Chiropractic and Fear?

What are you afraid of? What moves you out of your comfort zone? For some it might be the fear of heights, the sight of clowns, or maybe a visit to the Chiropractor?

Wait a minute? Aren’t those Chiropractor guys – Doctors? Yes, actually they are! A Chiropractor’s education is similar in length to that of a M.D., about 7-8 years. They must pass State and National Board exams, before earning the title “Doctor of Chiropractic.”

O.K., we now know that they are Doctors. But I heard that the treatments can cause strokes? This is referred to as a Cerebral Vascular Accident. It occurs about once every 6-8 million treatments. In the United States, about 100,000 people die every year from medicine prescribed from their M.D. C.V.A. is not something to be taken lightly, but a very thorough exam performed by your chiropractor can rule out those that are at risk for a stroke.

I heard that the treatments can be painful? A light precise Chiropractic adjustment generally is pain free. There are cases when inflammation and muscle spasms are present. This is where most chiropractors will do some type of therapy to help loosen up the area, before an adjustment is performed.

In our Chiropractic Clinic we provide Instrument Adjustments. This is a hand held apparatus that is very light in thrust, but it works as well as a hand done adjustment. With instrument adjustments you don’t hear the popping sound that is typical of a hands on treatment. They both work great, and it gets down to your personal preference.

Isn’t it true that once you start treating with a Chiropractor that you always have to keep treating? Chiropractic care can be equated to working out. Once you get in shape, it is not a good idea to quit. Why, because all your gains will slowly go away. After your spine has been stabilized, your chiropractor will put you on a maintenance type schedule to help keep you in an optimal state of health. This is usually a spinal check up about every 4-6 weeks. Keeping the spine in proper alignment can help prevent many age related mishaps. Remember – the nervous system controls every function in your body. Chiropractors are Doctors of the nervous system.

How can I find a Chiropractor that I will be comfortable with? Ask around – talk to friends, neighbors, family members, that are very happy with their Chiropractor. The internet is great, because you can find out all the information you want! We provide a FREE first time consultation. You can meet the Doctor, see the office, and meet the staff. Our office is open, no little windows to slide information into! We will discuss your needs, and I will internalize all your info, and do my “Best” to create a Health Regiment that will help you reach all your health goals. I realize this is a very personal and important decision in your life! I have been a Chiropractor for 24 years, and I still have patients from my first day. I will not take your health lightly!

Athletes and Alcohol

Chugging a mug of beer before arm-wrestling may be a favorite scene in macho mythology, but the practice of drinking alcoholic beverages before an athletic competition is counterproductive and dangerous.

It’s true that an initial small amount of alcohol taken just prior to competition, may slightly increase muscular endurance and exert a deinhibitory effect on strength output. But after the first twenty minutes or so, it’s all down hill.

The negative effects associated with alcohol use over a prolonged period would, like smoking, totally outweigh its possible benefits to athletic performance.

The worse news for athletes is that alcohol reduces reaction time, strength and skill, according to studies. And alcohol functions as a mental depressant, after first eliciting a stimulative effect on certain brain centers.

Alcohol increases heat loss via vasodilation of subcutaneous blood vessels. This means an athlete could get cold muscles while exercising under the influence.

Even though alcohol is rapidly absorbed and provides 7 calories per gram, it is a poor source of energy. Alcohol in excessive quantities can lead to nutritional deficiencies resulting in overall systematic effects, including potential mental deterioration.

Alcohol is poisonous to the liver, predisposing an individual to fatty liver and cirrhosis.

Finally, alcohol effectively blocks gluconeogenesis, thus potentially leading to severe hypoglycemic states.

So athletes are well advised to lay off the liquor prior to and during working out and competing.

Source: Ergogenesis

CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR ASTHMA SUFFERS

There is ample research documenting the intimate connection between the spinal column, nervous system and asthma. As early as 1921 Henry Winsor, M.D. performed autopsies on 70 people that had respiratory diseases. He found spinal abnormalities (subluxations) associated with breathing in all 70 cases.

A major study was conducted comparing spinal adjustments with conventional medications, such as bronchodilators and corticosteroids, and found improved respirator functions and neck mobility after spinal adjustments.

This makes a strong case for asthmatics and those suffering from other chronic lung conditions such as bronchitis and emphysema to ensure that their lungs and bronchi are receiving an uninterrupted nerve supply. Only chiropractic offers a way of freeing people from spinal nerve interference.

Source: Excerpt from the book For the Love of Children

The Correct Position For A Car Headrest

Most people never bother to adjust the headrest. They just leave it the way it came when they bought the car.

The correct position for a headrest is even with the head and no more than two inches behind the center of the back of the head. If the headrest is too low (behind the neck), the force of an accident could bend the head back over the headrest, causing serious injury to the cervical (neck) area.

Occupants of a car should not recline their seats while the car is in motion because it increases the distance between the head and the restraint, and in addition, puts the occupant in a more hazardous position should an accident occur.

The Top Eight Worst Foods

1. Potato chips. One ounce of potato chips has 152 calories and 10 grams of fat (3 grams of which are artery-clogging saturated fat.)

2. Non-Dairy Topping. Tasty as they are, these toppings are mostly corn syrup and hydrogenated vegetable oil.

3. Doughnuts. White flour, vegetable shortening, white sugar, deep fried. Need we say more? One glazed Krispy Kreme packs 200 calories and 12 grams of fat.

4. Fettuccine Alfredo. A three-ounce serving has 543 calories and 33 grams of fat (19 of which are saturated).

5. Sausages. Most of us have never met a sausage we didn’t like. Unfortunately, a single pork sausage link packs 217 calories and 19.5 grams of fat.

6. Fried Chicken. A fried chicken breast has nearly 400 calories and 22 grams of fat.

7. Cheese in a Can. Two tablespoons – about the amount you’d put on two crackers – pumps in 276 calories and 21 grams of fat (13 grams of which are saturated).

8. French Fries. One large order (six ounces) of fast food fries has 570 calories, half of which are from fat.

Source: OC Health

Eleanor's First Chiropractic Experience

I first injured my back 20 years ago and I’ve been having back trouble off and on ever since. The last four years I’d been having muscle spasms in my back which became more frequent and progressively worse. I had constant headaches and was irritable, nervous, tired and depressed, and I had not had my period for the last four years. An orthopedic doctor I had been seeing recommended surgery but couldn’t guarantee it would help.

Because I’m a nurse, I rejected the idea of going to a chiropractor. Instead, I just suffered, spending several days in bed with pain killers, a taped-up back and a heating pad. Finally, I was in constant pain and couldn’t take it any more. One day several friends told me of the help they’d received from their chiropractor, so I made an appointment to see him that very day. That’s when I had my miracle.

After my first adjustment, I left the office and got in my car to leave. Without any warning I started my menstrual cycle. This may sound incredible but that’s what happened. I no longer have muscle spasms or back pain. I’m doing things I haven’t done in years. I don’t take pain killers or tranquilizers since I started my adjustments. I really enjoy living again! I hope someday chiropractors work as an integral part of the medical profession.

Source: Chiropractic First

A Few Ways To Sleep Soundly

1. Stick To A Routine

When it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, conditioning your body to sleep at a certain time (and for a certain length of time) increases your chances of falling asleep quickly and waking up refreshed. Developing an evening ritual is also important in this regard. Set the stage for quality sleep with a warm bath, a good book or soft music.

2. Light And Darkness

Sunlight helps regulate your circadian clock, the body’s 24-hour cycle, and also stimulates the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates your sleep cycle. On the other hand, when you’re preparing for sleep, it’s vital to limit sources of light that can make it harder to doze off. That means pulling the shades, turning off all the lights and shutting doors.

3. Don’t Drink, Don’t Smoke

There are countless reasons not to do either of the above, but in terms of sleep, drinking alcohol and smoking can have profound negative consequences. You may think alcohol will help you fall asleep, but it won’t keep you asleep, not after it’s metabolized. And nicotine is a stimulant – perfect for keeping you awake all night long.

Source: To Your Health

6 Steps To Efficient Running

1. Run Tall

Gravity and weak core muscles cause many runners to “fold” in the middle when their feet land.

2. Relax

Tension in your arms, shoulders, neck, and face reduces efficiency.

3. Breathe right

Your breathing should be rhythmic and deep, and you should feel your diaphragm, not your chest, doing the work.

4. Land on

A heel-first landing is a brake. It means you’re extending your leg out too far in front of your center of gravity, so it takes more energy to move forward. And it’s shaky, so your muscles are working on stabilization instead of forward motion.

5. Run softly

The louder your footfalls, the less efficiently you’re running. Try running more quietly; you’ll be unconsciously switching to a midfoot strike and a shorter, quicker stride.

6. Swing

Check your form on a treadmill in front of a mirror. If one arm is bent more than the other or swings more, you have a musculoskeletal imbalance that can slow you down.

Source: OC Health

Good News About Chiropractic

Toronto Star highlights three Canadian chiropractors participating in ongoing research, hospital affiliations.

The May 29 edition of the Toronto Star featured a “Special Report on Chiropractors” that presented almost a full tabloid page of information. Positively titled “Back to the Future” – in stark contrast to many other media accounts of chiropractic in recent years, including the March 2009 ABC Nightline expose` on pediatric chiropractic, “Crack: Kids Head to the Chiropractor” – the article examines chiropractic in “academic research and collaborative practice” and positively portrays the profession and its role in present and future health care. And there’s none of the “chiropractic may be dangerous” or “research is needed” slant frequency seen in media pieces on chiropractic.

Source: The Nightline report

Strongman And Chiropractic

Joe Greenstein was a chiropractor and strongman in New York. He also worked vaudeville, and made a living as a pitchman. His main focus was on living a healthy and happy life. His stage name was The Mighty Atom, and here is his formula for health:

THE MIGHTY ATOM’S SIMPLE RULES FOR SOUND HEALTH AND LONGEVITY

· Moderation. Do not overload your stomach. It is not a garbage can.

· Forget the clock. Eat one or a half dozen small meals a day…but only when you are hungry.

· Fast at least once a week. Rest your bodily machinery and double its life.

· Drink pure water in sufficient amounts.

AVOID:

Constipating, mucus-producing foods, sugar and bleached flour products, greasy and junk foods;

The heart-killers: fatty foods, consumption of red meats and egg yolks to excess;

Fats, sugar, and bleached-flour products, salt, coffee, tea, preservatives, and denatured foods.

*Eat:

A generous daily diet of raw fruits and vegetables which have been well washed;

Nonfat dairy products, fish, poultry, any red meat should be lean;

A daily amount of roughage for sound digestion: raw fruits and stalk vegetables, whole grains, bran.

· Move your bowels at least once a day.

· Use a good vitamin supplement.

· Daily exercise after a warm-up. Slow, steady progress.

Source: The spiritual Journey of Joseph l. Greenstein

Save Money With Chiropractic

Forty-eight million Americans no longer have health insurance, and those who do have found that their benefits are reduced. That’s where chiropractic comes in. Many people find that they actually save money on their health care expenses by seeing a chiropractor. Another way to save…studies show that chiropractic may double your immune capacity, naturally and without drugs. The immune system fights colds, the flu, and other sicknesses. So you may not be running off to the doctor as much. This is especially important if you are self-employed.

Low Back Pain: One Symptom That Could Have Many Causes

· Strenuous activity, overuse or improper use (repetitive or heavy lifting, vibration, pressure, etc.)

· Physical trauma, injury or fracture

· Obesity (often caused by increased weight on the spine and pressure on the spinal discs)

· Protruding or herniated (slipped) disk

· Tightness, spasm, injury and strain of back muscles

· Joint problems (e.g., spinal stenosis - narrowing of the spinal canal, which compresses the spinal cord and the nerve roots)

· Poor muscle tone in the core or stabilizing muscles of the back

Source: Dr. Wong

Fight Aging With Vitamin D

A few minutes of daily sunlight can help your body make much of the vitamin D it needs. Is that bad for your skin as you age? Not if you don’t overdo it, many experts say, and the payoff could be huge. More than half of all women are thought to be deficient in vitamin D, and the latest evidence from John Hopkins University confirms that failing to get enough boosts your risk of death by 26 percent. That’s why it’s probably worth getting your levels checked with a simple blood test. If you’re low, eat more D-rich foods: dairy, fish like salmon and tuna, and fortified cereals and orange juice. Talk to your doctor about supplements, too.

Source: Health Magazine

Three Ways To Fight Fatigue

1. Get a move-on

While it may seem a bit counterintuitive, moderate physical activity actually increases your energy levels. Even something as simple as a brisk walk around the block can be enough to get you out of your couch potato doldrums. In fact, fatigue can be caused by a sedentary lifestyle; the less you move, the more tired you are, particularly when movement is required.

2. Chow Down

Eating the right kinds of food at the right intervals is vital to maximizing energy throughout the day. It all starts with a balanced breakfast, followed by small meals and snacks every two to three hours. Choose low-fat, complex carbohydrates to fuel your body, and avoid foods that can deplete energy stores; sugar and caffeine, though temporary boosts, will sap energy quickly.

3. Stay Balanced

Stress, anger and other types of negative energy can lead to profound fatigue, particularly if you’re losing sleep over it. Obsessing over an irritating co-worker or a personal financial crisis will do little to solve anything, but it definitely will expend valuable mental and physical energy. Whenever you’re stressed or angry, find ways to stay balanced and let it all out productively.

Source: To Your Health

Do’s and Don’ts for a Picky Eater Part II

Do: Keep an eye on the clock. No juice and snacks for at least one hour before meals. If your child comes to the table hungry, they may be more inclined to eat.

Don’t: Forget about the routine. Serve meals and snacks at about the same times every day. If the kitchen is “closed” at other times, your child may be more likely to eat what’s served when it’s served.

Do: Limit liquid calories. Low-fat or fat-free dairy products and 100 percent fruit juice can be important parts of a healthy diet, but too much may make your child too full for meals or snacks.

Don’t: Offer dessert as a reward. Withholding dessert sends the message that dessert is the best food, which may only increase your child’s desire for sweets.

Do: Set a good example. If you eat a wide variety of healthy foods, your child will be more likely to follow your example.

Don’t: Expect all their food preferences to change. As kids mature, they tend to become less picky about food. Still, everyone has food preferences. Don’t expect your child to like everything.

Do: Minimize distractions, turn off the television during meals, and don’t allow books or toys at the table.

Don’t: Follow convention. If your child isn’t a fan of various ingredients thrown together, “unmix” the food. Place sandwich fixings outside the bread, or serve the ingredients of a salad, casserole or stir-fry separately. As long as they eat it, that’s what matters.

Source: To Your Health

Do’s and Don’ts for a Picky Eater Part I

Do: Respect your child’s hunger or lack thereof. Young children tend to eat only when they’re hungry. Don’t force food on them when they’re not ready for it.

Don’t: Be patient when introducing new foods. Young children often touch or smell new foods, and may even put tiny bits in their mouths and then take them back out again. They may need repeated exposure to a new food before they take their first real bite.

Do: Make it fun. Serve veggies with a favorite dip or sauce. Cut foods into various shapes with cookie cutters to increase their appeal.

Don’t: Expect too much. After age 2, slower growth often reduces a child’s appetite. A few bites may be all it takes to feel full.

Do: Stay calm. If your child senses you’re unhappy with their eating habits, it may turn into a battle of wills. Threats and punishments only reinforce the power struggle.

Don’t: Mandate the “clean-plate club.” Don’t force your child to finish all the food on their plate. Again, this may facilitate a power struggle. Allow your child to stop eating when they’re full.

Will Back Corsets Weaken Your Back Muscles?

Patients ask this question over and over. I often prescribe a back corset for people who have low back problems. It is a sound medical principle to use an external back support. It is the same as taping a sprained ankle or using a knee brace.

By returning to sports competition after back trouble, you will use the muscles of your back and abdomen more vigorously than if you do nothing. Even with the brace on, your muscles will become stronger. Realistically the back brace should be considered a way to build up the back muscles. It is not the enemy; it is a friend. It will not lead to weakening of your back muscles!

Source: Sports Health

Should All Sports Injuries Be Treated Immediately By a Doctor?

The moment you feel some body part pull, sprain, strain, or break, start RICE, a four-part first-aid program for sports injuries. Do not wait for a doctor’s okay.

R is for rest. If you continue exercise and other activities, you may extend the injury. I stands for ice, which is strong medication. Ice shrinks the torn blood vessels. The more blood that collects in a wound, the longer it takes to heal. C is for compression, which limits swelling. If uncontrolled, swelling retards healing. E is for elevation. Elevating the injured part above the level of the heart uses gravity to help drain excess fluid. Because swelling usually starts within seconds, start RICE as soon as possible.

Rushing to a doctor’s office does not mean that you will be treated immediately. If you have been to a doctor’s office recently, you know what I mean. Emergency rooms, where about one-third of sports injuries are treated, are even more crowded. Patients with sports injuries tell me that they have waited four hours to be examined by a doctor. Waiting can aggravate the problem.

Source: Sports Health

Is Having Inflammation Bad?

The inflammatory process, the way nature heals injuries, is the body’s mustering system. It is a three-component process. The blood brings white blood cells to the injury to fight off infection and clean up dead tissue. Nutrient building blocks assemble to rebuild the weakened tissue. New blood vessels form to bring increased amounts of blood with oxygen.

Inflammation is a vital process, but sometimes chronic inflammation can be self-defeating. It overinflames. Chronic tendonitis is an example of overinflammation.

Source: Sports Health

Learn How To Travel In The Desert

1. Avoid the midday sun: travel only in the evening, at night, or in the early morning.

2. Avoid loose sand and rough terrain: they will increase fatigue.

3. Objects always appear closer than they really are in the desert.

4. In sandstorms, lie on your side with your back to the wind, cover your face and sleep through the storm.

5. Multiply all your distance by three.

Golfers….Do you want to improve your golf game?

Are you a golfer but back pain is keeping you from your game? Low back and neck pain are main reasons that golfers cannot play or play at their best.

When you’re injured it is hard to play your best game! We have the answer to your problem.

The procedure is Spinal Decompression Therapy (also known as Spinal Decompression or SD). SD is a non-surgical therapy proven to treat back pain with significant results.

Over a series of relaxing treatment sessions, patients experience powerful pain reduction and healing. Some patients even notice an improvement in their symptoms after the first few treatments.

Patients enjoy lasting results, a four year study on the lasting effects of Spinal Decompression showed remarkable levels of sustained relief from back pain in patients that had undergone therapy.

71% showed more than 50% reduction in pain immediately after treatment.

52% of respondents reported a pain level of zero.

Average pain levels were reduced from 7.41 to 1.57

Employment status increased by 40% among those previously out of work due to back pain.

We have treated many patients with conditions ranging from golf injuries, back pain, and neck pain.

My clinic uses Spinal Decompression to help patients who have had little success with other treatments. This FDA approved Spinal Decompression has been the most important medical advance in the non-surgical, non-invasive treatment of back pain in the last ten years.

For anyone that lives in the Southern California area, I do offer a NO COST exam that determines if Spinal Decompression can help you. If anyone has any questions please feel free to contact me at this blog.

My name is Dr. Bob Moulas D.C…..I have been practicing in Orange California for over 24 years. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corp., I attended Fullerton College, and later studied at Cleveland Chiropractic College.

I believe in a personal interaction with my patients, and I have a genuine concern for your well-being and long term health.

SEASICKNESS TREATMENT

Seasickness is not a joke: it can seriously weaken sufferers and lower the morale of other survivors.

1. Do not let patient have food until his or her nausea has gone.

2. Make patient lie down and rest.

3. Wash patient and raft to remove the sight and smell of vomit.

4. If available, administer seasickness medicine.

Golf and Chiropractic

The key to golf longevity is having a strong back. Back injuries can ruin your golf score, and possibly keep you off the course. To a dedicated golfer, this can be worse then losing big on the stock market!

The spine consists of 24 bones which are separated by a soft tissue made of cartilage. When the spine is healthy, it is capable of handling tremendous stress. When the spinal bones move out of place, they put stress on the spinal nerves. This can cause pain, weakness, numbness, etc.

The golf swing involves flexing and twisting of the spine. Golfers must consider themselves athletes, and train using up to date training programs. One survey showed that 53% of professional golfers play while injured. While 53% of male recreational golfers suffered from back pain. If you play golf along with other sports you’re 40% more likely to develop back pain then those that just play golf.

Golfers use 90% of their maximum muscular activity when driving a golf ball. This is performed about 40 times per game. This level of maximum exertion puts golf on the same level with football, wrestling and martial arts.

Chiropractors are experts of the spine, and nervous system. In my clinic we treat many golfers, for various types of injuries. The most common complaint is low back pain. Low back injuries do not allow golfers to get into the proper position to address the golf ball. This in turn sets up the golfer for failure, and leads to many other injuries.

Golfers are welcome in my clinic to a Free consultation to determine if they may improve their golf game through chiropractic care. Contact me through this blog.

“The perfect golf swing provides you with a maximum, consistent performance while minimizing the physical stress on the body.”

SHARK SAFETY MEASURES

1. Face outwards and keep a lookout for sharks.

2. If you are in a group in the water, bunch together and form a tight circle for added protection.

3. Stay as quiet as possible and float to save energy.

4. Ward off an attack by kicking or stiff-arming a shark. Only use your hands as a last resort. Use a hard object, and aim for the snout, gills or eyes.

5. Do not swim directly away from a shark; rather, face it and swim to one side.

6. If you have to swim, use strong regular strokes, not frantic irregular movements (these will make sharks believe you are a wounded fish).

SWIMMING SURVIVAL

1. Dog paddle: good for when you are clothed or wearing a life jacket.

2. Breast stroke: good for swimming underwater or in rough water.

3. Side stroke: a useful relief stroke because only one arm is needed to maintain buoyancy.

4. Back stroke: another good relief stroke. It relieves the muscles that are used for other strokes.

Chiropractic Adjustment

A spinal adjustment is a specific force applied to correct the misalignment of the spine. The adjustment can be applied by hand or with an instrument. The purpose of the adjustment is to help restore normal nerve flow to the body.

Some patients experience instant relief of symptoms after the first adjustment. Increased energy and sleeping better are common occurrences. For some a certain number of adjustments are needed to help correct their condition.

Dr. Bob Speaks about Children and Chiropractic

Recent studies show that newborn infants are subjected to spinal trauma during the birth process. Under ideal conditions, it can be a difficult process for an infant that has been developing in the womb. A chiropractic check up for your infant after birth will show if any nerve interference exists. With the active life children lead, a periodic chiropractic check up can detect problems before they have time to escalate.

Robert Mendelsohn, M.D., was one of the most prominent pediatricians in the U.S. In his book, Confessions of a Medical Heretic, he discussed how babies in the hospital were six times more likely to endure distress during labor and delivery. The newborns were eight times more likely to get lodged in the birth canal, and four times more likely to require resuscitation, and thirty times more likely to suffer permanent damage. The chance for infection went up four fold also.

Doctors and researchers are trying to determine accurate ways of measuring damage to infants. It is a known fact that pulling on the neck during delivery can move bones out of place. The damage may not show up immediately, but in some cases it could cause a learning disorder. In one case study, the patients of 200 pediatricians was compared with 200 children that had been adjusted by chiropractors. The children under chiropractic care had less ear infections, lower incidence of tonsillitis, and fewer allergies. They were also less likely to require antibiotic therapy.

My name is Dr. Bob Moulas D.C., and I have been adjusting children for 24 years. The results have been amazing, and I truly love working with children!

Please reply to this blog for a free consultation to discuss the health of your child. Parents you are also welcome to receive care. Everyone needs a clear nervous system, because the whole body is controlled by the nervous system.

Healthfully Yours,

Dr. Bob Moulas

Ear Infections and Chiropractic

Have you ever been awakened in the middle of the night by a sobbing child in pain with an ear infection?

Ear infections usually cause a fever in excess of 102 degrees. Pediatricians treat ear infections with antibiotics most of the time.

One case study involving over 4,000 children, found that spinal motion restricted in the upper neck induced ear infections.

Chiropractors do not treat ear infections, but if your child is getting chronic ear infections, they may have nerve interference. This condition can be relieved by a chiropractic adjustment.