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More Information
Topics:
- What happens during a chiropractic adjustment and what is that popping sound?
- Rapid stretching at the spinal joint results in significant therapeutic intervention. The exact nature of the intervention is what chiropractic researchers are just beginning to understand. On one level, muscle and ligaments stretch, blood circulation increases, and nerve fibers fire rapidly at the moment of the chiropractic adjustment. But the picture is more complicated. To understand this complexity, we need to return to the spinal joint and its neuroanatomy; the anatomy of the nerves and the nervous system. This includes the stimulation of mechanoreceptors (responds to mechanical pressure) and the stretching of muscle receptors called muscle spindles, all of which are stimulated by the chiropractic adjustment.
During the adjustment, the low back has undergone quick and gentle stretching of the spinal joint. The patient may hear a cracking or popping noise as the joint is opened. Research has proved that small pockets of air or bubbles are found in the tissue fluid surrounding a joint capsule. When the joint tissues are stretched during a chiropractic adjustment, the pockets of air 'pop' creating a cracking sound.
When the patient gets up from the table, she feels more movement in her lower back. The muscles may still be sore and tight, but spinal motion is improved. She will return to the chiropractor for two or three additional sessions that include muscle therapies and adjusting. Each session will provide more relief. The chiropractor may suggest preventive care such as specific exercises and ergonomic tips on how to correctly bend and lift. Preventive care of this type helps to maintain spinal motion. A follow-up visit may be suggested at three-month intervals.
Chiropractic: Safe and Valuable Conservative Therapy
A simple mechanical problem in the low back, its diagnosis and treatment with chiropractic care, as well as the possible implications of that care illustrates chiropractic's role in treating the spine. Chiropractic research is just beginning to investigate other implications of spinal subluxations and adjusting. This research may give us a plausible explanation for the effects chiropractic appears to have on a wide range of medical conditions and disorders, especially those of a functional and/or non-organic nature.
Chiropractic is not a cure-all for all back problems. Sometimes chiropractic adjusting is not indicated or successful. Some back problems require other treatment interventions including surgery.
Chiropractic has proven to be a safe and valuable conservative therapy in treating mechanical disturbances of the spine, with possible wider implications for health and wellness.
Look at the Spinal Nerve Chart by clicking on this link and see where all your nerves travel to in you body!
Discussion of some of the nutritional supplements that Dr. Silber may recommend.
NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT FOR VARIOUS PROBLEMS
Glucosamine Sulfate
Look at the Arthritis Foundation's website's commentary on Glucosamine by clicking on this link!
FORMULA 303™ Natural Relaxant
A Homeopathic Formula for Natural Relief of Muscle Spasm, Tension and Stress
Formula 303 contains a time-tested combination of NATURAL ingredients that works FAST to relieve:
• Muscle Spasm
• Pulled Muscles
• Tight Muscles
• Leg Cramps • Backache or Back Sprain
• PMS and Menstrual Cramps
• Tension and Stress
• Nervousness
Formula 303 has been widely distributed by Chiropractors
and other professional practitioners for many years.
Formula 303's Ingredients:
Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis) - used for centuries to calm upset nerves and for treating mood problems, pain and headache. Today homeopaths and herbalists use Valerian root for its antispasmodic, calmative, tranquilizing, carminative (good for upset stomach and digestion) and pain relieving effects. (approximately 264 mg)
Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata) - discovered in 1569 it is primarily used as a sedative or nervine to combat excess nervousness and anxiety, to tranquilize, and to promote sleep; as an anodyne, anti-spasmodic and anti-convulsant to treat dysmenorrhea, muscle cramps, and so forth. (approximately 132 mg)
Magnesium - is one of the most important essential minerals to promote proper nerve function. It is a key element in the stabilization of nerve cells, without which, the nerves would be in a constant state of excitation (a state known as tetany.) (approximately 65 mg)
WHAT IS FLAX SEED OIL AND WHAT ARE ITS BENEFITS? Learn here..
Flax Seed Oil is a blue flowering plant that is grown on the Western Canadian Prairies for its oil rich seeds. This natural oil (also known as Linseed Oil) is highly recommended for the general well being and whole body nutrition and is considered to be nature's richest source of omega-3 fatty acids that are required for the health of almost all body systems.
Flax Seed Oil contains omega-6 and omega-9 essential fatty acids, B vitamins, potassium, lecithin, magnesium, fiber, protein, and zinc and also provides approximately 50% more omega-3 oils than what you could get from taking fish oil, minus that horrible "fishy" after taste.
Some nutritionists, researchers, and scientists believe that it could be one of the most important health-promoting supplements next to a multi-vitamin. Nearly every system in the body can benefit from flax seed oil's natural properties, including the cardiovascular system, immune system, circulatory system, reproductive system, nervous system, as well as joints.
Just look at this list of facts and studies of what Flax Seed Oil can and may accomplish:
- Research shows low incidence of breast cancer and colon cancer in populations that have high amounts of lignan in their diet. Flax is 100 times richer in lignan than most whole grains.
- Studies show that Omega-3 fatty acids help lower cholesterol and blood triglycerides, and prevent clots in arteries, which may result in strokes, heart attacks and thromboses.
- Helps protect the body against high blood pressure, inflammation, water retention, sticky platelets and lowered immune function.
- Shortens recovery time for fatigued muscles after exertion.
- Increases the body's production of energy and also increases stamina.
- Accelerates the healing of sprains and bruises.
- Eases weight loss in people afflicted with obesity.
- Stimulates brown fat cells and increases the metabolic rate making it easier to burn off fat.
- Improves the absorption of Calcium.
- Strengthens finger and toenails.
- Can improve eyesight and perception of colors.
- Can often improve the function of the liver.
- Can relieve the side effects and stop development of many forms of cancer.
- Can relieve some cases of Asthma.
- Helpful in the treatment of Eczema, Psoriasis, and Dandruff.
- Can relieve the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis. It can relieve the symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus.
- Can alleviate some allergies.
- Helps prevent Atherosclerosis (the accumulation of fatty deposits inside the blood vessels, especially the large and medium-sized arteries, that many people experience during the aging process).
- Lowers high blood pressure in some Hypertension sufferers.
- Has been scientifically proven to treat some cases of depression.
- Can improve the mental function of many people
- May help some in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.
- Has been proven to improve some of the issues associated with mental illness.
- Can relieve some cases of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) in females.
Unfortunately, our current diets do not come close to meeting our daily EFA (essential fatty acids) requirements. The richest sources of EFAs such as flax seeds, cold-water fish, and soy and canola oils are rarely found in our regular meals. In addition, more typical foods like red meats and egg yolks can actually encourage the body's production of bad prostaglandins. Flax Seed oil can help restore the body's natural balance of good and bad prostaglandins.
How much do I take a day?
Flax seed oil takes a bit of time to be absorbed into the body before the full beneficial effects begin, ranging anywhere from a few days to as many as six weeks, depending on your overall well-being.
Alpha Lipoic Acid Tablets
In the late 1980s, scientists realized that alpha-lipoic acid, a compound initially classified as a vitamin when it was discovered three decades earlier, possessed potent antioxidant properties that could prevent healthy cells from getting damaged by unstable oxygen molecules called free radicals. In fact, this vitaminlike compound has proved to be many times more potent than such old guard antioxidants as vitamins C and E. As a perk, it even recycles C and E (as well as other antioxidants), enhancing their effectiveness.
Because it dissolves in both water and fat, this so-called "universal antioxidant" is able to scavenge more wayward free-radical cells than most antioxidants, the majority of which tend to dissolve in either fat or water but not both. Alpha-lipoic acid can reach tissues composed mainly of fat, such as the nervous system, as well as those made mainly of water, such as the heart.
Also known as lipoic acid or thioctic acid, alpha-lipoic acid is mainly derived from dietary sources (spinach, liver, brewer's yeast), although scientists have discovered that the body does manufacture small supplies of its own. In order to get the concentrated doses needed to treat specific ailments, however, many experts recommend supplements.
Health Benefits
In addition to functioning as an antioxidant, this hard-working nutrient assists the B vitamins in producing energy from the proteins, carbohydrates, and fats consumed through foods.
Intravenous forms of alpha-lipoic acid are administered in hospitals to treat cases of acute mushroom poisoning and for other cases of acute poisoning that affect the liver.
Studies indicate that alpha-lipoic acid supplements hold promise for treating various disorders, including HIV infection, liver ailments, and glaucoma. But it has been most intensively studied for preventing complications from diabetes.
Specifically, alpha-lipoic acid may help to:
Treat symptoms of nerve damage in people with diabetes. Alpha-lipoic acid has been used for decades in Europe to counter nerve damage in people with diabetes (types 1 and 2). Known as diabetic neuropathy, this often very painful condition tends to develop in people who have had uncontrolled diabetes for a long time. The neuropathy may be caused in part by free-radical damage to nerves resulting from poorly regulated blood sugar (glucose). As an antioxidant, alpha-lipoic acid helps to block such damage. In addition, because of its effect on glucose metabolism, lipoic acid my improve the glucose-lowering action of insulin (the hormone that regulates blood sugar).
In one clinical trial, 328 people with diabetic neuropathy received either 100 mg, 600 mg, or 1,200 mg a day of alpha-lipoic acid for three weeks. Participants who took 600 mg daily had the greatest reduction in pain and numbness. And in a separate study, blood sugar levels dropped in 74 people with type 2 diabetes who took 600 mg or more of alpha-lipoic acid daily.
Alpha-lipoic acid may also aid the large percentage (approximately 25%) of people with diabetes who risk sudden death from nerve-related heart damage. In one study, improved heart function was observed in people at risk for this complication who took 800 mg of alpha-lipoic acid daily for four months.
Preserve brain function in aging adults. Results from animal studies indicate that alpha-lipoic acid may improve long-term memory. Much remains to be learned about whether this occurs in humans, but it may be worth trying this powerful antioxidant when a disease such as Alzheimer's starts to erode memory. In addition, alpha-lipoic acid holds promise for preserving brain cells following a stroke or other type of trauma that restricts blood flow to the brain.
Prevent cancer. As an antioxidant, alpha-lipoic acid holds promise for protecting the body against changes in healthy cells that lead to cancer. The evidence for this cancer-preventive effect is still preliminary, however.
Lessen numbness and tingling. Alpha-lipoic acid may benefit anyone whose limbs tend to tingle or become numb, or "fall asleep" due to nerve compression. In animal studies, alpha-lipoic acid increased blood flow to the nerves and improved transmission of nerve impulses.
Protect the liver in cases of hepatitis and other types of liver disease. As an antioxidant, alpha-lipoic acid shields the liver from potentially harmful cell changes and assists it in flushing toxins from the body. This makes it useful in treating such liver disorders as chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Alpha-lipoic acid supplements have also proved effective in minimizing liver toxicity following exposure to poisons such as heavy metals (including lead) and toxic industrial chemicals such as carbon tetrachloride.
Combat chronic fatigue syndrome. Because it plays a part in cellular energy production, some nutritionally oriented physicians recommend alpha-lipoic acid for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome. While evidence of its effectiveness for this condition is anecdotal, alpha-lipoic acid is a broad-spectrum antioxidant and immune system booster. This means it may be able to play a valuable role in increasing energy and maintaining overall health in chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers.
Reduce the incidence of cataracts. Alpha-lipoic acid has kept cataracts from forming in animals, an effect that may occur in humans, too, but still requires more investigation. The compound also increases the potency of vitamins C and E, both nutrients that protect the eye's lens from harmful ultraviolet light.
Remedy Fem Forte-Black Cohosh, Dong Quai
Black Cohosh
More than two centuries ago, Native Americans discovered that the root of the black cohosh plant (Cimicifuga racemosa) helped relieve menstrual cramps, and symptoms of menopause including hot flashes, irritability, mood swings, and sleep disturbances. Today, the roots of black cohosh are still often used for these purposes. In fact, the herb has been widely used for more than 40 years in Europe and is approved in Germany for premenstrual discomfort, painful menstruation, and menopausal symptoms.
Menopausal Symptoms
A dozen studies or more conducted throughout the 1980s and 1990s confirm that the long-standing use of black cohosh for menopausal symptoms has scientific validity. For example, in a German study involving 629 women, black cohosh improved physical and psychological menopausal symptoms in more than 80% of the participants within four weeks. In a second study, 60 menopausal women were given black cohosh extract, conjugated estrogens, or diazepam (a leading anti-anxiety medication) for three months. Those who received black cohosh reported feeling significantly less depressed and anxious than those who received either estrogens or diazepam. In another study, 80 menopausal women were treated for 12 weeks with black cohosh extract, conjugated estrogens, or placebo. Black cohosh improved anxiety, menopause and vaginal symptoms. In addition, the number of hot flashes dropped from 5 to less than 1 average daily occurences in the black cohosh group compared to those taking estrogen in whom hot flashes dropped from 5 to 3.5 daily occurences.
Given these examples, and results of other studies, some experts have concluded that black cohosh may be a safe and effective alternative to estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) for women who cannot or will not take ERT for menopause.
Dong Quai
Dong quai has been used in Asia for thousands of years as a tonic for the female reproductive system. In fact, it ranks just below ginseng as the most popular herb in China and Japan, although its effectiveness has yet to be substantiated by conventional Western standards.
Dong quai is derived from the gnarled root of the Chinese perennial Angelica sinensis and the root of the native Japanese A. acutiloba. Both species have eight-foot hollow stems graced by umbrella-shaped clusters of white flowers. When in bloom, the blossoms resemble Queen's Anne lace, a botanical cousin. Common names for the herb include angelica, Chinese angelica, dang gui and tang kuie. Interestingly, European and American angelica species (A. archangelica and A. atropurpurea) are used medicinally as well, but for a different constellation of symptoms altogether, none of them gynecological.
Health Benefits
Dong quai helps to promote uterine health and regulate the menstrual cycle. Some researchers contend that active ingredients called coumarins are responsible for its effectiveness. Coumarins dilate blood vessels, stimulating the central nervous system and increasing blood flow throughout the body. They may also relax the smooth muscles of the uterus, which would help to explain the herb's traditional use for menstrual cramps.
Other experts claim that dong quai's powers should be attributed to its phytoestrogens, which are weaker than the estrogens produced by the body but do manage to bind to estrogen sites on human cells. Potentially negative effects of a women's own estrogens--such as breast cancer risk--may be offset in this way. More long-term studies of dong quai are needed, however, to fully assess how it affects the body, a task made all the more challenging because dong quai tends to appear in combination products. It's commonly added to herbal decongestant mixes for sinus problems, for example, and to special "women's formulas" for PMS (premenstrual syndrome) and menstrual cramping.
Specifically, dong quai may help to:
Relieve PMS and menstrual irregularities. Dong quai's reputation as a female tonic rests largely with its ability to reduce the symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) and regulate the menstrual cycle. Countless women have used it to treat amenorrhea (irregular or absent periods) and menorrrhagia (heavy bleeding or prolonged periods). The herb's long-standing popularity for reducing menstrual cramps has been ascribed to its anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic actions.
Reduce the pain of endometriosis. Dong quai works well in combination with chasteberry to restore the hormonal imbalances that can cause the often severe pain of this disorder. When taken together, the herbs can also relax the uterine muscle.
Minimize menopausal symptoms. In combination with herbs such as black cohosh, chasteberry, and Siberian ginseng, dong quai appears to be useful for controlling hot flashes and reducing vaginal dryness. The herb's phytoestrogens may help by compensating for menopause-related drops in natural estrogen levels. However, in recent studies involving postmenopausal women, dong quai proved to be no more effective than a placebo in relieving such common menopausal symptoms as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. In one study, the herb and the placebo both reduced the frequency of hot flashes by 25% to 30%. This type of disappointing result may simply highlight the importance of taking dong quai in combination with other herbs.
Nourish body fluids, counter fatigue, and lower blood pressure. As a rich source of vitamin B12, dong quai may play a role in stimulating red blood cell production. It may therefore indirectly boost energy and lessen fatigue by increasing the number of red blood cells transporting oxygen throughout the body. When used in conjunction with other herbs, dong quai also mildly dilates blood vessels, facilitating the heart's pumping ability and possibly lowering blood pressure as a result. Chinese doctors have long prescribed the herb for high blood pressure and circulatory problems.
Wild Mexican Yam
Common Use: In 1936, Japanese researchers discovered glycoside saponins in several Mexican yam species, from these, steroid saponins, primarily diosgenin, could be derived. These derivatives could then be converted to progesterone, an intermediate in cortisone production. Steroid drugs derived from diosgenin include corticosteroids, oral contraceptives, androgens and estrogens (yams do not contain , as sometimes believed, full blown estrogens or other hormones - these substances are produced after four processing steps). Such findings might help explain why, during the previous two centuries of American medicine, wild yam roots have successfully been employed in treating menstrual cramps, ovarian neuralgia and cramps, after pains and other problems of menses and child birth. Also known to have a therapeutic action on overall liver health, it is believed that wild yam root's ability to lower blood cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure indirectly helps the liver by increasing its efficiency and reducing stress. Also indicated in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, especially the acute phase where there is intense inflammation.
Vitamin B12-Methylcobalamin
Vitamin B12's primary functions are in the formation of red blood cells and the maintenence of a healthy nervous system. B12 is necessary for the rapid synthesis of DNA during cell division. This is especially important in tissues where cells are dividing rapidly, particularly the bone marrow tissues responsible for red blood cell formation. If B12 deficiency occurs, DNA production is disrupted and abnormal cells called megaloblasts occur. This results in anaemia. Symptoms include excessive tiredness, breathlessness, listlessness, pallor, and poor resistance to infection. Other symptoms can include a smooth, sore tongue and menstrual disorders. Anaemia may also be due to folic acid deficiency, folic acid also being necessary for DNA synthesis.
B12 is also important in maintaining the nervous system. Nerves are surrounded by an insulating fatty sheath comprised of a complex protein called myelin. B12 plays a vital role in the metabolism of fatty acids essential for the maintainence of myelin. Prolonged B12 deficiency can lead to nerve degeneration and irreversible neurological damage.
When deficiency occurs, it is more commonly linked to a failure to effectively absorb B12 from the intestine rather than a dietary deficiency. Absorption of B12 requires the secretion from the cells lining the stomach of a glycoprotein, known as intrinsic factor. The B12-intrinsic factor complex is then absorbed in the ileum (part of the small intestine) in the presence of calcium. Certain people are unable to produce intrinsic factor and the subsequent pernicious anaemia is treated with injections of B12.
Vitamin B12 can be stored in small amounts by the body. Total body store is 2-5mg in adults. Around 80% of this is stored in the liver.
Vitamin B12 is excreted in the bile and is effectively reabsorbed. This is known as enterohepatic circulation. The amount of B12 excreted in the bile can vary from 1 to 10ug (micrograms) a day. People on diets low in B12, including vegans and some vegetarians, may be obtaining more B12 from reabsorption than from dietary sources. Reabsorption is the reason it can take over 20 years for deficiency disease to develop in people changing to diets absent in B12. In comparison, if B12 deficiency is due to a failure in absorption it can take only 3 years for deficiency disease to occur.
Vitamin B12 is not easily absorbed as we age and deficiency can occur. So, Sublinqual (under the tongue) Vitamin B12 is used to bypass the stomach and is absorbed directly into the bloodstream. It is often combined with Folic Acid, B6, and Biotin.
Non-Flush Niacin
Niacin (B-3) is one of the best researched for all the vitamins, and the evidence for using it to treat high blood cholesterol, triglycerides, poor circulation, stress, leg cramps, headaches and diabetes.
No-flush Niacin (Inositol hexanicotinate as “IHN? is a special form of Niacin that is slowly hydrolyzed to a form of six-to-one (6:1) molar ratio of Niacin and inositol. Its unique properties may maintain the function of both Niacin and inositol, and allow for true niacin effects without Niacin’s unpleasant flushing sensation.
Research Information
Studies showing that IHN improves lipid profiles date back as far as the early 1960s. In an in vitro study using fat cells from rats, IHN was found to be more effective than niacin in reducing hypercholesterolemia. When given to rabbits on a fatty diet, IHN resulted in normalization of all lipid fractions, including cholesterol.
In human subjects, studies has shown IHN to reduce cholesterol that was even more profound than that produced by niacin. In a clinical study conducted in Germany, IHN was compared with niacin and other nicotinic acid derivatives for their ability to control free fatty acid levels overnight. IHN, but not niacin, was found to be capable of producing a significant reduction in free fatty acids during the entire night. The reseachers suggested that IHN should be a good choice for producing a prolonged reduction in blood lipids. Two other German studies have also found that IHN is more effective in reducing levels of LDL and VLDL , and was also effective in raising HDL levels in some types of hyperlipidemia. They suggest that IHN is a safe and effective alternative to niacin and does not cause the flush that many people find so unpleasant.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
The information presented here is not presented with the intention of diagnosing any disease or condition or prescribing any treatment. It is offered as information only, for use in the maintenance and promotion of good health in cooperation with a licensed medical practitioner. In the event that any individual should use the information presented on this website without a licensed medical practitioner's approval, that individual will be diagnosing for him or herself. No responsibility is assumed by the author, publisher or distributors of this information should the information be used in place of a licensed medical practioner's services. No guarantees of any kind are made for the performance or effectiveness of the preparations mentioned on this website.
- Chiropractic Philosophy
- The chiropractic perspective on health and disease emphasizes two fundamental concepts:
1) the structure and condition of the body influences how the body functions and its ability to heal itself;
and
2) the mind-body relationship is instrumental in maintaining health and in the healing processes.
Although chiropractic shares much with other health professions, its emphasis and application of philosophy distinguishes it from modern medicine. Chiropractic philosophy gravitates toward a holistic ("total person") approach to healing which combines elements of the mind, body and spirit and maintains that health depends on obedience to natural laws, and that deviation from such laws can result in illness.
- Widespread Use of Chiropractic Care and Acupuncture
Dr. Silber is certified in Acupuncture
- The increasing interest in alternative forms of care has caught the attention of several health associations and government agencies. A 1993 study in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that "The estimated number of visits made in 1990 to providers of unconventional therapy was greater than the number of visits to all primary care medical nationwide," and chiropractic was among the most frequently used non-medical therapies.
A followup report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 found that the use of non-medical treatments had increased significantly since the 1990 survey, with "overall prevalence of use increased by 25%, total visits by an estimated 47%, and expenditures on services provided by practitioners of alternative therapies by an estimated 45%." Of the survey respondents, one in nine (11%) had used chiropractic care within the previous year.
Most of our patients come to us by referral. Who have you spoken with about the miracles of chiropractic care?
ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY SYNDROME
In recent years, chiropractic medicine has shown some promising results in caring for children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also commonly referred to as attention deficit disorder, or ADD.
While drugs, such as Ritalin, have demonstrated some effectiveness in treating ADD, many in the medical community are beginning to fear that it may be over-prescribed in this country. Simply throwing a pill at a problem often only addresses the symptoms-and not the root, or causes-of the problem.
Research has shown that posture can have a direct impact on motor activity in the brain. A correctly aligned spine, therefore, could benefit a hyperactive child. Nonsurgical and nonmedication treatments, including counseling on posture, nutrition and lifestyle changes, have been shown to have positive effects on ADD patients.
- Healthy Tips for a Healthy Spine
Please click on the Exercise Link below.
- The following tips can help you take better care of your spine:
1) Make sure you have a firm mattress that keeps the spine aligned and supports the spine's natural curve. The best sleeping positions are on your back or side.
2) When standing for extended periods, rest one foot on a small stool to maintain spinal curvature and relieve pressure. The knees should be bent when bending forward. Low-heeled shoes may help by maintaining spinal curvatures and cushioning your weight.
3) Use chairs that promote good posture and support your back. Placing a lumbar support in the lower portion of your back may help support your spine's natural curve. Readjust the seat of your car so that your knees are level with your hips.
4) When bending forward, bend at the knees and hips, but keep your back straight. This will help to keep your spine's curvature in proper alignment. When lifting, keep your spine straight while using your legs to do most of the work. Hold the objects being lifted close to your body to keep the weight on your spine to a minimum.
Please Click on Exercising and You
- Headaches and Migraines
- Headaches
More than 90% of headaches can be classified as tension, migraine, or
cervicogenic headaches. Of these, the tension headache is the most common type.
The symptoms are mild to moderate pain on both sides of the head, and they are
described as feeling "tight" or "stiff" in a band around the head.
Migraines are usually periodic, severe, throbbing headaches that are less common.
They typically affect more women than men, and usually only cause pain on one
side of the head. They are often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and may
also present with a visual disturbance called an aura.
Cervicogenic headaches are a musculoskeletal form of tension type headaches,
which may also be related to migraines. Due to the relative newness of this
classification of headache, these headaches often go undiagnosed.
Millions of adults get headaches on a regular basis, and they are among the most
common physical complaints for which people seek medical assistance. Most
headaches are not due to serious underlying conditions, but they can be
debilitating and account for large amounts of time lost from work.
If you are a headache sufferer, the obvious concern is to get safe and dependable
relief. You should be aware that over-use of drugs (even over-the-counter drugs)
can have serious side effects, and can even cause a specific type of headache
called a "analgesic rebound headache."
What can Chiropractic do?
Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to be as effective or even more
effective than medications in reducing the severity and frequency of headaches.
Chiropractic's ability to correct biomechanical dysfunction and spinal abnormalities
seems to lessen or remove the factors contributing to headache pain in many
individuals. In the article "The Effectiveness of Chiropractic Manipulation in the
Treatment of Headache: An Exploration of the Literature," (JMPT, 1996) the
author states that adjustments are equivalent to or more effective than medications,
and have the added benefit of greater durability or length of positive effects of the
treatment. This result has been reported throughout the research.
Another concern of patients is the risk factors involved in the treatment. In fact,
Chiropractic manipulation has been shown in studies to be safer than medical
treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, including headaches. In a 1996 study in
the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics entitled "A Risk
Assessment of Cervical Manipulation vs. NSAIDs for the Treatment of Neck
Pain," the authors conclude, "The best evidence indicates that cervical
manipulation for neck pain is much safer than the use of NSAIDs (e.g. aspirin,
ibuprofen, and Tylenol), by as much as a factor of several hundred times. There is
no evidence that indicates that NSAID use is any more effective than cervical
manipulation for neck pain.
Chiropractic is a safe and effective treatment of headaches that has helped many
patients with their debilitating problems.
Vertebral subluxations are displacements of the spinal bones (vertebrae) that can cause stress to your spinal cord and nervous system. Subluxations may be caused by poor sleeping habits, poor posture, strenuous exercise, injuries, auto accidents, sports, slips or falls, and in some cases, the birthing process itself.
Chiropractic adjustments are very helpful in correcting subluxations and restoring optimal health.
- Whiplash
Why you should be seen at the Silber Chiropractic Center first!!!
The injury known as "Whiplash" or "Cervical Accerlation/Deceleration Syndrome " happens in most auto accidents. Whiplash can happen even in minor accidents, but your M.D. may not tell you is that it can have major, permanent effects on your life and your health forever! Very few doctors are trained adequately to know what the far reaching medical ramifications of whiplash are.
Whiplash injuries affect the lives of over 1,000,000 people in the U.S. every year and experts estimate that between 25-40% of these people will have permanent and chronic symptoms. Whiplash is an epidemic health problem.
The situation is made worse by the fact that auto insurance companies try to claim that whiplash is not a real condition. What the insurance companies don't want you to know is that the medical literature is quite clear that whiplash is real, and literally hundreds of articles have been published that help us understand what causes the condition, and what kinds of symptoms occur from a whiplash injury.
Consider the fact that your head weighs about the same as a regulation bowling ball and it sits on a slender, flexible, and the most fragile part of the spine, the neck. When whiplash occurs and you are struck by another vehicle, thousands of pounds of force (G-forces-like jet fighter pilots experience) are exerted on the neck and spine. In the first few milliseconds of being struck from behind your auto is accelerated forward and your body thrusts backwards into the seat flexing it backwards like an olympic diving board. When your body and the seatback can't go back any further, the seat and the torso are rapidly accelerated forward, but your heavy head continues going backwards relative to the auto causing the neck to be unnaturally bent backward thus tearing and damaging muscles, ligaments, discs and other soft tissues. Often the body "ramps" upwards and the head goes back over the top of the headrest adding more to the injury. Sometimes the occupant will hit the top of the car thus jamming the neck again. Finally, the head and neck are accelerated forward with a "whiplash" motion causing more injury. Lifesaving restraints such as seatbelts, shoulder harnesses, airbags, and head restraints which save lives can increase the forces delivered to the head and neck consequently causing more soft tissue injury.
Autos today are designed to sustain minor impacts without visible damage, but research has conclusively proven that the forces from even low speed rear impacts can result in very significant occupant impulses and injury. The amount of propertry damage to your car may have no bearing on how badly you are hurt!
Have you been in an Auto Accident? Many people think their injuries or conditions are minor...even non-existent. Only later did they discover they had received major, lifelong damage and trauma. Your “minor” auto accident or injuries might turn into lifelong pain. Worst of all, all this is usually avoidable if you get proper early treatment. The longer you wait,the more damage your body incurs living with this trauma.
AUTO ACCIDENT INJURIES NOT TAKEN CARE OF, ARE LIKE CAVITIES LEFT UNATTENDED:
The more you ignore it, the more painful it gets!
Did you know most other doctors do NOT specialize in spotting and treating auto accident victims’ injuries? You wouldn’t take your car to a plumber to get it fixed, or go to an accountant for legal advice. You should only seek care from a chiropractic professional that specializes in traumatic injuries for people involved in auto accidents, whiplash injuries, and the like. Why? There are specific “hidden signs” that a non-specialist might easily overlook.
Even if you’ve already been examined by your family doctor or the emergency room, it is very wise to come to the Silber Chiropractic Center for an expert second opinion. CALL TODAY!!!
We know that right now you might be in pain due to your injuries or you are wondering what to do now. But you might be afraid to visit a chiropractic physician or you just weren’t sure what to do as the next step. As a chiropractic office, we have treated thousands of patients with questions, concerns, and fears similar to your own. Hopefully you look to us as your consultants and caregivers during this period of your life. We have been very successful helping patients involved in every imaginable accident – from major auto accident collisions, to minor falls, and every day aches and pains.
If your auto accident injuries are major or even minor or if you are in pain, call us today at(203)377-4488. If your injuries seem minor or if you feel that nothing’s wrong, it's always prudent to have your neck and spine examined anyway. Often, pain may not occur until a later date. Call us now to get a check-up exam to insure no serious injuries have occurred. You may have “silent” symptoms. Why wouldn’t you get it checked out? It is the smart thing to do especially if a child is involved.
It is the people with so-called “minor” accident injuries that concern me the most. They don’t see their problem as urgent. Call us today!
What is Whiplash?
Whiplash is defined as "an injury to the cervical spine caused by an abrupt jerking motion of the head, either backward of forward."
What Happens in Whiplash?
Whiplash usually occurs when the head and neck are unexpectedly or suddenly thrown very quickly in one direction and then rebound in the opposite direction. You might say the head is "whipped around" on the neck.
A whiplash type injury doesn't only occur in automobile accidents. Whiplash injuries may occur as a result of sudden forces to the body such as in contact sports like football, soccer, or boxing, falls, direct trauma to the skull or even a sudden sneeze.
Whiplash Symptoms:
If you experience any of the following after any accident, you may have whiplash:
headaches, head and neck pains, stiff neck, muscle spasms
restricted head motion
equilibrium problems, loss of hearing, ringing in the ears
experiencing eye strain
feeling light-headed, excessively tired, or blacked out
experiencing any neuralgia (nerve pain) or neuritis (nerve inflammation)
cold hands or feet, or numbness of arms, hands, shoulders, feet or legs
experiencing periods of unexplained depression, anxiety, irritability
unable to concentrate, poor memory
pains between the shoulders, low back pains, tremors, rapid heartbeat
Symptoms of whiplash-type injuries may develop quickly, or then again may not show up for hours, days, weeks. Therefore, following even a minor accident, the kind where you just feel "shaken up", a visit to the doctor of chiropractic is in order.
A doctor of chiropractic will make a thorough examination, including the use of x-rays and clinical laboratory tests. Following evaluation, the chiropractor will make the necessary delicate spinal adjustments to correct any misalignment of vertebrae; also alleviating pinching of nerves or constriction of blood supply to the body.
Do not put off an early visit to your doctor chiropractic following any accident!
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:
Causes: Like many skeletomuscular disorders, CTS has a variety of causes. It is most often the result of a combination of factors.
Among these are:
Genetic predisposition. Certain people are more likely than others to get CTS. The amount of natural lubrication of the flexor tendons varies from person to person. The less lubrication, the more likely is CTS. One study has related the cross-sectional shape of the wrist, and the associated geometry of the carpal tunnel, to CTS. Certain tunnel geometrics are more susceptible to tendon irritation.
Health and lifestyle. People with diabetes, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis are more prone than others to develop CTS, as are those experiencing the hormonal changes related to pregnancy, menopause, and the use of birth control pills. Job stress has also been inked to an increased likelihood of CTS. And CTS seems to be more frequent among alcoholics.
Repetitive motion. The most common cause of CTS that's been attributed to the workplace is repetitive motion. When you flex your hand or fingers in flexor tendons rub against the walls of the carpal tunnel. If you allow your hand time to recover, this rubbing is not likely to lead to irritation. The amount of recovery time you need varies from fractions of a second to minutes, depending on many circumstances, including the genetic and health factors mentioned above, as well as the intensity of the flexing, the weight of any objects in your hand, and the extent to which you bend your wrist during flexing.
Early Detection
The most painful cases of CTS are those that have gone undetected or untreated over a long time. CTS can be cause easily in its early states, however, and much of the pain and all of the disability avoided.
Early symptoms include a tingling in the fingers, often beginning several hours after work activity has stopped. Because of this delay in the appearance of symptoms, many CTS sufferers don't make the connection between their work activities and the pain they feel until it's too late. The tingling can lead, over time, to stiffness and numbness in the fingers and hand, and then to severe wrist and hand pain.
For many individuals the early symptoms of CTS go unnoticed. Employers and co-workers can help one another identify the onset of CTS by watching for and pointing out any unconscious shaking of the hands, rubbing of the wrists, or unusual postures or hand positions at the keyboard.
At the first sign of CTS, you should be examined by a doctor who specializes in hand and wrist disorders. The doctor can perform a number of simple tests to detect CTS, and can prescribe specific steps for avoiding the problem.
- Disc Problems
- Disc Problems
Discs act as shock absorbers when the spine undergoes a sudden change of movement, unusual pressure, or forceful jarring.The discs also give us more than a foot of our height. As a person grows older, thinning discs make him appear to shrink.
Three Types of Disc Trouble
Generally, disc problems fall into three categories:
1. Slipped disc
2. Ruptured disc
3. Disc Degeneration
The spine is designed to withstand a great deal of stress and strain; but a fall, a back injury, a violent sneeze, or long-continued strain may throw a vertebra out of position, protrude a disc, and compress nerves. This is usually called slipped disc and happens at one time or another to about two out of five adults.
In a true rupture, the tough outer portion of the disc is torn or split, and the soft portion then protrudes and often presses against spinal nerves. But when the outer covering only weakens and bulges (slips), chiropractic adjustments will often release the vertebra from its locked position, allowing the disc to return to normal and relieve the pressure on spinal nerves.
What is Disc Degeneration?
As we grow older and less active the tough elastic tissue of the disc begins to lose its fluid. The loss of fluid thins and weakens the disc making its function as a shock absorber for the spine ineffective.
Although the discs BEGIN to degenerate after about 25 years of age, everyone SHOULD be able to complete his entire life span with no discomfort from this aging process. It is when the degeneration speeds up beyond normal that a person is likely to have trouble. The fast-weakening disc begins to bulge like a weak wall on an automobile tire and gradually protrudes into the spinal canal to press against nerves and cause pain.
What Causes Speed-Up of Degeneration?
Even young persons may suffer from disc degeneration due to poor nutrition. This is not malnutrition in the sense of what we eat. It has to do with starved disc tissue. Every cell of the body must be fed correctly in order to maintain its proper function...and the disc is no exception. The disc must absorb its nutrition from the fluids which surround it.
The disc may get some of its food through osmosis, but adequate absorption of nutrients takes place when the disc is in a state of accordion-like motion. when in motion it squeezes the surrounding fluid in and out, much like the action of a sponge. Some of the factors affecting disc nutrition are in-activity, poor posture, stress, weak muscles, injuries, muscle spasms, and fixation (two adjoining vertebrae moving as one).
Low Back Discs Give Most Trouble
Any of the spinal discs can be injured or undergo degeneration; but because of their location, discs in the lower spine are subjected to the greatest weight-bearing stress and are most likely to slip or be compressed.
Persons who do a lot of lifting are likely candidates for disc trouble because of the day-to-day stress upon the low back. Regardless of occupation, anyone may have weak, degenerated discs. Office workers, inveterate bridge players, and chronic TV watchers are often affected since prolonged sitting is a primary cause of disc trouble.
What Can Be Done?
Fortunately, 95% of all disc cases can be managed through modern chiropractic methods. Years of research and experience in disc cases qualifies the doctor of chiropractic as the doctor of choice in acute and chronic disc problems.
Chiropractic Care For Disc Problems
Specialized chiropractic techniques in disc care include:
1. Thorough chiropractic examination to determine extent and cause
2. Realigning the spinal column
3. Balancing the spine and pelvis
4. Eliminating fixations
5. Reducing vertebral subluxations
6. Stimulating disc nutrition
7. Revitalizing ligaments and muscles
Chiropractic techniques may be employed in the management of particular disc problems. Any person suffering from acute or chronic back pain should see a doctor of chiropractic to determine the cause and what should be done about it. Part of proper treatment is prevention of additional disc damage. Dr. Silber knows DISC PROBLEMS and can help you.
DO YOU NEED CHIROPRACTIC FOOT ORTHOTICS?
Foot orthotics encompasses the field of knowledge about improving the function of the foot. The use of foot orthotics has gained acceptance and popularity in recent years.
Approximately 80-90% of the athletes who come into my office need a foot orthotic. At least half of non-athletic patients need them, too.
Many sports injury professionals do not realize that a large number athletic overuse injuries of the lower extremities are caused by poor foot biomechanics. The successful sports chiropractor must be able to diagnose and treat overuse injuries caused by inadequate foot biomechanics.
The most common biomechanical abnormality of the foot is overpronation. It has been estimated, by several well-known authors, that 60-90% of the general population overpronates somewhat.
A large number of injuries to the body may be due to overpronation, resulting in pain to the leg, knee, hip or lumbosacral region.
David Walther, D.C. states, "After correcting a very difficult shoulder condition by treating the patient's overpronation, a new rule was practiced in our office: New patients are not examined with their shoes and socks on. It is important to at least screen the foot for a possibility of contributing to remote health problems." This is why chiropractors do their examination in the standing or weight-bearing position and when the ortotics are casted, they on done standing. Other doctors such as podiatrists and orthopedic surgeons cast their orthotics while the patient is sitting in a chair. Deformities and abnormalities can disappear when the patient is not weight-bearing.
Overpronation of the foot takes place in the sub-talar joint. The sub-talar joint is located between the talus and the calcaneus and is considered the keystone joint of the foot. Supination and pronation are normal motions of the foot. Overpronation of the foot causes the tibia to medially rotate. This rotation has an effect on the femur, patella, ilium, sacrum and the entire musculoskeletal system.
Overpronation causes 60-90% of all foot and lower extremity pathologies associated with overuse injuries.
Examination Procedures
Examination procedures for overpronation are simple to perform. The patient stands facing the doctor with his shoes and socks off. The patient should then alternately stand on one foot and then the other.
The doctor observes for a medial rotation of the tibia and a medial rotation of the foot. The doctor can also observe the patient walking and running.
To fully understand overpronation, one must have a working knowledge of the gait cycle. The gait cycle is defined as the motions of a leg from the heel strike of one foot to the heel strike of that foot again. The gait cycle has two phases: the stance phase and the swing phase.
The stance phase is the most important part of the gait cycle in relation to sports injuries. The stance phase is divided into three parts: the contact phase, the midstance phase, and the take-off phase.
The contact phase is from the heel strike until the foot is flat- footed. Normal contact is with the foot in a slightly supinated position and the heel contact taking place on the lateral side of the heel. In this plane, the foot rapidly pronates which allows for shock absorption and for the foot to adapt to the terrain.
The midstance phase is from the flat-footed position until the heel lifts off. In this phase the foot supinates to become a platform for support of the body's weight. This phase can be described as a conversion to a rigid lever.
The take-off phase is from heel-lift to toe-off. In this phase the foot continues to supinate and the tarsals are locked for the foot to become a rigid lever.
Today's sports injury specialist must be able to diagnose abnormal foot biomechanics to successfully treat the cause of many sports injuries. Usually, a foot orthotic is required to correct overpronation of the foot.
Dr. Silber has casted hundreds of patients for orthotics who have had problems stemming from arthritis, diabetes, sports injuries, back problems and so on. His orthotics are custom made and specific orthotics are chosen based upon the patient's lifestyle, shoe type (athletic, dress, etc.), and special needs.
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