Everyday Office Ergonomics
Posted on October 30th, 2009
Nearly anyone who has used a computer has experienced discomfort in the neck at some point. The most common cause is overuse of the neck musculature to hold the head up, instead of letting the spine do the job. This occurs when the worker juts the head forward while viewing the screen. People are rarely conscious they are doing this. When a screen is too far away for the eyes to see properly our heads move closer to the screen to fix the problem. Unfortunately, this creates other problems such as neck strain.
Adjusting the Monitor
In general the screen should be about an arm’s length away; it can be moved within a six-inch range, either way, depending on the worker’s vision. Monitors should always be placed where the user can look straight at them. Constantly looking off to one side to view the screen creates static load in the neck musculature, as well as muscle imbalances that can add up to significant injury. Adjustable monitor arms allow the screen to be placed in front of the worker and then slid out of the way for other tasks.
For users without glasses or for those who use single-vision lenses, the top of the glass screen should be at eye height. This position will let the eyes gaze down on the screen at the preferred angle. Workers who have bifocals will often tilt the head up to view the screen through the lower part of the lenses. The best solution is to discuss single-vision computer glasses with an optometrist. Otherwise, workers should lower the screen a few inches, so they can view the monitor with the head in a straight forward position, without the chin pointing up or down.
Positioning the Chair
A properly adjusted office chair is the most important tool that allows an office worker to work efficiently and safely. If there is insufficient lumbar support, patients can compensate with a back support, rolled towel or small pillow. If the seat is too deep—keeping the workers from being supported—they can use a back support or full-length pillow to take up the extra room.
In addition, educate your patients about how to adjust their chairs:
*Lower the chair until feet are well supported on the ground. If they are not firmly planted, use a footrest to provide support.
*Adjust the seat depth so there is one-to-three-fingers’ space between the front of the chair and the back of the knee.
*The seat angle and the backrest should allow for approximately a 105-degree angle between the torso and thighs. Sitting too upright increases the pressure in the lumbar intervertebral discs. Leaning too far back will cause the neck to compensate, putting it at risk.
*Adjust the armrests so they are one inch below the forearms. If the patient has any neck issues, bring the armrests up to provide support, without reaching down or up to use them.
Choosing a Keyboard
Design
Most keyboards have a standard design copied from typewriters with a number pad thrown on the right side for increased efficiency. Users typically plop down in front of the computer and center themselves between the side of the keyboard on the left and the mouse on the right. Now the right arm is externally rotated and reaching to use the mouse and then reaching across the mid-line of the body to type, so it is never in a good position.
The best solutions are to move the mouse to the left or use a keyboard that has the number pad on the left side. Workers can then center themselves by lining the bellybutton up with the “B” key.
Angle
Due to the variability of people’s shoulder widths and forearm lengths, many workers cannot use a standard keyboard without sustained ulnar deviation at the wrists. This causes static use and overload of the forearm muscles. A keyboard that allows angle and pitch adjustments is the solution to this problem.
Reach
Reaching to use a keyboard that is too high forces the upper traps to fire continuously, creating tension, fatigue and pain. A keyboard tray is the most helpful of the ergonomic tools, as it can fix problems ranging from excessive reach for the keyboard and mouse to improper wrist angles when typing. Since the proper writing height is several inches higher than the proper typing height, the tray will allow both functions to be performed safely.
Rest Breaks and Task Rotation
To work properly over time, muscles need a break to rid themselves of lactic acid and waste products while delivering oxygen to the tissues to prevent overuse and damage.
Teach patients to take a 15-second micro-break each hour. This is an easy solution for employers to accept, which helps gain compliance. During the micro-breaks, the office workers should shake their arms out or do simple stretches you can provide for them. Computer users should also frequently look away from their screen to focus on something about 20 feet away. This allows a break for the eye muscles. If they can’t seem to remember to take breaks, an egg timer can serve as a reminder. A software program such as RSI Guard can also help workers tailor breaks to the amount of work.
People are always concerned about how it will look if they seem to be taking too many breaks or are unproductive. By spreading tasks, like going to the fax and copier, returning phone calls and meeting with co-workers throughout the day, they can still be productive while giving their body a break from the computer.
Starting with these simple adjustments, your patients who work in an office should feel happier and healthier at their jobs in no time.
This article was in the magazine:
ACAnews: The Official Publication of the American Chiropractic Association
October 2009 edition pp 28-29 by Chris Sorrells
Tags: Back Injury, Chronic Pain, Ergonomics, Neck Pain, Treatment
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Relief for Aching Backs
Posted on September 16th, 2009
Relief for aching backs
Hands-on therapies were top-rated by 14,000 consumers
About 80 percent of U.S. adults have at some point been bothered by back pain. The Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center recently surveyed more than 14,000 subscribers who had lower-back pain in the past year but had never had back surgery. More than half said pain severely limited their daily routine for a week or longer, and 88 percent said it recurred through the year. Many said the pain interfered with sleep, sex, and efforts to maintain a healthy weight.
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photo is from photobucket.com
Back pain can be tough to treat. Most of our respondents tried five or six different treatments. They rated the helpfulness of the treatments tried and their satisfaction with the health-care professionals visited.
Hands-on therapies were among the top-rated. Fifty-eight percent of those who tried chiropractic manipulation said it helped a lot, and 59 percent were “completely” or “very” satisfied with their chiropractor. Massage and physical therapy were close runners-up.
Many of those who tried spinal injections found them to be very helpful, although the techniques their doctors used varied. Most respondents had used some type of medication. Forty-five percent of those who took prescription drugs said they helped a lot, double the percentage of those who said they were helped by over-the-counter medications.
Where to go for treatment
“Everyone seems to be selling some kind of gimmick, treatment, or pill for low-back pain,” says neurologist Scott Haldeman, M.D., who co-edited the January/February 2008 issue of The Spine Journal, which reviewed ways of treating low-back pain. But when treatments abound, it’s usually because there’s no clear winner.
A visit to a primary-care doctor is a smart first step when back pain is severe. A doctor can help rule out disease, such as infection or cancer. Although many of our respondents who saw a primary-care doctor left dissatisfied, doctors can write referrals for hands-on treatments that might be covered by health insurance.
Enduring the pain or seeing a chiropractor or physical therapist as a first step might be OK for a recurrent, familiar back problem. Most of the 35 percent of our respondents who didn’t see a health professional had severely limiting pain for less than a week. Many of those with more prolonged pain who didn’t see a healthcare professional said it was because of cost concerns or because they did not believe professional care could help.
Research suggests that chiropractic manipulation can reduce acute low-back pain, and many, though certainly not all, of the respondents who tried it said it helped. Albert McCann, 54, a respondent from Lakeland, Fla., has kept working as a petroleum transport engineer, driving a semi truck and using 20-foot-long hoses several times a day. By following a chiropractor’s recommendations and getting treatment every few weeks—including manual adjustments, electric stimulation, and a spinalator (roller-massage table)—he is able to keep his back pain to a minimum.
Massage and physical therapy were other treatments rated very helpful by 48 and 46 percent of consumers, respectively. “My back pain was unrelenting,” says survey respondent Charlene Mower of Fayetteville, Ark. “Before physical therapy, I thought I was done for.” Mower, 51, hurt her back while trying to lift her bedridden mother. She credits the training in lifting and bending techniques that a therapist gave her and continued exercise for her long-term success in staving off pain.
Lifestyle changes can help .
Cindy Pickett developed low-back pain at age 22, when she was building a bookcase and suffered two slipped disks. Over the years back pain and other factors led to a 100-pound weight gain. At 59, Pickett, a schoolteacher from Flagstaff, Ariz., retired and decided to make weight loss and exercise her full-time job. She credits her improvement to the combination of weight loss and abdominal-strengthening exercises that reduced pressure on her lower back. Pickett reports that she has not had to take pain relievers for months.
Forty-four percent of our survey respondents found exercise helpful, making it the top self-help measure. And a surprising 58 percent of respondents wished that they had done more exercises to strengthen their backs in the past year. That is more than twice the number who told us they wished that they had reduced or avoided activities that might make the pain worse.
Use caution with surgery
Your doctor might suggest you see a surgeon if back pain is unrelenting and no other treatment seems to work. We conducted a separate survey of almost 1,000 consumers who have had back surgery in the past five years.
Those who had back surgery had tried nine to 10 treatments and described themselves as much more impaired by their pain than people with back problems who did not have surgery. Just 60 percent of the back-surgery respondents were completely or very satisfied with the results, compared with 82 percent of respondents who were satisfied after hip- or knee-replacement surgery in our 2006 survey.
But satisfaction depended on the diagnosis and the type of surgery. Those with degenerative disk disease (arthritis of the spine) were far less likely to be highly satisfied with surgery (54 percent) than those with a herniated disk (73 percent) or spinal stenosis (71 percent).
Alfonso Sanchez, 38, a state senatorial aide from Sacramento, Calif., was highly satisfied with his lumbar discectomy. His back pain turned excruciating when he was canvassing door-to-door in the hills of San Francisco last June. After failing to improve with acupuncture, physical therapy, and chiropractic treatments, Sanchez underwent a microdiscectomy last August. Remarkably, as soon as he woke up from the anesthesia, his pain was gone. He is now back to gardening and riding a bike to work.
But not everyone does so well. More than 50 percent of respondents reported at least one problem with recovery, finding it lengthier and more painful than they had expected. Indeed, 16 percent of back-surgery respondents said that their back pain did not improve, and half of those said it became worse after surgery. The most common regret was that more post-surgery rehabilitation was not planned.
If you’re told you need surgery, get a second opinion from another practitioner, preferably one who is not a surgeon. If you decide that surgery is the best approach, ask whether the surgeon is board-certified and find out how many operations he or she has done.
For more guidance, see our free diagnostic tool for back pain at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org. More detailed information is available to subscribers to that site, including consumer ratings and the medical evidence for 23 back remedies
Who helped the most?
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The percent of people highly (completely or very) satisfied with their back-pain treatments and advice varied by practitioner visited.
Professional - Highly satisfied
Chiropractor 59%
Physical therapist 55%
Acupuncturist 53%
Physician, specialist 44%
Physician, primary care 34%
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Differences in Ratings for physical therapists and acupuncturists were not statistically significant.
Article is from “Contents: Consumer Reports” Magazine
May 2009 pages 12-13
Tags: Anti Inflammatories, Back Injury, Chronic Pain, Spinal Decompression, Sports Injury, Treatment
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FOOT PROBLEMS: FLat Feet
Posted on September 16th, 2009
Pes Planus (Flat Feet)
A true flat foot is rare. Generally, a flat footed-person is only suffering from a functional flat foot caused by excess pronation. Excess pronation causes the foot’s arch to collapse and elongate giving the appearance of a flat foot. A functional flat foot is quite common and generally exhibits symptoms ranging from sore/tired feet to general leg fatigue and body aches.
Treatment
Orthotics (foot supports) control excess pronation by preventing excess calcaneal eversion during the contact phase of gait. This prevents secondary unlocking of the mid-tarsal joints during the mid-stance phase of gait which is commonly representative of Pes Planus (flat feet)
In other words:
Our Foot Supports (Orthotics) and Treatment Programs are designed to control excess pronation which is the common cause of functional flat feet; thereby restoring the foot’s arch to normal. We have an 85% success rate!
Article is from: Performance Through Innovation: Practitioner’s guide to dispensing Vasyli Orthotics by Phillip J. Vasyli (p. 35)
Tags: Foot Pain, Orthotics, Treatment
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Oxygen Therapy for Headache Pain
Posted on August 17th, 2009
Oxygen Therapy for Headache Pain:
Safe and Natural Solution for Stubborn, Painful, Chronic Headaches
Michael Bennett, MB, BS, MD (University of New South Wales)
Alexander Mauskop (State University of New York in Brooklyn)
Special from Bottom Line’s Daily Health News (December 11, 2008)
Of the nearly one million Americans who suffer from cluster headaches, relief may be just a breath… of pure oxygen… away. Cluster headaches are acutely painful headaches that come in waves… with several short headaches a day over a period of weeks or months. It’s not known what causes them nor what might cure them… but a recent review of research suggests that oxygen therapy, in particular what’s known as “normobaric” (normal pressure) oxygen therapy (NBOT), can effectively relieve the pain. This is good news for sufferers of cluster headaches, as NBOT is an easy and natural alternative — and, perhaps most importantly, it works really fast.
RESEARCH FINDINGS
The lead author of the meta-analysis, Michael Bennett, MD, associate professor of medicine at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, explored the effectiveness of two kinds of oxygen therapy for prevention and treatment of headaches — NBOT, which involves breathing 100% oxygen from a portable oxygen tank with a mask… and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), which involves breathing oxygen at higher than normal atmospheric pressure in a sealed chamber. Dr. Bennett reviewed nine small clinical trials involving 201 participants, noting that 76% of patients experienced relief when treated with NBOT for their cluster headaches and not much from HBOT. He also found evidence, though nowhere near as strong or compelling, that HBOT relieves migraine headaches. While NBOT is “cheap and easy to apply” as a therapy for cluster headache patients, Dr. Bennett expressed caution about the use of HBOT for migraines, given its “high cost, poor availability and inconvenience,” saying more research needs to be done. The study was published July 16, 2008, in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Alexander Mauskop, MD, a board-certified neurologist and director of the New York Headache Center, who uses oxygen therapy in his practice, explained why this treatment is helpful to people who suffer from these very particular headaches. (Note: Oxygen therapy is not currently recommended for relief from any other kind of headache and should never be attempted on your own.)
OXYGEN USE
According to Dr. Mauskop, up to 70% of cluster headache patients can attain relief within five to 10 minutes of breathing in 100% oxygen. For oxygen therapy to work, the oxygen must be inhaled through a mask at high flow (between 8 to 10 liters per minute). It is believed that oxygen helps by offsetting metabolic changes that cause pain and vasospasms due to oxygen depletion.
Effective as it is for cluster headaches, Dr. Mauskop notes that this therapy probably will not be helpful in alleviating any other kind of headache pain. Visit a neurologist for a headache evaluation if you think you may have cluster headaches and might benefit from NBOT. And by the way, it should be noted that NBOT is distinct from other oxygen therapies that are available in spas and at trendy oxygen bars. In those, the concentration of oxygen is likely to be much lower than 100% — in fact, those “oxygen treatments” are typically just a few percent points more than the usual 21% we breathe in the air.
Michael Bennett, MB, BS, MD, is an associate professor in the faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Dr. Bennett is an experienced clinician and researcher in both Anesthesia and Diving/Hyperbaric Medicine.
Alexander Mauskop, MD, is the director and founder of the New York Headache Center. He is a board-certified neurologist and has published numerous articles in scientific journals. Dr. Mauskop is author of The Headache Alternative: A Neurologist’s Guide to Drug-Free Relief (Dell) and What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Migraines (Warner).
Tags: Chronic Pain, Headaches, Oxygen Therapy, Treatment
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Oxygen and Fibromyalgia
Posted on August 6th, 2009
OXYGEN AND FIBROMYALGIA
What is fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia (FM) is often considered a medical mystery. It need not be. I often hear all laboratory tests are negative in patients with FM. That’s not true. Most physicians are uneasy when confronted with persons suffering with FM. That need not be so. I sometimes hear FM is not treatable. Nothing is further from the truth.
Why are so many people confused about the cause of FM? Because it doesn’t fit into some neat model of a disease category. Why isn’t FM treated successfully by mainstream doctors? Because there are no effective drugs for it.
THREE BASIC FACTS ABOUT FIBROMYALGIA
1. All symptoms of fibromyalgia are caused by cellular oxygen deprivation.
2. Oxygen deprivation is caused by dysfunctional oxygen metabolism.
3. Oxygen metabolism becomes abnormal due to excessive and cumulative oxidative stress caused by sugar overload, antibiotic abuse, undiagnosed allergies, synthetic chemicals, and anger.
Dysfunctional oxygen metabolism is not merely lack of oxygen in the air we breathe, in the blood, or in the cells.
This is a critical distinction. I coin this term for a much deeper problem of oxygen metabolism within the cells that involves failure of enzymes involved in oxygen metabolism.
This also forms the core of my ODD theory of the fibromyalgia/fatigue complex (ODD stands for oxidative-dysoxygenative dysfunction).
3 Rs OF FIBROMYALGIA
Fibromyalgia is Real.
Fibromyalgia is Reversible.
Fibromyalgia cannot be Reversed with drugs.
That fibromyalgia is reversible is the second core point of this article. It is regrettable that many fibromyalgia “experts” emphatically state that it is irreversible. (Why would anyone become an expert in a disease that he can never effectively treat?) I strongly disagree with them.
I consider persons with fibromyalgia as human canaries whose oxygen enzymes are more easily injured than other people. They are more vulnerable to unrecognized allergies, sugar overload, excessive antibiotics, and anger, and have been poisoned by synthetic chemicals. Those human canaries are telling us something important about the shape of things to come. What injures their oxygen enzymes eventually will injure the oxygen enzymes of others, unless we find ways to protect the oxygen metabolism.
FOUR MAIN SYMPTOMS OF FIBRO CANARIES
1. Persistent muscle pain and weakness.
Explanation: Oxygen deprivation causes muscle pain.
2. Disabling fatigue.
Explanation: Oxygen deprivation in tissue causes fatigue and exhaustion.
3. Brain fog (problems of mood, memory, and mentation).
Explanation: Oxygen deprivation in brain cells causes brain fog and dysfunction.
4. Air hunger.
Explanation: Oxygen deprivation within the cells causes air hunger.
The last item requires a special comment. Like other physicians, until some years ago I accepted the prevailing view that the body learns about the lack of oxygen through special oxygen sensors in the brain as well as in the walls of large blood vessels in the chest and neck. My fibro canaries have forced me to look deeper into this issue. The sense of air or oxygen hunger in fibromyalgia cannot be explained merely on the basis of those oxygen sensors. Oxygen levels in the large vessels in those locations are within the normal range in fibromyalgia. Thus, I had to look for some other mechanism. Now I believe oxygen hunger is caused by abnormal oxygen metabolism within the cells —though the evidence for my view at this point is indirect. 
OTHER MAJOR SYMPTOMS OF FIBRO CANARIES
1. Symptoms of weakened immune systems, such as sore throats, swollen neck glands, and painful tissues.
Explanation: Oxygen deprivation in immune cells causes immune weaknesses.
2. Abdominal bloating, cramps, episodes of diarrhea and constipation, and problems of digestion and malabsorption.
Explanation: Oxygen deprivation in the bowel causes bloating, cramps, and malabsorption.
3. Cold sensitivity and poor circulation.
Explanation: Oxygen deprivation in skin causes cold sensitivity.
4. Sleep difficulties, restless leg syndrome, and legs.
Explanation: Oxygen deprivation interferes with functions of the sleep center and causes other problems, such as restless leg syndrome.
5. Lightheadedness, dizziness, heart palpitations, and skipped beats.
Explanation: Oxygen deprivation in the heart and vessel walls causes lightheadedness, dizziness, heart palpitations, and skipped beats.
6. Dry skin, dry eyes, dry mouth, and dry vaginal tissues.
Explanation: Oxygen deprivation in the cells of the skin, eyes, mouth and vagina muscles causes cell shrinkage and dryness skin.
7. Vaginitis, bladder spasms, and bladder infections in women and prostatitis in men.
Explanation: Oxygen deprivation in genital tissues causes vaginitis, bladder spasms, and bladder infections in women and prostatitis in men.
8. Joint and muscle stiffness and pain.
Explanation: Oxygen deprivation in joints and muscles causes stiffness and pain.
9. Lack of sex drive in both sexes and menstrual irregularities in women.
Explanation: Oxygen deprivation interferes with the enzyme functions of sexual organs and their hormones.
What Causes of Fibromyalgia?
1. Metabolic oxidants
2. Microbial oxidants
3. Man-made oxidants (Oxidants are substances that damage tissues.)
Three Molecular Mechanisms of Fibromyalgia
1. Oxidosis (too much oxidation)
2. dysoxygenosis (too little oxygen)
3. Acidosis (too much acidity) (Oxidosis is rapid breakdown. Dysoxygenosis [dys-oxy-gen-osis] is abnormal oxygen metabolism.)
Three Levels of Injured Cellular and Organ Ecosystems and an Ecologic Road Map to Recovery
1. The base trio of the bowel, blood, and liver ecosystems
2. The middle trio of the thyroid, adrenals, and pancreas ecosystems
3. The top trio of the limbic system, sex hormones, and neurotransmitters.
TOXINS: Metabolic, Microbial, and Man-Made
Of the three main types of toxins identified above that lead to fibromyalgia, the metabolic toxins are the least important in the initial stages, but the most dangerous in advanced stages of fibromyalgia. The reason for that is that all kinds of metabolic havoc are wreaked on the human tissues once oxygen metabolism becomes dysfunctional.
Metabolism (the sum total of all life processes) produces many oxidants as waste products. In health, the detox mechanisms of the body neutralize and clear such oxidants. In illness, such oxidants are produced in such large quantities that the detox systems fail. Excess oxidants accumulate and cause oxidosis which, in turn, leads to dysoxygenosis and acidosis. The states of illness that lead to oxidosis and dysoxygenosis include fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chemical sensitivity syndrome, and others.
Microbial oxidants are produced in large quantities by microbes which live in the body in health. Those microbes multiply rapidly in the bowel and blood ecosystems with sugar overload, antibiotic abuse, pesticides, pollutants, and other toxins. All microbial oxidants cause oxidosis which, in turn, leads to dysoxygenosis and acidosis. Microbial oxidants include those produced by:
1. Yeasts (mycotoxins);
2. Bacteria (endotoxins and exotoxins);
3. Viruses (oxidants produced by damaged cells); and
4. Parasites (oxidants produced by parasites as well as by cells and tissues damaged by parasites).
Man-made oxidants include designer killer molecules (such as pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides), industrial pollutants, toxic metal compounds (such as dental mercury amalgams), and synthetic hormones. The toxic burden of chemicals has increased markedly during this century. For example, in the U.S. more than nineteen million pounds of antibiotics are fed to cattle and chicken every year.
THREE FURIES: OXIDOSIS, DYSOXYGENOSIS, AND ACIDOSIS
Oxidosis is the build-up of oxidants in the body that leads to excessive oxidative injury to molecules, cells, and tissues. Oxidosis is the basic mechanism of all cellular and tissue injury. It creates both dysoxygenosis and acidosis. Fibromyalgia cannot be understood without a full grasp of this simple scientific fact. Nor can anyone design a rational and scientific plan of recovery from fibromyalgia without grounding all therapies on this fact.
Dysoxygenosis is my term for abnormal oxygen metabolism. It is not simply a lack of available oxygen in the lungs or tissues. In dysoxygenosis, cells and tissues cannot fully utilize oxygen that is available to them. The symptom-complexes of fibromyalgia cannot be understood without a full grasp of this scientific fact. Dysoxygenosis is caused by oxidosis and, in turn, fans the flames of oxidosis as well as acidosis. Consider the following: A healthy young man sprints two hundred yards on a beach, stops to catch his breath, and within minutes is ready to sprint again. That is not the case with a young fibro canary. If he were ever to sprint (even after a lightning storm, when the beach air has been cleared of pollutants) he will not be able to get out of his bed the next day. Indeed, many fibro canaries may be bedridden for days after such exertion. There will evidently be no deficiency of oxygen in the air by the sea, nor in his lungs. His problem will be abnormal oxygen metabolism.
Acidosis disturbs the delicate balance between acids and alkalies (pH level) in the body. The changes in pH seriously interfere with the activities of enzymes involved in the digestive-absorptive, detox, neurotransmitter, and energy functions of the body. Acidosis is caused by oxidosis and dysoxygenosis which, in turn, feeds the fires of both oxidosis and dysoxygenosis.
FIBRO IS REAL
If you are a fibro canary, you know that fibromyalgia is real. If your physicians doubt that, they cannot help you. Be kind to yourself and find another physician who understands this problem. The road to recovery from fibromyalgia is often long and difficult. You need not make it much more difficult.
FIBRO IS REVERSIBLE
If you are a fibro canary, please be kind to yourself and shun people who insist fibromyalgia is irreversible. The road to recovery from fibromyalgia is often long and difficult. You need not absorb the negativity of others.
FIBRO CANNOT BE REVERSED WITH DRUGS
If you are a fibro canary, please know that fibromyalgia cannot be reversed with any drugs. You will learn that sooner or later. No drug at present is known to cure fibromyalgia. It seems highly unlikely that such a drug will be synthesized in the foreseeable future. In this volume, I discuss at length my reasons for that view.
Healing is an energy phenomenon. Hope is another word for healing.
Written by Majid Ali, M.D.
Tags: Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Oxygen Therapy, Treatment
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Migraines and Headaches
Posted on July 30th, 2009
Sometimes Drugs Don’t Help MIGRAINES and sometime they just cover up symptoms.
HEADACHES are a very common complaint in my office. A lot of people think that headaches are a part of normal life! Unfortunately, Headaches are a sign that something’s not OK. Some of the common causes of headaches are: alcohol, stress, toxic fumes, food preservatives and even certain foods. Like coughing, some headaches are related to an underlying problem.
Headaches, on many occasions and many times overlooked, can be caused by the malfunction of spinal bones in the neck and upper back.
Loss of normal vertebral bone position or motion can make nerves sensitive, and cause interference to blood vessels to the head and causing problems.
When spinal nerves and related tissues are stretched or irritated, they can produce throbbing headaches. Ibuprofen and other pain medications may cover up these warning signs, but do not correct the underlying structural cause.
Many people experience correction and relief through chiropractic care. Specific chiropractic adjustments can help correct mechanical restrictions in the cervical spine that may be related to headache symptoms.
Some estimates suggest 25% of the population has a headache right now!A comprehensive U.S. study reported that 10 million Americans suffer from moderate to severe disability from various forms of headaches.
If a thorough examination reveals reduced range of motion, loss of normal spinal curves, or mechanical restrictions, neurological deficits, chiropractic care should be considered. After a complete explanation, you’ll receive a care program designed for your unique spinal problem. Specific chiropractic adjustments, physiotherapy, oxygen therapy, as well as, other therapies can help correct spinal joint dysfunction created by the various chemical, emotional and physical stresses in our lives. We have an 85% success rate with Headaches. Some of our patients find that the correction of their condition takes longer because their spinal problem has existed undetected for many years. Every patient responds differently.
Benefit from the drug-free results thousands have enjoyed by consulting our office.
Call and talk to Dr. Mike 909-648-3551
Get started today!
Tags: Anti Inflammatories, Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, Neck Pain, Oxygen Therapy, Sports Injury, Standard Process, Treatment, Vitamins, Whole Food Supplements
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Fibromyalgia
Posted on July 30th, 2009
“It just hurts all over…”
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and multiple tender points. These “tender points” refer to sensitivity that occurs in precise localized areas, particularly in the neck, spine, shoulders and hips. People with this syndrome may also experience sleep disturbances, morning stiffness, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and other symptoms.
Tender/trigger points are specific sites on the body that cause pain when pressed.
There are 9 pairs of tender points. Each pair has one point on each side of the body for a total of 18 points.
The pain may spread when a tender point is pressed and trigger pain in a larger area.
According to the American College of Rheumatology, fibromyalgia affects 3 to 6 million Americans. It primarily occurs in women of childbearing age, though men, children, and the elderly may also be affected.
Currently, the exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown and because many of the symptoms mimic those of other diseases, it is very difficult to diagnose.
The current criteria for a fibromyalgia diagnosis includes:
• Widespread joint and muscle pain that has been present for at least three months.
• Pain at 11 or more of the 18 specific tender/trigger points when the areas are pressed.
Other symptoms that are less common but can occur are constipation or diarrhea, headache, difficulty concentrating, tingling sensation in the hands and severe or excessive fatigue.
Though the cause and cure for fibromyalgia is not yet known, studies suggest that chiropractic care can help provide relief.
A recent study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics stated that more than 60% of the participants who underwent thirty chiropractic treatments showed significant reductions in pain intensity and improvement in their overall fatigue and quality of sleep.
Your chiropractor will take a comprehensive approach in evaluating and designing a specific care plan for those who suffer from fibromyalgia. Nutrition, exercise and regular chiropractic adjustments have all shown to play a role in reducing pain and other symptoms, while improving whole body health.
Schedule an appointment today to discuss fibromyalgia care options with Dr. Mike Trudeau at 909-648-3551.
Options for relief.
A study published in the British Medical Journal reports that patients who participated in aerobic exercises twice per week for one hour over a 12 week period, were twice as likely to report feeling “much better” or “very much better” than those who did not participate.
THE CHIROPRACTIC LIFESTYLE
Chiropractors are experts in the care of the bones, nerves, muscles and connective tissues that make up about 60% of your body. All of the joints in your body are part of this musculo-skeletal system and its optimal function is necessary for overall good health. Ask your Doctor of chiropractic for more information about a care program that may include specific spinal adjustments, exercise recommendations, nutritional advice or other conservative methods of care based on your health history, age, current condition and lifestyle.
Call Dr. Mike Trudeau at 909-648-3551.
Advanced Injury Center-a Wellness Clinic
4695 Hallmark Parkway
San Bernardino, CA 92407
Tags: Anti Inflammatories, Back Injury, Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Foot Pain, Headaches, Invisible Illnesses, Leg problems, Neck Pain, Nutrition, Oxygen Therapy, Reflexology, Standard Process, Treatment, Vitamins, Whole Food Supplements
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Have Leg Cramps…This Really Works
Posted on October 30th, 2008
My close friend died last month; that night I had major leg cramps that lasted 24 hours. The next day I just happened to have an appt with Dr. Mike for my neck. He said that when someone is under a lot of stress, their body will use up all the calcium in their body (and I think he said there are three different kinds of calcium. I had no clue).
He suggested I take Calcium Lactate (Standard Process Inc.) to help. I hesitantly bought a bottle from his office and started taking the calcium lactate. I noticed an improvement right away. I do have to continue taking the supplements, but it is worth it because it takes the leg cramps away.
I also started taking those supplements for other cramps; such as, cramps in foot and neck.
Thanks Dr. Mike
Tags: Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Leg problems, Neck Pain, Tanya's Blog, Treatment, Whole Food Supplements
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Scoliosis
Posted on October 4th, 2006
SCOLIOSIS IS MORE OFTEN SEEN IN GIRLS!
It is thought that scoliosis is the result of a hereditary problem or an adaptation to some type of trauma, such as the birth process, or an injury, such as falling off a bicycle. It usually starts with problems in the lower back.
Because spinal bones continue to grow well into the early 20s, if left uncorrected, scoliosis often worsens.
Regular chiropractic examinations can reveal small problems before they become serious.
Unfortunately, the most common treatment approach has been to wait and see how bad it gets, resorting to unsightly braces, or eventually surgery, if it progresses too far.
The chiropractic approach is to use specific spinal adjustments, often combined with corrective exercises. If detected early enough, chiropractic doctors have had excellent success with scoliosis cases.
Early detection in chiropractic correction is important for optimal results. Do you know someone who could benefit from the chiropractic examination?
The symptoms associated with scoliosis are often dismissed as “growing pains,” which often delays appropriate care.
WHAT IS SCOLIOSIS?
Scoliosis is a sideways curving of the spine that often gets started in childhood, when the bones of the spine are still growing. In many cases, the exact cause of scoliosis is unknown.
Scoliosis is detected by uneven shoulder heights, a loss of structural balance, or a change in posture.
Article is from Back Talk Systems, Inc. 2006
Tags: Back Injury, Chronic Pain, Treatment
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Whiplash
Posted on October 3rd, 2006
Collisions that occurred during sporting events, slips, falls or automobile crashes can all have a damaging effect on your neck and back. These types of collision-related injuries are often called a “whiplash.”
The resulting instability of the spine and soft tissues can contribute to headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, pain in the shoulders, arms and hands, reduced ability to turn and bend, and low back problems. As the body attempts to adapt, symptoms may not appear until weeks or even months later.
The chiropractic approach to these types of injuries is to use specific chiropractic adjustments to help normalize spinal function. After a thorough case history and examination, the doctor will recommend a series of visits to help restore proper motion and position of spinal bones. If caught early enough, inflammation can be reduced and scar tissue can often be minimized.
OCCUPANTS OFTEN SUFFER MORE THAN THE CAR
Whiplash is most commonly received from riding in a car that is struck from behind or that collides with another object. When the head is suddenly jerked back and forth beyond its normal limits, the muscles and ligaments supporting the head and spine can be stretched or torn. The soft, pulpy discs between spinal bones can bulge, tear, or rupture. Vertebrae can be forced out of their normal position, reducing range of motion.
Chiropractors are experts in the care of bones, nerves, muscles and connective tissues that make up about 60% of your body. All the joints in your body are part of this musculo-skeletal system and optimal function is necessary for overall good health. Ask Dr. Mike for more information about a care program that may include specific spinal adjustments, exercise recommendations, nutritional advice or other conservative methods of care based on your health history, age, current condition and lifestyle.
Tags: Anti Inflammatories, Back Injury, Chronic Pain, Headaches, Leg problems, Neck Pain, Oxygen Therapy, Reflexology, Spinal Decompression, Sports Injury, Treatment
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