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Posts Tagged ‘chiropractic’
Spinal Adjustments: An Interns Perspective
This blog is brought to you by our summer intern, Jorell.
Jorell & NSPAH
I’ve been interning at North Shore Pro-Active Health for 4 weeks. I was given the opportunity to work alongside Dr. Jordan Leasure in assessing lifestyle solutions for patients seeking functional medicine services. But in the midst of observing these appointments, I’ve watched Dr. Jordan perform spinal adjustments on a few of her patients. Admittedly, prior to working at the clinic I have never sought out chiropractic or retaliatory services and never knew how powerful a healthy spine is in the context of a person’s overall livelihood in preventing chronic disease.
History, Examination & Treatment
The full first-patient examination was both quick and comprehensive. Dr. Jordan asks questions regarding my current and past health concerns, what those health concerns are attributed to, my exercise patterns, my water drinking regimen, any family history of disease, and any history of drinking or smoking. She then goes through a whole upper body assessment that looks at my reflexes and resistance strength. After that, I was taken through a lower body assessment to look at any more possible physical stressors when my legs are lifted while on my back and stomach. Then came the actual adjustment starting with my neck. I am one of those people that tend to crack their necks from time to time and so this procedure was different in the sense of how my neck was cracked but also familiar because I didn’t feel anything after the adjustment. What I was most concerned about was the adjustment on my spine. At first Dr. Jordan had me lay on my stomach and take a deep breath. Surprisingly, after the exhale, I did not feel my spine crack despite clearly hearing it. This was followed by a second spine adjustment and an adjustment on my right leg.
Overall the process was painless and very easy. After walking around with my newly adjusted back and leg, I did feel a bit looser but really nothing else outside of that. I did go in the appointment slightly sore from exercising the day before and that may have hindered my ability to notice the full effects of the adjustment. I also did not go into the adjustment feeling any significant spine problems. Despite these small details, I was able to learn the importance of the adjustment and feel little benefits from it. I definitely recommend new patients to get adjusted and keep getting adjusted as preventative means towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle!
5 Things To Do Before Becoming Pregnant
Deciding to take the plunge into parenthood in itself is a big challenge. But before you do that, pause for a second – or even a month or two. In order to give yourself the best opportunity for a healthy pregnancy and ultimately a healthy baby, here are the top 5 things you need to know and do before trying to hop on the conception train. At North Shore Pro-Active Health we see patients, pre -conception, pre-natal, during pregnancy, post partum and even adjust our smallest patients within 5 minutes of birth! Pre-conception is a very important time as you can change the DNA of your follicles, which leads to the DNA of your fetus!
1. Schedule a Prenatal Checkup
Schedule an appointment with your chiropractor, midwife, ob/gyn, or family practice physician for a preconception health check. At North Shore Pro-Active Health we will thoroughly analyze your personal medical history, family history, any supplements or medications that you are on, etc. We may recommend consulting your prescribing physician if you’re taking certain medications that might affect your pregnancy.
We will also discuss your weight loss regime; pre-pregnancy diet, exercise, and any other unhealthy habits (like alcohol consumption, smoking, and drug use). You might be advised to dive deeper into your history with our functional medicine model if you have any health conditions like asthma, high blood pressure, or diabetes. These must be managed before you try to get pregnant. If you have not undergone any health assessment in the last year, your OBGYN may schedule a pelvic exam and a pap smear to identify the presence of any STDs.
2. Consider Genetic Screening
Your doctor should give you genetic carrier screening before you begin conceiving to see if you or your significant other is a carrier for major hereditary diseases such as sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, and many others. If both you and your spouse are carriers, then your baby will have a 1 in 4 chance of getting the disease. Meeting with your genetic counselor will help you learn more about the condition and help you sort out your reproductive choices.
3. Go off The Pill
Although at North Shore Pro-Active Health we recommend natural birth control methods, we recognize that many of our clients are on hormonal birth control. Do stop your birth control a few months before you plan to start trying to get pregnant. This allows you sufficient time to really see what your menstrual cycle is like – 25 days? 30 days? – so you can find out when you are ovulating, the period of the month when you are most fertile. If you don’t menstruate even after three months of pill absence, then you should definitely see your Chiropractor.
4. Get Fit
Getting fit is not the same as ‘losing weight’. Being fit and healthy is an excellent way to prepare for conception and childbirth; a healthy body will be able to handle giving birth and minimize the recovery time. So if you are not much of a fitness freak, now is the best time to start looking into different exercises that will work best for you. If an exercise program is not for you, WALK, WALK, WALK. Get a Fitbit, or a smart watch and be consistent!
5. Start Taking the Required Vitamin Supplements
Because our food sources are depleted of vitamins, supplements should be a part of your daily routine already. When planning to become pregnant you should add methyl folate to your regime. Begin taking this a month before trying to conceive and continue throughout your pregnancy. When consumed correctly, folate might help minimize the risk of spina bifida and other midline deformities in the fetus. Other useful vitamin supplements for moms to be include fish oil, vitamin D3, choline, Iodine, and iron. Our supplement company, Salutogenic Life carries an armory of supplements for women in general, expectant mothers and new mothers who are nursing. You can even find a few that will benefit the little ones including a multi-vitamin, probiotic, fish oil and allergy reliever!
Pregnancy can be an exciting and enjoyable ten months, if you’re prepared for it! If you have questions or concerns please feel free to reach out for a complimentary consultation. If you’re not located in the Chicagoland area please visit the ICPA for a list of pediatric trained chiropractors who can assist with your prenatal and postnatal needs.
4 Ways to Avoid the Halloween Candy Temptations
October has arrived, and now you can go to Jewel and buy candy by the truck load without getting weird looks! “It’s fine! The candy is for the neighborhood kids!” The question is, what happens with the candy that is left over?? I always buy the candy I like so I can pack it in my lunch once Halloween is over… Whoops! When it comes to Halloween candy, I do not know where to draw the line!! When I have multiple mini Twix, Kit-Kat or Snickers in front of me, it’s hard not to go for it. This year, I will have some willpower and use the following tricks to avoid the sugary temptations that Halloween brings.
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Buy Candy You Don’t Like
This was so hard for me to do. I walked past the bags filled with M&M’s, Twix, Three Musketeers and Snickers and went towards the Sweet Tarts, Whoppers, and Chewing Gum that I knew I wouldn’t eat. I’m pretty sure I could hear them calling my name! I thought to myself, why am I buying candy that I won’t eat?! In hindsight, I’m glad that I stuck to my plan. Now, I’m much less tempted to go in my pantry and sneak out a piece or two. Therefore, I don’t have to go and buy more treats before Halloween because I ate the whole bag by October 12th! It’s a win-win.
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Out of Sight Out of Mind
Typically, when you see that tasty treat sitting on your counter, or anywhere in your Halloween-decorated house, you are going to be tempted to have a bite. We’re only human! However, if you do not see it in the first place, you will be less tempted to snack on that evil candy. Keep it in jars, in a cabinet or in a bowl in the closet. You will forget the candy is there until you need it for Halloween.
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Bring it to work
I like to bring extra Halloween candy to work because I know that I can not finish all of it myself, and I simply do not want it in my house. Your coworkers will be very grateful and the pressure to eat your treats at home will be gone! Be sure to put the treats out of arm’s reach so you have to get up from your desk to snack. Usually, I get so focused on my work that I forget I even wanted a piece of candy in the first place.
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Donate the Candy
Instead of trying to eat all the candy or pass it off to friends and family, how about donating it? You can give it to the less fortunate, or to our service men and women who can not be home this Halloween! There are many websites that you can go to and donate your extra candy to those in need. Every little bit helps!
For this 2017 Halloween season, I am going to do my best on working on all of these tips to help with my sweet tooth. So what happens after Halloween you ask? As we head into Thanksgiving and Christmas festivities, Dr. Jordan and Dr. Jade will come to your rescue!! They know exactly what foods to avoid and how you can control yourself during the holiday season. If you have any questions or need a push in the right direction call today for a FREE consultation to see how they can help at 847-362-4476!!
5 Reasons To Never Miss Your Appointment
“Something came up at work and I can’t get out of it.” “My kid is sick.” “I accidentally scheduled another appointment at that time.” “I’m so sorry, I totally forgot!!!” Life happens, we get it, but there are always excuses for not coming into the office. For whatever reason you’re thinking about skipping out on your next appointment, take a minute to think about all the reasons you shouldn’t!
Here’s just a few reasons why you should never miss your appointments:
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Chiropractic care is PRO-ACTIVE.
We obviously love this word so much we had to put it in our name. The very definition of proactive means to control the situation by causing something to happen, rather than fixing it after something happens. You should view your chiro appointments as a preventative treatment. By having regular adjustments done and implementing a healthy lifestyle, we will help you to feel great all year round. “But I’m feeling fine” you say? Awesome! Your appointments will keep you feeling that way!. Instead of waiting for a painful injury, keep up with regular appointments to prevent injuries altogether. We are trying to be proactive about your health, you should be too!
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We do it for YOU.
Every single patient is unique to us. This fact allows your doctor to customize a treatment plan that is specific to you. Don’t you feel special now! The doctor’s ONLY job is to make sure that you are well. We are dedicating our time to you and working hard to find the most effective solution to your unique situation. Follow your appointment schedule and trust that the doctor knows what it takes to make you feel your best.
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Get the ANSWERS.
By now most of us know that the internet can be a scary place. It has become a habit to grab your phone and go to a website that can look up your symptoms and search for a diagnosis. After you’re convinced that there is something seriously wrong, you can also look up treatments on the very same website. Although you may feel like a super health detective, the internet is not a sufficient method to getting answers. Write down your symptoms, questions and concerns, and then make an appointment with a doctor! Your chiropractor has the knowledge and experience to assess and address the issues that are troubling you. Don’t turn to the internet, come to your appointment to get your answers.
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Be a part of the TEAM.
The most successful patients are the most involved patients. When it comes down to it, this is your life and your health. If you have made the decision to seek out help, our doctors will do everything they can to give you the best care. Your team of chiropractic, rehab, nutrition, and massage, will collaborate to give you the tools to build a healthy lifestyle, but we need you to follow through! Help us help you by following your care plan, asking questions, doing your homework, and coming to your appointments. Hands in. 1.2.3.Go team!
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R.E.S.P.E.C.T
As an office that promotes health, happiness, and well-being, we understand that your time is valuable.We try to make sure that every patient receives as efficient care as possible, and schedule accordingly. We understand that situations may come up and you will have to cancel your appointment, that’s just life! We simply ask that you try to be mindful that when you miss an appointment, since another patient could have been receiving care at that time. Therefore, If you are aware that you will not be able to make it to an appointment, please give proper notice so we can have someone else come in during that time. We have the utmost respect for you and your time, we hope that you will extend the same courtesy to us and our other patients!
Now that we’ve politely and kindly reminded you why you should never miss your appointment, go over to your schedule and make sure that you’ve penciled us in! Haven’t been in to see us yet? Call 847.362.4476 to schedule your free consultation today and check out our website to see the many services we provide here at North Shore Pro-Active Health! See you at your next appointment!
Insurance Terms Defined
Being a doctor in a small office I’ve had the opportunity to work and learn numerous aspects of running things. Insurance is the primary aspect I hear questions about on a daily basis. It seems as though each day insurance policies are changing. Regardless if you have a brand new policy midyear, or have maintained your current policy, there are a handful of terms you should understand.
All medical offices have a fee schedule. A fee schedule is a list of services and the amount billed to an insurance company. These fee schedules are determined based on location and other aspects which as a patient you could care less about. On a very basic level, paying for insurance gives you the privilege of paying that companies rates.
Medical office rate for exam: $100
Blue Cross Blue Shield Rate for same exam: $80
If you have BCBS insurance, you can only pay up to $80 for that exam. You get the $20 discount.
Here are a list of other terms you should be familiar with.
Deductible: A specific dollar amount that your health insurance company may require that you pay out-of-pocket each year before your health insurance plan begins to make payments for claims. Not all plans require a deductible, but a handful do. It is important to note that some plans also have a family and/or individual deductible.
CoPay (Co-Payment): A specific charge that your health insurance plan may require that you pay for a specific medical service or supply. For example, for office visits (exams), or prescription drugs you may have a $20 Co-payment. That is the amount you are responsible for and your insurance pays the rest.
Co-Insurance: Coinsurance is the term used by health insurance companies to refer to the amount that you are required to pay for a medical claim, apart from any co-payments or deductible. For example, if your health insurance plan has a 20% coinsurance requirement (and does not have any additional co-payment or deductible requirements), then a $100 medical bill would cost you $20, and the insurance company would pay the remaining $80.
Over the last few years I have noticed an increasing number of variable insurances. This means that for each service provided, the patient has a different coverage. In a chiropractic office, an example would be:
Office Visit (exam): $20 Co-payment
Adjustment : 20% Coinsurance
Physical Therapy: $20 Co-payment
X-rays: 20% Coinsurance
In most cases, a service with a co-payment, will not require you to fulfill your deductible, but a service with coinsurance WILL require you to fulfill your deductible.
Here is an example to help explain. Patient X has a BCBS Plan with the following:
$500 Deductible (has met $0.00 of $500)
$20 Copay for Office Visits
20% Coinsurance for all other services
Patient X visits our chiropractic office for an exam, x-rays and adjustment. Blue Cross Blue Shield rates for those services are:
Exam (Office Visit): $100
X-rays: $100
Adjustment: $40
Patient X Will Owe:
Exam (office visit): $20 Copay
X-rays: $100 (being billed towards deductible)
Adjustment: $40 (being billed towards deductible)
Total: $160
Patient Z visits our chiropractic office with the same coverage and same services EXCEPT Patient Z has met all $500 of his/her deductible.
Patient Z will owe:
Exam (office visit): $20 Copay
X-rays: $20 (20% coinsurance of $100)
Adjustment: $8.00 (20% coinsurance of $40)
Total: $48.00
Insurance can be a bit tricky and we recommend you get familiar with your plan and ask questions. As a service to all of our patients we pre-verify your coverage for any services offered at our office so you are aware of what the cost will be for you.
Feel free to post questions that I can answer, especially if you were unable to follow any of the examples! I hope you take away a few basic terms to help make the transition with insurance an easier one in 2017!
The Trapezius : Muscle of the Month
The trapezius is one of the major muscles of the back and is responsible for moving, rotating, and stabilizing the scapula (shoulder blade) and extending the head at the neck. It is a wide, flat, superficial muscle that covers most of the upper back and the posterior of the neck. Like most other muscles, there are two trapezius muscles – a left and a right trapezius – that are symmetrical and meet at the vertebral column
The trapezius starts at the occipital bone and the spinous processes of the cervical and thoracic vertebrae. Then extends across the neck and back to insert via tendons on the clavicle, acromion, and spine of the scapula. The name trapezius is given to this muscle due to its roughly trapezoidal shape. The trapezius can be divided into three bands of muscle fibers that have distinct structures and functions within the muscle:
Upper Trapezius, Middle Trapezius and Lower Trapezius
Upper Trapezius
This portion helps with elevating (shrugging) the scapula or by bracing the shoulder when weight is carried; ie purses, grocery bags, backpacks, laptop bags. The action of this muscle also helps to extend the neck. Symptoms of having issues with the upper trapezius muscle are; headaches, facial/temple/jaw pain, pain behind the eye, dizziness, stiffness and limited range of motion
Middle Trapezius
These muscle fibers help to retract and adduct the scapula by pulling the shoulder blade closer to the spine. Symptoms can be mid back pain, headaches at the base of the sku
ll, a “burning” sensation that is close to the spine, and pain referring to the shoulder
Lower Trapezius
The inferior fibers depress the scapula by pulling it closer to the lower part of the thoracic vertebrae. To rotate the scapula, the lower and upper fibers work together to rotate the shoulder blade upward. All three sections help to stabilize the shoulder blade to prevent irrelevant movement. Symptoms can be mid-back, neck, and/or upper shoulder region pain, possibly referral pain on the back of the shoulder blade, down the inside of the arm, and into the ring and little fingers, a deep ache and tenderness over the top of the shoulder
Causes of Trapezius Symptoms
- a purse or daypack that is too heavy and on just one shoulder
- fatigue
- tensing your shoulders
- cradling a phone between your ear and shoulder
- a chair without armrests, or the armrests are too high
- typing with a keyboard too high
- sleeping on your front or back with your head rotated to the side for a long period
- sitting without a firm back support (sitting slumped)
- Backpacking, bike riding
- any profession or activity that requires you to bend over for extended periods
- large breasts and not wearing a supportive bra
- whiplash (a car accident, falling on your head, or any sudden jerk of the head)
- head-forward posture
- turning your head to one side for long periods to have a conversation
- tight pectoralis major muscles
Treatment
Treatment to help reduce the pain in any of these three sections of the trapezius is thru physical therapy to increase range of motion and to help strengthen the neck. Also thru chiropractic care to make sure there are no subluxations and that the body is in proper alignment. Massage therapy will help relax the muscles from spasming and also using Low Level Light Therapy (Cold Laser) to reduce any inflammation that is being caused in the body.
If you are not sure if you are experiencing any of these symptoms mentioned above and is not sure what to do we are offering a free consultation with one of our doctors to see if we can help. Please call the office at 847-362-4476 so we can help you to start feeling better today!
What Is Cupping Therapy and What Can It Do For You?
Cupping is a unique treatment that uses suction to lift tissue as a cup is moved by the therapist to decompress the underlying tissue. It combines various massage and stretching techniques with the application of a slightly pressurized cup. This helps to lift and separate the soft tissue, allowing for greater fluid movement and nutrient supply throughout the soft tissues. This nourishes, detoxifies, stimulates and increases range of motion. The cups come in various sizes depending on the treatment area needed.
Though it was recently made famous during the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics when the cupping marks (circular bruises) were visible all over swimmer Michael Phelps, cupping has actually been around for a very long time. Cupping is an ancient medical treatment; its Chinese roots date back to 300 or 400 A.D. Egyptian and Middle Eastern cultures also have ancient records of the practice. Cupping is still regularly used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Chinese hospitals and elsewhere.
Cupping creates a negative (tension) pressure which:
– Passively stretches tissue resulting in increased ROM.
– Increases blood supply/heat to area treated.
– Increases fluid movement, which assists in recovery.
– Increases nutrient-rich blood supply to injured area.
People seek cupping therapy for many purposes, including pain management, to reduce inflammation, improve circulation and digestion, to promote relaxation and well-being, and as a type of deep-tissue massage. Don’t be turned off by those ‘bruises!’ They are often the sign of a successful treatment and will disappear within two days to two weeks!
Cupping can help improve several medical conditions including:
| • Poor circulation
• Sciatica • Low back pain • Chronic pain • Arthritis • Muscular Aches • Bursitis • Tendonitis • Scars and Adhesions |
• Trigger Points (knots)
• Tension Headaches • Sinusitis • Pre & Post-Operative Conditions • Athletic Stress & Injury • Plantar Fasciitis • Myofascial Pain Syndrome • Scoliosis • Fibromyalgia |
Are you interested in experiencing cupping for yourself? We recommend an initial massage with Karith so she can learn your tissues to better understand where you could benefit from cupping. Following that initial massage at regular price you can recieve your first cupping session for *FREE (with the purchase of follow-up massage). If you are a current client of Karith’s, add on cupping to your next massage session for FREE. Mention this blog for discount!
The Deceiving Nature of Whiplash
Contrary to popular belief, you can sustain a whiplash injury from more than just being rear ended! Whiplash is an acceleration/deceleration injury…meaning, it’s a rapid forward and backward (or side to side) movement of the head and neck. Although most common to occur during a car accident, whiplash is known to occur in other situations, especially sports such as football, gymnastics and boxing.
Whiplash is deceiving because after your vehicle is rear ended, you may feel pain quickly or you may not develop symptoms for several hours, weeks or even MONTHS! This type of injury can occur at speeds as low as 5mph! Whiplash is so dangerous because it can affect not only muscles, but ligaments, tendons, discs, joints, nerves AND your brain.
After an accident most people opt to visit their primary care or the ER. It is important to note that the ER and primary docs are looking for fractures after a car accident. Your chiropractor will take a series of x-rays including flexion and extension films to analyze soft tissue range of motion. Once fractures have been ruled out, a trip to your chiropractor should be step two, even if symptoms are minimal!
Making a trip to your chiropractor post accident could save you weeks, months and even years of future symptoms. We will help restore proper function and mobility to the joints, and utilize other techniques to improve healing of the soft tissues and decrease pain. Your chiropractor may utilize exercises to improve coordination and prevent improper movement.
There are many items that can affect whiplash recovery such as age and sex. As we age we lose strength in our necks. Women suffer whiplash more often than men. Experts believe this is due to men having stronger neck muscles. Prior conditions such as arthritis or smoking can increase the severity of whiplash and increase healing time.
If you or someone you know has been in a car accident, they should be evaluated by a chiropractor sooner rather than later to prevent future problems. Visit our website for more information on whiplash and chiropractic.
*please note that whiplash can occur in the mid-back and low back, but is most common in the neck.
Muscle of the Month : The Piriformis
When patients come into our office with low back pain or symptoms resembling sciatica one of the muscles we check in on is the piriformis. During the examination we will check on range of motion and strength of different muscles to see if we can narrow down where the pain/discomfort is coming from. It is usually not just one muscle that is tight or restricting but the piriformis is tight in most if not all in our patients.
The piriformis is a flat, pyramid-shaped muscle that lies parallel to (in line with) the gluteus medius and underneath the gluteus maximus muscle in the hip area.The muscle passes through the greater sciatic foramen (a space in the pelvic bones, on each side of the center) and to the upper part of the greater trochanter (a bone ridge near the top of the femur, or thigh bone). It takes up the most area in the greater sciatic foramen.
It is a small muscle when compared to other muscles of the region. The piriformis helps rotate the hip and works with other rotators. It will rotate the thigh while extended and will abduct, or pull inward, the thigh when flexed.
The close nature of the piriformis muscle to the sciatic nerve, which is the largest nerve in the human body, can cause pain in some individuals. This known as piriformis syndrome. This pain can run from the buttocks to the lower back and in some cases down the leg into the ankle. The more joints the nerve passes thru with pain the longer the recovery. This condition can happen to anyone and can worsen with prolonged sitting, sedentary lifestyle, other muscles not working or “firing” correctly and if the problem is not addressed as soon as possible.
Treatment to help reduce the pain in the piriformis
- Physical therapy to increase range of motion and to help strengthen the low back, core etc.
- Chiropractic care to make sure there are no subluxations and that the body is in proper alignment.
- Massage therapy to help relax the muscles from spasming
- Low Level Light Therapy (Cold Laser) to reduce any inflammation that is being caused in the body.
Pictured below is a great stretch to help loosen the piriformis. For more information on how to stretch, visit here.
If you are not sure if you are experiencing any of these symptoms mentioned above and are not sure what to do we are offering a free consultation with one of our doctors to see if we can help. Please call the office at 847-362-4476 so we can stop it in its tracks!!