Dr. Wayne Coghlan: Chiropractor

The following is from the Harvard Health News Letter and gives a reasonable explanation of sciatica and treatment options. At one time, a person with sciatica was automatically sent for surgery, and at that time, it require some techniques that would be considered crude by today's standards. Most people did recover, perhaps more by rest and medication and time of recovery, as they did by the surgery itself. So what was the value of invasive techniques compared with the risks and costs.. In Ontario, the patient would have minimal expenses, yet it adds to the tax burden of social health care costs. There is no such thing as a free lunch.. or surgery. Surgical treatment for low back problems has improved and is far less invasive. yet the same caveats remain - would it get better on its own, with conservative management, and is surgery necessary or even helpful to get the patient ahead. When you come to see me for your leg pain, I determine if your problem is a true sciatic (ner

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