Pain

SI Joint Dysfunction. Nothing FUN about it.

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

Your sacroiliac joint is the mechanical link on each side of your hip that connects your legs to the rest of your body. The joint has a limited but very important degree of mobility. Symptoms develop when one or both of the joints loses normal motion. When a joint becomes “restricted”, a self-perpetuating cycle of discomfort follows. Restriction causes the muscles to become overworked, leading to tightness, compression, inflammation, pain and more restriction.
Sacroiliac problems can happen as a result of repetitive strenuous activity or trauma- like a fall onto the buttocks. Other causes of sacroiliac joint problems include, poor posture, having one leg slightly longer than another, having an altered gait, having flat feet or scoliosis, or having pain somewhere else in your legs. Pregnancy is a common trigger for sacroiliac joint problems due to weight gain, gait changes and postural stress.

Sacroiliac joint problems often begin as a focal discomfort in your back just below the belt line, slightly to one side of center. Your pain can travel into your buttock or thigh. Symptoms are often worse by standing on the affected side. The pain may become more apparent when you change positions- like exiting a chair, car or bed, or during long car rides. The pain is often relieved by lying down.

To assist with your recovery, you should avoid any activity that provokes pain, like standing on the affected leg or prolonged sitting.

The Medial Ankle Sprain. “The Other Sprain”.

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

“Ligaments” are made up of many individual fibers running parallel to each other and bundled to form a strong fibrous band. These fibrous bands hold your bones together. Just like a rope, when a ligament is stretched too far, it begins to fray or tear. “Sprain” is the term used to describe this tearing of ligament fibers.

Sprains are graded by the severity of damage to the ligament fibers. A Grade 1 sprain means the ligament has been painfully stretched, but no fibers have been torn. A Grade 2 sprain means some, but not all, of the ligaments’ fibers have been torn. A Grade 3 sprain means all of the ligaments’ fibers have been torn, and the ligament no longer has the ability to protect the joint.

Ankle sprains are the most common soft-tissue injury and will affect up to 20% of active people at some point in their life. Most ankle sprains occur because you have “rolled your ankle”. Sprains like yours, involving the inside of your ankle (medial) are much less common than injuries to the outer side. Medial ankle sprains are often accompanied by other injuries like “high ankle sprains” or fractures.

Ankle sprains cause pain and swelling over the inside of your ankle. Walking may be difficult, and bruising is common. Be sure to tell your doctor if you experience numbness, tingling, or a dramatic cold sensation in your foot, as this may indicate more significant injury.

Ankle sprains can be successfully managed but will require some work on your part. You can help reduce swelling by elevating your ankle by lying or sitting with your foot elevated or by using an ACE wrap for compression. Applying ice or ice massage for 10 minutes each hour may help relieve swelling. Depending upon the severity of your sprain, you may need to wear an ankle brace to help protect you from further injury. If walking is painful, crutches may be necessary.

Initially, a period of rest may be necessary in order to help you heal. Mild Grade 1 sprains may allow return to sport in a couple of days, while more severe injuries may take six weeks or longer to recover.

Turf Toe? What Is That?

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

“Turf toe” means that the strong fibrous ligaments connecting your big toe to your foot have been stretched too far and have been “sprained.” This most commonly happens when your big toe is extended forcibly toward the top of your foot. This may happen abruptly from a fall or when something lands on the back of your calf while your toes are touching the ground. Turf toe commonly occurs from jamming your big toe into a hard surface. Occasionally, the injury happens over a long period of time from repetitive stress- like pushing off of the big toe each time you run or jump.

The term “turf toe” was coined because this injury became more common in athletes with the implementation of artificial turf fields. Turf toe injuries rank third after knee and ankle injuries among the most common cause for lost playing time in athletes.

A turf toe injury causes pain and swelling at the base of your big toe. You will notice your pain probably increases when your toe is straightened or bent backward toward the top of your foot. Sometimes you may notice bruising shortly after the injury. Gout, a type of arthritis that is more common in men, can sometimes act like turf toe. Be sure to tell your doctor if you or someone in your family has a history of gout.

Early treatment is focused on keeping your toe from moving too much. Depending upon the severity of the injury, turf toe usually requires a period of rest for proper healing. When directed, you may begin non-weight bearing activities, such as stationary cycling or swimming. You should take a close look at your shoes before returning to play. Wearing excessively flexible shoes on a turf field increases your chance of injury. Consider a stiff-soled shoe or hard carbon fiber insert during initial healing. When you are able to run and change directions without pain or loss of mobility, you will likely be allowed to return to play. Be sure to ice your toe for 10-15 minutes following any activity while your injury is healing.

Trigger points in the supraspinatus

~ bryancobb ~ Leave a comment

The supraspinatus is a muscle of the rotator cuff. Is sits above the infraspinatus and originates on the supraspinous fossa of the scapula. It’s insertion point is the superior facet of the greater tubercle of the humerus. It’s main function is to abduct the arm at the glenohumeral joint working with the deltoid. All rotator cuff muscles act to secure and support the head of the humerus in the glenoid fossa during arm movements acting as a sling. This muscle often gets impinged during overhead movements such as painting a ceiling. When trigger points form in this muscle they primarily refer a deep achy pain into the mid deltoid area with spillover pain radiating down the arm into the elbow.

Can Chiro help me?

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

Adjust

​Chiropractic is the most widely accepted and most frequently used type of “alternative” healthcare in the United States. This is largely due to the fact that it works, and because of that, there has been a steady increase in acceptance by the public, third-party payers, and the Federal government. Since the mid-1990s, a number of outside (non-chiropractic) observers have suggested that chiropractic has now entered mainstream healthcare.

One can position chiropractic as being BOTH alternative and mainstream. It is “alternative” since it approaches healthcare from an entirely different direction compared to the primary care medical profession. Chiropractic is non-surgical and promotes diet and nutritional approaches vs. drugs and surgery. Chiropractic is also arguably “mainstream” as it has evolved into a strongly utilized form of primary care through popular acceptance and utilization by the public.

So, what role does chiropractic play in today’s health delivery system? This question is still being debated, but there appears to be three camps: 1) Specialist—limited to musculoskeletal (MSK) complaints on an interdisciplinary primary healthcare team; 2) Primary healthcare “gatekeepers” that focus on ambulatory MSK complaints; 3) Generalist primary healthcare provider of “alternative or complementary” medicine that manage and/or co-manage both MSK AND non-MSK conditions.

Looking at this from the patient or “consumer” perspective, chiropractic already plays an important role in the healthcare delivery for many patients. In 1993, a report claimed 7% of American adults had received chiropractic care during the prior year. According to a 2015 Gallup poll (that included 5,442 adults, aged 18+, surveyed between 2/16/15 and 5/6/15) entitled, Majority in U.S. Say Chiropractic Works for Neck, Back Pain, “Chiropractic care has a positive reputation among many US adults for effective treatment of neck and back pain, with about six in 10 adults either strongly agreeing (23%) or agreeing somewhat (38%) that chiropractors are effective at treating these types of pain.”

The “highlights” from this Gallup poll include: 1) Two-thirds say chiropractic is effective for neck and back pain. 2) Many adults say chiropractors think of the patient’s best interest. 3) More than 33 million adults in the United States (US) saw a chiropractor in the twelve months before the survey was conducted. That means roughly 14% of U.S. adults saw a chiropractor in the 12 months prior to the survey (vs. 7% in 1993). An additional 12% who responded to the Gallup pollsters saw a chiropractor in the last five years but not in the last 12 months. Overall, 51% of those polled had previously seen a chiropractor.

Whether or not you have personally utilized chiropractic, the educational process, licensing requirements, public interest, third-party payer systems, and interprofessional cooperation ALL support firm ground for which you can comfortably and confidently seek chiropractic care for your complaints.

We realize you have a choice in whom you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs.  If you, a friend, or family member requires care, we would be honored to render our services.

My ankle hurts…….

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ 1 Comment

The posterior tibialis muscle begins deep in your calf. The muscle is connected to the arch of your foot by a tendon that runs along the inside of your ankle, just behind the large bump called the medial malleolus. When you walk, the posterior tibialis muscle lifts the arch of your foot.
Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction is one of the most common foot and ankle problems. The tendon may be damaged from an acute injury, like an accident or fall. More commonly, problems arise from overuse or repeated strain. Ongoing irritation slowly damages the tendon’s fibers and eventually leads to weakening and degeneration. This decreases the tendon’s ability to support your foot when you walk. As the tendon becomes less effective, the arch of your foot is allowed to collapse, which further increases the strain on the muscle and tendon.

The condition is often triggered from overuse and/or training on excessively hard surfaces. Other factors that can contribute to posterior tibial tendon dysfunction include: obesity, diabetes, hypertension, prior surgery or steroid injections.

Symptoms include pain or swelling along the course of the tendon, particularly behind your inner ankle bone. Symptoms often begin following an increase in training intensity or duration. Standing, walking, or running will likely increase your discomfort. Your pain may be aggravated by spending prolonged periods of time on your feet, especially, when standing tiptoe and walking stairs or uneven surfaces.

Early diagnosis and treatment is important to slow progression of the disorder. You may need to temporarily limit weight-bearing activity to allow your tendon to heal. Using a stationary cycle, elliptical machine, or swimming can be good alternatives to walking and running. Your doctor will likely prescribe arch supports or orthotics to help support your foot. You will be given exercises to strengthen the posterior tibialis muscle. These exercises should be performed while wearing shoes with good arch supports. In certain instances, a walking cast or boot may be needed to temporarily protect your foot.

The Dreaded Lateral Ankle Sprain

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

“Ligaments” are made up of many individual fibers running parallel to each other and bundled to form a strong fibrous band. These fibrous bands hold your bones together. Just like a rope, when a ligament is stretched too far, it begins to fray or tear. “Sprain” is the term used to describe this tearing of ligament fibers.

Sprains are graded by the severity of damage to the ligament fibers. A Grade 1 sprain means the ligament has been painfully stretched, but no fibers have been torn. A Grade 2 sprain means some, but not all, of the ligaments’ fibers have been torn. A Grade 3 sprain means all of the ligaments’ fibers have been torn, and the ligament no longer has the ability to protect the joint.

Ankle sprains are the most common soft-tissue injury and will affect up to 20% of active people at some point in their life. Most ankle sprains occur because you have “rolled your ankle” inward. Sprains on the outer side of your ankle are much more common than sprains on the inner side. People who have suffered a prior ankle injury are more likely to suffer subsequent ankle injuries.

Ankle sprains cause pain and swelling over the outside of your ankle. Walking may be difficult, and bruising is common. Be sure to tell your doctor if you experience numbness, tingling, or a dramatic cold sensation in your foot, as this may indicate more significant injury.

Ankle sprains can be successfully managed but will require some work on your part. You can help reduce swelling by elevating your ankle by lying or sitting with your foot elevated or by using an ACE wrap for compression. Applying ice or ice massage for 10 minutes each hour may help relieve swelling. Depending upon the severity of your sprain, you may need to wear an ankle brace to help protect you from further injury. If walking is painful, crutches may be necessary.

Initially, a period of rest may be necessary in order to help you heal. Mild Grade 1 sprains may allow return to sport in a couple of days, while more severe injuries may take six weeks or longer to recover. Surgery is rarely necessary.

Where should you turn when back pain strikes?

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

Shrug

Where should you turn when back pain strikes?

https://tribunecontentagency.com/article/where-to-turn-for-low-back-pain-relief/

Chiropractic should be a first line defence when back pain strikes. We are special trained to recognize the cause of back pain and treat when appropriate. When the cause is outside the scope of our practice, we are able to educate you on where you should go next.

Trigger points in the infraspinatus

~ bryancobb ~ Leave a comment

The infraspinatus muscle is one of the muscles that makes up the rotator cuff. It originates on the infraspinous fossa of the scapula, and inserts on the middle facet of the greater tubercle of the humerus. It functions to externally rotate the humerus and to stabilize the head of the humerus in the glenoid cavity during upward movement of the arm. Trigger points in this muscle refer pain deep into the anterior shoulder joint and down the anterior arm. Trigger points near the lower medial border refer pain into the rhomboids. This muscle is often injured during throwing motions.

Is there an actual cure all?

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

​Exercise Tip

No; but exercise seems to be as close as we will ever get! 

Some of you may have heard about how a modified form of boxing is helping patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). If you haven’t, it’s been observed that people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who engage in this boxing-like exercise routine can enhance their quality of life and even build impressive gains in posture, strength, flexibility, and speed. Proponents of the program report that regardless the degree of severity of PD, participants have a happier, healthier, and higher quality of life.

But must it be boxing? Maybe not. A report presented at the International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders in San Diego in June 2015 found that patients with Parkinson’s disease who began regular exercise early into the PD process had a much slower decline in their quality of life when compared with those who started exercising later. The researchers found just 2.5 hours per week of exercise is needed to improve quality of life scores. According to the report, it didn’t matter what exercise the participants did — simply getting up and moving for a total of 2.5 hours/week was reportedly enough (that’s only 20-25 minutes / day)!

Looking beyond Parkinson’s, other chronic conditions also benefit from adding exercise into a person’s lifestyle. Studies show that regular exercise as simple as walking helps reduce one’s risk for memory loss, and it slows down functional decline in the elderly. Incorporating aerobic exercise into one’s lifestyle can also improve reaction time in people at ALL AGES. Exercise has also been shown to improve both physical and emotional well-being in those afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease with as little as 60 minutes/week of moderate exercise! Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have also reported less stiffness and less muscle wasting when using exercise machines, aquatic exercise, and/or walking.

Research has shown just 30 minutes of brisk exercise three times a week can help reduce depressive symptoms in patients with mild-to-moderate depression. In a study involving teenagers, those who engaged in sports reported a greater level of well-being than their sedentary peers, and the more vigorous the exercise, the better their emotion health! In kids 8-12 years old, physical inactivity is strongly linked to depression.

Even anxiety, stress, and depression associated with menopause are less severe in those who exercise! So LET’S ALL GET OUT THERE AND EXERCISE!!!