Learning Library Blog

Will Orthotics Help Me?

A simple, but precise screening and evaluation by a specially trained orthotics professional, usually a chiropractor, orthopedic or podiatrist, will help determine if orthotics can help you. An accurate fit is essential to the success of any orthotic device. The process our specialists utilize starts with a cast of your foot using a soft foam mold to produce an exact impression of your foot. Since every foot is different, a customized orthotic will have a more exact fit and result than a one-size-fits-all product. The orthotics my patients prefer are flexible and insert easily into a fully enclosed shoe. They are made of a durable plastic, with a foam layer and ultra suede cover for cushion and comfort. While the costs are reasonable, in some cases, a portion may be covered by insurance and the benefits are well worth it. Consider some of these red flag indicators and contact your healthcare professional or a specialist if you feel there is a possible link: Do you stand or walk for more than 4 hours a day? Have you had knee, or back injury? Do your shoes wear unevenly? Is one of your legs shorter than the other? Are you suffering from chronic knee, hip, or back pain?

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Lymphatic Drainage for Fibromyalgia Sufferers

More than 12 million Americans suffer from Fibromyalgia, with most being women aged 25-60. It is the second most common arthritis-related illness after osteoarthritis, with symptoms including body-wide muscle and joint pain, fatigue, anxiety or depression, and decreased pain thresholds, just to name a few. The causes of Fibromyalgia are not well understood, which can make treatment difficult. A study in the Journal of Manipulative and Psychological Therapeutics found that Fibromyalgia patents had an improvement in symptoms through both manual lymph drainage therapy and connective tissue massage. Your lymphatic system is a complex network of lymph vessels and organs that circulates lymph fluid and specialized cells throughout the body for the purpose of destroying pathogens and filtering waste so it can be eliminated from the body. When the lymph system works well, we feel healthy and have a strong defense against illness. When it’s sluggish or blocked, either after surgery or an injury, we can have swelling, feel tired, and become more susceptible to sickness and infections. Though lymph vessels are found all throughout the body, most of them (about 70% of them) are located just below the skin. With lymph drainage techniques, lymph vessels are gently massaged to mobilize lymphatic fluid. It helps regulate the immune system, clear blockages, eliminate metabolic waste and toxins from the body, as well as reduce excess fluid. Therefore, because the technique is so gentle, it’s well tolerated by Fibromyalgia patients, who are often experiencing many trigger points throughout the body. By understanding the anatomy and function of this delicate system, your massage therapist specialist can assist your boy in clearing sluggish tissues of waste and swelling.

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Chiropractic Helps Ear Infections

In a previous issue of Ladies Home Journal appeared an article entitled ” Chiropractic Adjustments for Chronic Ear Infections.” This article reviewed several studies showing the effectiveness of chiropractic care for preventing re-occurring ear infections know as Otitis Media, or OM. According to the article, re-occurring ear infections account for over 35% of all pediatrician visits in the United States. Sometimes, these infections are due to bacteria and sometimes these are due to a virus. The most common medical care for this situation has been antibiotics, even though antibiotics have no effect on viruses. While the article mentions the antibiotic may be effective in acute bacterial infection, they do nothing to stop repeat infections. Research and statistics is now showing that repeated use of antibiotics is contributing to future infections by creating drug-resistant infections. The surgical approach has met with little long term results as the “tubes” placed in children’s ears often come out and usually require a child to be put under general anesthesia to do the surgery. The article in the Ladies Home Journal states, “Chiropractic care is thought to prevent recurrent infections by correcting misalignments (called subluxations) and allowing normal fluid drainage from the middle ear.” What the article took special note of was that 6 months after the chiropractic care was given to the children in the study, 80% had not suffered a recurrence of ear infections. In closing, the article did make a profound statement. They made a recommendation to parents on this subject. “If your child is between ear infections and his doctor suggested ear-tube surgery, ask if you can try chiropractic treatment first.” While we agree with that sentiment, we suggest you not wait for a period between episodes, and you don’t have to “ask” permission from any doctor to seek a chiropractic specialist’s advice.

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Adrenal fatigue?

Tired of being tired? Adrenal fatigue is a collection of signs and symptoms known as a syndrome that results when the adrenal glands function below the necessary level. Most commonly associated with intense or prolonged stress, it can also start during or after acute or chronic infections, especially respiratory infections such as influenza, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Adrenal fatigue is not a new condition. People have been experiencing this condition for years, but recently there was not the knowledge or awareness as to what it was or how to help to treat it. Take the quite Adrenal Fatigue Quiz to see if any, or all, of the symptoms fit your life: Tired for no reason? Having trouble getting up in the morning? Need coffee, colas, salty or sweet snacks, crave high protein foods such as meat and cheese to keep you going during the day? Feeling run down and stressed? Can’t bounce back from stress or illness? Struggling to keep up with life’s daily demands? Just not having fun anymore? Tendency to gain weight and unable to lose it, especially around the waist? Unable to remember things? Pain in the upper back or neck for no apparent reason? Lightheaded, especially when rising from a laying down position? Mild depression? Decreased sex drive? None of these sings or symptoms by themselves can determine adrenal fatigue, but when taken as a group, they form the big picture of a “syndrome” – a person under stress. To really understand how this all happens, we need to take a look at where it starts. Your adrenals are two small glands weighing 3 to 5 grams, located above the kidneys in your mid back. Don’t let their size fool you; these powerful little endocrine glands manufacture and secrete steroid hormones that are essential for life, health, and vitality. They “oversee” the functioning of each and every tissue, organ, and gland in your body to maintain balance during stress and keep you alive. They also have important effects on the way you think and feel. They have the highest content of vitamin C per gram of any tissue and one of the highest blood flow per gram of any tissue in the body. They are about the size of a walnut, but can shrink down to the size of a small grape when exhausted. The main purpose of the adrenals is to enable your body to deal with stress from every possible source and to determine the energy of your body’s response to this stress. Whether they signal attack, retreat, or surrender, every cell responds accordingly, and you feel the results. As you can see by the signs and symptoms, these tiny glands effect everything you do: your sleep patterns, your eating habits, your emotional and physical status, and you r ability to function and lead a healthy and happy life. Our specialists at the clinic now offers specialized simple, non-evasive testing for adrenal fatigue and suggestions for ways to modify your daily routine through specific nutritional supplements, changes in eating and slipping habits, stress modification, increase in exercise, and chiropractic and massage therapy treatments. Don’t be content to feel bad and let life pass you by. Feel good again, be active, and enjoy a healthy, happy lifestyle! Call our clinic for an appointment today. We are always here for you!

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