Whiplash Fact you should know!

In whiplash research, many articles have been published that conflict or contradict each other. The goal of this blog post is to report the “facts” about whiplash.

• It is more common to have a delay in the onset of whiplash symptoms. Symptoms may start about two hours after the initial injury or it may take days, weeks, or months before you feel anything.
• For whiplash caused by car accidents, the severity depends on the force of the impact, the way you were seated in your car, and if you were properly restrained using a shoulder and seat belt.
• Tests show the soft tissues in your neck sustain injury at a threshold of 5 mph. That means if you're rear-ended at 5 mph or slower, you have a lower chance of getting whiplash. However, most rear-end car accidents happen at speeds of 6-12 mph.
• If you've been in a car accident, it’s a good idea to be evaluated even if your car didn't get damaged and you don't feel any pain.
• Although whiplash is most often associated with car accidents, you can also get whiplash from sports such as snowboarding, boxing, football and gymnastics.
• The concept of “no car damage = no injury” is COMPLETELY false. Most cars can withstand collisions of up to 10 MPH and as pointed out above, only in collisions < 5 MPH are you less likely to be injured. Collisions that occur between 6-12 MPH cause the highest percentage of whiplash injuries (which is below the threshold of car damage in most cases). Also, the energy of the impact is transferred to the contents inside the car when there is no vehicular damage (that means you).
• Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) can occur in motor vehicle collisions even if the head does not hit an object inside the car, although it’s more common when there is a head strike. The symptoms associated with MTBI are often referred to as “Post Concussive Syndrome.”
• Approximately 10% of whiplash injured patients become totally disabled.
• Of the studies published since 1995, over 60% of whiplash patients required long-term medical care.
• Risk factors for long-term symptoms associated with WAD include: rear impacts, loss of the cervical lordosis curve, pre-existing degenerative arthritis, use of seat belts & shoulder harness (low speed impacts only), poor head restraint position or shape, non-awareness of the impending collision, female (especially long slender neck), head rotation at impact.

We realize you have a choice in where you choose your healthcare

5 simple steps to Prevent Back Pain

I have come up with 5 simple ways to prevent back pain that I teach my patients and seminar attendees that seem to work great for most people. Here they are:
1. Maintain a normal body-weight. Your body is not designed to carry excess weight. It wears down the joints and spinal discs and results in the spinal muscles having to work harder than they should day in and day out. When you consider that 2/3 of Americans are overweight or obese, it's no wonder back pain is so prevalent. I prefer a plant based diet...but this is not necessary to maintain a normal body-weight...discipline is.
2. Use correct sleeping posture. When you are on your back you should be using a cervical pillow designed to support the arch in your neck, and you should have another pillow under your knees so that
you have a slight bend in your knees. This relaxes the ow back muscles. The cervical pillow actually works to correct an maintain your neck curve. When you are on your side the cervical pillow is designed to keep your neck straight. Put a pillow between your legs to keep the rest of the spine straight. If you are a side sleeper only they make a special pillow for you. We prefer and sell Tempur-Pedic Pillows.
3. Exercise on a regular basis. Our body's are designed to get lots of exercise. We are built to be running around the jungle all day hunting for food. All the muscles, cells, tissues, glands, and organs function best with regular exercise. Note: There is recent research that suggest that people who sit at a desk all day...even those that exercise are 2x more likely to die of a heart attack. So even if you go to the gym...figure out ways to move around more. Take lots of breaks and stretch and move, use the stairs whenever you can, walk to and from places more frequently, play with your kids, etc.
4. Use proper Ergonomics at home and at work. In this computer and electronics age, kids start very young putting themselves in akward postions slumped over with their heads hanging down. They do this for hours. Then these poor habits carry over into school and college and into the work force. Most of the people we treat at our San Francisco Chiropractic clinic spend the majority of their day at a desk in front of a computer. There is a way to optimize the position you are in to minimize wear and tear on the spine with proper ergonomics. For sure you want to take frequent breaks and stretch and move around.
5. Visit a chiropractor for regular check-ups. Chiropractors locate, identify, and correct spinal misalignment's and disturbances that result as a natural of living in a modern day world. Sure, you can take action using the tips above to reduce your odds of back pain. But the smart ones use chiropractic as a tool to keep the spine balanced and in alignment. After-all...the spine houses and protects your lifeline, the spinal cord, which carries all the signals from the brain to the body. Regular chiropractic visits should start young and continue throughout your life. Chiropractic adjustments will help keep your back healthy and strong. It's a wise investment. Consumer Reports ranks chiropractic #1 for back pain.

So there you go. Sure there is yoga, and Pilate's, and weight lifting...but those can be lumped into the exercise category. A lot of this is common sense, but you would be surprised how many back pain patients are not doing any of the 5 back pain prevention measures. My goal is to teach my patients about these 5 steps and to help them implement them.

Backpacks and Back pain

Backpacks are supposed to alleviate pain, not create it. But when worn incorrectly, they can cause you or your child to adopt postures that may give rise to spine problems. As 90% of students wear backpacks, a little knowledge on the relationship between backpacks and back pain may be in order. Below are 10 tips on how to avoid back pain for kids (and adults) who wear backpacks.

1. Observe Your Child's Spine

Heavy packs may cause kids to change their spinal position to accommodate the load. This can result in back pain, and at worst, the possibility of temporarily compressed discs and posture problems. Studies show that backpack wearers tend to begin adapting their posture once the weight of the pack reaches about 26 lbs. At an estimated 20% of the child’s weight, a backpack load may even begin to interfere with breathing. So observe your child's spine when she’s got her pack on and adjust the load according to the other tips in this article.

2. Lessen the Load In The Backpack

Most kids carry between 10% and 22% of their body weight in their back packs. Research shows that heavy loads may cause spinal discs to compress. As the weight of the backpack increases, so may the degree of disc compression. Experts recommend a backpack’s load be no more than 10% of the child’s weight.

3. Carry Only What Is Necessary

Help your child manage the amount of heavy items she carries in her pack. Encourage her to stop at her locker and switch books out frequently. Consider purchasing a second set of textbooks to keep at home.

4. Organize The Backpack Properly

When you carry anything out away from your body, it takes more effort, and places stress on your joints and muscles. A good strategy is to put the heaviest items on the inside of the pack, close to your back. Carry the little things, like calculators, pens and loose paper toward the outside.
Also, backpacks come with a number of features to make it easier to carry heavy loads. One great item is a rolling back pack. Transporting heavy items like a backpack is a breeze when wheels are involved.

5. Get a Backpack With Padded Shoulder Straps

Many people complain about neck and shoulder pain when they wear a heavy backpack. Padded shoulder straps may be just the feature you’re looking for! The padded shoulder straps are generally wider than the more basic type, and may help even out the distribution of the pack's weight. This, along with the cushioning provided by the padding, may help to avoid pinching of the trapezius muscle so common with the basic type of strap.

6. Use Both Straps When You Wear a Backpack

Whether it’s fashion or convenience that propels your child to sling his pack over one shoulder, know that such a practice can contribute to the development of poor posture habits. It can also cause pain on the side of the body that has to take the weight of the entire pack.

7. Center the Backpack Load

Studies show that loads of 18 lbs or more may create a temporary side-to-side curve in the spine. You can help your child by placing items so there is equal weight on either side of the pack.

8. Tighten the Straps of the Backpack

One thing that can make backpacks seem heavier and more cumbersome than they are is to wear them with loose shoulder straps. Loose straps causes the pack to move around as you move. This may cause muscles to work harder than usual. By cinching the straps to fit your frame, you secure the pack. Balancing the weight should be easier this way.

9. Wear a Waist Belt

Some packs come with waist belts. Waist belts take a portion of the load off the shoulders. By supporting some of the weight lower down, where the mechanical advantage is better, you may decrease neck pain and back pain above the waist.

10. Ask Your Child if She Has Back Pain

Encourage your kid to tell you about her aches and pains. Most of the time, the pain will be attributable to the pack. But there is the chance that the back pain is a symptom of an underlying condition or disease. Back pain during childhood increases the risk for back pain during adulthood. If adjusting the weight (and its distribution) of the pack and counseling your child on managing the load during the day doesn’t alleviate their back pain, see a doctor.

Whiplash-Which Treatment works Best?

Whiplash, or better termed, cervical acceleration-deceleration disorder (CAD) is primarily an injury to the soft tissues of the neck – that is, the muscles, their tendon insertions, and the ligaments that hold the joints firmly together.  Neck pain is a very common health problem that affects between 10–15% of the population and drives people to all types of health care providers. We have previously discussed the reasons why whiplash /CAD injuries occur, the examination process and the prognosis aspects...but the argument continues as to what treatment methods work the best when managing patients with CAD.

            In the May 21, 2002 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, a group of medical doctors and PhD’s reported on neck pain treatment comparing traditional medical and physical therapy approaches verses spinal manipulation. In the study, they compared three common neck pain treatment approaches in a group of 183 patients with chronic neck pain (patients who had neck pain for more than 3 months). The 3 methods included traditional medical care which included medication utilization and rest, manual therapy (chiropractic adjustments) and physical therapy (active exercise training). After 7 weeks of treatment, the percentage of patients who felt either totally resolved (cured) or much improved were 68.3% receiving manual therapy / chiropractic care, 50.8% receiving physical therapy, and 35.9% receiving medical care. The author, Jan Lucas Hoving, PhD reports that manual therapy / chiropractic was found to be more effective than the other 2 methods “…on almost all outcome measures,” not just a few! Further, although PT scored better than traditional medical care, “…most of the differences were not statistically significant,” meaning, not that much better.  The authors appropriately reported that further study was needed to better understand the differences between methods.

            In 2008, the “Decade Task Force” reviewed 10 years of studies on the treatment of neck pain and found similar results and referenced many studies that indicated spinal manipulation for neck pain, headaches, whiplash, and other neck related conditions was one of the most effective methods and that patients with neck pain should be given the option of receiving manual therapy / chiropractic before other approaches as it was found to be less expensive, faster in obtaining satisfying results (shorter course of disability), and most effective in terms of long-term benefits.

            This comparison discussion is by no means meant to minimize the importance of medical and PT care. However, there appears to be a bias among patients with neck pain to seek medical care first when the studies clearly show chiropractic care is the preferred method. Hence, the purpose of this article is to educate the reader that their choice in treatment for neck pain should favor chiropractic care FIRST, not last. In fact, the sooner manipulation can be applied to the injured joints of the neck, typically the faster the results.  For example, long term disability and chronic neck pain can occur from prolonged use of a cervical collar as the structures tighten and stiffen up from being immobile - unable to move because of the collar.  Unless there is some unstable condition to the neck (fracture, grade 3 ligament tear, progressive neurological loss, etc.), studies support manipulation / early mobilization of the neck joints after injuries like whiplash verses wearing a cervical collar and rest. 

            We realize that you have a choice in where you choose your health-care services.  If you, a friend or family member requires care for whiplash, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our chiropractic services in Dallas and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

Why do so many people have back pain?

At any given point in time over 31 million Americans are suffering with low back pain. One half of all working Americans admit to having back pain each year. Experts estimate that over 80% of us will experience a back problem at some point in our lives. Why?
Well, when you consider that up to 70% of the population is overweight or obese, and obesity is a primary cause of back pain, we would have to consider obesity as a primary cause of back pain.
In addition, the typical American diet (high fat, high animal protein, processed foods, sugar)  which is responsible for the obesity epidemic is also pro-inflammatory, meaning it creates an internal environment in the body that constantly triggers your immune response, which is very harmful to your organs, joints, and tissues.
There are also other causes of inflammation .
This chronic inflammation can lead to conditions such as arthritis, spinal degeneration, and disc disease...as well as many organic disorders.
Then, there are the normal sports injuries, car accidents, bad posture habits, and work injuries that injure the low back...and this is a big number.
An often overlooked cause of low back pain is mental stress or the psychological component. This is more common than most doctors realize and needs to be considered as a primary cause of back pain.
What is the best treatment for low back pain?
Since most cases of back pain are mechanical or non-organic—meaning they are not caused by serious conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture or cancer...chiropractic makes the most amount of sense (at least in my biased opinion).
Chiropractic is mechanical...it's physical...it's done by hand to correct physical misalignments (mechanical) of the spine. If you have a pebble in your shoe...that's physical. The solution is not chemical. Sure,  you can take a drug (chemical) so you don't feel the pebble...but to fix the problem you need to remove the pebble (physical).
You also want to look at your lifestyle choices. If you are eating the typical American diet (or anything close) and are carrying too much weight and have chronic inflammation...this can lead to physical misalignment's that keep re-occuring. Most good chiropractors can help you lose weight. 
Many back pain patients are also out of shape and de-conditioned. Making regular exercise a part of your life can help with acute and chronic low back pain. Your chiropractor can also help put together an exercise plan for you.
For every effect there is a cause. For every cause there is an effect. Sure, low back pain can often be hard for doctors to understand and treat...but for your chiropractor, it's business as usual.

Making the Headache and Neck Connection

When we hear the term headache, we don’t usually think about the neck. Rather, we focus on the head, more specifically, “…what part of the head hurts?” But, upon careful questioning of patients, we usually find some connection or correlation between neck pain and headaches.
The key to this connection can be found in looking at the anatomy of the neck. There are 7 vertebrae that make up the cervical spine and 8 sets of nerves that exit this part of the spine and innervate (connect to and control) various parts of the head, neck, shoulders and arms, all the way to the fingers. Think of the nerves as electric wires that stretch between a switch and a light bulb. When you flip on the switch, the light illuminates. Each nerve, as it exits the spine, is like a switch and the target it travels to represents the light bulb. So, if one were to stimulate each of the nerves as they exit the spine, we could “map” exactly where each nerve travels (of course, this has been done). 
When we look specifically at the upper 3 sets of nerves that exit the spine (C1, C2, and C3), we see that as soon as they exit the spine, they immediately travel upwards into the head (the scalp). Like any nerve, if enough pressure is applied to the nerve, some alteration in nerve function occurs and usually a sensory change is noted (numbness, tingling, pain, burning, etc.). If the pressure continues, these symptoms can last for a long time. These types of headaches are often called “cervicogenic headaches” (literally meaning headaches that are caused by the neck). These can be caused by the nerves getting pinched by tight muscles through which they travel as they make their way to the scalp.
These muscles are usually tight in people that spend the majority of their day in front of a computer...especially if they have developed Forward Head Posture.
Another connection between the neck and headaches includes the relationship between 2 of the 12 cranial nerves and the first three nerves in the neck described above. These types of headaches usually only affect one half of the head – the left or right side. One of the cranial nerves is called the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V). Because the trigeminal nerve innervates parts of the face and head, pain can also involve the face. Another cranial nerve (spinal accessory, cranial nerve IX) can also interact with the upper 3 cervical nerve roots, resulting in cervicogenic headaches. People with cervicogenic headaches will often present with an altered neck posture, restricted neck movement, and pain when pressure is applied to the base of the skull or to the upper vertebrae. Other than a possible numbness, there are no clinical tests that we can run to “show” this condition, though some patients may report scalp numbness or, it may be found during examination.
Though medication, injections, and even surgical options exist, manipulation applied to the small joints of the neck, especially in the upper part where C1-3 exit, works really well so why not try that first as it’s the least invasive and, VERY EFFECTIVE! In some cases, a combination of approaches may be needed but many times, chiropractic treatment is all the patient needs for a successful outcome.

Car Accidents and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

We have been providing treatment for whiplash for almost 7years now. The scenario below is very common with whiplash trauma:
When you woke up today, you thought this was like any other Friday. You’re on your way to work, and traffic is flowing smoother than normal.  Suddenly, someone crashes into the back end of your car and you feel your head extend back over the headrest and then rebound forwards, almost hitting the steering wheel with your forehead. It all happened so fast. After a few minutes, you notice your neck and head starting to hurt in a way you’ve not previously felt.   When the police arrive and start asking questions about what had happened, you try to piece together what happened but you’re not quite sure of the sequence of events.  Your memory just isn’t that clear. Within the first few days, in addition to significant neck and headache pain, you notice your memory seems fuzzy, and you easily lose your train of thought. Everything seems like an effort and you notice you’re quite irritable. When your chiropractor asks you if you’ve felt any of these symptoms, you look at them and say, "…how did you know? I just thought I was having a bad day – I didn’t know whiplash could cause these symptoms!"
            Because these symptoms are often subtle and non-specific, it’s quite normal for patients not to complain about them. In fact, we almost always have to describe the symptoms and ask if any of these symptoms “sound familiar” to the patient.
            As pointed out above, patients with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) don’t mention any of the previously described symptoms and in fact, may be embarrassed to discuss these symptoms with their chiropractor or physician when they first present after a car crash.  This is because the symptoms are vague and hard to describe and, many feel the symptoms are caused by simply being tired or perhaps upset about the accident.  When directly asked if any of these symptoms exist, the patient is often surprised there is an actual reason for feeling this way.
The cause of MTBI is due to the brain actually bouncing or rebounding off the inner walls of the bony skull during the “whiplash” process, when the head is forced back and forth after the impact. During that process, the brain which is suspended inside our skull, is forced forwards and literally ricochets off the skull and damages some of the nerve cells most commonly of either the brain stem (the part connected to the spinal cord), the frontal lobe (the part behind the forehead) and/or the temporal lobe (the part of the brain located on the side of the head). Depending on the direction and degree of force generated by the collision (front end, side impact or rear end collision), the area of the brain that may be damaged varies as it could be the area closest to initial impact or, the area on the opposite side, due to the rebound effect. Depending on which part of the brain is injured, the physical findings may include problems with walking, balance, coordination, strength/endurance, as well as difficulties with communicating (“cognitive deficits”), processing information, memory, and altered psychological functions.
The good news is that most of these injuries will recover within 3-12 months but unfortunately, not all do and in these cases, the term, “post-concussive syndrome” is sometimes used.
We realize you have a choice in where you choose your health-care services.  If you, a friend or family member requires care for whiplash, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Ergonomics

The word, “Ergonomics” is thrown around a lot when it comes to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). The term ergonomics comes from the Greek ergon, meaning “work”, and nomos, meaning “natural laws.” By definition, ergonomics means, “…the study of efficiency in working environments.” Wikipedia describes it as, “…the study of designing equipment and devices that fit the human body, and its cognitive abilities.” The International Ergonomics Association offers this definition: “Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.”
            The study of ergonomics is not new as it dates back to Ancient Greece with substantial evidence that, in the 5th century BC, ergonomic principles were applied to tool design, jobs and workplaces. Examples include Hippocrates giving surgeons recommendations on how to arrange their table and tools during surgery.
            Some ergonomic concepts we can employ on a daily basis include:

1. Take frequent breaks, every half-hour if possible, but at least every 60 to 90 minutes. Get up, stretch and walk around. If nothing else, perform stretches while sitting in your work chair.
2. Maintain “good posture” (tuck in the chin and hold the retracted position).      
3. Evaluate your workstation: proper sitting position, how you hold the phone, keyboard/monitor positions, type & position of the mouse, reaching requirements, avoid twist/bending the wrists.
4. When grasping/gripping, use the whole hand – not just the fingers or thumb tips alone.
5. Keep cutting instruments sharp (scissors, knives, etc.) and maintain locks on hinged knives.
6. Consider modifications if tools are too heavy, buttons too high, too much required force, etc.
7. Stay in shape as obesity is a risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome.
8. Rotate job tasks rather than continuing with one task until finished (less repetition)!
9. Communicate with your supervisor and HRO person about improving the workplace.

Whiplash Facts You Should Know!

In whiplash research, many articles have been published that conflict or contradict each other. The goal of this blog post is to report the “facts” about whiplash.

• It is more common to have a delay in the onset of whiplash symptoms. Symptoms may start about two hours after the initial injury or it may take days, weeks, or months before you feel anything.
• For whiplash caused by car accidents, the severity depends on the force of the impact, the way you were seated in your car, and if you were properly restrained using a shoulder and seat belt.
• Tests show the soft tissues in your neck sustain injury at a threshold of 5 mph. That means if you're rear-ended at 5 mph or slower, you have a lower chance of getting whiplash. However, most rear-end car accidents happen at speeds of 6-12 mph.
• If you've been in a car accident, it’s a good idea to be evaluated even if your car didn't get damaged and you don't feel any pain.
• Although whiplash is most often associated with car accidents, you can also get whiplash from sports such as snowboarding, boxing, football and gymnastics.
• The concept of “no car damage = no injury” is COMPLETELY false. Most cars can withstand collisions of up to 10 MPH and as pointed out above, only in collisions < 5 MPH are you less likely to be injured. Collisions that occur between 6-12 MPH cause the highest percentage of whiplash injuries (which is below the threshold of car damage in most cases). Also, the energy of the impact is transferred to the contents inside the car when there is no vehicular damage (that means you).
• Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) can occur in motor vehicle collisions even if the head does not hit an object inside the car, although it’s more common when there is a head strike. The symptoms associated with MTBI are often referred to as “Post Concussive Syndrome.”
• Approximately 10% of whiplash injured patients become totally disabled.
• Of the studies published since 1995, over 60% of whiplash patients required long-term medical care.
• Risk factors for long-term symptoms associated with WAD include: rear impacts, loss of the cervical lordosis curve, pre-existing degenerative arthritis, use of seat belts & shoulder harness (low speed impacts only), poor head restraint position or shape, non-awareness of the impending collision, female (especially long slender neck), head rotation at impact.

Iliotibial Bands: How to Prevent Injuries

The Iliotibial Band, or IT Band as it is commonly referred to, is a fibrous, thick connective tissue.  It begins at the hip bone and runs down the outside of the thigh and attaches at the shin bone.  The IT Band works in conjunction with the thigh muscles to provide stability when the legs are moving.

Friction occurs when the IT Band passes over the bony outside section of the knee as the leg bends and straightens.  Runners commonly experience discomfort or pain when the IT Band becomes irritated or inflamed.  Typically, their feet strike the ground just as the IT Band passes across that hard outside part of the knee which can cause pain to be felt on the outside of the knee, the thigh or the hip.  The intensity of pain may increase when descending stairs and hills.

Other factors can contribute to IT Band injuries:

weak hip muscles

tight or inflexible thigh and buttock muscles

overuse

over pronation

excessive hill running

running on slanted/curved surfaces                      

Being proactive and knowledgeable can help avoid IT Band problems.  There is an abundance of exercises that target key muscles and movements that will increase flexibility.  Another important factor in preventing injuries is using proper form.

 
Prevention of IT Band injuries can be greatly improved by including various strength training exercises along with rehabilitation and stretching routines. Below is a list of common hip and thigh strengthening exercises that you can do by yourself:
 

• Walking lunges
• Yoga for runners low lunge
• Split squats with fitness ball
• Squats with resistance band raises

 
At the end of the day every runner wants to run injury free. As we discussed earlier, the hips and IT Bands are prone to injury if you have excessive tightness and/or weak muscles. Training should include ample stretching and strengthening followed by a foam roller massage for the serious runner who puts in a lot of weakly mileage (a lot can vary by individual but generally means anything above 20 miles per week).  Use the foam roller to massage and stretch out the IT Band and the surrounding tissues.  Make sure the foam roller is densely packed  and has a consistency more like wood.  Use your body weight and gravity to massage.  Pain should be felt in those areas during massage to know it is being done correctly.  The pain indicates an area of tightness.

Runners can also use myofascial massage/release to work out pain and tightness. Starting early and being consistent with the above techniques should improve your chances of running healthy and pain free for the long term.
 

An exercise program is essential to being fit in body, mind and spirit.  Let us guide you to a long, healthy running experience.

How Does Spinal Degeneration Happen?

Patients are often surprised when they see the level of spinal degeneration that they have on x-ray or MRI. The first question is always "How did this happen to me?"
Well...spinal degeneration is the opposite of generate, which means "grow".
When we stop growing we begin to degenerate...and this happens to everything.
So is spinal degeneration normal?
Yes, to a certain extent...just like a certain amount of tread wear on a tire is normal as long as the conditions are right...such as a normal front end alignment, good brake pads and shocks, normal road conditions, and of course your driving habits.
The most common form of spinal degeneration is from abnormal wear and tear...or what chiropractors call subluxation degeneration, which comes from spinal misalignment's (vertebral subluxations) that are left undetected and uncorrected. And for the most part, this process starts when we are very young.
What happens is, the spinal bones lose their normal position which creates abnormal forces on the spinal structures such as the spinal discs, ligaments, facet joints, and vertebral end plates. These abnormal forces (along with a cascade of inflammatory and chemical responses) cause the structures to breakdown prematurely leading to spinal degeneration and degenerative disc disease (DDD).
In addition, lifestyle choices we make (I refer to this as our "context")  such as the food we eat , the amount of exercise we get, smoking, drinking, stress, rest, etc., can also contribute towards spinal degeneration. The healthier the lifestyle, the better.
Side Note: The typical American diet (and 70% of us are overwight or obese) is rich an animal protein,  processed foods, chemicals, and toxins, which can lead to chronic inflamation, obesity, and spinal degeneration.
In a nutshell...we reflect the quality of our context. Just like the pond in your backyard reflects the quality of it's context...or a river, or an ocean, or the planet.
So what can I do to make sure my spine does not degenerate prematurely or if it already has, slow the degeneration down?
The first thing you should do is get a spinal exam from a chiropractor...one that specializes in posture. You want to find out if you have a short leg also, foot pronation, or a rotated pelvis...these are all part of a good spinal exam. If you are out of alignment, follow your chiropractors recommendations to fix the problem...then get checked every so often to maintain the changes.
Depending on the severity of your condition and your desire to change (the primary factor), your chiropractor can help you modify your lifestyle choices and get you on the right track.
As I chiropractor and family doctor, I want to teach my patients about the causes of vertbral subluxation, as well as treat the subluxations themselves. This way the changes are more permanent.
So, Yes...spinal degeneration can happen quick....especially when we get older. But chiropractic and a healthy lifestyle can slow it down and help you enjoy a long active life :-)

How do you know if you have a herniated disc?

Often times back pain patients are concerned that they may have a herniated or slipped discin their back or neck...especially if there was a trauma involved...how would they know?

Well...if you have pain radiating down your arm or leg (sciatica) you should be concerned. If it hurts when you cough, laugh, or sneeze, you may have a disc herniation. Or, if you have loss of grip strength, arm or leg weakness...or foot drop, you could have a lumbar or cervical disc bulge or herniation.

A herniated disc can also cause numbness or tingling in the extremities, as well as hot or cold sensations...or just abnormal sensations.

Your nerves transmit sensory and motor input to and from the brain. Herniated or bulging discs put physical pressure on the nerves and can cause loss of sensation and motor function.

Sure, a herniated disc can happen all at once from a trauma. But what's more likely to happen is a disc herniation from long term wear and tear from spinal degeneration and misalignment's. Just like a tire can blow if it hits a curb...or it can blow from driving too hard over time with the front end out of alignment.

And get this...you may or may not have any neck or back pain with a disc herniation.

Actually...you could have a disc herniation and not even know it. In fact, most people that have disc herniations never even develop signs or symptoms. That's right...only a small percentage of people that suffer disc herniations ever even know they have them. This is because not all herniated cervical or lumbar discs cause symptoms or loss of function.

However...of the herniated disc patients that do develop symptoms such as back pain, sciatica, numbness, tingling, or weakness...some of them become  chronic and severe...some severely disabled.

So, knowing if you have a disc herniation is very difficult. Because even all the signs and symptoms I described above can be caused by other things, especially after acute trauma.

The gold standard for confirming the presence of a disc herniation in the spine is MRI.

If it turns out you have a herniated disc in your back there are surgical and non-surgical options. 

Chiropractic care is probably your best natural solution...then non-surgical spinal decompression...or a combination of both. You may or may not need medical care...it just depends on the nature and severity of your condition.

Fibromyalgia and Exercise

We have been providing fibromyalgia treatment in Dallas for almost 7 years now. It is common knowledge that we all benefit from exercise. But, it is especially important for people with fibromyalgia (FM) to exercise as it reduces fatigue, increases energy, improves joint flexibility, and improves sleep quality and mood. In essence, exercise allows FM sufferers to live a more enjoyable and fulfilling life!
                With that said, it is important to realize that not all exercises are right for every individual person. Therefore, when introducing new activities and exercises into your routine, do NOT do too many new or different exercises all at the same time as you will not be able to recognize those that may not be right for you.  Rather, pick one or maybe two new exercises at the most and incorporate them into your routine so that you can “prove” that they “work for you.” Then, if you get worse, you’ll be able to confidently identify the exercise that may not be right for you.
                The focus of deciding which exercises are “right for you” is usually based on the presence or absence of pain and hence, we should discuss pain.  There are “good” and “bad” forms of pain. A “good” pain does NOT feel harmful – that is, knife-like or lancinating or, severe intense pain. Rather, it should feel, “…like a good stretch,” or, a pain that, “…hurts good.” In fact, sore muscles after exercising prove that you’ve accomplished something positive.  It’s usually noticed the day or two after a new exercise or activity is started and then subsides gradually.  It will actually “go away” quicker if you perform the same activity or exercise within a few days after the initial session and after the 2nd or 3rd time, it will usually not give you that “post-exercise soreness” type of pain and you can gradually increase the exercise after that point.
                Here are some specific recommendations for implementing exercise safely and successfully. Because FM seems to exaggerate pain, make sure to:

1. Start out slow: Begin with only a few repetitions, move only so far (stay within “reasonable” pain boundaries), and do only 1 or 2 sets, maybe 5 minutes max of a particular maneuver. Remember, if you do too much and really hurt a lot afterwards, you may become afraid to exercise again and that’s the WORST thing that could happen!
2. Self-Massage, hot or cold: Consider light self-applied massage with or without moist heat (but no more than 20 minutes / hour – don’t “swell it up” by leaving heat on for longer than 30 minutes.  If pain is more intense (>5/10 on a 0-10 scale, for example), use ice after exercising, usually for 15-20 minutes (on 15/off 15/on 15/off 15/on 15 = 1.25 hours), so it can act like a pump to remove swelling more efficiently. Talk to us about heat or cool rubs or gels.
3. Personalize: Because you’re unique, personalize your program so it becomes “yours.” Remember, you are not like the next person and you must design a program that “works” for you. Pick things you like to do so you look forwards to doing it – bike riding, brisk walking, swimming, canoeing, hiking off road, weight lifting (emphasizing low weight/high reps), and so on – PICK SOME ACTIVITIES THAT YOU LIKE TO DO!
4. Aerobic exercises: Consider starting with an aerobic (heart pumping) type of exercise. Many studies have reported that aerobics offer greater benefits compared to stretching, for the FM patient. Start with a low impact cardiovascular exercise like walking.  Even sitting on a gym ball and gently bouncing for 5 minutes gets the heart pumping quite nicely and, it’s fun!  Swimming and bicycling are good, non-pounding types of exercises as well.

Take Responsibility For Your Own Health...and Wealth

All to often in life, people tend to think that their actions (or inaction's) and the results they produce are independent of each other.
For every effect there is a cause. And for every cause there is an effect.
These laws are Universal and apply to all things at all times.
People seem to be amazed when they run themselves into the ground, don't get enough rest, eat poorly, then get sick. They will say "I got that bug that's been going around". Hey...those bugs are always there.
When your body is sick and run down it becomes food for those bugs. When your body is strong and healthy from smart decisions by YOU, they could dip you in a pool of these bugs and you would not get sick.
When it comes to wealth creation I have seen it all. And similar rules apply to creating wealth as do creating health. The conditions must be right. Not only conditions created by someone else...YOU must be part of the equation...or the results will only be temporary if any at all.
It's hard to take advantage of opportunity if you are not prepared.
And it's not anybody's job but your own to make sure this happens.
Just like it's hard to adapt to adverse environmental conditions such as mental stress, long hours, and germs if your body is not prepared. It's hard to take advantage of wealth creating opportunities if your mind is not prepared.
The solution is to accept full responsibility for your own health and wealth.
Make yourself valuable. As an employer and consultant I can tell you this...you are a lot more valuable when you are healthy and prepared.
And when you exceed expectations not just meet them. You should always be looking to do more...not less.
And there is always time to get the job done. It's about decisions not time.
For me, chiropractic makes a lot of sense here. Chiropractic helps keep my body strong and healthy, and it's quick. And the chiropractic lifestyle of clean eating, plenty of rest and water, exercise, and stress management, gives me the edge I need to deliver a very high quality product (on the job) day in and day out.
And I know that my bank account is determined by the quality of my work and the decisions I make each day to maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Nobody decides my financial state of health but me. When I am lazy I pay the price. When I work hard and learn new things I reap the rewards. The ball is in my court.
I also like to associate with like minded people...in health and wealth. They say you are the average of the 3 friends you spend the most amount of time communicationg with. And that can be scary.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Ergonomics

The word, “Ergonomics” is thrown around a lot when it comes to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). The term ergonomics comes from the Greek ergon, meaning “work”, and nomos, meaning “natural laws.” By definition, ergonomics means, “…the study of efficiency in working environments.” Wikipedia describes it as, “…the study of designing equipment and devices that fit the human body, and its cognitive abilities.” The International Ergonomics Association offers this definition: “Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.”
            The study of ergonomics is not new as it dates back to Ancient Greece with substantial evidence that, in the 5th century BC, ergonomic principles were applied to tool design, jobs and workplaces. Examples include Hippocrates giving surgeons recommendations on how to arrange their table and tools during surgery.
            Some ergonomic concepts we can employ on a daily basis include:

1. Take frequent breaks, every half-hour if possible, but at least every 60 to 90 minutes. Get up, stretch and walk around. If nothing else, perform stretches while sitting in your work chair.
2. Maintain “good posture” (tuck in the chin and hold the retracted position).      
3. Evaluate your workstation: proper sitting position, how you hold the phone, keyboard/monitor positions, type & position of the mouse, reaching requirements, avoid twist/bending the wrists.
4. When grasping/gripping, use the whole hand – not just the fingers or thumb tips alone.
5. Keep cutting instruments sharp (scissors, knives, etc.) and maintain locks on hinged knives.
6. Consider modifications if tools are too heavy, buttons too high, too much required force, etc.
7. Stay in shape as obesity is a risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome.
8. Rotate job tasks rather than continuing with one task until finished (less repetition)!
9. Communicate with your supervisor and HRO person about improving the workplace.