One very important job of your hip muscles is to maintain the alignment of your leg when you move. One of the primary hip muscles, the gluteus medius, plays an especially important stabilizing role when you walk, run, or squat. The gluteus medius attaches your thigh bone to the crest of your hip.

When you lift your left leg, your right gluteus medius must contract in order to keep your body from tipping toward the left. And when you are standing on a bent leg, your gluteus medius prevents that knee from diving into a “knock knee” or “valgus” position.

Weakness of the gluteus medius allows your pelvis to drop and your knee to dive inward when you walk or run. This places tremendous strain on your hip and knee and may cause other problems too. When your knee dives inward, your kneecap is forced outward, causing it to rub harder against your thigh bone- creating a painful irritation and eventually arthritis. Walking and running with a relative “knock knee” position places tremendous stress on the ligaments around your knee and is a known cause of “sprains”. Downstream, a “knock knee” position puts additional stress on the arch of your foot, leading to other painful problems, like plantar fasciitis. Upstream, weak hips allow your pelvis to roll forward which forces your spine into a “sway back” posture. This is a known cause of lower back pain. Hip muscle weakness seems to be more common in females, especially athletes.

Avoid activities that cause prolonged stretching of the hip abductors, like “hanging on one hip” while standing, sitting crossed legged, and sleeping in a side-lying position. Patients with fallen arches may benefit from arch supports or orthotics. Obesity causes more stress to the hip muscles, so overweight patients may benefit from a diet and exercise program. The most important treatment for hip abductor weakness is strength training. People with stronger hip muscles are less likely to become injured in the first place. http://ow.ly/i/uGWD5

A 2010 systematic review found that most studies suggest spinal manipulation achieves equivalent or superior improvement in pain and function when compared with other commonly used interventions for short, intermediate, and long-term follow-up.

Dagenais S, Gay RE, Tricco AC, Freeman MD, Mayer JM (October 2010). “NASS Contemporary Concepts in Spine Care: spinal manipulation therapy for acute low back pain”. Spine J 10 (10): 918-40 http://ow.ly/i/x3blR

Looking for the fountain of youth? Look no further than exercise. Research shows that regular exercise will reduce inflammation in your body, lead to healthier heart and lungs, reduce body fat, increase energy and now, it appears, reverse aging.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have found that HIIT workouts might reverse some of the signs of aging when performed 3 times a week. Check out the article below for more info.

http://ow.ly/OiSB30dVzgg http://ow.ly/i/x7lPc

Lumbar Disc Lesion describes the undesirable midpoint on a continuum of problems, beginning with repetitive disc sprain, leading to herniation, ending in degeneration. As evidence based #chiropractors know all too well, these problems are often accompanied by #sciatica.

#Chiropractic
#Winnipeg
#Injury
#Pain
#Wellness
#Fitness http://ow.ly/i/x2MKE

Ever heard of the phrase “no pain, no gain”? Contrary to that belief, exercise doesn’t have to be painful and most times shouldn’t be. Don’t feel like you have to push yourself outside of your physical limits to have an effective workout. You can prevent injuries and build your #strength and #endurance by walking, swimming, playing #golf, or even cleaning the house.

#Chiropractic
#Prevention
#Training
#Wellness
#Fitness http://ow.ly/i/x3b5y

In many cases, athletes, as well as the general public, develop patterns of compensation when mild, non-debilitating injuries are allowed to remain untreated. These patterns often lead to decreased performance in sport or in a loss of ability to perform our daily activities without pain and/or difficulty.

Our office aims to identify, correct and prevent these patterns as part of our regular care for patients who have had long term pain. In acute (new/recent) injury cases, prevention of these dysfunctions is paramount to a quick and seamless return to sport/work/life. For more information or to book with one of our Doctors contact us at 204-586-8424 or via email at info@aberdeenchiropractic.com http://ow.ly/i/x5e7V

Most of the muscles that flex your wrist are attached to a bony bump on the inside of your elbow called the “medial epicondyle.” Sometimes, through injury or overuse, the site where these muscles originate can become irritated or inflamed. This condition is called “medial epicondylitis”, or “golfer’s elbow.”

Although the condition is named “golfer’s elbow,” over 90% of those affected are not even athletes, much less golfers. Nonetheless, the condition is more common in certain sports, especially golf, throwing, bowling, football, archery, and weight lifting. Occupations that require heavy gripping or repeated hand movements, like carpentry or typing, can predispose you to this condition. Smokers and people who are obese are more likely to experience this condition.

Medial epicondylitis is the most frequent cause of pain on the “inside” of your elbow but is 3-10 times less likely that its “outside” counterpart- lateral epicondylitis (i.e. “tennis elbow”). Medial epicondylitis is most common between the ages of 40 and 60. The condition strikes the dominant arm in over ¾ of cases. Your symptoms will likely include a dull aching pain over the bump on the inside of your elbow that becomes more intense with use. As the condition progresses, you may notice grip weakness or limitations when shaking hands, grasping objects, and opening jars. Be sure to tell your doctor if you notice numbness or tingling traveling toward your hand.

If left untreated, medial epicondylitis can last indefinitely. Studies show that up to 40% of untreated patients suffer prolonged discomfort, some as long as three years. Fortunately, conservative treatment like the type provided in our office is effective for relieving this condition. Our office may prescribe an elbow “counterforce brace” to help dampen stress to the irritated area. This type of brace should not be used in patients who have numbness or tingling radiating into their fingers. Some patients may benefit from a “wrist splint” that is used at night to allow your tendon to heal in a lengthened position. Using ice or ice massage over your elbow can help limit pain. Your home exercises will play an important role in your recovery http://ow.ly/i/uGTga

An overhead thrower must have tremendous shoulder range of motion to generate acceleration, yet have enough stability in the bony and soft tissues to prevent injury from the high forces associate with pitching. Any disruption in this balance can lead to excess strain on one or more structures in the kinetic chain.

We know that overhead sports torque the humerus. The glenohumeral joint is designed for mobility; and anchored to a relatively stable scapula and torso. In youth baseball pitchers, excessive humeral torque can stress the vulnerable proximal epiphyseal cartilaginous growth plate, leading to a painful condition called Little League Shoulder.
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#Chiropractic
#Baseball
#LittleLeague
#Sports
#Rehab
#Prevention
#Winnipeg http://ow.ly/i/x2M60

Nothing is too small to know, and nothing is too big to attempt. http://ow.ly/i/wRBbl

Your lumbar spine (low back) is made up of five individual vertebra stacked on top of a bone called the sacrum. To allow for flexibility and movement, there is a cushion or “disc” in between each level. As we age, our discs and joints can wear and become thinner from a process called arthritis. This leads to additional changes, including loosening of the ligaments that hold your vertebra in place. The term “degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis” means that one of your vertebra has shifted forward on top of the one below as a result of arthritis and loosening ligaments. The condition usually comes on after age 50 and affects women six times more frequently than men. Degenerative spondylolisthesis occurs most commonly at your second lowest spinal level. (L4-5)

Sometimes, spondylolisthesis develops silently, but most patients report episodes of back pain that have occurred for many years. Patients often report increased pain when standing or when rising from a sitting position. Pain tends to increase throughout the day. If your nerve openings have become narrowed, the nerves may be pinched, and you may experience pain radiating into your legs. Leg symptoms that shift from side to side are characteristic of degenerative spondylolisthesis. Leg pain and tingling are fairly common, but be sure to tell your doctor if you notice more significant symptoms, like leg numbness, heaviness, weakness, loss of bowel or bladder function, or impotence.

Studies have shown no advantage for surgery over conservative care for most cases of degenerative spondylolisthesis. Approximately one-third of patients will experience progression of symptoms over time, and only 10-15% will ever need surgery to correct the problem. Fortunately, the majority of patients will benefit from treatment and exercises to help stabilize their spine.

You will need to perform your exercises consistently for sustained improvement. You should also try to add some type of aerobic exercise to your daily routine. Stationary cycling is a very good choice, and other options include water walking and swimming. Avoid wearing high heels. You may find some benefit for your arthritic symptoms by taking 1500mg of Glucosamine Sulfate each day. Using a hot pack for 10-15 minutes directly over your lower back may provide some benefit. http://ow.ly/i/uGp95