Archive for Chiropractic Ventura
Chiropractor in Ventura Explains How Exercise Can Affect the Brain of Overeaters
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Okay, if you read my blogs, even on an irregular basis, you know by now that I am a Ventura chiropractor who is a bit of an exercise fanatic (nut?). There are so many healthy reasons to exercise that not exercising by some individuals seems unduly resistant to their good health! Well, in a effort to coax those few exercise holdouts, and to say, “here’s an extra bonus,” to those of you who exercise regularly, I offer the results of a new study: According to research led by Brazilian researchers at the University of Campinas, the results of which will be published next week online in the open access journal PLoS Biology, there is yet another good reason to exercise. In addition to keeping the organs of the body functioning properly, helping the musculoskeletal system to stay strong and mobile, and burning calories for weight loss, exercise has also been found to restore the sensitivity of neurons involved in the control of satiety (which is to say, “feeling full”). This, in turn, contributes to reduced food intake and, ergo, more weight loss.
Obesity is an enormous problem of epidemic proportions in this country. Factors such as changing eating habits (from healthy to “fast, fatty, and excessive”) and a sedentary lifestyle (for children as well as adults) have contributed to the obesity problem. It is also postulated that excessive consumption of fat creates failures in the signal transmitted by neurons controlling satiety in a region of the brain called the hypothalamus, and that these failures can lead to uncontrollable food intake and, consequently, obesity.
The researchers demonstrated that exercising (in this case exercising obese rodents) showed signals of restored satiety in hypothalamic neurons and decreased food intake. These findings confirmed that physical activity contributes to the prevention and treatment of obesity, not only by increasing energy expenditure, but also by modulating the signals of satiety and reducing food intake.
So, there you go, another good reason to exercise brought to you by your friendly chiropractor in Ventura!
Source:
PLoS Biology
If you read my Ventura chiropractic website blogs, then you already know I adhere to the philosophy that “Motion is Life.” Our body is designed to move, move, move; to walk, run, play, and dance! My “job” as a Ventura Chiropractor is not only to get you out of pain, but to help you to keep your musculoskeletal system healthy and well-adjusted so that such movement is energizing and freeing rather than painful. Because I believe so strongly that lifelong movement is essential to our overall health as human beings, I’m always happy to offer new incentives to my patients and blog readers to get moving. A new study offers another good reason for everyone, but especially women, to get active and stay active. The study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, found that women who are physically active at any point over the course of their life, whether it is in their teen years, 30s, 40s, or 50+, maintain a lower risk of cognitive impairment later in life as compared to those women who are inactive.
Let’s face it, life these days has become a spectator sport for many people. Kids sit in front of the television or their computers — and so do adults! Business often demands it and, after a long day of sitting at the computer at the office, “relaxation” or “family time” frequently comes in the form of vegging in front of the TV. There is growing evidence to suggest that people (and in the case of this particularly study, women) who are physically active in mid-life and beyond have a lower chance of dementia, as well as the “more minor” forms of cognitive impairment in old age. However, until now there has been less clarity regarding the importance of physical activity for women early in life and at different stages of life. The researchers at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Canada compared the physical activity and cognition of 9,344 women at different ages (teenage, age 30, age 50, and late-life) to investigate the effectiveness of activity at different life stages on later cognitive abilities.
“Our study shows that women who are regularly physically active at any age have lower risk of cognitive impairment than those who are inactive, but also that being physically active at teenage is most important in preventing cognitive impairment,” said Laura Middleton, PhD, who lead the research. And, in addition, she and her research team found that women who were physically inactive as teenagers, but became physically active at age 30 or age 50 had significantly reduced their odds of cognitive impairment as well compared to those who remained physically inactive. “Low physical activity levels in today’s youth may mean increased dementia rates in the future,” Middleton added.
What’s good for the body is always good for the brain. So be smart and stay that way by being physically active. “Motion is Life,” so get moving!
Ventura Chiropractor Proposes a Playground For Adults Only
Posted by: | Comments Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP
If you’ve been reading my blogs, you know that as your Ventura chiropractor I believe that exercise, at any age, is one of the main keys to good health and longevity. You’ve heard me say that “motion is life,” and it becomes all the more critical as people age. Movement slows down degenerative changes and often prevents many of them from occurring at all. In addition, movement enhances blood flow, respiration, and elimination, and keeps every organ stronger and healthier. So, you can imagine my excitement when I read about a “senior’s playground” that opened in London’s Hyde Park recently. The playground was the result of senior residents campaigning for more facilities to help older people to get fit. Brilliant! Talk about an idea whose time has come! Organizers said that a large group of older people began lining up early in the morning to try the six low-impact fitness machines that included a cross-trainer, a stationary bicycle, and a sit-up bench. The playground is aimed at people over 60, but the gentle exercise would also be beneficial for patients recovering from operations or injury. Similar play areas for the elderly are already availabe in other European countries. So, why not here in the U.S.? Older people need a “free” friendly outside exercise area where they not only won’t feel intimidated by younger people, but will be able to socialize as they improve their health. So, got a pen and paper handy? How about a laptop? Even your cell phone will work! Start a campaign in your area for a “playground for seniors.” If you don’t personally need one today…you will sometime in the future! |
Good Hydration is an Important Key to Good Health
Posted by: | CommentsChiropractors, like Dr. Alff, are committed to making sure their patients know the importance of drinking enough water everyday. The chant is “Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!” Water is as essential as air when it comes to human survival. Therefore, one would suppose that drinking a sufficient quantity of water would be as visceral as breathing in enough air, but a surprising 75 percent of Americans suffer from mild, incessant dehydration. (Most individuals aren’t breathing enough either, but one issue at a time.) You cannot have good health without drinking an adequate amount of water. Every system in your body — every cell, tissue, and organ — is dependent up water to function properly. Your saliva, and the fluids surrounding your joints, are essentially water. Water balances the temperature and metabolism of the body, and keeps the blood circulating. Drinking plenty of water daily has been shown to improve nutrient absorption and toxin removal, and to reduce heartburn, hypertension, exhaustion, headaches, and even back pain.
Athletes are particularly at risk when it comes to functional challenges caused by dehydration. “Physiologically, their core body temperature could be higher than it should have been if they were hydrated. Their heart rate will be higher, and they’re going to perceive that they’re working harder than they actually are,” said Susan Yeargin, assistant professor of athletic training in Indiana State’s College of Nursing, Health, and Human Services. According to researchers at Indiana State University, a high percentage of collegiate and professional athletes begin the season dehydrated, putting their health at risk even before they begin strenuous workouts. In fact, Pre-season physical examinations, in fact, found that 80 percent of football players presented with.
Wondering how much water is enough water? Chiropractors, like almost all health care professionals, advise no less than eight, 8-ounce glasses of water every day for many patients, but for our patients who are athletes, or for individuals who carry around excess weight or exercise or work in a hot environment, we propose even more. How can you be sure if you, personally, are drinking an adequate amount of water? The color of your urine is a good gauge. If it is a light, pale yellow, it’s an indication that you’re well-hydrated!
"Missing the Mark" But Still Winning in the Long Run?
Posted by: | Comments“Nearly” isn’t exactly a word we associate with achievement. In point of fact, very few things in life, it seems, count much at all if you don’t “hit the nail right on the head.” Luckily for some, this may not be absolutely true when it comes to an extended lifespan. As a chiropractor in Ventura, who has many older patients and is fully dedicated to encouraging exercise at every age, I was very interested in the following study.
Researchers found that of the “least-fit” versus the “slightly more fit” in a recent study of nearly 4,400 healthy Americans, roughly 20 percent with the lowest physical fitness levels doubled the risk of dying over the nine years of the study as the 20 percent with the next-lowest fitness levels. (In other words, those 20 percent who were “closest to” the lowest fitness levels.) This is the time-honored “bad news/good news” outcome. It is undoubtedly bad news if you are a confirmed spectator in life. However, it is undoubtedly good news for those who haven’t totally embraced a sedentary lifestyle but are not, by any stretch of the imagination, very active. Apparently, those men and women who stay just moderately fit as they age may have greater longevity than those who are entirely out-of-shape, the study suggests.
The study included 4,384 middle-aged and senior adults whose fitness levels were determined during exercise treadmill tests sometime between 1986 and 2006. For nearly nine years thereafter, the researchers followed the study groups progress. Such factors as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure were considered in the study. This, in and of itself, underscores the significants of physical fitness itself. In an email to Reuters health, lead researcher, Dr. Sandra Mandic of the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, noted: “Our findings suggest that a sedentary lifestyle, rather than differences in cardiovascular risk factors or age, may explain the two-fold higher mortality rates in the least-fit versus slightly more fit individuals.”
Nearly two-thirds of the participants at the least-fit level were not getting the minimum recommended amount of exercise, which is at least 30 minutes of moderate activity (like brisk walking) five or more days a week. “These results emphasize the importance of improving and maintaining high fitness levels by engaging in regular physical activity,” Mandic said, “particularly in poorly-fit individuals.”
After dividing the participants into five groups based on fitness levels, the researchers found that 13 percent of those who were in slightly better shape had died during the study period. But, 25 percent of the least-fit men and women had died during the same period. Only 6 percent of the most-fit group (i.e., the ones who “hit the nail right on the head” had died during the follow-up period.
The five fitness-level groups presented little difference, overall, in their reported exercise routines during most of their adult lives, but notably, they differed in activity levels only in recent years. “Since it is recent physical activity that offers protection,” Mandic said, “it is important to maintain regular physical activity throughout life.”
In this particular study, regardless of weight and other health problems such as those mentioned above, fitness is undeniably linked to longevity. As such, exercise is crucial to the extension of our lifespan. And, naturally, just think of the health benefits we could all derive if we sought to achieve the higher levels of fitness.
SOURCE: Medicine and Science in Sports and exercise, August 2009.
Chiropractic Ventura: Did You Know That Excessive Cell Phone Use Can Cause Elbow Pain?
Posted by: | Commentschiropractic Ventura knows that excessive cell phone use can literally get on your nerves and cause elbow pain: We all know how “irritating” it can be when someone is talking loudly on a cell phone (as long as that person isn’t us!). Honestly, doesn’t it seem as if you can’t even take a quiet walk along the beach or in the park without someone walking by shouting into their cell phone? You could say, in fact, that nowadays the excessive use of cell phones has become a pain in our psyche. Well, the detrimental effects of excessive cell phone use apparently doesn’t stop with “pain in the brain.” A new report outlines the prevalence of “cell phone elbow,” an affliction in which users experience pain and numbness in their elbow due to extensive cell phone use. The idea is similar carpal tunnel syndrome, and the effect on the muscles and tendons concerned is essentially the same except a different nerve is pinched. Instead of being located in the wrist, cell phone elbow (”cubital tunnel syndrome”) cell phone elbow originates in the elbow region and results in pain or numbness in forearms, as well as tingling in pinkie and ring fingers. According to a study from the Cleveland Clinic, doctors are seeing more and more individuals experiencing these symptoms.
What exactly produces the problem? Holding a cell phone to the ear causes the elbow to bend, thereby stretching the nerve between muscles and tendons. When the arm is bent for long periods of time, the nerve gets inflamed. “Repetitive, sustained stretching of the nerve is like stepping on a garden hose,” said Dr. Peter J. Evans, director of the Cleveland Clinic’s Hand and Upper Extremity Center. “With the hose, you’re blocking the flow of water. With the elbow, you’re blocking the blood flow to the nerve, which causes it to misfire and short circuit.” The first symptom of cell phone elbow is usually pain just below the elbow in the forearm. This is usually followed by the sensation of pins and needles in the pinkie and ring finger. In the most severe case those fingers can curl up and become difficult to use.
The good news is that the condition is easily preventable and treatable. Users are simply encouraged to avoid holding their phone in one position for too long in order to reduce the amount of strain on the affected muscles. For those who are already feeling strain, it is advisable to do simple stretches in order to help prevent some of the damage.
And, of course, a quiet walk in the park or along the beach with your cell phone turned off or, better yet, left behind, would not only go along way in reducing cell phone elbow, but it might do a lot to improve the health of your psyche as well!
This study was published in the May issue of the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine.
Chiropractic Ventura Advises: Don't Let PMS Put You On the Bench
Posted by: | CommentsChiropractic Ventura is concerned about your overall wellness as a woman. At one time or another, Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) affects and estimated 90% of women and nearly 20% of those women afflicted undergo severe to incapacitating symptoms. Telling a woman that her PMS is “just in her head” can be not only just plain risky, it’s also just plain wrong! In nearly all cases, there are physiological origins of PMS, including one that you might find surprising — spinal misalignment. That’s right. Your back could actually be the “offender.” Spinal misalignment, especially in the lower back, can frequently cause a large variety of female health problems in addition to Premenstrual Syndrome, such as pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction, incontinence, and even infertility.
Are you wondering how chiropractic can ease the symptoms of PMS? Chiropractic treatments get rid of nerve impingement in your body. Every cell, fiber, tissue, organ, and system in your body is governed and regulated by your nervous system. Your reproductive system is included in this master regulation. If your reproductive system isn’t performing optimally because of nerve impingement, it can produce an array of symptoms such as those analogous with PMS. You would most likely experience agitation, pain, heavy bleeding, or severe cramping if your reproductive system were overactive. Missed periods or infertility can be caused by an under-activity reproductive system. The good news is that if nerve impedance is producing your PMS symptoms, then chiropractic treatment can assist because adjustments restore harmony and balance to your nervous system and, as a result, assisting it in functioning more normally.
In addition to improved general health, many women experience enhanced reproductive health, as well, while under chiropractic care. So, if you’ve been thinking that your PMS is just in head, think again! Then call your chiropractor. Chiropractic care offers an all natural answer for PMS that could assist you in avoiding periodic misery, without medication, and keep you symptom-free and energetic all month long.
chiropractic Ventura promotes wellness for all ages: Doesn’t it seem that healthy lifestyle information is everywhere you look these days? There are magazines and TV shows all about healthy foods and beneficial exercises. There are even recipes for nutritious meals in the newspaper. But, even though more Americans today are aware that eating nutritious meals, getting exercise, and keeping their body weight down is essential for health and longevity, a new study reported in the June 2009 issue of the American Journal of Medicine has found that the number of middle-aged and older Americans who have adopted a healthy lifestyle has actually declined substantially in the past two decades. Using data from a large government health survey, researchers found that in 2006, only 26 percent of Americans ages 40 to 74 said they ate five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day. That’s down 16 percent from the 42 percent who responded in the 1988 survey! When it came to exercise, the same kind of decline was reported. Only 43 percent said they worked out at least 12 times per month, versus 53 percent in 1988. Not surprisingly, the rate of obesity in the United States went in the opposite direction, from 28 percent in 1988 to 36 percent in 2006.
The findings were based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a regularly conducted government health survey. Researchers focused on surveys conducted between 1988 and 1994 and between 2001 and 2006, which together included more than 15,000 Americans between the ages of 40 and 74. They looked at rates of five lifestyle factors involved in preventing a range of health risks: maintaining a normal weight, getting regular exercise, eating enough fruits and vegetables, not smoking, and drinking moderate amounts of alcohol.
Though the study cannot tell us why healthy lifestyle habits are on the decline, lead researcher, Dr. Dana E. King, of the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, said that one reason may be that these changes are just difficult to make. “People’s increasingly hectic lives may be making it hard to fit in regular exercise, or to sit down to healthier, home-cooked meals rather than eating take-out.” He suggested some simple steps can make a difference. “It’s not hard, for example, to take some fruit to work with you, instead of going to the vending machine.” (Parking a little farther away from your destination and walking a bit can help, too.) Most importantly, Dr. King stressed that “it’s never too late” for middle-aged and older adults to make lifestyle changes for the better. In fact, in an earlier study, King and his colleagues found that when middle-aged adults newly adopted a healthier lifestyle — including regular exercise and eating more fruits and vegetables — their risk of developing cardiovascular disease or dying over the next several years fell by as much as 40 percent.
If you think about it, there aren’t many things in life that carry an “it’s never too late” guarantee. So, why not start today, no matter what your age may be? Your healthy future is depending on you!
Question Number 8: Is Chiropractic Care Expensive?
Posted by: | CommentsToday your Ventura Chiropractor answers question number 8 of the most frequenntly asked questions.
Chiropractic Ventura on Sports Injuries
Posted by: | Commentschiropractic Ventura treats many adults and children who are in pain from sports injuries. There was a time when sports injuries were primarily limited to professional athletes, boys participating in school sports programs, and the occasional male “weekend warrior. Now, more than ever, men and women of all ages participate in regular sports and fitness activities. The vast majority of both sexes play golf, tennis, basketball, and/or participate in aerobic activities like running. Unfortunately, risk of injury is constantly possible with any sports activity.
The majority of injuries can be divided into two fundamental types: injury from trauma such as a slip, fall or collision, and injury as a consequence of overuse or repetitive stress.
Traumatic Injuries
As the name implies, this type of injury produces the kind of incapacitation and debilitation most commonly associated with trauma. A high percentage of traumatic injuries are to the ligaments, the tissue that connects bone to bone, and to body muscles, though fractures and dislocations do take place at times, in particular with contact sports. Damage to a ligament is called a sprain, while damage to a muscle or its tendon is a strain. The most characteristic parts of the body for these sorts of injuries are the ankles, knees, and shoulders, but other areas can be affected including the low back and neck. Because the spinal cord and/or spinal nerves can be involved, injury to the neck and low back can be extremely serious.
A traumatic injury may be relatively benign, such as a “muscle pull” or ankle twist. But, some can be quite serious and require surgery. The severity of the injury depends upon several factors, such as the amount of tearing of the tissues, the location of the injury, and the age of the person. Some degree of swelling occurs with almost all sprains and strains. However, with certain injuries, especially those of the ankle and knee, there can be some internal bleeding as well. Strains and sprains demand appropriate attention, particularly during the initial stages of an injury, to insure complete healing and avoid future disability. Treatment from a competent health-care professional, such as your Ventura chiropractor, is highly recommended.
Listed below is an acronym for the post-injury management of sprains and strains specifically if no professional assistance is available: PRICE
P Protect injury from further damage
R Rest the injured area
I Ice injury to reduce swelling, bleeding, muscle spasm, and pain
C Compress injury with a specifically designed or elastic bandage to support injured tissues
E Elevate the injury, particularly when dealing with ankles and knees
Naturally it is necessary to get the injury professionally evaluated by a chiropractor, or other competent health professional, to ascertain the degree of damage. When proper treatment is given during the various stages of healing, most individuals who have sustained sprain and strain injuries will recover. If not carefully monitored and treated, a sprain or strain injury can bring about persistent joint instability, painful or weak joints and muscles, and lack of mobility. Experienced management of your sports injury by a chiropractor with an abundance of experience in sports injury management will insure that your injury heals properly. If you have sustained a traumatic injury, call your Ventura chiropractor.
Overuse or Repetitive Strain Injuries
Sports such as golf, tennis, and bowling, as well as any other activity that requires the same actions over and over are widespread causes of repetitive stress injuries. Even running, particularly on a treadmill, can produce such problems.
Basically, overuse or repetitive stress injuries happen when an individual is performs a repetitious activity that produces a very small strain to tissues, expressly tendons and muscles, that by itself would not generate a problem, but done many times has an accumulative effect. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one of the most widespread classes of overuse injuries. The pain, stiffness, and disability coincidental with carpal tunnel problems takes place over a period of time as the muscles and other affected tissue establish changes that no longer allow correct function. Certain factors predispose a person to these sorts of injury. Some are “intrinsic,” i.e., the factor is found within a person’s own body. Other factors are “extrinsic,” which means that the factors are external and can generally be changed or controlled by the individual.
Some of the most common intrinsic factors for injury
Age is the most common intrinsic factor for injury. The older a person is, the easier it is for that person to get injured. Congenital abnormalities are another factor. A number of people are born with joint or muscle problems. And, finally, previous injuries are a factor as they frequently prevent the joints or muscles from functioning normally.
Extrinsic factors for injury
There are many extrinsic injury factors. A wrong grip size of a tennis racket, worn-out running shoes, an uneven treadmill surface, or a too-hard surface for soccer are all cases of deficient sports equipment that can cause problems. Incorrect technique in any sport, such as an unsuitable golf grip is, as the saying goes, an injury waiting to happen All sports activities demand a bit of pre-conditioning, which is why people who are de-conditioned who continue to extend the duration of an activity without building up slowly, as well as those who lack flexibility, are injured most often. Lack of warm-up, like stretching and appropriate preparation, is a common factor in injuries. And, finally, but perhaps surprising to some, stress is a factor. Being tired or stressed can cause tense, inflexible muscles that are too tight for most activities.
It is important to remember that almost all factors are extrinsic and, consequently, they are factors that can be individually regulated. Before embarking on a new sport, or as a way to avoid injury in a current sport, it’s wise to get an evaluation of your overall body condition. If you’ve been injured, it is vital to seek out a competent professional, like a chiropractor, to diagnose the nature of the injury and design a plan of therapy. If left untreated, sports injuries can considerably affect a person’s life and limit a favorite activity. Treatment such as joint manipulation, massage, bracing, and specific exercises is frequently required to stabilize the condition. A chiropractor is and excellent source of help. Call a chiropractor if you’re either thinking of beginning a new activity, you’re feeling pain related to a current sports activity, or you’ve sustained a sports injury. Your Ventura Chiropractor has years of experience helping people just like you.
