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1. |
Low back
pain:
The majority of back pain patients have not
experienced any trauma, accidents or major
injuries prior to the onset of their
problem. The cause of most back pain is the
cumulative affect of improper sitting
posture, poor work habits, incorrect
lifting, lack of proper exercise and other
lifestyle-related factors. All of these
factors cause stress and imbalances on the
spine and eventually pain. This is why
people often injure their back by just
bending over to pick up a piece of paper.
The spine was already compromised and just
the simple act of bending was enough to set
off the problem. When this occurs, the
surrounding back muscles go into spasm to
protect the stressed or injured tissues of
the back. In the US, low back pain is one of
the most common conditions and one of the
leading causes of physician visits. In fact,
at least four out of five adults will
experience low back pain at some point in
their lives. Thirty-one million Americans
have low back pain at any given time. One
half of all working Americans admit to
having back symptoms each year. One third of
all Americans over age 18 had a back problem
in the past five years severe enough for
them to seek professional help. And the cost
of this care is estimated to be a staggering
$50 Billion yearly--and that's just for the
more easily identified costs!
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Symptoms: |
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TENDERNESS, PAIN, AND STIFFNESS
IN THE LOWER BACK
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PAIN THAT RADIATES INTO THE
BUTTOCKS OR LEGS
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DIFFICULTY STANDING ERECT OR
STANDING IN ONE POSITION FOR A LONG TIME
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WEAKNESS AND LEG FATIGUE WHILE
WALKING
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DISCOMFORT WHILE SITTING
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Chiropractic care works on
correcting misaligned or out of place vertebrae and
can remove the pressure placed on the nerve endings
that line the surface of the joint and course
through the space between the joints, reducing pain
and improving flexibility and function. |
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2. |
Neck
pain and headaches:
If you suffer from neck pain or
headaches, our doctors have a safe
and effective treatment program for
you. These conditions are often due
to placing our spine into
repetitively stressful positions,
such as working on the computer or
driving in the car for long hours.
Our muscles become short and tight,
causing us to develop forward head
posture and a loss of our normal
spinal curve, which places a great
deal of stress on the spinal joints
in the neck and middle back. Your
spinal joints can become painfully
restricted and your muscles can
become hyperirritated. In some
circumstances the nerves that exit
the spinal cord in these regions can
become irritated, causing headaches
or radiating pain. Complicating
factors in this condition can be
degenerative disc disease, arthritis
or scoliosis. |
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3. |
Auto
crashes/whiplash:
An auto crash can cause a number of injuries, many
of which do not show their symptoms until days or
weeks later. Collisions can cause “whipping” of the
head, injuring the muscles, joints, discs and
ligaments of the spine. Neck pain, mid-back pain,
headaches, dizziness and a lack of concentration can
all be side effects of an auto crash. If you have
been in a crash you should not delay in seeking
treatment, even if you are “too sore.” Inflammation
will get progressively worse and begin to limit your
range of motion. The sooner you begin treatment, the
better your prognosis. Our doctors will take x-rays
and perform the necessary diagnostic testing to
safely begin your treatment. Even if it has been
months since your accident, it is never too late to
begin treatment! |
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4. |
Pregnancy-related
pain:
Nearly half of all expectant mothers will develop
lower back pain some time during their pregnancy.
With an average weight gain of 25 to 30lbs, you will
find your center of gravity shifting and causing
additional stress on your lower back. Many women
have found relief to their lower back pain and have
had easier deliveries by receiving chiropractic care
throughout their pregnancy. Scientific studies have
found that spinal manipulation carries no increased
risk to the mother or baby. Chiropractic care is
also helpful after delivery as your body starts to
tighten up those loose ligaments that developed
during your pregnancy. It is important to make sure
your joints are aligned before your muscles return
back to their pre-pregnancy state. Don’t forget to
have your newborn baby checked while you’re at it. |
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5. |
Pediatrics:
Many children suffer from the same ailments as their
parents but are incorrectly diagnosed as “growing
pains.” Many conditions, such as scoliosis or
spondylolisthesis, can be treated through
chiropractic care and rehabilitation. Heavy
backpacks, extended sitting and sports injuries can
lead to childhood conditions that can become grown
up problems. |
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6. |
Repetitive
Sprain/Strain Injuries (RSI)
Repetitive strain injury (RSI), also called
cumulative trauma disorder (CTD), occupational
overuse syndrome, or work related upper limb
disorder (WRULD), is any of a loose group of
conditions resulting from overuse of any tool,
device, or other activity that requires repeated
movements. It is a syndrome that affects muscles,
tendons and nerves in the hands, arms, legs, feet
and upper back. The medically accepted condition in
which it occurs is when muscles in these areas are
kept tense for very long periods of time, due to
poor posture and/or repetitive motions.
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How do overuse conditions
occur? |
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Over-used muscles (and other
soft tissues) change in three important ways: |
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acute conditions (pulls, tears,
collisions, etc),
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accumulation of small tears
(micro-trauma)
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not getting enough oxygen
(hypoxia).
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Each of these factors can
cause your body to produce tough, dense scar tissue
in the affected area. This scar tissue binds up and
ties down tissues that need to move freely. As scar
tissue builds up, muscles become shorter and weaker,
tension on tendons causes tendonitis, and nerves can
become trapped. This can cause reduced range of
motion, loss of strength, and pain. If a nerve is
trapped you may also feel tingling, numbness, and
weakness. |
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Warning Signs
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RSI conditions have many
varied symptoms. The following may indicate the
onset of an RSI: |
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Recurring pain (myalgia) or
soreness in neck, shoulders, upper back, wrists,
hands, hips, knees, calves or feet.
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Tingling, numbness, coldness or
loss of sensation.
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Loss of grip strength, lack of
endurance, weakness.
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Muscles in the arms and shoulders
feel hard and wiry when palpated.
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The most well known
repetitive strain injury is Carpal tunnel syndrome,
other specific conditions include:
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Epicondylitis (Golfer's
elbow or Tennis elbow)
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Tendonitis /
Tenosynovitis
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DeQuervain's syndrome
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Iliotibial Band (ITB)
Syndrome
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Piriformis Syndrome
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Calf / Achilles Strain /
Tendonitis
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Plantar Fasciitis
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Trigger finger/thumb
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Cubital tunnel syndrome,
a form of Ulnar nerve entrapment
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Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
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7. |
Sports’ Injuries
Whether you are a weekend athlete or a professional,
injuries can happen to anyone who enjoys exercising.
While they can be minimized, they cannot be totally
avoided. If a person participates enough in any
physical activity, eventually that person will get
hurt to some degree. The way in which one treats his
injuries determines how fast one recovers and how
quickly one can get back to the activity he enjoys.
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More than once, you may have
asked yourself, “why do I get injured? You stretch
out, and feel like you are in pretty good shape. So,
why? Usually there is a very simple formula. In most
cases, we play too hard, too long, or too fast. In
the case of household duties such as spring
cleaning, do any of us warm up before carrying those
boxes or working in the garden? This may not seem
like a sports injury, but in fact, overuse syndromes
or playing full speed before we are really warmed up
are the major causes of sports injuries. Simple
household chores, while done cold, can mimic a
sports injury to some extent. |
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Finn Chiropractic Group (FCG)
offers a balanced approach to the treatment and the
healing of sports injuries. By using the
chiropractic adjustment to return spinal segments to
their normal mobility and by using physical therapy
to help the supportive tissues (muscles, tendons, &
ligaments), chiropractic physicians help the injured
areas return to normal function. Combined with some
rest to help the healing process, athletes will find
their way back on the court. FCG also offers better
strategies for exercise and stretching with the
athlete to help him/her stay on the straight and
narrow path to better enjoyment of activities.
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If you can remember that the
whole premise of chiropractic health care is to
restore spinal health so that the body has the best
opportunity to maximize proper function, it is not
hard to understand why many professional athletic
and sports organizations recognize the value of
chiropractic care in correcting and preventing
injuries. Articles continue to appear in major
newspapers and magazines citing such stars as Arnold
Schwarzzeneger, former boxing champ Evander
Holyfield, and football stars such as Emmit Smith
and Joe Montana proclaiming the benefits that
chiropractic has meant for their careers. Here are
some other supporters of chiropractic care: |
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The Players Association of the
National Football League has made chiropractic
care an integral part of its sports medicine
program.
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The United States Olympic
Committee and several other nations selected
chiropractors as attending physicians at the
Olympic Games.
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Chiropractors have also been
retained at many other sporting events including
the Pan Am Games, Goodwill Games, National
Sports Festivals, New York and Boston Marathon.
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