As a chiropractor I recommend exercise to all my patients, both the young and aging baby boomers alike. I get resistance from all ages, too! The young ones would rather play video games and many of my older patients suffer from the degenerative changes that lead to the pain of arthritis. But, getting the body moving can actually act as a pain reliever, increase flexibility, and help individuals to maintain their weight and improve their cardiovascular system. Exercise and play activities keep every body, no matter what age that body might be, in better health. So, for my older patients I advise that though they should never want to “play through” pain, mild exercise, including golf can actually help their arthritis symptoms, improve their balance, increase their strength and aid them in getting more mobility and range of motion.
In fact, the Arthritis Foundation has some tips for arthritic golfers that can help to make playing golf more enjoyable for those of you who suffer from arthritis. You can check out all of their suggestions at arthritis.org
Stabilizing the joints in the hands and wrists is important, so wear wrist braces and gloves when playing golf. Wear golf shoes with no spikes for more comfort. Use tees when you play.
It is very important to always warm up before playing golf or any other sport or physical activity. For golf, stretching muscles and a few practice swings are good. Warm up and start swinging slowly. Swing half-strength at first and don’t try to hit the ball too hard. A hard swing is not necessary, it is accuracy that is most important.
When you begin to feel tired, rest a bit (It is not a rule that you have to play all 18 holes), and when you feel sore after you play, here are a few tips to relieve your pain and stiffness:
A warm shower can feel great on stiff muscles.
Gently stretch your muscles.
Apply an ice pack to any sore areas.
Sore joints need to be rested.
Magnetic therapy has been found to work.
For more help tips from the Arthritis Foundation, click on the link above. And, remember, your chiropractor is an excellent resource to help you get out of the and back into the game of life!
As a chiropractor I always recommend that my patients get regular exercise. Often the “resistance” I get is from my older patients who don’t have “convenient” exercise opportunites available. However, it is extremely important, especially as we age, to keep our body moving or to get our body moving, so whether it is convenient or not, every individual needs to find a way to make routine daily activity…routine.
According to a new study, many older men find themselves leaving out this important aspect of health. In fact, the new study points to the health benefits of living in neighborhoods with built-in physical activity resources. Researchers conducted a study among community-dwelling men age 65 years or older from the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area. They wanted to see whether or not older men who live within one-eighth, one-quarter, or one-half mile of physical activity resources (including parks, trails and recreational facilities) are more likely to maintain or increase the amount of time they spend walking than men who live farther from these resources.
The study ran from March 2000 – April 2002 at six U.S. clinical centers, and then was then followed an average of 3.6 years to assess changes in time spent walking. The results of the study revealed a positive association among urban-dwelling older men between living within one-eighth mile of parks and one-half mile of trails and maintaining or increasing time spent walking, although the association was limited to men living in high-socioeconomic status neighborhoods.
The study’s authors said, “Proximity to physical activity resources such as parks and trails may be important for maintaining moderate physical activity over time among older men residing in high-socioeconomic status neighborhoods. These findings support an eco-social model of physical activity promotion incorporating neighborhood-level resources and parks and trails.”
Source American Journal of Public Health
Whether you see a chiropractor for “crisis” care or on a regular basis, you may have assumed that chiropractic treatment has always been included for the athletes participating in Olympic Games. But, sadly, that hasn’t been the case until now. Read on…
For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, will include chiropractic care inside the Olympic Village Polyclinic, a multi-disciplinary facility that offers comprehensive health care and medical services. While doctors of chiropractic (D.C.s) have historically been included on the Olympic medical staff, the upcoming events mark the first time that D.C.’s from the host country will be treating athletes and officials from around the world directly inside the Polyclinic.
“This is an historic event not only for the chiropractic profession, but also the athletes who will now have access to the care that will help them prepare their bodies for competition,” states Michael Reed, D.C., MS, DACBSP, and Team USA Medical Director (USOC). “These athletes train hard and endure significant physical demands. Sports-focused D.C.s, along with other members of the sports medicine team, are specially skilled to assist them in reaching peak performance.”
Throughout the years, chiropractic has become a mainstay in the care of world-class athletes, leading to a growing number of D.C.s included in the Olympic Games. Countless athletes attribute the care they receive from their chiropractors — working along-side other health care professionals – as a key to properly preparing their bodies to perform optimally.
There is an assortment of potential treatments from which you’re able to consider when it comes to your back pain and painfulness in many other regions of your body because of arthritic variations, among them visiting a San Jose chiropractor. Of course, scores of individuals who are encountering debilitating arthritis and back pain nonetheless imagine that they should always search for a medical doctor as the simplest way to discover a therapy for their pain. Even so, you might be amazed to know that not many medical doctors can be beneficial men and women eradicate, or organically reduce the difficulties of lumbar pain as a consequence of arthritis. Instead of being accustomed to determining and treating the reason for the soreness you are going through, medical doctors often handle merely your symptoms, that one could do not just for pain reduction, but to actually decelerate arthritic changes in your body.
Seeing a chiropractor in San Jose is genuinely among the beneficial things that you could do to assist your arthritis and back pain. Chiropractors are doctors who concentrate completely on taking care of the musculoskeletal system, and arthritis is a joint malady. Chiropractic treatment has aided many individuals in decreasing the process of arthritis by getting their joints in motion. Motion is necessary for joint health. A good chiropractor is highly qualified in treating low back pain, even when it is brought on by arthritis
If you have never gone to a chiropractor in the past, you might be a bit concerned about what is going to occur once you are in the chiropractic office. It may help to offer a quick picture of what you can look for. You will be asked about your medical history, which will most probably include a family history of arthritis. The chiropractor is likely to ask about your current diet and lifestyle and may offer explicit modifications that will be very useful in decreasing the irritation caused by arthritis. And, lastly, you will receive a comprehensive examination. After the examination is done, the chiropractor will let you know if chiropractic care will help your back pain, as well as reduce your debilitating arthritic difficulties. of visit Then you’ll learn about the individual course of action you’ll require.
A chiropractic adjustment relieves pain safely and naturally, and it is a painless procedure. And, essentially the most terrific feature of going to a chiropractor for your lumbar pain and arthritis is that you can feel certain that the source of your pain is being attended to, and that the ease you experience is not masking the warning sign of pain, but actually eradicating the source of your condition.
Okay, I know that all of us are secretly looking for a “silver bullet” that will guard against everything from cardiovascular disease and cancer to bone fractures and sagging skin. But, the truth is that there will likely never be just one thing to “fix” any one problem, much less one thing to fix all the problems at once! As a case in point, I offer the results of a recent study about a wonderful vitamin, Vitamin D, and calcium, both of which shouldn’t be neglected, but aren’t “the answer” either.
Vitamin D Plus Calcium Guards Against Fractures But the vitamin alone doesn’t offer significant protection, researchers say
(HealthDay News) — Daily supplements of calcium and vitamin D reduce the risk of fractures in women and men of all ages, even if they’ve suffered previous fractures, but vitamin D supplements alone don’t offer significant protection, a new study has found.
Researchers analyzed data from 68,517 people, average age 70, who took part in seven studies that looked at the effect vitamin D or vitamin D plus calcium had on reducing fractures.
The analysis revealed that vitamin D given alone in doses of 10 micrograms to 20 micrograms per day doesn’t prevent fractures. However, calcium and vitamin D given together reduce the risk of hip fractures, total fractures and possibly vertebral fractures.
The study, published online Jan. 12 in BMJ, called for additional studies of vitamin D, especially vitamin D given at higher doses without calcium.
There’s a growing consensus that a combination of calcium and vitamin D is more effective than vitamin D alone in preventing nonvertebral fractures, Opinder Sahota, of Queen’s Medical Center in Nottingham, England, wrote in an accompanying editorial.
Further research is need to determine the most effective dose, treatment duration and method of taking the calcium/vitamin D combination, Sahota said.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases has more about calcium and vitamin D.
Amidst a great deal of emotion and rhetoric coming out of Connecticut this week regarding the stroke issue The Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation has just released a very clear position statement on the issue of chiropractic and strokes.
Atlanta, GA, January 07, 2010 –(PR.com)– According to the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation there is no human experimental evidence that chiropractic adjustments or neck manipulations are causally related to strokes.
“While plaintiff’s attorneys and expert witness make claims and statements contending that such a causative link exists, the fact remains that these are based largely on anecdotes, case reports, and case controlled studies and cannot be used to prove causation” stated Foundation President Christopher Kent DC, JD a chiropractic researcher and attorney.
According to researchers and the scientific method itself there are all sorts of biases and distortions that effect conclusions drawn from such studies and other criteria must be used to determine whether such a link exists.
“What this boils down to is a simple lack of understanding of biostatistics and epidemiology” stated Foundation Vice President Matthew McCoy DC, MPH, a chiropractic researcher and public health expert. “Words like ‘association’ and ‘causation’ and ‘risk’ have very specific meanings when it comes to their use in epidemiology and it’s clear that laypersons involved in this debate are using these terms inappropriately.”
While the experience of a stroke can be devastating and no one would suggest ignoring the concerns of those who have suffered one, the reality is that when it comes to the contention that chiropractic causes strokes – the evidence just isn’t there. And while the strokes these people have experienced are indeed real, McCoy suggests there are often other issues involved and offered an example. “Millions of people visit a dentist every year and a certain number of those same people get into car accidents on their way home. If we were to run the stats on it we might find that there is a statistical association between visiting a dentist and getting into a car accident on the way home. But no one would even consider suggesting that the dentists are causing the car accidents.”
Self described chiropractic stroke victims say there is a risk and that people should be advised about it prior to undergoing chiropractic care. The majority of chiropractors would agree that patients should be informed of the risks, benefits and alternatives of any health care intervention, but according to Dr. Kent “Such informed consent must be based on appropriate information and since there is no scientific evidence that chiropractic adjustments or neck manipulations actually cause strokes, it is inappropriate to require a doctor to suggest that such a risk exists.”
Dr. McCoy added another often overlooked issue “Chiropractors utilize a number of techniques to address joint dysfunction and vertebral subluxation and in fact there are over 300 named chiropractic techniques and many do not employ the type of manipulation that has been alleged to be a factor in vertebrobasilar accidents. This adds to the inappropriate nature of such a disclosure.”
In the end, chiropractic has an impressive safety record compared to traditional medical care with estimates are that anywhere from 100,000 (Institute of medicine) to 750,000 (Null et al) people die every year from medical care. In comparison, other than some minor soreness following chiropractic treatment, research has shown chiropractic to be very safe.
by Integrative Nutrition Getting enough sleep is an important component for a healthy life. Many people work too many hours, enjoy a “demanding” social life, and have lots of commitments with their families. Worries, to do lists, arguments, and forgotten tasks creep into their minds when it is time to wind down at the end of the day, keeping them from getting a restful nights sleep. Getting enough sleep is essential for a healthy immune system. It also helps to reduce stress, is necessary for the body to make repairs, and makes you more alert. If you are are one of the many who are lacking enough rest, make a New Year’s resolution that will impact your whole life. Get to bed! Some tips for getting a night of rest that will make you feel your best: 1. Make your bedroom a place where you either sleep or have sex. Don’t bring work to bed with you, stop checking your Blackberry, and turn off the TV!
2. Reduce caffeine; have your higher caffeinated drinks earlier in the day and don’t have any 7-8 hours before bed.
3. Give yourself a bedtime. If you know what time you have to rise, set the clock 8 hours before that and give yourself no more than 30 minutes to get in bed.
4. Take a hot shower or bath and use essential oils like lavender that help induce sleep.
5. Figure out if exercise energizes you or makes you tired and decide when you should incorporate your routine into your day.
6. Try Dr. Andrew Weil’s breathing exercises. Calming the mind to reduce the internal chatter will do amazing things for your bedtime routine.
How are you sleeping at night? Do you have any tips for the chronic insomniacs? Please share your comments at Integrative Nutrition.
With any type of sport, injuries are not uncommon. It is beneficial to discover what injury is inclined to happen in a particular sport and then to do whatever it takes to avoid it. Sadly, sports injuries can’t always be avoided. As a result, it’s advantageous to take good care of your body to make injury less probable, or less traumatic. The most valuable thing that you can do is to be sure that you have a suitable fitness level before starting to play a sport, such as golf. By cultivating a healthy lifestyle, making sure your joints are mobile and your muscles are limber, preparing your body prior to activity, using proper form and good postures during activity, and giving yourself plenty of cool down and relaxation time, you just might keep your body safe from injury.
Golf injuries don’t simply happen to amateurs. Close to a third of pro golfers playing concurrently are playing with injuries. Fortunately, overall good health and fitness can reduce how many injuries you may acquire and could conceivably deter them altogether.
Effective body strength in the muscle areas most utilized while playing golf is very important. However, before you try to build muscle strength, it’s important to make certain your spine is aligned and has good mobility. A proficient golf swing relies on your spine’s capacity to effectually move in a rotational manner. Back injuries are the most prevalent kind of injuries sustained by golfers. Your Sacramento chiropractor will insure that your spine is in proper alignment and that there is good movement of the vertebrae. Chiropractic management can make a big difference in helping you to prevent back injury.
Once you’re “straightened” it’s time to strengthen. Being prepared to play your game is paramount to safe, injury-free action on the green. Golf stretching and flexibility practices will warm up your muscles and make straining them less likely. Flexibility in all areas of the body can be developed relatively fast through full body range of motion (ROM) exercises. In addition, elastic band conditioning can provide targeted golf range of motion improvements and can build needed energy in the shoulders, hips and deep muscles of the core. Sports professionals, such as your chiropractor, are adding elastic band training to their golf conditioning programs because the bands provide dynamic resistance that ordinary weight lifting does not provide.
A large number of golfers suffer from “Golfer’s Elbow” along with back injuries. There is a minute difference between golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow although they are nearly identical injuries. Tennis elbow affects the outside of the upper arm whereas golfer’s elbow impinges the inner arm. Golfer’s elbow, like tennis elbow, can be the consequence of a single extreme action, such as (in golf) thrusting down on the mat at the driving range or striking a hard fairway surface. Repetitive stress from smaller shocks, however, is more commonly the protagonist. In addition, it can occur for those who suddenly start playing too much golf. For instance, if individuals that generally play golf once or twice a month choose to enter into a tournament, they are likely at risk for contracting the injury.
Golf makes unique requirements on the body. Fatigue can be a challenge because the game ordinarily lasts longer than the majority of other sports. Once the body is fatigued, unhealthy posture and decreased coordination often follow. This combination can cause a number of injuries. Additionally, the shoulder muscles are prone to injury due to the repetitive swinging of the golf clubs. Just as attention should be given to make certain that your muscles are stretched and warmed up prior to starting your golf game, be sure to rest your body properly between games.
A surprising injury on occasion associated with golf is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. But, this injury can be the result of numerous games of golf played over a number of months continuously because it is a condition that occurs due to repetitive stress Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be a serious injury creating incapacitation and sometimes necessitating surgery. However, if a health professional, such as your chiropractor, discovers it at an early stage, chiropractic treatment and, frequently, the use of a brace will relieve the problem.
Injuries are assumed to be unavoidable part of life for a good majority golfers. However, a healthy, mobile spine, dedicated preparation, appropriate exercise and muscle conditioning, attaining and sustaining a a suitable fitness level, and prudent rest and recuperation after your game is over, can make injuries much less a part of your golfing experience.
Dr. Yong Kim is a Sacramento chiropractor with over thirteen years of experience helping thousands of patients get out of pain and get their lives back. His office is located at 1707 Professional Drive, Sacramento, CA 95825. He has special training in the area of sports injuries. Dr Kim is himself an avid health enthusiast. For more information go to his website at http://www.sacramentochiropractor.org
If you’re over forty years old you know that as we age our body responds differently than it used to when we were younger. It just doesn’t seem fair that as our mind appears to improve and become more “inventive,” our body seems to become less “cooperative.” We’re stiff in the morning; certain activities during the day make us sore in the evening; and, if we’re not truly careful, even something as simple as turning too fast or reaching down to pick up a dropped piece of paper, can cause our back or some other muscle group to go into spasm. Fortunately, there is natural treatment available that is not only beneficial in slowing down the aging process of the body, but can aid us in avoiding some of those problems completely.
Take arthritis for instance. To be sure, barring pharmaceuticals, conventional medicine doesn’t attend to this age-related condition. What is the reason? The answer is that most medical doctors treat the symptoms of arthritis. Chiropractic care, on the contrary, not only helps to relieve the pain of arthritis, without drugs and their side effects, but it addresses the source of the condition and helps to resolve it. Chiropractors, like your San Jose Chiropractor, have been treating people suffering from pain caused by arthritis, and other age-related problems, for over one hundred years.
Repetitive stresses, years of poor gait and improper posture, and inadequate movement cause wear of certain joints over time and create the arthritic changes the body goes through as you age. Chiropractic adjustments bring back motion into your joints and ease any vertebral misalignments that may be producing irritation and restriction. In addition to causing arthritic changes in the spine and increasing pain, did you know that misaligned vertebra can also weaker your resistance and immunity? It’s an irrefutable fact, and this may be one of the reasons why it may seem that as you age you develop more health issues and that it frequently takes longer for you to feel better again. According to studies done on older individuals, those who received regular chiropractic care stayed healthier. In fact, you could say that, as you get older, chiropractic adjustments are good for what ails you!
When it comes to the health of the musculoskeletal system, chiropractors are highly proficient whether it’s the small, growing frame of an infant or the full-grown body of a mature adult. Your chiropractor understands the aging process and has exceptional observational and diagnostic skills that aid in locating spinal misalignments and joint conditions. A chiropractic examination can, in fact, frequently reveal some age-related changes before they’ve had a chance to create noticeable pain. In addition, your San Jose Chiropractor can evaluate your posture and observe your gait to identify faulty patterns that might cause further arthritic changes.
So, if feeling your age has become a painful experience, make an appointment with your San Jose Chiropractor today!
Dr. David Hoewisch is a chiropractor in San Jose with over 25 years of experience helping thousands of patients get out of pain and get their lives back. His office is located at 1221 Lafayette St., Santa Clara, CA, 95050. Dr. Hoewisch has traveled around the world and is an avid outdoor enthusiast. He is a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) and learned sign language at an early age. He treats many deaf patients in his clinic. For more information go to his website at http://www.mysanjosechiropractor.com
Athletes’ superstitions and rituals can help them get psyched up for contests, but when these rituals involve non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which many athletes gobble down before and during events, they could be causing more harm than good.
“These agents are treatments for the symptoms of an injury, not the injury itself,” says Stuart Warden, whose research at Indiana University focuses on musculoskeletal health and sports medicine. “They may allow an athlete to exercise or train at a certain level, but pain occurs for a reason. It is basically the body’s mechanism of saying, ‘Hang on, you’ve got some sort of injury that should not be ignored.’”
NSAIDs are recommended for use after an injury to reduce swelling or pain. Studies have found that many elite athletes, however, take these over-the-counter drugs — and often several different kinds — before contests and challenging workouts because they think they will reduce anticipated inflammation and soreness that could occur after the event. Read more…
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