Clinic Wellness Team. A key factor to spine or back pain conditions is staying healthy. Overall wellness involves a balanced diet, appropriate exercise, physical activity, restful sleep, and a healthy lifestyle. The term has been applied in many ways. But overall, the definition is as follows.
It is a conscious, self-directed, and evolving process of achieving full potential. It is multidimensional, bringing together lifestyles both mental/spiritual and the environment in which one lives. It is positive and affirms that what we do is, in fact, correct.
It is an active process where people become aware and make choices towards a more successful lifestyle. This includes how a person contributes to their environment/community. They aim to build healthier living spaces and social networks. It helps in creating a person’s belief systems, values, and a positive world perspective.
Along with this comes the benefits of regular exercise, a healthy diet, personal self-care, and knowing when to seek medical attention. Dr. Jimenez’s message is to work towards being fit, being healthy, and staying aware of our collection of articles, blogs, and videos.
Your schedule is jam-packed, and you’ve lost all hope of making it to the gym. But here’s some good news: You can still fit in a serious workout�even when you have almost zero�time. Really!
Research suggests that a 10-minute sweat session with�1 minute of high-intensity exercise (think�sprints, on foot�or a stationary bike) can lead to the same benefits�including�improved cardiovascular�health,�increased endurance, and fat percentage loss�as exercising at a moderate pace for 45 minutes.
If you’re wondering how that could possibly be, it’s all explained in the new book�The One-Minute Workout:�Science Shows a Way to Get Fit That’s Smarter, Faster, Shorter�($27; amazon.com). Author Martin Gibala, PhD, is the chair of the kinesiology�department at McMaster University and�the pioneering researcher behind�ultralow-volume exercise.
“We have this notion that it takes at least an hour to get in a good workout�more if you factor in the time required to get to and from the gym,” he writes. “My studies show that idea is nonsense.” Below, Gibala�shares two routines from his book that deliver maximum results in minimal time.
The One-Minute Workout
“[T]his protocol can be used by almost anyone who wishes to improve or maintain cardiovascular fitness in the most time-efficient manner science has yet discovered,” Gibala writes.
Peak Intensity:�10+
Duration:�10 minutes, with just 1 minute of hard exercise
1. Warm up with some light physical activity for 3 minutes at an easy pace.
2. Blast through a 20-second sprint at an all-out pace.
3. Rest with some light activity at intensity 1 for 2 minutes.
4. Blast through another 20-second sprint.
5. Repeat the cycle until you�ve completed 3 sprints.
6. End with a 2-minute cool-down for a total duration of 10 minutes.
Feel free to customize the sprint activity to any full-body movement that significantly elevates your heart rate.
“If I could only do one type of workout, it would be this one,” Gibala says in his book. “It includes some of the best elements of the most time-efficient workouts in this book, including body-weight training for upper- and lower-body strength and active recovery periods that keep the heart rate elevated for cardiovascular training.”
Peak Intensity � 10
Duration � 10 minutes
1. As a warm-up, perform 30 seconds of jumping jacks.
2. Alternate bodyweight resistance-training exercises with some type of cardiovascular exercise in repeating 30-second intervals. The bodyweight exercises should be performed hard, at an intensity of 10, such that you �fail� or are unable to perform any additional repetitions at the end of the 30-second period. Reduce the intensity somewhat during the cardio intervals in between, but the pace should remain vigorous, perhaps starting out at an exertion of 5 and progressing to an 8. So while these are �recovery� intervals in between the bodyweight exercises, your heart rate remains high throughout the entire 10-minute workout, providing an effective cardiovascular training stimulus.
3. The bodyweight intervals should incorporate upper- and lower-body exercises. One great combination is push-ups, pull-ups, and air squats. If you�re unable to conduct the exercise for the whole 30-second interval, just do as many as you can. Also, feel free to work in such other exercises as mountain climbers, burpees, or lunges.
4. The cardiovascular exercise could be cycling, climbing stairs, or running a predetermined �lap� around a park or even briskly in place. You could stick with one type of exercise or vary this throughout the workout.
And you�re done! Congratulations�you�ve just employed a variety of the most potent, scientifically proven fitness and strength-boosting techniques to improve health, in only 10 minutes!
Reprinted from The One Minute Workout by arrangement with Avery, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company. Copyright�2017, Martin Gibala, PhD
Interesting Facts About Peripheral Neuropathy That You Need To Know
Almost everyone is well aware of what peripheral neuropathy means as well as its symptoms. However, many people will be surprised to know that tingling sensation, numbness and pain aren�t the only symptoms experienced by people with peripheral neuropathy. The symptoms of this condition are subjective to the type of nerve that is being affected. The three main types of nerves include motor, sensory and autonomic nerve; each having its own symptoms.
People diagnosed with diabetes must be very careful when it comes to taking all the necessary precautions of peripheral neuropathy. According to top researches, estimates of 70 percent of diabetic patients tend to develop one or more symptoms of neuropathy. While some of the medications may help improve the condition of neuropathy, many medications have the tendency to worsen the situation. Moreover, medications to treat other diseases like cancer are likely to cause nerve damage that leads to peripheral neuropathy.
It is essential for people with this condition to not take the simple symptoms like numbness lightly as it can cause some serious problems with time. For example, if you are feeling a sensation of numbness on your feet then you will not realize it if you even step on a broken glass. For this reason, you must never ignore even the simplest of the symptoms as it can lead to severe results. You must visit http://www.neuropathycure.org for more details.
Unfortunately, there is no treatment of peripheral neuropathy that can completely diminish the matter. The treatments of medication and therapy can only contain the symptoms as well as improve the condition so that the individual suffering can be relived from intense pain and agitation. For this reason, you must not get your hopes up with the prescribed medical treatment.
This entry was posted in Health.
The Four Big Myths About Neuropathy
Can you recall the first time you were told you might suffer from neuropathy?
Chances are unless you already knew someone who suffered from neuropathy � you didn�t know much about the condition. You�ve likely learned quite a bit about the condition since then � but you no doubt came across false or misleading information along the way.
The truth is, there are still a lot of misleading rumors and false information about neuropathy out there. In fact � you may be surprised to learn that some of the information you�ve picked up over the years may not be completely true.
I�ve encountered a number of half-truths and misleading facts over the years. While some are harmless, others can send you down the wrong path or prevent you from getting the best treatment for your nerve damage. To help dispel these myths, I�ve put together a list of four half-truths, misleading rumors, and other misconceptions about neuropathy that a lot of people still believe.
Myth #1 � Nerve Damage is Irreversible:
You may have been told at some point that your nerve damage is irreversible. The truth is, it largely depends on the cause and severity of your nerve damage. No one case is the same � but for many people, their nerve damage can in fact be slowed and even reversed. This is especially true for those suffering from diabetic neuropathy or nerve damage resulting from a vitamin B12 deficiency.
For those with diabetic neuropathy, managing blood sugar is the single most effective step one can take to both slow and reverse nerve damage. For those whose neuropathy was a result of a vitamin B12 deficiency, replenishing the body�s B12 reserves can both repair and regenerate damaged nerves.
Of course, those with diabetic neuropathy or a B12 deficiency aren�t the only ones who can hold on to the hope of reversing their nerve damage. With the right treatment, I�ve seen individuals with various different causes of their neuropathy experience nerve regeneration and a reduction (and even elimination) of their symptoms.
Myth #2 � Only people with diabetes develop neuropathy
While it�s true that around 70% of people with diabetes will also develop neuropathy, it isn�t the only cause of nerve damage. There are a number of other causes, affecting people from all walks of life. A list of known causes of neuropathy include:
There is no prescription medication on the market that �cures� neuropathy. In fact, many of the neuropathy drugs on the market today were originally intended for other medical conditions, such as epilepsy.
Rather than cure neuropathy, the prescription drugs on the market today are designed to mask the pain. They act as a volume knob, temporarily turning down the pain levels � but eventually wearing off. As such, the user never gets permanent, lasting relief.
Not only that, but some independent studies have shown most of the common neuropathy prescriptions on the market today to be �largely ineffective�. In one study published by the Cochrane Library in 2015, researchers found that only 1 in 10 patients taking anti-seizure medications for nerve pain experienced a reduction in pain. And of the 10% that did have a reduction in pain, the reduction was minimal.
Myth #4 � Tingling, Numbness and Shooting Pains Are the Only Symptoms of Neuropathy
While these are the most common symptoms associated with neuropathy, there are many other problems that can manifest themselves if you�re suffering from nerve damage. Depending on the type of nerves that have been damaged, your symptoms could range from tingling sensations in the hands or feet to heartburn or indigestion.
Your peripheral nervous system has three types of nerves: sensory, motor, and autonomic. Each has a different function and the symptoms of your nerve damage will vary depending on which of these nerve types was damaged. In some cases only one type of nerve may be damaged, while in others multiple nerve types may have been compromised.
Common Symptoms of Nerve Damage (based on nerve type):
Sensory:
Pins and needle-like pain (sharp, painful sensations)
Tingling or numbness
Extreme sensitivity to touch
Motor:
Loss of balance
Muscle weakness
Loss of muscle control (i.e. difficulty gripping things, difficulty walking)
Cramps or twitching
Autonomic:
Dizziness when standing
Abnormal heart rate
Shortness of breath
Excessive sweating
Lack of sweat
Digestive problems
Bladder problems
Vision Problems
While there are many other myths and misleading facts floating around out there � these are four of the ones I�ve encountered most often in my years helping people suffering from neuropathy. Some of them can be more harmful than others � depriving the person that has fallen for them of the real information that could make a difference in their life.
What myths or misleading information have you been told over the years � only to discover the truth later on?
This edition of MRM Talking With is focused on Millennials. Stacie Sopinka, Vice President of Product Development and Innovation at US Foods shares with Modern Restaurant Management magazine her views on millennial dining and food trends and why it’s important for restaurateurs to understand this demographic.�In its new Spring Scoop, US Foods aims to help local chefs and independent restaurants create products and food experiences catered specifically for millennials. Some of the highlights include:
Globally inspired cuisines that feature authentic ingredients and international flavors
High-quality products that are both responsibly prepared and satisfy the taste buds
A new menu design offering that helps restaurateurs design top-quality menus
Under the banner “What Millennials Crave,” Spring Scoop features a lineup of 26 new products designed to help restaurant customers attract more millennial diners. Also featured are new menu design capabilities and a wide array of products that address several trends and product attributes important to millennials, including global cuisine, sustainability and portability.
What are some unique trends and dishes millennials crave?
Nearly half of millennials seek globally-inspired foods when dining out.
The demand for ethnic cuisine is continually growing. Nearly half of millennials seek globally-inspired foods when dining out. To meet this demand head-on, we�re recommending that restaurants add items to their menus that feature international ingredients and flavors. Spring Scoop includes products like Pacific Jade� Indian Curry, Thai Red Curry Sauce Starters and Chef�s Line� All Natural Chicken Shawarma to help give chefs and operators easy options to add ethnic flare to their menus.
Natural, organic and sustainably sourced foods are also very popular with millennial diners, with 65 percent saying that they enjoy foods that are natural or organic (The Hartman Group). As demand continues to grow, we�ve made it a priority at US Foods to develop products and responsibly sourced ingredients. Spring Scoop aims to build on the success of last year�s Serve-Good� line with other new, sustainable products like Chef�s Line All Natural Fire Grilled Chicken Breast and White and Dark Turkey Burgers that are vegetarian-fed and raised without antibiotics.
Stacie Sopinka
Why is it crucial for restaurants to cater to this demographic?
Millennials spend more money dining out than any other demographic, so it�s essential that operators understand their preferences and shape their menus accordingly. Studies show millennials spend on average $174 a month on food away from home, compared to $153 for other generations. But what�s really compelling about this demographic is how much they cherish the experience of eating out. Studies also show that an overwhelming majority of millennials will prioritize eating out, even when money is tight.
How is the millennial taste bud different than previous generations?
Millennials are twice as likely to risk danger in order to participate in an adventure. This behavior translates into food as well with bold and spicy flavors being millennial favorites. Extreme Eating can also take the form of participating in decadent offerings like fried chicken, ice cream sandwiches and poutine. Millennials have also redefined the term �healthy� as they shift their focus from low fat and low calorie towards food tribe favorites such as the paleo diet, vegan and gluten free offerings.
What was the process of putting together these new items?
US Foods has a dedicated internal product innovation team that is charged with researching and identifying consumer trends and eating habits to inform our ongoing product development. We have three Scoop launches per year (Spring, Summer and Fall) that average around 25 new products and each launch has a different theme or set of trends that we try to concentrate our product innovation around.
With two-thirds of the team being millennials, we were able to draw on direct first-hand knowledge and experience for this year�s Spring Scoop.
How do you feel they will inspire chefs and restaurateurs?
The new Spring Scoop products will help chefs and restaurateurs attract more millennial diners. These customizable products allow operators to design dishes in their own unique way, which keeps the menu independent and true to their vision.
How important is menu design for restaurants?
Nothing is more important that a first impression, and for restaurants, that first impression is often made through the menu. Recent stats from OpenTable suggest that 86 percent of millennial diners browse a restaurant�s menu online before choosing to eat there. Therefore, menu design should express the personality of a restaurant, be clear, and highlight the most profitable products.
We launched US Foods Menu in Spring Scoop to help restaurateurs design top-quality menus that highlight key dishes and engage diners.
What are some upcoming trends you are seeing?
Diners are increasingly eating on the run and also ordering their meals to go.� We think of this as lifestyle eating � snacking, eating at your desk and in your car are all part of the new norm.� Approximately 20 percent of meals are eaten in cars in the U.S. and with busy schedules eating three square meals is increasingly becoming a rarity.� This opens up opportunities in the foodservice industry for shareable plates, portable healthy foods that are individually wrapped and increased focus on making home delivery ordering easy for customers.
Fluoride is a man-made element that derives from fluorine. According to the declassified documents of the Manhattan Project, the U.S. military group which built the atomic bomb, fluoride was the main chemical utilized during the atomic bomb production. Tremendous quantities of the element were necessary for manufacturing bomb-grade uranium as well as plutonium for nuclear weapons throughout the Cold War.
Recognized as one of the most toxic chemicals in the world, the declassified documents distinguished fluoride as the principal chemical health hazard of the U.S. atomic bomb program, both for workers and for neighboring communities.
Scientists from the atomic bomb program later provided evidence demonstrating that fluoride can be safe for humans in low doses, after being secretly ordered to provide original proof useful in litigation against defense contractors for fluoride injury to individuals. The declassified documents also showed that the first lawsuits against the U.S. atomic bomb program were in fact not over radiation but over fluoride damage.
How Safe is Fluoride?
Fluoride continues to be identified as one of the most toxic man-made substances today, yet it can be found in our toothpastes, bottled water and infant formulas. Even vitamin supplements now contain fluoride. Additionally, fluoride compounds are being purposely added to water in many areas of the United States, a process known as fluoridation.
The practice of water fluoridation has been banned in various countries, including: China, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Hungary and Japan. Nearly all of Europe’s water supply is fluoride-free. In 2002, approximately 90 percent of the United States population was supplied water through public water systems where about 67 percent of that percentage received fluoridated water.
Fluoride is also added in a majority of toothpaste brands to help prevent tooth decay. Despite being used in toothpaste, fluoride has never been proven to considerably help protect teeth from developing cavities. Material Safety Data Sheets, abbreviated as MSDS, generally label sodium fluoride as a substance which is toxic by ingestion, inhalation and through skin contact, requiring that personal protection equipment for handling it should include safety goggles and gloves. Fluoride is more toxic than lead while being only slightly less poisonous than arsenic. Keep in mind that fluoride is utilized in many of the popular dental care products you use to brush and rinse your teeth on a daily basis.
The Dangers of Fluoride Consumption
The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, classifies fluoride as a drug because, unlike minerals like calcium and magnesium that we need, humans have no physiological requirements for fluoride. Research studies have shown that fluoride can affect the body’s normal production of hormones, can cause bones to become weaker and it’s been referred to as a neurotoxin, meaning its toxic to the nerves.
Sodium fluoride, which has long been known as an effective poison for cockroaches, is added to drops and tablets for the purpose of preventing tooth decay. However, because fluoride has been previously identified as a toxic element, fluoride supplements cannot be purchased over-the-counter, they can only be distributed with a prescription supervised by a healthcare professional. Ultimately, sodium fluoride is not a nutritional supplement, it’s a prescription drug and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. The FDA has never approved fluoride as either safe or effective.
Fluoride drugs have been prescribed for over 50 years but because the FDA has not approved these products as safe and/or effective, the agency called on various manufacturers to cease selling fluoride drops and tablets immediately. Removing the harmful substance from the market will help ensure the health of millions of individuals is protected, however, there’s still a bigger issue the U.S needs to address: water fluoridation.
Water Fluoridation and ADHD
A recent research study, entitled: “Exposure to fluoridated water and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, prevalence among children and adolescents in the United States: an ecological association,” published in the journal Environmental Health, discussed the association between water fluoridation and ADHD in the United States.
Fluoride Disrupts Endocrine Function
FAN’s Science Director, Chris Neurath stated, �Scientific and medical research stretching back to the 1920’s has demonstrated that fluoride can affect the thyroid. The levels of fluoride exposure known to lower thyroid function overlap with the levels of exposure known to occur in some people drinking artificially fluoridated water.”
Hypothyroidism is a very common medical disorder in the United States and it can develop severe adverse health effects. Decreased thyroid function in pregnant women has been linked to reduced IQ in their children. Furthermore, growing evidence suggests that fluoride, at levels within that of which individuals utilize and consume, has been associated with lowered IQ. Fluoride’s effect on thyroid function could affect this reduction in IQ.
Fluoride as a Neurotoxin
Over 100 animal experiments have connected the consumption and exposure of fluoride to a reduction in IQ. Approximately 31 out of 33 of the animal experiments which investigated the behavior of the tested animals also concluded that fluoride caused learning and memory issues in the subjects while 43 out of 50 of the people studied demonstrated that modest levels of fluoride negatively affected IQ.
About 27 of these studies were recently reviewed by a team from Harvard School of Public Health. Of these, 26 displayed a decrease in IQ, about a drop of 7 points while the average fluoride level in the water for 20 of the studies was only 3.52 ppm, lower than the current safe drinking standard in the United States for fluoride of 4.0 ppm.
Department of Health & Human Services Admits to Overexposing Americans to Fluoride
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, abbreviated as HHS, acknowledged that the fluoride levels which they once reassured were safe to use, is actually damaging children’s teeth. A major increase in dental fluorosis, characterized as white spotted, yellow, brown and/or pitted teeth, found in 41 percent of teenagers lead the Department of Health & Human Services to conclude that water fluoride levels should be lowered to 0.7 mg/L from the average 1 mg/L utilized in most communities. In about 10 years, the HHS will check children’s teeth to determine if the new level should be implemented.
Fluoride Causes Disease
In the 1970’s, Austrian researchers demonstrated that a concentration of as little as 1 ppm of fluoride could interrupt the proper function and structure of DNA repair enzymes by up to 50 percent. If DNA is unable to efficiently repair damaged cells, our tissues can begin to degenerate faster.
Fluoride causes the body to age prematurely due to the alteration in the enzyme’s shape. When an enzyme becomes ultimately distorted or twisted out of shape, it becomes incapable of performing its job. This in turn results in collagen breakdown, eczema, tissue damage, skin winkling, genetic damage and immune suppression. Basically, any type of disease imaginable can occur due to this distortion.
Potential Results of Consuming Fluorides
Acute Poisoning
Birth Defects
ADHD
Impaired Brain Development
Osteoarthritis
Bone & Uterine Cancer
Thyroid Disease
Perinatal Death
Immune System Suppression
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Essential enzyme inhibition
Lowered IQ (especially in young children)
Skeletal Fluorosis (leading to brittle teeth and bones)
Fluoride And Osteoporosis
Former science director of the National Health Federation, Dr. Yiamouyiannis, cited a study from the 1990’s where roughly 541,000 osteoporosis cases concluded the definite link between hip fractures in women over 65 years of age and fluoride levels. A wide variety of research studies have concluded that fluoridation is indeed associated with osteoporosis and hip fractures in older adults.
The process of bone construction is complicated and finely balanced. Since the 1930’s, fluoride was recognized as a main threat in the disruption of this essential process. Dr. Alesen, former president of the California Medical Associated explained what fluoride does to bone formation. He cited dozens of international scientific studies proving that fluoride has caused osteoporosis, skeletal thinning, fractures, rubber bones, anemia and rickets.
Fluoride also causes osteoporosis by creating a calcium deficiency in the body. Fluoride precipitates calcium out of solution, causing low blood calcium as well as resulting in the development of calcium stones and crystals in the joints and organs.
Testing for Fluoride Levels in the Body
In a medical laboratory, technicians are capable of measuring blood levels for the amount of calcium and potassium. Both hypocalcaemia, meaning there’s very little amounts of calcium in the body and hyperkalemia, meaning there’s too much potassium in the body, can indicate that a person has consumed or has been exposed to excess amounts of fluoride.
References:
Fluoride Action Network. Dental Fluorosis.
Schellenberg D, Marks TA, Metzler CM, Oostveen JA, Morey MJ. Lack of effect of fluoride on reproductive performance and development in Shetland sheepdogs. Vet Hum Toxicol. 1990 Aug;32(4):309-14. Erratum in: Vet Hum Toxicol 1990 Dec;32(6):527.
Fluoride Action Network. Gastrointestinal.
Martijn W. H. Pinkse, Maarten Merkx, Bruce A. Averill. Fluoride Inhibition of Bovine Spleen Purple Acid Phosphatase:? Characterization of a Ternary Enzyme?Phosphate?Fluoride Complex as a Model for the Active Enzyme?Substrate?Hydroxide Complex. Biochemistry. 1999 July 20. 38 (31), pp 9926�9936 DOI: 10.1021/bi990446w
Michael Connett, Tara Blank PhD. Fluoride & Intelligence: The 36 Studies. Fluoride Action Network. 2012 December 9.
Fluoride Action Network. Water Fluoridation.
National Institutes of Health, Endocrine Disruptors
FAN Study Tracker, Thyroid Health
Neurotoxicology and Teratology Jan-Feb 2015: 47; 96-101
Chemical Brain Drain
Fluoride Does Not Prevent Cavities
It’s essential that we no longer continue ignoring the amounting research studies and evidence regarding the dangers of fluoride consumption and exposure. Unfortunately, not only is fluoride found in our drinking water, it can also be found in reconstituted/dehydrated foods, foods cooked in Teflon pans, baby formulas and even in anesthetics.
In order to avoid fluoride exposure and consumption from your home water supply, invest in a good water filtration system to help properly cleanse your drinking water. Brita and Pur pitchers do not filter out fluoride, however, there are many affordable systems that will. The AquaSana system is a common system used for drinking water and whole house filtration. Also remember, your skin is the largest organ of your body. When you shower, your pores open up and act like a sponge, taking in chemicals from the water, including chloride and fluoride, both which can also lead to cancer.
If your budget doesn�t allow for a whole house water filtration system, don�t worry. You can pick up an inexpensive shower filter which can range from $40 to $50. It simply screws on to your shower head and it does a great job filtering out chlorine, fluorine and other harmful chemicals.
Don’t Use Toothpaste with Fluoride
And finally, make sure you switch your brand of toothpaste to one that doesn�t contain fluoride. Herbal Choice Mari Natural Tooth Gel doesn’t contain fluoride. Another brand which doesn’t contain fluoride is Dr. Brite Whitening Mineral Toothpaste. When it comes to your own body’s overall health and wellness, it’s up to you to take action to improve your well-being and eliminate your consumption and exposure of these dangerous substances.
For more information, 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.
Sciatica specifically refers to pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the leg, along the distribution of the the sciatic nerve down the back of the leg. Most commonly however, people will refer to any condition that causes back pain in association with leg symptoms as sciatica.
Common Causes:
True sciatica occurs when there is pressure on, or damage to, the sciatic nerve. This nerve starts in the lower spine and runs down the back of each leg. This nerve controls the muscles of the back of the knee and lower leg and provides senation to the back of the thigh, part of the lower leg and the sole of the foot.
As previously mentioned, the term “sciatica” is often used by patients to describe any condition where there is back pain together with associated leg symptoms. This being the case, there are a number of other conditions that will actually mimic sciatic nerve pain. Sacroiliac joint irritation (sacroiliac joint syndrome), lumbar facet joint irritation (lumbar facet joint syndrome), and piriformis syndrome all frequently produce leg symptoms, and are therefore commonly mistaken for sciatica.
Common Symptoms:
Sciatica pain can vary widely. It may feel like a mild tingling, a dull ache, or even a burning sensation, while in other cases, the pain can be servere enough to make movement practically impossible. Most commonly, sciatica effects only one leg.
Treatment:
Treatment begins with first determining whether a patient is suffering from true sciatic nerve involvement, or if they are actually suffering from one of the other conditions that frequently mimics sciatica. From there treatment is directed towards reducing inflammation, pain, and spasm, while restoring movement and function to the effected spinal levels. Once normal spinal mechanics are restored, patients are given a simple home exercise program in order to help maintain normal function and to help prevent re-occurances.
What is sciatic nerve pain? Sciatic nerve pain is one of the most tough [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUcGA-BvmIQ dolore sciatica] problems for physicians, also those experienced in treating back pain as well as sciatica patients, to determine as well as treat. Sciatica usually presents itself as a prickling and/or numbness, like the sensation one may experience with a pulled hamstring muscle mass, the biceps femoris at the back of the leg. The experience could be plain, almost an ache, with durations of prickling and/or tingling happening throughout specific activities. The prickling and/or numbness experienced, if not dealt with, may develop into a full-on constantly [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrFQWAtJtZU click resources] severe phase with discomfort capturing throughout the butts and also radiating down the leg. Sciatic nerve pain might influence one or both legs, typically one, starting as a pain radiating from some point in the lower back, the lumbar spine, after that throughout the gluteal muscle mass (the buttocks), as well as ultimately down the rear of the leg. In innovative instances, sciatic nerve pain gets to right right into the feet as well as toes, triggering discomfort as well as an eventual loss of feeling.
Remarkably, sciatica is not a details condition, it is just a catch-all clinical term put on a constellation of symptoms in order to explain a state the back pain victim remains in. In this instance, sciatic nerve pain is utilized to define a patient’s complaint of pain radiating across the butts, down the leg, and also right into the feet and toes … along with the connected tingling and/or feeling numb. Sciatica could be brought on by a variety of conditions, from stress and anxiety and trauma at a particular area on the spinal column, the reduced back or back curvature, to a much more general condition such as obesity or pregnancy. There are a number of other problems associated with sciatica, all needing varying degrees of clinical intervention and also treatment. A few of the conditions likely to present with sciatica are:
1. Osteomyelitis: An infection of the bone or bone marrow. Osteomyelitis might be debilitating and also in severe cases may also create death. It is tough to identify as well as might go undetected for a long period of time unless appropriate blood examinations are purchased and also the doctor is well trained in contagious diseases influencing the bones.
2. Growths on or near the spine: Lumps, particularly tumors or abnormal growth (e.g., scar tissue) affecting the nerves or nerve roots as they exit the spinal canal and intervertebral foramen, will certainly sciatic nerve pain or sciatic nerve pain.
3. Degenerative Disc Disease: Again, degenerative disc condition is not an illness anymore than sciatic nerve pain, called sciatica, is a specific problem. Degenerative disc condition is a break down of the IVDs, the intervertebral discs, and also is generally an effect old combined with the any or every one of the 5 primary elements influencing the spine as we age.
o Excess weight and/or obesity
o Muscle weakness
o Muscle Imbalance
o Poor nourishment and also diet plan
o Poor hydration or dehydration
4. Herniated (i.e., burst) or protruding disc: This problem might be particularly bothersome if the herniated disc or bulging disc is extending posteriorly (to the back) and right into the spine canal, or impinging on the nerve origin at the intervertebral foramen, hence putting pressure on the spine and/or nerve root; and, sciatica is the result in lots of instances.
Parkinson’s disease can cause tremors, stiffness and trouble with walking. But a new study suggests that regular exercise can slow the progression of the disease.
Even those with advanced Parkinson’s can benefit from activity, the study authors said.
The research included more than 3,400 patients in North America, the Netherlands and Israel who were followed for more than two years. During that time, Parkinson’s-related changes in mobility were assessed by timing how long it took patients to rise from a chair, walk about 10 feet, turn and return to a sitting position.
The results were published online recently in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease.
“We found that people with Parkinson’s disease who maintained exercise 150 minutes per week had a smaller decline in quality of life and mobility over two years compared to people who did not exercise or exercised less,” said lead investigator Miriam Rafferty, of Northwestern University and Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.
“The smaller decline was significant for people who started the study as regular exercisers, as well as for people who started to exercise 150 minutes per week after their first study-related visit,” she said in a journal news release.
The study didn’t look at what specific types of exercise might be best for people with Parkinson’s disease. But the findings suggest that at least 150 minutes a week of any type of exercise offers benefits.
“People with Parkinson’s disease should feel empowered to find the type of exercise they enjoy, even those with more advanced symptoms,” Rafferty added.
The study also found that people with more advanced Parkinson’s disease saw the greatest benefit from 30-minute-per-week increases in exercise. This finding could prove important in making exercise more accessible to these people. Currently, their increased disability may limit their independent participation in community and group exercise programs, according to the researchers.
“The most important part of the study is that it suggests that people who are not currently achieving recommended levels of exercise could start to exercise today to lessen the declines in quality of life and mobility that can occur with this progressive disease,” Rafferty said.
It may be tempting to latch on to the latest diet fad like juicing or going gluten-free to lose weight or achieve other health goals. But when it comes to heart health, doctors say sticking with old standbys like fruits, veggies and olive oil is still the best approach.
To see what kind of diet patterns might be the most heart healthy, a team of doctors and researchers examined results from more than a dozen previously published nutrition studies. Taken together, all of this evidence shows the best regimen for heart health includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, the study concludes.
“There is a great amount of misinformation about nutrition fads, including antioxidant pills, juicing and gluten-free diets,” said lead study author Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness in the division of cardiology at National Jewish Health in Denver.
“However, there are number of dietary patterns that have clearly been demonstrated to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases, including coronary heart disease,” Freeman said in a statement. “There is growing consensus that a predominantly plant-based diet that emphasizes green, leafy vegetables, whole grains, legumes and fruit is where the best improvements are seen in heart health.”
Based on the scientific data available, nuts in moderation, extra-virgin olive oil and lean meats can also be part of a heart healthy diet, Freeman and colleagues report in the Journal of theAmerican College of Cardiology.
To help avoid high cholesterol, one risk factor for heart disease, the study authors also recommend skipping or limiting eggs and other oils like coconut and palm oil.
Even though U.S. dietary guidelines released last year removed previous recommendations to limit cholesterol, the current research review still advises against eating too many eggs because they are associated with higher cholesterol levels in the blood.
Coconut oil and palm oil may be trendy, but there isn’t much data to show they’re healthy for routine use, the study also concludes. Olive oil does have proven benefits, but should be consumed in moderation because it’s high in calories.
When it comes to antioxidants, another diet fad, there’s no evidence that supplements can help the heart and some evidence that they may have harmful health effects. But the science does support eating whole fruits and vegetables to get these nutrients.
Juicing, too, may not be as good for the heart as whole fruits and vegetables if people end up drinking too many calories, the researchers note. Juices without added sugar may, however, make sense for people who don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables.
“The problem with juicing is that many individuals who drink these tend to consume more calories from added sugars (fruit, yogurt, milk) than they realize,” Dr. Daniel Rader of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia said by email. He wasn’t involved in the study.
Gluten-free diets that avoid ingredients like wheat, barley and rye are necessary for people with celiac disease or gluten allergies, but don’t have proven benefits for anyone else, the study concludes.
It’s possible that fad diets avoiding gluten without a medical reason to do this might appear to be successful because people who try eating this way to improve their health also do other things that are healthy like getting plenty of exercise and sleep and avoiding smoking and junk food, said Alvaro Hernaez, a researcher at the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute in Barcelona.
“They feel better because of the general improvement in their lifestyle habits,” Hernaez, who wasn’t involved in the study, said by email.
Fads diets, especially those that load up on meat or restrict too much food, should be avoided, said Samantha Heller, a nutritionist at New York University Langone Medical Center who wasn’t involved in the study.
“We would all benefit from eating fewer foods that come from animals such as ham, beef, cheese, butter and pork, and eating a lot more plant foods,” Heller said by email.
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