| Wellness Tips You Need to Know |
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Secret Wellness Tips:
Eight out of ten people will experience significant back pain in their low backs over the coarse of their lives. Therefor the following information from my website, UnitedPhysiciansHealthInstitute.com is provided to help you live well and be well. The motions of daily life, if done incorrectly, can result in injury to the spine. The following tips can help you steer clear of that kind of pain and inconvenience and keep you feeling your best.
 Exercise: The absolute most important exercise you can do for you low back to help prevent injury is crunches or half sit-ups. Back extensions and oblique strengthening is important to. Basically, a regimen of consistent core stabilization exercises is vital for keep your spine strong and healthy.
Nutrition/Supplements: For bone health I recommend everyone should be on a high-quality calcium supplement. For joint health I recommend glusocamine. For overall health, a quality multi-vitamin, flax seed oil, and fish oil are ideal.
Sitting " Choose a chair that is firm enough to support you comfortably, and don't slouch! " Sit with your feet flat on the floor or on a low footstool so that your knees are slightly higher than your hips. Sit firmly against the back of the chair. " La-z-boy chairs don't bend where you do; choose a rocker instead. " Avoid crossing your legs at the knees, which can aggravate existing back conditions and interfere with circulation to your lower limbs.
Standing " Stand with your head level. When you have to stand in one place for long periods of time, put one foot on a 4-6-inch stool to help keep pressure off your spine. " Avoid wearing high heels if you are going to be on your feet for long periods of time. Working at a Desk " Take frequent stretch breaks if you have to sit for a long time. " Sit with your knees at a 90-120-degree angle. An angled footrest may help you feel more comfortable. " Make sure your chair fits correctly. Allow for two inches between the front edge of the seat and the back of your knees. " Choose a chair that tilts back so you can rest while you're reading what is on your computer screen. " Elevate materials or your computer screen to avoid neck fatigue.
Lifting " Avoid twisting and turning motions when you lift. If you have to turn to place the object, step in the direction of the turn, don't just twist at the waist. " Always bend at your knees, not your waist, when lifting anything heavier than 10 percent of your body weight (e.g., a child or heavy box). " When lifting an object, plant your feet about 12-18 inches apart, kneel or squat in front of the object, and lift as you straighten up. Be sure to lift with the big muscles of your thighs, arms, and shoulders, not with your back. " In some situations, it is difficult to lift correctly. Getting grocery bags out of the car is one such situation. The car bumper doesn't allow you to bend your knees. Bring the bag to you first and then lift carefully. " When engaging in repetitive lifting, use good lifting form, take frequent breaks, and use equipment to help whenever possible. "
To avoid tripping, be sure your path is clear before you lift the item.
Physical Activity / Household Chores " Warm up and cool down before and after physical activity like playing sports, raking, gardening, and shoveling snow. " When working with hand-held yard equipment, make sure that the machine you are using has a strap. Place the strap over your head and shoulder on the opposite side of your body from the machine and switch the machine from one side of your body to the other as often as possible. Use electric rather than gas-powered machines whenever possible; they are much lighter. " When washing dishes, open the cabinet beneath the sink, bend one knee, and put your foot on the shelf under the sink. Lean against the counter for support. " When ironing, place one foot on a small stool or a book. " When vacuuming, put all your weight on one foot, then step forward and back with the other foot as you push the vacuum. Use your back foot as a pivot when you turn.
Using the Telephone " When using the telephone, avoid cradling the receiver between your neck and shoulder. Hold the phone in your hand or use speakerphone instead. " If you use the phone a lot, use a lightweight headset. " Switch hands frequently when on the phone.
Resting/Sleeping " Don't use a sofa arm as a pillow or watch TV in bed with your head supported only by pillows; this strains your neck. " Avoid sleeping on a soft mattress or sofa. " Lie down in bed when it is time to sleep. Don't sleep in a chair or in cramped quarters. " Sleep on your side with your knees bent or on your back with a pillow under your knees. Avoid sleeping on your stomach. " Use a pillow that supports your head so that your neck and vertebrae are level with the rest of your spine as you sleep. Avoid sleeping on two pillows. " Be sure to get plenty of sleep every day to allow your body to rest and recuperate. 
David M. Salse, D.C.
UnitedPhysiciansHealthInstitute.com
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| Men: If you want to live longer, get married! |
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Who dies sooner, men or women?
 If you answered men you are right. Men die nearly ten years earlier than women. My female patients are the absolute best. They come in when they are having a problem before it gets out of hand. My male patients on the other hand wait until they can barely move before coming in. I call it the "Macho Mentality." Some are so bad, they are literally crying and on their knees with so much pain. The six most common words I hear from them are, "I THOUGHT IT WOULD GO AWAY."
Some people say its stress that kills men sooner, some say estrogen protects women and helps them live longer, I say that those statistics may or may not be true. However, in addition, what I see clinically is a cultural conditioning in which men feel they don't have to go to the doctor for anything. Little boys are taught to be tough and not to cry. Somehow us men translated that into: "seeing doctors is a sign of weakness."
Did you know men live six years longer when they are married as opposed to their single friends? I believe its because the wives literally drag their men to the doctors for checkups. The male mentality is, "I'm a guy so I'll just tough it out until I get better", or "If it ain't broke, don't fix it", or "I don't want to know what's wrong." Probably the worst thinking comes from men who say, "I'm fine, nothing's wrong....its just a little numbness down my right arm....I'll be okay." There is almost a sense of pride in these men. They come in saying, "I haven't been to the doctors in five years", and they're actually proud of that fact.
I recently had a middle aged woman come into the office for a consultation accompanied by her husband. The man's wife had been complaining of severe back pain for an entire year. During the consultation he said, "All she does is whine and complain about her back. I told her to tough it out like me." After taking her x-ray, I was horrified at what I saw. Her spine was fractured at L5/S1 which is the base of the lumbar spine. It's a condition known as a spondylolytic spondylosisthesis and on a one to four grading she was a four! I immediately referred her to an orthopedist who got her into surgery right away. It took fourteen hours of surgery to fix her problem. If it was up to her husband, she never would have sought help for her back.
In conclusion, I have a message to the males of the human race: If you want to live a long, healthy and happy life, LISTEN TO YOUR WIFE WHEN SHE TELLS YOU TO GO TO THE DOCTOR! The first step is to make an appointment with your family medical doctor and get annual health check-ups. Then call your dentist and get your teeth checked every six months. Finally, make sure you visit a reputable and well-known chiropractor in your area so that you don't suffer from nerve interference which is known as vertebral subluxation. In fact, one single subluxation can cause decades of poor health. Many times it is easy to correct the problem with proper chiropractic care.
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Our offices in Glendale and Monrovia and affiliate offices in Long Beach and Orange County offer bone density scans, colonoscopy/endoscopy exams, foot screenings, nerve testing, and chiropractic check-ups. For more information visit our website at http://www.unitedphysicianshealthinstitute.com/ or ChiroCareOnline.com.
Takes care of everyone else but themselves, holds all their stress inside them, too busy to exercise, eats too much fastfood or junk food that only they know about, overweight, doesn't want to know what's wrong with them, consciously or unconsciously doesn't really love themselves and therefor... feel they don't deserve to do something healthy like getting adjusted regularly. Does any of this sound familiar? If so, I encourage you to take action and call a local chiropractor in your area. This is the first step to taking back your health!!!! See More
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| How does the nervous system work? |
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Nervous System Physiology
Virtually every cell, tissue, organ and system of your body is controlled and regulated by your nervous system. And while the complex chemical and electrical nature of this vast network is best left to others, here are four key things you should know:
Safety pin closed
When the neurological circuits have integrity, your body works as it was designed.
Safety pin open
When spinal vertebrae pinch or choke nerves, affected organs and tissues don’t work the way they should and ill-health results.
Efferent Communications
Nerve impulses are sent from the brain out to the organs and tissues of your body.
Afferent Communications
Nerve impulses are sent back to the brain to make sure everything is working correctly.
Compressive Lesions
If spinal vertebrae pinch or choke nerve tissue, signals going from or to the affected organ or tissue can be diminished. (i.e., constipation.)
Facilitative Lesions
If spinal vertebrae chafe or irritate nerve tissue, signals going from or to the affected organ or tissue can be excited. (i.e., diarrhea.)
The nervous system is vulnerable where delicate nerve tissue comes into proximity with the moving bones of your spine. That’s why we're interested in your spine! |
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| Is Chiropractic Care Really Safe? |
 
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Chiropractic Adjustments are Safe
The argument about safety concerns is an example of “junk science” and a perennial favorite by those who have an interest in discouraging people from seeking chiropractic care.
Because of the popularity of this tactic, year after year it has been the subject of countless research projects. The result of these studies show complications from neck adjustments, the supposedly "riskiest" chiropractic procedure, are exceedingly rare:
1972 – One death in several tens of million adjustments.1
1978 – One in 10,000,000 neck adjustments.2
1981 – One in a 1,000,000 neck adjustments.3
1983 – Two to three per 1,000,000 adjustments.4
1985 – One in 400,000 neck adjustments.5
1993 – One in 3,846,153 neck adjustments.6
1995 – One in 2,000,000 neck adjustments.7
1996 – One in 900,000 neck adjustments.8
The most recent in-depth review of the relationship between stroke and chiropractic care, was published in the February 15, 2008 issue of Spine Journal. It looked at 10 years of hospital records, involving 100 million person-years. The verdict? There was no evidence of an increase in vertebral artery dissection risk with chiropractic, compared with medical management. Based on this review, stroke, particularly vertebrobasilar dissection, should be considered a random and unpredictable complication of any neck movement, including cervical manipulation.
In other words, cases of serious injury are practically nonexistent. By comparison, it makes the deaths caused by over-the-counter-pain-relievers to be considerably more troubling! Although reports vary, annual deaths in the United States attributable to NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, ketoprofen and tiaprofenic acid) range from 3,200 to higher than 16,500 deaths and 76,000 hospitalizations.
Even risk-adverse insurance companies recognize the safety of today's chiropractic care. The premiums for malpractice insurance paid by chiropractors are a mere fraction of what medical practitioners must pay. Chiropractic care is safe.
References
1 Maigne R. Orthopedic Medicine: A New Approach to Vertebral Manipulations. Springfield, Illinois, Charles C. Thomas. 1972; 155, 169.
2 Cyriax J. Textbook of Orthopaedic Medicine. Vol 1. Diagnosis of soft tissue lesions (7th edition). London, Bailliere Tindall. 1978; 165.
3 Hosek RS, Schram SB, Silverman H, Meyers JB. Cervical Manipulation. J Amer Med Assoc. 1981; 245:922.
4 Gutmann G. Verletzungen der arteria vertebrailis durch manuelle therapie. Manuelle Medizin 1983; 21:2-14.
5 Dvorak J, Orelli F. How dangerous is manipulation of the cervical spine? Manuel Med 1985; 2:1-4.
6 Carey PF. A report on the occurrence of cerebrovasular accidents in chiropractic practice. J Canada Chiropractic Association 1993 (June);37 (2): 104-6.
7 Dabbs V Lauretti WJ. A risk assessment of cervical manipulation vs NSAIDS for the treatment of neck pain. J Manip Physio Ther 1995 (Oct); 18 (8): 530-6.
8 Klougart N, Leboeuf-Yde C, Rasmussen LR. Safety in Chiropractic Practice. J Manip Physiol Ther 1996 (Jul-Aug); 19 (6): 371-7.
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| Kids Need Chiropractic Too |
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If you had the chance to save someone else's life without risking your own would you? Referring your children in for a spinal check-up is just as important as getting their eyes or teeth checked. By the age of thirteen children can experience literally thousands of impacts. Remember this wise saying, "As the twig is bent, so grows the tree".
Spinal problems have a way of happening from a variety of reasons. These commonly include such things as mishaps while at play as well as poor postural habits.
But it's important for a parent to know that any spinal condition left untreated may eventually degenerate, causing more serious problems later in life.
Happily, if discovered early enough, a child's spinal condition recovers relatively quickly and completely.
An example of this is scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine. It can develop quickly during the periods of rapid growth. However, in many cases, early detection and treatment can correct the problem.
So, just as it is important to have your children's teeth checked, it is also important to have their spines regularly checked for healthy development.
Learning to walk, ride a bicycle. and other childhood activities can cause serious spinal problems. While a bandage and some comforting words can help a skinned knee, the unseen damage to the child?s spine is the unique domain of a chiropractic doctor.
Many childhood health complaints that are brushed off as "growing pains" can often be traced to the spine. Regular chiropractic checkups can identify these problems and help avoid many of the health complaints seen later in adults.
Naturally. chiropractic adjusting procedures are modified to a child's spine. Most parents report that their children enjoy their chiropractic adjustments and seem healthier than other children. |
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| The Chiropractic Lifestyle |
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Monrovia, CA - Have you ever seen people that just seem to have something special about them? You can’t quite put your finger on it, but you just get a good vibe when your near them. Their skin is clear, they have good posture, they look younger than they are, they look well rested, they seem more athletic, and they don’t look stiff. Come to think of it, you notice they don’t get colds that often and they are generally in a better mood than most people. I see people like this come into my practice every day. I’m not saying its the adjustment that made them so radiant and full of life, but I will tell you that living the chiropractic lifestyle will put you on the right coarse for a healthy life. On the other hand, I see other people that have every excuse in the world why not to see a chiropractor. These people generally are the same ones that put everyone else in their lives first before themselves. They are the ones who will give everyone the good toast but they will take the burned one. They are the ones that are generally not good to themselves and many of these individuals don’t love themselves.
Before we go any further you need to know this. Medicine is NOT synonymous with the Chiropractic Lifestyle. Medicine deals with sickness and disease while chiropractic deals with health and prevention. Medicine is reactive while chiropractic is proactive. Medicine is about giving you a pill, potion or a shot. If that doesn’t work they start cutting things off you. Chiropractic is about a natural way of healing that believes your body can heal itself from “Above Down and Inside Out”. At this point, you might think I am anti-allopathic. That’s not true at all. In fact, in my offices we incorporate orthopedics, neurology, pain management, and podiatry.
What are the benefits to you and your family by adopting the Chiropractic Lifestyle? Imagine being in an elite group of the top ten percent of the nation. In that group you will find most professional atheletes and a large percentage of movie stars and entertainers. “Well, Dr. Salse, the only reason those hoity-toity people go to chiropractors is ’cause they have the money” . Not true. Many of them come in to chiropractic offices just like other patients. They have health insurance. But even if you don’t, chiropractic is relatively inexpensive and affordable compared to medicine.
“The Chiropractic Lifestyle” is about eating healthy, daily exercise, putting God first or connecting with your spirituality, drinking plenty of water, staying away from processed foods, avoiding tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, getting massages, wearing shoe orthotics, working on your balance and posture. Last but not least, getting your spine adjusted.
I encourage you to find a great DC in your area and make 2010 the year you add chiropractic to your lifestyle! Many chiropractors offer affordable family wellness plans. A wellness plan can include periodic adjustments, attendance to health workshops, and one-on-one consultations on nutrition and exercise. Make sure you get a referral from a friend or family member before choosing a chiropractor.
This blog will close 2009 my friends. Together let’s commit to taking charge of our health and making 2010 the healthiest, happiest year ever!!!!
David Salse
Monrovia, CA
For more information, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/yjvehr8
http://unitedphysicianshealthinstitute.com/
http://chirocareonline.com/
http://Facebook.com/DrSalse
http://MySpace.com/DrSalse
http://Twitter.com/MonroviaChiro
http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsalse
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| Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) |
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Your health is your most important asset. It is wise to ask questions regarding any type of treatment you are considering for you or your children.
What are the six most common words I hear in the office? "I thought it would go away." Pain is the body's way of telling you something is wrong. Many times the pain will go away, however, if you ignore the symptoms and mask the discomfort with medication, you may be making the problem worse. Chiropractic care may or may not be appropriate, but isn't it worth a chance to find out.
Below you will find more questions and answers to your most probing questions about chiropractic care. Any additional question you may have can be answered over the phone or during your consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: What about my insurance?
A: We accept most insurances including HMO/PPO, auto insurance Med Pay, and Medi-care. If we are not on your insurance list, chances are we are still in your network. Our office will verify coverage to determine your benefits at no charge to you.
Q: How do I know if I need chiropractic care? A: We offer a free initial consultation so you we make the best decision if chiropractic care is appropriate for you. If not, we will help you find a qualified physician that can help you.
Q: How can I afford it?
A: For our chiropractic patients: We've never turned away a patient because of money, but we have turned them away if they were not commited to their health. If you desire to be seen in this office, most of the time we can work with your finances and still stay in “fair exchange”. Confidential inquires can be directed to Clairessa.
Q: What other treatment do you offer? A: Our goal is to provide our patients with the best natural healing available through chiropractic care. However, when the need arises, we are fortunate to affiliate with two surgery centers and a group of highly skilled doctors available for our patients. We offer plastic surgery, pain management, orthopedics, neurology, podiatry, and internal medicine. We also have in-house NCV/EMG testing, bone density scanning, and x-ray. When necessary, our doctors perform coloscopy, endoscopy, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, and a number of other procedures.
Q: Do you offer transportation? A: For special procedures such as colonoscopy, pain management and plastic surgery, our stretch limosine is available free of charge.
Q: Does Dr. Salse twist the neck and make rough adjustments?
A: No!!! - The Activator and Gonstead methods are very gentle as practiced in our office.
Q: Honestly, will it really help?
A: Only a trial period of care will know if you can respond but in most cases, most patients can no matter their age or level of infirmity. See our success stories.
Q: I heard that if you start you have to keep going?
A:Those that “keep going” do so for the same reason they “keep going” to the dentist – for their best health. Most regular Chiropractic patients feel better and don’t get sick as often.
Q: Does it hurt?
A: Adjustments should not hurt. However, there could occasionally be some mild discomfort.
Q: Can it help my other conditions (other than neck or back pain)?
A: Most patients obtain more relief than expected as the body heals all over, not just the area of complaint.
Q: My M.D. said Chiropractic would hurt me and is not appropriate?
A: The best judge of whether Chiropractic might place you at risk is a state licensed Chiropractor. In almost all cases, with careful methods, patients can have Chiropractic care. Our patients range from one to one-hundred and it helps them all.
Q: I get relief sometimes when I “adjust myself”. Do I really need Chiropractic?
A: most patients are able to generate some noise from stretching joints. Unfortunately, the joints most critical to move for optimal health are rarely the ones patients can move.
Q: Why should I have my kids checked?
A: Birth trauma and the 2000 falls it takes to learn to walk start the spine off on the wrong track… and it grows worse from there. Children respond much faster than adults with Chiropractic care. We highly recommend all children be checked.
Q: What if I am already injured and too weak. How can I be helped? A: Dr. Salse has experience with thousands of patients, many who started off in very poor condition. It may require special care, but most patients can be helped with corrective chiropractic. Visit our testimonials page.
Q: I’m pregnant, can I be helped?
A: Yes. Dr. has experience with hundreds of women who were pregnant and adjusted them following delivery. Careful chiropractic care from an experienced doctor can help alleviate the discomfort of pregnancy. Chiropractic offers an alternative to analgesic medication to aid in the discomfort of pregnancy. .
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