REPOST: Chiropractic Care Could Help With Existing Health Problems

Not many people turn to chiropractic care to make their aches and pains heal. However, this article from Huffington Post discusses the benefits of chiropractic care to a number of existing health problems.

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Chiropractic treatment for health problems is not always considered when it comes to healing, but you may be surprised to find that relief from some of most chronic pains could be helped by a few chiropractic sessions.

As an alternative form of medical treatment, chiropractic care is generally geared towards helping patients with back, neck and joint pain. Dr. Hamza Saif, an Ottawa-based chiropractor at the Hunt Chiropractic Clinic, says the treatment can also improve symptoms and effects of common illnesses to improve overall quality of life.

“While we don’t claim to cure organic diseases, we can improve the quality of life of patients dealing with them,” said Saif.

Saif gives the example of asthma, which often causes mid-back pain due to constant coughing. Chiropractors can’t cure asthma, but they can relieve the back and muscle pain caused by it, he says.

According to the Canadian Chiropractic Association, the treatment is gradually gaining popularity. The association reports that 53 per cent of Canadians had visited a chiropractor for treatment at some point in their lives in 2009, compared to 49 per cent in 2005.

Even as it gains popularity, there is pushback to the alternative treatment by medical doctors and patients alike, who say there is little medical evidence for chiropractic solutions. One of the major risks often associated with chiropractic care is the potential for increasing the risk of strokes. However, a study published by the European Spine Journal in 2008, found that there were no links between the two.

Saif says much of the controversy surrounding chiropractic treatment is often due to a lack of education, especially in older doctors who weren’t formally taught it in medical school (chiropractors get their degrees at separate chiropractic colleges).

“The best place to start is a consultation with a licensed chiropractor. Skeptical people are usually the ones who haven’t seen a chiropractor.”

As Dr. Saif mentioned, chiropractic treatments won't cure anything, but they might able to work in conjunction with other medical care to help. Check out these ailments that have been found to benefit from a chiropractor:

Migraines: According to migraines.com, a number of studies have proved that chiropractic treatment can lower the frequency and pain intensity of migraines.

Cerebral Palsy: Individuals with cerebral palsy often have “dysfunctional muscles”, which cause other muscles to work extra and strain. Chiropractic treatment can help reduce stress on these muscles, says Saif.

Parkinson’s Disease: While it’s unknown exactly what causes this disease, studies have linked it to accidents causing head traumas and spinal misalignments, according to Yourspine.com. Chiropractic treatments can correct these misalignments and remove pressure on surrounding nerves.

Arthritis Pain Relief: Saif says most people over 50-years-old have some signs of joint degeneration, which causes pain and stiffness. Chiropractic adjustments can help joints feel less sore so they move more freely.

High Blood Pressure: According to Saif, studies have shown that just one chiropractic session can keep blood pressure lowered for several weeks. He recommends seeing a NUCCA specialist, a specific type of chiropractor that deals with upper neck adjustments.

Cancer Pain Relief: The effects of cancer treatments like chemotherapy can often leave patients feeling extreme fatigue and soreness to the point they are bedridden. With chiropractic adjustments, some of this pain can be relieved so they have a better quality of life. says Saif.

Strengthen Immune System: While there is little research to prove this, Saif says studies are being done to prove what many patients already feel. Regular chiropractic patients often report better overall immune systems and wellness levels.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome often feel itching, burning or soreness in parts of their body, after doing constant, repetitive movements. Chiropractors can help by providing posture-related advice, suggesting stretches and doing adjustments, says Saif.

Reduce Anxiety And Depression: Although chiropractic care doesn’t claim to treat the physiological effects of these mental illnesses, Saif says it can help with physical effects such as lethargy, which often causes soreness and pain, worsening physiological problems.

Learn more about the benefits of chiropractic techniques by following this Dr. George Gertner Facebook page.

REPOST: Lighten the load: Watch the weight of school backpacks warn doctors, parents

In the article below, Carolyn Kimmel of Pennlive.com discusses how a heavy backpack can contribute to poor posture and possibly cause severe back pain.

Cristina Speicher makes sure her daughter's backpack can zip around the heavy load she will carry to school this fall. (Carolyn Kimmel, Special to PennLive) | Image Source: pennlive.com

As a baggage handler for an airline, Cristina Speicher expects to heft around heavy suitcases.

What the Dillsburg mom didn't expect was the weight she felt when she picked up her high-school-aged son's backpack last year.

"He only had two textbooks in there and the rest was folders and I thought it was too heavy," Speicher, 39, said. "He doesn't have time between classes to stop at his locker so he carries it with him all day. He doesn't think it's heavy, but I do."

Speicher also has two middle school-aged daughters whose backpacks are too heavy for her liking, but her pleas to get them to lighten the load fall on deaf ears. They aren't allowed to carry their backpacks to classes and get locker stops throughout the day, but they still have to carry the heavy packs to and from home and school, she said.

To help in any way she can, Speicher makes sure to buy backpacks that are durable and well-made, even if they cost more.

"My rule is the book bag has to zip shut. If it's lightweight and you pack too much in, it rips when you zip it," she said.

Risk for back, posture problems

On a long list of back-to-school supplies that includes anything from mechanical pencils to trappers and folders, one item deserving of more attention is a backpack.

Choosing the right backpack – and using it correctly – can have health implications that could last far beyond the notebooks and supplies it carries.

"Backpacks have been shown in research to pose risks to children's health from repetitious use," saidDr. Christine Curran of Cornerstone Chiropractic in Dillsburg. Studies have shown nearly three-quarters of children who use backpacks report having back pain, she said.

In addition to back pain, wearing a heavy backpack can lead to unhealthy posture changes, aggravation of other underlying back issues and increased potential for falling due to changes in how children balance with heavy weight on their backs, Curran said.

Scoliosis, an irregular curvature of the spine that can become more serious as a child gets older, is not caused or made worse by heavy backpacks, said Dr. Cynthia Elsner, a pediatrician with Hummelstown-based Pediatric Associates, which is a member of PinnacleHealth Medical Group.

"The most common problem would be back pain,'' Elsner said. "A lot of kids do complain of back pain, but it's usually sports-related."

Elsner added that a heavy backpack could aggravate sports-related back pain.

A history of back problems makes Monaghan Township resident Tammy Whitaker, 41, more aware of her children's heavy backpacks. She has spondylolisthesis, which is displacement of the vertebra.

"Spondylolisthesis can be hereditary and is usually not noticed unless another injury has occurred.  With this being hereditary, I worry about my children developing it especially carrying the weight of their backpacks through school all day and home on the bus," she said.

Last year, her 15-year-old son, Cordell, was having back problems and had to do physical therapy because the muscles in his back were so tight.

"I found out after this that he carries every subject in his backpack all day all year because his locker is not convenient to where his classes are," she said. "I do not know for sure if the heavy backpack caused the back problems, but I am sure it didn't help."

According to a study published in the Journal of School Health, greater relative backpack weight is associated with complaints of upper– and mid–back pain and also with lost school time, lost school sports time, and greater chiropractic utilization.

Still, Curran said, using a backpack is preferable to other carrying bag options, if the backpack is used correctly.

Shop smart, wear it right

The first step is buying the proper one for your child's size.

"Make sure the pack is a good size for your child. The lower part of the pack should rest in the lower back area with padded shoulder straps that are tightened appropriately," Curran said.

Then, make sure your kids wear the pack correctly, doctors said.

"Our bodies are meant to do things symmetrically when it comes to carrying things on our backs," said Dr. James Mosher, pediatrician with JDC Pediatrics in Mechanicsburg. "Kids should always use both shoulder straps and place heavier items close to the center of the back that's the center of gravity."

At the store, he advises choosing a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps, a waist strap, a padded back and one that is light-weight.

Just as important as the backpack is what goes into it – and less is definitely better.

"As a rule, a backpack should never be more than 10 to 20 percent of a child's body weight," Mosher said. "Anything heavier can cause muscle injury, pain and strain."

Curran suggests that parents keep the pack at 10 percent or less of the child's weight – and monitor the weight weekly.

"Heavy packs have been shown to decrease disc height in the lower back in children," she said. "One study showed that, of 1,403 school children analyzed, 61.4 percent had backpacks exceeding 10 percent of their body weight. Those carrying the heaviest backpacks had a 50 percent higher risk of back pain. Girls presented a higher risk of back pain compared with boys."

Enlist school's help

Curran advises parents to ask their child's school for a second set of textbooks to be kept at home if the child is repeatedly carrying home books.

"Parents who have requested this note for children under care in my office have always had an easy time obtaining that set of books," she said.

Pat Franko, principal at Dillsburg Elementary School, said the trend is toward electronic text books, which reduces the load that kids carry back and forth from school to home.

"I only had one parent throughout my tenure as principal who brought it up to me as an issue for her son,'' Franko said. "We resolved it by assuring that he had access to the books online or that he completed any work for which a book was needed at school so he didn't have to carry the heavy books home."

Parents should pay attention to signs that they need to check their child's pack, such as trouble getting the pack on and off easily, abnormal posture due to leaning to one side or head leading in front of the body while wearing the backpack, Curran said.

Although packs with wheels are an alternative, Curran said she doesn't recommend them.

"Some parents think this is the answer to a heavy backpack,'' she said. "But the child must still hoist the pack up and down multiple times daily, adding another repetitive stressor."


For more information on chiropractic care, visit this Dr. George Gertner blog.

A primer on chiropractic therapy for back pain

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Chiropractic care is considered an alternative method of treating certain illness through the manipulation of the spine and other surrounding structures. Since it does not require any form of surgery, it is non-invasive and generally lasts for only a few minutes. Chiropractic therapy is touted to be an effective treatment for lower back pain, neck pain, and other similar conditions.

Conventional treatments for lower back pain are generally self-applied, for instance, the use of hot compresses or the taking of pain relievers. However, more people are considering taking a step further by visiting their local chiropractor. These sessions are used to augment treatment and provide faster and longer relief against back pain.

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Chiropractic therapy for back pain involves spinal manipulation. Controlled pressure, done by the hands or through a device, is placed on target areas. This usually involves the chiropractor extending the patient’s joint to the end of its range and lightly thrusting it. This is known in the industry as “adjustment.” Adjustments realign bones to make them straighter. There should be no pain from the manipulation.

Depending on the severity of the condition, sessions could last for an hour and may require several meetings to fully treat the pain. Usually treatments last several weeks. A chiropractor may suggest that sessions are started a few short times per week, with each session lasting for only 10 to 20 minutes. As the condition gets better, sessions could be lessened to once a week. It is recommended that patients consult with their chiropractor to discuss treatment sessions and goals of the therapy. Those who have never had chiropractic care may feel slightly stiff after a session but this will disappear after a few days.

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With more than a decade’s worth of experience, Dr. George Gertner of Upper Cervical Chiropractic of New York (UCC-NY) knows how to safely and effectively treat conditions such as back pain using the latest chiropractic techniques. Learn more about him and his expertise here.

Back pain: A universal problem

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Back pain, specifically lower back pain, is a disability that has been experienced by a lot of people all over the world. No matter what race, geographic location, occupation, or gender, back pain has caused a lot of distress that the condition is now considered the leading cause of disability worldwide.

Lower back pain has caused disabilities more than any other physical conditions. It has affected at least one out of every 10 people in the world, and it has become a very common condition among the elderly. It was also proven that lots of cases of lower back pain are work-related, but for the majority of other cases, the cause is still unclear.

Studies have also shown that back pain often causes lost workdays in the U.S. And that the it affects more men than women.

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Meanwhile, a recent research revealed the prevalence rate of back pain was lowest in the Caribbean and Latin America. Researchers suggest that the "higher levels of exercise, shorter height, higher pain thresholds, and less access to health insurance" may be among the reasons why the regions have lower incidences of back pain.

It should be noted that lower back pain is not normally linked to any life-threatening illnesses. However, with the number of cases growing all over the world, it can still become a big issue as the pain could range from being bearable to incapacitating to emotionally distressing.

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For more than a decade, Dr. George Gertner has been helping patients find relief from various conditions, including back pain and other spinal problems. Learn more about his practice by visiting this website.