Chiropractic adjustments are the foundation of chiropractic treatment. Chiropractors use adjustments to correct vertebral subluxations and misalignments of the bones of the spine (vertebrae). The word “subluxation” has its origins in the Latin words “luxare” (to dislocate) and “sub” (mild). Subluxations may put pressure on or irritate nerves and blood vessels in the spine, and cause musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction.

Adjustments, also known as “spinal manipulation”, involve the use of a certain amount of controlled force, applied in a specific direction, to a joint that is not moving properly. Adjustments are usually carried out manually by the doctor, or by using an instrument. Chiropractic adjustments help return your vertebrae to their natural position and range of motion, with the goal of restoring health and normal functioning. In addition to restoring joint mobility, adjustments can also allow healing of tissue injuries involving inflammation and pain.

Before carrying out an adjustment, your chiropractic doctors will thoroughly evaluate your case through collection of a health history, physical examinations, laboratory tests, imaging (such as X-rays) and other procedures. During the adjustment procedure itself, you may be lying down on a specially designed chiropractic table. Your chiropractor will apply the adjustment in a controlled, sudden manner, pushing your joint beyond its normal range of motion.

There are over 96 individual chiropractic maneuvers your doctor may choose from for your adjustment. Factors in this decision include how much force is needed, where in the body the adjustment is needed, the position of both the chiropractor and the patient also contribute to the selection of the best type of adjustment for your particular condition.

Adjustments may be used to treat back pain, neck pain, or pain in other areas of the body such ass arms, legs, and shoulders. The procedure rarely causes pain; however if there is recent trauma or if you are new to chiropractic medicine there may be some discomfort. The popping and cracking noises that occur during adjustments are due to the release of gas bubbles between the joints, and these sounds are perfectly normal. It is a similar phenomenon as when knuckles are cracked.

In many cases, chiropractic care is all that is needed to treat a certain kind of problem, such as lower back pain. However, adjustments may be complemented by other medical treatment if concurrent conditions are present.

Resources

http://www.acatoday.org/

http://www.chiro.org/acc/What_is_Subluxation.shtml

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chiropractic-adjustment/MY01107

http://www.mdguidelines.com/chiropractic-adjustments-and-manipulations

Concussions arise from an injury to the tissues or blood vessels in the brain. These can occur when the soft tissues are pressed against the bone of the skull, resulting from an impact or blow to the head experienced during a fall or from sports injury. They can also occur from being forcefully shaken. Mild concussions in childhood are common and often are not a cause for serious health concern. However there are rare cases of childhood concussion that should not be taken lightly and it’s important to know what symptoms need to be looked for.

The general symptoms of concussion are varied, and depend on the severity of the injury and the individual themselves. Possible symptoms include dizziness, loss of consciousness and seizures. The latter two symptoms indicate a severe case of concussion (although a loss of consciousness itself may not be dangerous if short lived [1]). However, symptoms that appear later could also be danger signs. A very common symptom experienced after a concussion is headache [2] that may be mild to moderate in intensity. A blow to your child’s head could also cause changes in their mood [3], such as crankiness and loss of interest in favorite items [4]. The way a child plays or works at school may be affected. After a concussion, a child may forget things or have difficulties in thinking [1], with possible short-term memory loss. Drowsiness and reduced energy are also common.

Concussion may be dangerous, because some of the symptoms are so mild that they are difficult to notice – some children act normal, even if they don’t feel normal. Concussion makes it difficult to detect the symptoms in your child, unless they tell you they’re feeling strange. Ask your child if they have any of the symptoms, and make sure to observe them closely for a few weeks. Your child is at increased risk if they have experienced previous head injury, are taking a blood thinning medicine, suffer bleeding disorders, are under one year old, have other neurological problems, have difficulty walking or are active in high contact sports.

If your child is harder to wake up than normal, shows worsened symptoms, won’t stop crying, doesn’t eat well, has worsening headaches or symptoms that have lasted longer than six weeks, then contact your doctor or caregiver. If your child shows a change in personality, bleeds out of the ears or nose, has trouble recognizing people, or vomits repeatedly, go to the emergency room. For seizures, unequal pupil size and longer-term unconsciousness, dial 911 [5]. 

Irrespective of advice you get on the internet or by phone, if you have any doubt in your mind about your child’s health after a head injury, seek the help of a professional. You know your child best!

References used:

[1] Cantu RC (2006). “An overview of concussion consensus statements since 2000″ (PDF). Neurosurgical Focus 21 (4:E3): 1–6.

[2]Kushner D (1998). “Mild Traumatic brain injury: Toward understanding manifestations and treatment”. Archives of Internal Medicine 158 (15): 1617–1624.

[3] Heegaard W, Biros M (2007). “Traumatic brain injury”. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America 25 (3): 655–678, viii.

[4] Mayo Clinic Staff (2007). “Concussion”. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 2008-01-10.

[5] http://www.drugs.com/cg/concussion-in-children.html Accessed October 2011

From everyone at NOVA Chiropractic & Wellness Center, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

When it comes to making important choices about treatment options for back pain, it’s worth looking at the experiences of others who have found something that works.  In recent years, the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center has surveyed the magazine’s subscribers to do just that.  In April and May 2009, Consumer Reports released some of its findings publicly.  A summary appears below.

About the Survey Participants

• More than 14,000 participants who had suffered from lower-back pain in the prior year but had never had back surgery.
• More than half reported that pain severely limited their daily routine for a week or longer.
• Many reported that pain interfered with sleep, sex and efforts to maintain a healthy weight.
• 88% reported that the pain recurred through the year.
• Most had tried five or six different treatments.

How Respondents Ranked the Healthcare Providers Who Had Treated Them

*Defined as either Completely Satisfied or Very Satisfied.

⁺Difference in ranking for Physical Therapist and Acupuncturist were not statistically significant.

How Respondents Ranked Selected Back Pain Therapies

In July 2011, Consumer Reports published an updated report describing how Americans use alternative approaches to healthcare as well as their experience with various therapies and their providers.  Chiropractic care once again was reported to be the most popular approach to back pain relief and was ranked most highly in terms of patient satisfaction.

How Your Chiropractic Physician Can Help Relieve Back Pain

Your Doctor of Chiropractic can help relieve back pain and restore mobility by using a drug-free, hands-on technique called a “chiropractic adjustment”.  He or she may also use other manual therapies, such as Active Release Technique, Graston Technique, to complement this primary treatment.  In addition, many chiropractors are skilled in designing exercise and nutrition programs for their patients that will help their bodies resist injury and function properly.  By focusing on both immediate pain relief and the underlying causes of back pain, your chiropractor can help you achieve a healthier overall lifestyle.

If you or someone you care about is suffering from back pain, give our office a call today at (703) 912-7822 or visit us at Chiropractor in Springfield, VA.

Get Up Every Hour
A recent study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology discovered that people who sat for four or more hours a day outside work had a 50 percent greater risk of dying from any cause than those who sat less than two hours a day. I recommend taking a minute-long walk at least once an hour. Every step counts toward the 10,000 you should be taking every day.

Eat an Egg
This nutritional powerhouse does a body good: One egg provides 13 percent of your daily protein requirement and only 4 percent of the average recommended daily calorie count. Plus, it contains a hefty dose of lutein, an antioxidant that protects your eyes from macular degeneration and UV damage. An egg a day may even help prevent Alzheimer’s: The yolk is a significant source of choline, a nutrient that reduces inflammation in the brain.

Take Chromium
Research shows that the trace mineral helps maintain proper blood sugar levels by increasing cells’ sensitivity to insulin, steeling your body against type II diabetes. Swallow 200 micrograms a day of chromium polynicotinate.

Don’t Forget to Floss
When left to their own devices, the bacteria hiding between your teeth will infect your gums and enter your bloodstream, where they can cause inflammation in your arteries and contribute to plaque buildup on blood vessel walls. Recent studies have linked gum disease to other problems, too, ranging from respiratory infections to neurodegeneration.

Check Your Pulse
Before you get out of bed in the morning, press your index and middle fingers against the inside of your wrist below your thumb and count the beats for 30 seconds. Then double that number. A 2010 study found that compared with a normal resting rate of 60 beats per minute, a rate of 90 or above triples a woman’s risk of dying from heart disease. If your heart rate is high, consider adding more omega-3 fatty acids to your diet.

Do Self-Massage
Stress damages every organ in your body. For quick relief, press your thumbs against the sides of your nose just below your browbone; then walk your index and middle fingers across your brows and finish by lightly rubbing your temples. Massage prompts a drop in cortisol and adrenaline and a surge in feel-good endorphins.

I would also add receiving regular chiropactic adjustments from your chiropractor in Springfield, VA to the list.  Chiropractic adjustments take stress off of the nervous system allowing the body to optimally heal and function.

Weekly Health Update
Week of: Monday, July 18th, 2011
Todd P. Sullivan, DC

(703) 912-7822

NovaChiroWellness.com

Mental Attitude: Personal Experience Makes A Difference.
Decisions involving risk depend on how we get the information about the potential risks and rewards. Researchers found if people experienced wins and losses first hand, like in a casino, they behaved differently than when told the odds.
PLOS ONE, June 2011

Health Alert: Sick Hospital Stats, Stay Healthy!
12% of hospital stays were readmissions within 30 days of a previous stay! 7% of hospital stays were readmissions within 14 days of their previous stay.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Diet: Pre-Diabetic? Start Eating More Fruit.
79 million people in the US have prediabetes, defined as blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. We would fare better by eating more fruit while reducing grains, breads and refined carbohydrates. Lumping fruit into the category of carbohydrates is confusing. Fruits are loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber and filled with water that allows better absorption of their natural properties. Glycemic index is significantly altered by the type of food, its ripeness, processing, the length of storage, cooking methods and its’ variety. Watermelon has a glycemic score of 100-which is identical to heavily processed and nutrient poor white bread. Since fruit is very high in water and naturally occurring fiber, the digestion time of any naturally contained sugars is slowed significantly. The natural water and fiber content of fruit actually causes a slow release of sugar into the bloodstream, unlike the instant sugar impact of no-fiber, high-chemical, heavily processed white bread.
CDC

Exercise: Exercise and Brainpower.
Exercise boosts blood flow to the brain and helps it receive oxygen and nutrients. The better shape you’re in, the faster you may think. So, if math is a problem, you may find that daily exercise helps to solve it!
Mayo Clinic

Chiropractic: Early Chiropractic Concepts.
Displacement of any part of the skeletal frame may press against nerves, which are the channels of communication, intensifying or decreasing their carrying capacity, creating either too much or not enough functioning, an aberration known as disease.  The nature of the affection depends upon the shape of the bone, the amount of pressure, age of patient, character of nerves impinged upon and the individual makeup.
DD Palmer (1845-1913)

Wellness/Prevention: A Simple Wellness Exercise.
List 5 things you do that are keeping you healthy. List 5 things you do that you could improve upon to maintain your health.

If you or a family member is suffering from neck pain, lower back pain or headaches call our chiropractic office in Springfield, VA at (703) 912-7822.

Weekly Health Update
Week of: Monday, June 27th, 2011
Courtesy of:
Todd P. Sullivan
(703) 912-7822
NovaChiroWellness.com

Mental Attitude: Peer Support Decreases Depression Symptoms.
Peer support offers promise as an effective, low-cost tool for fighting depression. Programs where patients and volunteers share information were found to reduce symptoms of depression better than traditional care alone and were about as effective as cognitive behavioral therapy. Peer support has been found to decrease isolation, reduce stress, increase the sharing of health information and provide role models.
General Hospital Psychiatry, February 2011

Health Alert: High Use Of Acetaminophen Linked To Blood Cancers.
High use (4 or more times per week for four years or more) of acetominophen (Tylenol), a high-selling over-the-counter analgesic or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is linked to a two-fold increased risk of certain blood cancers.
Journal of Clinical Oncology, May 2011

Diet: Chocolate Milk Wars!
Some school districts have banned flavored milk, as it is seen as a part of the obesity epidemic. Florida is considering a statewide ban in schools. Other districts have sought a middle ground by replacing flavored milks containing high-fructose corn syrup with versions containing sugar, which some see as a more natural sweetener. On the flip side, the School Nutrition Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Dietetic Association, American Heart Association, and National Medical Association argue that the nutritional value of flavored low-fat or skim milk outweighs the harm of added sugar. Milk contains nine essential nutrients including calcium, vitamin D and protein.
The Associated Press, May 2011

Exercise: Benefits of Exercise.
Exercise helps you to more effectively manage stress, helps you to lose weight – especially fat weight, improves the functioning of your immune system, reduces your risk of getting heart disease, and reduces medical and healthcare expenses.
Surgeon General

Chiropractic: Adjustments Increase Your Breathing Capacity?
See for yourself. Before you get adjusted, take a few deep breaths. After your adjustment, try again. Now that you are breathing better, read up on how important oxygen uptake is for your overall health.

Wellness/Prevention: Body Fat Percentage: The Best Measurement Of Your Health Risks.
Did you know that a large belly carries a risk for coronary artery disease comparable to smoking a pack of cigarettes daily or having high cholesterol? People with coronary artery disease and expanded waistlines are at more than twice the risk of dying, including those with a Body Mass Index in the normal range. Even more dangerous is the visceral fat that surrounds the internal organs. This internal fat actually makes up a large proportion of the waist measurement. Visceral fat is more metabolically active and can produce hormones and other substances that have a negative impact on your health, including increasing the risk of heart disease; high blood pressure; stroke; type 2 diabetes; metabolic syndrome; some types of cancer; and sleep apnea.
Mayo Clinic, May 2011

If you or a family member is suffering from neck pain, lower back pain or headaches call our chiropractic office in Springfield, VA at (703) 912-7822.

Most of the injuries that I see in my chiropractic office in Springfield, VA are repetitive strain injuries.  These injuries occur from the patient losing range of motion in a particular joint thus putting additional stress on another joint or area of the body.  This additional stress eventually causes the patient to develop a repetitive strain injury and then pain.  If the pain persists long enough and does not go away this is when the patient gives my office a call.  A great example of this is the typical office worker.  These patients sit at a computer for 6-8 hours per day and then have another 30 minutes to a hour (if they are lucky in the Washington, DC area) commute, each way.  What happens from all of the sitting is they lose the normal function and range of motion of their hips.  Their hips also become weak and tight putting additional stress and strain on the lower back region.  Once their hips stop functioning like they are suppose to their lower back has to compensate and do the job of the hips.  The muscles and joints in the lower back were not designed to do this so eventually over time the office worker develops lower back  pain. 

Why I am telling you all of this?  Because I can help alleviate your lower back pain but ultimately you need to restore the hip function and increase your gluteal strength to prevent this injury from occurring.  In my office I show patients how to increase their hip range of motion and start on them a rehabilitative program to develop and improve their hip strength but there is a limit to how much I can help you.  You need to develop a program or system to increase your range of motion, strength, coordination, flexibility and endurance.  Thankfully somone has already developed a system for you, it’s called CrossFit.

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few years you have probably heard of CrossFit.  For those that do not know what CrossFit is, it is a strength and conditioning fitness methodology that promotes broad and general overall physical fitness. CrossFit combines weightlifting, sprinting, and gymnastics.  CrossFit focuses on improving your efficiency in ten fitness domains: cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, agility, balance, coordination, and accuracy.

What is a CrossFit workout like?

At a local CrossFit affiliate gym like CrossFit Lorton, you will be show up for a class at a specific time to do the “Workout Of The Day” or WOD for short.  The workout changes daily so your muscles are constantly being challenged and it also keeps you motivated with different workouts.  CrossFit workouts incorporate running, rowing, jumping rope, pulls, powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, gymnastic rings, kettlebells and many body weight exercises. CrossFit WOD’s include a warm-up, a skill development segment, and a high-intensity workout that lasts around ten to thirty minutes.

Why you need to do CrossFit?

CrossFit utilizes functional training which is the best way to workout and improve body mechanics.  The classic gym workouts that most people do utilize body building exercises, i.e. dumbell curls.  Dumbell curls only focus on training one particular muscle whereas a body weight squat like you would do at CrossFit trains several muscles at once.   Body building exercises like most people do are not functional at all unless you are curling a weight, whereas a body weight squat will allow you squat down and play with your daughter or son.  If you ever look at young kids, they are constantly squat down as they are playing.  This is the way the body was designed to move but as they get other and they sit more and more they loose the flexibility, strength and coordination to get into a squat position.  In my office one test that I love and have most of patients do is a simple body weight squat.  I would say 80-90% of my patients cannot do a simple body weight squat including the athletes I treat.  This a fundamental movement that the everybody should be able to do.  CrossFit utilizes functional exercises to train your body so that you can perform a fundamental movement such as body weight squat.  CrossFit will make you stronger, more effecient, flexibile, help you lose weight and improve your lean muscle mass.  It is a very intense type of exercise but it is completely scalable so anyone can do the exercise.  What it comes down to just like anything in life, you get out what you put in.  CrossFit will challenge you physically and mentally and make you stronger, allowing you to do the things that you love to do in life, pain-free.

If you find yourself or someone you know currently in the situation I described give us a call today at (703) 912-7822 or visit us at http://www.NovaChiroWellness.com .  To learn more about CrossFit go to www.CrossFit.com and for a local CrossFit gym go to www.CrossFitLorton.com .

Let’s face it…travel can wreak havoc on your body!

Even if you travel in the most comfortable automobile or opt to fly first class, pressures and forces from awkward positions can result in restricted blood flow. One of the biggest insults from prolonged sitting is the buildup of pressure in the blood vessels in your lower legs. Contracting and relaxing those leg muscles helps the blood flow back to your heart.

Here are some other tips to fight the pain and strain of travel.

Warm Up, Cool Down

Treat travel as an athletic event. Warm up before settling into a car or plane seat, and cool down once you reach your destination. Take a brisk walk to stretch your hamstring and calf muscles.

Tips for Automobile Travel:

• Adjust the seat so you are as close to the steering wheel as comfortably possible. Your knees should be slightly higher than your hips. Place four fingers behind the back of your thigh closest to your knee. If you cannot easily slide your fingers in and out of that space, you need to re-adjust your seat.
• Consider a back support cushion. Using a support behind your back may reduce the risk of low-back strain or pain. The widest part of the support should be between the bottom of your rib cage and your waistline.
   
• 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.
   
• 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.
   
• 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.
• While always being careful to keep your eyes on the road, vary your focal point while driving to reduce the risk of eye fatigue and tension headaches.
   
• Take rest breaks. Never underestimate the potential consequences of fatigue to yourself, your passengers and other drivers.

Tips for Airplane Travel:

• Stand up straight and feel the normal “S” curve of your spine. Then use rolled-up pillows or blankets to maintain that curve when you sit in your seat. Tuck a pillow behind your back and just above the beltline and lay another pillow across the gap between your neck and the headrest. If the seat is hollowed from wear, use folded blankets to raise your buttocks a little.
   
• Check all bags heavier than 15 percent of your body weight. Overhead lifting of any significant amount of weight should be avoided to reduce the risk of injury to the lower back or neck. While lifting your bags, stand right in front of the overhead compartment so the spine is not rotated. Get assistance when lifting your bags over your head and do not turn or twist your head and neck in the process.
   
• When stowing belongings under the seat, do not force the object with an awkward motion using your legs, feet or arms. This may cause muscle strain or spasms in the upper thighs and lower back muscles. Instead, sit in your seat first, and using your hands and feet, gently guide your bags under the seat directly in front of you.
   
• While seated, vary your position often to improve circulation and avoid leg cramps. Massage legs and calves. Bring your legs in, and move your knees up and down.
   
• Do not sit directly under the air vents because the cold draft can create tension in your neck and shoulder muscles.

Safe Travel For Children:

• Always use a car seat in a car when traveling with children below the age of 4 and weighing less than 40 pounds.
• Ask the airline for their policy on child car seat safety. Car seats for infants and toddlers provide added resistance to turbulent skies, and are safer than the lap of a parent in the event of an unfortunate accident.
• Car seats for infants should always face the rear. In this position, the forces and impact of a crash will be spread more evenly along the back and shoulders, providing more protection for the neck.
• Car seats should always be placed in the back seat of the car, ideally in the center. This is especially important in cars equipped with air bags. If an air bag becomes deployed, the force could seriously injure or kill a child or infant riding in the front seat.
• Make sure the car seat is properly secured to the seat of the vehicle and is placed at a 45-degree angle to support the head of the infant or child.

Chiropractic Care Can Help…

If you follow these simple tips, you are more likely to enjoy pain-free and safe travel. If you are experiencing pain or stress in your back or neck, contact your chiropractor in Springfield, VA are trained and licensed to diagnose and treat problems of the spine and nervous system.  Call us Today (703) 912-7822.

Chiropractor in Springfield, VA - Dr. Todd P. Sullivan, D.C. recently received notification that he had passed the certifying examination of the “Kennedy Decompression Technique” course and earned the designation “Certified Practitioner” in spinal decompression therapy.

The certification course work was taught by the foremost expert in spinal decompression, Jay Kennedy, D.C., who has unparalleled experience and expertise in the field having treated many thousands of patients over the last 14 years while using a variety of decompression systems.

The topics in the comprehensive syllabus covered a wide variety of subjects including proper patient selection, patient positioning, treatment time, amount of force, degrees of angle and included a two-day “hands-on” training session followed by the certification examination.

Spinal decompression therapy is a non-surgical, traction based treatment outcome for herniated or bulging discs in the neck and low back. During the procedure, by cycling through distraction and relaxation phases and by proper positioning, a spinal disc can be isolated and placed under negative pressure, causing a vacuum effect within it. The vacuum effect allows the disc component – that has protruded or herniated outside the normal confines of the disc – to be pulled back within the disc.

Dr. Sullivan said, “The NOVA Chiropractic & Wellness Center is absolutely dedicated to providing quality care and the Kennedy certification course certainly honed our skills. While we have been very pleased with our high success rates on difficult disc cases, the knowledge we gained in the process of becoming certified practitioners will definitely be of benefit to our patients.”

Dr. Sullivan also added, “Far too many doctors place too much emphasis on the type of decompression system they use and too little emphasis on developing their clinical skills. The Kennedy certification course taught us that high success rates don’t occur by pushing a button on a machine, they occur because of the skill and expertise of the doctor.”

For more information regarding this safe, effective, non-surgical treatment for neck and low back disc herniations, spinal stenosis, sciatica and failed surgery, go to http://www.SpringfieldSpinalDecompression.com or call (703) 912-7822.

About NOVA Chiropractic & Wellness Center
NOVA Chiropractic & Wellness Center is located at 6230 Rolling Road, Suite J, Springfield, VA 22152. In addition to Spinal Decompression Therapy, the clinic offers a wide array of therapeutic modalities for spinal conditions including chiropractic adjustments, Active Release Techniques, Graston Technique, interferential muscle stimulation, therapeutic ultrasound, lumbar distraction, onsite radiology and rehabilitation.

NOVA Chiropractic & Wellness Center provides fast pain relief for a pain-free active lifestyle. For further information, please visit us at http://www.NovaChiroWellness.com or call us at (703) 912-7822.