Aerobic Exercise, Your Chiropractor and You

We generally think of chiropractors as people who relieve back, next and shoulder pain, but chiropractic isn't just a way to relieve stress, tension and headaches. There are many ways in which we can profit from chiropractic care, including the ability to gain more from our physical routines.

Aerobic exercises expand our cardiovascular systems, decrease our heart rate and increase our lungs' breathing capacity. A lower heart rate and reduced breath count raises effectiveness of our body's systems cut down on deterioration of our organs, making us fitter and healthier.

When we are in stressful situations, our muscles tighten up. Extended periods of stress can affect the mobility and comfort in our joints and bones, tightening of ligaments and stiffness in the back, neck and shoulders. All of this can lead to changes in the shape of our spines and further pain and stress.

Changes in the spinal curve at your neck and mid-back can cause extra stress on your lungs and hear. The area these organs have in which to function correctly become cramped, their functionality and efficiency are reduced. Day-to-day activities, such as walking and climbing stairs, become difficult and your breathing becomes labored.

To fix this problem, you start and aerobic fitness routine, but the benefits you will receive from this effort will be reduced because of the core musculoskeletal problems. You expend a lot of time and energy, possibly even money, in working on your routine but you still can't catch your breath after a quick walk to the corner store.

You could be able to find relief by visiting your chiropractor. A gentle, soothing spinal adjustment can reduce the stress on the muscles and ligaments surrounding your spine, giving your spine better mobility. Your muscles will relax, pain and stiffness will disappear and you will be able to bend, stretch and move with greater ease.

All of these benefits will cause the space in your chest and rib cage to increase, giving you more breathing room - quite literally - and your aerobic fitness routine will finally being to show the positive effects you are looking for.

Five Treatments Your Local Chiropractor Should Provide for Pain Management

At any one point in time, over 10% of Americans are under the care of a chiropractor. Satisfaction with chiropractic treatment has been shown to be over 85% in the US.

When looking for a local chiropractor to help with your back or neck pain, there are multiple things you should look for now that chiropractors are treating with more and more types of treatment.

Here are five treatment options that you should look for when seeking a local chiropractor.

1. Spinal decompression therapy - this treatment was FDA cleared back in the late 1990s and has been a revolutionary addition to pain management. Spinal decompression therapy is a low cost, highly effective, low-risk and convenient way of treating back, neck, leg or arm pain.

The treatment costs less than 5% of spinal surgery, and involves intermittent traction that allows increased oxygen and blood flow to come in to the injured area to help with tissue healing. Chiropractors can get specially certified in the treatment, and it can help dramatically add to your pain management options and results. Make sure your chiropractor has one of these tables.

2. The second thing that you should look for in a chiropractor is actually two things, massage and acupuncture. Both of these treatments have been shown in research to provide excellent results for many musculoskeletal problems such as arthritis and low back pain. Because of that, they are great treatments to include for pain management along with the other things that chiropractic doctors have to offer.

3. The third treatment that should be included is physical rehabilitation. The term physical rehabilitation actually refers to the same treatments and exercises as physical therapy. This includes core stabilization along with lumbar strengthening and stretching, along with active and passive modalities. When a chiropractor includes physical rehab into his pain management services it significantly improves the treatment results along with spinal manipulation and spinal decompression therapy.

4. The next treatment is called a TENS unit. TENS Units are about the size of an iPod and can attach to your belt and help dramatically as a low cost, low risk, nonoperative method of pain management. They emit small electrical impulses that alter the way that the brain perceives pain signals. It can be worn for a couple hours at a time after being programmed by your doctor.

5. The fifth treatment is manipulation under anesthesia. This treatment has been in place for over 60 years and has become much more common recently with chiropractors because of the dramatic success rate. If a patient fails typical conservative treatment for back pain, neck pain, and frozen shoulder, then manipulation under anesthesia may benefit patients tremendously.

These five treatment options may make the difference between being stuck with chronic pain and breaking through to a better life. Finding a chiropractor who performs them will be in your best interest.

Locating The Right Chiropractor

When searching for the right chiropractor in east Hartford, there are several things to consider before making a decision. Chiropractors are sought out in this city for many reasons each year by hundreds of people. Consumers who need the services of these professionals have suffered some form of spinal injury or discomfort. In some cases, the cause of back pain is not always related to the spine. If this is the case, it is important to seek a chiropractor who is able to treat that issue as well, otherwise it is necessary to see a neurologist also. The chiropractic field includes various types of treatments for back injuries and discomfort. Most people are aware that these professionals give spinal adjustments and deep tissue massages, but they may be unaware of the many other types of treatment that are available.

Some in east Hartford also offer treatments using area-specific or all-over heating techniques. With heat, the muscles are relaxed and this makes any other procedures easier. Also, the warm temperature is soothing to the patient. The use of light therapy is also gaining popularity. Studies have shown light to be able to enhance a person's mood and alter feelings of depression. In some cases, back pain is connected to depression or "winter blues." In recent years, the use of electric currents in chiropractics has become common. Acupuncture is a newer addition to the field also. Several alternative offices today also give spiritual support to their patients.

Depending on the type of injury or pain that is experienced, it is best to consider which chiropractors specialize in those areas. For example, an athlete who experiences an injury during sports would be best suited to see a sports specialist instead of one who is versed in neurology. Some of the areas that these professionals specialize in are auto accident injuries, sports injuries, orthopedics, nutrition, pediatrics, internal disorders, neurology or diagnostic imaging. In addition to using practical procedures for treatment, several supplemental materials may also be prescribed. Altered diet and nutrition plans, exercise, lifestyle changes, shoe insoles, braces, straps, tape or splints are examples of supplemental materials. These are designed to enhance treatment plans for the best results. There are also those who focus on wellness. Offices and providers who offer wellness plans focus on prevention of back and spinal problems by living a healthy lifestyle and having regular treatments or adjustments. When searching for a chiropractor in east Hartford, CT, it is best to consider all the options for types of specialists and alternative or supplemental treatments.
When searching for the right chiropractor in east Hartford, there are several things to consider before making a decision. Chiropractors are sought out in this city for many reasons each year by hundreds of people.

Balancing the Human Body With Chiropractic Techniques

For the person who works on his or her feet most of the day, a pair of ill fitting shoes can cause constant anguish and lead to physical problems. The very part of the body that we use most is the one that typically needs special attention if we are to have good physical health.

The back is the center of most of our activity, so it is no small wonder that chiropractic techniques are designed to address the spine much of the time. Back pain is one of the number one reason for visiting a chiropractor, and neck pain and problems in the arms and legs are often linked to the back.

The primary cause of these many bodily problems is a misalignment of the spine, and chiropractic techniques have their basis in adjusting this situation.

The Body Machine

The reason why chiropractic techniques have been proven effective is because they address the situation of balance. Auto mechanics know that when some part of the automobile breaks down, it is usually because of the overuse of a part of the machine. When things are in balance, the entire mechanical operation works smoothly as it was designed.

The body is a machine too, and if you favor one side of the body over the other, you become imbalanced. Lifting and pulling are common physical aspects that require balance or one body part does more work causing misuse and strain. Of course, it is much easier to tell someone to stay balanced than it is to do it in actual practice.

Almost everyone becomes imbalanced at some point in their lives, and that is why chiropractic techniques are such a valuable tool to repair the problem with the body machine.

Spinal Manipulation

Either through a physical examination or an X-ray, the chiropractor determines the area where an imbalance has occurred. Spinal manipulation is one of the primary chiropractic techniques used to realign and retrain the spine to balance its load. It is very simple for the trained professional chiropractor to find where the problem lies and apply pressure as necessary to bring the spine back into alignment.

The number of trips to the chiropractor to restore complete balance is based on the severity of the problem. Often a change in physical habits is necessary to both fix the situation at hand and to prevent the need for future corrections by the chiropractor.

5 Key Points for Changing Your Life Forever

Dr. Keith Maitland, who believes in living in the positive, has written a book that could change the way you're living your life and put you on the path to success in all areas. Live In the Positive, 5 Keys to Changing Your Life Forever, is purposely designed and written to free you from negative beliefs, actions and reactions to stress and problems that come your way.

Think, for a moment, about what your life could be if you were no longer plagued by frustration, anger and fear. Maitland's techniques can help you master those relentless stresses that can keep you from achieving all you can and becoming all you want to be.

Dr. Maitland wears many hats in his full life including that of a chiropractor, Kinesiologist and life coach - despite the fact that his previous years could have easily kept him down in the dumps. He was diagnosed with dyslexia at an early age, failed high school, and had periods where he was unemployed and even bankrupt.

Despite all the trials and tribulations in Maitland's life, he rose to every challenge, earning two college degrees and excelling beyond anyone's expectations by utilizing the techniques that you, too, can learn in his book, Live In the Positive, 5 Keys to Changing Your Life Forever.

After years of studying and pursuing personal and spiritual growth and self-improvement in any form, Maitland realized that he knew things and had developed techniques for improving lives that others didn't know. He began to write about his journey - and now, you can take advantage of the knowledge Maitland has gleaned from his work.

To live life in the positive rather than the negative takes persistence, it's true, but if you meditate for awhile on how negativity has ruined so many opportunities and so much happiness for you in the past, you'll realize how much time has already been wasted.

Your future life's journey can be much different than your past if you take the time to develop the techniques that Maitland teaches in Live In the Positive, 5 Keys to Changing Your Life Forever. Watch your health, relationships and overall outlook on life improve with every day that passes.

Maitland has been through some trials and tribulations in his own life that he had to overcome. Counseling didn't seem to be the answer for his clients or in his personal life, and it was beginning to affect him both physically and emotionally.

Keith Maitland's journey to change is now chronicled in his new book, Live In the Positive, 5 Keys to Changing Your Life. What he learned can help you to change the negative and concentrate on the positive - and that will, in turn, help you live life to the fullest.

What to Expect When Visiting a Chiropractor

Most experienced chiropractors want to take a thorough history of the patient, and this usually involves filling out some forms and then going over the patient's various health issues, because they may relate to the spine. It helps to ask about the ergonomics in the patient's home. For example they may have a habit of sleeping on a couch or perhaps simply sitting on the couch itself is contributing to their back problems. A low back patient may have the habit of propping his or her feet up when sitting. This habit can undo the work being done in the chiropractor's office, so it's good to discover these things.

In regards to work injuries, a chiropractor runs into a high percentage of blue-collar job patients that work hard and play hard - and it all can add up to spinal complaints, particularly if that patient has a history of spinal complaints. At least half of the patients that come to chiropractors find on x-ray that there are a vertebra or two that have become malformed because of some old forgotten childhood injury. It is unusual for these malformations take place after the age of eleven because of a principle known as Wolf's Law.

Chiropractors take into consideration the work environment of the patient. Your chiropractor may advise that you use a gel based wrist rest, if you are experiencing wrist problems associated with using a mouse at work. If the computer monitor is too low, or too high - that can contribute to ongoing cervical problems. Just like anything, if we can't remove all the aggravating factors then any progress may simply be temporary, and treatment can take much longer, or go into maintenance. The chiropractor can take care of the spinal aggravations to a great degree, but exterior influences must be discovered and resolved.

All chiropractors are thoroughly trained in radiology. They are not only trained in the taking of x-rays, but they receive extensive education into reading and interpreting them. While they look for the same disease processes as a radiologist may, chiropractors also have differing measurement systems, and also different analysis methods. These point out stress points in the spine that a medical radiologist would not think are important.

One thing is important, you should not be afraid to ask any questions of your chiropractor. If you experience soreness from a general reaction to an adjustment - don't be afraid to bring up. A chiropractor watches for such things, and tries very hard to avoid "flare-ups" from any treatment. To be able to mechanically confront inflamed, swollen joints without aggravating them is indeed an art.

Many chiropractors opt for the gentler ways of treating such spines, although there are spinal problems that simply require a full adjustment, and that is where a chiropractor who really knows how to "move bones" is valued. Although a full adjustment may result in temporary soreness, the typical result is that the patient feels much better in a few days to a week. Some chiropractors treat with softer procedures until the patient is past the "acute phase", and then they will attempt to make deeper adjustments to the spine. These adjustments will not be as sore afterwards, and so it can be a smoother process that way. These days, more and more chiropractors are using low level laser therapy. Low level laser therapy is known as LLLT, and it can help with the soft-tissue components of the patients' problems.

The Forward Head Posture Epidemic

Most of us appreciate that posture is important. Ideal posture means there is a ideal distribution of forces across different joints in the body and balanced muscle tone. Optimal posture will help you to not only feel great but also look great and exude confidence!

Today, I'm going to talk about a common postural phenomenon - forward head posture. I'm calling this an epidemic because Webster's dictionary defines epidemic as "affecting or tending to affect a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community, or region." When I meet people in my community, I see this everywhere!

What is Forward Head Posture?

Forward head posture is when the head translates forward relative to the torso. It is also commonly associated with straight neck syndrome (when there is loss of the normal curvature of the neck). Ideally, when looking at a person from the side, the ear should line up with the shoulder. Forward head posture is common especially in students and office workers who sit at a desk for hours on end.

Causes of Forward Head Posture:

Common causes of forward head posture are...
1) Carrying too heavy of a backpack or carrying it too low - the head often moves forward to counterbalance the weight of your bag.
2) Slouching or leaning forward for prolonged periods at one's workstation
3) General lack of postural awareness

Symptoms Associated with Forward Head Posture:

Common symptoms associated with forward head posture are...
1) Neck pain
2) Tense and sore muscles in the back of the neck and shoulders
3) Joint irritation
4) Headaches
5) Back pain (yes, even back pain!)

What causes these symptoms? Basically, there is suboptimal loading of the muscles and joints. The head is akin to a bowling ball - roughly 10 pounds - that sits atop your neck and shoulders. When it moves forward, the posterior neck muscles must work more to counterbalance your head. Hence, tense and sore muscles. When the muscles tense up, this also increased pressure between the joints. This, combined with shearing forces from suboptimal position, results in joint irritation. Joint irritation and excessive muscle tension in the neck often causes headaches due to pain referral. Irritated nerve endings in the neck refer pain to the head causing or contributing to tension headaches.

Now what about back pain, you ask? Yes, forward head posture can even cause back pain! All the joints and muscles in your body are functionally connected. Think back to high school physics class when you learned about levers. When an object moves further from the fulcrum, the turning force (or moment) becomes greater. You can apply this concept for lifting a large object by using a long lever. The only problem in your low back is that the lever is short and can't be changed. So, when your head moves forward relative to your center of gravity, your low back muscles must fire like crazy to counterbalance your head - otherwise you'll fall over.

How to Fix Forward Head Posture:

Chiropractic care can help you correct forward head posture. Your chiropractor will quickly and easily identify postural defects and will let you know if you have any. Specific exercises can be prescribed for stretching relatively short and tense muscles and for strengthening relatively weaker, lengthened muscles. A chiropractor will help you become more aware of your posture. Individualized treatments including chiropractic adjustments will help to release pressure in tight, restricted and irritated joints balancing spinal mechanics and relieving pain.

So, go see your chiropractor! Or, if you're from Toronto, come see me!

A healthy spine = A healthy body!