In the U.S. alone, accidents are responsible for tens of thousands of injuries each year. A disproportionate number of these accidents are the result of auto accidents, as our Palm Springs chiropractor can certainly attest to. However, attentive individuals will find these accidents preventable.

In the United States, automobile accidents occur every 11 seconds; a fatality from an auto accident occurs every 12 minutes. It comes as no surprise that victims seeking auto accident care — especially those suffering from whiplash — make a large segment of the population who receive Palm Springs auto accident care at Dennis E. Spurgin, DC, Chiropractic. As any Palm Springs auto accident care provider knows, the complications from an auto accident can result in a broad range of outcomes, from insignificant to life threatening. That being said, what if you could skip the doctor’s visit entirely? If you are willing to follow the advice below, from our experts of auto accident care in Palm Springs, this can be a reality for you.

First and foremost — drive slowly. Our Palm Springs auto accident care advisors want you to think about the drivers around you who might not always be aware of your presence. Bicycles and people walking on the sidewalk or road are involved in a great deal of accidents as well. Watch out for them. Providers of auto accident care in Palm Springs believe that the tried and true ways of staying healthy and happy on the road are simple: obey traffic laws, look for pedestrians at cross walks, and make sure you’re aware of your surroundings. You want to get from point A to point B the safest way possible.

In the end, Palm Springs auto accident care can be avoided by staying alert, driving defensively, and being aware of the other people you share the road with. However, in the even of an accident, you must quickly address the situation. If someone is hurt, don’t wait to receive auto accident care in Palm Springs — call 911 right away. Palm Springs auto accident care can take many forms, depending on the nature of your injuries.

Your auto accident care in Palm Springs starts with speaking to a therapist with experience treating those who have suffered from auto accidents. Driving is dangerous, but those seeking auto accident care in Palm Springs should be reminded that accidents can occur at home as well. If you’re in an accident of any kind, remember, chiropractors play a huge role in the diagnosis of back conditions. It’s a fact of life that accidents will happen, but your chiropractic health can always improve. If you were in an accident, remember that our Palm Springs auto accident care providers are here for you.

Chiropractic — Is It Safe for Children?

By Claudia Anrig, DC

The benefits of chiropractic care for children have become increasingly evident as the number of children receiving chiropractic care continues to rise.1 Chiropractic research has overwhelmingly shown the benefit of chiropractic care for children.2 However, there continue to be reports which question the safety of chiropractic care.3 In light of this trend of care for increased numbers of children, and those safety considerations, it has become important to evaluate the risk potential to the pediatric patient presenting for chiropractic care.

In response to these safety concerns, the research department of the ICPA has published a first paper concerning the safety of adjusting children. In the current issue of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, ICPA research assistant Rich Pistolese has published a report entitled, “Risk Assessment of Neurological and/or Vertebrobasilar Complications in the Pediatric Chiropractic Patient.”4 This timely paper specifically addresses the safety issues associated with chiropractic care for children.

Reports of serious complications (regardless of age) following chiropractic adjustments and/or manipulation are extremely rare.5,6,7 Nevertheless, since disturbance of vertebral artery circulation is the most commonly reported adverse event associated with the adult population under chiropractic care, the study focused on evaluating the risk of occurrence of neurovascular complications in the pediatric patient.

The study acknowledges most complications following cervical manipulation are caused by disturbances of vertebral artery circulation, and the resultant damage to neurological components supplied by the vertebrobasilar system. While it has been reported that vertebral artery dissection is an uncommon cause for stroke in children,8 current statistics reveal that the pediatric population is not exempt from this phenomenon. Reports show the annual incidence of strokes for children under 15 years of age to be 2.7 per 100,000 children.9

There is a strong correlation between the severity of spinal cord injury and the immaturity of the spine.10 It behooves the chiropractic profession to pay special attention to avoiding procedures that could induce stroke or other related complications in the pediatric patient, since the majority of complications attributed to spinal manipulative procedures are related to rotational manipulation of the cervical spine.11

The author advises that all spinal adjustments should be of very low force and short amplitude to minimize risk to the pediatric patient. Adjusting procedures should exclude any maneuver that includes rotation, extension and traction. The author also suggests a change from manipulative methods to low-force movements, which may help to minimize neurovascular complications and other types of potential harm.

In regards to risk assessment, in this report the research department of the ICPA has conducted an extensive search of Medline and Mantis and found only two questionable reports of adverse neurovascular events in pediatric patients following chiropractic care. While the author has heard claims from pediatricians and other health care professionals that chiropractic may cause epiphyseal plate fractures in children, no such cases were found reported in the scientific literature. Any health care professional who makes such claims should be quickly challenged to provide documentation of such claims.

Based on information gathered in this study, the ICPA’s research department has concluded the following:

In the prevalent scientific/clinical literature spanning the last 32+ years, there are only two reported cases of neurovascular complications related to pediatric patients receiving chiropractic care.

Based on an eclectic summation of data derived from three sources, a conservative estimate of the number of pediatric visits to chiropractors in the U.S. over the same time span amount to over 1/2 billion visits.

The risk of a neurovascular complication occurring as the result of chiropractic care is approximately one out of every 250 million visits.

When considering the use of any health care procedure, the expected benefit must be weighed against the inherent risks. Based on this axiom, chiropractic care relative to neurovascular complications appears to present little risk to the pediatric patient when compared to cited reports related to benefits of chiropractic care. While some pre-existing conditions may predispose the pediatric patient to a higher probability of complication, the estimate provided is considered applicable to the general pediatric population.
To obtain your copy of this report, contact the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, 2950 N. Dobson Road, Suite 1, Chandler, AZ 85524, tel: 1-800-347-1011. You can also contact the ICPA at 5295 Highway 78, Suite D362, Stone Mountain, GA 30087, tel: 770-982-9037.

Another great post from Dynamic Chiropractic:

http://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=37423

Like other smart shoppers, you’ve probably asked yourself if organic food is better for your health, or if the so-called advantages are just a bunch of hype.
First off, let’s examine the word organic in its applied sense. Organic farming refers to a system that relies on certain principles of animal, human, and environmental concerns. Farming organically means that chemicals are not employed in planting and harvesting food. This is part of a wider concern that seeks to lessen damage to the environment and wildlife, as well as to humans who eat the food. The worth of the global organic market is over $27 billion. The approximate size of land devoted to it is as big as Italy.
The Meaning of Organic Labels
Foods with the organic label attest to the following: that it comes from a farm, and that it uses processors and importers approved by a recognized certification process. With processed foods, at least 95% of the agricultural ingredients have to be certified organic. The remaining 5% can consist of non-organic ingredients, but only in the case of approved contents.
The makers of organic food items must stick to the following rules to receive organic certification: They must not use fertilizers as they contain nitrous oxide. The soil is kept fertile with manure and crop rotation that alternates the planted crops, leaving natural nutrients behind. Pesticides must also not be used. In the alternative, bugs are kept at bay by other insects, as well as by weeding and planting other crops next to each other in order to deal with each one’s pests.
Colorings, preservatives, and most other additives cannot be used. All animals need to have space and access to free range areas. The food these animals eat must also be organic. There are minimum slaughter ages and other humane considerations for animal treatment.

READ MORE HERE :http://www.thepalmspringschiropractor.com/blog/organic-food-part1/?utm_term=Palm+Springs+Chiropractor&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Did you know that one of the most stressful aspects of living in modern life is dealing with the problems that arise after an auto accident? Were you also aware that some auto accident injuries are hidden and are seldom detected for months or even years? As a result, two things can occur when an injury is not taken care of properly, or the accident victims settle their case with the insurance companies before getting evaluated from a Doctor trained in soft tissue injuries.

… This Could Be A Big Mistake.

Why? Because once you settle your case, you lose the right to have your insurance company pay for treatment if you need it. A good rule of thumb is to be informed of your rights and then make a decision. It is our position that if you were indeed injured, you should get the care you need to get you back to the way you felt and functioned just before the accident.

It is not the responsibility of the insurance company to pay for anything more than that. They are not responsibile for pre-existing injuries; only the injuries sustained from the accident. Even if you are just sore, you should get checked out immediately because you may experience pain, numbness, headaches, muscle stiffness, fatigue, and other problems including arthritis many months down the road. Remember, nothing is more important than your health, especially when you start to lose it.

Here’s where the problem begins… Most people who suffer from an auto accident have one thing on their mind: their automobile!

Common questions include:

• “Who is going to fix my car?”
• “What will I drive in the mean time?”
• “Will my insurance rates go up?”
• “Who is going to pay for it?”
• And the last thing on their mind is: “Am I Really O.K.?”

Not only are auto accidents an inconvenience and a hassle, a common redundant complaint of auto accident victims is that they don’t feel like their normal selves. You may also be experiencing obvious pains and symptoms like muscle stiffness or spasm, neck pain, headaches, numbness and tingling, back pain, difficulty sleeping, irritability, memory loss, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and many other difficulties. Or worse than that, you may be injured and feel nothing at all.

Either way, did you know that auto accidents can cause post-traumatic osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis can ruin your posture (giving you a slumped or hump back appearance). Osteoarthritis can cause the discs in your spine to degenerate and create scar tissue formation leading to chronic stiffness and the inability to move properly.

As a matter of fact…

• Most Doctors Are Not Trained In The Detection Of These Hidden Injuries…
• If you have been in an auto accident, you need a doctor who is trained in the biomechanics of the human body; someone who treats these injuries every day.In addition,x-rays can be taken to find out if there has been any structural damage. In our office, we evaluate auto accident victims and make any appropriate referrals to other health care providers if needed.
• Our primary responsibility is giving you the care if you need It, and submitting the required medical reports to the insurance company so your rights are protected.If we can’t help you, we will refer you to a doctor or facility that can.

If you have been in an auto accident recently, there are some important decisions you have to make, and if I were you, I’d make these decisions very carefully.

• Q: Should I See An Attorney Before I See My Chiropractor?
  A: It is important to get checked out by the doctor first. That way the findings from your exam will allow you the information you need in order to decide if an attorney is necessary. If necessary, we can refer you to a reputable and qualified attorney.
• Q: What If My Car Sustained Only Minor Damage?
  A: Documented studies done by Charles Carroll, M.D., Paul McAtee, M.D. and Lee Riley, M.D. revealed that: “The amount of damage to the automobile bears little relation to the force applied to the cervical spine (neck) of the occupants.” 

  In other words, the damage to the passengers is not necessarily directly related to the damage to the vehicle.

   

• Q: If I Need Treatment For This Injury, Do I Have To Pay For It Myself?
  A: No, only in very rare circumstances does the patient pay for his care as he goes. Our office provides care “on credit” when patients are represented by an attorney. Some car insurance policies have what is called “Med Pay.” This means that medical bills will be paid at 100% up to a certain limit. My office can assist you in obtaining this information. 

  Using your medical coverage should not raise your premiums.

• Q: The Insurance Company Has Been Calling Me And Wants To Settle,What Should I Do?
  A: Do not sign or settle until you have had us evaluate your injury for you. If you settle before your injury is fully resolved, you will be completely on your own and will have to pay out of pocket for your care. 

   

• Q: I’ve Been To The Hospital And My Medical Doctor, Do I Really Need to See a Chiropractor?
  A: You need a doctor who focuses in the treatment and diagnosis of auto accident injuries. Usually hospitals will check vital signs, make sure there are no life-threatening conditions and release the patient with pain relief medication. They normally do not treat the underlying improper musculoskeletal biomechanics that can and often do lead to future pain. If you are still having problems, you should get a second opinion. 

  If your M.D. has given you pills, you must understand that pills do not correct structural or soft tissue damage. There are special therapies designed for that, and we offer these modalities at our office.

• Q: Does Your Care Hurt?
  A: Absolutely not. The care is very gentle and quite soothing. Most patients can hardly wait to get their care.
• Q: Is The Care Safe?
  A: Yes, extremely. Particularly when compared to the side effects from medication. I urge you to go to the patient testimonial tab to get a feel for what you can expect.

We all know the feeling. Staying up all night in bed, dreaming of the shuteye you are not getting. Figures reveal that above 40 percent of Americas grapple with falling asleep or experience some form of a sleeping affliction.

The reality is that sleep is central to our health and key to daily performance. Without a decent night of sleep to recoup the body, you’re stuck with a restless and hazy disposition tomorrow. As it goes, there are many elements that can affect whether we sleep or not: startling noises, erratic thoughts, jumpiness, and many other factors.

A lot of chiropractors have employed various approaches in addressing people’s sleep complaints and syndromes. Prior to contacting the doctor, here are some tips for you to take into account to fall asleep more smoothly:

• Forgo caffeine in the day. Caffeine revs the nervous system and forces you to be more awake. Indulgent amounts of caffeine causes turbulence and may increase your heart rate, making you stay up when you’re sleepy. But in case you can’t resist your daily doses, make sure you’re drinking the same amount of water as you’re drinking coffee (provided it’s your treasured beverage).
• A great time of the day to exercise is soon after you wake up. Focus on finding time to exercise before work so you can use the treadmill, or go outside. Getting active in the evening is not endorsed, but if you have no other option during the day, ensure that it’s at least three hours before you go to bed. Energetic movement hikes up your heart rate, and you won’t be able to sleep.
• Make an effort to sleep and get up at around the same time each day. When you create a pattern of a regular sleeping routine, your body follows the cue and knows when it should seek some Z’s. People with fluctuating sleep schedules usually do not get proper sleep.

Most significantly of all, besides all of this, is to set a relaxing ambience, from the place you’re resting to that which you are resting on. It might be news to learn that one of the main influences on erratic sleep is experiencing bed or/and pillow discomfort. Experiencing discomfort from your mattress can, in addition to keeping you from getting deep, necessary sleep, over time it can give you chronic shoulder, back, or neck pain.

READ MORE :http://www.thepalmspringschiropractor.com/palmsprings-sleep-restfulness/

You’re having a baby! Congratulations! Though you might have found out recently, or be coming close to delivery, you’re probably experiencing many physical changes and discomforts. Low-back pain is an extremely common complaint for pregnant women, at all stages of pregnancy. In fact, more than half the population of pregnant women goes through a period of low-back pain at some point. The causes are primarily hormonal changes and a shifted center of gravity.

Many women will be surprised that they feel back pain so early in their pregnancy. Progesterone, a hormone produced early in pregnancy, is responsible for much of this low-back pain. This hormone, which is essential to embryo implantation and gestation, softens the ligaments and disks in your back as well. This reduces the support required by your upper body, often resulting in muscle spasms and cramps in your lower back.
Further on in your pregnancy, your body increasingly produces the hormone relaxin. This hormone is essential to labor and delivery; as the name implies, relaxin relaxes the joints in your pelvis, which enables the baby to pass through the birth canal with ample room. However, the hormone can lead to inflammation and pain in your other joints, as it may cause other joints in your body to move abnormally.

Several changes resulting from the growth of your fetus can contribute to low-back pain. As your uterus expands from the growth of your fetus, your abdominal muscles are pushed beyond their usual limit, in order to accommodate the surplus growth. This effectively keeps your abdominal muscles from helping to support proper body posture, transferring the additional weight from your torso to your lower back.

As you carry your child to term, your center of gravity undergoes significant change. On average, a woman will gain 7-8 pounds of weight from the baby itself, 1-2 pounds of placenta, 2 pounds of amniotic fluid, and 2 pounds that can be attributed to uterine tissue. The outcome of all this extra weight is that the center of gravity shifts forward, putting still more strain on the lower back.
Back pain is a serious issue, however common it might seem in pregnancy. Talk to your healthcare provider if you experience any low-back pain, to be confident that you are not suffering from an undiagnosed, deeper condition. Dull backaches, felt low and in rhythmic intervals, might indicate labor. Many women have “back labor,” which just means that they feel the labor in their back. Another possibility, if you suffer from severe back pain, particularly if accompanied by a fever, may be infection.

There are many things you can do to prevent and manage low-back pain while pregnant:
Exercises that focus on stretching, like pelvic tilts.
Standing straight and tall, maintaining your shoulders down and back, and aligning your buttocks under — all the elements of proper posture.

Try not to stand for extended periods of time, though, if that is unavoidable, you can take some of the strain off by elevating one foot on a small object like a box or step stool.
Try placing a small pillow behind your lower back while you are sitting.
Beware of high heeled shoes! Flat shoes with adequate arch support are a much better choice.
For a little extra support, find maternity pants with a wide elastic band that you can wear under the belly.

You can find maternity belts, or girdles mean specifically for expecting women in healthcare and maternity stores. You may also find that your insurance company covers such a purchase when prescribed by your healthcare provider, so check in with them.
Keep a pillow between your legs at night, sleeping on your side. Also, if possible, use a firm mattress that supports your back better than softer ones.

You might try using a maternity pillow, a specially designed pillow for pregnant women that can alleviate some strain in your back.
Remember the adage: lift with your legs and not with your back. Of course, try not to lift heavy things at all.

Rather than carrying a single big load, divide larger bundles into smaller, manageable portions.
Keep fit! If your healthcare provider thinks it’s wise, try walking or swimming.
See if you can find a trained pregnancy masseuse. You might discover that your partner or friend can provide adequate relief with gentle rubbing or kneading on the sore spots on your back.
Warm compresses can be effective. A heating pad set to its lowest point, an adequately warm bath, or arranging yourself on your hands and knees in the shower to direct warm water at your lower back, may all offer relief.

Look into chiropractic care, which is considered safe and may benefit many women — of course, discuss this possibility with your doctor first.
Also look into acupuncture treatment — again, only after consulting your doctor.
Acetaminophen — the active ingredient in Tylenol — is a painkiller safe for use by pregnant women.

Naturally, you won’t find a “magic cure” that will instantly relieve your back pain, whether you go to a chiropractor or not. On your search for a treatment option that leads to a pain-free life, you are in charge of your decisions. As oftentimes back pain is the result of discrete moments of strain or injury, you may discover that it takes weeks to discern a change in your conditions, so you must remember to be patient.

No matter what the individual symptoms of your pregnancy are, make sure to note all the details in your changing physical condition. Don’t let anything unusual just slip by your attention that you would have ignored in normal circumstances — remember, you have to worry for two, now. Especially for first-time mothers, get ready to experience dramatic, surprising changes to your body, regardless of how much research you’ve done. This is to be expected. Stay focused on your body, treat low-back pain seriously, and take pleasure in the process of being an expectant mother!

Read More http://www.thepalmspringschiropractor.com

Lower leg disorders resulting in CA leg pain, range from the benign to life threatening. You can narrow down the the list of leg disorders you may be suffering from if you’ve had a history of trauma, overuse, of disuse of the legs. A signal of deep vein thrombosis, specifically in senior patients, is leg pain in Palm Springs, specifically in the calf region. Although thrombosis is quite serious, it is not always easy to discern, since it can be mistaken for trauma swelling or muscle strain.

Leg pain is common among athletes who exercises frequently. Strain in the calf muscle from biomechanical imbalances at the foot level causes the leg pain.

Your Chiropractor, Dr. Dennis Spurgin DC, will perform a thorough history and examination including orthopaedic, neurological testing and diagnostic radiography to determine the true cause of your leg pain. A personalized treatment regimen will be developed by the chiropractor specifically for you.

CA infantile colic is defined as a well, thriving infant who has crying bouts that last for three hours per day at least three days per week for three weeks. Infantile colic has many theorized contributing factors, such as food allergy or intolerance, excessive gas, and abnormal peristalsis.
Infantile colic starts occurring when an infant is one or two weeks old and is at its height at about six weeks. Infantile colic usually stops when the baby is about 2-3 months old. About 20-30% of infants are colic babies. Symptoms of infantile colic in Palm Springs usually emerge at the age when the parents have become stressed and tired from sleep deprivation, and occur at the end of the day. It should come to no surprise that the parents feel dejected and discouraged from caring for their colicky infant.
During your initial visit, the chiropractor, Dr. Dennis Spurgin DC, will administer a thorough examination to diagnose the severity of infantile colic in your baby. Then your chiropractor will develop a specific plan of management tailored to your infant’s case.

We see a lot of knee injuries in chiropractic care, or people who suffer from knee pain. The chiropractor frequently gets a lot of patients seeking alternative relief from knee pain instead of going to an orthopaedic doctor. A chiropractor, when treating a patient for knee pain, will conduct an evaluation; testing for any spinal or pelvic involvement, in addition to knee dysfunction.
The knee is one body part that is basically open to attack from various factors and can suffer from the following, all causes of knee pain:
1. Injuries caused by impact
2. Exterior blows to the knee
3. Dashboard related afflictions
4. Falls that directly hit the knee
Injuries to the soft tissue, producing knee pain, are indicative of either overuse or misuse. Commonly seen in a chiropractor’s office are:
1. Sportsperson with front knee pain.
2. Elderly person with knee pain and stiffness.
3. Youthful athlete feeling tenderness over the tibial tuberosity.
4. Person complaining of knee instability.
A conservative methodology to knee pain treatment is the first approach taken. A combination of non-invasive therapeutic measures will often relieve knee pain. These include: chiropractic adjustments, applying heat or cold, exercises to strengthen muscles that support the knee and refraining from activities that may worsen knee pain.
Pre-treatment procedures your chiropractor will perform are a complete orthopaedic and neurological testing and diagnostic x-rays to identify the real cause of your knee pain. Having done all these, he will create a plan of management tailor-made specifically to your case.