Spondylolisthesis – What Is That?

11 Feb

Spondylolisthesis, or a slipped vertebra (as opposed to a slipped disk or herniated disk), is when one vertebra slips or slides forwards on the vertebra below, which can occur for a number of reasons including getting older (“degenerative spondylolisthesis”) or trauma (from a fracture in the back of the vertebra called the “pars interarticularis”). Additionally, one can be born with it (congenital), or spondylolisthesis can occur early in life while the spine is still developing. The most common method of measuring the amount the vertebrae slides forwards is done by the percentage of slip (such as 50% is when a vertebra has slid forwards halfway over the adjacent lower vertebra).

This can happen anywhere in the spine (the neck, mid-back, or low back), but it is most commonly seen in the low back, particularly at the lowest levels (L4 and L5). This occurs in about 3-6% of the population; however, in certain populations, the incidence rate can be three times (or more) higher. For example, certain Inuit populations carry their babies vertically in a papoose that overloads the child’s young spine during development, which results in a greater prevalence of spondylolisthesis among that group.

Some studies report that spondylolisthesis usually develops at a very young age, and certain pelvic alignment findings may contribute to whether it is likely to occur, such as a “sway back” posture (increased sacral slope).

An interesting study looked at how often spondylolisthesis is found in subjects with NO low back pain. Researchers reviewed 510 cases of patients presenting with abdominal pain and other non-spine related complaints and found spondylolisthesis in 16 cases (3.1%).

So there you have it! If you have spondylolisthesis, you may have 1) No back pain, 2) Pain related to something entirely different and separate from it; or 3) Pain directly related to it.

In some cases, the cause of a patient’s back pain may be due to spondylolisthesis caused by an unexpected backward bend of the lower back (like a slip and fall, sports injury, etc.) with immediate pain that increases with backward bending. However, in many cases a patient may present with spondylolisthesis that is stable, old, and has nothing to do with their present complaint. A thorough case history and examination will indicate which is more likely the case so that treatment can focus on the likely cause of the patient’s pain.

We realize you have a choice in whom you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs. If you, a friend, or family member requires care for back pain, we would be honored to render our services.

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR LOW BACK PAIN! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 717-697-1888


Can Diet Reduce Your Depression Risk?

9 Feb

For years, scientists have investigated how what we eat affects our physical bodies. Clearly, the science of eating for athletic performance and physical health has come a long way. But now, researchers are finally starting to do more studies on how nutrition affects our minds. A large study that included 15,093 participants reported that depression could be linked with nutrient deficits. In other words, what we eat impacts on our mental health too.

In this study, researchers compared several eating patterns to see if they were correlated with either an increased or reduced risk of depression. Lead researcher Dr. Almudena Sanchez-Villegas of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria says, “We wanted to understand what role nutrition plays in mental health, as we believe certain dietary patterns could protect our minds. These diets are all associated with physical health benefits and now we find that they could have a positive effect on our mental health…. The protective role is ascribed to their nutritional properties, where nuts, legumes, fruits and vegetables (sources of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals) could reduce the risk of depression.”

They found the eating patterns linked with the lowest risk of depression were those rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts (like the Mediterranean Diet, for example). Interestingly, Dr. Sanchez-Villegas adds that a “threshold effect may exist,” meaning even moderate adherence to the eating pattern mentioned above achieved an important reduction in depression risk and strict adherence didn’t show any extra benefit. In other words, if the results of this study hold true, you do not have to be super-strict with your diet and have a little “wiggle room” to still achieve the same benefits.

Most Adolescents Don’t Get Enough Sleep

8 Feb

For teens, getting enough sleep each night can make a huge difference to both their physical health and academic performance. In general, teenagers need between 8-10 hours of sleep per night. Unfortunately, only 15% manage to sleep 8.5 hours on a school night. Insufficient sleep can not only result in difficulty concentrating and solving problems but it can also hinder their ability to retain the information they’ve learned in class. Teens who don’t get enough sleep are also more prone to aggressive or inappropriate behavior, which can place a strain on their social lives. Lack of sleep can also lead to acne, poor eating habits, lack of exercise, and a greater likelihood of smoking or drinking alcohol.

So, how can a teen get back on track? First, make sleep a priority and get to bed and wake up at a consistent time each day, even on weekends. Exercise each day, as studies have shown regular exercise is associated with better sleeping habits. Avoid consuming foods and drinks containing caffeine late in the day, as they can make falling asleep more difficult. Also, don’t smoke or drink alcohol (which should go without saying). Refrain from watching TV or using electronic devices before bed, as the light from screens can interfere with the body’s ability to fall asleep.

Best of all, these tips can also be used by “grown-ups” to improve their sleep too.

Think of Safyre…

4 Feb

Every day, each person must face a variety of challenges, both internal and external. There is no doubt that the stresses and strains of life can be overwhelming because they cripple and debilitate so many.

Most importantly, whatever challenges you face are challenges that are important to you. In other words, we are not in a contest. It doesn’t matter if someone else has “more problems” than you.

A wise man once said, “If you think you have problems, let us all write them down on a piece of paper and put them in this hat. Now, we will all pick someone else’s problems. I bet, when you read your new problems, you will want your old one back.”

The story you are about to discover is about a little girl whose daily challenges would completely overwhelm even the strongest of us.

Her name is Safyre, and she is eight years old. She is the only survivor of an arson attack that killed her entire family, left her homeless, and burned most of her body.

The arson attack happened in 2013. Firefighters found Safyre holding onto her father’s chest. He died saving his daughter, but he could not protect her from the flames.

Most of her body suffered burns. She has undergone over 50 surgeries including amputation of a hand and foot. She is now being raised by her father’s sister.

Liz Dolder, her aunt says, “Safyre is a typical 8-year-old – she’s just wrapped in a different package… She is the bravest, most courageous little girl you will ever meet. She is funny and witty, sweet and caring, and super strong… She is truly amazing. Once you meet her, she is unforgettable.

“Safyre lost everything her father, her mother, her sister, her brothers, her home, her favorite toy, her favorite outfit – everything that was familiar to her…She even lost the one thing we all take for granted – her reflection. But she wakes every morning with a smile on her face. She is the true definition of hope, faith, and love.”

A story was written about Safyre right before Christmas asking the community for help. It said all she wanted for Christmas was Christmas cards. The last line of the story was: “If you’ve got a stamp to spare, and feel like spreading a little joy, you can mail the cards to: Safyre / P.O. Box 6126 / Schenectady, NY 12306 / USA”

The response was incredible. Cards flooded in from all over the world. Newscasts, newspapers, and websites showed pictures of Safyre holding tons of cards… smiling.

But the big question is: NOW WHAT?

What happens now that Christmas has passed? It is great that so many people came together to make her holiday special, but wouldn’t it be nice if all that love continued?

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could take a little time out from your life and send Safyre a postcard from your vacation? Or send her a card or letter just to say hi and to let her know you read about her story and were thinking about her? It would only take a few minutes and the price of a stamp…

We love helping our patients and their friends and relatives through their tough times and getting them feeling better! We are here to help you stay feeling better and looking younger! Don’t be a stranger. You really can afford Chiropractic care! Don’t wait until you can no longer move!

Research Shows You Can Improve Your Health by Adding These Three Things to Your Whey Protein

2 Feb

Surveys have shown that the vast majority of athletes take protein supplements, and more and more “regular” people (non-athletes) are taking them as well. But are they good for you, and should you be taking them?

Some experts claim protein supplements are important for both athletes and regular Joes, while others say they are a complete waste of money.

The purpose of this article is not to give you the complete answer as to whether or not you should take protein supplements; however, here is some great new information that can help you make an informed decision…

Dr. Algidas Liutkevicius and his colleagues recently tested two versions of a whey-based drink that included both vitamin D and prebiotic dietary fiber. One drink included calcium phosphate and the other version included calcium lactate.

Because it’s important for a “function beverage” to taste good, they tested the drinks on trained tasters to find out which drink they preferred based purely on taste.

The version of the drink that included calcium lactate won the taste test and was then tested on thirty subjects against a control drink to see how it affected their overall health.

Results

According to Dr. Liutkevicius, “After 21 days of drinking the beverage, the volunteers’ blood analysis showed a significant decrease in LDL-cholesterol (P < 0.01) and triglyceride (P < 0.01) concentrations—changes which would be likely to have a beneficial impact on their lives.”

It seems as though adding calcium, vitamin D, and prebiotic dietary fiber to a beverage containing whey protein may have huge health benefits for those who drink it. At least according to this study, whey protein with the addition of the compounds listed above is not a complete waste of money. But here is something to think about…

Vitamin D3 supplementation alone has been shown to have many health benefits. In fact, many experts state that most Westerners are vitamin D deficient and supplementation could help improve a large assortment of health problems.

According to an article by Dr. Chris D. Meletic, “The latest research, however, shows that 1,25-dihyroxy Vitamin D3 deficiency is linked to a surprising number of other health conditions such as depression, back pain, cancer, both insulin resistance and pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, impaired immunity and macular degeneration.

“As it becomes clear that Vitamin D3 plays a wide role in overall health, it’s becoming equally clear that a large percentage of individuals are deficient in this important nutrient, which has hormone-like activity. The fear of skin cancer has stopped many individuals from obtaining beneficial amounts of sunlight.”

Additionally, studies have shown vitamin D levels have an inverse relationship with LDL (the bad cholesterol) levels.

So the question here is, was it the combination of whey and the other additives like vitamin D that caused the great results or would supplementing with vitamin D3 alone have had the same benefits? We don’t know the answer but either way, it’s clear most Americans don’t get enough vitamin D and improving your vitamin D levels will probably also improve your health.

Is a Vegetarian Diet Worse for the Environment?

Here is a recent headline: “Vegetarian and ‘healthy’ diets could be more harmful to the environment. Researchers say eating lettuce is ‘over three times worse’ in greenhouse gas emissions than eating bacon.”

Sounds contradictory to everything you may have heard up to this point about diets and their effect on the environment, doesn’t it?

It gets more interesting… According to Science Daily: “Following the USDA recommendations to consume more fruits, vegetables, dairy, and seafood is more harmful to the environment because those foods have relatively high resource uses and greenhouse gas emissions per calorie, say researchers. A new study measured the changes in energy use, blue water footprint and GHG emissions associated with US food consumption patterns.”

Dr. Paul Fischbeck, a Professor of Social and Decisions Sciences and Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University writes, “Eating lettuce is over three times worse in greenhouse gas emissions than eating bacon… Lots of common vegetables require more resources per calorie than you would think. Eggplant, celery, and cucumbers look particularly bad when compared to pork or chicken.”

Michelle Tom, a Ph.D. candidate at Carnegie Mellon University adds, “There’s a complex relationship between diet and the environment… What is good for us health-wise isn’t always what’s best for the environment. That’s important for public officials to know and for them to be cognizant of these tradeoffs as they develop or continue to develop dietary guidelines in the future.”

The researchers further clarified their point in an interview for the Huffington Post: “You can’t lump all vegetables together and say they’re good… You can’t lump all meat together and say it’s bad.”

The article went on to read, “The researchers didn’t find that vegetarianism is bad for the environment. They found that not every plant product is more environmentally friendly than every meat product.”

Don’t forget, if you ever have any questions or concerns about your health, talk to us. Contact us with your questions. We’re here to help and don’t enjoy anything more than participating in providing you natural pain relief

Did You Make a New Year’s Resolution? It’s Not Too Late…

1 Feb

If you want to achieve more success and happiness in 2016, this will be important information for you. It has to do with New Year’s Resolutions, and even more important, something you should do RIGHT NOW.

Let’s take a look at some statistics courtesy of StatisticBrain.com…

Here were the top 10 New Year’s Resolutions for 2015:

  1. Lose Weight
  2. Getting Organized
  3. Spend Less, Save More
  4. Enjoy Life To The Fullest
  5. Staying Fit And Healthy
  6. Learn Something New
  7. Quit Smoking
  8. Help Others With Dreams
  9. Fall In Love
  10. Spend More Time With Family

Here are the lengths of resolution success rates:

Resolutions maintained through:

One Week: 75%

Two Weeks: 71%

One Month: 64%

Six Months: 46%

I don’t know about you, but those statistics seem pretty good to me. Here is something extremely important: People who explicitly make resolutions are ten times more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t explicitly make resolutions.

In other words, you are much more likely to be successful and create the life you want and deserve if you set goals. Better yet, write them down and make them known.

You don’t have to just make a New Year’s Resolution on January 1st! You can make one any time of the year whenever you want.

The best thing to do is set an achievable goal and work at that one goal until it’s complete. Then, simply set another one. Take baby steps, and before you know it… your entire life will change.

Sincerely,

Dr. Binder

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