Julie shares that she had heard all sorts of horror stories about chiropractors.  “Because of Dr. Johnson, I am now well and healthy.  I do go back occasionally to keep in check.  The truth is I love his entire staff.  They make me feel very welcomed and comfortable.  I recommend him to anyone who is unnecessarily suffering.”

Ookii Co is a full service athlete management and marketing firm located in San Clemente. With over 23 years of Action Sports Marketing, Events and Entertainment experience, Ookii Co has established itself as a leader in its field.  President Carl Harris is a client of Dr. Johnson’s as are the world class athletes he works with.  According to Mr. Harris, “From my perspective, Dr. Johnson is every bit as important to these athletes’ careers as the equipment they ride on.”

Kevin had gone to several chiropractors in the past, challenged with severe lower back pain and also pain in his legs.  Says Kevin, “Truthfully, I could hardly walk.  I could barely take my trash cans out to the curb without intense pain.  I couldn’t begin to do what’s necessary to get the exercise I need or even do my job efficiently.  Every other chiropractor would give me a treatment and tell me I was fixed.  It just wasn’t so.”

When Kevin saw the Chiropractor Center sign, he decided to give it a try and simply walked in.  “The entire staff treated me from the beginning like I was a personal friend.”  “The very first visit, Dr. Johnson was able to successfully treat me, unlike all of the others,” says Kevin.  “For the first time in over 5 years, I was able to actually walk upright beyond a few feet.  He was a lifesaver for me.”   As a underwater photographer, Kevin explains how laborious it was for him to get into a dive suit, actually dive and also maneuver in a boat.  “It’s now night and day.  I can physically do whatever I need to do.”

Says Kevin, “The first thing I did after seeing Dr. Johnson for the first time was walk to the pier from my house.  That was completely out of the question before.  I now walk my puppy six to eight times a day without any pain whatsoever.  I’m still a work in progress, however, I now have a chance to be physically active and become more healthy.”

“Bottom line for me,” says Kevin “is the importance of working with someone who is totally honest.  Every other chiropractor in the past has treated me and said I was cured even when I wasn’t.  Dr. Johnson understood why I was hurting and what needed to be done.  He has made all the difference to my quality of life.  I recommend him to everyone.”

The holidays are just around the corner, and the pressure is on to get everything wrapped up and ribboned! So, let’s not forget what Christmas is really all about. The birth of Jesus of course, but also Christmas is a time to celebrate family, food, and health. You can’t always choose your family so you should just relax and go with the flow this Christmas. Ignore your little sister’s comments, and try to appreciate your whacky aunt. And when your cake doesn’t rise or you dry out the turkey, take a deep breath for soon Christmas will be gone and a new year is in the making! When you make your resolutions this year, remember to put your health first. Staying active, quitting old and bad habits, and setting healthy goals. A massage can be the perfect gift for yourself of someone you care about in order to ease pain, stress, or detox after or during the holidays.

Call the Chiropractic Center and book your appointment today or pick up a gift certificate for a massage with Miranda!

949-498-6440

Merry Christmas From Miranda! 

Trigger Point Therapy

Releases tight muscles by pinpointing “trigger points” which force muscles and tendons to give way to cycles of pressure and release.

Swedish massage

Increase circulation and lymph movement

Good for stress and pain relief

Effective for weight loss and cellulite reduction

Deep Tissue

Injury management and prevention

Relieves muscle tension though varying techniques to reach and access deeper tissue

Perfect for chronic injuries or pain

Manually stretches and lengthens muscles, loosens scar tissue

Sports Massage

Manage and prevent injury

Promotes flexibility

Reduces post- work out recovery time

Reflexology

Give your hands and feet a break! Access pressure points to avoid carpal tunnel or tendonitis from computer overuse or give those tired feet a break and clear up plantar tension and energy charkas.

Cranial Sacral Massage

My specialty! Every Massage I perform includes this technique! Focus on head, neck, jaw, occipital ridge and scalp. This is the biggest reliever of headaches, sinus problems, jaw pain and stress.

Prenatal

Relieves pregnancy aches and pains

Reduces inflammation, stress, and fatigue

Insures a smoother pregnancy experience with consistent massage

Geriatric

Increases flexibility, circulation, balance, joint movement and pain relief

#8: Chiropractic Boosts Productivity – Since chiropractic care keeps you healthier, you will also find that your efficiency at work increases, also. For instance, chiropractic care rids LBP associated with sitting hour after hour in ergonomically incorrect chairs. “Sitting causes the pelvis to rotate backwards and causes a reduction in the lumbar lordosis, chunk-phi angle, and knee angle” notes researchers. Treatment also causes “an increase in muscle effort and disk pressure” (JMPT 1999; 22:594-609). In relating LBP can lead to work absence and higher medical costs: the focus of a study published earlier this year. In a review of 250 employees receiving workers compensation for low back pain– 72 of whom had no physically therapeutic care — patients receiving spinal adjustments experienced greater reductions in pain and disability. This translated into lower therapeutic costs and a faster return to work (Spine Journal 2006; 6:289-295). Chiropractic care effectively restores proper spinal alignment and reduces LBP. Missing appointments however, may foster a “one step forward, to step back” scenario.

#7: Chiropractic Improves Cognitive Function – Mapping of brain activity before and after chiropractic adjustments of the spine and the neck reveals that chiropractic care stimulates cognitive function. In a study involving 500 adult volunteers, researchers used cutting edge technology to create maps of functioning in the cortical portions of the brain before and after chiropractic adjustments of the cervical spine. Researchers found that “cervical adjustments activate specific neurological pathways” in the brain, potentially stimulating cognitive function (JMPT1997;20:529). Chiropractic adjustments also enhance response mechanisms in the brain, according to researchers in New Zealand who conducted a study involving 30 volunteers: all with evidence of cervical spinal joint dysfunction. Instead of cortical mapping the researchers used reaction time to various stimulation as a gauge. “Multiple sites of cervical spinal joint dysfunction were related to impaired cortical processing,” noted the researchers. This was demonstrated by “significantly less accurate response selection and a trend toward more variable performance of an anticipated response.” (JMPT 2005;28:502-7). After chiropractic adjustments, the volunteers demonstrated improved cortical processing and response selection.

#6: Chiropractic Boosts Immunity and Prevents Other Conditions – Scientific research reveals that regularly scheduled chiropractic care may boost the body’s immune response. And a powerful immune system is a key component of chiropractics all-natural approach. One study involved 11 patients over a nine-month period. The pilot study provided preliminary information regarding chiropractic care and possible links to improved immune status. Chiropractic care also boosted other aspects of health and quality of life – as mentioned above (JVSR 2006 1-6). Another study in 1991 even found that chiropractic adjustments boost levels of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and monocytes — white blood cells associated with a healthy immune system (JMPT 1991; 7:399-408).

#5: Chiropractic Reduces Stress – Chiropractic care reduces stress by allowing the body to achieve a balance. In addition, chiropractic helps keep patients free of the impairments to regular exercise, which is key to reducing stress and preventing stress-related anxiety and depression. And, while chiropractors do not treat depression, preliminary research demonstrates that chiropractic adjustments may ease depressive symptoms by increasing endorphins. “It has been long speculated that chiropractic interventions may affect mental health problems,” note researchers. Investigators followed 15 adults who were both clinically depressed and had cervical spine subluxations. Before and after receiving an adjustment, the subjects completed a standard assessment for depression called the Beck Depression Inventory II. Results revealed a marked reduction in depression scores following treatment (JVSR 2005:1-4)

#4: Chiropractic Care Encourages Increased Physical Activity – New patients frequently find that chiropractic care jump starts them toward a more wellness oriented lifestyle, simply because they can move more and with less pain. For instance, many chiropractic patients report improved function and with that, an increased ability to stick to a regular exercise program.

#3: Chiropractic Reduces Dependency on Medications – Individuals who maintain regular chiropractic care are far less likely over use medication, which all have dangerous side effects. Even OTC pain medication may cause problems in the gastrointestinal system. In addition, long-term use of pain medication can actually worsen the very symptoms they was intended to reduce – a “rebound’ reaction. “Rebound” headaches are relatively new, and describe a long standing, “unnamed” and largely unrecognized condition caused by taking painkillers — daily or on a regular basis — from migraines or other headaches. Remember, these conditions are common, they are NOT normal!

#2: Chiropractic Improves Sleep Quality – Chiropractic patients often enjoy improved quality of life, including sleep quality. This is due to a reduction in pain and anxiety which often interferes with sleep patterns. Improved sleep enhances immunity and your ability to fight disease. Some exciting preliminary research links insomnia with vertebral subluxations. The study collected data on 221 patients being cared for by 15 different chiropractors. According to the findings, “one third of the 154 patients who completed the semi structured interview reported their sleep pattern was changed immediately after their chiropractic adjustment. All but one of these 52 patients reported improvement” in the 20 patients with insomnia, improved sleep was noted in the six days following the chiropractic adjustment. ”However, no consistent trends were noted in the days and weeks following care, so additional research is necessary before a firm link may be established” (JMPT 2005;28:179).

#1: Chiropractic Adds Life and Improves Structural Wellness – Regular chiropractic care instills patients with sense of ‘health-confidence” and self-confidence. Much can be said for first impressions. So whether it be in business or in our personal lives, your posture can speak for you before you ever utter a word. If you see someone standing upright, they carry an aire of confidence that bears watching and commands respect. Contrast that mental image with someone who is hunched over or slouches and you can see what I mean. Chiropractic patients learn to take charge of their own well-being, and in turn, increase their longevity by adding a heightened quality-of-life.

Thank you to Dr. Russell D. Caram, Chiropractor, from Bethel, Connecticut!

from Dr Stephanie Maj-

I found this new study very interesting. For one, this is a study done by a medical journal, not a Chiropractic journal so any agenda or swaying of the results is not likely.  Plus, this is a large sample size, almost a thousand people that contributed.  What the study says in a nutshell is that when patients with low back pain were tracked for a YEAR, patients that utilized physical therapy and/or medical interventions were associated with a higher recurrence of disability as opposed to patients that underwent Chiropractic care. In fact, the patients were TWICE as likely to end up disabled with a physical therapist (PT) and almost 2/3rds more likely to be disabled when partaking in traditional medical interventions.

In fact, the patients were TWICE as likely to end up disabled with a physical therapist (PT) and almost 2/3rds more likely to be disabled when partaking in traditional medical interventions, compared to those patients under Chiropractic care.

This study is unique in that it was conducted by the Center for Disability Research at the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety and the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Hopkinton, Mass; and the Center for Health Economics & Science Policy at United BioSource Corporation, London, United Kingdom.

Their objective was to compare the occurrences of repeated disability episodes between types of health care providers, who treat claimants with new episodes of work-related low back pain (LBP). They followed 894 patients over 1-year, using workers’ compensation claims data.

By controlling for demographics and severity, they determined the hazard ratio (HR) for disability recurrence between 3 types of providers:

Physical Therapists (PT), Physicians (MD), and Chiropractors (DC).

The results are quite interesting:

For PTs: HR = 2.0

For MDs: HR = 1.6

For DCs: HR = 1.0

Statistically, this means you are twice as likely to end up disabled if you got your care from a PT, rather than from a DC.

You’re also 60% more likely to be disabled if you choose an MD to manage your care, rather than a DC.

The authors concluded: “In work-related nonspecific LBP, the use of health maintenance care provided by physical therapist or physician services was associated with a higher disability recurrence than with chiropractic services or no treatment.”

Health Maintenance Care in Work-Related Low Back Pain and Its Association With Disability Recurrence. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2011 (Mar 14)

Dr. Stephanie Maj  practices in  Chicago. www.communitychiropractic.net

The vital energy that runs your body comes from the brain, travels over the nerves and gives vitality and vigor to your body. Logic says that if that energy is interfered with, your body will not work at its fullest potential.

2. Clearer Thinking, Concentration and Memory.

Did you ever have a day when your mind was extra sharp, thoughts and ideas came quickly or your memory was especially good? Ever have just the opposite type of day? Well, your body chemistry determines to a great extent your ability to think, concentrate and remember. Body chemistry is controlled by your nerve system and your nerve system works better without any interference (vertebral subluxation)

3. Less Stress

How can getting adjusted make your job easier or cause your kids to give you less problems? Well, it cannot. But there is a difference between adversity and stress. Adversities are the circumstances of life. You cannot change them. Stress is the inability to handle those adversities. How well your body is working will determine to some degree how much adversity you can handle and how much stress you have in your life.

4. A Longer Life.

Here is a reason based on logic. All things being equal, you will live longer if you take care of yourself, barring any unforeseen trauma, of course. Taking care of yourself, in no small measure, means keeping your nerve system free of interference due to vertebral subluxations.

5. More Sleep

All sleep is not the same. Just because you get ten hours does not mean you are getting the kind of rest you need. At different time, we have all awakened refreshed, sluggish, or tired from the same amount of sleep. How well your body is working will determine how much of your sleep is real sleep and not just “down time”

6. Greater Value from Your Exercise.

We all need to exercise regularly. Some of us do not have the energy to get up off the couch and begin a workout, although that is an issue we have already addressed. Some of us have an interference in the nerve system that keeps the muscles of our body from receiving a full complement of vital life energy. It is like trying to exercise a paralyzed muscle. There is not enough energy going to those muscles. That is what happens when there is interference in the nerve system due to a vertebral subluxation.

7. More Balanced Chemistry.

The proper balance of your body’s chemistry is unique for you. Only the innate wisdom of your body knows exactly what is should be. People can only guess. The organs, glands and cells of the body must be working properly to produce just the right amounts at just the right time. Your nerve system is critical in the coordination of that function.

8. More Hours in Your Day.

How can you get more than 24 hours a day from chiropractic visits, especially when the visit is going to take at least a little time? Well, time-management experts will tell you that it is the efficient use of your time, not the total number of hours that is the issue. If your mind and body are working as well as they possibly can, you will be more efficient and more than make up for the time it takes to visit your chiropractor.

9. Increased Income Earning Capacity

If you had more energy, clearer thinking, a better ability to handle adversity, more alertness, and were more efficient and physically, mentally and emotionally functioning at a higher level, you work more, work harder, get a better job or possibly a promotion, or even start a business of your own.

10. Improved Relationships.

Why is it that some people seem to be able to get along with people that you cannot stand? Perhaps it is you. If you were functioning at a higher level, if your body chemistry was balance, perhaps you could handle them better and not be bothered by whatever it is about them that affects your relationship. Even better, get them to a chiropractor and you could, perhaps, become best of friends!

11. Improved Performance.

With an improved nerve supply, all your performance levels will be elevated. Whether that improvement is enough to make a difference is an individual matter. As the advertisement says, “Results may vary.” However, getting adjusted and doing some other healthy things will have a cumulative effect and result in noticeable changes. It just makes sense to do everything possible to improve performance, including having a good nerve supply.

12. Better Digestion

There are probably hundreds of reasons why certain foods affect certain people. Most times, the cause can be traced back to the inability of the body to handle that food. If it was the food, then it would negatively affect everyone. There are many reasons why your body, in general, and your nerve system, in particular, may not work properly. One of those reasons, an interference in the nerve system due to vertebral subluxation, can be addressed by regular visits to the Chiropractor.

13. Enjoy Life More.

The bottom line is to have a happier and more fulfilled life. If you see improvement in the areas above, your life has to be more enjoyable. Even some of the things you do not enjoy now could become more pleasurable and rewarding. Visit your chiropractor this week!

Getting adjusted regularly just makes sense! Visit your chiropractor today!

2. Check for injuries. Most people don’t feel injured immediately after an auto accident because of the adrenaline rush. Be cautious. With every auto accident you are going to have an injury; the forces involved are just too great not to. If an ambulance comes, the EMT’s will check things out. They usually recommend you come with them. If you feel like you can drive home then tell them. If not, go. Better safe than sorry. It will be a pain to deal with the ambulance bill when it comes and your claim hasn’t been paid, but your health is worth the hassle

3. Exchange information. At minimum, you should get their name, telephone numbers, license plate and card numbers, and their insurance information. One of the more innovative things I would recommend besides writing down the above information is to take lots of pictures. Most cell phones these days have cameras. Take pictures of the accident but also take pictures of their driver’s license and insurance card.

4. Call the police. Do this just in case. Truth is, most of the time they just tell you to exchange information. It may not feel necessary to call but you never know. If you call and they can’t help you in time then call back later and file a police report. This will help protect you.

5. Inform your and the other driver’s insurance company. The quicker you get the ball rolling the easier it will be for you. There are two sides to an auto accident claim, the property damage and the bodily injury. The car they should fix quickly. Taking the time to see a doctor about the bodily injury before any decisions are made is important (will discuss next). If the accident was not your fault, you should still let your insurance company know. They can back you up if the other person is either under insured or just a pain to work with. You may also have Med-pay which is an extra writer that covers injuries regardless of who may be at fault.

6. See your chiropractor! Chances are you have some pain or discomfort. Even if you don’t have pain, get an exam. In every auto accident you are dealing with forces that cause tissue damage. Sometimes you don’t feel the problems until months later when weak scar tissue tears and starts the inflammation again. In addition, it is tough to argue with insurance companies unless you get checked out soon after the accident.

7. Ice. The protocol for icing should be 20 minutes maximum on the affected area. You want to feel the cold then burn then ache before it goes numb so only use a paper towel or thin t-shirt between your skin and the ice pack. NEVER USE HEAT after an auto accident. This will feel good while it is on but bring a lot more blood to the area and make the inflammation worse. Increased inflammation will slow down the healing process.

8. How should you pay for your care? This could be its own blog post but I will keep it short. If the accident was not your fault you shouldn’t have to pay anything out of pocket. I am happy to treat people on a lien until is settles. If it is your fault you either have to pay for it yourself or have Med-pay on your auto insurance policy.

9. Journal. The more information you have the better. Take note of your aches and pains, when you have to take pain meds, times when you get headaches, days/hours missed from work. One of the most important things you can document is what you cannot do anymore as a result of your injuries from the auto accident. Detail will help convince the insurance adjuster that your injuries are legitimate.

10. Get better. Healing takes time. It is a roller coaster ride that can be frustrating. Don’t stop treatment too early or it could come back and become chronic. Remember, a positive attitude goes a long way to healing.

Schedule and Appointment Today

Dr. Tyler Johnson and The Chiropractic Center in San Clemente are available 6 days a week to help you with your spinal health and wellness needs. Very often they can get you an appointment the same day you book, so call today.

Chiropractic Center

1502 N. El Camino Real

San Clemente CA 92672

(949) 498-6440

If you have specific questions or concerns you’d like to discuss personally with us, please click here . Or contact us at our San Clemente office @ (949) 498-6440 . It would be our pleasure to ensure your complete understanding of the science of chiropractic treatments or other subjects covered in the article below.

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.  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.

By Claudia Anrig, DC

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.

References

1. Goertz C. Summary of 1995 ACA annual statistical survey. JACA 1996;33(6):35-41.

   
   

2. Vange B. Contact between preschool children with chronic diseases and the authorized health services and forms of alternative therapy. Ugeskr Laeger 1989;151(28):1815-8.

   
   

3. Ernst E, Assendelft WJJ. Chiropractic for low back pain. BMJ 198;317(7152):160.

   
   

4. Pistolese RA. Risk assessment of neurological and/or vertebrobasilar complications in the pediatric chiropractic patient. J Vertebral Sublux Res 1998;2(2):73-81.

   
   

5. Crawford JP, Byoung YH, Asselbergs PJ, Hickson GS. Vascular ischemia of the cervical spine: a review of the relationship to therapeutic manipulation. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1984;7(3):149-55.

   
   

6. Dvorak J, Baumgartner L, Burn JB, et al. Consensus and recommendations as to the side effects and complications of manual therapy of the cervical spine. J Manual Medicine 1991;6:117-8.

   
   

7. Fossgren J. Complications in manual medicine. J Manual Medicine 1991;6:83-4.

   
   

8. Khuruna DS, Bonnemann CG, Dooling EC, et al. Vertebral artery dissection: issues in diagnosis and management. Pediatr Neurol 1996;14(3):255-8.

   
   

9. Alvarez-Sabin J. Stroke in teenagers. Rev Neurol 1997;25(142):919-23.

   
   

10. Ruge JR, Sinson GP, McLone DG, et al. Pediatric spinal injury: the very young. J Neurosurg 1998;68:25-30.

    
    

11. Greenman PE. Principles of manipulation of the cervical spine. J Manual Medicine 1991;6:106-13.

Claudia Anrig, DC
Clovis, California