Chiropractic and Computer Work
Is computer work making you miserable?
If it is, you are not alone. National statistics point to the computer as a major contributor to lost days at work due to injury. I see the same thing in my San Diego Chiropractic office. Neck pain, shoulder pain, wrist pain, hand pain and back pain are common among those who don’t have the proper ergonomic set-up of their computer stations. That being said, some people get these symptoms regardless of their ergonomic set-up.
Computer ergonomics is the study and / or implementation of workstation design with the purpose of reducing or eliminating physical stress.
My interest in repetitive stress syndromes began approximately 10 years ago when my practice started seeing a much greater number of people suffering from the effects of computer / keyboard work. Despite all of my training and continuing education related to these types of injuries, I quickly realized that traditional treatment for this type of injury was marginally successful at best.
Any type of therapy was going to have to include the application of basic ergonomic principals to the patient’s work environment.
I am of the opinion that treatment alone or application of ergonomic principals by themselves was not going to resolve a repetitive stress injury.
Over the next several weeks I will write a series of articles that will address the implication of workstation ergonomics and injury resulting from postural stress secondary to use of the computer mouse.
Specifically, the following will be addressed:
1) What repetitive stress injuries are
2) What role do work station ergonomics play in injury
3) How reaching for the mouse sets the stage for injury
4) What are the symptoms of repetitive stress injury
5) How you can avoid mouse reaching injuries
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, October 29, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Chiropractic Care for Neck Pain and Headaches:
Chiropractic Care for Neck Pain and Headaches:
Do you seem to get headaches whenever you get neck pain?
If so, you are dealing with a very common problem. My San Diego chiropractic office sees people on a regular basis who suffer from these symptoms. Neck pain is often accompanied by headaches because of the muscle tension that is so often present with neck problems.
I am sure that many of you have heard of muscle tension headaches. More often than not, muscle tension headaches begin in the neck where tightness has developed for a variety of reasons. Sometimes neck injuries such as those from auto accidents or postural stress secondary to sitting in front of a computer all day will cause the neck muscles to tighten up.
Tight muscles in the neck cause muscle tension on the back of the head. This tension causes the muscles that cover your skull to spasm. Between the aggravation of tight muscles and neck pain, headaches will often become a companion to your neck pain.
Treating muscle tension headaches often requires a multifaceted approach. Chiropractic care will help relieve a great deal of the muscle tension and spasm. Chiropractic adjustments relax muscles, restore normal joint motion and eliminate the associated neck pain. In addition to chiropractic manipulations, therapies including electric muscle stimulation, ultrasound and ice packs are beneficial to help reduce the muscle spasms that help cause the tension headaches.
Another important part of elimination or reducing the number of muscle tension headaches that you experience is to identify what sets them off. Postural stresses associated with computer work, reading, certain types of work or specific hobbies can lead to stress in the neck that causes headaches. Identifying the culprits and either eliminating them or modifying them helps greatly in controlling your headaches.
The bottom line is that neck pain and muscle tension headaches are closely related and often successfully treated 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
Do you seem to get headaches whenever you get neck pain?
If so, you are dealing with a very common problem. My San Diego chiropractic office sees people on a regular basis who suffer from these symptoms. Neck pain is often accompanied by headaches because of the muscle tension that is so often present with neck problems.
I am sure that many of you have heard of muscle tension headaches. More often than not, muscle tension headaches begin in the neck where tightness has developed for a variety of reasons. Sometimes neck injuries such as those from auto accidents or postural stress secondary to sitting in front of a computer all day will cause the neck muscles to tighten up.
Tight muscles in the neck cause muscle tension on the back of the head. This tension causes the muscles that cover your skull to spasm. Between the aggravation of tight muscles and neck pain, headaches will often become a companion to your neck pain.
Treating muscle tension headaches often requires a multifaceted approach. Chiropractic care will help relieve a great deal of the muscle tension and spasm. Chiropractic adjustments relax muscles, restore normal joint motion and eliminate the associated neck pain. In addition to chiropractic manipulations, therapies including electric muscle stimulation, ultrasound and ice packs are beneficial to help reduce the muscle spasms that help cause the tension headaches.
Another important part of elimination or reducing the number of muscle tension headaches that you experience is to identify what sets them off. Postural stresses associated with computer work, reading, certain types of work or specific hobbies can lead to stress in the neck that causes headaches. Identifying the culprits and either eliminating them or modifying them helps greatly in controlling your headaches.
The bottom line is that neck pain and muscle tension headaches are closely related and often successfully treated 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
Treating Neck Pain and Back Pain
Chiropractic is Effective for Treating Neck Pain and Back Pain
Chiropractic care can have a profound effect on the nervous system. In my chiropractic practice in San Diego, I have seen conditions’ respond in ways that I would have never expected.
During my first year in practice in 1992 I provided treatment for a man who had been involved in a car accident. In addition to neck pain and back pain, he also had a moderate to severe case of psoriasis. I did a series of chiropractic adjustments to his neck and he promptly discontinued treatment. Apparently he couldn’t stand hearing someone else crack their knuckles, much less his neck.
Six months later he returned for care, free of psoriasis and wondering if I could do that “psoriasis adjustment” on him again. For the first time in ten years this patient had been without psoriasis.
I don’t have a good explanation as to why this mans’ psoriasis was affected by chiropractic care, but I do know why it works for most cases of back pain and neck pain.
The clear and obvious benefit of chiropractic care is that it has a direct and immediate effect on the movement (biomechanics) of the joints. We subject our joints to stress everyday. Postural stress, excessive sitting, poor lifting habits, bad gym habits, sports injuries, work injuries, auto accidents and the like aggravate our joints causing pain and stiffness.
Additionally, many people today tend to perform jobs that involve very little physical activity. Many of these same people have inactive lifestyles outside of work as well. The overall effect of this type of lifestyle is reduced range of motion of the joints. Once the muscles that move a joint are weakened from a lack of movement, the joint becomes prone to injury.
Injuries to joints can come from many types of stress. Sleeping in a funny position and waking with a stiff neck, reaching for an object at the edge of your desk and straining your back or simply bending over to pick up a sock and injuring your lower back is often the result of deconditioning and ongoing postural or other types of stress.
Once this process has begun, the irritated joints and muscles become inflamed. The inflammation not only causes back pain and neck pain but it also causes scar tissue formation around the joint resulting in stiffness in the affected joint.
I explain to my patients that our joints are mechanical just like the engines in our cars. When the parts of our cars are working like they are supposed to, they last a long time. Our joints behave in the same way. Normal joint movement helps insure long life of the joint.
Chiropractic care addresses neck pain, back pain and other sore and aching joints on many different levels. The adjustment gently stretches the ligaments and muscles that cross the joint. This stretch breaks down scar tissue that restricts joint movement. Finally, the adjustment triggers a reflexive nerve response that reduces our perception of pain while relaxing the muscles around the affected joint.
Because of this series of the body’s responses to a chiropractic adjustment, chiropractic care is one of the most effective treatments to relieve neck pain, back pain, headaches, muscle spasms, etc.
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
Chiropractic care can have a profound effect on the nervous system. In my chiropractic practice in San Diego, I have seen conditions’ respond in ways that I would have never expected.
During my first year in practice in 1992 I provided treatment for a man who had been involved in a car accident. In addition to neck pain and back pain, he also had a moderate to severe case of psoriasis. I did a series of chiropractic adjustments to his neck and he promptly discontinued treatment. Apparently he couldn’t stand hearing someone else crack their knuckles, much less his neck.
Six months later he returned for care, free of psoriasis and wondering if I could do that “psoriasis adjustment” on him again. For the first time in ten years this patient had been without psoriasis.
I don’t have a good explanation as to why this mans’ psoriasis was affected by chiropractic care, but I do know why it works for most cases of back pain and neck pain.
The clear and obvious benefit of chiropractic care is that it has a direct and immediate effect on the movement (biomechanics) of the joints. We subject our joints to stress everyday. Postural stress, excessive sitting, poor lifting habits, bad gym habits, sports injuries, work injuries, auto accidents and the like aggravate our joints causing pain and stiffness.
Additionally, many people today tend to perform jobs that involve very little physical activity. Many of these same people have inactive lifestyles outside of work as well. The overall effect of this type of lifestyle is reduced range of motion of the joints. Once the muscles that move a joint are weakened from a lack of movement, the joint becomes prone to injury.
Injuries to joints can come from many types of stress. Sleeping in a funny position and waking with a stiff neck, reaching for an object at the edge of your desk and straining your back or simply bending over to pick up a sock and injuring your lower back is often the result of deconditioning and ongoing postural or other types of stress.
Once this process has begun, the irritated joints and muscles become inflamed. The inflammation not only causes back pain and neck pain but it also causes scar tissue formation around the joint resulting in stiffness in the affected joint.
I explain to my patients that our joints are mechanical just like the engines in our cars. When the parts of our cars are working like they are supposed to, they last a long time. Our joints behave in the same way. Normal joint movement helps insure long life of the joint.
Chiropractic care addresses neck pain, back pain and other sore and aching joints on many different levels. The adjustment gently stretches the ligaments and muscles that cross the joint. This stretch breaks down scar tissue that restricts joint movement. Finally, the adjustment triggers a reflexive nerve response that reduces our perception of pain while relaxing the muscles around the affected joint.
Because of this series of the body’s responses to a chiropractic adjustment, chiropractic care is one of the most effective treatments to relieve neck pain, back pain, headaches, muscle spasms, etc.
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
Cinnamon and Blood Cholesterol Linked
A Spoonful of Cinnamon Helps the Blood Cholesterol Go Down
In my Chiropractic office in San Diego California, we stress the importance of natural holistic healthcare. The primary focus of our office is delivering chiropractic care for neck pain, back pain and the like. However, we also encourage our patients to use natural remedies at home as well. There are many benefits to the use of cinnamon in our diets. There are also many different forms of cinnamon. I recently came across this article and thought I would share it with you.
“According to Mary Poppins, "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down in a most delightful way." A new report suggests that the equivalent of a spoonful of cinnamon a day can significantly lower blood sugar, cholesterol and lipid levels, which is most delightful news for people with - or at risk of developing - diabetes.
Sixty people with type 2 diabetes were divided into six groups; three groups received daily doses of cinnamon (1, 3 or 6 grams, respectively), while the other groups received placebo capsules containing wheat flour. The cinnamon was consumed for 40 days, followed by a 20-day washout period. Blood glucose, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol levels were all significantly lower in patients receiving cinnamon compared to those given a placebo.
While adding cinnamon to the diet won't cure a person with diabetes, it may help protect diabetic patients from some of the worst complications that arise from the condition, such as blurred vision, heart disease and kidney failure.
There are a variety of ways cinnamon can be incorporated into a person's diet, such as adding it to coffee or cereal, or making a tea out of boiling water and cinnamon stick.”
Reference:
Khan A, Safdar M, Muzaffar Ali Khan M, et al. Cinnamon improves glucose and lipids of people with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care December 2003;26, pp3215-3218.
More Soon
Doc
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
In my Chiropractic office in San Diego California, we stress the importance of natural holistic healthcare. The primary focus of our office is delivering chiropractic care for neck pain, back pain and the like. However, we also encourage our patients to use natural remedies at home as well. There are many benefits to the use of cinnamon in our diets. There are also many different forms of cinnamon. I recently came across this article and thought I would share it with you.
“According to Mary Poppins, "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down in a most delightful way." A new report suggests that the equivalent of a spoonful of cinnamon a day can significantly lower blood sugar, cholesterol and lipid levels, which is most delightful news for people with - or at risk of developing - diabetes.
Sixty people with type 2 diabetes were divided into six groups; three groups received daily doses of cinnamon (1, 3 or 6 grams, respectively), while the other groups received placebo capsules containing wheat flour. The cinnamon was consumed for 40 days, followed by a 20-day washout period. Blood glucose, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol levels were all significantly lower in patients receiving cinnamon compared to those given a placebo.
While adding cinnamon to the diet won't cure a person with diabetes, it may help protect diabetic patients from some of the worst complications that arise from the condition, such as blurred vision, heart disease and kidney failure.
There are a variety of ways cinnamon can be incorporated into a person's diet, such as adding it to coffee or cereal, or making a tea out of boiling water and cinnamon stick.”
Reference:
Khan A, Safdar M, Muzaffar Ali Khan M, et al. Cinnamon improves glucose and lipids of people with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care December 2003;26, pp3215-3218.
More Soon
Doc
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 9, 2009
Back and Neck Pain Explained
Back and Neck Pain Explained 5
My chiropractic office, similar to many other practices all over the US, offers relief from back pain or neck pain. More than just a solution for back and neck pain, chiropractic care may alleviate symptoms or improve many ailments.
Never self-diagnosis back pain or neck pain; instead you should always seek professional advice and treatment. Ignoring the discomfort in your neck and back might make for more complex medical problems.
Some of the various conditions that cause back pain and neck pain can include everything from injury and infection to twisting or turning "the wrong way". Muscles, joints, ligaments, and vertebrae can undergo considerable trauma and resulting injury from auto and other types of accidents.
The most common cause of back pain that manifests as tightening or spasm of the muscles connected to the spine is overuse or under use of the back muscles. As we grow older, inflammation and swelling often develop in our joints and ligaments, especially in the cervical and lumbar areas.
A herniated disc happens if nucleus pulposus, the substance inside the disc, comes out of a torn annulus fibrosis, the substance outside of the disc, compressing the nerve root. Because the cervical and lumbar areas of the spine have the greatest range of motion, the discs here have a greater exposure to injury and repeated stress. The bottom two spinal vertebrae experience ninety percent of all herniated disc injuries.
One cause for aggravation and damage to the spinal cord is a condition known as spinal stenosis. Narrowing of the spinal canal, known as spinal stenosis, can result in damage or irritation of the spinal cord. As the vertebrae deteriorate with age, we are more likely to develop stenosis of the spine.
When something rubs or presses against a nerve creating irritation or inflammation, a pinched nerve, also known as radiculopathy, occurs. The causes of radiculopathy vary. Some causes of radiculopathy are bone spurs, herniated discs, fractures of the vertebrae, tumors, and a host of other diseases and conditions.
Inflammation of the sciatic nerve is known as Sciatica, a certain type of radiculopathy. The pain is felt along the big sciatic nerve, which goes from the lower back to the behind area and down the back of the leg.
Compressing the spine or nerve roots can cause significant pain and can be an indicator or symptom of a spinal tumor that originates in the spine (primary tumor) or reaches the spine from a different part of the body (metastatic tumor) can press on the spine's nerve roots and be very painful.
Vertebrae infections (osteomyelitis), discs, meninges (spinal meningitis), or cerebrospinal liquid can put pressure on the spinal cord and cause severe neurological deterioration, if there isn't a diagnosis or it isn't treated quickly.
Facet joints are formed by two adjacent vertebra and direct the movement of the spine; these joints are often areas that are affected by arthritis. As the joints deteriorate, they get out of alignment, and the cartilage and fluid that should keep our joints "greased" may deteriorate as well. Bone rubbing against bone can be very painful.
Back pain and neck pain can be caused by many things and not just these few examples. Chiropractors often relieve uncomfortable back pain and neck pain, because the associated causes are usually mechanical in nature. In conclusion, neck pain and back pain are warning signals from your body that should not be ignored.
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
My chiropractic office, similar to many other practices all over the US, offers relief from back pain or neck pain. More than just a solution for back and neck pain, chiropractic care may alleviate symptoms or improve many ailments.
Never self-diagnosis back pain or neck pain; instead you should always seek professional advice and treatment. Ignoring the discomfort in your neck and back might make for more complex medical problems.
Some of the various conditions that cause back pain and neck pain can include everything from injury and infection to twisting or turning "the wrong way". Muscles, joints, ligaments, and vertebrae can undergo considerable trauma and resulting injury from auto and other types of accidents.
The most common cause of back pain that manifests as tightening or spasm of the muscles connected to the spine is overuse or under use of the back muscles. As we grow older, inflammation and swelling often develop in our joints and ligaments, especially in the cervical and lumbar areas.
A herniated disc happens if nucleus pulposus, the substance inside the disc, comes out of a torn annulus fibrosis, the substance outside of the disc, compressing the nerve root. Because the cervical and lumbar areas of the spine have the greatest range of motion, the discs here have a greater exposure to injury and repeated stress. The bottom two spinal vertebrae experience ninety percent of all herniated disc injuries.
One cause for aggravation and damage to the spinal cord is a condition known as spinal stenosis. Narrowing of the spinal canal, known as spinal stenosis, can result in damage or irritation of the spinal cord. As the vertebrae deteriorate with age, we are more likely to develop stenosis of the spine.
When something rubs or presses against a nerve creating irritation or inflammation, a pinched nerve, also known as radiculopathy, occurs. The causes of radiculopathy vary. Some causes of radiculopathy are bone spurs, herniated discs, fractures of the vertebrae, tumors, and a host of other diseases and conditions.
Inflammation of the sciatic nerve is known as Sciatica, a certain type of radiculopathy. The pain is felt along the big sciatic nerve, which goes from the lower back to the behind area and down the back of the leg.
Compressing the spine or nerve roots can cause significant pain and can be an indicator or symptom of a spinal tumor that originates in the spine (primary tumor) or reaches the spine from a different part of the body (metastatic tumor) can press on the spine's nerve roots and be very painful.
Vertebrae infections (osteomyelitis), discs, meninges (spinal meningitis), or cerebrospinal liquid can put pressure on the spinal cord and cause severe neurological deterioration, if there isn't a diagnosis or it isn't treated quickly.
Facet joints are formed by two adjacent vertebra and direct the movement of the spine; these joints are often areas that are affected by arthritis. As the joints deteriorate, they get out of alignment, and the cartilage and fluid that should keep our joints "greased" may deteriorate as well. Bone rubbing against bone can be very painful.
Back pain and neck pain can be caused by many things and not just these few examples. Chiropractors often relieve uncomfortable back pain and neck pain, because the associated causes are usually mechanical in nature. In conclusion, neck pain and back pain are warning signals from your body that should not be ignored.
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
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