Are you experiencing neck pain and have grown tired of dealing with it, then a Charlotte neck pain doctor may be able to help you. The doctor will have experience with patients who deal with pain in their neck as you do.

Often, after an accident, you may experience neck pain. Pain can be caused by automobile accidents when the sudden crash can cause a whiplash. Other reasons you may experience neck pain can be due to a slip, fall or it can be cause by some as simple as poor posture. No matter what the cause, you will want to find relief and this is what the neck pain doctor can provide for you.

Pain can be relieved through the process of chiropractic manipulation of the spine. The Chiropractor is able to make a spinal adjustment realigning the bones and healing the muscles in the process. Once the bones are in proper alignment and are no longer pressing on the nerves, the healing process will begin and the pain will subside.

If the vertebrae in your neck are not in proper alignment, then you may experience many problems including headaches. Most of the time if you relieve the neck pain the headaches will go away.

Chiropractic care for neck pain is a non-invasive treatment. Chiropractors do not use surgery in their treatment and also avoid the use of drugs. Many persons find that they have pain relief with the first session seeing the doctor. In order to remain pain free and facilitate healing, they will return on the schedule the doctor gives. Once the neck has healed, they may not return until there is another injury.

The Charlotte neck pain doctor can help you to overcome your neck pain quickly and without adding to your pain. If you are tired of suffering from the pain, call the doctor.

About the author: Dr. Robert Simmons is a charlotte chiropractor using applied kinesiology technique. For more information attend one of our free charlotte chiropractic nutrition lectures and workshops.

People all over the world are interested in losing weight, especially in America. If you live in North Carolina and are interested in Charlotte weight loss, there are several methods to be successful. The first thing you should realize is that you can lose weight the natural way by yourself and you may want some help doing it.

Losing a few pounds naturally can usually be achieved if you cut down on your intake of calories and/or increase your amount of physical activity. If you’d like some help, many people take diet pills and supplements and often enlist the help of a nutritionist or health club, etc.

You can find in Charlotte medically supervised weight-loss clinic that can help you get on the road to your weight loss. At these locations, your needs will be evaluated and then a specific program will be designed with you in mind to help you lose weight and reach your goal. There are also several weight loss options in Charlotte.

An easy way to locate a clinic is to perform a search on the internet. This search will give you a list of several clinic and health and fitness clubs which may be able to help you. Most of the programs will cost a fee; this fee will vary on the programs specifics. You can also look in the business section of the yellow pages for a clinic and/or the local news paper.

If you can, get some references from people who have used the clinic and their programs. If you lose weight quickly it can be dangerous. It would be a good idea to seek out some professional medical advice before starting your new program. You can do more harm than good to your body if you do not follow the proper procedures to lose weight effectively.

Author: Dr. Robert Simmons is a charlotte chiropractor using applied kinesiology reflex testing. Come to one of our free charlotte chiropractic nutrition lectures or workshops.

Today let?s talk about the barrier that is in the way of getting us to living a healthier lifestyle. On television you will see various infomercials about weight loss, juicing and other topics. At the grocery store you can?t walk down the aisle without seeing the all natural or organic products. Change is the one thing that all of these potential improvements require.

Change is difficult for everyone. We are creatures of habit. Getting up at the same time and going through the day, performing the same tasks. To get a different result your daily habits have to be altered.

As a chiropractor, I know the utmost importance of having the ability to change. If someone needs a lifestyle change in diet or exercise, the success of their healthcare plan will be based primarily on the amount of change they are willing to implement.

Change can be obtained by breaking out of the boundaries that you have set for yourself. Let?s take a moment and observe what how you think of yourself. Do you foresee yourself achieving certain goals? Are you capable of losing 20 pounds? Can you be the person that makes healthier purchases and prepares healthier meals?

Boundaries are limitations that you set for yourself. They can be a reflection of how you see yourself. Make positive statements out of your goals. For example, I will take my supplements today and not buy any fast food. You will be programming yourself for success. Make small changes in your life.

Select one area to improve. If you need to exercise, starting with just one to 2 days per week is moving towards your goal. Remember that success in any area is a process and that perfection is an unachievable goal. After all, have you ever met anyone who is perfect? Forgive yourself when you fail and then begin again. Expanding your personal boundaries leads to change and improves personal relationships, health, work and goals you wish to achieve. It’s time for a change!

About the author: Dr. Robert Simmons is a charlotte chiropractor using applied kinesiology technique. Attend one of our free charlotte chiropractic nutrition lectures or workshops.

As you know, technology has been a great help. Technology can help us organize our lives, it provides a second brain. The alarms and reminders we set can release some stress of remembering the when and where of daily tasks.

Let’s go ahead and look a common scenario. You have decided that you need to do some work at the computer. You need to start the computer, but you don’t want get out of the chair and squat down. You bend forward and twist down enough to reach the switch on the computer tower. This movement puts the discs in the low back at their weakest and most vulnerable point. Think about the stress on the low back if you do that movement often.

You now open you document and are ready to start typing. The keyboard is what most people are looking at when they are typing. This bends your neck and head to the forward position. This is the opposite of what direction your neck curve is designed to be in. Then, what I call ?the black hole? develops.

After a short time people actually look like they are getting sucked into the computer screen. The shoulders begin to slump and the head moves forward towards the monitor or screen. For every inch that your head moves forward, there is 25 pounds of additional stress placed on the neck and spine.

The stress now increases because you may stay in this position for hours. In addition to this most people who use computers will do this on a regular basis. We also need to add in the motion of the chair. Now that almost all office chairs have wheels, people don’t actually get out of the chair when bending and twisting.

Your printer might be positioned off to the side. So, you might rotate the chair to the side and reach. This movement can place stress on the low back. If you are going from sitting to standing, you might rotate the chair and step out instead of back out and standing straight up. This scenario might sound familiar to you. There are things that can be done to reduce the stress on your body while at the computer.

First look at your workstation. The monitor should be at eye level and directly in front of the keyboard. Rotate the position of your printer periodically if you can. A great alternative to rolling your chair is to back your chair out from the desk and stand up straight. Just performing this task will eliminate a lot of stress on your body.

Always observe your hand and elbow position. It?s best to use a chair that has no armrest. This allows for your shoulder to relax instead of being pushed up. A good hand rest for your wrist is a great idea. Be sure to make your forearms parallel with the floor. You thighs should also be parallel with the floor when adjusting the height of the chair, this is very important also.

Remember to stand up and stretch every 30 minutes or so. Just getting out of the chair and stretching or walking around will allow your body extension time. All computer work is bending forward. This is called flexion. By standing, your are extending your body and releasing tension.

I am a Chiropractor in Charlotte, NC. I have found that these tips can reduce much of the stress at work and home while using the computer. A computer is a great tool, but improper usage can cause damage to the body. Follow these tips in this article and hopefully you will enjoy using the computer much more.

About the author: Dr. Robert Simmons is a charlotte chiropractor using applied kinesiology technique. Come to one of our free charlotte chiropractic nutrition seminars or workshops.

Complete Details about Cruciate Ligaments Cruciate Ligaments is divided in to two parts, namely Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Posterior Cruciate Ligament.  Anterior Cruciate Ligament It is attached to the tibia immediately anterolateral to the anterior tibial spine. Passes beneath the transverse ligament, blending somewhat with the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus, and runs posteriorly, laterally and proximally to attach to the posterior part of the medial surface of the lateral femoral condyle, Prevents the femur from sliding posteriorly on the tibia, prevents hyperextension of the knee and limits medial rotation of the femur when the foot is on the ground i.e when the leg is fixed The posterolateral bulk of the ligament is taut in extension, with the anteromedial band lax (and vice versa in flexion). Posterior Cruciate Ligament It is attached to the depression in the posterior intercondylar area of the tibia. Runs anteriorly, medially and proximally, passing on the medial side of the ACL to attach to the anterior part of the lateral surface of the medial femoral condyle, The PCL is shorter and less oblique in its course, as well as being almost twice as strong in tension, than the ACL Closely aligned to the centre of rotation of the knee joint and therefore may be its principal stabilizer. It prevents the femur from sliding anteriorly on the tibia, particularly when the knee is flexed. http://www.innerbody.com/image/skel05.htm

Low back pain is one of the leading causes of missed work days in the United States today. How we as a population learn to deal with this health crisis could make or break our delicate economy. Thankfully most Americans have found the best way to recovery and functionally return to a productive member of the work force.
Back pain is the leading cause of disability for Americans under age 45. Eight out of ten adults in the United States will experience a low back problem at some time in their lives. Most will have more than one episode of acute low back pain. One third will be disabled for more than two weeks because of back pain. With back problems so wide-spread, chances are, you too will experience back problems at some time.
Standard medical management of back pain includes a range of treatments depending on the severity of the problem. Painkillers and muscle relaxers are commonly prescribed. Bed rest, physical therapies such as traction, and hospitalization are sometimes used. When the condition doesn’t improve or even worsens, surgery may be performed. However, scientific investigation has proven, these approaches are expensive and often fail to produce favorable results.
The fact is, a 1994 report from the federal government’s Agency for Health Care Policy and Research concluded that chiropractic care is the safest, drug-free initial form of treatment for acute low back problems in adults. The study also recommended that for most patients, conservative treatment such as spinal manipulation should be pursued before surgical intervention is considered.
Evidence—and the experiences of millions of chiropractic patients—suggests that spinal manipulation is, in many cases, the most effective approach to reducing pain and helping recovery, especially within the first month of symptoms.
Even with today’s advanced diagnostic techniques, it is difficult to pinpoint the specific cause of low back pain in any one patient. Often, the symptoms are blamed on poor muscle tone in the back, muscle tension or spasm, sprains, ligament or muscle tears, or vertebral problems. Because our vertebrae protect the nerves which are channeled through the spinal column, even a small disturbance to the spine can profoundly affect delicate nerve tissue.
The scientifically accepted model for low back pain is now the functional model. This means that most experts agree that low back pain is usually caused by the bodies reaction to abnormal movements of the joint of the spine. The structural model that was previously used fell short in many cases. Cutting out or repairing a damaged component in the spine often did little to relieve the patients pain and often time made the problems worse due to scar tissue formation. Research show us that over 60% of the normal population has bulging damaged spinal discs, with no apparent symptoms.
The functional model is what chiropractors have been following since chiropractic was discovered over 100 years ago. As a madder of fact the main type of treatment that chiropractors use to treat low back pain is spinal manipulation which has bee used for centuries by cultures like the Chinese. So if you have low back pain you should give some serious thought to finding a quality chiropractor to treat you.

Feeling energetic and refreshed are keys to having a great day, and that often depends on how you slept the night before.  A fitful sleep can have noticeable effects like leaving you tired and sluggish the next day. Besides having a comfortable mattress and a lengthy rest, your pillow is also an important factor in getting a good night’s sleep.  A cloud pillow can help replace your nights of tossing and turning with quality rest and relaxation.

The hallmark of this unique pillow is that it conforms to your body’s natural needs.  Its shape is contoured to accommodate not only your head but also your neck, shoulders and back.  With standard feather pillows the weight of your head can sink down, which causes your spine to be out of line and can create stiffness and soreness.  This contoured pillow, however, keeps your body in proper alignment no matter how you move during the night.  The weight of your upper body is always evenly distributed, and no one joint or area suffers from too much pressure.  All you feel during the night is softness and comfort.

Traditional down or synthetic pillows can have uneven fullness, especially after they’ve gone through a few restless nights, but there are several materials that are being used to create these contoured pillows.  Memory foam is one product.  These pillows are made with layers so that the top layer of foam provides a soft, contoured cushion for your head while the other layers provide stability and comfort for the rest of your upper body.  Other pillows are made with special wool, buckwheat or modern inventions called air beads.  Regardless of the material, these sleep enhancers are meant to absorb your movement and flow with your body.

In addition to providing support for your body’s frame, contoured pillows have other benefits that help to get a good night sleep.  Whether it’s because of the material used or the design of the pillow, they usually allow for greater air flow around your head than traditional pillows.  This means your head stays cool and dry during the night no matter what position you sleep in.  Many pillows that are hypoallergenic or made of organic material can also be found.

Getting a cloud pillow could be the first step to getting a good night’s sleep.  The unique design allows one to fit to your body instead of the other way around, providing you with a comfortable, natural way to sleep.  When preparing for a great day, it’s important to start the night before in the comfort of your own bed.

Peter, 43, is an active man who prides himself on his fitness. He does a lot of jogging, cycling, yoga and of course plays active games with his 3 kids, aged 8, 11 and 13.

He was getting aware of a worsening pain in the lower back, which at times   seemed to spread into his buttocks and down his right leg. As a consequence that leg at times felt  weaker than usual, sometimes even numb.

These symptoms are typi­cal of a pinched nerve in the back. The nerves to the legs exit the spine in the lower back, so if they are pinched, pain, weakness or numbness in a leg may result. But how exactly does a nerve become pinched?

Our backs are made of many small bones called vertebrae, arranged in a vertical but S-shaped column. This shape helps in shock absorption and provides flexibility to our body, respectively back. Between one vertebrae and the next we have a soft cushion called a spinal disc. These disks also give our backs their flexibility and are an im­portant part in shock absorption.

But, as we get older, these discs may become damaged and bulge out or even rup­ture. At this point it is called a herniated or prolapsed disc. But if the damaged disc then begins to press on the spinal cord or nerves in the spine we can experience nerve pinching and pain which in severe cases can even lead to immobility.

In general symptoms like weak­ness, numbness or tingling are the result of nerve pinching. As this occurs most commonly in the lower back, to be precise in the area of the lumbar vertebra 4, 5 and sacral vertebra 1, the nerves to the lower limbs are affected, and hence that is where the symptoms are felt. The pain is often a rather sharp pain, sometimes it can also be felt as a dull pain and is called sciatica. This comes from the sciatic nerve which is mostly being pinched in this lower back when the described symptoms occur.

On examination we might find that a patient’s leg is weaker on the pain affected side and that the reflexes on this side are not as brisk. We would also expect that an area over the lower back where the nerve is pinched would be tender on touch.

Immediate therapy for sciatica includes rest, pain relief and avoiding ac­tivities that aggravate the condition. In order to relax the pain you can also take an anti inflammatory or a pain killer but you should as quick as possible see a therapist of your choice.

But what choices do you have?

Well there is of course your GP who will give you various options of pain treatment. Then there is physio therapy which might help given you are doing all the exercises on a regular basis for quite some time, even when you don’t feel the pain anymore. And chiropractic or osteopathic treatments which can be long and painful for your wallet and in some cases very traumatic for your body, depending how you respond to high velocity movement treatments and manipulation.

But now there is also a new treatment available called Dorn Spinal Therapy. This gentle but very effective treatment form comes from Germany and over there is now one of the most sought after treatment for any kind of back pain and for many people has proven to be the one and only treatment that has helped them overcome years of pain and unsuccessful treatments. Dorn Spinal Therapy is a holistic treatment which involves leg length balancing, balancing of the sacro-iliac area and alignment of the vertebrae. All in a non violent procedure and with very few treatment repetitions. For more information please go to www.backcaresolutions.net  Dorn Spinal Therapy is ideal when combined with massage therapy or any other treatments adressing muscular skelettal issues and the results speak for themselves. So why go to use drugs or other invasive treatments when there is a real alternative to fix a crook back.

A dull

Before we discuss low back pain treatments, let’s look at what is the main cause of low back pain. One cause of lower back pain can be nerves from the spinal cord irritated by a bulging or ruptured disc. This condition may cause buttock or leg pain, numbness, tingling or weakness in the legs. Degenerative changes in the vertebrae also can irritate or inflame delicate nerves in the spinal bones. The last cause is dysfunction of the normal movement of spinal joints.
At higher risk for low back problems are people in poor physical condition, and those with jobs that include heavy labor or long periods of sitting or standing. These people also recover from their back problems more slowly. Emotional stress or long periods of inactivity may intensify symptoms, or trigger recurrence of a previous problem.
The chiropractic approach to treating low back pain is to find the source of the problem and correct it, not just to treat the symptoms. By correcting the source of the problem, the body can heal naturally without nerve interference. Low back pain often responds dramatically to the restoration of normal position and motion of the spinal bones through chiropractic care.
The chiropractor’s primary tool in treating spinal malfunction is the use of manipulation or the spinal adjustment. By applying precisely directed force to a joint that is out of position or not moving properly it is gradually restored to a more normal position and function. Depending on each individual condition, the doctor’s hands or a special instrument may be used to deliver quick, therapeutic thrust to the affected joint. Other adjustments may require slow, constant pressure.
Your chiropractor may also recommend a program which includes exercises to strengthen and retrain back muscles, hot or cold compresses, massage, and even diet, stress reduction, and lifestyle modification.
When pain is severe, problems with your back can’t be ignored. “Stop pain” immediately goes to number one on your list. Falls, car accidents, sports strains, heavy lifting, or repetitive work may cause sudden damage, or damage may occur slowly over time. However, most problems are more easily treated within the first month symptoms are noticed.
While some patients seek chiropractic care only when pain is unbearable, this “crisis” approach often costs more in the long run in time, stress, and dollars. Long-standing problems that have been neglected for years can’t be cured with a single adjustment, any more than a single pill in a prescription can cure an illness.
Chiropractic care for low back pain has been proven to work. The sooner you seek professional care, the sooner you’ll find relief from your pain. Don’t continue to suffer.

Several studies have been completed and reported on the success rates of the treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain using the mechanized Spinal Decompression machine. One study recently appeared in May 2007 in Chiropractic and Osteopathy. It compared success rates from the use of a non-surgical intermittent mechanized traction machine with the use of TENS in relieving low back pain due to a herniated or bulging disc. First, to understand any study, you need a picture of the disorder and the chronic misery it causes. Back pain due to an injury or accident is the leading Workmen’s Comp injury and the main reason for disability in people under 45. The spinal column is made up vertebrae stacked one on top of another. Between each vertebra is a tough, fibrous cushion, called an intervertebral disc, which contains a jelly-like substance. These discs act as cushions absorbing shock and allowing the spine to bend, twist and turn. Healthy discs are thick, flexible and compress when pressure is put upon them, like a sponge. When there is an injury, the vertebra may shift out of alignment or compress the disc causing the disc to bulge or rupture, out the jelly like substance. This herniated disc or bulging disc causes pressure on the spinal nerves, resulting in pain, numbness, and may progress to decreased function in the affected arm or leg.It is also known as:• a pinched nerve• sciatica• a blown out disc• a slipped discThe protrusion of the disc or its core material not only causes pressure on the spinal nerves, it compresses blood vessels and interferes with circulation to the area. Deprived of nutrients and oxygen, the disc cannot heal, and, over time, flattens, becoming stiff and hard, just like a dry sponge. This condition develops into degenerative disc disease.Standard treatment has included:• Physical/chiropractic therapy• epidural injections (an injection into the epidural space of the spinal cord)• NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs)• Hot or cold packs with massage • Electrical stimulation (TENS)• Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression• Acupuncture • Surgery – as a final resort A treatment method that is gaining support is Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression, in which some studies show a success rate of 71% to 90%. An FDA approved machine, using a computerized program gently stretches the patient’s spine, slowly drawing the vertebrae apart, relieving pressure on the disc, allowing it to heal. Testing of the machine continues and a recent study compares treatment results of Decompression Therapy with that of the TENS ( Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) unit. TENS is a small unit which can be worn during therapy. This FDA approved treatment for back pain delivers low-volt electrical current to the affected area through electrodes. Its electrodes pierce the skin just deep enough to reach nerve fibers, usually 1 to 2 inches. It activates the body’s pain fighting mechanisms and may be used several hours a day. The StudyThe object of the study was to compare the effectiveness of the two treatment methods in relieving pain and improving mobility in patients with a bulging or herniated disc. Subjects were recruited through newspaper advertisements and had to meet several criteria for inclusion in the testing:• Disc protrusion or herniation confirmed by MRI (Magnetic Resonate Imaging) or CT scan (Computerized Tomography)• Low Back Pain for 3 months or more; could be associated with pain radiating to one or both legs. • Average duration of pain was 7.3 yearsThe study enrolled 44 patients; the average age was 42 years. The group was initially divided into 2 groups of 22 people each.• Spinal Decompression treatments consisted of 30 minute sessions, 5 times a week for 4 weeks. This was followed by once a week treatment for 4 additional weeks.• The TENS Group received treatment with a TENS unit for 30 minutes daily for 20 days. This was followed by a weekly treatment for 4 additional weeks.• Both groups were able to take anti-inflammatory and non-narcotic pain relievers. The ResultsThe outcome was measured by the 10 centimeter Visual Analog Pain Scale (VAS) and a disability scale. The disability scale rated the subject’s ability to perform their most affected activity on a 0 to 4 scale, with 4 being “could do an activity without limitation”. Success was defined as a 50% improvement in the VAS, showing the degree of pain relief. Any decrease in disability was given a positive rating. During the study, 4 subjects dropped out, leaving 19 in the Decompression Group and 21 in the TENS Group, a total of 40 participants.Conclusions:Spinal Decompression:• 13 out of 19 people (68.4%) showed improvement. • The 6 months follow-up showed 7 out of 19 people maintained their level of improvementTENS Treatment:• 0 out of 21 subjects showed any improvement. . Additional scientific studies are being planned or are underway now to demonstrate conclusively the treatment effectiveness of Spinal Decompression Therapy.