Food Myth Series

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

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Over the next few weeks we will be addressing some common food myths that, frankly, drive us a little bit crazy when we hear them. Hopefully we are able to clarify some common misconceptions regarding diet and how what you eat affects how you feel and perform.

We are always open to discussion and want to hear any food myths you have heard in your travels that made you go “What?”.

So, without further delay, food myth #1:

Eating Fats Is Unhealthy

Generations of now adults have been brainwashed into believing that fats = getting fat by the Canada Food Guide. This is simply not the case. While some fats are unhealthy, plenty more have benefits that you won’t find elsewhere. A lower calorie eating plan that includes healthy fats can help people lose more weight than a similar diet that’s low in fat, according to a study in the International Journal of Obesity. Fats make food taste better, keep you fuller and help prevent overeating.

It is true that fats have more calories per gram than proteins and carbs but those calories come with health benefits that the others don’t. Healthy fats like the ones found in salmon, olive oil, nuts and avocados are key to several healthy living goals including:

1. They are a major fuel source for your body (meaning they provides a lot of calories) and are also the main way you store energy.
2. You need fat to help you absorb certain nutrients, such as fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E and K) and antioxidants (like lycopene and beta-carotene).
3. Fats are important in giving your cells structure.
4. Omega-3 fats, a type of unsaturated fat, are important for optimum nerve, brain and heart function.

One type of fat you don’t need? Trans fats, an artificial kind of fat found in partially hydrogenated oils and a main ingredient in the food frying process (delicious, yes, but very unhealthy).

Source

So there you go, a quick overview of why fats are important in every healthy diet. Come back next week for more food myth-busting.

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How Do We Choose A Mattress?

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment
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The age and quality of your mattress have a major impact on how you feel. A worn-out mattress can certainly contribute to back and neck problems. Most experts agree that traditional mattresses should be replaced every 5-8 years. Since you spend about one third of your life in bed, choosing the right mattress is critical. Unfortunately, mattress selection is a highly individual process as there is no single “best” mattress. The following tips will help you make an informed decision:

* Choose a medium-firm model. Mattresses that are either too soft or excessively firm can aggravate back pain.

* Keep the pillow-top relatively thin. An excessively plush topper is the equivalent of placing a cheap mattress on top of a good one.

* Always replace the box spring foundation when you replace the mattress.

* Don’t choose the most expensive mattress in the store- but don’t set your budget unreasonably low. Bargain mattresses are not a good option. Your savings should be focused on avoiding unnecessary add-ons (mattress covers, custom sheets, pillows, etc).

* Look for vendors that provide an in-home warranty that allows you to exchange the mattress if it does not meet your expectations.

* Your chiropractor may be able to provide additional suggestions to help you choose between, coil spring, memory foam, water and air beds.

Fibromyalgia and Exercise

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

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​Are there differences in lifestyle between people with vs. without fibromyalgia (FM)?

A recent study found women with FM found spend more time engaged in sedentary behaviors and less time in physical activity. In the study, researchers followed 413 female patients with FM and 188 age-matched healthy female controls. Researchers used three different approaches to access physical activity: a triaxial accelerometer to examine sedentary time, time spent in physical activity, and step counts.

They discovered those who suffered from FM spent an average of 39 more minutes per day in sedentary activity and 21 fewer minutes per day in light physical activity, 17 fewer minutes per day in moderate physical activity, and 19 fewer minutes per day in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. In addition, those with FM took a mean of 1,881 fewer steps that those without FM.

Now, this isn’t really a surprise given the fact that people with FM are in pain and more likely to have difficulties sleeping and tolerating prolonged activities. After comparing the sufferers to the non-sufferers, the researchers found only 21% of FM patients vs. 46% of non-FM controls achieved the recommended 150 minutes/week (a little over 20 min. / day) of “moderate-to-vigorous” physical activity. They also found that only 16% vs. 45%, respectively, walked the recommended ≥10,000 steps per day.

One of the BEST forms of exercise for most people is walking. A walking program should be a staple exercise. It’s important to note that this should be GRADUALLY introduced so as to avoid an overuse injury—strain or sprain of the muscles and joints. This gradual introduction into activity is ESPECIALLY important for the FM sufferer as overuse injuries can make them afraid to do something that can REALLY help when done correctly!

Headache & Dizzy. When To Be Concerned.

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Last week, we discussed some startling new research that found that lightheadedness upon standing up (orthostatic hypotension) may be more serious than previously thought. This month, we’ll look specifically at headache AND dizziness and if we should we be concerned about this combination of complaints and if so, when?

A team of researchers from Johns Hopkins University reviewed past medical records of 187,188 patients presenting to over 1,000 emergency departments (EDs) between 2008 and 2009. They found the combination of headache and dizziness—especially in women, minorities, and young patients—was a potential signal of an impending stroke!

Specifically, they reported that 12.7% of people complaining of headache and dizziness were later admitted for stroke and had been misdiagnosed and inappropriately sent home from the ED within the previous 30 days. Patients were told they had a “benign condition” such as inner ear infection or migraine, and in some cases, they weren’t given a diagnosis at all. Slightly less than half of this population had a stroke within seven days and over half had a stoke within the first 48 hours of the initial pre-stroke ED presentation!

The study reported that women were 33% and minorities 20-30% more likely to be misdiagnosed, suggesting gender and racial disparities may play a role. The researchers estimate that doctors miss 15,000 to 165,000 strokes that result in harm to the patient each year.

Studies have found that the early diagnosis and quick treatment of strokes is critical in reducing serious residuals in patients having a transient ischemic attach (TIA), sometimes referred to as a “mini-stroke” or “pre-stroke.” TIAs are often pre-cursors to a more catastrophic stroke leading to death or permanent disability without appropriate treatment.

Again, to put this in perspective, MANY people present to healthcare providers with headaches and dizziness with NO relationship to stroke—about 87%—though it is sometimes not possible to know whether a potentially dangerous problem may arise in the near future. The good news is that it usually does not!

The importance of this study is to alert both healthcare providers AND patients of the potential risk. When in doubt, it’s ALWAYS best to seek out multiple opinions. An MRI may be the best way to confirm the most common type of stroke (according the study reviewed above), as a CT scan may not show the brain changes early on and could lead to false reassurance.

Doctors of chiropractic commonly see patients presenting with headaches and dizziness. When this occurs suddenly, out of the ordinary, and/or at a relatively young age (women > men), it’s better to be safe than sorry and obtain multiple opinions, especially WHEN IN DOUBT!

Our Exercise Of The Month: ITB Foam Roller

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment
ITB – Foam Roller
  • Lie on your side with your affected thigh over a foam roll.
  • Lift your shoulders off of the floor with your arm and roll the fleshy part your mid & lower thigh back and forth over the foam roller.
  • Avoid rolling over the bony point of your hip unless specifically directed.
  • Perform this exercise for one minute twice per day or as directed.

Carpal Tunnel Basics

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

​Here it is: carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in a nutshell!

WHAT: CTS is caused by an injury to the median nerve (MN) as it travels through the wrist.

WHERE: The eight small carpal bones and a ligament form a tunnel in which tendons and nerves pass through to reach the hand.

HOW: The MN gets pinched/irritated from repetitive stress.

WHY: The tunnel is tight as it includes the MN and nine rapidly moving muscle tendons!

PROGRESS: CTS usually starts slow and often progresses over weeks, months, even years.

SYMPTOMS: Pain, numbness, tingling, and/or weakness of the hand, sparing the little finger.

PROGNOSIS: CTS is easier to treat shortly after it starts, and waiting too long to seek care may lead to worse outcomes.

RISK FACTORS: 1) family history (genetics); 2) women are more likely to suffer from CTS than men; 3) age over 50; 4) manual jobs; 5) pregnancy; 6) conditions like diabetes, hypothyroid, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis, autoimmune diseases (includes RA, certain types of thyroid disease), gout, kidney disease (especially dialysis patients), Down syndrome, amyloidosis, acromegaly, tumors on the median nerve; 7) medications (those that affect the immune system such as interleukin-2, possibly corticosteroids), anti-clotting drugs such as warfarin, hormone replacement, BCPs; 8) obesity; 9) smoking; 10) alcohol abuse; and 11) trauma/injuries (fractures, tendonitis).

TREATMENT: Ideally, treatment should begin as soon as possible after symptoms first start, but this RARELY occurs due its slow and gradual onset. Non-surgical care includes anti-inflammatory care (ice, anti-inflammatory nutrients—ginger, turmeric, bioflavonoids; NSAIDs like ibuprofen), wrist splinting (primarily at night), corticosteroid injections, job/ergonomic modifications, exercises (yoga, stretching, strengthening, and aerobic fitness), low level laser therapy, ice, acupuncture, and chiropractic care. Chiropractic care includes MANY of the above PLUS manual therapies applied to the neck, shoulder, arm, wrist, and hand.

Nutshell

Trigger points in the sternocleidomastoid muscle. By Bryan Cobb RMT.

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The sternocleidomastoid muscle or “scm” is a strap like muscle located in the front of the neck. It originates on the manubrium of the sternum and the medial clavicle, and inserts on the mastoid process of the temporal bone( the lump or bone behind the ear). When working together the scm flexes the head and neck. The actions of one muscle working by itself is to rotate the face to the opposite side and lift it toward the ceiling.

Trigger points in this muscle usually form due to acute injury or to chronic postural stress. These trigger points can cause a wide variety of symptoms including pain felt in the cheek, temple, forehead, top of the head, and base of the skull. Trigger points in these muscles can also refer deep into the ear and cause postural dizziness.

Hip or Low Back?

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​Lumbar and Pelvis

Technically, the hip is the ball-and-socket joint between the long bone of the thigh and the pelvis; but more often than not, many people will point to a number of different places on their back or pelvis and say, “My hip is killing me” when it’s not really “the hip” at all!
Hip pain can be located in the front (groin area), the side, the back, or in the buttocks. The “classic sign” of hip pain is reproduced most consistently when you try to cross your legs—put your ankle on the far end of the thigh and then push down on your knee. This may feel tight and cause pain in the groin area. For many people, hip pain is also reproduced when they cross their legs and then pull their knee towards the opposite shoulder.
The hip is a VERY strong joint due to the deep receiving cup of the pelvis and the round ball that fits nicely into it. Because it’s a freely moving joint, there is a joint capsule. The capsule is lined with tissue that produces an oily substance that lubricates the joint (called synovial fluid), and when hip pain occurs, this can be caused by a capsulitis (inflammation of the capsule) with a buildup of synovial fluid (called synovitis).
When the smooth, shiny surface of the ball starts to wear thin (which can eventually wear away down to the bone), that’s a condition called “osteoarthritis.” This occurs over time for many and may eventually result in the need for a hip replacement. This usually isn’t needed until an individual is in their late 60s or older (if at all), but for those who injure a hip earlier in life, the “wearing out” process may accelerate and a hip replacement may be needed well before old age.
There are many studies that report low back and hip arthritis often occur together, and differentiating between the two can sometimes be a challenge. For example, pain can radiate from the hip to the knee, which many doctors will diagnose as “sciatic nerve.” But hip pain can present exactly the same, making it hard to determine if it’s low back-generated pain or hip-generated pain.
This is why it’s SO IMPORTANT that your doctor of chiropractic conduct a careful history and examination. There are specific tests that he or she will perform that help determine which of the two is causing the pain. There are times when they may find BOTH problems co-existing together, making it necessary to manage two problems, rather than just one.
There are many mobilization, manipulation, soft tissue therapies, modalities, and exercises available to patients with both hip and low back pain. So if you’re not sure what is bothering you and you don’t know what to do, visit your doctor of chiropractic and he or she will help you through this.