Posts Tagged ‘chiropractic’

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.”

Can Yoga Relieve Back Pain?

Posted on: August 7th, 2013

hübsche frau auf strand macht jogaCan Yoga Relieve Lower Back Pain?

by James Barger

As the leading reason for impairment in Americans under 45 years of age, lower back pain is the second most typical reason individuals visit their physician. An estimated 60 % to 80 % of the grownup populace suffers from low back pain eventually in life, and traditional medical therapies are generally ineffective in the long term.

Nonetheless, there are alternative means of dealing with lower back pain that have actually been proven to be more effective which do not involve medicines or invasive surgical treatment. These consist of chiropractic care, massage therapy and– interestingly enough– yoga.

A study carried out by researchers from Manchester and York Universities and released in the journal, Annals of Internal Medicine, discovered that those who took part in weekly yoga sessions showed substantial improvement when performing day-to-day physical tasks such as walking, bending and getting dressed. Lead author of the research, Professor David Torgelson, who is the director of the York Trial Facility at the University of York, stated, “In the past when you had back pain, you were told to lie down till it passed. These days, the main advise is to keep your back moving. It appears yoga has even more beneficial effects than usual care consisting of other types 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 routine doctor, while 157 clients only saw their doctor. Even 9 months later, those who had taken the yoga classes were better able to do daily tasks than the group who had only had standard medical therapy. Another study of 228 individuals that was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine (a different journal than the one above) likewise found that regular yoga sessions improved function and decreased pain better than conventional treatment.

In both papers, the clients who were approved to take part all had non-specific back pain, which means that their pain was not detected as being triggered by a specific underlying condition such as a slipped disc, spinal stenosis, sciatica, and so on.

There are a few reasons yoga could be advantageous for lower back pain. First off, yoga is a practice that both strengthens and stretches the muscles. A certified yoga educator will know which are the most valuable positions for you to practice based upon your body’s condition and capacity. For example, tight hamstrings can tilt your pelvis to an angle that does not offer ample support to your back. Gentle yoga stretches in this area can assist to straighten the pelvis, taking pressure off your lower back. At the same time, specific yoga poses enhance the core muscles of the trunk, which are the most important in offering correct support and versatility to the upper body as it moves, again taking pressure off the back.

Before beginning any yoga class to treat your lower back pain, make certain to consult with your doctor to dismiss any hidden issues that could be causing your discomfort. You must also let your yoga teacher know about your back pain so that she or he can select the proper poses for you and adapt any poses so that they do not worsen the issue. As these researches have actually shown, participating in yoga classes on a regular basis can help to ease back pain and get you moving again.

If there are any questions, give Barger Chiropractic of Folsom a call at 916-984-9999.

Chiropractic More Effective for Neck Pain Than Other Treatments

Posted on: April 21st, 2013

Chiropractic More Effective for Neck Pain Than Other Treatments

Folsom Chiropractor-neck pain

By James Barger

Neck pain is believed to affect between 10% and 15% of the general population, and is particularly likely in those over 50 years of age. Neck pain is frequently accompanied by headaches, dizziness or other symptoms.  In addition, certain movements or sustained postures of the neck can aggravate the pain and stiffness and add to a limit in range of motion.

Common treatments for neck pain include prescription analgesics along with some type of physical therapy (usually massage, application of heat and/or specialized exercises) to deal with the pain and improve function.  However, the results of a randomized controlled trial published in the Annals of Internal Medicine showed that manual therapy, such as chiropractic care performed by a certified chiropractor, was more effective than either physical therapy or continued care by a general practitioner.

The study involved 183 patients between 18 and 70 years of age who had reported having non-specific neck pain for two weeks or more. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: manual therapy, physical therapy or continued care by their physician.

Those referred to a manual therapist had a 45-minute treatment once a week for up to six weeks; those who were treated by a physical therapist had a 30-minute treatment twice a week for up to six weeks; and the remaining patients who were under continuing care from their doctor were given medication to treat pain and inflammation, were instructed in the use of hot compresses and were given exercises they could perform at home to treat their neck pain. All patients included in the study were allowed to use exercises at home, non-prescription pain medication and any medication that his or her physician may have prescribed before the beginning of the study in the treatment of their neck pain.

Seven weeks after the beginning of the study, patients were asked to rate their neck pain, from “much worse” to “completely recovered,” and the researchers compared the number of patients in each group who had reported feeling at least “much improved.” The results indicated that 68.3% of the manual therapy group reported feeling either “much improved” or “completely recovered,” compared with 50.8% of patients in the physical therapy group and 35.9% of patients in the physician-treated group.

Despite the fact that the lead author of the study is a physical therapist, the study noted that “the physical therapy patients achieved significantly worse success rates while using twice the number of patient visits as the manual therapy group.” The researchers concluded that “in daily practice, manual therapy is a favorable treatment option for patients with neck pain compared with physical therapy or continued care by a general practitioner,” and that “primary care physicians should consider [referral for] manual therapy when treating patients with neck pain.”

For more information, call Barger Chiropractic of Folsom at 916-984-9999,  231 Blue Ravine Road, #200, Folsom.  Visit our website at www.docbarger.com or www.folsomchiropractor.net