Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease that is occurring with greater frequency as the population ages, along with the skyrocketing rates of obesity that contribute to osteoarthritis by causing unnecessary wear and tear on the joints. Chiropractic care can help those who suffer from osteoarthritis by realigning the joints so they move properly, slowing their degeneration.

A normally functioning joint moves easily, supported by a cushion of firm, rubbery cartilage that allows the bones to slide smoothly over one another. Osteoarthritis is caused by a breakdown in the cartilage of the joint, which allows the bones to rub together as they move, leading to pain, stiffness and swelling.

It is estimated that 50% of the population over age 55 has some form of osteoarthritis. As a person ages the content of water in the cartilage decreases, hastening its breakdown. Some tissue from the breakdown of this cartilage can be released into the synovial fluid of the joint capsule, causing inflammation. Though any of the body’s joints may be affected, the most common complaints are of pain in the knees, hips and hand joints, the ones that bear the greatest load and do the most work.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain, swelling, stiffness and crepitus, which is a term for the clicking or popping sound the joint makes when the ends of the bones in the joint rub together due to an insufficient cushion of cartilage. The first sign you may have osteoarthritis is frequently waking with “morning stiffness” in your joints that gradually improves as the day goes on. Pain may become worse when you are active, improving with rest.

Though there is no cure for osteoarthritis, there are things you can do to slow its advance and alleviate the pain. The least invasive treatments involve changes to diet and lifestyle, along with chiropractic care. Eating whole fresh foods and losing weight can take much of the pressure and stress off your joints. In addition, regular light exercise can strengthen the muscles that support the joints. Exercise can also improve range-of-motion, balance and posture. Swimming is an excellent form of exercise for those with osteoarthritis, as it allows you to exercise without putting stress on your joints.

A trained chiropractor can use a variety of safe and gentle methods to return your joints to proper alignment, which will help alleviate pain without having to resort to taking excessive pain medications. Studies have shown that chiropractic treatment can increase range of motion, improve joint coordination, relax tense muscles and reduce pain. A chiropractor can also recommend the best exercises and stretches targeted to your specific needs.

Roy A. Logan, DC 11601 N. Lamar Blvd, Ste A Austin, TX 78753 (512) 215-3256 Austin Chiropractor - Roy A Logan DC

Spinal stenosis occurs when the spaces in the spinal column narrow, putting pressure on the spinal cord and associated nerves. Spinal stenosis usually involves one or more of the three main spinal areas: the spinal canal in the center of the vertebral column, the canals located at the roots of spinal cord nerves, or the spaces between the vertebrae through which nerves leave the spine and go to the rest of the body. The condition is most commonly acquired due to degenerative conditions of the spine, including normal aging, or it can be inherited.

Depending on the location of the stenosis, different areas of the body may be affected. Stenosis on the lower part of the spinal cord can cause pain or numbness in the legs, while pressure on the upper part of the spinal cord can cause similar problems in the shoulders. The condition most commonly affects men and women over 50 years of age. However, it may also occur in younger people who have been injured or have conditions that result in a narrowing of the spinal canal, such as achondroplasia (dwarfism).

Diagnosis of spinal stenosis may be made through taking a medical history, thorough physical examination, and imaging tests such as X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans. While there is no cure for spinal stenosis, traditional treatment may involve medications and/or surgery. Surgery is invasive, expensive and painful, and the medications may have significant side effects. In addition, medications often don’t do anything to resolve the cause of the pain; they simply mask it.

Chiropractic treatment for spinal stenosis avoids both medications and surgery. It is based on the idea that restricted spinal movement can result in pain and dysfunction. Chiropractic manipulation (adjustments) may be used to restore movement and function. Spinal decompression therapy, a treatment in which the bones of the spine are gently pulled apart using traction, can also be used to treat spinal stenosis. By increasing the space between the vertebrae, pressure on the nerves can be relieved and pain significantly reduced.

The degree of success of chiropractic treatment for spinal stenosis depends on many factors, including the patient’s age, the length of time the stenosis has been present, and the presence of concurrent conditions that may complicate diagnosis, treatment or rehabilitation. A good chiropractor will work with other health care professionals as needed to ensure that you get the most holistic and best possible care for your specific symptoms.

Roy A. Logan, DC 11601 N. Lamar Blvd, Ste A Austin, TX 78753 (512) 215-3256 Austin Chiropractor - Roy A Logan DC

Just about everyone will experience depression at some point in their life. Depression affects about 10 percent of the US population each year, which amounts to 18.8 million people. The World Health Organization indicates that by 2020 depression will be the second leading cause of death after heart disease. Therefore, it is important to recognize the possible signs of depression as early as possible so effective treatment options can be found.

There are three different classifications for clinical depression. These include: Major depression, which interferes with your ability to perform normal daily activities such as eating, sleeping, working and your ability to enjoy activities; Dysthymia, which symptoms are not as severe, but persist on a chronic low-level for extended periods of time and interfere with normal enjoyment of life; and Bipolar Disorder, in which depression alternates with feelings of elation and increased activity.

There are many symptoms of depression, which may be expressed not only a psychological level, but on a physical and social level as well. Some of the most common symptoms are:

Psychological

• Losing interest in things you previously enjoyed

• Feeling anxious and irritable

• Feelings of hopelessness

• Overwhelming feelings of sadness

• Suicidal thoughts

• Reduced interest in sex

• Frequent crying

• Difficulty concentrating

• Feelings of inadequacy or self-loathing

Physical

• Insomnia or frequent waking (can also sometimes be sleeping excessively)

• Lack of energy

• Decreased appetite and weight (though could sometimes be an increase)

• Constipation

• Aches and pains of unknown origin

• Frequent headaches and/or flu-like symptoms

• Stomach or digestive upset

Social

• Lack of interest in socializing

• Problems with coworkers or boss

• Problems with partner or family members

Feeling sad or depressed is a normal expression in times of increased stress or bereavement and does not require the same treatment. Feelings of stress or sadness after you have lost a job or your relationship has ended is quite normal. However, if these feelings or any of the symptoms listed above persist for two weeks or longer, you may be clinically depressed and should seek help from a mental health professional.

Depression can strike anyone, regardless of their gender, age or socioeconomic status. Women tend to suffer from it more than men (12% and 7%, respectively), and surprisingly, even children are increasingly found to be suffering from depression. A study conducted by Harvard University found the rate of depression among children was increasing by 23% annually, the greatest increase of any age group.

There are a number of effective treatments, and if you suffer from depression you are not alone. A good mental health professional can help you choose the right treatment that can make your depression a thing of the past.

Roy A. Logan, DC 11601 N. Lamar Blvd, Ste A Austin, TX 78753 (512) 215-3256 Austin Chiropractor - Roy A Logan DC

In previous centuries, the importance of hand washing was not understood, and led to the needless deaths of many millions of people. When performed properly, hand washing is by far the most effective way to reduce the spread of communicable diseases.

Up to 25% of women in the 19^th century died in childbirth from childbed fever (peurperal sepsis), a disease subsequently found to be caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes, which was inadvertently transmitted to the mothers on the hands of the doctors attending them. When hand washing was instituted in the delivery room, the rate of death dropped to less than 1%.

Washing your hands after using the toilet or changing a diaper is of utmost importance, as the ingestion of even the smallest amount of fecal matter can cause serious illness from deadly pathogens such as E. coli, salmonella, giardiasis and hepatitis A, among others.

Viruses can also be spread via the hands when they come into contact with infectious respiratory secretions, such as after coughing, sneezing, shaking hands with someone or touching an object that has been in the proximity of someone who is ill, then touching the face, particularly the nose, eyes or mouth. This is one of the primary ways of transmitting the virus that causes the common cold.

Those who handle food should routinely wash their hands, not only after using the toilet, but also after touching raw meat, fish or poultry, as the microbes present on uncooked food can cause gastrointestinal infections that can range anywhere from mild to severe.

Other instances in which you should wash your hands are after handling garbage, handling animals or animal waste, visiting or caring for an ill person, or if the hands show visible dirt.

To wash your hands properly you need only two things: soap and clean, running water. If these two are not available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that has a minimum 60% alcohol content.

Before washing your hands, remove all rings and other jewelry. Using warm, running water, wet your hands thoroughly, then apply enough soap to work up a nice lather. Keeping your hands out of the water, rub them together, being sure to scrub both the front and backs of your hands, including your wrists, and also washing between the fingers and under the nails. Do this for 20 seconds, then rinse completely under the running water. Turn off the taps with a paper towel and dry your hands thoroughly with a clean towel or air dryer.

Roy A. Logan, DC 11601 N. Lamar Blvd, Ste A Austin, TX 78753 (512) 215-3256 Austin Chiropractor - Roy A Logan DC

Your hips and legs support your entire body. They provide stability, strength, mobility, and flexibility. Misalignment or subluxation of the spine can cause both hip and leg pain by irritating the nerves and creating muscle spasms. As these areas of the body receive nearly continuous usage, they can suffer a great deal of stress. In fact, hip pain may be mistaken for back pain, due to the connections between the pelvis and the spine. A chiropractor is likely to be able to treat your hip pain if it is the result of a misalignment in your spine.

The thighbone (or femur) connects with the hipbone (pelvis) in a ball and socket joint. There is a cushion of cartilage between the bones that helps prevent wear. However, eventually the cartilage itself wears down, which can lead to swelling and pain. Arthritis is the typical result. Pain can also occur due to sprains or fractures, which usually only happen to older people who have osteoporosis. Sprains and fractures result in limited mobility, stiffness and swelling.

Another common cause of hip pain is sitting for long periods of time, as well as poor posture. Sitting and posture problems can lead to a slipped intervertebral disc or leakage of the contents of the disc through small cracks, resulting in pressure on the tissues. This usually leads to pain in the hips and legs. Sciatica can occur when the disc presses against the spinal nerve, and can lead to weakness and numbness in the legs. In severe cases, surgery is required to remove the leaked disc material and relieve the pressure.

Chiropractors can treat some kinds of hip pain without surgery or medications.  They cannot reverse age-related arthritis, but they can help slow the progress of the disease and delay possible surgeries. The first thing your chiropractor will do is determine the reasons for your hip pain, because some conditions, such as fractures or metastatic disease, will need to be referred to another kind of health care professional. Most other kinds of hip pain can be treated through manipulations and spinal adjustments. In addition to adjustments, your chiropractor will recommend appropriate exercises to help rehabilitate the hip joint and stabilize the misaligned components. He or she will also work with you on posture, work habits (such as sitting posture and ergonomic office furniture), and perhaps even diet to resolve the root causes of your hip pain.

Roy A. Logan, DC 11601 N. Lamar Blvd, Ste A Austin, TX 78753 (512) 215-3256 Austin Chiropractor - Roy A Logan DC

We all want to look young and beautiful, no matter what our age, and keeping your skin in good condition goes a long way toward that goal. There are a number of things you can do to keep your skin looking supple and glowing that don’t involve expensive treatments or surgery!

1) Drink more water­– This may be the number one tip in achieving healthy-looking skin. Controlled climates such as homes and offices with heat and air conditioning tend to be very drying to the skin. Most people are actually chronically dehydrated, and this leads to an increased in lines and wrinkles, much as a grape becomes a raisin! Optimally, you should drink between 2 and 3 liters of water every day, which will make your tissues more plump and resilient, reducing fine lines and wrinkles. If you can’t stomach that much water, other beverages are fine, but beware of any that contain lots of sugar or caffeine, as an excess of these substances is not good for your health.

2) Cleanse and exfoliate – At the end of the day, after being subjected to the elements, including sun, wind, climate, etc. (not to mention makeup), you need to give your skin a good cleanse. Dead cells can accumulate on the skin’s surface, making it look dull and lifeless. Start by removing all makeup with a gentle cleanser, such as a little plain yogurt on a cotton ball, which removes makeup without the use of harsh chemicals. Then treat it to a light apricot kernel scrub, which can remove those dead cells and expose the fresh ones underneath.

3) Eat healthy – A diet high in fruits and vegetables, particularly the ones with high amounts of antioxidants such as Vitamin C, and low in sugar, unhealthy fats and processed foods, has been shown to promote younger looking skin. Red peppers, strawberries and avocados are among the foods highest in antioxidants and healthy fats.

4) Wear protective clothing – We all know that too much sun exposure is bad, exposing our skin to damage from free radicals. Chemicals in some commercial sunscreens can be almost as bad for you as too much sun and keep you from getting an adequate amount of vitamin D to boot! The best option is to wear protective clothing as much as possible. This includes long-sleeved shirts and hats with wide brims.

5) Moisturize – One way to keep your skin from drying out is to apply a good moisturizer once in the morning and again before bed, after your cleansing routine. Look for a moisturizer that does not contain any SLS (sodium lauryl/lauryth sulfate) or parabens, neither of which are good for you. The best are those containing olive oil, aloe or vitamin E.

6) Quit Smoking – The increased number of wrinkles that appear on the faces of smokers is yet another reason to quit. Smoking constricts the tiny blood vessels that supply oxygen and important nutrients that nourish the skin. It also damages the collagen and elastin that keep skin strong and elastic.

Roy A. Logan, DC 11601 N. Lamar Blvd, Ste A Austin, TX 78753 (512) 215-3256 Austin Chiropractor - Roy A Logan DC

Cold laser therapy (also called Low Level Laser Therapy or LLLT) involves the use of light (a specific wavelength and frequency of coherent light, generated from a low-wattage therapeutic laser) to stimulate the body’s cells and cause them to accelerate the healing process. The therapeutic use of lasers (LASER is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) is not a new idea; they have been used to stimulate healing since 1967.

The term “cold laser” refers to the specific wavelength of light used, which is usually in the 630 nm to 980 nm ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum. This wavelength allows for the least energy to be absorbed by surface tissue (meaning that the patient does not experience any sensation of heat or warming), while allowing the healing properties of the light to facilitate wound and tissue healing. Low-level laser therapy has been shown to reduce inflammation and accelerate the body’s own healing mechanisms. When cells are exposed to laser light, cell functions are stimulated, improving immune system function, increasing collagen synthesis and enhancing tissue regeneration.

In chiropractic practice, cold laser therapy has been show to be effective in treating inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and bursitis. The use of laser therapy also accelerates the healing of connective tissue disorders such as sprains, strains and tendonitis, and has proven effective in reducing or managing chronic or acute pain in the neck, thoracic regions or lower back. Lasers have also been used to effectively treat muscle injuries or bruises, and neurological injuries such as herniated or ruptured discs. Chiropractors also commonly use laser therapy to increase the patient’s range of motion, and to build or increase the strength of damaged muscle tissue. In many cases the use of cold laser therapy has cut rehabilitation time following an injury in half.

Obvious benefits of cold laser therapy over drugs or surgery are that it is safe, pain- and drug- free, non-invasive, and has no known side effects. The results are quickly perceived by patients, and laser therapy can be used immediately after an injury. Cold laser therapy has also been studied in over 3000 clinical trials, with proven clinical results. If you are interested in finding out whether it could be of benefit to treat your conditions, consult with your chiropractor.

Resources:

• http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=4124
• http://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=41529

Roy A. Logan, DC 11601 N. Lamar Blvd, Ste A Austin, TX 78753 (512) 215-3256 Austin Chiropractor - Roy A Logan DC

Approximately 65% of the 15 million tennis players in the United States sustain at least one injury per year. Tennis is a sport that involves repetitive motions and ballistic movements. As such, the sport can create both local and systemic stresses on the body. For example, hard foot plants are associated with foot, ankle, and knee stress, but can also affect one entire side of the body, because of side-to-side forces and twisting motions. Continuous start and stop motions, accelerating and decelerating, overhead serves, and ground strokes can put significant stress on the knees, back, ankles, elbows and shoulders.

As you can imagine, injuries are common, even with highly-trained players. The most common injuries in tennis players occur in the lower extremities, such as twisted ankles, Achilles tendonitis, “tennis leg”, which affects the gastrocnemius or calf muscle, and infrapatellar tendonitis, or “jumper’s knee”. One of the greatest causes of these injuries is rapid deceleration during the game. Tennis players put great force in one direction, and they suddenly have to stop it. That effort can lead to injury, in part because most tennis training techniques focus on acceleration, not deceleration. Tennis elbow is another common tennis injury, as well as injuries to the rotator cuff of the shoulder, and lower back pain. The tennis racquet can travel at up to 300 miles per hour over a very short distance. Throwing the racquet overhead extends and stretches the shoulder muscles excessively over time, causing an imbalance in the shoulders.

Chiropractic treatment for tennis players focuses on both prevention and treatment of these injuries. Chiropractic care is an excellent choice for tennis players. Adjustments can be made regularly to prevent injury and are effective in treating problems as well. These adjustments may include manipulations of the neck, knee, spine, shoulder, ankle, and elbow. Additional treatments might include stretching exercises, laser therapy, massage, ultrasound, hot/cold treatments, and light therapy.

A chiropractor can also provide advice on proper shoes, movement mechanics, racquet size and selection, playing surfaces and support braces. A qualified practitioner can help tennis players play the game better, prevent injury, rehabilitate an existing injury, and get back on the court again.

Roy A. Logan, DC 11601 N. Lamar Blvd, Ste A Austin, TX 78753 (512) 215-3256 Austin Chiropractor - Roy A Logan DC

Obesity and the diseases associated with it cost a staggering percentage of health care dollars. It is estimated that $168 billion is spent each year in the U.S. alone to treat obesity-related diseases. These diseases include Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), high cholesterol, gallstones, osteoarthritis and more.

• Type 2 diabetes is a disease most commonly caused by obesity. Though it used to develop primarily in adults, it is now quite common in children as well, with the recent increase in the rate of childhood obesity. Blood sugar levels become elevated due to the insulin resistance caused by obesity and greatly increase the risk of developing diabetes.
• Heart disease can develop as a result of fatty deposits building up in the arteries, and hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) is 10 times more common among the obese than in the population with normal body weight. Fat tissue also requires blood to survive, so more blood vessels are created, putting greater strain on the circulatory system, increasing blood pressure and making the heart work harder to circulate that extra blood.
• Those who are obese have an increased risk of cancer, especially cancer of the colon, breast, prostate, gallbladder and uterus.
• Obesity adversely affects both the metabolism and endocrine system, often resulting in metabolic syndrome, the fastest-growing obesity-related health problem. This refers to a group of risk factors that increase your risk of more serious diseases, such as coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Symptoms include excess weight particularly located around the middle of the body, insulin resistance, low HDL (“good”) cholesterol and high triglycerides.
• Women who are obese can suffer from a number of reproductive health problems, including infertility, uterine cancer and PCOS. Because obesity causes disruption in the menstrual cycle and the endocrine system that is responsible for the delicate balance of hormones necessary for successful ovulation, studies have found that even a modest reduction in body fat of between 5 and 10 percent is often enough to restore ovulation and fertility.
• Osteoarthritis has grown increasingly common as the rate of obesity has increased. The excess weight adds to increased wear and tear on the joints, particularly on the knees and hips. Obese women are nine times more likely to suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee, often leading to the need for a total joint replacement. However, researchers have found that losing as little as 11 pounds can reduce the risk of knee osteoarthritis by half.

The increased risks of these six diseases alone are good reasons to lose weight if you are obese. Even losing a little has been shown to have a positive effect on your health, and it can significantly reduce the amount you spend on health care every year.

Roy A. Logan, DC 11601 N. Lamar Blvd, Ste A Austin, TX 78753 (512) 215-3256 Austin Chiropractor - Roy A Logan DC

Shoulder pain is a common complaint that patients present with to both primary care physicians and chiropractic practitioners. There are several underlying conditions that may cause discomfort in this area, many of which may be assisted by chiropractic treatment and manipulation. A proper diagnosis is important in order to determine what kind of treatment is indicated in each case.

Commonly observed causes of shoulder pain include:

• Bursitis or tendinitis of the rotator cuff (inflammation of the shoulder joint, also called impingement syndrome, since the inflammation impinges on the ability of the shoulder to move fully)
• Frozen shoulder (restriction of joint movement by the shoulder capsule, also known as adhesive capsulitis)
• Rotator cuff tear (tearing of the shoulder tendons away from the bone). The rotator cuff refers to the group of four muscles and tendons that are responsible for moving the shoulder joint
• Shoulder dislocation and shoulder instability (repeated dislocation, which may follow the initial occurrence as a result of the weakening and tearing of shoulder ligaments)
• Synovitis (inflammation of the synovium that protects joint bones from rubbing together)
• Calcific tendinitis (calcium deposits in the shoulder tendons)
• Referred pain from the neck or elsewhere in the body
• Arthritis (wearing away of shoulder cartilage)
• Fractures

The precise nature of chiropractic treatment for shoulder pain depends on which of the above diagnoses is made by your practitioner, but will likely include some degree of manipulation to ensure correct spinal alignment (especially in the neck) and improved shoulder mobility and function. Additional measures such as heat and ice packs, stretching and strengthening exercises, anti-inflammatory medication, rest and cortisone injections may also be discussed. Furthermore, your chiropractor will want to look at your overall health, diet and lifestyle to see if any improvements can be made to assist with your healing process.  Chiropractors are specialist health care professionals who deal with shoulder pain on a daily basis.

Signs that you should your chiropractor about your shoulder include the following:

• Pain when carrying objects
• Shoulder pain at night and when resting
• Being unable to raise your arm
• Pain that persists beyond a few days and is unimproved by rest and painkillers
• Warmth, redness and/or swelling of the shoulder and/or fever, which may indicate infection
• Bruising around the shoulder area

Roy A. Logan, DC 11601 N. Lamar Blvd, Ste A Austin, TX 78753 (512) 215-3256 Austin Chiropractor - Roy A Logan DC

Spinal pelvic stabilizers are specially designed orthotics that help stabilize and balance your feet. They can have a significant effect on your entire body’s performance and efficiency, reduce pain, and contribute to an overall sense of well-being.

How can something made just for your feet accomplish all this?

Our feet form the foundation of our entire body. They provide support for walking, standing, running, jumping, and reaching. In addition, your feet help protect your bones, spine and tissues from stress while moving around. It seems quite logical that your feet can perform these tasks better when their bones, muscles, and arches are in their proper, stable positions. For example, neck pain could be the result of a spinal misalignment that is caused by an imbalance in your feet. Your body’s joints and muscles work most efficiently when they are in balance, and balanced feet provide the foundational balance needed to support many of our daily activities.

Your feet contain three arches that support the weight of your entire body. If one arch is compromised, the other arches try to compensate. This results in additional stress, leading to pain, discomfort, and further compromise. Another common foot problem is flattening of the arches, which is known as pronation, which leads to rotation of the legs.

Spinal pelvic stabilizers balance the foundation of the pelvis and spine and help address structural problems of the feet. If they are properly fitted they can control pronation and supination. In this way they reduce unnatural stress and abnormal forces, and promote healthy functional and structural relationships between your feet and the rest of your body.

These devices also provide improved shock absorption. This reduces repetitive stress on your muscles and joints, allows better function, and reduces arthritic symptoms as well.

Pelvic stabilizers are a cost effective and long-term intervention for many kinds of foot and posture problems. They are worn inside your shoes, and they guide your feet into a more normal pattern as they are used for moving around.

Your chiropractor will use impression images of your feet to create custom-made flexible spinal pelvic stabilizers for your feet and your feet alone. You may wish to ask your chiropractor about the flexibility of the stabilizers that will be created for you. Some technologies use more rigid materials to force the foot into a supposedly ideal position, while most people prefer some flexibility for comfort, controlled support, and better movement from the feet on up through the body.

Roy A. Logan, DC 11601 N. Lamar Blvd, Ste A Austin, TX 78753 (512) 215-3256 Austin Chiropractor - Roy A Logan DC

Obesity is fast becoming the number one health problem in the world, contributing to an increased risk of other diseases and putting a strain on national health budgets. Following are some interesting facts and figures related to obesity:

• About 17% of medical costs in the US are due to obesity and its related diseases, totaling an estimated $168 billion per year.
• Obesity adds about $2,800 to a person’s medical bills annually.
• An estimated 300,000 premature deaths in the US each year are caused by obesity.
• One third of US adults are obese, indicating a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher.
• If an 18-year-old remains obese throughout their adulthood, it will cost them $550,000.
• 80% of cases of Type 2 diabetes are related to obesity. The rate of diabetes has doubled in eight states since 1995.
• 70% of heart disease is obesity-related.
• Low-income women are more likely to become obese than high-income women. Over 33% of people earning less than $15,000 annually are obese, as opposed to a 24.6% rate of obesity in those earning $50,000 or more.
• The highest rates of obesity are found among non-Hispanic African Americans (44.1%), followed by Mexican-Americans (39.3%), Hispanics (37.9%) and non-Hispanic whites (32.6%). Asians have the lowest rate of obesity at 16.7%.
• In the last 30 years childhood obesity has tripled, from 6.5% in children aged 6 to 11 years to 19.6% today. The obesity rate in teenagers aged 12 to 19 years has increased from 5% to 18.1%.
• Of children who are overweight at age 10-15, 80% will be obese as adults.
• As a percentage of the population, the US has the highest number of obese people (33.9%), followed by Mexico (24%), the UK (23%), Slovakia (22.4) and Greece (22%).
• College graduates have an obesity rate of 20.8%, which is lower than the 29.5% rate of those who have only graduated high school.
• Obesity begins to decline after age 60. The population of those over age 69 has an obesity rate of 20.5%.
• The rate of obesity is increasing in the US. In 2007 only one state had an overall obesity rate of over 30%. In 2011, 12 states had a greater than 30% obesity rate.
• 40% of obese Americans aged 50 to 84 have osteoarthritis of the knee, caused by the wear and tear to the joints from excess weight stress. One extra pound of weight is equivalent to four pounds of stress on the knee.

Roy A. Logan, DC 11601 N. Lamar Blvd, Ste A Austin, TX 78753 (512) 215-3256 Austin Chiropractor - Roy A Logan DC

TMJ stands for Tempromandibular Joint Disorder. It is a common condition in which there is limited range of motion within the jaw. The jaw is a hinge joint that is connected to the skull through 68 muscle pairs located in front of the ears. These muscle pairs are important to speaking, chewing, swallowing, and yawning, and are among the most commonly used in our body.

There is a disk in the jaw known as the articular disk, which separates the skull from the condyle head of the mandible. Misalignment of this disk can cause TMJ. This misalignment may be caused by stress, which causes clenching and grinding of the teeth, sometimes during sleep. TMJ can also be caused by missing or crowded teeth, or trauma including whiplash. Up to 35% of Americans suffer some form of TMJ.

Symptoms of TMJ include pain and stiffness upon opening or closing the mouth, or a cracking, grinding or popping sound when using the joint. The condition creates significant wear on the joint and can have serious consequences for normal daily use of your jaw.

As chiropractors are experts in joint misalignment, they are well suited to treat TMJ. Your chiropractor will look at all aspects of your lifestyle and will ask you for a complete medical history. X-rays are useful to locate the condyle head of the mandible and check the positioning of the articular disk. Palpating the area also helps to establish the severity of the condition.

Treatment focuses on relieving tension in the many muscles of the jaw and possibly the neck and upper back. It will exclude surgery and medication, and may include adjustments and manipulation of trigger points by hand to achieve relaxation. If stress is one of the causes of your TMJ, certain exercises and relaxation techniques can be very useful to relieving the symptoms. These techniques might include meditation, massage, counseling and biofeedback. Heat and ice can also be soothing. You may also be asked to do some exercises at home.

The result of these treatments is usually greater range of motion in the jaw joint, which not only relieves jaw pain but the locking and popping, headaches, and neck pain. However, chiropractic care goes beyond pain relief and is often able to prevent TMJ from returning. The combination of effective treatment options and the avoidance of medications or surgery make chiropractic care an excellent choice for treatment of TMJ.

Roy A. Logan, DC 11601 N. Lamar Blvd, Ste A Austin, TX 78753 (512) 215-3256 Austin Chiropractor - Roy A Logan DC

If you are a woman who is having difficulty conceiving a child, you doubtlessly know all the usual advice for improving your chances: eat better, drink less caffeine and alcohol, lose weight and stop smoking. Something you may not know about, however, is the potential benefit of chiropractic treatment for improving your fertility.

Chiropractic is a field of health care that diagnoses and treats disorders in the neuromusculoskeletal system (the alignment of bones and muscles and their relation to the nervous system), mostly through physical manipulation of the spinal column and other skeletal structures. It has long been popular for the treatment of back and postural problems, but recent studies in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (JVSR) have demonstrated that chiropractic treatment can also have a considerable effect on female fertility. This is, in fact, so much the case that chiropractic practitioners have begun to warn women undergoing treatment that there may be a greater chance of them becoming pregnant.

Examined scientifically, the reasons that spinal manipulation may promote fertility are not surprising. Nerves that connect the brain to the female reproductive system run down the length of the spine, so any compression on these nerves as a result of spinal misalignment or associated muscular tension may well cause obstructions to normal signals from the brain to the pelvic area. One hypothesized role in which this might be crucially important is in the movement of eggs from the ovaries to the uterus.

Once released from the ovaries, eggs are carried down the fallopian tubes by peristaltic (rhythmic) contractions, which are controlled by the autonomic nervous system. If the peristaltic signal is unclear or interrupted, then the egg, even if fertilized, has less chance of making it safely to the uterus. Worse still, disturbed peristalsis may even result in uterine tissue ending up in the ovaries or abdominal cavity, causing endometriosis.

There is much anecdotal evidence that women undergoing chiropractic treatment for postural problems have noticed improvements in the regularity of their menstrual cycle, which is also under the influence of efferent nerves. This cannot be anything but helpful in the attempt to conceive a child.

In addition to the published studies in JVSR, chiropractic websites are often inundated with reports from women who have successfully conceived a child following treatment for other conditions (whether or not they were attempting to) and of reproductive and fertility problems being ’miraculously’ cured by this kind of medical intervention.

By all means, don’t give up on IVF and other methods of inducing conception, but do consider chiropractic treatment as another weapon in your fertility armory. Compared to many other medical therapies, improving spinal posture and nerve communication in this way is a non-invasive and relatively low-cost intervention with proven results, and is well worth a try before attempting more complex procedures to bring you the reproductive success you are aiming for.

Roy A. Logan, DC 11601 N. Lamar Blvd, Ste A Austin, TX 78753 (512) 215-3256 Austin Chiropractor - Roy A Logan DC

0In order to understand the myofascial release technique, it is first important to understand the superficial fascia system. Superfiscial fascia is a sort of coating that envelops the organs, glands, and nerves throughout the body. It is composed of muscle and fat tissue in a loose configuration, with varying quantities of fat. The superfiscial fascia helps determine the shape of our bodies and also fills unoccupied areas. The superfiscial fascia is one continuous structure from the head to the toes. It is most prominent in the lower abdomen, near the abdominal wall, where there are many organs. It is very thin at the hands and feet, and on the sides of the neck and face. Superficial fascia helps facilitate skin movement, provides a medium for nerves and blood vessels that go to the skin, and it helps conserve body heat with its fat content.

Fascia can become adhered to its underlying muscle tissue, due to disuse, lack of stretching, or injuries. Trauma, inflammation, and surgical procedures can also trigger myofascial restrictions and adhesion. This adhesion can result in pain, soreness, and reduced range of motion and flexibility, or even restricted muscle movement. Myofascial release is a technique that applies sustained, gentle pressure on the tissues while giving traction to the fascia. The resulting lengthening and softening of the fascial tissue helps remove adhesion and restore flexibility and range of motion, thus reducing pain.

Generally, every ayofascial release treatment includes the same components. The therapist uses an experienced touch to detect areas of tightness, and then applies a light stretch to that area. When the tissue begins to relax, the therapist increases the stretch. Your therapist will talk with you through the process, and your feedback and interaction are essential to the success of treatment. The stretching and relaxing process is repeated until the area is completely relaxed, and then the next area is treated. The technique is gentle and relaxing –you may even fall asleep during the procedure! The goal of treatment is to equalize tension in the muscles throughout the body.

Myofascial release is effective in treating various kinds of back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, dizziness, headaches, fibrositis, and plantar fasciitis, among others. However, most patients are treated with myofascial release after other treatments have proven ineffective. This is because myofascial release is a time-intensive, one-on-one treatment. If you are having trouble finding relief from these conditions despite attempting various treatment methods, ask if myofascial release may be a good choice for you.

Roy A. Logan, DC 11601 N. Lamar Blvd, Ste A Austin, TX 78753 (512) 215-3256 Austin Chiropractor - Roy A Logan DC