Well Adjusted

Sports Injuries to the Cervical Spine

2012-03-13T05:29:00.000-07:00

Athletes of all types may receive neck injuries of varying severity.

Sports provide the perfect “arena” for injuries to the cervical spine or neck. Contact sports such as football, hockey, wrestling and rugby head the list of offenders, but non-contact sports such as skiing, skating, diving and track and field may also result in neck injuries.

The most common types of cervical spine injuries in sports include:

Cervical sprains/strains – includes injuries to the ligaments and/or muscles in the neck, which may result in pain that radiates to the shoulders, back, arms and hands.

Fractures or dislocations – these are far more serious and may lead to spinal cord injuries that can produce paralysis.

Damage to discs - includes tears, ruptures or herniation.
The most serious type of cervical spine injury is a spinal cord injury, which can lead to an inability to move, numbness, tingling sensations, inability to control leg/arm muscles, and/or loss of bladder or bowel control.

Many chiropractors have garnered permanent positions on all types of school, amateur and professional sports teams, including the Olympics, and for good reason. Sports chiropractors, in particular, have received specialized training in the care of sports injuries. Many medical doctors have not received the necessary training to effectively diagnose and treat the neuromusculoskeletal problems that are so common among athletes.

Even wiser than proper care for upper spine injuries is prevention. And that’s where chiropractic care shines. Regular chiropractic care, along with proper strengthening, can help maintain this vital area of your spine and nervous system and help withstand the stress of competition.

Do you know one of those competitive types who should be seeing us? Urge them to see us. At my Chiropractic office in Plantation, I can quickly determine if they’d be a good candidate for chiropractic care. Remind them that Olympic contenders and professional sports teams already see the wisdom of today’s chiropractic care.

The Healing Power of the Mind

2012-03-01T06:41:00.000-08:00

Question: What do the spells cast by voodoo practitioners and researchers testing the effectiveness of the latest drug concoction have in common?
Answer: The placebo effect. The placebo effect means the more you believe you'll benefit from a drug or procedure, the more likely it is that you will experience a benefit.

From time to time we encounter skeptics who dismiss the sometimes amazing results our patients receive. Writing them off as merely the placebo effect, these cynics virtually ignore the mind/body connection that most forward-thinking health care experts are finally starting to recognize.

Placebo (from the Latin "I will please") is often a sugar pill or some type of sham treatment designed to specifically invoke the beliefs of the patient, and in double blind studies, the beliefs of the doctor. Some studies show that placebos are 30% to 40% effective.

And don't overlook the "nocebo" effect!

Nocebo (from the Latin "I will harm") is based on the effects of negative beliefs. Telling someone to get their affairs in order because they have two months to live is almost a death sentence! Being "scared to death" or "worried sick" can be equally powerful expressions of our self-talk.

Is the success that chiropractic patients enjoy merely the placebo effect? Hardly. Chiropractic helps newborns, infants and even pets, for which the power of the believing mind is difficult to explain.

As you know from personal experience, chiropractic results are real. If you know someone in Plantation that you think could benefit from Chiropractic, would you direct them our way? We'd love to help! I have helped thousands of Chiropractic Patients in Plantation over the past 23 years.

What Causes Muscle Cramps?

2012-02-15T08:20:00.000-08:00

Don't let muscle cramps sideline you!

Many endurance athletes and daily exercisers alike suffer the pain of muscle cramps, usually in the calves, either during a sporting event or workout session or directly after. What causes these painful cramps?

There are many possible causes for why the cramping occurs. Some of these include dehydration, low blood sugar, salt imbalance due to sweating, nerve damage, compromised blood flow, heat or cold and even a disruption of energy along acupuncture meridians. While many of these are general causes of cramps, there is disagreement whether they are actually involved in exercise-induced cramping.

Research conducted by South African doctors on triathletes, and reported in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, July 2005, found that none of the these conditions seemed to actually cause the cramping. Rather, by conducting EMG studies on the athletes, the researchers demonstrated that the most likely cause of the cramping was muscle fatigue or a tear in the affected muscle itself.

The EMG studies showed noticeably higher electrical activity in the nerves that controlled the cramped muscles. They concluded that the muscle cramps appeared to be caused by exercise-induced damage to the muscles themselves. If that’s the case, muscle cramping can be prevented by slowing down when you feel tightness or soreness in any particular muscle.

Regular chiropractic care, along with pre-exercise stretching of the muscles are probably the two best ways to avoid muscle cramping. Should you start to feel a cramp or tightening, grabbing your toes and stretching the calf may stop the cramp, but most often, the muscle needs to simply rest for a bit.

The French Paradox

2012-02-07T07:16:00.000-08:00

How do the French do it? They eat some of the richest, fat-laden foods in the world, yet they are some of the slimmest people in the world. In fact, only 7% of their population is considered obese!

The French eat more fat than we do, but they eat smaller portions and consumer fewer calories.

Red wine consumption is one explanation for this phenomenon. You know the French and their wines! One of the active ingredients in red wine is resveratrol, a grape compound from the skins of red grapes that reportedly fights cancer, heart disease and degenerative nerve disease. This fact alone led to an increase in red wine consumption worldwide.

One other thing about the French - they start out the day eating most of their daily food consumption, and then their meals get smaller as their day goes on.

Portion control seems to be another one of the main explanations for the paradox. Most portions are 25% smaller than what we’re accustomed.

Another thing. The French paradox is only a paradox if you assume that dietary fat is the major cause of obesity and cardiovascular disease. The French eat more fat than the rest of us, but they probably eat fewer calories, which over time can make a difference in weight gain.

You’ve no doubt heard the adage, “When in France, do as the French do.” Perhaps if we adopted their eating habits here, our obesity would diminish and our health would increase.

Heath Care vs. Sick Care

2011-09-27T05:52:00.001-07:00

Traditionally, we see doctors when we have some type of obvious ache or pain. Yet, waiting for these obvious symptoms to appear before finally seeking help is becoming an increasing burden on our health care system, economy and well-being.

And while it may be called “health” care, it’s actually sick care.

Chiropractors are leading the way with real health care that’s designed to keep you well. Not surprising, it’s called wellness care. And the preliminary research is astonishing!

A study published in a 1996 edition of Topics in Clinical Chiropractic looked at a group of seniors aged 75 years or older. Subjects who were receiving chiropractic care reported experiencing better overall health and had fewer hospital admissions, used fewer medications and were more active than their peers who did not receive chiropractic care.

A more recent analysis published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics looked at 311 chiropractic patients aged 65 years or older who had been receiving “maintenance” chiropractic care for five years or longer. When compared with subjects who were not receiving chiropractic care, they had half as many medical doctor visits and overall had healthier habits.

Other studies further confirm what a growing number of our own patients have been telling us: it’s actually less expensive to stay well, than it is to get well.

Let us know how we can best support you and your individual health goals.

All Medications Have Side Effects

2011-07-18T08:49:00.000-07:00

When you fill a prescription do you take the time to investigate the potential side effects of the medication you are going to put in your body? Do you ask yourself, are the potential side effects worse then what I am taking this medication for? If your you are not asking yourself these questions, I hope that you start since over 100,000 people die each year in the United States from a bad reaction or overdose of a prescription medication. That is over 280 people per day!

Your body is a self healer and heals from inside out, not outside in. When you treat your body right, you should not need to take any medication. Is a fever an unhealthy reaction or a healthy one? Do you take medication to lower your fever. I am sure most of you reading this believe that a fever means you are sick or "unhealthy" when in reality a fever is your body's proper healthy response to an invading bacterial or viral infection. As long as your fever stays at or below 103.5, it is best to let things run their natural course. You will actually get better much faster. This is one example of how we are programed to think.

If you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, have you tried to resolve this problem by decreasing sodium and fat in your diet? Have you tried exercise? I know that this requires some effort, but the sad fact is by the time most people are 75 years old, they are on at least 6 different medications and some up to 12. To me this is insane! Think of the cost alone, let alone the fact that some of these medications are probably taken because of the side effects caused by some of the other medications they are on.

So...what is the answer? Take care of your health and stay off of medications unless your life depends on it. Watch your diet, exercise regularly, sleep 6 to 8 hours per night, drink plenty of water, keep your stress levels in check and get adjusted regularly so that your nervous system is functioning optimally. By following these simple recommendations you will have the best chance at living a long and healthy life.

Maintenance Care Saves Money

2011-07-13T09:01:00.000-07:00

Just like a Dentist can spot a cavity before you know it is there, a Chiropractor can detect a subluxation before the pain occurs. Maintenance care in Chiropractic is the same as going in to get your teeth cleaned along with a routine checkup with your family dentist.

A common trait that I have noticed among new patients throughout the years is that they have the signs and symptoms of subluxation, but often wait until the pain gets unbearable before they do anything about it. That is usually when they come to see me. In many cases it takes 2 to 4 weeks or 6 to 12 treatments before they feel considerably better. Then comes the big decision, do they continue treatment to correct and stabilize the problem or drop out of care because they feel better. Those that continue, experience the most benefit from Chiropractic care whereas, those who stop usually see the same condition return within a 2 to 6 month period. At that time they usually return to me and again do the 2 to 4 week regimen. That is another 6 to 12 visits.

Most patients who receive maintenance care come in once per month. The benefits are many including better nervous system function, more energy, better sleep and most important, no recurrence of their back pain.

So what is better, a monthly trip to the Chiropractor to stay well and be at top of your game, or coming in only when you are in pain for up to 12 visits in a month several times per year? To me the choice is obvious, especially when someone has been through exactly what I just demonstrated. Do you wait for the low oil light too come on in your car before changing your oil? Do you change your air conditioning filter regularly? So why would you wait for your pain to get so bad before doing anything about it? Are you going to be proactive or reactive when it comes to your health? The choice is up to you.

Red Red Wine....Salud!

2010-07-07T06:04:00.000-07:00

Here is some good news.......recent studies have indicated that there are many health benefits from drinking red wine. The main compound responsible for these benefits is Resveratrol.

Resveratrol is a natural superior antioxidant compound found in an abundance in red grapes (mainly the skins), grape seed extract, red wine, Japanese Knotweed, peanuts and some berries. A new study has also discovered that significant levels of resveratrol can also be found in cocoa powder and dark chocolate.

Amounts of reservatrol in a bottle of red wine can vary depending on the growing season and the types of grapes the wine comes from. However nearly all the darker red wines (especially Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet and Shiraz) contain far higher amounts of resveratrol than what white wines or grape juice does.

Many of the benefits appear to aid in healthy cardiovascular system function. In addition, preliminary studies shows resveratrol improves insulin resistance and post-meal blood glucose, especially in older patients with impaired glucose tolerance, but the findings need to be confirmed in larger analyses.

In smokers, Acute smoking significantly impairs vessels' natural ability to relax, or vasodilate. Red wine, with or without alcohol, decreases the harmful effect of smoking on the endothelium - layer of cells that provide a friction-reducing lining in lymph vessels, blood vessels, and the heart.

Regarding blood clots: Red wine produces anticlotting, or antithrombotic, action. Light to moderate consumers of wine have lower levels of protein fibrinogen which promotes blood clot formation.

Red wine intake also reduces the risk of kidney stone formation.

In those diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease: Moderate wine drinking correlates with a lower risk for Alzheimer's disease. Researchers found that resveratrol, a red wine polyphenol, produces neuroprotective effects.

It lowers the total cholesterol count, and raises the high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels

While all types of alcohol have some anti-cholesterol benefits, the star of the show seems to be Cabernet Sauvignon. According to Yale-New Haven Hospital's nutrition advisor, the drier the wine, the better. Cabernet Sauvignon has the highest flavonoid content, with Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir varieties also containing a high concentration of flavonoids.

Both regular and non-alcoholic red wine were found to prevent cavity-causing bacteria (Streptococcus mutans) from adhering to tooth enamel. The active ingredient that does this is a flavonoid compound that also naturally occurs in cinnamon, apples, cocoa and tea. And a Canadian study found that red wine polyphenols can help prevent and treat inflammatory gum disease.

I also find a nice glass of red wine at the end of the day to be relaxing and stress reducing. My latest favorite wine is Le Crema Pinot Noir - 2008. Please feel free to post and share your favorites with others. Salud!

Ginger may reduce pain after exercise

2010-06-28T13:30:00.000-07:00

A recent study indicated that Ginger may reduce the pain associated with muscle injury after exercising, offering amateur and professional athletes a natural pain reliever.

Both raw and heat-treated ginger reduced the pain associated with muscle injury by about 24 per cent, compared with placebo, according to findings published in The Journal of Pain.

“The primary novel finding was that supplementation with both raw and heat-treated ginger attenuated muscle pain intensity 24 hours after eccentric exercise,” wrote the researchers, led by Chris Black, PhD, from Georgia College and State University.

“Consumption of raw ginger resulted in a 25 per cent reduction while heat-treated ginger resulted in a 23 per cent reduction in muscle-pain intensity 24 hours post-exercise,” they added.

The rhizome of the ginger plant (Zingiber officinale) is a rich source of antioxidants, including gingerols, shogaols, zingerones and other ketone derivatives. According to Black and his co-workers from the University of Georgie, ginger’s pain reducing effects are biologically plausible with both in vitro and in vivo animal studies showing an effect of gingerols, shogaols, and zingerones on inflammatory compounds.

“This suggests ginger may have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties akin to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,” stated the researchers.

Beyond sports, ginger has long been used as a remedy for nausea, especially associated with morning sickness. However, the Finnish food safety agency, Evira, last year recommended warning labels for ginger supplements, after its Risk Assessment Unit highlighted dangers for consuming them for pregnant women.

If you are interested in a healthy salad dressing utilizing Ginger, we will be happy to e-mail you Whitney's Famous Carrot-Ginger Salad Dressing Recipe.

Introducing the Well Adjusted Blog

2010-06-21T09:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Dr. Mark Herman's "Well Adjusted" blog. My assistant Whitney and I will be posting interesting information regarding how chiropractic can be of extreme benefit to your health. For starters did you know that 80% of all Americans will at some time experience back pain. Did you also know that Chiropractic Care is the safest and most effective approach for treating and resolving back problems. 9 out of 10 people using chiropractic care has felt that their treatment has been effective. According to the Western Journal of Medicine chiropractic patients were 3 times more satisfied with their care when compared to that of their family practice physicians. We would love to hear from you regarding your positive experiences with Chiropractic.