As we get older, years and decades of mechanical stress may lead to deterioration of joints, ligaments, and tendons. This degenerative process, commonly known as arthritis, primarily affects weight-bearing joints such as the hips and knees and those found in the lumbar spine. The shoulder, too, is especially prone to undergo arthritic changes owing to its extreme mobility. The extensive range of motion at the shoulder is built-in to the design of this structure, but the tradeoff is instability. The design of the shoulder sacrifices stability for mobility. full story>>
It’s that time of year her in SW Florida that the heat and humidity switch get turned on until about October. Soon you’ll be hearing the weather men talking about the “heat index”. The Heat Index is a combination of actual temperature + relative humidity. Tells how hot it really feels. If you’re not careful the Florida heat can get you in trouble quickly. Here’s a few of the dangers: read coffee with the Doc>> The fastest growing number one health problem in the world is obesity. Obesity is contributing to an increased risk of other diseases and putting a strain on national health budgets. Please find below some concerning facts and figures related to obesity. · About 17% of medical costs in the US are due to obesity and its related diseases, totaling an estimated $168 billion per year. · Obesity adds about $2,800 to a person’s medical bills annually. · An estimated 300,000 premature deaths in the US each year are caused by obesity. · One third of US adults are obese, indicating a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. · If an 18-year-old remains obese throughout their adulthood, it will cost them $550,000. · 80% of cases of Type 2 diabetes are related to obesity. The rate of diabetes has doubled in eight states since 1995. · 70% of heart disease is obesity-related. · Low-income women are more likely to become obese than high-income women. Over 33% of people earning less than $15,000 annually are obese, as opposed to a 24.6% rate of obesity in those earning $50,000 or more. · The highest rates of obesity are found among non-Hispanic African Americans (44.1%), followed by Mexican-Americans (39.3%), Hispanics (37.9%) and non-Hispanic whites (32.6%). Asians have the lowest rate of obesity at 16.7%. · In the last 30 years childhood obesity has tripled, from 6.5% in children aged 6 to 11 years to 19.6% today. The obesity rate in teenagers aged 12 to 19 years has increased from 5% to 18.1%. · Of children who are overweight at age 10-15, 80% will be obese as adults. · As a percentage of the population, the US has the highest number of obese people (33.9%), followed by Mexico (24%), the UK (23%), Slovakia (22.4) and Greece (22%). · College graduates have an obesity rate of 20.8%, which is lower than the 29.5% rate of those who have only graduated high school. · Obesity begins to decline after age 60. The population of those over age 69 has an obesity rate of 20.5%. · The rate of obesity is increasing in the US. In 2007 only one state had an overall obesity rate of over 30%. In 2011, 12 states had a greater than 30% obesity rate. · 40% of obese Americans aged 50 to 84 have osteoarthritis of the knee, caused by the wear and tear to the joints from excess weight stress. One extra pound of weight is equivalent to four pounds of stress on the knee. Good health is a combination of many factors including your nutrition, preventative care, appropriate corrective care and the small choices you make every day in the course of living. Go to www.DrGlenSchaffer.com and review my report “The Vibrant Lifestyle”. By Dr. Glen Schaffer Living here in our SW Florida paradise, you’d think stress wouldn’t be a problem. But as we all suffer from varying degrees of stress. Stress that is short term can be beneficial in that it serves to focus our attention on important matters. However, when stress becomes ongoing and chronic, it can cause immense problems for the sufferer and may lead to depression. It can adversely affect our performance at work and elsewhere, and it can lead to a host of physical ailments, including cancer and heart disease, as it degrades our immune system and stresses our bodily functions. It can also provoke other psychological side-effects such as substance abuse. Stress can come from variety of sources or incidents, both personal and professional. In most cases, though, it is the result of the difference between what we would like to happen in our lives, and what is really happening, or what we believe is happening. Stress causes the body to undergo certain reactions: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. It is not just “in the mind”; it causes genuine physical reactions, including the release of specific hormone. It also triggers the release of glucocorticoid cortisol, or hydrocortisone, which has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant effects. Excessive levels effect our immune system increase the chance of infection. Chronic symptoms lead to anxiety, hopelessness and then depression, as well as, musculoskeletal complaints and even sleep difficulties. Stress is a highly personal experience, dependent on our coping mechanisms and predisposition to emotional fatigue. Some people, for example, are able to release stress by venting their aggression verbally or physically, but this is only a temporary fix. Gender also has an effect on stress levels in terms of the types of trigger that affect the person. Women tend to be affected more by interpersonal problems, and illness in others, whereas men are more prone to work-related stress. Research has demonstrated that it is often our perception of the demands placed on us that affects us more than the reality of the situation. In other words, our attitude is key. If we can control our reactions, we can reduce our stress levels and the physical effects of stress. For example, stressed individuals who react angrily at work have markedly higher levels of morning cortisol and are prone to higher blood pressure. With stress being so potentially damaging to our mental and physical health, our goal must be to find ways to ease the stress however we can, and if we cannot remove the triggers, we have to change our reaction to those triggers. Visit my website www.DrGlenSchaffer.com and view videos under heading “Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Well-being” for more help in dealing with stress Car accidents and whiplash injuries are a common occurrence here in SW Florida. Did you know there are many other ways in which the whiplash injury can occur with a blow to the cervical spine (neck)? When it does, studies confirm that are specific treatment needs to provide significant help and long-term healing results. A whiplash injury occurs when there is an abrupt backward or forward jerking motion of the head which causes an injury to the neck and the back. These cervical spinal injuries most frequently result when a person who is involved in an automobile accident is struck in such a way as to cause the jerking motion of the head and neck to occur. However, this action can also occur when a person is participating in a sporting event. It’s been known to occur when riding on amusement park rides and sometimes as the result of a fall. “Nearly 1 out of 15 adult Americans suffers from the annoying and sometimes debilitating long-term effects of whiplash injury, usually in the form of neck stiffness and pain,” said Arthur C. Croft, DC, and director of the Spine Research Institute in San Diego, Calif. Fortunately, the results of several studies regarding relief for whiplash show that appropriate treatment offers a very high level of help. Here are the conclusions of 4 separate studies sited by Dr. Croft. · In a study published in Injury, 93 percent of 28 patients showed significant improvements following manipulative therapy. The help protocol utilized included spinal manipulation, stretching and ice therapy. · Study results published in the Journal of Orthopedic Medicine showed similar findings. “Whiplash injuries are common. Chiropractic is the only proven effective treatment in chronic cases,” researchers said in their study conclusions. · Finally, two separate studies published in the Journal of Manipulative Physiology and Therapy confirm benefits of manipulative treatments. “For chronic spinal pain in general, when compared to traditional medical approaches, Chiropractic has generally been shown to be more effective.” Practicing safe driving and using properly adjusted headrest restraints and seatbelts can go a long way to preventing whiplash accidents. Wearing the proper head gear in sporting activities, particularly for those playing a violent sport like football, can also help to prevent injury. If you or someone you know has been involved in a motor vehicle accident, even if you’re feeling “Ok” or seem to be getting better, schedule an examination with a doctor familiar with treating accident injuries. New Florida legislation may cause you to lose medical benefits if you are not examined within 14 days following a car accident. Dr. Glen Schaffer San Carlos Chiropractor Traveling is very common for many living or visiting SW Florida. Traveling can be rough on the body. Whether you are traveling alone on business or with your family, long hours in a car or an airplane can leave you stressed, tired, stiff and sore. “Prolonged sitting can wreak havoc on your body,” says Dr. Scott Bautch, a member of the American Chiropractic Association’s (ACA) Council on Occupational Health. “Even if you travel in the most comfortable car or opt to fly first class, certain pressures and forces from awkward positions can result in restricted blood flow. One of the biggest insults to your system from prolonged sitting is the buildup of pressure in the blood vessels in your lower legs. Contracting and relaxing the muscles helps the blood flow properly.” Here’s a few of my Traveling tips to fight off the pains and strains before they occur: Warm Up, Cool Down Treat travel as an athletic event. Warm up before settling into a car or plane, and cool down once you reach your destination. Take a brisk walk to stretch your hamstring and calf muscles after sitting and before attempting to lift luggage. In the Car Adjust the seat backrest frequently so you are not in the same positions for hours at a time. Use a lumbar support and change the amount of support often. This may reduce the risk of low-back strain, pain or injury. To minimize arm and hand tension while driving, hold the steering wheel at approximately 3 o’clock and 7 o’clock, periodically switching to 10 o’clock and 5 o’clock. Take rest breaks. Never underestimate the potential consequences of fatigue to yourself, your passengers and other drivers. If you’re on a plane, get up and walk around to help circulation. Exercise your legs while driving to reduce the risk of any swelling, fatigue or discomfort. Open your toes as wide as you can, and count to 10. Count to five while you tighten your calf muscles, then your thigh muscles, then your gluteal muscles. Roll your shoulders forward and back, making sure to keep your hands on the steering wheel and your eyes on the road. Do not grip the steering wheel. Instead, tighten and loosen your grip to improve hand circulation and decrease muscle fatigue in the arms, wrists and hands If you follow these simple tips, you can enjoy pain-free, safe travel. Dr. Glen Schaffer - San Carlos Chiropractic Care People often talk about the importance of growing old gracefully, but that’s made a lot harder if you’re not also growing old healthily. In fact, if you are healthy, you could grow old disgracefully, and it would be a lot more fun. But seriously, we have an aging population and it seems many a moving right here to SW Florida. Today, there are far more older people and they are living longer every year. Over 4 million U.S. residents are now in the group termed the “oldest old”; that’s to say 85 or older. More than 40,000 have reached 100 years old, and centenarians are the fastest-growing group within the elderly. By 2050, it is estimated there will be 1 million centenarians in the U.S., and many will have formed themselves into motorcycle gangs. As more is discovered about growing old, it has become more apparent that our genes only play a small part in our longevity. Research shows that it is entirely possible to avoid the “inevitable” side-effect of getting old: chronic illness. Rather, it is our lifestyle choices that have a huge impact on how long we live and how those years are played out in terms of illness or vitality. Assuming you want to go shopping for a Harley on your 100thbirthday, what do the experts recommend you do to become a centenarian? Positive Thinking -Centenarians have a tendency to exhibit great optimism, and it is this positive attitude that researchers believe has a significant role to play in our ability to live more healthily and with a greater quality of life A Lively Mind - According to research, the more educated you are, the longer you’ll live. Similar to positive thinking, maintaining a healthy interest in furthering your knowledge and education brings great benefits to the mind, keeping it firing on all cylinders for longer Reduced Stress- We all know how physically debilitating mental stress can be. It can make you thoroughly ill. Your aim should be to keep stress levels to a minimum. Keep in Touch - Don’t become a hermit. Having a good social support network is an important part of staying mentally in shape and physically active Do Some Exercise - Whatever you do to exercise – walking, swimming, jogging, dancing, gardening – it all serves to make your body stronger. Eat Healthy – Fresh, unprocessed, natural or organic food is best. Get a Good Health Care Provider – Prevention, advocates healthy living, offers a variety of treatment options See your Chiropractor – Chiropractic is proven to help keep your musculoskeletal system working at its best! Once upon a time, we looked on osteoporosis as a disease of the elderly, which was easy to spot in older women who walked hunched over or who couldn’t stand straight. In reality, around 20 million women in the U.S. are believed to have osteoporosis, and 80% of them won’t even know it. Osteoporosis is a chronic, progressive disease that effectively reduces the amount of bone you have in your body, making you susceptible to fractures, especially of the hip, spine and wrist. Any fracture is disabling, but in older people they can prove fatal. It may surprise you to know that 50% of women and one in eight men will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture at some point in their life. Osteoporosis is not the same as arthritis, in that there is no pain from osteoporosis until a fracture happens. The absence of swollen and painful joints does not indicate an absence of osteoporosis, because these symptoms relate to arthritis. It is therefore sensible to check out with your doctor how healthy your bones really are, so that you can take steps to mitigate the onset or deterioration of this brittle bone disease. Tips to Help You Maintain Good Bone Density · Take regular exercise, such as walking, rope-jumping, jogging, racquet sports, swimming or aerobics. Do this for a minimum of 20 minutes three times a week. · Weight-lifting is known to trigger an increase in bone density, so this is an excellent way to guard against osteoporosis. However, medical advice on weight-lifting should be sought if you already have the condition to avoid putting excess strain on already-brittle bones. · Tai Chi, which is a slow and gentle form of martial arts, is a useful strength training exercise if you have severe osteoporosis or have already suffered fractures. · Care should be taken when bending or lifting objects if you already suffer from osteoporosis. Make sure to bend at the knees, not at the waist, and keep the object close in to your body. Also try to avoid sitting or standing in a hunched position. · Ensure a sufficient intake of calcium. Recommended daily amounts are 1,000 mg/day for post-menopausal women taking estrogen, and 1,500 mg/day for pos tmenopausal women not taking estrogen and generally for men and women over 65 years old. · The best types of calcium supplements are the most absorbable, such as microcrystalline hydroxyapatite concentrate (MCHC), or one of the malates, fumarates, succinates, glutarates, or citrates. Keep to the recommended doses, though, because too much can lead to kidney stones. · Additional nutritional supplements, such as vitamin D, C, magnesium, zinc and silica may be of use, but talk to your doctor or chiropractor first. · Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Include green leafy vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds. Raw sesame seeds contain more calcium than any other food on earth. Limit your intake of animal protein, baked goods and junk food. · Drink 8 eight-ounce glasses of water a day. That’s water, not teas, juices or coffee. Avoid caffeine, sodas and alcohol. Estero, Florida offers numerous and bike trails that many of you take advantage of. Although the wind on your face is exhilarating, a burning sensation in the shoulders, numbness of the arms and hands, and tightness in the neck could be deterring some of that cycling enjoyment. These are common sensations among both recreational and competitive cyclists. At first they may be easy to ignore, but if they come back again and again they can seriously interfere with both your entertainment and training progress. Is there help with these problems?
Both specific and general skills are critical to successful treatment of cyclists because everything in cycling is interconnected: the nerves, the muscles, and the joints. In fact, if all three of these issues are not address at once, you are likely to continue to have the symptoms, pain, or injury without relief. In particular, a physician or chiropractor that specializes in sports medicine will probably have the most to offer you as a cyclist. They may also work with other professionals such as sports trainers or physical therapists as needed to address your particular needs. Solutions to problems cyclists experience will likely be multi-dimensional. That is, a combination of skeletal alignment, deep tissue massage, exercises, and stretches will likely be required. For example, if a cyclist is suffering from lower back pain, it may be due to hip rotation. An adjustment of the sacroiliac joints will be quite helpful, but appropriate stretching and strengthening exercises will also be needed to address the weakness and tightness in the muscles that affect the hip joints. Strengthening exercises will contribute stability to the joint, while stretching will help to lengthen the muscles in the region thus preventing them from contracting when stressed. In fact, it is absolutely essential that patients do their part to contribute to their recovery from cycling injuries or pain. If you do not complete the required stretching and strengthening exercises at home, you may not see the relief you expect. Finally, a physician or chiropractor who specializes in sports medicine will likely be able to help you professionally fit your bicycle so that it causes the least strain on your body. Seat placement, bicycle size, handlebar height, and cycling posture all have a significant impact on both performance and stress on the body. Get out there and enjoy biking Estero!! Glen Schaffer, D.C. |
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