Showing posts with label Chiropractic Care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chiropractic Care. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Chiropractic Care Essential for Olympic Athletes

More than 100 chiropractic doctors in North America are being sent by Florida-based Maximized Living (ML) to the 2012 Olympics. They have been chosen to help members of USA judo, weightlifting, wrestling and sitting volleyball win a medal. This is the first time that a large group of chiropractic doctors have traveled with Olympic bodies to represent the US at the games. It is also the largest contingent of chiropractic doctors to have been selected to support and care for American athletes in London.

The ML Sports Council has worked closely with many national governing bodies to bring a holistic, whole-athlete approach to health that includess chiropractic principles, balanced nutrition, mental preparedness and fitness programs focused on building strength, endurance and enhanced performance. Dr. Ben Lerner, a former all-American wrestler and founder of Maximized Living, has bridged a gap in performance management by creating the first and largest certified network of chiropractic doctors trained in whole-athlete care. ML Sports Council chiropractic doctors are certified not only in advanced chiropractic techniques but also in nutrition, detoxification, exercise and mental preparedness.

Jose Rodriguez, USA Judo Executive Director, commented, "This is about making our athletes stronger, faster and sustainably successful. Our partnership with ML has given us the education, support and comprehensive principles to increase stamina, strength and perform at their pinnacle in London."

Terry Steiner, 2012 USA Women's National Coach commented, "I have seen a tremendous value in our partnership as it pertains to the performances of our Olympic team. I can further see the positive, life-long effects these doctors can have on their lives after London."

"We're proud of the selfless commitment our Sports Council doctors have made in helping USA's elite compete at the highest level, achieve peak performance, recover faster, sustain fewer injuries and reach for the gold. Our Sports Council's success is a testament to the performance and recuperative aspects of chiropractic and the critical role Maximized Living doctors play in helping to unlock the full human potential," commented ML CEO, Shel Hart.

Chiropractic doctors are not only being utilized by athletes at the 2012 Olympics but also by the 2010 Major League Soccer World Champions, Colorado Rapids, US Martial Arts, the International Brazilian Jujitsu Federation, many top MMA teams, and hundreds of athletes and teams at all levels and all over the world.

The World's Fastest Man Utilizes Chiropractic Care, Shouldn't You?


World's fastest man, Usain Bolt, says that he is fit and ready for London's 2012 Olympics and is convinced his defense of the 100m title could trigger one of the fastest ever races in the blue riband sprint.

Bolt is a Jamaican sprinter and a five-time World and three-time Olympic gold medalist. He is the world record and Olympic record holder in the 100 metres, the 200 metres and (along with his teammates) the 4×100 metres relay and the reigning Olympic champion in these three events. He is one of only seven athletes to win world championships at the youth, junior, and senior level of an athletic event.

South Florida's Dr. Michael Douglas who is certified in Chiropractic Neurology has been the official Chiropractor of the Jamaican Olympic Team since 1996. He blends sports injury rehabilitation and traditional chiropractic care techniques and has performed these techniques on thousands of patients as well as on some of the world’s greatest Olympians such as Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Veronica Campbell, Shelly-Ann Fraser and more.

Many, unfortunately, turn to chiropractic care only AFTER they have been injured. But,
in addition to improving performance, speed and agility, ongoing chiropractic care and therapy can offer several health and wellness benefits vital to everyone:
  • Improved Posture
  • Increased Range of Motion
  • Increased Flexibility
  • Reduced Risk of Injury
  • Reduced Migraines and Severe Headaches
  • Improved Recovery After Sports Injuries
  • Increased Blood Circulation and Oxygen Flow in Body
  • Pain Reduction in Major Joints
  • Better Focus and Concentration
  • Reduced Stress
  • Improved Immune System (for warding off common illnesses and diseases)
Whether you are suffering from a car accident, occupational injury, sports-related trauma or everyday pain, chiropractors everywhere are ready to help you even at the 2012 Olympics.

Chiropractic therapy offers several benefits for athletes who are constantly pushing their bodies to the max. In fact, other top athletes such as Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong each have regular chiropractic care regimented into their routines.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

The Dangers of Forward Head Posture


For every inch the head moves forward in posture, it increases the weight of the head on the neck by 10 pounds!

That's a telling statement.  Forward Head Posture can cause head and shoulder tension and lead to pain.  All of this is caused by everyday hurdles that face us, such as stress, computer work, laying on the couch (couch neck), reading, and texting (text neck).

Long term abnormal neck posture can lead to muscle strain, pinched nerves, disc herniations, and arthritis.  The damage and repetitive stress can be long lasting and irreversible if left uncorrected. 

Have you ever seen someone whose head leans forward and their head seems to be an eternity away from their shoulders. Is this you? Is this Someone you know??

What do you do about forward head postureChiropractic care is a highly recommended treatment option for Forward Head Posture and Magna Chiropractic provides safe and effective treatment options to keep you fit, active, and healthy.

We offer safe, gentle adjustments along with rehab exercises and various other types of treatment plans.  For more information, give us a call or visit our website.

Magna Chiropractic
165 Natchez Trace, Suite 201
Bowling Green, KY 42103
(270) 746-9400

Monday, July 16, 2012

The "Check Engine Light" A Case of 3 Mechanics

The check engine light came on in my car. I pondered what to do and where to take it. So here's what I did. 

I took the car to a mechanic. He said that over the course of evolution the check engine light came about, there is no mechanical reason for having one, it has no function, and he recommended taking it out.

I decided on a second opinion. I took the car to another mechanic. He specialized in fuels. He said fuel specialists weren't sure why check engine lights come on, but he had several liquids, and other additives that he wanted me to use on a daily basis. He said that they would make the light dim enough so I would not notice it when it was trying to tell me something.

I decided on a third opinion. This mechanic said my car was intelligently designed and that all things were put there for a specific purpose. The check engine light meant something was wrong. He decided to look for the problem that was actually causing the light to come on, and address it from the source instead of "taking it out" or "treating with other liquids and potions". What he found was a simple electrical short that was easily fixed, and with minor regular maintenance it should run perfectly as it was designed to do.

All too often people are looking for solutions that come from pills, potions, and chemicals or even worse surgery without addressing the root of the problem. There are times when all of the above is needed, but none should be the first line of defense. Don't just cover up the symptoms or have the problem removed, get an accurate diagnosis from someone who understands this and has been trained to look at things from this perspective.

Times and healthcare are changing. As we evolve and get better educated, we are (re-) discovering that there is a balance in all things and cutting things out, or masking the symptoms is in most cases not the best answer as it was thought years ago. Chiropractors are being included in the FRONT line treatment at VA hospitals, on EVERY major sports team, placed on Hospital staff, and some insurance carriers are mandating that Chiropractic and physiotherapy be tried FIRST before back surgery is performed. If you or someone you love has an "engine light" going off, I urge you to seek Chiropractic care first and have the problem properly diagnosed.

At MAGNA Chiropractic Dr. Hawley and Dr. Rogers do full physical evaluations and help educate the patient on what/where their problem is coming from. They offer many forms of treatment and in many cases work in conjunction with your Medical Doctor.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

6 Unexpected Culprits of Back Pain, Coming in at #1 is...

Culprit No. 1: Your fancy office chair
Even an expensive, ergonomic chair can be bad for your back if you sit in it all day without a break. Sitting not only lessens blood flow to the discs that cushion your spine (wearing them out and stressing your back), but it puts 30 percent more pressure on the spine than standing or walking, says New York City chiropractor Todd Sinett, author of The Truth About Back Pain.

Be sure to stretch at your desk and get up every hour to walk around. Don’t assume that built-in lumbar support makes your chair back-friendly - in fact, for many people, lumbar supports don’t make a bit of difference, especially if they aren’t positioned properly (at the base of your spine), says Heidi Prather, a physical-medicine and rehabilitation specialist and associate professor of orthopedic surgery and neurology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

No matter what type of chair you sit in, make sure your head is straight (not tilted down) when you’re typing or reading. Avoid slouching and adjust your seat so it tilts back slightly to help alleviate some of the load on your back, Sinett says. And keep your feet planted firmly on the floor.


All information can be found here.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

6 Unexpected Culprits of Back Pain, Coming in at #2 is...

Culprit No. 2: The wrong shoes

When you strut in stilettos, your foot strikes the ground in a toe-forward motion rather than the normal heel-toe gait, stressing your knees, hips, and back, Sinett explains. "Wearing heels also alters the angle of your body so your weight isn’t evenly distributed over the spine," he says. This instability can set you up for pain and injury radiating from your knees all the way to your back.

Another shoe no-no: the backless kind (even flats and flip-flops), which allow your heel to slide around. Again, the lack of stability distributes your body weight unevenly, putting more pressure on your spine. Your shoe should firmly hold your foot in place to keep you stable and protect your back, says Sinett, who also advises sticking to heels that are less than three inches high
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Friday, June 8, 2012

6 Unexpected Culprits of Back Pain, Coming in at #3 is...

Culprit No. 3: Your beloved smartphone or tablet
Mobile technology has not been kind to our backs and necks, Prather says. "We’re hovering over laptops, iPads, and smartphones all the time," she notes. "This head-down position strains the muscles in the neck, and the pain can extend all the way down your spine to your lower back." Take frequent breaks, and try to look straight ahead - rather than down - while using a laptop, tablet, or phone. You can buy a stand to help hold your laptop or tablet at a more back-friendly height and angle.

A diagram of text neck strain:

Thursday, June 7, 2012

6 Unexpected Culprits of Back Pain, Coming in at #4 is...

Culprit No. 4: Extra pounds

Carrying even just a few extra inches around your midsection - whether it’s due to belly fat or pregnancy - makes your pelvis tilt forward and out of alignment, as your body works to keep itself balanced. This can cause excessive strain on your lower back, Dr. Akuthota says. He recommends doing this easy stretch several times daily: Tighten your abs (like you’re bracing for a punch in the stomach) to activate core muscles and take a load off the lumbar discs; hold 10 seconds, then release. (Pregnant? Check with your doctor before doing any exercise.)

And if weight gain is your problem, consider making whole grains an essential part of your slim-down plan: A new study from Tufts University found that those who ate three or more servings of whole grains a day had 10 percent less abdominal fat compared with those who ate essentially no whole grains.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Top 6 Unexpected Culprits of Back Pain, Coming in at #5 is...

Culprit No. 5: The wrong bra

Large-breasted women obviously carry significantly more weight in front than those who have smaller breasts. This can lead to hunching and sore neck and back muscles, Sinett says. A bra that offers proper support can actually minimize that forward hunch and relieve pain, while one that doesn’t may exacerbate the problem, as you hunch or strain even more to compensate for uncomfortable straps or a band that rides up.

Research shows that many women wear the wrong size bra, but the right fit can mean the difference between sagging and supported; get fitted by a bra professional. Prather says you may want to try a T-back (a.k.a. racer-back) style. "It gives the body a cue to pull the shoulders back," she says.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Top 6 Unexpected Culprits of Back Pain, Coming in at #6 is...


Culprit No. 6: Your crazy schedule

Just like the rest of you, your back muscles can tense up when you’re frazzled. Muscles are designed to contract and relax, Sinett explains, but when you’re stressed, they may contract so much that they can eventually start to spasm. Stress also boosts production of the hormone cortisol, which increases inflammation and can lead to achiness, he says.

On top of that, "Chronic stress can affect the way a person perceives pain," says Alan Hilibrand, MD, spokesman for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and professor of orthopaedic and neurological surgery at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. "So those who are stressed will often have a harder time managing back pain than those who aren’t." Low-impact aerobic exercise (think walking or working out on an elliptical trainer) may help relieve back pain and ease stress - so you can beat the pain for good.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

For Neck Pain, Chiropractic Care and Exercise Are Better Than Drugs

Seeing a chiropractor or engaging in light exercise relieves neck pain more effectively than relying on pain medication, new research shows.

The new study is one of the few head-to-head comparisons of various treatments for neck pain, a problem that affects three quarters of Americans at some point in their lives but has no proven, first-line treatment. While many people seek out spinal manipulation by chiropractors, the evidence supporting its usefulness has been limited at best.

But the new research, published in The Annals of Internal Medicine, found that chiropractic care or simple exercises done at home were better at reducing pain than taking medications like aspirin, ibuprofen or narcotics.

“These changes were diminished over time, but they were still present,” said Dr. Gert Bronfort, an author of the study and research professor at Northwestern Health Sciences University in Minnesota. “Even a year later, there were differences between the spinal manipulation and medication groups.”

Moderate and acute neck pain is one of the most frequent reasons for trips to primary care doctors, prompting millions of visits every year. For patients, it can be a difficult problem to navigate. In some cases the pain and stiffness crop up without explanation, and treatment options are varied. Physical therapy, pain medication and spinal manipulation are popular options, but Dr. Bronfort was inspired to carry out an analysis because so little research exists.

“There was a void in the scientific literature in terms of what the most helpful treatments are,” he said.

To find out, Dr. Bronfort and his colleagues recruited a large group of adults with neck pain that had no known specific cause. The subjects, 272 in all, were mostly recruited from a large HMO and through advertisements. The researchers then split them into three groups and followed them for about three months.

One group was assigned to visit a chiropractor for roughly 20-minute sessions throughout the course of the study, making an average of 15 visits. A second group was assigned to take common pain relievers like acetaminophen and — in some cases, at the discretion of a doctor — stronger drugs like narcotics and muscle relaxants. The third group met on two occasions with physical therapists who gave them instructions on simple, gentle exercises for the neck that they could do at home. They were encouraged to do 5 to 10 repetitions of each exercise up to eight times a day. (A demonstration of the exercises can be found at www.annals.org).

After 12 weeks, the people in the non-medication groups did significantly better than those taking the drugs. About 57 percent of those who met with chiropractors and 48 percent who did the exercises reported at least a 75 percent reduction in pain, compared to 33 percent of the people in the medication group.

A year later, when the researchers checked back in, 53 percent of the subjects who had received spinal manipulation still reported at least a 75 percent reduction in pain, similar to the exercise group. That compared to just a 38 percent pain reduction among those who had been taking medication.

Dr. Bronfort said it was a “big surprise” to see that the home exercises were about as effective as the chiropractic sessions. “We hadn’t expected that they would be that close,” he said. “But I guess that’s good news for patients.”

In addition to their limited pain relief, the medications had at least one other downside: people kept taking them. “The people in the medication group kept on using a higher amount of medication more frequently throughout the follow-up period, up to a year later,” Dr. Bronfort said. “If you’re taking medication over a long time, then we’re running into more systemic side effects like gastrointestinal problems.”

He also expressed concern that those on medications were not as empowered or active in their own care as those in the other groups. “We think it’s important that patients are enabled to deal with as much control over their own condition as possible,” he said. “This study shows that they can play a large role in their own care.”

Source: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/03/for-neck-pain-chiropractic-and-exercise-are-better-than-drugs/