Many times low back, hip and knee pain can be traced to the feet. Even if your feet don’t hurt, they may be a major factor contributing to your health problems. I find that if a patient doesn’t respond to treatment, addressing any foot issues can result in dramatic improvement. A foot problem may be the cause of discomfort or pain in your leg/hip, back, arm/shoulder or even your neck. Take the following test and if you answer yes to any of the following questions, you need to have your feet addressed.

Low back pain caused by foot issues are triggered by many things.  Answer the following questions:  Do you stand or walk on hard surfaces for more than 4 hours daily? Don you participate regularly in any physical sport such as basketball, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling etc.? Are you over 40?

Other questions which need to be answered to identify low back pain from feet problems are:  Have you had a prior knee injury, back injury or neck injury? Do your shoes wear unevenly? Do you have joint pain while standing, walking or running? Is one of your legs shorter than the other?

Some other questions to answer are: do you have knock knees or bow legs? Do you have obvious foot problems such as bunions, corns, flat feet, etc.? Do your feet toe out when you’re walking? Your chiropractor can perform a few simple tests to determine if orthotics or arch supports can help your condition. In our office we have a machine that can take a picture of your arches as you stand and actually show how well or poorly your feet support your body. This machine captures an accurate functional image of your feet. If orthotics are needed, exacting measurements are taken by the laboratory and orthotics are made. We would be happy to scan your feet at no charge and show you the work your feet are doing.

There are three arches which are important in supporting the foot and the body; the long arch traveling front to back on the inside of the foot, a parallel arch on the outside of the foot and a shorter side to side arch in the ball of the foot shaped like a kidney bean. These arches act as springs which support the foot during weight bearing. Many factors can change these arches which can then cause foot pain.

Injuries such as sprained ankles can cause swelling which results in adhesions. This can limit the motion in the foot. Fractures which are treated by splinting or casting also prevent motion and cause adhesions to form. Foot abnormalities such as flat feet or feet that roll in or roll out change the way the arches work and ultimately the way the foot supports the body.

As the feet fail to function properly, the ankles are affected. The muscles and ligaments which support them will become stretched or shortened and unbalanced. This can lead to additional strains and sprains. As the ankles fail the knees are affected leading to narrowing joint spaces and arthritis. As the knees are damaged, walking changes can occur leading to hip problems and low back pain. All of this can relate back to the feet.

Treatment of foot pain involves addressing the lack of mobility as well as the structural abnormalities. Chiropractic adjustments work well to break up adhesions causing lack of motion. Custom orthotics can help to support the foot. Balance work especially on a wobble board will strengthen the ankle and foot. It will also stimulate nerves which help decrease back pain. A podiatrist may recommend the use of a special stocking which keeps the foot in a particular position when you are sleeping. Simple exercises such as picking up pencils with your toes or crinkling a newspaper with your toes help strengthen the arches as well as the muscles in the feet.

Cortisone injections will help to decrease foot pain very rapidly. However, if the underlying cause of the foot problem is not address, the pain will return. Cortisone injections can only be used 3 times in the same area. It can cause localized decreased bone density (osteoporosis) which could lead to the muscles or ligaments tearing away from their attachments.

It is important to remember that the body is more than the sum of its parts. Problems with one area will lead to problems with other areas. Addressing the root cause of your pain or symptoms will help to speed your recovery and perhaps avoid the use of medications and their side affects.

You probably already know that Chiropractors treat low back pain but what you may not know is that we feel the cause of the pain is a injury called subluxations.  Subluxation means a vertebral joint of the spine is out of its normal position. It’s the same as a sprain because the ligaments are stretched when this occurs. But how does a joint get out of its normal position? Usually, the culprit is some sort of trauma but not necessarily at the level of a high fall or a major car accident (although these trauma do cause problems).

Many times subluxations causing low back pain are caused by injury and the spine can be injured because it is more vulnerable in awkward positions, such as when we bend forward and add a little twist to a lift. Perhaps it’s putting a baby seat into the back seat, or pulling weeds in the garden.

For many patients, it’s life’s trips and tumbles as a child that set the stage for a problem years later. We can all remember how we thought our spines were once invincible. The reality is something much less. Those jumps from the rooftop did have a consequence.

That small sprain of the ligaments did just enough to make the joints function abnormally. Over time the muscles adapt and our movements become less even. Then some twenty years later, a simple sneeze or less throws our back out. Some patients get back pain when they are under work stress or have to sit for long periods of time.

The important thing is to get subluxations reduced or corrected. The adjustments we perform at the clinic are meant to align the spine and make the movements of spine symmetrical from side to side. This tends to reduce the tensions on ligaments and muscles, and most importantly, makes you feel better.

When your spine moves normally, you may have less pain when you exercise or move the spine in a stressful way. We can’t make the ligaments perfect, there will always be scar tissue, but we can optimize your life and improve its quality. For many, just working without constant pain can be a real lifesaver. Many patients find their moods improve and they cannot wait to return to the sports or hobbies they once did. This is true wellness, healing not just the body but also the mind. Being in chronic pain is not much fun. While drugs can help many people and get them out of excruciating pain, they do have their limitations. Chiropractic can be a drug-free and natural alternative for health.

If you would like to know more about chiropractic and subluxations feel free to visit our website by clicking the link in the right column or going to www.southingtonchiropractor.com.

In my Chiropractic office we treat a lot of neck injuries along with headaches and other problems that start at the top of the spine. We find a lot of weak muscles which cause instability and perpetuate the problems the patient has come in for. The neck is the most flexible part of your spine and just like any other area of the body, movement exercises and good postures are important to maintain its health. Neck pains can be brought on or aggravated by how you treat this vital structure. We often neglect our neck when it comes to exercises, focusing instead on our legs or heart. So try these helpful hints and incorporate them into your daily routine.
Exercising your neck by slowly moving it through all its ranges is key. It is important to do pure movements rather than combinations, rolling the neck around like a ball and socket joint (such as the hip or shoulder) is to be avoided. What I find is that if there is any joint in the neck that are not working perfectly, combination movements can further jam these joints. Instead, flex the neck forward until your chin touches the top of your chest. Then, slowly bend your neck backwards, chin to the sky. These movements should not cause pain if they are done slowly and you have no pre-existing injury but of course if there is any pain you should discontinue the movement and have your neck evaluated.
The next neck exercise that chiropractor encourage is movement side to side bending and is accomplished by trying to bend either ear towards the shoulder. Do this in front of a mirror so that you keep your head straight looking forward. Note whether you can do this movement the same amount to each side. This is a great exercise to stretch the side neck muscles as well as the tight ligaments and tendons.
The last movement is rotation. Simply rotate your chin slowly so that you are looking over one shoulder. None of these movements should cause pain or make you dizzy. If they do, then it’s a sign you have a neck injury and need to be seen by a chiropractor or other physician. Again, note if you can do the same amount of movement to the right and left.
An important aspect of neck function is how the shoulder girdle influences neck posture and motion. Try rolling your shoulders forwards and backwards, stretching slowly, to help ease tension at the neck. General exercises such as fast paced walking or hiking are important for your neck too. Remember, your spine is the core of your body and walking is one of the least “injury-producers,” something you can keep up well into your later years.
Lastly, make sure your neck posture is kept upright when you are talking on the phone, driving, reading, doing other tasks, or sleeping. A very small pillow is usually best for sleeping and neck support pillows are available to help maintain the normal forward arch of the neck. A small pillow will allow your head to ease back, relaxing the muscles at the back of the neck.

Want More? It you would like to receive The “Weekly Health Update” Every Monday Via Email, Go To www.WeeklyHealthUpdate.com – Code: 06467GRANT. My website also has a lot of information on neck treatment and other problems. Check out www.southingtonchiropractor.com.

As a Chiropractor, I treat a lot of carpal tunnel caused by a condition called Double Crush.  Most people with carpal tunnel syndrome think they have a primary problem in the wrist but a condition called double crush may be the problem. While the wrist and hand may be the site of most of your symptoms, the cause can lie elsewhere. The nerves that course through the tiny tunnel in your wrist, originate in your neck. When the vertebrae are twisted in your neck or disk injury is present this can narrow the tunnels in your neck that the nerves must pass through. When this occurs and there is also a problem with compression at the wrist, it is called a double-crush syndrome. Double meaning the nerves are pinched at two locations.

Researchers (Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2007; Oct.11; Moghaderi A, Izadi S) have looked at risk factors for the double crush syndrome involving carpal tunnel. They specifically investigated age, gender, and body mass index (how heavy you are), as independent risk factors for double crush syndrome.

One hundred forty-two patients (125 females) with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and 109 controls/normal patients were analyzed. One hundred six patients had pure carpal tunnel syndrome and 36 patients had double-crush injuries.

Patients with double-crush syndrome tended to be older. Greater age can have an influence on degeneration of the disks in the neck, which can lead to narrowing of the passages the nerves must course through as they exit the spinal cord and move down the arm. Male patients were also more likely to have double-crush syndrome.

Since double-crush syndrome can be missed if a thorough neck examination is not done, this could lead to inappropriate treatments because the cause is not being addressed.

Chiropractic care focuses on the cause of diseases. Just as a leg pain (e.g. sciatica) usually comes from a lower back problem rather than the leg itself, a wrist problem is not always in the wrist. It’s important to have a comprehensive assessment when carpal tunnel symptoms develop, and this may include x-rays of your neck.

Our clinic tries to address these problems in a holistic, non-drug and non-surgical manner. Our approach will usually involve vertebral adjustments to correct structural problems in the neck region, if these are present. Consider chiropractic care as a conservative option prior to undergoing invasive surgery.

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This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a health care professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.

Whiplash is an injury to the soft tissues in the neck including ligaments, joint capsules, muscles and their tendons, and intervertebral disks. It can also involve the nervous system tissues in more severe cases, resulting in radiating arm pain.

Whiplash commonly occurs during a car crash, most commonly a rear-end collision. The sudden jolt occurs so fast we cannot brace ourselves adequately and the head accelerates back and forth beyond the limits of the ligaments that hold our bones firmly together (often referred to as a “sprain”). Because of the significant range of motion of the neck, the weight of the head, and how is suspended on the neck, the neck is particularly vulnerable to this type of injury (more commonly worse in woman due to a more slender neck).  It can also occur with sports injuries, falls and any time the head hits the ground and bounces.

The primary symptom of whiplash is neck or upper back pain that may develop immediately or be delayed days, weeks, and sometimes months. A partial list of possible symptoms (each injured person’s symptoms are different) include: muscles spasms, loss of movement, headache, dizziness, concentration &/or memory loss, difficulty swallowing, chewing &/or hoarseness, burning or tingling, shoulder/arm/hand radiating pain, and more.

Even when symptoms do not seem significant, a health care provider can diagnose the condition by taking a careful history and performing a physical exam. X-rays showing a change in the curvature or contour of the neck, &/or MRI or CT scan to better assess the disk and nerve roots when pain radiates down an arm may also be indicated. When persistent concentration/memory loss is present, a consult by a neuropsychologist is helpful.

In most cases, non-surgical methods including Chiropractic care are usually appropriate. If you go to a medical doctor, typical approaches include a wait & watch approach and/or medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs, pain killers, &/or muscle relaxants. MD’s may refer the patient to physical therapy. When these methods fail, referral to a physiatrist may result in injection therapy (epidural steroid, facet injection, trigger point injections). Chiropractic care includes spinal manipulation, mobilization, soft tissue release techniques, exercise training, activity modification training, and physical therapy modality use (electrical stimulation, traction, ultrasound, low level laser therapy – LLLT, TENS unit). Care may also include a mix of provider approaches, when appropriate.

The degree of severity of whiplash can be decreased or maybe avoided completely with the following: the use of seatbelts (especially in high speed collisions), placing the headrest close to the head (< 1 inch) and high enough to avoid “ramping” over it.  Ramping occurs when the headrest acts as a fulcrom and the head rotates around the headrest.  The neck actually stretches up and over causing even more damamge.  Placing the seat back more vertical/upright can minimize ramping. Do not partake in distractive activities while driving – cell phone use, adjusting the radio, taking your eyes off the road (eye contact during conversation), dosing off, reading a book (this is more common than you think!), and others. Bracing yourself has not been shown to be very helpful – whiplash happens too quickly to voluntarily brace your neck muscles. For athletes, wear appropriate protective gear when engaging in sporting activities and use proper form / technique during the athletic activity.

Important to know! Chiropractors have a unique advantage over other health care providers as spinal manipulation and other manual therapies have been shown to yield the highest levels of satisfaction and faster recovery rates compared to other forms of health care. If you, a loved one, or a friend is struggling with whiplash residuals from a motor vehicle collision, you can depend on receiving a multi-dimensional assessment and therapeutic approach at this office.

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•To Receive The “Weekly Health Update” Every Monday Via Email, Go To www.WeeklyHealthUpdate.com – Code: 06467GRANT
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•Visit Me At www.Spine-Health.com
This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a health care professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.

What Is It? Whiplash is an injury to the soft tissues in the neck including ligaments, joint capsules, muscles and their tendons, and intervertebral disks. It can also involve the nervous system tissues in more severe cases, resulting in radiating arm pain.

How does it happen? During a car crash, most commonly a rear-end collision. The sudden jolt occurs so fast we cannot brace ourselves adequately and the head accelerates back and forth beyond the limits of the ligaments that hold our bones firmly together (often referred to as a “sprain”). Because of the significant range of motion of the neck, the weight of the head, and how is suspended on the neck, the neck is particularly vulnerable to this type of injury (more commonly worse in woman due to a more slender neck).

What are the symptoms? The primary symptom is neck or upper back pain that may develop immediately or be delayed days, weeks, and sometimes months. A partial list of possible symptoms (each injured person’s symptoms are different) include: muscles spasms, loss of movement, headache, dizziness, concentration &/or memory loss, difficulty swallowing, chewing &/or hoarseness, burning or tingling, shoulder/arm/hand radiating pain, and more.

How is it diagnosed? Even when symptoms do not seem significant, a health care provider can diagnose the condition by taking a careful history and performing a physical exam. X-rays showing a change in the curvature or contour of the neck, &/or MRI or CT scan to better assess the disk and nerve roots when pain radiates down an arm may also be indicated. When persistent concentration/memory loss is present, a consult by a neuropsychologist is helpful.

How is it treated? In most cases, non-surgical methods are usually appropriate. If you go to a medical doctor, typical approaches include a wait & watch approach and/or medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs, pain killers, &/or muscle relaxants. MD’s may refer the patient to physical therapy. When these methods fail, referral to a physiatrist may result in injection therapy (epidural steroid, facet injection, trigger point injections). Chiropractic care includes spinal manipulation, mobilization, soft tissue release techniques, exercise training, activity modification training, and physical therapy modality use (electrical stimulation, traction, ultrasound, low level laser therapy – LLLT, TENS unit). Care may also include a mix of provider approaches, when appropriate.

How can it be prevented? The degree of severity of whiplash can be decreased or maybe avoided completely with the following: the use of seatbelts (especially in high speed collisions), placing the headrest close to the head (< 1 inch) and high enough to avoid “ramping” over it. Placing the seat back more vertical/upright can minimize ramping. Do not partake in distractive activities while driving – cell phone use, adjusting the radio, taking your eyes off the road (eye contact during conversation), dosing off, reading a book (this is more common than you think!), and others. Bracing yourself has not been shown to be very helpful – whiplash happens too quickly to voluntarily brace your neck muscles. For athletes, wear appropriate protective gear when engaging in sporting activities and use proper form / technique during the athletic activity.

Important to know! Chiropractors have a unique advantage over other health care providers as spinal manipulation and other manual therapies have been shown to yield the highest levels of satisfaction and faster recovery rates compared to other forms of health care. If you, a loved one, or a friend is struggling with whiplash residuals from a motor vehicle collision, you can depend on receiving a multi-dimensional assessment and therapeutic approach at this office.

Want More?

•To Receive The “Weekly Health Update” Every Monday Via Email, Go To www.WeeklyHealthUpdate.com – Code: 06467GRANT
•To Sign Up For Our Free Email Newsletter, Go To: www.InGoodHandsLetter.Com – Code: 06467GRANT
•Visit Me At www.Spine-Health.com
This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a health care professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.

I treat a lot of headaches in my Chiropractic office.  One of the reported causes of both migraine and tension headache is cervical muscle tension and spinal joint abnormalities in the neck. When considering treatment for headaches, whether it’s a tension-type or migraine, there are many choices available. The question is, which of the many options offer the best benefit?

There have been many studies compairing various treatment for headaches including Chiropractic care.  One study compared the effectiveness of physical therapy (PT) to that of relaxation and thermal biofeedback (RTB). Both groups were treated using one of these approaches, and if at least a 50% improvement was not achieved, the other form of treatment was then utilized. Results were calculated at 3, 6, and 12 month timeframes. The PT group of 30 females used standard physical therapy approaches that included:• Posture correction for alignment of head and spine
• Cervical range of motion for neck and shoulders • Isometric strengthening of the neck • Flare-up management techniques • Active self mobilization of the spine • Whole body stretching
The goal was to target muscular abnormalities and those in this group were to perform the above twice per day for 30 min. The RTB group were instructed in relaxation and thermal biofeedback (RTB) treatment that focused on muscle relaxation, breathing exercises, and the use of a thermal feedback device that determines when the subject’s temperature changes telling them if they are successfully relaxing. The participants were to practice at home and utilized audiotapes for relaxation and monitor success with the portable biofeedback unit.

Using the PT approaches, only 13% reported a successful outcome compared to 51% in the RTB group. In the follow-up of 3, 6 and 12 months, both groups reported continued benefit. When the subjects reported less than 50% benefit with either method, they were given the other treatment option, and the PT approach achieved a 47% success rate and the RTB 50%. These findings suggest that treatments that focus on muscle tension reduction (such as the RTB group) might result in a better outcome compared to only addressing posture, range of motion and flexibility. However, as illustrated in the follow-up group, PT did have a positive beneficial effect.  An important point – the subjects in the RTB group demonstrated the ability to reduce migraine pain and the associated disability by using a self-applied form of care. When teaching the patient to self-manage their condition by instruction and training, the greater the likelihood is for a successful outcome.

Chiropractic focuses on many self-management training procedures including (but not limited to) the training of the use of ice vs. heat, exercises, proper methods of bending and lifting, as well as posture and strength. The use and instruction of relaxation is also a commonly recommended form of care, which this study found to be most beneficial.

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•To Receive The “Weekly Health Update” Every Monday Via Email, Go To www.WeeklyHealthUpdate.com – Code: 06467GRANT
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This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a health care professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.

Fibromyalgia is a difficult problem to diagnose or determine its cause. Since exercises, diet, and weight loss can be so helpful to fibromyalgia patients, we may think they can completely solve the problem.

Chiropractors recognize the importance of good spinal posture in affecting a variety of health problems, including fibromyalgia. It’s important to not think of the disease as having a single solution, but rather as a more complex entity, needing a comprehensive approach. But is there any research on the spine being involved in patients with fibromyalgia?

Recent research (Holman AJ. Positional cervical spinal cord compression and fibromyalgia: a novel comorbidity with important diagnostic and treatment implications. J Pain 2008; May 20 epub.) has looked into a specific problem seen in fibromyalgia patients: spinal cord compression. The scientist took MRIs of fibromyalgia patients with the neck in different positions such as max forward and backward bend. These positions can show the spinal cord is compressed/pinched where a neutrally positioned MRI or CT scan may not. In the study, 71% of patients with fibromyalgia had positional cervical spinal cord compression.

So what does this mean? It means if you have fibromyalgia there may be an undetected cervical compression problem that may also be affecting you.

Good neck posture and mobility are keys to good health. We can diagnose your condition and see if there is a spinal component to your problem that may have been overlooked. Sometimes it’s the low back pain that keeps us from exercising and ultimately getting rid of the fibromyalgia-inactivity-pain cycle. And, as the research above suggests, maybe the problem is in the neck and this needs to be addressed in a specific and comprehensive manner. Sometimes immobility in one area of the spine is compensated for in another, which can make your ability to heal somewhat lessened. Maybe the neck has been a concern of yours for a long time since the fibromyalgia symptoms came on following a neck trauma such as a whiplash. If you also suffer from headaches and have spinal pain, these are important clues that some of your symptoms may be spinally related.

It’s important to view your fibromyalgia symptoms from a global perspective, and not just think of one isolated issue as the root cause, and the only place where treatment needs to be directed.

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This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a health care professional who is familiar with your updated medical history

There is an interesting and lesser-known relationship is the jaw (frequently referred to as the TMJ) and its association with neck function, especially the upper cervical vertebrae, as well as headaches. The muscles that move the jaw/TMJ are largely controlled by the 5th cranial nerve, also called the trigeminal nerve. Several studies have found that when stimulating structures controlled by the trigeminal nerve, neck and/or jaw pain was created and vise versa. Similarly, patients with jaw problems (called temporomandibular dysfunction or, TMD) often report neck pain.

Neck pain and headaches can occur when we open our mouth wide because head-neck extension always occurs followed by head-flexion when we close the jaw. Hence, the neck is always moving when we chew, yawn, talk, and clench our teeth. In fact, all of these every day activities result in jaw, head, neck motion extending from the base of the skull and first cervical vertebra (occiput-C1) and continues down through the entire cervical spine. This was investigated in a study where the relationship between neck symptoms, jaw function – specifically active mouth opening, and pressure pain sensitivity in a trigeminal nerve controlled region after a spinal manipulation was applied to the upper neck vertebrae.

Here, 37 female patients with neck pain were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups (control and experimental) and, before and after treatment, exams of jaw opening and pressure pain levels were measured. The group receiving the upper neck manipulation showed a significant increase in active mouth opening motion as well as improved pressure pain tolerance compared to the control/non-manipulation group in a sample of woman with neck pain. This study is very important as many people suffer from neck pain, headaches and TMD. In order to properly treat these patients, one must focus on multiple regions, not just the neck area. It has been demonstrated when we bite down, there is a corresponding tightening of two important muscles in the neck and upper back region. Similarly, studies show relaxation of muscles in the neck, upper back and TMJ after spinal manipulation to the neck is applied. Injuries to the TMJ are common but often not pursued by patients as often they’ll say, “my jaw clicks and snaps but I don’t think about it much.”

Neck pain and headaches can be very disabling and can significantly alter a person’s normal pattern of living. Simple things like reading the newspaper, cooking, driving a car, and/or looking down when feeding a baby, can become almost intolerable. Canceling plans for the day or saying “no” to vacations can be very disheartening and often occurs because of severe neck pain and/or headache making these activities simply, “no fun.” The cause of the headaches associated with neck pain and dysfunction is usually due to the compression caused by the tight neck muscles squeezing the upper three nerve roots in the neck region, resulting in radiating pain into the head. Frequently, light and noise sensitivity, as well as nausea, can accompany a severe headache, which only adds to the activity limitations associated with neck pain. In fact, there are many experts who feel most headaches, even migraines, stem from the neck or are at least are very closely related. Since neck pain affects approximately two thirds of the population at some point during their lifetime, it becomes clear that headaches, in the absence of neck pain, are quite uncommon.

If you, a friend, or a loved one are struggling with neck pain, headaches, or TMD/jaw pain, we will properly assess your condition and administer the appropriate care that is required. We also coordinate services with other health care providers when necessary. This recommendation may represent one of most significant acts of kindness you can give to those that you truly care about.   Go to our website at www.southingtonchiropractor.com to find out more about us.

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This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a health care professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.

My Chiropractic patients are the typical middle-aged Americans that don’t want to slow down so I give them gym ball exercises. According to the Wall Street Journal, their desire to “keep going” has resulted in a 16 percent growth of the orthopedic industry, with knee replacement surgeries doubling in the 38-56 year old set from 1996-2001. New procedures such as cartilage cell transplants, arthroscopic procedures and artificial knees, hips and discs contribute to a growing $14 billion industry.

This demographic group also has a growing interest in fitness and wellness and gets involved in programs ranging from gym ball exercise programs, yoga and Pilates to meditation and massage. The Baby-Boomer demand to keep moving has also given rise to a number of different providers offering various treatments. Your choices include Pharmaceutical companies which sell drugs, orthopedic surgeons sell increasingly high-tech surgery, with faster recovery times, retailers which sell products such as beds, chairs, shoes and sports gear, all ergonomically engineered for comfort and wellness, physical therapists initially sell one-on-one passive care, followed up with exercise and lifestyle advice and we chiropractors provide spinal adjustments/manipulation, along with support procedures and health counseling.

The best results occur through combination care. Active care by itself is effective. Randomized clinical trials have shown better outcomes and less disability for people with neck and back problems who receive exercise therapy than for those who don’t. Passive therapy is also good, but some passive therapy is better than other types. Studies show that manipulative therapy, in which the ligaments of the joint are stressed (as in a chiropractic adjustment) demonstrate better outcomes that passive therapies that stress primarily muscles, without sufficient force and /or velocity to affect the joint function.

When you combine active and passive therapies, you see real results. The combination gives better subjective improvement as well as better objective improvement when measured by the ability to accurately know when the head is straight and level. An easy active therapy involves a Swiss exercise ball. These large, inexpensive but sturdy inflatable balls are available at any sporting goods or health products store, as well as online. This ball provides excellent active care because it forces the body to balance as it exercises on a labile surface. This exercise creates a high demand on the motor control system, which changes both the level of muscle activity and the way that the muscles interact to stabilize the body.

An exercise and posture awareness program that uses the ball to promote symmetry and improved balance is excellent for rehabilitation and injury prevention as well as to improve athletic form and performance. Working with your chiropractor, a specialized program can be developed specifically for you. Starting with range of motion exercises and progressing to more involved balance and co-ordination requires a free and mobile spine so call your chiropractor to be evaluated.