Back in Line Blog

Health Alert – Dr. Bruce West on Active Release Technique

mybackinline — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:53:09 +0000

Active Release technique for treatment of Pain, numbness and impaired movement-NYC soft tissue treatment

A recent great article aboutActive Release techniquefrom Health Alert, If you don’t already subscribe you should, Dr. Bruce West has some very informative information in the newsletters.
I have found ART to a tremendously effective treatment protocol for dealing with soft tissue injuries. I use it daily in my NYC Physical therapy office

SECRET TREATMENT OF THE MONTH from Health Alert.

PAIN, NUMBNESS, AND IMPAIRED MOVEMENT -

ACTIVE RELEASE TECHNIQUE (ART)

There are more misdiagnoses, more wrong treatments and over-treatments, more useless surgical interventions, more powerful prescribed painkillers, more missed work and school, more waste of health care funds, and more chronic disabilities due to soft tissue problems than most all other pain syndromes combined.

The soft tissues that cause all this pain and suffering are the non-bony tissues of the body, usually associated with joints – such as muscles, muscle sheaths, tendons, and ligaments. Soft tissues are frequently damaged through injuries and accidents, repetitive motion, and constant pressure or tension. If they do not heal properly, they form scars, fibrosis (tough, fibrous tissue), or adhesions that can entrap nerves, blood vessels, and other tissues. These adhesions cause severe pain, numbness, joint dysfunctions, muscle impairment to near paralysis, movement problems, and even complete disability.

When you develop a soft tissue problem with adhesions, the first symptom is pain. It can be head, hand, wrist, arm, jaw, neck, back, hip, leg, knee, ankle, foot, rib, or other pain. Examples are headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, tendonitis of any joint, backaches of all kinds, and other diagnostic pain syndromes.

The trip to the doctor will usually begin with some painkillers to see if the pain goes away. This is usually followed by x0rays or scans. The abnormalities found on x-rays and scans (including MRIs) are often diagnosed as the cause of the problem when they are not. Almost everyone has abnormalities that show up on these tests, including spinal disk disease, herniated disk, arthritis, and the like. These are rarely the underlying cause of the problem. Rather, they are most frequently inconsequential joint abnormalities that are best left alone.

If the pain continues, you may end up headed for some form of surgery to treat the “abnormality” on your scan. With soft tissue injury and adhesions, this is an expensive, dangerous, and useless procedure – with the disappointing surgery results proving that your diagnosis was completely incorrect. In fact, scans are almost completely incapable of locating soft tissue adhesions that cause most of these chronic, agonizing problems. As with all things in health, the underlying cause of the problem must be addressed. And that means removing the adhesions or fibrosis. Enter the active release technique.

ACTIVE RELEASE TECHNIQUE (ART)

I suffered an injury to my heel that really laid me up. I simply could not walk well, and athletics were out of the question. For 6 months I pursued all types of treatment to no avail. Then I went to a chiropractor who was an expert in the active release technique. He quickly discovered that I had probably stepped on a rock on the beach, developed a soft tissue injury in the arch of my foot that did not heal properly, and then formed a scar. The scar was interfering with the nerves and tendons in the bottom of my foot, referring the pain into my heel. The ART treatment used pressure on the adhesion while I forcefully moved my foot through its range of motion – breaking free the tissues from the adhesion. After four treatments my pain was gone.

Although I am no longer in any pain, I now see an ART expert (Dr. Jay Cook, Monterey, CA) three times a week to determine if I have old soft tissue injuries that are impairing my physical performance. We have already cleared out adhesions in my legs and calves, resulting in my ability to jump higher. We will together be checking for and clearing out any adhesions throughout my back, neck, shoulders, and arms.

The type of soft tissue injury and resultant adhesion I had is extremely common - not always in the arch of the foot, but in any joint. And this could have easily resulted in $50,000 or more in drugs, surgical expenses, and more – all of which would have been completely useless. It could have resulted in disability, limping (which would have eventually affected my other joints), arthritis, and most important for me, a forced retirement from physical activity and athletics. In other words, this kind of injury could have ruined my life.

That is how serious soft tissue injuries are. And literally millions suffer from them – getting wrong diagnoses, wrong treatments, and over-treatments. Still very few doctors talk about these injuries. And why would they? Not one in 10,000 physicians understands these injuries. There are no diagnostic scans, x-rays, or images that can detect these injuries. And almost no orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon understands them. So unless you are lucky enough to run across an article like this, if you suffer a soft tissue injury with scarring or adhesions, you are up a creek without a paddle. You would be wasting your time on standard medical care, drugs, or even surgery.

What to Do

If you develop chronic pain, especially in the joints – and if standard, conservative, treatment, including chiropractic therapy, fails – you must:

Consider that you have a soft tissue injury.
Get to an ART expert. If you are recommended for surgery, get to an ART expert first, no matter how long you have suffered.
Find one of these experts by going to www.activereleasetechniques.com(techniques with an “s”). Click on “Find a Provider” to find experts near you.
If you are in NYC visit our office at Active release NYC You will see that each doctor has the courses he/she has taken displayed in emblems (with initials inside the emblem) after his/her name. You can click on each of these to see if this doctor is an expert in the problem that you have. If you absolutely cannot use a computer, call 1-888-396-2727 and ask to find a doctor who specializes in your problem.
The first treatment or two can be a little uncomfortable or even painful, but it is not unbearable. Treatments usually take 15 to 30 minutes each. Many people experience some relief after the first treatment. You will generally know if you can be helped within six treatments. Most people who are cured with ART have already been unsuccessfully treated by other health care providers.
Chronic soft tissue injury with adhesion and fibrosis can eventually cause bony problems as well. It is not unusual for arthritis to develop subsequent to these types of injuries simply because the joint can no longer function properly. In all chronic cases, you can get better results in you also incorporate nutrition for joints.
If you have chronic injuries, use the following Standard Process nutrition products while getting ART treatments: Calcified Wafers (6-12 daily) and Glucosamine Synergy (3-4 daily). Also be sure to take Blue Ice Fermented Cod Liver Oil (3 capsules daily) to get adequate vitamin D. And if you have arthritis, take X-Factor Gold High Vitamin Butter Oil (3-12 capsules daily 0 to ensure you get an adequate quantities for the anti-stiffness factor, also known as Activator X (or the Wulzen Factor).
Do not give up. You can be helped. Most individuals do not need surgery. Fin an expert near you, start treatments, use the proper nutrition, and start planning on your new, pain-free life. Now that is a real miracle treatment of the month.

West, Bruce “Then All Other Treatments Fail” Health Alert 27.5 (2010): 2-3

Interested in trying this treatment for yourself? Call 319-892-3363 to schedule today!

Pregnancy and Chiropractic

mybackinline — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:39:01 +0000

Pregnancy

Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy isn’t just a good idea it’s essential on many levels.

It brings balance to the spine and mom’s rapidly changing body and eases a number of tensions. Chiropractic also properly aligns the pelvis for the growth and positioning of baby, providing an easier, safer, and more gentle birth process for mom and baby.

Chiropractic during pregnancy:

Can relieve and even prevent the commons discomforts experienced during pregnancy
Restores balance to the pelvis creating an environment for an easier, quicker, and safer delivery
Reduces interference to the nervous system allowing the uterus to function at its full potential
Has been shown to reduce the need for pain killers and medical intervention

Even the most natural birth can be stressful for baby and mom. Pulling, forcing and twisting a baby from the birth canal are fairly common practices. Cesarean section, forceps, suction extraction or eager hands can also do unseen damage. Even the most “natural” birthing methods can cause subluxations – areas of your baby’s spine that distort key nerve impulses between the brain and body.

News Release…Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

mybackinline — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:28:09 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Foundation for Chiropractic Progress Publishes Landmark White Paper: The Role of Chiropractic Care in the Patient-Centered Medical Home

CARMICHAEL, Calif. (Aug. 22, 2011) – The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising public awareness of the value of chiropractic care, announces the release of its hallmark white paper,“The Role of Chiropractic Care in the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH).” Prepared by Discern Consulting, and with the input and support of a high-profile team, including Mark Zeigler, DC, president, Northwestern Health Sciences University and board member of the F4CP; Steve Kraus, DC, DIBCN, CCSP, FASA, FICC, CEO, founder, Future Health and member of the F4CP; John Hollingsworth, M.D., M.S., and assistant professor, University of Michigan Health Systems; Tom Evans, M.D. and president, Iowa Healthcare Collaborative — and a panel of F4CP leadership — this paper documents the value of chiropractic care in the next phase of healthcare delivery.

“The Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) creates an opportunity for Primary Care Providers (PCPs) and Doctors of Chiropractic (DC) to work together and maximize results in the healthcare delivery process,” says Dr. Zeigler. “Supported by a collection of evidence-based literature establishing the clinical and cost efficiency of chiropractic, this paper signifies the added value of integrating chiropractic care within the PCMH.”

The PCMH model provides all-inclusive, improved primary care, with a fresh approach that redesigns the way primary care is delivered and financed. By creating physician-directed care teams that collectively take responsibility for delivering care to patients over their lifetime, the PCMH aims to streamline care, avoid redundancies, enhance clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, and utilize the services of licensed health care practitioners in ways that best serve patients and extend the range of PCPs.

“This paper not only confirms the position of a DC as a member of a PCMH care team, but also demonstrates settings where the DC occupies the leading role,” says Dr. Zeigler. “Since federal legislation includes the participation of DCs but does not mandate it, the chiropractic profession may have been at risk for being shut-out of this evolving primary care setting. But thanks to this Foundation initiative and publication of the white paper, DCs now have the groundwork to position their practices for inclusion and long-term success.”

Dr. Zeigler emphasizes that the Foundation wants DCs to take advantage of these opportunities and become an intricate member of a PCMH care team in their local communities.

“This paper can serve as a starting point for a productive conversation between individual practices and regional PCPs,” he says, noting that DCs should visit www.f4cp.com to attain a copy of the paper which will be an essential tool in securing their position within the medical home model. “We will also be preparing a full action plan for DCs to utilize in their communities and urge the profession to be on the look-out for guidance from the Foundation – including webinars and toolkits.”

Public and private sectors have established some 27 multi-stakeholder medical home pilots underway in 18 states, and many more are set to launch later this year. DCs are recognized as physicians under The Joint Commission, and considered to be eligible members of PCMH care teams under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

According to the leading consultant on the white paper, Guy D’Andrea, MBA, CEO of Discern Consulting, who will be presenting the paper during a featured workshop at the National Business Coalition on Health Fall Forum, November 7-9, 2011, in Phoenix, Ariz., “This document is a step forward for the chiropractic profession, since it not only is the first to introduce and solidly articulate the value of integrating chiropractic care within the PCMH, but also provides guidance for DCs in the next chapter of healthcare delivery.”

About the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

A not-for-profit organization, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress informs and educates the general public about the many benefits associated with chiropractic care. To learn more about the Foundation, visit www.yes2chiropractic.com or call 866-901-F4CP (3427).

Organic Foods…THE IMPORTANCE OF ORGANIC

mybackinline — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:53:59 +0000

Check out this slideshow from Health Central online. Top 10 foods to but ORGANIC (AND LOCAL IF POSSIBLE) http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/cf/slideshows/organic-foods-to-buy/apples/

Want to see a educational video on a young girls presentation on why ORGANIC FOOD IS THE WAY TO GO ???

Short Bursts of Exercise Good for the Heart: HealthDay News

mybackinline — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:10:19 +0000

I recently stumbled across this study from April. I hope you enjoy it and are inspired! Especially with the great weather this week! cjk

FRIDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News)– All exercise is the same, right? Not so fast, suggests a small study of teens out of Scotland that found that high-intensity exercise may be better than endurance training for preventing cardiovascular disease because it can be done in less time.

The study included 57 adolescent school children (47 boys and 10 girls) who were randomly assigned to high-intensity or moderate-intensity exercise groups.

Both groups did three exercise session a week for seven weeks. The high-intensity group’s program consisted of a series of 20-meter sprints over 30 seconds, while the children in the moderate-intensity group ran steadily for 20 minutes.

By the end of the seven weeks, teens in the moderate-intensity group had completed a total of 420 minutes of exercise compared to 63 minutes for those in the high-intensity group. Estimated total energy expenditures per child were 4,410 kcal for those in the moderate-intensity group and 907.2 kcal for those in the high-intensity group.

Both groups of children showed significant improvements in cardio-respiratory fitness, blood pressure, body composition and insulin resistance, but the teens in the high-intensity group achieved those health benefits with only 15 percent of the exercise time put in by those in the moderate-intensity group.

The findings, published April 5 in the American Journal of Human Biology, suggest that brief, intense workouts offer a time-efficient way to reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors in teens, said study author Duncan Buchan, of the University of the West of Scotland, and his colleagues.

However, further research is needed, they added.

More information:

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlines recommended amounts of exercise for children and teens.

SOURCE: American Journal of Human Biology, news release, April 5, 2011

ADHD, ADD and Chiropractic

mybackinline — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 01:21:54 +0000

Today we hosted out Hiawatha Business Appreciation day and we had a few brave souls that stopped in to say hello (many others stepped out early to hit up the golf course or out with the kids, hey, we don’t blame em!). It was great to meet some of the other friendly faces of those who live and work in Hiawatha, it was still a good time and met new friends.

Over the past several weeks I have been approached by several friends and family asking how chiropractic can benefit those who have ADD, and ADHD. A google search shows several “matter-of-fact” articles that merely state it can help but doesn’t go into detail on HOW, and WHY chiropractic spinal manipulation works.

In short, most of our paitents with ADHD and ADD have an overstimulation of their sympathetic nervous system and/or understimulation of the parasympathetic system. You may ask ”what in the world is the parasympathetic/sympathetic systems ?!?!” More or less, these two systems are autonomic (aka, automatic) and regulate REST AND DIGESTION (parasympathetic) , or our FIGHT OR FLIGHT (sympathetic) mechanisms. When we manipulate the spine, we help restore a balance between these systems which helps calm the mind (reducing the sypmathetic nerve OVERSTIMULATION) and/or ramping up the REST and DIGESTION (parasympathetic UNDERSTIMULATION).

Check out the video on our website, under the SERVICES page. www.mybackinline.com/services. It’ll help paint the picture on how nerve flow can be disrupted or set up a time for a consultation to have your questions answered with Dr. Kleene. 319-892-3363

FEVER FACTS – FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIARTICS

mybackinline — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:39:21 +0000

*TAKEN FROM HEALTHCHILDREN.ORG

Misconceptions about fever are commonplace. Many parents needlessly worry and lose sleep when their child has a fever. This is called fever phobia. Overall, fevers are harmless. Let the following facts help you put fever into perspective:

MYTH: My child feels warm, so she has a fever.

FACT: Children can feel warm for a many reasons such as playing hard, crying, getting out of a warm bed or being outside on a hot day. They are “giving off heat”. Their skin temperature should return to normal in 10 to 20 minutes. Once these causes are excluded, about 80% of children who feel warm and act sick actually have a fever. If you want to be sure, take their temperature. The following are the cutoffs for fever using different types of thermometers:

Rectal, ear or temporal artery thermometers: 100.4° F (38.0° C) or higher

Oral or pacifier thermometers: 100° F (37.8° C) or higher

Under the arm (Axillary or Armpit) temperatures: 99° F (37.2° C) or higher

MYTH: All fevers are bad for children.

FACT: Fevers turn on the body’s immune system and help the body fight infection. Fevers are one of the body’s protective mechanisms. Normal fevers between 100° and 104° F (37.8° – 40° C) are actually good for sick children.

MYTH: Fevers above 104° F (40° C) are dangerous and can cause brain damage.

FACT: Fevers with infections don’t cause brain damage. Only body temperatures above 108° F (42° C) can cause brain damage. the body temperature climbs this high only with extreme environmental temperatures (for example, if a child is confined to a closed car in hot weather).

MYTH: Anyone can have a febrile seizure (seizure triggered by fever).

FACT: Only 4% of children can have a febrile seizure.

MYTH: Febrile seizures are harmful.

FACT: Febrile seizures are scary to watch, but they usually stop within 5 minutes. They cause no permanent harm. Children who have had febrile seizures do not have a greater risk for developmental delays, learning disabilities, or seizures without fever.

MYTH: All fevers need to be treated with fever medicine.

FACT: Fevers only need to be treated if they cause discomfort. Usually fevers don’t cause any discomfort until they go above 102° or 103° F (39° or 39.5° C).

MYTH: Without treatment, fevers will keep going higher.

FACT: Wrong. Because the brain has a thermostat, fevers from infection usually don’t go above 103° or 104° F (39.5°- 40° C). They rarely go to 105° or 106° F (40.6° or 41.1° C). While the latter are “high” fevers, they are harmless ones.

MYTH: With treatment, fevers should come down to normal.

FACT: With treatment, fevers usually come down 2° or 3° F (1° or 1.5° C).

MYTH: If the fever doesn’t come down (if you can’t “break the fever”), the cause is serious.

FACT: Fevers that don’t respond to fever medicine can be caused by viruses or bacteria. It doesn’t relate to the seriousness of the infection.

MYTH: Once the fever comes down with medicines, it should stay down.

FACT: The fever will normally last for 2 or 3 days with most viral infections. Therefore, when the fever medicine wears off, the fever will return and need to be treated again. The fever will go away and not return once your child’s body overpowers the virus (usually by the fourth day).

MYTH: If the fever is high, the cause is serious.

FACT: If the fever is high, the cause may or may not be serious. If your child looks very sick, the cause is more likely to be serious.

MYTH: The exact number of the temperature is very important.

FACT: How your child looks is what’s important, not the exact temperature.

MYTH: Oral temperatures between 98.7° and 100° F (37.1° to 37.8° C) are low-grade fevers.

FACT: These temperatures are normal variations. The body’s temperature normally changes throughout the day. It peaks in the late afternoon and evening. An actual low-grade fever is 100° F to 102° F (37.8° – 39° C).

SUMMARY: Remember that fever is fighting off your child’s infection. Fever is one of the good guys.

To find a pediatrician, click here.

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.

Author and Senior Reviewer: Barton D. Schmitt, M.D.
Content Set: Pediatric HouseCalls Symptom Checker
Pediatric HouseCalls Symptom Checker

How to Train for a Triathlon (From Scratch) | Active.com

mybackinline — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 01:29:30 +0000

How to Train for a Triathlon (From Scratch) | Active.com.

HOMEMADE BABY FOOD …

mybackinline — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:32:58 +0000

I had a friend that had a baby last June, (in fact Mr. Conner turns 1 on Friday!) and she made his baby food! No joke! AND THE KICKER, IT’S BETTER THE GERBER, HEALTHIER, AND CHEAPER! I was searching online and found this information and thought it was worthwhile sharing the info…

Want to discuss more?? Call today to set up an appointment with Dr. CJ! 892-3363

Why Make Homemade Baby Food for Your Baby?

Here are a few good reasons why you should make your baby fresh and tasty naturally delicious homemade baby foods:

Quality Control: When you make your baby’s food fresh and homemade, you have total control over what is put into your baby’s food! You know it’s free of additives that a tiny tummy simply does not need. You know the food you are feeding your baby is from the freshest ingredients, handpicked with love and care.

If your baby is prone to food allergies, Homemade Baby Food will help You ensure that no foods that are allergenic are hidden.

Best Selection: You choose the ingredients! You can take extra steps to ensure only high quality foods are selected for your baby. Do the commercial baby food companies put this much love and care into their jars?

You Have the Gadgets: All the tools you need to make homemade wholesome baby food are probably already in your kitchen.

More Taste & Texture: Your baby is exposed to a greater variety of tastes and textures making thetransition to table foods less stressful for your baby.

Your Baby’s Needs and Schedule: You feed your baby according to his/her needs and cues. As you are controlling the texture and ingredients of your baby’s food, you know what foods are best suited for YOUR baby.

Healthy Eating Habits: Healthy eating habits develop earlier as your involvement is dedicated to making only high quality, healthy baby foods and snacks. Your baby will benefit from these healthy eating habits and from learning to love whole non-processed foods. Raising babies to prefer the taste of real, whole foods over processed foods is one small step in combating childhood obesity.

Extra Bonus Benefit: - You save money when you make homemade baby food. Not only in the cost of the actual homemade baby food, but in the nutrient ratio as well. You get more nutrients for you dollar and your baby gets more nutrients for his growing body when you make homemade baby food.

Afterall, you’re making meals for the family and with just a little planning, your baby’s meals can come right from the family meals!

CLICK ON THE COST SAVINGS LINK BELOW…

Cost SAVINGS…

taken from: http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/whymakehomemadebabyfood.htm

A BLURB FROM LIVESTRONG.COM ON ACUPUNCTURE AND INFERTILITY

mybackinline — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 11:56:22 +0000

http://www.livestrong.com/article/9972-identify-acupuncture-points-infertility/

1. Dip Into the Research

Science is evolving quickly in the field of holistic reproductive medicine. Studies are being conducted around the world and research results are phenomenal. The studies are widely published in academic journals and on the Internet. Acupuncture shows very promising results for enhancing everything from in vitro fertilization and embryonic transfer to treating polycystic ovaries, pituitary and hypothalamic disorders, delayed ovulation, hormone imbalances and even sperm motility problems for men. Each study will list the exact acupuncture points used on the active research participants. You can cross-reference these points with locations from online point references. Look for acupuncturists who take part in these studies, or those who are members of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine. The best acupuncturists to work with will be those who specialize exclusively in fertility and reproductive medicine, and those who work closely with medical specialists such as reproductive endocrinologists. These practitioners will have strong experience and proven track records in boosting fertility. That said, even more general practitioners can help with fertility by boosting overall health and creating balance in your mind and body.

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2. Look for Tender Points

Another system of acupuncture, the Meridian style from Japan, uses less direct questioning and more palpation of the channels to find blockages and areas of weakness. By gently massaging acupuncture points, following the meridians, looking for tenderness, the acupuncturist can find the blockages, since obstruction in the channel creates mild pain. The advantage of this style is that it is very direct and works quickly because the acupuncturist is physically locating the blockage that is interfering with conception, rather than relying upon an intellectual model to determine the best points to use. Expect that your practitioner will ask numerous times whether various points are more reactive than another point nearby.

3. Go by Name

The ancient Taoists who developed the acupuncture system originally gave each point a name, often correlated with the function and usage of the point. The numbering system is a more recent development and many serious students of acupuncture choose to learn the point names as well as their numeric designation. The point names can reveal their usefulness, especially for fertility issues.
For example, an acupuncture point on the lower abdomen called Zi Gong, or Palace of the Child or Uterine Palace, depending up on the translation, is often used to help prepare the uterus for conception. There is an entire meridian named for its use in fertility medicine, the Conception vessel, which travels up the front midline of the body, from the genitals to the mouth. With guidance from your acupuncturist, you can use gentle massage on these points to help balance your system. Some practitioners recommend using essential oils on the points as a non-invasive way to help balance the system in between acupuncture visits.