Tag Archive for "back pain" - Barger Chiropractic Of Folsom

Posts Tagged ‘back pain’

Genetics and Back Pain: Is There a Family Connection?

Posted on: October 12th, 2014

Back pain affects a majority of people at some point in their lives. Why is that? There’s little doubt among researchers and clinicians that much of the back pain we experience is related to our modern lifestyle. However, recent research suggests that low back pain may also have a genetic component.

While it’s too early to know for sure, this discovery might one day have implications for how healthcare providers identify at-risk individuals and help them through both prevention and treatment.
Researchers from King’s College in London performed a study that was published in the journal Annals of Rheumatic Diseases that showed a specific gene was associated with a condition referred to as lumbar disc degeneration (LDD). LDD is one of the most common causes of low back pain, and it is usually related to the aging process, particularly among women. More than a third of all women aged 30 to 50 have at least one degenerated disc in their spine. It is estimated that as many as 80% of LDD cases are inherited.

Disc degeneration involves a reduction in the height of the vertebral discs through the loss of disc fluid, which makes then thinner, bringing the vertebrae closer together. Adding to this is the formation of small cracks or tears in the covering of the disc, which allows the jellylike cushioning substance to leak out, further compressing the vertebrae. Occasionally the vertebrae will then form bony spurs (osteophytes) that can put pressure on nerves and cause pain.

In the study, researchers analyzed the MRI spinal scans of 4,600 people who had had their genes mapped. When the researchers compared the scans with the genetic mapping, they found a strong association between a variant of the PARK2 gene and disc degeneration. It appears that the gene has been switched off in those who suffer from LDD. Scientists believe that the gene may become switched off due to environmental factors such as diet and lifestyle, which trigger changes to the genes.

A Senior Lecturer from the King’s College Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, Dr. Frances Williams, said “We have performed, using data collected from around the world, the biggest genome-wide association analysis of lumbar disc degeneration (LDD). We know that people whose discs wear out are at increased risk of episodes of lower back pain, but normal human discs are hard to get hold of to study so until now our knowledge of normal human biology was incomplete.”

Although Williams feels that this study provides a good basis for research into the cause of LDD, more research is necessary. She says, “Further work by disc researchers to define the role of this gene will, we hope, shed light on one of most important causes of lower back pain. It is feasible that if we can build on this finding and improve our knowledge of the condition, we may one day be able to develop new, more effective treatments for back pain caused by this common condition.”

In the mean time, check out the flexion-distraction section on docbarger.com. This is an excellent therapy for lumbar disc degeneration patients. Many patients with LDD have gotten excellent low-back pain relief through this safe, effective chiropractic treatment. Call now at 916-984-9999 and/or stop by at 231 Blue Ravine Rd #200, Folsom, CA 95630.

Can Yoga Really Relieve Lower Back Pain?

Posted on: July 29th, 2014

As the leading cause of disability in Americans under 45 years of age, lower back pain is the second most common reason why people visit their doctor. An estimated 60% to 80% of the adult population suffers from low back pain at some point in life, and traditional medical treatments are usually not effective in the long-term.

However, there are alternative ways of dealing with lower back pain that have been proven to be more successful and that do not involve drugs or invasive surgery. These include chiropractic care, massage therapy and—interestingly enough—yoga.

A study performed by researchers from Manchester and York Universities and published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine found that those who participated in weekly yoga sessions showed significant improvement when performing everyday physical tasks such as walking, bending and getting dressed.

Lead author of the study, Professor David Torgelson, who is the director of the York Trial Unit at the University of York, said, “In the past when you had back pain, you were told to lie down until it passed.These days the main advice is to keep your back active. It seems yoga has more beneficial effects than usual care including other forms of exercise, although we have not carried out a direct comparison.”

A total of 156 patients with chronic lower back pain took one 75-minute yoga class once a week for 12 weeks in addition to seeing their regular physician, while 157 patients saw their physician only. Even nine months later, those who had taken the yoga classes were better able to perform everyday tasks than the group who had only had conventional medical treatment.

Another study of 228 people that was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine (a different journal than the one above) also found that regular yoga sessions improved function and reduced pain better than conventional medical care.

In both studies, the patients who were approved to participate all had non-specific back pain, which means that their pain was not diagnosed as being caused by a specific underlying condition such as a slipped disc, spinal stenosis, sciatica, etc.

There are a few reasons why yoga may be beneficial for lower back pain. First of all, yoga is a practice that both strengthens and stretches the muscles. A qualified yoga teacher will know which are the most beneficial poses for you to practice based on your body’s condition and ability. For instance, tight hamstrings can tilt your pelvis to an angle that does not provide sufficient support to your back.

Gentle yoga stretches in this area can help to realign the pelvis, taking pressure off your lower back. At the same time, certain yoga poses strengthen the core muscles of the trunk, which are the most important in giving proper support and flexibility to the upper body as it moves, again taking pressure off the back.

Before beginning any yoga class to treat your lower back pain, be sure to consult with your doctor to rule out any underlying problems that may be causing your pain. You should also let your yoga instructor know about your back pain so that he or she can choose the appropriate poses for you and adapt any poses so that they do not exacerbate the problem. As these studies have shown, engaging in yoga practice on a regular basis can help to relieve back pain and get you moving again.

Dr. Jim Barger has over 25 years experience treating thousands of Folsom area residents with safe, effective chiropractic care. Call now at 916-984-9999 or stop by to visit our office at 231 Blue Ravine Road, Suite 200, Folsom, CA today!

Look Who Else Uses Chiropractic Care: Water Polo Players

Posted on: July 11th, 2014

Although it may not seem like it, water polo is a very physically demanding sport. Its players are required to spend an hour and fifteen minutes in a pool, during which they cover a distance of as much as three kilometers. There is a good deal of physical contact above and below water. In addition, teammates must shoot and pass the ball without the benefit of contact with the ground to help generate force in the upper body.
The current US Men’s Water Polo team goal keeper, Merrill Moses, attributes much of the team’s success to the benefits they get from chiropractic care and their chiropractor Dr. Terry Schroeder. According to Merrill, “I can honestly say that without chiropractic, many Olympic athletes would not be able to perform to their potential. We take such a pounding on our bodies, especially in water polo, because it’s a contact sport. I like to get a chiropractic adjustment everyday just to keep my body healthy.”

Dr. Schroeder, coach of the US Olympic Water Polo team, was himself a water polo captain and helped the US win medals in the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games. In 1998 he was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame.

Schroeder says, “Athletes know that the difference between winning and losing can be a matter of fractions. When looking for that edge, chiropractic often makes all the difference.” Schroeder adds, “I believe that chiropractic is going to continue to be of growing importance in the Olympic world.”

Upper body injuries are common among water polo players, particularly rotator cuff injuries and other types of shoulder pain. “Every guy I think on our Olympic team was being adjusted pretty regularly,” said Schroeder. “Some of them were a little bit slower to come on board… but as they saw the other guys kind of respond and said ‘Man my shoulder feels so much better, my neck feels so much better’ – one by one they all said ‘Maybe you can help me out. Maybe I’m going to perform a little better too.'”

Schroeder is continuing in a long chiropractic tradition. His grandfather and father were both chiropractors. “I grew up seeing people arrive at my dad’s office in pain and then watching them come out with a smile,” Schroeder says. “I’ve never taken an aspirin or had a shot. I’ve always had chiropractic care as primary care, and I believe I’m in balance, that my immune system is better for it. I’m not saying there’s no place for surgery, but the body will take care of itself if you let it.”

“Chiropractic has played a huge role in keeping me healthy – I’m the only four-time Olympian in the sport of water polo in the United States.” Schroeder added, “I won two silver medals as an athlete and now I came back with a silver medal as a coach. My gold medal in my life is chiropractic.”

Contact Barger Chiropractic of Folsom at 916-984-9999 or visit us at 231 Blue Ravine Rd #200, Folsom, CA between Prarie City and Turnpike.

Look Who Else Uses Chiropractic Care: Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Fighters

Posted on: June 22nd, 2014

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a full-contact sport that combines techniques from a range of different martial arts. It allows for such techniques as grappling and striking, combining the moves of boxing and wrestling, among others. The sport can involve techniques from Brazilian jiu-jitsu, wrestling, judo, karate, kickboxing, muai Thai and taekwondo.

The strikes and holds involved in MMA are rough on the musculoskeletal system and (no surprise) frequently cause injuries, particularly to the neck and spine. A 4-month study of four MMA tournaments found that of the 427 respondents to a survey, there had been 103 cases of cervical neck injury, five requiring hospitalization and causing a neurological deficit. The examining physicians describe these types of injuries as similar to those of whiplash. Life-threatening injuries to the central nervous system are common. Blows to the head can cause a hyperextension and hyperflexion of the neck, causing a sprain or strain to the neck region and varying neurological problems.

In a sport that so frequently causes misalignment of the spine and joint injury, it is especially important to take advantage of the benefits of chiropractic care. MMA athletes find that chiropractic improves their balance, coordination and strength due to the improved neurological signaling that an aligned spine provides. They find that reaction times improve and it gives them an edge on the competition.

Former professional boxer Evander Holyfield said, “I do believe in Chiropractic. I found that going to a Chiropractor three times a week helps my performance. Once I drove 20 miles to see a chiropractor before a fight. I have to have my adjustment before I get in the ring. The majority of boxers go to get that edge.”

According to Frank Shamrock, former UFC light heavyweight champion and MMA fighter, “When I was 16 in high school I started playing basketball and my right leg went numb and started to drag slightly behind me. I went to the regular MD who did x-rays and told me that I had broken my back at an early stage of my life, that I would need immediate surgery, and I’d have pain and limited mobility for the rest of my life. So, being the highly holistic and active person I am, I went and saw a chiropractor.” Shamrock added, “I’ve been seeing chiropractic for 16 years now. It has been the change in my life that has allowed me to participate in professional athletics and to achieve six world championships … I believe in chiropractic.”

What’s the Difference Between an MD and a DC?

Posted on: August 13th, 2013

By James Barger

It’s important to know the basic differences between an MD (Medical Doctor) and a DC (Doctor of Chiropractic) so that you understand the unique role that each type of medical professional plays in helping you to maintain or regain your health.

MDs and DCs are both licensed healthcare providers. They examine, diagnose and treat patients. However, most MDs have more hours of training in physiology, whereas DCs typically have more hours of anatomy training. Their methods of practice may help explain this difference in emphasis.

DCs are experts in musculoskeletal health and general wellness. Like an MD, a DC will use diagnostic imaging, lab tests, clinical exams and questionnaires to determine a diagnosis, but the course of treatment will be different. MDs tend to prescribe pharmaceuticals and surgery to treat patients, whereas DCs use a more holistic approach involving a variety of hands-on treatments as well as advice on diet and exercise.

Office visits are also often quite different experiences. On a typical visit to an MD, you will likely be asked by a nurse or assistant to fill out paperwork and provide information about your condition. Then the MD will visit you, look at the information, perhaps perform a brief clinical examination, and quickly prescribe a treatment. In the course of doing this, most doctors will take only a small amount of time to understand
your overall health picture. And treatment will usually involve drugs and/or medical procedures.

It is not uncommon for patients to have a more personal relationship with their DC than with their MD. Visits to a DC also tend to be more involved. The chiropractor will speak with you at length about not only your physical symptoms, but your lifestyle habits as well. He or she will examine you, perform any necessary tests, discuss possible treatment options, and provide appropriate manual therapies. Together, these treatment methods are sometimes referred to as “physical medicine”. These may include targeted spinal adjustments, therapeutic massage, disc decompression, laser therapy, electrical stimulation and hot and cold treatments as well as structured exercise and stretching programs. In addition, the chiropractor may also make specific suggestions about your nutrition, day-to-day environment and physical activity.

In general, musculoskeletal problems (particularly those related to back, neck and joint pain) are better treated by a DC. However, many chiropractors have also developed specialized expertise in other areas as well. DCs will refer you to an MD if they believe that diagnosing and treating your specific condition is beyond their scope of practice.

James Barger, DC has successfully treated over 2500 Folsom area residents with safe, effective chiropractic care. He receives referrals from dozens of Sacramento, El Dorado and Placer county MD’s. Our clean, modern facility is located at 231 Blue Ravine Road, near the UC Davis medical offices, in the Natoma Station center, on the corner of Blue Ravine and Turnpike. Call and talk to Karen or Dr. Barger at 916-984-9999.

Barger Chiropractic of Folsom