Healthy Living

Heat vs. ice: which works best for treating injuries?

Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors2025-06-19T20:20:40+00:00June 19th, 2025|Adults, General, Health, Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Living, Wellness|

Heat vs. Ice … It may sound like the title of an upcoming blockbuster movie, but it’s a question most active people have mulled over during their life after they’ve sustained an injury. Like most dilemmas, there isn’t really an easy answer to this question. Whether to treat an injury with a hot pad or an ice pack depends largely on the situation.

Ice

How cooling an injury works

Applying ice or a cold pack works by reducing blood flow and pain sensation to a particular area. Cooling an injured area, especially a tendon or joint, can reduce inflammation and swelling that causes pain.

When is it best to apply ice to my injury?

Ice is meant to calm down damaged surface tissues that are inflamed, red, hot and swollen. Think of icing as a way to simply dull the pain, and reduce inflammation, nothing more or nothing less. Ice therapy is most beneficial in the first 24-72 hours of sustaining an injury.

After you’ve sustained your injury, you should aim to apply ice to the inflamed area as soon as possible.

Use cold therapy for short periods of time, several times a day.

It’s important not to treat an area with ice for too long. Ten to fifteen minutes is fine, but no more than 20 minutes of cold therapy should be used at a time.

Also, don’t cool an area to the point where you are shivering. If you are already shivering, you should discontinue applying ice until you warm up. The brain interprets an excess of cold as a threat and when the brain thinks there’s something wrong going on it may actually amp up your area of pain as a defense mechanism.

How to apply cooling therapy

Before you apply ice or a cooling pack to the injured area, always make sure there is some sort of barrier between the ice and your skin. Whether it be a Ziploc bag or a washcloth, it’s imperative that the barrier exists. Applying ice directly on the skin can cause damage to the skin and tissues.

Heat

How applying heat to an injury works

Heat therapy works by improving circulation and blood flow to a particular area. Heating an affected area can soothe discomfort, increase muscle flexibility and help heal damaged tissue.

When is it best to apply heat to my injury?

Heat therapy is most effective for sore muscles, chronic pain and repetitive stress injuries. A comfortable, not scalding, heat can take the edge off symptoms like muscle aching and stiffness. Heat can be most beneficial 36-72 hours after the injury is sustained.

How to apply heat therapy

When applying heat therapy to a small, afflicted area you could use small heated gel packs or a hot water bottle.

There are certain cases where heat therapy should not be used. If the area is bruised or swollen, it may be better to use an ice pack. Heat therapy also shouldn’t be applied to an area with an open wound.

Heat therapy, unlike cold therapy, is most beneficial when used for long periods of time.

Minor stiffness can benefit with only 15 to 20 minutes of heat therapy. Moderate to severe pain can benefit from longer sessions of heat therapy lasting between 30 minutes and two hours.

When to see a chiropractor
Whether you go the ice or heat route, both treatments are meant only to mask the discomfort of your injury. If your pain hasn’t subsided after a few days of either heat or cold treatment seek advice from a chiropractor.

Sciatica: What you need to know and tips for relief

ParallelAdmin2025-06-10T19:33:05+00:00June 10th, 2025|Back Health at Home, General, Health, Healthy Living, Overall Back Health, Wellness|

Have you ever had pain radiate from your low back, through your hips, and down one leg? If so, you may have experienced sciatica. What exactly is sciatica, and what can you do to treat the pain? In this blog post, we will explore what you need to know plus offer some tips for relief.

What is sciatica?

The sciatic nerve runs down the length of each leg, starting in your low back and ending at the heels of your feet. Sciatica is a term used to describe the pain caused by irritation of that nerve. Health professionals have a variety of names for it, including lumbosacral radicular syndrome, discogenic sciatica, nerve root pain, and nerve root entrapment,¹but sciatica is the most common term.

Sciatica is different from low back pain in that it results from the sciatic nerve, rather than the spine. This nerve serves an important function, affecting the hamstrings, calf muscles, lower leg muscles, and some foot muscles.² In many cases, the pain gets worse with twisting, bending, sneezing or coughing.²

What causes sciatic pain?

Researchers estimate that 90 per cent of cases are caused by a herniated disc where the nerve root is compressed – something that may occur as a result of an injury, or age-related wear and tear.⁵ Other possible causes include lumbar stenosis¹, or piriformis syndrome.

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

Patients most often complain about pain radiating down the back of their leg, reducing their mobility.¹²

Who is most at risk for sciatica?

More research is needed to determine the exact incidence and prevalence of sciatica. It is estimated that five to 10 per cent of patients with low back pain have it,¹ and 10 to 40 per cent of people experience it in their lifetime.²

There are certain risk factors that increase the chance of developing sciatica. These include:^¹

Age
Height
Mental stress
Cigarette smoking

In addition, certain occupations are predisposed to sciatic nerve pain, including machine operators and truck drivers².

How is sciatica diagnosed?

When a patient complains of pain radiating down their leg, a chiropractor will typically conduct a full history and physical examination to determine whether the sciatic nerve is to blame.¹ Chiropractors often work as part of a patient’s health care team. If there are red flags present – such as if Cauda Equina syndrome is suspected – the chiropractor will recommend advanced imaging to determine if surgery should be considered¹.

How is sciatica treated?

There are a variety of treatments that chiropractors can offer, including recommendations on lifestyle changes. These include, but are not limited to:

Physical activity
Acupuncture
Spinal manipulation

What can you do at home?

Talk to your chiropractor to ensure you are doing everything you can to improve your condition at home. He or she may recommend one or more of the following:²

Use hot and cold packs for comfort
Avoid sitting or standing for long periods
Practice good posture
Improve your core strength through exercise
Gently stretch out your lower back and hamstrings
Take a walk regularly, go swimming, or try aqua fitness
Use the proper technique when lifting heavy objects

How can you prevent sciatica?

You can reduce the chances of developing sciatica by exercising regularly and paying attention to your posture.³ Try the following exercises if you’re looking for inspiration, but the most important thing is to find an activity you enjoy:⁴

Walking
Jogging
Swimming
Cycling
Dancing
Strength training
Yoga
Tai Chi
Pilates

Chiropractors are spine, muscle, and nervous system experts who provide effective treatment to promote health, alleviate pain, and improve your quality of life. If you’re struggling with sciatica and want relief, visit a chiropractor today And remember – you can always ask questions and take an active role in your recovery.

1. Koes, B W et al. “Diagnosis and treatment of sciatica.” BMJ (Clinical research ed.) vol. 334,7607 (2007): 1313-7. doi:10.1136/bmj.39223.428495.BE
2. Davis D, Vasudevan A. Sciatica. [Updated 2019 Feb 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507908/
3. Gillot, Caroline. “Sciatica: Causes, Treatment, Exercises, and Symptoms.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 15 Dec. 2017, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7619.php.
4. Harvard Health Publishing. “5 Tips for Coping with Sciatica.” Harvard Health, www.health.harvard.edu/pain/sciatica-prevention-and-coping.
5. “Herniated Disc.” AANS, https://www.aans.org/en/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Herniated-Disc.

Avoiding injury while running or jogging

Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors2025-06-06T20:31:15+00:00June 5th, 2025|Health, Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Living, Sports & Fitness, Wellness|

Running or jogging can be a great exercise; however, it can take its toll on your body in particular your joints, increasing your chance of injuries all the way from your feet, up to your neck. To help ensure you don’t get halted because of injury, make sure you know the best styles and techniques for running or jogging.

Examine your running style

Everyone has their own unique running style. If you were to watch a group of joggers closely, you would see each person runs differently. There is no one, correct way to run, but there are ways to fine-tune your running technique to prevent injury.

Posture—Just like in all aspects of our lives, posture is very important when we run. Good posture will help release tension and reduce strain in your neck and shoulders. This can help prevent muscle fatigue. You can improve your running posture by following some simple, key principles:

Hold your head high, centered between your shoulders and keep your back straight. We have a tendency to lean forward and slouch when we are tired, but this can lead to fatigue and tightness in the neck, as well as the shoulders, back and even your hamstrings. A good rule is to always keep your focus 30-40 yards in front of you. This will force you to keep your head up.
Keep your shoulders relaxed and parallel to the ground. Do not pull your shoulder blades together. This can increase shoulder tension. We also have a tendency to rise our shoulders near are our ears as we tire while running, much like when we are cold. Drop your arms and shake them loosely if you feel this happening.
Pay attention to your arms and hands—It’s easy to imagine that our arms and hands are just along for the ride as we run. This couldn’t be farther than the truth. Your arms and hands are just as important as your legs when you run.
Keep your hands and wrists loose. This will help you avoid tension in your hands and arms, while using less energy and decrease the chance of tension working its way up to your shoulders.
Allow your arms to swing from the shoulders like a pendulum from front to back. Be careful to prevent your arms from crossing the midline of your body.
As you endurance improves and your speed increases, so should the rate at which your arms swing. Swinging your arms at a faster rate will help with your balance and will assist you with for faster leg turnover.

Don’t Over-Stride—When you extend your lead foot too far out in front of the body, it lands in front of your center of gravity creating a breaking effect, this is called over-striding. This can lead to injuries such as runner’s knee and shin splints. As runners become more experienced, their stride lengthens naturally. This is not due to overstretching the lead leg as many new runners do, but rather from increasing the forward motion of the rear leg.

If you run on a treadmill, you will naturally shorten your movements because of the length of the treadmill’s belt. This isn’t a problem, but if you decide to run outside, you may have to make adjustments to your stride.

Research has also shown that the biggest difference between healthy runners and ones that are often injured is stride variability. Your goal as a runner should be to repeat the same stride every time. In injured runners, the joint angles and motions were slightly different with each stride.

Setting manageable goals

It’s important for runners, especially new runners, to follow a training schedule that builds mileage and speed in a logical way. Starting a log to track your running successes is a good idea. Find a beginners schedule so that you can learn to start conditioning properly before implementing strength or speed training.

Over-training is one of the easiest ways to injure yourself. Break your training into small goals using a calendar that extends far out. If you only ran for 20 minutes last week, don’t try to run for an hour the next week. Your body isn’t equipped to handle the added stress yet.

How your chiropractor can help

If you’re gearing up to begin a new running or jogging regimen or have a concern about an injury you’ve sustained while being active, your chiropractor is a good place to start. Find a chiropractor near you now.

Many injuries can be prevented simply by being evaluated by a chiropractor. Your chiropractor will be able to identify problem areas, such as muscle imbalances, joint dysfunctions, or anything else that could lead to pain and injury. Running is a safe, fun and relaxing activity, that can help you trim up and condition your body. Let your chiropractor help lead you towards a successful and injury free running program. Any time you experience pain, muscle imbalance or joint restriction, see your chiropractor.

As part of your healthcare team, your chiropractor can also tell you if a pre-existing injury could be a concern for your new running plan.

Original post from Chiropractic Association of Alberta

Healthy Summer Practices

ParallelAdmin2025-06-06T15:27:09+00:00July 19th, 2021|Health, Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Living, Wellness|

JULY 19, 2021 BY ROBIN VINGE

More talk about healthy summer practices…What do you do to protect your skin from too much sun once you have spent 20 minutes without sunscreen to get Vitamin D? First look at what you should avoid in a sunscreen. it is important to avoid these unhealthy sunscreen ingredients – oxybenzone, octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC), parabens, phthalates, retinyl palmitate, and synthetic fragrance. Look for non-nano particle sized zinc or titanium based mineral ingredients. Look for protection against UVB and UVA rays and avoid spray sunscreens if you can. Make sure you have access to some shade if you are going to the beach so you can protect your skin and get out of the heat.

If you go overboard and get too much sun, aloe vera gel from the plant can soothe and heal your tissue if applied topically. Homeopathic remedies that you can try for sunburns include Cantharis, Urtica urens, or Belladonna depending on your unique picture of a sunburn. It is safe for you to use a 30c potency and dose five pellets 3- 6 x daily. For best results, see me for an individual consultation about your sunburn if you have one.

In terms of summer eats, cooking meats by frying, grilling, roasting or barbequeing can cause the formation of heterocyclic amines which are carcinogenic. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are formed when fat drips on a heat source causing excess smoke. Make sure you cut off the blackened parts of meats and any charred pieces of meat. People’s average risk of cancer goes from 1 in 500 to 1 in 50 if you are eating large amounts of muscle meat (pork, beef, fish, poultry) regularly and consistently. Marinating your meat before grilling or broiling, reduces heterocyclic amines by 90 percent. You could marinate your meat in red wine or dark beer for 6 hours or marinate in lemon juice or vinegar. Add fresh herbs or berries to increase antioxidants. Make sure you cut off fat before grilling. You can also cook meat partially before grilling; flip burgers more often or cook high quality meats rare or medium rare versus well done to make your summer barbecueing a bit healthier.

What about Hot Dogs? Look for uncured varieties that contain no nitrates. Choose varieties that say 100% beef or 100% chicken. Avoid those that contain MSG, artificial flavors/color, preservatives, high fructose corn syrup. Any type of processed meat that has been smoked, cured, salted or preserved with chemicals does increase risk of bowel cancer (hamburgers or sausages preserved with salt or chemical additives espescially nitrates). Do be mindful of your consumption of these products.

What about alcohol? The pros first- does contain antioxidants, increases HDL cholesterol. The cons- hard on your liver, causes weight gain, disrupts the gut microbiome and increases your risk of cancer with chronic consumption. Drink iced Rooibos tea. Rooibos has been shown to increase levels of glutathione in your liver which is your strongest antioxidant in your body. Drink iced green tea also for its antioxidant activity and anticancer qualities. It is important to eat foods that support liver function such as beets, artichokes, broccoli, apples, turmeric, dandelion greens, dandelion root tea (which can positively influence phase 2 liver eynzymes).

Milk thistle is a good supportive supplement for people that drink chronically. It has powerful antioxidant activity and helps protect your liver from damage by quenching free radicals. Take as directed on the label. Being mindful about all these things can create a healthier summer for you and your loved ones. Enjoy your summer!! For more specific help with your unique health, book a consultation with me at Parallel Wellness in downtown Calgary. Dr. Vinge 4032321283

Spring into Action
Gallery

Spring into Action

ParallelAdmin2025-06-06T15:27:27+00:00April 23rd, 2018|Health, Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Living, Wellness|

Spring into Action

Spring is on it’s way and for outdoor enthusiasts it can be easy to spring into action with plenty of activities. Whether you’re a “green thumb”, outdoor sports player, or a recreational guru it is important to take special care of your body before, during and after these activities.

Now that the white stuff is finally melting away, creating puddles and greenery, many home owners are preparing their yards for clean up and gardening. Having the “Perfect” yard or garden may be a dream for some but it is important to remember that yard work can be just as taxing as a workout or going to the gym. Did you know that yard work and gardening is the number one cause for neck or back pain in the spring and summer seasons?

Gardening doesn’t have to be a pain in the neck. Here are some tips so you can enjoy the fruits of your labour during these warmer months.

Stretch your stem out! Take time to prepare your body for what’s ahead. Warm up and cool down your muscles, they will thank you. You can burn 300-400 calories per hour of moderate gardening. Add a short walk and you’ll have a good overall open-air work out.

Bend your knees, lift with ease. Keep heavy loads close to your body. Keep your back straight and bend your knees when picking up and putting down loads. Avoid twisting when lifting. Ask for a hand with heavy or awkward loads. Gardening can be a great way to engage children in activity as well.

Right moves, right tools. The right moves can prevent strain on your body. Mix it up, alternate positions. Kneel to plant and weed, pace yourself. Make sure tools are the right size for you and are comfortable. There are many tools now that are designed with ergonomics in mind. Long padded handles and spring action mechanisms can reduce strain and effort.

Take a refresh break. Get up, move around, alternate tasks, do another stretch, or just sit back, relax and have a cold drink. Try to not over extend yourself, take a few brief breaks every hour. Your back will thank you!

If gardening is not your thing, perhaps outdoor sports like soccer, baseball, tennis or golf is more your avenue. If you are a parent of an avid athlete, here are some tips both of you could benefit from.

Warm up! Stretching can properly prepare your muscles and joints for the activity ahead. It can also prevent injuries and strains.

Hydration is key. Pro or not, all bodies need adequate hydration. Drink before, during and after all activity. Especially on hot summer days.

Proper nutrition is the fuel. A good balanced diet is equally important to the activity you preform. Make sure to have a small healthy meal 1 hour before any strenuous activity, practice, or game. Proper nutrients replenish and refuel the body.

Prevention and Education. Youngsters can be fearless when it comes to risk taking and act as though they are invincible. It is important to teach your children preventative methods when preforming sports or any physical activity. Make sure your child is wearing proper clothing and has the proper equipment that fits properly.

Rest, recharge and reload. 8-10 hours of sleep is essential for the body to recharged after any moderate to high level of activity. Lack of sleep or rest can catch up with you and decrease performance and can also increase the chance of injury.

If you or your child have persistent pain or have sustained an injury seek chiropractic care immediately. The sooner the injury is treated the quicker the recovery.

Chiropractic Effective for Cervicogenic Headache

ParallelAdmin2021-01-04T23:08:09+00:00March 21st, 2018|Healthy Living|

Originally posted by ChiroNexus

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), headache pain is “extremely common,” with headache disorders—which are characterized as head pain that is repeated in nature—afflicting as many as one in 20 individuals on a daily or almost-daily basis. An additional one in seven people deal with the king of all headaches: migraines.

Another type of headache which can create an amazing amount of throbbing discomfort is a cervicogenic headache. Defined by the American Migraine Foundation as a “secondary headache” whose cause originates somewhere in the neck area even though it presents itself in the head, some research studies have found that these particular headaches tend to respond rather well to chiropractic treatment sessions.

For instance, BMC Research Notes published the results of a single-blinded randomized control trial conducted in Norway which involved 19 individuals between the ages of 18 and 70 who suffered from cervicogenic headaches. Each subject was assigned to one of three groups for a length of 17 months. The first group received actual chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy utilizing the Gonstead Method. The second group received sham chiropractic manipulations, and the third group served as a control and was simply asked to continue with their current treatment regimen, which did not include any type of manual intervention whatsoever.

Upon conclusion of the study, only 12 of the original 19 participants remained, due to either drop outs or the subject being excluded once randomization occurred. However, of these remaining individuals, those assigned to receive actual spinal manipulation reported a reduction in the number of headaches experienced both during the treatment regimen and at follow-ups conducted six months and one year post-treatment. This was particularly notable when compared to individuals assigned to the control group who reported no change in their cervicogenic headache frequency during or post-study.

While this is a rather small sample size, highlighting the need for more research to be conducted in this area, the study’s findings suggest that, for patients struggling with cervicogenic headaches, chiropractic treatment is definitely better than no treatment at all. This is true both short and long term as positive effects are likely to remain long after the sessions have ceased.

Additionally, although headache pain is among one of the most common pains experienced by adults worldwide, that doesn’t mean that people must simply manage their way through it. By engaging in regular chiropractic care, some headaches can be effectively treated at the source. Cervicogenic headaches are one of them, making this treatment method beneficial for patients seeking a reduction in head pain, and an increase in life satisfaction.

Cervicogenic Headache. (October 24, 2016). American Migraine Foundation.
Chaibi A, Knackstedt H, Tuchin PJ, Russell MB. Chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache: a single-blinded, placebo, randomized controlled trial. BMC Research Notes 2017;10:310.doi:10.1186/s13104-017-2651-4

Written by: Michael Melton on March 7, 2018.

Your Feet May be Causing Your Lower Back Pain

Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors2020-12-09T17:21:07+00:00October 31st, 2017|Healthy Living|

Originally posted by the Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors

Can’t seem to find an answer as to why your back is aching? The answer might lie right below you … your feet.

It’s easy to assume aches in pains in our backs are originating from where you are actually feeling it. So if your back hurts, it must be coming from an issue within your back, right? This is not necessarily the case. Everything in our bodies is connected through tissue and our nervous system.

How are my feet inter-connected to my back and why does this cause me pain?

Your body has three main shock absorbers: your feet, your knees and your spine. The shock of walking, running, jumping etc. is first felt by your feet. If your feet can’t handle the shock, it passes the impact absorption to your knees. When your knees are ill-equipped to handle the shock it passes the absorption to the last stop on the chain, your back. Your back will eventually fatigue and begin to cause you pain, especially if there is a misalignment in the lower region or the pelvis.

Why can’t my feet handle the shock in the first place?

Most of the problems associated with our backs caused by our feet are simply because of the surfaces we walk on. Our feet were designed to walk on grass, sand, dirt, mud and other natural terrain. Human innovation has brought us cement, tile, wood, etc. which are actually detrimental to the health of our feet and in turn our back. Natural terrain is suited to the shape and structure of our feet. This causes our arches to be supported and causes the muscles, ligaments and tendons of the foot and ankle to work in a supportive fashion.

How can I prevent this cycle of pain?

Shoes- Find the right kind of shoe to support your foot type. If you have flat feet or have a minimal arch, shoes that have a good amount of cushioning or stability will work best to absorb the shock.

If you have a pronounced arch, “Minimal” shoes are a specialized option to consider. These shoes are designed to promote the foot striking the ground with the front or middle of the foot rather than the heel.

Sorry folks, there are no high-heels on the planet that are going to do anything good for your feet or back, so try and wear them as sparingly as possible.

Chiropractic adjustment – A visit to your chiropractor can do wonders. First, they will check the joints in your feet and ankles are working properly. Your chiropractor will perform an examination, which could include examining your feet, analyzing your gait and posture, requesting an x-ray and checking your shoes for improper wear.

If it’s determined that your feet are the cause of your back pain, your chiropractor will develop a program, which may include an adjustment of the foot to stabilize your postural foundation and to help relieve related stress/pain to the rest of your body.

Custom Orthotics – Your chiropractor may also suggest individually fitted, orthotic arch supports if they’ve determined your feet to be the cause of your back discomfort.

Orthotic arch supports are heat moldable plastic shoe inserts designed to support the arch on the inside of the foot. Orthotics also help in realigning your foot’s ankle joints and bones.

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Chiropractors as Part of the Opioid Reduction Strategy in Canada

Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors2021-01-04T23:07:06+00:00September 27th, 2017|Healthy Living|

Originally posted by the Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors

It is hard to live in Canada and not be aware of Canada’s current Opioid Crisis. An estimated 2,000 Canadians are dying annually from prescription opioids. Our country is facing a national crisis. Currently, Canada is the second highest consumer of prescription opioids in the world. Evidence points to back pain and other musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions as one of the key drivers.

Headlines related to chronic pain and fentanyl overdose are rising in frequency and urgency. Many chronic pain patients have been universally mismanaged by all health professions even with the best intent and the best minds clamoring for solutions.

Chiropractic can be a piece in the puzzle in the development of an effective opioid reduction strategy. By providing prompt access to effective health care options, like chiropractic care, evidence suggests that we can reduce reliance on opioids to treat acute and chronic MSK-related pain.

In fact, new guidelines released by the Canadian Medical Association Journal, recommend a coordinated multi-disciplinary healthcare team, which includes chiropractic, be used to help manage pain and avoid the dependency of opioids.

Albertans and all Canadians deserve earlier access to conservative chiropractic care for their MSK health issues before they become chronic pain sufferers. It is now understood that current solutions in the pain management of non-cancer conditions affecting the MSK system (bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles and joints) have become too reliant on opioids.

Chiropractic is a safe, evidence informed option to treating chronic pain, and our high patient satisfaction levels make chiropractic a popular option for patients looking to address pain and improve function.

Federal and provincial governments are widely recognizing the crisis that exists with opioid addiction and overdose. The Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA) has engaged in months of advocacy with the federal government and other health professions to build awareness and understanding that available evidence points to back pain and other MSK conditions as a leading reason for opioid prescribing. We have also had the opportunity provincially to discuss how conservative treatment options like chiropractic can contribute significantly to the health care of Albertans who suffer from pain.

As the national media discuss the link between over-prescribing and the opioid crisis, it appears that the public needs the expertise of chiropractic services more than ever.

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Chiropractic Care and Chronic Medical Conditions

Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors2021-01-04T23:06:52+00:00August 29th, 2017|Healthy Living|

Chiropractic care can be helpful for a variety of chronic, or long-lasting, medical conditions. These include spinal issues, sciatica, chronic pain, headaches, and many others. But what about non-orthopaedic chronic medical conditions – diseases that do not primarily affect the bones, joints, and connective tissue? These problems include diabetes, heart disease, mental illness, lung disease, etc. Is it safe to have chiropractic treatments if you suffer from any of these conditions?

Keeping Everyone on the Same Page

Whether you have chronic medical conditions or are completely healthy, it is important to keep your entire healthcare team apprised of your situation. This means letting your primary care physician, chiropractor, dentist, surgeon, and other specialists know your complete medical history as well as any changes. All of your medical providers should be informed of your medication types as well as dosages and frequencies, hospital admissions, surgical procedures, allergies, and other medical information.

Only by having complete information will your chiropractor and other healthcare providers be able to make informed decisions for your effective treatment and safety. For instance, your chiropractor may elect to delay spinal manipulation if you’re still healing from a surgery. You should always defer to their experience and expertise if they feel that a treatment may carry a safety risk.

However, you should know that chiropractic treatments are generally safe, even for patients with chronic illnesses. Still, let your primary care physician and any specialists know before you seek chiropractic therapy.

A Look at Two Conditions

Let’s examine two widespread chronic conditions – type 2 diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Type 2 diabetes usually appears in adults and is a systemic disease, meaning it affects your entire body. The primary symptom is high blood sugar, but this can cause other issues like increased thirst and urination, greater susceptibility to heart disease, and diabetic neuropathy – shooting pain and numbness in the hands and feet.

There is currently no evidence that standard chiropractic treatments can worsen type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, while it is not likely that chiropractic can improve the main staple of diabetes – high blood sugar – treatments may be able to help with the symptoms of neuropathy. As always, inform your endocrinologist and primary care physician that you wish to receive chiropractic treatments, and also let your chiropractor know that you’re diabetic, as well as updating them on your blood sugar control and symptoms.

COPD is a common disease among smokers and former smokers, though it may affect non-smokers as well. It manifests mainly as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Patients with COPD may have reduced lung volumes and sometimes require supplemental oxygen.

As with type 2 diabetes, a search of the published literature reveals no instances of adverse COPD patient effects with chiropractic therapy. In fact, several randomised, controlled studies found that COPD patients sometimes benefited from manual spinal manipulation delivered by a qualified chiropractor in the form of increased lung capacities, better lung function, and greater exercise capacities.

Despite these results, again, you should consult with your pulmonologist or family doctor before undergoing chiropractic treatment if you have COPD. Be sure to also let your chiropractor know about your COPD and overall health.

Keeping It Green: 8 Benefits to Getting Fresh Air While You Exercise

ParallelAdmin2025-06-06T15:28:49+00:00May 15th, 2017|General, Health, Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Living, Wellness|

Originally posted by Canadian Chiropractic Association

Getting any type of exercise is good for your body, but did you know there are specific benefits to taking your workout outside? Not only is it a great way to boost your activity in the Spring, it’ll also help boost your mood.

Here are a few of the main benefits to getting exercise in a natural environment:

You can move faster. When you’re walking or running outside, you can better control your pace. Often, you end up moving a little faster than you would indoors on a treadmill.¹
It’s easier. When the effort of exercise participants was studied comparing indoor to outdoor walking, participants not only moved faster, they reported the exercise also felt easier to complete.¹
It’ll alter your perception. Since your perception of effort is lower when you’re in a green environment, it gives you the opportunity to push harder without your perception changing. When an activity is perceived as easier, it’s also perceived to be more enjoyable.¹
You’ll increase your enjoyment. When you’re exercising outside you’re often engaging with other people. This has been shown to increase enjoyment of the activity and how often you participate, since you have social motivation behind you.¹
You’ll feel revitalized. Studies have shown that doing physical activities in a natural or green environment can help improve feelings of revitalization. You also feel more positively engaged.¹
You can improve your self-esteem. Exercising in green environments have also been linked to improved self-esteem and reducing negative moods such as tension, anger, and depression.¹
It’s better for your physical health. Studies have shown that outdoor environments, particularly green spaces, support better physical health both subjectively and objectively. That means that your sense of well-being, heart health, immune system, and recovery time are all positively affected by your green environment.²
It’s also better for your mental health. Work out outside to improve your general mental health, psychological well-being, anxiety, stress, or depression. Both your well-being and perceived well-being benefit from taking-in natural spaces.²

To help get you going, here are a few green activities you can try:

Plant trees
Go hiking
Canoe or kayak
Explore natural parks (or take advantage of the free 2017 Parks Canada Discovery Pass)
Go for a bike ride
Play tennis
Sign up for an outdoor fitness class or boot camp
Join a recreational sports leagues for soccer, ultimate Frisbee, or flag football

Whatever activity you choose, don’t forget to keep it green. For more information on what exercises are right for you, you can ask a chiropractor.

References

Gladwell VF, Brown DK, Wood C, Sandercock GR, Barton JL. The great outdoors: How a green exercise environment can benefit all. Extrem Physiol Med. 2013; 2(1): 3. doi: 10.1186/2046-7648-2-3.
Triguero-Mas M, Dadvand P, Cirach M, et al. Natural outdoor environments and mental and physical health: Relationships and mechanisms. Environment International. 2015; 77: 35-41. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2015.01.012.

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