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Physical Therapy as Good as Surgery for Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

Physical Therapy as Good as Surgery for Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

Surgery is a common approach to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. But, physical therapy may work just as well, a new study indicates.

Researchers found that physical therapy — particularly so-called manual therapy — improved hand and wrist function and reduced pain as effectively as a standard operation for the condition.

Moreover, after one month, physical therapy patients reported better results than those who underwent surgery.

“We believe that physical therapy should be the first therapeutic option for almost all patients with this condition,” said lead study author Cesar Fernandez de las Penas.

“If conservative treatment fails, then surgery would be the next option,” said de las Penas, a professor of physical therapy at King Juan Carlos University in Alcorcon, Spain.

Also, one extra benefit of therapy over surgery may be cost savings, he noted.

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm of the hand, becomes squeezed at the wrist. It often arises from repetitive motions required for work, such as computer use or assembly line work.

Symptoms usually start gradually, with patients noticing numbness and weakness in the hand and wrist.

Surgery for the condition generally involves cutting a ligament around the wrist to reduce pressure on the median nerve, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

For this study, de las Penas and his colleagues followed 100 women from Madrid who had carpal tunnel syndrome. Half were treated with physical therapy and half underwent surgery.

For three weeks, the therapy patients received weekly half-hour manual therapy sessions — meaning therapists only used their hands. The therapists focused on the neck and the median nerve. They also applied manual physical therapy to the shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist and fingers. On their own, patients performed neck-stretching exercises at home.

After one month, the therapy group reported greater daily function and greater “pinch strength” between the thumb and forefinger compared to the surgery patients. After three, six and 12 months, however, improvements were similar in both groups. All participants experienced similar reductions in pain.

Study co-author Joshua Cleland is a professor with the physical therapy program at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, N.H. “Manual physical therapy may be just as beneficial in improving function and symptom severity as surgery despite the severity of their condition,” he said, noting that 38 percent of those in the therapy group had “severe” carpal tunnel syndrome.

“These manual physical therapy techniques are commonly used here in the United States as well and should become a standard of practice for physical therapists working with patients who have carpal tunnel syndrome,” Cleland said.

Dr. Daniel Polatsch is co-director of the New York Hand and Wrist Center at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. He treats several hundred cases of carpal tunnel syndrome each year, of which 15 to 20 percent require surgery.

Treatment should be decided on a case-by-case basis, Polatsch said. Mild cases may be treated with conservative approaches that can include splinting, injections, therapy and activity modification, he added.

“Surgery is necessary when there is muscle weakness or atrophy from the nerve being compressed at the wrist,” he said.

Polatsch added that this type of surgery is generally safe and effective.

Still, operations can have complications, said Cleland. He cited a previous research finding that “approximately 25 percent of individuals undergoing surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome experience treatment failure with half of those requiring an additional surgical procedure.”

According to the researchers, almost half of all work-related injuries are linked to carpal tunnel syndrome. And, more than one-third who undergo surgery for the condition are not back at work eight weeks later.

Because this was a small study focusing only on women, the study authors said that future studies need to examine men.

The study results were published in the March issue of the Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy.

Smartphone addiction now apparently has its own injury

Smartphone addiction now apparently has its own injury

You could do cartwheels down the centre of a bus or train in peak hour and no one would notice, thanks to our latest modern addiction that has us all continually looking down.

And apparently, because of this need to be glued to our smartphone screens, a new survey by the Chiropractors’ Association of Texas�suggests that it has created a brand new health disorder and, with no clear policy to help curb the issue, it threatens to put a strain on medical services.

According to Chiropractors, thousands across patients�are apparently lining up in droves out their doors complaining of chronic neck pain, headaches, poor posture and repetitive strain injuries in the wrist and hands � all blamed on the use of mobile technology.

Worryingly, according to their survey, 45 per cent of patients who visit chiropractic clinics on a weekly basis are teenagers. These bad habits are setting them up for a lifetime of complex back and neck issues.

President of El Paso Injury Medical Clinic points out, “These are patients who are constantly looking at their phone in a bent-forward position. Postural bad habits over time can develop into more serious health conditions such as spinal degenerative disease, osteoarthritis, hunchback and reduced mobility.”

But they aren�t the only ones suffering. The expectation from employers to be constantly contactable is also to blame. Dr Alex Jimenez, “It’s often the 25-45 age group I’m seeing now who have grown up using technology.

“I have one patient in his mid-40s who is experiencing onset of hand and arm pain and discomfort, he uses his mobile for work and regularly checks emails… Another patient who works in the finance industry experienced similar symptoms of chest and arm pain. Further investigation and x-rays revealed moderate degeneration of the lower cervical spine.”

Dr Jimenez hopes these findings will encourage policy makers to address the issue; “It’s estimated that by 2025, more than 5 billion people worldwide will be using smartphones. Already� 81% of smartphone users have their mobile phone switched on all of the time even when they are in bed or in bathrooms.

“We see smartphone addiction and text neck as a serious health risk and something that needs to be addressed.”

There is some advice you can follow to help avoid these issues:
1. Straighten your posture. Use a mirror to help align your neck and spine. The correct posture means your ear and shoulders should line-up.
2. Gentle exercises. If you struggle maintaining correct posture, do some exercises to help alleviate muscle stress and pain. Gently arch your neck and upper back backward, pulling your shoulders into alignment under your ears.
3. Look ahead. Instead of looking down, try raising your device to eye-level.

Common Fats are Making You Lazy and Sabotaging Your Health

Common Fats are Making You Lazy and Sabotaging Your Health

The types of cooking oils you eat may be sabotaging your health, making you lazy and setting you up to develop Type 2 diabetes, says a Canadian researcher.

Consuming high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) but not monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), can make you lazy and fat, especially if you’re a woman, says Sanjoy Ghosh, a professor at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus

For decades, heart disease was linked to saturated fats, which are found in meats and in full-fat products such as whole milk and butter. That belief caused the deliberate removal of saturated fatty acids from our diets, replacing them with MUFAs, found in avocado, nuts, seeds, and olives, and PUFAs, found in commonly used oils such as corn, sunflower, cottonseed, soybean, and canola. PUFAs are found in almost all convenience foods, including potato chips, cookies, cakes, and crackers.  

Ghosh and his collaborator, UBC biologist and data analyst Jason Pither, examined data from 21 European countries. First, they studied pre-teen girls. Second, they examined the blood glucose levels of adult women. They also included other details such as the amount of time they spent watching television.  

They concluded that there was a clear connection between the consumption of polyunsaturated fats and an increase in sedentary behavior, especially in the pre-teens, and an increase in diabetes among women.

“This data is extremely significant,” says Ghosh. “Nobody has made this connection and it’s time for an intervention. And if someone is beginning an exercise program without taking a close look at the fats, especially PUFA they are consuming, or changing what they’re eating, then it might be doomed to failure.”

The study was published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.

Recent studies have found that switching saturated fats for polyunsaturated fats didn’t lower the risk of heart disease — in fact, it may have raised it. A 2016 study examined the records of more than 9,400 people and found that while swapping saturated fats for vegetable fats like corn oil reduced cholesterol levels by 14 percent, it didn’t improve survival. In fact, those whose cholesterol was reduced the most had the highest risk of dying when compared to a control group that ate a diet high in saturated fats.  

Physical Inactivity Linked to Loss of Independence

Physical Inactivity Linked to Loss of Independence

Being physically inactive raises the risk of losing the ability to perform activities of daily living – both before and after a stroke – according to results from a long-term U.S. study.

“Physical activity reduced the risk of dependence in both basic activities of daily living (for example, dressing and getting across a room) as well as instrumental activities of daily living (for example, managing money or grocery shopping), which are considered to be more cognitively demanding,” said lead author Dr. Pamela M. Rist from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.

“These instrumental activities of daily living can be important determinants of quality of life among stroke patients, so it is important to find factors which reduce the risk of dependence in these activities as well as in basic activities of daily living,” she told Reuters Health by email.

Rist’s team studied 18,117 individuals participating in the national Health and Retirement Study in an effort to find out whether physical activity and body mass index (BMI), a common measure of overweight and obesity, could predict disability.

During 12 years of follow-up, the amount of physical activity people did was not associated with the risk of stroke, but it was associated with the likelihood of being independent three years after a stroke.

Those who were physically inactive at baseline were significantly less likely to be independent at that point, compared with those who were physically active at baseline.

Somewhat surprisingly, this difference between inactive and active stroke survivors was also evident three years before their strokes, researchers report in the journal Neurology.

Obesity, in contrast, was associated with an increased risk of stroke, but it was not associated with loss of independence during the follow-up period, regardless of whether an individual suffered a stroke.

“Individuals can reduce their risk of dependence before and after stroke events by being physically active, which in our study was defined as participating in vigorous physical activity at least three times per week,” Rist said.

The researchers recommend further study to clarify whether increases in physical activity might also improve outcomes after a stroke.

EPCSO Detention Officer Boxing To Mentor Youth: Sessions Set For Weekend

EPCSO Detention Officer Boxing To Mentor Youth: Sessions Set For Weekend

Related Articles

El Paso County Sheriff�s Office Detention (EPCSO) Officer Luis Trevino, along with WarriorsEdge Boxing are hosting a Boxing Skills Seminar Saturday, April 15th, and Sunday, April 16th, 2017.

Detention Officer Trevino and the staff at WarriorsEdge have turned boxing into an outlet to help and mentor children and teens. They use boxing to introduce children and teens to structure and discipline, not only inside the boxing ring, but in their daily lives as well.

The seminar will focus on footwork, defense, offense, speed, agility, strength, and discipline. The seminar will be open to all boys and girls from ages 7 and up.

The seminar will also feature the opportunity to train and meet WBO Super Bantamweight and WBC Featherweight, 2-time World Champion Daniel �Tarahumara� Ponce De Leon. Attendees will learn about Ponce De Leon�s struggles and climb to boxing success.

Proceeds will go to the Mentorship- At risk youth program for the purchase of uniforms, bags and pay for other seminars in the future.

To register for the seminar or for more information contact WarriorsEdge Boxing Gym at 915-740-4744.

 

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Skill:

Clear Complicated

Strength:

15 Moments to Locate Biggest:
Suspend Energy Clear + Energy Clear + Clear

Metcon:

For Time:
15-12-9-6-3
Burpee pullups (L3: C2B)
Deadlifts
(RX: 225/155)(SC:165/105)

*For RX and L3, pullup club ought to be above ranking reach

Additional Function:

1) KB Sumo Squats- 3�10
2) Cedar Store- 3�1-moment
3) Large KB Shrugs- 3�10
4) Dead Weighs- 3�1-moment

12 Warning Signs Of Hidden Inflammation

12 Warning Signs Of Hidden Inflammation

When most people think of injury or inflammation, they think of a sprained ankle or injured low back due to acute trauma.

However, inflammation is a far more serious health issue.

In fact, it can be said that inflammation is the root of all disease.

One may not even notice the immediate affects of chronic inflammation, but it can be there, particularly if you don�t eat properly or exercise constantly.

That�s because inflammation is actually the body�s natural response to stress�be it physical, dietary,� environmental and/or even emotional. Once your body starts to become inflamed, it places you at risk for everything from weight gain, allergies, migraines, and susceptibilities to more serious illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, gout, diabetes, Alzheimer�s disease and even cancer.

Even the healthiest among us will have some type of inflammation�if you live in today�s fast and toxin-filled world, you have inflammation. The real question is what do you plan to do about it?

 

 

 

Where Does Inflammation Start?

 

The process of inflammation actually begins in your gut!

People tend to overlook their digestive system as a source of disease, but it makes sense when you consider that our guts are home to about 70 percent of our immune system and where 80 percent or more of our IgA cells (immune cells) live.

Where inflammation comes in is when the permeability of this organ starts to vary depending on different chemicals and conditions.

This, in turn, allows things like toxins, viruses, and bacteria, even undigested food, to enter your bloodstream through the larger holes in this lining. This condition, known as a leaky gut syndrome (LGS), is key to inflammation and where things can start going downhill�fast.

Constant damage to your intestinal lining from the leaky gut syndrome eventually will destroy the essential microvilli � tiny projections that exist in, on, and around the cells in your intestine and help with absorption and secretion.

When damaged the microvilli are unable to process and utilize the necessary nutrients and enzymes for digestion, which means your digestion eventually becomes disabled. When this happens, your body essentially sends out an alarm and starts an attack on the foreign bodies, such as the undigested food particles or viruses, yeast, etc.

And as part of this response, it becomes inflamed, causing allergic reactions and eventually other symptoms (diseases).

 

Common Inflammation Triggers

 

More and more, research is linking food to disease. We know that certain foods are clearly not healthy, while others have shown to promote healing.

But there are also some foods�mainly the majority of those that make up the standard American diet�that can be considered �inflammatory foods.�

Today, there are food additives in basically anything that isn�t organic. And now, we are starting to realize that even some foods that would otherwise seem �natural� can also be triggers.

These inflammatory triggers include such things as refined sugar, chemical additives, GMOs, artificial dyes and anything processed. All of these essentially trigger inflammation in your gut and can lead to devastating health issues.

 

The Biggest Cause Of Inflammation

 

Food and chemicals are not the only triggers.

Stress is also one of the biggest causes of inflammation.

Probably one of the reasons we don�t always link stress to disease is that it takes time for it to wreak havoc on our bodies. But anyone who has been under long-term stress will tell you that is can be deadly.

Eventually, your body starts to give out and break down. But now that you know this, you can limit the damage by recognizing the 14 most common signs of inflammation before they get out of hand.

14 Warning Signs Of Inflammation

 

1. Chronic fatigue

2. Acne

3. Food cravings

4. Binge eating

5. Unexplainable weight gain (not associated with eating more)

6. Bloating

7. Water retention

8. Diarrhea or constipation

9. High blood pressure

10. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

11. Joint pain

12. Stiffness

 

How To Treat Inflammation Naturally

 

Diet is the most important stuff to look at when addressing inflammation. Before the invasion of drugs to treat everything imaginable, the food was considered medicine.

Hippocrates said, �Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.� These are words to live by, literally.

The only caution is that the food must be fresh, unprocessed and as natural as possible. The type of food you eat also determines the types of microbes that will grow and live in your gut.

Good microbes are necessary for proper digestion and absorption of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients in your food. Processed foods are the main cause of inflammation, so you will need to start by eliminating all of these from your diet.

Refined sugar and wheat are also big contributors. And if you have food sensitivities, which is highly likely if you have inflammation, foods such as gluten, and cow�s milk can trigger further inflammation.

A diet based on fresh, mostly raw vegetables, salads, good sources of protein, such as eggs, seafood, organic or grass-fed meat and poultry, as well as healthy fats that include omega-3 fats, fresh fruit and plenty of nuts and seeds (again raw is better) and plenty of probiotics, is what is going to heal inflammation for good. As a good rule of thumb, try to avoid any food that comes pre-packaged.

There are also many foods that have been shown to be especially good for fighting inflammation. Choosing as many of these as possible will help to speed the healing process.

 

Proven Anti-Inflammatory Foods:

  • Fruits
  • Vegetables
  • Whole and cracked grains
  • Beans and legumes
  • Healthy fats (organic coconut oil, cold pressed olive oil
  • Flaxseed and hempseed
  • Fish and seafood
  • Mushrooms
  • Grass-fed lean meats, organic cheese and yogurt
  • Spices (turmeric, ginger, curry, garlic, chili peppers, cinnamon, etc.)
  • Probiotics and fermented foods (kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, yogurt)

 

Inflammatory Foods To Avoid Completely:

  • Processed foods
  • Certain dairy
  • Processed meats
  • Refined sugars
  • Trans fats
  • Gluten
  • Soda
  • Lard
  • Caffeine
  • Alcohol

 

Other Tips

Drink plenty of filtered water as water helps flush toxins out of your body and keeps you hydrated. Try to reduce, if not eliminate all stressors in your life as much as possible. Make sure to get regular exercise and try things like meditation, aromatherapy, massage, and soothing music to relax your mind and body. And above all else, get enough sleep!

 

Bonus Recipe

The #1 Anti-inflammatory� smoothie

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup frozen pineapple or mango
  • 1 banana
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1 teaspoon chia seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon ginger
  • � teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon maca root powder (optional)

 

Call Today!

Turmeric Kills Nearly All Forms Of Cancer Cells

Turmeric Kills Nearly All Forms Of Cancer Cells

The ability of turmeric to fight cancer has been extensively researched. In fact, over 1,500 published studies show that curcumin, turmeric�s active ingredient, is an effective treatment for over 100 different types of cancer.

The fact that mainstream medicine hasn�t embraced turmeric as a non-toxic cancer therapy is nothing short of outrageous. But a new study, in which curcumin outperformed conventional chemotherapy drugs, may finally bring turmeric the recognition it deserves.

 

turmeric

Turmeric Gains Popularity From Growing Awareness Of Chemotherapy & Side Effects

Chemotherapy targets cancer cells as foreign invaders to be eliminated � an approach that ignores the root causes of the disease, and doesn�t help to create an �anticancer� environment in the body. Toxic chemotherapy drugs � which kill healthy cells and cause debilitating side effects � are not very effective against cancer stem cells, the �mother cells� that regulate the growth of tumors.

In fact, the result of these toxic drugs is to make the body even more susceptible to the cancer stem cells � spurring them to create even more treatment-resistant cells.

However, chemotherapy does succeed in killing significant amounts of cancer cells, and this is not to say it should never be used. But, the opinion of many integrative healthcare professionals is that it should be used as a last resort, not a first line of defense � especially when safer, non-toxic options are available.

Curcumin Makes Chemotherapy Safer & More Effective

In a 2015 study published in Cancer Letters, curcumin was tested in conjunction with the chemotherapy drugs 5-fluoroucil and oxaliplatin against colorectal cancer. Adding curcumin to the regimen improved the efficacy of the drugs � the curcumin inhibited cancer cell growth and even increased apoptosis, or cancer cell suicide.

Even more impressive, the curcumin appeared to help the chemo drugs specifically target cancer stem cells, reinforcing the drugs� cancer-fighting abilities while lessening the side effects � including the neuropathies that can be caused by oxaliplatin. Side effects from curcumin � on the other hand � were minimal, involving mild gastrointestinal upset and dry mouth. Researchers concluded that curcumin is a �safe and tolerable adjunct� treatment.

But this wasn�t even the most significant result of the study.

Stunning Finding: Curcumin Outperformed Chemotherapy Drugs

In a small subset of patients, curcumin alone was found to be more effective in reducing overall cancer cells and cancer stem cells than the pair of chemo drugs alone. In other words, curcumin went head-to-head with chemo drugs and outperformed them � a truly astonishing result.

Researchers credited curcumin�s multiple methods of action with its success. Curcumin not only directly killed cancer cells, but also induced apoptosis, inhibited the growth of new cancer cells on a genetic level, and prevented blood supply from reaching new tumors.

All this, while promoting health with beneficial anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and hormone-balancing properties.

Extensive Studies Attest To Curcumin�s Ability To Fight Many Types Of Cancer

As the researchers noted, clinical trials of curcumin in an oncology setting have targeted many types of cancer, including colorectal, pancreatic, breast and blood cancers.

In one study, colorectal cancer patients who were given 1,080 mgs of curcumin daily showed an increase in the amount of dying cancer cells, a reduction of inflammation, improved body weight, and higher gene expression indicating suppression of cancer.

In another study published in Nutrition Research, curcumin-supplemented lab animals showed a 40 percent decrease in the development of colon tumors. These results are supported by an animal model of colon cancer in which curcumin improved survival rate and colon health by completely eliminating cancerous tumors.

In yet another study, patients with pancreatic cancer who were given 8,000 mgs of curcumin a day showed increased survival time along with significant reductions in tumor size � in one case, up to 73 percent.

And, finally, in a study involving prostate cancer, curcumin was shown to cut in half the growth rate of prostate-specific androgen, a marker of tumor progression.

Turmeric Is Still Unapproved & Unacknowledged By Conventional Medicine

In spite of its proven results, turmeric is not approved by the FDA for cancer treatment � and does not enjoy mainstream acceptance in the conventional medical community. The reason, many say, is financial � with hundreds of millions of dollars invested in clinical trials, and massive profits to be made, big pharma doesn�t have much incentive to develop a treatment from a common kitchen spice.

In fact, the industry lobbies to make treatment of cancer by alternative means a criminal offense.

Having said that, we naturally suggest you talk to a trusted medical professional before using turmeric � for any reason � and, don�t stop taking prescribed medication unless advised by your physician.

It should be noted that in the past, turmeric�s therapeutic potential has been limited by its poor bioavailability � the fact that the body doesn�t absorb or use it effectively. But, the development of liposomalized turmeric extract has changed all that, increasing the bioavailability 10 to 20-fold and allowing the curcumin to begin its health-promoting and cancer-fighting work.

Hopefully, the research � presented in this article � will shine a light on the amazing healing potential of turmeric. We encourage every caring physician to do their own research � for the sake of their patients.

Editor�s note: I, personally, use a wonderful liposomal form of turmeric � which you can purchase here and, yes, your purchase does support our operations � at no extra cost to you.

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References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4510144
http://www.naturalhealth365.com/curcumin-prevent-cancer-1803.html

http://www.naturalhealth365.com/curcumin-cancer-cells-2009.html

Alternative Treatment Center

Alternative Treatment Center

More Americans are looking beyond Western medicine to help relieve their back, neck, and spinal joint pain, including osteoarthritis of the backbone. In this specific article, we discuss Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), which is also called Complementary and Integrative Medicine.

Interchangeable Terms

When an option (not mainstream) practice is combined with standard (mainstream) medicine, it�s called �complemental� or �integrative� health care. It�s called �alternative.� when it�s used in place of traditional medicine Nevertheless, these terms are frequently used interchangeably.

 

Complementary Alternative/Integrative Treatments

Although treatments might be combined you will find five general types of CAM therapies.

1. Alternative Medical Systems

Naturopathic or naturopathy medical care may include water therapy, massage, and herbal drugs.

2. Head-Body Techniques

Head-body techniques may help a patient with back or neck pain to utilize their head to change or restrain their symptoms in a way that is positive, therefore reducing pain.

3. Biologically-Based Therapies

Biologically-based treatments feature nature-based substances such as botanicals and dietary supplements to ease pain. Natural substances contain ginseng, ginkgo, fish oil, or Echinacea and could be obtainable in different kinds, including a tea, aromatherapy oils, syrup, powder, pill, or capsule.

4. Body-Based Practices

Body-established practices include different types of massage, body alignment techniques, osteopathic manipulation and chiropractic.

5. Energy Therapies

Energy therapies unblock energy fields or may help shift. Qi gong (eg, breathing techniques), Reiki (eg, stress reduction/relaxation), and magnets are treatments based on transferring energy.

Is Alternative, Complementary Or Integrative Therapy Right For You?

To assist you decide, look at the next points.

  • If insurance coverage is essential to you, be sure to consult your health insurance provider before you select a CAM treatment to make certain the professional is insured.
  • Learn as much as you can about the alternate treatment you’re enthusiastic about.
  • Take into account that although a complementary alternative treatment may be popular, that doesn�t make it correct for you personally.
  • Unlike mainstream medical care and procedures, some (if not most) alternative therapies are not scientifically validated by clinical trials and/or research studies. The amount of human players is frequently little, while there may be studies supporting a particular practice.
  • Simply because a material is natural doesn�t mean it can�t damage you, cause illness or allergic reaction, or a serious interaction with a drug. For instance, blood pressure can be raised by ginseng.
  • Always tell your treating physician about all of the herbs, vitamins and nutritional supplements (in any kind) that you take, particularly if you’re scheduled to get a neck or back process (eg, spinal injection, operation).
  • Select your alternative therapy professional with all precisely the same attention and concern you would for pain management specialist or a back surgery.

 

Call Today!

 

Sources:

Rosenzweig S. Overview of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Merck Manual. Consumer Version.� www.merckmanuals.com/home/special-subjects/complementary-and-alternative-medicine-cam/overview-of-complementary-and-alternative-medicine.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Health: What�s In a Name? March 2015. https://nccih.nih.gov/health/integrative-health.

Complementary & Alternative Medicine for Back Pain

Complementary & Alternative Medicine for Back Pain

Complementary and alternative medicine, abbreviated as CAM, is described as a variety of healing medicines and practices which are available outside of conventional treatments. CAM practices are believed to provide a much more natural and holistic treatment approach for the wide array of injuries and conditions that exist today. In fact, back pain is one of the most common complaint people turn to complementary and alternative medicine.

Many individuals have found relief from their spinal complications through the use of complementary and alternative medicine practices.

Complementary and alternative medicine therapies and practices can be utilized on their own to treat back pain as well as other symptoms or these can be combined with conventional medicine. As with any new form of treatment however, it’s essential for the individual to thoroughly discuss  the variety of CAM therapies that are available to them with a healthcare professional and determine which of the following would be best for their specific issue.

Common CAM, or complementary and alternative medicine, approaches for back pain include:

  • Acupuncture: Acupuncture is a part of traditional Chinese medicine and it is commonly utilized to treat a variety of painful conditions and their symptoms. This practice involves the insertion of very thin needles into specific pressure points on the body, ultimately helping to relieve pain and other symptoms. A current research study funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, or NCCAM, demonstrated that acupuncture can be an effective method for treating chronic pain. The utilization of acupuncture as a form of complementary and alternative treatment has long been controversial where some individuals believe it to be nothing more than a placebo and that patients experience pain relief only because they wish to experience relief. However, the NCCAM study provides evidence that acupuncture is an effective form of treatment.
  • Stretching and yoga: Yoga combines stretching exercises with breathing techniques and mindful awareness to help focus on the area causing the painful symptoms. Physical activity can help improve strength, flexibility and mobility while improving back pain.
  • Chiropractic care: Although it is considered a form of complementary and alternative medicine, chiropractic care requires a license for practice in all states. Moreover, chiropractors, or doctors of chiropractic, cannot prescribe medications but they can diagnose and treat back pain using chiropractic techniques and methods, such as spinal adjustments and manual manipulations. Chiropractors may also recommend a series of stretches and exercises according to the patient’s type of injury and/or condition and depending on the severity of their symptoms, to further help treat the individual’s back pain as well as speed up the recovery process.
  • Massage therapy: A 2011 study funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, or NCCAM, found that massage therapy can provide short-term benefits for individuals with back pain. When visiting a massage therapist, make sure to inform them about your specific symptoms in order for them to provide you with special treatment.
  • Herbal medicines: Herbal medications are available as capsules, tablets, teas and essential oils. Remember that herbs can interact with each other and with conventional medications, so be sure to tell your healthcare provider about any herbal remedies you plan to take.

Many people can often find it difficult to know which type of complementary and alternative medicine practice they should begin with, especially for a common complication such as back pain. Make sure to research all CAM specialists carefully, searching specifically for licensed practitioners, and be sure to ask your healthcare specialist for trustworthy recommendations of each. Your health depends on it.

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900

By Dr. Alex Jimenez

Additional Topics: What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic care is an well-known, alternative treatment option utilized to prevent, diagnose and treat a variety of injuries and conditions associated with the spine, primarily subluxations or spinal misalignments. Chiropractic focuses on restoring and maintaining the overall health and wellness of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, a chiropractor, or doctor of chiropractic, can carefully re-align the spine, improving a patient�s strength, mobility and flexibility.

 

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