Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Chiropractic Treatment of Sciatica

Doctors of Chiropractic medicine regularly treat sciatica. Sciatica is characterized by pain that originates in the low back or buttock that travels into one or both legs. Sciatic nerve pain varies in intensity and frequency; minimal, moderate, severe and occasional, intermittent, frequent or constant.
Pain is described as dull, achy, sharp, toothache-like, pins and needles or similar to electric shocks. Other symptoms associated with sciatica include burning, numbness and tingling sensations. Sciatica is also called radiating or referred pain, neuropathy, or neuralgia. A misconception is that sciatica is a disorder - however, sciatica is really a symptom of a disorder.

Caused by Nerve Compression
Sciatica is generally caused by sciatic nerve compression. Disorders known to cause sciatic nerve pain include lumbar spine subluxations (misaligned vertebral body/ies), herniated or bulging discs (slipped discs), pregnancy and childbirth, tumors, and non-spinal disorders such as diabetes, constipation, or sitting on one's back pocket wallet.

One common cause of sciatica is Piriformis Syndrome. Piriformis syndrome is named after the piriformis muscle. The piriformis muscle is located in the lower part of the spine, connects to the thighbone, and assists in hip rotation. The sciatic nerve runs beneath the piriformis muscle. This muscle is susceptible to injury from a slip and fall, hip arthritis, or a difference in leg length. Such situations can cause cramping and spasm to develop in the piriformis muscle, thereby pinching the sciatic nerve and causing inflammation and pain.

Treatment Approach
The purpose of chiropractic treatment is to help the body's potential to heal itself. It is based on the scientific principle that restricted spinal movement leads to pain and reduced function and performance. Chiropractic care is non-invasive (non-surgical) and drug-free. The type of chiropractic therapy provided depends on the cause of the patient's sciatica. A sciatica treatment plan may include several different treatments such as ice/cold therapies, ultrasound, TENS, and spinal adjustments.

Adjustments 
 At the core of chiropractic care are spinal adjustments. Adjustments frees restricted movement of the spine and helps to restore misaligned vertebral bodies to their proper position in the spinal column. Spinal adjustment helps to reduce nerve irritability responsible for causing inflammation, muscle spasm, pain, and other symptoms related to sciatica.

For more information please contact Morris Family Chiropractic at 440-639-9171 or visit our
website at http://www.morriswellness.com/

Monday, November 28, 2011

Chiropractic Fires Up Your LIFE!

A chain reaction occurs when a small event ignites a reaction nearby, setting off another reaction, then another, until it produces an ultimate result.  Getting your health back with Chiropractic care happens in a similar way.

Chiropractors start the process with a small event called an Adjustment.  Spinal adjustments restore a state of Ease in your nerve system which ignites Healing.   Over Time your body's internal Functions light up and you experience Benefits like stronger immunity, deeper sleep, greater physical performance and a confident sense of well being.  The ultimate thing that lights up is your LIFE.

The goal of Chiropractic is to ignite Life within you so you can regain your health, fulfill your purpose and bring more joy to those around you.  Staying 'lit up' with regular Chiropractic care is one of the best gifts you can give yourself and those you love the most.

For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact Morris Family Chiropractic at
440-639-9171 or visit our website at http://www.morriswellness.com/

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Chiropractic the better solution for Headaches

Drugs Cover Up Symptoms
Because headaches are so common, some people think that getting a headache is just a normal part of life!
Headaches are a sign that something’s wrong.

Common culprits are:
  • Stress
  • Toxic fumes
  • Certain foods, preservatives
  • Alcohol
Chiropractors are experts in the care of the bones, nerves, muscles and connective tissues that make up about 60% of your body. All of the joints in your body are part of this musculo-skeletal system and its optimal function is necessary for overall good health. Ask your Doctor of Chiropractic for more information about a care program that may include specific spinal adjustments, exercise recommendations, nutritional advice or other conservative methods of care based on your health history, age, current condition and lifestyle.

There Are Many Types Of Headaches
A frequent and overlooked cause of headaches is the malfunction of spinal bones in the neck and upper back.

When bones of the spine lose their normal position or motion, sensitive nerves and blood vessels to the head can be affected. When spinal nerves and related tissues are stretched or irritated they can produce throbbing headaches. Aspirin and medications may cover up these warning signs, but do not correct the underlying structural cause.

Many people experience correction and relief through chiropractic care.
If a thorough examination reveals reduced range of motion, loss of normal spinal curves, or mechanical restrictions, chiropractic care should be considered. After a complete explanation, you’ll receive a care program designed for your unique spinal problem.
Specific chiropractic adjustments can help correct spinal joint dysfunction created by the various chemical, emotional and physical structures of our lives.

Many patients report headache relief. Others find that the correction of their condition takes longer because their spinal problem has existed undetected for many years. Every patient responds differently. Benefit from the drug-free results millions have enjoyed by consulting a chiropractic doctor.

For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact Morris Family Chiropractic at
440-639-9171 or visit our website at http://www.morriswellness.com/

** We are currently collecting Toys For Tots donations in Lake County please contact our office to see how you can help! **

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Chiropractic Effects on Heart Health

While most of the focus involving heart health has revolved around diet, exercise and prescription medications, there's some indication that certain chiropractic procedures could help to improve the overall health of the heart. Adjustments to the spine may lower blood pressure in individuals suffering from hypertension and provide a better heart rate for everyone.

Systolic Blood Pressure

In a study conducted by the Department of Preventive Medicine at Rush University in 2007, realignment of the atlas vertebrae, also known as the C1 vertebrae of the cervical spine, can help to lower systolic blood pressure in people suffering from hypertension. Systolic blood pressure is the topmost number in a blood pressure reading. It's the pressure felt along the arterial walls when the heart contracts. There appears to be a link between compression of the vertebral artery and an unhealthy elevation in blood pressure. By realigning the C1 vertebrae in the neck, restriction along the arterial wall is relieved and you may experience a decrease in blood pressure. Further studies are necessary to ensure that chiropractic realignment could improve systolic blood pressure.
Diastolic Blood Pressure
The study conducted by the Department of Preventive Medicine at Rush University also found that this same realignment of the C1 vertebrae affected diastolic blood pressure, which is the bottom number in a blood pressure reading that indicates arterial pressure when the heart is at rest. The same principles apply to the effect that arterial compression within the spine could lead to an elevation in diastolic blood pressure. When the C1 is realigned, the compression is removed from the artery and thereby lowers diastolic blood pressure.

Heartrate

There's also some indication that adjustments to the cervical spine, which are the seven vertebrae found in the neck, may help lower your heart rate. This is largely due to the eight pairs of cervical nerves located within this area of the spine. The Upper Cervical Health Centers of America believe that interferences within these nerves can cause many health conditions, including those that affect the heart. When the cervical spine is placed in alignment, the nervous system is allowed to better communicate with the rest of the body. In relation to the heart, the improved communication can help bring your heart rate down to a healthy level.

For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact Morris Family Chiropractic at
440-639-9171 or visit our website at http://www.morriswellness.com/



Monday, November 21, 2011

Harvard Agrees with Chiropractic

At first glance you'd think a Chiropractor was responsible for these words.  But they were actually written by a Harvard medical school instructor in the late 1800's.  While this belief is trivialized by the medical and pharmaceutical community today, it remains the core foundation of the practice of Chiropractic.

Chiropractors humbly acknowledge that "the ONLY thing that can heal the body is the Power that created it."  The wisdom Dr. Cabot refers to in his quote is called Innate Intelligence by Chiropractors.   It is the genius of Life that animates our cells, tissues and organs.  It is the coordinating force that maintains our body's intricate chemical balance.  It silently and knowingly orchestrates all steps involved in the healing process from mending a broken bone to putting cancer in remission.  It is in favor of you living, rather than you dying.

The most important job of a Chiropractor is to teach you about this great force and keep you connected to it.  If you want to meet the REAL doctor responsible for healing you, take a look in the mirror.  It’s the one staring right back at you.

For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact Morris Family Chiropractic at
440-639-9171 or visit our website at http://www.morriswellness.com/

***We are now a drop location for Toys For Tots in Lake County, for every donation you bring in we will give a gift certificate  for a free x-ray and exam!***

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Chiropractic may be a Solution for Autism

Individuals with autism are affected in different ways, but all seem to suffer from a triad of impairments: difficulty in interacting with others, impairments in social communication and difficulty thinking imaginatively. An absence of play is often one of the first obvious signs of autism.

The cause of autism is unknown; there are no universally accepted explanations. Current research favors a genetic component, although other factors are also implicated, including environmental triggers and imbalances in neurochemistry.

There is no medication that can ‘cure’ autism. When medication is used, it is to treat a particular symptom of the syndrome. Specialist education often dramatically improves the quality of life for sufferers and their families.

Many chiropractors and other therapists report good symptomatic improvements following treatment.
However, there is little literature available to support these claims.

Autism affects the way a person communicates and relates to people around them, particularly with respect to understanding other people's emotional expression. Learning difficulties may further compound the difficulties that they face.


The clinical picture of autism varies between individuals and it is for this reason that the concept of a spectrum of disorders was developed. The spectrum of autistic conditions is wide ranging. It varies from profound disability in some through to subtle problems of understanding in others of apparently average or above average intelligence. The autistic spectrum includes a number of other conditions that may or may not be separate syndromes, notably Asperger's syndrome. A diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome tends to include individuals at the higher functioning end of the autistic spectrum.

A series of chiropractic adjustments on 26 autistic children over a 9-month period. Twelve were found to have a left atlas laterality and 14 had a right atlas laterality. Outcomes from the study were varied but included normalization of deep tendon reflexes and dermatomal subjective sensation, increased cervical range of motion and reduction of other health problems. Many of the children were taken off Ritalin, bladder and bowel control improved, some children started to speak and eye contact and attention span also improved in some children. Hyperactivity and aggressive behavior were reduced in other children and five children were able to attend mainstream classes at school for the first time. Behavioral data, recorded by the teachers and parents, showed significant improvements in most cases.

For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact Morris Family Chiropractic at 440-639-9171 or visit our website at www.MorrisWellness.com

***Be sure to check out our exclusive offer on our website!***

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Fibromyalgia: Debilitating But Treatable With Chiropractic Care

Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (www.f4cp.com), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness of the benefits of chiropractic, announced today that chiropractic care has been shown to reduce the agonizing pain, debilitating fatigue, and joint stiffness associated with fibromyalgia. While fibromyalgia, a medically unexplained syndrome affecting the muscles and connective tissues, responds to various treatments, chiropractic care in particular has grown sharply in popularity among the millions of sufferers for dramatically reducing chronic, widespread pain and restoring patients to healthier lives.

"Fibromyalgia involves turmoil of the central nervous system, yielding a situation known as central sensitization, which causes heightened nervous system responses," explains Gerry Clum, D.C., spokesperson for the Foundation and president of Life Chiropractic College West University. "Overall health and wellness is affected by an individual's nervous system, an area in which chiropractors are proficiently trained to address, making chiropractic care a viable option for fibromyalgia patients."

While scientists continue to develop a better understanding of fibromyalgia, chiropractors aim to correct misalignments of the spine and pelvis through hands-on adjustments. As joint motion improves, fibromyalgia patients discover that the excruciating pain can be reduced or, in some cases, eliminated. Once this pain is under control, other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia - such as fatigue, sleep deprivation, and depression - also diminish.

For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact Morris Family Chiropractic at
440-639-9171 or visit our website at http://www.morriswellness.com/

***Be sure to check out our exclusive offer on our website!***

Monday, November 14, 2011

“Pharmaceutical False Start”

Spike a fever – run for some Tylenol.  Get an ear infection – dash for an antibiotic.  Big Pharma wants us to race for a drug every time a symptom or illness challenges us.  But is it better to let your body run its own race without interference from the drug companies?

Research reported in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology found evidence that elevated body temperature helps immune cells work harder to fight colds and the flu – so much for lowering fevers with Tylenol.  Still yet another study from the journal Pediatrics reports doctors write over 10 million UNNECESSARY prescriptions for antibiotics every year, dangerously raising the risk of antibiotic resistant infections for society as a whole.
Chiropractor's acknowledge that symptoms are your body's attempt to save itself… not the start of a 100 yard dash to CVS.  Current best practice is to wait for natural responses like fever and inflammation to do their job, instead of 'false starting' with drugs and interfering with what nature knows best.  As long as you're in adjustment (clear Nerve System), your body will innately know how to run its own healing race.

For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact Morris Family Chiropractic at
440-639-9171 or visit our website at http://www.morriswellness.com/

***Check out our exclusive offer on our website!***

Monday, November 7, 2011

“Clocks and Chiropractic…”

LESS LIGHT!   OK, I can hear all the groaning… we're really stretching it this time.  But in some way this statement is true. The primary purpose of Chiropractic is to locate and correct subluxations.  When you break the word down into it's roots,  SUB-LUX-ATION you get this…

"SUB" – means less than, or lower than normal
"LUX" – is latin for LIGHT and
"ATION" – is a state of being, or a condition

The literal definition of subluxation is a state or condition of less LIGHT or power than normal.  Subluxations occur when spinal bones mis-align and restrict the normal flow of “light” through the spinal cord and nerves.  The effect… your body gets less of the Life energy or “light” it needs from the nerve system to maintain health and vitality.

When Chiropractors locate and correct subluxations, they're removing blockages to the light so it can flow freely through your nerve system, illuminating every cell, tissue and organ in your body.  If sub-lux-ations produce darkness in your health, Chiropractic adjustments bring EN-LIGHTEN-MENT.
So don’t let the shorter, darker days get you down.  Fall back into a healthy Chiropractic routine and keep your nerve system lit up.  Life is brighter when you’re subluxation free.

For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact Morris Family Chiorpractic at
440-639-9171 or visit our website at http://www.morriswellness.com/


***Be sure to check out our exclusive offer on our website!***

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Chiropractic Treatment of Sciatica

Doctors of Chiropractic medicine regularly treat sciatica. Sciatica is characterized by pain that originates in the low back or buttock that travels into one or both legs. Sciatic nerve pain varies in intensity and frequency; minimal, moderate, severe and occasional, intermittent, frequent or constant.
Pain is described as dull, achy, sharp, toothache-like, pins and needles or similar to electric shocks. Other symptoms associated with sciatica include burning, numbness and tingling sensations. Sciatica is also called radiating or referred pain, neuropathy, or neuralgia. A misconception is that sciatica is a disorder - however, sciatica is really a symptom of a disorder.

Caused by Nerve Compression
Sciatica is generally caused by sciatic nerve compression. Disorders known to cause sciatic nerve pain include lumbar spine subluxations (misaligned vertebral body/ies), herniated or bulging discs (slipped discs), pregnancy and childbirth, tumors, and non-spinal disorders such as diabetes, constipation, or sitting on one's back pocket wallet.

One common cause of sciatica is Piriformis Syndrome. Piriformis syndrome is named after the piriformis muscle. The piriformis muscle is located in the lower part of the spine, connects to the thighbone, and assists in hip rotation. The sciatic nerve runs beneath the piriformis muscle. This muscle is susceptible to injury from a slip and fall, hip arthritis, or a difference in leg length. Such situations can cause cramping and spasm to develop in the piriformis muscle, thereby pinching the sciatic nerve and causing inflammation and pain.
Sciatic nerve compression may result in the loss of feeling (sensory loss), paralysis of a single limb or group of muscles (monoplegia), and insomnia.

Proper Diagnosis
Since there are many disorders that cause sciatica, the chiropractor's first step is to determine what is causing the patient's sciatica. Forming a diagnosis involves a thoughtful review the patient's medical history, and a physical and neurological examination. Diagnostic testing includes an x-ray, MRI, CT scan and/or electrodiagnostic tests (nerve conduction velocity, electromyography). These examinations and tests help to detect possible contraindications to spinal adjustments and other chiropractic therapies.

Treatment Approach
The purpose of chiropractic treatment is to help the body's potential to heal itself. It is based on the scientific principle that restricted spinal movement leads to pain and reduced function and performance. Chiropractic care is non-invasive (non-surgical) and drug-free. The type of chiropractic therapy provided depends on the cause of the patient's sciatica. A sciatica treatment plan may include several different treatments such as ice/cold therapies, ultrasound, TENS, and spinal adjustments.

Adjustments 
 At the core of chiropractic care are spinal adjustments. Adjustments frees restricted movement of the spine and helps to restore misaligned vertebral bodies to their proper position in the spinal column. Spinal adjustment helps to reduce nerve irritability responsible for causing inflammation, muscle spasm, pain, and other symptoms related to sciatica. Adjustments should not be painful. Adjustments are proven to be safe and effective.

For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact Morris Family Chiropractic at
440-639-9171 or visit our website at http://www.morriswellness.com/

***Be sure to check out our exclusive offer on our website!***

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Flu season wellness plan should include chiropractic care

Spinal adjustments can have a positive effect on immune function, the WCA asserts, citing a growing number of researchers who are exploring the common denominators in disease processes, and the role of the nervous, immune, and hormonal systems in development of immune related illnesses,
Chiropractic corrects spinal abnormalities called vertebral subluxations that result in interference of the nervous system by placing pressure on nerves. Since the nervous system controls all functions of the body -- including the immune system -- chiropractic care can have a positive effect on immune function, WCA officials note.

“Contemporary research is beginning to shed light on the neurobiological mechanisms which may explain the outstanding clinical results chiropractors have experienced when managing patients with viral and infectious diseases,” stated Dr. Christopher Kent, WCA Vice President.
Dr. Kent explained: “A comprehensive review of the research literature reveals the current understanding that the brain and immune system are the two major adaptive systems in the body. During an immune response, the brain and the immune system 'talk to each other' and this process is essential for maintaining homeostasis or balance in the body."

Since its inception, chiropractic has asserted that viruses and microbes don't threaten us all equally and that a healthy immune system easily repels most invaders. The immune system protects us from the flu, as well as any other infectious disease, and strives to get us well again when we do fall ill. Our immune system, like every other system in the body, is coordinated and controlled by the nervous system.

Chiropractors are also aware of the importance of positive health life style practices (rest, drinking ample quantities of water, diet, exercise, proper food choices, use of high potency multivitamins and minerals, and stress reduction approaches) that can also positively influence the nervous system and immune response. According to a large study of the chiropractic profession recently conducted by the Institute for Social Research, Ohio Northern University (McDonald et al., 2003), chiropractors also customarily advise their patients as to the benefits of these other modalities in optimizing overall body function.

For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact Morris Family Chiropractic at 
440-639-9171 or visit our website http://www.morriswellness.com/

**Check out our exclusive offer on our website!**