http://chiropracticpartners.unraveltheweb.com/ en drbaldy@chiropartners.com Copyright 2012 2012-02-21T01:43:58+00:00 http://www.chiropartners.com/resources/details/even_if_you_currently_have_little_or_no_pain_now...how_can_you_tell_if_you_/ http://www.chiropartners.com/resources/details/even_if_you_currently_have_little_or_no_pain_now...how_can_you_tell_if_you_/#When:01:43:58Z If you were in a room with 100 people, and were asked to predict how many of these people would likely develop back pain significant enough to cause them to miss work at some point in their life, what would be your answer? If you said “80” you would be pretty darn close! Now the next question is, without speaking to any of them, how can you pick out the people who are most likely to develop this back pain? While no one can necessarily predict who amongst the more than 80% of Americans will develop back pain, we do have some very reliable indicators that we use as specialists of the spine to assess a person for potential back pain problems. Let’s try this. Do you get your teeth checked at least once a year? Is this because you have a toothache, or your gums are bleeding? No, it’s because you have learned that you don’t want your teeth to fall out before you reach the ripe old age of 100, right? Do you get your oil changed in your car at least twice a year or do we wait till the engine warning light comes on? No, of course not. Why do we take it in before the warning light comes on? So that your car will run more efficiently, will perform better, and will last a lot longer. Now, how about your eyes? Do you get your eyes checked once a year? Or do we wait till things get blurry, and we begin to go blind. Of course not, we get them checked to avoid those things, and to keep our eyes healthy for anything we need to correct to make them work more efficiently. So why is it that so many Americans over look their spine? The truth of the matter is, most of us don’t know much about the spine and how important it really is. Your spine is what actually allows us to walk upright and erect. Our spines are essentially the foundation of our bodies. It also protects the whole nervous system, which controls everything in our body from our heart, to our lungs and breathing, to our muscles, and joints. Picture the foundation for a house. Can a house stand tall without a good frame and wall structure? If there are cracks in the foundation, the house begins to deteriorate quickly and fall apart. When our spinal bones become dysfunctional, much like a house, we start to “fall apart”, or deteriorate prematurely. As a result, we start to develop headaches, back pains, and tend to suffer injuries more easily. We also develop premature degeneration or arthritis. Sports injuries, auto accidents, genetics conditions such as scoliosis, and even giving birth to a child, can cause your spine to compensate for these injuries and develop back pain and spinal problems. Certain compensations our bodies start to develop over time are; rounded and uneven shoulders, unlevel hips, short leg syndrome, and Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD). These are just a few you can look for when evaluating yourself or a family member. Rounded shoulders are extremely common for computer users. Picture yourself sitting in front of a computer right now and 2 hrs later you are still sitting there. Your shoulders automatically want to roll inward and your head gets too far forward. This puts strain on your upper back, and causes back pain. This poor posture leads to headaches, neck and shoulder pain, and even numbness or tingling in the arms and hands. Uneven shoulders are also typically a sign of muscular imbalance or spinal dysfunction. Try this at home. Stand in front of a mirror; if one shoulder appears higher than the other, then most likely you have uneven shoulders and are experiencing a shoulder imbalance. This can lead to neck pain, arm pain, and even upper back pain and headaches. Unlevel hips can throw the entire bodies mechanics off. If one hip is higher than the other, you start walking differently to compensate. Oftentimes, one of your legs will feel shorter than the other, and this can lead to leg pain, hip pain, back and neck pain. When one of your hips is higher than the other, your body will start compensating, therefore causing everything else in your body to function improperly. One way of seeing if you have uneven hips, other than having your Chiropractor perform an exam on you, is to look for abnormal shoe wear. Typically you will have a lot of wear and tear on the outside edges of the heel. Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is not a really “disease” but more of a degeneration condition of your spine. As we age, so does our spine. We start to lose the fluid that’s in-between our discs and when this happens; our discs become less flexible, and begin to deteriorate. Sometimes we even don’t feel pain, but typical early symptoms are popping or grinding of the joints, back pain or stiffness, and decreased flexibility. However your Chiropractor can see DDD on an X-ray, by looking at the disc spaces. So don’t wait until it’s too late. If you are outside the Raleigh area, call your local Chiropractor today to get checked. Why Wait? We all know the risks of letting your car go past that 3,000 mile mark, or going 5 years without getting your teeth checked. Why wait until your body “fails to start” or “falls apart” before getting checked for spinal problems. If you begin to experience numbness, tingling, aches and pains in your spine or legs at any time, call your Chiropractor immediately. These are all warning signs, (your oil lights on!!) It’s your body’s way of telling you there is a potential problem. If you are in the Raleigh, NC area, we’d love to see what we can do to help you. Please visit our website at http://www.chiropartners.com/dr-greg-baldy for more information. Feel free to call or email us w any further questions. 2012-02-21T01:43:58+00:00 http://www.chiropartners.com/resources/details/chiropractic_and_neck_pain_conservative_care_of_cervical_pain_injury/ http://www.chiropartners.com/resources/details/chiropractic_and_neck_pain_conservative_care_of_cervical_pain_injury/#When:15:57:41Z Your neck, also called the cervical spine, begins at the base of the skull and contains seven small vertebrae. Incredibly, the cervical spine supports the full weight of your head, which is on average about 12 pounds. While the cervical spine can move your head in nearly every direction, this flexibility makes the neck very susceptible to pain and injury. The neck’s susceptibility to injury is due in part to biomechanics. Activities and events that affect cervical biomechanics include extended sitting, repetitive movement, accidents, falls and blows to the body or head, normal aging, and everyday wear and tear. Neck pain can be very bothersome, and it can have a variety of causes. For further information read more at http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=2430 2012-02-14T15:57:41+00:00 http://www.chiropartners.com/resources/details/chiropractic_and_back_pain/ http://www.chiropartners.com/resources/details/chiropractic_and_back_pain/#When:23:24:27Z A few interesting facts about back pain: •One-half of all working Americans admit to having back pain symptoms each year. •Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work. In fact, back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. •Most cases of back pain are mechanical or non-organic—meaning they are not caused by serious conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture or cancer. •Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on back pain—and that’s just for the more easily identified costs. •Experts estimate that as many as 80% of the population will experience a back problem at some time in our lives. For further information, continue reading at http://www.acatoday.org/level2_css.cfm?T1ID=13&T2ID=68 2012-02-06T23:24:27+00:00 http://www.chiropartners.com/resources/details/chiropractic_better_than_medication_for_neck_pain/ http://www.chiropartners.com/resources/details/chiropractic_better_than_medication_for_neck_pain/#When:23:53:32Z What do you usually do or who do you usually turn to when you have neck pain? Do you turn to medicine? Massage? Doctor? Do you sleep it off or try to exercise, hoping it will subside eventually? A study published in the Jan. 3, 2012 issue of the research journal Annals of Internal Medicine and widely reported by mainstream media suggests chiropractic spinal manipulation is more effective than over-the-counter and prescription medication for relieving acute and subacute neck pain. For further inforation on how Chiropractic can help with neck pain, read more at: http://www.toyourhealth.com/mpacms/tyh/article.php?id=1515 2012-01-31T23:53:32+00:00 http://www.chiropartners.com/resources/details/chiropractic_approach_to_ear_infections/ http://www.chiropartners.com/resources/details/chiropractic_approach_to_ear_infections/#When:00:56:56Z Ear problems can be excruciatingly painful, especially in children. With 10 million new cases every year, ear infections (otitis media) are the most common illness affecting babies and young children and the number one reason for visits to the pediatrician—accounting for more than 35 percent of all pediatric visits. Almost half of all children will have at least one middle ear infection before they're a year old, and two-thirds of them will have had at least one such infection by age 3. The symptoms can include ear pain, fever, and irritability. Otitis media can be either bacterial or viral in origin, and frequently results from another illness such as a cold. For many children, it can become a chronic problem, requiring treatment year after year, and putting the child at risk of permanent hearing damage and associated speech and developmental problems. To learn more on how chiropractic can help YOUR child, read more: http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=69 2012-01-24T00:56:56+00:00 http://www.chiropartners.com/resources/details/more_sleep_less_weight_for_kids/ http://www.chiropartners.com/resources/details/more_sleep_less_weight_for_kids/#When:12:56:08Z Recent studies have shown that the number of overweight children between the ages of 6 and 11 in the United States has doubled in the past 20 years. At the same time, research has shown that an increasing number of children and adolescents are suffering from sleep deprivation. Are the two events related? A study published in the International Journal of Obesity suggests so.To confirm the link between a lack of sleep and childhood obesity, researchers in Quebec collected information on 422 grade-school students between the ages of 5 and 10. The scientists measured each of the children's height, weight and waist size. Information on the children's sleep patterns and lifestyle was obtained through phone interviews with their parents. Based on body mass index measurements, 20 percent of the boys and 24 percent of the girls were considered overweight. Children who slept less than 10 hours a night were 3.5 times more likely to become overweight or obese than children who slept 12 or more hours. No other factor analyzed in the study had as much of an impact on obesity levels as the amount of time spent sleeping. There are plenty of reasons for getting good night's sleep. Quality sleep improves a person's mood, increases their performance at work or school, and reduces their risk of getting injured or being in an accident. Now it appears that a good night's sleep can help people of all ages control their weight, too. If you are concerned about your child's sleep and weight, talk to your chiropractor. 2012-01-21T12:56:08+00:00 http://www.chiropartners.com/resources/details/active_mind_healthy_body/ http://www.chiropartners.com/resources/details/active_mind_healthy_body/#When:01:10:10Z What is the best to keep a sound mind as we age? The answer is to engage in numerous leisure activities such as reading, playing board games, playing musical instruments, and dancing. All of these activities were associated with a reduced risk of dementia in numerous recent studies. And while physical activity is important, mental activity is apparently more important. Leisure activities associated with a reduced risk of dementia in many recent studies were apparently more important in that "a one-point increment in the cognitive-activity score was significantly associated with a reduced risk of dementia, but a one-point increment in the physical-activity score was not," according to researchers. The reduction in risk was related to the frequency of participation in cognitive activities. In another study, the risk of dementia was 47% lower in subjects who did crossword puzzles four days per week than in those who did them once weekly. Involvement in cognitive leisure can help you keep an active mind and a healthy body as you age. Ask your chiropractor about safe leisure activities you can engage in to improve your health. 2012-01-10T01:10:10+00:00 http://www.chiropartners.com/resources/details/preventing_neck_pain/ http://www.chiropartners.com/resources/details/preventing_neck_pain/#When:15:43:48Z When it comes to neck pain, many people seek relief and ways to make sure they do not have to endure it ever again. This is where prevention comes in. Often times, it is age-related wear and tear that is responsible for many aches and pains in the neck area, but there are also other everyday things that can contribute to ongoing pain and discomfort. Let's take a look at some of those along with ways on how to prevent neck pain from occurring on a daily basis http://www.toyourhealth.com/mpacms/tyh/article.php?id=1506 2012-01-05T15:43:48+00:00 http://www.chiropartners.com/resources/details/stand_up_straight/ http://www.chiropartners.com/resources/details/stand_up_straight/#When:21:47:09Z Injuries related to poor posture tend to be overuse injuries, which build up over a period of time. Slouched sitting for extended periods of time at a desk or in front of the TV can cause the shoulder joints to sit in a forwards position. This causes a muscle imbalance where the chest muscles are tight and the upper back muscles are weak. If you suffer with low back pain that developed slow and gradual with no history of trauma or overuse, the problem may be due to poor posture. Slumped sitting usually causes the arch of the back to flex or round and this places extra strain on the muscles and ligaments, which support the lower back. This results in muscle spasms and sometimes muscle strains. For further information on how to improve your posture, read more at: http://www.toyourhealth.com/mpacms/tyh/article.php?id=1497 2011-12-26T21:47:09+00:00 http://www.chiropartners.com/resources/details/communicate_with_your_chiropractor/ http://www.chiropartners.com/resources/details/communicate_with_your_chiropractor/#When:21:17:44Z 2011-12-21T21:17:44+00:00