Carpal Tunnel Archives - Page 3 of 3 - Denver Chiropractic Center

Denver Chiropractic Center Weekly Health Update: Hockey guy moves up (pic), short week alert, and the 1-Page Health News

He started when we was 4, and now our 6-year-old hockey player Zach (who likes being called Zachy) is moving up to U8 hockey in April. This past Saturday was his “graduation day” from Arapahoe Warriors Mighty Mites. It’s hard to believe how time flies!

Speaking of time flying by, my boys are off this Thursday and Friday because the teachers have conferences. I am taking those two days off to ski with them. We’ll be in the office Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week from 9:00-5:30, so if you need us, call us and get in: 303.300.0424- to get to Jessica and Samantha at the desk.

And now onto this week’s 1-Page Health News.

Mental Attitude: Is Self-Esteem Driven By Universal Mechanisms?
According to a new international study, self-esteem increases as people grow older, and men tend to have higher levels of self-esteem than women. The findings were based on data collected from more than 985,000 people from 48 countries between 1999 and 2009. Lead author Dr. Wiebke Bleidorn writes, “This remarkable degree of similarity implies that gender and age differences in self-esteem are partly driven by universal mechanisms; these can either be universal biological mechanisms such as hormonal influences or universal cultural mechanisms such as universal gender roles. However, universal influences do not tell the whole story.”
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, January 2016

Health Alert: Hyperactivity Increases Risk for Traumatic Dental Injury.
Children with hyperactivity symptoms are more likely to sustain a traumatic dental injury (TDI). Researchers reviewed the medical records of 230 school children and found those whose parents reported signs of hyperactivity were 2.33 times more likely to experience a TDI than those without parental-reported hyperactivity symptoms.
International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, January 2016

Diet: Eating Fruit and Veggies Linked to Better Grades.
Using data collected from 47,203 Canadian adolescents as part of the 2012-2013 Youth Smoking Survey, researchers from the University of Waterloo conclude that only about 10% currently meet the Canadian government’s national fruit and vegetable intake recommendations (7-8 servings per day). The researchers also found that those who did consume the recommended amounts of produce per day are also more likely to earn mostly A’s or B’s on their report cards.
The Journal of School Health, February 2016

Exercise: Diet & Exercise Improves Ability to Exercise Among Those with a Common Type of Heart Issue.
A new study claims that obese older patients with a common type of heart failure can improve their ability to exercise without shortness of breath by either restricting calories or doing aerobic exercise. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (a measure of how well the left ventricle of the heart pumps with each contraction) is the most rapidly increasing form of heart failure. Exercise intolerance is the primary symptom of this chronic heart failure condition, and over 80% of patients with this condition are overweight or obese. In this small study, the authors found that peak Vo2 (volume of oxygen that an individual can use in one minute) increased significantly with either increased exercise or a healthier diet, and the combination of a healthy diet with exercise produced an even greater increase in exercise capacity.
Journal of the American Medical Association, January 2016

Chiropractic: Lower Vitamin D Linked to Older Women with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Past studies have suggested that vitamin D plays a role in protecting the nerves from injury or degeneration. In a new study, investigators found that the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome was higher among women who were vitamin D deficient than women who had healthy vitamin D levels, especially in those under the age of 50. The study suggests improving vitamin D status could help women under the age of 50 reduce their risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome and related conditions. (Note- we get excellent results by treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with Active Release Technique. Call us, we can help 303.300.0424.)
The Journal of Hand Surgery, December 2015

Dr. Glenn Hyman’s Denver Chiropractic Center
303.300.0424
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New research- why you should call a Denver chiropractor first…

A recent study confirms the idea that for certain painful problems – back, neck, hip or shoulder problems – your first call should be to a chiropractic office like ours (303.300.0424 if you need us).

Swiss researchers contacted 719 patients who initially visited either a doctor of chiropractic (DC) or medical doctor (MD) for either spinal, hip, or shoulder pain. The patients who sought care from a DC first reported higher scores for both satisfaction with the care they received as well as the outcome of care. The researchers add that the total costs associated with patients who sought chiropractic care were four-times lower than those who sought medical care first.

While we can’t fix 100% of the problems that people bring to us, we certainly will try our hardest to fix 100%. With Active Release Techniques, our success rate is pretty high. And if we can’t help you (or your friends or family) we will refer you out to someone else. Your trust in times of need is greatly appreciated. (Study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, August 2015)

Here’s the rest of 1-Page Health News:

Health Alert: Bigger Families Mean More Sickness.
Being part of a big family boosts the risk of passing on viral infections that cause colds, flu, and other respiratory infections. In a recent study, researchers found viral infections were present in childless households an average of three to four weeks a year. In homes with one child, viral infections were present for 18 weeks a year and the number jumped to 45 weeks a year in homes with six children. Study co-author Dr. Carrie Byington writes, “A lot families go through wave after wave of illness. In fact, some of the kids we monitored had symptoms for 20 to 25 weeks in a row… This study helps us to understand what is normal in young children, and can help us determine when illness should be a cause for concern.”
Clinical Infectious Diseases, August 2015

Diet: Meat Intake May Influence a Man’s Fertility.
A new study concerning couples undergoing vitro fertilization treatment has found that males who consume a lot of processed meats have lower fertilization rates than men whose diet contains few, if any, processed meats. Researcher Dr. Natan Bar-Chama writes, “Decreasing processed-meat consumption can now be added to the list of recommendations — such as to stop smoking, decrease alcohol consumption and lose weight — that we can offer to men prior to fertility treatments to optimize outcomes.”
Fertility & Sterility, August 2015

Exercise: Even a Little Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity Benefits Those Over 60.
An analysis of published research suggests that just a little moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every week can curb the risk of early death among those over the age of 60. Though current recommendations call for 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, the data suggests that performing as little as half of the recommended amount can provide health benefits for older adults. The authors conclude, “Based on these results, we believe that the target for physical activity in the current recommendations might be too high for older adults and may discourage some of them… The fact that any effort will be worthwhile may help convince those 60% of participants over 60 years of age, who do not practice any regular physical activity, to become active.”
British Journal of Sports Medicine. August 2015

Wellness/Prevention: Signs of Heat Stroke.
Heat stroke occurs when the body’s heat-regulating system fails to work properly due to high temperature. Potential heat stroke symptoms include having a body temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) or higher, confusion, irritability, becoming red or flushed, nausea, vomiting, rapid breathing, headache, rapid heart rate, seizures, and becoming comatose.
Mayo Clinic, August 2015

Denver Chiropractor Dr. Glenn Hyman’s Denver Chiropractic Center and this week’s 1-Page Health News

We are in the very final stages of our office remodel, and I’m happy to say that all of our treatment rooms are open again. During the construction, there were a few weeks where we had just one treatment room, and that’s why it was tough for some of you to get in to see us. We are truly sorry about the inconvenience, but we are fully operational once again! So if you need us, call us 303.300.0424 (or reply to this email to get straight to Natalie at front desk.)

Here’s this week’s 1-Page Health News:

Mental Attitude: Your Speaking Skills May Be the Key to Making Things Happen.
Investigators at the University of Chicago report that your voice may be instrumental in advancing your career. In the study, researchers found that evaluators were more moved to action by well-spoken pitches than well-written submissions.
Journal of Psychological Science, February 2015

Health Alert: New Data on E-Cigarette Use Among College Students.
Surveys completed by nearly 1,400 college students show that 30% have at least tried e-cigarettes. Among current e-cigarette users, 87% previously used another nicotine product and nearly 35% used other non-cigarette tobacco products during the previous month. The data also show that students who use e-cigarettes tend to have average or below-average grades.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, April 2015

Diet: Salt Intake May Affect More Than Your Blood Pressure.
A new study warns that eating too much salt may damage your blood vessels, heart, kidneys, and brain, even if you don’t develop high blood pressure. Researchers say that even if people do not develop high blood pressure, excessive salt consumption can lead to reduced function of the inner lining of blood vessels, enlargement of the left ventricle of the heart, kidney function issues, and damage to the sympathetic nervous system.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, March 2015

Exercise: Can Exercise Improve Your Child’s Math Grades?
After performing physical fitness tests on 273 elementary school students, Indian researchers found that those with the greatest levels of aerobic fitness scored 8-11% higher on math tests than their least fit peers, even after adjusting for gender, socioeconomic status, and weight status. Because physical fitness could elevate a student’s grade from a C to a B or a B to an A, the researchers recommend educators and policymakers look for opportunities to promote physical activity during the school day.
PLOS ONE, March 2015

Chiropractic: Sitting Increases Back Pain Risk?
While most people think of back pain as resulting from strenuous physical activity, a new study finds that the more time an individual spends sitting each day at both home and work, the greater their risk for a back injury. In the study, researchers found that among a group of 201 blue-collar workers, those who spent the most time sitting on their average day were three times more likely to experience back pain when compared with those who sit the fewest hours on a given day.
PLOS ONE, March 2015

Wellness/Prevention: Insufficient Sleep Linked to Overnight Increases in Blood Pressure.
Mayo Clinic researchers have found that individuals who don’t sleep enough hours experience a rise in blood pressure and an elevated heart rate when they do sleep, the opposite of what occurs in those who get sufficient quality sleep. Researcher Dr. Naima Covassin explains, “We know high blood pressure, particularly during the night, is one of the major risk factors for heart disease, and Americans typically do not get enough sleep. For the first time, we demonstrated that insufficient sleep causes increases in nighttime blood pressure and dampens nocturnal blood pressure dipping by using a controlled study that mimics the sleep loss experienced by many people.”
Mayo Clinic, March 2015

Dr. Glenn Hyman’s Denver Chiropractic Center

If you see this dog, please don’t approach her. & This Week’s 1-Page Health News

This is Liberty. Liberty is a puppy who is training to be a guide dog for the blind. One of our awesome patients, Karen B., is training and socializing Liberty for a year. If you’re coming to our office in the afternoon, you may encounter this super-cute dog. Since she’s working, it’s best for Liberty if you admire her from afar please refrain from approaching her. By doing so, you’ll be contributing a little tiny bit to Liberty’s training.

This Week’s 1-Page Health News:

Mental Attitude: Misfiring in Brain Linked to OCD.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have found that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may be caused by a misfiring of the brain’s control system. Individuals with OCD have frequent upsetting thoughts that they try to control by repeating certain rituals or behaviors. The study involved scanning the brains of 37 individuals with OCD and the brains of 33 individuals who did not have the disorder as they all performed a specific activity to avoid a mild electric shock. The researchers found that OCD participants were unable to stop the specific activity, which revealed overactive brain activity in the caudate (an area of the brain that controls habits) and suggests OCD compulsions may be caused by the habit system in the brain.
American Journal of Psychiatry, December 2014

Diet: Cherry Juice Accelerates Recovery After Cycling.
Montmorency cherry juice appears to help cyclists recover after a hard cycling workout. Researchers found that Montmorency tart cherry juice helped to speed up recovery, maintain muscle function, and reduce markers of inflammation in cyclists who participated in a simulated race.
Cherry Marketing Institute, December 2014

Exercise: Ability to Balance May Reflect Brain Health.
According to new research, the inability to balance on one leg for 20 seconds or longer may signal brain damage in otherwise healthy individuals. In a recent study, participants were asked to balance on one leg up to 60 seconds, received an MRI of the brain, and completed a test to measure cognitive impairment. Those who were unable to balance on one leg for more than 20 seconds showed evidence of cerebral small vessel disease as well as lower cognitive function scores. The researchers add that long-term studies are needed to verify these findings and fully assess the significance of postural instability.
Stroke, December 2014

Chiropractic: Neck, Shoulder, and Back Pain Among High School Students.
Chinese researchers evaluated questionnaires completed by 3,600 high school students and found that 41.1% had experienced neck/shoulder pain and 32.8% had experienced back pain during the previous year. The researchers identified physical inactivity (increased sedentary behavior / low levels of physical exercise), heavy backpacks, mental stress, and insufficient sleep as risk factors for neck, shoulder, and back pain in the high school student population.
Journal of the Chinese Medical Association, October 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Young Children Need Eye Screening.
Experts from the United States National Center for Children’s Vision Health say that all children should have their eyesight evaluated yearly between the ages of three and six. Children in this age group require screening to detect vision issues such as amblyopia (“lazy eye”) and strabismus (a disorder of eye alignment), which can require glasses. Dr. Anthony Adams, the editor-in-chief of the journal Optometry and Vision Science, adds, “Unfortunately, many children receive neither appropriate screening to help identify those who need immediate eye attention, nor a comprehensive examination by an eye care professional, prior to beginning school.” The goal of the new guidelines is to ensure that pre-school children with vision problems are identified and receive appropriate eye examinations and follow-up care to help ensure their development and readiness for elementary school.
Optometry and Vision Science, December 2014

Dr. Glenn Hyman’s Denver Chiropractic Center – Race Report, Labor Day Closure & the 1-Page Health News

I think it was Socrates who said, “If you’re a slow mountain biker, and you’re doing an Xterra Triathlon relay, find a fast swimmer and a fast runner, and maybe no on will notice how slow you are.”

And this past Sunday I did just that. This year’s Xterra Buffalo Creek relay featured super swimmer Keira Morrell, super runner Kacee Reinisch on the run. And me. On the bike.

They were fast, I was slow (but I was almost 7 minutes faster than last year) and let’s just say we didn’t take first place. But we weren’t last either.

Happy to have the 20 mile Mountain Bike ride behind me

As always, Kacee makes the run look easy.

Mental Attitude: Older Adults Sharper in the Morning.
Using functional MRI to monitor brain activity, Canadian researchers have found the minds of older adults to be sharpest in the morning. This findings suggests that the early hours may be the best time for older adults to schedule their most mentally challenging tasks such as doing taxes, taking a driver’s license renewal test, trying a new recipe, or seeing their doctor about a health problem.
Psychology and Aging, August 2014

Health Alert: Emergency Room Closures Affect Surrounding Communities and Patients.
In a first-of-a-kind analysis, researchers have shown that emergency department closures can have a detrimental effect on patient outcomes at nearby hospitals. The researchers found that patients who were admitted to facilities located in the vicinity of an emergency department (ED) that had recently closed experienced a 5% higher risk of dying than patients admitted to hospitals that were not located near a recently closed ED. The risks of dying were even greater for patients with certain conditions such as heart attack (15% higher), stroke (10%) and sepsis (8%). Senior author Dr. Renee Y. Hsia adds, “These results suggest that health systems and policy makers should consider the ripple effect on communities when they regulate ED closures.”
Health Affairs, August 2014

Diet: School Vending-Machine Bans May Not Curb Sugary Drink Consumption.
Experts have found that banning vending machines from schools does not appear to decrease a student’s likelihood of drinking soft drinks during the day if that was the only school food policy change implemented. However, the authors of the study note that a decrease in soda consumption has been observed when schools that ban vending machines also ban the sales of soft drinks in other locations around the school, such as the cafeteria and student store.
PLOS ONE, August 2014

Exercise: Heat Stroke is a Greater Risk for Endurance Runners than a Surprise Heart Condition.
A new study has found that endurance runners are far more likely — ten times more likely, in fact — to die of heat stroke than an unknown heart condition. Senior study author Dr. Sami Viskin explains, “It’s important that clinicians educate runners on the ways to minimize their risk of heat stroke, including allowing 10 to 14 days to adjust to a warm climate, discouraging running if a person is ill or was recently ill, because a pre-existing fever impairs the body’s ability to dissipate additional heat stress, and developing better methods of monitoring body core temperature during physical activity.”
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, July 2014

Chiropractic: Loss of Neck Curve = Neck Pain.
A curvature of the neck of about 31-40 degrees is considered clinically normal. By comparing cervical x-rays of 277 individuals, researches observed that those whose neck curve was 20 degrees or less were more likely to experience neck pain. In fact, those with no curve left in their neck were 18 times more likely to have a cervical complaint than those with neck curvature considered clinically normal. Restoring and maintaining this curvature is a common long-term goal of Chiropractic care.
Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics, March 2005

This weekend, we’ll closed on Friday the 29th (go Buffs!) and Monday September 1. We’ll be back on Tuesday September 2nd. Don’t forget, if you need us, call us 303.300.0424 or reply to this email. Thanks for reading!

Dr. Glenn Hyman, Natalie Aceves & Kacee Reinisch

Carpal Tunnel

Last month, we covered what Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is, its symptoms, causes, who is at risk, and how it’s diagnosed. This month, we’ll center our focus on CTS treatment.

How is CTS treated? For the best success, treatment should begin as early as possible. Unfortunately, most people wait a long time before they get to the point where the symptoms interfere with daily activity enough to prompt them to act quickly and make an appointment. Once the cause or causes of CTS are determined, treatment can address ALL the presenting contributing conditions. The FIRST course of care should be NON-SURGICAL, though this is not always practiced – so be aware! Non-surgical care includes the following:

Chiropractic:
Manipulation: This usually includes adjusting the small bones of the hand, the wrist, the forearm, elbow, shoulder, and/or the neck.
Active Release Techniques: This includes loosening up the overly tight forearm muscles where the median nerve runs through (on the palm side of the forearm).

Nutritional: Nutrients such as vitamin B6 have been shown in studies to be effective in some cases. Also, anti-inflammatory herbs (ginger, turmeric, bioflavinoids) and / or digestive enzymes (bromelain, papain, and others) taken between meals are quite effective.
Anti-inflammatory: The first important distinction is that ice can be very effective depending on how long the CTS has been present. In particular, ice cupping or rubbing ice directly on the skin over the carpal tunnel is the most effective way to use ice as an anti-inflammatory agent. When doing so, you will experience four stages of cooling: Cold, Burning, Achy, Numb or, “C-BAN.” It’s important to remember this as you are REALLY going to want to quit in the burning/achy stages when it feels uncomfortable. Once the skin over the wrist / carpal tunnel gets numb (which takes about four to five minutes) QUIT as the next “stage” of cooling is FROST BITE! Most medical practitioners promote the use of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like Advil, aspirin, or Aleve. However, these carry negative side effects including gastritis (burning in the stomach that can lead to ulcers), or liver and/or kidney damage. Try the nutritional anti-inflammatory approach FIRST as they are extremely helpful without the bad side effect potential!
Diet: An ant-inflammatory diet, like the Paleo-diet or gluten free diet, serves as a great tool in reducing the inflammatory markers in the body. Though only 7-10% of the population has celiac disease (gluten intolerance), it’s been estimated that over 80% of us are gluten “sensitive.” Reducing systemic inflammation can make a BIG DIFFERENCE in the management of many conditions including CTS!
Mechanical: Wrist “cock-up” splints can also be REALLY HELPFUL, especially for nighttime use. The reason for this is because when our wrist is bent forwards or backwards, which frequently occurs when sleeping, the pressure inside the carpal tunnel increases, and over time (minutes to hours), the increased pressure in the tunnel exerts compression on the median nerve which then creates numbness into the thumb, index, third and half of the fourth finger, which can wake you up out of a sound sleep. Keeping the wrist straight at night prevents you from curling your wrist under your jaw while sleeping.
Ergonomic Modifications: Changing your work station (computer station, line position, machine controls, pace or rate of repetitive movements, and more) is VERY effective.

WE have a great track record with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome at Denver Chiropractic Center. Call us 303.300.0424.

Chiropractic and Active Release: Ulnar Nerve Compression.

A 41-year-old woman with ulnar tunnel compression complained of poor grip strength and numbness in her right forearm and middle fingers. She was treated with chiropractic care including manipulative therapy, Active Release Techniques, and elastic therapeutic taping. Home exercises and improvements to her workstation ergonomics were also implemented. After her first treatment, immediate improvements were noted regarding weakness and numbness. The patient’s symptoms resolved completely after 11 treatments.
Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, June 2013

Nutritional Post-Surgical Management of CTS

Obviously, the goal of all health care providers, including chiropractic management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), is to AVOID surgical intervention, but this is not always possible. Last month, we looked at herbal approaches to reduce inflammation with the focused goal of preventing surgical need. But, as chiropractors, we also care for patients post CTS surgery, and one of our treatment approaches beyond manual therapies includes nutritional management (In addition to Active Release Techniques to address scar tissue in the forearm muscles).

As we all know, during the surgical process, tissue damage occurs due to incisions, removal of injured tissue, and other factors. Depending on the “success” of the surgical procedure, damage to the nerves causing numbness, weakness, and/or other nerve related symptoms can occur. Often, nerves will regenerate during the healing process but not always 100%. This may be due to factors such as the amount of tissue damaged during the surgery, the length of time CTS had been present pre-surgery, how well the patient follows post-surgical instructions, as well as the general health and overall condition of the patient. A healthy diet along with certain specific vitamins can play a positive role in tissue healing and nerve regeneration. Here are some examples:

Folate or vitamin B9 has been reported to have beneficial effects on the genes located within the nerve cells that help to regulate the healing process. One study published in 2010 reported that folate helped to promote nerve repair in the central nervous system (CNS) in rats, which is unique as typically nerve damage in the CNS does not usually regenerate. Anti-inflammatory benefits have also been reported with vitamins B6, B9, and B12.
Cobalamin or Vitamin B12 has also been reported to facilitate nerve regeneration after injury. This, along with the anti-inflammatory benefits, supports the use of B12 in the post-surgical CTS patient.
Vitamin D may also play a significant role in nerve regeneration after surgery. In one study, vitamin D2 was found to have a positive effect on nerve regeneration. Another study reported that D3 and calcium together has strong anti-inflammatory benefits.
Vitamin B6: There is evidence that supports the use of B6 both before and after surgery. Some feel B6 acts directly on nerve repair and others report a diuretic (fluid reducing) benefit. One cause and/or complication of CTS is fluid retention, which commonly occurs in conditions such as pregnancy, the use of birth control pills, obesity, diabetes, and others. Thus, keeping fluids in our tissues under control can certainly help CTS patients. Most studies agree that less than 200mg of B6 per day is safe. The dosage should be carefully monitored as numbness/tingling (a common CTS symptom) can be a sign of B6 toxicity.
Vitamin C has long been reported to facilitate in the wound healing process. It also is an effective anti-inflammatory agent, a common problem in the cause of CTS as well as a negative post-surgical side effect. A dose of 1000-3000mg/day spread out throughout the day is beneficial to the post-surgical healing process.
Vitamin E: As far back as 1967, Vitamin E been reported to reduce inflammation. More recent studies report that when used in combination with vitamin C, the two together works even better in reducing inflammation than either one alone. Also, this combination was found to improve the body’s ability to use insulin, which may also facilitate healing in the post-surgical CTS patient.

There are many others we didn’t get to (such as B1, 3, 5; zinc, Bromelain, and Quercetin). Bottom line: Eat healthy, exercise, don’t smoke, and fortify your diet with these nutrients!

We realize you have a choice in who you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing the Active Release certified chiropractors at Denver Chiropractic Center for those needs. If you, a friend or family member require care for CTS, we would be honored to render our services.

Denver Chiropractic Center sponsors Denver Athletic Club Tri!

We’re proud to be on boards as sponsors for this years Denver Athletic Club Tri the Creek Sprint Tri. Check it out here.