Friday, April 2, 2010

Control Cravings

Control Cravings

In my chiropractic office in San Diego, I treat people that are more oriented toward taking proactive steps in maintaining their health.  In addition to helping my patients with the typical neck pain, back pain and headaches that are common complaints for chiropractors, I also give advice regarding other lifestyle changes that help them become healthier people. 

Food cravings are the downfall for many of us regarding our health.  I can’t recall what the disorders or deficiencies were, but I remember studying conditions that made some people crave dirt – that is right, people crave to eat dirt, and other deficiencies that made people crave aspirin.  Obviously, none of us would think that a nice plate of dirt for dinner would sound good without some underlying nutritional deficiency that would drive us to such a craving.

It is interesting how mineral deficiencies can result in cravings of more typical types of foods.  Naturopath Colleen Huber says that all food cravings are a signal that our bodies are telling us that we need more of certain types of foods.  For example; when we crave sweets our bodies really need chromium, carbon, phosphorus, sulfur or tryptophan.  A craving for chocolate can be an indicator that you are deficient in magnesium while a craving for salty foods is an indication that we are chloride deficient.  If you crave soda or other carbonated drinks what you really need is calcium.

This is incredibly valuable information.  Once again, as a chiropractor I am not only concerned with relieving my patients back pain or neck pain but I am concerned about their health as a whole.  Poor diets are fueled by cravings that we often don’t understand and poor diet planning.  A poor diet can cause low energy, weight gain, low self image and a feeling of being out of control among a host of other much more serious disorders.    


Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic

Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.

Better Health Steve Jones

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Have you ever been to a chiropractor?

Have you been to a chiropractor lately?  Have you ever been to a chiropractor?
Regardless of your answer to these questions, do you know what a chiropractor does?

I have been a practicing chiropractor for the last 16 years.  Helping people with neck pain, back pain, sciatica and headaches with chiropractic care is rewarding.  As  a profession, chiropractors only provide care to somewhere around 10% of our population.  I have always wondered why this number is so low since patient satisfaction with chiropractic treatment is so much higher than it is with traditional medical care and that most independent research indicates that chiropractic care is more effective than western medicine for back pain. 

Chiropractic care is an excellent , conservative treatment for many types of back injuries including those caused by auto accidents and various work injuries.  That being the case, I have always thought that more people don’t seek out chiropractic care for their back and neck injuries because they don’t know what to expect with a chiropractic visit.

In this post, I am going to tell you exactly what procedures that our new patients go through at the time of their first visit. 

Once a new patient comes to our office they are asked to fill out a brief informational health history that covers both past and current problems.  After they are done with this form, I review the history to acquaint myself with current and past complaints that are relevant to the reason for the appointment.

With the history form reviewed, I take the patient to one of my exam / treatment rooms where I ask the patient to tell me more about their pain.  During this time I also ask additional questions to help me get a good understanding of the patients’ concerns. 

After I am satisfied with my understanding of the patients’ concerns and they have nothing else to add to the history, I perform an examination on the involved areas that includes range of motion tests, necessary orthopedic tests and neurological tests.  Usually the information that I obtain from these tests is sufficient to allow me to make a decision regarding treatment.

If treatment is indicated, care usually involves therapy to relax the muscles followed by chiropractic adjustments to relieve the pain / dysfunction of the involved joints.  Since many of our new patients have never been to a chiropractor before, I always ask the patients to help me keep all of our procedures within their “comfort zone”.  I have always thought that this is very important since so many Americans are unfamiliar with manual type therapies.

The number of chiropractic visits varies person to person depending on the severity of the injury and each persons response to care.        


Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic


Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.

Better Health Steve Jones

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Neck Pain and Rear–End Type Car Accidents

Neck Pain and Rear–End Type Car Accidents: "Neck Pain and Rear–End Type Car Accidents

By far the most common injury that our patients suffer when hit by another car from behind is neck pain. Neck pain as a result of a car accident is usually caused by muscles and ligaments being stretched and torn from the force of the accident.

When you are in your vehicle and hit from behind, the first thing that happens is your neck straightens and your head is whipped backward. As your head is whipped backward, the muscles in the front of your neck are stretched to their limit. Sometimes the stretch placed on these muscles pulls and tears some of the muscle fibers causing a painful, strained feeling."
read more Neck Pain and Rear–End Type Car Accidents


Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic


Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.

Better Health Steve Jones

Pinched Nerves and Whiplash Car Accident Injury

Pinched Nerves and Whiplash Car Accident Injury: "Pinched Nerves and Whiplash

Although neck pain is the most common symptom from whiplash accidents, pinched nerve symptoms are also common.

When we are involved in a whiplash accident, our heads are usually thrown forward and backward or side to side. This movement of our heads forces our necks into extreme positions of flexion and extension leading to other types of injury.

The vertebra in our necks and the rest of our spines are designed to allow the nerves to pass from the spinal cord out through openings between the vertebra where they then continue to course through the body to the muscles or other structures that they provide nerve impulses to."

read more Pinched Nerves and Whiplash Car Accident Injury

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Does Chiropractic Work?

Does Chiropractic Work?

As a chiropractor, I am always asked “Does chiropractic really work?”  This is not only an unfair question; it is also a loaded question.     Chiropractic care is a very effective form of treatment for some traditional symptoms like neck pain and back pain and not for others.

Being a Chiropractor in San Diego, I see sports related injuries all year round.  Running injuries, falls from bicycles or rollerblades, golf injuries, basketball injuries – you name it and most likely we have seen it.  More often than not these injuries result in typical sprain / strains that result in neck pain, back pain, sciatica etc. 

The types of injuries that I just listed are a few of many joint injuries / symptoms that chiropractic care is very effective in treating.  You might say that chiropractic care was made for such injuries.  The reason that I convey this is because of the nature of these types of injuries. 

The typical sprain / strain injury usually results when a fall or an accident forces a joint through an excessive or abnormal range of motion.  This type of injury stretches the ligaments and muscles that move and support the spine.  The result of this type of injury is irritation and inflammation of the joint and scar tissue formation. 

Without chiropractic treatment, the scar tissue from sprain / strain injuries restricts and or alters normal joint motion which can cause pain and stiffness.  Chiropractic manipulations help to restore full, normal joint motion by breaking down scar tissue that would otherwise cause stiffness and pain.

Chiropractic care is an excellent form of therapy for reducing the effects of postural stress from sitting at a computer, poor lifting habits, poor posture and a variety of other stresses that we expose ourselves to on a daily basis.

So, does chiropractic work? 

The only way to know is go visit one and see.  Chiropractors want their treatment to work and are reluctant to take on cases that may not properly respond to their therapy.  No doctor that I know wants to have unsuccessful treatment sessions during the course of their work day. 

A good chiropractor can look at your history, perform an examination and make a sound determination on how well you will respond to care.  That being said, we are known as the “back doctors” so if you have neck pain, back pain or any spinal related pain, a visit to the chiropractor may be just what you need. 


Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic


Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.

Better Health Steve Jones

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Sitting Postures and Back Pain

Sitting Postures and Back Pain

Sitting is a pain in the @#$%&!  Or at least a pain in the back.

Our spines do not like sitting as a rule.  If you remain seated in the same position for a long enough period of time you will experience some level of discomfort. 

Although there are many reasons that sitting eventually causes discomfort, one of these reasons cannot be avoided.  The natural center of gravity for a sitting human being is approximately 1 inch in front of the belly button.  In order to park our upper bodies over our center of gravity we have to either lean forward eliminating the support of our backrests or slide our butts downward and forward assuming a slumped position.  Often these postures are accompanied by crossed legs or feet and leaning our elbows on the desk or our armrests in order to promote stability of the spine.

Poor posture often results from chairs and work stations that are void of proper ergonomic considerations.  Postural stress causes discomfort in the neck, back and arms resulting in fatigue and fidgeting.  It comes as no surprise that these consequences of poor posture have a negative effect on your mood, your concentration and your productivity.

In the long run, poor posture can cause chronic back pain, neck pain and a host of syndromes that affect the upper extremity as a whole.

I found an excellent definition of poor posture in  a book called “Backs” by Leonard Ring in which he defined poor posture as “a faulty relationship of the various parts of the body which produces increased strain on supporting structures”.

As important as proper sitting posture is for a younger person with an otherwise healthy back, it is of much greater importance to those who are older and may have some level of arthritis in their spines or a history of injury.  Arthritis weakens the joints in the back and makes it more sensitive to the stresses of prolonged sitting when using good posture and much more likely to suffer consequences in situations that involve poor posture.  A history of back injuries is also detrimental to the spine during sitting positions especially when it is exposed to the stress of poor posture.   All of those old gymnastics, football, hockey and general horseplay falls and jolts have a cumulative effect that decreases our ability to endure stressful postures.

The bottom line is that there are many good sources on the Internet that describe the characteristics of proper sitting positions.  The more stress that you can eliminate from your sitting postures the happier your back will be.



Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic


Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.

Better Health Steve Jones

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Gardening and Back Pain

Gardening and Back Pain

In a May 12, 2003 release from the "Canada NewsWire" was some information and advice about gardening. This publication included poll results that revealed that gardening and yard work are the number one causes of back and/or neck pain in the spring and summer months. The poll was conducted by national research firm Pollara, where 500 Ontario Canada chiropractors were asked what the most frequent causes were of back and neck pain among their patients.

The results of the poll showed that Ontario chiropractors report that working in the yard and garden are the most common sources of back and neck pain they see during the warm weather season accounting for 88% of neck and back complaints. Golf ranked in second place at 31 per cent, tied with outdoor sports in general at 30 percent.

Dr. Dennis Mizel, president of the Ontario Chiropractic Association noted, "In Canada, injuries resulting from gardening cost an estimated $3.5 billion dollars. Apparently all that digging, lifting, raking, pruning, planting, weeding and watering can cause significant strain to the muscles of the neck and back." Dr. Mizel continued, "The good news is that it's preventable. Gardening can be a serious workout. That's why we're encouraging people to treat it like any other kind of exercise. Warming-up before digging in, and using the proper techniques and tools can go a long way to letting people enjoy the results of their labor pain-free."

The Ontario Chiropractic Association offered several tips for back smart gardening:
**Stretch before You Start: Warming-up your muscles with stretches before going out helps to reduce the stress and strain on your joints and muscles, reducing the chance of injury.
**Bend Your Knees to Lift with Ease: When lifting, keep your back straight and bend your knees. Always carry the load close to your body and avoid twisting.
**The right tools, the right moves: Use the right tools and moves for the job. Kneel to plant and change positions frequently when raking, digging, hoeing or pruning. Use ergonomically designed, long handled, lightweight tools.
**Take a Break before It Aches: Give yourself and your back a break. As a rule-of-thumb take a brief rest or stretch break at least three times each hour, and drink fluids frequently.


Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.

Better Health Steve Jones

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Headaches and Chiropractic Care

Headaches and Chiropractic Care

I don’t know about you, but I am a headache wimp.  I hardly ever get headaches, when I do I don’t handle them very well.  I get moody and I tend to “snap” at people that really mean me no harm. 

In addition to my chiropractic office treating patients with neck pain and low back pain, we see many people with headaches.  Headaches have many causes and there are many different types of headaches as well.

The most common types of headache that we provide treatment for are migraine and muscle tension headaches.

Muscle tension headaches typically begin in the muscles of the neck and upper back.  When these muscle become tense, they pull on the muscles that cover your head.  This tension results in a headache. 

Muscle tension headaches can result from postural stresses such as long hours of computer work, they can develop as a result of car accident injuries, or just plain old work and home stresses.

One common reason for chronic, on going tension in the muscle is miss-aligned vertebra.  When the vertebra become miss-aligned due to postural stress, awkward sleeping positions, accidents, etc., the muscles around that vertebra tighten up as a protective mechanism.  The tight muscles are commonly the root cause of the muscle tension headache.

Chiropractic care re-aligns the joints of the spine causing a relaxation of the surrounding muscles.  When the joints in the neck are re-aligned, the muscles that move and support that particular vertebra relax and return to their normal functions.

When the muscles are relaxed, the muscle tension subsides and the headache goes away.  Treatment for muscle tension headaches usually requires a series of treatments but you should notice a decrease in the frequency and the severity of your headache with subsequent treatment.


Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic


Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.

Better Health Steve Jones

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

the effects of probiotics and digestion

I hear the patients of Chiropractic Clinic talk about digestive disorders and the effects of probiotics on a regular basis.  This may surprise some of you who think that the only chiropractors deal with are neck pain, back pain and headaches.

Probiotics are the “good” bacteria that are similar to those found in the human digestive tract.  With more and more frequency, probiotics are found in foods such as milkshakes, baby food, yogurts, smoothies, snack bars, cereals, baby formula and even chocolate.  These foods carry labels of major companies like Dannon and Kraft.

The experts say that these probiotics are safe and probably helpful but more research is needed in order to fully understand the benefits of these nutrients.  The fact that these experts even exist is a reflection of the growing understanding of the role that naturally occurring intestinal bacteria play in our health.

Adding to the health trend created by probiotics is the development of probiotics which contain
fiber and other nutrients that feed probiotic bacteria.  In 2007, more than 150 probiotic and prebiotic commercial food products were introduced into the U.S. market, compared with 100 in 2006 and just 40 in 2005. 

Many probiotic products haven't been put to a rigorous scientific test, but there is plenty of evidence that in large amounts, some kinds of "friendly" bacteria can be quite helpful.

Studies have shown that certain probiotics help treat or prevent some types of gastroenteritis, diarrhea and allergic skin reactions, and the probiotics are being investigated for many other ailments.

Just recently the National Institute of Health declared the study of gastrointestinal bacteria and probiotics a major research initiative.

Probiotics have been subject to studies all over the world.

A Canadian study published last month suggested that fermented milk containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casein could help prevent antibiotic-related diarrhea.

A study from Finland published this year found that an oat drink containing Bifidobacterium lactis bacteria helped bowel function in nursing home residents.

Scientists in Argentina are investigating whether milk fermented with lactic acid bacteria might reduce amounts of cancer-causing substances in the intestine.

University of California at Los Angeles researchers are looking at whether probiotic supplements can treat allergy-induced skin rashes in babies.

Israeli scientists are studying whether these supplements can improve complications in liver disease.

Probiotics are not a new concept.  We have known for years that yogurt with acidophilus can help with digestive issues.  These new ways of utilizing probiotics help emphasize the benefits of a wider range of foods.


Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic

Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.

Better Health Steve Jones

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

New Years Resolutions Back on Track

New Years Resolutions Back on Track

I will start this blog post by saying that I am not big on New Years resolutions.  Maybe I am pessimistic but I always think that they set me and many of you up for failure.

Case in point, many of the patients in my Chiropractic office in San Diego have already faltered with their new diets and exercise programs for this New Year.  Sometimes they fail with their resolutions simply because the changes involved in their new resolutions are too much of a drastic change from their prior lifestyle.  Others expect too much of themselves on a physical level and end up in my office complaining of neck pain, back pain, sprains, strains and other exercise related pains.  Many people at this point make a comment about how “getting in shape is killing them”.

I always enter the New Year with the thought that I will do just a little better than I did the last year.  This is especially true with diet and exercise.  Although I am a health care professional, I do succumb to the temptations of the bean rice and cheese burrito or the piece of pizza with extra cheese.  Likewise, I find myself getting run down from time to time and I loose my desire to exercise. 

Failing in my diet and exercise are two downfalls that have an immediate impact on my well being.  When exercise goes by the wayside I have less energy, I tier easily and I sleep poorly.  When I blow my diet I feel fat, bloated and most of all guilty.  These responses to failures in my diet and exercise make me wonder why I fail. 

The benefits of maintaining a healthy diet and following a challenging exercise regimen are easily identified.  Following a reasonable diet and getting enough exercise make me feel good! 

That is my health goal for the New Year – to be just a little better than I was last year with diet and exercise.    
 


Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic


Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.

Better Health Steve Jones

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Sugar it Bad for ya

Sugar it Bad for ya

Those of you who have read my recent blog post, “The Chiropractor Finally Gets Healthy”  know that I recently experienced a significant improvement in my health as a result of a radical diet change that was part of the Standard Process Purification Diet.  Through the course of this diet, I discovered the negative impact of the processed foods and sugars on my health.  As a doctor who is concerned for my patients health needs beyond the common complaints of neck pain, back pain and headaches, I always encourage them to do better for themselves where diet is concerned.  With that theme in mind, I stumbled across this great list of all the bad things that processed sugars do to you.  The list is composed by Nancy Appleton, Ph.D., who is a nutritional consultant, researcher, lecturer, and author of Lick the Sugar Habit, Healthy Bones, and Balanced Body
Secret.
Sugar can suppress the immune system.
Sugar upsets the minerals in the body.
Sugar causes hyperactivity in children.
Sugar produces a significant rise in triglycerides.
Sugar contributes to the reduction in defense against bacterial infection.
Sugar can cause kidney damage.
Sugar reduces high density lipoproteins.
Sugar leads to chromium deficiency.
Sugar leads to cancer of the breast, ovaries, intestines, prostate and rectum.
Sugar increases fasting levels of glucose and insulin.
Sugar causes copper deficiency.
Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
Sugar weakens eyesight.
Sugar raises the level of neurotransmitters called serotonin.
Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.
Sugar can produce an over-acid stomach.
Sugar can raise adrenaline levels in children.
Sugar can lead to anxiety, difficulty concentrating and crankiness in children.
Sugar can cause aging.
Sugar can lead to alcoholism.
Sugar causes tooth decay.
Sugar contributes to obesity.
Sugar can cause acidity in the stomach.
Sugar can cause changes frequently found in persons with gastric or duodenal ulcers.
Sugar can cause arthritis.
Sugar can cause asthma.
Sugar can cause Candida albicans (yeast infections.)
Sugar can cause gallstones.
Sugar can cause heart disease.
Sugar can cause appendicitis
Sugar can cause multiple sclerosis.
Sugar can cause hemorrhoids.
Sugar can cause varicose veins.
Sugar can elevate glucose and insulin responses in oral contraceptive users.
Sugar can lead to periodontal disease.
Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.
Sugar contributes to saliva acidity.
Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
Sugar leads to decreased glucose tolerance.
Sugar can decrease growth hormone.
Sugar can increase cholesterol.
Sugar can increase the systolic blood pressure.
Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children.
Sugar can cause migraine headaches.
Sugar can interfere with the absorption of protein.
Sugar causes food allergies.
Sugar can contribute to diabetes.
Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.
Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.



Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic

Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.

Better Health Steve Jones

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Medical Myths Overheard in a Chiropractors Office

Medical Myths Overheard in a Chiropractors Office

In my Chiropractic clinic, I hear wives tales regarding health and fitness all the time.  The one that I hear most often doesn’t have anything to do with neck pain or back pain – it has to do with knuckle cracking.  It seems that almost everyones’ parents have told them “Don’t crack your knuckles, they will get big and full of arthritis when you are older!”  Believe it or not, this is not true.  Cracking joints that are weight bearing ie, your neck, back, knees and ankles, etc can be harmful if you are not a trained chiropractor, but cracking your knuckles is only irritating to other people.

A study was just released that examined 7 common medical myths that are being circulated today.  They are as follows:

Two US researchers took seven common beliefs and searched the archives for evidence to support them.

Despite frequent mentions in the popular press of the need to drink eight glasses of water, they found no scientific basis for the claim.

The complete lack of evidence has been recorded in a study published the American Journal of Psychology, they said.

The other six "myths" are:

Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight

The majority of eye experts believed it was unlikely to do any permanent damage, but it might make you squint, blink more and have trouble focusing, the researchers said.

Shaving makes hair grow back faster or coarser

It has no effect on the thickness or rate of hair regrowth, studies say. But stubble lacks the finer taper of unshaven hair, giving the impression of coarseness.

Eating turkey makes you drowsy

It does contain an amino acid called tryptophan that is involved in sleep and mood control. But turkey has no more of the acid than chicken or minced beef. Eating lots of food and drink at Christmas are probably the real cause of sleepiness.

We use only 10 per cent of our brains

This myth arose as early as 1907 but imaging shows no area of the brain is silent or completely inactive.

Hair and fingernails continue to grow after death

This idea may stem from ghoulish novels. The researchers said the skin dries out and retracts after death, giving the appearance of longer hair or nails.

Mobile phones are dangerous in hospitals

Despite widespread concerns, studies have found minimal interference with medical equipment.

The research was conducted by Aaron Carroll, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, and Rachel Vreeman, fellow in children's health services research at Indiana University School of Medicine.

I hope that you enjoyed this information.  Happy Holidays!

More Soon



Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic


Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.

Better Health Steve Jones

Neck Pain Treatment

Neck Pain Treatment

Do you ever remember seeing someone in a neck brace?  Do you remember thinking, “I wonder how much pain you would have to actually use one of those?” 

Last week I had a patient come to my Chiropractic office because of neck pain.  Her neck pain was bad enough that she wore a neck brace.  She said that she had a history of neck pain in the past but that this current episode of neck pain happened after she spent the day watching her boyfriend fly his stunt kites at the beach.

In this patients’ estimation, she had no idea what possibly could have caused this painful episode.

Those of you who have suffered with neck pain know what she is going through. 

After a neck injury that has not been properly treated, future flair ups can be common.  These flair ups of neck pain can come with little or no obvious provocation.

The process of re-aggravation of an old injury goes something like this.

You injure you neck.  Usually a sprain or strain that probably receives no formal treatment.
That injury results in scar tissue that builds around the joint restricting or altering normal joint motion.
Weeks, days, months or maybe years later, the joint is moved in a direction that irritates it resulting in a process that involves irritation and inflammation.
The irritation and inflammation causes muscle spasm and pain. 

In most cases of neck pain without a significant discernable injurious event, the cause of a painful episode lies in an accumulation of old injuries like car accidents and falls combined with ongoing daily postural stress.

When your neck is exposed to a combination of specific old injuries and ongoing postural stress, seemingly new injuries to the same area can be the result of something as mundane as an awkward sleeping position or a prolonged fixed position of the neck that might occur with watching TV or working on the computer.

Because this type of flair up is so common, “new injuries” that occur with such non stressful events are not new injuries at all but aggravations of old injuries.  I like to use the analogy of the straws on the camels back for these kinds of events.

In closing, if this patient had hurt her neck watching her boyfriend fly a kite at the beach and she had no other history of neck pain or injury, I would be surprised.  With this patient however, the onset of this episode of neck pain did not surprise me at all. 

There is an old saying, “The body never forgets”.

 




Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic


Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.

Better Health Steve Jones

Friday, December 11, 2009

Hip Pain and Chiropractic

Hip Pain and Chiropractic

Hip Pain means different things to different people.  I treat many people for hip pain in my  Chiropractic center.

Earlier I wrote that hip pain means different things to different people.  What I meant by that is that usually the patients who complain of hip pain would point to their lower backs when I ask them to point to the pain.  When I ask them at that point if it is actually lower back pain that they are feeling they will usually think for a moment and then say, “Yes, I guess it is low back pain.”

When patients complain of hip pain they are usually referring to pain in the area of the sacroiliac joint.  The sacroiliac joints are two large joints that are positioned just to the sides of the bottom vertebra in the back right at the level of the beltline.  I believe that people refer to this as hip pain because it is typically at its worst when walking.

True hip pain found in the joint where the femur joins with the socket found in the pelvic bones.  The typical patient will identify hip pain by pointing to the front of the body, below the beltline and off to either side of the midline of the body.

Sacroiliac joint pain is often brought on or aggravated by prolonged sitting, bad lifting habits and direct injuries such as those that occur with sports or auto accidents.  The sacroiliac joints are the largest joints in the spine and can heal slowly after an injury.

Chiropractic care supported by ice pack applications, light stretching and avoidance of know aggravating activities (if it hurts don’t do it) will usually eliminate the pain.

Chiropractic care is also effective for true hip pain but the approach is somewhat different.  Since hips are joints, chiropractic care is also quite effective in relieving hip pain as well.




Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.

Better Health Steve Jones

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Low Back Pain Treatment

Low Back Pain Treatment

Lower back pain is one of the most frustrating things for patients to deal with.  I have had what I consider bad lower back pain, bad neck pain and other injuries that get my full attention.  Of all of these conditions, I think that lower back pain has been the worst spine complaint that I have had.   Since I became a chiropractor in San Diego, I have taken informal surveys of my patients regarding the area of their backs that create the greatest level of disability when aggravated and more often than not the answer is lower back pain.

Chiropractic care for lower back pain is pretty straight forward.  Usually low back pain is accompanied by muscle spasms which have to be addressed first.  Most low back pain patients do very well with treatment that begins with the application of hot packs and electrical muscle stimulation.  Electrical muscle stimulation sounds intimidating to some people but it is a very comfortable, relaxing form of therapy that is excellent at soothing muscle spasms.

Once the muscles have been relaxed as much as possible, the affected joints of the lower back can be adjusted.  Much like the sound of electrical muscle stimulation, some people find the sound of having their joints manipulated intimidating.  In fact, the overwhelming majority of even first time chiropractic patients find the joint manipulations to be comfortable and soothing to their back pain.

Chiropractic care is delivered as a series of treatments rather than a single session.  That is not to say that you may not attain 100% relief with one session, but you shouldn’t count on it.  The rule of thumb in regards to how much care you may need for a low back issue is that you must allow for one week of active care (2 to 3 visits per week) for each month that you have had a particular problem.  This level of frequency and consistency will ensure the greatest level of recovery with chiropractic care. 


Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic


Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.

Better Health Steve Jones

Friday, November 20, 2009

Breast Cancer and Alcohol Consumption

More Important Than Back Pain Breast Cancer

In my Chiropractic Office we primarily deal with non-life threatening disorders.  Not to minimize the discomfort that can be experienced from neck pain, back pain and the like, but every day we subject ourselves to substances that can prove deadly.  One such thing is alcohol consumption.
  Those of you who know me well are aware that my mother died an early death from alcohol consumption.  Because of this family history, I am very aware of the many dangers that alcohol carries.  There has been news media attention lately to the risks of breast cancer related to alcohol consumption.  I found this article on line and thought that it was eye opening.  I hope that you find it interesting and informative.  Yours in good health,
Doc

BARCELONA, Spain -- All types of alcohol - wine, beer or liquor - add equally to the risk of developing breast cancer in women, American researchers said Thursday.

"This is a hugely underestimated risk factor," said Dr. Patrick Maisonneuve, head of epidemiology at the European Institute of Oncology in Italy, who was not connected to the study.

"Women drinking wine because they think it is healthier than beer are wrong," he said. "It's about the amount of alcohol consumed, not the type."

Previous studies have shown a link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer, but there have been conflicting messages about whether different kinds of alcohol were more dangerous than others.

The researchers, led by Dr. Arthur Klatsky of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in Oakland, Calif., revealed their findings at a meeting of the European Cancer Organization in Barcelona.

Researchers analyzed the drinking habits of 70,033 women of various races and asked them questions during health exams between 1978 and 1985. By 2004, 2,829 of these women had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Klatsky and his colleagues looked at which types of alcohol the women drank, as well as their total alcohol intake. They compared that to women who had less than one drink a day.

Researchers found no difference in the risk of developing breast cancer among women who drank wine, beer, or liquor. Compared with light drinkers - those who had less than one drink a day - women who had one or two drinks a day increased their risk of developing breast cancer by 10 percent. Women who had more than three drinks a day raised their risk by 30 percent.

"A 30 percent increased risk is not trivial," Klatsky said. "It provides more evidence for why heavy drinkers should quit or cut down."

Some experts said that people might be confused by suggestions that drinking red wine is healthy, since some studies have suggested that it protects against heart disease.

"None of these mechanisms have anything to do with breast cancer," Klatsky said. Though it is not entirely clear how alcohol contributes to breast cancer, some experts think it raises hormone levels in the blood to levels that could potentially cause cancer.

Still, doctors said that other factors, such as genetics, obesity, and age, were more important in raising the breast cancer risk than was alcohol consumption.

More public education may be needed. "Alcohol has had a lot of good publicity. People may not realize the risk they're taking when they have a few drinks," said Tim Key, of the Cancer Research UK Epidemiology Unit at Oxford. Key was not involved in the study.

According to data published in the British Journal of Cancer in 2002, 4 percent of all breast cancers - about 44,000 cases a year - in the United Kingdom are due to alcohol consumption.

Only a small proportion of women are thought to be heavy drinkers. But experts now say there is enough evidence to blame alcohol for breast cancer - and to start educating the public.

"Any alcohol consumption will raise your breast cancer risk," Key said. "Women don't have to abstain from alcohol entirely, but they need to be aware of the risks they're taking when they have a few too many drinks."




Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic


Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.

Better Health Steve Jones

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

How Does Chiropractic Work

How Does Chiropractic Work

I was asked this question by a new patient the other day.  The funny thing about this question was that he was a new patient for me but he had been going to different chiropractors for nearly 40 years.  Neck pain, back pain and headaches that occurred after various falls, work injuries and car accidents were what created his need for a life time of chiropractic treatment. 

Certain types of injuries can cause chronic symptoms.  Various physical issues that never fully return to their pre-accident state cause chronic symptoms. 

For instance, whiplash type injuries leave about 25% of the patients with chronic ongoing neck pain.  In these cases, the muscles that move and support the neck have been stretched and sometimes torn.  When muscles tear they heal with scar tissue.  Scar tissue does not move, stretch or contract like healthy muscle tissue. 

Because of the different properties of scar tissue that has formed within the healthy muscle, the joint that is moved by that muscle becomes dysfunctional.  As the joints movement alters, it has the potential to become irritated and inflamed.  These irritated and inflamed joints then become painful, restricted in their movements and the muscles that move that joint tighten and spasm as a protective mechanism.

Chiropractic care is the perfect solution for painful joints and spasmed muscles.  Through manipulation or adjustments of the affected joints, the muscle spasms are calmed and the pain is relieved.  For some patients, ongoing chiropractic care helps prevent the onset of pain and stiffness that is associated with chronic injuries. 

This example above is just one of the reasons that some chiropractic patients come in for treatment on a regular basis.

As for the patient above, he said he has been coming in for chiropractic for neck pain and back pain for years.  He receives treatment for both health maintenance reasons as well as for control of specific symptoms that come up from time to time.


Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic


Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.

Better Health Steve Jones

Monday, November 2, 2009

Is it OK to Crack it Myself?

Is it OK to Crack it Myself?

In my San Diego chiropractic clinic, I treat many patients for neck pain, back pain and other joint pains.  A few of these patients ask me if it is OK if they crack their necks and backs by themselves.  A few of them will tell me that they have their kids or the wife walk on their back.  And a few of them are in my office because either they cracked their back or neck by themselves or they had someone else do it for them which resulted in an injury.

The funny thing about some of these people who were injured by a non-chiropractic adjustment is that they are nervous about me adjusting them for their neck pain or back pain.

The truth about cracking your own neck or back is that it is not very safe.  Usually people develop pain or stiffness in the spine because of an injury or some ongoing condition.  Chiropractors are trained to specifically diagnose and provide treatment for these conditions or injuries.

Through the course of my fifteen year career, I have seen patients who have broken vertebra by adjusting their own backs, I have seen broken ribs as a result of having someone walk on their backs, I have seen two patients who suffered mild strokes from cracking their own necks and I had one patient whose brother suffered paralysis from the chest down because his partner walked on his back resulting in a crushed vertebra and a seriously damaged spinal cord.

Some people crack their own joints daily for years without suffering obvious serious consequences.  Even these people are doing themselves a disservice.  In no normal situation should you feel as though you have to crack a specific joint every day.  Those who do crack the same joints everyday for years will develop arthritis in those joints resulting in pain, dysfunction and possibly disability.

In most cases cracking or as we chiropractors call it “adjusting” a joint is fairly easy once the skills are acquired.  However, the one of the most important things regarding the delivery of any type of health care is when not to deliver it.  In every case that I have seen when a patient was injured by a non-chiropractic adjustment, the injured patient “thought” that they knew what was wrong.

Don’t make the same mistakes.  If you need to get adjusted, go to the chiropractor!  


Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic


Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.

Better Health Steve Jones

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Postural Awareness

Postural Awareness

Being a chiropractor, I talk to my patients all the time about the ill effects of bad posture.  Poor posture can lie at the root cause of headache problems, neck pain, back pain, etc. 

Oddly enough, whenever I think about my posture I find that I need to correct something.  I will either find my upper back slumped forward, my head extended out in front of my body, my lower back rounded forward or my shoulders rolled forward. 

Posture is difficult to maintain.  I would guess that probably half of my patients end up in my office because of some injury, old or new, that is further aggravated by postural stress.  Eliminate postural stress and many cases of neck pain and back pain would be eliminated as well. 

One of the problems that we encounter with posture is that our awareness of our posture declines as we focus on other duties.  Posture is especially difficult to maintain when we are seated in front of our computers.  Our natural response toward any type of work that we perform is to lean into it.  Getting close to our work helps us focus.  Unfortunately, getting close to our work in this way instigates poor posture and the resulting stress can cause a number of different aches and pains.

Poor posture has become habit among most of us.  The only way to improve your posture is to become aware of your bad posture and practice maintaining good posture.  Sounds simple but it takes self awareness and plenty of dedication.


Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic


Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.

Better Health Steve Jones

Monday, October 19, 2009

Posture and Back Pain

Posture and Back Pain

Have you ever hurt your back and scratched your head wondering – how did this happen when my back has felt fine until now?

Patients present to my Chiropractic clinic on a regular basis with neck pain, back pain and other related symptoms that not only lack a history of pain in that area but have no recent injury or accident to explain their current painful symptoms. 

This is frustrating for the patient yet a typical presentation for me. When patients come in for care with this type of history recent injury, my inquiries usually lead to a situation that involves excessive postural stress for that patient.

Ongoing postural stress affects our body much like the old analogy of the straws on the camels back.  Our bodies are capable of compensating for quite a it of stress before symptoms appear.  This is good and bad. 

The good part of this situation is that if we didn’t compensate for all the little stresses that we are subjected to, we would be uncomfortable all the time.  The bad part about compensation is that we often are not keen enough to recognize when our bodies are being exposed to ongoing low levels of stress. 

Once the stress levels build to a certain point, the body part in question reacts with irritation, inflammation and muscle spasm.  This combination produces pain and tightness and usually is the reason that patients call my office.

Postural stress can place an amazing amount of stress on your spine.  One of my reference books has a chart that describes how different body positions affect the amount of pressure on your discs in the low back.  The differences are amazing.

When standing straight up with ideal posture, the pressure in the discs of the low back is 100%.  When lying flat on your back the pressure is at 24%.  While sitting straight with good posture, the pressure is at 140% but when slouching forward with poor posture the disc pressure goes to a staggering 190%.

Considering that most of us sit for a good portion of the day, simply sitting becomes a significant source of stress for the lower back. 

This kind of ongoing stress combined with an awkward twist or bend can generate a crisis for the low back leading the patient to wonder exactly how turning to pick that cup of coffee off the desk behind him / her lead to such a severe back spasm.



Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic


Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.

Better Health Steve Jones

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Is Computer Work Killing You?

Is Computer Work Killing You? 

I have a love / hate relationship with my computer.  When I went to college in the early 80’s, computers were expensive, underpowered and not readily available. 

I remember doing research papers that would entail chasing down medical journal articles from my schools library and several local colleges.  Hours or days would pass with me searching through the libraries of Stanford, San Jose State and Berkley just to find the content for one paragraph of a research paper. 

What I would have done for the ease of our current internet.  All of this research could have been performed in a matter of minutes from the comfort of my desk.  It is this convenience that inspires the “love” in the love / hate relationship that I have with my computer.

Now for the downside, the “hate” of my love / hate relationship with this computer.

The more time that I spend sitting at my computer, the more I realize that it is the postural stress that my work station generates that is responsible for the “hate” part of my relationship with the computer.

Even though I am a doctor who has taken a special interest in the effects of postural stress secondary to computer use, I too succumb to the stresses of Computer Related Postural Stress Syndrome. 

Computer Related Postural Stress Syndrome or CRPSS is a term that I coined to describe the effects of the postural stress that a poorly thought out work station places on the body.

CRPSS often causes neck and shoulder pain, back pain, arm pain and chronic tension headaches. 

You have probably heard and used the term “ergonomics”.  Ergonomics is the study of how we can make a particular work station adapt to meet the physical demands of that stations operator.  The idea is to reduce the physical stresses that the work station places on the operator to a minimum.  We can use basic office ergonomic principals to reduce or eliminate many of the stresses that cause CRPSS.   

CRPSS can result from any one or combination of:

Poor Seating Conditions
Incorrect Monitor Placement
Incorrect Keyboard Placement
Over-reaching for the Mouse

Poor seating can be remedied with the purchase of a chair with the following characteristics:

Ability to adjust the seating height
Adjustable armrests ( up and down)
Tilting back support
Tilting seating surface

These features combined with a chair that actually feels comfortable when being sat in can be very helpful in reducing Computer Related Postural Stress Syndrome.

Incorrect monitor placement is also a common source of postural stress and neck pain.  Your monitor should be positioned directly in front of you.  Your eyes should be parallel with the top one third of your monitor when you are looking straight ahead.  A monitor that is positioned in a way that requires the operator to look up or down will stress the neck and eventually lead to neck pain.

Much like the monitor, your keyboard should be placed directly in front of you.  Its height should allow your arms to rest comfortably next to your body while your elbows are bent no more than 90 degrees and your wrists are as straight as possible.  A properly placed keyboard can help reduce neck pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain wrist pain and hand pain.

The final major factor in reducing the effects of CRPSS involves over-reaching.  A mouse operated on the desk top lends itself to producing an over-reaching situation.  This is bad news if you do a substantial amount of mousing.  A mouse that is beyond your comfortable reach zone is likely to become a primary source of postural stress and aggravation.  The solution to this problem is to position your mouse as close to your body as possible.  This can be accomplished with a mouse platform that mounts to the armrest of your chair.  There are several of these on the market that will do the trick.  Make sure that the mouse platform that you choose is adjustable.

Anecdotal evidence from my chiropractic clinic in San Diego suggests that over-reaching for the mouse is a primary factor in the development of neck pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain, wrist pain and hand pain.

Reducing the postural stresses associated with computer work stations can prevent you from developing aggravating conditions that can lead to a lifetime of disability and a loss of employment (I see this in my office all the time).  In many cases, simple rearrangements of the primary components of your work station can go a long way in reducing your chances of developing CRPSS.


 


Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic


Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.

Better Health Steve Jones

Friday, October 2, 2009

Chiropractic Care in is popular. 

Our population has a passion for fitness and exercise.  Chiropractic treatment helps keep neck pain, back pain and other body aches from slowing us down.

Neck pain and back pain typically respond very well to chiropractic treatment.  Chiropractic care helps restore normal joint motion which is vital to a healthy neck and back.

One of the wonderful benefits of chiropractic treatment is its ability to help active people avoid neck pain, back pain and other spinal injuries. 

Getting chiropractic adjustments in a regular basis helps your spine maintain its full range of motion and flexibility.  Typically, it is a loss of normal range of motion and flexibility that exposes us to injuries.  Chiropractic care that is delivered prior to an aggravation, in other words “when the patient is not in pain” is a perfect example of preventative healthcare.

Chiropractic adjustments gently push the joint through its entire range of motion.  When your joints are moved through their full range of motion by a trained chiropractor, tight muscles associated with that joint are stretched out and scar tissue that has formed in and around those joints is broken down.

Usually, having your spine adjusted is not a painful procedure.  Most of the time, the patients in my chiropractic clinic feel a sense of pressure relief and relaxation in their backs when they are adjusted. 

This feeling of pressure release and relaxation is due to a number events that occur during an adjustment.

When the spine is adjusted, there is a reflexive relaxation of tight muscles that occurs.  Relaxed muscles are much more comfortable than tight, spasmed muscles. 

Another event that takes place with an adjustment involves the “pain gate”.  Adjustments trigger the “pain gate” in the nervous system which, as it implies, decreases our sensations of pain.

On a mechanical level, chiropractic care stretches tight muscle and ligaments and helps breakdown restrictive scar tissue.  This effect improves our spines’ range of motion resulting is feeling of increased flexibility.

As a chiropractor, a healthy percentage of my treatments revolve around spinal maintenance and improving athletic performance.

Chiropractic treatment is a vital part of maintaining your health.   



Writers Bio

Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.

Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.

Call Steve Jones at

(619) 280 0554

San Diego Chiropractic


Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.

Better Health Steve Jones