Dr. Wayne Coghlan: Chiropractor

A few words about Spinal Traction Therapy, or as it is also called, Spinal Decompression Therapy. There is nothing new at all about the concept of traction therapy for treating back pain. There is evidence of its use in the times of ancient Egypt and writings from Hippocrates several centuries BC. In Chiropractic College, we were even presented with etchings dating from medieval times of a person being hung upside down on a rack with a board being placed and pressed across the low back. *** This was not a torture device .. it was state of the art therapy! Way back in our not too ancient history, traction/decompression therapy gained attention when many people took to running and jogging, and subsequently irritation mechanical problems in the low backs. The trend was to use "gravity boots," or boots that the user would strap on, pull themselves up to lock their feet onto a chinning bar, and hang free ... about as complex as hanging from the monkey bars. Despite the simplic

I had the chance to listen to a CBC radio interview with Dr. Lance Levy, author of Conquering Obesity. Follow (or cut and paste into your browser) the link to the interview http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Ontario_Today/ID=1409122823 and to Dr. Levy's website http://www.drlancelevy.com/. The premise Dr. Levy's work is that for people who continuously struggle with obesity, there is usually some underlying medical/psychological issue that needs to be addressed. These are: 1. Mood disorders and personality traits. 2. Chronic tiredness. 3. Chronic pain syndrome. 4. Chronic gastrointestinal disorders. 5. Disorders of impulse regulation. (Including ADD/ADHD and the adult equivalent) Make no mistake... there is no way to get around eating less and being more active in order to manage weight... yet where overeating is a symptom of some underlying disorder, identifying and managing the causes will promote a better chance of success.

Starting a new habit and sticking to it is difficult for many people. So many things get in the way and your favourite comfy chair or TV program look good after a long, busy day. Here are some tips to help you fit-in your fifteen minutes each day and get you started. The Fit-in 15 website contains links to Canada’s Physical Activity Guides for more ideas on healthy active living: http://fitin15.ca/QuickQuiz http://fitin15.ca/ecms.aspx/resources/eng_rack_card.pdf http://www.smartspot.ca/smart_t_bmi_tool.aspx

Health care of any type is a serious issue. Your health and safety is tantamount and is important when you consider how to choose a chiropractor that is right for you and your needs. Some signs of a good chiropractor are: · The plan and provision of treatments to get you better as fast as possible with as few visits as necessary, and the advisement of how to avoid future problems. Yes. · A good chiropractor will put your needs first and offer you sensible advice without excessive pressure to purchase anything or commit to a long term maintenance treatment plan. Yes. · X-rays and other tests will only be ordered if necessary. Yes. Now that you know what to look out for, use these tips to choose a chiropractor: · Recommendations. It is always important to check will all of your resources for recommendations. These can be family, friends, neighbors or coworkers who have seen or are seeing a chiropractor. Ask how long they have been treated and if they would recommend t

Some good advice for the diet and weight control perplexed. Leslie Beck Published on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009 7:02PM EST Last updated on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009 2:04AM EST It's resolution time again and for many of us losing weight, eating better and exercising more top the list. Now comes the hard part – keeping those promises throughout the year. While it's not hard to stick to your resolutions for the first month, research shows that many people lose steam by February and half break their commitment by June. The problem: unrealistic expectations. Too often people commit to making too many changes at once, something that's incredibly hard to do considering habits seem to be hardwired in our brain. Others view New Year's resolutions as an “all-or-nothing” endeavour. They pat themselves on the back for being really “good” when they're eating well and hitting the gym regularly. But then, the slightest slip can bring on feelings of guilt, making it tough to

Pendulum Exercises for Shoulder Mobility ***It is important to get and keep your joints moving lest they seize up and deteriorate*** • Improving the basic mobility of the joint prepares it for further rehabilitative exercises. • Start low and slow! Breathe as you exercise. Use smooth, relaxed movements. • Work up to your level of tolerable discomfort. If you feel pain, reduce the exercise to what you can   tolerate… Some exercise is better than none. • If sore, apply ice after your exercises to reduce inflammation. Bend over to allow the arm to hang freely and relaxed. Support yourself on a table or chair . • Swing the arm front to back as if in a marching action. Try several repetitions with the thumb turned in, and then turned out. Focus on moving the shoulder joint, not the just the forearm. • Swing the arm from one side to the other side, as if it were a pendulum. Do a few repetitions with the thumb turned in, then turned out. • Move your arm in an easy circle. T

H1N1 formerly known as Swine Flu, and Seasonal Flu. Stop the Insanity! The following is an excerpt from the Globe and Mail and is about the best sense I've seen on the H1N1 (Swine flu) and seasonal flu. Credits to http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/stop-theconflusionhere-are-theh1n1-facts/article1317237/ Andre Picard for the complete article Here, in a few brief words, is the essential of what you need to know about pandemic influenza: H1N1 is a new virus so a lot of people will contract it. As many as one in three Canadians could fall sick with H1N1 if they are not vaccinated. The good news is that, so far, disease caused by H1N1 has been relatively mild. A small percentage – but significant number – of people will get very sick and some will die. Those at greatest risk of getting sick are pregnant women and people (especially children) with chronic medical conditions such as asthma. Healthy young adults seem to get a lot sicker from H1N1 than they do from

Visiting a Chiropractor (adapted from the Ontario Chiropractic Association website at http://www.chiropractic.on.ca/ChiropracticCare/VisitingaChiropractor.aspx What to expect on your first visit As your chiropractor I may be treating your back pain, neck pain, headache, or other aches and pains, but I need a complete picture of your health history and overall current health in order to provide the best possible treatment for you. Set aside at least 30 minutes for your first visit with me. Future visits typically last 15 minutes or less, though the time required will depend upon the type of treatment you require. Here’s what you might expect. On your first visit, I may ask about the following: * personal and family medical history * major illnesses you have experienced * surgeries or operations you have had * medications you are taking * a description of your present condition * the steps you have taken to manage your condition * your diet and exercise *

Dr. Wayne's Summary: Of interest in this article is the comparison between high and low carb diets and weight loss. A review of low carb diets reveals that weight loss is less about engaging some metabolic short cut, but more about cutting out junk carbohydrates. In effect... eating less. When reviewing high carb diets, the same conclusion emerges. Eat less simple/junk carbohydrates, and one just generally eats less overall! The superiority of eating a diet higher in complex carbohydrates over a high protein diet is the inherent inclusion of dietary fiber, and the exclusion of animal fats. The Glycemic Index is emerging as a valuable tool in deciding what to eat... choose foods that have less impact on blood sugar. Overall guidance : Eat more fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grain. Eat less meat, dairy, egg, and processed foods. Drink more water. Be more physically active. It's that simple. In the post-Atkins era, this might seem like strange advice: Eat carbohydr

http:// From: Alex Hutchinson. Globe and Mail, May 22, 2009. A lex Hutchinson draws on the latest research to answer your fitness and workout questions in this biweekly column on the science of sport. The question What type of exercise is best for maintaining strong bones? The answer The key word here is "maintain," as 95 per cent of your mature skeleton is already in place by the age of 17 for girls and 19 for boys. Once you reach adulthood, it's basically one long fight against the slow but inexorable loss of bone strength - and the key to that fight, many of us assume, is weight-bearing activities. But the latest research shows that resistance-training exercises like lifting weights can also play a crucial role in bone health - and in some cases are even more effective than weight-bearing activities such as elliptical training. "Over the past decade, people have realized that bone is more dynamic than we thought. It's actually a pretty

Here is a link to the Ontario Chiropractic Association for their brochure, "Plant and Rake Without the Ache." This is a decent bit of information that covers how to manage loads, lifting with care, and some stretching. http://www.chiropractic.on.ca/ecms.ashx/ba3623fb-081b-4585-8d7c-ef6592fa2287/PlantandRakeDocument/GardenTri-fold.pdf

Here is a reasonable overview of low back pain from Consumer Reports Health.org What is back pain? http://www.consumerreports.org/health/conditions-and-treatments/back-pain/what-is-it.htm

Relief for your aching back: What worked for our readers Our survey respondents tried an average of five or six different treatments over the course of just a year. About 80 percent of the adults in the U.S. have been bothered by back pain at some point. The Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center recently surveyed more than 14,000 subscribers who experienced lower-back pain in the past year but never had back surgery. More than half said the pain severely limited their daily routine for a week or longer, and 88 percent said it recurred throughout the year. Lower-back pain disrupts many aspects of life. In our survey, 46 percent said that it interfered with their sleep, 31 percent reported that it thwarted their efforts to maintain a healthy weight, and 24 percent said that it hampered their sex life. Where to go for treatment When back pain goes on and on, many people go to see a primary-care doctor. While this visit may help rule out any serious underlying disease, a surprising number

The May 2009 issue of Discover magazine (May 2009, pg. 14) reports that fruits and vegetables sold in the United States are becoming less nutritious. Agricultural and likely distribution has favoured quantity at the loss of quality. Other reasons to be concerned about the level of nutrition we realize - the level of vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients we actually absorb and are available to support metabolic function - range from food selection, storage, processing and cooking, digestion and absorption, and how lifestyle issues of stress, antibiotics, smoking and alcohol consumption. The leading indicator of adult onset disease is being over weight. It is wise then to manage our calorie (food energy) intake. Yet to balance off calorie consumption in our generally sedentary culture, it becomes hard to meet our nutritional (food quality) needs by diet alone. (Many people can count the number of steps they take in a day to under a thousand, compared with the old order Ami

Dear Reader: There has been a faction of the Chiropractic profession that has rallied around the evils of vaccination. They make some interesting arguments and personally, I don't like the notion of injecting microbes and preservatives into my body. One must also be mindful that vaccinations are developed and marketed for the purposes of making corporate profits. It is not public health officials encouraging young women to be vaccinated against viruses related to cervical cancer. The source is the private interest motivated by profit that is promoting public demand. It requires robust government regulation and vigilance to ensure that the public good is not undermined. Yet from a public health perspective, the benefits of vaccination outweigh the real and perceived risks. The foundation of responsible democracy is for ordinary people to make informed decisions. If this blog has piqued your interest, do a bit of research for yourself. Please note that while some chiropractors may p

Back pain, neck pain, and headaches are the most common reasons why Canadians first consult a chiropractor. Every time you overdo, there’s a small amount of damage done to your spine. Vertebrae (the bones of the spine) can slip out of position or move improperly as muscles pull. In a few days the muscles heal, the pain eases, yet the vertebrae stay out of place, creating a chronic but unfelt vertebral distortion. This causes pressure on nerves and sensitive tissues and can lead to fixation (a sticking together) of two or more vertebrae. When the position and movement of vertebrae become distorted there is abnormal pressure on the disc and joints. Eventually the joints deteriorate into a condition called degenerative joint disease. You may know this as arthritis (comparable to a car becoming rusty). Constant lifting, bending, poor posture, etc., put consistent stress on your joints. It’s usually not the one big thing that you did, but the many small and repetitive things that you do. Of

Weighing in on Weight Loss There is much talk currently about regulating the diet/weight loss industry. I will leave that up to the reader to opine on the dangers, merits, and extent that Big Brother ought to protect the public from itself. However, as with many things in life, BUYER BEWARE. Keeping one's weight under control is important to promote a longer and healthier life. The number one indicator of adult onset disease is excess body weight. I refer you to http://drwaynecoghlan.blogspot.com/2008/10/losing-weight.html. Weight loss, however, is a very challenging thing for most people to manage and sustain. Many people are desperate to find a better answer and .... in a free society there are those entrepreneurs who will take advantage of persons vulnerable, if not desperate. BUYER BEWARE. I recall a review of weight loss centres and their long term effectiveness. The research supported that for people who did adhere to their program, they were successful in temporaril

The fun of corsets. Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/socialstudies Jan 09/09. ".... "The corset is a vilified article of clothing. It was and is blamed for a host of feminine miseries, both physical and spiritual, for ruining women's bodies and for closing their minds. It is interesting to note, however, that while women wore them, it was male doctors who led the campaign against the corset. Most women were for it. ... Wearing a corset is a little like finding oneself in a permanent embrace, a hug around the middle that goes on and on. This is pleasant and vaguely erotic - a squeeze that lasts." Ahem... Corsets also provided a degree of stability to the lower back and forced the lady to attend to better posture. It had to.. it was too uncomfortable to slump or bend over at the waist. We find a comparable device with industrial back supports (see picture). These devices became popular through the 90's when they were touted as being preventative for low back

"The term syndrome refers to the association of characteristics that often occur together, so that the presence of one feature alerts the physician to the presence of the others." Wikipedia. Standing straight when one leg is shorter is the equivalent of standing sideways on a hill. The person cannot help but lean to the shorter side. The spine may compensate, to limit leaning to the short side, by tilting the upper body in the opposite direction. This produces a "scoliosis" or sideways deviation of the spine. NOT GOOD. Often a person will try to compensate for a short leg by perching on short leg, usually with the other leg bent at the knee and turned out...effectively shortening the long leg. NOT GOOD. Rather than balancing the pelvis, fatigue and strain usually causes the pelvis to over compensate. In either case, the distortion of the spine unevenly loads the joints and muscles, and promotes faster wear and tear, and injury. If you, or someone you care about, i

Count your blessings A new study by researchers at the Universities of California and Miami shows that people who consciously remind themselves every day of the things they are grateful for show marked improvements in mental health and some aspects of physical health, reports The Dallas Morning News. The results appear to be equally true for healthy college students and people with incurable diseases, according to research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Compared with groups of subjects who counted hassles, such as "hard-to-find parking," grateful subjects felt better about their lives and more optimistic. The college students exercised more; the chronically ill adults reported sleeping longer and waking up refreshed. Being grateful was also superior to its distant cousin -- seeing oneself as better off than others. People who took pleasure in the troubles of others had better mental health than those who counted hassles, but worse than grateful

That persistent muscle pain may be drug-induced! Complaints of general muscle pain, weakness, tendonitis, and lupus-like symptoms maybe be caused by the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins). Statins such as Lipitor, Mevacor, Socor, Poravachol and Lesco, all lower cholesterol by inhibiting a specific liver enzyme. Without this enzyme, the liver cannot make its own cholesterol, so the liver removes cholesterol from the blood for use in producing hormones and other cell functions. Reported musculoskeletal side effects include muscle pain, inflammation and destruction of the muscle tissues. When muscle tissue is destroyed, it releases iron into the blood stream. Excessive concentrations can clog the pathways of the kidneys, leading to kidney failure and eventual death. Most patients tolerate statins extremely well though a few experience side effects serious enough to discontinue treatment. Multiple drug therapy, along with the statins, increases the danger. Statins represen