Corona Chiropractor specializes in treating work injuries!
South Elgin Chiropractor describes intermediate neck exercise
Here is a simple exercise that you can do at home with no exercise equipment.
It works the longus capitis, longus colli, SCM (sternocleidomastoid) muscles.
The purpose of this exercise is to increase neck strength and muscular endurance.
The benefits are improved stability, functional strength and injury prevention.
Begin by lying on the back with the head extended off the table, maintaining a chin tuck position.
Slowly extend the head back towards the floor and then raise the head, returning to the initial neutral starting position and repeat as instructed.
Move slowly through the range of motion.
Slowly return to start position.
Repeat for prescribed repetitions and sets.
© 2005-2010 WebExercises, Inc., Patent Pending, All Rights Reserved.
South Elgin Chiropractor, Golfer’s Best Friend
If they weren’t a necessary component
of a popular sport, the movements
involved with a golf swing would be
banned by most chiropractors. The
repetitive, one-sided nature of the golf
swing makes it a common cause for
back injuries. They’re several reasons
why the golf swing is so problematic
for the body. First, it requires great
flexibility, which most people lack.
Second, it requires good posture, which
is also uncommon. Third, the power
move in golf is always one-sided,
leading to muscle and joint imbalances.
Flexibility for Power
According to Butch Harmon, one of
the foremost authorities on the golf
swing, in order for golfers to generate
more power and more distance, they
are coached to “feel their arms staying
in front of the body as they turn back.”1
Todd Anderson, a Golf Digest teaching
professional, goes into more detail by
suggesting that a proper backswing
should see “the shoulders starting
parallel to the target line and turning 90
degrees, the hips turning to 45 degrees,
and the knees turning to 22 degrees.” 2
This means the backswing will generate
a lot of spinal twist and loading.
Compounding this amount of torque
with near-maximum acceleration in the
downswing is a recipe for disaster.
Repeating this move 50-70 times per
round makes it difficult to stay injury
free over the course of your golfing
life.
This kind of movement requires
flexibility not only in the spine, but also
in the shoulders and hips. To ensure
that you have the kind of flexibility that
allows you to take a proper golf swing,
have your chiropractor check the range
of motion of these joints. If you have
any tightness in these areas, your
chiropractor can perform specific
adjustments to help these joints move
better and may suggest stretches to help
keep them moving properly.
Good Posture for the
Set Up
When a golf pro is asked to create a
good, repeatable golf swing, one of his
first tasks is to establish a proper set up.
This is the golfer’s starting position
when addressing the ball. Posture is of
utmost importance here. Maintaining
natural curves throughout the spine
with good posture ensures that maximum
rotation will be achievable in both
the backswing and the follow through.
To illustrate this point, sit on a bench
and allow your body to slouch. Cross
your arms, placing your hands on
opposite shoulders. Then, try to rotate
fully to one side, then the other. Ask
someone to observe how far you can
go. Try again, but this time start by
sitting upright first. Notice how much
further your spine can rotate when you
start with good spinal posture.3
Ask your South Elgin chiropractor Dr Schening, if your lower
back has the proper spinal curve when
standing normally and when demonstrating
a set-up position for the golf
swing. If you suffer from restrictions
and displacements in your body, these
could be preventing you from achieving
normal postural positions. And it
could be taking 10, 20 or 30 yards off
your best drives! See how much easier
it is to swing the golf club after your
chiropractor corrects this problem.
One-Sided Sport
Requires Special
Attention
The amount of effort exerted by most
amateur golfers when driving a golf
ball has been estimated at 90 percent of
their peak muscular activity. This level
of exertion has been compared to those
used in sports like football, hockey and
martial arts.3 This amount of physical
effort, combined with the one-sided
nature of the swing, requires a lot of
special attention. If a person is not
careful, over-exertion can easily lead to
stress and strain.
Chiropractic treatments by Dr Schening are very
effective at re-establishing proper
biomechanics in and around every joint
of the body. However, maintaining
proper function remains the patient’s
responsibility. Preparation for golf
should include an adequate warm-up,
proper stretching, and a lot of core
stabilization training. It’s no wonder
that many of the PGA professionals
have trainers and chiropractors join
them when they go on tour. Make sure
to tell your South Elgin chiropractor that you are a
golfer so particular attention will be
given to the areas of the body to
maximize your golf swing.
References and Sources:
1. Anderson T. Power – Load it
and let it go.
Golf Digest 2010; 61(1): 68-71.
2. Harmon B. Nick Watney’s power
pointers: How he became a great
driver – you can, too.
Golf Digest 2010; 61(2): 68-71.
3. Blanchard J. & Finkel L.
Chiropractic and Golf: A therapeutic
treatment and prevention
program.
Online:
http://www.dynamicchiropractic.com
/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=1833
Pinched Nerve
Think you have a pinched nerve? Don’t wait. Come see your Corona chiropractor for help before it gets worse.
Low Back Pain and The Feet
If you want to build any structure, a strong foundation is one of the key components. The human body is no different. Alignment of the bones in the feet can influence the functional stability of the rest of the body! Each foot contains 26 bones. It takes 33 joints, 107 ligaments, 19 muscles and numerous tendons to hold the bones in place and to allow for proper movement. As a musculoskeletal specialist, your South Elgin chiropractor Dr Tim Schening, is well-aware of the amount of brain-body coordination needed to keep these structures working properly.
Syndromes Related to Your Feet The following is a list of common conditions that are related to your feet, plus recommended solutions from your chiropractor.
Plantar Fasciitis – a painful conditioninvolving inflammation of the soft tissue in the arch of the foot. This condition is usually related to overuse or fallingarches.Icing and rest help to decrease pain, and muscle or joint manipulation can help restore proper function. Orthotic shoe inserts may also help provide structural support and reduce strain.1
Shin Pain – often caused by strain of the posterior and anterior tibialis muscles. These two muscles help give the arch of your foot mechanical support during walking or running. With increased stress due to repetitive use or falling arches, strain on the tendons of these muscles can cause the muscles to pull away from their bony attachments on the shin. This can cause periostitis, better known as shin splints. Improper footwear, combined with increased physical activity, is often the culprit. Rest, ice, muscle manipulation and orthotic inserts can help with this condition.2
Iliotibial Tract Syndrome (IT band syndrome) – pain located on the lateral side of the knee, thigh and hip, related to an inflammation of the tendon of the TFL muscle as it crosses the knee. This is one of the most common leg/hip syndromes found in runners, and it can be related to instability of the foot or pelvic misalignment. It is very often related to over-pronation of the foot, whereby the ankle joint turns inward – usually associated with falling arches. Chiropractic adjustments for the pelvis, foot and knee joints may help, as well as muscle manipulation, reduced exercise, and orthotic inserts to correct for the over-pronation.
Stress fractures – represent incomplete fractures (cracks) in any bone that is under an increased mechanical load. This condition is usually related to a structural imbalance, which creates an abnormal distribution of stress and strain. Rest is often the only treatment that helps mend this problem. Your chiropractor should also check the movement and alignmentof the feet and/or pelvis to help identify potential causes for the abnormal stress patterns.
Nerve Pain/Sciatica – radiating pain from nerve irritation/inflammation can be felt in the feet. Numbness, tingling, burning or aching pain can be a sign of lumbar nerve irritation. Disc herniation is a common cause of nerve root irritation. Chiropractic adjustments are often used to help balance the mechanical causes of disc herniations.
Pelvic Conditions – with respect to the kinetic chain, imbalances in foot bio-mechanics can lead to imbalances in pelvic mechanics. Restrictions or instability in the joints of the feet can lead to recurring symptoms in your pelvis and lower back.3 Common painful syndromes in the pelvis may include SI joint dysfunction, piriformis syndrome, and lumbar facet joint irritation. If your chiropractic adjustments are not holding as long as you’d like, you should have your chiropractor check your feet. Bouts of low back and pelvic pain that follow increased periods of walking, running or climbing may be pointing to the mechanical instability of your body’s foundation.
How to Take Care of Your Feet There are several things you can do to keep your feet healthy.Avoid activities that cause recurring pain in your feet, knees or hips.Wear appropriate, properly-fitting athletic shoes when you exercise. It is recommended you replace your athletic shoes at least once per year if you exercise at least once a week. Orthotic inserts, when required, can provide customized support for your feet in every shoe that you wear. Be sure to have Dr Schening check the mechanical movement patterns of your feet, knees and hips when walking or running. A routine gait analysis can pick up minor imbalances before they create major problems.Active lifestyles are also recommended to stay healthy. The best form of general exercise is walking. A gentle weight-bearing exercise like walking is known to help improve circulation, contribute to weight control and promote overall well being. Be sure to have your feet checked by chiropractor on a regular basis to ensure that they continue to take you where you want to go in a pain-free way.
References and Sources:1. Karl B. Landorf, Anne-Maree Keenan, and Robert D. Herbert Effectiveness of Different Types of Foot Orthoses for the Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 2004 94: 542-549.2. Nawoczenski DA, Ludewig PM: Electromyographic effects of foot orthotics on selected lower extremity muscles during running. Arch Phys Med Rehab, 80:540-544, 1999.3. Dananberg HJ, Guiliano M: Chronic low-back pain and its response to custom-made foot orthoses.Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association 1999; 89(3): 109-117.
Chiropractic hip exercises for South Elgin
Here is a simple exercise that you can do at home with no equipment.
It works the gluteus medius/minimus, piriformis and hip lateral rotators muscles.
The purpose of this exercise is to Increase hip strength and muscular endurance. By doing this exercise you can have the benefits of Improved stability, functional strength and injury
Begin lying on side on the floor with legs extended.
Top leg should attain a straight line through hip and shoulder.
Bottom leg may be bent for added stability.
Activate core muscles.
Lift top leg upward, abducting leg as foot simultaneously rotates. This will result in a toe-up position.
Slowly return to start position.
Repeat for prescribed repetitions and sets.
© 2005-2010 WebExercises, Inc., Patent Pending, All Rights Reserved.
Headaches
If you have headaches on a routine basis, let our Chiropractors help you.
Hormone optimization is not new
Hormone optimization is not new. Almost 80 years of data show that BHRT can prevent of age-related illnesses in men and women. BHRT can ease symptoms that often accompany declining hormone levels and help patients experience increased mental clarity, a greater ability to lose weight, improve muscle strength, better sleep, experience fewer mood swings, and have more energy. Additionally, hormone optimization can help protect the brain, bones, breasts, and heart and can increase bone mass up to 8.3% per year.
BioTE® uses cardio-activated pellets about the size of a grain of rice which are inserted just below the surface of the skin. This allows a patient to receive hormones consistently in the same way the body releases them naturally for up to six months.
S. Elgin Chiro says backpacks may equal pain
As parents, we are focused on providing the very best for our children. As we send them off to school, our intention is no different.
We are often told that carrying a bag of books on one shoulder is bad for posture. So, we confidently turn to the 2-strap backpack thinking we are taking stress off the little ones’ backs.
However, contrary to popular belief, these backpacks can be just as bad for the health of your children’s spines. When worn improperly or packed too heavily, even the 2-strap backpack can negatively affect the neck, shoulders, upper back and lower back.1
In a 2003 article published in SpineJournal, researchers revealed that out of 1122 backpack users, 74.4% suffered back pain. When compared with adolescents who had no back pain, adolescents with back pain carried significantly heavier backpacks compared to their body weights. These facts led the researchers to conclude “the use of backpacks, and especially the backpacks carrying heavier loads, was independently related to the incidence of back pain in adolescent students.”2
In another study, researchers found backpack weight was effective in predicting back pain in a sample of 3,498 students in California. They also found that girls and students who walk to and from school were more likely to report back pain. When the severity of pain was taken into account, older age, walking to and from school, and method of wear were all statistically significant.3
Knowing the harmful effects of a backpack on a child’s musculoskeletal health, what can parents do?
According to the Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA) and the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), the idea is to “Pack it Light, and Wear it Right.” Both the CCA and the ACA agree on the following recommendations regarding the choice, packing, and carrying of backpacks.4,5
1. Choosing a Backpack
An important factor is the size of the backpack relative to the size of the child. The top of the backpack should not extend higher than the top of the shoulder, and the bottom should not fall below the top of the hipbone.
The backpack ought to be as light as possible – made from materials such as nylon or vinyl instead of leather.
The shoulder straps should be at least two inches wide, adjustable and padded. The straps themselves must leave ample room for movement of the arms. The back portion of the backpack should also be padded for protection and comfort.
Backpacks should always include a hip strap or waist belt. This redistributes as much as 50 to 70 percent of the backpack weight to the pelvis, which decreases the load on the upper back, neck and shoulders.
Choosing a backpack with several individual pockets instead of one large compartment makes it easier to prop-erly distribute the weight. Another option is to use a backpack-style carrier with wheels and a pull handle for easy rolling.
2. Packing a Backpack
The total weight of the backpack plus its contents should never exceed 15 per cent of a person’s body weight (e.g., a 90-pound child should not carry more than 14 pounds in a backpack). For elementary-aged children, reduce this number to below 10 percent of their body weight.
Pack contents so the weight is evenly distributed in the backpack. Place heavier items closer to the body. This reduces the pulling effect on the shoulder straps. It also makes it easier for the child to maintain balance without leaning forward.
To help stay under the recommended load, only pack items needed for that day. Load odd-shaped items on the outside to prevent them from digging into your child’s back.
3. Carrying a Backpack
Both shoulder straps should be adjusted so the pack fits snugly to the body but not too tight. A parent’s hand should be able to slide between the backpack and the child’s back. Always fasten hip straps.
If you’re still not sure what to do, ask chiropractor Dr Schening for advice. In addition to helping fix spinal misalignments caused by an improperly fitting back-pack, Chiropractor Dr. Schening of Life Time Health and Wellness can help prevent these problems from happening in the first place.
References and Sources:
1. Whittfield J, Legg SJ, HedderleyDI. Schoolbag weight and musculo-skeletal symptoms in New Zealand secondary schools – Applied Ergonomics2005: 36(2): 193-8.2. Sheir-Neiss GI, Kruse RW, RahmanT, Jacobson LP & Pelli JA. The Association of Backpack Use and Back Pain in Adolescents – Spine Journal 2003; 28(9): 922-930.3. Siambanes D, Martinez JW, ButlerEW & Haider T. Influence of School Backpacks on Adolescent Back Pain. – J Pediatr Orthop 2004;24(2): 211-217.4. Pack It Light, Wear It Right – Canadian Chiropractic Association publication.5. Backpack Misuse Leads to Chronic Back Pain, Doctors of Chiropractic Say – AmericanChiropractic Association.
South Elgin Chiropractor Can Help Whiplash
The traffic light ahead turns red. You bring your vehicle to a stop. Then BANG! Your head snaps forward then backward. Your car is hurtled a foot into the intersection. You realize almost immediately what just happened. Your vehicle was rear ended. Other than being startled by the event, you’re okay… or are you? Despite feeling fine, you may have just received a common and sometimes serious injury: whiplash. Your chiropractor here in South Elgin can tell you that it’s often a deceiving injury.Whiplash Damage When your vehicle is rear ended, your neck can get stretched beyond its natural range of motion. Whiplash can occur at speeds as low as 5 mph.
You may feel pain quickly or you may not develop symptoms for several hours, weeks, or months. Your neck (cervical spine) contains muscles, ligaments, tendons, discs, joints and nerves confined to a relatively small area. And whiplash can injure all these body components. Although it happens most frequently in rear-end vehicle collisions, whiplash can occur in other situations – especiallyin the sports of football, gymnastics, boxing and contact martial arts. Besides the neck and upper back, pain from a whiplash may extend into other areas of the body, such as the arms and shoulders. You may also suffer muscle stiffness, burning or tingling sensations as well as headaches and numbness. Even if you don’t have any immediate whiplash symptoms, you should visit your South Elgin chiropractor as soon as possible.
What Can Affect Whiplash Recovery? The severity of your whiplash and recovery from it depends on many factors. Your age, sex, physical condition, and posture can have a major effect on the acuteness and length of symptoms. As you age, you lose flexibility and strength in your neck, disc and ligaments. This is why older adults may require more extensive rehabilitation for this injury. Women suffer whiplash more than men. Experts believe this could be because men have stronger neck muscles and women have smaller bone structures. Health conditions like arthritis and previous whiplash injuries can play a role. If you’re a smoker or you don’t exercise, your chances of healing quickly are reduced. Poor posture at the time of impact can worsen whiplash. If your driver seat’s headrest is not at the appropriate height, you may endure a more intense injury.
How Does This South Elgin Chiropractor Treat Whiplash? So what action will your chiropractor take when you arrive with a possible whiplash injury? Your chiropractor will conduct an exam to determine the extent of any injuries and may request x-rays to get a better look at the damage.If whiplash is confirmed, chiropractors may use a number of techniques to restore proper function to the affected areas. They may use adjustments to reduce constriction in the joints and improve mobility. They may also employ techniques to relax and gently stretch the muscles. Applying pressure to specific trigger points on the body helps relieve pain and can restore injured areas to their normal state. Your chiropractor may also get you to perform specific exercises and stretches during the healing process. Exercises can help stabilize and improve co-ordi-nation in the neck and prevent improper movement. Most whiplash cases are resolved within a few weeks. However, some people may endure symptoms well beyond this period. Fortunately, research has shown that chiropractic is an extremely effective approach to healing whiplash. In a study conducted by the Journal of Orthopedic Medicine, researchers found 74% of those people in the study treated for whiplash with chiropractic care showed improvement. The researchers proclaimed, “The results from this study provide further evidence that chiropractic is an effective treatment for chronic whiplash symptoms.”1 The researchers also noted that other treatments for whiplash were disappointing.1Preventing Whiplash There are steps you can take to minimize the risk of whiplash. Make sure your vehicle’s headrests are in the right position. The center back of your head should touch the center of the headrest or higher. When engaging in sports, you should always use appropriate and proper-fitting equipment.If you know someone who has suffered whiplash, tell him or her that chiropractic care can make a person feel a whole lot better!
References and Sources:[1] A symptomatic classification of whiplash injury and the implications for treatment.Khan S, Cook J, Gargan M, Bannister G., Journal of Orthopedic Medicine 1999;21(1):22-25.Chiropractic treatment of chronic whiplash injuries – Woodward MN, Cook JCH, Gargan MF, Bannister GC. Injury 1996;27:643-645.Motion Analysis of Cervical Vertebrae During Whiplash Loading – Spine: 15 April 1999 – Volume 24 – Issue 8 – pp 763-769
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