Common Conditions

Low back pain

Low back pain is a common health problem affecting 80% of the population at some point in their lives. The cause of most back pain is the cumulative effect of improper sitting posture, poor work habits, incorrect lifting, lack of proper exercise and other lifestyle related factors. Involvement in a motor vehicle or workplace accident could also result in low back pain. All of these factors cause stress and imbalances on the spine that could lead to pain. This is why people often injure their back by just bending over to pick something up. The spine was already compromised and just the act of bending was enough to set off the problem. When this occurs, the surrounding back muscles go into spasm to protect the stressed or injured tissues of the back. If you are experiencing low back pain it is important to have it examined by a chiropractor so that a proper treatment protocol can be initiated.

“Study confirms that Low Back Pain and Disability are reduced after Spinal Manipulation. It shows positive effects of preventive Chiropractic treatment in maintaining functional capacities and reducing the number and intensity of pain episodes after an acute phase of treatment.’

– Descarreaux, et al (2004), Journal of Manipulation and Physiological Therapeutics

“Patients with chronic low-back pain treated by Chiropractors showed greater improvement and satisfaction at one month than patients treated by Family Physicians. Satisfaction scores were higher for Chiropractic patients. A higher proportion of Chiropractic patients (56 percent vs. 13 percent) reported that their low-back pain was better or much better, where as nearly one-third of Medical patients reported their low-back pain was worse or much worse.”

– Nyiendo et al (2000), Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics

Neck Pain

Your neck has the job of balancing your head which is equivalent to a 10-13 lb bowling ball. Neck (cervical) problems can occur by a cumulative effect of improper sitting posture, poor work habits, lack of exercise, other lifestyle issues, as well as traumatic events such as a whiplash accident, a fall, or a sports injury. More and more people are now making their living at a desk.

Many of us spend 8-10 hours a day slumped over a keyboard and staring at a monitor. When we sit with our head in a forward bent position the ligaments that hold the facets together and the muscles in the neck are put under tremendous strain. This can lead to misalignments of the bones in the neck and possible injury to the disc. In addition to neck pain if there is spinal nerve irritation it can lead to headaches, eye problems, arm and hand pain, numbness and tingling in the arm and hand, as well as shoulder pain.

A study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that patients who received chiropractic care reported significant improvement in their neck function and a reduction in their neck pain, whereas those taking pain killers did not

“In our randomized, controlled trial, we compared the effectiveness of Manual Therapy (Spinal Manipulation), Physical Therapy, and continued care by a General Practitioner in patients with nonspecific Neck Pain. The success rate at seven weeks was twice as high for the Manual Therapy (Spinal Manipulation) group (68.3 percent) as for the continued care group (General Practitioner). Manual Therapy (Spinal Manipulation) scored better than Physical Therapy on all outcome measures. Patients receiving Manual Therapy (Spinal Manipulation) had fewer absences from work than patients receiving Physical Therapy or continued care, and Manual Therapy and Physical Therapy each resulted in statistically significant less analgesic use than continued care with a General Practitioner.

Conclusion: Spinal Manipulation is a favorable treatment option for Neck Pain patients versus Physical Therapy or continued General Practitioner.”

– Hoving et al (2002), Annals of Internal Medicine

Headaches

Headaches or migraines are frequently associated with disorders of the cervical (neck) spine. In many cases tight knots in the muscles of the neck, called trigger points, can refer pain the in the head region. A chiropractor will always examine the alignment of the neck and tissues of the neck when considering the cause of headaches and migraines. When cervical vertebrae are misaligned or not moving properly, the nerves and blood vessels in that are irritated and can cause a dull ache or throbbing sensation. Of course there are other factors which cause headaches such as, toxic fumes, foods, additives like MSG, caffeine and stress. Chiropractic adjustments have been proven very effective in the treatment and prevention of headaches.

“The results of this study show that Spinal Manipulative therapy is an effective treatment for tension Headaches. . . Four weeks after cessation of treatment . . . the patients who received Spinal Manipulative therapy experienced a sustained therapeutic benefit in all major outcomes in contrast to the patients that received amitriptyline therapy, who reverted to baseline values.”

– Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Boline et al. (1995)
A study on the number of treatments patients received versus the degree of Headache pain associated with Neck dysfunction and pain showed:

“… substantial differences were found between subjects getting 1 (treatment)/week and with those receiving either 3 or 4 treatments/week. Improvement was substantial in magnitude compared with baseline for the higher dose groups. Comparable differences between groups were found for Headache disability at 12 weeks. There was also a considerable reduction in the number of Headaches in the group having a larger number of visits….Larger numbers of visits produced greater benefits.”
– Hass, et al, (2004), Journal of Manipulation and Physiological Therapeutics

Disc Problems and Sciatica

The disc is a small cartilage pad that is situated between the bones of the spine. The soft jelly like centre is contained by layers of fibrous tissues. Each disc serves as a shock absorber for the spine. Spinal discs have a poor blood supply, they depend upon the circulation of joint fluid to bring in nutrients and expel waste. If a spinal joint loses its normal motion, and this pumping action is impaired, the health of the disc degenerates. Similar to a jelly doughnut, a healthy disc is flexible. A nutrient lacking disc is hard and stiff, and can be damaged easily.

This is how many disc problems begin. It is here that the disc can develop small fissures or cracks that allow the soft jelly like centre to protrude outward. The content of the “jelly doughnut” that “leaks out” can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots nearby. If the disc pushes against these sensitive tissues it can cause pain, tingling and numbness down the leg. Trauma or injury to the spine can cause discs to bulge, herniated or rupture as well. Sciatica is a set of symptoms including pain that may be caused by general compression and/or irritation of one of five nerve roots that give rise to the sciatic nerve, or by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve itself. The pain is felt in the lower back, buttock, and/or various parts of the leg and foot.

Sleep

Sleep is essential for good health, proper mental and emotional functioning. Often people do not feel well rested after a night of sleep. It is common for individuals to feel tired and fatigued throughout the day. Certain populations are particularly vulnerable to a poor night of sleep including: students, shift workers, travellers, people who are stress and those experiencing chronic pain. Most healthy adults need an average of eight hours of sleep each night. However the quality of sleep is usually more important that the quantity of sleep. With excessive tiredness or fatigue, there is an obvious disruption of functional ability with daily activities. Healthy sleep is required for your nervous system to regulate responses to external stimuli. Chiropractic is a healthy alternative to drugs and sleep aids which do not address the cause of the problem. Chiropractic adjustments will correct interferences within the nervous system so that your body can function better.

Chiropractic and Pregnancy

Chiropractic care is safe and beneficial throughout your pregnancy. There are many physiological and endocrinological changes that occur in preparation for the developing baby. Pregnant women have to adapt to postural changes, pelvic changes and a protruding abdomen which increase the curvature of the low back. These changes can result in misalignments of the joints of the spine and extremities. Chiropractic care helps to establish pelvic balance and alignment. According to the International Chiropractic Paediatric Association, women who receive chiropractic care throughout pregnancy to establish pelvic balance optimise the room a baby has for development throughout pregnancy. With a balanced pelvis, babies have a greater chance of moving into the correct position for birth. Other potential benefits from chiropractic care include, maintaining a healthier pregnancy, controlling symptoms of nausea, reducing the time of labour and delivery and relieving back, neck and joint pain.

Foot and Ankle Complaints

Did you know that 80% of us have some kind of foot problem!
The average person takes between 8,000 and 10,000 steps per day. In addition many of us engage in activities such as running and aerobic exercise. Prolonged standing and poor posture can also put increased stress on our feet and cause them to be overworked. The foot and ankle must provide support and shock absorption while at the same time balancing the body. Therefore dysfunction at the feet may have consequences throughout the entire body.

Take this test:

Do you stand or walk on hard surfaces for more than 4 hours daily?
Do you participate regularly in any physical sport? (Basketball, golf, tennis, baseball, bowling)
Are you age 40 and over?
Have you had previous injury or currently experiencing knee, back, neck or hip pain?
Do your shoes wear unevenly?
Do you have joint pain while standing, walking or running?
Is one of your legs shorter than the other?
Do you have knock knees or bow legs?
Do you have obvious foot problems? (Bunions, corns, flat feet, etc)
Do you “toe out” when you are walking?

Your specific condition will be determined by Dr. Tahir after a complete examination which may include: analyzing your gait, feet, posture, checking your shoes for improper wear and possible x-rays. Dr. Tahir will provide you with a conservative (non-surgical) treatment program to help you feel and function better. Manipulation (adjustment) of the foot will help stabilize your postural foundation and to help relieve related stress and pain. Orthotics may be necessary as well as muscle therapy.

Typical foot problems include:
Plantar fasciitis
Heel Spurs
Pes planus (flat feet)
Metatarsalgia (pain in the ball of the foot)
Bunions
Achilles tendonitis

Knee Pain
Knee pain and disability is one of the most common ailments of the musculoskeletal system. Problems with the knee can include: overuse of the knee joint leading to poor mechanics, traumatic injury from sports or a fall, and arthritic changes in the joint. Pain can be experienced during activity, stair climbing, running, going from a seated to standing position and poor posture. Conservative care through chiropractic and a proper exercise program can help to alleviate pain and improve function. There is evidence that supplementing with Glucosamine and Chondroitin can be helpful in the management of knee disorders.

Shoulder
The shoulder joint performs many different movements and functions. The main joint is called the glenohumeral joint; it is connected by ligaments and a group of muscles known as the rotator cuff. Problems with the rotator cuff are common causes of shoulder pain and disability. Shoulder problems can also be caused by trauma with sports injuries, wear and tear and arthritic changes or the joint. The treatment may consist of correcting muscle imbalance, restoring proper mobility and correcting misalignments of the neck. Electrotherapy modalities and therapeutic ultrasound may be used in the therapy process. It is important to do exercise advised by your chiropractor in order for a full and fast recovery. Common conditions of the shoulder include frozen shoulder and rotator cuff sprains and strains.

Wrist
The most common cause of wrist pain, especially for those who use their hands a lot, is repetitive strain injuries. Common conditions include: bursitis, carpal tunnel, tendonitis, tenosynovitis and epicondylitis. The soft tissue structures in the wrist and forearm area can become irritated and result in pain and inflammation.

People who are involved in the following work place environments are at risk for wrist injury:
Computer keyboarding
Hard gripping (machines, etc.)
Assembly
Pulling/Pushing heavy items
Carrying things with wrist extended (waitressing)
Using vibrational equipment

Giving your hands a rest every few minutes is important. If your job involves a lot of time typing, make sure that your workstation is set up ergonomically: monitor at eye level; keyboard tray to allow arms to fall naturally to your side while typing; and a chair with good back support, and foot stool to take some pressure off your thighs. Keep your elbows at a 90-100 degree bend and keep your wrists straight, inline with your forearms. Keep your mouse and other accessories within a small arc from your keyboard to minimize repetitive reaching. Lastly, stretch your wrists, shoulders, neck and back every hour.
There are several therapeutic approaches to treating acute and chronic wrist pain, including interferential therapy, ultrasound therapy, active release technique, joint mobilization, chiropractic extremity adjustments, and traction.
Nutrition
Tips to help you stay healthy!

Portion size is crucial when sticking with healthy eating:

A palm is equal to 3 ounces (ex. 3 ounces of meat, fish or poultry).

A fist is equivalent to a 1-cup measure (ex. 1 cup of lettuce or yogurt).

A thumb tip is equal to 1 teaspoon (ex. 1 tsp. of margarine).

Salmon, walnuts and flax seeds are excellent food sources of omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3’s help to lower the amount of lipids (fats such as cholesterol and triglycerides) in your blood stream. Omega 3’s are also anti-inflammatory.

Taking a B-complex vitamin daily can help fight stress!
Drinking 8 glasses of water a day can help you from over eating.
75% of your lunch and dinner plate should be filled with vegetables. The remaining 25% should be a protein like fish, chicken or eggs.

Recipe for a healthy shake: Blend your favourite frozen fruit (bananas, blueberries, cherries, strawberries etc.) and egg protein powder (or protein powder of choice). You can also add some coconut or your favourite raw nut. Make sure to always use water for blending to avoid excess calories. This shake is very filling and highly nutritious.