There are many causative factors for the symptoms of Vertigo. An inner ear affliction, known as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, may sometimes take place as the outcome of a sustained head injury or very bad cold. Often this particular vertigo may be the result of the aging process. The origin, though, oftentimes is not known. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo is a wordy diagnosis, but it characterizes completely this non- progressive affliction that is the result of, as its name indicates, a sudden change in head posture. The difficulties are most often unpredicted and varied.

It will be helpful to look at the function of the inner ear in an endeavor comprehend what induces the ofttimes disabling complaints of this sort of vertigo. The brain senses changes in position and keeps balance employing the fluid found in the inner ear. Also in the inner ear are miniature calcium carbonate crystals, known as otoconia. These crystals are inclined float in the inner ear fluid if dislodged. As the crystals strike against the delicate nerve endings in the inner ear, they trigger the disorder of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or BPPV.

The good news is that chiropractic therapy can eliminate the problems of BPPV very quickly and effectively employing a technique that is called the Epley maneuver. By means of the use of this approach, a chiropractor rotates the head of a BPPV sufferer into several different positions, letting gravity carry the calcium carbonate crystals into a local of the inner ear that is away from the nerve endings where they will stimulate no further wooziness.

Your chiropractor has helped numerous people for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo applying the Epley Maneuver technique. Quite often, with just one treatment most patients no longer suffer from wooziness. Costa Mesa chiropractic can help. Call today!

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Knee X-ray

Individuals over 65 years of age who’ve been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (OA), that practice Tai Chi, improve their physical capability and encounter less pain, according to a new Tufts University School of Medicine study. Osteoarthritis is a general form of arthritis that causes a breakdown of joint cartilage. Chiropractors treat many individuals who suffer with OA in a number of regions of the body, including the knee joints. knee pain and disability is one of the most prevalent dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system, second only to spinal dysfunctions. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there are an astounding 4.3 million adults in the US over age 60 diagnosed with knee OA, and the CDC predicts that by age 85, half of American adults may develop symptoms of OA. Knee osteoarthritis results in pain, immobility, functional disabilities, and a decreased quality of life.

Why do so many men and women develop OA? As with the majority of the musculoskeletal problems that we develop as we age, inappropriate stress to a joint over time is a major determinant. That is why as people age they are more at risk for developing OA in their joints, including the knees. Abnormal mechanics of the knee, poor gait, compensatory foot mechanics as the result of foot pain, and repetitive use of the knee joint all create undue stress on the knees. Over time arthritic changes in the knee joint develop. In combination with chiropractic treatment, chiropractors wholeheartedly support natural, drug-free practices, such as Tai Chi (Chuan), that can mitigate knee pain. Tai Chi (Chuan) is a traditional style of Chinese martial arts that features slow, rhythmic movements that create mental relaxation, as well as increased balance, an increase in strength, and more flexibility.

The 40 adults chosen for the Tufts study were, on average, 65 years of age, overweight, and with confirmed OA, but in otherwise good health. Individuals were randomly picked to engage in 60-minute “Yang style” Tai Chi sessions twice weekly for 12 weeks. Each session included a 10-minute self-massage and a review of Tai Chi principles, 30 minutes of Tai Chi movement, 10 minutes of breathing technique, and 10 minutes of relaxation.

Tai Chi involves many of the contemporary exercise recommendations for OA, such as range of motion, flexibility, muscle conditioning, and aerobic workout. Furthermore, researchers noted that the “mental aspect” of Tai Chi encouraged a sense of well-being, life contentment, and impressions of health that aided the participants in dealing differently with chronic pain. Compared with the control group, the group practicing Tai Chi displayed a considerable decrease in knee pain.

Full findings of the study are published in the November 2009 issue of Arthritis Care & Research, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology.

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Researchers found that of the “least-fit” versus the “slightly more fit” of the nearly 4,400 healthy U.S. adults in their recent study, roughly 20 percent with the lowest physical fitness levels doubled the risk of dying over the nine years of the study as the 20 percent with the next-lowest fitness levels. (In other words, those 20 percent who were nearly at the lowest fitness levels.) This is the proverbial “bad news/good news” type of result. It is undoubtedly bad news if you are a confirmed sofa spud. However, it is genuinely good news for those who haven’t quite hit rock bottom in the sedentary lifestyle department but are not, by any stretch of the imagination, energetic. Apparently, those men and women who stay only moderately fit as they grow older may live longer than those who are entirely out-of-shape, the study suggests.

The study included 4,384 middle-aged and senior adults whose fitness levels were determined during exercise treadmill tests sometime between 1986 and 2006. The researchers then observed the study groups progress for close to nine years. Such factors as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure were taken into consideration in the study. This, in and of itself, highlights the significants of physical fitness itself. In an email to Reuters Health, Dr. Sandra Mandic, of the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, and lead researcher of the study noted: “Our findings suggest that a sedentary lifestyle, rather than differences in cardiovascular risk factors or age, may explain the two-fold higher mortality rates in the least-fit versus slightly more fit individuals.”

Nearly two-thirds of the least-fit study participants failed to get at least 30 minutes of moderate activity, five or more days a week, which was the minimum recommended amount of exercise. “These results emphasize the importance of improving and maintaining high fitness levels by engaging in regular physical activity,” Mandic said, “particularly in poorly-fit individuals.”

Separating the participants into five groups based on fitness levels, the researchers discovered that 25 percent of the least-fit men and women had died during the study period, as opposed to 13 percent of those who were slightly more in shape. Among adults in the most-fit group (the ones who “hit the bull’s eyes,” so to speak) only 6 percent died during the follow-up period.

The five fitness-level groups presented little variance, overall, in their reported exercise routines during most of their adult lives, but notably, they differed in activity levels only in recent years. “Since it is recent physical activity that offers protection,” Mandic said, “it is important to maintain regular physical activity throughout life.”

In this particular study, despite weight and other health issues such as those mentioned above, fitness is clearly linked to longevity. Therefore, exercise is vital to extending our lifespan. And, of course, imagine the health benefits we could all experience if we sought to achieve the higher levels of fitness.

SOURCE: Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, August 2009.

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When it comes to problems generated by dehydration, athletes are particularly at risk. “Physiologically, their core body temperature could be higher than it should have been if they were hydrated. Their heart rate will be higher, and they’re going to perceive that they’re working harder than they actually are,” said Susan Yeargin, assistant professor of athletic training in Indiana State’s College of Nursing, Health, and Human Services.  According to researchers at Indiana State University, a high percentage of collegiate and professional athletes begin the season dehydrated, putting their health at risk even before they begin strenuous workouts. In fact, Pre-season physical examinations, in fact, found that 80 percent of football players displayed symptoms of.

Just how much water is enough water might have you confused. Chiropractors, like the majority of other health care professionals, advise at least eight, 8-ounce glasses of water every day for most patients, however for our athletic patients, or for patients who are overweight or exercise or work in a hot environment, we recommend even more. There is a fairly uncomplicated way for you to be sure that you’re drinking a healthful quantity water. Your urine color is a good guide. If it is a light, pale yellow, it’s evidence that you’re well-hydrated!

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Tension headaches: We’d all agree that life can be a pain, on occasion, and turn into a tension headache. Many people have suffered from more than one. If you are someone who’s had a tension headache, then you probably experience it as a dull, aching head pain that is sometimes accompanied by a feeling of tightness or pressure along your forehead or on the sides and back of your head. Sometimes, you might feel a tenderness of your scalp, neck and shoulder muscles, and at times you may lose your appetite.

Tension headaches are usually characterized as mild to moderately intense. The severity of the pain varies from one headache to another in the same person, as well as from one individual to another You may have tension headaches all the time or they may happen occasionally. If your headaches take place fifteen or more days a month for at least three months, they’re considered chronic. If tension headaches are disrupting your life, chiropractic management may be the remedy. Contact your chiropractor today.

Migraine Headaches: Migraine headaches differ from the typical tension-related headache. Firstly, migraines generally develop on only one side of the head, according to the National Headache Foundation. They throb or pulsate and are accompanied by nausea or vomiting. Auras, visual symptoms an hour before a migraine attack, and features such as pulsating light, lines or dots, are experienced by one-fifth of migraine sufferers.

Are you a person who suffers from migraines? If you are, you know the upsetting, disabling effects that this kind of challenge can have on your life. Regrettably, you likely know from experience that standard over-the-counter medications are ineffective, and prescription drugs all too often have dangerous side effects. Still, the pain of a migraine can put you out of commission for hours, days, even a lifetime. It’s time to finally get rid of the pain and get your life back! Chiropractic management has been shown to be powerful in relieving and eliminating migraine headaches. Get in touch with your chiropractor today!

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Sciatic pain ordinarily travels from your low back, through the buttock(s), and down the large sciatic nerve in the back of your leg(s). Frequently, the pain may even be felt in your knee. Motion and sitting, alike can be painful. On occasion lying down will decrease, or perhaps momentarily eliminate, the pain. Nonetheless, sciatica will not go away permanently without proper treatment.

“Radiculopathy,” the medical term for the clinical diagnosis of sciatica, means simply that a disc has distended from its original position in the vertebral column and is placing pressure on the radicular nerve (nerve root) in the lower back, which forms part of the sciatic nerve. This type of pressure is extraordinarily painful.

Increased pressure on the intervertebral discs, as well as imbalances in the muscles encircling the spine, can happen as the result of prolonged sitting, specifically in a poor position. For the most part, a specific event or exact injury doesn’t produce sciatica, but rather it tends to come about over time as a by-product of average wear and tear on the structures of the lower spine. Over the course of time the lower spine loses its ability to function in a healthy way during common daily stresses.

Ultimately, the intervertebral disc develops small fissures, or cracks, which then allows the soft nucleus to extend the disc outward. If the disc presses on sensitive tissues, it generates the pain that is generally called a ruptured disc. If the disc puts pressure on the spinal nerve, then sciatica can develop.

Most disc challenges, including sciatica, can be alleviated with chiropractic adjustments and management that commonly includes postural exercises. If you are suffering from sciatic pain, it is vital for you to seek chiropractic attention.

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As if the acute pain and suffering from fibromyalgia weren’t enough, a disproportionate ninety percent of fibromyalgia sufferers also have developed chronic fatigue syndrome, and you might be one of them. It is this “double whammy” that can leave you not only suffering from pain and fatigue, but also malaise, headaches, numbness and pins and needles, dizziness, sleep disturbance, swollen feeling in tissues, stiffness, sensitivity to noise and stress, and cognitive impairment.

If you are suffering from one, or both, of these two devastating conditions, you may find it difficult to engage in even the simplest activities in life, and you may even be experiencing depression and feeling defeated. Fortunately, your chiropractor can assist you. chiropractic techniques have been found to be highly effective in reversing trauma-induced injuries by decreasing inflammation to the nerves in the brain stem and spinal cord that can trigger pain, neuromuscular dysfunction, and fatigue.

You may be curious, at this point, about what “trauma-induced injuries” have to do with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. You may find the answer surprising

While the specific cause of these problems is unknown, recent research has identified traumatic neck injuries, like whiplash and concussion, for example, as risk factors for the onset of both fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. And, here’s the thing: although the pain and fatigue caused by spinal injuries can begin immediately, frequently it can take months or even years to develop. These types of injuries may no be remembered by the time fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms arise.

When it comes treating problems related to the muscular-skeletal system, your chiropractor is an expert. Chiropractic care has been shown to be highly beneficial in reversing trauma-induced spinal injury. If you’ve been experiencing the pain and discomfort generated by fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, see your chiropractor today to find out if chiropractic treatment can help to eliminate your suffering.

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Balance difficulties are often disclosed by 9 percent of adults, aged 65 and older. Good balance is essential in aiding an older person to stay independent, and implement daily chores and activities. Many older individuals, however, undergo dizziness, “wooziness,” and challenges with balance.

The term, vertigo, refers to the feeling that some people have that they, themselves, or the things around them are spinning. About 40 percent of Americans will experience dizziness that is consequential enough to go seek medical assistance. And, among older adults, falls are the prevailing cause of serious injury and deaths.

Balance and Inner Ear Conditions

There are many types of balance disorders. Three customary types are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, labyrinthitis, and Meniere’s disease. Of these three, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is the most widespread. Its symptoms involve a brief, intense experience of vertigo with a change in head position, when rolling over to the left or right in bed or when getting out of bed, or when looking up for an object on a high shelf. This condition is more probable in persons 60 and older, however it can also take place in younger individuals.

There are diverse causes for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Inner ear infection, head injury, or simply aging can cause the problem. Whereas it can be linked to other disease processes, often a simple Epleys procedure can eliminate the problem. Your Costa Mesa Chiropractor has many years of experience in this procedure.

Labyrinthitis is an infection or inflammation of the inner ear that produces dizziness and loss of balance. It affects people|individuals of any age and the cause is unknown.

Ménière’s disease is a balance disorder that causes vertigo, irregular hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing or roaring in the ears), and a “full feeling” in the ear.

Age is not the only explanation for why these problems arise, but older persons are more likely to encounter balance disorders. Care for balance disorders varies depending upon the reason. Sometimes, there’s a simple answer to balance challenges, such as simple exercises for vestibular rehab. A chiropractor is well-trained in analyzing and treating most of balance problems. Consult a health care professional, such as your Costa Mesa Chiropractor, if you have experienced, or are currently experiencing, dizziness, vertigo, or other abnormalities with balance.

Whereas some balance disorders are created by challenges in the inner ear, other disorders may be associated with another area of the body, such as the brain or the heart. Other components, besides aging and ear infection, may include head injury, certain medicines, interferences with blood circulation, upper respiratory infections, viral infections, stress, fatigue, smoking, alcohol use, stroke, high or low blood pressure, and heart disease.

Balance disorders produced by high blood pressure can generally be managed by less sodium intake,cultivating a healthy weight, and exercise. To assist in making the symptoms of dizziness less severe, most often eating low-salt or salt-free foods, and staying away from caffeine and alcohol, will help.

Balance disorders are significant. It is the most prevalent cause of falls and fall-related injuries in older people. It is crucial to have a suspected balance disorder analysed and treated as soon as possible.

If you can answer “yes” to any of the following questions, you should discuss the symptom(s) with your chiropractor:

• Do you have the feeling of being “unsteady?”

• Does the room seem to spin around you?

• Is there ever a time when you feel as if you are moving when you know you are standing still?

• Do you lose your balance and/or fall?

• Do you feel as if you are falling?

• Does your vision ever become “blurred?”

• Do you ever feel disoriented, or lose a sense of time, place or identify?

Don’t wait until it’s too late! Call your Costa Mesa chiropractor today.

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You’ve probably noticed that, your body is going through many changes, and these adjustments will continue as the pregnancy progresses. One change that goes basically unnoticed is your body’s increased production of the hormone elastin. This hormone is designed to relax the tendons in the pelvis. This relaxation allows the pelvis more flexibility during the birthing process to make delivering the baby easier.

This process, despite the fact that its function is to assist the mother during labor, can create a lot of back pain in the months leading up to the birth. As the pregnancy advances, more elastin is released, which allows the pelvis to become increasingly more unstable. Add to that the gradual increase in the size of the baby and uterus, and you have the recipe for severe low back pain. As a Costa Mesa Chiropractor, I currently have several pregnant patients coming into my office for symptoms associated with their pregnancy, but as a rule it is for their low back pain.

A bonus to seeing a chiropractor routinely during your pregnancy is that there is proof that it can actually decrease labor time. Why do chiropractic adjustments help? Simply put, if the pelvis is where it needs to be, the muscles contracting during the labor process are more efficient and won’t have to strain against misaligned joints.

In answer to the second question above, most assuredly chiropractic care during your pregnancy is safe. Chiropractic is not only safe and beneficial in relieving the low back pain associated with pregnancy, but other symptoms like heartburn, nausea, swelling, and so on. Certain trained chiropractors can also help mothers who have a breached baby. This is done by using the Webster Technique, a low force technique to manipulate the uterus and get the baby into the proper presentation for delivery. A simple Google search on the Webster Technique can give you much more information.

In summation, not only is chiropractic safe for pregnant women, it is also very beneficial in helping with the symptoms associated with their pregnancy. To any pregnant women out there reading this, please go to see your local chiropractor, or if you are close enough, look up your Costa Mesa Chiropractor. We can make you feel a lot more comfortable during your pregnancy, and we can even make the labor process easier.

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Along with spinal problems, knee pain and disability is one of the most widespread problems of the musculoskeletal system. Poor mechanics of the knee, as well as faulty foot mechanics as compensation for foot pain often cause painful knee conditions. Additional causes normally include overuse of the knee joint, inflammation related to arthritic changes in the joint, and traumatic injury from sports and falls.

Non-trauma knee problems: Insufficient mechanics of the knee joint and the corresponding stress on the soft tissues of the knee are, by far, the most prevailing cause of non-traumatic pain. Usually, the part of the knee implicated is the patella or knee-cap. Many times the patella does not move smoothly or does not move sufficiently on the femur during bending of the knee causing abnormal stress on the tendons, cartilage and ligaments. This specific condition is frequently called chondromalacia patella (CMP) or Patella Femoral Syndrome (Knee Cap Pain). The condition generally starts when there are imbalances in the quadriceps muscles of the thigh that attach to and move the patella. Imbalances in the muscles having to do with knee movement frequently begin from lower back problems, particularly in the sacroiliac joint. Imbalances in muscle groups that attach to the knee can also lead to pain and dysfunction. For example, pain on the medial or inside of the knee occurs when the muscles on the insides of the thigh are stressed and tight.   Faulty foot mechanics that create gait deviations such as pronation, are another cause of mechanical knee pain.

The correspondent pain from overuse is most often noticeable during activity, in particular stair climbing, running, jumping, and subsequent standing after prolonged sitting. Some women appear to be predisposed to painful overuse ailments for anatomical reasons, however such ailments are many times related to wearing high heels on a regular basis.

The main treatment for mechanical or overuse injuries to the knee is to re-establish proper balance of the muscles, restore proper movement to the patella and other joints of the knee, and to correct any subluxations of the sacroiliac joints and bones of the foot.  In certain cases, a brace is adopted to aid with the alignment of the patella or to stabilize the joint. Chiropractors, such as your Costa Mesa Chiropractor, are highly experienced in providing knowledgeable diagnosis and management of these ailments.

Knee problems due to trauma: Traumatic injuries commonly take place during sports that involve running and jumping, especially. When the knee is pulled or twisted beyond the capability of the ligaments that hold the joint together, tearing of these tissues can happen creating a sprain. The muscles that move the knee can also be torn during injury creating a strain or pull of the muscle. As with a sprain, a muscle strain can range from a mild injury that requires little treatment to a serious injury necessitating surgery. The knee also has two special “cartilages” – the menisci – between the tibia and the femur that facilitate frictionless motion and cushioning. These cartilages can also be torn during trauma, and commonly need surgical repair, or even removal if damaged severely.

Traumatic knee injuries can create serious pain and swelling and necessitate immediate diagnosis and treatment. In the majority of cases a competent chiropractor, such as your Costa Mesa Chiropractor, can manage these problems, but there are some injuries that require the craft of an orthopedic surgeon. In any event, it is vital to stabilize the injured joint as soon as possible and to ice the damaged area, if possible, until the injury can be evaluated.

Conditions such as poor mechanics and problems due to overuse, as well as traumatic injuries, need to be eliminated at an early stage. If not, the tissues of the knee joint, particularly the cartilage, will start to erode. If tissue and cartilage wear away, the bones will rub together unprotected and changes such as bone spurs can eventuate. This painful problem, known as degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis, is frequently progressive with age. Common treatment may involve medications such as NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Nevertheless, there are natural anti-inflammatory supplements that produce excellent results such as rosemary, glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, bioflavinoids, curcumin. Conservative treatment, such as chiropractic, can be extremely helpful in alleviating the pain. Your Costa Mesa Chiropractor is will be happy to recommend anti-inflammatory supplements. In addition, people can often assist themselves by keeping their weight down, doing exercises (especially in the pool), and wearing cushioned shoes or insoles.

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