The common cold (and boy is it common) develops gradually over several days and can start with a scratchy throat, sneezing and sniffles leading to congestion. Any fever present is mild (in adults). Coughing is generally hacking and can be moist due to congestion.

On the other hand, influenza often starts rather suddenly with fever (usually greater than 101 degrees F and lasting 3-4 days), headache and all over body aches (myalgia).  People with the flu are often exhausted or fatigued. Coughing is usually dry and hacking and can last days or weeks after all other flu symptoms have passed.

Influenza or “the flu” is more of a systemic illness, meaning it affects your entire body, whereas a cold generally just affects the upper body. You can sometimes get a stuffy nose, sneezing and sore throat with the flu, but it’s much more common with colds. The flu is more serious because it can lead to other problems, like pneumonia in susceptible adults and young children.

Influenza is caused by a virus. In general, viral illnesses will run their course without a trip to the doctor. Antibiotics don't work against viruses, so all your doctor can recommend to help you are pain medications, cough suppressants or an anti-pyretic (fever reducers). All of these are available without a prescription from your local drug store to help you deal with flu symptoms.

If you are suffering from cold or flu symptoms, you should also schedule a visit to your chiropractor. Chiropractic care doesn’t treat the virus directly, but rather boosts your body’s ability to fight the invaders. That’s why regular chiropractic care can reduce the frequency with which you get sick. When your body’s immune system is in peak condition, it can fight off minor intruders with ease.

However, as the population ages, more of us are learning to appreciate the rewards of stretching. Staying limber can offset age-related stiffness, improve athletic performance, and optimize functional movement in daily life. Research shows that flexibility training can develop and maintain range of motion and may help prevent and treat injury. In fact, the American College of Sports Medicine has added flexibility training to its general exercise recommendations, advising that stretching exercises for the major muscle groups be performed two to three days per week.

How can you include an effective flexibility workout in your fitness program? Here are some guidelines:

Think in Terms of Serious Flexibility Training, Not Just Brief Stretching.

Squeezing in one or two quick stretches before or after a workout is better that nothing, but this approach will yield limited results. What's more, generic stretches may not be effective for your particular body. The more time and attention you give to your flexibility training, the more benefits you'll experience. A qualified chiropractor, personal trainer, physical therapist or health professional can design a functional flexibility program specifically for you.

Consider Your Activities.

Are you a golfer? Do you ski, run or play tennis? Do your daily home or work routines include bending, lifting or sitting for long periods? Functional flexibility improves the stability and mobility of the whole person in his or her specific environment. An individualized stretching program is best to improve both stability (the ability to maintain ideal body alignment during all activities) and mobility (the ability to use full, normal range of motion).

Pay Special Attention to Tight Areas.

Often the shoulder, chest, hamstrings and hips are particularly tight, but you may hold tension in other areas, depending on your history of injuries and the existing imbalances in your muscle groups. Unless you tailor your flexibility training to your strengths and weaknesses, you may stretch already overstretched muscles and miss areas that need training.

Listen to Your Body.

Stretching is an individual thing. Pay attention to your body's signals and don't push too far. Avoid bouncing or jerking movements to gain momentum; this approach can be dangerous.

Instead, slowly stretch your muscles to the end point of movement and hold the stretch for about 10 to 30 seconds. Older adults, pregnant women and people with injuries will need to take special precautions.

Get Creative.

Varying your flexibility training can help you stick with it. You can use towels, resistance balls and other accessories to add diversity and effectiveness to your stretching.

Warm Up First.

Don't forget to warm up your muscles before you begin. Walking briskly for 10 to15 minutes is a simple way to do this.

Find a Flexibility Class That Works for You.

Classes that include stretching are becoming more popular and more diverse. Some combine cardiovascular and strength components with the flexibility training; others focus exclusively on stretching.

Stretch Your Mind and Body.

Did you know that your emotional state may affect your flexibility? If your body is relaxed, it will be more responsive to flexibility training. Listening to music and focusing on your breath can help you relax as you stretch. You may also want to explore yoga or Pilates. In addition to stretching, classes in these disciplines may include relaxation, visualization and other mind-body techniques designed to reduce stress and increase mindfulness.

It's Not Just for Wimps.

Forget the idea that stretching is just for elderly, injured or unconditioned people. Many Olympic and professional athletes rely on flexibility training for peak performance.

Do It Consistently.

It doesn't help to stretch for a few weeks and then forget about it. Integrate regular stretching into your permanent fitness program. For inspiration, look to cats and dogs - they're dedicated practitioners of regular stretching and you rarely see them getting the kind of joint or muscular injuries that humans get!

Getting Started

Your chiropractor is a great resource for functional stretches specific to your needs. Be sure to ask about a customized flexibility program at your

It’s 2 am and the crying has only gotten progressively worse across the past hour. You are pacing the downstairs hallway trying anything to soothe your inconsolable 10-month old so that your 5 and 8 year old kids can get some sleep upstairs. Your plan is to call the doctor’s office the moment they open – seven hours from now!

Although your infant cannot tell you what is wrong, your intuition says it is another middle ear infection. The statistics would suggest that your hunch is probably right. Earaches are the #1 reason for visits to the pediatrician’s office. As a parent, that probably comes as no surprise. But, you may be surprised to learn that both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Academy of Family Physicians recommend a “watchful waiting” or “wait and see” approach to acute ear infections. Research published in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association[1] demonstrated that there was no difference in fever, otalgia (pain) or number of future visits between kids that were given an antibiotic prescription and those that were not. As it turns out, antibiotics only outperform the body’s own immune system in a handful of cases.

At the same time, numerous studies of manipulative therapies including chiropractic care have shown remarkable results without the side effects of antibiotics. A groundbreaking 1997 study[2] of 332 kids ages 27 days to 5 years indicted a strong correlation between chiropractic adjustment and the resolution of otitis media (the technical term for a middle ear ache). Just to highlight one finding – there were 104 kids in the group classified as having ‘chronic’ otitis media. This group of kids got 5 chiropractic adjustments each. Across the next six months the recurrence rate among this group was only 16%!

Let’s put that data into more human terms. That means that 84% of these kids classified as having chronic ear infections went six months without having another one after just 5 adjustments. A full half year devoid of screaming in the middle of the night, lost sleep and anguish of watching your child suffer for 84% of the parents.

The prior study published in a chiropractic journal spurred further research into the uses of chiropractic care for acute and chronic ear infections. The critical questions was - how would chiropractic fare head-to-head with standard pediatric care? A 2003 study[3] published in a pediatric medicine journal comparing children receiving manipulative therapy and those receiving standard pediatric care, found that those who received manipulative therapy had fewer episodes of Acute Otitis Media (AOM), fewer surgical procedures and had higher rates of normal tympanograms.

This amazing news for parents has been validated and confirmed numerous times since then. The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) even maintains a webpage of all the published research studies done on children’s ear infections and the role of chiropractic care in treatment and prevention. The last time I looked there where 25 separate studies listed. You can view the full list at: http://icpa4kids.org/Chiropractic-Research/Ear-Infection-Otitis-Media/

All this data and research is great, but at the end of the day what matters to parents is getting their own child out of pain and on a path to a success in school, sports and life without the constant interruption of ear infections. Don’t spend another sleepless night pacing the halls with a screaming toddler in your arms. Call us now and make an appointment for a consultation.

Don’t wait until another ear infection strikes. Prevention is always the better option. Besides, when your child is in pain, your anxiety level as a parent goes way up. We want you to be able to ask all your questions and get all the facts at your own pace and not feel pressured to make a decision or start treatment because your child is screaming. Of course, if your child does have current symptoms, we want to see both of you as soon as possible.

Hatha Yoga – In Sanskrit (an ancient classical language of India) “Ha” means “sun” and “tha” means “moon”. This type of Yoga is a relatively slow paced, gentle type of Yoga and is a good place to start if you are completely new to Yoga and don’t know any of the asanas (poses).  Like all types of Yoga, Hatha Yoga aims to unite the mind, body and spirit.

Ashtanga Yoga – Ashtanga means “eight limbs” in Sanskrit. It’s a fast moving, intense style of Yoga based on a progressive sequence of asanas, synchronized with the breath. Ashtanga Yoga can be quite physically demanding as you are constantly move from one asana in the sequence to the next, so you’ll find that it will improve your stamina as well as your flexibility and strength..

Power Yoga – This is a western interpretation of Yoga and is based on Ashtanga Yoga. A Power Yoga class may not necessarily stick to the exact sequence of poses like Ashtanga Yoga does, but it does involve practicing a series of poses without stopping and starting.

Iyengar Yoga – This type of Yoga is based on teachings by B.K.S Igengar and concentrates on the correct alignment and form of the body.  Unlike Ashtanga Yoga, there is an emphasis on holding each pose for a long period of time rather than moving constantly from one pose to the next. Iyengar Yoga uses props such as blocks and straps to help align the body into the different poses.

Vinyasa Yoga – Vinyasa means breath-synchronized movement and is another fast paced type of Yoga, with an emphasis on breathing. A practice typically starts with sun salutations and moves on to more intense stretching. Throughout the practice each pose is balanced with a counter pose.

Bikram Yoga – Otherwise known as “Hot Yoga”, Bikram Yoga is practiced in a room heated to 105 degrees, with a humidity of around 40%. Generally a sequence of 26 different poses is practiced during a Bikram Yoga class and the hot temperature helps to loosen muscles. Due to the high temperature most people sweat a lot during the class and this helps to cleanse the body of toxins.

If you’re just starting out or have never done any Yoga before, you may want to try a few different types of yoga to find out what you like best. Remember, there’s no rule that says you have to stick to one type of Yoga

Chiropractic care is standard for many pro golfers and increasingly for many Senior Golfers as well. Professional golfer Lori West attributes the reason she’s playing today to chiropractic. Nearly two decades ago, she began visiting a chiropractor for pain in her shoulders and neck. According to West, the care has infinitely improved her golf game.

The problem is that the golf swing, in and of itself, isn’t conducive to having a healthy back. To have a good swing you create tension in your spine. (This enables you to get good distance). The tension comes from the hips stopping and the shoulders continuing to rotate. Basically, you make a coil. You’re uncoiling when you start your downswing. Since that’s an awkward movement for your back, many golfers end up with lower back problems.

Here’s some chiropractic advice.

• Before your game, do some basic stretches. Stretch out hamstrings and groin area.

• Put a club across your shoulders and lean left and right.

• Get in a position of where you would be in a swing and bend left and right.

• Grab a club behind your back and raise it up, stretching your shoulder muscles.

• Grab the club backwards – so if you normally swing right-handed, you’d grab it like you’d be swinging left-handed- and take 10 practice swings that way. You’re stretching different muscles and it will help you loosen up considerably.

• Do neck stretches. Stiff neck muscles inhibit the rest of the body from turning freely.

Anything that helps your flexibility eventually helps with your game. As you get older, your swing naturally shortens since the muscles aren’t as supple. During the winter, work on stretching the muscles of the arms, shoulders and back. Flexibility is very important for older golfers.

Also, you have to have good balance if you want to hit the golf ball consistently. A healthy spine is paramount to proper balance and posture. Improve your balance and you’ll improve your consistency. In needed, orthotic stabilizers for your shoes can help improve balance so your swing is better.

Chiropractors care for your body as a whole, not just the back. So if your golf game is feeling out of sync, chiropractic may be just the very adjustment that your body and game needs!

15 Things to Know Before Seeing a Chiropractor

1. How does Chiropractic Work?
Chiropractic works by restoring your body’s inborn ability to be healthy. It does so by locating and removing the interferences (subluxations, misaligned vertebrae) affecting your nervous system. When under the proper control of your nervous system your cells, tissues, and organs are far more efficient at resisting disease and ill health; thus, the goal of Chiropractic care is to remove interference that may be impairing normal health. Through specific chiropractic adjustments, Chiropractors aid your body to heal itself.
2.What is a subluxation?
Subluxations can be caused by accidents, falls, sports injuries, bad posture—and even stress. To state it simply, a Subluxation is a “displaced or stuck vertebrae…[causing] a pressure on the nerves.” These misalignments cause the body to malfunction which results in a lowered resistance to disease, pain, imbalance and fatigue. As previously mentioned, a chiropractic adjustment can eliminate subluxations, and the issues subluxations have caused (or will cause).

3. Is Chiropractic Safe?
While past media attention has painted a negative picture of the chiropractic profession, one merely has to compare malpractice rates between chiropractors and other health care professionals to decide whom they feel are “safe”. Scientific literature proves that Chiropractors’ malpractice premiums are a small fraction in comparison to those of medical doctors. Chiropractic’s excellent safety record is the result of a conservative and natural approach to health—One, which avoids invasive procedures and addictive drugs.
4. Is Chiropractic Care Expensive?
Chiropractic doctors provide effective, low-cost health care for a wide range of conditions. The Ontario Ministry of Health recently stated:
“On the evidence, particularly the most scientifically valid clinical studies, spinal manipulation applied by chiropractors is shown to be more effective than alternative treatments for low back pain…There would be highly significant cost savings if more management of low back pain was transferred from physician to chiropractors.”
Furthermore, though Chiropractic care was de-listed by the province of Ontario in 2004—most extended benefit programs continue to cover a portion of your Chiropractic care.
5. What Can I Expect During My First Visits at a Chiropractic Office?
Though each Chiropractor is different in their own respect, patients may commonly expect the following during their first visits at a Chiropractic Office:
A thorough examination to determine conditions which may be appropriate for chiropractic care;
A referral to another health care provider for conditions which are not appropriate for chiropractic care;
An understanding of the type of care to be administered, and what results may be expected;
A clear understanding of financial agreements;
Appropriate, ethical care.
Moreover, patients should expect to evaluate both treatment effectiveness and projected duration with the doctor as the care continues.

6. Will X-ray be taken?
They should be! How else is a Doctor of Chiropractic going to determine if they can help an individual? Not only should x-rays be taken but you should be able to view your x-rays as well. For your safety and the Doctors, x-rays should always be taken.
7. Will I Receive an Adjustment on my First Visit?
After completing a comprehensive examination, the doctor will discuss with you the next step in your care process. The doctor should make treatment recommendations. After the Doctor makes his recommendations it is up to the individual to decide whether or not to start care. To put it simply, you want relief and you should be able to start care that day.
8. How Soon Can I Expect Pain Relief?
Although everyone experiences pain relief at their own pace, most patients report relief after only a few adjustments. How quickly a patient will experience pain relief depends on the severity of their condition, as well as how long they have been living with it. If an individual has been living with back pain for the majority of their life, the likelihood they will experience pain relief immediately after an adjustment is slim. Correcting the problems that have developed over the years requires time, and pain relief shall be gradual.
9. Can Chiropractic Help You?
Each year millions of people reap the benefits of Chiropractic care—the most popular natural, drug-free healthcare system in the world. While Back pain, and headaches are the most popular symptoms of subluxations, many people who have mild subluxations may not even be aware of it. A thorough Chiropractic examination can show you the location and severity of subluxations throughout the body, and determine if Chiropractic is right for you.
10. How Long Will my Body Take to Heal?
This question is difficult to answer, for each and every individual heals at a different pace. Your Chiropractor will definitely provide you with some form of timeline, based on his or her experience; however, it is important to note that your body does the healing—not solely your Chiropractor. This means that your body will prioritize the healing. For example, if your lower back is sore and you have digestive problems, your body may prioritize healing in your GI tract. Since both of these areas are under control of the nerves in your lower back, priority will be given to the issue more critical to your overall health.

11. Will I be sore After an Adjustment?
Typically, patients report feeling much better than they did prior to their Chiropractic adjustment; however, this is not always the case. Approximately 10% of patients will report feeling sore after an adjustment. If certain spinal bones have not moved properly in a long time, and are then mobilized with a specific chiropractic adjustment, the muscles and soft tissues surrounding the joint may become sore. This is similar to how your body reacts to exercise, when one returns to the gym after spending the winter in hibernation. If you happen to experience tenderness after an adjustment, simply apply ice to the affected area for 10-15 minutes every hour until the pain lessens.
12. What Causes that Popping Sound during an Adjustment?
Lubricating fluids separate the vertebrae of each spinal joint. Some adjusting methods produce a sound when the gas and fluids in the joint shift. The sound is comparable to that which is made when someone “cracks” their knuckles. To be clear, not all techniques render a “popping sound”. Moreover, the presence or absence of that sound means little to the effectiveness of the adjustment.
13. What is the Difference between Corrective Care and Relief Care?
Most people go to the chiropractor because they are experiencing some form of pain; thus, in the first phase of care, the main goal of the Chiropractor is to reduce the pain experienced by patients (this is known as relief care). Sometimes this will require daily visits, or two to three visits per week for a time. When you begin Chiropractic care, pain is the first symptom to disappear; however, the underlying condition remains. It is important to remember that pain is a poor indicator of health, and although one may not feel pain this does not mean that they are necessarily healthy. Because of this, it is important that patients continue to see their Chiropractor even if they are no longer experiencing symptoms—this can be referred to as the corrective/restorative phase of Chiropractic care. During this phase of care you will not receive adjustments as often as you did during the first phase. Moreover, depending on your particular circumstance, your chiropractor may suggest that you do exercises and stretches to help accelerate your healing. It is important to note, that mild flare-ups are common during this phase, for your body has not fully healed. Depending on how long you have been suffering from a certain condition, this phase of your care may last anywhere from a few months to a couple of years.
14. Does my Insurance Cover my Chiropractic Care?
Most supplementary insurance plans cover some percentage of your chiropractic care. Check with your insurance benefits advisor to determine the portion that will be covered. If you have been in an automobile accident, your vehicle insurance coverage should include chiropractic care and physiotherapy. If you don’t have insurance coverage, this is not a reason to put off chiropractic care, your health affects everything you do and it is your most valuable possession. Find out how we make chiropractic care affordable for everyone.

15. Can’t I just do yoga or other stretching exercises to correct my spine?
To put it simply no. Although exercise is an important part of good health, without normal spinal function a physical workout merely puts additional wear and tear on improperly functioning spinal joints. Yoga and stretching may be valuable in your recovery process, yet speak to your Chiropractor before attempting any exercise that may be stressful on your spine.
 

There are a couple of studies that looked at the effectiveness of chiropractic care on migraine headaches. They show that chiropractic care is at least as effective as the major drugs that doctors prescribe their patients for migraine headaches. Further, chiropractic care was shown to have a lasting effect on migraine pain. This makes chiropractic care a cost-effective choice for your relief of migraine pain.

The studies show that with chiropractic care, people with migraines will have fewer episodes of migraine headaches. The pain won't last as long when they do get the migraine, and the pain is slightly less intense. Even though the intensity doesn't change much, the duration is cut way down, which helps your quality of life and your ability to cope in the world.

In our experience, many chronic migraine pain sufferers have had their headaches complete go away. It never comes back, or it comes back years down the road. Typically, if a patient of ours can hold their upper cervical (neck) adjustment, then they can keep the pain away.

If you have migraine headaches, I think it is very much worth it for you to give us a call to be evaluated. When you come in for your first appointment, we will do a full neurological assessment to check the integrity of your nervous system. We will do some orthopedic exam procedures, and we may need to do some x-rays for a structural assessment. It's all up to you, as the individual.

Let face it pounding headaches stop you from spending time with your children, family and they make you miss work. If your looking for a drug free solution to your headaches we can help. We have treated over 2000 patients and has been in practice for over 9 years. If you have any questions concerning your coeur d alene headaches please call us at 208-666-1000. Or visit our web site below. We look forward to hearing from you. Our exam and xrays are free so that we can treat you better and find out the severity of your problem. Please visit our web site at http://www.applewaychiro.com

January 28, 2011
 

Spinal anatomy is a remarkable combination of strong bones, flexible ligaments and tendons, large muscles and extremely sensitive nerves and nerve roots. Without question, the anatomy of the spine is a marvel of nature.

Importantly, the spine provides our bodies with:

• Structure to allow us to stand upright and move with precision
• Protection for the spinal cord and nerve roots to safely relay messages to and from the brain and the rest of the body
• Shock absorption capability as we move about
• Flexibility at the joints to allow us to bend, twist, move our heads and adjust to a wide variety of positions.
• Strength provided by the bones, discs, joints and supportive muscles and connective tissue.

For more information, see the following article on:

• Spinal Anatomy and Back Pain.

Most of us take this juxtaposition of strength, structure and flexibility for granted - until something goes wrong. Once we have neck pain or back pain, we're driven by a need to know exactly what is wrong and what it will take to relieve the pain and prevent a recurrence.

Starting at the Top of the Spine

The cervical spine (neck) supports the weight of your head and protects the nerves that come from your brain to the rest of the body. This section of the spine has seven vertebral bodies (bones) that get smaller as they get closer to the base of the skull.

• The top two segments are unique: The top cervical segment (C1) is a ring that is attached to and rotates around the second vertebral body (C2), which acts as a post. Most of the rotation in the neck is located in these top two segments.
• The next five vertebral segments (C3 - C7) are like the rest of the spine, with three joints at each segment, including one disc in the front and paired facet joints in the back.

Most episodes of acute neck pain are due to a muscle, ligament or tendon strain. This type of injury is usually caused by a sudden force (e.g. whiplash from a car accident), or from straining the neck (e.g. carrying something heavy, cradling the phone on your shoulder for too long).

For patients with neck pain that lasts longer than two weeks to three months, or with predominantly arm pain, numbness or tingling, there is often a specific anatomic abnormality causing the symptoms (such as a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, etc.). Treatment options will differ depending on the diagnosis. For more information, see the following article:

• Types of Neck Pain.

The Upper Back Is Not Usually a Source of Pain

The 12 vertebral bodies in the upper back that are attached to the rib cage make up the thoracic spine (middle or upper back). The firm attachment of the rib cage at each level of the thoracic spine provides for a great deal of stability and structural support, and very little motion.

Because there is limited motion in the upper back, it is rare for a thoracic disc to herniate or degenerate. However, irritation of the large back and shoulder muscles or joint dysfunction in this area can be very painful. For more information, see the following article:

• All About Upper Back Pain.

The Lower Back Is Most Prone to Injury

The lower back is the most frequently injured area of the spine because it has the least structural support and endures the most strain. Fifty percent of flexion (bending forward) occurs at the hips and fifty percent occurs in the lower back. The motion is divided between the five motion segments in the lumbar spine, although a disproportionate amount of the motion is in the lower segments (lumbar segment 4-5 and lumbar segment 3-4). Consequently, these two segments are the most likely to be injured.

Most episodes of lower back pain are caused by muscle strain. Even though this doesn't sound like a serious injury, the pain can be severe. Strong abdominal muscles and back muscles are important to provide support for this area of the spine and avoid injury.

For more information, see the following article on:

• Lower Back Pain Symptoms and Treatment Options.

The Bottom of the Spine Can Cause Pain Too

Below the lumbar spine is a bone called the sacrum, which makes up the back part of the pelvis. Five bones fused together comprise a single bone called the sacrum. This bone is shaped like a spade that fits between the two halves of the pelvis, connecting the spine to the lower half of the body.

The iliac bones are part of the pelvis and the sacrum is connected to this part of the pelvis by the sacroiliac joints. Pain here is often called sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and is more common in women than men.

The coccyx is at the very bottom of the spine (also called the "tailbone"). It consists of 3-5 fused bones at the base of the back that don't move. Pain here is called coccydynia and is more common in women than men.

Your first call should be to the police to report the car accident  . An officer will arrive at the scene to take statements, assess the damage, and determine who was at fault and write any necessary citations. If you are having difficulty breathing, experiencing blurred vision, double vision, nausea, difficulty moving your arms and legs or suspect you may have any broken bones, request to be taken the the emergency room. Otherwise, your first call needs to be to a qualified chiropractic physician.

Why should you trust a chiropractor to diagnose and treat injuries from an auto accident? Most chiropractors focus on musculoskeletal injuries like neck pain, back pain, headaches, sciatica, disc herniations, and whiplash. As a result they are extensively trained in determining what diagnostic testing is necessary, and if your pain requires a consultation from a specialist such as an orthopedist or neurologist. A chiropractor determine the type and severity of your injuries, and how they can be best treated.

It is common for chiropractors to use a combination of therapies to help heal the injuries from your car accident. In addition to gentle chiropractic adjustments, therapies such as acupuncture, massage, electric muscle stimulation, rehab exercises, and spinal decompression are also very common modalities used.

You will also want to make sure that your chiropractor is comfortable working with personal injury attorneys. Not every auto accident case requires the guidance of an attorney, but if yours does it is critical that your doctors and lawyer are on the same page. Ask your chiropractor if they have experience working with attorneys, writing narrative reports, or performing impairment ratings. This is where your doctor can make or break your personal injury case. For this reason, many family doctors won’t even see patients who have been in a car accident- they don’t want the hassle of dealing with auto insurance companies and personal injury attorneys.

So if you’ve recently been in an auto accident and are experiencing common symptoms such as neck pain, whiplash, numbness in the arms or legs, back pain, headaches, or difficulty concentrating, immediately consult with a qualified chiropractor who can help your recovery.

Beware of Bad "Backpack Posture!"

• Does the backpack have two wide, padded shoulder straps? Non-padded straps are not only uncomfortable, but can also place unnecessary pressure on the neck and shoulder muscles.
• Does your child use both straps? Lugging a heavy backpack by one strap can cause a disproportionate shift of weight to one side, leading to neck and muscle spasms, low-back pain, and poor posture.

• Are the shoulder straps adjustable? The shoulder straps should be adjustable so the backpack can be fitted to your child's body. The backpack should be evenly centered in the middle of your child's back.

• Size is important. The backpack should never be wider or longer than your child's torso, and the pack should not hang more than 4 inches below the waistline. A backpack that hangs too low increases the weight on the shoulders, causing your child to lean forward when walking.

• Does the backpack have a padded back? A padded back not only provides increased comfort, but also protects your child from being poked by sharp edges on school supplies (pencils, rulers, notebooks, etc.) inside the pack.
•  Does the pack have several compartments? A backpack with individualized compartments helps position the contents most effectively. Make sure that pointy or bulky objects are packed away from the area that will rest on your child's back, and try to place the heaviest items closet to the body.

the primary change in this type of Coeur d Alene chiropractic care is the change from classification, clinical detection and reduction of subluxation to the newer method that is viewed as a way to promote higher levels of body awareness. It also is supposed to assist with the self organization of some adaptive strategies. This particular care does not provide remedies for any dysfunctional condition, not does it claim to return the patient ot their normal previous state of health. It is focused on the self reorganization to a substantially higher level.

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine states “There can be no doubt that we are witnessing the birth of a a powerful method of healing, grounded in rigorous scientific fact, that will become integral to future systems of health care.”

This re organizational healing comes to pass after twenty five years of research by Dr. Epstein. What it is supposed to do, is draw on an individuals own ability to create changes within their bodies. Network spinal analysis is reported as the application of re organizational healing.

The network spinal analysis model consists of several “subsystems”.

1. Passive subsystems consist of ligaments, vertebra and spinal discs.

2. Active subsystems consist of all of the spinal muscles and the tendons associated with them.

3. Control subsystem consists of the brain, spinal cord, the nerves and the huge membrane network called the meninges.

4. Emotional subsystem is that part that is composted of the movement and the vibration of the body’s tissues and also of the tension of these same tissues.

All of these systems coordinate function and must have the ability to respond to the changing demands that are regularly placed upon them. In the event that one of these systems fails, it is up to the one of the other systems to kick in and take up the slack.

Your chiropractor can explain these systems at length.

Through the network spinal analysis treatment, the brain is capable of generating two healing waves. These are the respiratory wave which is obviously characterized by your natural breathing. This begins at the base of the spine. Also involved is the somatopsychic wave wish is associated with the muscular contractions that are responsible for the pulsation and organization of the various segments of the spine into a coordinated motion.

Patients who have received this care from their chiropractor have reported fewer Coeur d Alene headaches, cold and flu symptoms as well as an increase in energy and improved flexibility of the spine. They have also reported an increase in exercise practice such as Tai Chi and Yoga, an increased ability to participate in meditation, self-hypnosis and relaxation. They have become more adept and conscious of the need to each healthier foods and obtain some independence from prescription medications.

Your chiropractor can clarify many of these points if he or she practices these types of chiropractic care.

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Stress can be physical, chemical, or emotional. You have likely experienced all three of these sorts types throughout your life at one time or another. So which one of the three categories does your current problem fall into?

Emotional stress can be referred to as the way you feel or react to a situation. If you are emotionally stressed then you are likely irritable, annoyed, or have a strong case of anxiety. Anxiety comes along with stress and is a catalyst for increasing your emotional stress levels.

If you are physically stressed then you have probably not met your bodies daily needs. That is, you are very tired, physically injured, or have pushed yourself physically to a point where you do not normally go.

Chemical stress deals with all of the different chemicals you ingest throughout the day. These can come from anything from the food you eat to the air you breathe.