Archive for July, 2009
Your Oxnard Chiropractor, Dr. Donald Bolt, knows that you may have concerns about getting adjusted during your pregnancy. If you are worried, you needn’t be. Not only are chiropractic adjustments safe during pregnancy, it is a great idea to get adjusted while you are pregnant!
You’ve probably noticed that, your body is going through a variety of changes, and these alterations will continue as the pregnancy progresses. A subtle change is your body’s increased production of the hormone elastin. This hormone is designed to relax the tendons in the pelvis. This easing gives the pelvis more flexibility during the birthing process to make delivering the baby easier.
This process, although designed to help the mother during labor, can produce much discomfort 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. In combination with the increased size of the baby and uterus, and you have the formula for severe low back pain. As a Chiropractor in Oxnard, Dr. Bolt currently sees a number of pregnant patients in his office for symptoms associated with their pregnancy, but most commonly it is for their low back pain.
One side benefit of having your spine and pelvis checked by a chiropractor regularly during your pregnancy is that there is proof that it can actually decrease labor time. Why is that you ask? Simply put, if the pelvis is aligned properly, the muscles contracting during the labor process are more efficient and won’t have to strain against misaligned joints.
Chiropractic is not only safe and beneficial in relieving the low back pain associated with pregnancy, but it relieves other symptoms like heartburn, nausea, swelling, and so on. In addition, should the need arise, a trained chiropractor, like Dr. Bolt, can assist a mother who has 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. Additional information on the Webster Technique can easily be found online.
To summarize, chiropractic is both beneficial and safe in helping to relieve many of the discomforts of pregnancy. Please go to see your local chiropractor, or if you live or work nearby, call Dr. Bolt, your Oxnard Chiropractor. Chiropractic can make you feel a lot more comfortable during your pregnancy, and it can even make the labor process easier!
Your Oxnard Chiropractor Offers Natural, Non-Surgical Relief From Carpal Tunnel Symptoms
Posted by: | CommentsDr. Donald Bolt, your Oxnard Chiropractor, has treated many individuals experiencing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. How can chiropractic care help CTS? Chiropractic manipulations that work so well with the spine can, by all means, be used on other joints in the body. Essentially every joint is subject to debilitation and range of motion limitations, most often as the result of trauma, excess vibration, or repetitive motions. That is why chiropractic treatments are such an effective, non-surgical answer to treating carpal tunnel Syndrome.
The carpal tunnel is positioned within the underside of the wrist. It is a tunnel, or passage, through which the Median nerve moves on its way to affect and enliven the hand and fingers. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the most common nerve entrapment disorder. As the name suggests, the problem takes place when a nerve is impinged or trapped between other tissues of the body causing inflammation of the nerve. This can happen if the size of the tendon enlarges as the result of irritation or overuse, or if the tunnel, itself, gets smaller because of a misalignment of the carpal bones.
Initially, the symptoms include pain, numbness, pins and needles, and tingling in the fingers and hand, particularly the thumb and adjacent two fingers. These symptoms are especially noticeable at night and in many cases wake people from their sleep as they have to sit up in bed and shake-out and/or rub the hands in an effort to decrease these unpleasant feelings. Moreover, the hands can feel clumsy or weak, and fatigue easily with activity. In the course of time, grasping small objects with the thumb and fingers can be markedly affected and, if left untreated, can develop into a complete disability of the hand.
In order to diminish the disabling symptoms associated with the advancement of CTS, accurate diagnosis and suitable management are vital. It would be wise for you to try chiropractic as your first treatment option if you are experiencing the pain and disability associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. You can find out more about safe and natural chiropractic care, and what it can do for you, by calling Dr. Bolt, your Chiropractor in Oxnard.
Do You Suffer From Tension Headaches or Migraines? Your Oxnard Chiropractor Can Help
Posted by: | CommentsDr. Donald Bolt, your Oxnard Chiropractor, knows thet origin of both tension headaches or migraines and how to eliminate their often disabling effects.
Tension headaches: We’d all agree that life can be a pain, now and then, and turn into a tension headache. The majority of people have experienced more than one. If you are someone who’s had a tension headache, then you know that it usually feels like a dull, aching head pain that is commonly accompanied by a sensation 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 periodically you may experience a loss of appetite.
Tension headaches are commonly defined as mild to moderately intense. The severity of the pain varies from one person to another, and from one headache to another in the same person. You may have tension headaches quite frequently or they may take place infrequently. If your headaches take place fifteen or more days a month for a minimum of three months, they’re viewed as chronic. If tension headaches are interferring with your life, chiropractic management may be the remedy.
Migraine Headaches: Migraine headaches differ from the average tension-related headache. According to the National Headache Foundation, migraines frequently develop on only one side of the head. The throbbing or pulsating pain is accompanied by nausea or vomiting. One-fifth of migraine sufferers have auras, visual symptoms an hour before a migraine attack, and distrubances such as pulsating light, lines or dots.
Are you a person who experiences the painful symptoms of migraines? If you are, you know the upsetting, disabling effects that this kind of condition can have on your life. The pain of a migraine headache can sideline you for hours, for days, for a lifetime, and conventional over-the-counter medications are not only ineffective but, like prescription drugs, they all too often have alarming side effects. chiropractic management may be the answer for you.
If you’re suffering from tensions headaches or migraines, it’s time to eliminate the pain and get your life back! Chiropractic care has been shown to be highly effective. Get in touch with Dr. Bolt, your Chiropractor in Oxnard today!
Your Oxnard Chiropractor, Dr. Donald Bolt, is an expert when it comes to knowledge and treatment of your entire musculoskeletal system. In his years of experience he has become convinced that most disc problems, including sciatica, can be alleviated. If you suffer from sciatica, you are, unfortunately, all too familiar with the deep pain that accompanies your daily activities. Sciatic pain often travels from the low back through the buttock and down the large sciatic nerve in the back of the leg, and even into the knee.
The clinical diagnosis of sciatica is referred to as a “radiculopathy”, which means simply that a disc has protruded from its normal position in the vertebral column and is putting pressure on the radicular nerve (nerve root) in the lower back, which forms part of the sciatic nerve.
Increased pressure on the intervertebral discs, as well as imbalances in the muscles encompassing the spine can happen during and after prolonged sitting, specifically in a awkward position. Often a particular event or injury does not cause sciatica, but rather it tends to develop as a result of general wear and tear on the structures of the lower spine. Eventually the lower spine loses its ability to function normally during everyday stresses.
Ultimately, the intervertebral disc develops small fissures, or cracks, letting the soft nucleus to protrude the disc outward. If the disc pushes on sensitive tissues, it produces the pain that is often referred to as a slipped disc. If the disc presses on the spinal nerve, an individual can develop sciatica.
With chiropractic adjustments and care, which often includes postural exercises, most disc challenges, including sciatica, can often be eliminated. If you are experiencing sciatic pain, it is essential for you to seek chiropractic attention. Call Dr. Bolt, your Chiropractor in Oxnard. He can help!
Your Oxnard Chiropractor Explains Why Proper Posture Can Help Reduce Knee Pain
Posted by: | CommentsFrom his years of experience, Dr. Donald Bolt, your Oxnard Chiropractor, knows that second only to spinal problems, knee pain and disability is one of the most frequent ailments of the musculoskeletal system. What causes this common problem? Often, insufficient mechanics of the knee, as well as impaired foot mechanics as the result of foot pain frequently cause painful knee conditions. Additional causes generally include overuse of the knee joint, ailments as the result of arthritic changes in the joint, and traumatic injury from sports and falls.
Non-trauma knee problems: Deficient mechanics of the knee joint and the corresponding stress on the soft tissues of the knee are, by far, the most common cause of non-traumatic pain. The patella or knee-cap is generally the area affected because many times the patella does not move sufficiently on the femur during bending of the knee generating abnormal stress on the tendons, cartilage and ligaments. This specific condition is normally called chondromalacia patella (CMP) or Patella Femoral Syndrome (Knee Cap Pain). This dysfunction is due to imbalances in the quadriceps muscles of the thigh that join to and move the patella. Imbalances in the muscles having to do with knee movement commonly originate from lower back ailments, particularly in the sacroiliac joint. Pain and dysfunction can also be caused by imbalances in the muscle groups that attach to the knee. For example, the muscles on the inside of the thigh, when strained and tight, can produce pain on the medial or inside of the knee. Mechanical knee pain is also produced by gait deviations such as pronation.
The correspondent pain from overuse is most often experienced during activity, particularly stair climbing, running, jumping, and after rising after prolonged sitting. Many women appear to be predisposed to painful overuse conditions for anatomical reasons, however such conditions are many times due 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 specific cases, a brace is adopted to assist with the adjustment of the patella or to secure the joint. Chiropractors, such as Dr. Bolt, are ideally trained to administer the correct diagnosis and care of these ailments.
Knee problems due to trauma: Traumatic injuries frequently occur during activities that involve running and jumping, such as football, basketball, and skiing. When the knee is extended or contorted beyond the capability of the ligaments that hold the joint together, tearing of these tissues can take place creating a sprain. Strains to muscles that give motion to the knee can arise when the muscles are torn during injury. As with a sprain, a muscle strain can range from a minor injury that requires little attention to a extreme injury necessitating surgery. Furthermore the two special knee “cartilages” located between the tibia and femur (called the menisci), which provide for fluid motion and cushioning, may also be torn during traumatic injury. This serious injury commonly requires surgical repair, or even removal if damaged severely.
Traumatic knee injuries can create serious pain and swelling and need prompt diagnosis and care. In most instances a competent chiropractor, such as Dr. Bolt, your Chiropractor in Oxnard, can manage these conditions, although there are some injuries that may necessitate the skills of an orthopedic surgeon. Nevertheless, it is crucial to stabilize the injured joint as soon as possible and to use ice on the injured area, if possible, until the injury can be examined.
Conditions such as poor mechanics and problems due to overuse, as well as traumatic injuries, need to be corrected at an early stage. Otherwise, the tissues of the knee joint, especially the cartilage, will start to erode. If tissue and cartilage erode, the bones will rub together unprotected and changes such as bone spurs can occur. This painful condition, known as degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis, is frequently progressive with age. Conservative treatment, such as chiropractic, can be extremely helpful in relieving the pain. Many individuals can additionally help themselves by keeping their weight down, doing exercises (especially in the pool), and wearing cushioned shoes or insoles.
Chicago Chiropractor and Arthritis
Your Oxnard Chiropractor, Dr. Donald Bolt, wants you to know as much as possible about arthritis and the benefits of chiropractic care. Please watch the video and read the information below. Then, call your chiropractor!
Arthritis is universally confusing to most people. Often the word, “arthritis,” produces fear of a future that includes crippled and twisted joints. However “arthritis” is a very general word that comprises many different conditions from the benign to the severe. For our purposes we will limit this discourse to the most common forms of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis and Chiropractic Care
Osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis, or degenerative joint disease (DJD) are the terms for the most common form of arthritis, which is also called, spondylosis, if it occurs in the spine. This form of arthritis is not limited to humans, but occurs in all mammals, and is due to the degradation of the cartilage that lines the joint surfaces. When joint cartilage is injured, the sensitive bone tissue that is normally protected by the cartilage becomes stressed causing degenerative changes in the joint. Sometimes the bone around the joint will proliferate and make osteophytes, or what are more commonly called bone spurs. These spurs can produce painful irritation to other tissues adjacent to the joint, thus complicating the already distressing condition.
As a rule areas of the body that develop degenerative joints are in the spine, particularly in the lower neck and lower back, the knees, the hips and the fingers. Previous trauma, certain occupations and activities, weight, diet, and heredity all appear to influence both the onset and severity of DJD.
Pain and/or stiffness in the affected joints are primary indicators of DJD. If the weight-bearing joints, such as the hips or knees are involved, ones mobility can be affected especially in the more advanced stages of the condition. In some cases, if the joint is sufficiently worn and the person can no longer walk without severe pain, the joints are surgically replaced with synthetic devices. Of course, one should attempt to manage the condition early on in ones life to avoid the need for surgery.
The best management of DJD is, without exception, prevention that involves taking care of ones joints at an early age.
- Making sure that all injuries to joints are correctly treated will help to avoid future problems.
- Shoes with suitable support and shock absorption should be worn by those whose jobs demand extended periods of standing or walking.
- Excess body weight can produce increased stress upon the weight bearing joints of the body.
- Care should be taken to protect knees from pain aad strain when kneeling on hard surfaces.
- The natural vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants included in fruits and vegetables are essential for healthy joints and a healthy body.
Recently there have been some studies that reveal that the nutritional supplement, Glucosamine, can help with DJD and can possibly help rebuild joint cartilage. However, it must be used over an extended period and does not work in all conditions.
Chiropractic adjustments are not only safe, but an effective treatment for arthritis, and can assist in restoring proper mobility and function to the spinal joints, thereby giving patients great relief. Your Oxnard chiropractor has many of years of experience in helping people with arthritis pain. In addition, chiropractic modalities such as joint mobilization, ultrasound, cold laser therapy, massage and electro-therapy may be used to aid in the treatment of painful and stiff joints. Occasionally, a brace is used to secure the joint and relieve pain. A chiropractor may suggest exercises such as stretching, yoga, tai chi and other gentle mobilizing activities to help maintain arthritic joints.
Gout
Gouty arthritis is generated by increased levels of uric acid in the blood and the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints. The most common joints are the big toes, the knees, ankles and wrists, and is often characterized by excruciating pain and swelling. A large number of people who develop gout are predisposed through heredity, though episodes are more often than not brought on by binge eating of inflammatory foods, when dehydrated or fasting, or after a major surgery or illness. Particular foods such as red meat (especially organ meat), certain seafood, legumes, and mushrooms have the natural substance, Purines, that are metabolized in the liver to form uric acid. Since individuals with gout cannot efficiently metabolize uric acid, the accumulation in the bloodstream produces joint problems. In addition to the foods specified and additional foods containing Purines, other dietary restrictions need to be followed including the avoidance of alcohol.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of systemic origin. The direct cause is not known, but it is thought to be due to a problem with the immune system. The most common joints affected are the small joints of the hands and fingers, the feet, knees, and shoulder, although other areas of the body can be affected as well. Morning stiffness aggravated by movement is generally associated with the disease. Further symptoms can consist of general malaise and fatigue, and in its more advanced stages other systems of the body may be affected. There are particularized blood tests to help identify Rheumatoid arthritis that can be easily run. Management includes medication and vitamin and diet therapy, as well as chiropractic manipulations. In addition, joint mobilization and modalities such as ultrasound, heat, electro-therapy and massage can help with the pain and stiffness associated the condition.
Dr. Bolt, your Chiropractor in Oxnard, is dedicated to supporting individuals in getting relief from the pain and suffering associated with arthritis.
Your Oxnard Chiropractor, Dr. Donald Bolt, is well-aware that a sedentary lifestyle, especially enforced by foot pain, can only lead to more health problems. Why? Because movement is good for the whole body. From your head to your toes, your good health is determined by how much physical activity you get on a regular basis.
So, why do so many people suffer from aches and pains in their feet? After all, aren’t our feet made for walking? Yes, but they weren’t designed for abuse. The average, healthy person takes 3,000-5,000 steps each day, not including activities such as running and aerobic exercise. But, often those steps are made by people walking incorrectly, with poor gait patterns and bad posture. In addition, a large number of people wear badly-designed, poorly-fitting shoes.
Moving the body through space incorrectly on feet that are inhibited from functioning correctly cannot help but to cause aches and pains not only in a number of places in our feet, but in other parts of our body. For example, if an individual over-pronates (walks like a duck) in a pair of poorly made or unevenly-worn shoes, or in a pair of high heels, that person is not only likely to develop foot and ankle problems, but will probably experience problems of the back, knees and legs.
One of the most well known foot problems is Plantar Fascitis (heel pain), which is usually caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a wonderful, multi-tasking band of connective tissue that encircles the muscles on the bottom of the foot, adheres the heel bone to the ball of the foot, supports the arch, protects the foot, and absorbs shock.
There are many factors that contribute to the development of Plantar Fascitis. One such factor is short and tight calf muscles. When calf muscles get short and tight they exert a strong pull on the back of the heel bone, producing undue stress on the smaller and weaker plantar muscles and fascia. How do calf muscles get short and tight? In addition to running and jumping activities such as aerobics, volleyball, running, basketball, and tennis, the wearing of high heels can cause the problem.
Other factors that contribute to Plantar Fascitis include sudden strenuous activity after a period of prolonged inactivity, abnormal walking patterns (such as over-pronation), improper footwear, walking on hard or uneven surfaces (especially barefooted), and obesity.
Once an individual develops Plantar Fascitis, the condition is frequently not easy to manage and can become intensely painful and persistent. If you are suffering from heel pain, Dr. Bolt, your Chiropractor in Oxnard, will be able to determine the cause of your problem and what chiropractic management is best suited. Such care might include ultrasound therapy, laser, joint manipulation, muscle stretching and strengthening exercises, special taping and, in some cases, orthotics.
Your Oxnard Chiropractor Advises Baby Boomers to Take a Few Exercise Precautions
Posted by: | CommentsDr. Donald Bolt, your Oxnard Chiropractor, wants you to get plenty of exercise, but he also wants you to avoid sports injuries. You know the old saying, “You’re only as old as you feel,” right? And though in general this adage may be true, specifically the young/old feeling seems to vary from day-to-day as we age, especially among baby boomers where sports and athletic activities are involved. In fact, orthopedic surgeons are seeing a “tidal wave” of 45- to 64-year-olds suffering from exercise-related injuries they’ve dubbed “boomeritis,” reports Dr. Ray Monto, an orthopedic surgeon practicing in Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, and a spokesman for the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS). “You can’t beat yourself up the way you did when you were 20 because it takes longer to recover,” he said.
According to the US Consumer Products Safety Commission exercise-related injuries and injuries sustained through the use of exercise equipment sent more than 166,000 people in the 45-64 age group to the emergency room, clinic or doctor’s office in 2008. Though middle-aged people today are a lot more active than their parents were, and are basically more fit and athletic longer into their lives, older athletes need to take a few precautions to protect themselves from injuries like rotator cuff tears, tendonitis and stress fractures.
Though most of the injuries in the Consumer report appear to be due to people not giving themselves enough time to rest up after tough workouts, Monto and AAOS offer a number of helpful tips to avoid exercise injuries: Check with your physician before starting any type of exercise program (your doctor can make sure you’re healthy and offer advice on sports and activities that fit your fitness level). Don’t do the same workout day after day (this will help to avoid repetitive stress injuries and eliminate chronic injury patterns). Work on your flexibility (it’s crucial to stretch and warm up before a workout, and cool down and stretch again, the AAOS advises). And, be sure to schedule days off into your exercise regimen, especially after a particularly intense workout.
So, your Chiropractor in Oxnard has this advice: Baby Boomers, even though you may feel young, it’s still wise to take extra precautions to protect your body when you’re active. After all, wisdom comes with aging.
Full article by Anne Harding (Reuters Health)
ORIGINAL SOURCE: American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, June 22, 2009.
