San Diego Chiropractor

As a San Diego Chiropractor, I counsel many individuals who come to my clinic who want to lose weight. I know how hard it can be, and I also know how important it is to lose those extra pounds. What’s the harm in being just a few pounds overweight? Over the years, extra weight can add up to a large number of health challenges from heart and pulmonary diseases and diabetes to back challenges and joint degeneration. Extra pounds put undue stress on organs, like the heart, as well as on joints in the low back, hips, and knees. Regrettably,more than half (62%) of men and women in the U.S. are overweight or obese, according to recent studies. That is a very significant percentage and a sizable problem (no pun intended).

Though it is able to compensate to some degree the human body has not evolved to transport surplus poundage in the form of body fat. Just an additional 20 or 30 pounds can literally overload and overburden the joints and muscles of the body. Added weight in the belly, for instance, requires that the body compensate (counterbalance the weight) by tilting the pelvis forward. The tilt puts pressure on the joints of the low back. Joint compression impedes nerve activity and causes painful inflammation. Most men and women who have a heavy midsectionfeel substantial pain in their low back generated by  a pinched sciatic nerve or spinal misalignments that restrict nerves as a result of weight-bearing stresses. If left untreated, misaligned vertebra not only continue to irritate the degenerative changes that have taken place already, but can create new arthritic changes in the spine in the future.

How can chiropractic help? To begin with the obvious, a healthy body weight is necessary in order for the musculoskeletal system to function in the way it is built to. That said, in addition, chiropractic adjustments relieve nerve compression in the spine and help to get motion back into the joints of the musculoskeletal system, particularly in the low back, hips, and knees. And, naturally exercise and physical activity are a lot easier, and more beneficial for the body, when the the joints have good movement and the spine is aligned. Not only will exercise help with weight reduction, but it can actually inhibit degenerative changes as the body ages.

Healthcare professionals, like your chiropractor, can talk to you about your diet and exercise choices. In addition to helping people suffering from back pain and joint inflammation, chiropractors offer proficient advice on the kinds of lifestyle modifications that can help an individual to stay healthier, more vigorous, and more active through the years. Arthritis and immobility due to aging don’t have to be unavoidable. The structure of the human body is intended to carry a person through an entire lifetime of pain-free movement.

So, if those extra pounds have been sneaking up on you, and they’ve turned into a surprising load of pain, as your San Diego chiropractor and someone who understands, I can help. Make an appointment today!

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For an example, arthritis. Most of us would agree that, with the exception of pharmaceuticals, conventional medicine does little to take care of this age-related affliction. What is the basis for such a limited approach? It is because most medical professionals treat the symptoms of arthritis. The chiropractic method is to look for the root of the affliction and relieve the pain at its source.  For over a hundred years, chiropractors, like your Santa Clara Chiropractor, have been helping individuals suffering from back pain and other challenges caused by arthritic changes in the musculoskeletal system.

Arthritic changes occur as your body ages because, over time, wear of various joints takes place as a consequence of repetitive stresses, and years of incorrect gait, improper posture, and insufficient movement. Chiropractic treatment restores motion back into your joints and reduces pain, and it readjusts any vertebral misalignment that may be causing irritation and restriction. In addition, did you know that misaligned vertebra, along with causing arthritic changes in the spine and escalating pain, can also weaker your resistance and immunity? It’s true, and this might be one of the reasons why it may seem to you that as you age you experience more health issues and that it frequently takes longer for you to feel better again. According to research done on men and women, those who received regular chiropractic care stayed healthier. In fact, you could say that, as you get older, chiropractic treatment is good for what ails you!

When it comes to the health of the musculoskeletal system, chiropractors are highly knowledgeable whether it’s the small, growing frame of an infant or the full-grown body of a mature adult.  Your chiropractor is experienced in working with the aging process  of the body and has exceptional observational and diagnostic skills that aid in detecting spinal misalignments and joint problems. In fact, a chiropractic examination can frequently reveal certain age-related conditions before they’ve begun to create noticeable pain. Moreover, your Santa Clara Chiropractor can evaluate your posture and analyze your gait to identify faulty patterns that might generate further arthritic changes.

So, if feeling your age has become a painful experience, make an appointment with your Santa Clara Chiropractor today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Hoewisch

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Chicago Chiropractor and Arthritis

Introduction

Arthritis is more often than not confusing to most suffers.When some people hear this word they contemplate a future with crippled and twisted joints.  However “arthritis” is a very general word that comprises many different conditions from the benign to the severe. For our purposes we will confine this discussion to the most common forms of arthritis.

Osteoarthritis and Chiropractic Care

Osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis, or degenerative joint disease (DJD) are the names for the most common form of arthritis, which is also called, spondylosis, if it occurs in the spine. This form of arthritis is not limited to humans, but occurs in all mammals, and is due to the degradation of the cartilage that lines the joint surfaces. Degenerative changes in the joint takes place when joint cartilage is harmed and causes stress to the sensitive bone tissue that is normally preserved by the cartilage. Sometimes, osteophytes, or bone spurs, can occur when the bone around the joint proliferates. Bone spurs produce painful inflammation to other tissues surrounding the joint aggravating the already grievous condition.

As a rule areas of the body that develop degenerative joints are in the spine, particularly in the lower neck and lower back, the knees, the hips and the fingers. Previous trauma, certain occupations and activities, weight, diet, and heredity all appear to impact both the onset and severity of DJD.

Pain and/or stiffness in the affected joints are primary indicators of DJD. If the weight-bearing joints, such as the hips or knees are involved, ones mobility can be affected especially in the more advanced stages of the condition.  In some cases, if the joint is sufficiently worn and the person can no longer walk without severe pain, the joints are surgically replaced with synthetic devices. Of course, one should make an effort to manage the condition early on in ones life to avoid the need for surgery.

The best management of DJD is, of course, prevention that involves taking care of ones joints at an early age.

• Making sure that all injuries to joints are correctly treated will help to avoid future problems.
• People involved in occupations that necessitate standing or walking should wear appropriate shoes that give good support and shock absorption.
• Excess body weight can create increased stress upon the weight bearing joints of the body.

• Avoid kneeling on hard surfaces, such as when doing housework, as this can put strain and produce knee pain.

• Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables as they have natural vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are essential for the health of the joints, as well as the rest of the body.

Recent studies have shown that long-term use of the nutritional supplement, Glucosamine, can not only assist with DJD symptoms, but can possibly help to rebuild joint cartilage.

Chiropractic adjustments aid in the restoration of proper mobility and function to the spinal joints. Chiropractic care is not only a smart idea, but extremely effective in relieving the debilitating pain of arthritis. Your Chicago chiropractor is highly skilled when it comes to arthritic pain relief. Other forms of chiropractic care may include joint mobilization, massage, ultrasound, cold laser, or electro-therapy, all of which may be helpful in the relief of painful and stiff joints. Occasionally a brace is used to help stabilize the joint in an effort to alleviate pain. Movement is vital to the maintenance of arthritic joints. A chiropractor often suggests gentle, mobilizing activities such as stretching, yoga, and tai chi can be beneficial.

Gout

An increased level of uric acid in the blood and the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints cause gouty arthritis. Generally, gouty arthritis is characterized by acute pain and swelling of the joints in the big toes, knees, ankles and wrists. Many people who develop gout are predisposed through heredity, though episodes are more often than not brought on by binge eating of the wrong foods, when dehydrated or fasting, or after a major surgery or illness. Foods that need to be avoided have a natural substance called Purines that are metabolized in the liver to form uric acid. Individuals with this condition cannot properly metabolize uric acid, thus the accumulation in the bloodstream and the ensuing joint problems. The foods most associated with high purine content are: red meat especially organ meat, certain seafood, legumes, mushrooms and other foods as well. There are other dietary restrictions that must be followed including avoiding alcohol.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of systemic origin. The primary cause is not known, but it is thought to be due to a problem with the immune system. The most common joints affected are the small joints of the hands and fingers, the feet, knees, and shoulder, although other areas of the body can be affected as well. The condition is most often associated with morning stiffness that is aggravated by motion. Further symptoms can include general malaise and fatigue, and in its more advanced stages other systems of the body may be affected. There are definitive blood tests to help identify Rheumatoid arthritis that can be easily run. Management includes medication and vitamin and diet therapy, as well as chiropractic treatments. In addition, joint mobilization and modalities such as ultrasound, heat, electro-therapy and massage can help with the pain and stiffness associated the condition. Your Chicago chiropractor is dedicated to supporting sufferers in getting relief from the pain and suffering associated with arthritis.

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San Diego Chiropractor: Chiropractic and Arthritis

Do you suffer from painful arthritis? Do you also have a problem with your weight?  If you do, you are probably having back pain not only as the result of arthritis, but also as the eventuality of the strain your weight is putting on your spine.  The body was not constructed to carry around extraneous weight in the form of body fat.  If you are carrying around only an additional 20 or 30 pounds of extra weight, your spine, which supports the body, is being put under a great deal of strain. This kind of stress can cause irregularities of the vertebral column. These misaligned vertebra can generate arthritic changes in the spine and persist in aggravating the degenerative changes that are present already. Furthermore, your body may counteract in other ways, for instance your hips moving forward or tilting to support the extra poundage.  This can pinch the sciatic nerve, which is extremely painful.

A current survey by the NPD Group, a leading market research company based in Rosemont, Ill., indicates that approximately 62% of adults and 34% of adolescents are overweight or obese. The ubiquitousness of arthritis escalates with accumulating weight. Research suggests that cultivating a healthy weight reduces the risk of developing arthritis in the first place and may decelerate degenerative progression. A weight decrease of just 11 pounds can decrease the occurrence (incidence) of new knee osteoarthritis and would do a great deal to reduce back pain as well.

A good diet and appropriate exercise is mandatory for an individual who is sincere about overcoming their back pain, knee pain, and joint pain in other regions of the body.  Even though it’s an unmistakable solution, it genuinely is the only action for you to take in order to get out of pain and get your life back. 

First of all, let’s discuss the topic of dieting.  Most diets (and there are a large number to choose from) can be temporarily helpful.  Obviously, if you were to lose weight for keeps, the diet industry would lose a regular customer!  In order for you to lose weight efficiently, you must eat a healthy diet and also to cut your calories so that you use more calories than you take in.  Losing a lot of pounds too fast is not only unhealthy, but perilous. A healthy weight loss rate is about 2 pounds every week in order for it to work well.

Research has proved that exercise and physical activity not only decreases pain and improves function, but actually delays disability. No less than 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, a minimum of 3 days a week, has been shown to be effective. Even at 10-minute intervals such movement is beneficial.

Chiropractic adjustments are a highly beneficial way to get mobility back in the joints of your spine and other areas of, and can be a good first step before starting an exercise program. A well-aligned spine makes exercise and physical activity a lot easier and will slow down arthritic degenerative changes. The Annals of Internal Medicine reported the results of a survey of 232 people who had arthritis and were under a rheumatologist’s care.  Of those people, 63% responded to the survey by saying they were taking advantage of some kind of “complementary care” as named by the study.  Of those individuals, 31% were trying chiropractic. Possibly the most impressive statistic was that 73% of those utilizing chiropractic found it effective.  Answering why they’d tried the non-medical chiropractic care, those surveyed offered a number of reasons: 1) to curb pain, 2) they’d been told that it helps, 3) they felt certain that it is safe, 4) it had aided someone they knew, and 5) because their prescription medication wasn’t stopping the pain.

Chiropractors, also called doctors of chiropractic, have been helping individuals suffering from back pain due to arthritis and other arthritic conditions for over a hundred years. Your San Diego chiropractor treats misaligned vertebra that, in addition to creating arthritic pain and degenerative changes in the spine, can decrease resistance and immunity, thus causing new health challenges.

It is always smart to consult a health care professional to get information about diet and exercise. Your chiropractor is a knowledgeable resource for education about the type of lifestyle changes that you will find necessary to help you to manage your arthritis. By the same token, in addition to getting your spine in alignment through gentle adjustments, your chiropractor will analyze any faulty gait patterns or posture irregularities that may be contributing to your arthritic pain.

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One of the most widely misunderstood conditions among patients is arthritis..When some people hear this word they anticipate a future with crippled and twisted joints.  However, many conditions from benign to severe are catalogued under the term, arthritis. For our purposes we will confine this analysis to the most common forms of arthritis.

Osteoarthritis and Chiropractic Care

The most common form of arthritis has many names: osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease (DJD), and spondylosis if it is in the spine. This form of arthritis is not limited to humans, but occurs in all mammals, and is due to the deterioration of the cartilage that protects the joint surfaces. Degenerative changes in the joint happens when joint cartilage is harmed and causes stress to the sensitive bone tissue that is usually guarded by the cartilage. Sometimes the bone around the joint will proliferate and make osteophytes, or what are more commonly called bone spurs. These spurs can cause painful irritation to other tissues adjacent to the joint, in this way complicating the already hurtful condition. 

Usually the areas of the body that develop degenerative joints are in the spine, particularly in the lower neck and lower back, the knees, the hips and the fingers. Everyone may experience DJD at one point in their lives, though previous trauma, ones occupation, activities, weight, diet, and heredity influence the degree of the condition and its onset.

The symptoms of DJD invariably involve some degree of pain and/or stiffness in the body part involved. If the weight-bearing joints, such as the hips or knees are involved, ones mobility can be affected particularly in the more advanced stages of the condition.  In some cases, if the joint is sufficiently worn and the person can no longer walk without severe pain, the joints are surgically replaced with synthetic devices. Of course, one should attempt to manage the condition early on in ones life to avoid the need for surgery.

The best management of DJD is, naturally, prevention that involves taking care of ones joints at an early age.

• One should always make sure that, especially when young, all injuries to joints are properly managed to insure proper healing to avoid future disability.
• Shoes with good support and shock absorption should be worn by those whose jobs necessitate extended periods of standing or walking.
• Weight loss through proper diet will help to lessen stress on weight-bearing body joints.

• Avoid kneeling on hard surfaces, such as when doing housework, as this can put strain and create knee pain.

• The natural vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants included in fruits and vegetables are essential for healthy joints and a healthy body.

Recently there have been some studies that show that the nutritional supplement, Glucosamine, can help with DJD and may actually help rebuild joint cartilage. However, it must be used over an extended period and does not work in all conditions.

Chiropractic adjustments are not only a smart idea, but an efficient treatment for arthritis, and can help to restore proper mobility and function to the spinal joints, thereby giving patients great relief. Your Chicago chiropractor has many of years of expertise in helping people with arthritis pain. In addition, chiropractic modalities such as joint mobilization, ultrasound, cold laser therapy, massage and electro-therapy may be used to aid in the treatment of painful and stiff joints. Occasionally, a brace is necessary to support the joint and relieve pain. Movement is vital to the maintenance of arthritic joints. A chiropractor often suggests gentle, mobilizing activities such as stretching, yoga, and tai chi can be beneficial.

Gout

Gouty arthritis is caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood and the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints. The most common joints are the big toes, the knees, ankles and wrists, and is often characterized by severe pain and swelling. Many people who develop gout are predisposed through heredity, though episodes are usually brought on by binge eating of inflammatory foods, when dehydrated or fasting, or after a major surgery or illness. Foods that must be avoided have a natural substance called Purines that are metabolized in the liver to form uric acid. Those with this condition cannot efficiently metabolize uric acid, thus the buildup in the bloodstream and the resultant joint problems. The foods most associated with high purine content are: red meat especially organ meat, certain seafood, legumes, mushrooms and other foods as well. There are other dietary restrictions that must be followed including avoiding alcohol.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of systemic origin. The direct cause is not known, but it is thought to be connected to a problem with the immune system. The most common joints affected are the small joints of the hands and fingers, the feet, knees, and shoulder, while other areas of the body can be affected as well. The condition is usually associated with morning stiffness that is aggravated by motion. Many times people complain of general malaise and fatigue, and the disease in its more advanced forms can affect many of the other body systems. There are definitive blood tests to help identify Rheumatoid arthritis that can be easily run. Management includes medication and vitamin and diet therapy, as well as chiropractic manipulations. In addition, joint mobilization and modalities such as ultrasound, heat, electro-therapy and massage can help with the pain and stiffness associated the condition. Your Chicago chiropractor is dedicated to assisting people in getting relief from the pain and suffering associated with arthritis.

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