My Blog

Plantar Fasciitis

5/24/2011 10:25:00 AM

Foot pain is one of the most common conditions in people who stand for work or are recreational runners. Many people are not aware Chiropractic care is often a very effective treatment for foot pain and problems.

One of the most common conditions seen in runners is plantar fasciitis. It is estimated that 10% of runners are prone to plantar fasciitis. Often a heel spur is seen with the condition. The heel spur is a bony projection from the heel bone or calcaneus. Heel spurs are seen in about half of persons with plantar fasciitis and in about 10-27% of the general population. A heel spur is an indication of long term irritation of the plantar ligament and not directly the cause of the problem. The heel spur itself is not located on the weight bearing part of the heel and does not directly cause pain. Plantar fasciitis is generally considered episodic in nature and more people can recover with rest and conservative care (including Chiropractic care).

Plantar fasciitis is most often seen as a sharp heel pain on the botton and inside of the foot. The pain is often the worst first thing in the morning or after a period of extended sitting. The condition may be seen in people with either high or flat arches.

It is important to seek treatment quickly with plantar fasciitis. Here is a list of treatments that can help alleviate plantar fasciitis with your Owasso chiropractor.

Graston Technique
ultrasound therapy
exercises and stretches
gait training (this is addressing the way you walk or run)
cold laser therapy

Here are a few tips and things that you can do at home to help

Use a frozen water bottle and roll it back and forth on your foot for 15 minutes several times a day
Stretch your calves and the soleus

SOLEUS STRETCH CALF STRETCH

3. Take a week break from the offending activity

If these do NOT resolve your problem make an appointment to have your foot evaluated by your Owasso chiropractor, Elite Performance & Rehabilitation

Sciatica Owasso

5/11/2011 5:49:00 PM

The condition known as sciatica refers to enduring pain in the sciatic nerve — a nerve that goes from the lower back, down to the buttocks, and into the lower legs. It’s the longest nerve in the whole body, traversing a wide distance from the lower back to the lower legs. This important nerve causes us to have feeling in our legs and feet by adjusting the muscles in the lower legs.

Sciatica, a form of lower-back and leg pain, affects many people, though they often don't understand it. Instead of grouping all nerve pain into a general diagnosis of sciatica, in actuality it refers to a set of particular symptoms. Those who are most susceptible to reporting sciatica symptoms tend to be between 30 to 50 years old. It is most often associated with progressive damage, the typical “wear and tear” to the lower spine structure. Sciatica is usually not the result of an injury.

What are the Symptoms?
Pain along the pathway of the sciatic nerve — reaching from the lower back to the lower part of a leg — is the most often reported symptom. Even so, there is a great range of symptoms related to sciatica; it all depends on the location of the affected sciatic nerve. The pain can be felt in a number of ways: a burning feeling, tingling sensation, weak feeling in the muscles, a dull ache, or numbness. Usually, only one side of the body is affected. A prickly feeling, usually in the foot, is another symptom that people often report.

The discomfort and pain associated with sciatica often starts slowly, and increases over time. It is exacerbated by flu-related symptoms such as coughing and sneezing, as well as after sudden movements such as turning and bending after sitting for extended periods.

The Diagnosis of Sciatica
Your medical profile must be thoroughly evaluated by a doctor in order to determine if you have sciatica. It begins with a review of your medical history. Your doctor of chiropractic proceeds to ask for a physical and neurological exam, exams in which the focus is on your legs and spine. Give an accurate description of the pain, from when it began to how bad it can get to how to alleviate it. Performing basic activities in front of your chiropractor to test your reflexes, muscle strength and sensory response, might also be required. Among other simple activities, your doctor may wish to see you alternately raise each leg up while you are lying flat on an exam table.

In certain cases, diagnostic imaging in the form of a MRI, X-ray, and/or CT scan may be recommended. These are useful methods for determining whether there is a more serious condition at play (infections and tumors, for instance). If a patient shows no signs of improvement or shows symptoms that are more intense, these tests can be useful in the process of diagnosis.

Sciatica Treatment Options
Most sciatica patients who undergo regular, conservative care are responsive to treatment. Bearing in mind that sciatica is symptomatic, the treatment suggested will vary — according to the root cause of one’s condition.

The choice of chiropractic care provides non-surgical, drug-free treatment. Chiropractors concern themselves with the health of the spine. They repair the area and alleviate inflammation and pain, hoping to keep everything functioning normally. Various causes of sciatica dictate the use of various treatments. Some methods rely on various treatment methods, such as ice/heat therapy, rehabilitative exercises, and spinal adjustments — to name a few.

How to Prevent Sciatica
Taking care of your back and protecting your spine will often keep the symptoms of sciatica from appearing. These can help:

Regular exercise
Not smoking
Maintain good posture
Healthy weight and diet
Attention to body mechanics when lifting weight
Keeping active

As previously stated, sciatica is related to symptoms along the sciatic nerve. To determine what treatment options are best for you, you will experience an evaluation of your symptoms, medical profile, and lifestyle. For more information on sciatica care and treatment approaches, contact your Owasso chiropractor. Then you can find the best options for treatment for your lifestyle.

Knee pain Owasso

4/15/2011 3:02:00 PM

Plica syndrome

Plica syndrome is knee pain due to injury or overuse. The diagnosis can sometimes be difficult, but if this is the source of your knee pain, it can be easily treated.

Plica is a term used to describe a fold in the lining of the knee joint. This lining is made up of synovial tissue that lines all joints. There are four synovial folds found in the knee, but only one seems to cause problems. This structure is called the medial plica. Medial plica is found on the inside of the knee that runs from the kneecap and runs sideways to the inner thigh bone.

Plica causes problems when it’s irritated over a long period of time by repetitive motions, kneeling, running, or biking can irritate the medial plica and cause plica syndrome.

Symptoms of plica syndrome:

1. Pain on the inside of the knee

2. Snapping sensation along the inside of the knee

3. Swelling in rare cases

Treatment is usually nonsurgical; you should be able to return to normal activity within four to six weeks. Treatments involve stretching, strengthening exercises, and passive modalities.

If you are experiencing unresolved knee pain call Elite Performance & Rehabilitation your Owasso chiropractic clinic.

(918) 376-4243

How do you find a good Chiropractor?

4/13/2011 2:29:00 PM

Chiropractors are an integral part of the management of musculoskeletal injuries in the medical field. The question is how do you choose a good chiropractor to go to?? First off lets talk about what is involved in a musculoskeletal injury. There are 3 components that will need to be addressed with an injury of this nature: the muscles, ligaments, and the joint itself. This type of injury requires treatment that is multimodal and includes passive care ( adjustments/manipulation, manual stretching by the doctor, electrical stimulation, heat, ice, etc.) as well as active care (exercise prescription and specific activities to strengthen the injured area) Also, make sure that your chiropractor utilizes other medical professionals for referral when an injury or condition is out of his/her scope of practice. This includes primary care doctors, orthopaedic physician, physical therapist, or other specialist as appropriate. The following chart will give you a list to serve as a guide in helping you select a chiropractor in your area that will be best suited to treat your condition.

Minimum treatment time of 20-30 minutes

Treatment should contain active (exercises) and passive components

No mandatory x-rays required for treatment

No predeteremined treatment schedules or prepaid contracts of care

Use of medical terminology and diagnosis

Referral network of other physicians

If you have any additional questions feel free to call your Owasso chiropractor at Elite Performance & Rehabilitation.

(918) 376-4243