Monthly Archives: September 2009

The Benefits of Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy

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If you’ve been wondering if chiropractic adjustments are safe during pregnancy, the answer is  “Definitely!”  In fact, it’s a very smart idea to get adjusted while you are pregnant.

You’ve probably noticed that your body is going through quite a few changes, and these alterations will continue as your pregnancy progresses. One change that goes basically unnoticed is your body’s increased production of the hormone elastin. This hormone is designed to relax the tendons in your pelvis. This relaxation allows your pelvis more flexibility during the birthing process to make delivering your baby easier.

This process, though wonderful in assisting during labor, can produce much discomfort in the months leading up to the birth. As your pregnancy advances, more elastin is released, which allows your pelvis to become increasingly more unstable. Add to that the gradual increase in the size of your baby and uterus, and you have the recipe for severe low back pain. As a chiropractor, Dr. Yong Kim has had many pregnant patients coming into his  office for symptoms associated with their pregnancy but, as a rule, it is generally for their low back pain.

One side benefit of having your spine and pelvis checked by a chiropractor regularly during your pregnancy is that there is proof that it can actually decrease labor time. Why? Simply put, if your pelvis is aligned properly, the muscles contracting during the labor process are more efficient because they don’t have to fight past misaligned joints.

Chiropractic is not only safe and beneficial in relieving the low back pain associated with pregnancy, but other symptoms like heartburn, nausea, swelling, and so on. And, if needed, your well-trained chiropractor can also help with a breached baby. This is done by using the Webster Technique, a low force technique to manipulate the uterus and get the baby into the proper position for delivery. (A simple Google search on the Webster Technique can give you much more information.)

If you are pregnant, you can feel confident in seeing your chiropractor.  Chiropractic care can not only make you a lot more comfortable in the months of your pregnancy, but it can make your labor process easier as well!

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You Might Have Whiplash Injuries Even From a "Minor Fender Bender"

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If you drive a big car and you’re in an accident, it’s easy to assume that you haven’t been injured if your car doesn’t look “hurt.” After all, isn’t that the purpose of driving a big vehicle? It’s for protection, right? Then you might be surprised to learn that research has revealed that occupants of vehicles, both large and compact, can be injured a lot more than might be predicted from a minor auto accident. In reality, as far as your body goes, there’s really no such thing as a “minor fender bender.”

Let’s face it. There are going to be repercussions when your body is forced to stop abruptly and without warning. You might be offered a clean bill of health by an emergency room attendant if you haven’t sustained any broken bones, and you may be given a prescription for drugs to relax the muscle spasms that you are no doubt experiencing as a consequence of the structural changes in your neck or lower back that you received from the impact. But, your problem could go from bad to much, much worse unless you’re treated for the bodily trauma you’ve sustained. In fact, quite a few individuals encounter problems years after a car accident due to the fact that they didn’t get the help they needed in the first place.

Dr. Yong Kim truly understands what your body experiences during a car accident.  If you’ve encountered a minor auto accident, he knows that you are likely to need more repair than your car.  Neck and back injuries are not only painful in the regions in which they happen, but they can also generate pain, tingling, and numbness in your arms and hands and create headaches days, weeks, even months after an accident occurs.

Chiropractic techniques include treatment for soft tissue injuries and spinal bio-mechanics dysfunction. Chiropractic care offers a drug-free, natural road back to feeling good again.  It can help to put the trauma of your accident where it belongs – in the past. Moreover, because your chiropractor has experience communicating effectively with insurance companies and lawyers, not only will you undergo less physical stress, but less emotional stress, as well!

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Conservative Chiropractic Care Can Help Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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Chiropractic techniques that work so dramatically with the spine can, of course, be adapted to other joints in the body. As a consequence of trauma, excess vibration, or repetitive motions, virtually every joint is exposed to debilitation and range of motion limitations. Therefore, it may not come as a surprise to you to know that chiropractic treatments are an effective, natural, non-invasive approach to treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

The carpal tunnel can be found within the underside of the wrist. It is a tunnel, or passage, through which the Median nerve advances on its way to stimulate and animate the hand and fingers. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome falls into the category of nerve entrapment disorders and is clearly the most common. As the name indicates, the condition takes place when a nerve is impinged or trapped between other tissues of the body producing inflammation of the nerve. This can happen if the size of the tendon increases due to irritation or overuse, or if the tunnel, itself, gets smaller due to the misalignment of the carpal bones.

In the beginning of the injury, the symptoms include pain, numbness, pins and needles, and tingling in the fingers and hand, especially the thumb and adjacent two fingers. People with CTS often awaken from sleep with these symptoms and shakeout and/or rub their hands in order to decrease the unpleasant feeling. Activity during the day can cause the hands to feel clumsy or weak, and fatigue easily. Eventually, grasping small objects with the thumb and fingers can be extremely affected and, without treatment, can result in a complete debilitation of the hand.

In order to diminish the disabling symptoms resulting from the advancement of CTS, correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment are vital.  If you are experiencing the pain and disability associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, it just makes good sense for you to try the most natural approach first. As mentioned above, chiropractic care is drug-free, non-surgical, and highly effective. You can learn more about safe and natural chiropractic care, and what it can do for you, by calling Dr. Yong Kim, your Sacramento chiropractor.

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Chiropractic Care Can Relieve Your Neck Pain Once and For All!

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We would all agree that life can be a pain in the neck sometimes. Unfortunately, though circumstances in our life may change quickly, neck pain can linger and, often, get much worse. Neck problems, in addition to causing pain in the immediate area of the neck, can cause pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness down the arm and into the fingers. Neck conditions can contribute to both tension headaches and head pain. Finding the reason for your particular neck pain will require a thorough examination and evaluation by your chiropractor.

Why do so many people suffer from neck problems? There are many causes for neck pain and associated symptoms. The neck might sustain trauma from an accident causing strained muscles, sprained ligaments, and spinal joint injuries. Postural stress can occur from sitting at a computer for long periods and/or performing repetitive tasks. Such stress creates muscular tension and inflammation in the neck and upper back. Poor spinal mechanics and weak or overdeveloped muscles can add to postural stress. Other causes of neck problems are “slipped,” herniated, or ruptured cervical discs, and general aging that produces degeneration of the spinal joints and discs creating inflammation of soft tissues leading to chronic pain.

A chiropractic approach offers a natural and unique mechanical approach to a wide range of cervical problems. Chiropractic treatment results in pain relief, decrease in tension, and increase in motion.

Dr. Yong Kim is an expert when it comes to knowledge of the spine and musculoskeletal system. He’ll determine the reason for your neck pain and treat it at its source. Chiropractic care can give you the neck pain relief you’ve been looking for. Give Dr. Kim a call today!

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Strengthen Your Core for Permanent Back Pain Relief

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Many of us know that in order to permanently cure back pain problems, exercise is a definite requirement.  Regrettably, very few of us do any of the needed exercises because we argue that we don’t have the time and, besides, we don’t like to do them, anyway.  It is only after we’re suffering with back pain that we come to the realization that we ought to have been doing the exercises all along. In the case of back pain, the old aphorism, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” was never more apropos.  If you are currently suffering from back pain, it is important to see your chiropractor immediately. If you’re not feeling any pain at the moment, then it is important for you to work on your core and strengthen your back before that “no back pain” turns into mild back pain that turns into extreme back pain. Dr. Yong Kim will be able to relieve any current back problems you may have, and he will give you the type of core exercises that are best for you.

Why is the core so important and why does it require routine exercise? Core-specific exercises not only strengthen specific regions that will assist in relieving your back pain, but they also aid in giving your whole body balance and strength.  There are quite a few different exercises that you can to do in order to strengthen your core.  Sticking with core exercises over the long-term is crucial as it would be of little benefit to you to exercise for a minimal amount of time and then quit.   A visit to see Dr. Kim to make certain that your spine is in proper alignment is a true necessity prior to beginning your core exercise program and, as mentioned above, he will be able to assist you in choosing not only the exercises that are most appropriate for your body, but an exercise program that will help you to keep on doing what you need to do.

The principal motivation for working the core of your body is that the core isn’t just “in the front.”  In addition to your abdominal muscles, your core includes muscles that wrap around to your back and help to support it.  Have you ever observed individuals that lift heavy boxes for a living? They use what is called a “weight belt.” To furnish your back with the support and strength it requires, the muscles in a vigorous core form a naturally effective weight belt.

You will become aware of quite a few different benefits that occur rather quickly once you build up the core of your body.  One of the most distinct benefits is that your back won’t be hurting on a routine basis.  Moreover, the added balance and strength are going to aid in improving your ability to more easily carry out many of the everyday tasks that you need to do. However, never forget “straighten, then strengthen.” In other words, see  your chiropractor to be certain that your spine is healthy. Then, no matter what core exercises you decide to do, they will only do healthy things for your back.

Make an appointment today with Dr. Kim, your Sacramento Chiropractor. He’ll give you the help you need!

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