Help Your Young Baseball Player to Avoid Injury
Posted on 13. May, 2010 by Oxnard Chiropractor in chiropractic
Okay, as a chiropractor I continue to advise my patients, young and old alike, that routine exercise is a vital component to good health. And, since one in three children in the US is either overweight or obese, it’s apparent that getting enough exercise is becoming a national crisis. That said, exercise, especially when it involves sports activities, should be engaged in with the utmost caution. And, not just for the middle-aged “weekend warrior,” but for children as well. In fact, here’s a shocking statistic regarding kids and the “great American pastime”: According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2008, nearly 200,000 children aged 14 and younger, were treated in hospitals, doctor’s offices and emergency rooms for baseball-related injuries.
- Always take time to warm up and stretch before and after play. Research studies have shown that cold muscles are more prone to injury, specifically:
- If a child is pitching, he should concentrate on stretching his arm, shoulder and back muscles.
- If a child is catching, the focus should be on the legs and back.
- Children should not be encouraged to play through pain. It is important that they take breaks.
- Limit the number of teams on which your child is playing in one season. Kids who play on more than one team are especially at risk for overuse injuries.
- Wear a batting helmet at the plate, in the “on deck” circle waiting for your turn at bat, and during base running.
- Coaches must teach and allow practice of proper sliding techniques before using a bag, including breakaway bases. Players younger than 10 should not be taught to slide.
Exercising Can Make You Both Healthy and Wise
Posted on 04. May, 2010 by Oxnard Chiropractor in chiropractic, health and fitness
“Motion is Life.” That is my mission statement as a chiropractor, and my goal is to get as many of my patients as possible moving into pain-free daily exercise routines. There’s just no getting around it, our bodies are meant to move, and when we don’t let them (or in some cases “make them”), every system in our body suffers. Exercising is crucial to our overall well-being, and not just for physical health and strength, but mental “power” as well. In fact, a new study, led by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, has found evidence that regular exercise speeds learning and improves blood flow to the brain.
I’m sure that if you already exercise you are aware that your thinking tends to become more clear and sharp after a good workout and cool down, even though you may have been unaware that by exercising you were actually increasing the volume of blood flowing to your motor cortex. The point is, exercise is clearly a “smart” thing to do. So, keep it up if already exercise, and if you don’t, GET MOVING. But, see your chiropractor first to be sure you’re well-adjusted! The findings are available in the journal Neuroscience.You Can’t Afford to Injure Your Joints
Posted on 25. Apr, 2010 by Oxnard Chiropractor in chiropractic
I just read an interesting article in the health section of newyorktimes.com about the “financial” benefits of protecting your joints. As a chiropractor, when it comes to the health of the joints of the musculoskeletal system, protecting the joints from injury and unnecessary wear and tear are key to preventing painful and often debilitating problems as our body ages. As I mentioned in past articles, degenerative arthritis can be appreciably decreased and even avoided with proper education, exercise, and treatment. However, I have found that, unfortunately, it’s hard for people to “get motivated” now to do something about potential problems. But, adding a financial incentive may just do the trick!
Did you know that more than 400,000 people a year have one or more hips or knees replaced? And, did you know that the cost for a new hip or knee is $30,000 to $40,000? Even if you have insurance, your out-of-pocket expenses can still be quite substantial, especially when you include the cost of days off from work. The article offered several “preventative measures” that might help your joints to stay healthy longer. And, with the exception of its suggestion that glucosamine and chondroitin “probably are of limited benefit,” I am in agreement with the article’s joint protection suggestions.- control your weight
- stay active in “low impact” exercise and sports
- try to avoid injury
- get fit
- be skeptical*
The article in its entirety is well worth the read (and implementation), even if your current motivation is a only financial one. Click on the link for more information.
* I have witnessed the highly beneficial results of glucosamine and chondroitin supplementation.
Move It or Lose It Baby Boomers!
Posted on 10. Apr, 2010 by Oxnard Chiropractor in chiropractic
“Move it or lose it” captures the chiropractic philosophy in a nutshell, especially when it comes to aging. As we age, our joints lose much of their “natural” mobility mostly due to wear and tear over the years and age-related moisture decline. Unless we, boomers, make a concerted effort to get regular exercise and stretch daily, and perhaps to get periodic chiropractic manipulation to maintain or increase joint mobility, boomers are cruising towards a future of mobility-related disabilities that will be costly both in healthcare needs and quality of life in general. Which direction are a large number of baby boomers cruising? According to new study, the number of middle-aged Americans with certain mobility-related disabilities, (including walking a quarter-mile and climbing 10 steps) is on the rise. That’s right! The study, based on a National health Interview Survey carried out each year from 1997 to 2007, which included up to 15,000 individuals annually, revealed that more than 40 percent (that’s too close to half!) of 50 to 64 year olds reported having problems with at least one of nine physical functions and many reported more than one difficulty.
There was also an increase in the number of people using special equipment, like a cane or wheelchair, to get around. Moreover, an increased number of people reported needing help with daily personal care activities, such as getting out of bed and moving around the home. “This a disappointing trend with potentially far-reaching and long-term negative consequences,” said Richard Suzman, director of the Division of Behavioral and Social Research at the National Institute on Aging, which funded the study. “If people have such difficulties in middle age, how can we expect that this age group — today’s baby boomers — will be able to take care of itself with advancing age? If it continues, this trend could have a significant effect on the need for long-term care in the future.”The researchers note that the study was based on people’s self-reports, which could affect the results.
For more on the study, which was published in the April issue of the journal Health Affairs, go to LiveScience.com.
“Will I Have to See My Oxnard Chiropractor ‘Forever’?”
Posted on 22. Mar, 2010 by admin in Oxnard Chiropractor
As a Chiropractor in Oxnard, I commonly hear this question asked by those considering chiropractic care is: “If I start going to a chiropractor, will I have to always go?” I often wonder why this particular question doesn’t come up for someone who goes to a general medical practitioner. Think about it: How strange would it be if someone asked, “If I go to Dr. Smith for a general checkup and he gives me a prescription for a temporary condition I might have, will I have to see him ‘forever’?” The answer is “Of course not.” You don’t have to see Dr. Smith again, but you probably will for your yearly or bi-annual checkup and, naturally, in between if you’re not feeling well.
The same is true when you go to see a chiropractor. Most of the time, individuals go to see a chiropractor because they’re in pain (not feeling well). After the chiropractor has treated them and gotten them out of pain (a ‘prescription,’ so to speak, for a temporary condition), the chiropractor will probably suggest maintenance care (a general checkup even when you’re feeling okay). The only difference is that a chiropractor will likely suggest that you come in monthly. Why? Because chiropractors are all about preventative care whenever possible. Maintenance care is like a “tune up” that not only helps your body to maintain the “crisis” treatment you received when you were in pain and keeps you healthier and stronger so that you can avoid future injuries, but during your maintenance visit your chiropractor can make sure that you don’t have a “temporary condition” that needs to be corrected before it becomes “crisis” treatment.
Cumulative effects of awkward sitting posture, bad work habits, incorrect lifting, lack of regular exercise, and other unhealthy lifestyle-related influences can produce pain, often excruciating pain, in your back, neck, shoulders, hips, knees, etc. Getting “checked out” and “readjusted” on a regular basis keeps small conditions from becoming big problems.
So, to the question “If I start doing to a chiropractor, will I need to go “forever”? The answer is “No, but you may want to, for your health’s sake!”
Your Chiropractor in Oxnard Can Help You to Stop Suffering From Hip Pain Now!
Posted on 10. Aug, 2009 by admin in hip pain
Dr. Donald Bolt, your Oxnard Chiropractor, wants to help you stop suffering from hip pain as soon as possible. He’s well aware that your hip pain most likely wakes you up in the night and makes it impossible for you to get a good night’s sleep. He also knows that when you get up in the morning, or when you get out of your car, you’re probably stiff and find it initially difficult to move your legs, and that when you do finally move, you experience pain in one or both hips whenever you twist or rotate them or when you cross your legs. How does Dr. Bolt know all this? He’s relieved the hip pain of hundreds of patients with these complaints. If all of the symptoms just mentioned sound familiar to you, it is likely that you have imbalances and alignment problems in your lower extremities that, in addition to generating hip pain, can in the course of time produce degenerative joint disease in your hips if not treated.
Even though hip pain and related problems commonly point to age-related degenerative conditions, especially osteoarthritis of the hip joint, osteoarthritis (OA) isn’t always the perpetrator. In fact, rather than being the original source of the problem, osteoarthritis of the hip joint can be the end result of injury to your hips at a previous time.
Gait changes caused by biomechanical injury such as an ankle sprain or knee strain, can produce hip pain. Also, if you change jobs, alter the way you sit, take on a new sport or activity, or start driving for long periods of a regular basis, your gait may alter to compensate for these new changes.
In addition, gait asymmetries can occur from leg length dissimilarities, foot pronation problems, even carrying a baby or small child on your hip. The point is, anything that produces an asymmetry or imbalance when you are in motion can cause painful hip problems.
As part of the chiropractic management of your hip problem, along with adjustments, Dr. Bolt may prescribe orthotics and will offer suitable progressive rehabilitative exercises that include muscle stretching and strengthening.
hip pain won’t go away on its own. Hip pain means that something needs remedying. Dr. Bolt, your Chiropractor in Oxnard, can help you to get out of pain, get back in balance, and get your life back now!
Your Oxnard Chiropractor Offers Important "Pillow Talk"
Posted on 06. Aug, 2009 by admin in neck pain
Dr. Donald Bolt, your Oxnard Chiropractor, is wondering if your pillow might be contributing to your neck pain. If your neck pain is making your days miserable, chiropractic treatment can brighten your days, and bring tranquility to your nights, by eliminating your neck pain at its source. Once you are out of pain, Dr. Bolt will likely provide exercises to help you to strengthen your neck, as well.
However, in addition to the neck pain relief you’ll receive by your Oxnard Chiropractor by day, there is something important you can do for your neck at night. Neck pain is commonly exacerbated by sleeping on an inappropriate pillow. That’s why it’s so important to use a good pillow, one that is designed to support your neck. Some pillows are just too hard, while others far too soft, and others are just plain too flat. If you sleep on a pillow that has inadequate neck support, you will probably wake up with neck pain, and possibly back pain and shoulder pain as well.
Cervical pillows are specially designed to take care of neck and shoulder problems and offer support to the natural lordosis (curve) of the neck. An orthopedic pillow supports the head, aligns the neck vertebrae in a neutral position, supports the head, and allows better shoulder rotation.
Even a good pillow, however, needs to be renewed periodically due to the breakdown in materials. Although some brands of pillows cost more, they frequently last longer. A good quality orthopedic pillow, whether it’s down feathered, a foam-type, or poly-filled, will offer you needed comfort and support.
A good, cervical pillow should form itself to support your neck and head in the healthiest position whether you sleep on your back or side. Support on both your side and back positions is extremely important, and you will want to consider your own personal sleeping habits when choosing a pillow. If you are in the habit of sleeping on your back, then you will need to select a pillow that has been especially designed to provide neck and upper back support. If you are a side sleeper, then you will want a bit higher pillow that will supply enough room for your shoulder position. When you are sleeping on a proper orthopedic, it should provide enough support to inhibit your head from going sideways, or rolling and tilting unnaturally.
The most effective way to find an orthopedic pillow that is appropriate for you is to consult with a health care professional, Dr. Bolt, your Chiropractor in Oxnard.
Your Oxnard Chiropractor Won't Let You Play With Shoulder Pain
Posted on 05. Aug, 2009 by admin in shoulder pain
Dr. Donald Bolt, your Oxnard Chiropractor, knows that your shoulders work hard for you. They are expected to execute a large number of movements during your day. Whether you’re working or playing, this variety of complex motion helps you to do what you need to do. But, you have been overburdening your shoulders if you are currently suffering from shoulder pain. In other words, you might be engaging in repetitive activities like lifting and other arm movements, especially those done overhead, like throwing a baseball, swinging a golf club or tennis racket, or just placing objects on high shelves. Nerve inflammation, joint stress, and wear and tear of the tissues surrounding the shoulder joints can happen as the result of these types of repetitive activities. Actually, if your shoulder is healthy, these repetitive movements shouldn’t produce pain. But, if you are suffering from pain in your shoulder, it is an indication that there’s a dysfunction that needs to be addressed.
Shoulder muscles can become tight, and even weak, if the nerves are inflamed, and movement is painful and limited. This commonly happens in the ligaments and a group of muscles (and their tendon attachments) referred to as the rotator cuff. These muscles and tendons attach your upper arm bone with your shoulder blade and also help to lock the ball of your upper arm stably in its shoulder socket. It is the arrangement of this elegant combination that affords the opportunity for the greatest range of motion of any joint in your body.
The severity of this shoulder impingement syndrome can extend from a slight “catching” pain with activity (particularly raising your arm overhead), to an almost total loss of ability to use the shoulder. Do not, under any circumstance either ignore your shoulder pain or keep doing an activity while in pain. It is essential for you to get help for your shoulder pain as quickly as you can because the problem will only go from bad to worse. Unhappily, if left untreated, some shoulder problems, such as Rotator Cuff Syndrome, often end up requiring surgery and extensive rehabilitation.
Your Chiropractor in Oxnard, Dr. Bolt, is an authority when it comes to muscular-skeletal conditions, and he’s very knowledgeable about what to do to relieve your suffering. And because chiropractic care focuses on the reason for your shoulder pain, it is treated at its source. Dr. Bolt will help to restore natural mobility to your shoulder joints, and he will talk to you about rehabilitation exercises that will not only support you in getting rid of your current shoulder problem, but will help to prevent shoulder problems in the future.
Your Chiropractor in Oxnard Offers A Surprising Solution to Your Allergy Symptoms
Posted on 04. Aug, 2009 by admin in allergies
Dr. Donald Bolt, your Chiropractor in Oxnard, knows that everyday life can be miserable if you suffer from allergies. A walk in the garden, a play date with Fluffy, a shellfish stew, or even something as small as a nut can generate such unwelcome symptoms as itchy eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, or a skin rash. To make the situation worse, for some of us allergic reactions can progress from just plain irritating to dangerous and life-threatening as our air passageway begins to close and we have a problem breathing. If you have allergies, it may seem to you, from time-to-time, that your environment is an antagonistic place and that the world around you is, truly, out to get you!
You may wonder why it is that other individuals seem so unaffected by the environment, while your body reacts, or rather overreacts, to it It’s a great question. The answer is that some people, like you, have a hyperactive immune system that actually “freaks out” when they are confronted with common substances such as pollen, dander, shellfish, or nuts.
Can a chiropractor really help with your allergy symptoms? You bet! And, you may be surprised how chiropractic treatment helps. Even though chiropractors don’t treat allergies, per se, quite a few people notice that they experience relief from their allergy symptoms after getting chiropractic adjustments. This relief occurs because chiropractic manipulation affects the complete nervous system, including the autoimmune system. Still wondering about those allergies? When there’s an impedance in the nervous system, in conjunction with other problems, the autoimmune system, whose task it is to assist you in adapting and responding appropriately to your environment, can become under-active or overactive. The problem is the latter when it comes to your allergies. Since chiropractic manipulations decrease or remove disturbances in the nervous system and bring the body back into balance and harmony, the adjustments bring that same balance and harmony to the autoimmune system as well. A strong immune system responds appropriately to commonly named allergens in the environment.
So, as explained above, Dr. Bolt, your Chiropractor in Oxnard, doesn’t directly treat allergies. You could say that relief from your allergies comes about as part of your well-adjusted and healthy nervous system. If you’d like to get back into harmony with your surroundings as soon as possible, make an appointment with Dr. Bolt today.
Oxnard Chiropractor Explains How Chiropractic Care Can Correct Your Balance Problems
Posted on 03. Aug, 2009 by admin in balance problems
Santa Barbara Chiropractor: 10 Most Frequent Questions
Your Oxnard Chiropractor offers the following explanation on how chiropractic care can correct your balance problems: Controlling and keeping body position while staying still or in motion is the essential function of good balance. Good balance helps a person to walk without wobbling, arise from a sitting position without tottering, and to climb stairs without slipping.
Nearly 9 percent of adults, age 65 and older, disclose having difficulties with balance. Good balance is vital in assisting an older person to stay independent, and implement daily chores and activities. A large majority older individuals, however, suffer from dizziness, “wooziness,” and problems with balance.
The experience by many that they, themselves, or the things around them are spinning is known as “vertigo.” About 40 percent of people nationwide will experience dizziness that is consequential enough to go seek out a health professional. And, among older adults, falls are the prevailing cause of extreme injury and deaths.
Balance and Inner Ear Conditions
Three types of balance disorders that are most familiar are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, labyrinthitis, and Meniere’s disease, although there are quite a few other kinds of balance disorders. Of these three, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is the most prevalent. Its symptoms include a brief, intense feeling of vertigo with a change in head position, when rolling over to the left or right in bed or when getting out of bed, or when looking up for an object on a high shelf. This affliction is more likely to occur in people 60 and older, but it can also happen in younger adults.
The causes for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo are multifarious. Inner ear infection, head injury, or simply aging can produce the problem. While it can be associated with other disease processes, often a simple Epleys procedure can eliminate the condition. Your Oxnard Chiropractor has many years of experience in this procedure.
Labyrinthitis is an infection or inflammation of the inner ear that creates dizziness and loss of balance. It affects people|individuals of any age and the cause is currently undiscovered.
Ménière’s disease is a balance disorder that creates vertigo, irregular hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing or roaring in the ears), and a “full feeling” in the ear.
Even though those over 65 years are more likely to encounter balance disorders, age is not the only reason these problems occur. Care for balance disorders varies based upon the cause. Sometimes, there’s a simple answer to balance challenges, such as simple exercises for vestibular rehab. A chiropractor is well-trained in analyzing and treating a number of balance disorders. Call a health care professional, such as your Oxnard Chiropractor, if you have experienced, or are currently experiencing, dizziness, vertigo, or other challenges with balance.
Although some balance disorders are caused by challenges in the inner ear, other disorders may be associated with another region of the body, like the brain or the heart. Head injury, stroke, certain medicines, circulation challenges, upper respiratory infections and other viral infections, stress, fatigue, smoking, alcohol use, high or low blood pressure, and heart disease are all factors that, along with aging and ear infection, may cause balance disorders.
Balance disorders created by high blood pressure can usually be managed by less sodium intake,sustaining a healthy weight, and exercise. To help in making the symptoms of dizziness less acute, frequently eating low-salt or salt-free foods, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol, will help.
Balance disorders are significant. It is the primary cause of falls and fall-related injuries in older people. It is essential to have a suspected balance disorder accessed and treated as soon as possible.
If you can answer “yes” to any of these questions, you should discuss the symptom(s) with your chiropractor:
• Do you have the feeling of being “unsteady?”
• Does the room seem to spin around you?
• Is there ever a time when you feel as if you are moving when you know you are standing still?
• Do you lose your balance and/or fall?
• Do you feel as if you are falling?
• Does your vision ever become “blurred?”
• Do you ever feel disoriented, or lose a sense of time, place or identify?
Don’t wait until it’s too late! Call your Chiropractor in Oxnard today.
