Improving your immune system with chiropractic in Salt Lake City

Colder weather and more time spent indoors make staying healthy a real challenge this time of year. Millions of people face getting sidelined or made miserable by the common cold or the flu. Taking steps for prevention could make life a lot more pleasant in the wintertime. Building your body’s immune system with diet, exercise, and chiropractic treatments to help prevention is a good place to start.

Some people’s typical eating patterns are high in sugar and processed carbohydrates, artificial sweeteners, unhealthy fats, and are lacking in fruits and vegetables. These eating habits fail to supply the body with adequate nutrition to truly support immunity. Numerous studies have found that natural vitamins and minerals found in whole foods improve immune function. Excellent food sources of immune boosting nutrients include vibrant green, red and orange vegetables, delicious nuts and seeds, fresh seafood, whole eggs, and poultry. Fresh herbs, such as basil, vegetables, like garlic and scallions add robust flavor to recipes and also add their own infection-fighting properties.

Most people don't realize that the vast majority of the immune system is found in your guts. An imbalance of the friendly bacteria (Probiotics) found in the gut is one of the leading causes of lowered immunity. That is why I recommend supplementing with a good Probiotic that contains several strains of billions of friendly bacteria to re-inoculate your system. Check with your local health food store for a good quality brand. There are many quality probiotic supplements available now in Utah.

Regular aerobic physical activity, about 30 minutes a day, has been shown to improve immune function and decrease the incidence of common viral infections. Most people decrease their physical activity, as the weather turns cold. Your sleep is an active time during which your body restores itself. Sleep deprivation in animals increases susceptibility to viral and bacterial infection, and, in humans, insomnia reduces activity of natural killer cells, your main defense against viral infection. The natural sleep requirement of adults varies from as little as six to as much as ten hours per day, with most people needing seven to nine hours, preferably without interruption.

Chiropractic care has also shown to be effective in boosting your immunity. One of the most important studies showing the positive effect chiropractic care can have on the immune system and general health was performed by Ronald Pero, Ph.D., chief of cancer prevention research at New York's Preventive Medicine Institute and professor of medicine at New York University. Dr. Pero measured the immune systems of people under chiropractic care as compared to those in the general population and those with cancer and other serious diseases. In his initial three-year study of 107 individuals who had been under chiropractic care for five years or more, the chiropractic patients were found to have a 200% greater immune competence than people who had not received chiropractic care, and 400% greater immune competence than people with cancer and other serious diseases. The immune system superiority of those under chiropractic care did not diminish with age.

Dr. Pero stated:

“When applied in a clinical framework, I have never seen a group other than this chiropractic group to experience a 200% increase over the normal patients. This is why it is so dramatically important. We have never seen such a positive improvement in a group…”

Pero R. "Medical Researcher Excited By CBSRF Project Results." The Chiropractic Journal, August 1989; 32

This is why the doctors and staff at The Joint Cottonwood recommend regular, preventative chiropractic adjustments. If you typically struggle with frequent illnesses, make an appointment at The Joint in Salt Lake City and let us work together to see if we can boost your immunity and resistance to disease.

- Dr. Hendricks

How Prevalent is Back Pain in Your Kids?

There have been many studies that indicate that most adults (80%) will have back pain at some point in their life, but not much has been studied in kids, until recently.

The severity and course of back pain is poorly understood in adolescents. A study was designed to determine the prevalence and two-year incidence, as well as the course, frequency, and intensity of pain in the neck, mid back, and low back (spinal pain). The study was reported in the journal BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders in May 2014.

The researchers studied 1,300 5th and 6th graders aged 11-13 in Denmark and followed them for two years.  They found a baseline of spinal pain prevalence of 86%.  What was interesting is that the frequency of pain was strongly associated to the intensity of pain.  That is, that those who reported relatively infrequent back pain also reported that the pain was not too intense; whereas those who reported more frequent back pain also reported that it was more severe.

After two years, the researchers found that the pain was likely to progress from one to more locations, from less frequent to more frequent, and from less intense to more intense.

There are a number of possible causes for back pain in children, teens and young adults. One thing that may lead to back pain is the regular use of a backpack that is too heavy or worn improperly. Many Salt Lake City students are overwhelmed by the weight of their textbooks and other school supplies that they must carry each day. It is also commonly popular to wear backpacks slung over one shoulder, with the straps adjusted too low, or in other ways that can contribute to developing back pain. Other risk factors may include poor posture, athletic injuries, or too much time spent hunched over a computer, phone, or tablet.

Given these results, it is important to have your pre-teen and teenagers checked.  Whether your kids are sedentary or more active and athletic, they may be prone to neck and back pain.  At The Joint Cottonwood Heights, we offer free spinal screening for your kids, bring them in and let us help them improve their overall health.

Could texting KILL you?

We have known for many years that texting and driving causes impairment similar to drinking and driving and is associated with nearly 4000 deaths per year from car accidents.

Chiropractors have also known for years that when people adopt a hunched-over posture while using phones or tablets, they tend to develop a forward head posture that causes neck and back pain and spinal dysfunction.

Now a new study by the UK United Chiropractic Association (UCA) says that texting and using mobile devices for long periods of time could lead to a lower life expectancy. Poor posture could pose as big a risk to a person's health as obesity. They showed that the hunched-over, forward head position constricts breathing and blood flow, making the heart work harder.

UK United Chiropractic Association (UCA) Study Shows Link between Texting and Lower Life Expectancy

The new research suggests a link between forward-leaning postures that people use while texting, going online, sending emails and playing video games, and hyperkyphosis, which is associated with pulmonary disease and cardiovascular problems.

The study suggests that when someone drops their head and rounds their shoulders while looking at a phone or tablet, it is harder for them to take a full breath because of the restriction to their muscles.

In addition, the ribs cannot move properly so the heart and lungs cannot function to their full effectiveness.

More often than not, people do not know they could be doing serious long-term damage to their body because the short-term effects are not as noticeable, the study says.

It's only later in life that the effects are noticeable and can seriously affect the quality of life.  The biggest fear is that young people, who are by far the heaviest users of mobile technology, will develop irreversible problems that may lead to early death.

Chiropractic procedures to help with texting-related posture

In my practice I have noticed that the increased prevalence of forward head posture problems has coincided with the explosion of smart phone, tablet and laptop use for work and leisure.

The study compares the risk of early death from poor posture to the risk of having a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30, which places and individual in the obese range. Currently some estimates claim that obesity is responsible for 1 in 5 deaths in this country. It is startling to consider that poor posture from texting can equal that risk.

We live our lives in such a way that oftentimes we are ruled by technology and we use our phones, tablets and computers so frequently that it is easy to overlook the effects it is having on our posture. 

The good news is that we all have a degree of control over this issue.  We can limit the time we spend on our mobile devices, and we can bring them to eye level to reduce the poor posture.

The recommendation that we make here at The Joint Cottonwood Heights is that you come in for a postural evaluation and appropriate chiropractic treatment to improve forward head posture and help lower the associated risks.

~ Dr. Hendricks

How can Chiropractic Boost Your Metabolism to Lose Weight?

Most people in Utah would give a lot to increase their metabolism. Having a high metabolic rate enables one to burn fat and lose weight fast with the least amount of exertion. Metabolism is the rate by which the body produces and consumes energy and calories to support life. There are several factors that affect the metabolism of a person, such as the amount of muscle tissue in one’s body, the frequency of the meals one consumes, genetics, the digestive system, stress levels, personal diet, and activity levels.

 

Metabolism slows down when there is a loss of muscle because of not enough physical activity, when there is the tendency of the body to cannibalize its own tissue because there is not enough food energy to sustain it, and as a result of the decrease of physical activity that comes naturally with old age.

It is obvious that metabolism decreases along with age, but it is possible to counter the effects. The amount of muscle a person has is a very strong determinant in the ability to burn calories and shed fat. So it goes without saying that physical activity is essential. This is where chiropractic adjustments can have the greatest effect.  Regular adjustments improve the mobility and function of the spine and other joints in the body which make it easier to exercise and remain active to build lean muscle tissue.

Another key is to match the amount of eating to the amount of activity one has.

·         Eat breakfast. Many people ignore the fact that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Metabolism can slow down considerably if breakfast is eaten during mid-morning or if one waits until the afternoon to eat.

·         Avoid processed sugar. Sugar enables the body to store fat. It is recommended that a person consume food that helps sustain an even level of blood sugar. Additionally, physical activity 2-3 times a week is important to stabilize blood sugar.

·         Increase water intake. Water flushes out toxins that are produced whenever the body burns fat. The majority of bodily functions involve water, and lack of water causes its systems to decrease in speed, this produces unneeded stress as a result.

·         Get regular chiropractic adjustments based on your chiropractor’s recommendation. Adjustments can help improve joint mobility, reduce pain, and increase the success and comfort of your body as your state of health increases.

·         Eat smaller meals. It is advisable to consume 4 to 6 small meals that are timed 2 to 3 hours apart, and include more energy foods in the diet, such as fruits and vegetables, beans and whole grains. Salt Lake City has many great food options, locally sourced farmer’s markets, and interesting restaurants to help you plan your meals accordingly.

·         Never skip meals. People tend to skip meals in order to lose weight, which is a big mistake since it slows down metabolism.

·         Ditch the stress! Stress, be it physical or emotional, triggers the release of a chemicals in the body that decrease metabolism. Also, most people tend to eat excessively when stressed.

So take advantage of regular chiropractic adjustments to assist you in being more physically active, watch your diet, get enough sleep and takes steps to reduce your stress and you will be able to burn more calories because your metabolism will be on fire!

NFL testimonials about the benefits of Chiropractic care for Athletes in Salt Lake City

For more information go to www.saltlakecitychiropractor-thejoint.com

Chiropractors from The Joint Salt Lake City treating Football Players

Salt Lake City Chiropractors treating High School Athletes show 85% redu...

The Joint Salt Lake City treating Football Players

Is the Cold Affecting my Bones?

When the weather starts to take a turn South it seems like individuals living in the cold climate begin noticing more aches and pains.  Elderly start to use that famous one-liner, “A storm’s a brewin.” to describe their joint pain.  Not only are the elderly being affected though.  It seems like patients affected by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia are experiencing increased pain with the changing of the seasons.

When the barometric pressure changes it can cause swelling and pain in the joints.  This pain is caused by the swelling that affects the nerves that causes the pain.  The effect of this pain is stiffening joints that can affect a person’s life activities from day-to-day.

So when the cold weather rolls in, here are a few things you can do to help:

• Exercise.  Doing regular exercise help lubricate your joint so they move more easily.
• Drink plenty of fluid.  You should be drinking half your body weight in water every day.
• Supply your joints with healthy fats.  Omega-3’s are vital for the health of your joints.  Salmon, trout, nuts, avocado, olive oil, and a supplement high in the DHA for of Omega-3 works great.
• Get routine chiropractic adjustments.

When you receive an adjustment, the joints of your spine able to re-align into a normal position which will relieve pressure and tension and allow the surrounding muscles to relax and results in pain relief.  Getting adjustments regularly can help prevent the pain that occurs with “stuck” joints.  The philosophy of The Joint...the chiropractic place, is to make it convenient and affordable to get regular preventative and maintenance chiropractic care.

Headaches: What are the Different Types?

Headaches are no fun and are a big nuisance. Headaches can change your attitude and your day.  According to the National Headache Foundation, over 45 million Americans suffer from recurring headaches, and 28 million of these Americans suffer from migraines.  Children are even suffering from headaches at a 20 percent average.

There are a large range of headache types.  Actually there are 150 different kinds of headache categories that have been established.  These are the most common:

• Tension Headaches-also known as chronic daily headaches.  These are the most common headaches among adults and adolescents.  The muscle contraction can cause mild to moderate pain that lasts over a long period of time.
• Migraines-no one knows the exact cause of migraine headaches, but there is a theory that there are triggers that cause abnormal brain activity, which in turn causes changes with the blood vessels in the brain.  Some believe migraines are hereditary, but some cases are inherited.  Migraine pain can last from four hours to three days and can cause moderate to severe pain.  Sensitivity to smells and light is very common and can cause nausea and vomiting.  Pain has been described as throbbing and pounding.
• Sinus Headaches-is associated with pain in the cheekbones, forehead and bridge of the nose.  Pain seems worse when movement of the head occurs.  Sinus Headaches usually occur with other symptoms such as nasal drainage, fever, fullness in the ears and facial swelling.
• Cluster Headaches-these are the least common but most severe.  They can be described as a piercing, burning sensation that is constant.  The pain is commonly located behind one eye or the eye region and doesn’t change sides.  Pain can be so severe that the person can’t sit still and will pace or move around often.  The name comes from the headaches coming in clusters of one to three a day and can last two weeks to three months.  Headaches will then go away completely for months or years only to reoccur again.
• Mixed Headache Syndrome-also known as transformed migraines, these are a combination of migraines and tension headaches.  Adults and children can be affected.

Ways to help the headache process can be a pain-reliever, drink plenty of fluid, add a cold compress to the back of your head and neck, massage acupressure points, relax in a cold, dark room.  Ways to prevent getting headaches are to get plenty of rest, relax daily, exercise, get regular chiropractic adjustments, drink plenty of water, and eat healthy.

For Patients with Low Back Pain, is Chiropractic More Effective than Medical Treatment?

There have been many studies over the years that have shown the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of chiropractic treatment for back pain. Recently, a new study revealed more good news for Chiropractic: The study entitled "Tracking Low Back Problems in a Major Self-Insured Workforce: Toward Improvement in the Patient's Journey," showed the importance, efficacy and cost-saving benefits of turning to chiropractic early when it comes to low back pain. The study examined the total direct (medical, pharmaceutical) and indirect (lost productivity, absenteeism, workers compensation, short and long-term disability) cost outcomes associated with care for back problems reported by workers at a major self-insured heavy manufacturer in the U.S. The results were published in the June issue of The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

One of the things that are so impressive about this study is the size of population studied. The researchers tracked over 21,000 people between 2001 to 2009, individuals who reported back pain were identified as pursuing one of five different care approaches, from Information and Advice to Chiropractic to Complex Medical Management, based on their first six weeks of insurance claims. Those who sought Chiropractic were not only the least likely to turn to dangerous pharmaceuticals and costly surgery, the Chiropractic patients also averaged significantly lower total costs per episode. Early intervention was less costly over the long-run, as well. Those who received medical management actually had the highest costs.

The researchers concluded with this statement:

“Although employers and their occupational health personnel are not necessarily looking to test the accuracy or appropriateness of guidelines for Low Back Pain care per se, they are seeking to better manage the long-term total cost outcomes of their Low Back Pain employees/patients. Do guidelines hold much promise for advancing this objective? The bottom line answer from this study is an empirically based yes”.

What this means is that not only do we as individuals and families worry about the costs associated with treatment for back pain, so do employers and insurers. While it is true that low back pain is quite common and accounts for a large percentage of medical costs, it is also true that treating it doesn't have to cost a lot. Here at The Joint, we recognize the need for affordable and convenient chiropractic care to help with back and neck pain.

- Brad Hendricks, D.C.
  Chiropractic Physician

Drink Your Way to Better Health!

Water is the substance of life. The majority of people in Utah are dehydrated, and they don't even realize it. In fact, up to 80% of the people in Utah may be dehydrated. Before you assume that you are not in that group, because you don't feel thirsty, realize that thirst really has nothing to do with dehydration. You may also believe that you get enough water because you drink beverages that have water as an ingredient, such as coffee, tea, and sodas. Even though these beverages are made with water, when they are ingested, they actually cause us to lose water! You don't need other beverages - what you need is water.

Two-thirds of our bodies consist of water. Approximately 83% of our blood is water, 75% of our muscles are water, 22% of our bones are water, and 74% of our brains are water. Our brains even float around in water! With these percentages, it should be obvious as to why we require water to live in a high-altitude desert environment like Salt Lake City. The water in our bodies is lost every minute of every day - through sweat, tears, breathing and urination - and simply through our pores. You are losing water right now, at this very moment, and it needs to be replaced.

Dehydration affects more than just people outdoors in the sun, but the heat and aridity of Utah summers makes it an even more ubiquitous and serious problem for Salt Lake City residents. Some signs of dehydration include headaches, muscle aches and cramps, fibromyalgia and joint pain.  As we perform chiropractic adjustments, we encourage you to increase your water intake so that the cells of the body are able to get the nutrients they need to heal properly.  This happens best when you are well hydrated.  Oftentimes chiropractic adjustments for neck and back pain leads to detoxification and a flush of toxins that build up in our systems and therefore it is important to be drinking enough water to help your body eliminate those toxins.

By increasing your water intake to eight glasses per day, in about a week's time, you may notice that you have more energy, your mind is clearer, your skin is healthier, and your food digests easier, and you may even find that you lose weight!  A good rule of thumb is to also drink one glass of water for every cup of coffee or tea you have, as well as for every soda.  If you are exercising in the Utah heat it is important to drink even more water.  You can do your part in helping your body heal by getting regular chiropractic adjustments and by drinking more water.

~ Dr. Hendricks

Advice from a Chiropractor in Utah: Reducing Back Pain Through Exercise

Regular activity, fitness and exercise, are critical for the health and well-being of people of all ages. Research shows that everyone, young or old can benefit from regular exercise, either vigorous or moderate. Even very old adults can improve mobility and function and reduce back pain through physical activity. It should be a priority for everyone. Millions of people suffer from chronic illnesses, which can be significantly improved through activity. Exercise reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, high blood pressure, chronic back pain and joint problems. People who are active outlive those who are inactive. Despite the well-known benefits, most Salt Lake City, Utah adults and children lead relatively sedentary lifestyles. They are not active enough, and back pain is just one of the many health consequences.

Say Goodbye to the Couch Potato!

A sedentary lifestyle is defined as engaging in no leisure-time physical activity (exercises, sports, physically active hobbies) in a two-week period. A lot of older people in Salt Lake City, Utah typically lead sedentary lifestyles. More than one-third of young people in grades 9-12 do not exercise regularly. The cost to the medical establishment is in the billions for treatments of diseases like heart disease and chronic back pain, and that cost could be reduced with exercise. Physical activity maintains muscle strength, joint structure, joint functioning, and bone health. Exercise has an effect on mental health as well, especially among young people. It increases the capacity for learning, increases self-esteem and reduces anxiety and stress. Sports can introduce skills such as teamwork, self-discipline, sportsmanship, leadership and socialization. Obesity has become a nationwide epidemic.

Regular activity, along with a nutritious diet that incorporates portion control, is the key to maintaining a healthy weight and reducing the effects of obesity like back pain and heart disease. Everyone must realize the benefits of physical activity for the mind and body. Then commit to a lifestyle that is active for the whole family, and don't forget the benefits of adding chiropractic treatment to enhance your healthy lifestyle in Salt Lake City, Utah. Let the doctors at The Joint Cottonwood work with you and your family on a preventative and maintenance chiropractic treatment plan.

What is the Big Deal about Chiropractic?

In my 25 years of practicing Chiropractic, I have notice much controversy both within and without
the chiropractic profession. There have been many attempts to define what exactly chiropractic is
and what it isn't. These opinions range on the spectrum from chiropractors being outright
“Quacks” all the way to being “Pseudo­MDs” and everything in between. There are those who
view chiropractors as the ideal Holistic Practitioners who should use any and all treatments and
therapies that can have a positive effect on health, and those who believe that chiropractors should
only treat to correct subluxations (defined as minor mal­positions of the bones of the spine) so that
the body can heal itself.

Over the years my own opinions have been somewhat tempered. I actually see the value in
multiple different definitions of chiropractic. The bottom line is that chiropractors are very well
educated with many hours of study in the basic sciences like anatomy, physiology, neurology,
microbiology, biochemistry, pathology, embryology, etc., with an emphasis on spinal neuro-
biology. Chiropractors are required to pass rigorous national and state board exams in order to
become licensed to practice in the U.S. Once licensed, chiropractors can, within reason, choose to
practice with any number of specialties, whether it be a general practice or a focus on nutrition,
sports medicine, rehabilitation or a subluxation based practice.

In my current practice with The Joint, I have chosen to focus on improving the health of the body and spine and reducing back pain and neck pain using straight forward chiropractic adjustments. In my opinion (and this is only my opinion) the joints of the body, especially the spine, need to move. There is a specific range of motion that is normal for each joint in your body and when that normal motion is disrupted by injury or stress or poor nutrition or a sedentary lifestyle, then your body's function diminishes and you are more prone to develop degenerative arthritis or other chronic health problems such as back pain or neck pain. So if you cannot bend over and touch your toes, or if you cannot turn your head to look over your shoulder without turning your whole body, then you may consider regular, preventive and maintenance chiropractic care to reduce or eliminate back pain and neck pain. The improvement in your quality of life and levels of energy can be significant if you regularly care for your spine by improving your mobility.

Most of us wouldn't consider it wise to stop brushing and flossing our teeth for fear that we would
end up with rotten teeth, and I believe that we should have that same fear of developing a stiff and
degenerated spine if we don't take care of it properly with regular chiropractic adjustments. Let the
experienced doctors at The Joint Salt Lake City or our Chiropractors in Cottonwood Heights assist you with regular spinal maintenance. ­ Make an appointment today!

Stretches and Exercises to help Low Back Pain - Salt Lake City, Utah

 As a Chiropractor, one of the questions that I frequently get asked is, “What can I do myself to relieve my back pain?” In addition to regular Chiropractic adjustments, I recommend that my patients incorporate a simple consistent stretching and exercise program to their daily routine.  These exercises are low tech and involve usually just body weight so you can avoid the expense and inconvenience of a gym membership.  

Here are a few of the exercises that would be good for anyone suffering from back pain:

1. Back Extension Press-up

This exercise is often used to relieve inflamed lumbar discs.  Lay on your stomach and then press up with your arms to extend your back. Hold for a few seconds, then lower back down.  If you cannot fully extend your arms, just go to your elbows or as far as you can.  Do 3 sets of 10.

2. Cat and Camel stretch   

This stretch encourages normal movement in the lumbar vertebrae and in the sacro-iliac (SI) joints.  Rock your pelvis back and forth for at least 1 minute, rest 1 minute, do 3 sets of 10.

3. Knee to Chest Stretch

Lie on your back and bring knees to chest one at a time and then both together.  Hold for a few seconds then rest.  Do 3 sets of 10.

4. Squats and Lunges

Both of these exercises will help strengthen your hip, legs, buttocks and core.  Be careful with your back position. Make sure you keep a flat back, and do not round your lower back. The movement should come from your hips and knees.  Do not let your knee bend more than 90º.  Try to tighten your abdominal muscles as you go down and up. Do 3 sets of 10.

5. Push ups

Pushups are a great full-body workout, and can be varied from easy to intense based on your fitness level.  These help your back due to the tightening of your core as you hold the push up position.  Do 3 sets of 10.

6. Planks

Planks are used to help strengthen the core, which includes your back and abdominal muscles.  The intensity can be adjusted for your fitness level.  For less intense exercise, you can rest on your knees.  The key is to hold your back and hips in a correct position: do not bend at the waist, and do not let your back sag.  Hold the position for as long as you can then rest.  Do 3 sets of 10.

Try adding these exercises to your daily routine and over time you will notice an increased strength in your abdominal and back muscles that will help reduce the pain and tension you may be feeling in your back.  Along with regular maintenance and preventive Chiropractic adjustments at The Joint Cottonwood Heights, you will start to notice less intense and less frequent back pain and your quality of life will improve because of it.

- by Dr. Brad Hendricks

Can Chiropractic Adjustments Help Your Allergies?

We are entering the time of year when many people start the annual battle with seasonal allergies, hay fever, asthma, etc. Some of the most common springtime allergies in the Salt Lake City area are tree pollens like cottonwood and maple, followed by wild grasses in early summer.

Many people feel it’s simply OK to have allergies. That it’s quite normal to be allergic because so many other people are also afflicted. That it’s OK to have a season for coughing, blowing, wheezing and sneezing. It’s not.

Many parents don’t question why their children, or even themselves, have allergies. It has just become an accepted fact of life. Allergies seem to be a problem with no apparent solution. Why is that?

What makes one person allergic and another not? Why would one be allergic to cats, dogs, fur, feathers, grasses, tree pollens or foods such as peanut butter? We all live on the same planet. We’re all essentially the same. If I took one individual with allergies and one without and boiled them down to their essentials, I would end up with approximately 32 kilograms of chemicals. The rest would be water, but the chemical composition would be the same in both individuals.

The difference is most often seen in how one person's body is able to adapt to his/her environment and another is not. So what is it in the Salt Lake City area that’s causing your allergies?

Simply put, an allergy is the inability of your body to handle something that is in their immediate environment–pollen from trees, grasses, flowers or peanuts.

Our immune system is there to fight against viruses and infection, help to keep the body performing at its peak, and also to help dispel foreign contaminants that enter the body.  A study from the University of California found that signals from the nervous system may influence the function of the immune system.  When our body displays signs of allergies, it’s because it detects the presence of a foreign object such as dust, mites, pollen, etc. and it produces chemicals to neutralize and expel the allergens. These chemicals are known as histamines. In the case of allergies, the immune system overreacts to the presence of the allergens in the body.

How can a Chiropractor Help with Allergies?

Most traditional treatments for allergies, such as antihistamines, only deal with managing the symptoms and don’t eliminate the cause. The safety of anti-allergy medication is under debate, the long-term use of antihistamines or combined with other medication may cause cancer. A study conducted in lab rats with brand name anti-allergy medication found that cancerous tumors in the rats grew much faster with the intake of antihistamines. With all the concern over air quality in Salt Lake City, can you afford another carcinogenic risk factor?

When most people start to sneeze or get watery eyes, the first thought is often to pop an antihistamine pill. But did you know that chiropractic adjustments can help you overcome your allergy problems? Most people only associate chiropractors with back and neck pain, but we can also help the body achieve optimum health by ensuring the spine is correctly aligned.

Chiropractic care doesn't treat allergies directly. So, why do so many people with allergies say they get relief from chiropractic adjustments? The answer is simple. Chiropractic care releases stress on a patient’s nervous system. This allows the immune system to operate more effectively, which is beneficial to anyone and especially those suffering from allergies.

At The Joint Cottonwood Heights in Salt Lake City, we can help the body achieve optimal health and improve your quality of life. If you or a family member suffers from allergies, call our office at 801.943.3163 or just drop in for a chiropractic consultation and treatment.

- Dr. Brad Hendricks

Stretching- Good or Bad?

Spring is just around the corner and that means its time to get outside and enjoy the great playground we live in here in Utah. Whatever spring/summer activities you enjoy be it golf, hiking, biking, running, climbing, or any other physical activity it is important to start the season out in such away that you re-acclimate to your sport without injuring yourself. One of the frequent questions I get as a chiropractor in Salt Lake City is “Should I be stretch

before beginning a work out?” The answer to that question is complicated. For a long time it was generally accepted that stretching before working out was a good idea. The thought was it could help reduce injury and increase performance. This is a challenging concept to test, however recent studies indicate that stretching prior to working out may actually have the opposite effect. Depending on the activity and type of stretching it could lead to decreased performance and may even be more likely to cause injury.

I am not advocating that people do not stretch at all, however there are things to consider when deciding what and how to stretching. The first thing to consider is, what your fitness goal is. Does your activity involve

more endurance, strength, flexibility, or speed? What muscles will you be using? Is your body conditioned to the activity? These questions all determine what type of stretching you should or shouldn't do. If you are not sure where to start, we here at The Joint in Sugar House are happy to do an evaluation and give some suggestions.

As a general rule my advice on stretching is to focus pre-workout stretching in the areas you will be using most and to do more dynamic stretching prior to working out and save the static stretches for post workout. A dynamic stretch is one that involves and active range of motion throughout the stretch. For example rolling your head side to side to stretch your neck. A static stretch is holding a postion for a set length of time without motion. In addition to proper stretching, a regular chiropractic adjustment in Salt Lake City goes a long way towards preventing injury and improving performance.

~Dr. Sean Smith

Chiropractors in Cottonwood Heights Help Athletes Stay on Top

 Many people have realized the positive benefits of regular chiropractic treatments at The Joint in Cottonwood Heights for the various aches and pains that accompany everyday life, but you may not realize how chiropractic can improve overall athletic abilities and capabilities in relatively pain-free elite athletes.

There have been several studies looking at how chiropractic adjustments effect the performance of athletes and I'd like to share a couple of these with you.

A recent study out of Sweden looked at the hip extension ability and running velocity of young male runners. This research study divided a group of young men into a control group (no treatment) and a chiropractic treatment group. They measured the hip extension and stride length before and after chiropractic adjustments. Those of you who are runners can appreciate the importance of a full leg extension and how that affects your run times. The athletes treated by chiropractors in this study did have a significantly increased hip extension and stride length post-treatment compared to the control group, and they did end up with a small decrease in their run times compared to the control group.

Another study looked at athletic performance and physiological measures in baseball players following upper cervical chiropractic care. This was an interesting study in that it did not look directly at baseball skills but

looked at general athletic performance using the vertical jump, broad jump specified, standing broad jump and muscle strength. It also measured physiological changes to blood pressure, pulse rate, microcirculation (capillary counts) and treadmill stress testing. Twenty-one university baseball players were assigned randomly to either a control group or a chiropractic adjustment group. Each subject was required to complete three sessions of athletic ability and physiological testing. The results showed significant improvement at 14 weeks in muscle strength and long jump distance in the group receiving adjustments along with a significant improvement in capillary counts. Further evaluation revealed that the group receiving chiropractic care showed decreases in resting blood pressure and pulse rate as well as pulse rate following treadmill activity.

The last study that I want to report was done at Virginia Tech University where the researchers studied 115 football players in 2 consecutive football seasons. A total of 1976 manipulative treatments were provided pre-competition, and the results showed that there was positive improvement in performance among both offensive and defensive Va. Tech football players.

The takeaway from reviewing these studies is that whether you are in pain and want to get healthy or if you want to stay healthy and improve your performance (which is not limited to athletes but also includes housewives, construction workers, businessmen, nurses, etc.) chiropractic treatment is an excellent way to get you healthy.

Let the chiropractors and staff at The Joint Cottonwood Heights help you achieve your optimal health and well being.

~Dr. Brad Hendricks

Can Posture Be Affecting Your Back Pain?

As a chiropractor in Utah, the most common causes I've seen of back pain and disability, after the age of 50, are spine related disorders. One of the most important things we can do from a young age to reduce back and neck pain and problems as we age is to correct our postural misalignment. A normal spine should have a specific alignment that keeps the back stable and strong. Any changes in that alignment can cause the spine to lose stability, become weaker, and degenerate faster.

When viewed from the front the spine should appear straight. From the side you should see some curves. Normally the neck will curve forward, the upper back curves backwards, and the lower back forward again. This a

lignment allows the spine to have a good range of motion, but also provides stability and support when lifting.

There a couple of ways to check your own posture and a few things to look for when you do. You can stand in front of a mirror to check your posture from the front, to see from the side you will probably need to enlist a friend of family member. When checking your posture you should take a few steps in place and then stand still in what feels like your usual stance. You should be able to see that your eyes are level with the horizon, one shoulder should not be higher than the other, and hips should be level. From the side you should imagine a vertical line through the hole in your ear, center of your shoulder, top of the femur, and ankle. By doing this you should be able to get a rough idea of your posture.

If you notice any deviations from the normal posture, you should be evaluated by a health care professional who specializes in spinal conditions such as your Utah Chiropractic Physician. Here at 'The Joint' in Sugar House we make postural evaluations part of your initial examination and can make recommendations to improve and postural distortions we find.

~Sean Smith