Low back pain is the most common mechanical type of pain in all of North America. Low back pain symptoms usually cause stiffness, aches, and generalized fatigue, but there are many different reasons why you can get these symptoms.
Cardio... You Are Doing It Wrong!
You get to the gym, hop on a treadmill, turn on your headphones, turn off your brain, and just go.
It’s just that easy right?
(insert buzzer sound here)
You know exercise is good for you and that you should train with cardio to improve the health of your heart. But when done incorrectly it can be detrimental.
Sprout Into Better Health!
If I told you that you could grow your own superfood right in your kitchen and it took very little effort, would you do it?
The good news is you can.
Sprouting is easy, it’s low cost and can be completely organic. Not to mention it would be a great mini science experiment for your kids to be involved with.
When you sprout your are accessing nutrients that are otherwise hard to get.
Is Chiropractic for Everyone?
The quick answer is no. It’s not.
But can most people benefit from seeing a chiropractor? Absolutely.
First off you have to understand what chiropractic is and what you as the patient want out of it.
The confusing part for the public is one chiropractor may practice completely different than the chiropractor down the road.
Is Your Problem Mobility or Flexibility?
Have you ever watched a baby roll around and grab their feet and put their toes in their mouth.
Their flexibility is incredible. I would love to have flexibility like that, and no, not to put my toes in my mouth :)
Flexibility VS Mobility.
Flexibility is the passive range of motion through a joint. For example if you were to bend your wrist back with the opposite hand, forcing it as far as it can go.
Orthotics - Are they necessary?
Orthotics are a custom made insert to help moderate the structure and function of your foot. Whether they are necessary or not is something we will get into in a minute.
First off, all orthotics are not created equal. They come in many different shapes and sizes, and can be made from different materials. In some cases such as for diabetic patients, orthotics should be made with soft cushioning, and in other situations they may be as hard as a rock.
Low Back Pain in Dogs?
Determining where the root problem in a dog can be difficult. They can’t explain to you what they are feeling and they don’t have fingers to point where it specifically hurts.
When I see injured dogs as an animal chiropractor, I am usually presented with a dog that has very common symptoms like limping or change in activity levels, but it usually comes with no diagnosis of what is happening… and I totally get why.
Symptoms - the tip of the iceberg
What is the difference between adjusting a dog and a human?
First off the principle of chiropractic care is the same for both. A human and a dog both have a spine and nervous system. The function of their spine directly affects the function of their nervous system. The nervous system is in control of muscles, organs and sensory function. In everyday life problems with this can show up in performance, mobility, or daily routine.
Hip Pain in Dogs - Can an Animal Chiropractor Help?
The 60 Pound Head
Are You Shifted?
Smoothie Boosters
Chiropractic and Your Immune System
Tabata Leg Burner
DIY Bone Broth
What Type of ________ Supplement Do You Take?
3 Natural Immune Boosting Supplements
When To Use Ice and When To Use Heat For Pain and Stiffness
Should You Sit On An Exercise Ball?
The trend of swapping your office chair for an exercise ball seems to be fading a bit. However, many patients still ask me if it is beneficial to sit on an exercise ball rather than a chair. The exercise ball is an unstable surface that in theory should lead to increased trunk movement which aids in the nutrition of your muscles and vertebral discs and increases the activity of your core musculature. There are other proposed benefits as well, but let’s find out if they outweigh the negative side effects.
A 2009 study published in the journal Applied Ergonomics, researchers compared an adjustable office chair with armrests to an exercise ball while the participants did a one hour typing task. The chair and the ball were fit to the subject’s body size so when sitting their knee angle was 90 degrees. As hypothesized by the authors they found 33% more global trunk motion when sitting on the exercise ball (not found to be significant). They also found the average rate of change of lumbar EMG and amplitude of lumbar spine muscles to be 66% and 38% higher when on the ball. Although increased spinal movement and muscle activation are good for spine health, they also increase forces on the spine, which can have detrimental effects on the intervertebral discs. To test this, the authors looked at the compressive forces on the spine and found that spinal shrinkage was significantly greater when sitting on an exercise ball than the office chair. Another implication of increased muscle activity is that it can lead to muscle fatigue which can increase your susceptibility of low back injury.
Another study by McGill published in 2006 in Applied Biomechanics, looked at pressure distribution. Comparing an exercise ball, an office chair, and a stool they found that the surface contact area was significantly greater with the exercise ball. The increased contact area actually increases the level of discomfort when sitting on the ball. This is because the soft tissue is now absorbing the pressure of sitting, when it should be on the boney part of your butt!
In conclusion, although there seem to be benefits of sitting on an exercise ball, the benefits are outweighed by the significant negative effects to your spine. For this reason use a traditional office chair at work or utilize an exercise ball for short periods at a time to limit the shrinkage of your spine!
Stay healthy my friends,
Dr. Adam