Tag Archives: Grand Ledge Chiropractors

Researching Chiropractic: Torticollis, Sports-related Concussion

Researching Chiropractic

Chiropractic clinical case histories have been a regular feature of our patient newsletter since its inception. There seems to be no limit to the health problems that respond positively to chiropractic care. How many people suffering, reliant on medication and drugs, and facing a life of limitation could be helped by chiropractic care?                      

Probably most of them.

Resolution of Torticollis, Breastfeeding Difficulties, and Cranial Distortion

Chiropractic care was sought for a 13-day-old baby boy with torticollis, difficulty breastfeeding on his mother’s left breast, and cranial distortion. The baby received chiropractic treatment for a period of six weeks, with a total of seven visits. As a result, the baby’s initial complaints were resolved. 

Sports-related concussion

A 20-year-old male athlete visited a chiropractor complaining of a headache, feeling nauseous, experiencing dizziness, and having double vision. He had previously suffered a concussion related to sports activities 16 days ago, which marked his third concussion within five years. The symptoms were diagnosed as “post-concussion syndrome.”

The chiropractor conducted an analysis and performed adjustments to address subluxations. Following the first adjustment, the patient reported a significant 50% reduction in symptoms, instilling a sense of hope and confidence in the effectiveness of chiropractic care. Over the course of five weeks, the patient had a total of nine visits and experienced complete relief after one week of care. The symptoms did not reoccur throughout the entire treatment plan. 

Do you know someone with these issues?

Please encourage them to make an appointment with us!

(517) 627-4547

Chiropractic for Seniors: Enhancing Quality of Life

Chiropractic for Seniors

As the population ages, the demand for healthcare solutions tailored to the unique needs of seniors is rising. One such solution is chiropractic care, which addresses age-related spinal issues and osteoarthritis. This form of healthcare is particularly beneficial for older adults, offering non-invasive treatments that can significantly improve their quality of life.

The Role of Subluxation-Based Chiropractic Adjustments

Subluxation-based chiropractic care focuses on identifying and correcting subluxations-misalignments of the vertebrae that can interfere with nerve function. 

Subluxations contribute to various health issues, including pain, reduced mobility, and decreased organ function. 

Subluxation-based adjustments can be particularly beneficial for seniors. By correcting these misalignments, chiropractors aim to restore proper nerve function, which can improve overall health and well-being. Studies have shown that regular chiropractic care can lead to improvements in balance, coordination, and flexibility, which are crucial for preventing falls and maintaining independence in older adults.

Addressing Age-Related Spinal Issues

As we age, the spine undergoes various degenerative changes. These changes can lead to multiple issues, including reduced mobility, chronic pain, and decreased overall function. Age-related spinal conditions often include spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, and osteoporosis. Chiropractic care focuses on maintaining spinal health through regular adjustments, which can help mitigate these conditions. 

Chiropractors can alleviate pressure on nerves and reduce pain by improving spinal alignment and function. This is particularly important for seniors, as maintaining mobility and reducing pain can significantly enhance their independence and quality of life.

Managing Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a common condition among seniors, characterized by the breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone. It often affects the spine, causing pain and stiffness. Chiropractic care offers a holistic approach to managing osteoarthritis. Through gentle spinal adjustments, chiropractors can improve joint function and reduce inflammation. 

Improving Quality of Life

Chiropractic care is a valuable tool in enhancing the quality of life for seniors. Chiropractors can address older adults’ unique health challenges through regular adjustments and personalized treatment plans. This holistic approach alleviates pain, improves mobility, and promotes overall well-being.

If you are interested in discovering Chiropractic Care, give us a call! (517) 627-4547

Chiropractic Myths vs. Facts

chiropractic myths

Despite its growing popularity and recognition within the health community, chiropractic care is still surrounded by myths and misconceptions. Let’s debunk some of the most common chiropractic myths and provide evidence-based information to clarify the facts.

Myth 1: Chiropractors Are Not Real Doctors

Fact: Chiropractors are highly trained healthcare professionals who undergo rigorous education and training. A Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree in the United States requires at least seven years of higher education, including undergraduate study and four to five years of chiropractic college. The curriculum includes anatomy, physiology, neurology, radiology, and diagnostic imaging coursework, followed by clinical internships. Chiropractors must also pass national board exams and obtain state licensure to practice.

Myth 2: Chiropractic Adjustments Are Dangerous

Fact: Chiropractic adjustments are safe and effective when performed by a licensed and trained chiropractor. The risk of serious adverse effects is extremely low. Research has shown that chiropractic care can effectively help patients with acute and chronic low back pain, neck pain, and certain types of headaches, in addition to much more. A study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that spinal manipulation is associated with minimal risk and can significantly relieve musculoskeletal pain. (2)

Myth 3: Chiropractic Care Is Only for Back Pain

Fact: While chiropractic care is well-known for addressing back pain, it is not limited to this condition. Chiropractors also address issues related to neck pain, headaches, joint problems, and musculoskeletal injuries. Additionally, they often provide guidance on nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle modifications to promote overall health and well-being.

Myth 4: Chiropractic Adjustments Are Painful

Fact: Most patients feel relief rather than pain during chiropractic adjustments. The techniques used are typically gentle and tailored to the individual’s needs. Patients may experience a mild soreness like that felt after exercise, which usually resolves quickly.

Myth 5: Once You Start Chiropractic Care, You Have to Keep Going Forever

Fact: The frequency and duration of chiropractic care depend on the individual’s condition and health goals. Some patients may require a short series of appointments for acute issues, while others may benefit from ongoing care for chronic conditions or preventive maintenance. Chiropractors work with patients to develop personalized treatment plans that align with their specific needs.

If you are interested in discovering Chiropractic Care, give us a call! (517) 627-4547

 

Chiropractic and Pregnancy: Exploring the Benefits

Chiropractic care has long been recognized for its holistic approach to health and wellness. During pregnancy, this natural form of healthcare can offer significant benefits to expectant mothers, addressing common discomforts and promoting overall well-being. Let’s explore how chiropractic care, mainly through the removal of subluxations, can provide pain relief, improve posture, and enhance overall wellness during pregnancy.

Pain Relief

Pregnancy often brings about various aches and pains, primarily due to the extra weight and altered biomechanics associated with carrying a child. One of the most common complaints is lower back pain. Chiropractors use specific techniques to adjust the spine, targeting misalignments or subluxations that may be causing discomfort. By realigning the spine, chiropractic adjustments can relieve nerve pressure and reduce pain. This non-invasive approach is precious as it provides a drug-free alternative for pain management, ensuring both mother and baby’s safety.

Improved Posture

As pregnancy progresses, the body undergoes significant changes, including a shift in the center of gravity and increased lumbar lordosis (inward curvature of the lower back). These changes can lead to poor posture, which can cause musculoskeletal strain and discomfort. Chiropractic care aims to maintain proper spinal alignment, which helps in supporting better posture. Regular adjustments can correct any deviations caused by the growing abdomen, ensuring that the spine and pelvis are correctly aligned. This alignment is crucial for reducing discomfort and supporting a healthier pregnancy and delivery process.

Overall Wellness

Chiropractic care extends beyond pain relief and posture improvement. By focusing on the nervous system, chiropractors can enhance overall wellness. The nervous system controls and coordinates all bodily functions; optimal performance is crucial during pregnancy. Removing subluxations or misalignments in the spine ensures that the nervous system operates efficiently, which can boost the body’s natural healing processes. This can lead to improved sleep, reduced stress levels, and better digestion, all of which are important for the health of both the mother and the developing baby.

Moreover, chiropractic care can potentially lead to shorter labor and delivery times. Proper pelvic alignment can facilitate a smoother and more efficient birth process. When the pelvis is balanced, it provides more room for the baby to move into the optimal birthing position, potentially reducing complications during delivery.

Chiropractic care offers many benefits for expectant mothers. By removing subluxations, chiropractors can provide pain relief, improve posture, and promote overall wellness. As a noninvasive, drug-free option, chiropractic care is a valuable addition to prenatal care, supporting the health and comfort of both mother and baby throughout pregnancy.

Do you know someone who is expecting?

Please encourage them to make an appointment with us!

(517) 627-4547

 

What is a subluxation and why are they so dangerous?

A subluxation is a distortion in your spinal column and body structure that affects your brain, spinal cord and nervous system. ChiropractorsHow many joints are in your spine? spend years learning how to locate and adjust subluxations using various physical testing devices, body biofeedback and other instruments as well as X-rays and imaging devices. Why are subluxations so bad?

Disconnection

The subluxation is a “communication disorder” wherein your parts have become disconnected; your parts, muscles, disks, ligaments and organs aren’t working together as efficiently as they could be working; there may be too much or too little cerebral spinal fluid, lymphatic fluid and/or blood flow to vital body organs.

When you are disconnected your resistance to disease lowers, your ability to detoxify from life’s stresses drops and you are less alive. The term used to describe this is dis-ease.

The goal of the chiropractor 

The goal of the chiropractor is to locate and remove subluxations so you may be better connected to yourself. 

What is the best age for chiropractic care?

Everyone needs to be checked for subluxations and to have them adjusted by a chiropractor.

Whether you are sick or apparently healthy, subluxations are interfering with your health. There is no age limit for a person to get chiropractic care: 1 day old or 120 years old.

Everyone needs chiropractic checkups: pregnant women, professional athletes, kids-it is essential for everyone to be subluxation-free. That could make the difference between having energy or being exhausted all the time, between living a life of health or a life of sickness, between healing or deteriorating.

Schedule your check up today!  517.627.4547

Mushroom Bourguignon

Author: Linda Meyermushrooms-756406_1920Mushroom Bourguignon serves 4 

Preparation Time: Takes 1.5 hrs start to finish

Savory mushrooms and carrots in a rich wine sauce, the perfect cozy and romantic winter dish. This will please everyone at your table. 

  • 2 tbsp olive oil divided
  • 2 lb mushroom caps we prefer baby bellas, stems off and sliced thick
  • 6 large carrots peeled and sliced into 1 inch 2.5 cm circles
  • 1 large yellow onion peeled and diced
  • 1 large shallot peeled and sliced thin
  • 2 garlic cloves peeled and minced
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 ½ cups red wine
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 tsp ground sea salt or to taste
  • 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves plus extra for garnishing
  • 2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
  • Black pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp + 1 tsp all-purpose flour use cornstarch to make it gluten free
  • 1/3 cup water
  • Served over 1 1 lb package of fettuccine or mashed potatoes (Dr C)

DIRECTION

  1. Heat a large skillet on medium heat and add 1 tbsp (15 ml) of olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the mushrooms and a pinch of salt, sauté for approximately ten minutes or until browned. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  2. Add the remaining olive oil and the carrots. Sauté until they begin to brown then add the onions. Cook the onions until they become translucent then add the shallots. Cook until they are browned and caramelized, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for one minute.
  3. Add the vegetable broth and wine to deglaze the pan. Stir and loosen the pieces of onion and shallot that may have stuck to the pan. Add the tomato paste and stir until it liquefies. Add the salt, thyme, Italian seasoning, and pepper, stir to combine and reduce the heat to a low simmer. Cover and cook for twenty minutes. Add more seasoning if you prefer a stronger flavor.
  4. In a small bowl, mix the flour (or corn starch if you want to make it gluten free) and water together until the flour breaks down and the mixture resembles a thick milky substance. There shouldn’t be any dry flour or lumps in the mixture. Add it to the wine sauce and stir well to combine. Add the mushrooms and stir to incorporate within the sauce. Cover and simmer on the lowest temperature for twenty minutes. The sauce will thicken into a stew. Be sure to lift the lid and check to make sure it’s not sticking to the pan or evaporating. That shouldn’t happen if the temperature is low enough, but if it does add a small amount of broth or water and stir.
  5. Spoon the mushroom Bourguignon on top of the fettucine/mashed potatoes. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh thyme leaves.

Can a chiropractor see things that I can’t?

Questions and Answers About Chiropractic

Question: Can a chiropractor see things that I can’t?

Answer: Yes! 

Chiropractors are always “checking people out.” We can’t avoid it because we know what it means and we know we can help!

When you see people walking down the street, do you notice if their shoes are pointed in the same direction or does one stick out or in more than the other? 

feet pointing

Do you notice if their heads are balanced front to back, side to side, on their necks?

head tilt

Do you notice if one hand seems to be a little lower on the body than the other hand?

shoulder

Do you notice if one arm swings a little more than the other?

If the hip swings more on one side than the other when a person walks? If, when lying down, one leg appears shorter than the other?

These, and other seemingly minor differences are common and can be very important. Yet most people don’t notice or appreciate them. But your chiropractor often notices them and sees the tremendous importance in body balance and symmetrical movement.

Now you know why top professional and Olympic athletes visit chiropractors – for better balance, coordination and movement plus more energy and efficiency of motion.

If you notice any of these things in you, or in someone you know, we can help!

517.627.4547

Researching Chiropractic: Hand Numbness

Do you ever experience hand numbness? Have you tried chiropractic care?hand numbness

Chiropractic clinical case histories have been a regular feature of our patient newsletter since its inception. There seems to be no limit to the health problems that respond to chiropractic care. How many people suffering, on drugs, facing a life of limitation could be helped by chiropractic care?

Probably most of them.

Hand numbness and neck pain in a 46-year-old womanhand numbness

A woman with hand numbness and neck pain began chiropractic care. Spinal analysis revealed that she had upper cervical (neck) subluxations, concurrent nervous system imbalance, a loss of the normal cervical curve and spinal degeneration.

Over a 4-month period she received 8 chiropractic adjustments.

Her neck pain decreased from 4/10 to 0/10 and her hand numbness completely resolved after two months of care.

Are you experiencing neck pain and hand numbness? We can help!

Call and make an appointment today:

517.627.4547

Herman C, Harris J. Resolution of neck pain, upper extremity paresthesia & dysautonomia in a 46-year-old female with loss of cervical curve and spinal degeneration using Blair Upper Cervical technique: a case study & review of the literature. Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research. July 9, 2018:26-32

Researching Chiropractic: ADHD

How are chiropractic care and ADHD related?

Chiropractic clinical case histories have been a regular feature of our patient newsletter since its inception. There seems to be no limit to the health problems that respond to chiropractic care. How many people suffering, on drugs, facing a life of limitation could be helped by chiropractic care?

Probably most of them.

ADHD in a 38-year-oldADHD 36 year old man

A 38-year-old male patient entered a chiropractor’s office complaining of chronic headaches and adult onset attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He was taking Adderall®, OxyContin® and Lortab®.

On examination, vertebral subluxations with correlated neurological imbalance were found.

After two months of chiropractic adjustments he reported a resolution of all his ADHD symptoms; he was able to focus and to exercise.

He was also able to stop taking medications for ADHD.

Do you know someone struggling with ADHD? Please share this article.

Pellegrino A, McNulty E. Resolution of adult onset attention deficit hyperactivity disorder following chiropractic care for management of vertebral subluxations: a case report & review of the literature. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research. June 11, 2018:95-107.

Latest News from Charmaine: June 2018

Greetings all,April 2018

We now can officially say summer is here with all  the fun and games of family, friends, graduations reunions, vacations, BBQs, sunshine, suntans and mosquitoes all mixed into one big messy bundle.

This month- (Flag Day June 14th) Dr. Ray and I celebrated 38 years (each) in Chiropractic, having graduated summer of 1980.  Daughter Damaris celebrated 8 years since her graduation a week later and she has firmly established herself in Norway in her own practice- specializing in babies and pregnant women.

She will be meeting us in Scotland at the End of July and so we will be away from the office 7/27/2018  to 8/5/2018. Time to get away, re-connect and have fun with Alfred who is growing like a weed! My niece will possibly be joining us from the Isle of Jersey.

This month will see me competing in a power lifting meet in Rochester Hills 6/23 and the Senior Olympics will follow in August (8/12).

Make this a great summer and feel free to share any of your recipes or holiday experiences with us.

SEE YOU IN THE OFFICE, ON THE TABLE, ON THE MAT OR UNDER THE BARBELLS

Jack R says,

“I wake up ready for the day…not sluggish or tired. I just feel better, I have more stamina and my energy comes back quicker after a hard day’s work.”

Another happy patient who has a better day with Chiropractic Care!