Can't Relax? Dislike Normal Adjustments? There's Gentler Chiropractic Options

If you cannot relax, dislike the cracking feeling/sound, or have other concerns, a gentle form of chiropractic adjustment may be utilized rather than the more traditional techniques.

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/gentle-chiropractic-techniques-neck-pain

Is Osteoarthritis Causing Your Chronic Back Pain and Stiffness?

When pain and stiffness occur gradually and chronically in the back, osteoarthritis may be the cause.

http://www.arthritis-health.com/types/osteoarthritis/what-spinal-osteoarthritis-facet-joint-arthritis

Spinal Manipulations More Effective than Meds for Lower Back Pain?

A study shows that spinal manipulation is more effective than medication for low back pain relief:

http://www.spine-health.com/blog/chiropractic-manipulation-or-medication-low-back-pain

DIY Heat/Cold Therapy

In a world of sophisticated medical care, a simple ice massage can still be one of the more effective, proven methods to treat a sore lower back or neck. It is effective when used either alone or in combination with other treatments, such as chiropractic care. Read more below:

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/heat-therapy-cold-therapy/ice-massage-back-pain-relief

Muscle Strain video by Dr. Jardon

Lumbar Radiofrequency Neurotomy Video

Lumbar Radiofrequency Neurotomy Video

Lumbar radiofrequency neurotomy is a minimally invasive procedure that reduces or eliminates the pain from damaged joints by disrupting the nerves that carry pain signals. It's a helpful option for patients to reduce pain enough to participate in a rehabilitation program.

Start watching...

Herniated Disk - VIDEO

A herniated disc occurs when the disc degenerates and the inner core leaks out. It can be treated through chiropractic manipulation. This video explains what is a lumbar herniated disc, and gives visuals on what happens inside the spine.

http://www.spine-health.com/video/lumbar-herniated-disc-video

UWS announces collaborative education initiative with Institute for Functional Medicine

UWS announces collaborative education initiative with Institute for Functional Medicine

The University of Western States announced an education collaboration with the Institute for Functional Medicine to further collaborate and deliver faculty training for the master of science in human nutrition and functional medicine program at UWS. UWS press release

21 Ways to be a Savvy Chiro Patient

The 21 ways to be a savvy chiropractic patient, presented by Spine-Health.com.

http://www.spine-health.com/blog/21-ways-be-savvy-chiropractic-patient

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia symptoms are quite common but non-specific. However, the constellation of symptoms can often suggest a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Read more about it with the link below and consult your chiropractor for treatment tips:

http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/fibromyalgia/fibromyalgia-symptoms

Neck Soreness and Mobility Issues - See your chiropractor!

Soreness in the neck and difficulty moving the neck is usually a short-term issue, but may be a symptom of a more serious problem. This video explains the reason why the neck becomes stiff, when this is a serious symptom. Schedule time with chiropractor to have your stiff neck evaluated.

http://www.spine-health.com/video/video-what-causes-a-stiff-neck

Sit Less and Start Feeling Healthier!

Decrease your sitting time by 66 minutes per day and feel healthier. In a recent study 87% of people reported feeling more comfortable and energized when they were alternating between standing and sitting. Read more below:

http://www.spine-health.com/blog/one-hour-ease-your-back-ache-and-boost-your-mood

Spine-Health April Newsletter

M6-C Artificial Disk Trial

Featured Clincial Trial Neck or arm pain? Do you suffer from arm numbness, tingling and/or weakness? Are you considering an artificial cervical disc? Right now spine specialists around the United States are accepting patient's diagnosed with or who may have spinal stenosis for the M6-C Artificial Disc Trial. You may be eligible to participate in a clinical research study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Spinal Kinetics M6-C artificial cervical disc* compared to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). This study is for patients diagnosed with symptomatic degenerative cervical radiculopathy, with or without spinal cord compression, at one vertebral level. The sponsor of this new clinical study is Spinal Kinetics, Inc. Learn more about the M6-C Artificial Cervical Disc, the Clinical Study and find Study locations. * Note: the M6-C is limited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to investigational use at selected clinical trial sites only.

Obese adults who lose weight cut morbidity, boost health

Obese adults who lose weight cut morbidity, boost health 

Canadian researchers found that losing at least 5% of baseline body weight over two years helped reduce morbidity and bolster health outcomes in severely obese adults. The results were published in Obesity. Healio (free registration)/Endocrine Today

Tricks and Tips to Avoid Colds & Flu

Tricks and Tips to Avoid Colds & Flu With cold weather here, many are concerned about falling victim to colds and flu. There are many natural ways to help prevent colds and the flu, including healthy foods, supplements and stress management.   Read about these natural strategies by clicking here.

Choosing the Right Ergonomic Office Chair

Using an ergonomic chair can take a lot of load off the spine during work hours or at home, but a chair chosen specifically for the person to sit in it is optimal. See how to choose the right chair for your back. Learn more...

Work Ergonomics: Minimize Back Injuries

Many potentially harmful situations that lead to back injury can be identified and avoided by following four basic rules of thumb. Read on to learn how to minimize workplace back injuries. Learn more...

Knowing Your Medication Options for Back Pain Relief

There are many over-the-counter and prescription medications that can help during an episode of acute back pain or for longer-term pain management. Careful attention to pain management is a critical component of your relief and recovery. Learn more about the wide range of medication options for back pain, including common uses, benefits, and potential risks.

Featured Article:
Medications for Back and Neck Pain

Like Dr. Jardon on Facebook
Like Spine-health on Facebook
Become a fan and get the most up-to-date back and neck pain information. You can share your thoughts and stories on our page, plus connect with our passionate back and neck pain community.

Manual Material Handling to Prevent Back Injury

Any job that involves heavy labor or manual material handling may be in a high-risk category. Manual material handling entails lifting, but also usually includes climbing, pushing, pulling, and pivoting, all of which pose the risk of injury to the back. Learn more...

Is Your Workplace Causing Your Back Pain?

Is Your Workplace Causing Your Back Pain? Join Spine-health on Facebook Become a fan and get the most up-to-date back and neck pain information. You can share your thoughts and stories on our page, plus connect with our passionate back and neck pain community. Whether or not your work is physically demanding, you may be putting your back at risk for injury and possible pain. Something as simple as choosing the right office chair or knowing the proper techniques for lifting objects can go a long way in keeping your back healthy and pain-free. Featured Article: Ergonomics of the Office and Workplace: An Overview

Study links high benzodiazepine usage to mental health issues

Study links high benzodiazepine usage to mental health issues

A study in the journal Pain Medicine found patients taking benzodiazepines every day for chronic noncancer pain were more likely to have comorbid mental health issues and to use emergency health care. The study authors said the high benzodiazepine usage rates are "inconsistent with guidelines for the management of CNCP or chronic mental health conditions." PhysiciansBriefing.com

Healthier eating habits seen with smaller, more frequent meals

Healthier eating habits seen with smaller, more frequent meals 

Adults who ate multiple small meals had a lower average body mass index and consumed fewer calories than those who had fewer but larger meals, a study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says. Researchers also found those who ate smaller meals consumed foods with greater nutritional value, while those who had larger meals showed higher caloric intake at night and were more likely to consume alcohol with the evening meal. Reuters

Make Gardening and Yard Work Pain Free, Say DCs

Make Gardening and Yard Work Pain Free, Say DCs
"It is important to stretch your muscles before reaching for your gardening tools. The back, upper legs, shoulders and wrists are all major muscle groups affected when using your green thumb. Performing simple stretches during these periods will help alleviate injuries, pain and stiffness," says Dr. Scott Bautch, DC, DACBOH, CCST, CCSP, of the ACA Council on Occupational Health. Read more.

Article: Chiropractic aids muscle recovery, helps prevent fatigue

Study: Chiropractic aids muscle recovery, helps prevent fatigue 

A New Zealand study found a 60% increase in muscle electrical activity readings and 45% increase in "drive" between the brain and muscle after a full spine chiropractic adjustment session. The findings were published in the journal Experimental Brain Research. PRWire (Australia)

Search Engine Presence

Search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and others have become a major way that people find chiropractors to go to. They often check reviews to get actual patient experiences. As a result, I'm asking all my patients to go online and write a review (good or bad) of the office (environment, cleanliness, staff and me). Important sites are Google, Bing, Yahoo and Yelp.com).

Just go to those sites, search "Cowesett Chiropractic: Dr Rick Jardon" and write whatever you can. It is much appreciated!

Narcotic Pain Medications

Narcotic Pain Medications

For severe episodes of neck pain or low back pain, narcotic pain medications may be prescribed. Narcotic agents are strong and potentially addictive forms of medication, so they should be used with caution and usually for short periods of time. Learn more...

Chocolate: Beneficial to Your Health

Chocolate: Beneficial to Your Health   Don't feel guilty about eating those remaining chocolates in that heart-shaped box you received on Valentine's Day. Did you know that your choice in chocolate for Valentine's Day can have a positive impact on your body and the environment? Read about the health benefits of chocolate, how this candy can benefit society and which ingredients to avoid when choosing a sweet treat, here.

11 Tips on Getting the Good Sleep Your Health Needs

How are you sleeping these days? Check out these 11 tips on how to get to sleep and stay asleep. Consult your chiropractor for additional tips!

http://www.spine-health.com/blog/11-unconventional-sleep-tips-how-get-sleep-and-stay-asleep

WHIPLASH!

When the cervical spine (neck) is subject to whiplash, there is usually a combination of factors that contribute to whiplash pain in the neck and back, and ultimately need to be addressed individually by a chiropractor. Read the details below:

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/sources-whiplash-pain

Video: Dr. Jardon Explains Ligament Sprains

 

 Learn more about Ligament Sprains on Dr. Jardon's page. Click here.

Muscle Relaxants

Muscle Relaxants

Muscle relaxants are a group of several different drugs that each have an overall sedative effect on the body. They are typically prescribed early in a course of back pain, on a short-term basis, to relieve the pain and associated spasms. Learn more...

Sciatica and Your First Time Visit - With Dr. Rick Jardon - VIDEO!

What is sciatica? The term sciatica describes the symptoms of leg pain and possibly tingling, numbness or weakness that originates in the lower back and travels through the buttock and down the large sciatic nerve in the back of the leg. Get the details in this link or watch Dr. Jardon's video below as he demonstrates on a real patient.

Additional info:

How is a patient evaluated to determine chiropractic treatment? Read it all here:
http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/evaluation-patient

What reactions are possible following chiropractic adjustments?
In the course of being treated by a doctor of chiropractic for spinal derangement or subluxations, certain reactions may be experienced by the patient receiving the chiropractic adjustment. Read all about the possibilities here:
http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/reactions-following-a-chiropractic-adjustment

Follow ACA's YouTube Channel for Chiropractic Patients

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has launched a new YouTube channel for those interested in chiropractic. "Get Healthy with Chiropractic" features videos about workplace ergonomics, the importance of conservative care, what to expect at one's first visit to a DC and profiles of chiropractic physicians.

Go to www.youtube.com/chirohealthy

Back to the basics: What is a chiropractor?

Back to the basics: What is a chiropractor? What does a chiropractor believe in? What are a chiropractor's goals? Find the answers here:

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/what-a-chiropractor

What Causes A Pinched Nerve?

So, what causes a pinched nerve?

Nerves exit the spinal cord from between every 2 vertebrae in an area called the intervertebral foramen (IVF). Anything that protrudes into that space or decreases that space, can pinch the nerve. The most common causes of this are herniated or bulged discs, degenerated discs, bone spurs and misaligned vertebrae.

How do you know whether you have a pinched nerve?

Pain, numbness and tingling or weakness into your arms or legs as well as neck and back pain are the most common symptoms.

The more severe the "pinch" the greater the likelihood that the symptoms travel to your arms and/or legs.

Besides just the type of symptoms, it is often made worse by certain movements that close the IVF further. For example, combine tilting your head to the side, turning it to the same side and then extend it back like you're trying to look at the ceiling. Do you feel those symptoms or does it make it worse?

So, what do you do if you have a pinched nerve?

The first thing is to get examined and xrayed to see what's causing it. Sometimes an MRI is needed as well. Once that is known, proper treatment can be implemented. If caught early, your chances are pretty good that treatment will resolve the episode.

Chiropractic News - Data Links Fitness to Diabetes Risk

Study data link fitness to diabetes risk
Data on 46,979 patients in the Henry Ford Exercise Testing Project linked fitness to a lower risk of diabetes. Treadmill tests were used to measure metabolic equivalents, and the study found patients who achieved 12 or more metabolic equivalents had a 54% lower risk of diabetes compared with those with six or fewer. The study was published in Diabetes Care. Healio (free registration) (3/17)

READ! Article: Chiropractic More Effective than Standard Medical Care Alone

Patient Outcomes Proves More Effective with Chiropractic Combined with Standard Medical Care Than Standard Medical Care Alone in the Military

 

BY: D. Scott Ferguson

DC, William J. Owens DC, DAAMLP

 Mark Studin DC, FASBE(c), DAAMLP, DAAPM

Many people suffer from lower back pain at some point in their lives.  Most will seek the advice of a healthcare professional. However, many times this care is fragmented and not based on current evidence and can result in poorer outcomes. When considering outcomes, all doctors must consider creating a diagnosis, prognosis and then conclude a treatment plan. It is that treatment plan, which then determines the outcome after an accurate diagnosis. Many times, low back pain patients seek solely standard medical care and bypass a more effective chiropractic solution. This type of self-referral and physician triage has also been prevalent in the military and asks the question based upon outcome studies, is that in the best interest of both the military and the general public?  

In a recent paper by Goertz et al. (2013), the objective was, “To assess changes in pain levels and physical functioning in response to standard medical care (SMC) versus SMC plus chiropractic manipulative therapy (chiropractic adjustments) for the treatment of low back pain  among 18 to 35-year-old active-duty military personnel” (p. 627).  The authors stated, “Lifetime prevalence of low back pain has been estimated to be as high as 84%, with a median cost per quality-adjusted life year of $13,015” (p. 627).  The fact that lower back pain is a major source of disability and abuse of pain medication makes providing the best care possible a priority based upon outcome studies.  In this paper, it was reported that, “The majority of systematic reviews find that chiropractic manipulative therapy (adjustments) seems to reduce pain and disability at least moderately for many patients with low back pain” (p. 627).  Therefore, the questions are, “Should chiropractic care be part of your treatment plan and should it be included with standard medical treatment for lower back pain?” 

In the Goertz et al. (2013) study, the patients were allowed to seek standard medical care in an unrestricted fashion which meant they could go to their medical doctors as they normally would for lower back pain.  “Standard care included any or all of the following: a focused history and physical examination, diagnostic imaging as indicated, education about self-management including maintaining activity levels as tolerated, pharmacological (drug) management with the use of analgesics and anti-inflammatory agents, and physical therapy and modalities such as heat/ice and referral to a pain clinic” (p. 628).  On the chiropractic side, the authors stated “Treatments consisted of HVLA [high velocity low amplitude a.k.a. chiropractic adjustment] manipulation as the primary approach in all cases, with ancillary treatments at the doctor’s discretion, including brief massage, the use of ice or heat in the lumbar area, stretching exercises, McKenzie exercises, advice on activities of daily living, postural/ergonomic advice; and mobilization” (p. 628).  This is important since chiropractors view the spine as an entire system and the approach to patients is different as well as the therapeutic intervention.

In conclusion, the authors reported, “The results of our pragmatic pilot study indicate a statistically and clinically significant benefit to those receiving chiropractic manipulative therapy (adjustments) in addition to standard medical care” (p. 631).  Finally, they report, “The results of this trial suggest that chiropractic, in conjunction with standard medical care, offers a significant advantage for decreasing pain and improving physical functioning compared with only standard medical care, for active-duty men and women between 18 and 35 years of age with acute low back pain when delivered in a pragmatic treatment setting” (p. 633).

This study concurs with a previous study by Liliedahl et al. (2010) who studied 85,402 patients and adds to the growing body of evidence in diverse forums that chiropractic for mechanical back pain is more effective and cost-effective than standard medical care. Evidence such as this helps to dispel the partial truths and overcome the prejudices to help the public make informed choices.

References:

1. Goertz, C. M., Long, C. R., Hondras, M. A., Petri, R., Delgado, R., Lawrence, D. J.,…Meeker, W. C. (2013). Adding chiropractic manipulative therapy to standard medical care for patients with acute low back pain: Results of a pragmatic randomized comparative effectiveness study. Spine, 38(8), 627-634.

2. Liliedahl, R. L., Finch, M. D., Axene, D. V., & Goertz C. M. (2010). Cost of care for common back pain conditions initiated with chiropractic doctor vs. medical doctor/doctor of osteopathy as first physician: Experience of one Tennessee-based general health insurer. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 33(9), 640-643.

NEW RESEARCH: Chiropractic Proves More Effective than Standard Medical Care in the Military

NEW RESEARCH
Chiropractic Proves More Effective than Standard Medical Care in the Military

This study compares standards medical care and the addition of chiropractic to low back pain patients. The results conclude that adding chiropractic renders statistically and clinically significant benefit to receiving chiropractic care and adds to the body of evidence in diverse forums that chiropractic for mechanical back pain is more effective and cost-effective than standard medical care.

To access the article: CLICK HERE

 

This research is offered as a community service from our office.

Mind Your Posture!

Are You Mindful of Your Posture? We often hear that good posture is essential for good health, but very few people have a real grasp of the importance and necessity of good posture, or the position in which we hold our bodies while standing, sitting or lying down. Good posture is the correct alignment of body parts supported by the right amount of muscle tension against gravity. Follow this advice for standing, sitting and lying properly: When sitting, keep your feet flat on the floor with a   small gap between the back of your knees and the front of your seat. Your knees should be at or below the level of your hips. When standing, bear your weight primarily on the balls of your feet and keep your knees slightly bent. Your feet should be about shoulder-width apart and your earlobes should be in line with your shoulders to keep your head from jutting forward, backward or to the side. Avoid sitting or standing in the same position for long periods of time. Sleep with a pillow and avoid lying on your stomach. If you sleep on your side, place a pillow between your legs. If you sleep on your back, keep a pillow under your knees.