Heart Rate Variability

The end goal of chiropractic care is to improve the overall function and well-being of the patient. This includes improving the function of the spine, joints, nervous system, and organs. Proper functions of the body allow for a healthier and more adaptable human, giving the person the ability to deal with the stresses of everyday life.

A quick, easy, and effective way to determine the function of the autonomic nervous system and the adaptability of the body is to measure heart rate variability (HRV). The autonomic nervous system controls all of the vital functions of the body including heart rate, and is divided into the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous systems. If a patient is healthy and highly adaptable they can quickly switch back and forth between fight or flight, and rest and digest. This patient would have a high HRV measure. If a patient is unhealthy and not highly adaptable they cannot quickly switch between fight or flight and rest and digest. This patient would have a low heart rate variability.

Adaptability is important for every person because we shouldn’t always be stuck in either fight or flight, or rest and digest. When someone is always stuck in fight or flight their body is going to be highly stressed and they may experience restlessness, anxiety, muscle pains, etc. Vice versa, if someone is always in rest and digest mode they may have cardiovascular issues, obesity, and the list goes on.

Stop into Rivertown Chiropractic to get your adaptability tested! Ask for your heart rate variability test. 

Early Onset Scoliosis

What is scoliosis?

            Scoliosis is defined as any lateral curvature of the spine that is greater than 10 degrees when measured. It is classified depending on the age of the patient and the magnitude, direction, location and cause of the spinal curve. There are three classifications based on the age at which the curvature began. Infantile scoliosis starts from birth up until 3 years old. Juvenile scoliosis begins between the ages of 4 and 9. Adolescent scoliosis begins after the age of 10. The earlier the curvature begins, the greater the risk for curve progression. The most common area for a scoliotic curve is in the thoracic spine, but it can develop at any spinal level. The direction of the curve is also important. The curve can either have its convex side on the left or on the right. This has a large impact on the prognosis and potential for future problems and symptoms. A left sided curve has a greater risk to impede on heart and lung function.

How is scoliosis treated/managed?

            The treatment/management of scoliosis varies depending on the classification of scoliosis. However, the main goal in all cases of early onset scoliosis is to limit the progression of the curve until the patient is skeletally mature, along with preserving proper heart and lung function. Once skeletally mature the progression of the curve is almost always stopped. Different treatment options include, casting and bracing, surgery if absolutely necessary, chiropractic care and physical therapy.

References:

1. Larson, Natalie. “Early Onset Scoliosis: What the Primary Care Provider Needs to Know and Implications for Practice.” Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, vol. 23, 2011, pp. 392–403., doi:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1745-7599.2011.00634.x.

Low Level Laser Therapy

Have you ever heard of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)? This is a treatment technique that we use at Rivertown Chiropractic. 

Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) has been researched more over the last couple of decades than ever before and is now being recognized as a great treatment for all sorts of illnesses. It can bring relief to conditions ranging from musculoskeletal disorders such as neck and low back pain to different brain disorders such as ADHD.

So what is LLLT and how can it help a wide variety of ailments? This form of therapy uses light that has a specific frequency between approximately 400 nm to 600 nm, this is the visible light spectrum. The light emitted from the laser activates the mitochondria within our cells. We all learned in high school that the mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell. The mitochondria are what produce energy for our cells in the form of a molecule called ATP. This ATP is essential for all functions of our cells, including healing. The increased energy coming from this boost in ATP production allows our cells to heal and recover quicker than they would have without the extra energy.

For more information on LLLT and our PL Touch Laser, feel free to talk to either Dr. Tyler or Dr. Geoff the next time that you’re in the office.

Cervical Proprioception & It's Link to Neck Pain

Last week we learned that proprioception is the ability of your body to determine its position and movements in open space. This week we are going to continue with the topic of proprioception and how it can affect your neck pain. Studies have shown a link between decreased proprioception and increased neck pain.

There are a large number of proprioceptive sensors in the muscles and joints of the cervical spine. According to a research article published in 2019, “cervical proprioception is critical in the maintenance of posture and movements”. ¹ The study took 132 people with cervical spondylosis, which is degeneration of the joints, and 132 people without cervical degeneration and they compared their proprioception by using a joint position error (JPE) test. This JPE test measures how accurately a person can re-center their head on their shoulders after rotation of their body. The study then compared the results of the JPE test with neck pain.

The results showed that cervical proprioception was largely decreased in people with cervical degeneration, and that people with decreased cervical proprioception have a greater amount of neck pain.

To avoid cervical degeneration and decreased proprioception it is important to do three things. Eat well, move well, and think well. Eating well keeps our bodies fueled and running properly as well as giving our bodies what they need to heal. Moving well keeps our bones, joints and muscles healthy and strong. Thinking well keeps the stress away and allows our bodies to focus on healing and proper function instead. And don’t forget to get your chiropractic adjustments to keep your spine and nervous system functioning properly.

 

Reference

1. Reddy RS, Tedla JS, Dixit S, Abohashrh M. Cervical proprioception and its relationship with neck pain intensity in subjects with cervical spondylosis. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2019;20(1). Accessed December 14, 2020. http://search.ebscohost.com.palmer.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eoah&AN=51530089&site=ehost-live

Proprioception

Close your eyes and stick both of your arms out in front of you. Now, with your left index finger touch the tip of your nose, and now with the right finger. Easy enough, but how is it so easy even with your eyes closed? The answer is proprioception. Proprioception is a constant cycle of messages being sent from the body to the brain allowing the brain to know where our body parts are in space and what those body parts are doing. The process starts with movement of our skin, muscles, and joints. Sensors in these areas detect movement and send a signal to the brain relaying that message. This allows our bodies to coordinate movements and to move freely throughout space.

            A good example of proprioception working to our benefit is when we stumble and catch ourselves before falling to the ground. When we slip our body, using proprioception, recognizes that we are slipping and the body responds by trying to correct our feet and sticking out our arms to catch ourselves.

            Someone with decreased proprioception may experience balance issues with frequent slips and falls, uncoordinated movements, poor posture and general clumsiness. This person may also avoid certain activities that require coordination such as climbing up and down stairs, or walking on uneven ground.

That Time Again

Every year around this time I send out this reminder of the importance of Vitamin D.  Ideally, the essential vitamin is released into the blood from the skin with exposure to the sun.  Because of this, people in this part of the country around this time of the year often are deficient.  However, numerous recent studies have led experts to believe that many more are deficient in this nutrient than previously anticipated and supplementation may be necessary year-round.

Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency include bone pain and muscle weakness, kidney and lung problems, psoriasis, gum disease, and frequent flu symptoms.  Low energy levels, weight gain, and depression are also implicated with deficiency.  Chronic deficiencies have been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cognitive problems, asthma, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, diabetes, 17 different cancers and even multiple sclerosis.

Outside of sun exposure, you can get some Vitamin D from fish oils, egg yolks and beef liver.  Unfortunately, it is very difficult to get enough D from diet alone as you would need to eat two servings of mackerel every day to get the recommended dosage.  Couple this with low sun exposure and Vitamin D supplementation is often a good idea.  The only question is how often and how much are you supposed to take.

While it is impossible to get too much D from the sun, since Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin when you’re taking it orally as a supplement, you can get toxic levels over time.  Typically, as long as you’re taking under 5000 I.U.s per day, you will be o.k.  The only accurate way to know if you’re deficient or to know when you have enough is through periodic blood testing.  Fortunately, many doctors have recently become aware of the importance of the vitamin and are recommending regular testing to their clients.  If you should find that you are deficient and decide take a D vitamin, make certain you’re supplementing with D3.  Learn more about the importance of this vitamin and talk to your doctor about blood testing.

DNA & Positive Thinking

For those of you who are regular followers of this article, I hope that you’ve grasped the concept that health exists on a continuum and that everything you do; everything you eat, drink, or breath are all either moving you toward health and away from dis-ease or moving you toward dis-ease and away from health.  I found an outstanding article that suggests that one of the biggest factors on this continuum is our own thoughts.

The article identified several research studies that show how we think can actually change the behavior of our DNA.  In one study performed by the military, DNA from white blood cells was taken from people, placed in a vial and moved to be monitored in another room.  The people were subjected to different emotional stimuli while their DNA was monitored.  As the donors were stimulated, they found that their DNA exhibited similar electrical responses at precisely the same time in the other room.

In a similar study done by the Institute of Heartmath, 28 scientists took DNA from other people and were taught to generate strong emotions in the presence of the DNA samples.  When the scientists generated feelings of joy, love, and gratitude, the DNA relaxed, unwound, and lengthened.  While they generated feelings of anger, fear, and frustration, the DNA tightened, shortened and shut off many of its codes.  The researchers applied this discovery to HIV-positive patients and discovered that when the AIDS patients generated feelings of joy, love, and gratitude their immune systems became 300,000 times more resistant to the virus than when they were not feeling this way.  Put simply, our thoughts affect our physiology and can have as great an impact on our health and wellness as any other factor.  Think about what you think about!