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What’s Up, Doc? A Helper - Not a Healer It is not about the doctor, it is about the person. You are a patient only while you are in the doctor’s office. All the other time, you are your own health care provider. What do you prescribe for your health? Do you listen to what your body is telling you? Do you notice what works well for you and what doesn’t? Do you make the right choices? You can also make the wrong choices. If there are rules of good health conduct, will breaking the rules break down your health? Yes. There are rules that govern how one is to live. Any attempt to ignore, bend, or break these rules will be rewarded with signs and symptoms. It is as simple as that. Breaking the rules will make you sick - now or later. Essentially, that is why you need to see a doctor - when rules have been broken. As a chiropractor, I treat you to help you get well. But really, you come to me to help you get and stay well. What you do for yourself and to your self determines the quality of your healing and of your health. Symptoms The absence of symptoms does not mean the presence of good health. Did you know that sometimes the first sign or symptom of heart disease is an actual heart attack? You can be feeling well, but all along the disease process is going on. That’s the way it is with diabetes and hypertension. When you finally feel sick, keep in mind it didn’t happen over night. These diseases and many others are preventable. It has to do with lifestyle choices. It had to do with breaking rules. Periodic lab work helps to alert you to unfavorable changes that may be going on that may lead to disease. If dietary changes, exercises or changes of habits are necessary, the sooner you begin the more effective your prevention. Subluxations of the spine can be silent too. Your prevention comes with periodic “check ups” just like in dentistry. Chiropractic adjusts the joints of the body to restore movement and position. Degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) is a product of joints that aren’t moving properly and may be out of position. However, it’s not just about misalignment and being stuck, but of nerve interference as a result of the subluxations. Nerve interference reduces the body’s adaptability, giving power to disease processes. That’s not good. Medicine All medicine has side effects. You don’t have to feel symptoms to understand that a medication is affecting you adversely while it helps something else. Is the trade off worth it? In the past few years, we have seen a downfall of medication that was made to help, but now found to have been harmful. For example, statins in cholesterol reducing drugs, hormone replacement therapy drugs, and well known pain-relievers, Viox, Celebrex and Aleve, have either been taken off the market or are receiving new warnings from the FDA. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics has led to super bacterial strains. Effective alternatives are available. You have to make the choice. Posture Mom was right. We need to stand straighter. There isn’t anything good about slouching over. It doesn’t allow us to breathe efficiently, it weakens the back muscles, and it tires us more. For instance, your head weighs like a bowling ball. Imagine the strain on the neck with your head not centered over your shoulders! There’s a likely root of headaches, backache and “humpiness”! Check yourself. Are your shoulders rounded forward with your neck curving in order to lift your chin? Help yourself. Press your blades together, shoulders and head in line and make a double chin. Hold for six seconds, repeat six times, twice daily. Do it sitting if you feel you could lose balance. Subluxations That’s what I treat as a chiropractor. How do you get them? Subluxations are symptomatic byproducts of emotional, chemical and physical stresses that you are unable to adapt efficiently to. Pain, weakness and dysfunction in the muscles, joints or organs are symptomatic end products of subluxations. The symptoms are signals of a disease process. Left untreated by ignoring or numbing them only helps the disease, not you. Get checked and treated for subluxations, identify their cause and eliminate it, change or improve it. Follow the rules. The adaptability of your body (its ability to adapt) depends on how well you observe the rules. Ask for a list of rules on your next visit. A brief History Of Chiropractic A Brief History Of Chiropractic The first recorded chiropractic adjustment was performed on September 18, 1895, by Dr. Daniel David Palmer, a Canadian-born teacher and helter. Dr. Palmer was, at the time, studying the cause and effect of disease. His patient was Harvey Lillard, a janitor working in the same building as Dr. Palmer in Davenport, Iowa. Mr. Lillard, who had complained of hearing problems for over 17 years, allowed Dr. Palmer to examine his spine. Dr. Palmer discovered a "lump" on Mr. Lillard's back and suspected that a vertebra might be out of place, which he then repositioned the vertebra with a gentle thrust. After several such treatments, much of Mr. Lillard's hearing was restored. Since Dr. Palmer's first chiropractic adjustment, the art and science of chiropractic has progressed significantly. Today, advanced diagnostic procedures, sophisticated equipment, scientific research, and the growing acceptance among other health care professionals makes chiropractic a popular health care choice. Widespread Use of Chiropractic Care The increasing interest in alternative forms of care has caught the attention of several health associations and government agencies. A 1993 study in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that "The estimated number of visits made in 1990 to providers of unconventional therapy was greater than the number of visits to all primary care medical nationwide," and chiropractic was among the most frequently used non-medical therapies. A followup report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 found that the use of non-medical treatments had increased significantly since the 1990 survey, with "overall prevalence of use increased by 25%, total visits by an estimated 47%, and expenditures on services provided by practitioners of alternative therapies by an estimated 45%." Of the survey respondents, one in nine (11%) had used chiropractic care within the previous year. Why I Use Activator Methods Chiropractic Technique Gentle Care For Your Family Chiropractic has been found to be a safe and effective alternative form of health care. Now, imagine a type of chiropractic treatment that is gentle enough to be used on babies and the elderly, but also effective on patients of all walks of life. Activator Methods Chiropractic Technique (AMCT)is an excellent choice of care for your family. I am trained in a variety of chiropractic techniques but have decided AMCT affords my patients the highest degree of comfort and confidence in their care and treatment. Usually, a chiropractic adjustment to correct spinal and joint subluxation is done by hands with a precise thrust. AMCT uses a small hand held instrument that gently taps the targeted areas, allowing the body to relax back into alignment. There is no twisting of the body or "popping" of the joints. In fact, the patient lies comfortably face down for most of the treatment, participating with light movements of the extremities, torso and neck to help me identify areas of dysfunction. When I say "why I use AMCT" you have to understand I use this form of care not only on my patients, but on my loved ones too. I also get treated periodically with chiropractic adjustments using the Activator instrument. What? The doctor needs treatment too? Well yes, I'm a living, breathing being that does better when my spine is in alignment. I understand that health, compromised by either injury or illness, responds best when nerve interference caused by subluxation is corrected through chiropractic. If you had concerns about being treated through chiropractic, with AMCT there truly is a gentle way to have it done for you. What Are Causes of Subluxations? Healthy Tips for a Healthy Spine Vertebral subluxations are displacements of the spinal bones (vertebrae) that can cause stress to your spinal cord and nervous system. Subluxations may be caused by poor sleeping habits, poor posture, strenuous exercise, injuries, auto accidents, sports, slips or falls, and in some cases, the birthing process itself. Chiropractic adjustments are very helpful in correcting subluxations and restoring optimal health. The following tips can help you take better care of your spine: 1) Make sure you have a good mattress, not too soft and not too firm, that keeps the spine aligned and supports the spine's natural contours. The best sleeping positions are on your back or side. 2) When standing for extended periods, rest one foot on a small stool to maintain spinal curvature and relieve pressure. The knees should be bent when bending forward. Low-heeled shoes may help by maintaining spinal curvatures and cushioning your weight. 3) Use chairs that promote good posture and support your back. Placing a lumbar support in the lower portion of your back may help support your spine's natural curve. Readjust the seat of your car so that your knees are level with your hips. 4) When bending forward, bend at the knees and hips, but keep your back straight. This will help to keep your spine's curvature in proper alignment. When lifting, keep your spine straight while using your legs to do most of the work. Hold the objects being lifted close to your body to keep the weight on your spine to a minimum. A Chiropractic Message Seven Simple Truths I believe life provides constant opportunity to learn. It’s when we become complacent with our knowledge and stagnant in our thinking that the potential to learn is stifled. Sometimes what we learn is not something new but rather concepts of the past revisited. Perhaps even a rekindling of basics, which ignite the flame of simple truths, glowing fervent and warm in the mind. The wisdom in chiropractic is to be understood in such simple, yet complete terms. To begin with, it is important to understand that health is not just an absence of symptoms and infirmity, but a state of optimal physical, mental and social well being. Health is a product of sound function within the body. First truth: All function in the living body is controlled by the nervous system. Impediments to the flow of nerve energy between the brain and the organs, tissues and cells of the body disrupts function. Second truth: Nerve interference diminishes health. Nerve fibers, encoded for different functions, course through our spine. Subluxations, or misalignments of the spinal joints cause pressure against these delicate nerve strands. This pressure manifests in different ways, at times obviously, at times, insidiously, but nevertheless affecting the normal function in the body. Third truth: Subluxations of the spine are the most common, but not normal, cause of nerve interference. Our health is influenced by external forces and how our body and mind are able to assimilate their effects. Physical, chemical and emotional stresses can overwhelm our body’s delicate balance in health. Feedback from the site most affected by the distress overloads our nervous system. Fourth truth: The body’s inability to respond appropriately to external forces results in subluxation, causing nerve interference, leading to disease and dysfunction. The vertebrae of the spine are positioned in a unique fashion, forming joints with one another, providing a protective conduit system for the spinal cord and branching nerves. As stated previously, joint subluxations, impinging on the nerve fibers, interfere with normal function. Doctors of chiropractic, trained professionals in diagnosing, identification, and correction of spinal subluxation, alone recognize and respect the deleterious effects of this condition. Fifth truth: Correction of subluxations to reduce nerve interference, thereby restoring nerve energy flow and function, is done with chiropractic adjustments. When nerve interference is removed, the body’s ability to pursue health from the inside out is enhanced. From our formation in the womb, every component of our body grows, multiplies, regenerates, is replenished, repaired or replaced according to the wisdom of our Creator God. Sixth truth: The body has a marvelous innate ability to heal itself. Your symptoms will not always tell a complete story. Any given symptom can represent multiple causes. Diagnostic tests, blood work ups, and imaging studies are not always conclusive. Even then, a prescribed treatment, whether medicinal, surgical or therapeutic, does not cure the disease process, let alone heal you. In fact, most remedies are palliative at best, suppressing symptoms, or meant to replace or remove function. Even chiropractic care may be thought of in these terms if only used as a treatment for temporary relief. Seventh truth: The chiropractic adjustment does not heal or cure any disease, but helps optimize the function of the nervous system, allowing healing from the inside out. Just as external forces can be negative, they can also be positive. What we feed our bodies, how we rest them, how we exercise them, how we hydrate them, what and how we think, and how we maintain our nervous system can all influence our health. Done right with consistency you will optimize your body’s ability to respond, optimize healing within you, and optimize your health. Should You Adjust Yourself? Understanding The Chiropractic Adjustment Have you ever seen people “adjust” themselves? That is, move their neck or some part of the spine quickly to get it to “pop”? I’ve seen individuals grab their chin and head, tilt, then jerk suddenly, in the malls, on TV, in an audience, on the playing fields, in cars – everywhere! Many claim it brings relief from tension. Some say they can avoid seeing a chiropractor by doing self-adjusting. How effective are these self-adjustments? Are they dangerous? These questions need to be answered for your information and good health, and to help you understand the chiropractic adjustment. What is the chiropractic adjustment? The word chiropractic means “done with the hands.” The chiropractor uses the hands or a hand held instrument to physically adjust a misaligned joint into position to reduce nerve pressure and irritation, helping restore function. This is usually done with little to no discomfort to the patient. Some conditions, due to their acute or more painful nature may feel uncomfortable initially as treated, but the discomfort is usually temporary. Patients of all ages from infants to seniors are treated regularly and safely with chiropractic care. Key to successful chiropractic care is the adjustment of only those segments requiring correction. Key to a proper adjustment is the precision of the positioning of the area being adjusted, the direction and angle of the line of drive, the depth of thrust (according to the patient’s age and condition), and quickness. Ever notice how the self-adjusters need to adjust many times throughout each day? I guess they just can’t get it right! But there’s a good reason for this. They are most likely not moving the specific spinal segments that actually need correction. Spinal joints have ranges of motion that help for bending forward, backward, and sideways, and for twisting. Trauma, stress, bad sleeping positions, sprains and strains are some of the causes of spinal misalignments, called subluxations, that result in abnormal joint motion. In one direction the joint may be hypermobile, with excessive movement, while the opposite direction is hypomobile, with limited movement. This is the major problem of self-adjusting. Proper analysis of the involved spinal levels is important to determine the presence and cause of the abnormal movement and function of joints. Only then can specific and proper adjustments be made to correct the joint misalignments. Indiscriminate and continuous self-adjusting runs a high risk of increasing hypermobility, since the segments that move and “pop” more easily have excessive motion already. What then are the dangers of self-adjusting? Besides compromising joint function as mentioned above, there is also a risk of straining the related soft tissues. Other complications can involve injuries to the arteries of the neck or influencing the blood supply to the brain. Sound scary? It is. An improperly administered adjustment can have serious consequences. Chiropractors are aware of these problems and seek to reduce the risks through careful patient screening to apply the appropriate adjustment to the spine, when, where, and how it’s indicated. It shouldn’t be a surprise to you that I avoid adjusting myself for the very reasons I’ve stated in this article. I seek periodic chiropractic care from others in my profession when I have a condition treatable through chiropractic, to help prevent potential problems, and to optimize my health. Doctors of chiropractic are the most highly trained professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of spinal misalignments and their effects on the nervous system and function in the body. It is important to understand that the chiropractic adjustment is a powerful health care tool when used in the right hands. I have a deep respect for this valuable form of alternative and complementary health care procedure. Millions of chiropractic adjustments are performed every year, helping many realize better health and well-being. If you have any questions or concerns related to chiropractic treatment, consult a doctor of chiropractic. What About Auto Accidents? Understanding Soft Tissue Injuries It happens before you know it. You’re driving down the road on a regularly traveled byway, when all of a sudden, “CRASH!”, you are involved in a motor vehicle accident (MVA). If it’s violent enough, visible and obvious injuries may occur which require emergency medical attention. But whether serious or mild, there is an aspect of auto injuries little understood by most. This has to do with the effects on the soft tissues of the body that result from the forces of vehicular impact. What are soft tissues? In reference to MVAs, they are basically the muscles, tendons and ligaments of the human body. These tissues can be sprained or strained in an accident. A strain is an injury to muscles and tendons. A sprain is an injury to ligaments and tendons near the sites of bony attachments and joints. Whiplash is a sprain/strain injury to the neck. The process of injury is a basic tearing and over stretching of the tissue and fibers. This can occur to varying degrees, from mild to extensive and complete tearing and deformation. It is very important to note that major auto injuries such as fractures, contusions and lacerations will also have underlying soft tissue damage. There are laws of physics involved in an MVA. These laws affect the structure of vehicles. The forces of a collision are transferred to a vehicle’s occupants. Specialized metals and guards help minimize vehicular damage in accidents. Although seat restraints, head rests, seat padding and air bags are put in to protect the human frame, they also act as barriers against which the body is suddenly lurched, abruptly stopped, then rebounded, at times repeatedly. God created us resilient but not so as to be able to withstand the forces of colliding metal bodies. Even though the body will heal, in soft tissue injuries the healing occurs in a patchwork fashion with adhesion and scar tissue formation. This leads to restriction and dysfunction in muscles and tendons which should normally stretch and contract. In ligaments, normally flexible, pliant and strong enough to support our joints, weakness results and movement is compromised, opening the door to degenerative joint disease in the future. There are three stages of healing the body goes through after injury to soft tissues. The initial stage begins with a period 12 to 72 hours in which there is active swelling in the tissues. Motion is lost and pain from the pressure increases. From the second to the fourth days the trapped fluids cause congestion, furthering restriction and pain. This congestion delays the healing process. About five days later, and up to six weeks, the body continues its repair work with the formation of scar tissue. The lack of motion causes excess scar tissue formation, promoting restriction, muscle weakness, loss of normal sensation, and loss of flexibility. These healing but weakened tissues have an increased risk and rate of degeneration and re-injury. The role of chiropractic in managing soft tissue injuries is important. Controlling pain, inflammation, and swelling promotes better healing. Restoration of motion, function, and flexibility reduces the risk of re-injury and degeneration. Muscle tone and coordination are improved through chiropractic care. This proactive management actually promotes quicker and more effective healing. Soft tissue injuries resulting from auto accidents are taken very seriously at Urbina Chiropractic. Too often I’ve seen the results of mismanaged injuries in spinal and joint degeneration, chronic headaches, abnormal sensations, recurrent pain and spasm and decreased function. These symptoms don’t always display themselves until months and maybe years later, but they are a product of that soreness and discomfort felt after an accident treated improperly or not treated at all. Pills may help with symptoms but they don’t restore muscle, tendon, and ligament function and strength. Chiropractic does, and much more.