The trapped nerve is the most common sort of nerve irritation and happens when a nerve exits the spine it can become pinched between 2 bones or maybe compressed by a bulging or otherwise unhealthy disk. Stenosis can also cause pinched nerves which is a bony overgrowth that shrinks the exit canal for spinal nerves. A chiropractor can use the location of the pain or shivering to find the source of the pinching. Pinching in the neck can cause tingling or agony in the shoulders, arms and hands and pinching in the back, like sciatica, can cause pain or tingling in the legs and feet. The commonest chiropractic technique for treating a pinched nerve is tiny manual alterations. Certain types of adjustments will be used dependent on the cause of the trapped nerve.

The trapped nerve is a nerve that has become stuck to surrounding soft tissue such as muscles or ligaments and is mostly the result of repeated motion. So how can this happen? When a repeated motion happens, the rubbing of the nerve against the more delicate tissue can lay down scar tissue and cause the nerve to stick to the tissue. Persistent muscle contraction can also have a similar effect. Both situations deprive the delicate tissue of oxygen and cause the scar tissue to form and the sticking process to worsen.

One thing to notice is that occasionally these wounds can be forming for years before symptoms become agonizing enough to cause concern. Most chiropractors would recommend a technique called Active Release Technique which involves applying precise pressure with a thumb or finger to the site of the adhesion and moving the influenced body part thru a full range of motion.

Because these kinds of nerve irritation can be painful and cause lasting damage it is very important to consult a chiropractor as quickly as symptoms happen and not just presume that the issue originates with the muscle. Nerve irritation can adversely affect your life and relief does exist.

Vincent Phillips is an educator on all things healthy. Have you ever considered visiting abaltimore chiropractor? Consider a visit to this maryland chiropractor.

Article Source: http://thechiroblog.com/back-pain-neck-pain-leg-agony-could-be-nerve-irritation/

Why is good posture important?
Good posture helps us stand, walk, sit, and lie in positions that place the least strain on supporting muscles and ligaments during movement and weight-bearing activities. Correct posture:

• Helps us keep bones and joints in correct alignment so that our muscles are used correctly, decreasing the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces that could result in degenerative arthritis and joint pain.
• Reduces the stress on the ligaments holding the spinal joints together, minimizing the likelihood of injury.
• Allows muscles to work more efficiently, allowing the body to use less energy and, therefore, preventing muscle fatigue.
• Helps prevent muscle strain, overuse disorders, and even back and muscular pain.

Several factors contribute to poor posture-most commonly, stress, obesity, pregnancy, weak postural muscles, abnormally tight muscles, and high-heeled shoes. In addition, decreased flexibility, a poor work environment, incorrect working posture, and unhealthy sitting and standing habits can also contribute to poor body positioning.

How do I sit properly?

• Keep your feet on the floor or on a footrest, if they don't reach the floor.
• Don't cross your legs. Your ankles should be in front of your knees.
• Keep a small gap between the back of your knees and the front of your seat.
• Your knees should be at or below the level of your hips.
• Adjust the backrest of your chair to support your low- and mid-back or use a back support.
• Relax your shoulders and keep your forearms parallel to the ground.
• Avoid sitting in the same position for long periods of time.

How do I stand properly?

• Bear your weight primarily on the balls of your feet.
• Keep your knees slightly bent.
• Keep your feet about shoulder-width apart.
• Let your arms hang naturally down the sides of the body.
• Stand straight and tall with your shoulders pulled backward.
• Tuck your stomach in.
• Keep your head level-your earlobes should be in line with your shoulders. Do not push your head forward, backward, or to the side.
• Shift your weight from your toes to your heels, or one foot to the other, if you have to stand for a long time.

What is the proper lying position?

• Find the mattress that is right for you. While a firm mattress is generally recommended, some people find that softer mattresses reduce their back pain. Your comfort is important.
• Sleep with a pillow. Special pillows are available to help with postural problems resulting from a poor sleeping position.
• Avoid sleeping on your stomach.
• Sleeping on your side or back is more often helpful for back pain.
• If you sleep on your side, place a pillow between your legs.
• If you sleep on your back, keep a pillow under your knees.

Your doctor of chiropractic can assist you with proper posture, including recommending exercises to strengthen your core postural muscles. He or she can also assist you with choosing proper postures during your activities, helping reduce your risk of injury 

Source: American Chiropractic Association 

I recently discovered a WikiHow article entitled “How to Crack Your Neck.” Let me ask you this… Have you ever felt compelled to skip the dentist’s office, reach for your rechargeable Dewalt drill, and attempt to fix your own toothache?

Pretty silly, right? Well wrenching your neck from side to side hoping to elicit pain relief isn’t much smarter.

I’ve lost count how many times someone has asked me if it’s okay to “crack” their own neck. In case you’re wondering too… the answer is a resounding NO. It’s never okay to manipulate your own neck, no matter how good you think it feels.

The cervical spine is one of the most delicate and complex parts of your body. It consists of joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels, as well as your lower brainstem and spinal cord. Arteries along the sides of your neck are responsible for sending blood directly to your brain. Meddling with it for momentary relief is ill-advised.

The more you give in to “cracking” your neck, the worse the underlying problem gets. And you might be thinking…”But if I don’t do it, my neck begins to hurt even more!” – I know, it’s a vicious cycle, and a real Catch-22. All the more reason to address the cause of the problem at a chiropractor’s office.

Here’s the bottom line… Your spine likes to be stable. It’s not happy when it’s unbalanced. If your neck is tight, painful, or stiff, there’s a good chance you’ve got a developing structural problem. Spinal degeneration is not okay, and I can promise you that bending, twisting, and contorting your neck to induce popping sounds is not the solution!

Source: http://drtanase.com/2010/02/01/stop-popping-your-neck/

Participation in sports or exercise is an important step in maintaining your health. Exercise strengthens your heart, bones, and joints and reduces stress, among many other benefits. Unfortunately, injuries during participation in sports are all too common. Often, these injuries occur in someone who is just taking up sports as a form of activity, doesn’t use proper safety equipment, or becomes overzealous about the exercise regimen.

The more commonly injured areas of the body are the ankles, knees, shoulders, elbows, and spine. Remember that you should discuss any exercise program with your doctor of chiropractic before undertaking such activities.

Strains and Sprains
Although bones can sometimes be fractured with acute sports injuries, the most commonly injured structures are the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Tendons attach muscles to bones, and ligaments attach one bone to another.

An acute twisting or overextension of a joint can lead to tears of muscles and tendons, called “strains,” and tears of ligaments result in “sprains.” These tears range from mild to severe. In mild injuries, just a few fibers are torn or stretched. Severe injuries, where there is a tear through the full thickness of the structure, are most often considered unstable injuries and frequently require surgical intervention. The intervertebral disc, a ligament between the vertebrae of the spine that works as a shock absorber, can also be torn, resulting in a disc bulge and/or herniation.

Ankle sprains most often involve tears of one or more of the ligaments along the outside of the ankle. Knee ligaments, including the larger external supportive ligaments and the smaller internal stabilizing ligaments, can also be torn. The cartilage on the back of the patella (knee-cap) can also become eroded from overuse, leading to a condition termed chondromalacia patella.

Tendinosis
In those who are training too much, overuse of a particular joint or joints in the body can result in pain and dysfunction. These injuries are called “overuse syndromes.” A common overuse injury is tendinosis, also called tendinitis. In this condition, the tendon becomes inflamed from repetitive use. In the shoulder, the rotator cuff (a complex of muscles that stabilizes and moves the shoulder) becomes inflamed, resulting in rotator cuff tendinitis. Tennis elbow is another form of tendinitis that occurs along the outside of the elbow, most commonly in tennis players. In golfer’s elbow, the tendons on the inside of the elbow are affected.

Stress Fractures
Some athletes may experience a stress fracture, also called a fatigue fracture. This type of fracture occurs when an abnormal amount of stress is placed on a normal bone. This might occur in a runner who rapidly increases the amount of mileage while training for a race. Stress fractures also occur in people who begin running as a form of exercise but overdo it from the start, rather than gradually progress to longer distances.

One final common injury is worth mentioning, and that is shin splints. This overuse injury is caused by microfractures on the front surface of the tibia (shin bone). This is most often seen in runners, although other athletes can also be affected.

Diagnosis and Treatment
Sports injuries are most often diagnosed from the history of the activity that brought on the pain, along with a physical examination. In some cases, x-rays are necessary to rule out a fracture. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diagnostic ultrasound are also used in finding soft-tissue injuries, like tendinitis and sprains.

Fractures require the application of some stabilizing device, such as a cast, after the bone is put back into position. Rarely, surgical intervention is required. There is a relatively standard treatment protocol for most of the other overuse types of injuries. This protocol involves the following:

Rest
Generally no more than 48 hours of rest and/or immobilization is needed, depending on the severity of the injury. In most cases, the sooner the person becomes active after an injury, the more rapid is the recovery. In fact, long-term immobilization can sometimes be harmful to recovery. Your doctor of chiropractic will guide this process, as too early a return to activity, choosing the wrong type of activity, or excessive activity can be detrimental.

Ice or heat
Ice or heat can be helpful with pain reduction and tissue healing.

Compression
Compression of the area may reduce the amount of swelling from the injury. Your doctor of chiropractic will determine if this will be beneficial in your case.

Elevation
Elevation of the injured arm or leg above the level of the heart is thought to be helpful in reducing swelling.

Pain relievers
Recent research has demonstrated that some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may actually slow the healing process by restricting the body’s natural healing mechanisms, so they should be used sparingly.

Joint manipulation
Recent research has shown us that, in some cases, joint manipulation can be helpful with pain reduction and more rapid recovery. Your doctor of chiropractic will determine if this procedure will be helpful in your case.

A Word about Prevention
In many cases, sports injuries can be prevented. Proper conditioning and warm-up and cool-down procedures, as well as appropriate safety equipment, can substantially reduce injuries. Understanding proper techniques can also go a long way toward preventing injuries. 
Sufficient water intake is also an important preventive measure.

Article Sourch: ACA (American Chiropractic Association)

The scientific evidence is conflicting. Some studies find a strong relationship between short, cold, damp days and arthritis flare-ups. Research from Tufts University suggests changes in barometric pressure worsen knee pain in people with arthritis, while colder temperatures can cause painful changes in the viscosity of joint fluid. Other studies have found little or no link between weather and joint pain.

How old are your hips, knees, and hands? Find out with our JointAge Test. 
 

Well, tell that to our Facebook fans who say a cold snap does aggravate joint pain. Whether your aches are sparked by the weather or other causes, these three steps can help you feel better.

Eat Right
Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids (think salmon and nuts) help curb inflammation to ease joint pain. Leafy greens, such as spinach and kale, may also help quell painful inflammation, as can antioxidants in green tea.

Oranges, red peppers, tomatoes, and other foods packed with vitamin C can help, too. They halt the cartilage loss (and resulting pain) that comes with arthritis.

Load your plate with these 8 foods that fight chronic pain. 
Avoid foods high in omega-6 fatty acids (such as corn oil), which may trigger painful inflammation. Also swap refined grains for whole grains. Early research suggests refined grains have an inflammatory effect, whereas high-fiber whole grains may help quiet inflammation.

Add Supplements
Glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin may help by nourishing cartilage and increasing lubrication in your joints. A large-scale study funded by the National Institutes of Health found a daily combo of 1,500 milligrams of glucosamine and 1,200 milligrams of chondroitin might help ease symptoms in people with moderate-to-severe joint pain.

Also make sure you're getting plenty of vitamin D (look for a supplement with 1,000 milligrams of D3, the kind your body manufactures from sunlight) to help keep your bones strong and prevent joint pain.

Check with your doctor first because some supplements can interact with prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

Move It!
One reason cold weather is linked to joint pain is people are less likely to work out when it's chilly and damp. A recent study of elderly Chicago-area arthritis patients found people are significantly more sedentary when days are short, wet, and cold. Being a couch potato is bad news for your joints because exercise helps lubricate your joints to prevent pain. 

Try these 6 safe, easy exercises for arthritic knees. 

Too cold out? Bring your workout indoors — and don't overdo it! (Ten percent of our Facebook fans said intense workouts trigger joint pain.) Choose low-impact aerobic moves that are easy on joints, such as walking, and yoga or tai chi, which enhance your range of motion. Lifting weights can also help, as it builds joint-supporting muscles.

Article Source: Shine from Yahoo!

During the winter, many people visit their doctors complaining of back pain. Often, they blame the last snowfall. After shoveling the driveway, their backs feel stiff and achy. Others have sudden pain the moment they pick up a shovel. Shoveling snow can cause anything from muscle strain to slipped disks and even serious bone fracture. But if you follow a few simple tips, you can help prevent low back pain related to snow shoveling.

Save Your Back When Shoveling

• Choose a proper shovel. Consider two types of snow shovels. One lifts loads of snow. The other – with a wide, curved blade – is used as a "plow." Make sure both types of shovels have curved handles with plastic, lightweight blades. The curved handle helps you keep your back straight when lifting the snow-filled blade off the ground – or when you push snow aside with the plowing shovel. Make sure the handle of your snow shovel reaches your chest.
• Warm up first. Shoveling is a combination of weightlifting and cardiovascular exercise. Like any other exercise, warm up first to avoid injury. Warm up your muscles by taking a walk. You can also march or jog in place.
• Technique
  • Space your hands apart for leverage. This makes it easier to lift a blade filled with snow.
  • Space your feet shoulder-width apart.
  • Bend at the knees – not the waist. If you do bend at the waist, bring your hands closer to the end of the shovel or get a shovel with a longer handle.
  • Tighten your abdominal muscles every time you lift a load of snow.
  • Keep your head down and in line with a straight back.
  • Keep each shovelful close to the body. Avoid extending your arms.
  • Minimize the distance you carry the snow. Walk each shovelful just a few feet, as close to the ground as you can, then dump it by flipping the handle with your wrists. Avoid throwing loads of snow over your shoulder.
  • Clear deep snow layer by layer.
  • Pace yourself, and stay hydrated.
• Know your limits. Don't be afraid to ask for help. If the snow is deep or heavy, ask a family member, friend or neighborhood teenager to help.
• Caution
  Talk to your doctor before you shovel any snow. Your heart and back work very hard when you shovel. If you have heart trouble, or have risk factors for heart disease, shoveling can lead to a heart attack. If you feel chest pain or become short of breath while shoveling, stop at once. Call 9-1-1 if you have any chest pain or any other symptoms of a heart attack.

Article Source: MyOptumHealth

Years ago I had found a quote from Roger Sperry, who won the Nobel Prize in Medicine/Physiology in 1981.  Sperry noted that 90% of the brain’s energy is used in relating the physical body to gravity.  Only 10% has to do with thinking, metabolism, and healing.  -Did you have any idea it was such a big percentage?

Dr. Scott Petett is “On Demand” for his high flying bike riding.

Be careful what you email your friends; it just might end up on YouTube! Local chiropractor  Dr. Scott Petett is highlighted with “The Season” a web TV series.  To watch the video, go to The Petett Chiropractic videos page.

Dr. Scott Petett grew up in Renton, and has been practicing chiropractic there for years. While growing up in theHighlands he started riding bicycles as a young boy. He started mountain biking as the sport progressed, and has developed a passion for the sport. At age 39 a friend talked him into trying free ride mountain biking. He enjoyed it so much it became his outlet to relax and have fun.

In 2005 he was using a helmet camera to video his friend Erik down one of their favorite trails in the Pacific Northwest, and emailed the video to a few friends. After a few months it was on YouTube, and went viral by recording over a million views. The post on YouTube read, “I don’t know who this is or where it’s at but check it out.” At peak popularity if you searched “Crazy Mtn biking” on the internet, Scott's video was the result.

In 2009 an emerging film company contacted him to see if he was interested in being the cyclist in a web TV series called “The Season.” His first response was, “do you know how old I am”? A couple of phone calls from Fitz Cahall later Scott agreed to start riding for the project.

What started out as a web TV series could be seen “On Demand” through May 25^th 2011 on Comcast. Scott says, “I feel I am very fortunate to be living in my hometown with my beautiful wife and two girls, practicing chiropractic for the past 23 years. I am thankful that I look forward to working Mondays, and still find time to ride my bike.

He has worked as the Team Doctor for Lindbergh High School for the past 15 years and has donated all the proceeds from that back to the school. He enjoys living in Renton, and giving back to the community. Dr. Petett says, “One of my favorite sayings that I've said for years to educate people on their health is; 'Motion is lotion, so keep moving if you want to stay young, go play outside.”

With all the parties, tempting foods and travel, it can be a challenge to stick with your fitness program during the holidays.

But doing so can give you extra energy and help you get a good start on a healthful new year, according to Kara Smith, a fitness trainer and special programs coordinator at the Loyola Center for Fitness.

"Whether you're at home for the holidays or travelling, it is important to stay on your path to fitness during the holidays. Maintaining your workout routine will help you resist overindulging at holiday meals and parties," she said in a Loyola University Health System news release.

Some handy advice:

• When packing for a trip, include an elastic resistance band so you can do strength-training exercises when you're not at the gym. You might also consider buying a new fitness DVD for your trip so that you can have fun trying something new.
• If you're staying at a hotel, find out if it has a fitness center and if it does, pack exercise clothes and take advantage of the workout opportunity.
• Make fitness a family activity, e.g., going for a family walk or having a pick-up rugby/soccor game are great ways to get exercise and have holiday fun at the same time.
• If you're travelling by car, stop frequently to get out, walk and stretch. Promote blood flow in your arms by making circles with your shoulders and wrists.
• To save kilojoules and money, pack healthy snacks like trail mix and fresh fruit.
• Eating a healthy meal before you go to holiday get-togethers will help limit your consumption of unhealthy party foods.
• Limit your consumption of alcohol, which adds calories and affects your ability to make decisions about healthy eating.

"You can still enjoy the holidays without wrecking your fitness plan. The holidays are about spending time together. So enjoy the conversation and company and limit the cookies," Smith said.

Article Sourth: health24.com

Driving home for Christmas?

Slouch potatoes.

Careful Cooking

As you slave over a hot stove, remember your back! Leaning over a table or worktop for long periods of time can cause stiffness in the upper back and shoulders, and can put strain on the lower back. Rather than standing, try sitting for a short period of time and vary your activities. Better still, enlist help and get someone else to peel the potatoes and put ‘kisses’ on the brussel sprouts! Take care when taking the turkey out of the oven – not only is it hot and awkward, but also heavy – remember to keep your back straight and bend at the knees and hips, rather than arching your back. Don’t overload the roasting pan or serving dishes – it is better for your back to carry several smaller dishes than one enormous one!

Article Source: Bristish Chiropractic Association