
Our
Practice
incorporates continuing patient education so that patients
can take on responsible roles in their wellness campaign.
Chiropractors teach their patients that getting well requires
a "team-effort" in producing the results they want.
Achieving maximum health potential requires raising awareness
of proper body mechanics, nutritional intake, emotional and
physical rest and recuperation, and physical activity.
In
2005, a medical study examined the effects of chiropractic
benefits in the treatment of low back and neck pain. The
following is a brief synopsis of the study, which demonstrated
that treatment of low back and neck
pain, the inclusion of a chiropractic benefit in a managed
care program resulted in a reduction in the rates of surgery,
CT and MRI imaging, inpatient care, and X-rays.
Click
here for the complete abstract at PubMed
the National Library of Medicine (Nelson CF, et
al. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics.
October 2005; Vol. 28, Iss. 8, pp. 564-569)
The
aim of this study was to measure the effects of a managed
chiropractic benefit on the rates of specific diagnostic
and therapeutic procedures for the treatment of back pain
and neck pain.
This study is a retrospective analysis of claims data
from the American Specialty Health Plan plan over a 4-year
period. The use rates of advanced imaging, surgery, inpatient
care, and plain-film radiographs were compared between
employer groups with and without a chiropractic benefit.
The results indicated that for patients with low back
pain, the use rates of all 4 studied procedures were lower
in the group with chiropractic coverage.
On a per-episode basis, the rates in the group with coverage
were reduced by the following: surgery (-32.1%); computed
tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (-37.2%);
plain-film radiography (-23.1%); and inpatient care (-40.1%).
On a per-patient basis, the rates were reduced by the
following: surgery (-13.7%); CT/MRI (-20.3%); plain-film
radiography (-2.2%); and inpatient care (-24.8%).
For patients with neck pain, the use rates were reduced
per episode in the group with chiropractic coverage as
follows: surgery (-49.4%); CT/MRI (-45.6%); plain-film
radiography (-36.0%); and inpatient care (-49.5%).
Per patient, the rates were surgery (-31.1%); CT/MRI (-25.7%);
plain-film radiography (-12.5%); and inpatient care (31.1%).
All group differences were statistically significant. |
Chiropractic
Care is Based on the Medical Sciences of Anatomy and Physiology.
Your body communicates in terms that you can respond to. When
you are tired, you sleep; hungry, you eat; in pain, you stop
whatever it is that's causing it. In today's society, more
often than not, we pop a pill and keep on pushing. Because
we ignore painful warning signals, we continue to batter and
abuse our physical structure.
Symptoms
such as
- Headaches
- Neck
Pain
- Numbness,
pins and needles in shoulders, arms, hands
- Mid
and lower back pain
- Numbness,
pins and needles in hips, legs, feet
- Fatigue,
run-down, under the weather
- Dizziness,
irritability, poor health
... are the body's way of letting us know we are off track
and on the way to chronic pain and illness.
Take
Your Back to School offers
a comprehensive look at why back and neck problems became
such a problem over the centuries. Download
this seven page booklet for information on maintaining a healthy
spine through stretching and strengthening exercises and "Dos
& Don'ts" of lifting, pushing, sitting and standing.
The last page of the booklet is a poster for the workplace.
Please take note that you must speak with your doctor before
you do any of the exercises in the booklet.
Your
Nervous System is the commander-in-chief
of all other systems in the body and manages all aspects of
body functions so that coordination of the systems will yield
a healthy result. The proper coordination of over 40 Quadrillion
cells in a lifetime will result in a body that works right
and fulfilled its genetic potential. Below is a diagram of
the Autonomic System of the Nervous System. This division
coordinates the delicate balance between all organs of the
body.

Let's
go back to the beginning, before you were an embryo. The fertilized
egg begins to divide into a ball of cells that all look and
function alike. After reaching the magical number dictated
by the genes, the cells begin to specialize and the first
specialized cells are the nerves and begin to form the spinal
cord, brain and nervous system. The brain then sends signals
through the complex nervous system to trigger the unfolding
of the chromosomal wrappings in each of the primordial cells.
This process will expose a portion of the genes and the various
organs of the body begin to form.
Within
21 days after fertilization a heart is beating and blood vessels
feed the
developing organs throught the embryo. Within five weeks,
there are fingers, finger tips, eyes, basic skeleton, and
the embryo continues to grow rapidly. As long as there is
no interference with the development, and no damaging chemical
or physical harm, this development of human life should result
in a healthy, fully functioning human being. It will have
the potential to live to 100+/- years without illness or disease.
It will have the capability to adapt to its internal and external
environments with relative ease, as long as the nervous system
is not tampered with by chemicals, or physical harm.
According
to consensus, health is the state in which a human being has
all the body parts and they are working properly. The full
expression of the genetic material in a lifetime will allow
a person to experience pure health and wellness, through physical,
mental, and social well-being.
Your
Spinal Column
houses and protects the spinal cord
and nerve roots. The brain and nervous system are so important,
that they are the only organs completely surround by solid
bone. There are a total of 24 moveable segments and a solid
triangular base. Between each pair of vertebrae are shock
absorbing discs. As long as the joints of the spine are working
right, the mechanics of the spine allows an individual to
run, lift, push, pull and so much more. Also, as long as the
soft discs are each in their central positions, and not bulging
into the nerves or spinal cord, the nervous system sends and
receives nerve impulses without interference, allowing these
impules to continue to communicate with the other organs and
systems.
These
important nerve structures can become irritated by misaligned
vertebrae and discs - the result of injuries, poor posture
and poor sleeping habits, excessive and abusive push, pull
and lifting activities. The complex known as "Subluxation"
is a mix of mechanical mishaps in the spine that can result
in poor spinal function, pain and confusing messages to the
organs and systems. A Subluxation Complex is the result of
the soft center of the disc bulging towards one side, altering
the mechanics of the joints. The joints become "fixated"
or stuck in a misaligned position. The muscles tense up as
a result of reactionary nerve impulses and messages from the
brain to balance the body.
The
column of vertebrae is a fascinating structure. The vertebrae
on the bottom are the thickest and strongest. As the vertebrae
stack towards the top, they create curves towards the front
and back. These curves allow the spine to act as a spring
when landing from a drop. Over time, the decrease in circulation
to the discs and wear and tear (Spinal
Decay), permits the vertebrae to damage the sandwiched
discs. The damage is in the form of compression and rupturing
of the soft center towards the back and sides, where the spinal
cord and nerve roots reside. This begins the subluxation complex.


In
the short run, pain and numbness in the neck, back and extremities
warn you of nerves being damaged. In the long run, your immunity
to sickness and disease is significantly lowered, raising
your chances of chronic pain and illness.
Conservative
Chiropractic care should
be considered first to determine if your problem is spine
and nerve related. If your problem falls within the scope
of chiropractic practice, chiropractic can offer you relief
and good health for many years to come. Learn more about chiropractic
through our interactive "Back
to Basics" Movie.
For
more detailed explanation of the Chiropractic Viewpoint to
health, see our slide
show here.
To
learn more about exercises to strengthen your back and neck,
go to: exercises. |