Most people take six to twelve thousand steps each day. If you’re a runner or taking Bart or Muni, you’re taking more than that.

Balancing your feet is one of the easiest steps you can take to stay out of the doctors office, including mine. If your feet aren’t balanced, your body is going to overwork with all those steps. Custom orthotics help support your three foot arches (yes, there is more than one arch) which in turn help to reduce the load on the low back. See more on the latest study below.

If you aren’t sure your feet are supporting you as best they can, come in for a complimentary foot scan at ProActive Chiropractic in San Francisco.

Shoe Orthotics for the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

ABSTRACT
Objectives: The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the feasibility of a randomized clinical trial of shoe orthotics for chronic low back pain.

Methods: The study recruited 50 patients with chronic low back pain through media advertising in a midwestern suburban area. Medical history and a low back examination were completed at a chiropractic clinic. Subjects were randomized to either a treatment group receiving custom-made shoe orthotics or a wait-list control group. After 6 weeks, the wait-list control group also received custom-made orthotics. This study measured change in perceived pain levels (Visual Analog Scale) and functional health status (Oswestry Disability Index) in patients with chronic low back pain at the end of 6 weeks of orthotic treatment compared with no treatment and at the end of 12 weeks of orthotic treatment.

Results: This study showed changes in back pain and disability with the use of shoe orthotics for 6 weeks compared with a wait-list control group. It appears that improvement was maintained through the 12-week visit, but the subjects did not continue to improve during this time.

Conclusions: This pilot study showed that the measurement of shoe orthotics to reduce low back pain and discomfort after 6 weeks of use is feasible. A larger clinical trial is needed to verify these results. (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2011;34:254-260)

Full study »

Most people take 6-12 thousand steps a day. If you’re a runner or taking Bart or Muni you’re taking more than that.

Balancing your feet is one of the easiest things you can do to stay out of the doctors office, including mine. If your feet aren’t balanced your body is going to overwork with all those steps. Custom orthotics helps support your 3 foot arches (yes there is more than one arch) which then in turn helps reduce the load on the low back as this study demonstrates.

If you aren’t sure if your feet are supporting you come in for a complementary foot scan at ProActive Chiropractic in San Francisco.

Shoe Orthotics for the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

ABSTRACT
Objectives: The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the feasibility of a randomized clinical trial of shoe orthotics for chronic low back pain.

Methods: The study recruited 50 patients with chronic low back pain through media advertising in a midwestern suburban area. Medical history and a low back examination were completed at a chiropractic clinic. Subjects were randomized to either a treatment group receiving custom-made shoe orthotics or a wait-list control group. After 6 weeks, the wait-list control group also received custom-made orthotics. This study measured change in perceived pain levels (Visual Analog Scale) and functional health status (Oswestry Disability Index) in patients with chronic low back pain at the end of 6 weeks of orthotic treatment compared with no treatment and at the end of 12 weeks of orthotic treatment.

Results: This study showed changes in back pain and disability with the use of shoe orthotics for 6 weeks compared with a wait-list control group. It appears that improvement was maintained through the 12-week visit, but the subjects did not continue to improve during this time.

Conclusions: This pilot study showed that the measurement of shoe orthotics to reduce low back pain and discomfort after 6 weeks of use is feasible. A larger clinical trial is needed to verify these results. (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2011;34:254-260)

Full study »

Women differ from men in structure and biomechanics and their feet are among the most different of the body’s structures. In spite of this, our healthcare system treats female patients’ foot imbalances and lower extremity dysfunction in the same way that it treats male patients’.

Feet Problems:
Women develop biomechanical problems and symptomatic condition in the forefoot more frequently than men do. Bunions (hallux valgus), hammer toes, callus formation, interdigital neuromas, and metatarsalgia are all more common in women according to the Journal of Musculoskeletal Medicine. Many of these conditions have been linked to abnormal biomechanical forces in the feet, which is why, at ProActive Chiropractic, we look at your feet at every visit.

During your initial exam, we scan your feet to determine if foot imbalances may be contributing to biomechanical issues.

This information helps us get to the root of the problem and resolve it quickly.

No, the research didn’t focus on Mercy. It actually focused on Judo athletes showing that “grip strength of national level judo athletes receiving chiropractic adjustments improved compared to those receiving sham (or a placebo).”

There are many reasons you might want to improve your grip strength: Mercy, Judo, rock climbing, or fighting back against that aggressive hand shaker at work who crushes your hand to prove he’s “tough.” Regardless of your reason, chiropractic adjustments will help your nerves function more efficiently and that will improve your grip strength. Call ProActive Chiropractic in San Francisco if you want to improve your hand/wrist strength and get back to work and back to play.

Everyone knows that exercise has major health benefits. Now, new research suggests that exercise improves work performance, with specific benefit to memory and the ability to multitask. So if you needed another reason to hop on a bike, now you have it.

Granted, health experts have known for quite some time about the positive impact exercise has on the brain. But until recently, they knew very little about how this happens. Now they think they do: Exercise increases the production of a specific protein that improves recall and overall brain function.

And you don’t need to run a marathon or bike 50 miles to reap its rewards. A recent New York Times article cites a study which found that just five minutes of exercise several days per week, over the course of five weeks, markedly improved rats’ memory function.

But is strenuous exercise more beneficial than light exercise? Not necessarily. In fact, Charles Hillman, a kinesiology professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, says studies have shown that the lightest and heaviest doses of physical activity have the least impact. He also points to research which suggests that, for cognitive functioning, moderate doses of walking can have significant benefits over time.

If you walk or bike to work, take on your most challenging tasks right when you get to the office, since the benefits of exercise on brain function start to wear off after about an hour (sorry, procrastinators).

And if walking or biking to work isn’t an option, consider taking a brisk walk at lunchtime. You’ll get fresh air and the exercise which’ll allow you to crank up your afternoon productivity.

written by Green Life/Sierra Club

Read more at Foot Levelers website or come in and get a foot scan today free.

CARMICHAEL, Calif. – Nov. 3, 2011 – As the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate their 11th World Series title and the San Francisco Giants relive their 2010 championship, the Foundation for Chiropracitc Progress points to the role of chiropractic care in promoting faster recoveries, reduced risk of injury and enhanced on-field performance. Chiropractic team doctors Ralph Filson, D.C. of the Cardinals, and Michael Gazdar, D.C. of the San Francisco Giants, explain that regular chiropractic care provides baseball players with proper spinal function and balance to reduce the risk of spine-related injuries, enhance recovery time and improve overall performance.

Dr. Filson, who began providing care to the players in 1990 through its then manager, Joe Torre, Major League Baseball (MLB) legend, says, “Chiropractic care is always available to players of the Cardinals and the visiting team, it is utilized by many. With chiropractic care, players report that they feel better and have better endurance. Body mechanics are significantly improved, enabling better pitching, hitting and throwing.”

In 2006, Dr. Filson was awarded a World Series ring for his role with the Cardinals, and was proud to play a similar role in the 2011 championship. He also treated David Eckstein, Most Valuable Player on the Cardinals 2006 World Series Team, citing the importance of chiropractic care in helping players to achieve optimal performance: “I am proud to have provided chiropractic care to the Cardinals for so many years, and gratified that chiropractic has contributed to the players’ optimal performance during every game. We are all excited about bringing home the 2011 World Series title.”

According to Dr. Gazdar, who began working with the San Francisco Giants in 2008, and was seen by millions celebrating at the pitcher’s mound with the players following the game-ending play that resulted in the Giants World Series title, “Chiropractic care was a significant factor in the San Francisco Giants 2010 victory. One of the Giants’ pitchers relied upon chiropractic adjustments for all of his pitching starts, and virtually every player benefited from chiropractic services.”

Both doctors express their enthusiasm for the inclusion of chiropractic care for virtually every team participating in professional sports, including golf, football, hockey, basketball and baseball.

If you want an excellent chiropractor in San Francisco to take care of your sports injuries, ProActive Chiropractic is the place for you. Dr. Cohen has extensive training in sports chiropractic and returning you to play quickly. Call 415-762-8141 or visit us at www.ProActiveSF.com to get back to work, back to Play!

Posted via email from ProActive Chiropractic in San Francisco, California

I am studying for my advanced sports chiropractor certification (CCSP) and ran across this interesting information. I know many of my patients bike to my office downtown at Market and Battery and take long rides on the weekend. Too often we think short bike rides are less risky. These stats prove otherwise:

• More children ages 5 – 14 go to the ER with head injury related to biking than any other sport
• Each year over 500,000 people go to the ER for bicycle related injuries
• There are ~ 900 fatalities each year
• Statistics suggest between 70 – 80% of all crashes involve head injury
• 90% of fatalities involve collisions with motor vehicles
• 1/3 at intersections
• Males are 7X more likely to die
• Most likely to occur within five blocks of home
• Almost half occur in driveways and on sidewalksThe Take Home: Wear a Helmet!
• Ensure proper fit
• Make sure it is worn correctly (I often see people with a helmet on and the clip is not buckled – which is useless)
• 85% of head injuries could be prevented with a helmet
• Universal use of helmets could prevent one death every day and one brain injury every four minutes

Thanks to:

Posted via email from ProActive Chiropractic in San Francisco, California

Golf swing injuries — tips to a quicker recovery

The perfect swing is elusive for most amateur players. They strive to develop the ideal combination of grip, arc, speed, hip rotation, weight transfer, and more.

Most injuries occur on the course while playing a round of golf. And they are aggravated by swing flaws that put unnecessary stress on the body.

According to Wendy Weisflog, DC, CCSP, owner of Arizona Sports & Rehabilitation Center in Scottsdale, Ariz., “the most common ailment our golfing clients experience is pain in the lower back. Close behind the lower back are elbow problems.”

Treatment of sports related injuries has become increasing sophisticated in recent years. Often there is no single solution for causes of pain.

Often a poor or imperfect swing puts inordinate strain on muscles and joints. Further, many golfers are recreational, with minimal conditioning and sometimes weeks between rounds. Both conditions contribute to the frequency of physical problems. The strain may not show up immediately, but result from repetition over time.

With more than 50 percent of recreational golfers experiencing a golf-related injury, it is important for proper treatment to occur early on, so permanent damage does not happen. However, a little prevention can reduce the likelihood of injury in the first place.

There are two major categories of injury. The first is termed acute and is the result of a specific event, such as striking a tree root or a deep divot during your swing, resulting in a jolt to the wrist or another joint.

The more common form of injury is chronic. Chronic injuries occur over time and often result from muscle, tendon and ligament fatigue. This kind of fatigue occurs when overall conditioning wanes or simply from tiring during a round. Due to the dynamic and repetitive nature of the swing, a part of the body can be pulled, strained or inflamed. Of course, these often painful conditions are aggravated by swing flaws that help overstress or force the body into awkward positions.

Once a condition becomes chronic, more time and effort is required to correct. Weisflog states, “Correcting a chronic injury requires careful diagnosis, so that the right combination of treatments can be used.” A comprehensive program may include chiropractic work, a variety of massage therapies, physiotherapy, strength training and, on occasion, acupuncture.

The first step is to deal with structural issues so that locked areas or misalignments are corrected. Then, work on the musculature is advised to reduce strains and inflammation. If not relaxed and healed, the muscles can pull the skeleton back out of alignment. As a final step, strength training is helpful to prevent future aggravation. As always, a good swing coach can help adjust swing movements that contribute to problems.

A carefully designed fitness program can go far in reducing the chance or recurrence of golf-related injury.

Source: Niche Focus Group

I see many golfers who want to improve their game or simply get out of pain so they can get back on the course. Call ProActive Chiropractic if you are ready to get back to play!

Posted via email from ProActive Chiropractic in San Francisco, California

“I love this article by Warren Hammer, MS, DC, DABCO who is a soft tissue genius. I especially like it because he addresses this issue the same way I would. I would focus on resetting the tension sensors, and then getting rid of any scar tissue in the area to improve strength and flexibility, says Dr. Andrew Cohen of ProActive Chiropractic in San Francisco.

An interesting article in the sports section of the New York Times¹ blamed the “yips” on the buildup of scar tissue in the forearms:

“But if scar tissue is the problem, let’s see why it may be causative. Besides scar tissue (fibrosis) limiting motion due to its increased stiffness, pathological connective tissue affects function because of its sensory input. Fascia contains both numerous proprioceptive and mechanoreceptive receptors. While called muscle spindle cells, spindle cells (proprioceptors) are entirely within the fascia surrounding the muscle. Spindle cells influence motor control and muscle coordination. Restricted fascia in fibrotic areas may be responsible for abnormal firing of the spindle cells and lead to the “yips.”

There are also mechanoreceptors, such as Ruffini and Pacinian corpuscles, within the surrounding fascia. Golgi tendon organs may be affected and are found mostly in the muscular portions of myotendinous junctions, in the attachment transitions of aponeurosis, in capsules, as well as in ligaments of peripheral joints.³ Ruffini receptors are midrange afferents that give information concerning joint angles and limb movements,⁴ and Pacinian corpuscles are very sensitive to acceleration and deceleration and are used as proprioceptive feedback for movement control (kinesthesia).^5-6

The realization of the sensory input from connective tissue implies more possibilities for the effects of tissue manipulation, whether assisted (Graston Technique) or by manual fascial methods.”

References

1. Dorman L.  “A Grip on the Yips.” The New York Times, June 12, 2011.
2. Smith AM, Adler CH, Crews D, et al. The ‘yips’ in golf: a continuum between a focal dystonia and choking. Sports Med, 2003;33(1):13-31.
3. Burke D, Gandeva SC. Peripheral Motor System. In: Paxines G. The Human Nervous System. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 1990;1:133.
4. Proske U, Schaible H-G, Schmidt RF. Joint receptors and kinesthesia. Exp Brain Res, 1988;72:219-24.
5. Boyd LA. The histological structure of the receptors in the knee joint of the cat correlated with their physiological response. J Physeal (London), 1954;124:476-88.
6. Schleip R. Fascial plasticity – a new neurobiological explanation. Jrnl Bodywk Mov Ther, 2003;7(1):11-19, and 7(2):104-116.”

Posted via email from ProActive Chiropractic in San Francisco, California