Inflammation and Your Health

Chronic inflammation can be a source of many health issues for many Americans.  Yet, many people don't truly understand what inflammation is, how it works, and what they can do to reduce its effects when it's not functioning properly.

Inflammation is a natural body response to injury or cellular damage.  It involves multiple biochemicals, immune cells, and other mediators in the body and, when triggered, utilizes the blood stream to reach its target destination.  When working properly, inflammation helps to break down and clear out damaged cells and tissues, help eliminate the pathogen or irritant that triggered the initial inflammatory response, and even initiate repair of the damaged tissue.  This results in the typical redness, heat, and swelling.

Without inflammation, our body's would be vulnerable to pathogens and increased destruction of our body tissues.  On the other hand, when inflammation becomes  chronic or results because of an immune system disorder inflammation can be a cause to pain, allergies, digestive issues, autoimmune disease symptoms, arthritis and even some cancers.

So how can we help our bodies reduce excess inflammation?  One easy way in acute injury is to ice.  Ice is a natural pain reliever and anti-inflammatory, helping to reduce heat and swelling in an injured area.  This is why icing a sprained ankle works so well, or why athletes sit in ice baths after hard training that results in micro-damage to muscle tissue.  Using ice for twenty minutes on covered skin can help reduce the lingering, painful effects of inflammation and speed recovery.

Nutrition is also a powerful ally in fighting inflammation.  A 2004 study found that obese patients having a healthful, balanced diet that helped with weight loss also significantly reduced inflammatory biochemicals, and did more to reduce inflammation than exercise or physical activity.  Some of the foods that have been found to reduce inflammation are fish, like salmon, dark green leafy vegetables, like kale, celery, and blueberries.

Supplements can help with inflammation as well.  Daily supplements with omega-3 fatty acids are the most common form of anti-inflammatory supplementation.  Other herbal or natural supplements, like turmeric and glucosamine sulfate,  have been found to reduce inflammation, but you should always consult with your doctor or pharmacist prior to adding these to your diet to ensure that there are no other medication interactions.

Finally, there are many services and treatment options at Oxboro Family Chiropractic that can help with inflammation.  Cold laser therapy is a pain free, comfortable treatment that has been shown to reduce inflammation in treatment areas to reduce pain and speed healing.  Chiropractic adjustments have also been found to decrease heat and inflammation from joint spaces in a 2006 research study.  Acupuncture also has been found to locally reduce inflammatory biochemicals after needling an injured area.

For more information on inflammation, pain, and what we can do to help you, call to schedule an appointment. www.oxborochiro.com


Sources
Niklas, BJ, et al, 2004: http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/79/4/544.short
Song, XJ, et al, 2006: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0161475405003246

Treatment of Concussion

Recent research performed at Oxboro Family Chiropractic focused on treating acute concussion symptoms with chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture.  In this study, the patient was having daily symptoms of headache, pain, dizziness, and shooting pain into the arms.  The symptoms were intense enough to be effecting the patient's daily activities, including work.

Treatment consisted of chiropractic adjustments, trigger point therapy of the neck and upper back musculature, and acupuncture localized in the shoulders, upper back, neck, head, and feet.  The patient's symptoms fully resolved after 8 treatments over 2.5 weeks and remained resolved at the time of a follow-up exam 2 months later.

This study suggests that chiropractic adjustments, muscle therapy, and acupuncture can be a successful treatment method to quickly reduce, if not resolve, concussion symptoms.  For more information about this study and if this treatment is right for you, contact our office.

Source:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Gergen+DM%5BAuthor%5D

For more information visit our website at 

www.oxborochiro.com

Tips to Prevent Injuries While Skiing or Snowboarding

Tips to Prevent Injuries While Skiing or Snowboarding
Most injuries can be prevented with proper warm techniques, properly fitting equipment, and knowing proper skiing techniques.  Often times fatigue following a long day of skiing as well as bad judgments can also be blamed for mistakes that cause injuries.  Here are a few tips to help avoid possible injuries:

1.  Proper Instruction:  Instruction from professionals can help educate snowboarders or skiers on correct warm up and cool down techniques, how to properly fit the equipment to the individual, and proper skiing etiquette and techniques.

2.  Appropriate equipment:  Equipment that is not fit appropriately such as bindings that are too tight or too loose can cause upper and lower leg injuries if used on rough terrain.  Protective equipment such as helmets, wrist guards, knee pads, and even hockey breezers can also help prevent both bone and soft tissue injuries.

3.  Awareness:  Most injuries occur after lunch and/or when fatigued.  Remaining hydrated as well as taking periodic breaks can help to keep the body and mind refreshed so the proper skiing or snowboarding techniques are performed.

Most injuries can be prevented but with any sport there is always a chance there will be a spill or possibly  injuries.  Some sporting injuries can include inflammation of the muscles, aches and pains to the spine and extremities, and a decrease in range of motion from tight muscles.  These types of injuries are treatable with chiropractic care.  Chiropractic adjustments to the spine or extremities along with soft tissue work and stretches will help you get back on the slopes quickly.

Reference:
http://www.multicare.org/home/news/article/doctor-offers-tips-to-avoid-injury-while-skiing-and-snowboarding

For more information visit our website at:

www.oxborochiro.com