicating (“cognitive deficits”), processing information, memory, and altered psychological functions.
The good news is that most of these injuries will recover within 3-12 months but unfortunately, not all do and in these cases, the term, “post-concussive syndrome” is sometimes used.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Chiropractic Care Is Effective For Fibromyalgia
Brought to you by: Mendez Chiropractic Center
For years, chiropractic has been considered as alternative medicine. Even so, chiropractic is becoming more and more accepted by the mainstream medical community. Twenty percent of American adults have used chiropractic at some point of their lives. Medical doctors and surgeons now work closely with chiropractors. Most people that use chiropractic have reported good improvement with pain reduction and better function.
Chiropractic is based on the idea that symptoms and illness can be caused by imbalance to the body's skeletal structure and nervous system. Chiropractors look at the body as a whole, rather than just treating symptoms. They see all systems of the body as being connected and affecting each other. All systems of the body rely on a properly functioning nervous system. It is well known by health care professionals that the nervous system is the master system in the body and literally controls every cell and organ in the body.
When there is proper balance to the skeletal and nervous system of the body, persons are more likely to have health and wellness. They are more likely to have a higher quality of life. Even a slight imbalance to the skeleton and nerve system can result in pain and illness. Chiropractors are specially trained to locate and correct imbalances to the skeletal structure. Through special adjusting techniques, they can realign misaligned spinal bones and restore proper function to the nervous system.
Fibromyalgia is a condition that results in several tender points throughout the body that often result in neck pain, back pain and pain in the limbs. To help reduce these symptoms, many people with fibromyalgia are seeking chiropractic care. Specific chiropractic adjustments help to restore proper motion and function of the musculoskeletal system. Problems of the musculoskeletal system are known to trigger symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. Many people suffering from fibromyalgia have significant pain reduction with chiropractic adjustments.Fibromyalgia is thought to involve turmoil to the central nervous system. This is known as central sensitization which results in hypersensitivity to the nervous system. When there is interference to the nervous system, a person's overall health and wellness is adversely affected. Chiropractors are well trained to help remove interference to the nerves making them a great option for fibromyalgia sufferers.
Chiropractors help correct imbalance to the nervous system by performing specific hands on adjustments to the spine. When bones of the spine become misaligned, it can result in pressure on nerves.
Chiropractors correct the alignments to help remove the pressure on the nerves. As motion and function improve, fibromyalgia sufferers experience significant reduction in pain. Other problems of fibromyalgia such as depression, fatigue and sleep problems also diminish.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
7 Key Reasons To Seek Chiropractic Care
Chiropracticis a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system. Those that use chiropractic care regularly recommend it highly for a variety of reasons. Here are the seven best reasons to find a chiropractor when you aren't feeling your very best.
1. Chiropractic Has Been Proven Safe
Chiropractic is one of the safest therapies available if you are suffering from any neuromusculoskeletal issues such as back, neck, joint, or head pain.
What exactly does safe mean? If you want to talk numbers, then the risk of injury is 1 in 286,000,000, or 0.0002%. Compare that to standard treatments such as medication and surgery where the risk of injury is 1 in 1428. That's right - chiropractic manipulation is that much safer, and as you'll learn later in this report, more effective as well.
The most common issue involving chiropractic isn't an injury at all. It is simply some mild soreness after adjustment. Think about how your muscles feel if you've done something you don't normally do. You feel sore because your muscles, bones, and ligaments have moved in ways they are not used to moving. This is what happens during a chiropractic adjustment but on a minor scale. Any soreness you feel will be gone within 24 hours and most patients feel immediately better with no soreness whatsoever.
Why is chiropractic so safe? There are four main reasons:
Chiropractors have years of schooling with coursework that includes classes on all aspects of the spine.
Chiropractors have been trained, doing clinical work long before becoming licensed.
Chiropractors continue their education long after graduation, completing courses yearly in order to maintain a license to practice.
Finally, and most importantly, a chiropractor's basic philosophy is that the body is capable of healing itself. The purpose of a chiropractor is simply to remove the subluxations, or blockages, that occur in spine so that the body can do its job.
Chiropractic is so safe that agencies unassociated with chiropractic tout its benefits. For instance, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), part of the US Department of Health and Human Services, found that complications are rare. Not only that, they suggest that chiropractic should be used before surgery is considered. And finally, they state that prescription drugs are not recommended for most back pains.
2. Chiropractic Has Been Proven Effective for Pain
If you have pain, chiropractic may be just what you need. Studies in the United States and other parts of the world show that chiropractic manipulations are effective. One study in California found that chiropractic was effective 86% of the time for general lower back pain.
But what of acute lower back pain? A report released by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research recommended chiropractic as the best treatment for this ailment. A study from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the Jefferson County (Missouri) Rehabilitation Centre showed that there was immediate improvement when chiropractic was used to treat acute low back pain.
Study after study has been conducted and study after study has concluded that spinal adjustment is superior to other treatments for acute pain. But chiropractic is beneficial to more than just general, chronic, or acute lower back pain.
Patients of chiropractic seek help for neck pain or discomfort as well. In fact, 19% of patients report neck pain at the first consultation. This pain is usually caused by accident or injury but can also be brought on by every day living.
The modern medical treatment for neck pain is either immobilization or physical therapy. However, studies have shown that spinal adjustments are more effective. For instance, a study done in the Netherlands observed patients receiving one of the three treatments. They found that spinal adjustments improved overall physical functioning more than the other treatments.
Beyond the back and neck, patients often seeks chiropractic care for headaches, including migraines. For chiropractic patients, migraines are often reduced or resolved without using pain killers or other prescription medications. A study was published by chiropractic doctors at University of Odense and the Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and clinical Biochemist in Denmark showing that spinal adjustments and soft tissue therapy allowed for steady improvement.
Many people understand the role of chiropractic in the back, neck, and head because chiropractors are seen as "back doctors." However, chiropractic has proven effective for many other conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, infantile colic, and much more.
For pain associated with a variety of conditions, chiropractic is proven effective, often more effective than modern medical treatments. Coupled with the safety of chiropractic, it should be your first choice when dealing with pain.
3. Chiropractic is Less Invasive and Drug Free
If you go to a medical doctor due to neck and back pain, you are likely to be given nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, known as NSAIDS. Although these drugs are given out regularly, they do have significant risks t hat are far greater than the typical issue, soreness, seen with chiropractic.
NSAID risks include:
Allergic reactions, some of which can be life threatening
Hives or rashes
Increased risk of heart attack
Increased risk of stroke
Gastrointestinal issues such as bleeding or ulcers
Cancer
Another typical treatment is bed rest. But this, too, can cause problems such as muscles atrophy, heart and lung weakness, bone loss, and blood clots.
Let's not forget surgery. Surgery is used for neck and back pain whenever painkillers and bed rest don't work and the risks of surgery are great. They include:
Breathing issues due to anesthesia - a patient can quit breathing entirely
Blood loss leading to transfusions
Cardiovascular risks such as heart attack or stroke
Scar tissue
Pain
Infection
Blood clots
Lung collapse
Injury to other areas of the body
Paralysis
Numbness and tingling of parts of the body
Swelling and bruising
And even death
Chiropractic has none of these risks because it is not invasive. There is no cutting on the body and there is no medication prescribed. To avoid the risks associated with NSAIDS and surgery, chiropractic is an excellent choice.
4. Chiropractic is Less Disruptive to Your Lifestyle
Chiropractic is done on an outpatient basis and has easy recovery, often less than 24 hours of minimal soreness. Consider this in comparison to the recovery of surgery.
After any surgical procedure, the body needs time to repair tissues damaged during the surgery so that the body can return to normal. Surgical recovery is a process that can take time, often long periods of time requiring medication and bed rest. In fact, pushing yourself too hard after surgery will cause setbacks and make your recovery time longer.
Chiropractic, on the other hand, has limited recovery time. At most, chiropractic patients may feel some mild soreness in the area of the manipulation. This soreness is typically gone in a matter of hours, not days or weeks as with surgery.
Additionally, surgical patients that are older, out of shape, overweight, or generally in poor health will take far longer to heal and be ready for every day life. Although different factors will dictate how quickly you are pain free, the ability to resume your lifestyle happens quickly with most patients, often with as little as one manipulation.
5. Chiropractic is Less Expensive
In August 1999, Blue Cross/Blue Shield (BCBS) of Kansas presented a study titled "Lumbago Treatment." When viewed per treatment episode, chiropractic was shown to be more cost effective than anesthesiology, neurosurgery, neurology, registered physical therapy, orthopedic reconstructive surgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and rheumatology.
Why so cost effective? Medical doctors and physical therapists rely on:
Referrals
Prescriptions
Surgery
MRIs
CT scans
Hospitalization
Over 50% of the charges are simply for diagnostic procedures and not for actual pain relief.
On the other hand, the majority of chiropractic expense comes from office based treatment with less than 10% of costs arising from diagnostics, typically in the form of spinal x-rays.
A study in the May 2007 Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics showed that chiropractic resulted in a 60.2% reduction in hospital admissions, 59.0% reduction in hospital days, 62.0% reduction in outpatient surgeries and procedures, and 83% reduction pharmaceutical costs when compared with conventional medicine.
By reducing these items, overall costs associated with chiropractic care are significantly less than that of traditional medical care.
6. Chiropractic Helps With Injuries Due to Accidents
Chiropractic is beneficial in treating various injuries such as sprains, pulled muscles, and joint problems due to auto, sports, work, and everyday injuries. The most common injuries due to accidents are:
Whiplash
Lower back misalignment
Upper back and neck misalignment
Repetitive motion injuries
Whiplash is the sudden movement that causes distortions to the neck. This type of sudden movement often happens during a car crash, even one at very low speeds. Although you may not initially feel any pain, the vertebrae that move out of place will eventually cause problems with the nerves and cause you pain from misalignment or subluxations. Medical doctors prescribe pain meds and bed rest for whiplash, which may be good for a day or two, but not for the long run. There is no way to remain in bed indefinitely nor is it possible to function regularly on pain medications. A chiropractor will help you with the cause of the problem rather than help you manage the symptoms.
Lower back misalignment can happen suddenly or over a long period of time. For instance, you can improperly lift something heavy resulting in immediate back pain, or you can simply have poor posture that results in back pain over time. The misalignment causes subluxations that can be corrected using chiropractic.
Lower back pain is made up of several different low back problems including:
Vertebral subluxations
Injured discs
Muscle strain
Ligament sprain
Scoliosis
Sciatica
And more.
The ability to correct injuries holds true for the upper back and neck as well.
Repetitive Motion Injuries are a fast growing source of pain in the United States often associated with the workplace, particularly sitting at a computer terminal for long periods of time. Repetitive motion injuries cause less oxygen to get into the muscles and this causes scar tissue to develop. Chiropractic releases the subluxations causing the pain.
So, whether your pain is from a car accident or merely sitting incorrectly at work, chiropractic is a way for you to feel better fast.
7. Chiropractic: Because You Live, Move, and Breathe
Because you are alive and move about, you are sure to cause a misalignment of your spine at one time or another. Simple movements such as sitting or bending can cause problems. So can walking, running, stretching, and lifting. In fact, any movement can create a subluxation and subluxations cause pain when left alone. So, if you move, then you can benefit from chiropractic.
Whether you are out running every day or see yourself more as a couch potato, chiropractic can be beneficial to you. It is the most effective natural healthcare available. And, as you've learned, it is safe, effective, non-invasive, inexpensive, and great for any injuries you may have. If you live, move, or breathe, you should have a doctor of Chiropractic as a member of your personal health care team.
1. Chiropractic Has Been Proven Safe
Chiropractic is one of the safest therapies available if you are suffering from any neuromusculoskeletal issues such as back, neck, joint, or head pain.
What exactly does safe mean? If you want to talk numbers, then the risk of injury is 1 in 286,000,000, or 0.0002%. Compare that to standard treatments such as medication and surgery where the risk of injury is 1 in 1428. That's right - chiropractic manipulation is that much safer, and as you'll learn later in this report, more effective as well.
The most common issue involving chiropractic isn't an injury at all. It is simply some mild soreness after adjustment. Think about how your muscles feel if you've done something you don't normally do. You feel sore because your muscles, bones, and ligaments have moved in ways they are not used to moving. This is what happens during a chiropractic adjustment but on a minor scale. Any soreness you feel will be gone within 24 hours and most patients feel immediately better with no soreness whatsoever.
Why is chiropractic so safe? There are four main reasons:
Chiropractors have years of schooling with coursework that includes classes on all aspects of the spine.
Chiropractors have been trained, doing clinical work long before becoming licensed.
Chiropractors continue their education long after graduation, completing courses yearly in order to maintain a license to practice.
Finally, and most importantly, a chiropractor's basic philosophy is that the body is capable of healing itself. The purpose of a chiropractor is simply to remove the subluxations, or blockages, that occur in spine so that the body can do its job.
Chiropractic is so safe that agencies unassociated with chiropractic tout its benefits. For instance, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), part of the US Department of Health and Human Services, found that complications are rare. Not only that, they suggest that chiropractic should be used before surgery is considered. And finally, they state that prescription drugs are not recommended for most back pains.
2. Chiropractic Has Been Proven Effective for Pain
If you have pain, chiropractic may be just what you need. Studies in the United States and other parts of the world show that chiropractic manipulations are effective. One study in California found that chiropractic was effective 86% of the time for general lower back pain.
But what of acute lower back pain? A report released by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research recommended chiropractic as the best treatment for this ailment. A study from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the Jefferson County (Missouri) Rehabilitation Centre showed that there was immediate improvement when chiropractic was used to treat acute low back pain.
Study after study has been conducted and study after study has concluded that spinal adjustment is superior to other treatments for acute pain. But chiropractic is beneficial to more than just general, chronic, or acute lower back pain.
Patients of chiropractic seek help for neck pain or discomfort as well. In fact, 19% of patients report neck pain at the first consultation. This pain is usually caused by accident or injury but can also be brought on by every day living.
The modern medical treatment for neck pain is either immobilization or physical therapy. However, studies have shown that spinal adjustments are more effective. For instance, a study done in the Netherlands observed patients receiving one of the three treatments. They found that spinal adjustments improved overall physical functioning more than the other treatments.
Beyond the back and neck, patients often seeks chiropractic care for headaches, including migraines. For chiropractic patients, migraines are often reduced or resolved without using pain killers or other prescription medications. A study was published by chiropractic doctors at University of Odense and the Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and clinical Biochemist in Denmark showing that spinal adjustments and soft tissue therapy allowed for steady improvement.Many people understand the role of chiropractic in the back, neck, and head because chiropractors are seen as "back doctors." However, chiropractic has proven effective for many other conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, infantile colic, and much more.
For pain associated with a variety of conditions, chiropractic is proven effective, often more effective than modern medical treatments. Coupled with the safety of chiropractic, it should be your first choice when dealing with pain.
3. Chiropractic is Less Invasive and Drug Free
If you go to a medical doctor due to neck and back pain, you are likely to be given nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, known as NSAIDS. Although these drugs are given out regularly, they do have significant risks t hat are far greater than the typical issue, soreness, seen with chiropractic.
NSAID risks include:
Allergic reactions, some of which can be life threatening
Hives or rashes
Increased risk of heart attack
Increased risk of stroke
Gastrointestinal issues such as bleeding or ulcers
Cancer
Another typical treatment is bed rest. But this, too, can cause problems such as muscles atrophy, heart and lung weakness, bone loss, and blood clots.
Let's not forget surgery. Surgery is used for neck and back pain whenever painkillers and bed rest don't work and the risks of surgery are great. They include:
Breathing issues due to anesthesia - a patient can quit breathing entirely
Blood loss leading to transfusions
Cardiovascular risks such as heart attack or stroke
Pain
Infection
Blood clots
Lung collapse
Injury to other areas of the body
Paralysis
Numbness and tingling of parts of the body
Swelling and bruising
And even death
Chiropractic has none of these risks because it is not invasive. There is no cutting on the body and there is no medication prescribed. To avoid the risks associated with NSAIDS and surgery, chiropractic is an excellent choice.
4. Chiropractic is Less Disruptive to Your Lifestyle
Chiropractic is done on an outpatient basis and has easy recovery, often less than 24 hours of minimal soreness. Consider this in comparison to the recovery of surgery.
After any surgical procedure, the body needs time to repair tissues damaged during the surgery so that the body can return to normal. Surgical recovery is a process that can take time, often long periods of time requiring medication and bed rest. In fact, pushing yourself too hard after surgery will cause setbacks and make your recovery time longer.
Chiropractic, on the other hand, has limited recovery time. At most, chiropractic patients may feel some mild soreness in the area of the manipulation. This soreness is typically gone in a matter of hours, not days or weeks as with surgery.
Additionally, surgical patients that are older, out of shape, overweight, or generally in poor health will take far longer to heal and be ready for every day life. Although different factors will dictate how quickly you are pain free, the ability to resume your lifestyle happens quickly with most patients, often with as little as one manipulation.
5. Chiropractic is Less Expensive
In August 1999, Blue Cross/Blue Shield (BCBS) of Kansas presented a study titled "Lumbago Treatment." When viewed per treatment episode, chiropractic was shown to be more cost effective than anesthesiology, neurosurgery, neurology, registered physical therapy, orthopedic reconstructive surgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and rheumatology.
Why so cost effective? Medical doctors and physical therapists rely on:
Referrals
Prescriptions
Surgery
MRIs
CT scans
Hospitalization
Over 50% of the charges are simply for diagnostic procedures and not for actual pain relief.
On the other hand, the majority of chiropractic expense comes from office based treatment with less than 10% of costs arising from diagnostics, typically in the form of spinal x-rays.
A study in the May 2007 Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics showed that chiropractic resulted in a 60.2% reduction in hospital admissions, 59.0% reduction in hospital days, 62.0% reduction in outpatient surgeries and procedures, and 83% reduction pharmaceutical costs when compared with conventional medicine.
By reducing these items, overall costs associated with chiropractic care are significantly less than that of traditional medical care.
6. Chiropractic Helps With Injuries Due to Accidents
Chiropractic is beneficial in treating various injuries such as sprains, pulled muscles, and joint problems due to auto, sports, work, and everyday injuries. The most common injuries due to accidents are:
Whiplash
Lower back misalignment
Upper back and neck misalignment
Repetitive motion injuries
Whiplash is the sudden movement that causes distortions to the neck. This type of sudden movement often happens during a car crash, even one at very low speeds. Although you may not initially feel any pain, the vertebrae that move out of place will eventually cause problems with the nerves and cause you pain from misalignment or subluxations. Medical doctors prescribe pain meds and bed rest for whiplash, which may be good for a day or two, but not for the long run. There is no way to remain in bed indefinitely nor is it possible to function regularly on pain medications. A chiropractor will help you with the cause of the problem rather than help you manage the symptoms.
Lower back misalignment can happen suddenly or over a long period of time. For instance, you can improperly lift something heavy resulting in immediate back pain, or you can simply have poor posture that results in back pain over time. The misalignment causes subluxations that can be corrected using chiropractic.
Lower back pain is made up of several different low back problems including:
Vertebral subluxations
Injured discs
Muscle strain
Ligament sprain
Scoliosis
Sciatica
And more.
The ability to correct injuries holds true for the upper back and neck as well.
Repetitive Motion Injuries are a fast growing source of pain in the United States often associated with the workplace, particularly sitting at a computer terminal for long periods of time. Repetitive motion injuries cause less oxygen to get into the muscles and this causes scar tissue to develop. Chiropractic releases the subluxations causing the pain.
So, whether your pain is from a car accident or merely sitting incorrectly at work, chiropractic is a way for you to feel better fast.
7. Chiropractic: Because You Live, Move, and Breathe
Whether you are out running every day or see yourself more as a couch potato, chiropractic can be beneficial to you. It is the most effective natural healthcare available. And, as you've learned, it is safe, effective, non-invasive, inexpensive, and great for any injuries you may have. If you live, move, or breathe, you should have a doctor of Chiropractic as a member of your personal health care team.
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