Chiropractic Care and Pain Management

Chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and lupus can cause you to experience symptoms like muscle tightness, back pain and a number of other types of discomfort. A number of Raleigh Durham area people, unfortunately, suffer from chronic diseases. While these ailments have no known cures, there is a lot that you can do to improve your quality of life. We recommend a strong pain management program that includes chiropractic treatment.

How Can Our Chiropractor Help with Chronic Pain?

We provide chiropractic treatment which relieves pain, in part, by helping to realign the spine. This helps improve strain and pressure on tight muscles, which can reduce aches and pains in that area. It also eliminates pinched or compressed nerves, and can also help improve circulation. Often, you can feel a reduction in pain immediately after an adjustment. This relief can last for days or even weeks. Plus, we often experience pain in other parts of our bodies that is related to poor alignment in the spine. Aching feet, pounding headaches and stiff, tight neck and shoulder muscles can all result from poor alignment in your spine. Adjustments can help provide relief for this pain, as well.

We can also offer lifestyle advice, and help you create daily habits to help reduce the effects of chronic illness. For instance, proper nutrition can improve the way that you feel. We can help you develop a gentle but effective exercise program especially designed for pain relief. Identifying stressors and other triggers that can lead to flare-ups of chronic conditions is our first step to helping you develop methods to avoid future problems.

Regular adjustments can help control pain and help you feel more like yourself. Talk to us about how our Raleigh Durham chiropractic care can help you manage pain.

Do you suffer from a chronic illness? What are some pain reduction methods that have worked for you?

Practice Good Posture with Advice
from Our Durham Chiropractor

Just because you stand up without stooping does not necessarily mean you have proper posture. Proper posture is more than just a straight back, as it includes proper positioning of the head, neck, back, hips and feet as well as proper alignment of the spine. At Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Durham, we hold proper posture very dear, as improper posture comes with a range of detrimental side effects. These can include back, shoulder, and neck pain, fatigue, headaches, a decreased attention span and energy level, joint stiffness, muscle tension, and even depression. Are you ready for proper posture yet?

Proper Posture Tips

Ensuring your body is properly aligned starts by making sure your spine is aligned, which can be examined during a visit to our Raleigh chiropractic center. The rest is up to you. Eliminating negative stress can help immensely. Negative stress comes in the form of poorly adjusted seats at work or in your car, carrying too much weight, or habitually sitting or standing in an unbalanced position. Anything that pulls your body out of its proper alignment can be considered negative stress. This type of stress makes your muscles do the work of supporting your body when that job should go to your spine. Otherwise, your muscles rebel with tension, pain and other side effects.

Now pay attention to the way you sit and stand throughout your day. Your head should be situated directly above your back without hunching forward to gaze at a computer screen. Your pelvis should be directly below your shoulders and, when standing, directly above your ankles and feet. Your weight should be evenly distributed while sitting, with your feet firmly on the floor and your back straight. Crossing your legs or listing to one side creates negative stressors that count against you. Adjust your seating to provide a posture-friendly environment and say goodbye to back pain and related ailments related to poor posture.

Do you practice proper posture or poor posture? How do you remind yourself to focus on your posture?

For those who suffer from chronic headaches and back pain, the road to finding lasting pain relief can be long and miserable. Many of our first-time patients suffered for years, relying on medications and sometimes surgery, only to have the pain continue, and even worsen. Sometimes, they have been told they would just have to endure the pain for the rest of their lives. Luckily, those patients who finally found our practice were able to find long-sought after relief through our highly-skilled chiropractic care methods.

Back and Head Pain Treated with Chiropractic Care

Our Durham and Raleigh back pain treatments can give patients a new lease on life because our pain management methods aim to treat the root cause of back and headache pain, rather than just masking them with medications. We give each patient a complete examination, including x-rays, to conclusively determine where the problem lies.

As a chiropractor, Dr. Leidich understands how the precise alignment of each vertebra affects the function of the nervous system in every area of the body. For instance, a misalignment between neck vertebrae can cause headache and migraine events. Correcting the misalignment can significantly reduce and even eliminate these painful episodes. Misalignments can also cause pain in the back, legs, arms, neck or anywhere in the body affected by nerves pinched by misaligned vertebrae.

Once we determine where the problem is, we prescribe a series of gentle, precise spinal adjustments to realign the spine and un-pinch nerves. Many patients achieve significant pain relief after the first or second adjustment appointments. We help prevent the problem from recurring by teaching our patients proper posture and corrective exercises that are designed to strengthen muscles and support the proper alignment of the spine. Our goal is to make sure the pain does not return so that our patients can go on to live healthy, pain-free lives.

Tell us about your backache or headache story: How did it start, and what helped you recover?

Chiropractic Care for Common Allergies

Do you suffer from indoor, outdoor or seasonal allergies? Did you know that chiropractic treatments can actually help reduce the symptoms associated with allergies to help you live a more comfortable, sneeze-free life? At Chiropractic and Wellness Center, we can perform treatments that will gradually help ease the sneezing, scratchy throat, watery eyes and runny nose that occur when your immune system attacks invading allergens like pet dander, pollen, grass and mold.

Current research shows that there is a definite link between the nervous system and the immune system. We can help to remove any nerve interference that may be preventing your immune system from functioning optimally. When a chiropractor performs adjustments and realigns the spinal vertebra, stress that has been placed on a patient’s nervous system is released. The immune system is then free to operate more effectively. This can be extremely beneficial to anyone, especially those that suffer from allergies.

Free Yourself from Allergies with Help
from Our Durham Chiropractic Clinic!

At our clinic, we offer spinal adjustment services that can help allergy sufferers residing in the areas surrounding Durham and Raleigh, North Carolina. After several weeks of treatment, you will likely start to notice that you can reduce the dosage of your allergy medication. You may even be able to stop taking your allergy medication all together!

In addition to relieving the symptoms associated with allergies, treatment at our clinic has the added benefit of relieving back pain, neck pain and headaches. Feel free to set up an appointment with us to discuss how we can help you with any injury or medical condition you may be dealing with.

We really hope that you will consider giving spinal wellness care a try. You may be surprised at how much it can help reduce your allergies!

Have you noticed an improvement in your allergy symptoms after receiving treatment from us?

We would love to hear your story!

Staying Fit is Essential to Healthy Living

Most people know that being fit is an important part of their health and well-being. What many do not understand is that it doesn’t take hours in the gym or expensive equipment to become active and physically fit. A part of chiropractic care involves prevention, and many injuries, illnesses and disease can be prevented if you're physically fit.

The Importance of Fitness to Your Health

Even moderate daily physical activity, such as a 30 minute brisk walk around Raleigh or Durham, can improve your overall state of health. Your chiropractor can explain how physical exercise, such as kettleball training, can help with pain management and stress relief. You don't need to live with back pain or a headache; there is help available.

Staying fit will also help you stay at your optimal weight or help you lose weight. Even losing modest amounts of weight can help reduce your chances of contracting type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, or other serious medical problems.

Being physically active will also lower your blood pressure. High blood pressure is caused when the heart has to work harder at pushing the blood around your body. As you exercise you are strengthening your heart; a stronger heart pumps blood more easily.

A part of chiropractic care is showing our patients how to exercise at home to prevent or recover from injuries or conditions. Even if all you can do is a few simple exercises then you are helping your body stay strong so it will heal faster.

These are just a few of the ways being fit can help your overall health. If you have any questions, our Durham chiropractor Dr. David Leidich would be happy to meet with you and answer them for you. Dr. Leidich firmly believes that kettleball training is a great way to not only lose weight but also to get physically fit, and he'd be happy to help you get started. Call us today and let us help you get started!

How do you stay fit? What is your workout routine like?

Causes of Back Pain and Tips To Prevent It

Back pain, including accompanying headache pain, is one of the most common reasons people to come to our Raleigh - Durham chiropractic clinic. Our Durham chiropractor, Dr. David Leidich, has been providing pain management and relief for 14 years. Understanding the underlying cause of pain assists our chiropractic staff in helping you recover from pain.

Common Causes of Back Pain

Most cases of pain in the back are brought on by muscle strain, overuse or injury to the ligaments, muscles, or discs that help support the spine. That is, pain in the back is usually a symptom, rather than a disease itself.

An imbalance in the spinal structure can be caused by muscle strain leading to tension between the ligament, muscles, discs, and bones. Pressure on nerve roots caused by a herniated disc, osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, spinal deformities, compression fractures, and vertebrae fractures are other common causes.

Less common causes include bacterial infections, spinal tumors, Scheuermann's disease, Ankylosing spondylitis, and Paget's disease. Figuring out the causal factors for your pain is the first step in treating it.

Avoiding Back Problems

Preventing strains to the back are easier than treating them. Despite this, people frequently take their backs for granted. Follow these simple tips from our chiropractor to prevent back problems from developing: sleep on a well-supported bed, maintain good posture, exercise to strengthen a weak back, warm up before exercising to avoid strains, lift with your legs with bended knees instead of your back, avoid quick twisting or bending, maintain a proper weight, avoid being sedentary, stretch your spine, and eat a healthy, well-balanced diet.

Many people find relief from their pain by applying heat, ice or alternating between ice and heat. Medications such as inflammatory medicines can also help. If you find that you are still in pain despite these preventative tips, you should seek medical evaluation from our chiropractor, Dr. Leidich, right away. Also, our chiropractor can help with custom designed exercises and nutrition plans that will correct and prevent any issue you are currently experiencing.

What steps do you take to prevent back pain?

It seems lately that most people you talk to are being diagnosed with " vitamin D deficiency".  By some reports, 60% of Americans are deficient in vitamin D.  This is a staggering statistic, when vitamin D is extremely important for bone, heart, breast, prostate and immune health.

Known to most as the sun vitamin, vitamin D is produced by the body in response to sunlight.  It occurs naturally in foods such as fish, fish oils, egg yolks, fortified dairy and grain products.  Recent studies show that vitamin D is important in bone strength, prevention and treatment of diabetes both type 1 and 2, hypertension, and most auto-immune disorders.

So what are the causes of vitamin D deficiency?  Dark skinned individuals have increased risk because of the melanin in the skin that limits the ability to make vitamin D in response to sunlight.  This leads to older adults with darker skin, a higher risk factor for this deficiency.  Those who live in climates with limited sun exposure are at risk.  Because vitamin D is produced when your skin is exposed to sunlight, those who live in northern climates or who are home bound or who just don't like to be in the sun are in the higher risk group.  Obese people are also at risk.  Vitamin D is extracted from the fat cells in the blood.  Individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, often have low levels of vitamin D.  Vegan diets can lead to this deficiency as well  because most of the natural vitamin D sources are animal based, such as fish, fish oils, egg yolks and cheese. The health of your digestive tract plays a major role in the absorption of vitamin D.  Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis and celiac disease affect the way your intestines absorb vitamin D from the food we eat.  According to some theories, vitamin D deficiency may be the cause of multiple sclerosis and other immune disorders.

 So what can you do to find out if you are deficient in vitamin D?  First, contact your health care professional and request a blood test.  Treatment of vitamin D deficiency is determined based on the level of vitamin D in your blood.  Once you know this, the three places to get vitamin D are:  food, sunlight and supplements.  As mentioned earlier, fatty fish (like salmon), fish oils, beef liver, cheese, egg yolks, cereals and milk that is fortified with vitamin D are a good start.  If supplements are needed, talk to your health care professional about the best supplemental form of vitamin D to take.  Your best source will always be from sunlight.  Just 15 minutes a day, exposing your hands and face, is all that is necessary.

 Until next time, eat healthy, speak with your health care provider about vitamin D, and get out and enjoy some sunlight!  And, as always, live life to the fullest!

Spring is in the air and for many that means getting back into shape for the upcoming warm weather. Unfortunately, for some, this much needed cardio kick-off may result in a back injury that could halt your plans for skinny summer. If it has been a while since you have exercised, follow Dr. Leidich's three simple steps to avoid back pain.

Schedule a visit with Dr. Leidich

The human body is designed to move and be active. However, if you feel at risk of a back injury, it is a good idea to schedule an appointment with us at Chiropractic and Wellness Center. We can assess the overall health of your back and recommend various exercises to get you back into the swing of things.

Start slow

You should begin all exercise routines with a gradual warm up period. During warm-ups make sure to stretch thoroughly and then slowly increase your level of activity. Once you feel loose and limber feel free to pick up the pace. When you are finished with your routine, include a cool down period. Many people use the same stretches during both warm up and cool down. Please contact our Durham office for tips on exercises and stretches to get you started.

Wear proper footwear

A good pair of sneakers will provide ample support and cushioning. This will decrease the amount of strain on your lower back. If your workout routine consists primarly of walking or running, try to use a soft surface such as a treadmill, a synthetic track, or grass. If you are susceptible to back pain try to avoid hard surfaces like concrete and asphalt. Alternative options like yoga may also be a good idea.

Whenever starting a new exercise routine it is always ideal to check with Dr. Leidich. We look forward to helping you attain that beach body!

A Durham Chiropractor comments:

It’s the beginning of another week and everyone here at the Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Durham hopes that all of our readers had a fun and relaxing weekend.  It’s interesting to note however, that some of us define relaxing by climbing mountains, skiing, snowboarding and participating in other activates that might be anything but relaxing.  Some of us can’t wait to get back to work to rest. Ok, maybe not, but your body is probably happy to come down off that adrenaline high it was subjected to.

We recently had a patient from the Raleigh area come in who had one of those so called relaxing weekends. His form of relaxation was rock climbing. Whatever happened to fishing?

The reason for the visit to the Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Durham was a concern with lower back pain that was accompanied by pain running down his right leg. The commute to work was becoming very painful but would subside when he stood up and walked about.  He was describing a classic case of sciatic nerve pain.

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body which runs from your pelvis, past the hip and buttocks and down the leg.  When this nerve is pinched it produces a burning sensation and pain which is usually felt in the lower back and continues to run down the leg. This pain can vary from a mild ache to a sharp burning sensation or excruciating pain as was the case with our patient.

An MRI discovered a compressed disc that bulged, pinched the nerve and caused that electrifying pain and sensation running down his leg. You would think that he would need extensive surgery but it turned out that with a combination of stretches, deep  tissue massage and the chiropractic care from the Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Durham, our happy climber was back at doing what he loves to do. Yes, that’s right, climbing rocks.

If you're interested in talking to a Durham chiropractor, contact us today at (919) 403-1008!

During your initial visit to Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Durham, your chiropractor Dr.Leidich will ask you questions about the intensity of your symptoms and how long you’ve been suffering from these specific symptoms. Dr. Leidich commonly sees patients from Durham and Raleigh who are seeking help with back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches, migraines, chronic pain, personal injuries including auto accident injuries, insomnia, and more! Sometimes, your symptoms may only be a mild nuisance, but if you’ve been suffering from severe neck, shoulder, or back pain, you know that the pain can prevent you from performing your regular daily activities.

Some types of mild to moderate neck, shoulder, and back pain are the temporary result of poor posture, unusual sleeping positions, or carelessness when performing certain daily activities. Severe neck or back pain, on the other hand, can be a symptom of a congenital defect such as scoliosis, a side effect of a spinal misalignment, an injury from a recent accident such as an auto accident injury, or progressive age-related deterioration. Another common cause of neck or back pain is when a vertebra in your spine has moved out of place and is creating pressure and irritation near the spinal nerves.  This is called a ‘spinal subluxation’ and a certified chiropractor like Dr. Leidich can gently coax your spine back into its natural alignment using chiropractic adjustments and other chiropractic care techniques.

After asking you questions about your pain symptoms, Dr. Leidich will give you a full physical examination and look at your detailed health history to determine the root cause of your pain. When conducting your initial consultation, your chiropractor will take into consideration any additional symptoms such as accompanying shoulder or arm pain which may help him paint a better picture of your current state of spinal health. Although your chiropractor will apply many of the same criteria as a physician when diagnosing your neck pain, a chiropractic medical history tends to place a greater emphasis on the fact that your spine an integrated system. Instead of only treating the pain symptoms, a chiropractor will look at the entire picture to try to determine the real cause of your pain and help you body heal from the inside out by correcting the true problem.

You may be asking yourself what treatment options you have available to you in Raleigh and Durham for back, shoulder or neck pain? The neck and back pain specialists at the Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Durham can start you on your road to health by providing you with a personalized chiropractic pain consultation.

We believe that every patient deserves to live a pain-free life, so we've made it easy for you to get started. If you want to see a Durham chiropractor and pave the way to a new, healthier and happier you, give us a call at 919-403-1008 and schedule an appointment today!

NOW ACCEPTING PERSONAL INJURY CASES

Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Durham

3001 Academy Road Suite 230
Durham, NC 27707

Phone: (919) 403-1008
Email Chiropractic and Wellness Center of Durham

If you suffer from chronic headaches or migraines in Raleigh or Durham, you are not alone. Almost nine out of ten Americans regularly deal with some type of headache. Some sufferers may only get occasional headaches while others frequently suffer from headaches or migraines. Headaches come in many forms and can be dull and throbbing or sharp and constant. Migraines and headaches sometimes cause incapacitating pain or nausea that is so severe that they can even prevent you from successfully performing your daily activities.

Many people will respond to a pounding headache with pain medications. Others try to ignore the pain or may try to lie down and hope the pain goes away on its own. Some patients may visit doctor after doctor, with no one being able to find the true cause of their pain, or be told that their only option is pain medications or surgery. If you suffer from headaches or migraines in Raleigh or Durham, there’s a better alternative!

Studies Show that Chiropractic Care is Effective Many Types of Headaches

At our local Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, NC, researchers released a report in 2001 which found that chiropractic spinal manipulation almost instantly resulted in an improvement for headaches that originated from the neck. Compared to commonly prescribed pain medications, chiropractic adjustments also had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting pain relief. Another study which was published by the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics also found that chiropractic adjustments are an effective therapy for tension headaches. In this study, patients who ceased chiropractic treatment after four weeks still experienced a sustained therapeutic benefit compared to those patients who had only received a commonly prescribed pain medication.

Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Durham Can Help!

At Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Durham, Dr. David Leidich has been helping patients from Durham and Raleigh with migraines and headaches since he first opened the center in 1997. Doctors of chiropractic undergo extensive training to help their patients in many ways besides just back pain and Dr. Leidich is an expert chiropractor who has been highly trained in many kinds of pain management and therapies to reduce pain. Because many types of migraines and headaches originate from a misalignment of the neck and spine, the pain from headaches is often significantly reduced or even eliminated when the natural alignment is restored to the spine through chiropractic care.

If you are suffering from headaches in Raleigh or Durham, don’t wait another day to free yourself from pain! If you are in need of immediate pain relief call us today at (919) 403-1008 or request on appointment online!

At the Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Durham, we take pride in being your Durham or Raleigh chiropractic specialists. We are always on the look-out for new chiropractic and other techniques to help our patients feel better using all natural means that don't require surgery or unnecessary pain medication. Today we would like to tell you a little bit about the benefits of getting massage therapy.

You may already be aware that therapeutic massage is a non-surgical, all-natural technique which can help soothe your racing mind and relax your tired muscles.  What you may not be aware of is that getting a massage actually has many additional emotional and physical benefits. Consider this: even though 2009 marked one of the worst recessions in U.S. history, nearly 9% of US adults received at least one massage during the year.  What is causing people to turn to massage therapy in droves? The answer is that massage can have huge benefits for many different types of patients.

Regular massage therapy has many benefits including:

• Reduces lower back pain
• Decreases the need to use pain medications
• May help enhance immunity 
• Reduces symptoms of whiplash and other car accident pain symptoms
• Decreases feelings of depression and anxiety
• Improves circulation
• Helps reduce muscle spasms and cramping
• May help reduce migraine pain
• May help reduce high blood pressure
• Improves condition of skin including scars and stretch marks
• May help reduce symptoms of constipation

In addition to the long term benefits of getting massage therapy regularly, many patients are surprised to experience benefits after receiving only a single massage session. For example,  a single session of massage can reduce feelings of anxiety and release all-natural pain killers called endorphins. Studies have also suggested that immune function indicators may be improved after receiving a single massage session.

So, what options do you have in Durham or Raleigh for massage therapy? You may not realize that the health care specialists at Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Durham also offer massage for their patients as a great way to compliment their chiropractic care. We believe that every patient deserves to try out massage therapy, so we've made it easy for you to get started. If you want to start experiencing the benefits of massage at the Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Durham, give us a call at 919-403-1008 and schedule an appointment today! 

Reference List

Harris M, Richards K. The physiological and psychological effects of slow-stroke back massage and hand massage on relaxation in older people. Journal of Clinical Nursing. April 2010;19(7/8):917-926. Available from: Academic Search Premier, Ipswich, MA.

Kalichman L. Massage therapy for fibromyalgia symptoms. Rheumatology International . July 2010;30(9):1151-1157. Available from: Academic Search Premier, Ipswich, MA.

Lämås K, Lindholm L, Engström B, Jacobsson C. Abdominal massage for people with constipation: a cost utility analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing. August 2010;66(8):1719-1729. Available from: Academic Search Premier, Ipswich, MA.

Rapaport M, Schettler P, Bresee C. A Preliminary Study of the Effects of a Single Session of Swedish Massage on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal and Immune Function in Normal Individuals. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine. October 2010;16(10):1079-1088. Available from: Alt HealthWatch, Ipswich, MA.

Here at Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Durham, our doctors of chiropractic believe that many types of back pain and other medical conditions can be solved without the use of drugs or surgery.

Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Durham has been providing the communities of Durham and Raleigh with non-surgical alternatives to neck, joint, and back pain relief since 1996. The chiropractic office also provide chiropractic care to the surrounding areas including Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Morrisville, Hillsborough, Bahama, and Creedmore.

At Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Durham, we offer chiropractic services to patients of all ages, from newborns to the elderly. Dr. Leidich works closely with medical doctors to provide you with the best possible care. We accept many types of patients including pregnant women and patients suffering from auto accident injuries or work injuries. Dr. Leidich has experience relieving pain for patients suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic pain, circulation problems, sleep disorders, headaches, sciatica, teeth grinding, tendonitis, and more! Dr. Leidich's special clinical interests include migraine headaches, sports injuries, extremity problems (for example, shoulders, arms, knees, and feet), and working with children and the elderly.

If you or a loved one has been suffering with joint, neck or back pain, contact the doctors of chiropractic at Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Durham today to schedule a consultation and explore your pain relief options. We will evaluate your current and past health history to create a customized pain management plan that is tailored to your needs. Call us today at 919.403.1008 or Request an Appointment online.

Put your health in trusted hands!

Recently I came across a study that was performed at the University Of  Chicago Medical Center where the premise of the study was to see if a specific chiropractic adjustment could lower blood pressure.  The specific adjustment performed was an Atlas adjustment.  The Atlas is the first cervical bone in our spine, also referred to as C-1.  It's called the Atlas vertebrae because it holds up the head, just as the titan Atlas holds up the world in Greek mythology.  The study was performed under the director of the hypertension center at the University Of  Chicago Medical Center, George Bakris, MD.  The study group was 50 individuals with a misaligned Atlas vertebrae and high blood pressure.  A misaligned Atlas is determined by specific instrumentation, x-ray measurements, and a chiropractor who is skilled in determining the misalignment.  Twenty five of the 50 individuals were given the specific Atlas adjustment and the other twenty five were given a sham adjustment which had no affect on the Atlas.  Neither group knew if they were receiving the actual adjustment.  The doctor who performed the adjustments for this study was Marshall Dickholtz Sr., an 84 year old chiropractor who owns Chiropractic Health Center, in Chicago.  Unlike other adjustments of the spine where joints interlock with one another and can cause "pops" and "cracks" when adjusted, the Atlas adjustment is mainly a soft tissue adjustment with specific force added which produces no noise or discomfort.  The Atlas relies solely upon soft tissue (muscles and ligaments) to maintain alignment, thereby making it vulnerable to displacement with out pain and can go unnoticed.  This is how the individuals in the study could not tell who was receiving the actual adjustment and ones who were not. 

The Atlas, to chiropractors,is the main fuse box- if we can call it this- to everything in the body.  The base of the brain and all signals that originate from this area has to come through the Atlas.  With just a few millimeters off in any direction and "pinching" of these vital signals, ones health can be affected in many ways.  The authors of the study concluded that measurements of systolic and diastolic readings were made after the adjustment and eight weeks post adjustment.  The results showed a lowering effect that is seen with patients that take two blood pressure lowering drugs together.  That was on average 14 mm Hg on systolic (top number) and  8 mm Hg drop in diastolic (bottom number).  A larger trial involving multiple chiropractors is being planned, and further research is forthcoming.  

For 115 years, chiropractors have seen miracles in their offices by delivering spinal adjustments.  This is just the start of more research to come and how we can better understand the effects of the neurological system on the health of our bodies.  Until next time,  live  life to the fullest!

Millions of people around the world look forward to starting their day with a cup of coffee.  The taste, aroma and the sense of feeling good and refreshed is part of that start.  For me, personally, it is a comfort food, if you can call it food.  With all this said, is coffee a health benefit or a health risk?

Coffee is widely researched and the growing body of scientific research suggests that drinking coffee in moderation (less than 4-5 cups) is safe for healthy adults and can provide health benefits.  Now, let's think about moderation.  Obviously too much of anything is not good for us.  Excessive caffeine intake has been linked to weight gain, increased cortisol levels (anti-stress hormone), stress, and poor sleep.  When speaking of the risks associated with coffee drinking, we are talking about excessive intake of caffeine.  Caffeine or excessive amounts of caffeine, is never good for growing children and that is a topic of discussion for another time.  As for this blog, I am specifically talking to the average adult who drinks coffee in moderation.  While we are on the topic of caffeine, one must keep in mind the other sources of caffeine that can be consumed in other beverages throughout the day including chocolate drinks and chocolate milk, sodas with caffeine and certain over the counter medications.  Now back to the coffee bean.  There is growing research that chorogenic acid, a health-promoting phytonutrient in the coffee berry, has strong antioxidant properties and if drank in moderation, can increase metabolism, which in turn, could help in weight management.  Other benefits that are currently being researched are the effects of coffee on cancer, diabetes, exercise performance, liver function, and Parkinson's disease.  Go to www.positivelycoffee.org and you can get additional information and research associated with the health benefits of drinking coffee.

So go ahead, have a cup of Joe and enjoy the health benefits that are associated with it.  Just remember that moderation is the key.  Until next time, start your day off right with a good ole cup O Joe and live life to the fullest!

What is a Russian Kettlebell Workout?

A year ago, a colleague of mine introduced  me to an amazing workout routine.  I only do it three times per week and I get great results.  It is called kettlebell training. Kettle bells have been around for hundreds of years and originated in Russia.  The first recorded mention of this was in 1704 in a Russian dictionary.  A kettlebell is a Russian hand weight that is shaped like a big cannonball with a handle.  Often made of pure cast iron, they are available in an array of weights and sizes.  The lightest weight is 10 pounds and can go up to over 100 pounds.  

The benefits of kettlebell training on a regular basis include:

•     -The building of endurance.
•     -Improving cardiovascular health.
•     -Toning and strengthening of almost every muscle of the body.
•     -Increases flexibility.
•     -Helps you to shed fat rapidly.
•     -Can be done at home with minimal space and equipment to buy.

The recorded effectiveness of kettlebell exercise is numerous. As a chiropractor who sees patients with back pain on a daily basis I endorse this type of training for core strengthening and increased pelvic flexibility. Now, as with all exercises that you start for the first time, this requires proper instruction and technique.  If kettlebell training is what you want to do, you must first find a certified instructor in Russian Kettlebell training (RKC certified).  This way you can learn the foundation necessary to work out with the proper technique in an effort to minimize injury. I also recommend you buy a cast iron kettlebell that is all one piece, like what you could buy from DragonDoor.com.  The kettlebells available in your local sporting goods stores could fall apart and give you an injury.

So, let’s talk results.  I started Russian Kettlebell training with a body fat index of 20%. Within six months of training, my fat index dropped to 13.6% and my muscle mass improved.  A resting blood pressure of 130/78 is now 106/62.  A diet that includes lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, less fats, less simple carbohydrates and  lean meats such as poultry and fish, will enhance your results.  If you would like more information on kettlebell training, go to dragondoor.com or rapidresultsfitness.net.  Until next time, exercise and eat healthier and live life to the fullest!

I often see patients for various back and neck pain on a daily basis, but a lot of people don’t know that chiropractic care can help them with their knee pain.  Often, when patients seek our services for evaluation and treatment, they will ask if there is anything I can do for their knees.  The answer lies in the evaluation and causative factors which started the knee pain.

KNEE PAIN CAUSES
There has been a lot of research generated on the relationship between the feet and the lower back.  In our profession, we call this relationship a kinematic chain.  In other words, performance of the feet has a direct relationship to the performance of the knees, hips and lower back.  Here is an example: if you were to stand with your fingertips on the head of your hips (this is where the hip attaches in the pelvis), and wiggle your foot just a little, you could feel the movement in the hip joint.  With slight movement in your foot, you could feel this effect on your hips.  So when I evaluate patients for knee problems, I always start with their feet.  The biggest culprit for degeneration in the knees, is flat feet or as we call it “pronation”.  Flat feet cause the knee to internally rotate more than is needed, and when we do this continually over the years, it creates the abnormal forces that cause “wear and tear” to the knees causing degeneration.  Now remember the example with wiggling the feet and how it affects the hips?  Well, this abnormal force that is wearing down the knee joints will eventually start causing problems in the hips and lower back because of this kinematic relationship.

KNEE PAIN TREATMENT
So, how can I help? I’m glad you asked!  First, we evaluate the feet for pronation (flat feet).  If pronation is present, we recommend custom made orthotics to support the arches so that abnormal stress is taken off the knee.  After this, we correct any abnormal joint movement in the knees, hips and lower back with chiropractic care.  With this protocol, and additional physiotherapy, most patients will see some type of results.  Unfortunately chiropractic cannot fix all knee problems.  If this is the case, a proper a referral to the orthopedic doctor is initiated.  We have experienced success with patellar tracking issues, mild arthritis, and ITB syndromes to name a few.  I always recommend conservative care first before painful injections and knee surgery, if there is a chance to improve it structurally.  As always, a structural problem requires a structural specialist and that is what we do here at Chiropractic & Wellness Center.   Until next time, live life to the fullest!     

The percentage of people (age 15 years and older) who live in the United States and participate in exercise avtivities on an average day is about 16%.  This leaves over 80% of the population watching television and becoming unhealthy.  This is all concluded by a study done by the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

Walking has become the most popular exercise activity.  About 30% of those who exercise daily, walk.  People aged 15-24 years, were more likely to participate in team sports such as basketball, football and soccer, than those 25 years and older.

The benefits of exercise are enormous.  Obesity, high blood pressure, Type II diabetes, to name just a few, could be managed by just exercising more and getting fit.  If we could reverse this statistic and exercise more than we watch television, just think how much healthier our nation would become.

"What fits your busy schedule better, exercising 1 hour a day

  or being dead 24 hours a day?"

So set a goal for this year to exercise at least 20 minutes a day.  Vary your activities so you don't get bored.  Invest in your health now so you can enjoy the health benefits of tomorrow. Get your family involved.  Take them for a hike, go to the park, run with them in the yard. Children will emulate their parents.  Statistically, in a family where mom and dad exercise routinely, the children will want to become more involved in sports and exercise as well.

Do it for yourself, your family and those who love you.  Improve your health with exercise and take control of your life.  Give your body the exercise it needs and live life to the fullest!

As we travel through life, the journey can, at times, become very stressful.  Wars in various parts of the world, earthquakes, tsunamis, social issues of persecution and world hunger, surround us daily through technology.  Every where you look, television, news networks, radio, and internet, we are reminded of these things on a minute to minute basis.  This does not include our own personal stress that evolves out of our daily activities of raising our children, providing for our family and the balance of work and play.  And then, the economic recession and future of our country, I don’t know about you, I feel stressed just writing this!  So let’s all breathe…..relax…..

Meditation can be a powerful tool for reducing stress on our bodies.  Noticed how I said it can reduce stress on our bodies?  Emotional stress can be just as bad, if not more so, than physical stress on our bodies.  Our body responds with increased muscle tension, joint and body pain, headaches, physiological changes such as high blood pressure and stomach pain.
As a chiropractor, I see how this affects people’s lives daily.  Chiropractors are skilled experts in dealing with people who are trying to achieve greater levels of health.  We have good results dealing with the physical ailments that accompany emotional stress, but true health care is only as good as the participation one has in his or her health.  Meditation is just one of those tools that you can use daily to participate in your health care.  No expensive equipment to buy, just ten minutes of your day, and a quiet place to practice it. 
So here we go….sit quietly.  Close the door and turn off the cell phone.  Make sure your family knows that this is your time.  Just sit for ten minutes quietly and allow yourself to relax.  Find a place within yourself to focus, like a place that brings you extreme joy, and let yourself go.  Ten minutes daily will help.  You will find that you can think better, feel better and you will look forward to this time daily to emerge refreshed and revitalized.  Until next time, live life to the fullest!