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What Your Spine Says About Your Health

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You may have heard the saying, “the eyes are the window to the soul.” There is another saying in the world of chiropractic, “your spine is the window to your health.” How can the condition of your spine divulge so much information about overall health? Your spine is the central support column of your body and its primary role is to protect your spinal cord.

Think of it like the foundational frame of a house holding everything together. If the frame becomes dysfunctional many problems will begin to manifest themselves. The house begins to develop cracks, shifts, and structural problems. When your spinal foundation becomes dysfunctional you develop aches, pains, injuries, and other health related issues. The good news is you can do a simple spinal health checklist to determine if you may benefit from the expert intervention of a chiropractor or other healthcare professional. Becoming familiar with simple spinal anatomy, structure and function will help empower you to take control of your health.

Your spine is composed of 24 bones (vertebrae); 7 in the neck (cervical spine), 12 in the middle back (thoracic spine), 5 in the lower back (lumbar spine) and the base tailbone (sacrum). Your soft spinal cord is encased inside these 24 moveable hard vertebrae to protect it from injury. Your spinal column has three natural curvatures making it much stronger and more resilient than a straight design. There are cervical, thoracic, and lumbar curves designed with precise angles for optimum function. However, these curves are different than the abnormal curves associated with scoliosis and postural distortions. You may remember getting screened in school or your doctor for scoliosis when they had you bend over and touch your toes. This was an early checklist for spinal abnormalities. Through life’s stresses, genetics, trauma, injuries, and neglect the spine can develop dysfunctions in these curvatures and the body must compensate by changing posture as a protective mechanism.

What are some of the compensations your body develops and what can they tell you about spinal health?

Rounded Shoulders: This is a very common postural distortion resulting from more sedentary lifestyles. Hunching over in front of a computer screen hours on end simply feeds this dysfunction. This poor posture pattern adds increased stress to the upper back and neck because the head is improperly positioned relative to the shoulders. Common effects are headaches, shoulder, pain, neck pain and even tingling and numbness in the arms because of nerve compression by tight muscles.

Uneven shoulders: One shoulder higher than the other is indicative of a muscular imbalance or spinal curvature. You probably see this one on most people where one shoulder is migrating up towards the ear. Stand in front of a mirror and you can easily see if this asymmetry is present. You may also notice that one sleeve is longer than the other when you wear a shirt. This asymmetry is a common precursor for shoulder injuries, headaches, neck pain, elbow injuries and even carpal tunnel syndrome (tingling in the hands).

Uneven hips: Hips that are not level are like the foundation of a house that is not level. You begin to develop compensations further up the body so you remain balanced when walking. You develop altered spinal curvatures, shoulder positions, and head tilts. Your body has one primary purpose of maintaining symmetry and balance and it will do it whatever way is necessary. Signs of unbalanced hips may manifest in abnormal shoe wear typically on the outside edges and pants will fit unevenly in the leg length.

When you visit a chiropractor for a spinal evaluation some of the things they will search for during your evaluation are underlying signs of spinal damage that you can’t see. Spinal x-rays are a safe and effective way to get look at your spine for damage or potential problems. Just like a dentist takes an x-ray of your teeth to see if you have cavities or problems with the bones below gum line. If problems are detected, corrective or preventive measures can be implemented to help your body function at optimum.

Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD): This is not a real disease in the terms of how we think of them. DDD is term used to describe degeneration and excessive wear on the soft tissue disc structures between the spinal bones. It may come with age or from biomechanical asymmetries in movement causing excessive wear from overuse. Sort of like uneven treads on a car with imbalanced tires, one may be worse than the other. Although the degeneration cannot be reversed, once discovered there are strategies your chiropractor can implement rebalancing exercises and therapies to help prevent further damage.

Osteoarthritis: The breakdown of the tissue (cartilage) that protects and cushions joints. Arthritis often leads to painful swelling and inflammation from joints rubbing together. The increase in friction causes a protective pain response and excessive swelling where the body attempt to add artificial cushioning via swelling.

Herniated disc: A herniated disc is an abnormal bulge or breaking open of a protective spinal disc or cushioning between spinal bones. Patient’s may or may not experience symptoms with a herniated disc. Disc diagnosis is conformed via a special imaging study called an MRI (\Magnetic Resonance Imaging) which observes soft and hard tissue structures. You cannot see or confirm a suspected disc herniation via normal spinal x-rays.

Spinal stenosis: The narrowing of the spinal canal the open space in the spine that holds the spinal cord. Stenosis is a more severe form of arthritis that typically causes radiating (referred pain down the arms or legs) from an irritated or compressed spinal nerve.

If you experience spinal pain, tingling, numbness, weakness, muscles spasms or swelling near your spine or arms and legs consult a healthcare professional. These are all warning signal signs from your body that something is wrong and needs your attention. Pain is how your body communicates its function with you. A car has dashboard warning lights that tell you when the car has a problem. If you chose to ignore the signals bad things are going to happen. Your body has its own warning light system. Start checking for the warning lights. Ignore them at your own risk. See your chiropractor for a proper assessment and any concerns.

Water, Water Everywhere – But Are You Drinking Enough?

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Water is second only to air in importance for life. We can survive many days or even weeks without food, but we can only survive a few days without water.

Getting your daily requirement of water helps your organs function, keeps your skin clear and hydrated, and supports the body’s digestion, assimilation of nutrients and elimination of toxins. It also makes your body less vulnerable to injury. When the heat of summer descends, it’s a good time to remind ourselves to increase our water intake to compensate for more water lost through physical activity and time spent in the sun.

Did you know that 60-75 percent of your total body weight is water? Most people know that the blood, lymph, urine, sweat and tears are mostly water. However, many of us do not realize that the lungs are 90 percent water; the brain 76 percent water. Even the bones are 25 percent water. Sixty-seven percent of the water in the body is inside the cell. The other 33 percent is outside the cells in the extracellular fluid. This fluid surrounds the cells and is found in the blood, lymph, spinal fluid and joint spaces.

Water has many functions in the body. It is the medium by which nutrients are delivered to tissues and unwanted waste is carried away. It is also the medium in which all chemical reactions take place within the cells, and therefore, greatly influences cell function. Water also serves as a cushion and lubricant for our spine and other joints.

Most individuals lose between 10 and 16 cups of water per day. This loss is in sweat, urine, feces, in the air we exhale, and via direct evaporation from our skin. During exercise in a warm climate, as much as 8 cups of water can be lost in one hour. The loss of body water through urination is greatly increased by the ingestion of caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. These drinks have a diuretic effect, meaning they stimulate the kidneys to excrete more urine. Not only do we lose more water, we also lose water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin B1 (thiamine) and other B complex vitamins. There is also increased excretion of calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, chloride and zinc.

Negative Effects of Caffeine

A high intake of caffeine has been linked to anxiety, insomnia, elevated blood pressure, heart palpitations, headaches, fibrocystic breast disease, diarrhea, increased stomach acidity and ulcers, birth defects and miscarriages. Long-term use of caffeine will cause overworked and weakened adrenals, which may lead to depression and chronic fatigue.

Tolerance for caffeine varies greatly. Some individuals can tolerate as much as 500 mg of caffeine per day, equivalent to 5-plus cups of coffee. Other people cannot tolerate even 1 cup of green tea, which contains approximately 35 mg of caffeine. This intolerance is often due to decreased capacity of the liver to clear caffeine from the body. If any symptoms of excess caffeine consumption are present or pregnancy is planned, caffeine should be eliminated from the diet. Otherwise, intake of caffeine should be limited to less than 100 mg per day, the equivalent of one cup of coffee, and then only if your body is in excellent health. Besides coffee and tea, caffeine is present in soda, chocolate, aspirin and other drugs such as Fiorinal, Vivarin, NoDoz and Dexatrim.

Water From Other Sources

A diet containing lots of fruits and vegetables will supply about 4 cups of water per day. Even with a diet high in fruits and vegetables, it is still necessary to drink an additional 6-8 cups of water per day to supply enough water to meet the body’s daily needs. For every caffeinated or alcoholic beverage you drink, you need to add an additional glass of pure water.

Insufficient water intake results in less-than-optimal intracellular water volume and reduced cell function. This greatly diminishes the body’s ability to heal damaged tissues from injury and maintain optimal health. F. Batmanghelidj, MD, the author of Your Body’s Many Cries for Water, has successfully treated many diagnosed diseases, e.g., peptic ulcers, colitis, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic back and neck pain, anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, high cholesterol, asthma, allergies and diabetes, with just increased and regular intake of water.

According to Dr. Batmanghelidj, dry mouth is the last sign of inadequate cellular water. When the thirst signals produced by the body are ignored or are responded to with intake of beverages other than water such as soda, coffee, tea or concentrated fruit juice, eventually the body stops providing the sensation of thirst. It often requires drinking water regularly throughout the day (even if you are not thirsty) for as long as six to eight months for the normal thirst signals to return and for people to reacquire a taste for water. It can take up to a year or longer to rehydrate your tissues. The sensation of thirst also diminishes has we age. Therefore, it is very important for the elderly to acquire a “habit” of drinking adequate water to avoid cellular dehydration and subsequent health problems.

How to Survive a Heart Attack

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We know exercise is important when it comes to keeping your heart strong and healthy; if you’re not doing moderate physical activity for 30-60 minutes on most days of the week, you’re doing your heart a disservice, particularly over the long term. Now research suggests another key heart benefit of regular exercise: heart attack survival.

A study involving more than 14,000 adults, none of whom had experienced a heart attack at the start of the study, tracked their activity levels and health for more than 30 years (1976-2013). At baseline, subjects were categorized as sedentary (light activity for less than 2 hours per week), light exercisers (2-4 hours of walking or light activity weekly) or moderate / high exercisers (more than 2 hours of vigorous activity such as biking per week).

Among people who suffered heart attacks during the study period, light exercisers were 32 percent more likely to survive the attack than sedentary subjects; moderate to high exercisers who suffered a heart attack were 47 percent more likely to survive.

The message is simple: Exercise! Your heart will thank you for it. Talk to your doctor to learn more.

Even Thirdhand Smoke Is Dangerous

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As if the documented dangers of primary and secondhand smoke aren’t enough to sway people from the habit, now comes research suggesting that even thirdhand smoke – defined by the Mayo Clinic as “residual nicotine and other chemicals left on a variety of indoor surfaces by tobacco smoke” can be harmful.

A recent study funded by the University of California-run Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program adds to a growing of research implicating thirdhand smoke as a viable health hazard. The latest research supports the contention that even after smoke has left a room or other area occupied by a smoker, the toxic pollutants inherent in cigarette smoke remain – on everything from bedsheets, carpets and clothing to furniture and even walls. Not only do these hazardous compounds stay in the area for months, but they could combine with other commonly used household chemicals / products to create even greater health risks.

Thus, in a sense thirdhand smoke may be more problematic over the long term than primary or secondhand smoke because of its ability to linger. You can always quit smoking, but the impact of thirdhand smoke may persist. Again according to the Mayo Clinic, “Thirdhand smoke residue builds up on surfaces over time and resists normal cleaning. Thirdhand smoke can’t be eliminated by airing out rooms, opening windows, using fans or air conditioners, or confining smoking to only certain areas of a home. Thirdhand smoke remains long after smoking has stopped.”

If you’re pursuing health and wellness through proper diet, consistent exercise and stress reduction, but remain a smoker, now’s the time to do something about it. And if you know someone who smokes, keep in mind that anything you do to help them quit won’t just help them; it will improve the lives of those around them – including you!

Lifetime Chiropractic

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One of the most exciting aspects of being a chiropractor is helping people on a daily basis. I have been in practice now for more than 11 years, and I still get excited every morning when I go to work because I have so much fun working with my patients.

Once your pain and discomfort are gone, it feels as if you have your life back again. You are able to go out and perform your everyday activities like exercising, playing golf or going places with your family. We, as chiropractors, are extremely pleased when our patients begin feeling better, and eventually they tell us they feel “normal” again. But our responsibility to you, the patient, does not end there.

In my practice, I start a relationship with my patients – one deeply rooted in trust and understanding – on the first day I meet them. I explain and educate them on their ailment, the treatment and what they are expected to do outside the office to help get them better. This expectation I have of patients taking care of themselves follows them throughout their lives, even after we have stopped active care.

As much as we hope our adjustments hold forever and our patients continue to feel better, the reality is that, inevitably, your body will need checkups every so often. Life circumstances often arise that can cause your spine and other joints of the body to become stressed and thrown back out of alignment.

Did you know you could benefit from regular spinal checkups – just like you benefit when a dentist cleans your teeth or a mechanic changes the oil in your car? Regular chiropractic maintenance can help you avoid major problems before they happen.

Lifestyle Stress

Lifestyle stress or injuries can happen to your body simply as a part of living your normal life. Think for a moment about your average daily activities. As you retrace your steps from the time you wake up until the time you go to bed, you can probably identify numerous tasks that potentially could cause stress on your body. There are so many different types of activities we perform during the course of a day, week or month. Here are a few of the most common scenarios I hear when a patient comes in seeking treatment.

If you are a parent of young children, your activities can include much of the following: bending over and using your arms to pick up, hold and carry your children; driving multiple times daily; pushing strollers; and changing diapers. Do you think any of these activities can put stress on the spine and other parts of the body?

Workout Stress

Even engaging in activities that are good for you, such as regular exercise or sports-related activities, can lead to stress on your body.  Think of your average exercise workout. Run through it in your mind from start to finish and visualize what you are putting your body through. It can be as simple as going on the treadmill or elliptical machine, or as complex as intense weight training. It can involve a nice, slow stretching class or a high-intensity spinning class. Pilates/mat classes, yoga, balance ball, foam roller, or exercise ball: What’s your cup of tea?

Now think about specific athletic events in which you still might engage. Is it basketball, tennis, golf, running, racquetball or softball? Whatever you prefer to play, do you think it could put a strain on your body? The answer, of course, is yes it can!

Why Can’t Chiropractic Last Longer?

One of the questions patients ask me is, “Why can’t you just put me back in alignment and have it stay that way? Why do I have to come back every so often?” The reason your chiropractic adjustments do not hold forever is because you go out and live your life. When you do the things we described earlier, your muscles, spine and joints react to the stress over time.

When you think about it, almost every single job or daily activity can have an effect on the alignment of your spine and extremities. Even though we encourage you to exercise to stay healthy, it can cause stress on your body that needs to be addressed. Your body reacts by moving out of alignment and your muscles spasm, which causes swelling, pain and discomfort to return. Does that mean you shouldn’t exercise? No! Stress is a normal part of life. The point I want to make is that you can do something to keep it from negatively affecting your body and your health.

Some patients are able to hold their adjustments longer than others. Certain patients might only come in for an annual checkup because they exercise and do things that keep them strong. Other patients might come back every two weeks because their daily routine is so physically demanding that they are quickly thrown out of alignment. It all depends on your genetics, your commitment to your home exercises and your lifestyle. You and your chiropractor will be able to discover what your optimal frequency should be for coming back to the office for spinal tune-ups.

Pain Relief Without Opioids

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“There is no better place on earth to have a news event,” the National Press Club boasts, and it’s easy to understand why: Every year, the 108-year-old Washington, D.C.-based organization hosts countless press conferences on the hottest topics impacting America and often the world.

The topic: the opioid crisis. The event: the official launch of the foundation’s “Save Lives. Stop Opioid Abuse. Choose Chiropractic” campaign.

Distinguished speakers at this historic event outlined the scope of the crisis, putting blame squarely on prescribing doctors and the current pain-management system while urging nondrug alternatives, including chiropractic care.

Here are a few soundbites from the distinguished panel of presenters that should whet your appetite for the complete briefing, available online in its entirety at www.f4cp.com/watchpressclub/. Watch it and learn how chiropractic can play a role in managing pain without drugs.

Preventing ACL Injuries in Female Athletes

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For female athletes, the key to optimal athletic health lies in preventing ACL injuries. In medical terms, the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the primary restraint to the anterior displacement of the tibia on the femur at all angles of the knee flexor.

What Causes an ACL Injury?

An ACL injury is usually caused by sudden, abrupt change in force to the knee. This can occur during an unexpected cutting move made during a sporting activity, or while landing following a jump in an athletic activity. Most ACL injuries occur in a non-contact setting and do not involve a collision with another player.1

What Does an ACL Injury Mean to an Athlete?

When an athlete injures the ACL, it may mean losing an entire season of play. If the injury is severe enough, it could also lead to surgery, resulting in long-term rehabilitation, a possible loss of scholarship, and emotional and mental strain. ACL injuries also could pose a lifelong potential for arthritis in the injured joint.2

Why Do They Occur More Frequently in Female Athletes?

For female athletes, the key to optimal athletic health lies in preventing ACL injuries. In medical terms, the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the primary restraint to the anterior displacement of the tibia on the femur at all angles of the knee flexor.

What Causes an ACL Injury?

An ACL injury is usually caused by sudden, abrupt change in force to the knee. This can occur during an unexpected cutting move made during a sporting activity, or while landing following a jump in an athletic activity. Most ACL injuries occur in a non-contact setting and do not involve a collision with another player.1

What Does an ACL Injury Mean to an Athlete?

When an athlete injures the ACL, it may mean losing an entire season of play. If the injury is severe enough, it could also lead to surgery, resulting in long-term rehabilitation, a possible loss of scholarship, and emotional and mental strain. ACL injuries also could pose a lifelong potential for arthritis in the injured joint.2

Why Do They Occur More Frequently in Female Athletes?

ACL injuries typically occur at a four- to six-times higher rate in females because they are more quadriceps dominant. Another factor may be decreased neuromuscular performance and increased ligamentous laxity during menstrual cycles from the fluctuation of female hormones.3-4 A study in The New England Journal of Medicine found differences in leg ailment of males vs. females, noting females have an increased rate of knock-knee (valgus deformity5). The intercondylar notch width is smaller in females, creating less space for the movement of the ACL and resulting in increased risk of injury. Women also typically have a wider pelvis, resulting in thigh bones angling downward more sharply (Q-angle).6 This leads to increased valgus stress and potential injury.

ACL Injuries and Hormones

Fibroblasts lead to collagen synthesis, which enables ligaments and tendons to heal. Estrogen (especially estrodial) inhibits fibroblastic proliferation. Collagen synthesis is significantly reduced with increased local estrodial concentration. Many high-school and college female athletes take birth-control pills, which are all estrogen-based and contribute to the potential for injury.

The National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study, currently in its fifth year of online data collection, has found that one ACL tear occurs every 15,000 times an athlete practices or competes. On average, athletes are eight times more likely to suffer ACL injuries in competition than practice. Data was collected from a national sample of nine girls’ high-school sports, including soccer, basketball, lacrosse, track, volleyball and softball.2

Most Common Sports for ACL Injury in Practice / Competition

  • Injuries occur in girls’ soccer 1 out of 6,500 times an athlete practices or competes.7
  • In girls’ basketball, injuries occur 1 of every 11, 000 times an athlete practices or competes.7

ACL Injury Rate Per Sport

A study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine (2009)8 concluded the following with regard to ACL injury prevalence by sport:

  • An ACL sports injury prevention training program improved strength and flexibility in competitive female basketball players who were tested.
  • The training program also improved biomechanical movement patterns associated with ACL injury as compared with pre- and post-training parameters in the control group.

Of clinical relevance is the conclusion that the prevention program lowered the athletes’ risk of injury.

A later study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine (2013)9 concluded that neuromuscular and educational interventions appear to reduce the incidence rate of ACL injuries by approximately 50 percent.

How to Prevent ACL Injuries

The key elements of a clinical program to prevent ACL injury include the following (see examples of each element below):

  • Nutrition – supplements and proper diet
  • Dynamic warm-up
  • Stretching
  • Strengthening
  • Plyometrics
  • Agility drills
  • Cooldown

1. Dynamic Warm-Up

  • Jog line to line (cone to cone)
  • Shuttle run
  • Backward running

2. Proper Stretching (Click here to learn how to stretch properly.)

  • Calf stretch
  • Quad stretch
  • Figure-four hamstring stretch
  • Inner thigh stretch
  • Hip flexor stretch

3. Strengthening (See descriptions / images of how to perform these exercises below.)

  • Glute-ham raise
  • Squat
  • Leg curl
  • Jump squat
  • Single-leg, stiff-legged deadlift
  • Bosu plank
  • Walking lunges
  • Assisted Russian hamstring curl

Glute-Ham Raise

  • Raise or extend hips until torso is perpendicular with legs
  • Raise body by flexing knees
  • Lower body until horizontal by straightening knees
  • Repeat

Squat

  • Head straight, arms overhead
  • Feet pointing straight or slightly toed-out
  • Feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart
  • Knees in line with toes
  • Squat back, not down

Seated Leg Curl

  • Seated vertical, back flat, chest out
  • Place lower calves over pad with legs out in front
  • Brace upper body, use handles to assist
  • Without moving back or hips, pull the pad down and back as far as you can
  • Slowly return to starting position

Squat Jump

  • Start the same as the squat, descend slightly above parallel
  • Propel body upward to max height
  • Land in similar position, making certain to be soft on the knees
  • Note: Do not adduct knees (bring knees together) upon landing

Single-Leg, Stiff-Legged Deadlift

  • Stand on one leg, holding weight in both hands
  • Keep back flat, lean forward at hips and lift free leg to the rear, in line with the torso
  • Touch weight to the ground
  • Return to starting position

Bosu Plank

  • Keep back flat and form straight line from head to heels
  • Tilt pelvis and contract abs
  • Hold for 20-60 seconds

Assisted Russian Hamstring Curl

  • Start on knees with arms up and partner holding your feet
  • Keeping body straight, slowly lower yourself toward the ground in front until you can no longer hold yourself up
  • Push back up with your hands to the upright position
  • Repeat 20 times

Things to look for: Brace stomach while moving forward and back. Make sure not to arch back when returning to starting position.

4. Plyometrics

  • Lateral hops over cone
  • Forward / backward hops over cone
  • Vertical plyo jumps

5. Agility Drills

  • Shuttle run with forward / backward running
  • Diagonal run
  • Bounding run

6. Cooldown

  • Bridging with alternating hip extension
  • Crunches
  • Single / double knee to chest
  • Piriformis stretches

The athlete’s fitness and desired level of performance will influence which of the above exercises are performed. Talk to your doctor before initiating any of these exercises to ensure proper / safe performance, particularly if you are have suffered an ACL injury of any type.

Acid Suppressants Linked to Fracture Risk

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Proton-pump inhibitors sound like something right out of Star Wars, but they’re actually common – far too common, considering their potential risks – here in the real world.

Following a recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review of studies, the administration posted a “class labeling change”  notice on its Web site alerting health care professionals and consumers that proton-pump inhibitors will now feature a label warning regarding “a possible increased risk of fractures at the hip, wrist and spine” attributable to their use. According to the FDA, people ages 50 or older who had been taking the medication for one year or more, often in high doses, were at the greatest risk.

If your doctor tells you proton-pump inhibitors are in your immediate future, ask about the potential side effects and if you can avoid taking medication altogether.

Common Knee Injuries, Uncommon Sense

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The growth of organized amateur sports over the past 30 years has spawned an unexpected and unwanted increase in sports-related injuries. Many young athletes suffer sports-related injuries that can turn into lifelong problems. Here are some basic facts about knee injuries and how they are handled in the world of modern medicine. I am not passing judgment – just pointing out some facts.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reported that in 2003, 9.5 million people visited orthopedic surgeons because of knee problems. By now, this staggering number is probably even higher, considering a greater number of children and adults are participating in athletics every year. The most common recommendation regarding knee injuries is to avoid the activities that take place when the knee is injured, such as activities that require stopping and starting or quickly changing directions. It is thought that these extreme forces on the knee can result in torn ligaments; however, they don’t result in torn ligaments in everyone, which means there could be some pre-existing contributing factors.

To learn why our knees are injured so frequently, it’s important to know how the knee works. The knee joint is composed of four bones: the femur, the tibia, the fibula and the patella (see image on facing page). Cartilage covers the joint and provides a smooth, lubricated gliding surface so the knee can move. The shape of the knee joint is stable, but to function properly, the ligaments have to be in good shape, too! Those ligaments include the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL).

While the ACL works as the main stabilizer when the knee is bent, the PCL works as the main stabilizer when the knee is extended. The collateral ligaments are used when you move side to side. The medial and lateral menisci are located within the joint and act as “shock absorbers” and also influence knee stability. The most commonly injured parts of the knee are the ACL and the medial meniscus. Tears of the meniscus usually take place during twisting, pivoting, or decelerating movements, or as a result of direct impact.

When you look for information regarding treatment of knee injuries, you will see two basic categories of medical care: surgical and nonsurgical. Surgical intervention has certainly improved over the past 20 years and typically involves arthroscopic surgery for severely sprained or ruptured ligaments or torn cartilage. The new procedures are far less invasive than techniques used many years ago, resulting in less scar tissue and faster recovery time. Nonsurgical intervention typically involves improving the stability of the knee joint with rehabilitative exercises, focusing on the quadriceps (thigh) muscles and the hamstrings. Bracing is also a common practice to enhance stability by limiting motion in the knee joint.

To summarize, the way knee injuries are handled in today’s world is to stop doing things that tear ligaments, like running, jumping, twisting and stopping quickly. If you do want to continue doing those things, the common recommendation is to get surgery or do rehab and put on a brace to limit motion in the joint. The resulting lack of motion will likely cause degenerative arthritis over the next 20-40 years, which will result in the need for a knee joint replacement.

OK, so where’s the good news? Simply put, a chiropractor has the ability to do a better job than that! Their knowledge of the foot, knee, hip and spine connection, combined with practical experience, affords an alternative to the “shoot the dice and hope for the best” theory. The first thing to understand is that healthy knee function is not possible without healthy foot function. The medical model of health care does not take that into consideration because the foot rarely presents itself as being painful. Even if the foot does hurt, treatment only takes care of the symptom and does not address abnormal joint function.

A vast majority of people, young and old, excessively pronate. This means that when the foot hits the ground, it flattens out or unlocks, rolling inward and creating a twisting stress up the leg and into the knee. These twisting stresses do three things to the knees: stretch the ACL, stretch and twist the medial meniscus, and inhibit contraction of the quadriceps muscle.

Every time we take a step, jump, pivot, stop quickly and run, those three things take place. A torn knee ligament is not a one-injury event; it is a multiple micro-injury event. These abnormal forces take place perhaps thousands of times, creating microtrauma to the support structures of the lower leg until the ligament fails catastrophically.

If thigh muscle weakness is one of the results of excessive pronation, doesn’t it make sense that the muscle loses its tone to a point that it can no longer stabilize the joint efficiently? Remember, muscle is the primary stabilizer; ligaments are secondary. If you weaken the muscle and traumatize the ligament a few thousand times, you have all the ingredients for the classic knee injury.

Common sense tells us to prevent the excessive damaging motions by supporting the foundational structures (your feet) so they function within the functional range of motion.  Many chiropractors now evaluate the quality of the arches of the feet. If the arches aren’t supporting the legs and pelvis sufficiently, it can create stresses that lead to injury or joint wear and tear. It’s just like the foundation of your house; if it settles too much, it creates stress in other parts of the structure.

Take a proactive step to avoiding injuries and preserving the health of your knees, hips and spine. After all, you know what they say about “an ounce of prevention.” Ask your doctor for a thorough foot evaluation, particularly if you’re experiencing knee pain or participate in activities that put you at risk for a knee injury.

Neck Pain: Think Chiropractic

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Neck pain is no laughing matter; depending on the severity, it can ruin your day, week or even longer. But before you turn to the medicine cabinet for your favorite pain reliever, why not consider a more permanent option that doesn’t just take away the symptoms of the problem, but actually addresses the root cause of the pain? That’s where chiropractic can make a difference.

Common causes of neck pain that can be addressed by your doctor of chiropractic are the result of the aging process (spinal degeneration, osteoarthritis) and daily life, including stress and poor posture. Other potential causes include faulty sleep position and improper movements – and these days, craning our necks to peer into our smartphone screens and other portable devices isn’t helping, either.

So, how can chiropractic help? A number of research studies support chiropractic care for neck pain. Here are a few examples from the literature:

  • A 2003 study deemed manual therapy (spinal mobilization) more effective than physical therapy and medical care (including medication) in helping patients with neck pain lasting at least two weeks.
  • A 2007 review determined “high-quality” evidence supports chiropractic spinal manipulation for chronic neck pain, with patients reporting significant reductions in pain.
  • A 2012 study found chiropractic care reduced neck pain to a greater degree than pain medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen. (Even simple exercises performed at home proved more effective than drugs.)

Ready to tackle your neck pain head-on, rather than ignoring it or taking pain meds to temporarily mask the pain? Don’t wait any longer. Make an appointment today with your doctor of chiropractic and begin the road to recovery.

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