Monday, November 28, 2016

VITAMIN K2---Essential For Our Bones


Vitamin K has long been understood to be associated with the ability of blood to clot, but we now know there is a special form of Vitamin K which is essential for healthy bone density. The K associated with blood clotting is now called Vitamin K1, while Vitamin K2 is the kind needed for bone health.

Many of us have been supplementing absorbable forms of calcium, in combination with magnesium, to help keep our bones strong. However, research shows that unless we also have Vitamin K2, calcium may not be targeted into our bones, but instead may end up in our arteries, where it isn’t needed, and causes trouble, including arterial plaques and atherosclerosis.

Vitamin K2 isn’t that easy to get in our diet. Curd cheeses provide some, but only small amounts. A Japanese food product called natto is rich in K2, but is unpalatable to most Americans.

Supplementing with K2, preferably the MK7 form, which is from natural food sources, usually natto, is a good solution. The MK4 form is synthetic.

Monday, November 21, 2016

The Traction Effect of An Orthopedic Pillow

Gentle traction is often part of the treatment plan for neck problems and pain. It can be very helpful after injury, or when there are degenerative changes occurring in the cervical discs.
A good orthopedically-designed pillow will have a gentle tractioning effect on the neck, assist chiropractic adjustments to hold, relieve pain, and help with healing. In my office, patients are shown how to properly use the orthopedic pillows I provide, to get maximum benefits from their support. 

Monday, November 14, 2016

MEDICARE---What is "Maintenance Care" and Why Won't Medicare Pay For It?


     Medicare guidelines state that they will only pay for chiropractic treatment that is Medically Reasonable or Necessary (defined as treatment that yields a significant improvement in clinical findings and patient functionality)
     To you, and in the clinical judgement of your chiropractor, your treatment may be CLINICALLY APPROPRIATE:  it may enhance your life, relieve your symptoms, support your health and well-being, or prevent the deterioration of a chronic condition. 
     But treatment that is CLINICALLY APPROPRIATE may not fit Medicare’s definition of MEDICALLY NECESSARY. Your chiropractor, by law. must inform Medicare when your care is maintenance care, so that Medicare understands that this care is not reimbursable, and you will be responsible for payment.

Monday, November 7, 2016

Do You Need a Heel Lift?

Sometimes patients come to me who have been told by another caregiver that they need to wear a heel lift in one shoe. Careful assessment often shows that the patient does, in fact, have one leg shorter than the other, but the difference is not anatomical, but functional.
Anatomical leg length difference is when one leg is actually physically shorter. This may be due  to a previously healed fracture in the leg, or it may be congenital. Wearing a heel lift in this case can be the right thing to do. The lift should be prescribed and designed specifically for the patient by a qualified practitioner.
Functional leg length difference is due to distortions or imbalances in the person’s frame---the entirety of the bones and joints of their body. Once the distortions or imbalances have been corrected, which is exactly what I do, the legs will even. In this case, wearing a heel lift is a bad idea. It is only worsening the problem.