Dr. Wayne Coghlan: Chiropractor

BACK FACTS: Headaches Tension type headaches (TTH) are one of the most common forms of headaches yet they are not well understood. Most people describe having a band of pressure around their head that can last from 30 minutes to a week. TTH can be related to muscles tightening in the back of the neck and scalp. One of the best way to combat tension headaches is through lifestyle changes. Here are some helpful tips. Exercise regularly . This can help reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches. Exercise relieves stress, relaxes your muscles and increases the levels of beta-endorphins, which are your body’s natural stress relievers. So don’t just sit there, go for a walk, bike ride or run. Healthy lifestyle . Behaviours that promote general good health may help prevent headaches. This includes following regular eating and sleeping schedules and avoiding excess caffeine and alcohol. Stress management . Stress is a commonly reported trigger for tension type headaches. Reduc

FAQ: What is the basis of chiropractic? The nervous system affects all tissues of the body, directly or indirectly. This is most evident when a nerve is pinched in the neck or lower back. Typically a person will feel numbness and/or a pins and needles sensation and/or pain along the course of the nerve. A little bit of irritation on the nerve can create a nuisance- it may bother the person but doesn't stop them from their daily activity. A lot of compression on the nerve can create disabling pain and over the long term lead to loss of reflexes and muscle function. Sciatica is a pain typical of a pinched nerve in the lower back. Pinched nerves are commonly caused by the bones in the spine being out of proper alignment and/or arthritic deterioration of the spaces that the nerve passes through. The goal of chiropractic treatment is to relieve the pressure on the nerve where it is compressed, where it emerges from the spine. In less complicated cases, a simple adjustment of the j

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