McKenzie Exercises for Low Back Pain Relief

People suffering from low back pain, specifically from herniated disks, might find temporary relief by doing McKenzie back exercises. These low back extension exercises utilize a light pumping action at the low back to help squeeze disk bulges back into the intervertebral spaces.

McKenzie exercises, unfortunately, do not work for everybody--in fact, possibly only ~ 50% of herniated disk low back pain sufferers will respond to extension (some respond better to flexion) movements. The only way to know is...to try. So gently get down to the floor (please work on breaking inflammation with several ice bag applications beforehand, otherwise you might not get back up without help), and push your upper torso upward, while leaving your hips on the ground. Do in a pumping action as demonstrated in the video.

Go slowly. If it is going to work, you'll feel the improvement rather quickly. You can try two sets of ten pumps, but if the pain gets worse after several pumps, discontinue the practice.

It is of utmost importance to call a chiropractor right away if you are suffering from severe low back pain (especially with numbness and/or tingling). But you can try these low back exercises to see if they provide any pain relief. Low back pain is no fun and it can linger--don't suffer; call your local neighborhood chiropractic office today.

49er Tight End Talks Chiropractic

V to the M#$F%# D

You know what makes NFL football players the smartest in all professional sports? It's their love and respect for chiropractic. That's right! Every NFL club has its team chiropractor, and from the beginning the San Francisco 49ers have led the charge.

Who doesn't remember Joe Montana getting adjusted before Superbowl XXIV? And Roger Craig? And Jerry Rice? Keeping in line with a long list of 49er greats, superstar tight end Vernon Davis is also a regular chiropractic client. Why, you may ask, considering that there are still a few Neanderthals that claim chiropractic is for suckers? Well in Davis' words:

[Chiropractic] helps me to go out and perform at my very best each and every week. So that's why I get the work done, because not only does it help, it makes it possible for me to stay healthy. I benefit by this by prolonging my career. This game is very brutal on your body--it can really tear you down. My experience with chiropractic care has taken me to a whole other level with my game, my performance on the field. I'm able to stay healthy and just play; play for a long time, and play till the end of the game.

Doesn't 'believe' in chiropractic

Yes, many other NFL greats have said the same--Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice, Ed Reed, Maurice Jones-Drew, and even last year's Superbowl MVP, Aaron Rodgers, whose father, Ed, is a chiropractor (booyah!)

So why are these multi-million dollar athletes choosing chiropractic to stay healthy and prolong their careers? If you don't get it by now...man, you may as well lay down your club and fossilize.

Watch the video of Vernon Davis speaking about chiropractic:

Chiropractic Client Ed Reed on Natural Health

Ed Reed, superstar free safety of the Baltimore Ravens has this to say about natural health care:

In the off-season, a few other guys and I work with Dr. Clayton Gibson and his antiaging program in Miami every day for four hours. We do acupuncture, chiropractic work, foot detoxes...

Have I told you Ed Reed is my favorite player in the NFL?

Uh...booyah!

Women Over 50: Health Choices

Ladies: Are you over 50 and considering a boob-reduction?  Hope you're healthy then, because a recent study shows that you're at an increased risk for infection. That's right. And on top of that, women over 50 also have a higher rate of wound-healing problems as compared to younger women, leading to a higher rate of repeat surgery to remove areas of dead skin (debridement). Something to think about if you're considering a slash to the sag.

The study conducted at Johns Hopkins University looked at 1,192 women who had breast reduction surgery between 1999 and 2009 and found that the post-surgery infection rate for women over 50 was 2.7 times higher than for those under 40. 

Researcher believe that the differences are due to age-related changes to hormone levels. Yes, of course! And the reason is that they found older women on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were less likely to have post-surgery infections. Further, women who had undergone hysterectomy or removal of the ovaries, both of which result in large decreases in hormone levels, had higher rates of infection. Accordingly, the study's authors conclude that doctors should investigate any factors that might effect hormone levels in women considering breast reduction surgery, and that hormone replacement therapy might be warranted in women with reduced hormone levels.

So why would I say "hope you're healthy?" Because health isn't simply which chemical or hormone we're missing. When the body is in a state of wellness, it's missing nothing. Why not instead encourage older women to do some things that might improve their health overall? Why not encourage younger women now to maintain their health to their best ability? 

Spoke to a lovely lady this evening in my practice who told me that she does what she does cosmetically because it makes her feel better about herself, which in turn, motivates her to do other right things for herself (like exercise and eat well, etc). While I certainly understand where she's coming from on an emotional level, I'd say it's somewhat illogical reasoning: You alter yourself through surgery so that you feel better about yourself, and then you exercise and eat well?

Ladies, your body is yours to do what you deem appropriate. But I assure you that by doing the right things:

• Exercising regularly
• Drinking lots of water
• Eating whole, natural foods
• Supplementing with vitamin D and calcium
• Visiting your chiropractor regularly
• Getting regular body work done
• Being aware of your body (through gyno checkups and breast self-exams)
• Minimizing alcohol and tobacco use
• Practicing safe sex
• Getting plenty of rest

...you should be healthy for years to come. And if you are in your fifties and pick up these habits now, your highly intelligent body will rebalance itself. If you don't feel better about yourself then, it's time for me to hang up my hands (sorry, I'm a chiropractor, and it's all I could think of...). At the very least, if you decide to get that breast reduction after all, you'll be in the best shape to handle the surgery.

Chiropractic Rehabilitation for Motorcycle Accident Leads to Rapid Recovery

This summer I was honored to be contacted by a dear friend who had just been involved in a horrible motorcycle accident. He was just coming out of his fifth surgery to repair a fractured femur (thigh bone) and tibia/fibula (shin bones) of his left leg. Through a combination of outstanding orthopedics and plastic surgery, the staff at Cedars Sinai had my friend patched up sufficiently to start a rehab program at my office. You can read his story here to get more of the fascinating details.

The program which I designed to get my friend back up and moving was a combined chiropractic, physiotherapy and neuromuscular reeducation, including extensive proprioceptive work to return balance and sense of position. We worked intensively for three months.  In that time we moved my friend from using crutches, to using a walking stick, to walking without assistance, to climbing stairs. Watch the video below to see his incredible recovery. You can see what is possible with the right care and the right frame of mind.

Rehabilitation following an automobile or motorcycle accident can return one to function and living a normal life. Watch the video to see evidence of this. I have marveled at the rapidity of recovery myself.

Irresponsible Drug Use the Common Theme

I was asked to say a few words about drug use, but not in the positive. Well darn-it, how could I resist? I'm guessing the request comes on the heels of my most recent posts on medical marijuana, of which I make no secret that I am in favor. But I wish to be very clear that my views on medical marijuana are not a condonation of recreational or irresponsible drug use. On the contrary, it's precisely because I am so against the irresponsible and dangerous use of drugs that I advocate medical marijuana. When compared to the heavy-duty narcotics and other pain pills that are doled-out indiscriminately by doctors, believe me, medical marijuana is a blessing.

First and foremost, I am a former drug abuser, so I full well know what it means to be addicted. And I also know the down-side to heavy and/or long-term drug use. I have done it all, you name it, but alcohol and narcotics were my main weakness. I was also addicted to nicotine. For twenty years I smoked a pack a day.

My experience with drugs and alcohol were not all bad, though--I certainly learned a lot. If nothing else I came to understand how drugs can consume your life, how they can distort your view of the world, and how they could damage relationships. I got to experience how they could kill your motivation and prevent you from achieving your full potential. I was also exposed to a dangerous, seedy side of life that was full of mistrust, deceit, theft and violence, not to mention legal ramifications that could end a life of freedom by landing you behind bars for a long time. Yeah, lots of disadvantages to drugs; but for me it was a valuable education that will probably serve me, and hopefully others, for the rest of my life.

Despite medical marijuana being classified a schedule 1 controlled substance--high potential for abuse, lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision, and no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States (not entirely true, but that's the definition)--it does have definite benefits. In my lifetime, I have seen it help HIV+ men keep from wasting away by giving them an appetite when they had none. I have seen it help cancer patients. One elderly couple, who are in their 90s, and whom I treat chiropractically, have shared their stories with me about the unrelenting pain they feel on a daily basis due to the cancer they each have; and how not even the Fentanyl* patches their doctors put them on would not bring relief. Only medical marijuana did that. That's right--these people, in their 90s, could only find relief from the intense pain they felt 24/7 by smoking a joint. They were not hippies; they had never had marijuana in their lives until they were sick with cancer. And it helped them. Duh!

Listen, drugs in and of themselves are not bad. They are helpful, even necessary, in many instances. I've needed the help of pain killers. An attack of acute appendicitis in 2006 showed me just how useful morphine could be (although not 100% effective, and highly addictive). Whether antibiotics, sedatives, pain meds or steroids, each have a short-term use; but too many doctors give them to people long-term, as an easy yet temporary fix, instead of looking for real, long-term and self-directed solutions.  And it's this that leads to serious problems.


Let me ask you a question. What do the following people have in common:

• Jimi Hendrix, John Belushi, Sid Vicious, River Phoenix and DJ AM?

They all overdosed on recreational drugs.

And how about these people:

• Elvis Presley, Keith Moon, Anna Nicole Smith, Heath Ledger and Michael Jackson?

They all overdosed on doctor prescribed drugs.

In both groups the common theme was an irresponsible use of the drugs. So regardless of whether a drug is illicit or legal, using it carelessly is foolish, and it can lead to illness or death.

That doesn't mean drugs are bad by any means. Worshiping and relying on drugs, however, is unwise. And that goes for medical marijuana too. But if a substance can help cancer patients, people with HIV and people that suffer from chronic pain, find relief, and maybe even help them survive (by increasing appetite), and that substance has low-risk side effects when compared to harder drugs like narcotics, then shouldn't we use them? Shouldn't we at least study them to see what medicinal benefits they might contain and do our best to understand them?

That's not me condoning drug use. I have lived both a life of drugs and a drug-free one--and I can say without a doubt that I prefer being straight, sharp and of clear mind. But I don't knock recreational drug use, either, if the user can do so responsibly. However, rehab centers and city morgues are filled with people who couldn't, and frankly, that could be you one day.  So if you value your life, it's better to stay clean.

That, however, is the farthest I will go with wagging a finger at society, because I know we can't both live in a culture where taking prescription drugs is considered 'normal', and expect others to not do so recreationally. That would be a fantasy.

*Fentanyl is a schedule 2 controlled substance--high potential for abuse, currently accepted medical use in treatment in U.S., and currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse of the drug or other substances may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence (not true of marijuana).  Medical cannabis (currently a schedule 1--see above) would be more appropriately placed in this category, and probably most appropriately as a schedule 3.

Montel: Israel Step Ahead in Med Marijuana Practice/Study

Montel Williams is back in the news.  The former Emmy Award winning daytime talk show host is praising Israel, not for its politics or Palestinian relations, but for it's medical marijuana practices.  What?!?!  You heard right, Montel, the patient rights activist, is in Israel on a fact-finding mission to learn about its medicinal cannabis practices. He is meeting with legislators, scientists and physicians.

Montel Williams was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1999 and has promoted alternative therapies in the past, like chiropractic (booyah!), but today it's medical MJ.  And he believes the U.S. can learn something from Israel.  "We need to get out of the dark ages and into the new ages," he told The Associated Press. "Not every patient can use cannabis, but for those who can--why deny it?"

In Israel, certain doctors can prescribe cannabis and even disperse them from their offices.  It is regulated, and many doctors prefer it as a lesser of evils when compared to narcotics for pain relief.  According to Itay Goor-Aryeh, the head of the pain management unit at the Sheba Medical Center in central Israel, "Those patients, if they do not get cannabis, they will get morphine-like drugs and other harmful drugs. I think that in many ways, cannabis is tolerated and is less addictive that morphine-based drugs."

Well, no duh!  Thank you Montel Williams for bringing this issue to the forefront and adding some credibility to the cause.  As a beneficiary of medical cannabis, Montel is in a perfect position to discuss the advantages of marijuana (and it's active compound, THC) in a serious and meaningful way.

Yes, Montel Williams, 55, says he has been taking cannabis on a daily basis.

"For me, there is nothing else that can do what it does," he said. "It helps me suppress my pain ... When I am not using cannabis I am thinking about my pain every 45 seconds."

And bravo to the Israeli medical profession for it's adoption of a benign yet advantageous drug that has much potential for pain relief, and maybe more.

I agree with Montel, the U.S. government could learn a thing or two from Israel in this regard.  If we don't start investigating cannabis as a pharmacological option, and instead we keep vilifying it, we may never know its full potential.  Fortunately, they are doing the research in Israel, so we may get our answers regardless.

Montel Williams is a hero to me.  He's been a champion for many of the same causes I have taken on in my own life, and for that I commend him.

Medical Monopoly Threatens Korean Health

If you want to get a sense of what's really wrong in health care today, look no further than the Republic of Korea (South Korea).  South Korea is currently a microcosm of the western world with regard to its health care policies, prejudices and oppressions.  Take the current persecution of chiropractic doctors and other health professionals not recognized by Korean law.

According to Dynamic Chiropractic:

A World Federation Chiropractic (WFC) press release dated June 30, 2011, the federation notes that the Korean Chiropractic Association, which once boasted upwards of 60 members, "is currently reduced to 17 members because of the hostile environment to chiropractic practice in Korea." According to the release, the two medical associations have been reporting chiropractors to the police for years and show no signs of letting up.

Sources in South Korea report that the Korean Medical Association (KMA) and Oriental Medical Doctors' Association (OMDA) are taking measures to rid the country of chiropractic and other alternative disciplines.  The associations are filing formal complaints against doctors of chiropractic and their clinics, and like in the U.S. decades ago, chiropractors are being jailed simply for practicing in accordance with their chosen profession.  Current KCA president, Dr. Taeg Su Choi, has been prosecuted five times since 2003.

Dr. Taeg Su Choi

Chiropractic came to Korea in the early 1990s, when Dr. Yong Serb Song, returned to his homeland from Palmer College of Chiropractic.  The founder and first president of the KCA, Dr. Song was convicted three times, while his son and daughter, fellow Palmer graduates Dr. Joonn-Han (Steven) Song and Su-Hie (Katrina) Song, have also faced prosecution.

Some convicted chiropractors, including Dr. Katrina Song, have appealed to the Constitutional Court, the WFC discloses.  Their argument has been that Koreans have a constitutional right to choose and receive natural forms of health care that relieve pain and suffering, and that chiropractors have a constitutional right to offer those services.  Freakin' amen and hallelujah!

This type of professional persecution is nothing new to American chiropractors, as many of our ancestors were jailed for providing the--gasp!--chiropractic adjustment.  Is anybody else amazed at how powerful a professional organization--like the AMA and KMA--can actually be?  I mean when otherwise upstanding citizens looking to help their fellow man by relieving pain and suffering are jailed, while medical mistakes that actually kill people, and pharmaceutical atrocities (like cooking books, manipulating data, putting out product that hasn't been approved) are turned the blind-eye, something's got to be seriously wrong.  Just incredible.

Chiropractors can help their Korean chiropractic brothers and sisters by donating to the KCA here.  Anyone else wishing to help can get more in formation and also donate here.  Let's not let another country go the way of the U.S. with a medical monopolization of health care.  Let the people have freedom of choice.

Hamstring Injuries Rampant in NFL Preseason

Hamstring pulls, strains and tears can be debilitating, and they are a common injuries in professional American football.  A recent study showed that more than half the hamstring injuries in the National Football League (NFL) were caused in the preseason, and not surprisingly, positions requiring the most sprinting activity were also the most often injured.

A ten year review (1989-1998) of injury data were prospectively collected by athletic trainers for every NFL team and recorded in the NFL’s Injury Surveillance System.  Over the ten years, 1716 hamstring strains were reported with more than half (51.3%) of hamstring strains occurred during the 7-week preseason.  The most commonly injured positions were the defensive secondary, accounting for 23.1% of the injuries; the wide receivers, accounting for 20.8%; and special teams, constituting 13.0% of the injuries in the study.

This study has a few implications: First, professional athletes that require significant sprinting in their sports--baseball outfielders, track and field, soccer, etc--would be wise to adopt a preliminary warming-up period even before the preseason (typically training camp) starts.  Perhaps a structured regimen over a period of one week where physical activity is started slowly, and combined with light stretching (yoga?), chiropractic and massage to decrease the amount of 'colder' full-on workouts that might precede the preseason. 

Second, the athletes themselves might want to take a half page or so from the off-season training book of NFL Hall of Fame receiver, Jerry Rice.  Rice was well known for his strenuous workouts between seasons, which likely kept him in the great shape that led to his playing in 189 consecutive games.  Now his regimen might be a little much for the average NFL player, but no doubt his dedication to his body kept him injury free--along with regular chiropractic care--for 12 years!  In the NFL?  Wow!

Finally, for the non-athlete or the weekend warrior--this study should show the importance of warming up before a run, a friendly softball game, or any other activity that includes sprinting of any sort.  Hamstring injuries are not fun--and they can be stubborn healers.  Be smart and warm up right, and hopefully you'll avoid the unpleasant experience of the strained hamstring.

*Symptoms of a pulled hamstring:

• Sudden sharp pain at the back of the leg during exercise--most likely during sprinting or high velocity movement
• Pain on stretching the muscle (bending forward with straight knees)
• Pain on contracting the muscle against resistance
• Swelling and bruising
• If the rupture is severe a gap in the muscle may be felt

Superbowl MVP Comes From Chiropractic Family

Aaron Rodgers, Superbowl MVP, was raised in a chiropractic family.  Booyah!  The Green Bay Packers quarterback was raised in Chico, CA, the son of Dr. Ed Rodgers, chiropractor.

Now we all know how many athletes use chiropractic to optimize their game and extend their careers, so it's easy for me to point out that chiropractic patients just function better.  Let's throw Rodgers into the NFL chiropractic club with:

• Joe Montana
• Jerry Rice
• Emmitt Smith
• Roger Craig
• Maurice Jones Drew

All 32 teams in the NFL have a team chiropractor (watch video below of Daniel Graham getting a game-time chiropractic adjustment)--think it works?  Heck yeah!  If you've been considering chiropractic, just know it's the health choice of champions.

*Congratulations again, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.

Good Doctoring is Certainty

Every month I teach a chiropractic re-licensing seminar on sports injuries, and every class I say,

Listen, it's so important, doctors, that you believe in what you are doing--to the degree that the patient believes you--because if either of you are uncertain, it'll be much harder for healing to take place.  Both the doctor AND the patient must believe in the treatment, and if only one believes, then it must be the doctor!

Reminds me of an experience my mother-in-law had regarding a wound that was having difficulty healing.  She was seeing a doctor in her home town who recommended a skin graft, but get this, he said, "It is probably not going to work, but it might."

When I had heard what he said, I asked my wife why her mother was following through with it.  She said her mother wanted to give it a try; she wanted to believe.  Did it work?  No.  Three grafts, three failures.  At the time, I was peeved that the doctor would approach things in that way.  Why would he even go through the procedure if he thought it wouldn't work?

After the third try failed, to his credit, he did recommend that she check out the NYU Wound Healing Center.  I decided to do some research on the Center, and what did I find right on their website homepage:

Under our innovative, comprehensive, and compassionate care system, healing is not just an outcome, it’s the expectation. This philosophy that every wound can heal is the focus of care at every level – from our wound clinic to the operating room to our research laboratories.

Duh!  I mean what the heck?  If the doctor doesn't believe the treatment will work, why would the patient?  Here, we're going to staple your eyelids shut and we'll check your hemorrhoids in a week...but it's probably not going to work.  Cha-ching!

The beliefs of both parties in the health care team are an important part of the healing process.  That is exactly why all healing-arts help some people some of the time, yet none helps all people, no matter how effective it is.  There is no such thing as 100% success rate in health care.

But the caveat is that doctors don't know which people they are going to help and which they are not.  So....it is imperative that doctors approach ALL patients as the ones they are going to help.  If you truly think you are not going to help any one person--and doctors, we have all had patients enter our practices that we knew we couldn't help--tell them so and refer them out!  How a doctor handles that patient, the one they know they can't help, is what really counts in the end.  Good doctoring is certainty.

My mother-in-law went to NYU and guess what?  Her wound healed.  Go figure.

Chiropractic Clients are Healthier

http://www.drnickcampos.com/

When it comes to healthy lifestyle behaviors, regular bodywork is right up there with good diet and exercise.  And in the realm of bodywork, nothing beats chiropractic for keeping people healthy and full functioning throughout their lifetime.

According to a 2000 wellness study,

Chiropractic patients ages 65 and older who were under chiropractic care for five or more years experienced 50 percent fewer medical provider visits than their comparable peers and spent only 31 percent of the national average for health care services.  The health habits of patients receiving maintenance care were better overall than the general population, including decreased use of cigarettes and decreased use of prescription drugs.

I hope Obamacare bureaucrats are paying attention. 

Dinner with the Doctor: Neuroplasticity.

Spent a great evening with clients a couple weeks ago, talking about the big thing in the neurological sciences today: Neuroplasticity, the ability of the nervous system to shape itself.  We had good food, some laughs (mostly at me) and a discussion about how people control their development in every area through their nervous system.


Neuroplasticity is an unconscious mechanism for most, but we all utilize it whether we do so to our advantage or not; and we are doing it all with the nervous system, particularly the brain.


I discussed how we habituate by doing the same unconscious actions repeatedly.  I also discussed how we can break old habits and create new ones neurologically by practicing some useful and interesting techniques. 



I will be writing much more on neuroplasticity in the future.  Just suffice it to say that our Dinner with the Doctor event in West Hollywood was a success.  With a little chiropractic, neurology and mind thrown in...and, of course, some olive oil...you've got the makings of quite an evening.  I'm glad my brain created it.

Black Swan+Chiropractic

Saw the film Black Swan last week (I know...I'm so December 2010), and it stimulated some thoughts on dance and chiropractic.  The latest thriller from one of my favorite film-makers, Darren Aronofski, is an outstanding piece on the human psyche under the self-imposed pressures of excellence.  But I'm not writing this as a film critique; instead, I want to talk about something that grabbed my attention immediately: the accurate portrayal of the physical demands of ballet, and interestingly, what the lead character, Nina, used to help her handle the rigors of her art--chiropractic!

Now let me start by saying that I could find nothing by googling "Black Swan+chiropractic," making me wonder if I had just imagined what I saw.  But...well, I did see Natalie Portman's character, Nina Sayers, getting her spasmed diaphragm released, a favorite therapy among some chiropractors.  And, for sure, I saw her get her ankles and feet adjusted.  I know I did, because it is a regular service I provide for my Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and West Hollywood chiropractic clients...so it caught my eye.

It was a fast scene, split second, easy to miss.  But because it's a treatment I do every day, I was like..."Wow!  A tibiotalar adjustment.  Cool!

But my exhaustive research brought up nothing.  Hmmm....Let me try, "Black Swan+physical therapy," and...there...it...was...hidden right under my nose (on IMDB no less, du-uh-uh-uh!):

"Due to a twisted rib injury, Natalie Portman had to receive physical therapy during filming. According to the director Darren Aronofsky, Portman is actually undergoing a real physical therapy session in one scene with the actual physical therapist."

OK, ok...physical therapist...performing chiropractic...something that profession, along with medicine, condemned as quackery only three decades ago.  Harumph...

Well I guess that doesn't take away from the fact that professional dance is grueling--a sport, similar to basketball in the types of moves a performer makes; similar in the stresses placed on the body. Professional dancers need regular bodywork, and for many of them chiropractic is the choice.

In fact, dancers are the professional athletes that have gravitated to my office the most for sports chiropractic care.  When the dancer's body aches or is acutely injured, nothing beats chiropractic to help him or her return to the stage.

I treat the dancers in my office with safe, effective chiropractic care.  Like other athletes, a professional dancer's livelihood depends on his or her optimally functioning body.  Nothing supersedes chiropractic in helping the body heal, musculoskeletally.  Nothing.

Black Swan is a great movie--check it out.  But keep your eyes open for the chiropractic treatments performed by a physical therapist; and remember, ballet and all other dance forms require an optimally functioning body for optimal performance.  Chiropractic is the right choice for dancers to stay healthy and heal from any injuries sustained in their grueling art.

Dance...chiropractic...of course.

Foot Dysfunction Captured on Tape

I often have to explain overpronation to a number of my Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and West Hollywood chiropractic clients.  I have finally found a video (please see below) that does a great job illustrating what happens to the feet during the gait cycle when overpronation is an issue.

Overpronation is an excessive turning out of the feet (to be more accurate for you doctors out there--pronation a combination of eversion, abduction and dorsiflexion).  Pronation is a natural movement that we all do (or are supposed to do, anyway) during the toe-off phase of the gait cycle (walking).  Pronation is necessary to launch off our big toe in order to take a step.

Overpronators, then, turn their foot excessively causing a chain of events occurring up the foot, leg and thigh, and eventually into the back, which can lead to excessive wear and tear on joints and cause pain.  Some common maladies attributable to overpronation are:

• foot pain
• plantar fasciitis (burning heel pain)
• tight calves
• shin splints
• knee pain
• meniscal tears
• tight iliotibial bands (leading to outer thigh and knee pain)
• tight hip flexors
• sciatica
• low back pain
• and more

The real way to correct overpronation, and thus prevent any of the above issues from becoming chronic and leading to breakdown, is the use of custom-made orthotics.  Despite a current trend toward believing (hoping?) that barefoot running is the solution to all foot dysfunction, low back pain, goiter, syphilis and every other malady of the modern world, I can assure you I have seen nothing better for resolving musculoskeletal problems caused by overpronation than orthotics (and, believe me, people have been trying).

Watch the video below to get a clear picture of what is happening during overpronation.

ADD: Pieces to a Puzzle

One of the biggest messages I try to put forth in this blog is that human beings are amazing self-healing, self-regulating life forms.  We operate under the laws of the universe, and as such, by obeying some very fundamental principles regarding life, our ability to experience great physical health and well-being is magnified.  It doesn't matter whether you have any particular genetic, anatomic or physiologic disposition--you can experience great health, as well as a fulfilling life, by observing basic principles.

This is as true for the "normal" individual as it is for the ADD-labeled person.  Whenever somebody comes to me with this or that problem, my first investigation as a doctor is to find out if they are observing the basics.  So that's what I want to finish off with regarding ADD.  It's of mega-importance that your ADD-labeled child is practicing the healthiest lifestyle possible.  But take note, and do not mistake this very crucial point: What I discuss here is NOT a treatment regimen for ADD.  I do NOT believe that an attention deficit is a disorder, therefore nothing needs treating, especially as we would think in a mechanistic sense.  Instead, what I put forth here will allow any child to thrive physically and mentally, because these are fundamental health principles.

There are no absolutes when it comes to health.  No one practice is more important than another--let's just get that straight right from the beginning.  Instead, health is like a puzzle, and each practice is a piece to that puzzle.  I will for brevity's sake only touch upon each puzzle piece.  If you want more, then I highly recommend reading my book, The Six Keys to Optimal Health.  In it you will find most of these points discussed in full detail, along with tips on how to best implement and maximize each practice.

First and foremost is diet and nutrition.  It should go without saying that good nutrition is paramount to a healthy functioning body, but I wonder sometimes.  Too many parents feed their children foods that are, well...suspect.  Here is a basic: foods should be whole and natural.  I'm not saying organic or hormone free or anything like that.  If that's what you prefer, awesome!  But what I mean is "not processed".  Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh meats and dairy, wholesome grains, minimal sugar, minimal fast food (or none at all, like my kids), and definitely, with no exception: NO SODA!

Soda consumption should be the biggest no-no for an ADD-labeled child.  No, I don't think soda causes ADD.  Soda is garbage for anybody, and that much sugar consistently cannot be conducive to mental sharpness.  Sad fact is that many parents will have to kick their own liquid garbage habit, too, if they want to keep their kids off it.

Next is exercise*.  Kids need to spend time playing and moving!  Period.  It is a standard recommendation for ADD-labeled kids to exercise often, and I couldn't agree more.  Get your kids moving everyday--that's what our bodies (and all life forms) are meant to do.  Don't try operating outside of universal laws and then also expect good health. *Check out this interesting article on children, exercise balls, and focus.

Next, bodywork.  If you haven't taken your ADD-labeled child to see a chiropractor, then you are doing them a great disservice.  Subluxations (misaligned and stuck vertebrae) are extremely disruptive to the nervous system and the mind.  I have seen hundreds of children go into a state of ease and calm following a chiropractic adjustment.  Time to learn more about chiropractic and give it a try if your knowledge and experience of it is limited.

**Throughout these posts, a regular reader and friend, has been kind enough to share her understanding and insight of primitive movement patterns and neurological development.  I am so fascinated and intrigued by this field of study that I intend to investigate it further.  She swears by its benefits, and I respect her knowledge and judgment.  I will keep you informed as I learn more.  Thank you K.O. 

Sleep is next.  But we could just as well call this rest and recuperation.  If your child is not sleeping properly, then they are aging faster and breaking down more quickly.  Sleep is essential to life.  Many metabolic and regenerative processes occur while we sleep.

And don't discount dreaming.  Although we still understand little about this ubiquitous function, I believe it has an important role in our mental brain states (no, I do not think dreams are symbolic).

If your ADD-labeled child is on Ritalin, then I would expect his or her sleep to be disrupted, particularly deep and REM sleep.  Think about that--it's just another way that these dangerous drugs can hurt your child.  If they are also hopped-up on soda...(sigh) heaven help them.

Next is minimizing toxins.  Lot's of things are toxins, but the ones I find most prevalent and damaging are...drum roll please...prescription and over-the-counter drugs.  Nothing wrong these meds periodically when needed, but as a society, Americans are way too over-medicated.  Just look at the Ritalin numbers: 90% consumed in the U.S.  Sad.

Finally is the mental health.  When it comes to your ADD-labeled child, they want what every child (and every person, for that matter) wants--love and acceptance for who they are.  So, again, help them find what they love--they know what it is, because they do it all the time.

Be it sports, be it music, be it socializing, be it fashion--find it, nurture it, and help them be inspired by it.  Pressuring your kid--directly or passively--is not going to help.  When a child senses that you are worried, frustrated, or disappointed, they know it; and trust me this only will add to their stress and inability to perform.  Let them know you love, honor and support them in whatever they love doing, and they will reward you by excelling.  No, they may never excel in school, but plenty of people live amazing lives that were not the result of traditional schooling.

There you have it--like pieces to a puzzle.  Each one important, but neither more-so than any of the others.  In fact, they work synergistically, but I'll leave that topic for you to read in my book.

Once again, I sincerely hope I've helped people facing some tough decisions regarding their own ADD-labeled child.  If I can have helped you see your beautifully unique and gifted genius in a new light, then I am pleased.  If I've influenced you to reject the dangerous chemical poisons that the ADD establishment wants to numb your child on, then I am honored.  If I've given you some ideas on how to inspire your child to be all that they can be, then I am utterly grateful that I could contribute.

Thank you for reading.

Stretching: Warm-Up or Lifestyle

A common question patients ask me is whether stretching should be done pre- or post-workout.  My very unsatisfying answer is, "It really doesn't matter."  I get the gist of the question, but I think there is a misconception that stretching is a warm-up exercise.  No doubt one could stretch to warm up, but it wouldn't necessarily be my first choice.

I usually tell my Los Angeles chiropractic clients that stretching is better suited as a lifestyle activity; consider it an exercise unto itself.  So in that regard it would be the same as lifting weights to warm up--you could certainly do it, but again, it wouldn't be my first choice.

I think the misconception of stretching as a warm-up started several decades ago, probably well before my youth; but I certainly remember playing sports in PE class and doing forward bending stretches beforehand.  Ah yes, the bouncy toe touch...remember those?

And the best is that a study came out several years ago showing that pre-event stretching has zero benefit in preventing sports injuries.  Sigh.  Yes, tell that to the PE teachers.  For more on why stretching is a poor warm-up, please read this article.

Stretching is best when adopted as a daily routine.  Because it is an eccentric contraction, it takes strength along with flexibility to stretch, so it will require energy.  You will sweat, too--probably why some people consider it a good warm-up.  But frankly, cold stretching could actually lead to injury--something not uncommonly seen in my chiropractic office.  So I actually think stretching warrants a warm-up.  Sure, yoga classes start with some light stretching and movement to warm-up--sun-salutations and such--but understand that most classes ease you into the full-on stretches.  I'd advise you do the same.

If, however, you are looking for a quick warm-up before a sporting event, try jogging in place.  There are many variations, and I'd suggest checking out this article for a great picture showing how.  Light jogging can also be a good warm-up, but leave the sprint for the end of the warm-up.  Make sure your blood is flowing nicely before running vigorously--again, you want to decrease your injury risk.

Stretching is exercise, plain and simple.  I believe that if you would have time for only one exercise, it should be some form of stretching.  Stretching brings flexibility, strength, balance, and if done right, even cardiovascular benefits.

So, in my book, stretching is a lifestyle.  I do it every day and I recommend that for everybody.  Can you use it to warm-up?  Sure, but I'd just as soon jog in place.  And I warm-up a bit before doing any serious stretching, anyway.  It's your call on the warm-up; but for overall health and fitness, stretching is your best bet.

TMJ Syndrome Pain Relief

TMJ syndrome is a painful condition of the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint).  Many people suffer from TMJ syndrome without even knowing it.  They may have neck pain; they may have headaches; they may have no pain at all, but an annoying clicking and popping of the jaw.

TMJ syndrome does not have to be a chronic condition, though.  I treat many people with TMJ syndrome in my Los Angles, Beverly Hills, and West Hollywood chiropractic clinic.  To see how I might treat someone with this painful jaw condition, please watch the video below.

For more information on TMJ syndrome--it's causes as well as it's solution, please read the article here.