Tai Chi

Hi Everyone,

I am wishing you a relaxing and happy holiday season!

I have been hearing from some people who are a little tense at this time of the year. There are travel plans not working out, last minute gifts to get, slower traffic (at least in MN), and extra snow to shovel. I was just thinking about how nice it would be to be able to give everyone the gift of relaxation this year. People who come to my office get a little relaxation, but I wish that more of us had the luxury to relax and breath this season.

I would like to challenge you all to set a new years resolution of giving yourself some time every day in 2011 to relax. Students and parents are already telling themselves as they read this that that is impossible, but what if you took three extra deep breaths before falling asleep at night? What if you gave yourself 5 min. in the morning to stretch or have a cup of tea before everyone else gets up?

I often tell people that their Chiropractor is ordering them to relax. Relaxation is important for our health. I joke that I can send a note home if that helps. :) The activities or lack of activities that are going to help our minds and bodies slow down, will vary greatly from person to person. As you are discovering what is relaxing to you today (it can change from day to day or year to year), I invite you to look at Tai Chi.

Many people find Tai Chi to be deeply relaxing, myself included. I have not previously looked for studies on Tai Chi. The following links are what I found today.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0912611- Fibromyalgia and Tai Chi

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16455435?ordinalpos=4&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
-HIV and Tai Chi

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/taichi/introduction.htm -Tai Chi introduction and health benefits

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11929351?ordinalpos=4&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
-health benefits of Tai Chi

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11858304?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/645945.html - Tai Chi and arthritis

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18401235?ordinalpos=4&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
-Tai Chi and Blood Pressure

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16572030?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
-Tai Chi and older adults


Enjoy!

Healing Touch, Theraputic Touch, Reiki, and Energy Work

Hi Everyone,

It has been a while since I have looked for information on energy healing (such as Reiki or Orthobionomy), healing touch, or therapeutic touch type techniques. There tends to be more information on light touch techniques, but there is a little bit of information on energy techniques. Today I found these two articles.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2816237/?tool=pmcentrez -on Biofield techniques-Reiki, healing touch, therapeutic touch.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1449825/?tool=pmcentrez -healing with gentle touch.

Enjoy!

Thanksgiving, Turkey, and Tryptophan

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Today I have two Thanksgiving appropriate links. There was a time when we thought that the Tryptophan (L-Tryptophan, an amino acid/protein) in turkey is what makes us all tired after our Thanksgiving meals. We now think that that is not the case. It is more likely that the large amount of calories (heavy on the fats and carbohydrates) is probably the reason we all feel like a nap after we eat.

This first link has almost any information about L-tryptophan that you could want.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2908021/?tool=pmcentrez

This second link has some interesting "facts" about thanksgiving. It also talks about turkey and tryptophan. The article is a couple of pages long so make sure to click on the "next page" link at the bottom of each page. If you want to know why the tryptophan in turkey probably doesn't make us sleepy, click on this link. http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/question519.htm

Enjoy!

Autism and Chiropractic

Hi Everyone,

I guess the forecast that said the snow wouldn't last was wrong. I think the snow is here to stay. The lake by the office here did freeze over for the first time, but the waves are back already. Stay safe in the snow, but have fun!

Today I have a clip about autism and chiropractic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1VBCRH90Oo

Enjoy!

Fibromyalgia and Exercise, Running/Aerobics and Pain

Hi Everyone,

I guess it is supposed to snow tonight. It doesn't look like it will stay for very long since the temps will be above freezing this weekend. For all of you who love the winter sports, I hope that soon we get some snow that stays.

Today I have three studies. Two are about exercise and fibromyalgia. They kind of go along with the study I linked to my last blog.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1590013/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2911859/

This last study for the day is about aerobics and pain. It does mention running as well. It seems that they are saying that running doesn't cause anymore pain in the long run then other aerobic exercises. I am guessing they were using running in moderation and not in excess as some professional runners may do.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1297575/


Enjoy!

Fibromyalgia

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all had a fun Halloween! Now we can all move on to Thanksgiving (even if the stores have moved onto the winter holidays).

It seems that the usual flock of geese on the lake by the office here has just gotten larger. I think they have been joined by another flock. Now they are doing circles in "V" formations. I guess winter is on its way.

Things have still been busy here, but I have been able to squeak in a little time to look for articles.

Today I have an article on Fibromyalgia and aerobic exercise.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC117444/

Enjoy!

Hi Everyone,

It seem that the yard work caused by the wind has made me very busy this week. I hope to get back to blogging next week.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Twin Cities Marathon 10/3/2010

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday I had a great time at the Twin Cities Marathon in the elite tent. I was volunteering with Center Point Massage and Shiatsu Therapy School and Clinic. The weather was perfect, but maybe a bit chilly (37 degrees) for the women's 10 mile in the early morning. The fall colors were wonderful, and we got to hear a lot of great racing stories from athletes that traveled from all over the world (as well as those that live here in MN). Thank you all for sharing your stories with us.

I also wanted to congratulate all of the runners and rollers that participated. You work so hard at what you love, it is truly inspiring. You can make us believe we could actually do what you do...even if we are dreaming.

Happy Running!

A Bit of This and That

Hi Everyone,

I know it is not officially fall yet, but it is definitely feeling like fall. I can now go jogging without feeling overly warm, and I love being able to jog just a little farther because I don't feel melted. The trees here are just starting to turn. We are getting to see some yellow and orange out there. I hope you are all enjoying this MN weather as much as I am.

Every year about this time I start to see some of the Twin Cities Marathon runners show up in the office. I'm wishing you all good luck in the race this October. It looks like I'll be working in the elite tent on Sun. (the last race day). I won't be there adjusting, but screening for Center Point Massage and Shiatsu Therapy School and Clinic. The participants can come by and get a post race massage. Center Point graduates will be ready to help you feel better. If you know there is a massage at the end of the road, will it help you run faster? Don't miss out!

Today I have a video about blood pressure and chiropractic. The first reporter could use a lesson on how to pronounce chiropractic, and the video quality is not the best, but it is good information.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBwJIZTq8Yg


Enjoy!

How Does Chiropractic Work?

Hi Everyone,

I hope the first week of school is going well for all of our students. I also hope everyone had a good holiday weekend. This weekend I was pretty busy. One of the things I had a chance to do, was to pick some apples right off the tree...I love fresh fruit!

With school underway, now is a good time to make sure your backpack (or your kid's backpacks) fit properly. A good backpack should have a lumbar support (low back support), adjustable straps that are fitted correctly, and weigh less than or equal to 10-20% of your body weight (for a child this is about 10-15 lbs maximum). I know, if your a parent you are thinking that this is impossible. The kids have too many books, especially as they get older. It can be done with a little planning and maybe a chat with a teacher or two. Backpacks on wheels can also be a helpful tool. They are similar to the luggage that we like to pull behind us.

Someone used to backpacking or camping with a pack (usually 40-60 lbs), should be training or doing this activity enough that they are strong enough to handle more weight. If you are backpack camping remember less is more! Ask your chiropractor to make sure your backpack is fitted correctly.

Today, I bumped into a video on Facebook that is really amazing. It talks about how chiropractic works, and describes a chiropractic subluxation. It gives you a view of the nervous system and the human body that can truly show you what it is that is happening with chiropractic care.

Here is the link to the video:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=123399947710556&ref=mf#!

Here is a link to the information on subluxations that is on my website:
http://www.kellychiropractic.com/back.html

Enjoy!

Infertility

Hi Everyone,

The renovations are took longer than they were supposed to, as these things often do, but we are starting to put things back together. Our music was hooked up again yesterday, the new paint looks great, and we are gradually getting the art back upon the walls! It is all very exciting since it has been about 5 years since we made any major changes here at the office.

There were so many links that I found about infertility, it became too much to post them on all of the online sources (this blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc.). If you go to my website and click on "links", then click on "chiropractic research and topics" and scroll down to infertility, you'll find the other sources I was talking about.

www.kellychiropractic.com

This link will bring you right to the links page of my website.

http://www.kellychiropractic.com/links.html#CHIROPRACTIC_RESEARCH_AND_TOPICS


Here is one more link about infertility in case you don't feel like surfing today.

http://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action&articleId=19666


Enjoy!

Infertility and Chiropractic Care

Hi Everyone,

Things have been really exciting around the office lately. We are having some updates to our space. I think I am most excited about the new paint. I am ready for some different colors.

I recently saw a video on Facebook referring to how chiropractic can help with infertility problems. I had not heard of this research. When I went to look further, I found several small scale studies on this topic. I don't have time to post them all today...with the remodeling and all, but in the next couple of weeks I'll post some more.

Here is the link for today.

http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/search2.php?aid=1048

Enjoy!

Autism and Chiropractic Care

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all enjoying the summer. It has been extremely humid and really warm (for MN).

Last week or so, I had someone send me a message asking about Autism. I have seen some studies over the years and as I recall they all tend to show what I would call mild to moderate improvements in Autistic children. Then, on occasion there is a child that responded so well their autistic diagnosis needs to be re-evaluated.

I went looking for some online sources, and here is what I found. Like the studies with ADD and ADHD, most of the research is in the form of case studies and small trials, but the results are very encouraging.

http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/search2.php?aid=1014
http://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=20133
http://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=20085
http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/search2.php?aid=1251
http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/search2.php?aid=1626
http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/search2.php?aid=1738

Enjoy!

Case studies, Merk Manual

Hi Everyone,

I know I've mentioned this before, but I wish there were more large scale studies on many different topics in chiropractic. If anyone out there finds any, let me know, I'd love to read them. Today I have a link to a page that has many different case studies listed on it. There is also a link to Pub Med, the Merk Manual, and a few other health resources.

http://www.chiro.org/cases/index.shtml#Treatment_of_Bipolar_Seizure_and_Sleep_Disorders

Enjoy!

Just for fun!

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all have a wonderful July 4th. As a sports chiropractor I work with athletes in many different sports, but gymnastics will always have a special place in my heart. I, like many former gymnasts, wish it was a life long sport. I hope someday we will get to see this in competition on a real floor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNufUU8EZd0- triple double on tumble track. (Say that five times fast) :) Wish I could try that!

Enjoy!

First chiropractic adjustment part 2

Hi Everyone,

This week has been so busy, but everyone should now be ready for their vacations this weekend. I'm always grateful that I have a job I enjoy so much. It's nice to have a job that allows me to help increase the enjoyment of so many people while they are on vacation!

This week if found the study referenced in my last blog. This is the study done based on the story about the first chiropractic adjustment.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1395318/?tool=pmcentrez

Enjoy!

Hearing and Chiropractic

Hi Everyone,

Right now, there is a big snapping turtle in front of my office (larger than a cat, and some dogs). She is slowly wandering down the sidewalk toward the nature center's lake. It nested and left eggs in the parking lot a couple of weeks ago. I'm hoping that I'm around when they hatch, that would be fun to see.

As a chiropractic student one of the first things they tell you is about the story of the first chiropractic adjustment. Any good chiropractic student, or student of any science, would wonder if it was true, has it been studied. When I was a student I often wondered if anyone had tried to reproduce that outcome. I never did find any studies then. Chiropractic can be hard to study for several reasons, one of which is that the doctor will always know if the treatment given was real, or a sham. That makes it hard to do a double blind study.

So, is it possible that the first chiropractic adjustment helped a man hear? Click on the following link, and you decide.

http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/search2.php?aid=1163

Enjoy!

Ear Infections

Hi Everyone,

It has been nice to see some of the college students that are home for the summer. I love hearing about their adventures away from home. I am also glad that most of them are only needing wellness care.

Here is some info I found this week on ear infections.

http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/search2.php?aid=1060

http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/search2.php?aid=1599

Enjoy!

Hi everyone,

Well, the chiropractor can tell it was Memorial Day! Car rides, painting, gardening, walking too much at various places, working at the cabin, golf, and silly family games have all caused my patients much pain. I'll have to remember to do a Memorial Day boot camp class on how to stay healthy next year!

Ear infections

Hi Everyone,

I was out of town last week so I missed the weekly blog. But I'm back!

This week I have a small bit about chiropractic and ear infections. The explanation the treating chiropractor gives is a bit incomplete and over simplified. But I don't think many people really want to hear the complete details of what chiropractic may be doing to help ear infections. There may be an effect on the nervous system, and there are techniques that attempt to help the Eustachian tube drain better. Chiropractic care is probably not the best choice to help ear infections caused by a bacterial infection (but the treatment won't hurt either). In a case like this where antibiotics were not appearing to help, chiropractic may be a good choice. For more information, you can go to my website http://www.kellychiropractic.com/colic.html or ask your chiropractor.

Here is the link:
http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/search2.php?aid=1599

Enjoy

Brain fucntion and chiropractic, "I love my chiropractor" on Facebook

Hi Everyone,

Today I have a link to something that looks really interesting. I hope I can find the actual study at some point. There is not a lot of information given here to tell if the study was done well or not. But it is a place to start the search for the full publication of the study.

http://www.yourspine.com/Chiropractic/Chiropractic%20Improves%20Brain%20Function.aspx

If you are on Facebook, look at this. This site has a few bits of information from time to time. It is where I found the above link.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Love-My-Chiropractor/280983829878

Enjoy!

meditation and gymnastics

Hi Everyone,

I got these links from an old gymnastics coach of mine.
http://gymnastics.rocketkraft.com/video/x4b_UcU8lz0/2008-USA-Women-s-Olympic-Gymnastics-Team-The-Feather.html- It's fun to see these Olympians as girls with big dreams.

This is just in time to help us all relax before the weekend!
http://clearlakeflutes.rocketkraft.com/video/ETvFnLg0hXU/Native-American-Meditation-The-Northern-Lights.html -Native American music with nature pics.

Enjoy!

Depression and chiropractic

Hi Everyone,

It's been another crazy week. Have had trouble getting to the blog this week, but finally, here it is.

There have been some ideas about chiropractic care stimulating the release of neurotransmitters (NTS) (i.e. serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and many others) in the brain and throughout the body. I'd say that the research is not strong (yet), and in the beginning stages on that topic. It seems to me that serotonin is the starting point for this research. But I hope we get to see some well done large studies on that topic in the future. If someone could link serotonin release with chiropractic care, I hope the next questions asked would be about that connection and if there could be an effect on depression, weight issues, and many other health issues that involve NTS.

So the next thing I would naturally search for in the above line of thought is studies on depression. Here are a couple of studies on Chiropractic and Depression.

http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/search2.php?aid=1137 -I'd call this a pilot study.

http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/search2.php?aid=1137 -case study

http://www.jvsr.com/abstracts/index.asp?id=350- the same case study from above.

Enjoy,
Dr. Gwen

Jack LaLanne on chiropractic

Hi Everyone,

Here is a link sent to me from a friend of mine, thanks Dr. Christina!

"Feel better and live longer with Chiropractic - Jack LaLanne FOX NEWS - Jack LaLanne is an American fitness, exercise and nutritional expert, celebrity, lecturer, and motivational speaker who has been referred to as "the godfather of fitness." He has published fitness books as well as hosting a long-running fitness television show between 1951 and 1985. LaLanne gained worldwide renown for his success as a bodybuilder, as well as his prodigious feats of strength. He continue to rely upon chiropractic adjustments to keep himself healthy and active. He is 94 year old."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSYWfRDD5H8

Enjoy!

Vaccinations, martial arts

Hi Everyone,

This as an addition to my last blog. Here is some vaccination information from the FDA website.

http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/default.htm

A friend on Face Book posted a clip of some impressively fast martial arts. I like martial arts myself (Kung Fu, and Tai Chi), and couldn't resist posting this link here for other athletes and martial artists that will like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JURo8RoxrrM

Enjoy!

Vaccinations

Hi Everyone,

I am often asked by patients to give them my opinion about vaccinations. As a chiropractor vaccinations and medications are legally out of my scope of practice. To my patients' annoyance, I can't comment, so I won't comment here either. Since I am only presenting one side of the debate, however, I will ask that you remember that there are very good reasons to get vaccinated. I would make sure you do your homework. Hopefully this will help.

It is relatively easy to find information on why to get vaccinated. One of the easiest ways to get information in favor of vaccinations is to talk to your medical doctor (MD). You could also probably find some good information on the CDC (Center of Disease Control), FDA (Food and Drug Administration), or NIH (National Institute of Health) websites. For those of you looking for the other side of the coin, I hope this will help.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/04/10/wakefield-interview.aspx -The video is really long (several 10 min. sections), but worth watching. You can also get the transcript to read. Also note that the MMR vaccine that they are harping on here is from one company. Not all companies have the same problems with their vaccines.

Enjoy!

Low back pain, Yoga, pregnancy, chiropractic, running, movement times

This morning I found a few studies. There is quite a mix of topics. They all came up with a search of back pain and chiropractic.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2792123/?tool=pmcentrez –yoga and low back pain.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2647084/?tool=pmcentrez- Pregnancy and chiropractic

http://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=20580 –low back pain and chiropractic RCT

http://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=18965 –Chiropractic and movement time improvements. I had previously put a link to an article about this study. Here is the link to the actual abstract, I bumped into it today.

http://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=20113 – Chiropractic, running, and hip extension…Dr. Gwen wonders what would happen if they tested long distance runners where a small improvement in hip movement would be more significant.

Enjoy!

Asthma (NFL, ADHD)

Well,

On Friday when I left work the lake by our office was still frozen. Today I see waves...Spring is warming us up! It's nice to see movement on the water again.

I went looking for information of asthma and chiropractic care. Chiropractic care can help people with asthma. Many people find a reduction in symptoms, decreased severity or frequency of attacks, decreased need for medications, etc. I would never claim Chiropractic care would cure asthma, but it does look like it helps decrease the problems people experience.

The research out there is mostly small studies and case studies, hopefully we'll start to see larger studies being done. It might be a while though. I would imagine it could be hard to get funding for something that is not a complete cure.

tp://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=20711 -child case study Asthma, colds, allergies.

http://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=20103 -small study

http://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=19899 –child asthma case

http://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=19721 -"Tourette Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, depression, asthma, insomnia, and headaches: a case report"

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2829683/?tool=pmcentrez -asthma

When doing a search for one topic, it is common to run into some other random studies. I also found a paper on NFL and chiropractic, and an ADHD case study. Funny to find that on an asthma search, but I found them interesting.

http://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=15755 -Chiropractic in NFL.

http://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=20757 –case study child with ADHD

Enjoy!

Scoliosis and constipation

Hi Everyone,

I have been trying to blog on Mondays, but this week has been so busy. I'll have to keep it short this week.

I found a few studies on scoliosis. It appears that chiropractic care may be able to reduce the measured scoliotic curve.

http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/search2.php?aid=1234
http://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=19610
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC520751/?tool=pmcentrez
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2647005/?tool=pmcentrez

I have treated a fair amount of people with constipation at my office. I like to use chiropractic treatments along with massage and acupressure. There were no studies to be found with the combination of treatments, but I did find one on chiropractic care by itself. If I think of it. Maybe sometime I can do a search of acupuncture literature, I'm sure I'd find some good information there as well.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2505067/?tool=pmcentrez

Have a good weekend!

For Runners

This time of year I start to see some more runners coming in. Make sure you don't forget to keep track of how old or how many miles are on your shoes. Old shoes can cause a runner a lot of pain. It is usually a good idea to avoid new shoes if you are training for a race though.

Here is my favorite site for runners. On this site you can find all sorts of information about running "how to's". There are training guides for almost any long distance race you can think of. The training guides vary based on your goal as well (i.e. finish the race or win the race). I often modify these plans to help a previously injured runner get back on track for a race. But this site is not just for racers, it is also for someone who has never been a runner. If you look hard enough you can find a plan that is for the first time runner or walk/runner.

Happy running!

http://www.halhigdon.com/index.html

Oh...this isn't meant to be an add for this site. I am not affiliated with this link in anyway. I just use this site a lot and thought I'd share it with you. Enjoy!

Whip Lash and Auto Accidents

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are all enjoying the snow melt this week.

Today I found a couple of video's by a chiropractor in California. I don't know or endorse him, but the information looks useful. I know of insurance companies that have in the past, told people they can't possibly be in pain they weren't going fast enough. I have also known them to say that there is not enough damage to the car to have an injury. Patients as well, will wonder why they hurt so much when it was "just a fender bender". According to this link, it only takes speeds of 2.5-5mph to cause injuries such as whiplash. And you can have a significant injury without visible damage to the vehicle.

These are not the most exciting clips, but it is good information.

Happy viewing,
Dr. Gwen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiTAP1MCSsM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk-1-rnQU60

Loving Gymnastics

Hi Everyone,

A friend of mine on Facebook posted a link to a gymnastics video on Youtube that got me remembering gymnastics.

I'm just remembering all of the fun times I had while I was a gymnast. I miss a lot about gymnastics. I miss flying through the air, learning new skills, all the friends I made, and the places I went. From time to time I will remember a gift I got from gymnastics. Today, I am grateful for the gift gymnastics gave me of knowing what it is like to be passionate about what I do.

Since gymnastics I have become passionate about a lot of things in my life, chiropractic, camping, and many others. Today I am wishing you all a little time to enjoy those things in life you are passionate about. I'm sure anyone who has or has had a favorite sport or hobby (so pretty much everyone), understands this.

Here is the video. It is meant for gymnasts, but I imagine getting older in any sport has its journey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ACPSechyzs

Also for gymnasts and their coaches, here is a website that has some fun gymnastics drills on it.

http://www.gymdrills.com/

Enjoy and be passionate!

Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Hi Everyone,

I see a fair number of fibromyalgia patients in my office. One patient has been bugging me for a couple of years to put some of this information on the internet. Well, here it is.

Since fibromyalgia is a symptom based diagnosis, the treatment plan can vary a bit from person to person. Fibromyalgia is not diagnosed based on the cause of the symptoms, but rather on the symptoms themselves. This means that there could be several treatments that work for different people because the cause might not be the same. The cause is still debated in the health care world, but several sound theories are being looked into. Until the cause of fibromyalgia is defined more clearly, the treatment needs to be based on each individual.

I have read many studies on this problem, and today I found two studies I hadn’t read before. I was unable to find links to some of the other information I have come across in the past. Before I share the studies today, I’d like to share some more information.

Some possible causes of Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) or Fibromyalgia (FM) include stress, lack of certain vitamins and minerals, and a lack of or imbalance in some neurotransmitters (such as norepinephrine and serotonin). There are other ideas out there, these are just a few.

I like to start with lifestyle changes. Are you getting enough water, vitamins, and minerals? Are you exercising on a daily basis? Are you doing something everyday to relax? All of these things can decrease symptoms of FM.

Heart and cardiovascular issues as well as sleep issues can also be a problem in people with FM. Dealing with these issues can also help symptoms. For some people a visit with a cardiologist or a sleep study might be helpful to rule out heart problems, sleep apnea, or hypopnea.

Digestive issues like IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and other digestive problems are common in people who have FM. Allergies and food sensitivities can contribute to symptoms of FM. It is important to rule out any digestive abnormalities. Managing digestive problems will help with the FM symptoms.

Depression, anxiety, and other psychological issues are common in fibromyalgia patients. These issues, like cardiovascular, digestive, and sleep disorders, should be dealt with. Getting help from a psychologist is not something to be embarrassed about. Many people try to avoid the possibility that stress and other psychological influences could be affecting their physical pain. Finding out if some of the physical pain can be helped with stress reduction and counseling is an important part of care. There are very real physical results that manifest due to what we are thinking.

Chiropractic treatment, aerobic exercise, strength training, acupuncture, Qi Gong, and nutritional supplements (especially Magnesium, EPA, and DHA) can all be helpful in treating fibromyalgia. The difficulty is in finding the right combination of treatments to help each individual with fibromyalgia to feel better. Patients I have worked with have found that chiropractic care as well as massage, acupuncture, Pilates, yoga, tai chi/qi gong, ball rolling, aerobic exercise, relaxation, meditation, diet changes, and nutritional supplements all to be helpful. Not every patient does all of the above, but different combinations of the above. FM patients need to give their doctors enough time to run through trial treatments of various combinations of things that we know will help. Too often a patient gives up on care without trying all of the different combinations of treatments available, or don’t follow doctor’s instructions. Find a doctor you trust, and stick with it. It takes time to find a treatment plan that works for any given person with FM.

There are also medications that can be helpful, but as a chiropractor those are out of my legal scope of practice.

http://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=16610 –This study finds that chiropractic care can be helpful for fibromyalgia patients.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1779399/?tool=pmcentrez –This study is a medical study, and so it is heavy on the drug treatments. It didn’t look like it mentioned chiropractic. It did, however, find that exercise, acupuncture, nutrition, and Qi gong can be helpful.

In the past I have read that 20 min. of aerobic exercise (huff and puff you could talk but you don’t feel like it exercise) daily, can significantly decrease symptoms of FM. The above study says 20 min. two times a week will do. The above study also mentions strength exercise is helpful as well.

Clearly, the best treatment for Fibromyalgia is a multi-level plan of care. It is my opinion that the best results come when the different health care specialties can work together to manage the problems that come with FM. Chiropractors usually have great results in treating FM symptoms.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Sincerely,
Dr. Gwen
(Gwendolyn E. Kelly-Kohnke, D.C.)

Hi Everyone,

Today I decided to look for some more research on children and chiropractic. There are so many articles out there on how chiropractic care helps children. There are articles on Autism, ear infections, bed wetting, colic, learning disabilities, tantrums, headaches, and much more. Here are links to a few of the interesting ones I found today.

http://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=20942 -on infantile colic, constipation, and sleep issues.

http://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=20764 -on infantile colic and long term effects. Chiropractic treatment may decrease tantrums in children who had colic as infants.

http://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=20768 -Chiropractic care may help with symptoms of ADHD and learning disabilities.

http://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=20770 -Chiropractic care helps in over 66% of cases with child and teen bed wetting.


If you are interested in doing your own searches go to www.kellychiropractic.com click on links, scroll down to the first section. There are a few different places you can look for chriopractic research online.

I hope you are all staying warm this winter. Enjoy the day!

Benefits of chriopractic wellness care.

Here is an article on some of the benefits to chiropractic wellness care.

http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/search2.php?aid=1104

Wellness care.

Many people are aware that their teeth should be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent tooth decay. Not as many people are aware of the benefits of getting regular spinal checks, or of the benefits of chiropracitc wellness care.

In this article, "More than 40% of chiropractic patient visits were initiated for the purposes of health enhancement and/or disease prevention."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2528271/?tool=pmcentrez&report=abstract

In this article chiropractic care was used "58% for prevention and wellness".
http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/search2.php?aid=1279

And in this article chiropractic students were used. "The results showed that the students who participated in the spinal hygiene class showed significant improvement in a wide area of quality of life parameters."
http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/search2.php?aid=1240

Ask your chiropractor about the benefits of wellness care.

It is another snowy day in MN. Whether you like the snow or not, with the snow comes slow traffic and car accidents. I hope you are all making your daily trips safely! I don’t want any of you to end up needing my care.

As I was driving to work this morning, seeing cars on the side of the road, I decided to look up some research about chiropractic and whiplash injuries. There are many injuries from car accidents that can improve with chiropractic care, whiplash is just one of them. Here is a link to one of the many studies that show that chiropractic care can help with whiplash injuries.

http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/search2.php?aid=1659

I also ran into another article about chiropractic care, MS (Multiple Sclerosis), and Parkinson’s disease. The article mentions car accidents which is why I think it came up on my search. Car accidents are not, however, its primary focus. This article talks about a study that showed that MS and Parkinson’s disease patients who saw improvement in their symptoms with chiropractic care, were also likely to see a halt in progression of the disease for 1-5 years during treatment. Read more at the following link.

http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/search2.php?aid=1245

I guess it has to be done. Here is a disclaimer for this blog. You know the drill...


Thank you for visiting the Chiro Corner Blog. Please note that the information located here is not intended to provide specific chiropractic advice. You should consult with a chiropractic doctor and not rely on any information contained herein regarding your specific condition. We welcome the receipt of electronic mail. Please be advised, however, that the act of sending electronic mail to this office or to Dr. Gwendolyn E. Kelly, DC does not alone create a physician-patient relationship. We will neither accept requests for chiropractic advice or treatment nor offer specific chiropractic advice over the internet. The information here is presented for general information purposes only and is not intended to be used as a substitute for medical advice.

Now that that is taken care of, enjoy the rest of my blog.

First Blog Ever!

OK, so, I have been told for a long time that I should start blogging. I hope I will be able to reach people in a helpful way here, as I am able to help people in my office. To get you started, here is a link to some information about chiropractic care and headache treatments.

http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/search2.php?aid=1157

Enjoy,
Dr. Gwen