Younger generations growing up in the digital age are also joining the ranks of the “typing wounded.” Surveys at two universities found that 40 to 50 percent of undergraduates experienced upper-extremity pain from using their computers. Colleges do not build dormitory furniture to be ergonomically adjustable, said Dr. Benjamin Amick, scientific director of the Institute for Work and Health in Toronto, who was a co-author of those studies. “They build it to be indestructible.”

In addition to repetitive stress problems, sitting at your computer too long places your upper back in a sustained, stressful posture, especially if you tend to lean forward when you’re working. This also puts your neck at an unnatural and strained angle. Lower back pain, in addition to being generated by simply sitting for long periods of time without getting up and moving around, is aggravated by bad posture.

Problems caused by extended computer use can not only lead to an inability to perform your work duties, but can keep you from enjoying the rest of your life, too. Your Seattle chiropractor can assist in eliminating the lower back pain, upper back pain, and/or neck pain that you are currently experiencing. After that, it is important for you to become mindful of your body as you sit at your computer, and to give your body what it naturally needs. You can cultivate the habit of both sitting straight in your chair (as opposed to slouching) and relaxing your shoulders. This will help to relieve tension in your lower and upper back and neck. Take time to stretch periodically to ease muscle tension and encourage healthy blood flow. If your work station permits, sitting on an exercise ball can not only aid in keeping you in a beneficial posture, but can help to strengthen your core muscles as well. (Make sure that the ball is the right size so that when you are seated on it your arms are at a ninety-degree angle to your keyboard.)

Good posture for ease of movement, variety in the motions that you do, and short breaks to relax and stretch will go a long way in keeping your computer work (or play) pain-free.

Partial source: The New York Times, Health Review, June 22, 2009

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The survey, reported in the publication’s May 2009 issue, found that more than half of the respondents had “pain (that) severely limited their daily routine for a week or longer, and 88 percent said it recurred throughout the year.” The report stated that while many go to a primary care physician first for diagnosis and treatment, the majority were disappointed with the results.

On the other hand, 59 percent reported that they were “highly satisfied” with the care they received from chiropractors. The next highest rated practitioners were physical therapists (55 percent) and acupuncturists (53 percent), followed by “specialized” physicians (44 percent) and primary care physicians (34 percent).

Respondents were also asked to rate the types of treatments they received. Again, chiropractic/spinal manipulation got top honors, with 58 percent rating it as “helping a lot.” Spinal injections were next highest, rated at 51 percent, followed by massage (48 percent) and physical therapy (46 percent). Other highly rated treatments included prescription medications (45 percent), yoga (44 percent), movement therapy and acupuncture (both 41 percent).

According to a Dynamic Chiropractic article on that report, “Chiropractic ranked first out of 11 treatments, including massage, acupuncture, and exercise, in its ability to treat back pain. More readers said that chiropractic ‘helped me feel much better’ than any of the other therapies.” Prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs ranked eighth and 10th, respectively.

So, if you’ve been “highly satisfied” with your chiropractic care, you’re not alone! In fact, more and more people are turning to chiropractic treatment not only for back pain relief, but for a wide variety of painful conditions from sports and repetitive stress injuries to arthritis.

A public version of the report can be found on the Consumer Reports Web site.

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Most men and women who are overweight experience moderate to severe back pain. The reason for this is because the spine was not designed to haul anything that is more substantial in weight than the body is at its naturally healthy weight.  As an individual puts on additional weight, the spine begins to distort and to compress, creating a lot of pain and discomfort.  The pelvis can also be affected and become tilted forward forcing it to pinch the sciatic nerve. This is a major reason why people who are overweight tend to have challenges with their lower back. The pain is due to either sciatica or the distorting of the spinal column.

If this problem sounds painfully familiar, and you want to get out pain, certainly the thing to do is to discard extra weight that you are toting around, and your spine will start to regulate and return to its regular position.  Unfortunately, losing weight is hard and it can take time, even with the best of intentions. But, luckily you don’t have to endure back pain as you lose the weight. A chiropractor can offer the pain relief you’ll require to help you as you shed the extra pounds.

But, you will still need to lose the extra weight, and not having back pain will actually assist you in doing it. Two things that are simple (but not necessarily easy), but will be highly beneficial to you in losing the extra weight naturally are being sure to get some sort of exercise, even if it’s just a little bit per day, and modifying the food you eat so that you are taking in fewer calories than you are using throughout the day. Sure, you’ve heard about these two things before. Nonetheless, now that you’re aware your back is depending on you, it’s the perfect time to get truly galvanized for success.

Start exercising slowly, particular if you’re having challenges with back pain. And, most importantly, be sure to seek out some chiropractic care so that you don’t make the mistake that many people do, which is exercising into the pain. That will only make your problem worse. exercise, though sometimes uncomfortable, should never be painful or cause pain. That’s why seeing a chiropractor is important if you’re suffering from back pain.

Do basic stretching exercises and also concentrate on your core abdominal body muscles. Strong stomach muscles assisting in relieving back pain. Your chiropractor will be able to provide exercises that are best for you, personally. Within just a week or two of dedication to losing the weight that is producing your back pain and perhaps other health problems as well, you ought to begin to notice an enormous difference in the way that you feel.

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Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been performed in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years.  Nowadays, a large number individuals all over the world are experiencing relief from their back pain and other problems by going to see an acupuncturist on a regular basis.  In keeping with traditional Chinese acupuncture therapy, small needles are inserted into the body at specific points that are believed to affect various areas of the body.  In traditional therapy, only the needles are used, however on occasion and especially today, small electrical currents are passed through the needles into the body.  Although it may seem as if it would be painful, it rarely ever is and, moreover, almost all people feel tranquil and pleasurable sensations during acupuncture treatments.

Chiropractic

For over one hundred years, chiropractors, such as a Seattle chiropractor, (also called doctors of chiropractic) have been assisting people experiencing back pain and other health problems. A chiropractor offers therapy to those who are experiencing musculoskeletal and nervous system challenges. Chiropractic medicine addresses the deviations of the vertebral column that inhibit the operation of the nervous system. These misaligned vertebra can reduce resistance and immunity, hence creating new health challenges. An effective chiropractor has excellent observational and diagnostic skills that aid in uncovering physical anomalies and joint conditions. Many chiropractors employ neurological tests and orthopedic examinations. Some will analyze the posture of a person in order to identify postural deviations, and may also study someone’s gait to pinpoint faulty movement patterns. Chiropractic therapy non-surgical, drug-free treatment and in addtion will offer advice and provide education regarding the benefits of individual lifestyle changes, such as in exercise and nutrition.

So, if you are experiencing back pain, headaches, neck pain, hip pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, balance challenges, or arthritis, and you’ve tried a number of other things and they haven’t worked, chiropractic and acupuncture may be able to help.  One way to find out  for sure is to go in to see a good chiropractor or acupuncturist, and to permit them to tell you precisely what they are going to be able to do for you.  It’s very possible that you will experience some relief from your suffering even after only one visit.  With successive visits, you will make more advancements and improvements, and it is likely that you will find that these natural treatments work best for your back pain.

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When the body is viewed from behind, a normal spine looks straight without much disparity from laterally.Scoliosis is a disorder that is commonly associated with a lateral, or side-to-side, curvature of the spine.The condition shouldn’t be confused with unsatisfactory posture, even though it often gives the appearance that the individual is leaning to one side. Expressed by both lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebra, this puzzling deformity oftentimes creates a characteristic “rib hump” in the mid or thoracic spine. This is created by the vertebrae in the zone of the major curve rotating toward the concavity and pushing their attached ribs posterior hence creating the symptomatic rib hump seen in thoracic scoliosis. If the thoracic curve and rib rotation are severe, more than 70 degrees, pulmonary and cardiac function can be interfered with. This degree of curve and resulting cardiac and pulmonary changes are oftentimes seen later in life in untreated severe idiopathic infantile and juvenile scoliosis patients and, as such, present a threat to life.

Anatomy

If you were to view the trunk from a side view, the spine would reveal four normal curves: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. In the lower spine there is a natural “C-shaped” curve called swayback or lordosis, while the thoracic curve in the chest vicinity has a “reverse C” called a kyphosis. Increased kyphosis in the thoracic area is called hyperkyphosis, while increased swayback is termed, hyperlordosis. Alterations from normal that are visible from a side view frequently accompany scoliosis changes. Postural exercises can eliminate some round back deformities that are simply due to bad posture. A small number of individuals with kyphosis have more rigid deformities than the postural type, which are coincidental with vertebral deformity. This class of deformity, called Scheuermann’s kyphosis, is much harder to treat than postural kyphosis, and it’s cause is unknown.

Even a layman can help to identify a child or grownup with scoliosis merely by observing the person in a standing position, preferably without a shirt and in boxers, and observing the following:

• One shoulder may be more elevated than the other.

• One scapula (shoulder blade) may be raised or more prominent than the other.

• With the arms hanging loosely at the sides, there may be more space between the arm and the body on one side.

• One hip may look to be more elevated or more pronounced than the other.

• The head is not aligned with the pelvis.

• One side of the back appears higher than the other when the individual is analyzed from the rear and asked to bend forward until the the spine is horizontal.

The child or adult should be sent to a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, for further evaluation once scoliosis is identified. your chiropractor would be happy to help.

The most common type of scoliosis is, by far, Idiopathic, and although there are a variety of causes and many varieties, Idiopathic Scoliosis accounts for about 85% of all cases. “Idiopathic” means “no known cause” and is observed with equal prevalence in boys and girls in the mild or low curve magnitudes. This affliction can be sub-classified into infantile, juvenile and adolescent types, contingent upon the age of onset. Idiopathic Scoliosis commonly runs in families and may be linked to genetic or hereditary influences. However girls, for unknown reasons are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves develop in size and require treatment. The most general time for the development of Idiopathic Scoliosis is during adolescence when children are completing the last major growth spurt. Unfortunately, at this age young people are disinclined to allow their body to be looked at by parents and other adults, so it is very important to have this age group examined on a regular basis.

It is vital that if a scoliotic curve is found in a growing adolescent, the curves be monitored for any advancement by a periodic examination and on occasion standing x-rays. In ninety percent of instances, the scoliosis is mild and does not require active treatment, but increases in spinal deformity necessitate evaluation to determine if a brace or other management is required. In a small number of people, surgical treatment may be required.~Surgery may be needed for a small number of patients.

Brace support (orthosis) is recommended for both juvenile and adolescent children when an increase in their scoliosis or kyphosis is discovered, or when new cases of moderate scoliosis or abnormal kyphosis are discovered. There are a number of styles of braces, all made to prevent curves from increasing through acting as a buttress for the spine during active skeletal growth. Braces will not usually make the spine completely straight, and cannot always keep a curve from increasing. But, bracing is effectual in stopping curve progression in an impressive portion of skeletally-immature adolescents.

Scoliosis has no simple answer. The majority of cases, even though regularly monitored, are not actively treated. Severe conditions are sometimes treated surgically, but the standard medical treatment for moderate cases is a brace. You may want to see your local chiropractor first.

Specialized exercise, electric stimulation of spinal muscles, nutritional programs, and chiropractic treatments are among many therapies used besides bracing. It looks as if the most effective results have been sustained with a multi-faceted approach to the management of this affliction.

There are chiropractors, that have excellent success managing scoliosis symptoms.

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What is chiropractic medicine? It is a treatment that assists in restoring balance, healing and energy throughout the body. When our bodies lack balance, the hormonal and stress response system are affected. Thus, chiropractic medicine works by alleviating pressure on the nerve roots of the spine, helping to relieve discomfort. It detects dislocation (subluxation) and promotes correction by encouraging the function, repair, coordination and communication of the nervous system. Chiropractic medicine is a non-invasive drug-free treatment that is performed by a chiropractor.

How is it performed? First of all, chiropractor treatment will vary for each patient, as different techniques may be used to help alleviate certain symptoms or health conditions. Therefore, a chiropractor will want to know the medical history of the patient and their current health problems. Once this information has been processed, treatment will then be provided.

Most chiropractors will use their hands to perform treatment; however, they may also use other treatment methods such as light, heat, ultrasound, electrotherapy and other special adjusting instruments. You will also likely be provided with information regarding a personalized exercise program, nutrition and lifestyle changes that can help improve your symptoms.

Is treatment painful? No. Most people find chiropractic medicine to be quite relaxing. What may be unnerving to some patients are popping sounds that joints make when they are adjusted. This popping noise is the sound that occurs when a gas bubble between the joints pop. It’s the same sound and feeling that happens when you crack your knuckles.

How can a chiropractor help during menopause? Chiropractic medicine can relieve a variety of painful and uncomfortable menopause symptoms related to estrogen deficiency including:
Â?Back pain
Â?Headaches and/or migraines
Â?stress and tension
Â?Neck problems

Chiropractor treatment is also considered beneficial for treating the beginning stages of osteoporosis. It is incredibly effective at restoring flexibility to joints and decreasing muscular tension and pressure on nerves.

Chiropractic treatment can provide relief fast, which is often why it is one of the most celebrated alternative remedies. That being said, you will need more than one chiropractic treatment. The average patient has eight annual visits, but this number will vary depending on the health concern.

Are their any risk? It is extremely rare for complications to occur during chiropractic treatment, especially if performed by an experienced and qualified chiropractor. Therefore, it is a low risk, non invasive therapy that is virtually safe for everyone.

How do I find a chiropractor? Although you don’t need to be referred to a chiropractor by your doctor, it is a good idea to first consult your health care provider to find out if he/she has any recommendations. You should also speak to others who have had chiropractor treatment to learn about their experiences and ask them about their chiropractors.

You can find chiropractors to help treat your menopause symptoms by checking your local yellow pages, phoning your local hospital, or doing an online search with your city and “chiropractor” as the main keywords.

Kathryn Whittaker
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/can-a-chiropractor-relieve-your-menopause-symptoms-125478.html

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