Month: June 2016

How Chiropractic care can help knee pain

Hey everyone 🙂 I just wanted to share some information about knee pain and how chiropractic care and adjustments can help!

Unfortunately the most basic of daily activities from bending down to pick up the grocery bag, climbing the stairs, walking from your car to the office, or just getting out of bed can feel so difficult when you are experiencing knee pain. Knee pain definitely has a negative effect on your ability to function optimally and isn’t fun at all.

I have great news for you! You do not have to decide to live with the pain, reduce your activity level, or even start taking more pain medication. Have you considered taking a new route and trying chiropractic care??? Chiropractic care is safe and very effective. 

The knee is a complex joint that relies heavily on ligaments and muscles for stability. When pain is perceived as coming from the knee, all the anatomical components need to be examined, and in addition to the knee joint, the low back, pelvis, hip, ankle and foot need to be examined due to the direct influence they have on the knee, and vice versa.
 
Our approach to assessing and treating the knee includes the evaluation of the other joints and muscles relating to the knee. This is for several reasons:

  • Pain can often be referred from other structures in the low back, pelvis and hip into the knee.
  • If other joints in the lower limbs are not working correctly they can put increased stress on the knee joint, resulting in injury over time. Therefore to resolve the knee pain, we may also treat other areas, to maximize long-term improvement.

So what do we do for you when you come into our office with knee pain!? Good question… our goals are:
Reduce joint inflammation and reduce pain.

  • Avoid aggravating factors
  • Use of support
  • Ice to reduce inflammation, muscle spasm and pain
  • Soft tissue healing with  ultrasound and interferential therapy

Normalize joint function.

  • Specific chiropractic manipulation techniques to areas of restricted movement in the knee and surrounding joints, to increase movement, improve the function and reduce pain. Here at YFC we like to analyze the knee using the activator technique, it is very neurologically specific and the activator moves 300 times faster than anything that can be done with the hands! Check out my video on youtube demonstrating a knee adjustment at:
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr-zTL1E2gA    

The video can also be found on our YFC facebook page! Feel free to like the video on facebook if the information was helpful for you! If you know anyone struggling with knee pain please tag them in the comments section below so they can check it out too!!

Pic2Dr. Nicole Davis graduated from Logan University with not only her Doctorate in Chiropractic but her Bachelors in Life Sciences. After working with hundreds of clients a week in a busy Ohio Chiropractic clinic, she decided to head home to Des Moines to be closer to her family.  She currently specializes in family wellness care with advanced training in pediatric and pregnancy care, working alongside 2 other doctors in the only Wellness Center in Iowa to offer Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Specialized Pediatric and Pregnancy Care as well as Functional Medicine.  She loves spending time with family, friends and her dog, Maci. She is here to serve her community with love, support and enthusiasm.

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Your Brain-Gut Connection

brain-gut-connection pic

I’m sure most of you have heard of probiotics. If not, probiotics are “good” bacteria that live in your gut to support gut and immune system health. What if I told you it has been shown that these good bacteria, or microflora, also support brain health? Pretty crazy!

As reported by research done at UCLA and published in the peer-reviewed journal Gastroenterology: “Researchers have known that the brain sends signals to your gut, which is why stress and other emotions can contribute to gastrointestinal symptoms. This study shows what has been suspected but until now had been proved only in animal studies: that signals travel the opposite way as well.”

So if you experience stress, depression, anxiety or other negative emotions have you noticed changes in digestive health? Or have changes in digestive health led to these same negative emotions?

How do the brain and the gut communicate?

You actually have two nervous systems:

  • Central Nervous System: composed of your brain and spinal cord
  • Enteric Nervous System: which is the intrinsic nervous system of your gastrointestinal tract

These two systems are connected via the vagus nerve, the tenth cranial nerve that runs from your brain stem down to your abdomen. It is now recognized that the vagus nerve is the main route your gut bacteria use to transmit information to your brain.

So you may think that your brain is the organ in charge, your gut actually sends way more information to your brain than your brain sends to your gut. For example, you’ve probably experienced the visceral sensation of “butterflies” in your stomach when you’re nervous, or had an upset stomach when you were very angry or stressed. The opposite is also true, in that problems in your gut can directly influence your mental health, leading to issues like anxiety and depression.

Neurons, which are specialized nerve cells that carry “messages” throughout the body and brain to allow the brain and body to communicate, are found in the gut as well as in the brain. For example, neurons that produce neurotransmitters like serotonin, are found in your brain and in your gut. Serotonin is involved in mood control, depression and aggression, and in fact has the highest concentration in your intestines, not your brain.

Besides research connecting gut bacteria in mental health and behavior, other research has shown that your microflora also has an effect on:

  • Immune system function
  • Gene expression
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Autism

Your gut bacteria are constantly under attack from antibiotics, processed foods (which are loaded with sugar), agricultural chemicals, chlorinated or fluoridated water, conventionally-raised meats and animal products and genetically enhanced grains.

To help optimize your gut bacteria avoid processed or refined foods, eat fermented and unpasteurized foods and take a good quality probiotic (which are usually available at health food stores).

Hopefully by reading this you realize that nourishing your gut flora is extremely important, including infants and kids, because essentially you have two brains, one inside your skull and one in your gut, and each needs to be well nourished and healthy for optimal function.

Dr. Jess

 

2Dr. Jessica Stensland is a busy family wellness Chiropractor in Urbandale, Iowa. She spends her weeks taking care of dozens of families.  Not only does Dr. Jessica specialize in pediatric and pregnancy chiropractic care, but she’s a board certified Acupuncturist.  Dr. Jessica believes that a healthier community means taking care of all ages.   She is a Minnesota native and enjoys seeing family and friends in her free time, in addition to staying active and reading the many books she has on her kindle.

Chiropractic Care and Low Back Pain

Did you know that among people seeking back pain relief alternatives, most choose chiropractic treatment!? About 22 million Americans visit chiropractors annually. Of these, 7.7 million, or 35%, are seeking relief from back pain from various causes, including accidents, sports injuries, and muscle strains. Other complaints include pain in the neck, arms, and legs, and headaches.

As chiropractors we use hands-on spinal adjustments and other alternative treatments, proper alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure, particularly the spine (the house of the spinal cord), will enable the body to heal itself without surgery or medication. Adjustments are used to restore mobility to joints restricted by tissue injury caused by a traumatic event, such as falling, or repetitive stress, such as sitting without proper back support.

Research has also shown chiropractic to be helpful in treating neck pain and headaches. In addition, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia may respond to the moderate pressure used both by chiropractors and practitioners of deep tissue massage.

So as you can see chiropractic is wonderful relief of symptoms by enhancing the bodies natural ability to heal itself! So if you or someone you know fall into the 80% of people suffering from low back pain make an appointment with your chiropractor! Don’t have one?? We would love to serve you here at Yost Family Chiropractic! 

Pic2Dr. Nicole Davis graduated from Logan University with not only her Doctorate in Chiropractic but her Bachelors in Life Sciences. After working with hundreds of clients a week in a busy Ohio Chiropractic clinic, she decided to head home to Des Moines to be closer to her family.  She currently specializes in family wellness care with advanced training in pediatric and pregnancy care, working alongside 2 other doctors in the only Wellness Center in Iowa to offer Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Specialized Pediatric and Pregnancy Care as well as Functional Medicine.  She loves spending time with family, friends and her dog, Maci. She is here to serve her community with love, support and enthusiasm.

Do You Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

HandPainfromCarpalTunnel

Carpal tunnel syndrome is very common nowadays, especially with so many people using computers and any repetitive activity with the hands and wrists.

So what is a carpal tunnel?

Carpals are eight bones that make up the wrist. And we all know what a tunnel is. There is a ligament, called the transverse ligament, that goes over these bones and they form the carpal tunnel. Through this carpal tunnel, there are several tendons and the median nerve that pass through it. When the median nerve is compressed it can cause pain, numbness, tingling or burning into the wrist and down into the fingers. Since the median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel, many people suspect that problem is coming from this nerve being compressed in the carpal tunnel in the wrist. Which in many cases, this is not the cause.

All the nerves that supply the arm, wrist and hand all come from the cervical spine or the neck, specifically the median nerve in this case. If there are subluxations or restrictions in the spine, meaning the spine is not in alignment, it adds stress or pressure on that nerve and can lead to pain, numbness or tingling down the arm into the fingers.

As chiropractors, we remove these subluxations to take the stress off the nerves and allow the body to function optimally while decreasing pain and inflammation. Not only will we look at the spine, but we also look at the wrist, elbow and shoulder for carpal tunnel syndrome because decreased motion in these joints can also cause the symptoms into the hand.

I think it is really important that people know that there is another option, a more conservative option, for treating carpal tunnel syndrome than surgery. In over half of these surgeries, the symptoms reoccur after about 2 years. Why do you think that is?

So if you have carpal tunnel syndrome or know someone who does, give chiropractic a try!

Dr. Jess

2Dr. Jessica Stensland is a busy family wellness Chiropractor in Urbandale, Iowa. She spends her weeks taking care of dozens of families.  Not only does Dr. Jessica specialize in pediatric and pregnancy chiropractic care, but she’s a board certified Acupuncturist.  Dr. Jessica believes that a healthier community means taking care of all ages.   She is a Minnesota native and enjoys seeing family and friends in her free time, in addition to staying active and reading the many books she has on her kindle.

Chiropractic care and Plantar Fasciitis

Chiropractic care can help with a lot more than just neck and back pain. Today I wanted to shine some light on how we can help those struggling with plantar fasciitis. First of all, what is plantar fasciitis? It is a condition of the bottom of the foot that causes pain and discomfort. You have a tendon that runs from your toes to your heel and when this becomes irritated or inflamed it becomes painful to walk.

What causes plantar fasciitis? Being on your feet a lot can cause this condition due to the increase stress that is placed on your feet. Wearing high heels can cause this because it forces you to stand on your toes which stretches the tendon on the bottom of your feet which can lead to irritation. Not having a curve in your neck can also cause this condition, when you don’t have the proper curve this makes you more prone to anterior head carriage, or in other words your head sits forward on your body instead of on top of your shoulders. Why don’t we fall forward then with forward head carriage? Our bodies will compensate.. and one of the things that compensate are the feet. If you can picture leaning forward what happens? You place more pressure on the balls of your feet, just like when you wear high heeled shoes.. this in turn stretches that tendon and can cause irritation and inflammation.

How can chiropractic care help? The first thing we would want to do is treat the foot directly with chiropractic adjustments. We will also incorporate therapeutic ultrasound on the foot to decrease inflammation and speed up the healing process. Along with directly treating the foot itself we will also treat the whole spine with adjustments including the neck. So like I mentioned above not having a curve can have a direct impact on plantar fasciitis so adjusting the neck to help restore the proper curve will be an essential part of our treatment.

If this has been helpful please share! If you know anyone that is struggling with plantar fasciitis direct them here! Natural and safe help is available!

Pic2

Dr. Nicole Davis graduated from Logan University with not only her Doctorate in Chiropractic but her Bachelors in Life Sciences. After working with hundreds of clients a week in a busy Ohio Chiropractic clinic, she decided to head home to Des Moines to be closer to her family.  She currently specializes in family wellness care with advanced training in pediatric and pregnancy care, working alongside 2 other doctors in the only Wellness Center in Iowa to offer Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Specialized Pediatric and Pregnancy Care as well as Functional Medicine.  She loves spending time with family, friends and her dog, Maci. She is here to serve her community with love, support and enthusiasm.

 

How chiropractic adjustments help with headaches

If you have a headache, you’re not alone. Nine out of 10 Americans suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea. 

Headaches occur for a reason. A headache is your body’s way of signaling you that something is not right. Some of the milder headaches are the result of occasional “morning after” problems brought on by excess smoking, drinking or eating. Others may be the indirect symptom of eye strain, improper diet, hunger, poor lighting, excessive noise, constipation, foul air, daily pressures or infection, to name a few. In rare cases, headaches can be attributed to organic conditions such as brain tumors or diabetes. Our examination process helps identify the most likely cause.

Doctors of Chiropractic recognize that a headache is the body’s warning alarm that pain may also be attributed to muscle tension and irritation of the nerves and blood vessels in the neck. The seven cervical vertebrae (spinal bones) can become misaligned from excessive physical, chemical and emotional stress. This misalignment can irritate the nerve roots in the neck and may even cause minor constriction in some vessels which supply blood to the brain. When this happens, a headache can strike. once, twice, and again and again. If not cared for, more serious symptoms may develop.

Research shows that spinal adjustments – one of the primary treatments provided by doctors of chiropractic – is a safe, natural and effective treatment option for headaches.

So what can your chiropractor do for you??

  • Perform chiropractic spinal adjustments  to improve spinal function and alleviate the stress and tension on your nervous system.
  • Provide nutritional advice, recommending a change in diet and perhaps the addition of B complex vitamins.
    Offer advice on posture, ergonomics (work postures), exercises and relaxation techniques. This advice should help to relieve the recurring joint irritation and tension in the muscles of the neck and upper back.

Doctors of chiropractic undergo extensive training to help their patients in many ways beyond just treatment for things like low-back pain. They know how tension in the spine relates to problems in other parts of the body, and they can take steps to relieve those problems. 

Pic2

Dr. Nicole Davis graduated from Logan University with not only her Doctorate in Chiropractic but her Bachelors in Life Sciences. After working with hundreds of clients a week in a busy Ohio Chiropractic clinic, she decided to head home to Des Moines to be closer to her family.  She currently specializes in family wellness care with advanced training in pediatric and pregnancy care, working alongside 2 other doctors in the only Wellness Center in Iowa to offer Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Specialized Pediatric and Pregnancy Care as well as Functional Medicine.  She loves spending time with family, friends and her dog, Maci. She is here to serve her community with love, support and enthusiasm.