You might be surprised to learn what types of jobs are the most likely to cause back pain problems for workers. If you guessed jobs that involve lots of physical effort and heavy lifting, the information that follows could provide a whole new look into potential back problems in your own occupation. People who “sit down all day” are the members of the working population most susceptible to back pain issues. This fact comes from a recent survey of 2,374 people conducted by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA). Researchers found that 59% of the respondents with sedentary jobs and lifestyles are more at risk of having back issues than people who do a great deal of lifting and carrying in their positions.

Here is the list of at risk jobs for back pain as provided by the BCA.

1. Office Worker – Involves long periods of time sitting in awkward positions or in improperly adjusted chairs, often slouched over computer keyboards.

2. Nurse – Many hours on their feet along with lifting and carrying, too.

3. Driver – Long hours sitting in poor positions with limited movement.

4. Laborer – Repeated strain from lifting and twisting, often in awkward positions, does take its toll.

5. Teacher & Nursery Staff — Involves much bending down to child’s height and lifting of children that can cause back problems.

“This survey has highlighted what we Chiropractors have known for some time,” said Dr. Tim Hutchful of the BCA. “Lack of exercise and sedentary lifestyle is taking its toll. It is those with less physically demanding jobs and who are often seated for the majority of the day that could be most prone to back problems.

“Hunching over computer keyboards and cradling the phone between the ear and shoulder can all contribute to lower back and neck stiffness, not to mention the fact that many office workers sit for hours at a time with very little movement.”

People with office-related jobs would be most wise to get up from their desks, move about and stretch frequently. Additionally, paying close attention to correct posture while sitting in a properly adjusted chair and computer monitor would also help to avert back issues. “For many in the office environment, it is the day-to-day, mundane routines that are at the root of most back problems,” adds Dr. Hutchful.

Just one year ago, baseball pitcher Cole Hamels was on his team’s disabled list and sat out the entire month of September with injuries. Now, this same pitcher is the celebrated winner of the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the World Series while leading his team to a World Championship.

Hamels is a pitcher with the Philadelphia Phillies. Toward the end of the 2007 season, he developed elbow problems that were severe enough to keep him on the sidelines. Earlier in his career he’d also suffered from knee and hip concerns and had been helped through these problems with Chiropractic care.

Prior to the start of the 2008 season, Hamels went to the Phillies front office with a request. He wanted the organization to provide the services of a chiropractor to himself and his team while they were at home in Philadelphia. And, he took his request one step further. He wanted the Phillies to provide for his Chiropractic care while the team was on the road and playing in many different cities around the country.

When the team agreed, Hamels had this to say. “Ever since I’ve used one (a chiropractor) it’s done wonders for me. It’s great that they (team management) is going out of their way to get a network going.” It was April 2008 when he made this comment. At the time he also said that with Chiropractic services fully available, that he felt he could, one day, reach the magic number of becoming a 20 game winner for a season.

Hamels didn’t quite reach the 20 game regular season number this year. He finished the year with an impressive 14-10 record. However, this helped his team to a conference championship and a position in the playoffs, and it was in this portion of the season that a healthy Hamels really began to shine.

His first play-off appearances came against the Milwaukee Brewers. He was the winning pitcher as his team advanced to the next round against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hamels pitched the first game of this series and again came out the winner and the Phillies advanced to the World Series. Hamels also came away with the individual honor of being named the MVP for the League Championship Series.

With this success behind him and his health and confidence booming, Hamels was on the mound for the first game of the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays and won the game. Finally, with the series on the line, Hamels got the call again for the deciding game and was the winning pitcher for that one as well. His performance netted him the coveted MVP award for the 2008 World Series!

Hamels post-season performance and his personal 4 victory and 0 loss record in the play-offs will long be remembered. Unlike the fall of 2007 where he was forced to watch play-off games on television while nursing a sore pitching arm, he was now the toast of the town while making personal television appearances on the likes of the Late Night Show with David Letterman.

It is quite apparent that Hamels’ confidence in Chiropractic and his ability to get involved in taking care of his own health had everything to do with his successful season. Congratulations to Cole Hamels, the Philadelphia Phillies and Chiropractic for a World Championship season.

Source

Kid Chiropractic

“World Series MVP Cole Hamels Presents the Top Ten List on CBS’s Late Night Show with David Letterman.” October 2008.

http://www.cbspressexpress.com/div.php/cbs_entertainment/release?id=20014

Source: 

INDIVIDUALIZED CHIROPRACTIC PROGRAMS PROVIDE

IMPROVEMENTS FOR CHILDREN, TOO!

Why would a parent not take a child to see a chiropractor? The basic answer might come down to no information or incorrect information.

Here are three basic reasons why not: 1. They don’t know about Chiropractic, 2. They don’t know about the potential benefits of Chiropractic or, 3. They think that a Chiropractic adjustment might be too rough for a child and cause pain or damage.

Once a person finds out about Chiropractic and begins to understand its benefits, it is point number 3 that must be understood and dispelled, as apparently, some parents think that a Chiropractic adjustment will be “too rough” for their youngster.

Chiropractors understand that all bodies are different and tailor their adjustments and the amount of pressure required based on the individual they are treating. A big football playing man in his 20s, a little old woman in her 70s and a child of 10, will all be looked at and evaluated for their individual needs.

In this way, it could be said that a Chiropractic adjustment can be as individual as a handshake. A strong man shaking hands with another strong man will give him a lot more pressure than if the same man was shaking hands with his grandmother or the child. When parents realize this and bring their child in for an adjustment, the results can be quite remarkable. Consider this case of a 7-year-old girl.

This child had been suffering from asthma since the age of 4. By the time she came to see a chiropractor, she had been treated medically with 10 different medications. Attacks of coughs and wheezing were daily occurrences. Physical activity was almost out of the question. Emergency room visits sometimes reached 5 per year. A test of lung capacity revealed she was operating at about 50 percent of her lung capacity.

An exam by her chiropractor revealed subluxations (partial dislocations) in the vertebrae at the middle of her spine. An individual program was tailored to handle these restrictions. With just one adjustment, some of the tightness in her chest disappeared and her coughing was reduced. After just 4 weeks of treatment, she was able to put aside her inhaler and get back to participating in swimming and running sports. After 3 months, her lung capacity was just about normal and all medications were stopped.

Had her parents avoided taking her to a chiropractor because of a fear that an adjustment might be too rough and cause her pain, the child might well be on her way to a dozen more medications, further restrictions of activity and even worse breathing problems.

Is Chiropractic for children too? By all means. Miracles can occur each and every day in Chiropractic with the right adjustment, tailored to the individual’s size, age, shape and need.

Dynamic Chiropractic. “Chiropractic: As Individual as a Handshake.” July 2008. http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/26/14/12.html

Patients with Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy often develop progressive scoliosis. These patients are considered at high risk for surgery-related complications.

In more than 35 cases evaluated and treated by Ward Chiropractic Clinic, almost all of the children suffering from Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy have similar spinal patterns and ALL have shown various degrees of improvement under chiropractic care.

Chiropractic care may very well be the best early treatment for Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, providing stabilization while still allowing for flexion and extension movements of the trunk.

A review of more than 70 individual Duchenne’s and other muscular dystrophy cases has shown that chiropractic plays an important role in slowing the degenerative changes that are anticipated with muscular dystrophy.

Chiropractic care may stop the progression or reverse the symptoms of

multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s disease, according to a study

published in the 

Journal of Vertebral and Subluxation Research.

Dr. Erin L. Elster, D.C., reviewed the cases of 81 patients who had been under treatment for the last five years. Fortyfour of the patients suffered with MS and 37 suffered with Parkinson’s disease.

Seventy-eight of the patients reported at least one traumatic head or neck injury two months to 30 years before the onset of their diseases.

Digital infrared imaging and laser-aligned x-rays confirmed a misalignment of the upper spine in all 81 patients. 91% of the MS patients and 92% of the Parkinson’s patients showed symptomatic improvement following Chiropractic care. None of the women reported that their disease had worsened at a follow-up five years after the study concluded.

Back pain is often induced during pregnancy, due to the rapid growth of the baby, and structural changes that occur in the body to accommodate for that growth.

Imbalances of the spine or pelvis that went unnoticed prior to pregnancy are often overtaxed as the body adapts to pregnancy. Many pregnant women experience discomfort and difficulty in performing routine, daily activities.

Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy can relieve and prevent these discomforts by eliminating stress on the spine and restoring balance to the pelvis.

As the baby develops, the uterus enlarges. A balanced pelvis is able to maintain and support this suspension, but if the pelvis is not balanced, the ligaments twist and constrain the uterus.

This constraint not only limits the space for the developing baby, but the compromised position will affect the baby’s overall development. The constraint often results in torticollis, a contracting of the neck muscles, which causes the neck to rotate and tilt sideways, forwards or backwards, placing the baby in a position that will lead to a difficult birth.

Medical interventions are often used to ease birth — administration of picotin, epidurals, painful episiotomies, vacuum extraction, forceps, and cesarean deliveries, amongst others.

Obstetric texts have reported dystocia, or difficult birth, is caused by a pelvic imbalance and its resulting effect on the uterus and the baby’s position.

Expectant mothers should make Chiropractic a part of prenatal care, as it can restore balance to the pelvic muscles and ligaments, remove interference of he nervous system, and reduce labor time.

HE A LT H RE P O RT

CHIROPRACTIC EFFECTIVE IN TREATING LARYNGITIS AND SORE THROATS

A recent study was conducted to examine the efficacy of Chiropractic adjustments on patients suffering with laryngitis and sore throats. 4,600 incidents of respiratory tract infections were included in the study. Results of the study showed Chiropractic was effective in treating such infections. The results are as follows: Pharyngitis (sore throat): 57% of patients with pharyngitis were treated on the first day with Chiropractic adjustments and a salt water gargle. All patients were without symptoms the second day.

Laryngitis: 100% of patients with laryngitis were treated on the first day of illness with a Chiropractic adjustment; voice function returned to normal within one day.

SOURCE: International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, www.4icpa.org, March 2001.

A study published about the effective treatment of Fibromyalgia.

The objective of the study was to determine whether a regimen of 30 Chiropractic treatments could effectively reduce the i n t e n s i t y of pain, sleep disturbance and fatigue associated with Fibromyalgia.

Before and after questionnaires were used to assess the results of the study. Participants were assessed at the beginning, after 15 and 30 treatments and again, one month after the conclusion of the treatments.

Fifteen women who had suffered from Fibromyalgia for a period extending three months, participated in the study and received 30 treatments.

In order to be considered “responders” to the treatments, a minimum of 50% improvement in pain intensity was needed. After 15 and 30 treatments, 60% of the women (9 participants) were classified as responders and reported a significant reduction of pain intensity and an improvement in quality of sleep and fatigue level.

After 30 treatments, pain intensity had been reduced by 77.2%; sleep quality improved by 63.5% and fatigue decreased by 74.8%. These outcomes were maintained after one month without treatment.

The study suggests that Chiropractic can play a valuable role in the management of Fibromyalgia symptoms.

SOURCE: Dynamic Chiropractic, May 29, 2000, Vol. 18, No. 12, p. 22.

TMJ means Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome. The temporomandidular joint is located at the top of the jaw, near the ear. When the temporomandidular joint is misaligned it can cause symptoms such as headaches, toothaches, burning, tingling sensations in the tongue, mouth or throat, earaches, neck aches or shoulder aches, tenderness and swelling in the sides of the face, clicking or popping noises when opening the jaw, and inability to open the mouth freely.

The most common causes of TMJ are thought to be misalignment of the teeth, emotional stress, bad postural habits, whiplash or physical trauma, misalignment of the spine, or disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

A pilot study was done in which 12 patients were assessed by dentists in private practice as having TMJ Syndrome. These patients were randomly assigned to a chiropractic treatment or a placebo treatment (remote trigger point therapy) group.

Patients in the chiropractic group received weekly chiropractic adjustments for six weeks to correct cervical spine dysfunction. Those in the placebo group received weekly trigger point therapy to muscles. The results showed both groups demonstrated similar positive changes. A subjective, graphical comparison of results suggests that spinal adjustment may have some superiority over the trigger point method.

Anyone experiencing TMJ symptoms should see a dentist or chiropractor for help.

Those who suffer from migraine headaches are top candidates for legalized drug dependency. The ferocity of the migraine headache and, from a medical point of view, drugs being the only handling possible, the migraine sufferer is doomed to a life of misery and a life of prescription drug dependency.

The drug industry is a billion-dollar-a-year industry and spends millions of dollars in advertising to influence the way patients think and doctors prescribe. What chance has the migraine sufferer? Can chiropractic help?

In a recent research trial, four migraine sufferers were given spinal manipulation therapy and responded dramatically, with numerous self- reported symptoms either eliminated or substantially reduced. Migraine episodes were reduced on average by 90% and the duration of each migraine attack reduced by 38%

while the use of medication was reduced by 94%.

Vomiting, nausea, aversion to light, and aversion to sound were also  substantially reduced. So there is hope for the migraine sufferer through chiropractic care.