Washington Park Chiropractic

By: Lisa Bullis, L.Ac.

When acupuncture was imported to the U.S. it presented a new opportunity to tailor it to anew population. Most practitioners found that a private, spa-like atmosphere would be the most comfortable for patients.  Additionally, because acupuncturists are required to have extensive training (a masters degree) the price per treatment would be higher.  When I first began practicing, I offered private treatments, charging $75 per treatment.  After several years of this I was discouraged by the fact that many patients couldn’t afford to get treatments with enough regularity to make significant changes in their health.  Many people don’t understand that acupuncture is most effective when sessions are frequent, especially when first beginning treatment.

Community-style acupuncture is a U.S. adaptation of how acupuncture is practiced in China.  It is acupuncture that is practiced in a semi-private setting and offered at a more affordable price.  When I was studying in Cheng Du, China this was how acupuncture was offered.  Several people in one room all receiving individual treatments.   

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Cushions for the spine.

By: Dr. Jake Simpson, DC

The discs of the spine are made of a strong cartilage and a “jelly-like” substance inside and are located in between 24 bones of your spinal column.  Each disc is attached to the vertebrae above and below it.  Along with providing cushion from impact and gravity, the discs also space the vertebrae far enough apart from one another allowing for spinal roots (nerves) to leave the spinal cord/column and supply our body with all the nervous system information necessary for a healthy life.  Injury or degenerative processes to the discs can be very painful and traumatic to our body’s ability to function properly.  Problems to the disc include: thinning, wedging, bulging, protrusions, tearing or herniation…note: no “slipping”.     

Each disc has the natural ability to withstand the motions of life.  Healthy discs give you the flexibility of the spinal column and produce a pumping action that supplies proper disc nutrition and waste removal via blood flow.  However, trauma can lead to a chain reaction of negative consequence.  Spinal misalignments and joint restrictions can cause the disc tissue over time to adapt into a wedge-like shape.  While this is the earliest stage of disc damage, symptoms may or may not be present even though disc encroachment unto adjacent nerve tissue may be happening. 

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By: Ashley Bennett, LMT

This is normally the time of the year we reflect on our health and personal improvements. This is also when there is a huge influx of people in the gyms.  Sometimes when I am at the gym and I see the amount of people I think of ways to get out of there as quickly as possible to avoid the crowd.  One thing I never skip on is stretching.  Stretching should be an integral part of your daily routine.

Benefits of Stretching:

• Stretching increases flexibility. Flexible muscles can improve your daily performance. Tasks such as lifting packages, bending to tie your shoes or hurrying to catch a bus become easier and less tiring.
• Stretching improves range of motion of your joints. Good range of motion keeps you in better balance, which will help keep you mobile and less prone to falls — and the related injuries — especially as you age. When your body loses full range of motion the femur (thigh bone) is not moving any fluid around in the socket so the rest of the joint is not getting the full amount of nutrients needed to keep the cartilage healthy.  
• Stretching improves circulation. Stretching increases blood flow to your muscles. Improved circulation can speed recovery after muscle injuries.
• Stretching can relieve stress. Stretching relaxes the tense muscles that often accompany stress.

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The purpose of food is to provide our body with the fuel it needs to do what we require in a day, however, so much of what we consume is pre-packaged and overly processed, leading to a lack of actual nutrition. One of the key factors in living a wellness lifestyle is making wiser dietary decisions; and eliminating casein from your diet may be something for you to consider.

What is Casein?

Casein is a protein found in milk and dairy products, but is also used as a binding agent in many other foods. Technically it is a phosphoprotein that accounts for nearly 80% of the proteins in cow’s milk and cheese.

Why Eat Casein-Free?

Eating casein-free, when combined with a gluten-free diet, has reportedly had very positive results for those who have an autistic spectrum disorder, such as: autism, Asperger’s syndrome, atypical autism and pervasive developmental disorder.

Additionally, many people that have assumed they are allergic to milk may actually be suffering from a casein allergy. The problem with a lack of awareness as to the true allergy is that casein is found in more than just dairy products. This “binding agent” has technical uses as well as edible and has been used in paints (including fingernail polish), other cosmetics and even glue (or industrial adhesives).

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By: Dr. Jake Simpson, DC

Chiropractic care during pregnancy should be an essential part of women’s pre-natal care.  Currently, chiropractic care is not traditionally thought of being included in most women’s pre-natal care plan.  However, we have begun to see an increase in the medical community referring to chiropractors for the management of not only back pain but to ensure an easier birthing process.  Here’s why…

There are an overwhelming number of women that have gone through or going through pregnancy that experience low back pain.  Pre-existing postural and mechanical imbalances that you had before pregnancy are likely to be overtaxed and heightened during the pregnancy process.  This is mostly due to the rapid growth of the baby and your body’s normal structural adaptations not keeping up, not to mention the biochemical changes that occur that cause ligament laxity.  Chiropractic care before and during pregnancy can help to relieve and prevent the common musculoskeletal disorders associated with pregnancy.  With proper spinal and pelvic alignment through chiropractic care you will be able to experience greater comforts and lifestyle improvements. 

Pre-Natal Care For The Baby

Regular pre-natal chiropractic care appointments can help increase comfort for the baby as well!  As your baby develops, greater stress is placed on the uterus and the ligaments suspending the uterus, this is known as uterine constraint.  If your pelvis and sacrum are out of balance in any way, the ligaments suspending the uterus are torqued and twisted in a way that puts constraint in the uterus thus preventing the developing baby from getting into the optimal position for an easier birth.  Read the rest of this entry →

By: Amanda Miller, LMT

This summer, I made the decision to get myself in a regular workout routine, doing cardio five days a week and strength training the other two.  I was feeling good and enjoying exercise for the first time in years.  Unfortunately, I broke my shoulder in August, which brought my workouts to a quick stop.  As I began to heal, I replaced my workout sessions with physical therapy sessions and quickly realized how much strength and mobility I lost in such a short amount of time.  I recently read an article about flexibility and stretching and how it relates to overall health, and I’d like to share some of the things I found so interesting.

Why does flexibility matter?

Although countless studies have shown how beneficial exercise is for the body and mind (it can do everything from reducing the risk of some cancers to helping to improve memory), less attention has been paid to flexibility.  But doctors and physical therapists agree that it’s a vital part of keeping your body fit and able.  Flexibility can help your body reach its optimum fitness level, may play a role in injury prevention, and can even help stave off conditions like arthritis and more serious illness.

How does it all work?

When you stretch a muscle, you lengthen the tendons, or muscle fibers, that attach it to the bone.  The longer these fibers are, the more you can increase the muscle in size when you do strength training.  Read the rest of this entry →

By: Dr. Jake Simpson, DC

Purpose:

            The purpose of your adjustment(s) is to add mobility and energy back into your spine where it otherwise has been absent due to vertebral restriction and/or muscle tension and imbalances.  As spinal integrity improves, nerve tension is reduced, your body will begin to function better and performance is enhanced.     

Day One:

Day one, we take a comprehensive health history in effort to determine the cause of your pain and dysfunction. This often includes a case history, as well as orthopedic and neurological exams.  Based on the severity of your symptoms and/or mechanism is which you were injured X-Rays or possibly an MRI will be recommended and you will be referred out to get these tests.

After your examination and we have determined the cause of your problem, the treatment is performed.  The treatment often includes the chiropractic adjustment, soft-tissue treatments and possibly low-level laser therapy.  The key to your treatments will always be the chiropractic adjustment(s).  With malposition and loss of motion in one or more of your vertebrae a specific manual thrust is administered.  The direction, speed, depth and angle that we use are the result of experience, practice and thorough understanding of spinal mechanics.  Sometimes, the energy delivered during the thrust produces a “popping” sound.  This “pop” is simply shifting gas and fluids in and around the joint.  The sound is in no way an indicator of the quality of adjustment. 

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By: Ashley Bennett, LMT

Massage Therapy during injuries can help speed up the healing process.  A great example of an injury that is at a higher potential during the winter season is a lift and twist strain.  This is when you have been lifting or shoveling and your back goes out or is limiting your range of motion.  The muscles in your back are in a spasm and the surrounding tissue is compensating for the injure area.  This is a great opportunity to come in and get it checked out by your chiropractor and add in a massage to help calm down the area so that range of motion can be restored.  Massage can help decrease swelling, pain and loss of range of motion in any area that is related to soft tissue.  If there is a more severe injury where there is scar tissue involved, massage can help break up the adhesions and create a more functional and potentially less visible scar.  I am not saying massage should replace your physical therapy or doctor, I am saying that it can help the process move faster so you can get back to your healthy lifestyle!!