Falls and Fractures

It is widely known that falls are common in elderly populations and can cause injury and death. Correcting posture, gait, and pain are certainly good strategies to reduce risk of falling. Exercise can help as well.

Several studies have linked insomnia with increased risk of falls.

One such study correlates the amount of sleep with risk of falling:
Participants in the study who slept less than five hours per night had a 50 percent higher risk of having two or more falls over the course of a year than those who slept more than seven hours.
For those who slept from five to seven hours, the risk was 40 percent higher than for the longest sleepers.

Other studies have shown that balance, judgement, reaction time, and coordination are affected by lack of sleep. These are all factors in avoiding falls.

We hold the view that accidents and injury, including falls, are associated with poor sleep and are obviously a problem in young as well as older populations.

When you are working to improve the balance of your patients, include improving their sleep into the process.
It is a good idea to investigate your patient's quality of sleep.

Quality sleep of eight hours per night, in sync with the circadian biological clock is clearly linked to wellness and reduced risk of injury.

-courtesy of isleep-

AZ Premier Chiropractic & Rehab

Breathing Exercises Improve Asthma Symptoms

Tips to Reduce Asthma Symptoms

Use air filters to help clean air in your home. Cover mattresses and pillows with dust covers and use hypoallergenic bed clothing to reduce exposure to dust mites. Include foods with omega-3 fatty acids in the diet—such as fish or fish oil. Supplement with vitamin C, which helps reduce allergic reactions and wheezing symptoms. Get regular chiropractic care.

In the United States, about 20 million people have been diagnosed with asthma; nearly 9 million of them are children. The most common treatment for Asthma has been the use of corticosteriod inhalers.

A new study found that breathing techniques can cut the use of asthma reliever inhalers by more than 80% and halve the dose of preventer inhaler required in mild asthma, research finds.

The new study, published in the journal Thorax, compared the impact of two breathing techniques on symptoms, lung function, use of medication and quality of life among 57 adults with mild asthma.
One technique focused on shallow, nasal breathing with slow exhalations, and the second technique used general upper body exercises, accompanied by relaxation.

The participants, who used a preventer inhaler and required reliever inhaler at least four times a week, were randomly assigned to one or other breathing technique.

Participants practiced their breathing exercises twice a day for around 25 minutes over a period of 30 weeks. They were also encouraged to use a shorter version of their exercises in place of reliever inhaler, and to use reliever if the exercises did not work.

Researcher Professor Christine Jenkins, of the the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, found that the use of reliever medication fell by 86% in both exercise groups, a process which began within weeks of starting the exercises, and was maintained over eight months.  She writes: "Breathing techniques may be useful in the management of patients with mild asthma symptoms who use a reliever frequently."

By the end of the study, the participants dropped from using around three puffs of their reliever inhaler each day to approximately one puff every third day.  Preventer dose requirements were also cut in half.

Golf/Tennis Elbow and Chiropractic Care

I found this article to be useful and frankly, you need to know what Chiropractic can do for you!

Tennis (Golf) Elbow and Chiropractic Care

By

Mark Studin DC, FASBE (C), DAAPM, DAAMLP

"Tennis elbow [or lateral epicondylitis] is a painful condition that happens when tendons in your elbow are overworked, usually by repetitive motions of the wrist and arm" (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2010, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tennis-elbow/DS00469/DSECTION=symptoms). Tennis elbow is also called "golfer's elbow" and according to Owens, Wolf, and Murphy (2009), "...has been demonstrated to occur in up to 50% of tennis players. However, this condition is not limited to tennis players and has been reported to be the result of overuse from many activities. Lateral epicondylitis is extremely common in today's active society" (http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1231903-overview).

Owens, Wolf, and Murphy (2009) go on to explain, "Any activity involving wrist extension [upward bending] and/or supination [twisting] can be associated with overuse of the muscles originating at the lateral epicondyle [outer elbow]. Tennis has been the activity most commonly associated with the disorder. The risk of overuse injury is increased 2-3 times in players with more than 2 hours of play per week and 2-4 times in players older than 40 years. Several risk factors have been identified, including improper technique, size of racquet handle, and racquet weight [and the same holds true for any sport or activity]. For work-related lateral epicondylitis, a systematic review identified 3 risk factors: handling tools heavier than 1 kg, handling loads heavier than 20 kg at least 10 times per day, and repetitive movements for more than 2 hours per day...Patients present complaining of lateral elbow and forearm pain exacerbated by use. The typical patient is a man or woman aged 35-55 years who either is a recreational athlete or one who engages in rigorous daily activities" (http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1231903-overview).

In tennis, the USTA (United States Tennis Association), and in golf, the PGA (Professional Golf Association), along with almost every professional sports team in the United States and internationally, now employ chiropractors as part of their medical staff. They recognize the competitive edge that it gives their players in both avoiding and treating injuries. Professional sports are a big business and the owners want to protect their investments, the players. On a daily basis, as highlighted above, many of us are exposed to the negative effects of lateral epicondylitis.

According to Fernández-Carnero, Fernández-de-las-Peñas, & Cleland (2008),  the application of a cervical spine thrust manipulation (chiropractic adjustment) produced an immediate bilateral increase in pain pressure thresholds, or less pain at the elbow in patients with lateral epicondylitis and an increased pain free grip on the affected or painful side. The implication in sports and everyday life is that lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow, golf elbow, packaging elbow or any other name attached to the activity causing this problem, has been clinically proven in randomized clinical trials to have positive outcomes with chiropractic care.

These studies along with many others conclude that a drug-free approach of chiropractic care is one of the best solutions for patients with lateral epicondylitis. To find a qualified doctor of chiropractic near you go to the US Chiropractic Directory at www.USChiroDirectory.com and search your state.



References
1. Mayo Clinic Staff. (2010, Obtober 21). Tennis elbow, symptoms. MayoClinic.com. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tennis-elbow/DS00469/DSECTION=symptoms
2. Owens, B. D., Wolf, J. M., & Murphy, K. P. (2009, November 3). Lateral epicondylitis. emedecine from WebMD. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1231903-overview
3. Fernández-Carnero, J., Fernández-de-las-Peñas, C., & Cleland, J. A. (2008). Immediate hypoalgesic and motor effects after a single cervical spine manipulation in subjects with lateral epicondylalgia. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 31(9), 675-681.