Archive for May, 2009
Chiropractor Ventura: Chiropractic Is A Natural, Drug-Free Approach to ADHD
Posted by: | CommentsChiropractor Ventura believes in the many benefits of pediatric chiropractic, especially for kids with ADHD symptoms: Have you heard that chiropractors treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? Well, that’s not completely correct. Chiropractors don’t “treat” ADHD. But, chiropractic care can absolutely help children, and adults too, who suffer from it. The reason that chiropractic treatment is effective is that ADHD is a neurological disorder. Chiropractic manipulations not only effective in reducing nervous system impedence in general, but an adjustment can be precisely directed to stimulate under-active areas of the brain and calm over-active areas as well. Because a chiropractic approach to ADHD is natural and drug-free, a large number of parents choose chiropractic care over the standard medical practice of giving children Class 2 psychotropic drugs that have dramatically negative side effects such as personality changes and permanent alterations in the brain. Nearly all of parents who’ve looked to chiropractic treatment for their children have reported marvelous behavioral changes as a result.
Because of the differences between the manner in which boys and girls employ the two hemispheres of their brain, ADHD seems to happen to more boys than girls and, in addition, is often more apparent and easily recognizable in the behavior of boys as opposed to of girls. Some of the symptoms that are most prominent include a hard time concentrating and sitting still, inability to control impulsive thoughts and behaviors, easily distracted by noises and activities, incessant movement of fingers, hands, arms, feet, or legs.
Many children who exhibit ADHD symptoms are hypersensitive to certain foods, such as dairy or gluten products, and sugars and artificial sweeteners. In addition, they routinely have a hypersensitive reaction to additives in foods, herbicides and pesticides used to grow non-organic fruits and vegetables, and laundry products such as detergents, fabric softeners, and other chemicals. Often, the exclusion of these environmental agencies can do a lot to reduce ADHD symptoms.
Determining the presence of spinal anomalies and particular responses to specific neurological tests are included in the complete examination offered by your Ventura Chiropractor.
You may be able to assist your child in getting his or her life back in balance through natural, safe chiropractic care. Before taking drastic pharmaceutical measures, if your child exhibits the symptoms of ADHD, make an appointment with your chiropractor for a complete evaluation. For the health of your child, call today!
Chiropractic Ventura Warns: Could You Be Eating Your Fast Food Wrappers?
Posted by: | Commentschiropractic Ventura offers the newest findings that concern your overall wellness: Are you ready for this? For years (and years) chiropractors like me, plus nutritionists and other health-conscious professionals have been advising men, women, and children to lay off the fast foods. Everyone is aware already of the artery-clogging, fat-producing effects of a fast food diet. So, tell you something you don’t know, right? Well, here it is: It’s not just the fast food, itself, that can shorten your life span, but the wrapper it comes in that is a risk to your health and longevity, as well!
Add to the growing list of chemicals showing up in human blood, chemicals called diPAPs. They’re found in the compounds that make food wrappers grease-proof. These chemicals are fairly new and scientists don’t know yet if they are harmful to human health. But diPAPs break down into another worrisome chemical, called PFOA (perfuorooctanoic acid), which is in a class of compounds called perflurochemicals, and may be carcinogenic.
PFOA and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate, another perflurochemical) are resistant to oil and water, which makes them perfect for use as fast food wrappers, and as liners on nonstick pans, microwave popcorn bags, and pizza boxes, not to mention carpets clothes, and electronics among many other applications. The problem is that these compounds end up in the environment, our food and our bodies.
“The take-home message is that some chemicals that make our lives easier, better and more satisfying end up in our bloodstream with unknown toxicological consequences,” said Scott Mabury, a chemist at the University of Toronto. “We should be smart enough to design chemicals that do what we want them to do without causing a chemical pollution problem.” Imagine that — designing chemicals that wouldn’t harm our bodies or pollute the environment. I wonder why no one has thought about that until now?
For the complete article, go tohttp://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/05/15/food-wrapper-chemical.html?campaign=w01-101-ae-0001
Your Ventura Chiropractor knows, all too well, that you could have whiplash injuries from what appears to be a minor auto accident. If you’ve been driving around in a big tank-of-a-car and you’ve been in an auto accident, if your car looks “uninjured,” it’s easy to believe that you are uninjured, too. After all, isn’t that the purpose of driving a big vehicle? It’s for protection, right? Well, research has revealed that occupants of vehicles, both large and compact, can be hurt a lot more than might be expected from a minor auto accident. Actually, as far as your body goes, there’s really no such thing as a “minor fender-bender.”
Let’s face it. There are going to be reverberations when your body is forced to stop suddenly and unexpectedly. An emergency room attendant may hand you a clean bill of health because you haven’t broken any bones, and you may be given a prescription for medication to reduce the muscle spasms that you are surely experiencing due to the structural changes in your neck or lower back that you encountered from the impact. But, your situation could go from bad to far worse unless you’re treated for the injuries you’ve received. In fact, many people encounter problems years after a car accident due to the fact that they didn’t get the help they required in the first place.
Your Ventura Chiropractor absolutely understands what your body experiences during a car accident. Chiropractic therapies include treatment for soft tissue injuries and spinal bio-mechanics abnormalities. And your chiropractor is an expert in rehabilitation strategies.
If you’ve been in a minor auto accident, even if your car may not require much repair, more than like you do. Neck and back injuries are not only painful in the places in which they happen, but they can also generate pain, tingling, and numbness in your arms and hands and result in headaches days, weeks, even months after an accident occurs.
Chiropractic care offers a drug-free, natural road back to feeling good again. It will go a long way in putting the trauma of your accident where it belongs – behind you. In addition, because your chiropractor has experience communicating effectively with insurance companies and lawyers, not only will you feel less physical stress, but less emotional stress, too!
When It Comes to Yoga Practice, Size Doesn't Matter
Posted by: | CommentsI just read an interesting article about yoga for plus-size people. What a wonderful concept. I tell all my patients that “health begins right where you are today. You can’t wait for more time or less body weight.” However, up until now, yoga studios have not usually been purlieus for people of size. Striking a yoga pose has seemed to be an exclusive option for lithe, limber bodies. But, not anymore! Yoga classes for heavier people have been sprouting up all over the country with names like Buddha Body Yoga, MegaYoga, HeavyWeight Yoga, and Yoga for Round Bodies.
The ancient practice of yoga might be based on a philosophy of self-acceptance and non-competitiveness, but plus-size people usually feel too self-conscious to even try a yoga pose, much less try on a yoga philosophy. In addition, most yoga classes, even beginner courses, don’t address the needs of big bodies, says Michael Hayes, the owner of Buddha Body Yoga in New York. Poses considered standard for those who are fit or slim are often difficult or even impossible for heavier students.
So, if your body weight has been holding you back, and if you’ve been waiting for just the right moment to start getting healthy and fit, it looks like that moment has arrived. Check to see if there’s a yoga class for plus-size people in town. If not, maybe you can start one!
For the complete article go to http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/health/nutrition/14fitness.html?_r=1&em
Chiropractic Ventura Wants You to Know That You Can Walk Your Way to Pain-Free Feet
Posted by: | CommentsChiropractic Ventura wants to tell you how you can not only get foot pain relief, but walk your way to pain-free feet: I just read a great article in the New York Times about foot pain. Did you know that a huge number of people develop foot pain in their 60s? If you have foot pain and you’re 60 or over, you may already be painfully aware of this fact. But, the problem can actually start as early as the 20s and 30s.
Age related factors such as diabetes and circulation problems can contribute to foot pain. But, excessive weight, improper footwear, and a sedentary lifestyle can also be contributing factors, as well, and at any age. Obviously, proper footwear and regular exercise, then, can play a crucial role in preventing foot problems.
Amazingly, the average person walks the equivalent of three times around the Earth in a lifetime. So, it’s not surprising that in a recent survey for the American Podiatric Medical Association, 53 percent of respondents reported foot pain so severe that it hampered their daily function.
Being farthest from the heart, the feet can often be the first part of the body to manifest complications like poor circulation and loss of feeling, both of which can lead to poor wound healing and amputation. In addition, the most common foot conditions that occur with age are arthritic joints, thinning of the fat pads cushioning the soles, plantar fascitis (inflammation of the fibrous tissue along the sole), bunions (enlargement of the joint at the base of the big toe), poor circulation and fungal nails.
Excess weight simply adds to these problems. The force on your feet is about 120 percent of your weight. “Obesity puts a great amount of stress on all the supporting structures of the foot,” said Dr. Bart Gastwirth, a podiatrist at the University of Chicago.
“A lot of people think foot pain is part of the aging process and accept it, and function and walk with pain,” said Dr. Andrew Shapiro, a podiatrist in Valley Stream, N.Y. Though some foot problems are inevitable, their progress can be slowed. If you’d liked slow the progress down, here are a few questions and conditions that are important for you to address: 1) Do you have poor circulation? 2) Do your parents complain about their feet? 3) Do you have flat feet or high arches? Either puts feet at risk. 4) If you can bend back your thumb to touch your lower arm, the ligaments in your feet are probably stretchy, too, Dr. Gastwirth said. 5) Do your shoes fit? In the podiatric association’s survey, more than 34 percent of men said they could not remember the last time their feet were measured. 6) Do you wear high heels? “The high heel concentrates the force on the heel and the forefoot,” Dr. Gastwirth said. 7) Do your feet ever see the light of day? 8 ) Have you seen a podiatrist?
Believe it not, however, putting more mileage on your feet is the best way to exercise the muscles and keep them healthy. So, it’s important to lighten up, weight-wise, and wear shoes that are supportive and fit properly. And, if you’re experiencing foot pain, visit an experienced health care professional and find out why…before you walk too many more miles.
To view the original article, go to http://health.nytimes.com/ref/health/healthguide/esn-footpain-ess.html
Ventura Chiropractor: If You Suffer From Low Back Pain, You’re Not Alone
Posted by: | CommentsYour Ventura Chiropractor wants you to know that you’re not alone if you’re experiencing low back pain. Low back pain affects a large majority of people, an amazing 80% in fact, making it second only to the common cold in its extent. Although, unlike the common cold, waiting for your back pain to “run its course,” and taking prescription or over-the-counter remedies while you wait, is not the cure. The majority of back pain won’t go away by itself. Many time, if your pain eases, it is usually the result of your body’s compensating for the problem, and unfortunately producing new conditions. Low back pain is nothing to sneeze at! If you want to get rid of your back pain for good (and who wouldn’t?), you need to see a back pain expert, like your chiropractor.
In many instances back pain is a mystery to many of the people who experience it, and chiropractors are proficient at solving the puzzle. These individuals want to know why it is that they have not experienced any trauma, accidents, or major injuries before the onset of their condition? The answer is that the cumulative effects of improper sitting posture, bad work habits, incorrect lifting, lack of regular exercise, and other unhealthy lifestyle-related determinants cause most back pain. These factors eventually add up and create stresses and imbalances on the spine producing subluxations that can lead to serious back conditions. The process is similar to the front end of your car being out of alignment. When you persist in driving anyway, there is uneven wear and tear on your tires. If you don’t get the problem fixed, the situation could worsen until a tire “blows.” When the spine is misaligned, the health of the spine is put at risk. It’s not only a problem waiting to happen, so to speak, it’s a problem waiting to get worse. And then, something as simple as bending over to pick up a piece of paper can be the “final factor” that generates back injury. When this takes place, the surrounding back muscles go into spasm to stabilize the stressed or injured tissues of the back.
When it comes to conditions of the spine, chiropractors have more education, training, and experience than medical doctors. They provide expert diagnosis and experienced treatment for all muscular-skeletal problems. In addition to giving welcomed relief to those suffering from back pain, but they are knowledgeable about what will help you to avoid further back pain. Your chiropractor not only will provide you with effectual adjustments and other productive chiropractic therapies but, in addition, will design a personal exercise plan and suggest other beneficial lifestyle changes that will help to keep you well-adjust and pain-free in the future.
Ventura Chiropractic Offers Treatment That Assists in Relieving Scoliosis Pain
Posted by: | CommentsIf you have scoliosis, Ventura chiropractic can help. Here’s what you need to know: When the body is seen from behind, a normal spine is straight without much disparity from laterally.Scoliosis is a condition that is often associated with a lateral, or side-to-side, curvature of the spine.The disorder shouldn’t be confused with unsatisfactory posture, though it frequently gives the appearance that the person is leaning to one side. Expressed by both lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebra, this troublesome deformity oftentimes causes a characteristic “rib hump” in the mid or thoracic spine. This is created by the vertebrae in the region of the major curve rotating toward the concavity and pushing their attached ribs posterior hence causing the distinctive rib hump seen in thoracic scoliosis. If the thoracic curve and rib rotation are severe, exceeding 70 degrees, pulmonary and cardiac function can be impeded. This degree of curve and consequential cardiac and pulmonary changes are often seen later in life in untreated severe idiopathic infantile and juvenile scoliosis patients and, quite frequently, present a threat to life.
Anatomy
If you were to look at the trunk from a side view, the spine would display four normal curves: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. The thoracic, in the chest area, has a natural round curve, “reversed C,” called a kyphosis, while in the lower spine there is a natural “C” curve, known as swayback or lordosis. Hyperlordosis is the term used to describe elevated swayback, while increased kyphosis in the thoracic spine is called hyperkyphosis. Diversions from normal that are visible from a side view regularly accompany scoliosis changes. Postural exercises can correct some round back deformities that are simply due to poor posture. A small percentage of people with kyphosis have more rigid deformities than the postural type, which are coincidental with vertebral deformity. This type of deformity, called Scheuermann’s kyphosis, is much more problematic to treat than postural kyphosis, and it’s cause is unknown.
Even a nonprofessional can help to identify a child or grownup with scoliosis just by looking at the person in a standing position, preferably with no shirt and in boxers, and observing the following:
- One shoulder may be more elevated than the other.
- One scapula (shoulder blade) may be more elevated or more pronounced than the other.
- There may be more area between the arm and the body on one side when the arms hang loosely at the side.
- One hip may appear to be higher or more prominent than the other.
- The head is not centered over the pelvis.
- One side of the back appears higher than the other when the individual is observed from the rear and asked to flex forward until the the spine is horizontal.
The child or adult should be sent to a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, for further diagnosis once scoliosis is detected. your chiropractor would be happy to help.
There are various roots and many kinds of scoliosis, nevertheless the most prevalent, by far, is Idiopathic Scoliosis, which accounts for nearly 85 % of all cases. “Idiopathic” means “no known cause” and is observed with equal prevalence in boys and girls in the mild or low curve magnitudes. This disorder can be sub-classified into infantile, juvenile and adolescent cases, depending upon the age of onset. Idiopathic Scoliosis may be linked to genetic or hereditary influences as it often runs in families. However girls, for unknown reasons are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves develop in size and require treatment. As the term “Idiopathic Scoliosis” implies, this class of scoliosis commonly occurs when children are ending their last major growth spurt. Unfortunately, at this age young people are hesitant to let their body to be looked at by parents and other adults, so it is smart to have this age group examined on a regular basis.
It is very important that if a scoliotic curve is discovered in a growing adolescent, the curves be monitored for any change by a periodic examination and sometimes standing x-rays. In ninety percent of conditions, the scoliosis is mild and does not require active treatment, though| increases in spinal deformity require evaluation to ascertain if a brace or other management is required. In a small number of individuals, surgical treatment may be necessary.~Surgery may be needed for a small number of people.
Brace treatment (orthosis) is recommended for both juvenile and adolescent children when an increase in their scoliosis or kyphosis is identified, or when new conditions of moderate scoliosis or abnormal kyphosis are found. There are a number of types of braces, all created to prevent curves from increasing by acting as a buttress for the spine during active skeletal growth. Bracing is effective in stopping curve progression in a significant percentage of skeletally-immature adolescents. Nevertheless, braces will not usually make the spine completely straight, and cannot always keep a curve from increasing.
There is no simple solution for scoliosis. Nearly all cases, even though regularly monitored, are not actively treated. Severe symptoms are infrequently treated surgically, but the standard medical treatment for moderate conditions is a brace. You may want to see your local chiropractor first.
Besides bracing, many other therapies have been used successfully such as specialized exercise, electric stimulation of spinal muscles, nutritional programs, and chiropractic treatments. It seems like the most beneficial results have been maintained with a multi-faceted approach to the care of this affliction.
There are chiropractors, that have expertise managing scoliosis cases.
