Winnipeg Chiropractor

Food Myth #6: Energy Drinks Are Better Than Soda

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

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Red Bull, Monster and their brethren aim to give you a bump in energy with a giant dose of sugar, B vitamins, caffeine and “herbal extracts”. I’d imagine you’re already thinking “this sounds like a bad thing that I should avoid” but in case you aren’t…..

A 16 ounce can of this stuff packs a whopping 280 (!) calories of SUGAR in it which is about 80 calories more than the same sized serving of Pepsi or Coke. Still drinking this stuff? Great, I’ll pass along a few dentist contacts as well since a University of Maryland study showed that they are also 11% more corrosive on your teeth than soft drinks.

Drink more water, tea, black coffee and avoid anything with EXTREME or NEON on the can and you’ll be fine…….

 

 

 

Feels just like Carpal Tunnel but isn’t Carpal Tunnel……

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

Your Median Nerve begins in your neck and travels down your arm on its way to your hand. This nerve is responsible for sensation on the palm side of your first 3 ½ fingers and also controls some of the muscles that flex your fingers. The median nerve can sometimes become entrapped near your elbow as it travels through a muscle called the “pronator teres”. Compression of the median nerve by the pronator muscle is called “Pronator Syndrome.”

Pronator syndrome is often brought on by prolonged or repeated wrist and finger movements, i.e., gripping with the palm down. Carpenters, mechanics, assembly line workers, tennis players, rowers, and weight lifters are predisposed to this problem. The condition is more common in people with excessively developed forearm muscles and is also more common in your dominant arm. Pronator syndrome most often affects adults age 45-60 and females are affected about four times more frequently than males. People who suffer from diabetes, thyroid disease, and alcoholism have an increased risk for developing pronator syndrome.

Pronator syndrome produces symptoms very similar to a more common cause of median nerve compression called “carpal tunnel syndrome”. Symptoms of pronator syndrome include numbness, tingling, or discomfort on the palm side of your thumb, index, middle finger, and half of your ring finger. The discomfort often begins near the elbow and radiates toward your hand. Your symptoms are likely aggravated by gripping activities, especially those that involve rotation of the forearm, like turning a doorknob or a screwdriver. Unlike carpal tunnel syndrome, pronator syndrome symptoms are not generally present at night. You may sometimes feel as though your hands are clumsy. In more severe cases, hand weakness can develop.

To help resolve your condition, you should avoid activities that involve repetitive hand and forearm movements. Perhaps the most important aspect of your treatment plan is to avoid repetitive forceful gripping. You may apply ice packs or ice massage directly over the pronator teres muscle for ten minutes at a time or as directed by our office. In some cases, an elbow splint may be used to limit forearm movements. If left untreated, pronator syndrome can result in permanent nerve damage. Fortunately, our office has several treatment options available to help resolve your symptoms.

Our Exercise Of The Month: Dead Bug

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

Begin lying on your back with your right arm reaching overhead and your left leg flat on the table. Your right knee should be bent 90 degrees and your hip 45 degrees. Place your left wrist beneath your back to prevent your back from flattening against the ground. Slowly begin by raising your left knee and right arm at the same time until your hand touches your knee. Be sure not to lift your head or allow your spine to flatten against the floor. Return to the start position and repeat for three sets of 10 repetitions on each side, twice per day or as directed.

Food Myth #5: High Fructose Corn Syrup is worse than other sugars.

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

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Sugar is everywhere and most don’t even know it.

Dextrose, sucrose, rice syrup, maltodextrin….. All sugars and all affect our bodies the same way. While these monikers may not be as well known or as much maligned as high fructose corn syrup they are just as much of a health inhibitor as HFCS and good old table sugar.

While HFCS has long been seen as the worst of a bad bunch, a 2014 review of multiple studies found there was no difference in blood glucose changes between HFCS or table sugar. Basically, your body can’t tell one from the other and all the cigars mentioned above cause similar reactions in your body. Sugar is sugar.

The biggest issue with HFCS? It is EVERYWHERE. In order to reduce your sugar intake you’ll need to know many terms for sugars and keep an eye on what you’re eating day in and day out.

 

 

 

 

http://www.eatthis.com/29-nutrition-myths-busted/

 

Golfer’s Elbow? Thats a thing?

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

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.

Initially, you may need to avoid activities that cause an increase in pain, like gripping, lifting, golfing, throwing balls, or swinging a racquet. Be sure to warm up properly and stretch prior to any heavy physical activity. Smokers would benefit from quitting. Overweight patients should consider increasing their aerobic activity to shed excess pounds.

Workers compensation cases highlight the value of chiropractic care

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

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A newly published analysis of 5511 workers compensation cases highlights the value of chiropractic care: “those injured workers who first saw a chiropractor experienced shorter first episodes of compensation (vs. physical therapy alone)”.

If you or someone you know has suffered a job-related injury, call us today. Our goal is to provide the most effective care that gets you back to work ASAP!

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27638518

Our Condition of the Month: ITB Syndrome

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

Iliotibial Band Syndrome

Your iliotibial band is a fibrous band of tissue running from the crest of your hip, down to your knee. A muscle near the crest of your hip called the tensor fascia lata, attaches to this band to help control movements of your leg. Your iliotibial band passes over the point of your hip and over another bony bump on the outside of your knee called the lateral epicondyle. When the band is too tight, it can become painfully inflamed as it repeatedly rubs over the top of either of these bony projections. Irritation at the bony bump near the knee is called iliotibial band friction syndrome.

The condition usually presents as pain on the outside of your knee that becomes worse with repetitive knee flexion or extension. This condition is the leading cause of lateral knee pain in runners, especially slower “joggers.” The pain usually develops 10-15 minutes into the workout. You may sometimes feel or hear a click during movement. Symptoms generally ease at rest. Running on slick “wintry” surfaces may aggravate the condition. Excessively worn running shoes may be a culprit.

This problem is commonly caused by weakness in your gluteal muscles. When these muscles are weak, the muscle that attaches to your iliotibial band must contract harder to stabilize your hip. Having one leg longer than another is a known aggravating factor.

Runners should minimize downhill running and avoid running on a banked surface like the crown of a road or indoor track, as well as wet or icy surfaces. Runners should reverse directions on a circular track at least each mile. Bicyclists may need to adjust seat height and avoid “toe in” pedal positions. Avoid using stair climbers or performing squats and dead lifts. Sports cream and home ice massage may provide some relief of symptoms.

Food Myth #4

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

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Nuts are junk food and should be avoided

Nut-uh. Nuts are a great source of protein, healthy fats and nutrient but are relatively high in calories. As a result they are a great snack but you need to keep an eye on portion control.

Recent research at Harvard (heard of them?) showed that women who ate a handful of nuts 5 times a week as a snack were 20% less likely to develop type II diabetes as those that didn’t. Also, several studies have shown that having nuts as a regular part of your diet helps protect against heart disease.

Now, this isn’t licence to crush all the peanuts you want when you’re watching the game… Be smart about your intake and look for nuts like almonds, brazils, cashews, macadamias and pistachios that aren’t swimming in (admittedly delicious) salt and oil.

So when you’re planning your snacks for the Super Bowl or the next Jets game, go nuts.

 

How can I have Tennis Elbow? I’ve never played tennis!

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

Most of the muscles that extend your wrist are attached to a bony bump on the outside of your elbow called the lateral epicondyle. Sometimes, through injury or overuse, the site where these muscles insert can become irritated or inflamed. This condition is called lateral epicondylitis or “tennis elbow”- although the majority of those affected do not play tennis.

Activities involving repetitive wrist extension are a common cause of this condition, i.e., tennis, carpentry, bricklaying, knitting, playing piano, typing, or lifting objects with your palm facing down. The condition is 3 times more likely to strike your dominant arm.

The pain often begins as an intermittent or gradual discomfort during activity and progresses so that even simple activities, like holding a coffee cup, become painful. Pain may increase when you straighten your arm, grip a doorknob or shake hands. The pain may vary from mild to severe and commonly radiates into the forearm, sometimes to the wrist.

Without treatment, “tennis elbow” usually lingers – 80% of patients still report pain after one year. The first step in a successful treatment plan is to modify or eliminate activities that cause symptoms. Try to avoid lifting heavy objects with your palm facing down. Tennis or racquetball players may need to consider changing to a lighter racket or a smaller handle. We may prescribe a “counter force brace” for your elbow. This brace will act as a temporary new attachment site for your muscles thereby reducing some of the stress to your elbow. Sports creams and home ice massage may provide relief as well. Be patient with your recovery!