What is it that separates one chiropractor from another? Each practitioner has a variation in techniques or services they utilize. It is important to realize that a technique or treatment which may work well for one patient, may not be the best for another.From headaches to heel pain, chiropractors have a wide range of conditions they are able to treat outside of neck and back pain. Like the medical profession, there are many areas of specialty in chiropractic. It is important to know what you are looking for before choosing a chiropractor.Functional chiropractic care focuses on movement and function of the body as a whole, rather than just a traditional structural approach. With a combination of chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue treatments, and exercises, we are able to pinpoint the cause of dysfunction and make corrections to help the body function at its optimal level.With advanced diagnostic imaging and research, our understanding of how the spine functions has greatly improved. A typical chiropractic adjustment is not only restoring proper movement to a single joint, but is having a more global effect on the region being targeted. Postural correction and alignment of the vertebrae still remain very important, however, our focus shifts to proper joint movement and muscle function overall to support or stabilize the spine.As daily activities and stress take their toll on the body, it changes the way we function. Chiropractors have a thorough knowledge of how interconnected the muscle and joints are with bones and connective tissues of the body. In combining our knowledge of structural correction and functional movement, we are able to personalize treatment to each individual depending on their needs.The majority of the cases involving joint or muscle pain, there needs to be some level of stretching or strengthening activity. These types of activities tend to produce better outcomes and satisfaction with care. Functional chiropractic care is for people of all ages and all activity levels. Exercises and activities are often of minimal intensity and designed to help patients reach their goals much faster.Not only are we looking to the spine, but the entire musculoskeletal system to pinpoint causes of pain and dysfunction. The doctors at Optimal Chiropractic have sought out additional training to better understand and educate their patients to be able to provide a comprehensive and conservative approach to their health care. If you are looking for a chiropractor in North Idaho, give our office a calls at (208) 777-4305. We serve all of Kootenai County including Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene, Hayden, and Rathdrum.
Concussion Among Young Athletes
With football season getting ready to start all across the country, parents and coaches should be reminded about concussions. It is estimated that 1.6-3.8 million sports related concussions happen each year. A concussion can caused even from a very minor head trauma, and overlooked if you’re not looking for the proper signs and symptoms. Research today has shown that concussions have the potential to cause lifelong problems for athletes if not treated properly and precautions taken.
So what exactly is a concussion? A concussion is the result of a force sustained by the head or neck. They are injuries usually seen in contact sports such as football or soccer, but can occur as a result from many events such as a fall or car accident. A concussion does not always result in loss of consciousness, therefore, they can often be difficult to recognize both from an athlete and coach or trainers perspective.Common symptoms associated with a concussion include: headaches, short term memory loss, seeing “stars”, nausea, vertigo (dizziness), balance problems, sensitivity to light and sound, and sleep disturbances. Standard neuroimaging such as an X-ray or MRI will usually come back negative, which makes concussion primarily a clinical diagnosis.There are many ways to prevent long term problems associated with concussion. The first involves education for the athletes, coaches or trainers, and also parents. Many athletes do not report concussions because they are unaware of the signs and symptoms associated with them. Studies have shown that educating players on these signs will help to increase athlete reporting to their coaches.When a concussion is suspected, athletes should be removed from play immediately. If left in a game, an athlete can sustain further damage to their brain, as it is in a very vulnerable state at this time. If left to continue playing, a second impact may occur which may cause further permanent damage.When an injury to the head or neck occurs during a game, a sideline assessment called a SCAT2 will be used to assess the athlete as soon as they come off the field. With any significant head trauma, concussion should be suspected, and the athlete held out of the activity for proper assessment of their condition. If at any time symptoms worsen, then the athlete should be sent to the emergency room for further evaluation. If the players' symptoms stay the same or improve, the athlete should go home and be monitored closely for the next 48 hrs.Once a physician has cleared the athlete, and all symptoms are gone, they can gradually begin to participate in the sport again. SCI’s return to play protocol recommends 5 days, but it is at the discretion of the physician in more cases. Oftentimes it is recommended that until an athlete is completely symptom free, they do not have any level of participation.As the fall sports season rolls around, it is always a very exciting time of year. The doctors at Optimal Chiropractic want to encourage athletes and parents to educate themselves on this topic further in order to prevent unnecessary injury to young athletes. Our office offers sports physicals to any athlete participating in school sports throughout the year. If your child needs their sports physical, give our office a call to schedule your appointment TODAY!
The Importance of Symptoms
Although many symptoms of an injury or illness can be a nuisance, they are actually extremely important. Things like headaches, dizziness, insomnia, acid reflux, and many other types of pain are like a built in warning system. It is our body’s way of telling us that something has gone wrong, or that something is not functioning properly.At times, it may be easy to determine when and where a particular symptom may come from. For example, if you get a splinter or cut your finger, it is very easy to see specifically why that injury is painful. At other times, however, it can be more difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of certain symptoms. Why do some people experience heartburn or migraines while others do not? These are not necessarily genetic traits handed down, but may actually point to an underlying problem somewhere in the body.Now, the first thought that may come to many peoples mind is, “I take _(fill in the blank)_ medication for my problem, and it goes away.” My usual follow up to a statement like this is to ask “How long before it comes back?” The reason for this, is that it ALWAYS DOES come back! These medications, whether over-the-counter or prescribed only mask the symptoms you may be having. In addition, many of them also have side effects of their own to contend with, and eventually, something else may be added again to cover up the new symptoms.In our chiropractic office, while we do not base our entire treatment approach off of the pain or symptoms you may be having, we do pay close attention to what each patient is feeling or how those symptoms are changing. Symptoms are like a fire alarm, they let you know something isn’t right in the building, but they don’t necessarily tell you where or how severe the problem is. It wouldn’t make sense to shut off the alarm and ignore the fire, but rather to investigate the problem and find the best way to put it out.At Optimal Chiropractic, we take time to listen to our patients and develop the best possible course of treatment for each individual patient. If you are looking for a chiropractor in the Post Falls or North Idaho region, give our office a call today to see how we can help you achieve your best health.
Effects of Cortisone Injections
There are many different forms of pain relief for injuries and joint pain. One common method of pain relief used in medical offices includes Cortisone or Corticosteroid Injections. Cortisone is used to treat many conditions from allergies to joint pain. It is meant to target and reduce inflammation in the body, and is often used to treat arthritis, bursitis, acute or overuse injury, and many more.The advantage to cortisone injections is that it provides relief of localized inflammation. It generally works faster than NSAIDs and is more specific to the location of the pain. Another potential benefit is that it does not cause stomach irritation and gastrointestinal problems over the long run like Aspirin and other NSAIDs.While cortisone many times provides quick relief of pain, the list of potential side effects and disadvantages can be a major drawback. Short term effects of corticosteroid injection may include soreness, bruising, or increased pain and swelling at the site of inflammation. This is called “post injection flare” when the area of involvement becomes aggravated. It may also cause tendon weakness if the injection is done in or near tendons around the joint. Less common effects may include sweating, difficulty sleeping, and possible nerve damage.The more significant problems with cortisone come with long term use. Joint pain and arthritis which are continually being treated with injections to decrease pain. Some of the long term side effects can include:• Thinning of the skin• Weight gain and puffiness in the face• Acne (from steroid use)• Increased blood pressure• Cataract formation in the eyes• Thinning of joint cartilage• Weakening of ligaments• Increased inflammation• Possible infection• Thinning of the bone or Osteoporosis• Less commonly, Avascular Necrosis or Osteonecrosis (death of bone tissue due to lack of blood supply)When it comes to joint pain, injury, and arthritis, it is important to remember that just because the pain is gone, does NOT mean that the problem has been fixed. Some of the long term side effects associated with steroid injections can be potentially dangerous. For example, thinning of cartilage may lead to further degeneration and arthritis in the joint. Weakening of tendons and ligaments can lead to tears and further damage within the joints. With osteoporosis, the bones become thin and brittle making them more fragile, which may lead to fractures, just to name a few.Corticosteroids are not exactly "pain relievers," however, pain is reduced because they decrease inflammation. Some people experience weeks to months of relief, while others notice little to no change in symptoms depending on the condition being treated. Inflammation can continue to come back if not treated appropriately.So are we saying inflammatory medications and injections should never be used? Not necessarily, there is a time and place for different types of treatment. However, injections should not be used to continuously treat the underlying problems which may exist. Many acute and chronic conditions take TIME to heal, and the longer you wait, the longer it may take to correct. Chiropractic care treats the root of the problem, focusing on proper function of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems to allow the body to heal.At Optimal Chiropractic, we understand that each patient is unique, and not all pain can be treated the same way. We customize our treatments for each patient based on their functional and lifestyle goals. We utilize a combination of chiropractic care, soft tissue therapies, and rehabilitation techniques to speed healing and address all tissues of the human body. Give our office a call today to see how Dr. Chris and Dr. Emily can help you, or someone you know with your health needs, (208) 777-4305.
What is an Anti-Inflammatory Diet?
After our blog earlier this week about the harmful side of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), we wanted to follow up with a more natural and safe way to fight some of those long standing inflammatory conditions. While acute inflammation in response to injury is a necessary process, chronic inflammation can lead to many more serious conditions.The causes of pain and disease can be broken down into 3 simple categories. These categories include things which you are doing, thinking, or eating.A question we often get asked by patients, is what can they do at home to help with healing? Among stretches and exercises which may help with an injury or condition, nutritional changes can be a huge factor to aid in healing. And while NSAIDs may delay healing times, a proper diet ensures that the body is receiving vital nutrients to fight off chronic illness and injury.Again, it is important to remember, inflammation in itself is not a bad thing. Acute inflammation is part of the body’s natural response to injury or irritants which may be harmful. Take a look at the image on the left, chronic inflammation in the body can lead to any and all of these conditions.So what exactly is an anti-inflammatory diet? Basically, any diet that does not contain sugar, flour, omega-6 oils, and trans-fats can be considered anti-inflammatory. A diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, raw nuts, lean meats, chicken, and fish is ideal. It is important to minimize or eliminate gains including bread, pasta, crackers, and cereals. Dairy products are also important to minimize in the diet. Fried, processed or packaged foods, and many oils and salad dressings also contribute to inflammation in the body. It is generally recommended that each meal should contain about 25% protein, and 75% vegetables.Supplementation may often be recommended to combat the negative side effects of inflammation and chemical imbalances in the body. The correct supplements may actually normalize the production of various inflammatory chemicals in the body. A high quality multi-vitamin is important for nutritional deficiencies in the typical diet. Omega-3 fatty acids are also critical, which can be found in certain foods and fish oil supplements. High ratios of Omega-6 fatty acids (found in grains and processed foods) to Omega-3s may lead to uncontrolled/chronic inflammation.Making the change to an anti-inflammatory diet may not be easy, however, the benefits are numerous. It is important to remember that these changes take time. Along with decreasing inflammation and preventing disease, you’ll likely sleep better, increase energy, and recover from pain faster. Before making any significant changes to your diet, it is a good idea to talk with a health care professional first.If you are interested in more information on this topic, go to www.deflame.com, or contact Dr. Chris and Dr. Emily at Optimal Chiropractic in Post Falls, ID at (208) 777-4305.