Kids Sports Injuries: Prevention And Chiropractic Treatment If your kids are involved with sports such as football, softball, hockey, soccer, gymnastics or even martial arts, you know that they are operating in an incredibly competitive environment. Kids spend hours on end practicing, working out and competing in their sport, which begins to take a significant toll on their developing bodies. All parents want their kids to be the best athletes they can be. Chiropractic care can help your child be a better athlete while improving their performance and helping to prevent some injuries. In this article we are going to take a look at some strategies for optimizing your child’s performance through solid preparation, prevention of injuries and recovery. Prepare for Sports Performance - Proper nutrition: Make sure your athlete always eats a good, healthy breakfast. Avoid sugar-laden cereals that give a sudden burst of energy but then leave them feeling drained. Opt instead for a bowl of oatmeal with fresh fruit, or a whole grain muffin. Kids need a varied, healthy diet rich in all kinds of vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grains and lean proteins. Hydration is vitally important. Offer your kids lots of water with lemon rather than those sugary, salty sports drinks. Provide healthy snacks after each game or performance such as, a healthy trail mix that you make yourself, granola bars, carrots, apples, low fat cheese and whole grain crackers. Adequate rest: When trying to balance both sports and schoolwork, sometimes kids end up staying up too late to do homework. Help your child to manage their time among all of their obligations so that they can be sure to get at least eight hours of sleep each night. Good sleep and nutrition habits lay the foundation for peak athletic performance. Prevention of Sports Injuries - Working with a chiropractor is an effective adjunct to proper preparation for athletic performance. A Chiropractor can provide adjustments, therapeutic exercises and stretches along with nutritional counseling to help support your child’s increased performance and reduced incidence of injuries. Proper training: Are your kids getting proper training for their sport? Without solid preparation from a coach who is knowledgeable about the sport and about physical developmental issues with children, kids can end up getting unnecessary injuries. Warm-ups: Kids need to warm up and stretch using appropriate exercises for their sport. A proper warm-up and stretching regimen can prepare them to play and help protect them from injury. Proper equipment: Children need the right equipment that fits them and is appropriate for their sport such as helmets, shoes, protective pads, etc. Cool-downs: After a game or performance, make sure that your child gets a chance to do long, slow cool-down stretches and cool-down exercises. Recovery from Injuries - If your child somehow ends up getting injured, a chiropractor can help them to properly recover from injury so that they can resume their sport safely. While your young athlete might think that they are impervious to injuries, taking a few preventative steps can set them up for a much more rewarding and successful career and can teach them solid practices that will last their entire lives. www.HealthSourceOfHoustonNorthWest.com Would Like To Present You With A Limited Time Complimentary Consultation, A $179.00 Value. Call 1-888-977-6734 Today To Find A Chiropractic Office Near You.

Tension Headache Or Pressure Headache? One of the most common pain related complaints is the headache. Tension headaches, stress headaches, migraine headaches, you name it! Each of these types of headaches has some way to make your head flat out hurt. However, of all the complaints, the most common type is the tension headache. It is estimated that as many as 90% of all adults have dealt with a tension headache at some point in their life. In fact, many of these people will have to deal with these headaches on a regular and ongoing basis. Headache? Or is it Another Problem? - Most of the time headaches go away on their own. However, when a headache does not go away or when it comes on a regular basis, then it may be a symptom of an underlying problem. When it becomes so common that it interferes with everyday life, treatment must be sought immediately. Causes You May Not Know About - Tension headaches are easy to diagnose and treat. In general, people recognize when stress has overwhelmed them causing a headache. They know when it has become too much and they are in need of some relaxation. This is when they exercise, meditate or seek out massage therapy. However, you may not know about other causes. ” Sinus Pressure - Sure, you know when you are sick and stuffy - but you may not know that changes in oxygen levels can trigger a sinus headache. Similar to an arthritic knee that can sense a rainstorm, headaches can be a sign of changes in the barometric pressure outside. ” Weather Headaches - Some people refer to this pressure change as a “weather headache.” When it gets hot outside or the humidity changes rapidly, the changes in the atmosphere can trigger painful headaches. While they are not the same as sinus pressure headaches, they are very similar. It is believed that “weather headaches” are caused by barometric changes in the body. Anything that can affect your body’s natural barometric pressure may trigger a “weather headache.” High humidity and rapid weather cycling has been linked to specific headaches. ” Blood Vessels - A variety of factors can cause the blood vessels in your body to change in diameter, causing pain. The most common method is known as a “caffeine headache.” Caffeine literally changes the size of the vessels. As long as you are supplying your body with caffeine, the vessels stay the same. However, if you suddenly stop drinking caffeine, then your blood vessels quickly change causing the withdrawal symptom, which results in the infamous “caffeine headache.” While caffeine is the most well known, it is not the only thing that can change the size of your blood vessels. In fact, the majority of migraine medicines do just that. This effect is great if you are trying to reverse the blood vessel change. However, if your headache is caused by shrinking vessels and you take a medication to shrink the vessels, then all you achieve is a more painful headache. Therefore, it is important to know which kind of headache you get. Unfortunately, most of the time the only way you find out is by taking the wrong medicine. Treatment for Headaches - The best treatment is determining the cause. Tension headaches are relieved by stress relieving activities such as massage. Caffeine headaches are relieved my caffeine found in most over the counter migraine medications. Other headaches will require a doctor or chiropractor. The best treatment is finding out which type of headache you have and then treating it accordingly. . www.HealthSourceOfOldTown.com Would Like To Present You With A Limited Time Complimentary Consultation, A $179.00 Value. Call 1-888-977-6734 Today To Find A Chiropractic Office Near You.

Is it hard to look over your shoulder? Are you suffering with agonizing pain in your neck?  Is it difficult to turn your head from side to side?  If so, you are one of the many people suffering from chronic neck pain. The agonizing symptoms of neck and shoulder pain are commonly treated by those suffering from pain with the use of pain killers. Neck pain is masked by this harmful technique, not treated.  The painful symptoms associated with neck pain can be the result of many conditions, such as whiplash injury, forward head posture, frozen shoulder, pinched nerves, disc bulges, arthritis, degenerative disc disease and much more.
Shoulder pain is a common problem associated with neck pain.  The shoulder is the most movable joint and the most unstable joint in the body.  Common problems include sprains, strains, dislocations, tendonitis, bursitis, torn rotator cuffs, fractures, and arthritis.  The most common cause of shoulder and neck pain is damage to the soft tissue including muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The cause of neck and shoulder pain can be determined with a comprehensive chiropractic examination in order to establish an appropriate treatment plan.
McNeil Chiropractic’s approach to neck pain and shoulder pain is to locate the underlying cause and correct it by using specific chiropractic postural adjustments, postural traction and postural exercises.  Dr. A chiropractor can determine if spinal misalignment or improper spinal curve is the cause of neck and shoulder pain. To help improve the motion, position, and function of the spine chiropractic adjustments, postural exercises, postural traction, heat and ice therapy is used.  With improved structure and function, neck and shoulder pain often diminishes or disappears completely without the harmful side effects from addictive drugs.  Dr. McNeil has helped many patients with chronic neck and shoulder pain.  Do not continue to suffer with neck and shoulder pain, see how chiropractic care can help you.

Menstrual Headaches: Symptoms, Causes And Treatment

Everyone gets headaches. As a matter of fact, they are the most common cause of pain and more people buy pain relievers for this reason than for any other. At some point in everyone’s life, they will suffer from a headache and will seek some way to treat it.

The Common Headache -

For the majority of people, a catnap, aspirin or just some quiet is enough to soothe the average headache. However, some people get headaches that are so severe, they go beyond the realm of common headaches and quickly turn into migraines. Sadly, women suffer from migraines three times as often as men.

From PMS to Menstrual Migraine -

Among the most common types of migraines in women is a headache called the menses migraine. These migraines occur immediately before, during or after a woman’s menstrual period. Occasionally, they are caused by ovulation. Since this takes up a big chunk of time, women suffering from menstrual migraines will want to seek treatment.

Symptoms of a Menstrual Migraine -

A menses migraine has the same general symptoms of a regular migraine. Generally, the headache starts on one side of the head. The pain will increase until it is sharp and interferes with daily life. The pain can cause nausea and fatigue along with sensitivity to light and sound. Some people experience an aura before the onset of symptoms. Other people will experience a smell. Still others have no signs at all that a migraine is about to hit.

Causes of a Migraine -

Recent studies have shown that migraines are caused by changes in the hormone level. This does explain why women are more likely to get migraines and why they often occur during ovulation and menses.

Recently, studies have linked serotonin levels to migraines. A sudden fluctuation in this hormone can trigger the onset of a migraine. Some doctors are trying to establish a genetic link but at this point, it has not been proven yet.

Estrogen and Migraine Headaches -

Currently, scientists are studying the effects of serotonin on the female hormone estrogen. It is this hormone that regulates the menstrual cycle. At this point, it is speculated that when estrogen levels and serotonin levels reach a state of imbalance, the result is the onset of a migraine. Other factors may include another female hormone progesterone.

Which Women are at Risk? -

At this time, it is uncertain why some women suffer from these migraines and others do not. When it comes down to it, most women do not suffer from menses migraines. In fact, it is a very small number of women who do.

Relief for Migraine Headaches -

Since stress is a known factor for headaches including menstrual migraines, it is always a good idea to try to reduce stress levels. This is especially true when you know a migraine is destined to come.

Studies have revealed that regular massages reduce the severity and duration of stress related headaches. For an effective stress relieving massage, you may want to consider a chiropractor. They can both keep your neck in alignment (another common cause of headaches is having your neck out of alignment) and provide therapeutic massage.

www.HealthSourceOfFitchburg.com Would Like To Present You With A Limited Time Complimentary Consultation, A $179.00 Value. Call 1-888-977-6734 Today To Find A Chiropractic Office Near You.

Neck Pain Frequently Asked Questions Neck pain is more than just annoying. It can quickly consume your thoughts and interfere with your life. This leads to a number of questions and concerns. To help answer some of those questions, we created a frequently asked questions guide. The Neck is Vulnerable - In order to keep your neck injury free, it needs to be strong and flexible. It has to hold 8 to 10 pounds (your head). When the head is held wrong, it can throw everything out of alignment. The weight is not evenly distributed and the surrounding muscles spasm. This, of course, causes pain. Generally, the pain goes away on its own, but if it doesn’t, medical attention should be sought. How Does Pain Occur? - Pain is nothing more than nerves telling your brain that something is wrong. Yet, you should not ignore pain. Something is wrong or your nerves would not be sending the signal. If pain lasts more than a day or two, you should seek the help of a chiropractor. Why See a Chiropractor? - First, a chiropractor assesses the neck and spine. Then, they align the spine and muscles back into position. This takes the pressure and strain off the neck, which not only relieves the pain but also reduces the chance of it returning. This means the neck can balance the weight of the head properly without feeling strain or causing spasms. What are Some Common Causes of Neck Pain? - While many things can cause a neck injury, it generally happens in some form of an accident. Anytime the neck bends in a way it should not, the neck can be injured. Here is a list of common neck injuries: ” Car Crashes ” Sports Accidents ” Bad Posture Standing/Sitting/Driving ” Sleeping without proper neck support What Does a Chiropractor Do? - Since chiropractors have the knowledge and skill to align the neck, they mainly work with adjusting. But do not think that chiropractors only adjust. Many chiropractors work with a team to help you fully recover. For example: In a process known as Progressive Rehab, the chiropractor works alongside you to determine the cause and extent of the injury. Then, the two of you determine the best path for recovery. This could include massage therapy, physical therapy, or more. In Progressive Rehab, the goal is not only to stop the pain but to figure out why it occurred so you can prevent it from happening again. Why Can’t I Just Take Some Pills? - Over-the-counter and prescription pain pills only disguise the pain. They work to prevent the brain from receiving the signal something is wrong. Over-the-counter and prescription pills work great for the short-term but that is it. If you slept wrong and need to take an over-the-counter medication to make it through the day, that is fine. However, unless you fix the cause of the pain then you will need more medication. If you take pain medication for a serious injury, then you may actually be doing more harm than good. Remember, pain is a signal that something is wrong. Until it gets taken care of the pain will remain. www.HealthSourceOfOregonCity.com Would Like To Present You With A Limited Time Complimentary Consultation, A $179.00 Value. Call 1-888-977-6734 Today To Find A Chiropractic Office Near You.

I understand from more than twenty years experience as a Chiropractor in Wichita treating individuals suffering from the pain of sciatica that the problem can be extremely debilitating. Those who suffer from sciatica are regrettably all too familiar with the deep radiating pain that persists during the day and inhibits almost all of their daily activities.

Are you wondering if your low back pain could be caused by sciatica? If your pain travels from your low back, through your buttock(s), down the large sciatic nerve in the back of your leg(s), and possibly penetrates into your knee(s), it is likely that you have sciatica. Also, not just movement, but even sitting can be painful. Often lying down will reduce, or perhaps even temporarily get rid of the pain. But, it’s important for you to know that sciatica will not go away without appropriate management.

Radiculopathy

One of the clinical diagnoses of sciatica is called a “radiculopathy”, a medical term that means simply that a disc has protruded from its normal position in the spine and is pressing on the radicular nerve (nerve root) in the lower back, which forms part of the sciatic nerve. Such pressure can produce excruciating pain.

Prolonged sitting, particularly with bad posture, can cause imbalances in the muscles encircling the spine and added pressure on the intervertebral discs. Generally, a specific event or injury doesn’t cause sciatica, more often sciatica is likely to evolve over time due to ordinary wear and tear on the structures of the lower spine. After a while the lower spine can lose its normal functioning capabilities during everyday stresses.

If this occurs, the intervertebral disc develops small fissures or cracks that then let the soft nucleus to protrude the disc outward. If the disc pushes on sensitive tissues, it generates the pain that is commonly called a ruptured, or slipped, disc. Sciatica is the result of the disc pressing on the spinal nerve. With chiropractic manipulation and management, which usually includes postural exercises, most disc problems, including sciatica, can be completely relieved.

Periformis Syndrome

Another cause of sciatic pain is periformis syndrome. Periformis syndrome occurs when the periformis muscle, for any reason, goes into spasm and irritates the sciatic nerve, which runs “deep to the muscle.” In combination with chiropractic adjustments, this kind of sciatica can be significantly relieved by sciatica stretches that your chiropractor will suggest.

If you are experiencing sciatic pain, it is crucial for you to see your chiropractor for treatment. If you are in the Wichita area, as your Wichita Chiropractor, I look forward to helping you to get out of pain and get your life back!

Back pain and spinal injuries are very common, so common that there is a whole part of the pharmaceutical industry that is dedicated to the relief of it. However, it seems that more and more people are not interested in using traditional methods to treat back pain. If this sounds like you, then you may be interested in a treatment called spinal decompression. Before you decide if this is the right choice for you, there are a few things you should be aware of. Who Does Decompression? - Spinal decompression is performed by a chiropractor, in the office. A chiropractor is a doctor that is specially trained to deal with all aspects of the spine, including the individual vertebra. A chiropractor doesn’t, however, only deal with the spine if there is an injury that has occurred. They can also help other health issues by realigning the spine to its proper and natural position. What to Expect During Decompression - Decompression is a non-invasive medical procedure that can often be used in place of traditional back surgery. However, that does not directly translate into ‘decompression is a walk in the park’. Decompression can take a slight toll on the body and because of this, it is often performed in a series of procedures as opposed to one long session. When you arrive at the chiropractor’s office for a spinal decompression session, you can expect to keep your street clothes on - this is especially nice if you happen to be modest. You will be strapped into a harness type of a device that will help to keep you still and in position during the decompression procedure. Next, you will lie on a table, generally on your back, although being on the stomach is occasionally required. After you are all set, the chiropractor will use a computer to move the table to exact measurements for the maximum benefit. After Care Follow Up - Your chiropractor will likely suggest a list of vitamins that you should take - these are meant to speed up your recovery from the decompression sessions. The list will include vitamin B among other choices that will help the body to recover quickly. Decompression can also cause you to dehydrate slightly - because of this, you will probably be instructed to drink a large amount of water before your procedure as well as immediately after. Even though decompression is not a surgery, it is very important that the chiropractor’s instructions be followed completely and for the duration that is required. To stop the follow up care early or to ignore the care guidelines completely could lead to detrimental results. Insurance and Decompression - While spinal decompression may be gaining in popularity with patients and some physicians, it has not managed to garner such favor with medical insurance companies. Unfortunately, decompression is seen as a type of alternative medicine by the majority of insurance companies. Therefore, getting this type of care covered by your medical insurance could be not only difficult, it can be impossible. If you choose decompression to heal your pain, be prepared to pay for it out of pocket. www.healthsourceofspringfield.com

Achieving natural weight loss can be a challenging thing. Lifestyle habits can be difficult to break. Albert Einstein wisely quoted, “The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.” So, it stands to reason that if we want to take on the challenge of losing weight we should consider engaging the help of someone with experience, knowledge and expertise in the matter to advise us as we go along. Proof that Dietary Counseling Works - A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine , found that dietary counseling for weight loss had a significant and lasting impact on the weight loss results in the first year and in subsequent years of maintaining the weight loss. The study found that on average those who had access to dietary counseling lost 6 percent (10-15 lbs.) more over the course of a year than those who did not have access to counseling did. Researchers are proving that working with a counselor can have a positive impact on weight loss results. Because so much of successful weight loss is an ‘inner game,’ working with a counselor can help people who are battling emotional eating issues so that they can resolve those problems in order to avoid simply gaining back all of the weight they lost. How do you Access the Services of a Weight Loss Counselor? - There are lots of ways that people can access nutritional and dietary counseling for weight loss. Here are just a few of the options available: ” Walk in counseling services - Clients meet at a specific interval, such as weekly or monthly, with a counselor in their offices to discuss their progress and challenges with their efforts to lose weight. ” Group counseling In this setting people gain both the support of the counselor and the support of their peers as they all share the challenges and triumphs of losing weight together. This can be a formal program, or one that is organized independently by the group. ” Telephone counseling This can be a very convenient way to receive weight loss counseling. The client does not have to leave their home in order to meet with the counselor, and they can get the help they need in the context of their living situation. ” Online Counseling Clients work with their counselor through email. They can contact their counselor with questions and receive the response in their inbox. This can be very cost-effective for those who can’t afford in-person or telephone counseling services. They still receive some of the attention that they need and they can still feel the support and encouragement from the counselor in the email messages. Additional Factors for Weight Loss Success - When factored into the overall lifestyle changes that include eating a healthier diet, getting adequate rest, taking supplements and exercising on a consistent basis, the services of a weight loss counselor can have a significant impact on the success of your efforts. www.healthsourceofhornell.com

Luckily, not all back pain requires surgery. In fact, even injured backs do not necessarily require surgery. No matter what is causing your back pain, surgery should always be the final option, as it usually causes additional problems, even though the original problem has been corrected.

There are different types of back surgery that may be performed, depending on your situation and injury. You may need a disk replacement or a partial removal of a disk. You may need partial removal of a vertebra, or a fusion to join vertebra.

Fusions are the most common types of back surgery performed today. When vertebras are joined together, it can eliminate certain back pain from occurring when you move in certain ways. Fusions involve bone grafts, metal plates and screws, and in some cases cages.

A disk replacement is typically just an alternative for a fusion. Instead of fusing two vertebras together, instead an artificial disk is placed between the vertebras for cushioning purposes. Whether disk replacement or fusion is used typically depends on your specific condition, and the preferences of you and your doctor. Just as you risk serious arthritis with fusions, you run the same risk for arthritis with a disk replacement surgery.

In the case of nerve problems in the back, where a disk is pressing on a nerve causing intense pain, your doctor may determine that removal of a portion of the disk will be beneficial. This is not the same as partial removal of a vertebra. A part of a vertebra may be removed if it has developed bone spurs that are affecting the nerves. Often, the bone spur itself can be removed, instead of any part of the actual vertebra. In either case, again, you have a higher risk of developing arthritis in the back after having back surgery.

Finally, all surgery carries a certain amount of risk, and in the case of back surgery, there is never any full guarantee that your problem will be resolved, and you can expect to feel some level of back pain for the rest of your life once you have back surgery, mostly due to arthritis.

Again, back surgery should be the last option and used only after all other options have been exhausted. You should also be very wary of any doctor who almost immediately suggests back surgery, without trying other options first. Recovering from back surgery is very painful, and takes a very long time.

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Spinal decompression is a non-surgical treatment that can relieve certain specific types of chronic back pain. Decompression of the spine is achieved with a machine developed using zero-gravity technology developed by NASA scientists who noticed that astronauts’ discs were being regenerated in the weightless environment of space. It works by gently stretching out the spine in both directions, leaving a vacuum of space around the discs and removing the pressure from the discs and vertebrae. The decompression table is similar to traditional devices that used traction to relieve pressure on discs and bring pain relief to patients without surgery. Spinal decompression therapy will only work with certain back pain conditions. Your doctor will give you an examination and determine if you are a candidate for this non-invasive treatment option. Here are a few of the conditions that can be potentially treated using spinal decompression therapy: Herniated disc (also called a bulging or ’slipped’ disc) - Herniation of a disc describes the abnormal condition of a disc, which can be caused by many things including injury, wear and tear, or poor posture. Degenerative disc disease - The discs of the spine should be supple and flexible like a sponge, but an unhealthy disc becomes brittle and hard and susceptible to injury such as herniation and bulging. Over the course of time or due to an injury, discs can become compressed depriving them of vital oxygen and nutrients. Facet Joint Syndrome - The facet joints are the small joints located in between and behind the vertebrae. They are almost constantly in motion and can simply wear down or become degenerated causing the cartilage to disappear and producing bone spurs and osteoarthritis. This condition causes back pain when the spine is moving. Spinal Stenosis - This condition occurs when the space surrounding the spinal cord becomes narrow, putting pressure on the spinal cord and the nerves of the spine and causing pain, but also weakness and/or numbness in the legs. Spinal decompression therapy has been developed as an alternative for those who would like to avoid back surgery, which carries many risks of complications and is not always effective in managing back pain. Just as there are back pain conditions that could potentially be treated with spinal decompression therapy, there are other conditions which are contraindications for spinal decompression, including but not strictly limited to: ” Pregnancy ” Recent injury ” Un-controlled high blood pressure ” Advanced osteoporosis ” Bone cancer in the spine ” Tumor or infection ” Spinal surgery with metal screws or other appliances Despite the fact that it has been cleared by the FDA, many insurance companies still consider spinal decompression therapy to be an experimental procedure and therefore do not cover the costs. For those whose insurance will not cover this course of treatment it can be very costly. People who suffer from chronic back pain often try many different kinds of alternative therapies in order to avoid back surgery. If you are someone who has already experimented with lots of alternative treatments for your chronic back pain, but you’re still suffering, spinal decompression therapy might be the answer to your prayers. www.HealthSourceOfHoustonMemorial.com