Author: Apex Health

Because the body’s nerves are electrical conductors, medical professionals have long held that stimulating nerve endings with small electrical currents can produce beneficial results.

The theory behind electrotherapy as part of chiropractic care is that such stimulation to affected nerves and muscles encourages the body to release pain-killing chemicals, such as opiates and endorphins, and blocks pain signals from being transmitted to the brain.

Electrotherapy is a pain management technique, and as such, is part of an overall chiropractic treatment regimen. Electrotherapy is usually involved in the early treatment stages, especially right after an injury. Ice and heat therapy may be combined with electrotherapy to boost its pain-killing powers.

Electrotherapy normally involves placing small adhesive pads on the skin at various points on the body. Electrotherapy is generally not painful. The adhesive pads may cause minor skin irritation after being removed and, in some instances, patients may feel a mild stinging after therapy.

Common types of electrotherapy include:

• Galvanic stimulation (GS) High-voltage pulsed galvanic stimulation has been used in acute low back pain to reduce muscle spasm and soft tissue edema (swelling). It is commonly used despite the lack of hard scientific evidence for its efficacy. Its effect on muscle spasm and pain is felt to occur by its counter-irritant effect, effect on nerve conduction, and a reduction in muscle contractility.
• Radiofrequency rhizotomy Normally used for chronic cases of facet joint syndrome, a degenerative condition in which joint cartilage wears thin, causing stiffness, inflammation, muscle spasms, and later osteoarthritis. This procedure applies heated radio-frequency waves to the joint’s nerves that carry painful impulses
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) This is the most common type of electrical stimulation used today. TENS therapy is normally used to treat chronic, or long-term pain in the lower back. Small electrodes are placed inside an elastic-type belt worn around the lumbar region. Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS), an enhanced and newer type of pain management therapy, makes use of very thin needles (much like those in acupuncture), which are inserted in the lower back by the chiropractor. Small battery-powered TENS units also are available for use at home, work, or other activities. The patient is able to control the level and frequency of stimulation, and self-administer impulses during episodes of pain.
• Interferential current (IFC) This is a kind of TENS therapy in which high-frequency electrical impulses are introduced deep into the tissues near the center of the pain.

Ergonomics is part science, part art. It involves choosing and working with devices that minimize or even eliminate undue strain on our joints and muscles. For those of us who work in an office (or a home office), we’re confronted with many opportunities to work in conditions that place our spinal cord, muscles, and other structures at risk for prolonged injury. Over time, these kinds of situations can lead to permanent injury to our wrists, elbows, knees, shoulders, and backs, not to mention our eyes.

Sitting in a slouched-over or slouched-down position in a chair can overstretch the spinal ligaments and strain the spinal discs. Straining toward a computer screen for long periods of time can strain the joints and muscles in our necks. And operating a computer mouse with an angled wrist can lead to devastating and painful injuries to the bones and ligaments in our wrists and hands.

Here are some tips for setting up a healthy working arrangement:

• Avoid having to twist or turn your head to view documents while typing at your computer. Place them in a viewing stand or document holder as close to your monitor as possible.
• Ensure that your computer equipment is placed on stable surface that won’t tilt or wobble.
• Ensure that your monitor is at a comfortable viewing distance. The rule of thumb is about one arm’s length away.
• Ensure that your work surface is a suitable distance from the floor. A good rule of thumb is 28 to 30 inches above the floor.
• Even if you own a laptop, consider investing in an external computer monitor. Reason? Most laptop screens force you head to tilt downward, creating undue pressure on your neck and spine. Also consider buying an external keyboard that allows you the flexibility of positioning the keyboard at a comfortable distance from the screen and your chair.
• Your chair should allow you to sit with your back at approximately a 100-degree angle, not perpendicular or 90 degrees. Ideally, your mouse and mouse pad should be slightly higher than your keyboard, about 1 to 2 inches. Invest in a comfortable chair that is height adjustable with a lumbar (lower back) support.
• Keyboard trays that tilt negatively, that is, down and away from your hands, provide for good wrist posture.
• When you have your hand placed on the computer mouse, make sure that your arms are relaxed and close to your body. Ensure that your wrist is level with your hand. This is a neutral or natural position for your wrist.
• Practice good posture while sitting for extended periods of time. There should be two inches between the front edge of the seat and the back of your legs.

Here are some additional tips:

• Rest your feet on the floor with your knees and hips bent 90 degrees.
• Maintain the arch in your lower back. (A lumbar roll, a small, inexpensive padded pillow-like device, can be used to help ensure this.)
• Ensure that your hips are touching the back of the chair. Lift up and out your breastbone. Occasionally push your shoulder blades in toward each other. (This helps push out your breastbone and keeps your rib cage a safe distance from your hips. It also improves your breathing while sitting.)
• Make sure your chin is level.
• Stand up, walk around and take frequent breaks from prolonged periods of sitting.
• Ensure adequate lighting, but don’t blind yourself with excessive light. This can cause eyestrain as much as low lighting. Work in an area that has excellent ventilation that allows for frequent exchanges of your room air with fresh outside air.
• Take frequent breaks.
• Rest your eyes every 15 minutes and do simple exercises such as looking away from a computer screen and focusing on something a good distance away. This gives your eye muscles a chance to relax.
• Blink your eyes in fairly rapid succession to lubricate them.
• Simple stretching exercises can include:
  • Clenching hands into fists and moving them in 10 circles inward and 10 circles outward.
  • Placing hands in a praying position and squeezing them together for 10 seconds and then pointing them downward and squeezing them together for 10 seconds. Spreading fingers apart and then closing them one by one.
  • Standing and wrapping arms around the body and turning all the way to the left and then all the way to the right.

So-called “ergonomic” products such as braces and gloves, gel-filled wrist supports may provide you with additional comfort, but don’t be fooled into thinking these devices will compensate for things such as bad posture while working at a desk or in front of a computer.

Additional ergonomics tips for children

Provide a safe and comfortable desk and/or computing environment for your children.

Here are some tips:

Patients whose problems were not answered by surgery sometimes call upon chiropractors for help. It is unfortunate they did not consult with a chiropractor before surgery to determine whether their pain or other symptoms would be addressed without drugs or surgical intervention.

That said, as many as 40 percent of the 200, 000 people who have lower back surgery each year do not attain their desired outcome. Some of them are even in worse condition following surgery.

This condition is what’s referred to as “failed back surgery syndrome,” a general term for a host of problems that may be related to the surgery, but also other factors such as poor body mechanics, or medication problems.

People with failed back surgery syndrome often complain about unrelenting pain or physical impairment. Back injuries are cited as the most common reason for absenteeism in the general workforce after the common cold. It is estimated that about 80 percent of adults experience a back injury in their lifetime, and about 10 percent will suffer a re-injury.

Common types of back injuries include:

Overuse injuries These are the kinds of injuries that occur during the course of everyday activities, such as housework or exercise. Symptoms may include pain, muscle spasms, and stiffness.

Acute or traumatic injuries These injuries occur after an unexpected event, such as a fall, a sports injury, a job accident, or motor vehicle accident. If you think you have sustained a traumatic back injury, STAY CALM AND DO NOT MOVE until help arrives. It is very important to keep your back as immobile as possible following a traumatic injury as moving may worsen the injury.

Spinal fractures These are one of the most serious kinds of back injuries. Many people survive spinal fractures and return to normal activities. Others who are less fortunate are left paralyzed.

If a fracture involves the spinal column but not the spinal cord, there is a good chance that long-term paralysis will be avoided. Fractures to any of the spine’s components, such as the vertebrae, joints, or discs, could affect the spinal cord and its more than 60 nerve roots.

Some people incur compression factures to the vertebrae. In these kinds of injuries, the vertebrae can be crushed. Compression fractures are more common in the thoracic (middle) and cervical (neck) portions of the spine since the lumbar vertebrae are the largest and sturdiest. Other kinds of injuries, such as twisting or impact injuries, can cause a fracture to vertebrae or joints.

You may have incurred a serious back injury if you have:

• Back pain that follows a severe injury, such as a motor vehicle accident.
• Been struck forcefully on top of the head or fall hard onto the buttocks.
• Fallen from a height of 15 feet or more.
• Incurred a direct blow to the spine with a moving object.
• Incurred a sports-related injury.
• Sustained a penetrating injury, such as a gunshot wound or stab wound.

If you sustain a back injury and experience any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention immediately:

• Loss of bowel or bladder control.
• Numbness or tingling in the buttocks, genital area, or legs.
• Pain in the upper back that occurs with chest pain that is crushing, squeezing or feels like a heavyweight on the chest or that occurs with any other symptoms of a heart attack.
• Signs of shock.
• Weakness in the legs.

Most sprains and strain injuries to soft tissues, such as muscles, if treated properly with rest and ice/heat therapy, will diminish within two weeks. Many other kinds require expert medical attention. Consult with your physician about whether chiropractic care would help.

The human knee is a marvel. Although it is an incredibly complex and sturdy structure, it also is more prone to injury than any other bony structure besides the spine. Get Knee Pain Relief, 

Common causes of knee pain:

• Arthritis of the knee – Arthritis most often causes problems with the knee joint but also can affect other structures such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis in the knee, is caused by the gradual degradation of the cartilage in the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis causes the joint to become inflamed and can often cause destruction of the surrounding cartilage. A deformity often leads to arthritis in the knee, but more often, obesity or excess weight, or repetitive stress injuries from sports, are the culprit. Symptoms include stiffness or locking joints. Knee Chiropractor in NYC
• Cartilage injuries including chondromalacia patella, a softening of the knee cap cartilage. This disorder occurs most often in runners, skiers, cyclists, and soccer players.
• Iliotibial band syndrome – Inflammation of a tendon and its subsequent rubbing over the outer knee bone is most often caused by the stress of long-term overuse, such as sports training. Symptoms of iliotibial band syndrome include aches or burning sensations at the side of the knee; sometimes, the pain can radiate up the side of the thigh.
• Ligament injuries – The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) can become sprained, and cause a great deal of pain. Injury to the cruciate ligaments is sometimes referred to as a “sprain.” The ACL can become stretched or torn by a sudden twisting motion. The PCL is most often injured by a direct impact, such as in an automobile accident or football tackle. Injuries to the medial collateral ligaments are often caused by a blow to the outer side of the knee that stretches and tears the ligament on the inner side of the knee. Football and hockey players often incur these kinds of injuries. The injury is often accompanied by a “pop” sound, followed by a buckling of the knee sideways.
• Meniscus injuries – Quick twists or rotations of the upper leg or repetitive rotations of the knee while bearing weight can tear the meniscus.
• Osgood-Schlatter disease – This condition is caused by repetitive stress or tension on the upper tibia, or leg bone. The patellar tendon and surrounding soft tissues at the point where the tendon attaches to the tibia can become inflamed. Pre-adolescent boys involved in sports that include frequent running or jumping are particularly prone to this condition.
• Tendon injuries – Tendon injuries in the knee can be caused by anything from tendonitis to a ruptured or torn tendon. Overuse can cause the tendon to stretch like a rubber band, later becoming inflamed. Knee Pain Relief

The bony structures that allow your back and neck to easily move in different directions are called “facet joints.” Facet joints provide about one-fifth of your lower back and neck’s twisting stability. Facet joints are located in pairs at each vertebral level (except for the top vertebra) down your spinal cord.

The surfaces of facet joints are coated with slippery cartilage, allowing them to glide freely as you move. Each joint is encased in a capsule that generates lubricant for the joint while it moves.

When joints are injured in a traumatic event, or degenerate over time because of the aging process or disease, a wide variety of problemsand painoften result.

Facet joint syndrome develops when the cartilage in joints wears thin. Your body begins producing material (called bone spurs) to shore up the cartilage. This material can calcify, or harden, causing stiffness in the joint. In some cases, facet joint syndrome can contribute to joint inflammation, muscle spasms, and later osteoarthritis. Advanced cases of facet joint problems are sometimes referred to as degenerative spondylolisthesis, a condition in which joints slip forward.

Facet joint disorders in the lower back can cause stiffness, and make it difficult to stand straight or get out of a chair. Facet joint disorders in the cervical (neck) region can cause headaches and difficulty rotating the head.

A common joint disorder involves the sacroiliac joint, which links the bottom of the spine with the pelvic bone. This joint endures a lot of pressure and absorbs the shocks from the upper body. Although it is a very strong and mostly stationary joint, the sacroiliac joint can become damaged or impaired. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction can mimic many of the symptoms of a herniated lumbar disc. People with sacroiliac joint dysfunction typically complain of pain on one side of their lower back or buttocks. The pain can sometimes shoot down one or leg or both, sometimes extending all the way down to the foot.

Untold musculoskeletal injuries occur every day when people lift heavy or even slightly heavy objects without following the proper techniques.

Even a so-called simple task of lifting a box from the ground to place on a higher level such as a shelf or table can cause muscle and back strain.

Remember this simple rule when lifting: Never bend from your waist when standing upright to pick up something. Keep your back straight and crouch first by bending at the knees or hips, depending on where the item is that you are lifting. This allows your arms and shoulder muscles, not your back, to do the brunt of the work.

Back injuries from improper lifting techniques generally lead to three kinds of injuries to the muscles, vertebral discs, and joints. Here is a brief synopsis of those types of injuries:

• Disc injury – Improper lifting can cause the soft cushions between your vertebrae, called discs, to tear, rupture, or shift out of position. Often, the fibrous rings surrounding the soft leathery discs can bulge and even rupture. Such an injury can cause the dislocated or ruptured disc to press against a nerve, causing pain and numbness to radiate down into your buttocks and/or leg.
• Joint injury – You may be surprised to know there are numerous joints in your spinal column connecting all of the various bony structures. A bad lift can cause excessive strain on these joints, irritating tissue within them, and in some cases, causing them to lock up.
• Muscle injury – If you change your position during a lift, you place a lot of stress on your lower back muscles. This can easily strain and injure, usually in the form of a small twist or tear, a muscle or group of muscles. Muscle strain is a very common form of back injury. A muscle pull or strain is often painful and can disable key body parts such as your back, hips, shoulders, neck, and knees.

Here are some simple lifting techniques to help you avoid these kinds of injuries:

• Make sure you have a place to put the object you have lifted. Do not try to figure this out while holding the object. Position your body close to and in front of the object. Your feet should be flat on the floor and about a shoulder-width apart.
• If you need to turn during the lift, use your feet to pivot. Keep your elbows bent while carrying an object.
• Your leg muscles, not those in your back, should be the ones providing the power during your motion to stand erect.
• Keep the load as close to your body as possible to maximize the use of your arms and shoulder muscles. The further an object is from your center of gravity, the more force that is required to hold that object up.
• Keep your chest forward and bend at your hips (not the lower back) or your knees, depending on how far down the items are that you want to lift. Keep your shoulders in line with your hips to avoid twisting motions.
• When lifting, push your chest out, pointing forward. Avoid twisting or turning during the lift.
• Lead with your hips, not your shoulders, keeping your shoulders in line with your hips. If you need to change direction, move your hips first; this way, your shoulders will move in unison with your hips. If you move your shoulders before your hips, this will make it easier for your body to twist during the lift, leading to possible strains and other injuries to your back and pelvis.
• Don’t lift an object that is obviously too heavy. Test the weight of the object by pushing it with your foot. If it is very difficult or impossible to push with your foot, it is likely that the object is more than your muscles can handle.

Try this simple posture “reality check” the next time you are standing in front of a full-length mirror:

• Are your knees and ankles straight (i.e., not angled inward or outward)?
• Are your shoulders and hips level?
• As you stand sideways, does your lower back have a natural curve in it?
• Do the spaces between your arms and sides seem equal?
• Is your chin level or parallel to the floor?
• Is your head straight?

Proper posture is one of the best preventive measures you can take to ensure a healthy spine. Good posture means maintaining your spine in a neutral position. This means standing or sitting so that your spine keeps its three natural curves—the small hollow at the base of the neck, a small roundness at the middle back, and a small hollow in the lower back.

Proper posture is the result of good musculoskeletal balance, which helps protect the joints in your spine from undue stress and guards against injury and deformity. It requires diligence and awareness on your part. Most of us need to gently prod ourselves mentally to ensure we are walking and sitting correctly.

Poor posture can result from regularly carrying excessive weights, or hunching over when working at a computer or watching television. It also has been linked to chronic headaches, shoulder pain, and TMJ dysfunction. It also can lead to such problems as: fatigue (from over-taxed muscles supporting a misaligned spine); muscle aches in your neck, back, arms, and legs; and stiff, painful joints (which may eventually lead to conditions such as degenerative osteoarthritis.)

Sometimes, poor posture is something that cannot be helped. For example, people with degenerative nerve or skeletal problems find it difficult, if not impossible, to obtain a healthy posture.

Posture Tips

Here are some posture tips for various positions and activities throughout the day.

When standing:

• Straight body
• Your ears, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles align in one straight line. (If you hung a string with a ball bearing at the end from your ear lobe, the string would dissect the middle of your anklebone.)
• Chin level but slightly tucked, shoulders slightly back and level, pelvis shifted forward (this allows your hips to align with your ankles)
• Feet are shoulder width apart
• Knees unlocked
• Breastbone lifted (this requires moving your shoulder blades down and in toward each other).
• Jaw and neck muscles relaxed

When sitting:

• Hips touching the back of the chair
• Breastbone lifted
• Shoulder blades in toward each other. This helps push out your breastbone and keeps your rib cage a safe distance from your hips. It also improves your breathing while sitting.
• Level chin.

Stand up, walk around, and take frequent breaks from prolonged periods of sitting.

When driving:

• Allow your head to make contact with the headrest. This keeps your chin level and your neck properly aligned.
• Don’t shrug your shoulders
• Ensure that your knees are slightly higher than your hips.
• Ensure that you car seat allows you to keep your back in a vertical, not angled, position.

When sleeping:

Consider investing in a cervical roll or similar pillow specially designed to keep your neck supported and in natural alignment with your head and upper back.

One of the best positions is on your side, with knees slightly bent and a pillow between your knees. Place a pillow under your knees if you are a back sleeper; this helps maintain the curve in your lower back. If you are a stomach sleeper and sleep with your head on an oversized pillow, it sometimes forces your lower back to curve excessively, putting pressure on your diaphragm and lungs.

Exercises to help posture

• Chin tuck – Sit or stand erect while gently pulling your chin back to a comfortable position. Do reps of 10 several times a day.
• Shoulder squeeze – Bring your elbows behind you while squeezing your shoulder blades together. Do reps of 10 or 20 while holding the squeeze for a five-second count.

Additional tips

• Avoid hyperextending your neck to peer over an obstacle for long periods of time.
• Don’t carry excess body baggage.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Extra pounds act like a bag of cement, making it difficult for you to stand or walk erect; even trying to walk correctly can place undue strain on your spine and muscles.
• Exercise regularly to keep your muscles flexible and toned properly.
• Have routine eye exams to ensure poor eyesight isn’t keeping you off balance when you sit or walk.
• Invest soundly in a good quality box spring and mattress.
• Practice good ergonomics when sitting in front of a computer, watching television, or driving.
• Practice sound lifting techniques.

Tips about shoe features/selection

Some serious back disorders and even more common conditions, such as muscle strain, can be linked to one avoidable thing: inappropriate, poor quality, or ill-fitting shoes. A good quality, properly fitting shoe pays big dividends for your spine down the road.

When shopping for shoes, always make sure not to force your feet in order to conform to the shape of a pair of shoes.

The most important quality to look for in shoes is durable construction that will protect your feet and keep them comfortable.

Here are some tips to help reduce the risk of back problems from poorly fitted or inappropriate shoes:

• Fit new shoes to your largest foot. Most people have one foot larger than the other.
• Measure both feet every time you purchase shoes. Your foot size increases as you get older. If the shoes feel too tight, don’t buy them.
• There is no such thing as a “break-in period!”
• Most high heeled-shoes have a pointed or narrow toe box that crowds the toes and forces them into an unnatural triangular shape. As heel height increases, the pressure under the ball of the foot may double, placing greater pressure on the forefoot as it is forced into the pointed toe box.
• Shoes should be fitted carefully to your heel as well as your toes.
• Sizes vary among shoe brands and styles. Judge a shoe by how it fits on your foot, not by the marked size.
• There should be a half-inch of space from the end of your longest toe to the end of the shoe. Try on both shoes.
• Try on new shoes at the end of the day. Your feet normally swell and become larger after standing or sitting during the day.
• Walk around in the shoes to make sure they fit well and feel comfortable. When the shoe is on your foot, you should be able to freely wiggle all of your toes.
• Women should not wear a shoe with a heel higher than 2.25 inches

What to look for in a good shoe

• Avoid shoes that have seams over areas of pain, such as a bunion.
• Avoid shoes with heavy rubber soles that curl over the top of the toe area (such as seen on some running shoes), as they can catch on carpets and cause an accidental fall.
• Flat shoes (with a heel height of one inch or less) are the healthiest shoes for your feet. If you must wear a high heel, keep to a heel height of two inches or less, limit them to three hours at a time and take them off coming to and from an activity.
• Laced, rather than slip-on, shoes provide a more secure fit and can accommodate insoles, orthotic devices, and braces.
• Look for soles that are shock absorbing and skid resistant, such as rubber rather than smooth leather.
• The shoe should be made of a soft material that has some give, like glove leathers.

A word about high heels

When a normal person is standing flat-footed or bare-footed, their body is completely balanced. Their hamstrings are taut and both parts of the pelvis are stabilized so that the support is normal. Bringing the heel up in shoes, such as high heels, encourages the hamstring muscles to shorten.

High-heeled, pointed-toe shoes can cause numerous orthopedic problems, leading to discomfort or injury to the toes, ankles, knees, calves, and back. Most high-heeled shoes have a pointed, narrow toe box that crowds the toes and forces them into an unnatural triangular shape. These shoes distribute the body’s weight unevenly, placing excess stress on the ball of the foot and on the forefoot. This uneven distribution of weight, coupled with the narrow toe box characteristic of most high heels, can lead to pain or discomfort, and possible injuries to your back down the road.

The height of the heel makes a dramatic difference in the pressure that occurs on the bottom of the foot. As heel height increases, the pressure under the ball of the foot may double, placing greater pressure on the forefoot as it is forced into the pointed toe box.

To relieve the abusive effects of high heels, women can limit the time they wear them, alternating with good quality sneakers or flats for part of the day.

Pregnancy can wreak havoc on your neck, shoulders, back, hips, legs, and feet.

Most women who go through pregnancy are aware of the importance of good nutrition while carrying their baby. But many are not aware, or ignore, the vital role that good posture and simple exercises can play in guarding against pain and, in some cases, long-term and debilitating joint and muscle injuries.

Pregnant women gain an average of 25 to 35 pounds. This additional weight, in tandem with the trauma and bodily changes of pregnancy, places an enormous amount of stress on the musculoskeletal system.

Close to 50% of women experience some sort of back pain during their pregnancy. The pain is most prevalent during the latter stages of the pregnancy, when the baby begins to descend toward the hips, placing pressure on organs and nerves. In many cases, this can be avoided by practicing good posture and performing simple, safe exercises.

A woman’s center of gravity almost immediately begins to shift forward to the front of the pelvis during pregnancy. This increases stress on the joints. As the woman’s weight is projected even farther forward, her lower back curvature actually increases. This places additional stress on the discs in the lumbar region.

The following are a few suggestions from the American Chiropractic Association:

Exercise tips:

• Anything that doesn’t involve jerking or bouncing movements is considered a safe exercise for pregnant women. This would include walking, swimming, and stationary cycling. Make sure you exercise on a stable surface and wear shoes with non-slip soles. Ensure that your heart rate doesn’t exceed 140 beats per minute.
• Try to restrict your exercise routines to no more than 15 minutes.
• Stop immediately if you experience dizziness, nausea, weakness, blurred vision, increased swelling, vaginal bleeding, or heart palpitations.
• Bend from your knees, not your waist, when picking up small children or objects. Avoid any twisting or turning motions during a lift.
• Folic acid supplements‚ at least 400 micrograms (mcg) a day‚ before and during pregnancy can decrease the risk of neural tube birth defects, such as spina bifida. But check with your doctor before taking this or any other vitamin or herbal supplement.
• Get plenty of rest. Don’t let the demands of work and family life put you and your baby at risk. Pamper yourself, and ask for help if you need it. Take a nap if you are tired, or lie down and elevate your feet for a few moments when you need a break. If you work behind a computer or at a desk during the day, ensure that it is designed ergonomically. Take frequent breaks.
• Take the pressure off your lower back when sleeping by lying on your side with a pillow between your knees. Lying on your left side is ideal because it allows unobstructed blood flow, and helps your kidneys flush waste from your body.
• Chiropractic care during your pregnancy is considered safe and can help you manage pain better without the use of drugs or surgical treatment, as well as gain valuable insight into nutrition, ergonomics, and exercise.
• Following childbirth, chiropractic care can help alleviate joint problems incurred during the pregnancy, as well as provide relief from muscle tension, headaches, rib discomfort, and shoulder problems.

Though there is no such thing as a “safe” sport, highly competitive sports, such as football, weightlifting, gymnastics, and wrestling, pose particularly higher risks of injuries, especially among children.

According to experts, as much as 20 percent of all sports-related injuries involve the lower back or neck. Running and weightlifting, and other sports that involve repetitive impact, expose children to a high risk for lumbar (lower back) injuries. Contact sports, such as soccer and football, expose the cervical spine, or neck, to injury. More than one-third of all high school football players sustain some type of injury. Soccer participants are easy candidates for mild to severe head traumas, neck injuries, cervical spine damage, headache, neck pain, dizziness, irritability, and insomnia. Heading the ball, the act of using the head to re-direct the soccer ball, has been linked with cervical injuries in children and adults. The trampoline and gymnastics also present significant risks for spinal cord injuries from unexpected and brute falls or contact with hard surfaces.

Here’s a look at some of the other common injuries by sport:

• Bicycling – Poor posture can greatly increase your risks of a back injury during cycling. When riding a bike, your lower back is constantly flexing sideways and up and down. Upper back injuries can involve the flexing of the neck. And the bumps and jars incurred on the road during cycling can wreak havoc and possible compression injuries to your spine.
• Golf – Common injuries incurred during the sport of golf usually involve muscle sprains and strains to the lower back.
• Running/jogging – Running and jogging puts a great deal of stress on your back, since the constant pounding against a hard surface can jar, and possibly compress, structures such as vertebrae, joints, and discs.
• Skiing – Skiing involves a great deal of twisting and turning motions, as well as jarring landings, all of which can cause muscle sprains and strains and in some cases, minor spinal fractures.
• Swimming – Swimmers are known to incur lower back injuries. Motions such as the crawl or breaststroke can cause the lumbar region to be hyperextended. If the swimmer is not properly conditioned or warmed up, the hyperextension sometimes doesn’t subside.
• Tennis – Tennis elbow” is 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 is no surprise that professional tennis players can become inflicted with this with all of the stress and strain they place on the joint during play. In addition, tennis players are in constant motion, and the repeated twisting and trunk rotations can cause injuries. Shoulder injuries and turned ankles and knees also are common. The act of serving the ball also has been shown to hyperextend the lower back, and possibly compress discs.
• Weight lifting/bodybuilding – Body builders are at significant risk for a host of serious back, shoulder, neck, and knee injuries. Resistance training has been known to cause muscle sprains and strains, ligament and tendon injuries, and in some cases, stress fractures (also called spondylolysis). Older people seem to be at higher risk since their bones and discs are more brittle.