Archive for chiropractic
Health problems due to bad posture occurs for many reasons and is nothing new to the spines of humankind. For thousands of years, men and women have hunched over their work, whether pounding rocks to make tools or pounding a keyboard on their computer. Fortunately, chiropractic was discovered in 1885 to remedy many of the problems occurring from bad posture! Since that time chiropractors like me, your Santa Clara Chiropractor, have been helping people to correct the musculoskeletal damage resulting from bad posture, as well as providing exercises, gait training, and lifestyle changes to improve posture and avoid problems in the future. Most of us already know that excessive computer use is unhealthy for the human body, so it may not come as a surprise that researchers are cautioning that the very design of laptop computers encourages bad posture among college students (and other heavy users) and can lead to headaches, muscle strain and debilitating neck, shoulder and hand injuries.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill School of Medicine explained in a university news release that the “unified body construction” of a laptop, with its inseparable keyboard and monitor, makes it difficult for users to configure their equipment in a way that minimizes risk to their bodies. For instance, awkward positioning of the fingers and body can cause nerve injury to the wrist and prompt the onset of carpal tunnel syndrome, while poor neck position and shoulder posture can cause muscle strain and soreness in those areas.
Researcher, Dr. Kevin Carneiro, a physician in the UNC School of Medicine’s department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, and his colleagues point out that laptop users can take specific steps to minimize their risk. So, listen up and heed the tips below:
- If you are working at a computer, your body should form 90-degree angles at the elbows, knees and hips.
- Use a docking station and cables to hook up to an external monitor and/or separate keyboard that are movable to encourage better posture.
- With the help of a docking station, position the computer so you can read the screen without bending your neck.
- Pay attention to the chair you sit in — look for one that is adjustable and comes with back support.
- Tilt the screen so you don’t need to bend your neck, and place the mouse so that your wrists are in a neutral position (one in which they are aligned with your arm and not raised above it).
- Take frequent short breaks every 20 minutes or so — this can help rest muscles and encourage position shifting. Do some shoulder shrugs, gentle forward head rolls, and shoulder scrunches to stretch your muscles.
- Stay hydrated — drinking plenty of water can help keep discs in your back lubricated.
In addition, be sure to watch out for warning signs, such as pain and tingling. These may mean you need to use better posture, take more breaks, or see your chiropractor in Santa Clara!
If you read my Santa Clara chiropractic website blogs then you already know that I adhere to the philosophy that motion is life. Our body is designed to move, move, move; to walk, run, play, and dance! My “job” as a Santa Clara Chiropractor is not only to get you out of pain, but to help you to keep your musculoskeletal system healthy and well-adjusted so that such movement is energizing and freeing rather than painful. Because I believe so strongly that lifelong movement is essential to our overall health as human beings, I’m always happy to offer new incentives to my patients and blog readers to get moving. A new study offers another good reason for everyone, but especially women, to get active and stay active. The study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, found that women who are physically active at any point over the course of their life, whether it is in their teen years, 30s, 40s, or 50+, maintain a lower risk of cognitive impairment later in life as compared to those women who are inactive.
Let’s face it, life these days has become a spectator sport for many people. Kids sit in front of the television or their computers — and so do adults! Business often demands it and, after a long day of sitting at the computer at the office, “relaxation” or “family time” frequently comes in the form of vegging in front of the TV. There is growing evidence to suggest that people (and in the case of this particularly study, women) who are physically active in mid-life and beyond have a lower chance of dementia, as well as the “more minor” forms of cognitive impairment in old age. However, until now there has been less clarity regarding the importance of physical activity for women early in life and at different stages of life. The researchers at Sunnybrook health Sciences Centre in Canada compared the physical activity and cognition of 9,344 women at different ages (teenage, age 30, age 50, and late-life) to investigate the effectiveness of activity at different life stages on later cognitive abilities.
“Our study shows that women who are regularly physically active at any age have lower risk of cognitive impairment than those who are inactive, but also that being physically active at teenage is most important in preventing cognitive impairment,” said Laura Middleton, PhD, who lead the research. And, in addition, she and her research team found that women who were physically inactive as teenagers, but became physically active at age 30 or age 50 had significantly reduced their odds of cognitive impairment as well compared to those who remained physically inactive. “Low physical activity levels in today’s youth may mean increased dementia rates in the future,” Middleton added.
What’s good for the body is always good for the brain. So be smart and stay that way by being physically active. Motion is Life! Let’s get moving!
As a Santa Clara Chiropractor I treat many pregnant women not only for common low back pain associated with pregnancy, but for other pregnancy symptoms such as heartburn, nausea, and swelling due to water retention or joint stress. A healthy pregnancy is crucial for both mother and baby. And although regular chiropractic care during pregnancy is very important, there are many other influences that can affect a woman’s health during her pregnancy. Some of these influences are well-known, but others are not. In fact, I just ran across a new study released in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives that discusses the effects of high levels of common flame-retardant chemicals on the thyroid hormone levels in pregnant women. It is the first large study to investigate levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and their effects on the highly sensitive thyroid hormone in pregnant women. “Normal maternal thyroid hormone levels are essential for normal fetal growth and brain development,” stated Jonathan Chevrier, one of the study’s authors and a researcher in epidemiology and in environmental health sciences at UC Berkeley, “so our findings could have significant public health implications.”
Where are PBDEs found? Just about everywhere, such as in carpets, textiles, foam furnishings, electronics and plastics. PBDEs can leach out into the environment and accumulate in human fat cells. Is it any wonder then that PBDEs can be found in the blood of most American residents? And, if you live in California the situation is even more criticaul because of the state’s rigorous flammability laws. Concentrations of the chemicals in blood and breast milk have increased dramatically in the last three decades.
Though it is not currently known just how the chemicals interfere with thyroid function, researchers believe that PBDEs could bind to thyroid receptors and alter how the hormone is released. The bottom line, however, is that these chemicals are dangerous, especially for pregnant women. “Our results suggest that exposure to PBDE flame retardants may have unanticipated human health risks,” said Brenda Eskenazi, a professor of epidemiology and of maternal and child health at UC Berkeley.
Let’s face it, there’s just nothing good to say about belly fat. In fact, when you look at all the studies that have come out recently about the adverse effects of excess weight around the midsection, even Santa Clause doesn’t look all that jolly anymore. In my Santa Clara chiropractic clinic, I’ve explained to my overweight patients who are experiencing low back pain that too much weight in the middle is likely the culprit. The spine wasn’t designed to haul around excess weight on a regular basis. As an individual puts on extra fat in the belly, the spine starts to distort and compress, which creates pain and discomfort. Belly fat can also cause the pelvis to tilt forward and pinch the sciatic nerve. But, if low back pain and sciatica aren’t enough to get you to change your eating and exercise habits, how about this: A new preliminary study suggests that excess fat in the abdomen during middle age can actually boost the risk of dementia later in life!
It is estimated 24.3 million people worldwide suffer from dementia. In the new study, researchers at Boston University School of Medicine examined the medical records of 733 people with an average age of 60 years. (Note: Nearly 70 percent were women.) The study found that increasing levels of body-mass index in middle-aged individuals corresponded with lower brain volumes when they are older, i.e., lost mental capacity, especially when the excess fat was in the middle.
So, there you have it. You have one more good reason to get rid of those extra pounds, especially around your midsection. Lose the weight, lose your back pain, and avoid losing your mind!
Drugs…Just in Case?
Posted by: | CommentsAs a chiropractor who believes in the human body’s ability to heal itself with the aid of natural, non-invasive, drug-free encouragement, I am always dismayed, but never surprised, at some of the pernicious claims and tenacious effrontery of drug companies when it comes to pain relief and treatment of a number of conditions that don’t require drugs or are made worse by them. And, as a chiropractor who has helped hundreds of headache sufferers not only get temporary, but permanent relief, when I read about drug studies for yet another pain med that will keep headache sufferers numbed to their pain, and numb to the rest of their life as well, I feel like shouting from the rooftops: “Try chiropractic first!” But, today, I read about a study, sponsored by Merck (who also makes the product), I really feel that I must say that this particular study is playing to the fears of migraine sufferers when, in fact, the drug itself only offers “less severity” when it comes to a migraine headache.
The study conducted by Dr. X. Henry Hu of Merck & Co.and colleagues found that
one in five migraine sufferers had “avoided” a work-related commitment because they were afraid of getting a migraine, while 27 percent reported canceling a work commitment for this reason, and round 28 percent said they had avoided or canceled social commitments due to fear of migraines.
I have treated many patients who “feared” the onset of a migraine and limited their activities in life because of that fear, so I do understand how devastating migraines can be. And, yet, the only “solution” this study offered?
This study is “important,” according to Dr. X. Henry Hu of Merck & Co.and colleagues say because early treatment with migraine drugs called triptans can help reduce headache severity. The unpredictability of migraines, Hu said, could contribute to people’s anxiety and fear about them. “Because of the lack of predictability of future migraine attacks, migraine sufferers may benefit from increased education on the importance of keeping medications available at all times,” they concluded.
SOURCE: Headache, published online March 25, 2010.
Will You Have to See Your Santa Clara Chiropractor “Forever”?
Posted by: | CommentsA common question I hear, as a Santa Clara Chiropractor, asked by those considering chiropractic care is: “If I start going to a chiropractor, will I have to always go?” I often wonder why this particular question doesn’t come up for someone who goes to a general medical practitioner. Think about it: How strange would it be if someone asked, “If I go to Dr. Smith for a general checkup and he gives me a prescription for a temporary condition I might have, will I have to see him ‘forever’?” The answer is “Of course not.” You don’t have to see Dr. Smith again, but you probably will for your yearly or bi-annual checkup and, naturally, in between if you’re not feeling well.
The same is true when you go to see a chiropractor. Most of the time, individuals go to see a chiropractor because they’re in pain (not feeling well). After the chiropractor has treated them and gotten them out of pain (a ‘prescription,’ so to speak, for a temporary condition), the chiropractor will probably suggest maintenance care (a general checkup even when you’re feeling okay). The only difference is that a chiropractor will likely suggest that you come in monthly. Why? Because chiropractors are all about preventative care whenever possible. Maintenance care is like a “tune up” that not only helps your body to maintain the “crisis” treatment you received when you were in pain and keeps you healthier and stronger so that you can avoid future injuries, but during your maintenance visit your chiropractor can make sure that you don’t have a “temporary condition” that needs to be corrected before it becomes “crisis” treatment.
Cumulative effects of awkward sitting posture, bad work habits, incorrect lifting, lack of regular exercise, and other unhealthy lifestyle-related influences can produce pain, often excruciating pain, in your back, neck, shoulders, hips, knees, etc. Getting “checked out” and “readjusted” on a regular basis keeps small conditions from becoming big problems.
So, to the question “If I start doing to a chiropractor, will I need to go “forever”? The answer is “No, but you may want to, for your health’s sake!”
Whether you see a chiropractor for “crisis” care or on a regular basis, you may have assumed that chiropractic treatment has always been included for the athletes participating in Olympic Games. But, sadly, that hasn’t been the case until now. Read on… For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, will include chiropractic care inside the Olympic Village Polyclinic, a multi-disciplinary facility that offers comprehensive health care and medical services. While doctors of chiropractic (D.C.s) have historically been included on the Olympic medical staff, the upcoming events mark the first time that D.C.’s from the host country will be treating athletes and officials from around the world directly inside the Polyclinic.
“This is an historic event not only for the chiropractic profession, but also the athletes who will now have access to the care that will help them prepare their bodies for competition,” states Michael Reed, D.C., MS, DACBSP, and Team USA Medical Director (USOC). “These athletes train hard and endure significant physical demands. Sports-focused D.C.s, along with other members of the sports medicine team, are specially skilled to assist them in reaching peak performance.”
Throughout the years, chiropractic has become a mainstay in the care of world-class athletes, leading to a growing number of D.C.s included in the Olympic Games. Countless athletes attribute the care they receive from their chiropractors — working along-side other health care professionals – as a key to properly preparing their bodies to perform optimally.
Dr. David Hoewisch, your Santa Clara Chiropractor, offers a number of chiropractic treatment plans that can be adaptable when caring for your musculoskeletal system, from working with distinct injuries to dealing with general health concerns. After thoroughly examining you, Dr. Hoewisch will inform you as to which solution would probably be the most helpful for you personally. He may supply you with several treatment programs from which you can select depending on your present health disabilities as well as your future health and fitness pursuits.
It might be interesting for you to have some understanding, ahead of time, about the different chiropractic treatment plans Dr. Hoewisch will probably recommend.
Relief Care is a type of chiropractic treatment plan proposed to individuals who are experiencing any kind of pain or physical distress, regardless of the cause of the condition. The aim of this therapy is to give a sufferer fast pain relief. The length of the treatment time frame is likely to vary as it depends solely on the scope of the injury or dysfunction suffered by the individual and how fast it can be remedied.
Corrective Care is often a “more advanced” form of chiropractic treatment. It is for those who have suffered from spinal issues over an extended period of time, i.e., for individuals who have a chronic problem that has evolved into a more complex issue as a consequence of not pursuing proper care in the first place. Restorative treatment often stretches over a longer time frame. How long care is necessary is based on the extent of the progressive impairment and how rapidly the individual responds to the treatment.
Maintenance Care, as the name indicates, is intended to maintain or support any type of therapy already administered to a patient. Oftentimes, chiropractic treatment is extended only after the initial treatments have proven to be efficacious. The goal of this type of chiropractic care is to reduce the potential of the initial dysfunction coming back and to prevent degenerative changes in the future.
Wellness Care is available to those that are not challenged by severe discomfort, but are looking to strengthen their overall health. Periodic chiropractic treatment enhances the movement of blood and oxygen in the body, improves muscle flexibility, helps prevent work and play injuries, and boosts an individual’s all round sense of well-being.
Regardless if you are presently in pain or you would like to enhance your overall health, chiropractic care can help. Call Dr. Hoewisch, your Chiropractor in Santa Clara, today!
What does the term, “vertigo,” mean? Vertigo is a medical term used to describe the dizzy sensation that someone suffers within a fixed environment. It is a sense that the outer world is tilting or spinning. The disturbance can be sudden and short-lived or chronic. Whether acute or chronic, however, the precise cause of vertigo should be diagnosed and the proper treatment undertaken.
There are a number of causes for the symptoms of Vertigo. An inner ear condition, known as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, can sometimes occur as the aftermath of a head injury or severe cold. Sometimes this particular vertigo can be a part of getting older. However, more often then not, the cause is unknown. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo is a wordy diagnosis, but it delineates perfectly this non-progressive condition that is generated by, as its name implies, a abrupt change in head position. The symptoms are generally unanticipated and unpredictable.
To get an idea of what brings about the often disabling symptoms of this type of vertigo, it is beneficial to examine the function of the inner ear. The inner ear contains fluid that permits the brain to sense movement and maintain balance. The inner ear also contains small calcium carbonate crystals, known as otoconia. These crystals will float in the inner ear fluid if dislodged. As the crystals strike against the sensitive nerve endings in the inner ear, they cause the symptoms of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or BPPV.
If you suffer from BPPV, it is good for you to know that chiropractic treatment can get rid of the symptoms of BPPV fast and effectively using a technique known as the Epley maneuver. Through the use of this technique, your Santa Clara chiropractor moves the head of a BPPV sufferer into several different positions, allowing gravity to move the calcium carbonate crystals into an area of the inner ear that is away from the nerve endings where they won’t generate further dizziness.
Your chiropractor has assisted hundreds of people suffering from Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo using the Epley Maneuver technique. Often, with just one treatment the majority of patients no longer suffer from dizziness. Make an appointment with your Santa Clara chiropractor today!
Santa Clara Chiropractor: Are Extra Pounds Putting Your Joints on Overload?
Posted by: | CommentsWhat’s a few extra pounds? Over time, they can add up to a number of health challenges from heart and pulmonary diseases and diabetes to back and joint pain. Excess poundage puts unnecessary stress on organs, like the heart, and on joints in the low back, hips, and knees. Over half (62 percent) of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, according to recent studies. That is a gigantic number and a big problem (no pun intended).
Excess weight, in the form of body fat, is hard on the structure of the human body. It was not designed for the added. Just an additional 20 or 30 pounds can literally overload the musculoskeletal system. For instance, in order to compensate (counterbalance) for weight in the belly, the pelvis tilts forward. This causes joints in the low back to compress. Joint compression constricts nerve function and creates painful inflammation. Weight-bearing stresses can cause a pinched sciatic nerve or create misalignments of the spinal column that impinge nerves. This is the reason that most overweight individuals suffer from low back pain. Misaligned vertebra can not only produce new arthritic changes in the spine, but can continue to irritate the degenerative changes that have already taken place over time.
Where does chiropractic care fit in? First of all, to be clear, a healthy body weight is a necessity in order for the musculoskeletal system to function optimally. That said, in addition, chiropractic treatment relieves nerve restrictions in the spine and helps to restore motion back into the joints of the musculoskeletal system, like in the low back, hips, and knees. And, exercise and physical activity is a lot easier when the spine is in alignment and the joints have healthy mobility. Exercise will not only help with weight loss, but it can actually slow down degenerative changes as a person ages.
It is always a good plan to visit a healthcare professional, like your chiropractor, to discuss diet and exercise. Along with helping men and women suffering from back pain and joint inflammation due to arthritis, chiropractors offer expert advice on the type of lifestyle changes that can help a person to stay healthier and more active through the years. Arthritis and immobility do not have to be a foregone conclusion of aging. The human body was designed for a lifetime of pain-free movement.
So, if you’ve been throwing your weight around and the result is back and joint pain, your chiropractor can help relieve your suffering. Make an appointment today!
