Monday, September 27, 2010

Exercise of the Week


Standing TFL Stretch  / tensor fasciae latae

Difficulty: Moderate


(Consult your chiropractor before doing this or any other exercise.)
Start: Standing behind a chair, turned sideways. Lean against
chair to maintain balance.

image
Exercise: Place foot closest to chair behind other. Keeping hind
leg straight, slide foot further away from chair – until you feel a
light pull on outside of hip. image

Hold for 30-60 seconds. Switch

 image For more information on TFL / IT Band Syndrom, we found this site with some great information.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Curcumin – A Golden Healer from India


It’s revered in one of the world’s most ancient health systems as a
miracle healer: curcumin – the bright yellow ingredient found in the spice turmeric. In the 5,000 year old system of Indian Ayurvedic medicine, practitioners prescribed curcumin for a host of health problems, believing it could cleanse the body of disease. Other folk medical traditions use curcumin for treating infections and wounds. Now, modern scientific research shows its
beneficial properties for treating a variety of diseases. Curcumin is shown to act as an antioxidant, antibiotic and antiviral ingredient.
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Curcumin and Cancer


An intriguing fact about Indian health is that the most common cancers found in North America (colon, prostate, breast and lung) are ten times lower in India, where curcumin is widely used
in food. Could this be an indication of curcumin’s therapeutic effect on cancer? As scientists have conducted more research into this ingredient, it would seem there is a likely connection.
Curcumin may play a role in the regulation of hormones as they relate to cancer. Scientists researching colon cancer discovered that a gastrointestinal hormone called neurotensin accelerates the growth and spread of colon cancer cells.
Experiments with curcumin show that it may inhibit neurotensin and help stop cancer cells from travelling to other parts of the body.
Postmenopausal women who have undergone certain hormone replacement therapies are at greater risk of developing malignant progestinaccelerated breast tumors. Research conducted by the University of Missouri indicates that curcumin may lower the risk of this cancer for women who have undergone hormone replacement therapy.
Aside from hormones, curcumin also acts on other biological functions to prevent cancer from developing. It’s believed curcumin represses a pro-inflammatory protein in the body
that is linked to cancer.
And curcumin may actually be able to instruct cancer cells to kill themselves, as scientists uncovered while studying the deadly skin cancer melanoma.
There is one big disadvantage with natural curcumin – it’s difficult for your body to fully absorb because gastric juice in your stomach destroys almost all of it.
But scientists are experimenting with placing curcumin in tiny sacs called lipsomes, which consist of matter similar in structure to cell membranes

Researchers discovered this process helps quadruple the absorption rate of curcumin by the body.
Other cancer researchers delivered curcumin in nanoparticles during an in vitro study involving ovarian cancer. This method allowed a better delivery of curcumin to cancerous tumors. It
made the tumors less resilient against chemotherapy and radiation so these traditional treatments became more effective in treating this type of cancer.

Pure Gold for the Brain


But cancer is not the only disease were curcumin may provide a bounty of health benefits. There’s some intriguing research into this ingredient’s impact on neurological problems like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
When combined with vitamin D, curcumin slashed the levels of amyloid plaques, harmful substances found in patients suffering from these brain diseases.
Scientists believe curcumin actively stimulates the immune system. Specifically, it increases the ability of scavenger
white blood cells known as macrophages to absorb more of the
dangerous amyloid plaques.

Stops Liver Damage


In a study released earlier this year, curcumin helped delay liver damage caused by progressive inflammatory diseases, such as cirrhosis. When affected by these diseases, the liver’s bile ducts become inflamed and blocked. The researchers looked at
blood and tissue samples from mice with this type of liver problem before and after the study. Mice that were given curcumin had significantly less inflammatory damage to the liver
compared to mice that were not given the ingredient.

Safe for Most People


Curcumin seems to have few side effects, although it may cause diarrhea and nausea in dosages higher than 2 grams. It may also interfere with iron absorption in people with certain health conditions. Curcumin may provide maximum health effects as an oil solution rather than in powder form, which seems to be destroyed more quickly by stomach acid.

 

 

Disclaimer: Information contained in this Wellness Express newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Can Chiropractic Help Rib Cage Pain?

Pain in the rib cage area is a very common occurrence. Because the ribs
articulate with both the back of the body (with the vertebrae) and the front
(with the sternum), joint irritation can show up in either location. In addition,
the rib cage surrounds a number of vital organs, so inflammation or disease
in any of these organs can cause pain to the chest or the rib cage.
Where can rib cage pain come from?
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1. Joint Pain


Since the rib creates a joint with the sternum, and two separate joints with
the vertebrae, pain due to subluxations can be located in the front or back of the rib cage. It’s usually localized pain, achy or sharp, painful to the touch and
relieved by rest. There may be swelling over the area of the joint irritation.
Postural alterations are often contributing factors for rib subluxations.
Rounded shoulders and tension in the postural muscles can push or pull the ribs out of their normal, relaxed position. Taking a deep breath often increases the pain, as the ribs expand with the lungs.
Chiropractic adjustments are particularly effective with this condition, and often a single trip to your chiropractor will decrease the rib pain significantly.

2. Trauma


Accidents involving impact to the ribs can cause fractures, dislocations,
contusions sprains or strains to the rib cage structure.
If you suffer an acute injury involving the rib cage, your chiropractor will first
assess you. If he or she determines the injury is likely a rib fracture, your
chiropractor may recommend you visit your local hospital for medical attention.
What if it’s not a rib fracture? You will be advised to ice the injured area, rest for a couple of days, and wait for the immediate inflammation to subside.
If the rib is subluxated in the front or back of the rib cage, your chiropractor
will often be able to accurately reset the rib into its proper position. This will
help decrease your pain and increase your rate of recovery.

3. Nerve Pain


There are nerves that travel between the ribs, called intercostal nerves,
originating in your spine and crossing the entire circumference of your rib
cage to end up at your sternum. Anything that can irritate these nerves can cause
pain between the ribs. Two of the most common causes of nerve irritation are
subluxed costovertebral joints and shingles - a viral infection of the nerves
near the spine. One of the easiest ways to tell if you are experiencing an outbreak of shingles is to look for small blister-like bumps on the skin in the area of pain.
For shingles, your physician may recommend anti-viral medication.
However, if it’s a rib subluxation that’s irritating the costovertebral joint, your
chiropractor can definitely help alleviate this problem.

4. Organ Pain


Multiple organs can be the source of rib cage pain, but the most common
reason for chest pain is angina (heart pain). The pain caused by heart stress
is typically located near the sternum, more to the left than right, and may
also travel into the left arm, the jaw or the back. Pressure or heaviness over the
rib cage may be the dominant symptom. Angina is not relieved by rest, but is
aggravated by physical exertion. If you think you may be experiencing angina,
or a heart-attack, call 911 immediately. Another urgent medical emergency
that can cause rib cage pain is a pulmonary embolism, triggered by a blood
clot (thrombosis) originating in your leg. Be aware that a sudden shortness
of breath and chest pain following a long trip by plane or car may be signs
of this condition. It’s important to call 911 right away.
Other sources of rib cage pain can include pneumonia or pleurisy in the
lungs; stomach ulceration; heartburn or other esophageal conditions like
cancer; gall bladder stones/inflammation.

Your chiropractor is trained similar to
your medical doctor in the diagnosis of all disease. So it’s important to share
with your chiropractor as much information as possible related to the
symptoms you are experiencing in the rib cage. This will help your chiropractor
determine whether your problem can be helped with a chiropractic adjustment, or if it would best for you to be treated by a medical specialist

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Back Pack Smarts!

Please come and see us to help fit your child for a proper fit.  In the mean time, we found some great tips to help you and your child get ready for school.image

  • The backpack should have wide, padded straps.  A waist belt is a good idea also, especially if it’s going to carry a lot of weight (it takes pressure off the neck and shoulders).
  • Both shoulder straps should be worn to better distribute the weight.
  • The backpack should have good padding on the area that rests against the back.
  • A backpack with several compartments can also distribute the load better.  Pack the heavier items closer to the back.  Pointy and bulky items should not rest against the back (even with padding).
  • The backpack should be positioned so that it hangs just below the shoulders and rests on the hips and pelvis.  If it hangs below this, it will more likely cause strain.
  • There’s no need to carry absolutely everything one owns in a backpack (unless perhaps if there are no lockers).  Frequent trips should be made to the locker to get only the objects that are currently needed.  Other items should be placed back in storage.  Another option would be to store the entire backpack, with the exception of the necessary items.
  • There should be different bags for different activities.  For example, one should carry a separate bag for athletics__there’s no use in carrying workout clothing to chemistry class.  The separate bag should remain in storage until it needs to be used.
  • If possible, separate copies of heavy textbooks should be kept at home, so that they don’t have to travel between home and school every day.
  • Avoid very large backpacks with many compartments.  These will only encourage the user to store more items in them__otherwise, they may look “empty.”
  • Look into current innovations of backpacks:  Saddlebags, backpacks with curved or molded backs and bottoms, inflatable air bags, handles, wheels, and interior rack frames.  Take a look at the Posture Pack. Just make sure they fit in the traditional locker.
  • As parents, try to get involved in making school safer for children.  Encourage the school to give students two sets of heavy textbooks, one for home and one for school.  If there are no lockers, or if they have been taken away, explain to the school the dangers of carrying heavy backpack.

Person's Weight (lb.)

 

 

Persons Weight (lb.) Maximum Backpack Weight (lb.)
60

5

60-75

10

100 15
125 18
150

20

No child should carry a back pack heavier than 25 lbs.

 

Credit –Cornell University