by Dr. David Lee, D.C. | May 3, 2012 | Chiropractic and Kids, Chiropractic Care |
Trampoline Injuries In Children Trampoline jumping poses a high risk of injury for both children and adults. Falling off a trampoline or using a trampoline incorrectly can result in strains, sprains, fractures and other injuries — including potentially serious head and neck injuries. In fact, the risk of injury is so high that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that trampolines should never be used at home or in outdoor playgrounds. The AAP supports limited use of trampolines in supervised training programs, such as gymnastics and diving classes. But even then, strict safety guidelines must be followed. If you choose to buy a trampoline despite the risks, follow these safety rules: Use safety nets and pads. Install a trampoline enclosure — a special net designed to surround the trampoline — and cover the trampoline’s springs, hooks and frame with shock-absorbing pads. Regularly check the equipment for tears and detachments. Place the trampoline on level ground. Make sure it’s a safe distance from trees and other structures. Better yet, place the trampoline in a pit so the jumping surface is at ground level. Limit trampoline activity. Allow only one person to use the trampoline at a time — and never without supervision. Don’t allow somersaults or other potentially risky moves on the trampoline. Discourage unsupervised jumping. Don’t install a trampoline ladder, which could tempt young children to use the trampoline alone. Trampoline injuries led to 98,000 trips to the emergency room last year alone. Children are the most frequent victims, but adults are also getting hurt, sometimes with devastating consequences. The best way to protect children is to encourage...
by Dr. David Lee, D.C. | May 1, 2012 | Chiropractic and Kids, Chiropractic Care, Health and Wellness |
Trampoline Injuries Are An EPIDEMIC! Many parents purchase trampolines for their children, believing that trampolines are toys that will provide hours of outdoor fun for kids. What many do not realize, says SpineUniverse.com, is that home-use trampolines actually cause most of the overall trampoline-related injuries, and the American Academy of Pediatrics has gone so far as to recommend that parents never purchase trampolines for homes and never allow their children to jump on trampolines at someone else’s home.Types of Injuries The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons’ position statement on trampolines and trampoline safety reports that the majority of trampoline-related injuries are fractures and sprains. Less common are severe injuries, but those that occur can cause paralysis or death. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ AAP News adds cuts, strains and spinal damage to the list of potential injuries and says that boys and girls are injured at approximately the same rate. A search of the medical literature failed to reveal any articles that discuss pediatric injuries acquired on privately owned recreational trampolines. This study was undertaken to quantify and qualify pediatric injuries from recreational trampoline use. A group of 114 patients who presented to the Emergency Department at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, with injuries directly related to use of a trampoline are discussed. There was a 1.2:1 male-female ratio. The average age was 8.0 years. Forty-eight percent of the patients were injured on their family’s trampoline, with the remainder injured on a friend’s, neighbors, relatives, or gymnasium’s equipment. The majority of injuries involved group use of the trampoline and the youngest person in a group...
by Dr. David Lee, D.C. | Apr 26, 2012 | Chiropractic Care, Health and Wellness |
Summer Sports-Related Injuries School vacation and summer weather entice us to enjoy the great outdoors. This is good for our health in many ways. Respiratory viral illnesses that thrive on close indoor contact become less of a problem. Sun exposure enhances the skin’s production of active vitamin D for better bone health. Also, recreational activities improve our mental and physical health through exercise. This is not an attempt to discourage pursuit of outdoor fun. But now is an important time of the year to start thinking about the seasonal hazards of summertime and make a plan to enjoy the season in good health. One example of how an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is water safety. Biking The freedom of riding a bike can’t be beat, but following a few safety tips and obeying the rules of the road can help you stay safe. Always wear a properly fitted helmet. Over 85% of head injuries can be prevented by wearing a helmet. Keep your bicycle in good working condition. Boating Before you set off in your boat this summer, remember these important safety tips: Have life jackets for everyone on board! Children under 12 years old must wear a life jacket on any boat. Children under 16 must wear a life jack on a sailboat. If the kids go out for a paddle they should always stay within eyesight of an adult. Never drink and drive a boat. Inline Skating (i.e. roller-blading) Wear a helmet. Use wrist and elbow guards to avoid fractures in the wrist and elbows. Don’t go far until you know how...
by Dr. David Lee, D.C. | Apr 24, 2012 | Chiropractic Care, Health and Wellness, Sports Injuries |
MN Chiropractic Care | Summer Sports-Related Injuries Warm weather is here, which means that many people will soon be storing their winter coats and replacing them with swimsuits. With this in mind, it is important to consider the potential for injury with water-related activities since they can occur just as easily as other seasonal sports. As is most often the case, prevention is essential. Summer is a season full of beautiful weather, vacations, sports, and other enjoyable outdoor activities. Unfortunately, summer also means an increase in injuries. There are many ways to prevent the injuries that are most common during the summer months, as you and your family enjoy the warm weather. Many of the tips for preventing summer sports-related back injuries revolve around being in good condition. You might be surprised at just what “conditioning” encompasses. Of course, maintaining a workout routine that includes the strengthening and stretching of your muscles will help protect your back — your back is vulnerable when the rest of your body cannot move easily and safely. But experts tell us that conditioning does not stop after you walk out of the gym. Align Your Body: Alignment refers to the relationships of parts of the body to the whole. Here’s how it works: Bones come together at joints, which are spaces that allow for movements you make when you run, hike, cycle, lift weights, or even type at your computer. For example, your knee is a joint, as is your elbow. Muscles do the work of moving those bones. With 26 movable bones; the spine has many joints that allow you to move it in...
by Dr. David Lee, D.C. | Apr 19, 2012 | Chiropractic Care |
When doing yard work, using proper technique is important for injury prevention. Twisting, turning and bending can lead to back injuries and muscle strains. Be especially careful when raking leaves, shoveling snow or digging in the garden. Avoid Injury While Doing Yard Work Spring is here and with it comes potential for injury. It is important to be prepared and safe when working in the yard. The following are tips for injury prevention: Warm Up: Limber up before tackling the yard. Go for a walk and stretch: trunk rotations for stretching the back bring your knee up to your chest to stretch your lower back and legs, and reaching above your head with hands locked to stretch arms and shoulders. Use Proper Body Mechanics: Be aware of body position when raking, bending or picking up debris in the yard. Always bend from the knees and keep your back straight. Consider using a cart or wheelbarrow to move items from one place in the yard to another. When raking, place one foot in front of the other and then switch after 10 minutes. Don’t twist when raking, shoveling or digging. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart with one foot forward. Alternate which foot you put in the front. Change Tasks Often: Change positions often to avoid repetitive motions. These motions are hard on your body and can lead to injury. If you are pulling weeds, stand up after 10 minutes to stretch and change position. Rake a small part of the yard, then pick up the debris and move it out of the area. Break up sitting tasks by walking whenever...
by Dr. David Lee, D.C. | Apr 17, 2012 | Chiropractic Care, Chronic Pain, Physical Therapy |
Chiropractic Treatments Champlin MN | Chronic Pain Management Chronic pain is a devastating health problem that affects at least 116 million American adults–more than the total affected by heart disease, cancer, and diabetes combined. It costs the nation up to $635 billion each year in medical treatment and lost productivity. Chronic pain affects people of all ages, races, and occupations and without treatment, pain can have a significant impact on the pain sufferer and their entire family. For every person seeking relief from chronic pain, others are inevitably affected: husbands and wives, parents and children, friends, employers and co-workers. Chronic pain can interfere with every aspect of a person’s life: work, relationships, self-esteem, and emotional well-being. The Burden Of Pain Chronic pain brings a burden of depression, anxiety, frustration, fatigue, isolation, and lowered self-esteem. Pain makes it hard to work, hard to play, hard to get support from others, and hard to live a happy life. Chronic pain can literally shatter productive lives. Pain is the most common reason why people come to a chiropractor. Whether it’s intense throbbing from a migraine headache, fibromyalgia disorder, an auto, sports or work injury, or constantly aching joints from arthritis, we all want the pain to go away — and fast! Sometimes pain is a temporary condition that will go away on its own (like after a minor injury or after surgery). But sometimes the pain is an indicator of something more serious, and it won’t get better until it’s treated. It is important that you get it diagnosed correctly. Exercise Reduces Anxiety of Chronic Disease People with chronic pain often experience pain...
by Dr. David Lee, D.C. | Apr 12, 2012 | Chiropractic Care, Neck Pain |
Chiropractic and Exercise The Best Treatment For Neck Pain Neck pain afflicts at least three quarters of people at some point in their lives, but there’s been little research on what treatments are the most helpful. Many take over-the-counter medications or visit doctors and chiropractors in search of relief. Sedentary office workers tend to be most susceptible to the condition. Good News For Patients With Neck Pain! When it comes to neck pain the best medicine is no medicine at all! Now a new study published on January 3, 2012 in The Annals of Internal Medicine has a surprising answer demonstrating the power of alternative therapies for neck pain: Chiropractic care and simple neck exercises done daily at home were much better at reducing pain than taking pain medications like aspirin, ibuprofen or even strong narcotics. It’s good news for patients that there’s something they can do themselves to take a more active role in their care — such as doing the exercises or visiting a chiropractor — instead of just swallowing a pill. And the relief provided by either exercise or spinal manipulation by a chiropractor was long-lasting — even up to a year later, when researchers checked back in with the study’s participants. Spinal Manipulation, Medication, or Home Exercise With Advice for Acute and Subacute Neck Pain Full Text (PDF) FREE The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, involved 272 adults, aged 18 to 65 years, who had had neck pain lasting for 2 to 12 weeks. The participants were then split into three groups and followed for about three months using three different methods: Medication Exercise...
by Dr. David Lee, D.C. | Apr 10, 2012 | Auto Accident Injuries, Chiropractic Care, Sports Injuries, Work Related Injuries, Workman's Comp |
Auto Accidents, Workman’s Comp and Sports Related Injuries Chiropractors have long been dedicated to delivering the safest and most effective healing methods for their patients. Scientific evidence supports chiropractic adjustments as safe, effective and an appropriate choice for patients with many common forms of neck pain and headaches. Chiropractic health care has an impressive array of studies which support and prove the effectiveness of chiropractic care in a variety of different health ailments and many more studies are currently underway. Chiropractic – A Clear Winner For Back Pain No Contest! Many of these studies have been done not only by chiropractors, but by other health care professionals as well, including federal government studies of various countries. So, how do chiropractors treat patients after an auto accident injury, work injury, or sports injury? In an accident, muscle, ligament, and tendon damage results from the violent movement of the body along with trauma from impacts. Many traditional medical treatments focus on obvious injuries while assuming that surrounding soft tissues will heal on their own. In many cases, this is true because the body is an amazing healing machine, but often, back pain, neck pain, and headaches can emerge weeks and months after an accident when the body healing response compensates for misalignment and scar tissue. When underlying structural issues go unresolved, the body rebuilds an injured area with built-in potential for long-term pain and limited function. Old injuries can often be the underlying cause of sciatica or worsen existing chronic conditions. Your back is an intricate structure of bones, muscles, and other tissues extending from your neck to your pelvis. Back...
by Dr. David Lee, D.C. | Apr 5, 2012 | Chiropractic Care, Lower Back Pain, Work Related Injuries, Workman's Comp |
MN Chiropractic Care | Work Related Low Back Injuries If you’re suffering from lower back pain you’re not alone. About 80% of U.S. adults will at some time in their life suffer from the disabling confines of lower back pain. According to experts, lower back pain is the number one disability culprit in workers’ compensation claims and accounts for more than $50 billion annually in the US through medical care and lost production. In addition, the latest research shows most lower back problems which cause low back pain do not fully resolve without extensive treatment and proper rehabilitation, contrary to previous beliefs. Chiropractic Is A Clear Winner In Treating Low Back Pain! The Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center recently surveyed more than 14,000 subscribers who had lower-back pain in the past year but had never had back surgery. More than half said pain severely limited their daily routine for a week or longer, and 88 percent said it recurred through the year. Many said the pain interfered with sleep, sex, and efforts to maintain a healthy weight. Back pain can be tough to treat. Most respondents tried five or six different treatments. They rated the helpfulness of the treatments tried and their satisfaction with the health-care professionals visited. Hands-on therapies were among the top-rated. Fifty-eight percent of those who tried chiropractic manipulation said it helped a lot, and 59 percent were “completely” or “very” satisfied with their chiropractor. Massage and physical therapy were close runners-up. Study Finds Chiropractic Most Effective Treatment For Low Back Pain Low back pain (LBP) is “one of the costliest work-related injuries in the United...
by Dr. David Lee, D.C. | Apr 3, 2012 | Chiropractic Care, Neck Pain |
Chiropractic A Winner In Treating Neck and Low Back Pain! For many years, the American Medical Association waged war against chiropractic, an intervention that relies on spinal adjustments to treat health problems. Chiropractors used to be regarded as the modern-day equivalent of snake-oil salesmen. The increasing acceptance of chiropractic care as a source of comprehensive complementary care for neuromusculoskeletal problems is reflected in that the chiropractic field is the fastest growing among all doctoral-level health professions. Chiropractic: Then and Now Chiropractors now represent the third largest segment of health care practitioners in the United States. What led to the change in attitude toward chiropractic? Recognition by the established medical community that most medical therapies for back pain are ineffective. RAND’s 1992 groundbreaking analysis of spinal manipulation that showed this intervention does benefit some people with acute low-back pain. This study directly influenced the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to include positive recommendations on spinal manipulation in its 1994 clinical practice guidelines on low-back pain. This federal agency issues such guidelines to help the medical community improve the quality of health care in the United States. View the print-friendly version: PDF (0.2 MB) Chiropractic Research Evidence For the Effectiveness of Chiropractic If you suffer from chronic back or neck pain, don’t turn to medication, seek the help of chiropractic adjustments from a Champlin MN Chiropractor. Numerous studies throughout the world have shown that chiropractic treatment, including manipulative therapy and spinal adjustment, is both safe and effective. Many other studies have shown that chiropractic care can contain costs and get workers back on the job after a work injury in...
