The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest nerve in the body.If you’ve ever had sciatica, you know how painful and debilitating it can be.Sciatica is often characterized by pain radiating from the back into the buttocks and into the legs.Inflammation and irritation of the sciatic nerve can cause pain anywhere along the path of the nerve, which includes the low back, buttocks, the back of the legs and thighs, and in some cases it can be felt in the foot and ankle.

How does a nerve, like the sciatic nerve, become inflamed?Sciatica is often the result of cumulative damage.Years of bad posture, deconditioned muscles, and carrying "a few extra pounds" are all contributing factors to this horrible condition.Something as simple as bending over to tie your shoes can trigger an episode.

Let’s take a look at how the sciatic nerve is formed in your body.Like a large river created by smaller streams, five pairs of nerves exit the spine in the lower back to form two sciatic nerves (one in each leg).A bulging or herniated disc in the lumbar spine (low back) may press against the nerve roots that supply the sciatic nerve.The result is swelling, inflammation, and pain that is felt when coughing, sneezing, or with certain movements.

Spinal decay can be another culprit.Instability in the low back over time leads to the degeneration of not only the soft, pulpy disc, but also leads to the formation of arthritis and bone spurs.Bone spurs can intrude into the spaces normally reserved for the nerve and create the pain and inflammation associated with sciatica.

Sciatica often worsens with extended bed rest.Pain medications and muscle relaxers may relieve some symptoms, but they are unable to correct the nerve compression caused by spinal decay.Physical therapy addresses the soft tissues around the problem in an attempt to strengthen and stabilize the area, but can irritate the area from exercising unstable joints, and ignores the cause of the problem.Surgery often involves cutting away disc tissue or removing bone to make room for the nerve.

Chiropractic continues to be the best way to address the cause of sciatica.A recent study, done by the Committee on Research of the International Chiropractor’s Association, Parker Research Foundation, the Kale Network and Kale Research Center, found that with a chiropractic treatment plan:85% of patients with sciatica showed results that were much improved, 9.4% were slightly improved, 5.1% remained the same, and 0.5% were worse.

Improving joint motion with a series of chiropractic adjustments has produced results for millions."Before" and "after" images of the lower back often show improved disc height and spacing.Many patients report they can resume their lives and that their symptoms disappear without drugs or surgery.Chiropractic is the natural approach to relief and better health.

Author: Dr. Paul Early

Dr. Paul Early is a Chiropractor in Seattle in the Northgate area of Seattle, WA. More information can be found at his website at http://www.soundchiropractic.com

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Many seniors are unaware of the outstanding benefits that are possible through regular chiropractic care. I have compiled a list of seven of the most frequent benefits that chiropractic care provides for seniors.

1. Pain Relief

Chiropractic care is one of the most effective and safest forms of health care to treat pain due to spinal related conditions.  chiropractic  is so effective because most causes of spinal disorders are related to abnormalities of the spine and the surrounding soft tissue structures. Doctors of chiropractic are specifically trained to identify and treat subluxations (misalignments of the vertebrae) and their subsequent effect on the central nervous system. Anti inflammatory medication and pain relievers merely mask the symptoms and have many undesirable side effects.

2. Increased Range of Motion of the Spine and Extremities

Chiropractic care has been shown repeatedly to increase not only the range of motion of the spine but also in the extremities. Increasing a person’s range of motion can positively and drastically affect lives in many ways. For some, an increased range of motion means being able to bend down to pick up their grandchildren. For others, it means they can garden without pain or get an extra 40 yards of distance out of their driver on the golf course. In many cases, an increase in range of motion immediately follows chiropractic adjustments. This is one of the reasons why many top professional sporting teams have team chiropractors.

3. Increased Balance and Coordination

 Many problems in balance and coordination in the aging population have been shown to come from injury or degenerative changes to the cervical spine (neck region). Structures known as mechanoreceptors are located in the posterior (back) joints of the cervical spine and are responsible for providing the brain with essential information important for balance and coordination. Mechanoreceptors in cervical posterior joints provide major input regarding the position of the head in relation to the body. With aging, mild defects impair mechanoreceptors function and results in a loss of proprioception (sense of body awareness). With decreased proprioception, body positioning in space is impaired and the patient becomes reliant on vision to know the location of a limb. To compensate for the loss of proprioception (sense of body awareness) in the legs, the feet are kept wider apart than usual. Steps become irregular and uneven in length. As impairment increases, the patient becomes unable to compensate. With severe loss of proprioception, the patient is unable to get up from a chair or rise after a fall without assistance.

Studies have shown that chiropractic care can help restore balance and coordination by stimulating the joint receptors (mechanoreceptors) in the cervical spine. This stimulation is thought to restore or normalize joint receptor functioning which leads to improvements in balance and coordination. (Caranasos, MD, Isreal, MD. Gait Disorders in the Elderly. Hospital Practice. 1991; June 15:67-94.Guyton, MD. Textbook of Medical Physiology. 9th edition. WB Saunders, Philadelphia 1996; 714.)

4. Decreased Joint Degeneration

A subluxated (misaligned) spine is much like a misaligned wheel on an automobile. This misalignment will cause the spine (and the wheel) to wear out prematurely. Since all moving parts will eventually wear down over time, it is very important to get your spine aligned periodically. Chiropractic care decreases spinal degeneration and other arthritic changes by normalizing the spinal alignment and reducing spinal stress.

5. Increased Health and Well-Being

We commonly ask our patients what changes they notice once they are put of pain. Here are some regular responses we hear every day:
I feel great!

I can sleep through the night!

Now I can play in the garden!

I have so much energy!

Life is worth living now!

Yes, chiropractic is far more than mere pain relief.
Feeling good, staying healthy and doing the things that make us happy are what keeps us looking forward to each new day. Regular chiropractic care increase the quality of life and increase health and well being.

6. Decreased Incidence of Falling

Injuries due to falling are extremely common in the elderly population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are responsible for 90% of the 850,000 bone fractures which occur annually among Americans past the age of 65. Chiropractors reduce the risk of falls by normalizing the mechanoreceptors of the cervical spine by administering chiropractic adjustments. They also prescribe stretching and exercise programs to increase strength, flexibility, mobility, balance and coordination.

7. Keeps Seniors Out of Nursing Homes

While studying at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, I had the opportunity of meeting the president Dr. Ian Coulter. Dr. Coulter was involved with many research projects studying the benefits of chiropractic care and exercise.
In 1996, he published an interesting study in the Journal, ‘Topics of Clinical Chiropractic’ called ‘Chiropractic care for the Elderly.’
The key points he noted in this study were:

44% of those who used chiropractic care reported having arthritis compared with 1ff8 66% in the non-chiropractic care group

those who used chiropractic care were more likely to do strenuous levels of exercise

at three years follow-up, less than 5% of those who used chiropractic care lived in a nursing home while a staggering 48% of those who did not use chiropractic care did live in a nursing home

at three years follow-up, only 26% of those who used chiropractic care were hospitalized compared with 48% of those in the non-chiropractic group

There is no need for seniors to suffer needlessly. Chiropractic provides amazing benefits and has an outstanding record of safety and effectiveness. Ask your family and friends for a chiropractor that they recommend. Take action now and make an appointment to see if chiropractic can help you!

Author: Larry Smith

Dr. Larry Smith Chiropractor and author of:

Embrace the Journey of Recovery: From Tragedy to Triumph

Embrace the Journey of Recovery will passionately reignite your spirit and teach you how to confront, conquer and powerfully triumph over any life threatening illness! Experience the remarkable story of two courageous yet ordinary individuals and their astonishing recoveries from heartbreaking tragedy. The message is simple. They transformed their lives and you can too.

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Tendonitis is an inflammation of a tendon and tendon sheath, most often due to over use. Frequently the cause is too many keystrokes with neck, shoulder and arm muscles locked in a rigid position. Since the tendon sheath is responsible for redirecting the pulling force of muscles around and through joints they are susceptible to wear. Over use depletes the natural lubricant and tendonitis can occur. The resultant symptoms are pain, weakness on muscle contraction, loss of co-ordination, numbness and tingling. You need a chiropractor best.

In the past, tennis elbow was the best known tendonitis condition, but today, with virtually everyone using a computer keyboard, carpal tunnel syndrome has taken over first place. What actually causes carpal tunnel syndrome?

The nine small bones that connect your forearms to your hands are called carpals. On the palm side of your hands there is a tunnel through the carpal bones that allows the transport of tendons and nerves. The ligaments that hold everything in place form the roof to this passage way and form the carpal tunnel. With overuse the tendon sheath swells, causes pressure on the adjacent nerves and carpal tunnel syndrome occurs.

Common carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms are pain, weakness and lack of co-ordination on grasping objects or attempting keystrokes. Numbness, tingling in the hands is also common and in severe cases wasting of the muscles of hand. In some cases surgery to release the pressure in the tunnel is required to alleviate symptoms.

However, the best experts estimate that 90% of carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis is incorrect. What happens instead is called double-crush syndrome. The nerves that are affected by carpal tunnel syndrome actually start in the neck and pass through the arms before they reach the carpal tunnel. In a vast majority of hand and wrist pain sufferers the damage is done before the nerves reach the carpal tunnel.

Here’s what actually happens: misalignment of the small neck bones called vertebra put pressure on the nerves that supply the arms and hands. That pressure in the neck can cause symptoms in any or every part of the arm. This is the first crush. The second crush in double-crush syndrome happens in the muscles of the forearm when adhesion forms in the muscles of the forearm from holding a rigid tense position like the one required for typing. Before undergoing drug therapy and surgery, check with your chiropractor to see if your neck and forearm are the source of your symptoms. Chiropractors can quickly and accurately assess the problem and frequently just a few chiropractic adjustments and some physical therapy can reduce or eliminate the symptoms.

Author: Dr. Noel Lloyd

Dr. Noel Lloyd is a Seattle Chiropractor in the Northgate area of Seattle, WA. More information can be found at his website at http://www.soundchiropractic.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Noel_Lloyd

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Here you will find helpful reviews, informative information and tips and much more. This site is in the format of a ‘weblog’ so that each time I post new information, it will come to the top of the front page. This means that you can check back here frequently to see new updates to the information found here.

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All the best,
Constance Collier

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