Is it a good idea to get your spine checked while you are pregnant? Well, first off, yes it is highly recommended to get adjusted while you are pregnant. You’ve probably noticed that, your body is going through a variety of changes, and these changes will continue as the pregnancy progresses. A subtle change is your body’s increased production of the hormone elastin. This hormone is designed to relax the tendons in the pelvis. This relaxation allows the pelvis more flexibility during the birthing process to make delivering the baby easier.

This process, although designed to help the mother during labor, can create a lot of back pain in the months leading up to the birth. As the pregnancy advances, more elastin is released, which allows the pelvis to become increasingly more unstable. Add to that the gradual increase in the size of the baby and uterus, and you have the ingredients for severe low back pain. As an Oxnard Chiropractor I see many pregnant women in my practice in my clinic for a variety of symptoms, but generally it is for their low back pain.

A bonus to seeing a chiropractor routinely during your pregnancy is that it has been shown to actually decrease labor time. How can it do that? Simply put, if the pelvis is aligned properly, the muscles contracting during the labor process are more efficient and won’t have to strain against misaligned joints.

In answer to the second question above, by all means chiropractic care during your pregnancy is safe. Chiropractic is not only safe and beneficial in relieving the low back pain associated with pregnancy, but other symptoms like heartburn, nausea, swelling, and so on. In addition, should the need arise, a trained chiropractor can assist a mother who has a breached baby. This is done by using the Webster Technique, a low force manipulation of the uterus that helps to get the baby into the appropriate position for birth. A simple Google search on the Webster Technique can give you much more information.

To summarize, chiropractic is both beneficial and safe in helping to relieve many of the discomforts of pregnancy. To any pregnant women out there reading this, please go to see your local chiropractor, or if you are close enough, look up your Oxnard Chiropractor. We can make you quite a bit more comfortable in the months of your pregnancy, and we can even make the labor process easier.

Technorati Tags: heartburn, low back pain, Oxnard Chiropractor, pregnancy, Webster Technique

Introduction

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome falls into the category of neurological conditions called nerve entrapment disorders and is by far the most prevalent of these disorders. As the term “nerve entrapment” suggests, these disorders show up when a nerve is trapped or compressed between body tissues creating inflammation and impairment of the nerve.

Anatomy

The carpal tunnel is embedded within the underside of the wrist. It is a tunnel, or passage, through which the Median nerve travels on its way to energize and animate the hand and fingers. In addition to the median nerve, the carpal tunnel is comprised of the nine tendons of the forearm muscles that are responsible for bending and flexing of the fingers and thumb. There are also arteries and lymphatic vessels that furnish circulation to the hand located within the tunnel. The bottom and sides of this tunnel are formed by wrist bones and the top of the tunnel is covered by a sinewy band of connective tissue called the transverse carpal ligament. The carpal tunnel is a thickly-packed space about the size of an index finger. The flexor tendons, arteries and median nerve are intended to glide easily past each other during wrist and finger movement.

If the size of the tendon enlarges due to irritation or overuse, or if the carpal tunnel size shrinks because of  an improper use of the carpal bones, the median nerve can become compressed or entrapped by the carpal tunnel. At first, carpal tunnel symptoms often include, pain, numbness, pins and needles, and tinging in the fingers and hand, particularly the thumb and adjacent two fingers.  These symptoms are especially noticeable in the night and often wake people from their sleep as the individual has to sit up in bed and shake-out and/or rub the hands in order decrease these unpleasant feelings.  In addition, activity can cause the hands to feel clumsy or weak, and fatigue easily. Over time, the ability to grasp small objects using the thumb and fingers can be affected dramatically and if left untreated, can lead to total dysfunction of the hand.

The following are general causes and corresponding conditions:

• repetitive and forceful grasping with the hands

• prolonged computer usage especially with poor wrist position

• activities that require repetitive bending of the wrist

• broken or dislocated bones in the wrist which produce swelling

• arthritis, especially the rheumatoid type

• thyroid gland imbalance

• sugar diabetes

• hormonal changes associated with menopause or pregnancy

Although any of the above can can be a contributing factor to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, in many cases the cause is unknown. However, people who perform jobs that require use of vibration tools and machinery, and/or work in extreme temperatures are often subjected to this condition.  In addition, repetitive housework as seemingly inconsequential as wringing clothes by hand, can bring on carpal tunnel symptoms. However, the continuing increase in computer use is the most compelling explanation for the number of individuals who are suffering with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome today. This is becoming a major concern in the developed world where people of all ages are spending much of their time typing on a keyboard & clicking on a mouse.

Treatment

Competent diagnosis and treatment is vital to relieving the painful and debilitating symptoms of CTS. Your Ventura Chiropractor is highly skilled in the diagnosis and managment of CTS. Chiropractors are well-trained in treating CTS.  Treatment by chiropractor can include ultrasound or low level laser to help reduce inflammation, electro therapy to strengthen weak muscles of the forearm, soft tissue massage to stretch contracted tissues and, of course, adjustments of the dysfunctional joints of the wrist. You might be advised to wear a splint or support, especially at night, to help secure the wrist in a neutral position to decompress the carpal tunnel. Your Ventura Chiropractor will also give you specific exercises to stretch and/or strengthen muscles of the forearm and hand.

Technorati Tags: carpal tunnel pain, carpal tunnel treatment, repetitive stress, Ventura Chiropractor

Costa Mesa Chiropractor

There are many men and women today in a daily struggle to lose weight, especially too much weight around the middle. But, the need to lose weight is, most often, more than just a cosmetic issue.  In actuality, if people are lugging around too much weight in their midsection, their back is going to be adversely affected as a consequence.

Many people who are overweight experience moderate to severe back pain. The reason for this is because the spine was not made to move something that is heavier than the body is at its normally healthy weight.  As a human being puts on extra poundage, the spine begins to distort and to compress, producing a lot of pain and discomfort.  The pelvis can also be affected and become tilted forward causing it to pinch the sciatic nerve. That is one of the main reasons why individuals who are overweight tend to have problems with their lower back. The pain is due to either sciatica or the distorting of the spinal column.

If you are undergoing this problem, certainly the thing to do is to take off the extra weight that you are carrying around, and your spine will immediately ease up and go back into its regular position.  Unfortunately, losing weight isn’t easy and it can take time, even with the best of intentions. The good news is you don’t have to live with back pain as you lose the weight. A Costa Mesa chiropractor can assist you in getting the pain relief you’ll require to help you as you shed the extra pounds.

Even so, you will still need to lose the additional poundage, and being free of back pain will undoubted assist you in doing it. Losing the extra weight naturally and healthfully is crucial, and there are two (simple but not easy) things that will definitely work: Get some type of exercise every day, even if it’s just a small amount, and make sure that you take in fewer calories than you burn! Sure, you’ve heard about these two things before. Nonetheless, now that you’re aware your back is depending on you, it’s the perfect time to get truly inspired.

Start exercising slowly, expressly if you’re having difficulties with back pain. And, most importantly, be sure to seek out Costa Mesa chiropractic care so that you don’t go wrong the way many people do, which is exercising into the pain. That will only make matters worse. Exercise, though at times uncomfortable, should never be painful or cause pain. That’s why seeing a chiropractor is important if you’re having difficulties with back pain.

Do simple stretching exercises and also concentrate on your core abdominal body muscles. Strong stomach muscles help to ease back pain. Your chiropractor will be able to give you exercises that are best for you, personally. Within just a week or two of dedication to losing the weight that is causing your back pain and conceivably other health difficulties as well, you most likely being to notice a significant difference in the way that you feel.

Technorati Tags: back pain, chiropractor, fat, overweight

Besides spinal complaints, knee pain and disability is one of the most commonplace problems of the musculoskeletal system. Poor mechanics of the knee, as well as impaired foot mechanics due to foot pain frequently cause painful knee problems. Additional causes generally include overuse of the knee joint, inflammation related to arthritic changes in the joint, and traumatic injury from sports and falls.

Non-trauma knee problems: The most prevailing cause of non-traumatic pain is insufficient mechanics of the knee joint and the corresponding stress on the soft tissues of the knee. The patella or knee-cap is generally the area affected because often the patella does not move sufficiently on the femur during bending of the knee generating abnormal stress on the tendons, cartilage and ligaments. This distinct condition is frequently called chondromalacia patella (CMP) or Patella Femoral Syndrome (Knee Cap Pain). The condition generally originates when there are imbalances in the quadriceps muscles of the thigh that join to and move the patella. Lower back conditions, expressly in the sacroiliac joints, are one of the main reasons for imbalances in the muscles having to do with knee movement, and subsequent knee problems. Imbalances in muscle groups that join to the knee can also lead to pain and dysfunction. For example, the muscles on the inside of the thigh, when strained and tight, can produce pain on the medial or inside of the knee.   Insufficient foot mechanics that produce gait abnormalities such as pronation, are another cause of mechanical knee pain.

The correspondent pain from overuse is most generally experienced during activity, in particular stair climbing, running, jumping, and after getting up from prolonged sitting. Some women seem to be predisposed to painful overuse conditions for anatomical reasons, although such conditions are frequently related to wearing high heels on a regular basis.

It is important to re-establish proper muscle balance, restore appropriate motion to the patella and other knee joints, and to correct any subluxations of the sacroiliac joints and bones of the foot.  In certain cases, a brace is used to help with the alignment of the patella or to support the joint. Chiropractors, such as your San Jose chiropractor, are fully trained to render the correct diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.

Knee problems due to trauma: Traumatic injuries often happen during activities that involve running and jumping, especially. Sprains happen when tissue is torn as the result of the knee being extended or contorted beyond the capacity of the ligaments that hold the joint together. The muscles that facilitate movement of the knee can also be torn during injury causing a strain or pull of the muscle. As with a sprain, a muscle strain can range from a mild injury that needs little attention to a serious injury necessitating surgery. In addition the two special knee “cartilages” located between the tibia and femur (called the menisci), which allow for frictionless movement and cushioning, may also be torn during traumatic injury. This serious injury frequently requires surgical repair, or even removal if damaged severely.

Traumatic knee injuries can produce serious pain and swelling and require immediate evaluation and treatment. In the majority of cases a competent chiropractor, such as your San Jose Chiropractor, can manage these types of injuries, although there are some injuries that do need the dexterity of an orthopedic surgeon. Whatever the case, it is crucial to stabilize the injured joint as soon as possible and to ice the injured area, if possible, until the injury can be examined.

Conditions such as poor mechanics and problems due to overuse, as well as traumatic injuries, need to be fixed at an early stage. If not, the tissues of the knee joint, especially the cartilage, will eventually erode. Consequently the bones will rub on one another, and changes such as bone spurs can eventuate. This painful problem, known as degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis, is often progressive with age. General treatment may involve medications such as NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Nevertheless, there are natural anti-inflammatory supplements that are highly effectual such as rosemary, glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, bioflavinoids, curcumin. Conservative treatment, such as chiropractic, can be extremely helpful in relieving the pain. Your San Jose chiropractor is very knowledgeable about anti-inflammatory supplements. In addition, sufferers can frequently aid themselves by keeping their weight down, doing exercises (especially in the pool), and wearing cushioned shoes or insoles.

Technorati Tags: chiropractic, chiropractor, knee injury, knee pain

A normal spine is straight, without much disparity from side-to-side, when the body is seen from behind.Scoliosis is a condition that is commonly associated with a lateral, or side-to-side, curvature of the spine.This condition many times gives the appearance of the person leaning to one side although it should not be confused with bad posture. Scoliosis is a puzzling deformity that is defined by both lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebra often causing a distinctive “rib hump” in the mid or thoracic spine. This is created by the vertebrae in the region of the major curve rotating toward the concavity and pushing their connected ribs posterior hence causing the symptomatic rib hump seen in thoracic scoliosis. If the thoracic curve and rib rotation are severe, exceeding 70 degrees, pulmonary and cardiac function can be interfered with. Often later in life in untreated severe idiopathic infantile and juvenile scoliosis patients, this intensity of curve and consequential cardiac and pulmonary changes can be life threatening.

Anatomy

The spine discloses four normal curves: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral, all of which are apparent from a side view of the trunk. The thoracic, in the chest vicinity, has a normal round curve, “reversed C,” called a kyphosis, while in the lower spine there is a normal “C” curve, known as swayback or lordosis. Hyperlordosis is the term used to describe increased swayback, while increased kyphosis in the thoracic spine is called hyperkyphosis. Scoliosis changes regularly accompany diversions from normal on a side view. Some round back deformities are simply due to unhealthy posture and can often be corrected with postural exercises. A small percentage of people with kyphosis have more rigid deformities than the postural type, which are associated with vertebral deformity. This kind of deformity, called Scheuermann’s kyphosis, is much harder to treat than postural kyphosis, and it’s cause is unknown.

Even a nonprofessional can help to identify a child or fully-grown individual with scoliosis simply by observing the person in a standing position, preferably bare-chested and in , and observing the following:

• One shoulder may be raised than the other.

• One scapula (shoulder blade) may be more elevated or more prominent than the other.

• With the arms hanging freely at the sides, there may be more room between the arm and the body on one side.

• One hip may seem to be higher or more prominent than the other.

• The head is not in plumb with the pelvis.

• One side of the back appears more elevated than the other when the individual is viewed from the rear and asked to lean forward until the the spine is horizontal.

Once scoliosis is identified, the child or adult should be sent to a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, for further assessment. your chiropractor would be happy to help.

There are various origins and many varieties of scoliosis, but the most prevalent, by far, is Idiopathic Scoliosis, which accounts for about 85 % of all cases. “Idiopathic” means “no known cause” and is seen with equal prevalence in boys and girls in the mild or low curve magnitudes. Depending on the age of onset, this affliction can be sub-classified into infantile, juvenile and adolescent categories. Idiopathic Scoliosis may be linked to genetic or hereditary influences as it commonly runs in families. However girls, for unknown reasons are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves grow in size and require treatment. As the term “Idiopathic Scoliosis” implies, this class of scoliosis commonly occurs when children are completing their last major growth spurt. Unfortunately, at this age young people are hesitant to permit their body to be viewed by parents and other adults, so it is smart to have this age group viewed on a regular basis.

If a scoliotic curve is discovered in the growing adolescent, it is very important that the curves be monitored for change by periodic examination and from time to time standing X-rays. In ninety percent of conditions, the scoliosis is mild and does not require active treatment, however increases in spinal deformity necessitate evaluation to determine if a brace or other management is necessary. In a small number of people, surgical treatment may be necessary.~Surgery may be needed for a small number of individuals.

Brace therapy (orthosis) is recommended for both juvenile and adolescent children when an increase in their scoliosis or kyphosis is identified, or when new symptoms of moderate scoliosis or abnormal kyphosis are found. There are many types of braces, all made to prevent curves from increasing by acting as a buttress for the spine during active skeletal growth. Braces normally will not make the spine perfectly straight, and cannot always keep a curve from increasing. Nevertheless, bracing is effective in preventing curve progression in a significant number of skeletally-immature adolescents.

Scoliosis has no simple answer. The majority of cases, even though frequently monitored, are not actively treated. Severe conditions are occasionally treated surgically, but the general medical treatment for moderate conditions is a brace. You may want to see your local chiropractor first.

Specialized exercise, electric stimulation of spinal muscles, nutritional programs, and chiropractic treatments are among the complementary treatments used along with bracing. It seems like the best results have been supported with a multi-faceted approach to the care of this affliction.

There are chiropractors, that have expertise assisting with scoliosis cases.

Technorati Tags: back pain, chiropractor, scoliosis

One of the major benefits of practicing yoga is improving your balance.
Improved balance is not just about your strong physical synchronization
but also about the balance between the left and right, front and back as
well as the high and low characteristics of your body. Not many of us
can claim perfect body balance, as it is relatively common for a person
to have both one side that is weaker counterbalanced by the other that
has ore strength. For example, it might be possible to turn your head or
twist your spine in a different or in more ways compared to another
individual. You can bend forward with ease but the same cannot be
done backwards.

This asymmetry and lack of balance in different parts of the body
causes stresses and strains, often leading to injury, pain, discomfort
and uneasiness. Yoga helps in generating balance and synchronization
in the body. Yoga promotes a natural symmetry throughout your body,
which in turn helps you to remain both strong and flexible whilst also
obviously being more balanced. Yoga also aids you when you try to set
the mental desire to push and be self-confident against the need to
surrender to life whilst also submitting to life and remaining passive. In
this manner, yoga helps you to achieve a balanced attitudinal symmetry
and stability as well.

Technorati Tags: balance, chiropractic, yoga