Dr. Scott MacAdam - Ladera Family & Sports Chiropractic - Ladera Family & Sports Chiropractic

WebMD article on Pregnancy and Chiropractic

2018-05-22T16:35:02+00:00

Chiropractic During Pregnancy

Hands-On Pregnancy

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES

Feb. 18, 2002 -- Shawn Kelley delivered her first son, Evan, prematurely at 32 weeks. It looked like she was headed down the same path with her second baby when she started having contractions at 22 weeks. That is, until she tried an unconventional treatment that seems to be working.

Kelley started seeing a chiropractor, and within a few sessions of gentle manipulations the baby had moved up. She was no longer experiencing severe back pain and her obstetrician gave her the green light to cease bed rest and resume normal activity.

"It's amazing," says Kelley, of Minnetonka, Minn., who is now 33 weeks pregnant with her second baby . "I'll go in, she does some adjustments, and within an hour or two, everything opens up. The baby moves up, I don't feel as much pressure, and the back pain goes away." What's more, she says, she has been able to avoid more bed rest or drugs to stop pre-term labor.

Kelley has joined the growing ranks of Americans -- pregnant women included -- seeking alternatives to traditional Western medicine. Chiropractic care appears to offer many women relief from the back, leg, and pelvic aches and pains common during pregnancy.

"The best use of chiropractic, in general, has to do with musculoskeletal problems, and, in pregnancy, a lot of women have problems that are caused by the uterus being off center," says Mary Hammond-Tooke, a certified nurse-midwife at The Maternity Center in Bethesda, Md. "The uterus is pulling out in front and not well-balanced in back."

Add to that the hormonal changes that soften joints -- and even the strain of balancing another child on one hip -- and an expectant mom can be in for some major body stressors. "Chiropractors who are comfortable with pregnant ladies -- and not all of them are -- do just a wonderful job helping these ladies to be much more comfortable or pain free," says Hammond-Tooke.

More Popular Than Ever

Chiropractic is one of the most popular alternative medicine therapies, ranking fourth after relaxation techniques, herbs, and massage, according to a recent survey by David Eisenberg, MD, of Harvard University and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. About 22 million Americans visited a chiropractor last year, according to Jerome McAndrews, national spokesman for the American Chiropractic Association, although there are no statistics on how many of those are pregnant women.

pregnancy related back pain and chiropractic

2016-01-09T00:15:41+00:00

By Laylan Connoly / Staff Writer
The Orange County Register

As I tried to lift my 2-year-old son, a sharp pain shot down my back, and I cringed in agony.

The back pain that I’d dealt with for years was creeping back, just as my belly started to grow during my fourth month of pregnancy.

For about a month, I tried to suck it up and deal with it. I treated myself to a pregnancy massage, instructing the therapist to ignore the rest of my aching body and rub out the big knot that had formed on the right side of my lower back.

I tried to relax and stay on the couch and rely more on my husband’s help for the care of our son.

But my job as an on-the-go reporter doesn’t allow for much downtime, so I knew what I had to do: Go see my chiropractor.

Everyone has different views about seeking chiropractic help. Some people say it helps everything from asthma to infertility. Others grimace at the slight mention of a chiropractor.

A few years ago, I’d suffered back pain that eventually got so bad I couldn’t bend down to load the dishwasher. I sought relief from Dr. Larry Omo, a chiropractor who has a practice in Lakewood and lives in Garden Grove. A few visits to his office, and I was good as new.

But being pregnant and getting twisted up like a pretzel made me nervous. I’ve gone to enough prenatal yoga classes to know that big twists are not recommended after the second and third trimester.

I started doing some research. According to the American Pregnancy Association, most chiropractors are trained to work with women who are pregnant, and some have additional training for prenatal and postnatal care.

A growing belly can increase the back’s curve, and the pelvic area changes as the hips expand. Hunching over with more weight on the front side of the body can cause the pelvic bones to misalign and reduce the amount of room for the baby.

Discussing my pain with Omo and reading extensively on the topic calmed my nerves, and I decided to go forward with chiropractic care. Omo’s table had a pop-out section for my belly, so I could lie face down as he worked on the knot that had developed in my back. He also incorporated massage work on tight areas and worked on stretching the muscles out. After three visits, my back pain was cleared up.

Omo says it’s common for pregnant women to come to his office seeking relief. A substance called relaxin kicks in during pregnancy, helping to soften the ligaments so your body can expand for the birth of the baby, he explains. “When a pregnant woman advances into her pregnancy, and the relaxin comes on and you have more weight carrying in the front, the mom has to adjust posture to carry the weight,” he says.

That can cause instability in the ligaments, and the muscles try to overcompensate, he says. The muscles start working double duty – moving and stabilizing because of the extra weight and lack of stability.

There are also sciatic nerve issues that can cause shooting pain down the legs that can be eased with help from a chiropractor, Omo says.

“When you have good alignment and muscle balance going into birth, you will optimize the ability for the baby to come out. It will be less stressful for the mom,” Omo said. “Birthing is a symmetrical process. We try to keep the back relaxed and symmetrical.”

To view the original article, click here.

Herniated Discs and Chiropractic Care

2014-06-11T22:46:44+00:00

Did you know that during our lifetime, 70% of us will have back pain? Seventy percent! Some of the many reasons that may cause us back pain are weight gain or pregnancy, a slip or fall, improperly lifting heavy weight, sleeping on a poor mattress or automobile and sports related accidents. If you have or have ever had back pain, you know how painful it can be. And a herniated disc is even worse.

When a spinal disc herniates, the jelly-like fluid in the center of the disc leaks out, irritating no-longer protected nerves. Talk about pain! It rarely goes away. Typical treatments include pain killers, narcotics, muscle relaxers, cortisone injections and surgery. But recently, a research paper documented the highly effective results attained by chiropractic care.

In this study, 148 patients between the ages of 18 to 65 years with lower back pain and leg pain who were also confirmed to have lumbar disc herniation from an MRI study, were given chiropractic care. The process, described by the researchers as, "high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulation," was delivered by doctors of chiropractic in Zürich, Switzerland.

If you or a loved one suffers from back pain or a herniated disc, please pass along my contact information. Our office offers spinal decompression, core strength building exercises and chiropractic adjustments specific to herniated discs. My goal: A Better Back - A Better Life.

Esophageal Reflux in Infant helped with Chiropractic

2014-04-14T16:37:47+00:00

Baby with Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease Helped with Chiropractic

From the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics comes a case study published in the March 2014 edition that reviews the case of an infant with gastro-esophageal reflux disease improving while under chiropractic care. The author, Dr. Andrew Chuang, a chiropractor in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, notes that prior to this study available literature discussing the use of chiropractic for cases of gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) was sparse with a limited number of case reports showing up in scientific literature.

Dr. Chuang begins by highlighting the frequency of these problems by reporting, "Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common during the first year of life, peaking at 4 months of age." In noting a prior study he writes, "Regurgitation of at least 1 episode per day was reported in half of 0- to 3-month olds."

In this case, a 4-month-old female infant was brought in for chiropractic care by her mother. According to the infant girl's mother, her baby had been vomiting after feedings for the past 2 months. A prior visit to her MD yielded a diagnosis of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). The medical doctor then recommended the infant be placed on Ranitidine for the condition. Her mother was hesitant to start her baby on medication at such a young age, and chiropractic care was sought as an alternative.

A physical examination revealed no physical abnormalities in development, except the child had not gained any weight in the past two months. A chiropractic examination which included a postural examination as well as static and dynamic palpation of the spine was performed. From this chiropractic examination, it was determined that the child had multiple subluxations in her neck.

Specific chiropractic care was begun to correct the spinal issues. The mother reported that after the first adjustment, her infant girl had a large bowel movement, and slept for a longer period of time than normal. The study further noted that over the next 3 weeks both the number of episodes of vomiting and reflux per day decreased, and the number of days with vomiting decreased. After 4 weeks of chiropractic care, the mother reported that her baby was no longer having any episodes of reflux and vomiting.

In his conclusion, Dr. Chuang wrote, "In the case described here a 4-month-old patient’s GERD resolved while under chiropractic care. This study suggests to the possibility that similar patient groups may benefit from chiropractic treatment."

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Breastfeeding and Chiropractic

2014-04-14T16:23:55+00:00

Infant with Difficulty Breastfeeding Helped with Chiropractic

A case study research paper was published in the March 2014 issue of the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics documenting the improvement with chiropractic care of a seven-week-old infant with difficulty breastfeeding.

In this case, a seven-week-old infant girl was brought to the chiropractor with what her mother described as tummy pain. It was noted that the infant was in distress, did not want to sleep on her back, was drawing her knees up to her chest, vomited after feedings, and had unusual stools. She was also having recent trouble breastfeeding after having no problems doing so since birth. She would only feed on her mother's left breast and had great difficulty trying to feed on her mother's right side.

The chiropractic examination indicated the child was in significant distress and pain. The infant showed a significant restriction in movement in the neck which could partially explain her inability to breastfeed on one side. It was determined that subluxations were present at the base of the skull and upper neck area. Subluxations in this area can affect the nervous system in many ways including the ability of the child to move her head properly and therefore breastfeed.

Care was initiated for correction of the subluxations and restoration of proper movement of the infant's neck. After one week, it was noted that the child could move her head better and was able to breastfeed more normally. Her initial stool after her first adjustment was normal. Over the next few weeks, her other symptoms decreased and eventually cleared.

The authors reported, "A follow-up chiropractic progress examination was performed when the infant was 6 ½ months. During this examination the infant was found to be happy, symptom free and developing well."

In their conclusion the authors wrote, "Craniocervical subluxations are often identified in infants as a result of the birth process. In this case, chiropractic care restored optimal cervical range of motion and cranial alignment. Consequently, the infant no longer showed a preference to feed on the left breast. This demonstrates how chiropractic treatment may be beneficial in correcting breastfeeding difficulties that have a biomechanical cause."

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Lumbar Disc Herniation Helped With Chiropractic According to Study

2014-04-14T16:22:27+00:00

MRI Confirmed Lumbar Disc Herniations Helped with Chiropractic - Study Shows

A research paper published in the March/April 2014 issue of the scientific periodical, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT), showed that patients with lumbar disc herniations found on MRI were helped by chiropractic. The authors explain, "The purposes of this study were to evaluate patients with low-back pain (LBP) and leg pain due to magnetic resonance imaging–confirmed disc herniation."

In the opening of the report the authors write, "Approximately 70% of the population will have back pain at some point in time.1 Low-back pain (LBP) with associated leg pain due to a herniated intervertebral disc is one of the most severe and disabling forms of back pain."

The study looked at patients with either chronic long term back pain or acute lower back pain, and followed their results for up to a year after the onset of chiropractic care. The researchers compared the patients, "...short-, medium-, and long-term outcomes of self-reported global impression of change and pain levels at various time points up to 1 year."

Patients accepted for the study were evaluated at the time frames of 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after the initial chiropractic consultation. The patients were asked to self-evaluate themselves into one of the following categories which included, "much worse, worse, slightly worse, no change, slightly better, better, and much better."

The results of the study showed that after only 2 weeks of care, 69.9% considered themselves better or much better. After one month of chiropractic care, 79.6% were better or much better, as were 90.5% of the patients at the three-month evaluation. After that point, with no additional chiropractic care being rendered, the results remained at 88% better or much better with only 2.8% reporting that they were worse to some degree.

The authors said that in all the patients included in this study, "There were no adverse events reported." In their conclusion, the authors noted that the results were very good for both those patients who had acute or chronic lower back issues due to disc herniation. "A large percentage of acute and importantly chronic lumbar disc herniation patients treated with chiropractic spinal manipulation reported clinically relevant improvement."

Pulse Rate Changed With Chiropractic

2014-03-12T19:09:34+00:00

Pulse Rate Changed After Chiropractic Adjustment - Study Shows

The Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research published a study on March 3, 2014, showing that chiropractic has a positive effect on resting heart pulse rate (PR). This study was designed to look at the PR of subjects immediately after a chiropractic adjustment in the upper neck.

The author of this study, John Hart, DC, MHSc Assistant Director of Research at Sherman College of Chiropractic, Spartanburg, SC, noted that prior studies have shown various results, with most showing a lowering of the PR after chiropractic adjustments. The significance of this study helps add to the body of evidence that chiropractic care can affect all functions of the body.

Dr. Hart explains, "One approach in chiropractic practice is to focus on a condition known as vertebral subluxation (now referred to as "subluxation"), generally defined in concept as a minor misalignment resulting in some type of neurological disturbance. An objective in adjusting subluxation is to improve neurological function (e.g., reduction / removal of nerve interference between the brain and the rest of the body)." If subluxations interfere with nerve system function, this should cause changes in bodily functions such as PR that can be measured before and after a chiropractic adjustment.

In this study, 23 chiropractic students were examined on three visits; two pre-adjustment visits and one post-adjustment visit. The process used for inclusion in the study was to sample the PR on the first and second visit. Then only if the PR increased between these two visits (with no chiropractic adjustment being given) would the subject be included in the study. Once included, the subject was then given a specific chiropractic adjustment designed to correct subluxation, and a third, post adjustment PR reading was done for comparison.

The results were varied, with a marked difference between how the males and females in the study responded. In the study, all but one of the males showed a decrease in their PR after their adjustment. However, only about half of the females showed a decrease, with the remainder showing a continued increase in the PR.

Although more pronounced in men than in women in this study, the results did show that correction of subluxations does have an effect on the resting pulse rate, and therefore, on body physiology controlled by the nervous system.

Sense of Taste and Smell Improved with Chiropractic

2014-02-12T23:24:53+00:00

Woman Regains Sense of Smell and Taste With Chiropractic Care

From the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research comes a study published on Jan. 16, 2014, which documents the case of a woman who regained her senses of both smell and taste due to chiropractic care. Anosmia, the loss of the ability to smell, and ageusia, the loss of the ability to taste, affects between 1 and 2 percent of the American population under the age of 65 years.

The authors of the study report that approximately 200,000 people visit physicians each year for smell and taste related disorders. According to studies, one of the most common causes of smell and taste disorders is a previous injury to the head and/or neck. Because these conditions are not life threatening, the authors note that there is little medical attention or treatment for these problems.

In this case, a 64-year-old woman went to a chiropractic clinic with complaints of neck pain, right sided knee pain, and a loss of the ability to taste and smell. She reported having lost the ability to smell and taste nine months prior to her visit to the chiropractor.

A chiropractic examination revealed sensitivity in the upper neck upon palpation, as well as thermal scan irregularities. There was also a reduction of the woman's range of motion in her upper neck. Postural abnormalities were also noted and spinal x-rays confirmed misalignments of her neck vertebrae.

Specific chiropractic adjustments were begun to correct the subluxations that were determined to be present. According to the case report, within 48 hours of the woman's first adjustment, her sense of taste and smell had started to return, and her pain symptoms improved. By the third month of care, she had completely regained both her sense of smell and taste.

In their conclusion the authors wrote, "This case described the successful resolution of anosmia and ageusia following the introduction of upper cervical chiropractic care. This case study suggests that there may be a role for the use of precise upper cervical chiropractic care in the management of patients with smell and taste disorders in patients with a history of head and neck trauma."

Digestion problems and Chiropractic

2014-02-12T23:21:55+00:00

Resolution of Chronic Constipation and Abdominal Pain Following Chiropractic

The Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research published a case study on Jan. 20, 2014, documenting improvement in constipation and abdominal pain in a young boy who received chiropractic care. The study authors note that the prevalence of constipation ranges from 0.7% to 29.6% in children worldwide. A Medical Expenditure Panel Survey found that between 2003 and 2004 an estimated 1.7 million children in the United States suffered from constipation.

In this case, an 8-year-old boy was brought to the chiropractor with a history of constipation and associated problems that had been present since birth. On average, the boy would only have one bowel movement per week, and he also suffered from some involuntary releases. Additionally, he was experiencing long-term severe abdominal pain. The boy's problems and pain resulted in him not enjoying recess at school, and resulted in weekly calls from school reporting "accidents" related to his problem.

A pediatrician and a gastroenterologist prescribed medications which had little or no effect. Medical x-rays did not reveal any problems, and finally, the doctors recommended exploratory surgery. The boy's mother did not want to pursue the exploratory surgery, deciding to go with chiropractic instead.

A chiropractic examination was performed that included palpation, spinal range of motion, thermographic studies, and spinal x-rays. It was determined that subluxations were present and chiropractic care was started. Dietary changes to increase water intake and decrease sugars were also recommended.

A re-evaluation performed after 12 chiropractic adjustments showed a marked improvement in the thermal scans. The boy's mother reported that her son was having regular daily bowel movements and was no longer having any accidents. Because of his improvement, the boy was now enjoying outdoor activities for the first time in his life. He began playing sports such as soccer and enjoying a normal life.

In their conclusion the authors wrote, "This case reports on the successful resolution of symptoms of a child with chronic constipation and fecal incontinence through chiropractic care. Subluxations were detected and corrected to restore proper biomechanical and neurological function. This case contributes to an already existing body of case studies within the chiropractic literature."

Bedwetting helped with Chiropractic

2014-01-11T18:30:11+00:00

Bedwetting Helped with Chiropractic - A Case Study

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal and Family Health, published a study on Dec. 23, 2013, documenting the case of chiropractic helping with childhood nocturnal enuresis, more commonly referred to as bedwetting.

According to the study authors, "Nocturnal enuresis is defined as repeated voiding in clothing or bed that occurs in a child over the age of 5, and occurs at least 2 times per week for more than 3 months. Bedwetting is one of the most frequent problems seen in childhood, and affects roughly 10 percent of all children at the age of 7."

In this case, a 10-year-old boy was brought to the chiropractor with the complaint of neck pain. The issue of bedwetting was not mentioned when the child was brought in for chiropractic care, even though the problem was chronic in nature, and he was wetting his bed 2 to 3 times per week. The boy was also having diurnal enuresis, also known as daytime wetting, which the mother described as "leakage."

A chiropractic examination was performed including posture observation, palpation, functional leg length analysis, and spinal range of motion. Based on the examination, it was determined that the child had multiple vertebral subluxations that caused nerve system interference.

Chiropractic adjustments were begun for the correction of the boy's subluxations. On the second visit, the boy's mother mentioned the bedwetting and reported that her son only had one incident of bedwetting after the first adjustment. For various reasons, there was a break in the boy's care, during which time he had several episodes of bedwetting. Upon his return to chiropractic care, these episodes decreased and eventually discontinued. Over the next eight weeks of care, only one incident of bedwetting was reported, and no daytime wetting had occurred.

The study also recorded that after the boy's first adjustment, his neck was not hurting. At his third appointment, he stated that his neck was again hurting from sleeping wrong. After the adjustment on his third visit, he never mentioned any more trouble with neck pain.

In their conclusion, the authors sum up this case by stating, "The case report of a ten-year-old boy who is dealing with a history of nocturnal enuresis is presented. Chiropractic evaluation and care is presented with subluxations noted and adjusted. A decrease in severity and frequency of enuresis was noted. While more studies need to be performed, chiropractic care appears to be beneficial in the effects on nocturnal enuresis in children and adolescents."

Cardiovascular Disease and Chiropractic

2013-11-26T18:44:12+00:00

Cardiovascular Disease May Take a Dive With Chiropractic Care

Added by Danelle Cheney on November 24, 2013.
Saved under Danelle Cheney, Health, Heart Attack, Lina Bouc
Tags: cardiovascular disease

Most individuals believe that cardiovascular disease can only be mitigated through diet, exercise and keeping blood cholesterol and blood pressure in check, as well as getting a sound sleep and banning cigarettes. All of these disciplines are standard. Yet, studies have revealed that chiropractic care may have a more dominant impact on lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease than previously thought. It is exciting to read about studies showing that cardiovascular disease may take a dive with chiropractic care.

Can regular adjustments in the chiropractor’s office really help someone maintain cardiovascular wellness? Studies are indicating yes.

Minor dysfunctions in spinal alignment may be a significant factor in a number of disorders according to researchers. Such imbalances can aggravate a person’s nervous system and lead to a variety of different dysfunctions. According to Dr. Nate Blume, “The body’s homeostatic mechanism is thrown off.”

Blume helped direct a study that focused on two areas: the relation between blood pressure, and heart rates. Chiropractic research from other doctors have supported his findings.

One study conducted at a respected chiropractic college found that adjustments to patients helped lower average heart rates for those who had above average heart rates. The main reason thought to be the basis for this finding is that chiropractic care is therapeutic for the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, which can directly affect heart rate variability. Researchers have proposed that back pain, which chiropractic adjustments relieve, may have caused a raise in heart rates. Stress was probably another factor. Pain leads to higher stress, which in turn can cause an elevated heart rate. Thus, researchers have suggested that chiropractic intervention went right to the cause of the problem.

A related study investigated the connection between “systolic and diastolic blood pressure” and anxiety levels, and quantified the changes after subjects received chiropractic care. Results showed a lowering in not only blood pressure, but also anxiety, again boosting hope that cardiovascular disease may take a dive with chiropractic care.

In a more recent case study, a man at age 54 pursued chiropractic care and his lipid panel normalized following the recommended regime of the health program he followed. Only chiropractic care – not traditional care – was applied in his treatment. The man first came seeking care for dyslipidemia. He had a past history of myocardial infarction and angioplasty. His lipid panel showed abnormal levels of cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides. Additional complaints included emotional instability, constipation, and stiff muscles in his neck causing pain. He was stressed in his job and at home, and was suffering from depression.

The chiropractor evaluated him and found “vertebral subluxations” in three supporting spinal functions. As a result of ongoing chiropractic care, the man’s cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides had all improved and he reported an improvement in his emotional and cognitive functions. The authors are hoping to expand studies like these and quantify their results.

Dr. Matthew McCoy, published and conducted the above case study. He is both a chiropractor and public health researcher, and he stated that all of these findings make sense:

If you damage or compress or otherwise interfere with the neurological structures in the spine this can have far-reaching implications on the functioning of the body. We are finding that correcting the misalignments or abnormal motion associated with these spinal problems reduces the nerve interference.

McCoy explained that lowering nerve interference is the key to reducing problems related to cardiovascular disease, which is what the man in the case study experienced.

Regular procedures for patients with heart disease include a prescriptions for statins. This medication could cause potentially harmful side effects and does not necessarily extend the life span of a person.

Eric Zielinski, another author in the case study, said that the only real proven method in preventing cardiovascular disease is to instill healthy lifestyle habits:

Finding the cause of the cardiovascular disease and reducing those risks is a much better strategy.

Instead of limiting chiropractic care to injury therapy and prevention, it is important people learn how it can benefit their entire nervous system, which can have a powerful impact on cardiovascular health. All of these studies support the therapeutic and medical benefits of chiropractic care and propose that it may be a factor in making cardiovascular disease take a dive.

By Danelle Cheney

Infertility and Chiropractic

2013-11-12T23:11:26+00:00

Resolution of Infertility with Chiropractic Care

A case study published on October 31, 2013, in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health documented the case of a woman who was suffering from menstrual irregularities and infertility who was helped by chiropractic.

The authors of the study begin by noting that, "According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2002, there were 7.3 million American women between the ages of 15-44 who have impaired fecundity, equaling 11.8%." The authors define infertility as, "...a state of impaired fertility, or sub-fertility, defined as an inability to conceive after at least one year of unprotected intercourse." They note that current research shows that approximately 40-60% of the time, infertility is attributed to the female, while 30-40% of the time it is attributed to the male with 10-20% of cases being unexplained.

In this case, a 31-year-old woman went to the chiropractor with complaints of upper back and neck tension, migraine, and tension headaches and tingling in her left arm. She had first noticed these problems after the birth of her first son. The woman was also suffering from menstrual pain, heavy bleeding, and cycles frequently lasting two weeks in duration. Her problems were so severe, and causing difficulty with daily activities due to heavy bleeding, that she was forced to stay home one to two days a month. Additionally, she expressed concern because she and her husband had been infertile for a little over three years.

A chiropractic examination was performed that consisted of palpation of the spine, range of motion, thermal and sEMG scans, along with spinal x-rays. Postural abnormalities were noted, ranges of motion were impaired, and palpation showed areas of possible spinal problems. Additionally the sEMG and thermal scans showed problems relating to nerve system function. Between these findings and the spinal x-rays, it was determined that the woman had nerve system interference from multiple spinal subluxations.

Specific chiropractic adjustments were begun several times per week to correct the subluxations. The results in this case were immediate as the woman reported that her menstrual cycle, which was on day six, stopped after the first adjustment. This had not happened since the birth of her first son more than three years earlier. She also noted that her mid back pain had slightly decreased. Additionally, by the third visit she stated that her headaches had lessened and were resolved from that point forward. After 26 days and eight adjustments, the woman reported that she had become pregnant.

In their discussion, the authors report on the growing medical industry surrounding infertility. They also point out that infertility treatment is very expensive. They note that chiropractic may present a viable alternative to the medical approach to infertility. "There is a growing body of evidence that links the management of vertebral subluxation to the restoration of proper function within a woman’s reproductive system and therefore enhancing the ability to conceive."

Cross Fit injuries and Chiropractic

2013-11-07T19:55:39+00:00

Rise in Crossfit injuries a boon for chiropractors

November 6, 2013

Crossfit, the high-intensity power-training workout, has rocketed in popularity, but has also come under fire for its link to the potentially deadly kidney condition rhabdomyolysis.

During the past two years, chiropractors say they've seen an increase in Crossfit patients who are suffering overuse injuries.

"I've gone from never having heard of Crossfit to having a number of regular Crossfit clients," Dr. Robert Hayden said in an exclusive interview Nov. 6.

"From a business perspective, these folks make great patients because they're recurring customers."

Dr. Hayden, a Georgia-based chiropractor who's a rep for the American Chiropractic Association, said his colleagues have also experienced an influx of Crossfit patients.

Physical therapists have noticed a similar trend. Eric Robertson, an assistant professor at Regis University, said he and his colleagues have come across more Crossfit patients in their physical-therapy practices during the past year.

There's no doubt Crossfit can be an excellent workout, as long as there's proper supervision and it's not taken to an extreme.

Dr. Hayden said he's impressed with the athletic conditioning of some of his Crossfit clients, but is concerned about their stress injuries.

Many of them have insanely chiseled muscles. The muscle tone and development on these patients is tremendous, and their aerobic capacity is outstanding. Unfortunately, along with that is a lot of wear and tear on the muscles and the skeleton."

Hayden said the most common overuse injuries he has observed are tendonitis, muscle strain, flat-foot injuries, skeletal misalignment, and sore joints.

In his opinion, some of the injuries could be avoided or minimized with proper technique during workouts (which requires proper supervision by trainers), adequate sleep, and lots of stretching.

"Doing these types of strenuous workouts without proper stretching or flexibility training is an injury waiting to happen," he said.

And injuries have happened. In 2008, a Virginia jury awarded $300,000 to former U.S. Navy technician Makimba Mimms for injuries he sustained during a Crossfit workout in 2005.

Mimms was allegedly hospitalized for a week, urinated blood, suffered rhabdomyolysis and swollen legs after being poorly supervised during his workout by a gym employee who was not certified.

Mimms testified that rhabdo was diagnosed after his 2005 workout, which consisted of 90 repetitions of lower-body exercises. He said he was never told to rest, stop for water or slow down by a ruthless employee who oversaw the routine but was not a certified trainer."

Mimms, now 34, said he's permanently disabled as a result. Crossfit responded to the lawsuit by sarcastically renaming the WOD (Workout of the Day) that injured Mimms the "Makimba" and recategorizing it as a children's workout.

Crossfit headquarters has typically reacted to the injury issue by saying critics are suggesting that people should lie on the couch, not exercise, and get fat (as if the only alternative to Crossfit is couch-surfing). Or they take aim at critics through petty verbal attacks and lame threats on Twitter.

Interestingly, Rich Froning, the three-time winner of the annual Crossfit Games, recently revealed he's considering retirement. At the ripe old age of 26.

Meanwhile, Crossfit founder Greg Glassman has openly boasted that WODs "are designed to exceed the capacities of the world’s fittest athletes." He admitted the rigorous workouts can cause serious injury or even death.

"If you find the notion of falling off the rings and breaking your neck so foreign to you, then we don't want you in our ranks," Glassman, 56, told the New York Times. "[Crossfit] can kill you. I've always been completely honest about that."

Treating Shoulder Pain and Dorsalgia of Myofascial Origin

2013-09-30T22:30:32+00:00

By Guy Hains, DC

Shoulder pain is a common musculoskeletal complaint, with nearly 50 percent of the population suffering at least one episode annually. Upper extremity pain and injury account for 8.6 percent of the chief complaint among chiropractic patients. Recent data indicates that trigger points are treated by 91 percent of chiropractors, and ischemic compression of trigger points is one of the most popular treatment methods used by chiropractors to treat myofascial pain.

Recent Research

In a randomized clinical trial conducted by the present author,3 59 patients suffering from chronic tendinitis (average duration: four-and-a-half years) each received 15 treatments of ischemic compression therapy on trigger points(TrPs) localized mostly at the deltoid muscle, the supraspinatus muscle, the acromion process, the coracoid apophysis and the subscapularis muscle. Then they completed two standard questionnaires.

After 15 treatments, the experimental group (41 patients) reported 62 percent amelioration on the Spadi questionnaire versus 18 percent for the control group (18 patients). The control group also had received 15 treatments of ischemic compression therapy, but on trigger points located on cervical and upper dorsal muscles.

A second questionnaire was used to assess patients' perceived amelioration using a scale from 0-100 percent. Results showed 75 percent amelioration for the experimental group versus 29 percent for the control group. Six months later, perceived amelioration was 66 percent for the experimental group; 85 percent reported an evident amelioration within the first six treatments.

Patients in the experimental group were treated exclusively by ischemic compression (eight seconds of pressure, one thumb on the other) on the trigger points located on the ligaments, tendons and muscles of the symptomatic shoulder. Trigger points are pressure-sensitive, palpable nodules that reproduce the chief complaint.4

When a thumb pressure is applied on the trigger point, the patient recognizes the produced pain as an important source of their problem. Because of that hyper-irritability, the chiropractor has to be very careful at the beginning of treatment. Pressure should be gradually augmented to the patient's tolerance level and kept without moving until the end of the eight seconds. That treatment is repeated on each trigger point at each visit until their complete elimination.

Treatment Protocol

1.With the patient in pronation, the hand of the symptomatic shoulder is placed on the back of the patient's head. To keep their shoulder completely relaxed, the therapist's thigh holds the patient's arm in place. The supraspinatus muscle (at the back of the clavicle), the deltoid muscle (anterior, posterior and lateral) and the infraspinatus muscle must be examined attentively for the presence of trigger points.

2.Next, with the patient supine, arm stretched along their body, apply firm pressure to the acromion process and at the coracoid apophysis to find the trigger points, if present. Examination of the axilla is also done with the patient supine, hand under their head.

In around 10 percent of cases, I find trigger points in the armpits, which have a relation with shoulder pain. The TrPs are treated at each visit until their complete elimination.

Other Variables to Consider

Often the patient has a diagnosis of partial or complete tear of the rotator cuff. This could appear to be an important cause of the shoulder problem, but a trial by Sher5 showed that after 60 years of age, 26 percent of subjects had a partial tear and 28 percent had a complete tear (a hole all through the rotator cuff) without symptoms.

Research by Welfing6 showed that in 925 symptomatic patients, 6.5 percent had a calcium deposit. In 200 others, asymptomatic this time, there was a deposit in 7 percent. In another study,7 the authors concluded that the relationship between calcium deposits and shoulder pain is unclear.

Imaging such as radiography, arthrography, computed tomographic scanning, and magnetic resonance imaging should be reserved for difficult cases in which the diagnosis is insufficiently clear and conservative measures have not been successful.8

In a group of 349 patient with shoulder pain treated by 11 general practitioners, surgery was performed on four patients only in the following year.9

The natural history of shoulder pain is frequently considered self-limiting. However, a three-year follow-up report found that 54 percent of patients had persistent pain, whereas 90 percent had chronic disability.10 In a systematic review of 31 clinical trials, conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of various therapeutic interventions for shoulder pain, only subacromial cortisone injections were found to be more effective than placebo to increase abduction.11 There are no randomized clinical trials of surgical interventions for shoulder pain.11

The complex anatomical and functional structure of the shoulder joint often complicates diagnosis and clinical management of the shoulder lesion. This has resulted in much confusion and a lack of consensus regarding the classification and diagnosis criteria of shoulder disorders.1,9,11

In my experience, if the patient can raise laterally (abduct) the symptomatic arm above their head, we talk of tendinitis. If the pain is sharp at any movement and has been there for a week or so, we talk normally of bursitis. Most of the time in the latter case, the pain will go away by itself within a week. If the pain is sharp at any movement, and has been there for months, we talk of capsulitis. The first cause of most chronic shoulder pain is the presence of trigger points. Even the worst cases can be treated by ischemic compression therapy.

In these cases, the patient kneels perpendicular to the table, forehead on the asymptomatic arm. The hand of the painful arm is then put on the back of the patient's head. The practitioner holds the arm in place with their thigh, and can then treat the trigger points localized in the deltoid and the supraspinatus muscles.

In a small percentage of shoulder pain, the cause may be partly vertebrogenic. An examination of the neck, flexion and rotation, will cause a neurological irradiation to the shoulder.

If there are many trigger points to treat, three- to four-second pressure should be used, instead of the height habitually used on each TrP, because there is a limit to which a patient can support pain. The patient will be happy to feel that you are treating the good places, but we have to be very attentive to their reaction and inquire, particularly at the beginning of treatment, if the pain is bearable.

In very chronic cases, 15 to 20 visits may be necessary. Ideally, the treatments should be repeated until there are no more trigger points.

Trigger Points and Dorsalgia

Dorsalgia is present in 11.5 percent of patients who see a chiropractor.12 The following technique, which can replace or be added to the vertebral adjustment, is very efficacious and can be used with patients of any age.

With the patient prone, firm pressure with the thumbs (one on the other) is applied on the lateral aspect of the spinous processes at a 45-degree angle with the chiropractor perpendicular to the patient. When that pressure causes pain, the hyper-irritable vertebrae should be treated. This examination must be delicate because the spinous processes of the involved area may be very sensitive. The most important region to be examined is the one pinpointed by the patient.

Treatment is like the examination, except in the final eight seconds, without moving, 2-3 vertebrae may be treated at the same time. The pressure has to be painful, but bearable, at the patient's tolerance. The more vertebrae involved, the less time the pressure should be applied (2-3 seconds), because there is a limit to how much pain can be endured at each visit.

Normally there is an evident amelioration within 5-6 treatments. The patient will recognize the pain provoked by the pressure as an important source of their problem and will be ready to follow the necessary treatments in order to get rid of the irritation.

TrPs may also be located at the level of the transverse processes, the rhomboid muscle, the upper crest of the scapula, and the supraspinatus muscle located behind the clavicle, and are best reached with the patient's hand behind their head.

Keep in mind that the infraspinatus muscle is very tense in most chronic dorsalgias. The best way to treat this muscle is with the patient prone, arm on the involved side folded and kept close to the body by the thigh of the practitioner. Thumbtip pressure is applied from lateral to medial on the lateral aspect of the scapula. This is often very painful, but the TrP in the infraspinatus has to be dealt with in order to get rid of the dorsal problem.

If all the involved areas are treated, amelioration is often felt at the first few treatments, but all irritations should be eliminated.

Strengthening the Dorsal Muscles

Many patients with chronic dorsal problems overwork, or their work is repetitive and lasts too long for their musculature. It is possible to strengthen the dorsal muscles considerably with simple exercises. The following exercises can be prescribed to all patients who want to at least double the strength of their dorsal muscles.

1.With the patient standing and holding dumbbells (1 kg for women; 2 kgs for men), they cross their arms horizontally and stretch backward as far as possible. This exercise is repeated until the patient starts to experience fatigue.

2.The second exercise is done with the same dumbbells, but this time, the patient should stretch out their arms, making an arc forward from upward (over the head) to downward as far back as possible. This exercise is repeated until the patient fatigues.

Normally, these two exercises are repeated once a day at the beginning, 10 to 15 repetitions at the maximum. The aim should be at least 50 repetitions daily, which can take a few months. The patient's dorsal region will then be much stronger, and the weight used can be increased if desired. In my experience, these strength gains will persist, at least to some extent, 2-3 years later – even if the patient stops doing the exercises after reaching their goal.

References
1.Brox JL. Shoulder pain. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol, 2003;1:33-56,
2.Christensen MG, Kollasch MW, Ward DA. Job Analysis of Chiropractic. National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, 2005, p. 98.
3.Hains G, Descarreaux M,Hains F. Chronic shoulder pain of myofascial origin. J Manipulative Physiol Ther, 2010;33:362-69.
4.Borg-Stein J, Stein J. Trigger points and tender points. Rheum Dis Clin North Am, 1996;22:305-23.
5.Sher JS, Uribe JW, Posada A et al. Abnormal findings on magnetic resonance images of asymptomatic shoulder. J Bone Joint Surg (U.S.), 1995;77A:19-15.
6.Welfling J, Kahn MF, Desroy M et al. Les calcification de l'epaule. Revue Rhumatisme, 1965;32:325-34.
7.Wang CJ, Ko JY, Chen HS. Treatment of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder wuth shoc wave therapy. Clinical Orthop, 2001;387: 83-89.
8.Daigneault J, Cooney LM. Shoulder pain in older people. J Am Geriatr Soc, 1998;46:1144-51.
9.Van der Windt DA, Koes BW, de Jong BA et al. Shoulder disorders in general practice: prognostic indicators of outcome. Br J Gen Pract, 1996;46:519-23.
10.Macfarlane GJ, Hunt IM, Silman AJ. Predictors of chronic shoulder pain: a population base prospective study. J Rheumatol, 1998;1612-15.
11.Green S, Buchbinder R, Glasier R, et al. Systematic review of randomized control trials of interventions for painful shoulder: selection criteria, outcome assessment, and efficacy. BMJ, 1998;316:354-60(12).
12.Christensen MG, et al., Op Cit, p. 75.

Hip Pain Treated Through Chiropractic

2013-03-30T00:52:52+00:00

Pain in the hip can come directly from the hip joint itself or it may be experienced in the hip joint as a referred pain from a problem somewhere else. Referred pain is pain that travels along a nerve that comes from the back. The referred sensation of pain is felt in an area where the nerve travels or ends, but not necessarily from the point of the back where the nerve is being pinched. On the other hand, pain that comes directly from the hip joint can be from inflammation due to injury (Sprains, strains, and fractures), arthritis, infection, or in rarer cases, malignancy (cancer.)

One example of referred hip pain is a pinched nerve at the level between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae. Pinching of this nerve commonly causes referred pain into the hip. The hip joint will ache or burn or may even experience sharp pain; however, the joint itself should not be overly tender to touch or swollen. Because the pain signal originates in the back, bending the spine to one side may relieve the pain while bending the spine to place more pressure on the nerve may worsen it.

True hip pain (pain from the hip joint itself) can be caused from an acute (usually accident related) or a chronic (usually arthritis related) condition. The treatment goal for an acute hip injury is first to control and reduce the swelling. After the swelling is controlled, the next phase is to help restore the mobility and return the proper function of the hip joint and leg. The goal of treatment of a chronic hip condition is to try and determine what caused the hip joint to become symptomatic, relieve or eliminate that cause, and rehabilitate the hip joint.

A Doctor of Chiropractic has the training and equipment needed to help determine if your hip pain is coming from a pinched nerve in your spine or directly from the hip joint, itself. For more information on referred pain caused by pinched nerves, please see this article: About Pinched Nerves

Acute hip injuries can be initially difficult to treat as the actual hip joint resides a few inches beneath the level of the skin. This makes it difficult to ice the area well enough to control swelling. Care must be taken not to extend the use of ice past twenty minutes to avoid the consequences of ice injury (frostbite.) Proper elevation of the area (elevating the joint above the level of the heart) is also a bit of a challenge. For instance, the use of a recliner is usually ineffective since a recliner will not allow the hip to be elevated above heart level. A better choice for elevation is bed rest by lying on the opposite of the hip injury.

Passive hip range of motion can also be very beneficial to reduce swelling. The application of passive motion is only to be done with an appropriate device or administered by a trained professional. Ask your chiropractor about the use of passive motion to help reduce swelling.

Chronic hip pain requires proper history, examination, and diagnosis to determine a course of treatment. A chiropractor can perform these procedures and will recommend a suitable treatment program for your condition. Your chiropractor may also outline goals and recommend changes in lifestyle to help reduce the chances of a re-injury and to better manage your present complaint.

Adjustive procedures can be made to a hip joint and other therapies such as short-wave diathermy and microwave (two methods to deliver moist heat into deep tissue, and massage can be used to help improve the hip joint. Stretching and exercises can also be added at the appropriate time to protect against future re-injury. Nutritional supplements may also be recommended. For instances, a proper uptake of calcium needs to be obtained by many senior citizens, especially women. Several spontaneous hip fractures could be avoided if bone density checks were checked during routine examines in the forth or fifth decade of life.

Hip problems whether acute or chronic can both benefit from supportive care. Proper exercise, stretching, nutrition, and support can all aid in your recovery and enhance your functionality. The goal is to stay active but not create pain in the joint. Pain generally goes hand in hand with swelling and swelling leads to bone loss in the joint (osteoporosis) create calcium deposits around the tendons and joint (tendonitis and arthritis) and reduces mobility. Your chiropractor will work with you with a number of recommendations to help you maintain mobility while minimizing joint irritation.

Chiropractor In Mission Viejo Recommends Ankle Exercises

2013-03-04T16:53:56+00:00

Recommended Ankle Exercises

March 3, 2013by editor Leave a Comment

Here is a simple exercise that you can do at home with no equipment.
It works the peroneus longus/brevis, tibialis anterior, tibialis posterior, gastrocnemius, soleus muscles.
The purpose of this exercise is to improve muscular endurance, ankle strength, and proprioception.
By doing this exercise you can have the benefits of Improved stability, functional strength and injury prevention.

Begin seated in a chair with good posture.
Extend leg.
Attempt to write alphabet from A through Z with toes, moving ankle in all directions.
Repeat for prescribed sets.

Neck Pain and Proper Spinal Curvitures

2013-03-04T16:48:30+00:00

Is it hard to look over your shoulder? Is there a constant pulling or throbing pain in your neck? Do you notice a “grinding” sound as you turn your head? Contact a Doctor of Chiropractic for a thorough history and examination.

Your neck has to balance and support the equivalent of a 10-13lb. bowling ball!

A popular response to neck pain is taking drugs to cover up the problem (asprin, analgesics, pain pills) or treating its symptoms (muscle relaxers, massage, hot packs).

But neck pain isn’t caused by lack of asprin or drugs!

The chiropractic approach to neck pain is to locate its underlying cause. This begins with a complete case history and thorough examination. Special attention is given to the structure and function of the spine, and its affect on the nervous system.

Many patients with neck pain have lost the normal forward curve in the neck. This can affect the brain stem and spinal cord

Is the proper spinal curve present? Are the nerve openings between each pair of spinal bones free and clear? Is the head balanced? Are the shoulders level? These and other considerations are used to create a plan of specific chiropractic adjustments to help improve the motion and position of spinal vertebrae.

With improved structure and function, neck pain often diminishes or totally disappears– without addictive drugs or harmful side effects!

While a massage feels good, it doesn’t address the underlying structural problems often associated with neck pain.

One study, published in the Journal of Manipulatice and Physiological Therapeutics found that patiuents who received chiropractic care reported significant improvement in their neck function and reduction in their neck pain wheras those taking pain-killers did not.

Dizziness and Chiropractic

2013-01-10T17:10:09+00:00

Study Shows Neck Pain and Dizziness Helped with Chiropractic

A study published in the January 7, 2013 issue of the journal Chiropractic & Manual Therapies shows that people with neck pain and those with both neck pain and associated dizziness respond equally as well to chiropractic care. The study was designed to see if the added factor of dizziness created a change in the response to chiropractic care.

In this study the authors describe the reason for the study by stating, "The symptom dizziness is common in patients with chronic whiplash related disorders. However, little is known about dizziness in neck pain patients who have not suffered whiplash." The authors also wanted to look at any gender differences with the patients in this study to see if gender played a part in the outcome of care.

The study was done with the cooperation of the Swiss Association for Chiropractic. The study notes that consecutive new patients over the age of 18 with neck pain of any duration who had not undergone chiropractic or manual therapy in the prior 3 months were recruited from 81 different chiropractor's offices who were members of the Swiss Association for Chiropractic. A total of 405 patients in Switzerland, who suffered with neck pain and who had consented to be part of the Chiropractic Outcome Study were included.

Researchers conducted telephone interviews at 1, 3 and 6 months after the initiation of chiropractic care to document the patients' progress. A seven point scale ranging from ‘much better’, ‘better’, slightly better’, no change’, slightly worse’, ‘worse,’ and ‘much worse’ was used to track the results. From the total number of patients, 177 (44%) reported neck pain with related dizziness while 228 reported that they had neck pain without dizziness. A significantly larger number of the patients with dizziness were women. As expected the patients with dizziness suffered more severe pain as well as other complaints.

The study results showed that after only the first month of care 72% of the patients with neck pain and dizziness showed improvement in their neck pain, while 73% of those with only neck pain had improved. Additionally, half (50%) of those with dizziness showed improvement in their dizziness in this same one month time frame.

After 3 months of care 81% of all patients, with neck pain only or with dizziness, showed improvement in both the neck pain and their dizziness. After six months the results remained almost the same being within 2 percentage points for any of the groups and all of the complaints.

In their conclusion the authors wrote, "Although neck pain patients with dizziness undergoing chiropractic treatment reported significantly higher pain and disability scores at baseline (beginning of study) compared to neck pain patients without dizziness, there were no significant differences in any outcome measures between the two groups at 6 months after start of treatment." In other words, the participants in this study all got good results regardless of the presence or lack of dizziness with their neck pain.

Chronic Fatigue and Chiropractic

2013-01-10T16:28:40+00:00

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients Helped with Chiropractic

The Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research published the results of a study on December 11, 2012 showing chiropractic improving the quality of life of a patient suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Chronic fatigue syndrome refers to severe, continued tiredness that is not relieved by rest and is not directly caused by other medical conditions."

The authors of the study note that medical treatment for CFS is only centered on the alleviation of symptoms while attempting to improve a patient’s quality of life. They also note that since there are no clear indicators or tests for CFS, the diagnosis of CFS is confirmed by ruling out other conditions with the continued presence of the symptoms.

In this study 20 people with CFS were selected to participate. Each was given a chiropractic examination and x-rays. One subject was disqualified due to having a metal plate in her head. Of the 19 remaining subjects 15 were female and 5 were male, with their ages ranging from 18 to 65 years.

The measurement of quality of life for the subjects was accomplished using the SF 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36), a standard health questionnaire form with 36 questions used to measure these types of issues and the quality of a persons life related to their health issues. These forms were filled out by participants before care was initiated and then again at the conclusion of the study 6 months later.

Specific chiropractic care was rendered for subluxation of the top vertebrae in the neck, the atlas. The subjects initial SF 36 scores were then compared to the scores of the SF 36 after 6 months and the chiropractic care.

The results showed that the SF 36 scores increased significantly for the test subjects. The General Health component increased from a score of 30.3 prior to chiropractic care to 55.6 after the care. Additionally, the Mental Health scores of the SF 36, rose from 46.4 before chiropractic to 68.6 after care. The results of these measurements showed that there was a dramatic quality of life improvement as measured by the SF 36 test.

The authors noted that the improvement noticed with the subjects continued to show improvement. They commented, "Unlike treatment approaches for some chronic illnesses, where measurable changes recorded immediately after an intervention dwindle or vanish over time, our subjects’ SF-36 scores continued to improve compared to baseline; appreciably at three months, and substantially at six months."

Sensory Processing Disorder and Chiropractic

2012-12-14T16:35:36+00:00

Sensory Processing Disorder Helped with Chiropractic

The case of a 3-year-old boy with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) was documented in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal, & Family Health on Nov. 8, 2012.

A 3-year-old boy was brought to a chiropractor by his mother after the boy had been diagnosed with sensory processing disorder, as well as possible Einstein syndrome which indicates an extreme intelligence coupled with delayed speech.

Sensory processing disorder is a neurodevelopment disorder in which the person has problems processing sensory information. Normal touch, sound, and movement can cause extreme stress, and the 3-year-old boy’s symptoms included head banging, lack of pain response, hiding under the crib or in a corner, rubbing himself against the wall, and chewing holes in his clothes.

The child's development was mildly delayed, and the childcare provider discussed a possible diagnosis of autism with the mother when the child was 16 months old. At 24 months, the child had a MMR vaccination and had a severe reaction. He developed a fever, total body rash, swollen glands, and pock marks.

A chiropractic examination was performed and subluxations were detected by asymmetries in the head and neck regions, as well as shoulder level, foot/leg level, and other indicators of subluxation. A care plan was created and initiated with specific chiropractic adjustments for the child’s subluxations at a rate of two adjustments weekly.

The child’s improvement with touch and vibration, social skills, and gross motor skills were noted in the initial phase of care when he began to receive specific chiropractic adjustments. During this time, the child’s language skills improved immensely. “Meltdowns” were still present, as well as teeth grinding, but were reduced in frequency and intensity.

Continued chiropractic care resulted in improvements in communication with the child stating opinions for the first time, as well as showing signs of increasing imagination, affection, engagement, and attention span. The child is sleeping better, and his gross and fine motor skills have improved.

The parents see great improvement in their son as a result of chiropractic care and adjustments. The 3-year-old boy is continuing under chiropractic care with the expectation of increased improvement and a lessening of symptoms of SPD.

Prescription Overkill

2012-12-14T16:33:44+00:00

Prescription Overkill

The Los Angeles Times published a story titled “Legal drugs, deadly outcomes” on Nov. 11, 2012 about deaths from prescription drugs.

When people think of deaths due to drug overdose, probably heroin and cocaine as the cause comes to mind before the prescription drugs in the medicine cabinet. An investigation of coroner’s records by the L.A. Times revealed that prescription drugs prescribed by a few doctors were at the root of many drug overdoses.

The L.A. Times investigation revealed that Van H. Vu,M.D., was the doctor responsible for prescribing drugs that were used in the deaths of six people due to drug overdose in a time period of 18 months. Ten more of Vu’s patients died from overdoses in the next four years.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2.7 percent of Americans use psychotherapeutic drugs for non-medical reasons with pain relievers being the number one abused prescription drugs with 5.1 million American using the drugs non-medically.

Twelve thousand people died from prescription drug overdose in 2008, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Cocaine deaths were numbered at 4,000 people, and heroin deaths were numbered at approximately 2,000 people. Both numbers are significantly less than the total of prescription drug overdose deaths.

Prescription drugs are obtained by teenagers helping themselves to drugs prescribed for their parents. The most common of these prescribed drugs are Oxycontin, Vicodin, and Xanax. Teens take the drugs for themselves and they also sell them to students at their schools. Pharmacies are threatened with drug robberies to obtain the prescription drugs.

The L.A. Times investigation revealed that prescription drugs caused or contributed to 1,762 deaths in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, and San Diego counties between 2006 and 2011. A small number of doctors were found to be associated with the drug prescriptions. Each of the doctors had prescribed drugs to three or more of the people who died. Vu prescribed the drugs for sixteen of the people who died.

"The data you have is something that's going to shock everybody," said Dr. Jorge F. Carreon, a former member of the Medical Board of California.

Only four of the doctors associated with this investigation have been convicted of drug offenses, and a fifth has been charged with second-degree murder due to the prescription drug overdoses of three patients. All other doctors, including Vu, have not been charged.

According to the L.A. Times article, doctors write around 300 million prescriptions a year for painkillers. This amount could allow every adult in America to be medicated 24 hours a day for a month. Pain relievers cause 3 out of 4 prescription drug overdoses. Additionally, for every death, 32 people go to the emergency room for non-fatal drug overdoses.

Many doctors don’t acknowledge the ease with which patients can become addicted to prescription drugs, or the dangers involved with prescription drug use, according to Dr. Lynn Webster, the president-elect of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. "It leads them down a path that can be very harmful, and that's what physicians have to watch for," said Webster

Pregnancy and Low Back Pain

2012-12-14T16:32:20+00:00

Pregnant Women with Low Back Pain Helped by Chiropractic

A qualitative study of pregnant women with low back pain, and their chiropractors was published on Oct. 9, 2012 in Chiropractic & Manual Therapies with the title of "The treatment experience of patients with lowback pain during pregnancy and their chiropractors: A qualitative study".

The pregnant women, all in their second or third trimester and suffering with low back pain, were interviewed by the study’s authors to investigate their feelings about the experience of chiropractic care during their pregnancy. Anonymity and confidentiality of the study’s respondents were protected by assigning a number to each respondent.

Low back pain is a common symptom during pregnancy. Between 50 to 80 percent of pregnant women report low back pain during pregnancy because of hormonal, postural, and structural adjustments to the body. Chiropractic care for low back pain during pregnancy is safe and effective according to previously published studies and reviews.

Positive results with no adverse effects were experienced by all the pregnant women in the study. A reduction in low back pain, increase in range of motion, and better function were some of the reported experiences.

“It really allowed me to function. I could barely walk before or stand, the pain was intense, but after I went to the chiropractor I found I could function day to day, I could walk from the bus stop to work, I could do these things, so that was pretty significant. It’s just helping me function. It’s just teaching me how to pick up my daughter so I don’t hurt myself. To still function, to still play with my daughter and be able to go to the grocery store and do all these things without really hurting myself. As well as it allows me to sleep at night,” said patient number 05.

In addition to the reduction or elimination of lower back pain, some of the pregnant women reported that chiropractic care increased their overall quality of life, and increased mobility.

“I can walk longer periods of time. So that’s excellent. I can go standing for four to five hours. Because prior to that I’d be standing 40 minutes to do the dishes and I’d be in agony. Even the basic things, like picking things up off the floor, you’d get stuck in that position, I haven’t experienced that yet [in this pregnancy]. Or just sitting for long periods of time, because I do work an office job from home, so I do sit long periods of time. I know for most people [they] have to get up and stretch for a couple minutes, even in doing that I’ve been doing okay,” said patient number 01.

Some respondents had sought chiropractic care for previous pregnancies due to low back pain, and continued with chiropractic care for later pregnancies because of positive results.

Pregnant patient number 11 said, “It worked so well the first time, I’d even come away from the appointment feeling better. It was almost an immediate fix. So because of my positive experience the first time, there was no question that I was going to use chiropractic care for the second pregnancy.”

The study results conclude that chiropractic care for pregnant women suffering from low back pain is effective for pain relief, increased range of motion, increased mobility, and overall better quality of life. “I think after the treatment, it was decreased pain and increased sense of mobility, increased range of motion and decreased sense of frustration and grumpiness,” said patient number 06.

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Colic Baby helped with Chiropractic

2012-12-14T16:26:14+00:00

Baby with Colic Helped with Chiropractic

A baby with colic who was helped by chiropractic was the focus of a study published in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal, & Family Health on Nov. 28, 2012.

Colic in babies has classic symptoms of crying for more than 3 hours a day, usually at the same time each day, and for at least 3 days a week. Infants may have a hard abdomen, burp and pass gas a lot, spit up frequently after eating, and cry while pulling their legs up and making tight fists. The crying sounds as if the baby is in pain.

Colic is distressing not only to the baby, but also to the mother and father who witness the suffering of their baby, and are frustrated by their inability to help the baby.

In this case an 8-week-old baby girl was brought into a chiropractic clinic with the classic signs of colic. The mother said that the baby cried constantly for up to 5 hours, and that the baby’s face showed pain when making a bowel movement. The baby also had diarrhea, and would scream and cry during these episodes.

A chiropractic examination of the baby was performed using static, motion, and muscle palpation. Subluxations were found in the atlas and T11, as well as observations of subluxation in other areas of the infant’s spine.

Specific chiropractic adjustments were begun with “…light impulse finger adjustments.” The adjustments were made to C1 (atlas) and T11. The care plan included two visits weekly for four weeks.

Immediate improvement was observed after the initial adjustment, and the colic symptoms disappeared after eight adjustments over four weeks. The parents of the baby reported, “after her first visit, she slept the entire night. She did not have the crying spells and we reduced the medication to once per day." After two weeks of chiropractic care the parents further noted, “she (the baby) no longer takes her medication daily. She is now a happy baby. She eats, sleeps and has regular bowel movements with no pain. For the first time since she was born, she slept through the night.” .

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Breech Pregnancy helped with Chiropractic Care

2012-12-14T16:25:00+00:00

Breech Pregnancy Corrected with Chiropractic

A case study of a pregnant woman, whose fetus presented breech and was successfully turned with chiropractic care, was published in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health on December 4, 2012. The title of the case study was, Resolution of breech presentation after application of Webster Technique in a 35-year-old female: A case study.

The 35-year-old pregnant woman was in the 30th week of her pregnancy. The woman’s doula (a labor coach or midwife) established that the fetus was in breech position. The woman was in good health and had been receiving chiropractic care for headaches and low back pain with good results for the previous two years. This was the woman’s second pregnancy, with her first child delivered vaginally.

Previous studies have determined that breech presentations occur in 3 to 4 percent of all pregnancies, with the often resulting decision to birth by cesarean section rather than vaginally for the safety of mother and baby. Breech presentations often turn after the 35th week of pregnancy, but 87 percent of breech pregnancies are delivered by caesarian section.

Though safety is argued as the case for a caesarian section, the rate of morbidity was 3.6 percent in a study of 2,088 women birthing with caesarian section. Fetal morbidity can also result from caesarian section with reports of fetal heart-rate abnormalities, spinal cord injuries, skull fractures, long bone fractures, genital injury, and respiratory problems.

A chiropractic examination was performed, and postural abnormalities were found, as well as a decrease of lateral flexion of 5 degrees, and lumbar range of motion significantly decreased due to the pregnancy. Motion palpation found several spinal misalignments, and EMG scans and thermography correlated the determination that spinal subluxations were present in the patient.

Chiropractic care began for the woman using Webster’s Technique—a technique that uses sacrum adjustments and trigger point release in the abdomen area to reestablish pelvic function which can allow the fetus to turn to the desired head-down birth position. After four adjustments in four weeks using Webster’s Technique, the fetus turned from the breech position to the normal birth position.

A healthy female baby was delivered vaginally by the mother at a home birth. The use of the Chiropractic Webster’s Technique resolved a breech presentation, and a possible caesarean section into a normal, natural and healthy birthing experience.

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Cancer Centers include Chiropractic Care

2012-12-14T16:17:24+00:00

Cancer Treatment Centers of America Include Chiropractic

"Foundation for Chiropractic Progress applauds Cancer Treatment Centers of America for their patient care model," is the headline from the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress's news release on Nov. 5, 2012, in Carmichael, Calif. The Cancer Treatment Centers of America opened CTCA in the Southeastern Regional Medical Center in Newnan, Ga. and is now offering chiropractic services by licensed chiropractors to all patients.

The CTCA is a national network of hospitals that offers a complete and comprehensive method for treatment of complex and advanced staged cancer for its patients. The CTCA is now at Southeastern Regional Medical Center, as well as four other hospitals in Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tulsa.

The chiropractic services are part of the Patient Empowered Care model in the CTCA where each member of a team of health professionals visits each patient in the comprehensive, integrated treatment plan. James Rosenberg, D.C., national director of chiropractic care at CTCA at Midwestern Regional Medical Center, and the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, credits chiropractic care with positive patient results through increased utilization in the CTCA.

“Overall patient health improves with the noninvasive, non-drug approach of chiropractic care,” said Dr. Rosenberg. “Doctors of chiropractic are able to reduce stress to the nervous system by providing conservative care to musculoskeletal dysfunctions, which helps to improve the patient’s healing ability and functionality.”

Cancer, and the treatment for cancer like chemotherapy and radiation therapy, inflicts stress on the neuromusculoskeletal systems of cancer patients according to Dr. Rosenberg. Chiropractic care improves the quality of life for cancer patients, and provides positive patient outcomes. Demand is so high for chiropractic at CTCA that all chiropractors have a patient waiting list for their chiropractic services.

“Chiropractic care at CTCA is an important piece to the integrated healthcare approach by providing patients with an evidence-based, low risk approach to care,” said Dr. Rosenberg. “A steadfast commitment to excellence continues to fuel the demand for our services.”

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Infertility helped with Chiropractic

2012-11-14T16:21:34+00:00

Infertility Helped with Chiropractic Care

A case study published in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health on October 22, 2012, documents the case of a woman who was unable to conceive, who became pregnant shortly after starting chiropractic care. The study also reviews additional documentation on other cases and studies regarding infertility and chiropractic.

According to the study author, "Infertility is defined as the failure to achieve a pregnancy within one year of regular unprotected intercourse." Estimates are that nationwide infertility affects between 6 to 7.3 million women. The author also notes that infertility rises with age. Eleven percent of women ages 15-29 experience a one-year infertility period, and this number rises to 23 percent of women ages 35-39 who cannot become pregnant after a year.

In this case, a 29-year-old woman went to the chiropractor with the primary complaints of lower back pain and left leg pain radiating down to her foot. Her history also revealed that she was a former athlete. Her menstrual cycles were abnormal being 40-60 days in length. The woman was not on birth control and she and her husband had unsuccessfully been trying to have a child for eight years.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included a spinal analysis, thermographic studies, and x-rays. From the results of the examination, it was determined that the woman had multiple vertebral subluxations. A specific course of chiropractic adjusting was initiated for correction of the subluxations.

The results showed that after the first visit the woman's back pain was significantly reduced and her ability to move was greatly improved. Care was continued and the woman continued to show progress with her initial pain issues.

It was noted that 4 weeks after her chiropractic care began, the woman tested positive with an early pregnancy test. She went to her obstetrician the following week, who confirmed that she had become pregnant.

The authors of this study also conducted a literature review for other studies of chiropractic helping women with fertility issues such as the one they had documented in this case. The search revealed 13 additional studies documenting cases of women between the ages of 22 and 37 who were infertile prior to beginning chiropractic care, and then became pregnant and had successful births due to receiving chiropractic.

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Acupuncture

2012-11-06T18:45:55+00:00

For people who deal with chronic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia, they will do just about anything to ease their pain. Sometimes, medications, procedures, and injections don’t offer enough pain relief for what plagues them daily. Patients can sometimes turn to alternative methods, such as herbal supplements, to help control what medical science has failed to relieve. Some of these patients opt for acupuncture in the hopes that it will finally relieve the pain.

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to cure everything from chronic back pain to the common cold. A great deal of research has been done on whether acupuncture is actually effective in treating any of these conditions. It is expensive, not often covered by insurance, and has a spotty track record when rigorously studied. If you are considering pursuing acupuncture for your pain, you should examine whether the benefits are worth the added expense.

What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is based on the idea that all people have an inner river of qi, or life force, which flows through them. When the body is healthy, the qi flows normally, and it is unobstructed. However, when there is any disease or pain in the body, the qi is thought to be blocked. At different places on the body, there are areas that the qi flows close to the skin. These areas are considered qi hotspots and targeting them can cause a change in the flow of qi.

In acupuncture, a professional finds these areas of qi and inserts a small needle into the area. The needle helps the qi to move more effectively, destroys any blocks, and allows for the disease state to subside. In recent years, acupuncture has evolved into a procedure where small electrical currents are passed through the needles and into the qi hotspots. Research has found this to be more effective than traditional acupuncture, but the evidence for acupuncture as a single all encompassing treatment remains questionable.

Research Results

A study reported by Reuters looked at the efficacy of acupuncture in chronic pain, and it found interesting results. It examined 29 individual studies into acupuncture, and made a general consensus about the results. People who received acupuncture for chronic pain syndromes from back pain to osteoarthritis did have a moderate improvement in their pain after treatment. When the acupuncture patients were compared with patients who had no therapy at all, the bulk of the studies showed improvement in pain ratings.

However, the true nature of the study becomes clearer when acupuncture patients are compared with those who received sham treatments. Sham treatments are placebo treatments that do not follow the rules and regulations of acupuncture. This could include placing needles in random areas or using different techniques than a qualified acupuncturist would. It found that over 50 percent of the people who received the fake treatments also had improvement in their pain.

Although acupuncture did better than those who had no treatment and those who had fake treatment, it is still clinically significant that people who had fake treatments had any response at all. This strongly suggests that some of the relief felt from acupuncture may be from the placebo effect. In other words, just performing a procedure can make people believe that they are going to feel better. The belief that they are going to feel better is actually causing the pain relief and not the practice of acupuncture.

Scoliosis and Chiropractic

2012-11-06T18:01:31+00:00

Scoliosis is a common spinal condition that many of our patients suffer from. Though generally a painless condition, scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine that can cause other health problems if left untreated.

As scoliosis can develop over a long period of time, it can be difficult to diagnose early. However, there are a few preventative and precautionary measures you can take so that this condition can be detected and treated before it becomes a more severe problem.

Scoliosis is usually detected by simple observation. It is much more common in children, so as a parent, it is important to monitor your child for any changes in the curve or shape of their spine. Routine scoliosis screenings at school can be beneficial in early detection.

DIAGNOSIS

Since scoliosis is generally not a condition that causes noticeable pain, there are other things to watch for to detect it. Oftentimes when a patient has scoliosis, their head may appear off center, or one hip or shoulder will be higher than the other. As the condition progresses and becomes more severe, this side effect can restrict heart or lung function, potentially causing shortness of breath or chest pain.

If you have any of these symptoms and think you may be suffering from scoliosis, the best way to properly diagnose the condition and begin treating it is to schedule an appointment with Dr. MacAdam.

During the examination, your doctor should ask questions about your family medical history, any weakness, back pain, or other medical problems you have been having. The main way to diagnose the presence of scoliosis is for your doctor to examine the curvature of your spine. Your chiropractor will likely give you the “Forward Bend Test,” in which you bend forward with your arms stretched toward the floor, keeping your knees straight. Spinal curvature is much more visible in this position.

Other things your doctor should check for are: body symmetry (hips and shoulders in line with one another), skin changes (this can be a sign that scoliosis developed as a birth effect), general muscle strength and good reflexes.

TREATMENT

If Dr. MacAdam thinks that you may be suffering from scoliosis, treatment is dependent on your skeletal maturity and the degree to which your spine is curved. There are three main types of treatment for scoliosis, including observation, bracing and surgery.

If your scoliosis is less severe and not fully developed, it’s possible that it will correct itself over time, as long as you continue to carefully monitor it. In this case, your doctor will likely ask you to return for more routine examinations in the future to detect any possible changes or worsening of the condition.

Dr. MacAdam may also recommend taking x-rays of your back, which will allow for measurements to be made to determine the extent of the curve present in your spine. Each time your doctor examines your spine he can compare the measurements between x-rays and make sure the spinal curvature is not progressing.

Idiopathic scoliosis treatment is usually dependent on the age when it begins developing. Infants who suffer from this condition tend to improve without any treatment. However, it is still wise to carefully observe the infant as they continue to grow and develop.

Juvenile children who develop idiopathic scoliosis are extremely likely to see their condition worsen as they develop into adolescence. Bracing the spine can be effective in treating scoliosis in this age group if used early enough. However, there is a high chance of eventually needing to use surgical treatment.

Idiopathic scoliosis is most common among adolescents. As with adults, less severe cases of this type of scoliosis can be treated with routine observation and measurements taken through x-rays.

Beyond a patient’s skeletal maturity, the degree of spinal curvature is helpful in determining the best course of treatment for scoliosis. In general, if a patient’s spine is curved less than 25 degrees, further treatment is not necessary. However, if the curve is between 25 and 40 degrees, bracing the spine to prevent further curving is recommended and effective treatment.

In some cases, it is recommended that a patient wears the brace 24 hours a day, but in other cases it is only necessary to brace the spine at night. Unfortunately, bracing is not an effective way of treating idiopathic scoliosis in adults whose spines have finished growing, regardless of the degree of curvature.

Surgery is the most extreme form of treatment, but usually necessary when the spine is curved more than 40 degrees. This type of surgery can differ between patients’ individual cases, but generally the goal is to return the spinal curve back to as close to normal as possible. A spinal fusion, using screws, hooks and rods attached to the spinal bones is required to hold the spine in place and to prevent the spine from curving again in the future.

Unfortunately, exercise has not been proven to reduce or treat spinal curvature, but it is still recommended for scoliosis patients as it helps to keep muscles strong and flexible.

As with many other medical disorders, detecting scoliosis requires you to be aware of your body and observant of any changes that may be signs of bigger problems. If you have noticed any changes in the curve of your spine, body alignment, or any of the other symptoms described above, you should make an appointment with your doctor to be examined.

Dr. MacAdam has taken care of hundreds of patients with scoliosis and has a specific treatment protocol for those patients seeking treatment and correction of scoliosis. Treatment is a combination of a home exercise regimen and specific adjustments and traction in the office.

Importance of Chiropractic and Pregnancy

2012-11-01T00:35:19+00:00

Pregnancy and Chiropractic Treatments

Numerous articles and reports have been seen in the press recently surrounding the subject of chiropractic care for pregnant women. One such news story aired on April 16, 2003 on the NBC TV affiliate from Providence, Rhode Island. The news report by Health Check 10 Reporter Barbara Morse, began by featuring a woman named Lee Ann, who recalled having severe pain during her pregnancy and was quoted, "Pelvic pain, mostly the bone. It felt like something was digging in to my bone. The doctors told me there was nothing that could be done."

Lee Ann then learned that chiropractic care was available at the medical facility, Women and Infants' Hospital. At this facility, she sought the services of Dr. Ron Tyszkowski, a chiropractor at Women and Infants' Hospital. "Chiropractic is an option for them and the doctors that are on staff at Women and Infants' use specific safe techniques for pregnant women that are gentle, natural and do a really effective job of controlling those symptoms," Dr. Tyszkowski said.

The story also highlighted on another chiropractic success story of a woman named Lucia. She recalled, "During my pregnancy I was living in a house which had two flights of stairs that I had to go up and down all the time. Eventually I got to a point where I could barely make it to the top of the stairs." She described the results of her chiropractic sessions by saying, "I probably would'nt have made it thru if it weren't for my chiropractor."

On their website, www.icpa4kids.com, the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) has many articles on chiropractic care during pregnancy. The articles state that a growing number of pregnant women are turning to holistic therapies, including chiropractic. Researchers at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School pooled data on 463 women who had recently given birth. In total, 31.3% of subjects used at least one type of complementary care during their pregnancies. Specifically, 5.2% visited a chiropractor; 2.8% had acupuncture or acupressure and 2.8% took vitamin supplements. 5.8% tried alternative techniques (biofeedback, meditation, yoga, tai chi, mental healing, imagery, Reiki, therapeutic touch, dance, reflex, art and aroma therapies); 24.2% used natural therapies (teas, herbs, oils and foods used for medicinal purposes). According to another study thats published on the ICPA website, 82 certified nurse-midwives in North Carolina were surveyed about chiropractic care. The results showed that 57.3% of midwives who participated in this survey claim to regularly recommend chiropractic to their patients.

ICPA Board member, Dr. Jeanne Ohm, sums up the benefits by saying, "Chiropractic care is essential for the pregnant mother. Her systems and organs are now providing for two and their optimal function is critical for the baby's healthy development. The mother's spine and pelvis undergoes many changes and adaptations to compensate for the growing baby and the risk of interference to her nervous system is increased. Specific chiropractic care throughout pregnancy works with enhancing nervous system function providing greater health potential for both the mother and baby."

Pregnancy and Chiropractic

2012-11-01T00:32:29+00:00

Pregnant Woman Has a Sucessful Natural Birth After Two Cesareans Thanks to Seeking Chiropractic Care -

From the March 11, 2008, issue of the the scientific periodical, the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (JVSR), comes a case study involving a pregnant women who was experiencing lower back pain and thus sought out chiropractic care. This was her third pregnancy and the previous two pregnancies resulted in cesarean births. The 29 year old woman hoped she would be able to deliver this baby vaginally.

In this specific case, the woman started chiropractic sessions beginning in her 34th week of pregnancy in hopes of relieving her extreme back pain. She reported having experienced on and off back pain which had become unmanageable with this pregnancy. She had similar problems in the third trimester of her previous two pregnancies.

A chiropractic examination was performed and the determination of subluxations was made. Care was initiated focusing mainly on the lower spinal column. On the patient's 4th visit, she reported that her back pain had improved substantially and she has been "getting around better" since she started her sessions with the chiropractor.

In the 40th week of her pregnancy, the woman went into labor. She was in active labor for 12 hours at home with her husband before going to the hospital. Although she reported that the medical staff was extremely anxious, given her previous birth history, she delivered a healthy baby girl, naturally and without the use of medications or a Caesarean surgical procedure, thanks to her decision to seek out a chiroprator.
The authors of this study, Joel Alcantara, BSc, DC and Ingrid Hamel, DC, FICPA, concluded, "This case report described an example of a successful chiropractic management for a patient with pregnancy-related low back pain and essentially facilitated a successful vaginal birth despite having two previous Caesareans."

Ladera Ranch Middle School and Elementary School Golf Event

2012-10-31T15:45:20+00:00

Look for us on Friday, November 16th at Tijeras Creek Golf Club in Rancho Santa Margarita for the second annual Golf Tournament and Auction. This is a great event to support our own Ladera Ranch Middle School and Ladera Ranch Elementary. All proceeds this year will go to support new computers in the computer lab, which are nine years old now. Sounds like my office! We just installed new computers and office software and it has made an incredible difference in our office effeciancy.

One of our amazing massage therapists, Leslie, will be there to offer chair massage to the golfers as they are finishing their rounds. We have also donated to the silent auction two initial chiropractic exam and x-rays certificates and two 1-hour massage gift cards for the silent auction.

Hope to see you there!!

San Juan Hills High School Athletic boosters Casino Night

2012-10-10T15:58:54+00:00

Our office is happy to be supporting the San Juan Hills High School Casino Night to help raise money for the school's Athletic Boosters. If you are going to attend, check out our certificates for initial exam, x-rays, thermal scan and report of findings. We are also donatiing 1-hour massage certificates!