Over the course of our life, we will all, at some point experience low back pain. The American Chiropractic Association has reported that 31 million experience low back pain at any given time.
The following study reveals that waiting for the pain to go away or not seeking care from the appropriate provider may increase the risk of the condition becoming chronic in nature or in some cases disabling.
Chiropractic doctors are trained to determine the cause of the injury to your low back, and have the experience to formulate an accurate and effective diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan.
Our friends at the US Chiropractic Directory have come out with a great research article noting how low back pain and arthritis have a direct link.
In 2010, it was reported that 31 million Americans experience low back pain. More than 20 million Americans experience arthritis or degenerative joint disease, which has been shown to have a direct correlation called the subluxation degeneration.
For example, when a vertebral subluxation takes place (is stuck or out of position) there is a negative neurological effect. The body automatically tries to stabilize the spine and mobilizes calcium to use as cement or glue to prevent further malpositions.
Most of our patients at Back To Action encounter some form of muscle tightness or spasm when dealing with pain. Outcome studies in healthcare are critical. People want answers on the success rate of cancer treatment and open heart surgeries and so do people and patients of chiropractic care.
New research provided by the US Chiropractic Directory gives insight into the effectiveness of the chiropractic adjustment to reduce the spasm of muscles surrounding the spine.
This research and correlation is a breakthrough in understanding and explaining to the general population how chiropractic works and the VERY FAR REACHING implications of the chiropractic adjustment regarding motor and sensory integration. This article gives you the answer to the “why” and gives you the information to open the door to helping many who previously didn’t know that chiropractic had the answers.
This article can specifically target the benefit of chiropractic patients who are elderly, suffer from cerebral palsy or even the athlete.
Dr. Dan Murphy, a renowned international lecturer, is an expert on pain, proprioceptive neurology, injury repair and nutrition combined.
Several clinical studies he points out are influential in the actual impacts of nutritional choices and it effects chiropractic clinical management of trauma, pain, degeneration and mobility.
Here are a few of the studies he highlights:
1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for rheumatoid and/or osteoarthritis conservatively causes 16,500 Americans to bleed to death each year, making that the 15th most common cause of death in the US. (New England Journal of Medicine, 1999)
2. Glutamate and aspartame can cause chronic pain sensitization, and removing from the diet for 4 consecutive months can eliminate all chronic pain symptoms. (Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 2002)
3. Supplementing with vitamin D3 has the potential to reduce cancer deaths in America by 75% (Ann of Epidemiology, 2009)
4. Potentially, the largest exposure of Americans to the neurotoxin mercury is through the consumption of products containing High Fructose Corn Syrup. (Environmental Health, 2009)
With the advancement of technologies like text messaging, video gaming and surfing the internet, increase in use can have dramatic health consequences. One of these consequences can be forward head carriage.
Forward head carriage is the direct result of having your head down for prolonged periods of time while texting, using apps on your Iphone, playing video games on a Nintendo DS or even using an e-reader such as the Amazon Kindle. This postural stress can then produce neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain, and/or numbness and tingling in to the arms/hands. It can even predispose an individual to develop arthritis earlier than they should.
As outlined in the article "Your Body Is Sending You A Message", 6 consequences of forward head posture were revealed.
1. Long-term forward neck posture leads to "long-term muscle strain, disc herniations and pinched nerves".
2. There is a strong association between an increased forward head posture and decreased respiratory muscle strength with can lead to respiratory dysfunction.
3. For every inch of forward head posture, it can increase the weight of the head on the spine by an additional 10 pounds.
4. Loss of the cervical curve stretches the spinal cord 5-7cm and causes disease.
5. 90% of the stimulation and nutrition to the brain is generated by the movement of the spine. 90% of the energy output of the brain is used in relating the physical body to gravity. With forward head posture, your brain will rob energy from your thinking, metabolism, and immune function to deal with abnormal gravity/posture relationships and processing.
6. Forward Head Posture can add up to 30 pounds of abnormal leverage on the cervical spine with can then pull the entire spine out of alignment. This in turn can lead to a reduction of vital capacity of the lungs which can lead to heart and blood vascular disease. The entire gastrointestinal system is effected. The body's pain controlling chemicals (endorphins) can make otherwise non-painful sensations experienced as pain.
Chiropractors are the most well equipped health care providers to either help prevent or diminish the effects of forward head posture. Schedule an appointment today!
