Plantar Fascitis

        Plantar fascitis is a painful condition caused by inflammation of the plantar (bottom of the foot) fascia. The plantar fascia is a sheath of fibrous tissue between the layers of muscles on the bottom of the foot. Microtears in the ligament that attaches these muscles to the heel bone may also be a source of the pain.

This condition often comes on slowly, and may be related to overuse, such as in runners or frequent walkers, or in people whose work or activities include a lot of standing. It can be difficult to resolve because weight-bearing constantly aggravates it.

My treatment plan includes appropriate orthotics to help support and protect the irritated tissues; precise chiropractic adjustments to the feet, ankles, knees, hips, and pelvis; ice and other topical anti-inflammatories; stretches and exercises for the feet; and nutritional advice re elimination of inflammatory foods. 

Medicare & Maintenance Care

     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. 

Welcoming Winter Birds

     Birds migrating through in winter, and those who stay in our areas year-round, can use some help during the cold winter months. According to Audubon, we can support the winter birds by:
     (1) making a brush pile in the corner of the yard--it will offer shelter & night roosting places,
     (2) leaving the leaves---make piles under shrubs & trees, and they will harbor bugs and spiders for birds to eat,
     (3) creating a mini-meadow where grasses & weeds can grow; the plants here that naturally go to seed will feed many of the seed-eating birds.
     Go to http://www.audubon.org/news/how-welcome-winter-birds?ms=digital-eng-email-ea-x-20171204_winter-birds&utm_source=ea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20171204_winter-birds to find out more. 

Insufficient Lumbo-Pelvic Stabilization

 

     Our pelvis is the bio-mechanical foundation for our whole body. Everything depends on and relates to the pelvis.

     If the pelvis becomes distorted and consequently unlevel, it becomes an unstable foundation for the body above, and negatively affects the extremities below.

     A technical term for this kind of abnormal disturbance is “Insufficient Lumbo-Pelvic Stabilization.” This is a diagnosis I see frequently in patients in my office.

     Left uncorrected, this will continue to cause problems---discomfort, secondary disturbances elsewhere above and / or below, abnormal gait, and fatigue. Chiropractic adjustments elsewhere will not hold unless the pelvis is balanced and corrected.

     In my practice, I always pay particular attention to the pelvis, no matter what the patient’s symptoms or complaints. I consider this critically important to my patients’ healing. 

Pronation---A Troublemaker in the Foot

     When the inside of your foot drops inward toward the floor when you’re standing, it’s called “pronation.”  It is often seen in combination with fallen arches, or “flat feet.”

     If you stand behind someone who “pronates,” or has pronation in their feet, it is easy to see how the inside of the foot falls in and down. You may also notice an inward curving of the Achilles tendon in the back of the ankle on the involved foot (feet).

     Pronation can cause foot pain and fatigue, but it also negatively affects the knees, and can reverberate upward to cause abnormal stresses in the hips and pelvis.

     Watch the legs of someone who pronates as they stand facing you, and have them lift and hold the inside of their feet out of pronation. Now focus on their knees and have them relax their feet back into their usual pronation.  

     See what happened? The dropping back into pronation caused a rotation of the knees. This shows how much stress pronation causes on the knees. These abnormal stresses cause wear and tear that can lead to osteoarthritis.

     Pronation should be corrected by proper orthotics, and they don’t necessarily have to be custom. My treatment plan includes precise adjustments of lower extremity, hip, and pelvic joints with Activator Chiropractic, orthotics, and exercises to strengthen the muscles that support the ankle and foot. 

Sugar "Awakens" Cancer Cells

     It has been known for a long time that cancer tumor cells break down sugars much more quickly than healthy tissues, a process known as the “Warburg Effect.”  However, it has not been understood whether this was a symptom, or a cause, of cancer.

     Research publicized in October, 2017 shows how this stimulates tumor growth. The research, done in the Netherlands, reveals “evidence for a positive correlation between sugar and cancer.”

     According to the lead researcher on the study, “Our research reveals how the hyperactive sugar consumption of cancerous cells leads to a vicious cycle of continued stimulation of cancer development and growth.”

     To learn more, go to  http://www.vib.be/en/news/Pages/Scientists-reveal-the-relationship-between-sugar-and-cancer.aspx 

Frozen Shoulder

The condition of “frozen shoulder” is technically called adhesive capsulitis. There is pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion in the involved shoulder. A common origin is inflammation, which can be caused by injury, overuse, or it can be related to chronic diseases such as diabetes.

It is sometimes related to a stroke, or after surgery, either of which can cause lack of use and progressive loss of range of motion.

My treatment plan includes evaluating and adjusting the joints of the shoulder complex, the neck, and thoracic spine, with accompanying anti-inflammatory home care. The patient does contrast therapy of alternating ice and heat, gentle range-of-motion exercises and stretches, and applies topical arnica for inflammation at home.