Can Chiropractic Help Me Lose Weight?

26 Nov

Obesity is one of the leading health-related problems facing the developed world. In fact, more than 1/3 (34.9% or 78.6 million) of adults in the United States (US) are obese. Obesity is linked to heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer, and many preventable conditions that can lead to a premature death. The estimated costs associated with obesity in the US topped $147 billion dollars in 2008 alone. Obesity is more common among middle age adults 40-59 years old (39.5%) than younger adults age 20-39 (30.3%) or adults over 60 (35.4%).

When patients present for chiropractic care, their doctor of chiropractic will be interested in their total health needs even though their low back pain (or some other complaint) may have been the driving force behind making the appointment. During the initial visit, he or she will take a thorough history as well as a review of systems to determine ALL of the patient’s issues. The chiropractor may also check the patient’s vital signs (age, blood pressure, pulse, respiration, height, weight, and recently the “new vital sign,” the BMI or Body Mass Index). In a recent study comparing groups of people with normal vs. high BMIs, the average lower lumbar angle in the overweight group was significantly greater than that in the normal weight group, and ONLY the lower lumbar angle was associated with a significant increase in the BMI (waist circumference showed no association with the lower lumbar angle). Another study looked at the degree of pain and function between non-obese, those with mild-obesity, and those with greater obesity and found that those with greater obesity had higher ratings of pain while walking and stair climbing, had greater weakness in the back extensors and abdominal muscles, and took the fewest number of steps per day. Another study found an association in young women (18-30 years) between higher BMI and waist circumference and greater cardiometabolic risk, greater insulin resistance (diabetes risk), and lower physical activity.

Knowing all the risks associated with obesity, it’s fair to say, most patients want to lose weight. Many have tried a lot of different approaches and yet continue to struggle with the seemingly never-ending “battle of the bulge.” So, how can chiropractic help? Because chiropractors are interested in your whole-person health, they cannot ignore the risk factors that cause and/or perpetuate other health problems that drive patients to their offices – such as low back pain. They can manage pain with the usual approaches (manipulation, mobilization, massage, trigger point, and other soft tissue therapies and modalities) but can also discuss dietary changes and ways to improve your general health. Studies show that an anti-inflammatory diet will address many of the issues facing the overweight person, including low back pain. Hence, they may promote eating more fruits, vegetables, and lean meat/protein, avoiding gluten, and fortifying the diet with a broad spectrum multivitamin-mineral, magnesium (with or without calcium), fish-oil, vitamin D3, and co-enzyme Q10. Your doctor will assess you as an individual, work with other allied healthcare practitioners, and help guide you in diet and exercise in the quest of establishing NEW health habits to obtain and maintain your ideal weight.

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, we would be honored to render our services.

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

Can Chiropractic Help My Concussion?

24 Nov

Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD) is the appropriate terminology to use when addressing the myriad of symptoms that can occur as a result of a motor vehicle collision (MVC). In a recent publication in The Physician and Sportsmedicine (Volume 43, Issue 3, 2015; 7/3/15 online:1-11), the article “The role of the cervical spine in post-concussive syndrome” takes a look at the neck when it’s injured in a car accident and how this relates to concussion.

It’s estimated about 3.8 million concussion injuries, also referred to as “mild traumatic brain injury” (mTBI), occur each year in the United States. Ironically, it’s one of the least understood injuries in the sports medicine and neuroscience communities. The GOOD NEWS is that concussion symptoms resolve within 7-10 days in the majority of cases; unfortunately, this isn’t the case with 10-15% of patients. Symptoms can last weeks, months, or even years in this group for which the term “post-concussive syndrome” (PCS) is used (defined as three or more symptoms lasting for four weeks as defined by the ICD-10) or three months following a minor head injury (as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).

There have been significant advances in understanding what takes place in the acute phase of mTBI, but unfortunately, there is no clear physiological explanation for the chronic phase. Studies show the range of force to the head needed to cause concussion is between 60-160g (“g” = gravity) with 96.1g representing the highest predictive value in a football injury, whereas as little as 4.5g of neck acceleration can cause mild strain injury to the neck. In spite of this difference, the signs and symptoms reported by those injured in low-speed MVCs vs. football collisions are strikingly similar!

Research shows if an individual sustains an injury where the head is accelerated between 60-160g, it is HIGHLY likely that the tissues of the cervical spine (neck) have also reached their injury threshold of 4.5g. In a study that looked at hockey players, those who sustained a concussion also had WAD / neck injuries indicating that these injuries occur concurrently. Injuries to the neck in WAD include the same symptoms that occur in concussion including headache, dizziness/balance loss, nausea, visual and auditory problems, and cognitive dysfunction, just to name a few.

The paper concludes with five cases of PCS that responded well to a combination of active exercise/rehabilitation AND passive manual therapy (cervical spine manipulation). The favorable outcome supports the concept that the neck injury portion of WAD is a very important aspect to consider when treating patients with PCS!

This “link” between neck injury and concussion explains why chiropractic care is essential in the treatment of the concussion patient! This is especially true when the symptoms of concussion persist longer than one month!

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 Whiplash, we would be honored to render our services.

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

What’s Better for Neck Pain, Medication or Chiropractic?

23 Nov

Although both medication and chiropractic are utilized by neck pain sufferers, not everyone wants to or can take certain medications due to unwanted side effects. For those who aren’t sure what to do, wouldn’t it be nice if research was available that could answer the question posted above? Let’s take a look!

When people have neck pain, they have options as to where they can go for care. Many seek treatment from their primary care physician (PCP). The PCP’s approach to neck pain management usually results in a prescription that may include an anti-inflammatory drug (like ibuprofen or Naproxen), a muscle relaxant (like Flexeril / cyclobenzaprine), and/or a pain pill (like hydrocodone / Vicodin). The choice of which medication a PCP recommends hinges on the patient’s presentation, patient preference (driven from advertisements or prior experiences), and/or the PCP’s own preference.

Although it’s becoming increasingly common to have a PCP refer a neck pain patient for chiropractic care, this still does not happen for all neck pain patients in spite of strong research supporting the significant benefits of spinal manipulation to treat neck pain. One such study compared spinal manipulation, acupuncture, and anti-inflammatory medication with the objective of assessing the long-term benefits (at one year) of these three approaches in patients with chronic (>13 weeks) neck pain. The study randomly divided 115 patients into one of three groups that were all treated for nine weeks. Comparison at the one-year point showed that ONLY those who received spinal manipulation had maintained long-term benefits based on a review of seven main outcome measures. The study concludes that for patients with chronic neck pain, spinal manipulation was the ONLY treatment that maintained a significant long-term (one-year) benefit after nine weeks of treatment!

In a 2012 study published in medical journal The Annals of Internal Medicine, 272 acute or sub-acute neck pain patients received one of three treatment approaches: medication, exercise with advice from a health care practitioner, or chiropractic care. Participants were treated for twelve weeks, with outcomes assessed at 2, 4, 8, 12, 26, and 52 weeks. The patients in the chiropractic care and exercise groups significantly outperformed the medication group at the 26-week point AND had more than DOUBLE the likelihood of complete neck pain relief. However, at the one-year point, ONLY the chiropractic group continued to demonstrate long-term benefits! The significant benefits achieved from both exercise and chiropractic treatments when compared with medication make sense as both address the cause of neck pain as opposed to only masking the symptoms.

With results of these studies showing acute, subacute, as well as chronic neck pain responding BEST to chiropractic care, it only makes sense to TRY THIS FIRST!

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 neck pain or headaches, we would be honored to render our services.

 

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

Can I PREVENT Fibromyalgia?

19 Nov

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a common cause for chronic pain (pain that lasts three or more months) and afflicts 4% of the general population in the United States! FM commonly affects the muscles and soft tissues – not the joints (like arthritis); however, many FM sufferers are mistakenly diagnosed with arthritis, so it may take years before they get an accurate diagnosis. There are NO known accurate diagnostic tests for FM, which is another reason for a delayed diagnosis.

In order to answer the question, “Can fibromyalgia be prevented?” we must first find the cause of FM. There are two types of FM: PRIMARY and SECONDARY. Primary FM occurs for no known reason, while secondary FM can be triggered by a physical event such as a trauma (e.g., car accident), an emotional event or a stressful situation (e.g., loss of a child), and/or a medical event such as a condition like irritable bowel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, or systemic lupus erythymatosus (SLE). Any condition that carries chronic or long-lasting symptoms can trigger FM, and some argue that the lack of being able to get into the deep sleep stage may be at the core of triggering FM since sleep disorders are a common finding in FM sufferers!

The “KEY” to managing FM has consistently been and probably always will be EXERCISE and SLEEP. So, if FM is preventable, daily exercise and getting the “right kind” of sleep are very important ways that may reduce the likelihood for developing the condition! Since emotions play a KEY ROLE in the cause and/or effect of FM, applying skills that keep life’s stressors in check is also important. This list can include hobbies like reading a good book, playing and/or listening to music, or meditation. The combination of exercise with mindful meditation using approaches like Tai Chi, Yoga, Qi Gong, and others has had positive impacts on FM patients such as improved balance and stability, reduced pain, enhanced mental clarity, and generally improved quality of life. Managing physical conditions that are associated with FM (such as irritable bowel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, or systemic lupus erythymatosus) is also important in managing and/or preventing FM.

Another management strategy of FM is diet. As most patients with FM will agree, certain foods help and others make the FM symptoms worse. In a survey published in the Journal of Cinlical Rheumatology, 42% of FM patients reported certain foods exacerbated their symptoms. Of course, each individual case is unique, so keeping a food log or journal can be very helpful to determine dietary “friends” vs. “enemies.” The first step is to eliminate certain foods for four to six weeks, such as dairy and/or gluten. Most patients report a significant improvement in energy (less fatigue) while some report less pain when problem foods are elimated from their diet. Generally, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins can have a positive impact on the FM patient. Consider eating multiple small meals vs. two or three large meals during the day, as this can keep blood sugar levels more stable and reduce fatigue.

So back to the question, can fibromyalgia be prevented? Maybe…maybe not. Since the medical community doesn’t know the exact cause, it’s hard to answer this question. However, being proactive and implementing the strategies used to better manage FM may help in preventing it as well!

If you, a friend or family member requires care for Fibromyalgia, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services!

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

Patrol Your Health When it Comes to What You Wear!

17 Nov

Our basic premise is that your body is amazing.  You get a do over. It doesn’t take that long, and it isn’t that hard if you know what to do.  In these notes, we give you a short course in what to do so it becomes easy for you, and for you to teach others. We want you to know how much control you have over both the quality and length of your life.

This month, we want to discuss the safety of antimicrobial and water-repellent fabrics.

Your favorite antimicrobial workout shirt or water-repellent hiking jacket may contain some surprising, and potentially toxic, chemicals. A recent Swedish study reports 10% of the 2,400 chemicals found in an analysis of such fabrics could pose a risk to human health — and less than 1% are regulated in the United States.

While a single piece of clothing may contain tiny amounts of potentially risky chemicals, the researchers note that exposure could add up over time. And work-out gear poses a special risk because sweat and movement may release more of these “bad actor” substances like phthalates, perfluorinated compounds, triclosan, and silver nanoparticles. In many cases, these chemicals may also pose a risk for wildlife as they’re laundered out of clothes and wind up in streams, rivers, and lakes. One 2012 European report even found cancer-causing chemicals and lead in soccer jerseys!

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). These chemicals repel water, oil, and dirt, and so are used in some waterproof jackets, pants, and shoes. But they’re also associated with health problems like low birth weight and prostate cancer. Many companies have stopped using them — including H&M, Levis, and Puma, while others are phasing them out.

Phthalates. These plasticizing chemicals are found in vinyl clothing and some printed fabrics.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reproductive problems and hormone disruptions have been observed when lab animals are exposed to these chemicals.  In a 2011 review, University of Pennsylvania scientists noted that phthalates can act as endocrine disruptors, interfering with hormonal systems in the body.

Alkylphenol Ethoxylates (APEs) are sometimes found in detergents used by textile manufacturers to wash fabrics.   They don’t break down easily and hang around for long periods of time. Some get washed out at home and go into local waterways. From there they accumulate in the bodies of fish and people, according to the Environmental Working Group. Some research links these chemicals with reproductive problems in fish.

Triclosan. Used in some antibacterial and antimicrobial fabrics, triclosan is better known as an ingredient in antibacterial soaps and body washes, kitchenware, and even toys. The Food and Drug Administration is conducting a review of the chemical, which has been shown to affect hormone regulation in animals. It may be a hormone disruptor for humans as well, and it doesn’t remove any more germs than washing with regular soap. And once it’s washed down the drain, triclosan can morph into the chemical dioxin, a strong carcinogen that’s been showing up in the mud at the bottom of American lakes.

Silver nanoparticles. These tiny, bacteria-battling orbs are used to make workout clothes and even hospital gowns resistant to smelly or infectious germs. They can also be absorbed into your skin when you sweat, as recent research shows. It’s unclear whether silver nanoparticles pose a threat to people, but the little metal balls do break down when clothing is washed with strong detergents containing bleach or bleach alternatives. That releases silver nanoparticles into the water system, where they may be toxic to aquatic organisms and beneficial for bacteria living in the soil.

Ways to reduce your exposure:

Wear clothes from companies that are phasing out toxins. According to Greenpeace, some companies — including Adidas and Puma — are taking significant steps to eliminate 11 toxic chemicals from clothing including APEs, phthalates, and PFCs. Others, the group says, have eliminated some but not all. Get the current lineup of Greenpeace’s Detox Leaders, Greenwashers, and Detox Losers at http://www.greepeace.org.

Not sure what’s in your favorite athletic wear? Add a barrier. Slip an old cotton t-shirt under your work-out shirt. A nontoxic layer between your skin and your work-out shirt will help protect you.

Wash before you wear. It’s a good rule to follow with all new clothing. New fabrics may contain dyes and formaldehyde resins, which prevent wrinkling and discourage mildew but can also trigger a rash, even at safe levels.

Thanks for reading. Feel free to send questions—to youdocs@gmail.com, and some of them we may know enough to answer (we’ll try to get answers for you if we do not know).

Young Dr Mike Roizen (aka, The Enforcer)

NOTE: You should NOT take this as medical advice. This article is of the opinion of its author. Before you do anything, please consult with your doctor.

You can follow Dr Roizen on twitter @YoungDrMike (and get updates on the latest and most important medical stories of the week).  The YOU docs have tow newly revised books: The patron saint “book” of this column YOU Staying Young—revised and YOU: The Owner’s Manual…revised —yes a revision of the book that started Dr Oz to being Dr Oz.  These makes great gifts—so do YOU: ON a Diet and YOU: The Owner’s Manual for teens.  And, the new book by Dr Mike Roizen: This is YOUR Do-Over

Michael F. Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer and chair of the Wellness Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. His radio show streams live on http://www.radioMD.com Saturdays from 5-7 p.m. He is the co-author of 4 #1 NY Times Best Sellers including: YOU Staying Young.

Non-Surgical Treatment Approaches for CTS

16 Nov

Non-surgical treatment approaches for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) aim to remove pressure on the median nerve where it’s pinched. In a recent review of the literature published on “passive modalities” (non-surgical treatment approaches) for CTS, researchers reviewed studies published between 1990 and 2015 for information on which non-surgical treatment approaches work best. Topping the list is the use of various types of night splints – wrist braces worn at night to prevent bending of the wrist during sleep. The evidence found that night splints were less effective than surgery in the short-term (up to six months) but more effective over the long-term (at 12 and 18 months)!

They did not find studies with a “low risk of bias” (no randomized controlled trial-types of studies) regarding other passive modalities such as ultrasound and electrical stim and hence, they conclude that better quality studies must be conducted before conclusions can be made regarding most of the passive modalities frequently utilized in the management of CTS.

A 2010 study found mobilization treatments and exercises (tendon gliding & nerve gliding) were helpful WHEN patients complied with the treatments and the recommended exercises. Manual therapies, or “hands-on” treatments, are a feature of chiropractic care. Chiropractic treatment for patients with CTS also includes night bracing in addition to manipulation, mobilization, exercise training, nutrition, and ergonomic / workstation modifications, and whole body health awareness.

Doctors of chiropractic understand these non-surgical approaches have limitations. This is why they work with allied healthcare providers when pharmaceutical and/or surgical intervention is appropriate. They may also frequently consult with neurologists for tests such as EMG/NCV (an electrical test that measures the degree of nerve damage) to better understand the patient’s condition. In short, chiropractic offers a multi-modal approach of care, and chiropractors will work with others in the patient’s best interest.

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 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, we would be honored to render our services.

 

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 717-697-1888

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