Golf and Chiropractic

How is your swing?  Do you hurt before, during or after playing golf? Chiropractic can help you swing easier, prevent injury, and relieve your back pain period.  There are approximately 25 million golfers in America.  Over 50% report to have pain or discomfort associated with their golf swing.  Most use some type of NSAID (Tylenol, Advil, etc.) as a form of treatment.  Others use physical therapy and many use chiropractic.  Surveys have shown that those choosing chiropractic care have had the greatest results in reducing their pain and improving their golf swing. 

Chiropractic works of the simple philosophy that by removing irritation to the nervous system the brain can better communicate with and heal the body.  Even the slightest irritation to a spinal nerve can significantly affect the flow of information, thus causing reduced range of motion, muscle spasm, and possibly pain.  The golf swing requires the body to coordinate many different muscle groups at the same time.  Lack of this coordination can cause the player to slice, pull, or hit his shot fat.  If you hit the ball in any of these ways then ask yourself these questions:

  

• Are your feet balanced and comfortable when you address the ball?

• Do your feet have to flare out in order to turn on the backswing?

•  Have you reduced your backswing due to the inability to comfortably rotate your body?

•  Do you find yourself walking slightly crooked the day after a round of golf? Maybe you couldn’t even get out of bed the next day?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions then you have some level of nerve irritation in your spine even if you feel great the rest of the time.  It is NOT NORMAL to have pain or discomfort every time you play the game you love.

How can chiropractic help you? Chiropractic care helps by achieving proper vertebral alignment which allows the muscles, tendons, ligaments and discs to work in proper motion with each other.   This is done through light spinal adjustments, possibly therapy (heat/ice, traction, laser, ultrasound), and incorporating stretches that are specific to the golf swing.  99% of patients that address their spinal issues as they relate to golf find that not only does their golf game improve and become more enjoyable but their overall health improves as well.  To this point, Chiropractic can help with many conditions including: headaches, sinus issues, asthma, allergies, ear infections, heartburn, reflux, constipation, sciatica, scoliosis, etc.  Ask your chiropractor for more information.

The Truth About Cow's Milk

Does milk help prevent osteoporosis?  Is it a good source of calcium?  How much should we drink?  Should we drink whole, 2%, 1%, or skim? 

These are the most common questions that I have been asked over the years regarding  cow’s milk.  My response to these questions is usually met with shock.  Why?  Because cow’s milk is a poor product and a poor source of calcium.  Let me elaborate.

If you look at every other mammal species on this planet, you will find one general rule applies towards milk.  Once a baby is weaned from its mother, it will never again drink milk.  This is a natural law.  The purpose of milk in infants is to provide nutrition, immunity, and fat for the developing child.  Once that infant is able to consume other foods, milk is no longer a necessary component of its diet.   I understand that not all women can breastfeed their children during infancy, therefore we are blessed to have formula and other forms of milk to help their children through those early months. 

As a source of calcium, milk is a poor product; although well marketed by the dairy industry.  Why, because cow’s milk was only created and meant for cows.  In today’s industrialized world, the dairy industry is forced to keep these cows penned up without the ability to roam and graze. Moreover, they are treated with antibiotics and steroids for disease and growth which is passed through their milk.

When this milk is introduced into the human body it causes a reduction in the acid levels of the blood.  In order to maintain homeostasis, the body must then actually pull calcium out of the bone to re-balance the blood chemistry (FYI, products like Tums do the same thing).  More calcium is actually added to milk in the attempt to balance out its negative effects.

Another fact about milk that is relatively unknown is that milk causes inflammation of the mucus membranes of our body; therefore, when our children have ear or sinus infections or colds it increases the inflammation already present.

Finally, common sense plays a role in this argument.  The United States consumes more milk than anywhere else in the world and yet we have the greatest rate of osteoporosis in this country.

It is true that our children do need some form of milk as infants.  However, soy milk and other products will give the same benefit with less negative effects.

You can enjoy dairy products but DO NOT be duped in believing they do the body good.  Use in proper moderation.

Scoliosis, What you need to Know

Of all the problems that can affect the spine and trunk of children, scoliosis can cause the most long term negative effects.  Scoliosis is a condition in which the normal straight spinal column has developed an abnormal curvature.  It may be due to a muscular imbalance, structural asymmetry, compensation to a genetic abnormality (inherited from parent), or idiopathic (unknown) in nature.  Untreated childhood traumas such as falls from bikes, sports, accidents, etc. can be initial triggers for the condition.

The condition can be painful in nature, usually associated with muscular spasm or pathology.  However, despite its profound effects on the patient it usually presents without pain.  It is more commonly seen in females (especially those in dance and gymnastics classes) and tends to progress more rapidly during an adolescent growth spurt.  Untreated, the child is destined to have a life of physical deformity and potential discomfort.

Traditionally, bracing has been the method of choice to prevent the progression of the curvature that is greater than 25 degrees.  However, bracing does nothing towards the correction of the condition.  Chiropractic treatment for curvatures as small as 5 degrees or as great as 20+ degrees has been shown to positively help reduce the curvature or at a minimum prevent the furtherance of negative change in the spine.  A combination of bracing and spinal adjustments is recommended for curvatures over 20 degrees.

Early detection will always coincide with the most successful recovery.  On a semi annual basis developing children four and older should be examined professionally for scoliotic change in their spine.  This exam should be performed by an expert such as a Chiropractor or Pediatrician.  If detected regular treatment as prescribed by a board certified Chiropractor can begin to correct and / or stabilize the scoliosis.

Spinal Decompression

Spinal Decompression is now at Gordon Chiropractic.

Spinal Decompression is used to treat Herniated Discs, Spinal Stenosis, Sciatica, Facet Syndrome and Failed Surgery.

I have invested in the best Decompression equipment on the market, the Kennedy Decompression Table.  I have been certified on this equipment as well.

This technique is extremely successful when the patient has been properly qualified as a candidate by the doctor.  Not everyone will qualify and that is ok.  Success in treatment comes when the patient's condition is properly matched up with the best treatment.  

Many, many people have AVOIDED SURGERY by using this technique to reduce and strengthen their spinal discs.

This technique is good for treating both the lower back and the neck.

Question: What is Spinal Decompression?
Answer:  Spinal Decompression is a technique that uses a specific Decompression Table that can exert a set pull on the spine to take pressure of the disc, therefore letting the liquid center of the disc to go back to its normal position.  While this is occurring the outer fiber of the disc can begin to strengthen and heal thus allowing the pressure on the nerve to reduce. Specific pain, radiating pain and postural pain all start to get better.

Question: How many treatments will it take?
Answer:  15-20 treatments over a short period of time is the norm however symptoms should reduce significantly within the first 4-6 treatments.

Question: Does Insurance cover?
Answer: NO

Question: What is the cost?
Answer: If determined that you or someone you know is a good candidate then Dr. Gordon will put a plan together and discuss the cost with you.

REMEMBER:  This form of care may not be for you.  Call the office for a FREE consultation with Dr. Gordon to determine whether or not he feels it is right for you.

Gordon Chiropractic
248-366-3300

Worried about money??

Are you in pain but do not have any insurance and are afraid how much the doctor will cost???

I completely understand and hope this bit of information will help.  Many people will go to their MD due to pain and in 99% of those cases they will leave his/her office with nothing more than a pain killer, muscle relaxer, or anti-inflammatory prescription.  They will be told to come back in two weeks if that does not help.  In two weeks they will be told to get an MRI or X-ray and to start physical therapy.  The cost for these prescriptions, office visits and tests could be easily over $1000 and unfortunately the patient is still in a lot of pain.

HERE IS A BETTER CHOICE.

Talk to your friends, family and/or co-worker and find a chiropractor that they recommend. Call the chiropractic office and ask what their fee is for a patient with no insurance.  Most chiropractors will be less than $100 for the first visit which will include consultation, exam, x-ray and if warranted a chiropractic adjustment.  90% of the time depending on the problem the patient will be feeling a little if not a lot better when they leave the office after that first visit.  The doctor will want to see the patient again and give them a care plan to fully resolve the condition.  In my office as in most I can fully relieve a patients pain for less than $350-500 which includes consultation, exam, x-rays and adjustments.  I can do this in less than a month in most cases.

What a savings!!!  Not only does the patient feel better, but they have avoided dangerous medication and unnecessary tests.  They have not missed much work if any and they are truly healthier and at less risk of re-injuring their body.

My name is Daniel S. Gordon and I am a chiropractor in West Bloomfield, MI.  Do not misunderstand my blog.  I am not against modern medicine in any way, I just want people to know that not only can chiropractic help them get out of pain and fix their condition better than pills but it can save them a lot of time and money.