adjustments Archives - Damron Chiropractic & Wellness

Goodbye, Germs. Hello, Immunity. (How chiropractic care can support your immune system!)

July 22, 2020 By Susan 1 Comment

a daughter enjoys her apple with her mom by her side

They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but your body’s health is a little more complicated than that.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Wouldn’t it be nice if life and health were really that simple? In today’s mask-wearing, social distancing, can’t-hug-your-loved ones-for-fear-of-making-them-morbidly-ill times, staying healthy has become more complicated. But Mother Goose, in her infinite wisdom said these words, For every ailment under the sun, there is a remedy, or there is none, If there be one, try to find it; If there be none, never mind it.

And that’s where chiropractic comes in—to find simple and effective solutions to healthier living.

Chiropractic medicine? What is this sorcery?

woman riding a bike on a beautiful spring day

Chiropractic care can help you stay active, but – bonus! – it can also boost your immune system.

Chiropractic medicine is a holistic approach to health that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders through manual manipulation or adjustment of the spine. The spine protects the spinal cord, which is kind of a big deal because it controls your body’s central nervous system.

Let that sink in a minute. That ropy little column running down the center of your back is what lies between your skin, and the short circuitry of every single function of the human body. Whoever said the spine is your lifeline wasn’t kidding.

The goal of a chiropractor is to reduce pain, improve patient mobility, and make you feel better overall. But chiropractic medicine isn’t just about cracking your bones to help you move better after an accident or sports injury. It’s one of the simplest, most useful ingredients to being sick less often and living your best life.

How does being able to more easily touch my toes make me sick less often?

Yes, chiropractic care makes it easier to touch your toes, but there are sooo many other benefits that affect your overall health.

Easy. Studies shows that regular chiropractic adjustments increase the number of antibodies in the bloodstream. Just like it’s difficult to maintain a healthy lawn with a kink in your garden hose, a spine that’s out of line can’t properly communicate to your brain when a virus is on the attack. The production of hormones and white blood cells are then restricted and fewer antibodies are available, leaving the immune system deficient against fighting off hundreds of infections and diseases, including the common cold and flu.

Body, heal thyself!

When your immune system is strong, you’ll spend less time being sick and more time doing the things you love.

Like most people in the 21^st century, we want what we want and we want it now. That includes taking medicines that make us feel better fast. While most OTC pharmaceuticals eliminate symptoms quickly, they leave the body with the inability to fight off attacks on their own. That’s where chiropractic comes in. Through a series of adjustments that focus on optimizing the function of the whole, your body is able to gain the opportunity to learn how to combat illness, quickly, effectively and completely. And in no time, before you even realize you were sick.

It’s like muscle memory.

man in 60s doing physical therapy with a resistance band

Consistent chiropractic care can increase antibodies. More antibodies = an increased ability to fight off sickness. It’s kind of like physical therapy for your immune system.

Seeing a chiropractor doesn’t mean you’ll never be sick again. The focus is on optimal health. That means fewer and less severe illnesses and faster recovery times when you do fall under the weather. Remember those antibodies? Consistent chiropractic care has been shown to elevate the body’s antibody levels, which is super important to maintaining good health. The more antibodies we create, the more we can use to fight off sickness when it occurs.

Proactive vs. reactive care

african american family on grass with cute dog

Chiropractic adjustments provide a total body approach to healthcare that can both minimize sick days and maximize your immune system function.

Back pain, neck stiffness and joint issues are only a surface scratch in the practice of chiropractic medicine. And while adjustments are effective in reactively treating injury or degeneration, there are a plethora of benefits that come from a total body approach to healthcare that serves to minimize sick days and maximize your immune system function. When you’re ready to become intentional and proactive about optimizing your health, the team at Damron Chiropractic & Wellness are here to help!

You’re one call or click away from boosting your immune system! To schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Damron, call 513.770.3434 or go here.

Reversing Sedentary Lifestyle Health Risks

June 6, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Physical inactivity is on the rise, both at home and work. If we compare ourselves to older generations, access to technology and convenience has encouraged this lack of movement. Not to mention commuting to work and school in increasingly congested areas. Then sitting for hours at a desk each day only to head back home to sit for dinner and finally go to bed. Modern society almost requires a sedentary lifestyle. And we have accepted this wholeheartedly. However, research is revealing a direct correlation between this inactive lifestyle with certain health risks.

It requires effort to exercise regularly. We also need to dedicate time to do it. And while it does not provide immediate results, like what we are conditioned to expect with our digital world, we need patience, too. All things our modern day society does not promote. Yet, this same research is also looking at what it will take to change this unhealthy trend. For example, to reverse the health risks of sitting for eight hours a day, 60 minutes of exercise may be required. Think about that for a moment.

Perhaps you are wondering what could be so bad about sitting for extended periods of time. Well, let’s take a look:

Heart Disease
Muscle Degeneration
Leg Disorders
Back Pain
Foggy Brain
Neck and Shoulder Strain

So, now you are probably thinking to yourself, “This can’t be true, I’m just sitting.” Truth is that our bodies are designed for movement. And extended periods of inactivity don’t allow it to function as it should. When muscles are slow to burn fat and blood flow decreases, fatty acids have more opportunity to clog arteries. Extended periods of sitting have been linked to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease.

Muscles that have been restricted in use begin to degenerate. Also, slumping while sitting puts strain on muscles to compensate where they shouldn’t. Leaving a person with a poor posture and pain, not to mention poor circulation especially in the legs. In terms of brain function, decreased blood flow also affects the oxygen getting to the brain, hence we experience brain fog. It is more difficult to concentrate on the task at hand, plus we feel sluggish.

We do not need to let this be our outcome if we take steps today to change our sedentary lifestyle. To counter the affects of a sedentary lifestyle requires awareness of our daily schedule. In other words, how much time we are spending sitting each day. Choosing to break the monotony with walks, exercise, taking the stairs, stretching, and seeing a chiropractor for periodic adjustments all help.

While we may not be able to change our commute, our job, or even the conveniences of modern society, we can change what we do in our free time.

Chiropractic Adjustment, Not Manipulation

May 11, 2017 By Pam Rezai 2 Comments

A recent article in Chiropractic Economics (10/6/16), highlighted something that is often misunderstood in the field of chiropractic. Titled “Manipulation vs. Adjustment,” the article addressed the differences between these two words and how each relates to something different in healthcare. However, people tend to use words interchangeably, without realizing they are actually using the wrong word. For example, using the word complement instead of compliment, of affect instead of effect. We can think terminology is all the same. But that doesn’t make it correct. So, what difference does it make if a person says a chiropractor uses manipulation rather than a spinal adjustment?

The reality is that it does make a big difference for three reasons. First, using a word incorrectly with someone who knows the correct usage sends the wrong message about you. Secondly, using the wrong term leads the other person to conclude something that may not be true. How can someone make an informed decision with only half-truths? Finally, words have the power to change perspectives. Why do people distrust politicians or lawyers?

The point is manipulation and adjustment may appear to be interchangeable as it relates to chiropractic care, but they are not. Manipulation is used in physical therapy and defined as “the forceful passive movement of a joint beyond its active limit of motion.” There are reasons why a physical therapist performs manipulation on a patient. However, if a chiropractor used manipulation on a person’s spine it would not be good. Rather, a chiropractor performs spinal adjustments, which is the opposite of manipulation. The adjustment is a corrective thrust used to unlock a vertebrae that is out of alignment. It is this misalignment that is irritating a nerve, which in turn is causing the pain.

A chiropractor has one goal, to restore the body to its ideal state. One where the body functions as it should, without pain or limited range of motion. This happens with an adjustment, not manipulation.

Feet and Back Pain

May 9, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is an internationally known tourist attraction that draws millions of visitors each year. Located in Pisa, Italy, this bell tower built during medieval times began tilting to one side once construction got to the 2nd floor. Upon completion, the Leaning Tower of Pisa was leaning 15 feet because its foundation was too soft. As a result, during the almost 200 years it took to built (war caused 100 year gap in construction), the builders tried desperately to offset the leaning, even until present day.

The foundation of anything has a profound effect on the rest of the structure. While many things can be done to remedy the leaning, if the foundation is not addressed, ultimately the problem will still exist. There are many parallels between this tower and the human body.

Feet are the foundation to the human body. At birth, most people have perfect feet. By the age of 20, 80% of those have developed a problem. By the time a person is 40, most have some sort of foot condition. If our feet are our foundation, most of us are just like the Tower of Pisa. However, unlike the tower, we don’t tilt or lean. Instead, our hips, back, shoulders, and neck compensate for our problem foundation. Think of a zigzag line. The line begins at our feet. To offset the instability of the feet, the hips lean to one side. The back then offsets that by leaning to the other side. See the zigzag effect? This situation is what contributes to what is commonly called back pain.

Orthotic support plays a significant role in providing an effective treatment when this condition presents itself. A chiropractor can correct the misalignment of the spine, hips, and neck with adjustments, plus provide heel lifts, as well. With an improved foundation, the rest of the body must relearn its proper position. Effective chiropractic treatment will work to correct the problem and eliminate the back pain. Our feet give us our mobility. We needn’t sacrifice that as we age. Rather, we should do what we can to protect it.

Gout and Chiropractic Care

May 2, 2017 By Pam Rezai 1 Comment

When cells die, which happens at a rate of millions per second, they release substances called purines. Purines are broken down into uric acid which is then removed by the kidneys. Sometimes there is more uric acid than the kidneys can eliminate. When this happens, the uric acid content in the body steadily increases. This condition, called hyperuricemia, can lead to the development of crystals in the joints and tissues. It is these crystals that cause the pain and inflammation associated with gout.

It is common for the pain to register at a 9 or 10 by those who suffer from this condition. This pain can last for several days, too. In addition to pain, other symptoms of gout include:

stiffness
swelling
redness
tenderness

The occurrence of gout has been documented for over 4,000 years. It was once considered a king’s disease due to the foods that triggers its onset, which are all high in purine as well:

alcohol
red meat
shellfish
organ meats

Gout is a form of arthritis that typically manifests itself in the joint of the big toe. Other areas include the joints of the knees, feet, and ankles. The first common sign is pain and swelling of the big toe, with men over the age of 45 more likely to suffer from this condition. However, other health issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart or kidney disease are present first. But gout does not discriminate. Both young and old, male and female can develop it.

Chiropractic care is an often overlooked treatment option for gout sufferers to alleviate pain with adjustments, therapeutic medical massage, and dietary supplements. Unfortunately, many of the medications prescribed to treat this condition come with serious side effects. These include stomach pain, headache, nausea, diarrhea, rash, elevated blood pressure, and decreased kidney function.

A chiropractor can help a gout sufferer manage their symptoms holistically and without side-effects. Including help with diet and exercise. The ultimate goal is improving quality of life, minimizing or eliminating pain, and improving mobility.

Myth #8: Chiropractic Care Doesn’t Work

April 25, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Myth #8: Chiropractic care doesn’t work.

First, let’s set the record straight – chiropractic works.

When we don’t have all the information, it’s much easier to make assumptions. We make assumptions about people before we really know them. School rivalries exist. As a result, these rivalries create distorted impressions that may or may not be true. So, it makes logical sense to believe that chiropractic care doesn’t work. Most people believe that to be the truth. In fact, approximately 80% of the population think that way. Unfortunately, that 80% does not have all the information necessary to justify believing that.

Have you ever made an assumption about someone, then got to know them and realized you were wrong? You might even have thought how different your life would be if they weren’t in it. How sad you would be if you didn’t get to know them. Or perhaps you bought in to the reputation of a particular college and one day your teenage son decides he might want to go there. After touring the campus and learning more about the college’s programs you discover that you were wrong.

The field of Chiropractic is just like that. Distorted by false information and assumptions. Truth be told, many of our patients originally believed that spinal adjustments don’t work or were ineffective. Some even admitted to reluctantly coming to their initial appointment. Yes, there is a lot of information out there. So much that it can be difficult to make any sense of it all or know what to believe. However, the best way to determine the truth about whether or not chiropractic care works is to look for those with personal experience. This can be through written testimonials, case studies, or even comments on social media sites like Facebook.

Determining the truth means advocating for yourself. It means taking the time to find reputable information from credible sources. Because in the end, you need to know that chiropractic works.

Myth #7: Chiropractors Only Treat Back Pain

April 21, 2017 By Pam Rezai 1 Comment

It’s natural to associate seeing a chiropractor when experiencing back pain. This medical professional works with the spine, or back. Yet, what most people don’t realize is that back pain is only one of many ailments and conditions that a chiropractor can treat.

Think of a chiropractor as you would your primary care doctor or pediatrician. You don’t see either just for the flu or seasonal allergies. You visit these two doctors for various reasons. The same is true for a chiropractor. Granted the spine, or back, connects the body. So, it makes sense to only think of back pain when seeing a chiropractor. But, because the spine connects the body, a chiropractor treats the entire musculoskeletal system.

If we look at the Grey’s Anatomy “Chart of Body & Anatomy” we can see that the spine is comprised of vertebrae. Each vertebrae connects nerves to specific parts of the body. For example, vertebrae 1C in the cervical spine contains the nerves connected to the head, brain, middle and inner ear, and the sympathetic nervous system. Irritated nerves in 1C can create symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, migraines, and high blood pressure. Relieving that irritation with chiropractic adjustments alleviates the symptoms. This is one of the biggest differences between how a chiropractor treats an ailment and how a medical doctor treats one.

Traditional medical doctors typically treat the symptoms. In other words, if are suffering migraines, you may only receive a prescription for pain relief medicine. The symptom may be addressed, but not the cause of it. With chiropractic care, the cause is determined and addressed, not just the symptoms. And not with the use of prescription medications either. The goal is to eliminate the cause of them problem, not just mask the symptoms.

Chiropractors treat the entire body, not just back pain. Think of it this way, your spine is the central piece that connects your entire body. So, whether you have pain in your shoulder, hip, neck, or back, a chiropractor can provide you the care you need.

Myth #6: Chiropractic Adjustments Hurt

April 18, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Myth #6: Chiropractic Adjustments Hurt.

Remember when you were young and seeing a particular food for the first time. Or, what about your child, the first time you introduced them to a new vegetable. Any new food, especially one that does not present itself well on a plate or smell particularly appetizing, can be a big turn-off. Likewise, trying something new like parasailing, or snorkeling, or even zip-lining can be daunting. We may even be afraid. However, our fears and uncertainty should never be a deciding factor in whether or not we try something for the first time.

It may come as no surprise that many misconceptions exist about what a chiropractor does. Perhaps the most common one is that chiropractic adjustments hurt. The movements the chiropractor make are quick and somewhat forceful. The doctor is also in very close proximity to the patient, too. Much of this is so foreign to people that they think it must hurt, otherwise why aren’t more people doing it?

If you ask anyone who has had an adjustment done, they will tell you that it does not hurt. In fact, what they will tell you that once they get up from the table they feel great. It’s like their body was similar to a pressure cooker and they didn’t know how much pressure until they were adjusted. The relief is felt throughout the body, from the joints, to the muscles, and tendons.

One other thing that may startle new converts to chiropractic care is the popping sound one might hear during an adjustment. This popping sound is simply the joint gasses in the joint fluid releasing. It isn’t harmful. It isn’t painful. Actually, it is just like cracking your knuckles. If it was painful, kids wouldn’t do it so much, would they?

Myth #5: Once you start seeing a chiropractor you can never stop

April 13, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Myth #5: Once you start seeing a chiropractor you can never stop.

This is the most interesting of all the myths. Perhaps because it uses the word never, like it’s some sort of consequence for choosing to see a chiropractor. It is incredibly easy to create a distorted viewpoint if you do not have all the facts. History has shown us that time and again, from thinking the world is flat to the moon being made of cheese. Likewise, the chiropractic healthcare profession has suffered from the same distortion at the hands of pervasive misinformation.

Yes, there are certain things in life you can never stop:

breathing
eating
drinking water
sleeping
paying taxes

However, chiropractic care is definitely not one of them, because here are the facts:

Many people choose to seek treatment from a chiropractor because they are in pain. Once the source of the pain is corrected, further adjustments can go one of two ways – as needed or stopping. The ultimate goal is educating the patient on how to listen to their body. By listening, they will know if their body is out of alignment and needs adjusting.
Wellness care is an option that some individuals choose from a chiropractor, rather than waiting for a problem to arise. As a result, this means periodic visits to keep their body in alignment. This is considered preventative healthcare. Still, the patient dictates when they seek out care, because it could be once a month or once a week.
A chiropractor is a person’s partner on their journey to wellness. Just as a dentist or an optometrist is.
Sometimes is takes time to correct a problem for a patient, due to the length of time they have been suffering from the ailment. This is normal. It is similar to how braces slowly move teeth. A person can wear braces for up to 2 years to get that perfect smile.

The truth is that seeing a chiropractor does not keep you going forever. Seems like chiropractic care is one of the best kept secrets out there today.

Myth #3: Chiropractic Care Is Only for Adults

April 7, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Myth #3: Chiropractic care is only for adults.

In many fields of care there exists a separation between adult and children. Whether it is dental care, hospital care, general medical care, or even skin care. There is nothing wrong with the approach. For example, sometimes a dentist just doesn’t want to deal with a squirming child as a patient. Or perhaps a doctor prefers to work with children rather than adults. And while the approach to an adult and a child are different, fundamentally, the needs are the same. Both have teeth, a body, and skin.

A chiropractor should not be synonymous with adult care. Rather, a chiropractor should be synonymous with family care. That’s right. Family care. From a pregnant mother, to a newborn, toddler, teenager, adult, and senior citizen. And while the techniques might be slightly different depending on the age of the patient, the end goal is always the same – optimal spinal health.

Since chiropractors have the ability to effectively work with both the young and old, we should address the benefits for each age group. First of all, let us begin with the benefits of chiropractic care to the pregnant woman:

providing pain relief to the back, neck and joints;
helping to control symptoms of nausea;
and potentially reducing the time of labor and delivery.

For the newborn and infant, the benefits of chiropractic care include:

better sleep patterns,
healthy brain development,
and a strengthened immune system.

Toddlers can benefit with:

behavioral improvements,
proactive treatment for acute trauma from falls and accidental injuries,
and with correcting bed-wetting.

When the child becomes a teenager, regular chiropractic visits can help with:

recovery from a sports injury,
reversing text neck,
and improving poor posture.

While as an adult, maintaining good health is the ideal. Adjustments assist with this by:

reducing headaches,
stimulating the immune system,
and lowering stress.

Finally, for our senior years, visits to the chiropractor are beneficial for the following reasons:

to improve mobility,
to provide better balance and coordination,
and help with pain relief.

In conclusion, chiropractic care is truly for everyone. And, yet, while every patient has specific needs, the treatment given is modified to match them. This is the perfect partnership for an individual to live a healthy life.

Seems like this is one field that does not need to separate the care between an adult and child. As a result, you get all the care you need for your entire family under one roof.

Goodbye, Germs. Hello, Immunity. (How chiropractic care can support your immune system!)

Chiropractic medicine? What is this sorcery?

How does being able to more easily touch my toes make me sick less often?

Body, heal thyself!

It’s like muscle memory.

Proactive vs. reactive care

You’re one call or click away from boosting your immune system! To schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Damron, call 513.770.3434 or go here.

Reversing Sedentary Lifestyle Health Risks

Chiropractic Adjustment, Not Manipulation

Feet and Back Pain

Gout and Chiropractic Care

Myth #8: Chiropractic Care Doesn’t Work

Myth #7: Chiropractors Only Treat Back Pain

Myth #6: Chiropractic Adjustments Hurt

Myth #5: Once you start seeing a chiropractor you can never stop

Myth #3: Chiropractic Care Is Only for Adults

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