Author: Apex Health

In recent years, chiropractic medicine has shown some promising results in caring for children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also commonly referred to as attention deficit disorder, or ADD.

Although drugs, such as Ritalin, have demonstrated some effectiveness in treating ADD, many in the medical community are beginning to fear that such drugs may be over-prescribed in this country. Simply throwing a pill at a problem often only addresses the symptoms and not the root or causes of the problem.

Research has shown that posture can have a direct impact on motor activity in the brain. A correctly aligned spine, therefore, could benefit a hyperactive child. Nonsurgical and nonmedication treatments, including counseling on posture, nutrition and lifestyle changes, have been shown to have positive effects on ADD patients.

Children should eat a balanced diet, one that includes fruits and vegetables, breads and cereals, milk and dairy products, and meat, fish, and eggs.

Minimize starchy foods, such as crackers, pasta, pretzels and potato chips.

About calcium and children’s bones

Your child’s intake of calcium and the long-lasting benefits it provides bones and spinal structures in later years cannot be overstated.

Calcium can be found in many foods other than milk. Broccoli, salmon, and kale are just some of the foods rich in calcium.

The recommended calcium intake for children ages 4 to 8 is about 800 mg per day. Children ages 9 to 18 should take in almost double or approximately 1,300 mg per day.

Three 8-ounce glasses of milk will fit the bill for children under the age of 8. Milk substitutes such as those made from soy are acceptable alternatives, as long as they are fortified with vitamins and calcium. Orange juice can be a source of calcium if your child doesn’t prefer or can’t tolerate milk.

If you experience pain in your elbow, chances are very good it was incurred in an injury or physical activity, such as exercise or sports. Here’s a look at some types of elbow pain:

• Golfer’s elbow – A type of elbow pain that originates near the inside part of the bony protrusion. A tear or rupture in the tendon supporting the elbow bone also causes this type of pain.
• Locked elbow – A type of pain that occurs when the elbow bones or their surrounding muscle fibers become stiff or immobile from disease or injury.
• Student’s elbow – Another term for bursitis, or swollen sacks under the elbow joint. This is often caused by repeated rubbing of the elbow on a hard surface, such as a desk.
• Tennis elbow – A layman’s term for pain on the lateral, or outside part of the elbow, on or near the bony protrusion. Tennis elbow is caused when the tendon from the elbow bone tears or is ruptured. It’s no surprise that professional tennis players can become afflicted by this with all of the stress and strain they place on the joint during play.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome – Chiefly affecting the wrist, it can cause elbow pain if an inflamed tendon pinches a nerve going to the elbow.
• Tendonitis – Can cause elbow pain and is caused by an elbow tendon that has become swollen or inflamed when the forearm tendon is damaged.

Lower back

• Lie flat on your stomach. Raise one arm at a time. Hold for 5 counts, then slowly lower. Do 20 repetitions for each arm.
• Try raising one leg at a time. Hold for 5 counts, then slowly lower. Do 20 repetitions for each leg. Advanced versions of this exercise involve raising both legs or arms simultaneously

Upper back

• Bend your elbows.
• Slowly press your elbows straight back, squeezing the shoulder blades together.
• Hold 5 counts. Do 20 repetitions.

Chronic headaches and migraines afflict many Americans. The severity of pain can go from mild and intermittent to episodes of debilitating throbbing, unrelenting agony, as well as nausea. Relief comes from a variety of means, including over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs, rest, and ice/heat packs on the forehead or neck. Sources of headaches include, but are not limited to, certain kinds of foods, sounds and excessive noise or bright lights, changes in blood sugar, and even too much exercise. Migraine Chiropractor near

Some recent studies have shown that patients suffering from chronic headaches and migraines may benefit more from long-term chiropractic care than drug therapy alone. For headaches that originate in the cervical, or neck, area, chiropractic treatment, such as spinal manipulation, has been shown to be quite effective. A 2001 Duke University study, for example, found that spinal manipulation provided relief for patients with headaches that originate in the neck, and resulted in fewer side effects than medication. Researchers in that study concluded that such treatments as relaxation training, thermal biofeedback combined with relaxation training, electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and to a lesser degree, acupuncture, are all modestly effective in treating migraine headaches. Migraine Chiropractor near

Close to 15 percent of people who visit a chiropractor do so to seek relief for pain from chronic headaches or migraines, according to the American Chiropractic Association. Chiropractor Migraine Specialist

• Tuck in your chin.
• Push your head back against your hands or the floor (if your are lying on your back).
• Hold 5 counts. Do 20 repetitions.

Alternate or extension:

• Place your hand on the side of your head.
• Tuck in your chin and push your head to the side, against your hand. Hold 3 to 5 counts. Do 10 to 20 repetitions.

Back injuries are sustained in a myriad of ways and some people are more likely to develop back pain and injury than others are. Some people incur back injuries from doing seemingly nothing; a simple twist or turn the wrong way in bed, for example, could cause a vertebra to go out of alignment. Others incur injury at home or on the job, while others sustain back injuries from traumatic events such as a vehicular accident.

Back injuries can be sustained on any number of structures in the spine. Although lower back injuries are the most prevalent, many people have sustained injuries to the thoracic (middle spine) or cervical (neck) portions of their spinal cord. Injuries can occur to the vertebrae, discs, nerves, joints, muscles, and other soft tissues. Once an injury has been incurred, other parts of the body, from the toes to the head, also can be affected.

Nationally, back injuries cost U.S. businesses approximately $30 billion per year, at an estimated average cost per claim of $24,000. If surgery is involved, the cost for claims increases significantly to $40,000 per injury or higher. One recent back injury involving surgery totaled $240,000.

Health care industry workers sustain nearly five times more back injuries than any other type of worker and are among 6 of the top 10 professions at greatest risk for back injury, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Largely because of the physical and hormonal changes to their bodies, many pregnant women can experience various kinds of back pain.

Here’s a look at some of the kinds of pain pregnant women are prone to:

• Coccyx (tailbone) pain
• Groin pain
• Pelvic pain (which usually begins during pregnancy, but typically during the end of the final trimester).
• Pubic pain
• Sacroiliac joint pain (the sacroiliac joint connects the sacrum, or triangular bone at the bottom of the spine, with the pelvis, or iliac bone).
• Upper leg pain

Whiplash is an injury to the cervical spine, or neck, and occurs when the muscles and other soft tissues are hyper extended or hyperflexed. Whiplash can damage the intervertebral discs of the upper spine.

Most instances of whiplash occur during a front-end or rear-end automobile collision.

The force of the vehicle being struck, or striking another object are quite powerful, and can cause the neck muscles, ligaments, and tendons to twist and turn with incredible, unnatural force. These tissues, which are stretched far beyond their natural limits, can become torn and in some cases, permanently damaged. In addition, vertebral discs in the cervical spine can bulge, tear, and rupture.

A chiropractic examination of a possible whiplash injury entails assessing whether a serious injury warrants hospitalization, and which tissues and spinal structures have been injured.

The exam may include a cranial nerve examination, reflex and motor skill tests, and motion palpation, which assesses the spinal joints’ mobility and pain response.

Possible treatments for whiplash may include:

• Muscle relaxation or stimulation, which entails gentle muscle stretches and/or finger pressure on specific sensory trigger points.
• Heat therapy
• Ice therapy
• Spinal manipulation
• Range of motion and other therapeutic exercises designed to test the stability and integrity of the neck muscles and correct unnatural movement patterns in the neck and other areas.

Consultation about proper ergonomics, including tools used during work, as well as mattresses and pillows. Some people who incur whiplash supplement their chiropractic treatment with a device called a cervical collar, a soft cushion that envelopes the neck and keeps the weight of the head from applying undue pressure to damaged tissues during the healing process. Other methods may employ a cervical traction device, which keeps the neck immobile.

Most people who suffer whiplash can heal properly in two to four weeks, providing they follow the treatment regimen outlined by their chiropractor. Sever cases of whiplash involving trauma to the spine or discs may require surgery.

Your cervical spine connects your brain stem to your spinal cord. It is an area rich in blood vessels and other soft tissue, such as ligament and tendons. Neck pain is slightly less common than back pain, but no less important or treatable.

Common causes of neck pain include, but are not limited to:

• Cervical herniated disc.
• Cervical stenosis, which is caused by a herniated disc or degenerative joint, can cause pain to radiate down the arm, and lead to shooting pain and coordination problems in the arms and legs.
• Muscle strain degeneration of the facet joint cartilage.
• Osteoarthritis of weight-bearing joints, such as hips and knees.

A sprain of the muscles, ligaments, or tendons in the neck area usually causes acute neck pain. Vehicular accidents, repeated carrying of heavy items (such as luggage), or awkward sleeping positions are often the culprits. Most minor ligament or tendon injuries in the neck will subside with proper care, including rest, ice or heat application, and rehabilitation such as chiropractic care and physical therapy.

One common symptom of chronic neck pain is an ache that radiates down the arm, sometimes into the hands and fingers, accompanied by numbness or tingling. Foraminal stenosis, a condition caused by degenerative changes in the neck joints, involves a herniated disc or a pinched nerve. This in turn causes chronic neck pain.