ArthroStim - Kinder Gentler Chiropractic Care

by Dr. Dave Edenfield

Even though chiropractic care has been around for more than a century, it still has a reputation for "popping" or "cracking" the back.  While strictly manual adjustments may have been standard operating procedure in the old days, most of today's chiropractic practitioners utilize state-of-the-art technologies that literally take the stress out of performing spinal adjustments.

One of the technologies that we use at Lakewood Chiropractic is a device known as the ArthroStim. (See the video below.) This handheld instrument is used to deliver a gentle force, in the form of multiple light percussion or tapping, to the patient at the appropriate angle and pressure to subtly and painlessly correct joint motion.  In fact these taps are delivered so quickly that the patient doesn't have time to tense their muscles, which is another reason the ArthroStim works so well.  This therapy feels really good.

In addition to spinal issues, the ArthroStim is also great for treating problems with any joints in the body such as the hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, knee and ankle.  It's so gentle that it can even be used on infants and seniors.  (Arthritis sufferers love the ArthroStim.) This high precision, low impact device has been approved by the FDA as one of the safest methods for treating neck, back and  joint pain resulting from loss of motion.  Unlike pain pills and cortisone shots, there are absolutely no side effects from its repeated use.

While traditional chiropractic treatments are perfectly safe, many patients report that they prefer the ArthroStim to standard adjustment methods.  Traditional adjustments rely on high-energy thrusts and pulls to the neck and back.  These adjustments are not only designed to correct spinal misallignments, but they are also meant to stimulate neural receptors that produce nerve impulses which in turn relay crucial information to the brain.  This neural feedback helps the brain update and evaluate changes prompted by chiropractic adjustment.  This in turn allows the brain to transmit commands to the muscles and soft tissues in order to adjust their tension, all of which is necessary to set into motion the healing process.

By generating a series of controlled and highly targeted micro-thrusts, the ArthroStim is able to not only realign the spine, restore motion and stimulate specific neural receptors, but it also avoids activating the body's pain receptors while doing so.  In fact, this device is so tunable that it allows your chiropractor to progressively reduce the amount of force that is applied as your treatments progress. 

The best way to understand the ArthroStim is to think of it as a device that allows your chiropractor to divide the force needed to make the adjustments into a series of smaller forces that are delivered incrementally over a highly localized area. Some of the benefits associated with ArthroStim are:

• Low Impact
• High Precision
• Non-Invasive
• Zero Side Effects

If you or anyone you know is in pain or has an aversion to standard chiropractic practices, send them this blog and video so they can see that there are technologies that can take the stress out of treatment.

Dr. Dave Edenfield  and Dr. Steven Warfield are part of the team of doctors and therapists at http://chiropractor-jacksonville-fl.com and http://endyourpain.org who are dedicated to helping you and your family lead  healthier, happier and pain-free lives.

Are You Suffering from Bleacher's Back?

By Dr. Dave Edenfield

Being a football player means taking a fair share of punishment on the field.  But what most ardent football fans don’t realize is that being a die-hard football fan comes with a certain amount of physical duress for those who attend the games.  Football season has started and if you are a season ticket holder or even go to an occasional game at EverBank Field, then you spend hours sitting in stadium seats that are less comfortable than those on an airliner.  Even if you are not a Jaguar fan, but are a parent who regularly attends your children’s sporting events, then you too can come down with a case of Bleachers Back. 

The problem with sitting on the bleachers is that there is absolutely zero back support.  This forces you to sit

 in an awkward position for hours on end which causes undue strain on your spine.  Stadium seating while a little better is known to be lacking in lumbar back support.  Even worse, at many stadiums due to space constraints, fans are required to sit with their knees higher than their hips.  This translates into poor posture and inevitable post game pain. 

To avoid Bleachers Back, try to keep your pelvis, hips and shoulders as close to vertical as possible.  Allow your lower back to maintain its natural curve while keeping the abdominal muscles engaged for support.  Try keeping your knees straight ahead and when possible shift in place from time to time to reduce lower back pressure and promote blood flow.  When you do stand up to root for the team, make sure you turn your entire body as opposed to twisting your back.  All of these can help you avoid straining your back.

Like it or not, the two most common causes of back pain are sitting and/or bending.  In practice, this means the human spine has difficulty dealing with dealing with loads at certain angles.  This is why if you twist or bend your back the wrong way, or try to lift something heavy with your back you can easily cause injury.  Also remaining seated for prolonged periods, such as at work or in a sports arena without proper lumbar support can cause undue stress to the back that can inevitably result in pain.

Other than maintaining proper posture when seated at the game, the most important thing you can do to limit the stress of Bleachers Back is to decompress your spine after the game is done.  Other than avoiding further strain on the lower back once you get home, you can also try lying flat on the floor with your knees bent and with your feet up on the couch for ten minutes.  This takes the strain off the spine and allows the muscles and connective tissue to relax. 

If you find out come Monday morning that your trip to the big game has left your back feeling sore, there are several therapies that can prove helpful, including spinal adjustment, massage, ultrasound, Vax-D spinal decompression and even cold laser therapy.  All of these treatments are designed to restore the normal biomechanics of the spine in order to make the pain go away.  Pain killers on the other hand only serve to mask the pain, which can result in more harm than good. 

Bear in mind that the last thing you want to do is start off the week with a sore back, especially if you spend most of the day sitting in front of a desk.  This is only going to increase your discomfort or possibly even cause you to miss several days of work.  So just like the teams on the field, the best way to win the big game is to create a game plan that you can follow every Sunday throughout football season.  Now if we could only get the Jaguars to consider this policy.

Ways to protect your back on game day:

•       Consider investing in your own stadium seat (available at big box stores)

•       Wear shoes with good arch support

•       Stand up every chance you can

•       Keep your abdominal muscles strong and connected

•       Decompress your back post game

•       If you wake up sore on Monday, seek treatment immediately

 Dr. Dave Edenfield  and Dr. Steven Warfield are part of the team of doctors and therapists at http://chiropractor-jacksonville-fl.com and http://endyourpain.org who are dedicated to helping you and your family lead  healthier, happier and pain-free lives.  




Are Leg Cramps Cramping Your Style?

By Dr. Steven Warfield

Beyoncé with her back-up dancers on their toes; she considered the scene her toughest shoot, giving her blistered feet and muscle spasms. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Everyone experiences leg cramps from time to time.  Sometimes they occur during or immediately following exercise, while at other times they can cause you to come awake in the dead of night.  Either way, when leg

cramps occur there is little you can do but deal with them since they leave sufferers literally writhing in pain. While these painful muscle contractions can from a few seconds to several minutes in duration they are considered harmless reminders that the muscles of the leg or foot are in a state of imbalance. 

This imbalance can be caused by a number of factors and is not limited by age.  Sometimes cramps can occur due to prolonged exercise such as running, cycling or weight lifting.  However, the condition is just as likely to be caused by a lack of exercise, such as that caused by prolonged sitting behind a desk or on an airplane.   Other factors such as dehydration, sodium or potassium depletion or even medical conditions such as diabetes, metabolic disorders and parathyroid disease can be a trigger for cramps.

Leg or foot cramps that occur in the night can be caused by sleeping in an awkward position.  But it may also be an indication of an electrolyte imbalance, dehydration or a more serious medical condition, particularly if these nocturnal cramps occur frequently.  One common cause of cramping may be due to a narrowing of the arteries.  Cramping in the upper arm could be an indication of an impending heart attack. If you suddenly experience cramps after a short walk, particularly if the cramping is accompanied by severe pain, you need to see your doctor immediately since this could indicate a blood clot. 

In order to treat the underlying issues involved it is necessary to perform an examination and possibly blood studies in order to evaluate such things as sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium levels as well as thyroid function.  The medical practitioner will also need to differentiate cramping from other diseases that commonly mimic the condition.  (Diabetic neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease can sometimes be mistaken for simple cramping.)  Possible side effects from prescription drugs that are being used by the patient also need to be taken into, particularly in regard to certain drugs prescribed to lower cholesterol levels or decrease the production of stomach acid.

Once the underlying cause of cramping has been isolated then treatment can begin.  Sometimes dietary supplements along with simple stretching exercises are all that it takes to all but eliminate the problem.  Foods high in potassium such as bananas can of help to some sufferers, along with foods high in vitamin B complex, such as whole grains, legumes and leafy green vegetables are of use to others.  For many the simple act of drinking more fluids before and during strenuous activities can all but eliminate these painful muscle spasms. For others the addition of quinine tablets can make all the difference. 

Circulation is vital to speed nutrients to the muscles as well as clearing out the waste products that the muscles produce during strain.  Treatments such as chiropractic adjustments, massage and ultrasound can improve circulation and greatly reduce the frequency and duration of cramping.  Daily stretching routines, such as the one below can also help prevent leg cramps.

Try this simple stretch before you hop into bed each night:

1.      Stand facing the wall, 30 inches away.

2.      While keeping your heels on the floor, lean forward, put your palms on the wall, and slowly move your hands up the wall as far as you can reach comfortably.

3.      Hold the stretched position for 30 seconds. Release.

4.      Repeat steps 1 through 3 two more times.

http://advancedhealth.ca/conditions/pain-conditions/leg-cramps.html

Treatment along with dietary supplements and daily stretching may be all it takes for you keep muscle spasms from cramping your style.

Dr.’s Steven Warfield and Dave Edenfield offer the most advanced treatments for back pain, sciatica, neck pain, whiplash and headaches. They also treat auto accident victims with state-of-the-art technologies.  For more information visit http://endyourpain.org or http://chiropractor-jacksonville-fl.com

This Old Therapy Can Make You Feel Brand New

By Dr. Dave Edenfield

When people think of going to the doctor, their first thoughts are of getting an injection or having to take medicine that tastes bad.  Therefore many people have an aversion to going to the doctor.  But what if there was a therapy that felt good?  Would that change people’s opinion?  Well there is one form of deep tissue treatment that we use in our chiropractic practice that not only feels good, but it works to solve a number of clinical issues.  Our patients call it a godsend.  We call it massage therapy.

Massage has been used to treat stress and pain for thousands of years.  Written references to the effects of massage have been cited in such places as ancient Rome, Greece and Mesopotamia.  Hippocrates himself described medicine as “the art of rubbing.”  Massage therapy was introduced to the US in the 1850’s by a pair of physicians who had learned massage techniques while studying in Sweden.  While the treatment fell out of favor during the 1940’s, by the early 70’s a new resurgence of the therapy was seen as everyone from celebrities to athletes sung its praises.  Today, massage is an accepted and popular form of therapy with more than 18 million adults in the US and more than 700,000 children having received massage therapy in 2010 alone.

While the term “massage” is uniformly used to describe the manipulation of muscles and soft tissues of the body, there are actually dozens of different forms of massage, including Balinese, Barefoot, Deep Tissue, Metamorphic, Myofascial, Pediatric, Shiatsu, Swedish and Trigger Point, just to name a few.  Many forms of massage are performed while lying down, while others are performed in a seated position.  Specialized massage tables and ergonomic chairs have been designed to allow the patient to relax while the practitioner plies his or her trade.  Specialized tools and massage oils have also been developed to enhance the effects of treatment. 

Here are some of the benefits that are experienced by those who receive regular massages:

·         Pain Relief

·         Stress Reduction

·         Improved Posture

·         Lower Blood Pressure

·         Better Flexibility

·         Fewer Headaches

·         Enhanced Healing

·         Stronger Immune System

Studies of the benefits of massage have demonstrated that it is an effective treatment for a number of medical conditions, including: Arthritis, Digestive Disorders, Fibromyalgia, Myofascial Pain Syndrome, Plantar Fasciitis, Sciatica, Sleep Disorders, Sports Injuries, Tendonitis, Tennis Elbow and Whiplash.  In one study by the National Institute of Health, 400 patients with low back pain were given 1 hour of massage per week for 10 weeks.  In its final analysis, the NIH study reported that:

 “Significantly greater improvements in disability and persistence of symptoms were seen at 10 weeks in both massage groups compared to those who received usual care. For example, at 10 weeks massage recipients were better able to perform daily activities, were more active, spent fewer days in bed, and used less anti-inflammatory medication than those who received usual care.”

Regardless of the style of massage, these treatments are universally applied to relax the muscles, reduce stress and relieve pain.  Used in conjunction with other forms of alternative medicine and chiropractic care, including ultrasound therapy, cold laser therapy, Vax-D and spinal adjustments, massage can be a valued therapy that not only works good but feels good.

Dr. Dave Edenfield  and Dr. Steven Warfield are part of the team of doctors and therapists at http://chiropractor-jacksonville-fl.com and http://endyourpain.org who are dedicated to helping you and your family lead  healthier, happier and pain-free lives.  

The Lowdown on Sciatica

By Dr. Steven Warfield

Sciatica is a condition that can occur to people of all ages.  It involves pain, numbness and/or tingling that can radiate down either or both legs.  It can be triggered by a sudden trauma like that caused by an auto accident or it can simply appear without any apparent causative factor.  Sometimes surgery is recommended as a method of correcting this condition.   Before you or someone you know who has sciatica goes under the knife there are some facts you need to consider.

What Causes Sciatica?

There are a number of factors that can induce the condition, including spinal misalignment, hip displacement 

and disc aggravation.  The pain caused by sciatica can last for weeks or it can subside after a few hours.

Bad deadlift form can cause spinal cord injuries like lumbago and sciatica (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 Disorders known to cause sciatica include spine subluxations, herniated discs, pregnancy and even diabetes. Caused by a compressed or pinched sciatic nerve, sciatica symptoms can include pain, numbness or tingling that radiate through the buttock, down the back of the thigh, through the calf all the way down to the foot.  As the condition progresses, everything from loss of sensation to muscle weakness and loss in leg function is commonplace.  The longer a sufferer of sciatica goes without treatment, the more likely complications are to occur as the nerve becomes ever more affected.  

How Can You Treat Sciatica?

Since there are a number of disorders that can underlie the condition, the first step is to determine the precise cause.  Diagnosis may include everything from a physical examination to an x-ray, MRI and/or electrodiagnostic testing such as electromyography.  These diagnostic tools are vital to establish the best course of spinal adjustments and other therapies used to treat the condition.

Chiropractic therapy for sciatica can include a number of modalities, including the following:

      ·         Spinal Manipulation which is designed to realign the spine so as to restore the vertebrae to their proper position which in turns helps reduce nerve irritability, muscle spasm, pain and other sciatica symptoms.

      ·         Ultrasound Therapy uses ultrasonic sound waves that are designed to penetrate into tissue to improve circulation and reduce muscle cramping, swelling and stiffness.  These treatments also aid circulation and are painless. 

      ·         TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) relies on a battery-powered muscle stimulation device that delivers imperceptible electrical impulses that are used to control pain and relax the muscles that cause spasms.

      ·         Cold Therapy can also be used to mitigate sciatica symptoms.

      ·         Massage is extremely useful in that it relaxes the muscles and reduces spasms.

When it comes to treating sciatica, pain medication only masks the symptoms.  The best course of treatment is to help the body regain proper balance in order to relieve nerve irritation and allow the body to heal on its own.  Chiropractic care can greatly reduce sciatica symptoms and help many sufferers avoid surgery.   If you or anyone you know suffers from sciatica, contact your local chiropractor to schedule a consultation.

Dr.’s Steven Warfield and Dave Edenfield offer the most advanced treatments for back pain, sciatica, neck pain, whiplash and headaches. They also treat auto accident victims with state-of-the-art technologies.  For more information visit http://endyourpain.org or http://chiropractor-jacksonville-fl.com

Chiropractic Medicine is Nothing to Sneeze At

By Dr. Dave Edenfield

When most people think of chiropractic medicine, they conjure up images of people who need their back 

Jim Dubel demonstrating adjustment protocals (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

and neck adjusted, or someone in pain.  The last thing they would contact their chiropractor about would be to help them alleviate their allergy symptoms.  While we chiropractors do concern ourselves with the spine, what most people don’t realize is that the nervous system controls much more than just their sense of pain.  Among other things it also controls the sinuses.

When most people deal with allergies, they customarily either reach for a pill or go to their allergist for a shot.  While providing temporary relief, shots and pills do not cure the problem.  They only relieve the symptoms.  Add to that the problems associated with antihistamines, including drug resistance and even possible heart complications and you can see why many allergy sufferers are eager to try a drug-free treatment that can offer relief.

Chiropractic care for allergies has been around for more than a century.  Yet this option is often news to many patients.  This is in part due to the fact that general practitioners and even most allergists were never trained in chiropractic techniques when they attended medical school.  In fact, the way that chiropractic care helps allergy sufferers is not by treating the allergy directly, but by locating and correcting areas of nervous system inflammation called subluxations.  Subluxations can disrupt communication between the nervous system and the brain. Correcting these subluxations then enables the brain and nervous system to communicate more effectively, which in turn helps the body. Allergy patients would benefit from improved communication between the brain, nervous system and immune system to combat allergies, among other things.

Immune response is critical in fighting off everything from disease and infection, along with dealing with stress.  Responsible for warding off all kinds of foreign invaders, the immune system represents the body’s defending army which is martialed by the nervous system.  Therefore when a chiropractor aligns the spine and removes anything that can interfere with nerve impulses this in turns allows the immune system to function at its peak.

In many cases, allergy symptoms are actually caused by an overreaction of the immune system to allergens.  In order to deal with anything from pollen to pollution to dust to mold or pet dander, the body sometimes overproduces histamine in dispatch the invading organisms.  As a result, allergy sufferers start wheezing and sneezing and their eyes start tearing as the body tries to flush out the allergens.  This is also why those who suffer from allergies are customarily prescribed antihistamines, which tend to dry the sinuses.  The problem is that the over-prescription of antihistamines can have adverse or even deadly side effects if combined with other medications. 

Allergies affect more than 40 million Americans and can start at any age.  Particularly in children, a compromised immune system can be responsible for everything from illness to asthma. 

“In a recent study, children with asthma showed an overall improvement in the lung capacity after only 15 chiropractic adjustments. In a Danish study of 115 families with children ages 0 to 7 years suffering from asthma, diabetes, and epilepsy. One third of the children underwent chiropractic adjustments, after which 93 percent of the parents surveyed reported improvement in their child’s asthma condition. Other findings documenting abnormal spinal mechanics associated with asthma were performed by the famous osteopathic researcher Alan Stoddard. Stoddard stated that many diseases are due to mechanical lesions (vertebral subluxations). There is ample research documenting the intimate connection between the spinal column, the nervous system, and the respiratory system. Vertebral subluxations in the neck and upper back can produce associated muscle spasms, which cause a restriction and stasis of the lymphatic drainage from the head and neck. As a result, the body is unable to wash out the bacteria , debris, and foreign material to which it is exposed. Chiropractic adjustments in many cases will produce immediate relaxation of the neck musculature responsible for obstructing the lymphatic (neck) drainage. These adjustments improve respiratory function by restoring normal nerve function, which in turn may result in symptomatic improvement in bronchitis and asthma.”

Even adults who had no childhood history of allergies can sometimes wind up becoming allergic to environmental pollutants or even food such as nuts or certain types of grain later in life.  Not only do these late stage allergies require those affected to alter their lifestyle, but many times sufferers are forced to carry epinephrine pens in order to self-administer an injection should they be accidentally exposed to allergens which can cause their throats to swell and their airways to become blocked.

So when it comes to dealing with allergies, the emphasis should be put on correcting any imbalances which can adversely affect the body’s immune system.  A healthy body is better able to ward off invading organisms than any bottle of pills ever was.  And that’s nothing to sneeze at.

Dr. Dave Edenfield  and Dr. Steven Warfield are part of the team of doctors and therapists at http://www.lakewoodchiropracticjax.com/who are dedicated to helping you and your family lead  healthier, happier and pain-free lives.  

Is It Time to Call the Fashion Police?

By Dr. Steven Warfield

If it’s one thing that I have imparted to readers the past few weeks it’s that your lifestyle can be at the root of many of the aches and pains that plague you.  Everything from being overweight to sitting at a desk all day long to daily stress can cause the spine and hence the body to become unbalanced.  These imbalances can cause a cascade effect that literally turns your body against you.  In order to cope with misalignment, the soft tissues of the body will try to cope by altering the tension in everything from muscles to tendons and ligaments.  Being elastic, these soft tissues like everything else in the human body have their limits.  Once these limits are met or exceeded, then pain is the inevitable way that the body tells you that everything is not as it should be.

Putting the spine back into proper alignment can be the first step toward reversing this downward spiral and correcting the situation that is causing pain.  However, if the underlying cause of the problem is triggered by a lifestyle choice then ultimately these also need to be addressed and corrected unless you want to have then entire vicious circle start anew. 

Do You Dress of Duress?

To start off the litany of fashion faux pas that are triggers for pain, I would like to quote the old adage, “My shoes are killing me.”  Footwear can and does play a major role in both the onset and severity of back pain.  While high heels are definitely at the root of many a female patient’s back problems, flip flops which are worn by both sexes can be just as deadly. 

A recent article entitled, “Are Flip Flops Bad forYour Health,” notes that, “From New York’s sweltering 

sidewalks to Brazil’s sandy beaches, there’s no sandal that signals summer quite like the flip-flop. But are these no-fuss flats as harmless as they seem? Studies show that despite their easy-breezy appeal, extended flip flop use can cause a range of physical ailments, ranging from plantar fasciitis and muscle soreness, to lower back pain. Not exactly what we signed up for, right?” 

While you would think that wearing sandals would provide more support than bare feet, studies have shown that flip flops have been shown to throw the mechanics of walking out of kilter, which in turn can lead to such maladies as plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the tissues on the bottom of the foot that strikes nearly two million Americans every year. Another research study at Lehigh University reported that when sufferers of the condition switched to lightweight shoes eighty percent of those afflicted reported relief within a year.

When it comes to high heels, not only are they bad for the posture, there have been a number of documented injuries that have resulted from women either falling or tripping due to high heels. Some of these cases have even required trips to the emergency room.  Even discounting the strains and sprains that are caused every day by high heels, studies have revealed that high heel wearers walked with shorter, more forceful strides which over time actually caused the calf muscles to shorten.

A study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology showed that, “Wearing high heels daily can cause hammer toes, bunions, dislocated or sprained ankles, fractures, and ligament tears - some of which may require surgery. The bigger the heel the woman wears, the greater the risk.” 

What’s Your Bag?

A ladies' Burberry handbag in the company's trademarked check pattern (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Another fashion accessory that causes more problems than it is worth are the briefcase, tote bag and purse.  

While large totes might be a great way to deal with everyday clutter, from a kinesthetic point of view they are not worth the effort.  Big bags encourage large loads.  Heavy loads slung from only one side of the torso are one of the quickest ways to throw the body and therefore the spine out of balance.  If you are forced to carry a significant amount of weight around town on a daily basis, it is far better to either invest in a backpack that is designed to evenly distribute the load, or better yet a tote that comes equipped with wheels and a handle that will significantly reduce the weight your frame must bear. 

If you insist on using a shoulder-slung tote, you should limit your load to no more than ten percent of your body weight not to exceed fifteen pounds.  It’s also a good practice to alternate the side of the body that supports the bag.

In his blog, Choosing the Right Handbag,” Dr. Carl Zaycosky states, “Carrying the appropriately weighted and sized bag can help in preventing shoulder, neck and back pain. It could even reduce headaches. The trapizius muscles at the top of the shoulder go up the neck to the base of the skull, potentially creating the nasty tension headaches you feel at the back of your head.” 

While any of these suggested changes to your lifestyle might be considered inconsequential, they can have profound effects on the body’s ability to remain balanced and keep you pain free.  So the next time you find yourself in the closet trying to decide which shoes to wear or which bag to take with you for the day, remember that when it comes to fashion, anything looks better than hospital greens.

Dr.’s Steven Warfield and Dr. Dave Edenfield offer the most advanced treatments for back pain, sciatica, neck pain, whiplash and headaches. They also treat auto accident victims with state-of-the-art technologies.  For more information visit http://www.lakewoodchiropracticjax.com/