Chiropractic Office Software

by: Eric C

Osteopathy is a system of healthcare based on the belief that disease is the direct result of the relationship between physiological function and anatomical structure. In osteopathy, function and structure are interdependent. A healthy musculoskeletal system plays a pivotal role in recovery and disease prevention. ‘Structure governs function’ – this is the tenet of osteopathy. By structure, this means muscles, ligaments, bones, organs and fascia.

The credit for initiating this system of healing is given to Andrew Taylor Still, who started this treatment at the end of the American Civil War. According to Still, disease happens when the bones are out of place thus disrupting the flow of the blood or hampering the flow of nervous impulses. He therefore concluded that diseases can be cured by manipulating the bones, which in turn, helps to restore the flow.

This system has much in common with Chiropractic techniques where the correct alignment of bones is given the utmost emphasis. Originally Osteopathy used strictly manipulative techniques for correcting abnormalities. However, over the past years, Osteopathy has embraced all aspects of modern medicine including drugs and corrective surgery.

Doctors who practice Osteopathy know how important it is to have a proper and correct understanding of the exact position and correct function of each of the structure in the body. Those who practice Osteopathy look for abnormalities in the working relationship within and between the various structures. According to these physicians, the physical integrity of the entire musculoskeletal system is one of the most important factors that contribute to good health.

Osteopathy has a lot in common with orthodox medicine as well. However, Osteopathic doctors are not merely bone-specialists. Instead, they are grandmasters in the ‘biomechanics of the human machine’. The way in which they approach disease and carry out treatment is therefore completely different from orthodox medicine.

The holistic approach to healing aims to take advantage of the body’s ability to heal itself. Osteopaths believe that health, not disease, is the natural heritage of every living thing. They focus all their attention on tracing any changes in function that have taken place within the structures. Within certain limits, the human body, like every other organism, has the ability to repair and correct itself. If given enough ‘support’, it can create its own remedies. The ‘support’ to be given includes:

- A balanced diet

- Good circulation

- Positive attitude

- A pollution free environment.

This self-healing is the backbone and sustaining principle behind all the applications of Osteopathy. According to these doctors, disease basically originates from within the individual himself. So, their main focus is the patient and not the micro-organism that invades his body. If the disease has reached a stage where the micro-organism has changed the structure beyond the point of no-return, Osteopathy tries to help the person function as best as he can.

Osteopathy differs to chiropractors in that the therapist uses massage during a treatment session to help the muscles retain the memory of the manipulation done to the bones and hence restore the flow of nerve impulses through the body to promote healing.

Osteopathy relies on various techniques that are combined with postural, dietary and occupational advice. Counseling patients who are recovering from illness and injury and those who are under excruciating pain is also a very useful part of this healing technique. Osteopathy also allows the use of invasive therapies when all else fails.

Alternative Holistic Medicine

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by: Bozena KlimaszewskiNatural healing methods are finding more and more enthusiastic followers every day. People are using them for a wide variety of physical and mental problems, like anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, aches and pains of different origin, and wound care to name just a few.
What is holistic medicine? The word holistic comes from a Greek word “holas”, which means “whole.”

Holistic medicine, or rather the holistic approach, is actually a non-medical philosophy of healing and well-being, where a cure for a medical condition is not focused on a specific symptom, but rather on the whole body. This means that all aspects of life, including physical, mental, and spiritual, are very closely related and cannot be separated.

This approach is often emphasized by practitioners of alternative medicine, such as herbalists, homeopathists, chiropractics, and reflexologists in their practices.

Holistic medicine does not discourage any therapies or medical practices, but promotes living by certain rules, allowing our bodies to utilize our self healing systems.

Implementing natural healing methods, including self healing methods, supports the body in recovery and strengthens its renewal systems.

So what does that mean for all of us?
Well, basically it means that if you want to live a long and happy life you should evaluate your lifestyle, including diet, exercise habits, the way you look at your surroundings, and consider making some adjustments where necessary.

The first part is your diet. Your body needs certain nutrients in order to work properly and keep its self-healing power. Thus, your diet should be well balanced, with the right quantities of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins to maintain a healthy body.

You should definitely avoid too much sugar in your diet, because it can deplete the body’s store of nutrients and eventually lower its vitality.
The size of each meal is very important, too. It should only be big enough to supply nutrients your body needs to meet its energy demands.

Obviously different groups of people (e.i. children, pregnant women) may require a special diet so it has to be adjusted with these special situations in mind.

Another big point is to avoid artificial and processed products. Instead, choose natural foods with a lot of vegetables, fruits, some fish, low fat dairy, and some poultry.

The second part of the holistic approach to natural healing is to maintain your body in good physical condition by regular activity. Exercising is beneficial in many ways.

Being physically active helps you release tension and makes your joints and muscles stronger. It has a positive influence on your mood by increasing the level of endorphins in your blood. Also, by increasing circulation and breathing deeper during exercise you deliver more oxygen to every cell of your body.

The last part of the holistic approach to natural healing is to try to control your mind. This part is especially critical in helping you to avoid many stress related health conditions such as anxiety, depression and sleep disorders.

People suffering from these problems may feel excessive tiredness and irritability. They may develop additional symptoms including indigestion, constipation, headaches and other.

It is essential to learn how to relax. Sometimes it may be necessary to break your routine or make some drastic changes in your lifestyle in order to help you in a bigger way.

In conclusion, it may be said that if you do everything right - eat only as much as is needed, exercise regularly, and often stop to smell the roses - you have a good chance of living a healthy and happy life.

The author of this article is a webmaster at www.the-sleep-zone.com. The issues related to sleep disorders had always been a part of her life. After graduation from pharmacy school she became interested in natural healing as this approach may prevent people from many health problems. To learn more go to www.the-sleep-zone.com

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The July 14, 2006 issue of the Psychology Today Online carried a story with the subtitle ” Beating addiction may take an extra nudge from the chiropractor.”  This article, in a mainstream psychological publication, starts off by following the success story of one individual enrolled in the Exodus addiction treatment center of South Florida.  The article notes that this center has a much higher rate of success in addiction treatment than the national average for such centers.

When this one patient was asked what he attributed his success to he noted, “I think that chiropractic care was an integral part of my recovery.”  The Exodus center adds chiropractic care to the normal treatment of addiction. The article then asks, “But what does the spine have to do with addiction?”  The connection is explained by the effect chiropractic care has on the nervous system and  brain chemicals called neurotransmitters that under chiropractic care are released in a specific sequence and a state of well-being.

The article notes that “subluxations” interfere with normal nerve transmission and therefore interfere with the normal chemical sequence.  Chiropractic care is designed to correct subluxations, return normal nerve functions and therefore allow the chemical sequence to return to normal.

The article recalls a study, previously published in the scientific journal Molecular Psychiatry, that proves the reasoning behind the success seen at Exodus. In the original study, 98 subjects enrolled in the Exodus program for addiction treatment received frequent chiropractic adjustments over a 30-day period. These subjects were compared to two other groups of patients who did not receive chiropractic. One group called the passive group, underwent only standard rehabilitation, and another, a placebo group, received sham chiropractic care.

The national average for completion of addiction programs is about 55 percent.  In the study noted above the two non-chiropractic groups had completion rates similar to the national average.  However, the patients in the group that received chiropractic care displayed an unprecedented 100 percent program completion rate.

Dr. Jay Holder (pictured right) of the Exodus center stressed in the article that chiropractic care does not represent a new form of treatment for addiction. He noted that chiropractic helps patients use existing treatment more thoroughly.

http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/NEWS_Chiropractic_helps_addics_kick_habit.htm Go Paperless with your Notes! Visit http://www.Quick-Charts.com today!

A study published on August 2, 2004 in the peer reviewed “Journal of Vertebral Subluxation”, showed that the onset of both Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis were statistically related to trauma to the head and or neck.  The study also showed that a high percentage of the patients in this retrospective study benefited significantly from chiropractic care.

This study reviewed the cases of 81 patients with either Parkinson’s Disease or Multiple Sclerosis.  Of the 81 patients 78 recalled that they had experienced at least one head or neck trauma prior to the onset of their disease.  Of the patients in this study, 39 reported that they were involved in auto accidents, 29 noted that they had been involved in some sort of sporting accidents, such as skiing, horseback riding, cycling, and football and 16 were involved in falls such as on icy sidewalks or down stairs. The length of time between the traumatic event and onset of their disease varied from two months to 30 years.

All 81 patients received specific chiropractic care for correction of vertebral subluxations.  The results of this care on the patients were then monitored and recorded. Of the 44 Multiple Sclerosis cases, 40 (91%) reported improvement from the chiropractic care. Of these, 28 showed “substantial” improvement; 8 showed “moderate” improvement; and 5 showed “minor” improvement. No further progression of Multiple Sclerosis was noted in the improved cases during the care period, which ranged from one to five years depending on the patient. Four cases reported “no change” in their condition.

Of the 37 patients with Parkinson’s Disease, 34 (92%) reported improvement.  Of these patients, 16 showed “substantial” improvement; 8 showed “moderate” improvement; and 11 showed “minor” improvement. As with the MS patients, no further progression of Parkinson’s Disease was noted in the improved cases during the care period, which ranged from one to five years depending on the patient. Three cases reported “no change” in their condition.

The conclusions published in the Journal showed that a causal link exists between trauma-induced upper cervical (neck) injury and disease onset for both Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease. Correcting the injury to the upper cervical spine with chiropractic seemed to arrest and reverse the progression of both of these diseases in the patients in this study.  These results offer hope to patients who suffer from these debilitating diseases.

http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/NEWS_MS_improvement_with_chiro.htm

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- I claimed to be the first person to adjust a vertebra by hand, using the spinous and transverse processes and levers. I developed the art known as adjusting, and formulated the science of chiropractic, and developed its philosophy.

- Life is the expression of tone. In that sentence is the basic principle of Chiropractic.

- I feel it my bounden duty to not only replace displaced bones, but also teach others, so that the physical and spiritual may enjoy health, happiness and the full fruition of our earthly lives.

- The basic principle, and the principles of chiropractic which have been developed from it are not new. They are as old as the vertebrae… I am not the first person to replace subluxated vertebra, for this art has been practiced for thousands of years.

- Reverend Samuel H. Weed, at my request to selected to Greek words, ‘cheir’ and ‘praxis’, meaning when combined, “done by hand.” From which I coined the word, ‘CHIROPRACTIC’.

- I desired to know why one person was ailing and his associate, eating at the same table, working in the same shop, at the same bench was not. Why? What difference was there in these two persons that caused one to have various diseases, while his partner escaped?

- Chiropractors correct abnormalities of the intellect as well as those of the body.

- Many patients imagine that they have tried everything. True, they have used many remedies, but they have never had the cause of their infirmity and adjusted.

- That which I named ‘innate’ is a segment of that intelligence which fills the universe.

- Life is but the expression of spirit through matter. To make life manifest requires the union of spirit and body.

- Innate is a segment of the All-Wise; Educated is an offspring of innate, a servant for its lifetime only. Educated continues with and lasts as long as life exists; Innate is eternal, always was and always will be.

- Disease is a disturbed condition, not a thing or entity.

- Disease is the abnormal performance of certain functions; the abnormal activity has its causes.

- To be specific, is to exhibit a knowledge of the principles and art of adjusting; a comprehension of facts so systematized and that they are available for the relief of disease.

- The philosophy of chiropractic is founded upon the knowledge of the manner in which a vital functions are performed by innate in health and disease. When the controlling intelligence is able to transmit mental impulses to all parts of the body, free and unobstructed, we have normal action which is health.

- Innate directs its vital energy through the nervous system to specialize the coordination and sensation and volition through the cumulative and vegetative functions.

- Displacement of any part of the skeletal frame may press against nerves, which are the channels of communication, intensifying or decreasing their carrying capacity, creating either too much or not enough functionating, an aberration known as disease. The nature of the affection depends upon the shape of the bone, the amount of pressure, age of patient, character of nerves impinged upon and the individual makeup.

- Pressure on nerves causes irriatation and tension with deranged functions as a result. Why not release the pressure? Why not a just cause instead of treating effects? Why not?

- Do not forget that chiropractors did not treat diseases they adjust causes, whether acquired, spontaneous, or the result of accident.

- Drugs are delusive; they do not adjust anything.

- Compulsory vaccination is an outrage and a gross interference with the liberty of the people in a land of freedom

- Chiropractic is a science just so far as it is specific.

- The only failure one man should fear, is the failure to do his best.

- There is a vast difference between treating effects and adjusting the cause.

- Chiropractic is founded upon different principles than those of medicine.

- I laid the foundation and built a thereon, the science of CHIROPRACTIC.

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Former massage therapist, Mike Melton, was working as a massage therapist in 1993 and became frustrated about how little information there was regarding whiplash so he began to research in medical literature and found study after study that justified chiropractic treatment for this ailment. After writing his first book on this subject in 1995, he has been helping to educate chiropractic patients and doctors ever since.

Mike is the owner of ChiroHosting.com, a business committed to helping chiropractors get their business online. He also writes articles and you can find more information on how to build links to your chiropractic site by going to this website now.

http://www.chirohosting.com/chiropractic-marketing/2009/02/building-links-to-your-chiropractic-website/

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The November/December 2003 issue of the magazine “Autism Digest” contained an interesting article on the subject of Autism and the effect of chiropractic care on those children.  The article was authored by world known chiropractor for children, Dr. Joan Fallon. In her article she notes, “While it has regularly been associated with back pain or headache, increasing numbers of parents are seeking chiropractors for children and especially for children with developmental issues.”

The article starts off by noting that Temple Grandin, an author of two books on autism, is herself autistic.  The article notes that in her books she repeatedly discusses sensory integration difficulties as being the core of her autism. Additionally, a growing numbers of professionals also tout sensory difficulties as one of the hallmarks of autism.

Dr. Fallon describes this phenomenon by saying, “Sensory integration is defined as the disorganization of the multisensory input into the body. People who experience sensory integration problems have profound and often debilitating difficulty with touch, taste, smell, sound or visual input. Non-autistics can often experience sensory issues as well, such as the irritation we feel from a band playing too loudly, or an immediate headache from a certain smell. While these may be bothersome to the typical person, such sensory stimuli can be “noxious” to the autistic child and often manifest in infancy as colic and in the older child as hyperactivity, the “inability to listen”, or unexplained behavior issues, especially in children who lack communication.”

The article continues by stating that Chiropractic care should be the cornerstone of the sensory integration treatment plan for the Autistic child. Dr. Fallon notes, “Chiropractic care differs from many of the other therapies used with autistics in that it is directed to the heart of the problem: the lack of homeostasis in the body, which can, in turn, produce a disease state. Treatments are directed to the imbalances in the nervous system which inhibit sensory processing. By directly affecting the nervous system, chiropractic care for the autistic child can begin to change the many sensory integration issues by facilitating input into the organs and areas of the body involved in sensory integration, including the skin and the nervous system.”

The article then explains that the imbalances in the nervous system are caused by “Subluxations” in the spine.  “The presence of Subluxation can cause illness as well as a host of other problems for the child,” contends Dr. Fallon. “The chiropractor administers an adjustment as the mainstream portion of care.  The adjustment is administered in areas where there is the presence of a SUBLUXATION. Subluxation occurs where a segment of the spine consisting of two vertebrae and a disc between them, has lost their juxtaposition. Proper juxtaposition is necessary to maintain the integrity of the various systems that are located there, not the least of which is the nervous system.”

http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/NEWS_role_of_chiropractic_in_the_care.htm

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The February 2003 issue of the research journal, The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, (JMPT), published a case study of a 49 year old man who suffered from chest pain.  The patient, a music composer, was exercising on a treadmill during part of his regular physical workout routine when he developed a dull and achy chest pain with some difficulty breathing.  The patient did not seek immediate help for the condition, thinking that it would resolve on its own.

Over the next two weeks the pain increased and the patient sought medical care. A visit to his internist revealed the patient’s blood pressure to be 140/97. He was diagnosed with muscular chest pain, secondary to tachycardia (rapid heart rate) and hypertension (elevated blood pressure). Treatment was a prescription of a combination of anti-inflammatory drugs and beta-blockers. The patient felt that his beta-blockers made him extremely drowsy, and the anti-inflammatory drugs did not relieve his chest pain.

In spite of the medication, most all of the man’s problems seemed to worsen.  After extensive testing, all findings were deemed normal, and the internist declared that the patient’s heart and lungs were healthy.  Over time, the patient’s symptoms had progressively worsened to the point that the chest pain radiated sharply into his upper back as well. The pain was so severe that he was unable to sleep at night or perform simple activities of daily living without increasing his pain. Anxiety over the severity of his condition also began to affect the patient’s emotional well-being, and got to the point of precluding the patient’s active employment and most physical activity.

Finally the debilitated man sought chiropractic care. His chiropractic examination showed an increase in many reflexes and the conclusion was that the man had subluxations.  Chiropractic care was initiated at that time.  After only one session, the man immediately rose to a standing position after the chiropractic adjustment, he then took a deep breath and exclaimed that he could breathe much easier.

The patient was placed on a program of sustaining chiropractic care, initiated 3 times per week.  The study showed that the patient responded favorably to chiropractic, obtaining prompt relief from his symptoms. Sustained chiropractic care rendered over a 14-week period resulted in complete resolution of the patient’s previously chronic condition, with recovery maintained at 9-month follow-up.

Read more articles like that at: http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/NEWS_case_study_on_chiropractic_care.htm

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Since the beginning of time, the biggest challenge that has always faced human existence was in how to effectively cope with the physical environment that surrounds us. From the need to hunt and gather food, to searching for adequate housing protection from the elements, or escaping an occasional life threatening danger, our bodies are uniquely designed to handle brief episodes of stress.

When our thinking mind determines that we must summon up an effort to tackle a perceived problem, the adrenal gland bumps up its production of hormones to confront the issue with a sudden burst of energy. This really is a good thing, as it enables us to handle the important details of our lives.

The downside to this process, however, is that our thinking mind is not always rational about what it considers to be a threat to our well being or what is harmless. Our thinking mind is bombarded with literally hundreds of bits and pieces of useless information that is a normal part of living in a modernized world.

While it is certainly impossible to eliminate all of the stress from our lives, it would not necessarily be beneficial for most people. Keep in mind that a certain amount of stress actually motivates many people to make positive changes in their lives. Learning how to prioritize and distinguish between what needs are important to you, and which ones you would be better off letting go of, is the key to balancing your stress levels.

Be advised that a constant infusion of a stress hormone called ‘cortisol’ can build up in the bloodstream. Over a relatively short amount of time, this can lead to a variety health complaints such as anxiety, depression, decreased immunity, weight gain or loss, hypertension, muscle aches and pains, digestive issues, or adrenal exhaustion resulting in a no hormone response at all to fight or flight, ending in a complete collapse. Nearly all physical health problems can be traced back to one main contributor, emotional upheaval.

Reducing the amount of stress we have some amount of control over is one constructive way of turning off a few of the everyday, little things that may really be bothering us like loud music, the media, and that constant on-the-go cycle of modern life.

Despite our best efforts to keep a lid on run away stress, the unpredictability of life is going to throw us an occasional curve ball. Troubled relationships, natural disasters, and job losses are an inevitable part of living life and will cause our stress hormones to spike. You may just have to let go at a time like this, and treat yourself extra nice until the crisis passes, as it usually does.

Dietary Needs:

One of the best ways to sustain our physical stamina in an emotional crisis is giving our body what it needs to produce energy in the first place. Junk foods may be an easy pacifier to reach for, but a well balanced healthy diet would serve us much better. Avoid using caffeine and alcohol to cope with life’s unpredictability, drink more pure water instead.

Get more fresh air and plenty of sunshine when at all possible, as vitamin D will help keep your sleep/wake cycle regulated.

Exercise and Sleep:

Even if you really aren’t motivated to exercise, find some type of physical activity that you can do on a regular basis. Walking and aerobics are popular choices, but there are so many others to choose from.

Try to get in 20 to 30 minutes of physical exertion (3 to 5 times a week) that gets your heart pumping and you have to breath deeply. Stress hormones are proportionately produced during physical activity and provides a healthy release mechanism for emotional anxiety. This re-uptake helps relax our body and mimics our running away from danger so we can rest and sleep normally afterward.

Sleep is something many of us short change ourselves on. We often get keyed up trying to finish that one last thing before bedtime. Whatever you think you must finish up, it usually can wait until the next day. Give yourself at least an hour to relax and unwind before bedtime. Take a warm bath or shower, as it helps lower body temperature to help make you drowsy. Read something pleasant that makes you feel good.

Emotions:

Many of us have been taught to live by a certain set of rules or standards that can cause a lot of unhealthy emotions to be kept suppressed. Our ideas, thoughts and beliefs about certain situations or people can have a very limiting effect upon our lives. Open up your mind to the possibilities that we all carry around some emotional burdens from our past that we may not be consciously aware of in the here and now. When we make the effort to free ourselves up from something that we may have long forgotten about, we can open new pathways to happiness and resolve old issues for good.

There are so many little day-to-day things that can really add up over time. Consider learning how to appreciate more of the things that are going well in your life, and all the material things that you already have.

Get together often with family, friends and neighbors that make you smile, laugh and feel good about life. Connect with your significant other and give each other back and foot massages, meditate, or pursue some creative project. Just know and trust that making the effort is enough, and the calmer life you are hoping for will be here before you know it.

Learn about the Author and read more articles like this at http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_7821.shtml

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The Annals of Internal Medicine (of all places) published the results of a survey of 232 people who had arthritis and were under a rheumatologists care.  Of those 63% responded to the survey by saying they were using some form of “complementary care” as named by the study.  Of those people 31% were using chiropractic.  These number may themselves be grossly under reported as only 45% of the patients told their doctor about using the other forms of care.

These reported numbers translate to over 19% of the public who is seeing a rheumatologists is also seeing a chiropractor.  And if less that half of the patients are telling their doctor about it the actual number may be twice as high.

Possibly the most impressive statistic was that 73% of those trying chiropractic found it helpful.  The reasons given why people said they tried the non-medical care was to control pain, because they heard it helps, because it is safe, because it helped someone they know, and because their prescription medication wasn’t working.

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Read other articles like this at http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/NEWSarthritis.htm