Chiropractic and Whiplash

The answer to this question is not a simple one as many people tend to associate any type of neck pain with having whiplash. The first thing is to find out is whether or not you have whiplash.

Is it Whiplash or a Pain in the Neck?

Whiplash is defined as an injury to the neck, by moving the head forward and then backward in a rapid fashion that places strain on the neck muscles and ligaments. Whiplash is most common when the victim has been rear-ended, or hit from behind by another vehicle but can result from physical abuse (such as shaken baby syndrome) or contact sports. The symptoms of whiplash vary and are not limited to –
• Restricted joint movement in spine or limbs
• Displacement of spinal discs, also known as a herniation, which causes sharp pain down one or both arms; It also can create small tears in spinal tissue and damage the nervous system, which is followed by numbness, tingling and muscle weakness
• Chronic pain in the neck area
• Cognitive dysfunction that may include difficulty concentrating

When to See a Doctor

If you have unrelated neck pain that persists for a period of time or you experience the following:
• A shooting pain through one or both arms
• Tingling or numb feeling in one or both arms or hands
• Inability to touch chin to your chest
You may want to see a chiropractor or other medical professional as they can diagnose an underlying problem. If you are not having any of the symptoms or find it goes away after changing positions, it may just be the result of poor posture.

The Severity of Whiplash

For some, neck pain resulting from an accident is treated with ice and a light brace. However this may not be sufficient and while the pain may go away, there can be underlying damage to the soft tissues of the neck.  For instance, a person may find themselves feeling:
• Pain in their jaw

• Significant damage to ligaments, discs, nerves or joints

• Difficulty swallowing

• Nausea

• Dizziness

• Headache

• Irritability or unable to concentrate

If any case, they should see a chiropractor so that x-ray as well as other tests may be performed to determine if there is an underlying problem.

Seeing the Chiropractor

The primary objective of the chiropractor is to use gentle adjustments that assist the spine and discs so that they are aligned properly. These manipulations are also designed to reduce muscle spasms and rebuild muscle strength with the aid of physical therapy.

The chiropractor will first focus on reducing pain and inflammation and check the neck, mid and low back. From there, the range of motion, disc injuries and muscle spasms will be examined. Other factors that will be noted are walking, posture and spinal alignment. A comprehensive exam provides an understanding of the individuals’ body mechanics. X-rays and /or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be taken along with the patient medical history to determine whether they can be treated.

Some cases of whiplash may only require minor therapy to assist the body as it heals and deals with inflammation, respectively. Non-medicinal treatment may include acupuncture, massage or Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).

If you or someone you know may have experienced any or all of symptom described, then you may want to share this information with them or give our office a call to make an appointment. We offer free consultation to find out if we can help.

References
Mayo Clinic Diseases and Conditions homepage (2011) Retrieved August 30, 2011; from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/whiplash/DS01037
Mayo Clinic Diseases and Conditions homepage (2011) Retrieved August 30, 2011; from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/neck-pain/DS00542
American Chiropractic Association Patient Health and Wellness Tips (2011) Retrieved August 30, 2011; from http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=3131

Related articles

• Who’s Beating Back Pain in America and How Are They Doing It? (lifestylechirocenter.com)
• Stem Cells Grow New Vertebrae (lifestylechirocenter.com)
• Shortening the Road to Recovery After an Automobile Injury: Your Chiropractor Can Help. (lifestylechirocenter.com)

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We typically think of exercise as being helpful for our heart. Or, we think that it helps us maintain a healthy weight.

This is true…

But, exercise does a whole lot more.

“A growing body of evidence shows that regular exercise — be it resistance training or aerobic — helps ward off a host of cognitive impairments and enhances brainpower all life long.”

We know that exercise increases our heart rate, increases our respiration – which in turn provides more oxygen to our tissues. This is all very good.

Now with MRI studies of the brain we see additional findings specifically with weight-lifting…

“The details of what’s going on inside the skull are fascinating. Voss explained that MRIs of people in their 60s showed increases in gray and white matter after just six months of exercise. This happens in the prefrontal and temporal lobes, sites that usually diminish with age. With exercise, Voss says, they grow.

Voss also explained that the hippocampus area of the brain, key for memory formation, shrinks 1% to 2% per year in those older than 60, but when people in this age group begin fitness regimens, it grows by 1% to 2% instead.

Beyond growing one’s brain, exercise improves the ability of different parts of the brain to work together, Voss says. It talks to itself better, but not in a multiple-personality kind of way.”

[Read more...http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-fitness-mind-20120213,0,7344477.story]

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Degenerative Disc Disease

Whether they first see the phrase in print or hear it for the first time in a doctor’s office, “degenerative disc disease” is a term that many chronic back pain sufferers will encounter. It’s part of a brand new vocabulary that many patients learn as they try to understand their condition and navigate healthcare choices. But what does it really mean?

Degenerative disc disease is not actually a disease at all. Rather, it refers to normal changes in your spinal discs that tend to occur naturally as your body ages. Spinal discs are the soft “separators” between your vertebrae that cushion the individual bones and give your spine its flexibility. Healthy ones are thick and soft. Unhealthy ones are thinner and more brittle.

Over the years, these discs may gradually become less effective as the amount of fluid inside is reduced or cumulative wear and tear damages the discs and raises the risk of bulging, rupture or disintegration.

The truth is that by the time we reach middle age, some of us already have degenerating discs, whether we’re experiencing any pain or not. And even with our best imaging technology, it can be very difficult to tell whether this degeneration is actually the source of a patient’s problems.

So from a patient’s point of view, this bit of language—degenerative disc disease—can be both confusing and frustrating since it suggests a diagnosis but doesn’t usually come with a clear set of treatment options attached. In some ways, it may actually seem like a “catch-all diagnosis” or “un-diagnosis”.

Can I Benefit From Chiropractic Care if I Have Degenerative Disc Disease?

Sometimes patients who’ve been told they have degenerative disc disease wonder if chiropractic adjustments can still help them or if they’re safe. The answer to these questions depends on the patient’s individual circumstances, including whether the damaged discs are herniated or ruptured (bulging or broken) or have caused other conditions, such as osteoarthritis (a breakdown of the tissue that protects joints) or spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the channel within the spine that holds the spinal cord).

Chiropractors are specially trained to diagnose the underlying causes of back pain and to recognize when specific types of treatment may be either ineffective or harmful in situations where patients have degenerative disc disease. Since they are often skilled in a wide range of conservative, non-surgical therapies, most chiropractors will recommend low-force, non-thrusting techniques in situations involving disc degeneration and related complications. They may also employ traditional spinal adjustments based upon the results of a careful evaluation of the patient.

Chiropractic care generally focuses on addressing back pain at its source as well as improving the spine’s stability and mobility. While there is no cure for degenerative disc disease, an effective approach including chiropractic adjustments combined with manual therapies (such as massage) with supervised exercise and/or nutritional programs and lifestyle changes designed to minimize its impact. If you’re wondering what chiropractic care could do for you or someone you care about, please call our office today to schedule a consultation.

Dr. Joel Fugleberg

Bibliography
Degenerative Disc Disease – Topic Overview. (2011, July 21). Retrieved September 2011, from WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/tc/degenerative-disc-disease-topic-overview
Arn Strasser, D. (n.d.). How a Chiropractor Treats Degenerative Disc Disease. Retrieved September 2011, from spineuniverse.com: http://www.spineuniverse.com/experts/how-chiropractor-treats-degenerative-disc-disease
New York Times Back Pain In-Depth Report. (n.d.). Retrieved September 2011, from nytimes.com: http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/symptoms/back-pain-low/print.html
Peter F. Ullrich JR, M. (n.d.). Degenerative Disc Disease. Retrieved September 2011, from spine-health.com: http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/degenerative-disc-disease/what-degenerative-disc-disease

Related articles

• Stem Cells Grow New Vertebrae (lifestylechirocenter.com)
• Common Causes of Back Pain (lifestylechirocenter.com)

If you remember the launch of Google Earth and your reaction the first time you saw satellite imagery that allowed you to zoom down and look at your own car parked in your driveway, you’ll be awestruck again by the Google Body Browser.

As the name implies this is a tour inside the human body. Peel back the layers, zoom, rotate and explore your innards in a brand new way. This project was developed in the Google lab but is now hosted by Zygote body and it is an incredible tool. If you are a visual learner, you might find a new love for anatomy.

Google Body Browser allows you to isolate certain organ systems, individual organs and bones to get a better look at them. Once you have the view you want you can zoom and rotate it in three dimensions. All the supporting structures remain visible to keep the context.

Still images don’t do the tool justice. You really need to use the online interactive version. Since this tool was designed by Google originally, it seems to work best in Google’s own Chrome browser. You can find it here – http://zygotebody.com/ 

A couple cool features to point out… You can turn on and off labels to all the different body parts as you explore. If you ever need to study for Jeopardy and learn the name of the muscle that controls your little finger—it’s in there!

Of course since it’s a Google product, you can search too. If you can’t quite remember where the sciatic nerve is you can type it into the search box and it will be highlighted for you. If there are muscles, bones or joints we discuss at an appointment and you want to share the explanation with your spouse or friends later, just search for it by name.

You can also send a link to a specific view that you have created. If you need to share an idea or diagram with another person or save it for future reference, you can create a link that will go right back to that view. Here is an example that should take you directly to a view of the C1 vertebra – also known as the atlas. http://goo.gl/8q0W2

Interacting with this tool makes me wish something like this had been available for anatomy classes. If you have kids or friends in any type of human biology class, forward them this link so they’ll know about this great learning tool.

Have fun exploring Google Body Browser on your own.

Dr. Joel

Related articles

• Google Body Browser Is Now Zygote Body (googlesystem.blogspot.com)
• Google Body becomes Zygote Body; built on open source 3D viewer (google-opensource.blogspot.com)

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It’s a great success story that most of us probably haven’t heard very much about.  America’s roads have become far safer across the past 20 years.  By just about any measure, travelers are much less likely to be injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident than they were in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Fast Facts:  Motor Vehicle Accidents by the Numbers

Vehicle Miles Driven.  Americans traveled 2,172 billion miles in 1991 and 2,979 billion miles in 2009.  That’s a 37% increase.
Motor Vehicle Accidents.  During the same 1991-2009 period, the number of accidents on U.S. roads actually decreased by 10%, dropping from 6,117,000 to 5,505,000.  So even though we’re traveling more miles, we’re having fewer accidents.
Occupant Fatalities.  The number of motor vehicle occupants killed in accidents during 1991 was 31,934. That number declined by 23% to 24,474 in 2009.  The fatality rate per 1,000 accidents dropped from 5.2 to 4.4 persons.  That means that when we do have an accident, it’s become less likely that someone traveling in the vehicle will be killed.
Occupant Injuries.  The statistics show an even more positive trend with respect to injuries.  The number of occupants injured in accidents fell 29% from 2,850,000 in 1991 to 2,011,000 in 2009.  The injury rate per 1,000 accidents declined from 465.9 persons to 365.3.  Simply put, our motor vehicle accidents seem to be injuring fewer drivers and passengers when they do occur.
It’s likely that this general trend toward safer roads is being driven by a combination of factors.  It could be the way we’re driving that’s producing fewer, less serious crashes.  It could be the way our roads are designed, maintained or policed.  It could also be the active and passive safety features now included in many of our vehicles.  But whatever the reasons, we can all agree that this is good (if under-reported) news for our nation’s travelers.

But What if I’m One of the Two Million Unlucky Ones this Year?

As encouraging as this trend is, it obviously means little to you if you or someone you care about is actually injured in a car accident.  Even in cases where drivers and passengers walk away from a wreck believing they’re “uninjured”, accidents can have profound, long-lasting health consequences for those involved.  It’s not uncommon for some types of symptoms to appear only gradually days or weeks after the event itself, delaying effective diagnosis and treatment.  Symptoms may also come and go intermittently, making it more difficult to associate them with the accident.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to safeguard your health and improve your chances of a more rapid, complete recovery following an auto accident.  Clinical studies have demonstrated that chiropractic care can shorten recovery time and decrease the amount of permanent physical damage sustained in a collision.

Take Care of First Things First.

Always address any life-threatening injuries first.  If you experience (or have reason to suspect) significant bleeding or bruising, broken bones, internal pain, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, or shock, you should seek immediate help from healthcare professionals who specialize in treating trauma injuries.

Recognize Signs that You May Be at Increased Risk of Developing Chronic Problems.

Be sure to tell your doctor if any of the following warning signs apply:
•    A prior history of back, neck or shoulder problems (including previous injury).
•    Distinct numbness, tingling or pain immediately following an accident.
•    Increased muscle tension or reduced range of motion after the crash.
•    You were involved in a rear-end collision.
•    Your head was turned at the moment of impact.
•    You have symptoms that don’t resolve or that become generalized.

Visit your Chiropractor as Soon as Possible After an Accident.

Do this even if you don’t think you’ve been hurt very badly.  Research has shown that early intervention in the form of chiropractic adjustment, massage and supervised exercise and stretching programs can make a big difference in longer-term function.

Stay Active.

Activity encourages blood flow to the injured area and promotes healing.  It also helps prevent or reduce scar tissue formation and maintain range of motion.

Strengthen the Affected Area(s) as Directed by your Chiropractor.

Exercise and stretching programs are designed to help prevent future injuries and are an important part of a balanced treatment plan.
An auto accident can affect your health (and your lifestyle) for years if you don’t receive the proper treatment.  So if you or someone you care about has been injured in a collision, please call our office and make an appointment today.  Chiropractic care can help put your recovery in the fast lane!

Questions about a specific accident?  Call us – we’re here to help!

Your St. Paul Chiropractor,

Dr. Joel
References and Resources
A Compilation of Motor Vehicle Crash Data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and the General Estimates System.  Traffic Safety Facts 2009 Early Edition.  U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safey Administration.  Accessed August 2011.

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811402EE.pdf

Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Guide to Diseases and Conditions: Whiplash and Alternative Medicine.  Accessed August 2011.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/whiplash/DS01037/DSECTION=alternative-medicine

Berglund A, et. al., The influence of prognostic factors on neck pain intensity, disability, anxiety and depression over a 2-year period in subjects with acute whiplash injury.  Pain.  December 2006.
Jull G, et. al.,  Does the Presence of Sensory Hypersensitivity Influence Outcomes of Physical Rehabilitation for Chronic Pain?  A preliminary RCT.  Pain.  May 2007.
Karnezis IA, et. al., Factors Affecting the Timing of Recovery from Whiplash Neck Injuries:  Study of a Cohort of 134 Patients Pursuing Litigation.  Archives of Orthopeadic and Trauma Surgery.  October 2007.
Peolsson M, et. al., Generalized Pain is Associated with More Negative Consequences than Local or Regional Pain:  A Study of Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorder.  Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine.  April 2007.
Rosenfeld M., et. al., Active Intervention in Patients with Whiplash-Associated Disorders Improves Long-Term Prognosis.  Spine.  November 2003.
Sterling M., et. al., Physical and Psychological Factors Maintain Long-Term Predictive Capacity Post-Whiplash Injury.  Pain.  May 2006.

Related articles

• Who’s Beating Back Pain in America and How Are They Doing It? (lifestylechirocenter.com)
• St. Paul Chiropractor | Caring For The Post-Surgical Spine (lifestylechirocenter.com)

New Expectations and New Advice for Today’s Arthritis Sufferers

If you or someone you care about is suffering from arthritis, you should know that arthritis doesn’t have to mean an end to an active lifestyle.  Prior generations may have accepted the condition as an inevitable part of aging and been given a standard prescription of bed rest and drug therapies.  However, today’s health care professionals recognize that appropriate exercise and nutrition are also critical to managing arthritis effectively, and they can recommend a much wider range of treatment options.  Your chiropractic care can play an important role, not only in relieving pain, but also in helping patients with arthritis continue to live a more independent, active lifestyle.

Understanding Arthritis and its Lifestyle Effects

Arthritis is not really one medical condition.  Rather, it’s a more general term that refers to inflammation that may affect joints and other parts of the body as a result of more than 100 “rheumatic diseases”, such as fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.  These disorders destroy joints, bones, muscles, cartilage and other connective tissues.  While arthritis is most often seen in middle aged and older adults, it can also afflict younger people.  According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 22% of American adults (about 50 million people) report having been diagnosed with arthritis.  Their symptoms may include pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints.

While the general public is aware that arthritis is painful, fewer people recognize just how severe and widespread the debilitating effects of arthritis actually are.  People with arthritis may experience difficulty with everyday tasks like buttoning shirts or opening packages and containers.  They may also find that arthritis limits their mobility.  This could prevent them from participating in their favorite activities or spending time with friends and family.  The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons issued a Bulletin in October 1999 that ranked arthritis as a more frequent cause of activity limitation than heart disease, cancer or diabetes.  More than ten years later, the CDC estimates that 21 million Americans face some type of disability as a result of arthritis.  These kinds of statistics suggest that strategies for managing arthritis need to address goals beyond pain relief if they are to be truly successful.

How Your Chiropractor Can Help

For many arthritis sufferers, treatment still begins with rest and medication.  But if you have arthritis, a chiropractor can help you develop a well-rounded, long-term approach to managing their arthritis in two other very important ways:

Designing an exercise program based on your own unique requirements.  Such a program usually focuses on a combination of goals, including (1) restoring any lost range of motion in your joints, (2) improving your flexibility and endurance, and (3) increasing your muscle tone and strength.   Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated that inactivity can make joints affected by arthritis even more painful and stiff.  It can also have other negative health effects.   A properly designed and supervised exercise program can reduce these risks.

Suggesting dietary changes and/or nutritional supplements that may be effective in reducing or controlling inflammation in your joints.  Some research indicates that certain foods can have a role in either increasing or suppressing the body’s natural inflammatory response.  Making adjustments to your diet may reduce swelling, redness and pain related to arthritis.

Your chiropractor will help you make ongoing adjustments to both your exercise and nutrition programs based on your own progress so that you get the maximum health benefit with minimum discomfort and risk.

Communication is Key

Keep in mind that some types of physical activity and dietary supplements may actually do more harm than good depending on the specific nature of your arthritis, the joints involved and your current treatment plan.  So open communication with all the members of your healthcare team—including your chiropractor, family doctor and any specialists you’re working with—is the key to achieving results safely!

Both the symptoms and underlying causes of arthritis can vary a great deal by individual, so it is important that you consult your healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis and to put in place a treatment plan that’s right for you.

If you’ve got questions, we’ll try to find you some answers.  Call us, we’re here to help!

Dr. Joel

References

Prevalence of Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis and Arthritis-Attributable Activity Limitation — United States, 2007—2009.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).  October 8, 2010.  Accessed August 2011

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5939a1.htm?s_cid=mm5939a1_w

The Burden of Musculoskeletal Diseases in the United States.  Chapter 4: Arthritis and Related Conditions.  2010.  Accessed August 2011

http://www.boneandjointburden.org/pdfs/BMUS_chpt4_arthritis.pdf

Musculoskeletal Conditions in the United States.  American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.  1999.

Exercise helps ease arthritis pain and stiffness.  The Mayo Clinic.  Accessed August 2011

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/arthritis/AR00009

Research Spotlight:  Green Team May Help Protect Against Rheumatoid Arthritis.  National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.  Accessed August 2011.

http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/120808.htm

Research Spotlight:  Pomegranate Extract May Be Helpful for Rheumatoid Arthritis.  National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.  Accessed August 2011.

http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/120508.htm

Research Spotlight:  Turmeric and Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms.  National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.  Accessed August 2011.

http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/030106.htm

Arthritis: Dietary Dos and Don’ts.  Johns Hopkins Health Alert.  August 9, 2010 (Reviewed January 2011).  Accessed August 2011.

http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/arthritis/JohnsHopkinsArthritisHealthAlert_3590-1.html

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Healthcare researchers and providers alike are growing increasingly concerned that American kids are suffering from back pain earlier in their lives and in larger numbers than ever before. And experts closest to the problem believe that overweight, improperly designed and misused backpacks may be a big part of the reason why.

Short-Term Injuries and Longer-Term Concerns

With an estimated 40 million school-age children carrying backpacks in America, it’s not surprising that there are some book bag-related injuries every year. Since 2000, the U.S. Product Safety Commission has reported that children and their backpacks make roughly 7,000 trips to the emergency room annually. However, many observers believe that the real toll is actually far higher since the vast majority of such injuries go unreported and many kids are treated by a family doctor or not treated at all.

While it is not clear how many acute injuries actually result from wearing backpacks as opposed to tripping over them or being hit by them, doctors who treat back problems regularly—especially chiropractic physicians—see worrying signs that heavier backpacks are setting the stage for more serious health issues in the future, including chronic back, neck and shoulder pain. Some chiropractors estimate that as many as 75% to 80% of the teenage patients they treat have postural problems directly related to overweight backpacks.

Why the Heavier Bags?

Across the past ten years, several factors have come together to increase the amount of weight young students are carrying in their book bags:

• Increases in the amount of homework being assigned to students at a younger age typically mean more heavy books carried between home and school.

• A trend toward removing lockers and individual desks from schools in many cases requires kids to carry all their belongings with them during the day.

• Reduced time between classes or fewer trips to the locker can mean heavier loads for students.

• Longer school days or increased participation in before-school and after-school activities often translates into more supplies and equipment as well as more time wearing the backpack.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends that a backpack should not be any heavier than 15% of a child’s body weight. But as early as 2001, researchers at Simmons College in Massachusetts found that 55% of the 345 children they studied were carrying backpacks that exceeded the recommended weight limit, often by a substantial amount. One third of those students said that they had already experienced back pain. Today, the American Chiropractic Association advises parents to limit the weight of a child’s backpack to no more than 5% to 10% of body weight.

Warning Signs

If you see any of the following signs, it may be time to lighten the load, help your child choose a different backpack or talk about how it’s being used.

• Pain in the back, neck, shoulders or knees
• Red marks left on shoulders by backpack straps
• Tingling or numbness in the arms
• Trouble getting the backpack on or off
• Bending forward or “hunching over” to shift weight from the shoulders to the back

Choosing the Right Backpack and Using it Correctly

A good quality backpack with proper ergonomic features doesn’t have to be expensive. They’re available at many sporting goods stores and discount outlets. Experts offer the following advice:

• Get the size and fit right first. The right backpack should fit between the top of your child’s shoulders and lower back. Bigger is not better, since having more space available creates the potential for a heavier backpack.

• Find one with shoulder straps that are wide, padded and adjustable. These distribute the weight more broadly across the shoulders and chest while allowing the backpack to be fitted snuggly to your child’s body.

• For older students, consider a backpack with chest straps and a hip belt. Chest straps and a hip belt redistribute weight even further and bring the pack closer to the wearer’s body.

• Look for a padded back that will add comfort and protection.

• Choose a backpack with multiple smaller compartments. These help distribute the weight inside the bag and keep it stable.

Once your child has the right bag, it’s just as important to encourage him or her to use it correctly. Chiropractors and physical therapists generally agree that means wearing it on both shoulders with the straps tightened so that it hangs no more than four inches below the waist.

How Your Chiropractor Can Help

Using a backpack should not cause any pain or discomfort under normal circumstances. If your child is showing signs of back, neck or should pain, we encourage you to call a chiropractor or call us today. In addition to addressing any current problems that your child may be experiencing, your doctor of chiropractic can recommend an exercise program designed to strengthen muscles, and improve posture and coordination. He or she can also offer instruction about good nutrition and sleep habits that will support your child’s healthy development.

Your St. Paul Chiropractor,

Dr. Joel
References

Doctors Give Advice to Parents on Selecting a Good Backpack for Their Children. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. August 3, 2011. Accessed August 2011

http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/about/news/release/2011/backpack-safety-tips-08-03-2011.htm

ACA Offers Backpack Safety Checklist. American Chiropractic Association. August 28, 2007. Accessed August 2011

http://www.acatoday.org/press_css.cfm?CID=2479

Protect Young Backs From Too Much Weight: Heavy Backpacks Cause Variety of Health Problems. NBC Home/Education. Accessed August 2011.

http://www.nbcmontana.com/education/2332881/detail.html

Avoid School Strain: Unstuff that BackPack. CNN Health. September 10, 2007. Accessed August 2011.

http://articles.cnn.com/2007-09-10/health/hm.backpack.pain_1_backpack-heaviest-items-book-bags?_s=PM:HEALTH

The Effect of Backpacks on the Lumbar Spine in Children: A Standing Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2010 Jan 1;35(1):83-8. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA. Neuschwander, et. al. Accessed August 2011.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20023607

New Consumer Reports Data Highlight Patients’ Satisfaction with Chiropractic Care

When it comes to making important choices about treatment options for back pain, it’s worth looking at the experiences of others who have found something that works.  In recent years, the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center has surveyed the magazine’s subscribers to do just that.  In April and May 2009, Consumer Reports released some of its findings publicly.  A summary appears below.

About the Survey Participants

• More than 14,000 participants who had suffered from lower-back pain in the prior year but had never had back surgery.

• More than half reported that pain severely limited their daily routine for a week or longer.

• Many reported that pain interfered with sleep, sex and efforts to maintain a healthy weight.

• 88% reported that the pain recurred through the year.

• Most had tried five or six different treatments.

How Respondents Ranked the Healthcare Providers Who Had Treated Them

Healthcare Provider        Percent Who Were Highly Satisfied With Treatment and Advice*

Chiropractor            59%
Physical Therapist+        55%
Acupuncturist            53%
Physician, Specialist        44%
Physician, Primary Care        34%

*Defined as either Completely Satisfied or Very Satisfied.
+Difference in ranking for Physical Therapist and Acupuncturist were not statistically significant.

How Respondents Ranked Selected Back Pain Therapies

Therapy            Percentage Who Reported that the Therapy Helped a Lot

Chiropractic Manipulation    58%
Prescription Drugs        45%
Over-the-Counter Drugs        22%

In July 2011, Consumer Reports published an updated report describing how Americans use alternative approaches to healthcare as well as their experience with various therapies and their providers.  Chiropractic care once again was reported to be the most popular approach to back pain relief and was ranked most highly in terms of patient satisfaction.

How Your Chiropractic Physician Can Help Relieve Back Pain

Your Doctor of Chiropractic can help relieve back pain and restore mobility by using a drug-free, hands-on technique called “spinal manipulation” or “chiropractic adjustment”.  He or she may also use other manual therapies, such as massage, to complement this primary treatment.  In addition, many chiropractors are skilled in designing exercise and nutrition programs for their patients that will help their bodies resist injury and function properly.  By focusing on both immediate pain relief and the underlying causes of back pain, your chiropractor can help you achieve a healthier overall lifestyle.

If you or someone you care about is suffering from back pain, call us today.

References

Relief for your aching back: What Worked for Our Readers.  Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center.  April-May 2009.  Accessed August 2011.

http://www.consumerreports.org/health/conditions-and-treatments/back-pain/overview/back-pain.htm

Related articles

• St. Paul Chiropractor | Caring For The Post-Surgical Spine (lifestylechirocenter.com)
• Survey Says Chiropractic Helps A Lot With Back Pain (lifestylechirocenter.com)

A Personal Story

Yesterday I was driving on I-494 heading back to the office for my afternoon appointments.  I crossed over a couple lanes of traffic and was about to exit the interstate when I heard an awful “WAH-WAH-WAH-WAHP” sound.

Was it a helicopter?  No.  I knew right away that I had blown a tire.  I could drive no further.  Unfortunately, I was already crunched for time and would have to cancel an appointment with a practice member.

I removed the jack and tire wrench from my trunk and began the process of removing the lug nuts from my wrecked wheel.  Once I had the car jacked up and removed the tire I could inspect it more carefully.  I was embarrassed to find that the tread wear was much greater on one side of the tire.

You see – I had known for a while that my alignment was off and that my tires were getting up there in mileage.  I just had neglected to address it.

Life is too busy, you know.

And yet, here I was late to return for scheduled appointments, turning a tire iron alongside a busy freeway in the blowing cold.
It appears that sometimes you need to make time – like it or not.

In fact, as I type this – I am sitting in the tire shop and waiting for my new tires to be installed.  Killing time – time I had planned for more productive (and less expensive) tasks.

Healthy Maintenance

I can’t help but compare this to the way we treat our health.  We all know we need regular maintenance to stay healthy, but we try to get by with the minimum.  Then we experience a crisis and rue our fate.

Specifically in our spine – we experience misalignments all the time.  Postural stress from computer work and couches, slips and falls, old injuries and many other stresses jar our bodies and we put up with the mini misalignments all the time.  You know, the “it’s just a crick-in-my-neck” type of thing we experience from time to time.

I hear it all the time…

And then it happens…bending over to pick up the newspaper causes the mother of all pain to shoot from your back and down your leg.

What the…!

Was the newspaper too heavy that particular morning?  Of course not, but the problem had been developing for awhile.  The proper maintenance had not been done.  That instance of bending was the proverbial “straw breaking the camel’s back.”

Just as the gradual wear and tear happened to my tires over time eventually causing a blowout – so the gradual wear and tear of misalignment takes its toll leading to episodes of pain.

What if we did early and regular maintenance?

Do you think we may avoid these pain “blowouts”?  You bet and you will be healthier for it.  You see, pain is only part of the problem.  By the time you feel the pain, more damage has been done.  Pain is usually the last part of the problem to show up – thankfully, it is also one of the first things to go away as you heal.

Are you due for some regular “maintenance?”  Has it been a while since you’ve been evaluated?  Never been checked by a chiropractor?

There has never  been a better time – don’t blow your chance at being proactive by waiting any longer!

Need some advice on where to go?  Call us up – we’re here to help!

Your St. Paul Chiropractor,

Dr. Joel