Saratoga Springs Chiropractor

When it comes to chiropractic care, amazingly there are still a few people out there who are still a “Doubting Thomas.” Are you one of them? If so, your chiropractor in Saratoga Springs is determined to set the record straight and end your worries once and for all. First of all he wants you to know that chiropractic adjustments aren’t some “far-out” alternative approach to health care. In fact, nowadays thousands of “regular people,” just like you, are taking another look at their choices and more and more their choice is chiropractic care because of the numerous benefits that such care offers. Did you know that no other medical approach is less invasive to the body and, yet, is more successful in stimulating the body’s natural inherent to heal? Your Saratoga Springs Chiropractor will uncover, and eliminate, the reason for your pain], and will never merely attempt to hide your symptoms with drugs.

Unfortunately, musculoskeletal problems, for instance back or neck pain, pain in your shoulder, elbow, hip or knee joints, and even ankle or foot pain, are likely to occur, wherever there is a musculoskeletal system, like the one in the human body. Everyone is at risk! And, when you are hurting, and you want the pain to stop, it can even seem like a good idea to take a drug. However, by not addressing the reason for your pain, and because a drug can’t eliminate the cause, the cause of it will likely get worse. Sports injuries, accidents, and the aging process are generally the culprits that create musculoskeletal problems. However, regardless of the cause, any form of movement on an inflammed area of the body can not only result in pain or discomfort, but inactivity. And, naturally, particular musculoskeletal problems can often result in permanent disability if left untreated. If chiropractic treatment were not an option you would only be left with only two choices: Live with increased pain or continue to take drugs that will eventually can have very serious side effects! Neither one of those two choices will get you back in action in your life!

Your Saratoga Springs Chiropractor has plenty more he wants you to know about chiropractic care. Because in addition to being the best, non-invasive “first option” when the pain in your back, shoulder, neck, hip, knee, foot, or hand is making you needlessly suffer, the benefits of chiropractic care far exceed the ability to correct a specific painful condition. If this has you curious, let me explain thata patient who vists a chiropractor for pain relief, not only get what he or she came in for, which is less pain, but also better, a reduction or elimination of lactic acid, smoother travel of oxygen and nutrients within the body, less overall stiffness, less general pain and soreness, quicker recovery time, less stress, and the prevention of future injury! Is it any wonder chiropractic care has become the treatment of choice for so many people?

Your health is important and it’s good to be cautious. But, now you know there is a choice that may be the best choice for you! If you’re in pain, give your Saratoga Springs Chiropractor a call. And, I feel confident that once you’ve experienced all of the wonderful benefits of chiropracit, you’re going to want to tell a friend! To paraphrase another excellent saying: “Friends don’t let friends live in pain!”

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There are many causative factors for the problems of Vertigo. An inner ear condition, known as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, will at times occur as the impact of a sustained head trauma or very bad cold. On occasion this particular vertigo might be the result of the aging process. The basis, however, fairly often is unknown. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo is a wordy diagnosis, but it characterizes completely this non- progressive malady that is brought on by, as its name signifies, a quick change in head position. The discomforts are as a rule unexpected and variable.

It is useful to look at the functionality of the inner ear in an attempt fully grasp what stimulates the ofttimes crippling discomforts of this sort of vertigo. The brain takes in movement and keeps equilibrium employing the fluid within the inner ear. Also in the inner ear are tiny calcium carbonate crystals, generally known as otoconia. These crystals will float in the inner ear fluid if dislodged. As the crystals strike against the responsive nerve endings in the inner ear, they produce the complaints of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or BPPV.

The good news is that chiropractic therapy can relieve the discomforts of BPPV very quickly and effectively employing a technique referred to as the Epley maneuver. By means of the use of this process, a chiropractor turns the head of a BPPV victim into a number of the different positions, letting gravity carry the calcium carbonate crystals into a local of the inner ear that is away from the nerve endings where they will produce no further dizziness.

Your chiropractor has helped innumerable individuals for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo employing the Epley Maneuver technique. Generally, with only one treatment many patients no longer suffer from wooziness.  Call your chiropractor Santa Barbara locale, to get the help you need!

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Knee X-ray

Research done by Tufts University School of Medicine had concluded that men and women that are at least 65 years of age or older who’ve been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (OA), and who practice Tai Chi, improved their physical function and experienced less pain. Osteoarthritis is a prevalent form of arthritis that brings about a wearing away of joint cartilage. Chiropractors help quite a few people suffering from OA in a number of places in the body, including the knee joints. Knee pain and disability is one of the most commonplace dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system, second only to spinal complaints. In fact, an astonishing 4.3 million US adults over 60 years of age have been diagnosed with knee OA, according to the CDC, and it conjectures that by age 85, half of men and women in America may incur symptoms of OA. Knee OA causes pain, immobility, functional disabilities, and a diminished quality of life.

Are you wondering why so many adults develop OA? As with the majority of the musculoskeletal dysfunctions that we develop as we age, abnormal stress to a joint over the years is a major element. That is why as people age they are more susceptible to developing OA in their joints, including the knees. Incorrect function of the knee, poor gait, compensatory foot mechanics as the result of foot pain, and overload of the knee joint all cause undue stress on the knees. Over time arthritic changes in the knee joint develop. In addition to chiropractic therapies, chiropractors fully endorse natural, drug-free practices, such as Tai Chi (Chuan), that can help to reduce knee pain. A traditional style of Chinese martial arts,Tai Chi features slow, rhythmic movements that produce mental relaxation, as well as increased balance, an increase in strength, and more flexibility.

The 40 adults chosen for the Tufts study were on an average 65 years of age, overweight, and with confirmed OA, but in otherwise good health. Participants were picked at random to participate in 60-minute “Yang style” Tai Chi sessions twice weekly for 12 weeks. Each session included a 10-minute self-massage and a review of Tai Chi principles, 30 minutes of Tai Chi movement, 10 minutes of breathing technique, and 10 minutes of relaxation.

Tai Chi incorporates many of the current exercise protocols for OA, such as range of motion, flexibility, muscle conditioning, and aerobic workout. Furthermore, researchers found that the “mental feature” of Tai Chi encouraged a sense of well-being, life enjoyments, and perceptions of health that assisted the participants in dealing differently with chronic pain. Compared with the control group, the group practicing Tai Chi experienced a substantial decrease in knee pain.

Full findings of the study are published in the November 2009 issue of Arthritis Care & Research, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology.

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Researchers found that of the “least-fit” versus the “slightly more fit” of the nearly 4,400 healthy Americans in their recent study, roughly 20 percent with the lowest physical fitness levels doubled the risk of dying over the nine years of the study as the 20 percent with the next-lowest fitness levels. (To put it another way, those 20 percent who were almost at the lowest fitness levels.) This is the familiar “bad news/good news” outcome. It is obviously bad news if you are a confirmed sofa spud. However, it is undoubtedly good news for those who haven’t entirely embraced a sedentary lifestyle but are not, by any means, “exertive.” Apparently, those people who continue to be even moderately fit as they grow older may have a longer lifespan than those who are entirely out-of-shape, the study suggests.

The study included 4,384 middle-aged and older men and women whose fitness levels were determined during exercise treadmill tests sometime between 1986 and 2006. For an average of nine years thereafter, the researchers pursued the study groups progress. The study considered such factors like obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. This, in and of itself, underscores the significants of being physically fit. In an email to Reuters Health, lead researcher, Dr. Sandra Mandic of the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, wrote: “Our findings suggest that a sedentary lifestyle, rather than differences in cardiovascular risk factors or age, may explain the two-fold higher mortality rates in the least-fit versus slightly more fit individuals.”

Nearly two-thirds of the least-fit study participants were not getting the minimum recommended amount of exercise, which is at least 30 minutes of moderate activity (like brisk walking) five or more days a week. “These results emphasize the importance of improving and maintaining high fitness levels by engaging in regular physical activity,” Mandic said, “particularly in poorly-fit individuals.”

After classifying the study group participants by fitness levels, the researchers found that 13 percent of those who were in slightly better shape had died during the study period. However, 25 percent of the least-fit participants had died during the same period. Only 6 percent of the most-fit group (i.e., the ones who “won the gold”, so to speak) had died during the follow-up period.

The notable finding was that overall, the five fitness-level groups showed little difference in their reported exercise routines over their adult lives, but where they differed was their activity levels in recent years. “Since it is recent physical activity that offers protection,” Mandic said, “it is important to maintain regular physical activity throughout life.”

And, of course, just think of the health benefits we could all derive if we sought to achieve the higher levels of fitness.

SOURCE: Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, August 2009.

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Athletes are distinctly at risk when it comes to problems produced by dehydration. “Physiologically, their core body temperature could be higher than it should have been if they were hydrated. Their heart rate will be higher, and they’re going to perceive that they’re working harder than they actually are,” said Susan Yeargin, assistant professor of athletic training in Indiana State’s College of Nursing, Health, and Human Services. A high percentage of collegiate and professional athletes begin the season dehydrated, putting their health at risk even before they begin strenuous workouts, according to researchers at Indiana State University. In fact, Pre-season physical examinations, in fact, found that 80 percent of football players exhibited dehydration.

Wondering how much water is enough water? Chiropractors, like the majority of other health care professionals, advise at least eight, 8-ounce glasses of water per day for quite a few of our patients, though for our patients who are athletes, or for those who carry around excess weight or exercise or work in a hot environment, we propose even more. How can you tell if you, personally, are drinking an adequate amount of water? Your urine color is a good gauge. You’re well-hydrated if it comes out a light, pale yellow!

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You’ve probably noticed that your body is going through quite a lot of changes, and these changes will continue as the pregnancy progresses. One change that goes basically unnoticed is your body’s increased production of the hormone elastin. This hormone is designed to relax the tendons in the pelvis. This relaxation allows the pelvis more flexibility during the birthing process to make delivering the baby easier.

This process, despite the fact that it functions superbly in assisting the mother during labor, can produce much discomfort in the months leading up to the birth. The elastin is being released in larger amounts as the months go on, which allows the pelvis to become increasingly more unstable. Add to that the gradual increase in the size of the baby and uterus, and you have the recipe for severe low back pain. As a chiropractor I see many pregnant women in my practice for a variety of symptoms, but generally it is for their low back pain.

One side benefit of having your spine and pelvis checked by a chiropractor regularly during your pregnancy is that it has been shown to actually decrease labor time. Why do chiropractic adjustments help? Simply put, if the pelvis is where it needs to be, the muscles contracting during the labor process are more efficient because they don’t have to fight past misaligned joints.

Not only can chiropractic adjustments help you with your low back pain and other associated symptoms, such as heartburn, nausea, swelling, etc., but it is actually good for both you and your baby. And, if needed, certain trained chiropractors can help mothers who have a breached baby. This is done by using the Webster Technique, a low force manipulation of the uterus that helps to get the baby into the appropriate position for birth. A simple Google search on the Webster Technique can give you much more information.

In summation, not only is chiropractic safe for pregnant women and their baby, it is also very beneficial in helping with the symptoms associated with pregnancy. To any pregnant women reading this, please go to see your Santa Barbara Chiropractor. Chiropractic care can make you quite a bit more comfortable in the months of your pregnancy, and it can even make the labor process easier.

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A current survey by the NPD Group, a leading market research organization based in Rosemont, Ill., shows that approximately 62% of men and women and 34% of children are overweight or obese. The pervasiveness of arthritis amplifies with growing weight. Research implies that sustaining a healthy weight decreases the risk of developing arthritis in the first place and may slow degenerative progression. A weight decrease of just 11 pounds can lessen the occurrence (incidence) of new knee osteoarthritis and would be extremely helpful in relieving back pain as well.

In order for anyone to eliminate their back pain, knee pain, and pain in the joints in other areas of the body, a good diet and routine exercise is mandatory.  Although you have no doubt been told this for the better part of your life, it really is the only solution for you to stop suffering and regain your life.

First of all, we’ll talk about the dieting issue.  Most diets (and there are plenty to choose from) can be temporarily helpful.  Sadly, the diet industry is not concerned about your losing weight permanently because consequently they would lose you as a customer.  If you want weight productively, you are simply going to need to eat a healthy diet as well as to cut your calories so that you use more calories than you take in.  Don’t attempt to lose 20 pounds every week because that is a limited and perilous fix. A good goal is to lose about 2 pounds every week in order for it to work well.

On the subject of exercise, research has confirmed that physical activity lessens pain, improves function, and defers disability. No less than one-half hour of moderate physical activity, no fewer than 3 days a week, has proved to be effective. You can get activity in 10-minute intervals.

In addition to the good your joints will get from exercise, chiropractic treatment is a proved way to get movement back in the joints of your spine and other areas of your body. A well-adjusted spine makes exercise and physical activity a good deal easier and actually slows down arthritic degenerative changes. The Annals of Internal Medicine published the results of a survey of 232 people who were under a rheumatologist’s care for their arthritis.  Of those people, 63% responded to the survey by stating that they were utilizing some type of “complementary care” as named by the study.  Of those individuals, 31% were using chiropractic. Possibly the most consequential statistic was that 73% of those trying chiropractic found it effective.  Answering why they’d tried the non-medical chiropractic care, the responders provided a number of reasons: 1) to curb pain, 2) they’d heard that it helps, 3) they felt assured that it is safe, 4) it had aided someone they knew, and 5) because their prescription medication wasn’t stopping the pain.

Chiropractors, also called doctors of chiropractic, have been helping men and women suffering from back pain due to arthritis as well as other arthritic afflictions for over a hundred years. Not only can arthritic pain and degenerative changes in the spine be created by the misaligned vertebra that Dr. Jamie Phillips will adjust, if left untreated misalignments can reduce resistance and immunity, which can create new health conditions.

It is always wise to consult a health care professional to get information about diet and exercise. If you looking for expert advice on the kind of lifestyle changes that you will required to aid you in managing your arthritis, Dr. Jamie Phillips will be very happy to assist you. By the same token, in addition to correcting any misalignments in your spine, Dr. Jamie Phillips will diagnose any faulty gait patterns or posture irregularities that may be adding to your arthritic pain.

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We’ve all heard that movement is beneficial for every part of body, right? From our head to our toes, our good health is highly influenced by how much physical exercise we get on a regular basis. If that’s the case, you may be pondering as to why so many individuals suffer from foot pain. After all, our feet are made for walking, aren’t they? Yes, but they aren’t designed for exploitation.

The normal, healthy person takes 3,000-5,000 steps each day, not including activities such as running and aerobic exercise. However, frequently those steps are made by people walking incorrectly, with clumsy gait patterns and unhealthy posture.

In addition, many people wear badly-designed, incorrectly-fitting shoes. Walking and exercising on feet that are inhibited from performing correctly cannot help but to produce aches and pains not only in various places in the feet, but in other parts of the body, as well. For example, if an individual over-pronates (walks like a duck) in a pair of poorly-made or unevenly-worn shoes, or in any pair of high heels, that individual will not only develop foot and ankle problems, but will feasibly experience aches and pains in the back, knees and legs.

The most prevalent foot problem is Plantar Fascitis (heel pain), which is usually caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is an extraordinary, multi-tasking band of connective tissue that encompasses the muscles on the bottom of the foot, connects the heel bone to the ball of the foot, supports the arch, safeguards the foot, and absorbs shock. It goes without saying, then, that the healthy function of the plantar fascia is essential for pain-free walking and exercise.

There are many factors that contribute to the development of Plantar Fascitis. Short and tight calf muscles are one factor. Undue stress on the smaller and weaker plantar muscles and fascia occurs when calf muscles get short and tight, exerting a strong pull on the back of the heel bone. How do calf muscles get short and tight? In addition to aerobics, volleyball, running, basketball, tennis, and similar activities that involve running and jumping, the wearing of high heels can cause the problem.

Sudden strenuous activity after a period of prolonged inactivity can contribute to Plantar Fascitis, as can such determinants as abnormal gait patterns (e.g., over-pronation), improper footwear, walking on hard or uneven surfaces (particularly with bare feet), and obesity.

Once an individual develops Plantar Fascitis, the condition is often difficult to manage and can become extremely painful and persistent. Without proper attention, Plantar Fascitis will only worsen.

If you are suffering from heel pain, your chiropractor will be able to determine the cause of your problem and what chiropractic therapies would be most beneficial. Such care might include ultrasound therapy, laser, joint manipulation, Graston technique, muscle stretching and strengthening exercises, special taping and, in some cases, orthotics.

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Sciatic pain generally travels from your low back, through the buttock(s), and down the large sciatic nerve in the back of your leg(s). Often, the pain can even radiate into your knee. Sitting, as well as motion, can be painful. Sometimes lying down will reduce, or perhaps temporarily get rid of the pain. However, sciatica cannot be corrected without proper care.

“Radiculopathy,” the medical term for the clinical diagnosis of sciatica, means simply that a disc has distended from its usual position in the vertebral column and is causing pressure on the radicular nerve (nerve root) in the lower back, which forms part of the sciatic nerve. Such pressure is extraordinarily painful.

Additional pressure on the intervertebral discs, as well as imbalances in the muscles surrounding the spine, can take place as the result of prolonged sitting, particularly in a poor position. For the most part, an explicit event or definite injury doesn’t create sciatica, instead it tends to manifest over time as a result of average wear and tear on the structures of the lower spine. Over time the lower spine loses its ability to function in a healthy way during common daily requirements.

The final result is that, the intervertebral disc develops small fissures, or cracks, which then allows the soft nucleus to extend the disc outward. If the disc puts pressure on sensitive tissues, it produces the pain that is generally called a ruptured disc. If the disc presses on the spinal nerve, then sciatica can develop.

Most disc challenges, including sciatica, can be alleviated with chiropractic adjustments and therapies that usually includes postural exercises. If you are experiencing sciatic pain, it is essential for you to seek help from your chiropractor.

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