February 11, 2010 — Prevention and awareness is the best care for health-related problems. One of the easiest and most logical ways to prevent bad posture habits is to think about the consequences.

1. Tension Headaches: Sitting hunched over at your job, most commonly caused by your hands reaching for the keyboard when typing on your computer leads to your shoulders and head slumping forward. This posture tightens the muscles in your neck, upper back and shoulders. After awhile, the tightness causes nerve irritations and muscle spasms which restrict proper flow of blood to the back of your head. This leads to tension headaches.

2. Diminished Breathing: Poor posture can lead to severe kyphosis (hunched back) causing the torso collapse leading to breathing difficulties. Rounded shoulders and overly bent or imbalanced spine restrict the expansion of the rib cage, which restricts the rise and fall of the breathing diaphragm. Reduced rib and spinal mobility will affect the normal breathing movement. If the diaphragm can't rise, it won't be able to draw in as much oxygen during inhalation.

3. Fatigue: Fatigue is one of the most common causes of bad posture. Tired and tight muscles cannot support the skeleton as they are designed to do. Your muscles have to work extra hard just to hold you up if you have poor posture, leaving you without energy. Lack of adequate muscle flexibility and strength, abnormal joint motion in the spine and other body regions will lead to overall muscle fatigue.

4. Make you look older: Never underestimate the beauty and health benefits of good posture. Often poor posture is just a bad habit that is easily corrected. Poor posture not only makes you look older, but could be the first step toward dowager’s hump, double chin, potbelly, and swayback as well as some internal problems too. When a person is hunched over or not standing straight that person may be perceived as older than they actually are. Good posture is not only beneficial to your body; it also makes you look taller and slimmer. What's more, good posture can convey self-confidence, which may just be the best accessory you can have.

5. Back pain: Most common consequence of poor posture, due to muscle strain, especially lower back pain. The back muscles, ligaments, and discs are under extra stress when the spine is not in proper alignment. Strong muscles help keep the spine in proper alignment and prevent back pain. Strong muscles also prevent the spine from extending beyond its normal range of motion, which is essential to protecting the ligaments and disks from injury.

Source: T. Moses Public Relations and Consulting, http://tmosespublicrelations.com

Posted via email from chiropracticnews’s posterous

Technorati Tags: back pain, fatigue, headaches, poor posture, Where:San-Jose-CA

As a chiropractor I treat many children who have suffered an injury due to an accident or as the result of a sport or other play activity. However, what might surprise you is that I also have begun seeing children in my clinic who have weight-related musculoskeletal problems (conditions that in the past usually didn’t occur until adulthood), and more children who suffer from asthma and/or ADHD. Though chiropractic treatment can be very effective in reducing some of these problems, I find the fact that I am seeing more and more cases very disturbing. And, I’m not the only one noticing an increase in children’s health problems. A recent study by U.S. researchers has found that chronic health conditions, such as obesity and asthma, are indeed rising among children. Dr. Jeanne Van Cleave of Massachusetts General Hospital for Children in Boston, who worked on the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, used data from a government survey of three groups of children — each group with about 1,000 or more children — aged 2 through 8 between 1988 and 2006. 

Van Cleave and her group found that the rate of chronic health conditions, such as obesity, asthma and learning problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD, had doubled to 26.6 percent in 2006 from 12.8 percent in 1994. The study also found that for about half of these kids, their conditions will go away over time. “The trick,” Van Cleave said , “is finding out why conditions go away so that more children may be helped.”

However, Dr. Geetha Raghuveer of Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, who was not involved with the study, said that while it was heartening that chronic conditions went away in several children, it was worrying that such a large percentage of children had a chronic health problem at some point. These problems “will need prevention strategies geared toward larger environments such as families, schools, communities,” and laws that make nutritious foods more accessible and affordable.”

I am in agreement with Dr. Raghuveer. Children (and parents) need education regarding the importance of good nutrition and regular exercise, and children also need environments that encourage both. Even though some of the health issues went away over time in half of the children in the study, the fact remains that the number of children experiencing such health problems is on the rise. Therefore, the number of children in “the other half,” the children who continued to experience chronic health conditions, is growing ever larger each year.

Posted via email from chiropracticnews’s posterous

Technorati Tags: ADHD, asthma, childhood obesity, chiropractor, Where:San-Jose-CA

As a chiropractor, I treat plenty of teenagers (as well as adults) who’ve sustained sports injuries. When it comes to the “weekend warrior” syndrome, it seems that teenagers don’t realize, anymore than their parents and other adults who indulge in sport activities do, just how important getting in shape prior to getting fully involved can be. So I was happy to read the following article and recommendations for high school pitchers and I want to pass it along to you.

High School Pitchers Need To Train Properly Before Season To Avoid Serious Injuries

 High school pitchers who go full-speed the first day or week of spring training may be headed down the road to serious injury.

“A large number of high school athletes take the winter off and just go out and start throwing as hard as they can,” said Matt Holland, a physical therapist with The Methodist Center for Sports Medicine in Houston. “The problem is that their arms are not in baseball shape and they open themselves up to serious shoulder and elbow injuries.”

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles that act to stabilize the shoulder especially during the throwing motion. An inflamed rotator cuff (tendonitis) can cause pain when lifting your arm and will most likely dramatically affect a player’s performance on the field. Problems with the rotator cuff can not only damage the rest of the shoulder, but may also lead to elbow and other arm problems that shorten the careers of many pitchers. To read more, go to medicalnewstoday.

Posted via email from chiropracticnews’s posterous

Technorati Tags: exercise, sports injuries, Where:San-Jose-CA

It may be advantageous for you to have some concept, in advance, about the different chiropractic treatment plans Dr. Hoewisch may possibly advocate.

• Relief Care is a type of chiropractic program offered to those who are suffering from any type of acute pain or distress, regardless of the reason behind the challenge. The aim of this kind of therapy is to furnish fast pain relief. The length of the treatment phase likely will fluctuate as it depends entirely on the scope of the condition or disability experienced by the individual and how fast it can be remedied.

• Corrective Care is a “more advanced” method of chiropractic treatment. This is for those that have suffered with spinal problems over an extended period of time, which is to say, for those who have a persistent challenge that has evolved into a more complex condition as a consequence of putting off specific care. Remedial treatment ordinarily stretches over a longer time frame. How long care is necessary is determined by the severity of the progressive impairment and how speedily the individual responds to the treatment.

• Maintenance Care, as the name suggests, is intended to maintain or protect any form of procedure previously given to a patient. Many times, chiropractic care is extended solely after the initial treatments have been estimated to be successful. The purpose of this type of chiropractic care is to inhibit the potential of the initial dysfunction returning and to discourage degenerative changes in the future.

• wellness Care is provided to those people that are not afflicted by severe discomfort, but wish to improve their overall health. Regular chiropractic treatment enhances the circulation of blood and oxygen in the body, improves muscle flexibility, assists in discouraging work and play injury, and increases a person’s total impression of well-being.

Whether you are currently suffering from pain or you want to boost your overall health, chiropractic care can help. Call Dr. Hoewisch, your San Jose Chiropractor, today!

Technorati Tags: chiropractic, chiropractic care, chiropractic treatment, chiropractor, Where:San-Jose-CA

Let’s face it, where there’s a musculoskeletal system, for example in the human body, there is the likelihood of musculoskeletal disorder including lumbar pain and neck pain, pain in the shoulder, elbow, hip and knee joints, and ankle and foot pain. Nobody is immune from misalignment of the spine and joint inflammation, though numerous health issues can be the end result of sports injuries, accidents, and the aging process. Irrespective of the source, just about any type of movement on a traumatized part of the body can not merely result in pain or suffering, but temporary disability. And, naturally, certain musculoskeletal problems, if left untreated, can result in permanent incapacitation.

It has been said of chiropractic care that its  benefits “exceed” eliminating merely a specific condition. Actually, someone who comes in to see a chiropractor for back pain, for instance, not only gains from pain reprieve, but also enhanced circulation, a reduction or elimination of lactic acid, smoother movement of oxygen and nutrients within the body, additional flexibility, reduced everyday pain and soreness, quicker recuperation time, a more tranquil sensation, and the prevention of future injuries! Is it any mystery why chiropractic care has become the treatment of choice for so many people?

Besides delivering specialized musculoskeletal care, chiropractors will also include education and counsel as it pertains to bettering your total health and wellness. Chiropractors recognize that in order for a person to become healthy and stay that way, it is important to choose a simple health-oriented approach to life lke consuming a healthy amount of water to keep the body hydrated, following a nutritional diet plan, and developing a regular stretching and exercise routine.

Chiropractic care isn’t going to quite work “miracles, ” however it can come surprisingly close in numerous areas that may possibly surprise you. For instance, chiropractic care will help pregnant women deliver more easily. It can strengthen developmental potentials of babies, particularly in the area of motor skills, and it can often eliminate scoliosis. Chiropractic adjustments for children can help alleviate bronchial asthma complaints, ear infections, and even bed-wetting. Along with the rewards stated earlier, established chiropractic management can help adults to have more energy, which in turn boosts productivity. And, last but not least, for maturing baby boomers and the senior population, not only can chiropractic treatment aide in reducing age-related disorders and help to keep an individual more functional in later years, it can also decrease the balance problems that all too frequently lead to severe injury from falls.

If you’re currently visiting a chiropractor, that’s wonderful! You have no doubt already felt many of the amazing benefits stated above. In that case, why not tell your family and friends about chiropractic? Don’t let someone you care about fall victim to the type of misinformation regarding chiropractic care that can keep them from living their daily life with more energy and less pain. Tell someone you care about to give your chiropractor in San Jose a call. Your friends and family will thank you for it!

Technorati Tags: asthma, balance problems, bed- wetting, chiropractic care, chiropractic treatment, chiropractor, healthy lifestyle, infections, pregnancy, regular exercise, Where:San-Jose-CA

When Laura was born, she was completely blind. The doctors told her parents there was no hope that her eyesight would ever develop. Her problem was called congenital nystagmus, a condition where the eye experiences involuntary shaking and causes severe vision loss.

This situation did not stop Laura from working to achieve in life. As a child her vision did improve somewhat, but she was still unable to play or read like normal children. “When I was a child, I would look in an adult textbook and all I could see were dots,” Laura said. “I thought, ‘Wow, grown-ups are really special to be able to look at dots and get words out of that!’”

By the time Laura turned 16, her vision had improved some more, but she was still legally blind. Doctors continued to tell her there was no hope for her condition. Additionally, she began suffering from severe stomach ulcers.

However, Laura did not let that stop her. She decided to enter a teen beauty pageant, and
she won. That event changed her life and opened doors that would have otherwise remained closed. “That was the best thing about my teenage years,” she said.
Sometime later, Laura’s life was about to take another amazing turn!

When Laura entered college, she took a part time job in a Chiropractic office in Delmar,
Delaware. The doctor, Donald Hattier, suggested that he give her an adjustment. This is when her life turned on a dime. In fact, after her first adjustment, her ulcers disappeared and her vision began to improve. It happened that fast.

As the story continues, Laura went on through school and got to the point where she submitted her official resignation at the Chiropractic office. It was at this time that Dr. Donald asked her out on a date. The happy story continues with the two of them now married and the parents of four children.

At age 39, Laura is living the life she never thought possible. Her vision has improved to
20/50. She is able to take care of her family and run daily errands. “I can pick my kids up from school, I can drive my kids to church and I can go to the grocery store for my family,” she said. “I am truly thankful for that.”

SOURCE: http://www.chiropracticresearch.org

Posted via email from chiropracticnews’s posterous

Technorati Tags: chiropractic, chiropractor, Where:San-Jose-CA

Atlanta, GA, January 07, 2010 –(PR.com)– According to the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation there is no human experimental evidence that chiropractic adjustments or neck manipulations are causally related to strokes.

“While plaintiff’s attorneys and expert witness make claims and statements contending that such a causative link exists, the fact remains that these are based largely on anecdotes, case reports, and case controlled studies and cannot be used to prove causation” stated Foundation President Christopher Kent DC, JD a chiropractic researcher and attorney.

According to researchers and the scientific method itself there are all sorts of biases and distortions that effect conclusions drawn from such studies and other criteria must be used to determine whether such a link exists.

“What this boils down to is a simple lack of understanding of biostatistics and epidemiology” stated Foundation Vice President Matthew McCoy DC, MPH, a chiropractic researcher and public health expert. “Words like ‘association’ and ‘causation’ and ‘risk’ have very specific meanings when it comes to their use in epidemiology and it’s clear that laypersons involved in this debate are using these terms inappropriately.”

While the experience of a stroke can be devastating and no one would suggest ignoring the concerns of those who have suffered one, the reality is that when it comes to the contention that chiropractic causes strokes – the evidence just isn’t there. And while the strokes these people have experienced are indeed real, McCoy suggests there are often other issues involved and offered an example. “Millions of people visit a dentist every year and a certain number of those same people get into car accidents on their way home. If we were to run the stats on it we might find that there is a statistical association between visiting a dentist and getting into a car accident on the way home. But no one would even consider suggesting that the dentists are causing the car accidents.”

Self described chiropractic stroke victims say there is a risk and that people should be advised about it prior to undergoing chiropractic care. The majority of chiropractors would agree that patients should be informed of the risks, benefits and alternatives of any health care intervention, but according to Dr. Kent “Such informed consent must be based on appropriate information and since there is no scientific evidence that chiropractic adjustments or neck manipulations actually cause strokes, it is inappropriate to require a doctor to suggest that such a risk exists.”

Dr. McCoy added another often overlooked issue “Chiropractors utilize a number of techniques to address joint dysfunction and vertebral subluxation and in fact there are over 300 named chiropractic techniques and many do not employ the type of manipulation that has been alleged to be a factor in vertebrobasilar accidents. This adds to the inappropriate nature of such a disclosure.”

In the end, chiropractic has an impressive safety record compared to traditional medical care with estimates are that anywhere from 100,000 (Institute of medicine) to 750,000 (Null et al) people die every year from medical care. In comparison, other than some minor soreness following chiropractic treatment, research has shown chiropractic to be very safe.

Posted via email from chiropracticnews’s posterous

Technorati Tags: chiropractic and stroke, Where:San-Jose-CA

Why is this so? When a person avoids exercise, joints become even less mobile and the surrounding muscles shrink, causing increased fatigue and pain. Read more…

Posted via email from chiropracticnews’s posterous

Technorati Tags: arthritis, exercise, Where:San-Jose-CA

Vertigo has a number of origins. An inner ear condition, known as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, can occasionally occur as the aftermath of a head injury or severe cold. In addition this kind of vertigo can be a part of getting older. However, generally, the cause is unknown. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo is a wordy diagnosis, but it characterizes perfectly this non-progressive condition that is produced by, as its name implies, a abrupt change in head position. The symptoms are generally unforeseen and variable.

It is useful to look at the function of the inner ear in an effort understand what brings about the frequently disabling symptoms of this type of vertigo. The inner ear contains fluid that enables the brain to sense movement and maintain balance. The inner ear also contains small calcium carbonate crystals, known as otoconia. These crystals will float in the inner ear fluid if dislodged. As the crystals strike against the sensitive nerve endings in the inner ear, they cause the symptoms of  Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or BPPV.

If you suffer from BPPV, it is important for you to know that chiropractors using a technique known as the Epley maneuver, can eliminate the symptoms of BPPV quickly and effectively. Through the use of this technique, your San Jose chiropractor rotates the head of a BPPV sufferer into various positions, allowing gravity to move the calcium carbonate crystals away from the nerve endings and into an area of the inner ear where they won’t generate further dizziness.

Your San Jose chiropractor has treated hundreds of people suffering from Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo using the Epley Maneuver technique. Often, with just one treatment the majority of patients no longer suffer from dizziness. Call your chiropractor today!

Technorati Tags: chiropractic, chiropractor, dizziness, vertigo, Where:San-Jose-CA

Nadia Saleh Al-Amoudi of the Department of nutrition and Food Science, at the King Abd Al-Aziz University, in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, explains that myrrh is known to have medicinal properties, including antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Read more…

Posted via email from chiropracticnews’s posterous

Technorati Tags: diet, health, nutrition, Where:San-Jose-CA