The survey, reported in the publication’s May 2009 issue, found that more than half of the respondents had “pain (that) severely limited their daily routine for a week or longer, and 88 percent said it recurred throughout the year.” The report stated that while many go to a primary care physician first for diagnosis and treatment, the majority were disappointed with the results.

On the other hand, 59 percent reported that they were “highly satisfied” with the care they received from chiropractors. The next highest rated practitioners were physical therapists (55 percent) and acupuncturists (53 percent), followed by “specialized” physicians (44 percent) and primary care physicians (34 percent).

Respondents were also asked to rate the types of treatments they received. Again, chiropractic/spinal manipulation got top honors, with 58 percent rating it as “helping a lot.” Spinal injections were next highest, rated at 51 percent, followed by massage (48 percent) and physical therapy (46 percent). Other highly rated treatments included prescription medications (45 percent), yoga (44 percent), movement therapy and acupuncture (both 41 percent).

According to a Dynamic Chiropractic article on that report, “Chiropractic ranked first out of 11 treatments, including massage, acupuncture, and exercise, in its ability to treat back pain. More readers said that chiropractic ‘helped me feel much better’ than any of the other therapies.” Prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs ranked eighth and 10th, respectively.

So, if you’ve been “highly satisfied” with your chiropractic care, you’re not alone! In fact, more and more people are turning to chiropractic treatment not only for back pain relief, but for a wide variety of painful conditions from sports and repetitive stress injuries to arthritis.

A public version of the report can be found on the Consumer Reports Web site

Technorati Tags: back pain, chiropractic, chiropractor, Consumer Reports

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Oftentimes back pain is a mystery to many of the people who experience it, and chiropractors are experts at solving the puzzle. Why is it that most back pain sufferers have not had any trauma, accidents, or major injuries prior to the onset of their condition? The answer is that the cumulative effects of improper sitting posture, bad work habits, incorrect lifting, lack of routine exercise, and other unhealthy lifestyle-related influences cause most back pain. These factors eventually add up and produce stresses and imbalances on the spine causing subluxations that can turn into serious back problems. The process is similar to the front end of your car being out of alignment. As you continue to drive, there is disproportionate wear and tear on your tires. If you ignore the problem, the situation would, no doubt, get worse until you “blew” a tire. The health of the spine is threatened when your spine is misaligned. In other words, it’s not only a problem waiting to happen, it’s a problem waiting to get worse. And then, something as seemingly benign as reaching down to pick up a piece of paper can be the “final factor” that generates back injury. The surrounding back muscles go into spasm when thistakes place to safeguard the stressed or injured tissues of the back.

With regard to knowledge of conditions of the spine, chiropractors have more education, training, and experience than medical doctors. They offer expert diagnosis and effective treatment for all muscular-skeletal dysfunctions. In addition to providing welcomed relief to those suffering from back pain, but they are knowledgeable about what will assist you in avoiding further back pain. Along with effectual adjustments and other productive chiropractic therapies, your chiropractor will offer to you an individual exercise strategy and recommend other healthy lifestyle changes that will keep you well-adjusted and pain-free in the future.

Technorati Tags: back pain, chiropractic, chiropractor, Low Back Pain

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A normal spine appears straight, without much disparity from side-to-side, when the body is seen from behind.Scoliosis is a condition that is often associated with a lateral, or side-to-side, curvature of the spine.The disorder shouldn’t be confused with bad posture, even though it frequently gives the appearance that the person is leaning to one side. Characterized by both lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebra, this complicated deformity oftentimes creates a characteristic “rib hump” in the mid or thoracic spine. This is created by the vertebrae in the area of the major curve rotating toward the concavity and pushing their attached ribs posterior hence producing the distinctive rib hump seen in thoracic scoliosis. If the thoracic curve and rib rotation are severe, more than 70 degrees, pulmonary and cardiac function can be interfered with. Often later in life in untreated severe idiopathic infantile and juvenile scoliosis patients, this intensity of curve and subsequent cardiac and pulmonary changes can be life threatening.

Anatomy

The spine displays four normal curves: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral, all of which are observable from a side view of the trunk. In the lower spine there is a normal “C-shaped” curve called swayback or lordosis, while the thoracic curve in the chest region has a “reverse C” called a kyphosis. Hyperlordosis is the term used to describe heightened swayback, while increased kyphosis in the thoracic spine is called hyperkyphosis. Scoliosis changes frequently accompany diversions from normal on a side view. Postural exercises can correct some round back deformities that are simply due to poor posture. A small number of patients with kyphosis have more rigid deformities than the postural type, which are associated with vertebral deformity. This type of deformity, called Scheuermann’s kyphosis, is much more difficult to treat than postural kyphosis, and it’s cause is unknown.

Almost anyone can help to identify a child or grownup with scoliosis simply by observing the person in a standing position, preferably with no shirt and in , and observing the following:

• One shoulder may be raised than the other.

• One scapula (shoulder blade) may be raised or more pronounced than the other.

• With the arms hanging freely at the sides, there may be more room between the arm and the body on one side.

• One hip may look to be higher or more pronounced than the other.

• The head is not aligned with the pelvis.

• One side of the back appears more raised than the other when the individual is analyzed from the rear and asked to lean forward until the the spine is horizontal.

The child or adult should be sent to a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, for further diagnosis once scoliosis is identified. your chiropractor would be happy to help.

There are a variety of causes and many varieties of scoliosis, nevertheless the most prevalent, by far, is Idiopathic Scoliosis, which accounts for approximately 85 % of all cases. “Idiopathic” means “no known cause” and is seen with equal prevalence in boys and girls in the mild or low curve magnitudes. This affliction can be sub-classified into infantile, juvenile and adolescent types, contingent upon the age of onset. Idiopathic Scoliosis may be caused by genetic or hereditary influences as it frequently runs in families. However girls, for unknown reasons are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves develop in size and require treatment. The most general time for the development of Idiopathic Scoliosis is during adolescence when children are finishing the last major growth spurt. It is smart to have this age group observed by a professional on a regular basis because young people are hesitant to permit their body to be viewed by parents or other adults.

If a scoliotic curve is discovered in the growing adolescent, it is very important that the curves be monitored for change by periodic examination and from time to time standing X-rays. In ninety percent of instances, the scoliosis is mild and does not require active treatment, but increases in spinal deformity demand evaluation to decide if a brace or other treatment is required. In a small number of patients, surgical treatment may be necessary.~Surgery may be needed for a small number of individuals.

Brace treatment (orthosis) is recommended for both juvenile and adolescent children when an increase in their scoliosis or kyphosis is observed, or when new cases of moderate scoliosis or abnormal kyphosis are found. There are quite a few kinds of braces, all made to prevent curves from increasing by acting as a buttress for the spine during active skeletal growth. Bracing is effectual in halting curve progression in a very large portion of skeletally-immature adolescents. However, braces normally will not make the spine completely straight, and cannot always keep a curve from increasing.

Scoliosis has no simple answer. Most cases, even though often monitored, are not actively treated. Severe cases are sometimes treated surgically, but the general medical treatment for moderate conditions is a brace. You may want to see your local chiropractor first.

Besides bracing, many other therapies have been used successfully like specialized exercise, electric stimulation of spinal muscles, nutritional programs, and chiropractic treatments. It looks as if the best results have been maintained with a multi-faceted approach to the management of this affliction.

There are chiropractors, that have expertise treating scoliosis symptoms.

Technorati Tags: back pain, chiropractor, scoliosis

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The majority of individuals who are overweight suffer from moderate to severe back pain. The reason for this is because the spine was not made to haul anything that is more substantial in weight than the body is at its normally healthy weight.  As a person puts on extra pounds, the spine begins to unduly stress and to compress, causing a lot of pain and discomfort.  The pelvis can also be affected and become tilted forward forcing it to pinch the sciatic nerve. This is a major reason why people who are overweight tend to have problems with their lower back. The affliction is due to either sciatica or the distorting of the spinal column.

If you are suffering from this challenge, unmistakeably the thing to do is to get rid of some of the extra weight that you are carrying around, and your spine will start to regulate and reestablish its regular position.  Regrettably, losing weight is hard and it can take time, even with the best of intentions. The good news is you don’t have to live with back pain as you lose the weight. A chiropractor can assist you in getting the pain relief you’ll need as you shed the extra pounds.

However, you will still need to lose the extra weight, and not having back pain will genuinely help you do it. Losing the extra weight naturally and healthfully is necessary, and there are two (simple but not easy) things that can’t fail: Get some sort of exercise every day, even if it’s just a bit, and be certain that you take in fewer calories than you burn! Sure, you’ve heard about these two things before. Nonetheless, now that you know your back is depending on you, it definitely time to get truly motivated.

Start exercising slowly, especially if you’re having problems with back pain. And, most importantly, be sure to see a chiropractor so that you don’t make the blunder that many people do, which is exercising into the pain. That will without a doubt make matters worse. Exercise, though occasionally uncomfortable, should never be painful or cause pain. That’s why seeing a chiropractor is essential if you’re suffering from back pain.

Do basic stretching exercises and also concentrate on your core abdominal body muscles. Strong stomach muscles help to ease back pain. Your chiropractor will be able to give you exercises that are best for you, personally. Within just a week or two of dedication to losing the weight that is causing your back pain and conceivably other health problems as well, you ought to begin to notice a dramatic difference in the way that you feel.

Technorati Tags: back pain, fat, overweight, Ventura Chiropractor

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