How does massage therapy affect the body?

Although scientific research on massage therapy -- whether it works and, if so, how -- is limited, there is evidence that massage may benefit some patients. Conclusions generally cannot yet be drawn about its effectiveness for specific health conditions.
According to one analysis, however, research supports the general conclusion that massage therapy is effective. The studies included in the analysis suggest that a single session of massage therapy can reduce "state anxiety" (a reaction to a particular situation), blood pressure, and heart rate, and multiple sessions can reduce "trait anxiety" (general anxiety-proneness), depression, and pain. In addition, recent studies suggest that massage may benefit certain conditions, for example:

• A 2008 review of 13 clinical trials found evidence that massage might be useful for chronic low-back pain. Clinical practice guidelines issued in 2007 by the American Pain Society and the American College of Physicians recommend that physicians consider using certain CAM therapies, including massage (as well as acupuncture, chiropractic, progressive relaxation, and yoga), when patients with chronic low-back pain do not respond to conventional treatment.
• A multisite study of more than 300 hospice patients with advanced cancer concluded that massage may help to relieve pain and improve mood for these patients.
• A study of 64 patients with chronic neck pain found that therapeutic massage was more beneficial than a self-care book, in terms of improving function and relieving symptoms.

There are numerous theories about how massage therapy may affect the body. For example, the "gate control theory" suggests that massage may provide stimulation that helps to block pain signals sent to the brain. Other theories suggest that massage might stimulate the release of certain chemicals in the body, such as serotonin or endorphins, or cause beneficial mechanical changes in the body. However, additional studies are needed to test the various theories.

How does acupuncture work?

Here are current thoughts from the National Institutes of Health on the manner by which acupuncture might produce beneficial health results.
Many studies in animals and humans have demonstrated that acupuncture can cause multiple biological responses. These responses can occur locally, i.e., at or close to the site of application, or at a distance, mediated mainly by sensory neurons to many structures within the central nervous system. This can lead to activation of pathways affecting various physiological systems in the brain as well as in the periphery. A focus of attention has been the role of endogenous opioids in acupuncture analgesia. Considerable evidence supports the claim that opioid peptides are released during acupuncture and that the analgesic effects of acupuncture are at least partially explained by their actions. That opioid antagonists such as naloxone reverse the analgesic effects of acupuncture further strengthens this hypothesis. Stimulation by acupuncture may also activate the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, resulting in a broad spectrum of systemic effects. Alteration in the secretion of neurotransmitters and neurohormones and changes in the regulation of blood flow, both centrally and peripherally, have been documented. There is also evidence that there are alterations in immune functions produced by acupuncture. Which of these and other physiological changes mediate clinical effects is at present unclear.

Despite considerable efforts to understand the anatomy and physiology of the "acupuncture points," the definition and characterization of these points remains controversial. Even more elusive is the scientific basis of some of the key traditional Eastern medical concepts such as the circulation of Qi, the meridian system, and other related theories, which are difficult to reconcile with contemporary biomedical information but continue to play an important role in the evaluation of patients and the formulation of treatment in acupuncture.


Some of the biological effects of acupuncture have also been observed when "sham" acupuncture points are stimulated, highlighting the importance of defining appropriate control groups in assessing biological changes purported to be due to acupuncture. Such findings raise questions regarding the specificity of these biological changes. In addition, similar biological alterations including the release of endogenous opioids and changes in blood pressure have been observed after painful stimuli, vigorous exercise, and/or relaxation training; it is at present unclear to what extent acupuncture shares similar biological mechanisms.
It should be noted also that for any therapeutic intervention, including acupuncture, the so-called "non-specific" effects account for a substantial proportion of its effectiveness, and thus should not be casually discounted. Many factors may profoundly determine therapeutic outcome including the quality of the relationship between the clinician and the patient, the degree of trust, the expectations of the patient, the compatibility of the backgrounds and belief systems of the clinician and the patient, as well as a myriad of factors that together define the therapeutic milieu.
Although much remains unknown regarding the mechanism(s) that might mediate the therapeutic effect of acupuncture, it is encouraging that a number of significant acupuncture-related biological changes can be identified and carefully delineated.


Further research in this direction not only is important for elucidating the phenomena associated with acupuncture, but also has the potential for exploring new pathways in human physiology not previously examined in a systematic manner.

Medically reviewed by Avrom Simon, MD; Board Certified Preventative Medicine with Subspecialty in Occupational Medicine

REFERENCE:

National Institutes of Health

Chiropractic Genius - Review by Asana B | Wall Family Chiropractic Center

Chiropractic Genius - Review by Asana B | Wall Family Chiropractic Center

Chiropractic/What is this all about?

Mission

It is our mission to ...

. . . give health to those who need it and hope to those who seek it.

. . . ensure that every individual in our community has the right to have optimum health through a properly functioning nervous system by detecting and eliminating subluxations.

. . . ensure that every member of our community experiences healing from the inside, not from an outside source.

. . . ensure our community has health and hope.

For, those who have health have hope; and for those who have hope, have everything.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that your body is a self-regulating, self-healing organism.

The brain, which controls the ENTIRE body, receives and transmits information through the spinal cord and spinal nerves. Nervous system function is impaired when any part of this communication is disrupted.

Chiropractic is the science of locating offenders to this natural and much needed communication. Chiropractic care is the art of correcting what is causing the negative impact to one's nervous system. Whether it is a flu, a pain, or a cancer, the one common finding is nervous system dysfunction.

THE SCIENCE OF CHIROPRACTIC
Chiropractic works by restoring your inborn ability to be healthy. When proper communication is established between the brain, the spinal cord, and the spinal nerves, the cells of the body are best suited to resist disease and ill health.

The chiropractic approach to better health is to locate and help remove any interference to your natural state of being healthy.

There are many reasons why nervous system communication can become faulty. One reason is due to loss of normal motion or position of the spine, which can irritate or impair the function of the nervous system due to the resultant inflammation around poorly moving joints. Research has shown that this inflammation can disrupt the transmission of nerve impulses. With improved spinal joint movement there is often improved nervous system function.

ON THE FIRST VISIT
Helping to restore proper spinal joint movement, and improved nervous system function begins with a thorough case history. This gives the doctor a background about your health, such as surgeries, accidents, the onset of your condition, and other details affecting your current health.

After reviewing your history and discussing your specific problem, a thorough orthopedic, neurological, and chiropractic examination is performed. X-rays may be taken to uncover structural and functional problems associated with the spinal joints. These examinations help to identify areas of spinal malfunction, and the resulting nervous system deficit.

The findings of these examinations are explained and a plan of chiropractic adjustments and rehabilitation therapies may be recommended. Progress is monitored with periodic examinations and follow-up reports.

A CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENT
A chiropractic adjustment is the art of using a specific force in a precise direction, applied to a joint that is not moving properly (“fixated”). This restores proper motion to a joint, which helps the bones gradually return to a more normal position and motion. The purpose of this safe and natural procedure is to improve spinal function, nervous system function, and improve one’s health.

CHIROPRACTIC SAFETY
In the words of New Zealand government’s inquiry, chiropractic care is “remarkably safe.” Chiropractic has an excellent safety record. It is the result of a conservative approach to health that avoids invasive procedures or addictive drugs.

LIVING HEALTHIER
While there are no shortcuts to speed your body’s natural healing process, there is a lot you can do to give yourself the best chance of a quick recovery.

You should learn proper sitting and lifting methods. Specific exercises may be suggested to strengthen the muscles that support your spine. Many exercise programs like yoga and Pilates focus on these same muscles. Proper rest is an important aspect of the healing process, which is why restful sleep at night is so important to your health.

During the healing process, proper nutrition is very important. Many natural supplements can be taken to reduce inflammation and increase one’s rate of healing.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR SENIORS
More and more people are consulting chiropractic doctors, especially in their later years. With growing concerns about over-medication and the side effects of combining various prescription drugs, chiropractic care is growing in popularity. One reason is because chiropractic treatment does not involve the utilization of drugs or surgery.

Restoring spinal movement can help improve mobility, vitality, and endurance. Many patients report improvement with arthritic symptoms, and other chronic ailments that are often associated with the aging process. The adjusting technique used by your doctor will be modified for maximum comfort and results.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR LIFE
The way each individual person adapts and compensates for their injury determines the length of time needed to restore one’s nervous system to optimum function. Long-standing problems do take time to correct, but it will not take forever.

There are three phases of care: acute treatment, rehabilitation, and maintenance. During the acute phase, the goal is to treat the cause of one’s problem as quickly as possible. The rehabilitation phase includes treatments designed to promote strength in areas that were once weak, and to set the stage so that a reoccurrence of a similar injury does not happen again. The maintenance phase takes place when the first two phases are fully completed, and the patient finds that periodic check-ups serve as preventative visits to keep their bodies functioning properly. It is no different than getting a periodic check-up on your teeth from your dentist.

Most patients find that preventative visits are part of a healthy lifestyle.

How long you decide to benefit from chiropractic care is ALWAYS up to you!



Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is the treatment of the body’s soft tissues with the hands for therapeutic and healing effects. Our Licensed Massage Therapists use a variety of techniques, including Relaxation, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point therapy and Pregnancy massage, to enhance our patient’s vitality.

What is Gonstead?

This Blog is sponsored by Mike Wall DC of Wall Family Chiropractic Center, Tacoma WA 98444 

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The Basic Principles of the Gonstead Method of Chiropractic Analysis

 The Gonstead Concept of chiropractic begins with a basic biomechanical principle of physics. Every engineer, architect, builder and carpenter knows the importance of a proper foundation in constructing a building, for this insures durability and long life. Any slight change or shift in the foundation can cause a great amount of deviation in the top part of the structure and, perhaps, ultimately, its collapse.
 The body’s foundation is formed by the pelvic girdle. When this bony structure consisting of hip bones and the lower bones of the back is level, there will be maximum balance and stability in the spinal column. When the pelvic girdle or any of the vertebrae (bones making up the spinal column) become tilted or rotated out of their proper position, dramatic changes may occur in the body.
These misalignments can cause pressure on the discs that separate the vertebrae. (The condition of the disc is the key to the patient’s health problem in many cases.) Vertebra can become misaligned either from the cumulative effects of several minor episodes or from a single accident. Nature frequently is able to cope with these jolts to the spinal column without assistance. Sometimes, though, vertebrae tilted or rotated out of their normal position can be too much for nature to deal with effectively.
In order to more fully understand what occurs, we should know that the discs are really pads between the vertebrae and consist of a spongy substance surrounded by fibers of cartilage. When there is misalignment of a vertebra, there is uneven pressure on the disc causing it to swell and protrude. (One often hears this referred to as a slipped, herniated or ruptured disc.)
Chiropractors call this condition a SUBLUXATION when it results in the pinching or compressing of the nerves that run through that particular area. These compressed nerves often become inflamed and impede the proper transmission of impulses to the section of the body controlled by these nerves. A seemingly endless list of ailments and pain may be brought about by these subluxations.
Generally, misaligned vertebrae in the spine are easily recognized, particularly those in the upper portion of the vertebral column. However, less easily found and often overlooked are misalignments in the foundation or lower portions of the spine.
The ability to recognize and correct these misalignments forms an integral part of the Gonstead Concept. For example: When the lower portion of the spinal column has misaligned vertebra, the body tries to keep itself and its skeleton upright and straight. Often it compensates by causing a vertebra above to become misaligned. This is the body’s way of attempting to re-establish the normal perpendicular position of the body.
If just the top misaligned vertebra was adjusted, in cases where additional vertebrae are misaligned, only limited relief could result. This would not be getting to the source of the trouble. For complete and lasting results, all of the misaligned vertebrae must be identified and then a program can be initiated to restore them to their normal position. Every chiropractic case presents a different combination of misaligned vertebrae.

Colicky Babies? By MIKE WALL DC

Many parents are simply too nervous taking their babies to see a chiropractor. The main reason is the stereotype of "Snap, Crackle and Pop" that chiropractic invokes, but consider this.
The real truth is simply wonderful because the adjustments that a chiropractor will do on your baby are basically applying gently pressure with the finger to areas on the neck and back. You may see your baby totally relax before your eyes as the misalignments are corrected.
As a child is being born due to the stretching and compressing of the body as the baby emerges the neck and back vertebrae can go out of alignment as they enter into the world. If your delivery included a prolonged pushing stage, forceps or vacuum extraction, or other forms of assisted delivery, the chances of a misalignment are that much greater.
The most widely accepted definition of "colic" is uncontrollable crying in babies, especially from the ages of 0-3 months, and often lasting for more than three hours a day, more than three days a week for three weeks or more.
If you have a colicky baby, and other forms of treatment don't seem to be helping very much, there is hope, and it could come from your doctor of chiropractic. Infantile colic can be as troublesome for the parent as the child experiencing the condition. Characterized by a multitude of symptoms, the child suffering from infantile colic does not usually respond to simple comforting methods and exhibits periodic fussiness that can last over hours or days. No matter how long the condition lasts, parents know that struggling with a colicky child can be frustrating and exhausting.
The digestive system can be affected and ineffective digestion of breastmilk and formula can cause major discomfort in your baby, leading to colic episodes, in fact, the functioning of major systems in the body can be compromised If misalignments, called vertebral subluxations, are big enough. In many cases the infant appears to be in pain and will pull up his/her legs. At times the child's abdomen will be hard and distended. Occasionally the passage of flatus will give relief, yet these attacks may last for hours. To make matters more complicated, this condition rarely responds to traditional health care. This leaves many parents troubled as an infant's episodes of crying and fussiness persist.
As with selecting any health care provider, you need to ask questions first. In this case, "Have you adjusted other infants?" would be most important. Ask for referrals that you can contact if you are unsure.
Although chiropractic care does not treat the symptoms of colic specifically, Doctors of chiropractic have found after adjusting hundreds of' babies that most will respond within the first few weeks.- Why does chiropractic work when other methods fail? It's simple really.
Nerve supply is vital to the proper function of every system of the body, including the stomach, intestines, and other abdominal organs. Any vertebral subluxation causing interference to the nerves in this area could adversely affect gastric function and result in discomfort, gas and other colic symptoms. Parents living near Tacoma WA can schedule an appointment here www.wallfamilychiropactic.com

Chiropractic Manipulation: A Study Regarding Headaches

Chiropractic Manipulation: A Study Regarding Headaches


Headaches are a common complaint in patients presenting for professional care, including chiropractic management.  Patients with headaches seek chiropractic care because they find manipulation or adjustments applied to the cervical spine and upper back region are highly effective in reducing the intensity, frequency and duration of the headache pain.  This is because the cervical spine / neck, is often the origin of the headache as the three nerves in the upper neck (C1, 2 and 3) pass through the thick, overly taught neck muscles in route to the scalp / head.  When the muscles of the neck are in spasm, the nerves get “pinched” or squeezed by the overly tight muscles resulting in headache pain.  Each nerve runs to a different part of the head and therefore, pain may be described as “…radiating over the top of head (sometimes into the forehead and eyes),” or, into the head and over the ear, sometimes reaching the temple.  Also, an area located in the back and side of the head is the area where the C1 nerve innervates, so pain may also be reported in that location.  When more than one of the C1-3 nerves is pinched, the whole side to the top of the head may be involved.

In the October 2009 issue of The Spine Journal, Western States Chiropractic College, Center for Outcomes Studies, reported benefits are obtained with the utilization of spinal manipulation in the treatment of chronic cervicogenic headaches.  The word “chronic” means at least 3 months of headache pain has been present.  This new study compared 2 different doses of therapy using several outcome measures including the pain grade, the number of headaches in the last 4 weeks and the amount of medication utilized.  Data was collected every 4 weeks for a 24 week period and patients were treated 1-2 times/week and separated into either an 8 or a 16 treatment session with half the group receiving either spinal manipulative therapy or a minimal light massage (LM) control group.

The results of the study revealed the spinal manipulation group obtained better results than the control group at all time intervals.  There was a small benefit in the group that received the greater number of treatments with the mean number of cervicogenic headaches reduced by 50% in both pain intensity and headache frequency. 

The importance of this study is significant as there are many side effects to medications frequently utilized in the treatment of headaches.  Many patients prefer not taking medications for this reason and spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) offers a perfect remedy for these patients.  Couple SMT with dietary management, lifestyle modifications, stress management, and a natural, vitamin/herbal anti-inflammatory (such as ginger, turmeric, boswellia) when needed, a natural, holistic approach to the management of chronic headaches is accomplished. 

www.wallfamilychiropractic.com