Metrowest Spine Clinic Reviews - Chiropractor Framingham

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What Does a Chiropractor Do?

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7 Ways to Avoid Back Pain

Dr. Howard Austrager, a Framingham chiropractor, gives you his 7 ways to avoid back pain and what you can do about it.

1. Maintain good posture when sitting or standing. This sounds easy, but there are many ways this can go wrong. Make sure your workstation is setup correctly if you have a desk job. Remember you are sitting here for at least 7 hours. When standing, make sure your weight is distributed on both of your legs. Many people have a tendency to shift to one side or another. If you can’t stand on both legs equally, there may be an underlying problem.
2. Watch your weight; excess weight places additional strain on your back. Your lumber spine (lower back) has a natural curve. If you have excess weight, this can accentuate the curve and place additional pressure on your lower back nerves. If your spine is already unstable or out of alignment, the additional weight can cause a nerve to get pinched.
3. Warm up before and stretch AFTER physical work or exercise. Get your muscles warm with some jumping or light jogging in place to get your muscles warmed up. Even more important,  after you are finished do some basic stretches to give muscles a nice stretch. This will help avoid injury.
4. Stay active and follow a regular pattern of exercise to keep your muscles and joints flexible. A sedimentary lifestyle can be more dangerous than drinking or smoking. Even a walk 3x/week for 20 minutes can make dramatic improvements to your health. This will also work your lower muscle groups and keep your lower back looser and more flexible. (don’t forget to warm-up before and stretch after)
5. When lifting, bend at your knees, hold the object close to your body and lift from your legs. I think we have all heard this one before, but let’s review. Plan ahead what you want to do and don’t be in a hurry. Position yourself close to the object you want to lift and separate your feet shoulder-width apart. This will give you a solid base of support. Bend at the knees, tighten your stomach muscles and lift with your leg muscles as you stand up. Don’t try and lift by yourself if an object is too heavy. Get help!
6. Avoid sleeping on your stomach, which can strain your neck and back. Imagine turning your head and pushing on it for 7 hours or more. This is what happens to your neck when sleeping on your stomach. Sleeping on your stomach also can place your lower back into extension and strain the joints and irritate the lower back nerves. causing pain.
7. See your chiropractor! Well you probably saw this one coming. Regular spinal adjustments can keep your spine in the proper alignment and prevent back pain. Remember pain is the last thing that will show up if your back is out of alignment. Regular chiropractic adjustments will keep your spine more flexible and prevent those flare-ups.

Chiropractic for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

As a practicing chiropractor in Framingham, I have treated Carpal Tunnel Syndrome on many patients. What I have found is that many people do not know that a chiropractor can help with this problem. My goal is to try and heal the affected area so that surgery is not needed and optimal function improves.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), named from the carpal bones in the wrist that form a tunnel around the nerve leading to the hand, is an injury usually caused by repetitive and forceful movements that result in swelling around the tendons and pinching of the median nerve, causing painful tingling, lack of muscle strength and control in the hand, and pain shooting from the hand up to the shoulder. CTS is a risk to most workers, such as those who work on the computer and also store and assembly line workers, who receive micro-traumas to their hands and wrists on a daily basis due to awkward positioning, forceful and repetitive movements, and stressful activity.

The usual treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can extend to heavy medication and surgery, however there are alternative methods of treatment that can alleviate the symptoms and effects arising from CTS. Chiropractic treatment for CTS has been studied against conventional non-surgical medical treatment and was found to be effective. This offers an alternative to sufferers who are intolerant to ibuprofen, or those who simply wish to avoid treating with medication.

The median nerve in the wrist, which when trapped causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, connects to the spinal cord through the openings in the bones in the areas around the lower neck. If these bones in the spinal cord lose their ordinary position or motion, this can cause problems in the wrists or fingers. Through chiropractic treatment, these bones can be reset to the correct position and can help to treat CTS.

If Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is detected early, then surgery can be avoided, and chiropractic treatment is the leading method of non-surgical treatment. Chiropractic treatment usually involves various methods, with a combination of rest, ice, exercises and manipulation, including:
* By chiropractic manipulation therapy of the elbow and upper spine, where the joint's soft tissue undergoes manipulation;
* Nutritional supplements in the diet such as B6, a vitamin that has had long-term promotion in its treatment of CTS;
* Electro-acupuncture treatment; bracing, a technique that has had extensive success, by limiting extension and flexion in the hand, and with compression on the median nerve may encourage recovery and ease the swelling in the tendons;
* Exercises for the wrist and hand designed to encourage recovery;
* Reassessing the ergonomics of the work place to minimize stress the best way as possible.

Recent studies concluded that using manual therapy intervention such as soft tissue mobilization (STM) has been found to help improve the signs and symptoms of CTS, with improvements to nerve conduction latencies, wrist strength and motion.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can become a serious health problem, and if left too long may require surgery. If it's caught early, then chiropractic treatment is an effective, drug-free method to ease the symptoms and pains caused by CTS, and provide long-term relief from CTS.
Every body is different. If you have questions about this article or whether chiropractic is an appropriate choice for your specific situation, please ask. We are here to help!

Dr. Austrager is available for free consultations at his office in Framingham to see if chiropractic may be an option for helping you with your carpal tunnel problem. He can be reached at 508-620-1585 or at his website www.metrowestspineclinic.com.

Chiropractor in Framingham - How to Make Chiropractic Treatments More Effective

A regular visit to your chiropractor is one of the best things you can do to eliminate chronic back and neck pain and to maintain flexibility and range of motion. Your chiropractor will design a treatment plan specific to your particular needs that will include not only chiropractic adjustments, but also suggestions for appropriate exercises and nutritional changes you can make that will enhance the effectiveness of your treatments. There are a few things that everyone can do to make their chiropractic treatments even more effective.

Be specific about your symptoms - In order for your chiropractor to recommend the most effective therapy or combination of therapies for your particular situation, you need to be as specific as possible about your symptoms. Since chiropractic is a holistic form of healing (meaning that all aspects of a person's health and lifestyle are taken into consideration when developing a treatment plan), it's important to mention every symptom you have. This is true even if you feel that some of your symptoms may be unrelated or insignificant. Based on what you tell your chiropractor as well as diagnostic tests performed in the office, he or she will be able to decide which types of treatment may be most appropriate for your condition.  Treatment plans may include chiropractic adjustments, joint mobilization, soft tissue techniques, therapeutic exercise and nutritional changes as well as other types of specialized therapies.

Keep moving - One of the main aims of chiropractic care is to maintain flexibility and range of motion. As the old saying goes, "Use it or lose it." Chiropractic has been shown to be most effective when combined with regular exercise, and the effects of treatment last longer. Muscle strengthening and stretching exercises will provide the necessary support to the spine that will help to keep it from going out of alignment as easily. By following your chiropractor's exercise suggestions between adjustments, your function will be restored more quickly, and you will gain confidence in your ability to move in ways that would have been too painful before your chiropractic treatment. With your newly enhanced flexibility, try to get out on a walk, hike or bike ride.

Consider massage - Therapeutic massage is often used in conjunction with chiropractic care. It shares with chiropractic the desire to enhance the circulation of blood and fluids and to restore the free flow of nerve impulses. Massage can break up adhesions in the fascia that keep your muscles from moving properly. Massage can also help to release muscle tension and warm up the areas around a spinal subluxation, making your joints more pliable and easier to adjust. However, keep in mind that not all chiropractors agree about the relative benefits massage before an adjustment. Some chiropractors prefer to get an accurate picture of your normal physiological state prior to performing an adjustment, so be sure to check with your own chiropractor before having a pre-adjustment massage.

Incorporating these suggestions into your regular chiropractic treatment regime can help you to make the most of each adjustment and make a significant impact on your quality of life.

Dr. Howard Austrager has been a local Framingham chiropractor for the past 13 years. His practice is Metrowest Spine Clinic and it is located at 235 Walnut St. in Framingham, MA. The phone number is 508-620-1585 and more information can be found at www.metrowestspineclinic.com.