As many of you know, we recently got new carpet in the office in an effort to modernize and improve the overall experience at Northgate Chiropractic. Soon we will be completing phase 2 which is a complete repainting of the office which hope to do shortly after xmas. Phase 3 - once the office has been repainted then we will be bringing some fantastic paintings by an amazing local artist. At which time we will be holding an open house / artist reception.
So look forward to some AWESOME new changes at Northgate Chiropractic.
Happy holidays!!!
~Dr. Steve Lachuta
Monday, December 20, 2010
Our Patients Speak
12/17/2010
I am generally terrified of Chiropractors. I usually opt for Massage therapy or acupuncture. My past experience with a very aggressive chiropractor in Bellevue made me scared of them all, until I went to Dr. Steve.
His gentle and methodical approach to getting my back and neck into shape has really made a difference in my daily life. I am not fearful that he will be too aggressive with my treatment, and cause any new problems.
I was in a recent accident breaking my jaw in two places, and also had an old back injury that was never quite treated causing my back to become quite stiff and painful at times.
After 2 weeks of treatments, I've already noticed an increase in flexibility and ease of movement. In the morning my back is not as stiff as it once was. I will continue to see him, until I'm back in shape with my back and neck.
His modest office is conveniently located in Northgate with free parking just a few steps from his door.
I would not hesitate to recommend Dr. Steve to anyone needing chiropractic work.
Andie
I am generally terrified of Chiropractors. I usually opt for Massage therapy or acupuncture. My past experience with a very aggressive chiropractor in Bellevue made me scared of them all, until I went to Dr. Steve.
His gentle and methodical approach to getting my back and neck into shape has really made a difference in my daily life. I am not fearful that he will be too aggressive with my treatment, and cause any new problems.
I was in a recent accident breaking my jaw in two places, and also had an old back injury that was never quite treated causing my back to become quite stiff and painful at times.
After 2 weeks of treatments, I've already noticed an increase in flexibility and ease of movement. In the morning my back is not as stiff as it once was. I will continue to see him, until I'm back in shape with my back and neck.
His modest office is conveniently located in Northgate with free parking just a few steps from his door.
I would not hesitate to recommend Dr. Steve to anyone needing chiropractic work.
Andie
Monday, November 15, 2010
Our Patients Speak
11/7/2010
5 star rating
Wow!!! I had my first adjustment here yesterday and that adjustment inspired me to write my first review on Yelp. As a victim of three rear-ended accidents since 2005 (ahhh..luck), I felt at my worst after the last accident, I went to see four other chiropractors before I found Dr. Steve. Dr. Steve is the best! (coming from someone who learned this the hard way.) I tried it all, physical therapy, massage therapy, and even other chiropractors (atlas adjustment and etc.) I am not a good writer. However, I can tell you that Dr. Steve knows what he is doing. That being said, some of the other chiropractors that I had seen before know what they are doing too but rarely did they spend time trying to fix you up in one visit like Dr. Steve. He's kind of amazing really!!! I haven't felt this good in a while. Now I totally understand other reviewers on Yelp and why they gave Dr. Steve such good reviews.
Thanks to Dr. Steve and other reviewers, you guys changed my life. I am now in a much better shape and from just one visit (AMAzIng!!!!)
Jenny T. (via YELP)
Seattle, WA
5 star rating
Wow!!! I had my first adjustment here yesterday and that adjustment inspired me to write my first review on Yelp. As a victim of three rear-ended accidents since 2005 (ahhh..luck), I felt at my worst after the last accident, I went to see four other chiropractors before I found Dr. Steve. Dr. Steve is the best! (coming from someone who learned this the hard way.) I tried it all, physical therapy, massage therapy, and even other chiropractors (atlas adjustment and etc.) I am not a good writer. However, I can tell you that Dr. Steve knows what he is doing. That being said, some of the other chiropractors that I had seen before know what they are doing too but rarely did they spend time trying to fix you up in one visit like Dr. Steve. He's kind of amazing really!!! I haven't felt this good in a while. Now I totally understand other reviewers on Yelp and why they gave Dr. Steve such good reviews.
Thanks to Dr. Steve and other reviewers, you guys changed my life. I am now in a much better shape and from just one visit (AMAzIng!!!!)
Jenny T. (via YELP)
Seattle, WA
Saturday, October 16, 2010
“Our Patients Speak”
“Our Patients Speak”
I went to Dr. Steve through a friends recommendation shortly after being involved in a heinous bike accident. When I came to him, I was in constant debilitating pain, I could barely move, and I wasn't sleeping or getting much rest otherwise. I felt immediate relief after my first visit, and credit the care I received at Northgate Chiropractic with my impressively fast healing. I've found Dr. Steve to be present, thorough and effective every time, and he is hands down the best of the 4 Chiropractors I have seen in my life. He's also a pretty fun guy to talk to and has an exceptionally reasonable cash rate plan for po folk like me who don't have insurance.
One star reserved for the 2 hours of bus commuting required for me to see him - but he's been way worth it.
Courtnee P.
9/28/2010
I went to Dr. Steve through a friends recommendation shortly after being involved in a heinous bike accident. When I came to him, I was in constant debilitating pain, I could barely move, and I wasn't sleeping or getting much rest otherwise. I felt immediate relief after my first visit, and credit the care I received at Northgate Chiropractic with my impressively fast healing. I've found Dr. Steve to be present, thorough and effective every time, and he is hands down the best of the 4 Chiropractors I have seen in my life. He's also a pretty fun guy to talk to and has an exceptionally reasonable cash rate plan for po folk like me who don't have insurance.
One star reserved for the 2 hours of bus commuting required for me to see him - but he's been way worth it.
Courtnee P.
9/28/2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Office News
Please join me in welcoming Serrana Melgar to Northgate Chiropractic as our new Office Assistant. Serrana brings with her years of experience in office administration in the alternative medicine field, as well as a belief in including chiropractic care as part of living a healthy lifestyle. We are fortunate that she is also able to share her bilingual skills in Spanish/English to help serve our patients. She looks forward to the opportunity to serve you so please do not hesitate to give us a call!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
"Our Patients Speak"
I first came to Northgate Chiropractic on May 18th, 2010. I was having lower back pain that was making me feel about 60 years older than I am. It was a slow build up of sharper and shaper pains. Lifting and bending at work was nearly impossible. I had to lean on the help of others more and more for about the last two months.
My friends recommended I try chiropractic, this was my very first time seeing a chiropractor. I’d heard of and met Dr. Steve prior to my visit through my friends Mallory and Ryan. Dr. Steve was very easy to talk to and my usual anxiety in being in a new situation was very minimal.
My life since chiropractic care has been great!!! I can touch my toes again! I can bend and not be in pain. I don’t feel like a porcelain doll or an 80 year old woman. I began to see results right away with chiropractic. I feel like myself again and not like I’m getting too old too fast.
The staff is wonderful and personable. It would be great if it was like that everywhere.
Dr. Steve is wonderful. I praise him to friends and family on a regular basis.
Katrina K.
06/15/2010
My friends recommended I try chiropractic, this was my very first time seeing a chiropractor. I’d heard of and met Dr. Steve prior to my visit through my friends Mallory and Ryan. Dr. Steve was very easy to talk to and my usual anxiety in being in a new situation was very minimal.
My life since chiropractic care has been great!!! I can touch my toes again! I can bend and not be in pain. I don’t feel like a porcelain doll or an 80 year old woman. I began to see results right away with chiropractic. I feel like myself again and not like I’m getting too old too fast.
The staff is wonderful and personable. It would be great if it was like that everywhere.
Dr. Steve is wonderful. I praise him to friends and family on a regular basis.
Katrina K.
06/15/2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Once You Go...
...You always have to go. This is one of the many roadblocks and complaints that I hear when I talk to people about chiropractors. But I approach it in many different ways. There have been many times that I have been injured in my life, some injuries have been worse than others, but I have always relied on my chiropractor to get me back to pre-injury status. So then Dr. Lachuta, why did you continue to go? Well the answer is very simple. I continued to receive regular chiropractic adjustments approximately 1-2 times per week. I have pain occasionally, but I want my nervous system to be at its optimum ability. Yes, Chiropractic does help people with neck, back pain and headaches. Dorland’s dictionary describes health as “optimum physical mental and spiritual well-being and not merely the absence of disease of infirmity.” Just being out of pain does not make you healthy. 100% function in your nervous system going to your entire body and everything it controls. I have heard many times that “In a recent physical, he was given a clean bill of health by his Doctor.” Then how did he just over night have a heart attack and die. Was it in that last step that he got a “heart condition?”
Your current or lack of health is the accumulation of how good or bad you have lived your life. As my father always says” if I would of known that I was going to live this long I would of taken a lot better care of my self.” Health comes from within and requires optimum expression of the entire nervous system. I have often asked this person what type of work they did. One person said that he was a mechanic and worked on Ford cars. I asked him how often he tuned up his own car. He stated, “Well, every 3,000 miles.” I said, “Well, Bill, why would you take less care of your own body?” He said, “I completely under stand.”
Another patient was a grade school teacher; I asked her how often should a student study for a test? She said, “Well, consistently and on a regular basis for all the quizzes and exams.” I asked her how one of her students would do on the final exam if she/he only studied the night before the test? She said that the student would fail the test. I then asked her how I was going to fix all the car payments, mortgages and daily stresses in her life by one adjustment? The teacher realized that health is something that you cannot get over night. You must continually keep yourself healthy on a daily basis: by eating the proper foods, regular exercise, getting enough sleep, mediating, stress management and getting chiropractic adjustments. Just imagine not tuning up your car until 40,000 miles, eating junk food all your life or never exercising until the age of forty, but then trying to get healthy over night. Yes, it is true that once you go to a chiropractor, you always should go. It is a major part of you and your family’s health that needs to be maintained on a regular basis.
For additional information, please call Northgate Chiropractic at
(206) 367-2224.
Your current or lack of health is the accumulation of how good or bad you have lived your life. As my father always says” if I would of known that I was going to live this long I would of taken a lot better care of my self.” Health comes from within and requires optimum expression of the entire nervous system. I have often asked this person what type of work they did. One person said that he was a mechanic and worked on Ford cars. I asked him how often he tuned up his own car. He stated, “Well, every 3,000 miles.” I said, “Well, Bill, why would you take less care of your own body?” He said, “I completely under stand.”
Another patient was a grade school teacher; I asked her how often should a student study for a test? She said, “Well, consistently and on a regular basis for all the quizzes and exams.” I asked her how one of her students would do on the final exam if she/he only studied the night before the test? She said that the student would fail the test. I then asked her how I was going to fix all the car payments, mortgages and daily stresses in her life by one adjustment? The teacher realized that health is something that you cannot get over night. You must continually keep yourself healthy on a daily basis: by eating the proper foods, regular exercise, getting enough sleep, mediating, stress management and getting chiropractic adjustments. Just imagine not tuning up your car until 40,000 miles, eating junk food all your life or never exercising until the age of forty, but then trying to get healthy over night. Yes, it is true that once you go to a chiropractor, you always should go. It is a major part of you and your family’s health that needs to be maintained on a regular basis.
For additional information, please call Northgate Chiropractic at
(206) 367-2224.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Add Years to Your :Life and Life to Your Years
I have always said that you should begin chiropractic adjustments at birth and continue throughout your entire life. Richard is Eighty-Two years old and continues to receive his chiropractic adjustments. Just as everyone in your family should receive adjustments, you should also bring in your grandparents. With medication use on the rise with the elderly, it is especially important that these people receive adjustments. The average grandma and grandpa are on approximately seven to eight different medications, each one to treat the side effect of the other.
Chiropractic is the essential ingredient to a healthier, more productive and longer life. Research shows that the smallest amount of pressure on a nerve from a subluxation will take away the functions of any organ, tissue or blood vessel that it controls. Chiropractic care should be on a maintenance visit level for their entire life. Colonel Sanders received his adjustments every week for the last Sixty-Five years of his life (He lived into his mid 90’s). Here are what some of the studies have showed how chiropractic care added years to our grandparent lives and life to their years.
A detailed analysis of a database collected during a three-year randomized study of senior citizens over 75 years of age and chiropractic care revealed that they received the following: better overall health, used fewer prescription drugs, and spent fewer days in hospitals and nursing homes than elderly non-chiropractic patients. The chiropractic patients were also more likely to exercise vigorously and more likely to be mobile in the community.
Eighty-seven percent of the chiropractic patients described their health status as good to excellent, compared to only sixty seven percent of the non-chiropractic patients.
Furthermore, the chiropractic patients spent fifteen percent less time in nursing homes and twenty one percent less time in hospitals than the non-chiropractic patients.
A retrospective assessment of 2,818 respondents in 156 chiropractic practices found a strong connection between persons receiving Chiropractic Care and self- reported improvement in health, wellness, and quality of life.
Ninety-five percent of the respondents reported their chiropractic expectations had been met, and ninety nine percent wished to continue care.
Now matter how much arthritis, degeneration you have, chiropractic is the only profession that will detect and correct interference in your nervous system. A healthy nervous system is the key to a longer and healthier life. It is my wish that through chiropractic care you will be able to unlock your fountain of youth.
For additional information, please call Northgate Chiropractic at
(206) 367-2224.
Chiropractic is the essential ingredient to a healthier, more productive and longer life. Research shows that the smallest amount of pressure on a nerve from a subluxation will take away the functions of any organ, tissue or blood vessel that it controls. Chiropractic care should be on a maintenance visit level for their entire life. Colonel Sanders received his adjustments every week for the last Sixty-Five years of his life (He lived into his mid 90’s). Here are what some of the studies have showed how chiropractic care added years to our grandparent lives and life to their years.
A detailed analysis of a database collected during a three-year randomized study of senior citizens over 75 years of age and chiropractic care revealed that they received the following: better overall health, used fewer prescription drugs, and spent fewer days in hospitals and nursing homes than elderly non-chiropractic patients. The chiropractic patients were also more likely to exercise vigorously and more likely to be mobile in the community.
Eighty-seven percent of the chiropractic patients described their health status as good to excellent, compared to only sixty seven percent of the non-chiropractic patients.
Furthermore, the chiropractic patients spent fifteen percent less time in nursing homes and twenty one percent less time in hospitals than the non-chiropractic patients.
A retrospective assessment of 2,818 respondents in 156 chiropractic practices found a strong connection between persons receiving Chiropractic Care and self- reported improvement in health, wellness, and quality of life.
Ninety-five percent of the respondents reported their chiropractic expectations had been met, and ninety nine percent wished to continue care.
Now matter how much arthritis, degeneration you have, chiropractic is the only profession that will detect and correct interference in your nervous system. A healthy nervous system is the key to a longer and healthier life. It is my wish that through chiropractic care you will be able to unlock your fountain of youth.
For additional information, please call Northgate Chiropractic at
(206) 367-2224.
Monday, May 31, 2010
"Our Patients Speak"
"Being pregnant with my first child my midwives told me to find a good Chiropractor. I instantly thought of Dr. Steve.
Today was my first visit, the office is remarkably comfortable and calming. Dr. Steve patiently explained the process to me and made both my husband and I feel very comfortable.
After todays adjustment I am feeling alot more comfortable and I look forward to my next visit."
"I went in today really feeling nauseous (I'm four months pregnant) and a little stressed from traffic. I immediately felt calmer walking in the door. The office is an oasis. Both Dr. Steve and the fantastically friendly receptionist were smiling and really kind.
Walking out I was smiling and feeling alot better. The office was full of happy clients, which says something by itself!
This is an awesome place to go, I wont trust anyone else with my spine but Dr. Steve and I will be recommending him to friends and family, as well as all the women (families) at my birth center."
~Tristen W.
"I lived in the seattle area for a while and finally found a chiropractor thru word of mouth...
DR. STEVE to the rescue! He got me fixed up and back on my feet in no time. I never made any appts and he was happy to fit me in whenever i needed an adjustment. It was nice not having to wait when i was in pain. I also had tummy issues which he was able to correct as well - which made a huge difference in my life. Me and my husband moved over to the tricities and i have yet to find a chiropractor that i feel comfortable with as i did with dr. steve or who asks if i have any other discomforts going on.
Thank you !!!!!"
~Hannah W.
"Dr. Steve is in!
He is in every way wonderful! He really cares. He listens to you. He is without a doubt the best in his profession.
I went to see him today for a horrible headache I had for the last couple of days. He made room for me all the while not making me feel like an inconvenience to his schedule. But then it wasn't a surprise, he has always done what he can to get you in.
After he adjusted me almost instantly I felt relief. Mind you the entire headache wasn't gone but WOW, what a difference! And a bonus, all of a sudden my sinus' were clear, that wasn't part of the treatment plan (i didn't mention it to him, I didn't think that it was a Chiropractic thing) but I'll take the bonus! Oh and by the way, the entire headache was gone by the time i got home (about a 30 minute drive) and was finally able to get on with life, instead laying in bed, in the dark.
That was only one of the fabulous treatments I have received from Dr. Steve, and I have never been disappointed. I have always walked out there better then i came it, much better.
I have so much confidence in Dr. Steve that my daughter, and husband sees him. I also took my mom to see him when her hip was giving her problems last summer when she came into town for a visit.
Well I could go on, I just can't express enough how much Dr. Steve has helped me. I hope you give him a try, I have no doubt you will be surprise what he can do for you."
~Tracey J.
Today was my first visit, the office is remarkably comfortable and calming. Dr. Steve patiently explained the process to me and made both my husband and I feel very comfortable.
After todays adjustment I am feeling alot more comfortable and I look forward to my next visit."
"I went in today really feeling nauseous (I'm four months pregnant) and a little stressed from traffic. I immediately felt calmer walking in the door. The office is an oasis. Both Dr. Steve and the fantastically friendly receptionist were smiling and really kind.
Walking out I was smiling and feeling alot better. The office was full of happy clients, which says something by itself!
This is an awesome place to go, I wont trust anyone else with my spine but Dr. Steve and I will be recommending him to friends and family, as well as all the women (families) at my birth center."
~Tristen W.
"I lived in the seattle area for a while and finally found a chiropractor thru word of mouth...
DR. STEVE to the rescue! He got me fixed up and back on my feet in no time. I never made any appts and he was happy to fit me in whenever i needed an adjustment. It was nice not having to wait when i was in pain. I also had tummy issues which he was able to correct as well - which made a huge difference in my life. Me and my husband moved over to the tricities and i have yet to find a chiropractor that i feel comfortable with as i did with dr. steve or who asks if i have any other discomforts going on.
Thank you !!!!!"
~Hannah W.
"Dr. Steve is in!
He is in every way wonderful! He really cares. He listens to you. He is without a doubt the best in his profession.
I went to see him today for a horrible headache I had for the last couple of days. He made room for me all the while not making me feel like an inconvenience to his schedule. But then it wasn't a surprise, he has always done what he can to get you in.
After he adjusted me almost instantly I felt relief. Mind you the entire headache wasn't gone but WOW, what a difference! And a bonus, all of a sudden my sinus' were clear, that wasn't part of the treatment plan (i didn't mention it to him, I didn't think that it was a Chiropractic thing) but I'll take the bonus! Oh and by the way, the entire headache was gone by the time i got home (about a 30 minute drive) and was finally able to get on with life, instead laying in bed, in the dark.
That was only one of the fabulous treatments I have received from Dr. Steve, and I have never been disappointed. I have always walked out there better then i came it, much better.
I have so much confidence in Dr. Steve that my daughter, and husband sees him. I also took my mom to see him when her hip was giving her problems last summer when she came into town for a visit.
Well I could go on, I just can't express enough how much Dr. Steve has helped me. I hope you give him a try, I have no doubt you will be surprise what he can do for you."
~Tracey J.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Sugar-Free And Spice... And Everything Nice
Sugar-Free and Spice and everything nice that’s what little boys and girls are made of. This saying sounds a little bit off, but it is very true in today’s world. When I review an average kids’ diet in my office, it’s terrible. The average kid eats fruit rollups, 1-2 Mountain Dews a day and has a sugar cereal/pop tart for breakfast. Did you know that one can of Mountain Dew (or any other cola) has 17 teaspoons of sugar in it? You wonder why kids are so hyper today. They are consuming massive amounts of sugar on a daily basis. I cannot imagine what all that sugar will do for the up-down insulin levels through all the growing years. Research has shown that sugar will weaken the immune system, which means the kids will get sick more often.
Have you ever looked at the ingredients on a box of cereal? Usually the most popular cereals have either the first and or second ingredient as sugar. Ethan’s cereal isn’t called Buzz Blasts or Lucky Charms; it is a high fiber and protein combination. Little does Buckaroo know that I just empty the Buzz Blast Cereal out and put the “healthy” cereal (from the Health food section at Kroger’s) in the box. Only when he is older, will he figure this out. By that time it will be such a part of his healthy lifestyle that it really won’t matter to him.
Do this sugar test: give your child what he normally eats that has sugar in it and watch what happens. Within 20 minutes, his/her energy will increase and a mood change will occur. Also in the mid afternoon, they will become very sleepy and crave something with sugar in it.
I have a story to tell that will hit home with a lot of you. Several months ago, we received a call from Ethan’s teacher, saying that he had been misbehaving in school. After talking with her, I asked her what he had been eating. She stated that it had been one of his classmates birthday and the parents brought in some cake. I informed her that Ethan is not allowed to eat sugar because it makes him extremely hyper and very aggressive. My wife proceeded to bring healthy snacks and high protein bars for him to eat on those “celebration” days. It has been about 4 months now and we haven’t had a complaint since. But what about juice? Ethan only drinks Northland 100% Juice or something that we have juiced ourselves. Most juices are made of sugar. My best advice is to look on the ingredients and make sure that if you do feed them something that contains sugar, that it’s at least the 3rd or 4th ingredient. Ethan knows that when he eats sugar, it is not healthy or good for him. If he eats sugar, it changes and alters his personality (aggressive, emotional and doesn’t listen), sleeping patterns and digestive habits. We decided that our household would be a sugar free zone. It has made a big difference on his disposition and the family atmosphere.
For additional information, please call Northgate Chiropractic at
(209) 367-2224.
Have you ever looked at the ingredients on a box of cereal? Usually the most popular cereals have either the first and or second ingredient as sugar. Ethan’s cereal isn’t called Buzz Blasts or Lucky Charms; it is a high fiber and protein combination. Little does Buckaroo know that I just empty the Buzz Blast Cereal out and put the “healthy” cereal (from the Health food section at Kroger’s) in the box. Only when he is older, will he figure this out. By that time it will be such a part of his healthy lifestyle that it really won’t matter to him.
Do this sugar test: give your child what he normally eats that has sugar in it and watch what happens. Within 20 minutes, his/her energy will increase and a mood change will occur. Also in the mid afternoon, they will become very sleepy and crave something with sugar in it.
I have a story to tell that will hit home with a lot of you. Several months ago, we received a call from Ethan’s teacher, saying that he had been misbehaving in school. After talking with her, I asked her what he had been eating. She stated that it had been one of his classmates birthday and the parents brought in some cake. I informed her that Ethan is not allowed to eat sugar because it makes him extremely hyper and very aggressive. My wife proceeded to bring healthy snacks and high protein bars for him to eat on those “celebration” days. It has been about 4 months now and we haven’t had a complaint since. But what about juice? Ethan only drinks Northland 100% Juice or something that we have juiced ourselves. Most juices are made of sugar. My best advice is to look on the ingredients and make sure that if you do feed them something that contains sugar, that it’s at least the 3rd or 4th ingredient. Ethan knows that when he eats sugar, it is not healthy or good for him. If he eats sugar, it changes and alters his personality (aggressive, emotional and doesn’t listen), sleeping patterns and digestive habits. We decided that our household would be a sugar free zone. It has made a big difference on his disposition and the family atmosphere.
For additional information, please call Northgate Chiropractic at
(209) 367-2224.
Friday, May 21, 2010
A Chiropractor To Keep The Headaches Away? Yes!
This picture sounds all too familiar: Mom is upstairs because she has a migraine headache. Her door is closed, the lights are off and we have to be “really quiet.” Hopefully the shot (Immetrex) worked and she’ll be “all better” in the morning. I also here people say, “I just get a couple of ‘normal’ headaches a week.”
No headache is “normal;” rather it is a symptom of some underlying problem. Occasionally, this problem is easy to trace, such as alcohol or allergies. However, headaches are usually a warning sign of a more serious health condition. Each day, 5-10 million adults in the United States use an over-the-counter medication in hopes that it will cure their headache. Some get temporary relief…some do not. While pain killers like aspirin can cover up symptoms by blocking the pain, but they don’t tackle the real problem. If you have tried to “cure” your headaches with painkillers, you know how fruitless that approach is in the long run. The headaches keep coming back, and drugs alleviate the pain, for now, without doing anything to correct the underlying problem. Any pain, including headaches, is your body’s way of warning you that something needs immediate attention.
A Chiropractor will examine your spine and nervous system and ask questions to find out the cause of your headache. There are over 200 different types of headaches. Stress headaches are most common in ages 30-39 with 47% of females suffering from these. By finding out why you are getting headaches, your chiropractor can help correct or eliminate the causes.
Have you ever had just one of those days? Were your neck was so tight it was difficult to move and you could not turn your head and look to back out the car? These dull steady headaches from tight muscles in the neck, back and head are usually the result of stress. These steady muscle contractions use up oxygen and irritate the muscles causing pain. Most types of headaches, including migraine, respond very well to chiropractic care. A research study revealed in the Chiropractic Journal that 74.6% of patients with recurring headaches, including migraines, were either cured or experienced reduced headache symptoms after receiving chiropractic adjustments. The reason is simple: the chiropractor locates and, if possible, corrects the cause of the headache.
What causes headaches? Most headaches result from spinal subluxations; in other words, malfunctioning vertebrate. These subluxations cause irritation of the delicate nerves and arteries that supply the head and face area, causing pain. Subluxations are caused from traumas (automobile accidents; slips and falls); stress (family, work or emotional); or chemicals (alcohol, drugs and NutraSweet). The chiropractor’s “adjustment” keeps the body free of nerve interference and allows normal flow. This allows the body to use its own inherent healing ability to maintain an optimum state of health.
You and your family have nothing to lose except for the possibility health and happiness.
For additional information, please call Northgate Chiropractic at
(206) 367-2224.
No headache is “normal;” rather it is a symptom of some underlying problem. Occasionally, this problem is easy to trace, such as alcohol or allergies. However, headaches are usually a warning sign of a more serious health condition. Each day, 5-10 million adults in the United States use an over-the-counter medication in hopes that it will cure their headache. Some get temporary relief…some do not. While pain killers like aspirin can cover up symptoms by blocking the pain, but they don’t tackle the real problem. If you have tried to “cure” your headaches with painkillers, you know how fruitless that approach is in the long run. The headaches keep coming back, and drugs alleviate the pain, for now, without doing anything to correct the underlying problem. Any pain, including headaches, is your body’s way of warning you that something needs immediate attention.
A Chiropractor will examine your spine and nervous system and ask questions to find out the cause of your headache. There are over 200 different types of headaches. Stress headaches are most common in ages 30-39 with 47% of females suffering from these. By finding out why you are getting headaches, your chiropractor can help correct or eliminate the causes.
Have you ever had just one of those days? Were your neck was so tight it was difficult to move and you could not turn your head and look to back out the car? These dull steady headaches from tight muscles in the neck, back and head are usually the result of stress. These steady muscle contractions use up oxygen and irritate the muscles causing pain. Most types of headaches, including migraine, respond very well to chiropractic care. A research study revealed in the Chiropractic Journal that 74.6% of patients with recurring headaches, including migraines, were either cured or experienced reduced headache symptoms after receiving chiropractic adjustments. The reason is simple: the chiropractor locates and, if possible, corrects the cause of the headache.
What causes headaches? Most headaches result from spinal subluxations; in other words, malfunctioning vertebrate. These subluxations cause irritation of the delicate nerves and arteries that supply the head and face area, causing pain. Subluxations are caused from traumas (automobile accidents; slips and falls); stress (family, work or emotional); or chemicals (alcohol, drugs and NutraSweet). The chiropractor’s “adjustment” keeps the body free of nerve interference and allows normal flow. This allows the body to use its own inherent healing ability to maintain an optimum state of health.
You and your family have nothing to lose except for the possibility health and happiness.
For additional information, please call Northgate Chiropractic at
(206) 367-2224.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Be Safe When You Lift
You can take lifting in stride if you know how to protect your back. Lifting right involves a few simple steps. Above all, remember to rely on your strong legs, not your back. You can adapt safe lifting principles when you’re faced with a difficult lift - like a heavy or awkward load.
LIFTING & MOVING ON THE RUN
• Take Lifting in Stride
• Learn All the Right Moves
• READY, SET, GO Approach
LIFTING RIGHT
• READY - Learn the Steps
• SET-Do a Deep Squat
• GO - Bend you knees. Test the weight. Get a grip on it. “Hug” the load. Align your spine. Lift with your legs.
LIFTING DIFFICULT LOADS
• READY - Size Up the Load
• SET - Do a Pelvic Tilt - stand or sit and tighten your stomach muscles. Curl your buttocks forward, holding for a count of 5.
• GO - Lifting Odd Shapes - Test the load. Get as close to the load’s center of gravity as you can. Follow the steps.
• GO - Lifting Heavy Weights - Test the load. Get help if too heavy to handle alone. Use verbal signals.
LIFTING IN AWKWARD PLACES
• READY - Survey the Space
• SET - Do a Backbend - Stand and place your palms on our low back. Lean your upper body back, without overarching our neck, hold for a count of 5; repeat 3 times.
• GO - Lifting from High Places - Push up to test the weight, then grip the load securely. Slide the load to the edge and down to waist level. Readjust your grip so our hands are underneath the load, then put the load down.
• GO - . . .and Low Places - Kneel on one knee. Support the load on one knee to reduce the stress on your back. Stand backup, lifting with your legs.
• GO - Lifting Within Confined Spaces - Kneel on one knee and face the load. If you must kneel on both knees, be sure you don’t twist your back as you turn. Crawl, don’t stoop, to move. Wearing kneepads makes this easier to do. Slide the load, whenever possible, to lessen the weight on your back.
MOVE RIGHT
• READY - Think It Through
• SET - Do a side bend - Stand or sit with your hands clasped overhead. Lean to one side, stretching as far as you can. Feel a slight pull from your shoulder to your waist. Hold for a count of 5; repeat 3 times on each side.
• GO - Hold loads close. Balance your back. Pivot, don’t twist. Step, don’t reach. Bend your knees.
BUILDING A LOAD
• READY - Know the Right Strategy
• SET - Do arm circles - stand or sit with your arms straight out from your sides. Slowly move your arms in circles, gradually increasing the size of the circles. Continue for 30 seconds. Rest, then repeat 3 times.
• GO - Lift the load, readjust your grip. Use your legs, readjust your grip. Set the load down.
PUSHING & PULLING
• READY – Plot Your Move
• SET – Do a wall slide. Stand with your back against a wall and your feet apart. Slide into a half-sitting position. Hold for a count of 10, then slide back up. Repeat 3 times.
• GO – Push it. Place your hands on the load and bend your elbows. Bend your knees, putting one foot forward. Push off with your back leg and take short, steady steps.
• GO – When you must pull, get a firm grip on the load, bending your elbows slightly. Bend your knees, putting one foot back for balance. Push off with your forward leg, taking short, steady steps.
THE HOMESTRETCH
When you’re heading for home at the end of your shift, your back will feel a lot better if you used the right lifting and moving techniques throughout the day. You can enjoy your free time more when you’re less tired and your body is flexible and pain free.
LIFTING & MOVING ON THE RUN
• Take Lifting in Stride
• Learn All the Right Moves
• READY, SET, GO Approach
LIFTING RIGHT
• READY - Learn the Steps
• SET-Do a Deep Squat
• GO - Bend you knees. Test the weight. Get a grip on it. “Hug” the load. Align your spine. Lift with your legs.
LIFTING DIFFICULT LOADS
• READY - Size Up the Load
• SET - Do a Pelvic Tilt - stand or sit and tighten your stomach muscles. Curl your buttocks forward, holding for a count of 5.
• GO - Lifting Odd Shapes - Test the load. Get as close to the load’s center of gravity as you can. Follow the steps.
• GO - Lifting Heavy Weights - Test the load. Get help if too heavy to handle alone. Use verbal signals.
LIFTING IN AWKWARD PLACES
• READY - Survey the Space
• SET - Do a Backbend - Stand and place your palms on our low back. Lean your upper body back, without overarching our neck, hold for a count of 5; repeat 3 times.
• GO - Lifting from High Places - Push up to test the weight, then grip the load securely. Slide the load to the edge and down to waist level. Readjust your grip so our hands are underneath the load, then put the load down.
• GO - . . .and Low Places - Kneel on one knee. Support the load on one knee to reduce the stress on your back. Stand backup, lifting with your legs.
• GO - Lifting Within Confined Spaces - Kneel on one knee and face the load. If you must kneel on both knees, be sure you don’t twist your back as you turn. Crawl, don’t stoop, to move. Wearing kneepads makes this easier to do. Slide the load, whenever possible, to lessen the weight on your back.
MOVE RIGHT
• READY - Think It Through
• SET - Do a side bend - Stand or sit with your hands clasped overhead. Lean to one side, stretching as far as you can. Feel a slight pull from your shoulder to your waist. Hold for a count of 5; repeat 3 times on each side.
• GO - Hold loads close. Balance your back. Pivot, don’t twist. Step, don’t reach. Bend your knees.
BUILDING A LOAD
• READY - Know the Right Strategy
• SET - Do arm circles - stand or sit with your arms straight out from your sides. Slowly move your arms in circles, gradually increasing the size of the circles. Continue for 30 seconds. Rest, then repeat 3 times.
• GO - Lift the load, readjust your grip. Use your legs, readjust your grip. Set the load down.
PUSHING & PULLING
• READY – Plot Your Move
• SET – Do a wall slide. Stand with your back against a wall and your feet apart. Slide into a half-sitting position. Hold for a count of 10, then slide back up. Repeat 3 times.
• GO – Push it. Place your hands on the load and bend your elbows. Bend your knees, putting one foot forward. Push off with your back leg and take short, steady steps.
• GO – When you must pull, get a firm grip on the load, bending your elbows slightly. Bend your knees, putting one foot back for balance. Push off with your forward leg, taking short, steady steps.
THE HOMESTRETCH
When you’re heading for home at the end of your shift, your back will feel a lot better if you used the right lifting and moving techniques throughout the day. You can enjoy your free time more when you’re less tired and your body is flexible and pain free.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Tips for Summer Sports & Hydration
With beautiful weather, no school, and the sun shining daily, most children have spent their summer participating in some kind of physical activity, such as a local sports league, or taking lessons in a skill such as gymnastics or golf. As a parent, your goal is to keep your child happy, healthy, and functioning on the field and off. Since injury prevention is key, follow these easy suggestions to make the most out of your summer activities… these tips apply to adults as well!
Choosing an Activity:
Determine the child's physical maturation level and match the child's size with an appropriate sport team or level.
Most competitive children's sports are organized according to chronological age rather than physical skill or maturation. Slower maturing children are often at greater risk of injury because they are competing with peers who may be larger and physically more developed.
Have an examination before play:
Have your child be examined from “Toes to Nose.”
This examination is important because it will detect imbalance, poor posture and nerve interference that once corrected will reduce chance of injury and increase performance.
Use Good Judgment about Pain:
Seek professional advice.
As children inevitably get hurt in play, it is critical that parents use good judgment in treating complaints about pain. What may act like a simple sprain may actually be a growth plate injury, which is very common in youth sports, and requires professional diagnosis and treatment.
Emphasize Water Breaks and Proper Hydration:
- Drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water per day.
- Take a water break every 15 minutes during activity, and begin the habit of having water on hand during games, bike rides, etc.
- Don’t overdo it: take the time throughout the day to hydrate. If you only drink water when you are feeling thirsty, you are already feeling the effects of dehydration.
- Don’t substitute juices or soda to prevent dehydration. Most contain sugars and caffeine that can speed up dehydration.
Plan your trip to Northgate Chiropractic today
For your FREE Consultation and Examination!
Northgate Chiropractic
Dr. Stephen Lachuta
11065 5th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98125
Phone: (206) 367-2224
Fax: (206) 260-2701
NorthgateChiropractic.net
NorthgateChiropractic@gmail.com
Please reference:
Summer Sports Offer
when scheduling your appointment!
Choosing an Activity:
Determine the child's physical maturation level and match the child's size with an appropriate sport team or level.
Most competitive children's sports are organized according to chronological age rather than physical skill or maturation. Slower maturing children are often at greater risk of injury because they are competing with peers who may be larger and physically more developed.
Have an examination before play:
Have your child be examined from “Toes to Nose.”
This examination is important because it will detect imbalance, poor posture and nerve interference that once corrected will reduce chance of injury and increase performance.
Use Good Judgment about Pain:
Seek professional advice.
As children inevitably get hurt in play, it is critical that parents use good judgment in treating complaints about pain. What may act like a simple sprain may actually be a growth plate injury, which is very common in youth sports, and requires professional diagnosis and treatment.
Emphasize Water Breaks and Proper Hydration:
- Drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water per day.
- Take a water break every 15 minutes during activity, and begin the habit of having water on hand during games, bike rides, etc.
- Don’t overdo it: take the time throughout the day to hydrate. If you only drink water when you are feeling thirsty, you are already feeling the effects of dehydration.
- Don’t substitute juices or soda to prevent dehydration. Most contain sugars and caffeine that can speed up dehydration.
Plan your trip to Northgate Chiropractic today
For your FREE Consultation and Examination!
Northgate Chiropractic
Dr. Stephen Lachuta
11065 5th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98125
Phone: (206) 367-2224
Fax: (206) 260-2701
NorthgateChiropractic.net
NorthgateChiropractic@gmail.com
Please reference:
Summer Sports Offer
when scheduling your appointment!
Friday, April 9, 2010
The Most Important Piece of Golf Equipment is Your Spine!
Professional golf instructors estimate that 80-100% of golfers' swing problems begin from faulty posture. Therefore, having a Chiropractor evaluate your posture should be the first and most important step toward building an optimal golf swing. Most postural faults are caused by muscle and connective tissue imbalances that pull a golfers body out of alignment, or a misalignment in spinal bones. The result of an unbalanced or asymmetrical standing posture will always be unbalanced and decreased performance. If the golf instructors are correct, a poor posture, when addressing the ball, will result in a poor and/or inconsistent golf swing. Moreover, sooner or later, golfing with a poor posture and swing motion will cause injuries. Research states that 80% of the population has lower back pain.
An onlooker may assume that the never-ending quest to put the little white ball into the cup calls upon little of the athleticism required by other warm-weather sports such as tennis or cycling. Not true. Many avid golfers contort their bodies into oddly twisted postures, generating a great deal of torque-the twisting force that opens a bottle cap-on the back. Couple this motion with a bent-over stance, repeat 90 to 120 times over three or four hours, add the fatigue that comes with several miles of walking, and you've got a good workout-and a recipe for potential lower back trouble.
As America's love affair with the game continues to grow and are playing in a big tournament, chiropractors advocate taking a proactive approach that will prepare your body for many years of pain-free play. "Most golfers go until they are in pain, then look for immediate relief. Northgate Chiropractic advocates a different approach-by helping patients look at what they can do right now to reduce the likelihood of future injury.” We want people to be able to play without pain and have the greatest potential for a lifetime.
If you take this approach, you're in good company. As a chiropractor I have found the direct connection between the spine and performance. Nerves control every muscle in your spine. A pinched nerve will decrease performance. Stan Sheppard states, “The difference between winning and losing could be just one stroke.” Many professional golfers such as Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Watson rely on chiropractors to increase their performance. To find out if chiropractic could increase your performance in golf please call our office to schedule an appointment at (206) 367-2224.
An onlooker may assume that the never-ending quest to put the little white ball into the cup calls upon little of the athleticism required by other warm-weather sports such as tennis or cycling. Not true. Many avid golfers contort their bodies into oddly twisted postures, generating a great deal of torque-the twisting force that opens a bottle cap-on the back. Couple this motion with a bent-over stance, repeat 90 to 120 times over three or four hours, add the fatigue that comes with several miles of walking, and you've got a good workout-and a recipe for potential lower back trouble.
As America's love affair with the game continues to grow and are playing in a big tournament, chiropractors advocate taking a proactive approach that will prepare your body for many years of pain-free play. "Most golfers go until they are in pain, then look for immediate relief. Northgate Chiropractic advocates a different approach-by helping patients look at what they can do right now to reduce the likelihood of future injury.” We want people to be able to play without pain and have the greatest potential for a lifetime.
If you take this approach, you're in good company. As a chiropractor I have found the direct connection between the spine and performance. Nerves control every muscle in your spine. A pinched nerve will decrease performance. Stan Sheppard states, “The difference between winning and losing could be just one stroke.” Many professional golfers such as Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Watson rely on chiropractors to increase their performance. To find out if chiropractic could increase your performance in golf please call our office to schedule an appointment at (206) 367-2224.
Monday, March 22, 2010
"Our Patients Speak"
"O.K. I didn't believe in a back cracker, but after a very sore back and all the discomfort that comes with it I was referred to Dr. Steve by a coworker. He saw me on a Saturday, and an hour later I was feeling darned good, not 100% but he told me that due to my injury it would take a few sessions and at the price he charges that is more than O.K.
Here is a word to the wise... If your back hurts or you have headaches or anything that may be fixed by a chiropractor then go see one, and if you want the best then here he is Dr. Steve."
~Cole Y.
"I really did not believe in Chiropractors until I met Dr. Steve.
I threw my back out recently and was in pain just trying to walk. I really thought nothing could fix me. But I saw Dr. Steve and not only did he instantly cure my back problems I was able to go back to work and dance all night.
He truly is a miracle worker."
~Debora S.
Here is a word to the wise... If your back hurts or you have headaches or anything that may be fixed by a chiropractor then go see one, and if you want the best then here he is Dr. Steve."
~Cole Y.
"I really did not believe in Chiropractors until I met Dr. Steve.
I threw my back out recently and was in pain just trying to walk. I really thought nothing could fix me. But I saw Dr. Steve and not only did he instantly cure my back problems I was able to go back to work and dance all night.
He truly is a miracle worker."
~Debora S.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Does Ibuprofen Help or Hurt During Exercise?
Phys Ed: Does Ibuprofen Help or Hurt During Exercise?
By Gretchen Reynolds
Several years ago, David Nieman set out to study racers at the Western States Endurance Run, a 100-mile test of human stamina held annually in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. The race directors had asked Nieman, a well-regarded physiologist and director of the Human Performance Laboratory at the North Carolina Research Campus, to look at the stresses that the race places on the bodies of participants. Nieman and the race authorities had anticipated that the rigorous distance and altitude would affect runners’ immune systems and muscles, and they did. But one of Nieman’s other findings surprised everyone.
After looking at racers’ blood work, he determined that some of the ultramarathoners were supplying their own physiological stress, in tablet form. Those runners who’d popped over-the-counter ibuprofen pills before and during the race displayed significantly more inflammation and other markers of high immune system response afterward than the runners who hadn’t taken anti-inflammatories. The ibuprofen users also showed signs of mild kidney impairment and, both before and after the race, of low-level endotoxemia, a condition in which bacteria leak from the colon into the bloodstream.
These findings were “disturbing,” Nieman says, especially since “this wasn’t a minority of the racers.” Seven out of ten of the runners were using ibuprofen before and, in most cases, at regular intervals throughout the race, he says. “There was widespread use and very little understanding of the consequences.”
Athletes at all levels and in a wide variety of sports swear by their painkillers. A study published earlier this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that, at the 2008 Ironman Triathlon in Brazil, almost 60 percent of the racers reported using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers (or NSAIDs, which include ibuprofen) at some point in the three months before the event, with almost half downing pills during the race itself. In another study, about 13 percent of participants in a 2002 marathon in New Zealand had popped NSAIDs before the race. A study of professional Italian soccer players found that 86 percent used anti-inflammatories during the 2002-2003 season.
A wider-ranging look at all of the legal substances prescribed to players during the 2002 and 2006 Men’s World Cup tournaments worldwide found that more than half of these elite players were taking NSAIDS at least once during the tournament, with more than 10 percent using them before every match.
“For a lot of athletes, taking painkillers has become a ritual,” says Stuart Warden, an assistant professor and director of physical therapy research at Indiana University, who has extensively studied the physiological impacts of the drugs.
“They put on their uniform” or pull on their running shoes and pop a few Advil. “It’s like candy” or Vitamin I, as some athletes refer to ibuprofen.
Why are so many active people swallowing so many painkillers?
One of the most common reasons cited by the triathletes in Brazil was “pain prevention.” Similarly, when the Western States runners were polled, most told the researchers that “they thought ibuprofen would get them through the pain and discomfort of the race,” Nieman says, “and would prevent soreness afterward.” But the latest research into the physiological effects of ibuprofen and other NSAIDs suggests that the drugs in fact, have the opposite effect. In a number of studies conducted both in the field and in human performance laboratories in recent years, NSAIDs did not lessen people’s perception of pain during activity or decrease muscle soreness later. “We had researchers at water stops” during the Western States event, Nieman says, asking the racers how the hours of exertion felt to them. “There was no difference between the runners using ibuprofen and those who weren’t. So the painkillers were not useful for reducing pain” during the long race, he says, and afterward, the runners using ibuprofen reported having legs that were just as sore as those who hadn’t used the drugs.
Moreover, Warden and other researchers have found that, in laboratory experiments on animal tissues, NSAIDs actually slowed the healing of injured muscles, tendons, ligament, and bones. “NSAIDs work by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins,” substances that are involved in pain and also in the creation of collagen, Warden says. Collagen is the building block of most tissues. So fewer prostaglandins mean less collagen, “which inhibits the healing of tissue and bone injuries,” Warden says, including the micro-tears and other trauma to muscles and tissues that can occur after any strenuous workout or race.
The painkillers also blunt the body’s response to exercise at a deeper level. Normally, the stresses of exercise activate a particular molecular pathway that increases collagen, and leads, eventually, to creating denser bones and stronger tissues. If “you’re taking ibuprofen before every workout, you lessen this training response,” Warden says. Your bones don’t thicken and your tissues don’t strengthen as they should. They may be less able to withstand the next workout. In essence, the pills athletes take to reduce the chances that they’ll feel sore may increase the odds that they’ll wind up injured — and sore.
All of which has researchers concerned. Warden wrote in an editorial this year on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine that “there is no indication or rationale for the current prophylactic use of NSAIDs by athletes, and such ritual use represents misuse.”
When, then, are ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory painkillers justified? “When you have inflammation and pain from an acute injury,” Warden says. “In that situation, NSAIDs are very effective.” But to take them “before every workout or match is a mistake.”
By Gretchen Reynolds
Several years ago, David Nieman set out to study racers at the Western States Endurance Run, a 100-mile test of human stamina held annually in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. The race directors had asked Nieman, a well-regarded physiologist and director of the Human Performance Laboratory at the North Carolina Research Campus, to look at the stresses that the race places on the bodies of participants. Nieman and the race authorities had anticipated that the rigorous distance and altitude would affect runners’ immune systems and muscles, and they did. But one of Nieman’s other findings surprised everyone.
After looking at racers’ blood work, he determined that some of the ultramarathoners were supplying their own physiological stress, in tablet form. Those runners who’d popped over-the-counter ibuprofen pills before and during the race displayed significantly more inflammation and other markers of high immune system response afterward than the runners who hadn’t taken anti-inflammatories. The ibuprofen users also showed signs of mild kidney impairment and, both before and after the race, of low-level endotoxemia, a condition in which bacteria leak from the colon into the bloodstream.
These findings were “disturbing,” Nieman says, especially since “this wasn’t a minority of the racers.” Seven out of ten of the runners were using ibuprofen before and, in most cases, at regular intervals throughout the race, he says. “There was widespread use and very little understanding of the consequences.”
Athletes at all levels and in a wide variety of sports swear by their painkillers. A study published earlier this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that, at the 2008 Ironman Triathlon in Brazil, almost 60 percent of the racers reported using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers (or NSAIDs, which include ibuprofen) at some point in the three months before the event, with almost half downing pills during the race itself. In another study, about 13 percent of participants in a 2002 marathon in New Zealand had popped NSAIDs before the race. A study of professional Italian soccer players found that 86 percent used anti-inflammatories during the 2002-2003 season.
A wider-ranging look at all of the legal substances prescribed to players during the 2002 and 2006 Men’s World Cup tournaments worldwide found that more than half of these elite players were taking NSAIDS at least once during the tournament, with more than 10 percent using them before every match.
“For a lot of athletes, taking painkillers has become a ritual,” says Stuart Warden, an assistant professor and director of physical therapy research at Indiana University, who has extensively studied the physiological impacts of the drugs.
“They put on their uniform” or pull on their running shoes and pop a few Advil. “It’s like candy” or Vitamin I, as some athletes refer to ibuprofen.
Why are so many active people swallowing so many painkillers?
One of the most common reasons cited by the triathletes in Brazil was “pain prevention.” Similarly, when the Western States runners were polled, most told the researchers that “they thought ibuprofen would get them through the pain and discomfort of the race,” Nieman says, “and would prevent soreness afterward.” But the latest research into the physiological effects of ibuprofen and other NSAIDs suggests that the drugs in fact, have the opposite effect. In a number of studies conducted both in the field and in human performance laboratories in recent years, NSAIDs did not lessen people’s perception of pain during activity or decrease muscle soreness later. “We had researchers at water stops” during the Western States event, Nieman says, asking the racers how the hours of exertion felt to them. “There was no difference between the runners using ibuprofen and those who weren’t. So the painkillers were not useful for reducing pain” during the long race, he says, and afterward, the runners using ibuprofen reported having legs that were just as sore as those who hadn’t used the drugs.
Moreover, Warden and other researchers have found that, in laboratory experiments on animal tissues, NSAIDs actually slowed the healing of injured muscles, tendons, ligament, and bones. “NSAIDs work by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins,” substances that are involved in pain and also in the creation of collagen, Warden says. Collagen is the building block of most tissues. So fewer prostaglandins mean less collagen, “which inhibits the healing of tissue and bone injuries,” Warden says, including the micro-tears and other trauma to muscles and tissues that can occur after any strenuous workout or race.
The painkillers also blunt the body’s response to exercise at a deeper level. Normally, the stresses of exercise activate a particular molecular pathway that increases collagen, and leads, eventually, to creating denser bones and stronger tissues. If “you’re taking ibuprofen before every workout, you lessen this training response,” Warden says. Your bones don’t thicken and your tissues don’t strengthen as they should. They may be less able to withstand the next workout. In essence, the pills athletes take to reduce the chances that they’ll feel sore may increase the odds that they’ll wind up injured — and sore.
All of which has researchers concerned. Warden wrote in an editorial this year on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine that “there is no indication or rationale for the current prophylactic use of NSAIDs by athletes, and such ritual use represents misuse.”
When, then, are ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory painkillers justified? “When you have inflammation and pain from an acute injury,” Warden says. “In that situation, NSAIDs are very effective.” But to take them “before every workout or match is a mistake.”
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
I Have A Congenital What?
I have a Congenital what? You have been told through an X-ray that you have a congenital defect in your spine. This is something that is abnormal or defected. Through my research and experience over the last ten years approximately 12% of the population have a congenital defect in their spine. These defects are usually inherited from the parents and grandparents or sometimes occur through a childhood trauma. There are three types of defects that I commonly see in my office.
The first one is called a Congenital Fusion. What that means is your body chose to fuse or glue several bones together. This is very similar to a rusted hinge on a door. The door may still open to some degree, but forcing the joint to move would be painful.
The second type is called a Spondylisthesis. In this defect not all the parts of the vertebra are connected properly. This type of fracture is highly unstable and requires continual maintenance and strength and stability in the spine.
The third type of defect involves having additional or extra vertebra in the spine. Sometimes in life we are given gifts. This gift is not usually good, because this extra bone or vertebra results in instability and weakness. This is very similar to having five wheels on a car, it would be great, if you were only driving your car on a straight road, but not if you where required to lift, stand or bend excess amounts of weight or long periods of time.
So, Dr. Lachuta, if I have this defect what should I do about it? It is my recommendation that chiropractic adjustments will keep the one above and below the defect area moving and free of nerve pressure. The nervous system controls and coordinates every function of the human body. 90% of the nervous system controls functions and only 10% controls. Interference or pressure on the nervous system will decrease the ability of the nerves, glands, organs and tissues to work properly. The majority of patients with these defects do not have pain either. Regularly monitoring of the vertebra thru exams and technology to insure that the bone maintains it’s health and strength. Proper diet, exercise and stretching will also keep the congenital defect and the spine healthier, flexible and stronger.
For additional information, please call Northgate Chiropractic at
(206) 367-2224.
The first one is called a Congenital Fusion. What that means is your body chose to fuse or glue several bones together. This is very similar to a rusted hinge on a door. The door may still open to some degree, but forcing the joint to move would be painful.
The second type is called a Spondylisthesis. In this defect not all the parts of the vertebra are connected properly. This type of fracture is highly unstable and requires continual maintenance and strength and stability in the spine.
The third type of defect involves having additional or extra vertebra in the spine. Sometimes in life we are given gifts. This gift is not usually good, because this extra bone or vertebra results in instability and weakness. This is very similar to having five wheels on a car, it would be great, if you were only driving your car on a straight road, but not if you where required to lift, stand or bend excess amounts of weight or long periods of time.
So, Dr. Lachuta, if I have this defect what should I do about it? It is my recommendation that chiropractic adjustments will keep the one above and below the defect area moving and free of nerve pressure. The nervous system controls and coordinates every function of the human body. 90% of the nervous system controls functions and only 10% controls. Interference or pressure on the nervous system will decrease the ability of the nerves, glands, organs and tissues to work properly. The majority of patients with these defects do not have pain either. Regularly monitoring of the vertebra thru exams and technology to insure that the bone maintains it’s health and strength. Proper diet, exercise and stretching will also keep the congenital defect and the spine healthier, flexible and stronger.
For additional information, please call Northgate Chiropractic at
(206) 367-2224.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Early Spring = Early Allergy Symptoms
A healthy immune system means high resistance to disease and infection, an enhanced ability to deal with environmental stresses, and greater health and well-being. The immune system is one of the most complicated, sensitive, and mysterious systems in the body. It is influenced by our neurological and hormonal systems, by our diet, and even by emotional and mental stress. Science's understanding of it is in its infancy, yet many believe it holds the ultimate key to life and health.
Thus we can see that if the immune system were to malfunction we could be in very serious trouble. The most common disorder of the immune system is one that is a lot less frightening: the allergy.
Substances that cause an allergic reaction are called allergens. An allergic reaction (sensitivity) occurs when the immune system overreacts to an allergen and produces too many neutralizing chemicals (especially histamines) to counteract it. Some examples of allergens are dust; pollen; medicines; dog or cat dander; dairy; soaps; detergents and other kitchen chemicals; and even foods like strawberries or chocolate (heaven forbid!).
A common example of an allergy is hayfever. Although most people who breathe ragweed pollen aren't bothered by the microscopic bits of plants that constitute pollen, some have an immune system that overreacts to it. The runny eyes, irritated mucus membranes, redness, pounding in the head, fullness in the sinuses - are produced by the neutralizing chemicals.
The cause of allergies and immune system disease has not been conclusively determined. However, there are those who attribute the proliferation of allergies and other immune system diseases to the mass vaccination campaigns of the past few decades.
Medicine has no cure for allergies, only treatment. According to Robert Mendelsohn, M.D “You can depend on most doctors to largely ignore the cause and instead rush madly to treatment.” Unfortunately, the treatment is often worse than the disease, especially since the relatively safe folk-measures of yesteryear have been replaced by the sophisticated, dangerous drugs of modern medicine.
Overreaction to allergens causes the body to release the chemical histamine (as well as other chemicals) that cause inflammation
and other symptoms. Antihistamines are often prescribed to counter these effects. In most cases the antihistamines dry up the nasal passages and decrease the discomfort from itching, but do not correct the immune system overreaction.
Antihistamines, steroid hormones, and long-term desensitization all carry significant negative side effects.
Regarding allergy shots (desensitization), Dr. Mendelsohn states, "Although millions of patients have received the shots over the past 60 years, there are no, good, long-term studies to determine possible neurologic or other consequences of this treatment." Also mentioned was "a striking incidence of positive 'rheumatoid factors' in allergic children receiving shots.” Clinical studies have shown that breast fed babies have fewer allergy problems than formula-fed babies. Although chiropractic is not a treatment for diseases, allergies included, it does, by permitting the nervous system to function with less stress, permit the immune system to function more effectively - and this is something all allergy sufferers need.
Many studies have revealed the effect of a healthy nervous system on immune system health. Ronald Pero, Ph.D., chief of cancer prevention research at New York's Preventive Medicine Institute and professor of medicine at New York University, measured the immune systems of people under chiropractic care as compared to those in the general population and those with cancer and other serious diseases.
His study found that chiropractic patients have a 200% greater immune competence than people who had not received chiropractic care. Allergies can make people's lives miserable. The standard medical approach may give short-term relief but is controversial and dangerous, and its long-term effects are untested. Common sense tells us to explore the safest, most natural means of dealing with problems before resorting to more extreme measures. A two-fold approach to allergies is often recommended: first, the avoidance of those substances that cause severe reactions and, second, correction of the basic cause - a malfunctioning immune system.
As one authority states, “A healthy body is capable of neutralizing these toxic substances and a body which has malfunctioning defense mechanisms cannot. The emphasis on allergies must be on building a healthy body, not on trying to use evasive tactics by eliminating all the allergens."
For additional information, please call Northgate Chiropractic at
(206) 367-2224.
Thus we can see that if the immune system were to malfunction we could be in very serious trouble. The most common disorder of the immune system is one that is a lot less frightening: the allergy.
Substances that cause an allergic reaction are called allergens. An allergic reaction (sensitivity) occurs when the immune system overreacts to an allergen and produces too many neutralizing chemicals (especially histamines) to counteract it. Some examples of allergens are dust; pollen; medicines; dog or cat dander; dairy; soaps; detergents and other kitchen chemicals; and even foods like strawberries or chocolate (heaven forbid!).
A common example of an allergy is hayfever. Although most people who breathe ragweed pollen aren't bothered by the microscopic bits of plants that constitute pollen, some have an immune system that overreacts to it. The runny eyes, irritated mucus membranes, redness, pounding in the head, fullness in the sinuses - are produced by the neutralizing chemicals.
The cause of allergies and immune system disease has not been conclusively determined. However, there are those who attribute the proliferation of allergies and other immune system diseases to the mass vaccination campaigns of the past few decades.
Medicine has no cure for allergies, only treatment. According to Robert Mendelsohn, M.D “You can depend on most doctors to largely ignore the cause and instead rush madly to treatment.” Unfortunately, the treatment is often worse than the disease, especially since the relatively safe folk-measures of yesteryear have been replaced by the sophisticated, dangerous drugs of modern medicine.
Overreaction to allergens causes the body to release the chemical histamine (as well as other chemicals) that cause inflammation
and other symptoms. Antihistamines are often prescribed to counter these effects. In most cases the antihistamines dry up the nasal passages and decrease the discomfort from itching, but do not correct the immune system overreaction.
Antihistamines, steroid hormones, and long-term desensitization all carry significant negative side effects.
Regarding allergy shots (desensitization), Dr. Mendelsohn states, "Although millions of patients have received the shots over the past 60 years, there are no, good, long-term studies to determine possible neurologic or other consequences of this treatment." Also mentioned was "a striking incidence of positive 'rheumatoid factors' in allergic children receiving shots.” Clinical studies have shown that breast fed babies have fewer allergy problems than formula-fed babies. Although chiropractic is not a treatment for diseases, allergies included, it does, by permitting the nervous system to function with less stress, permit the immune system to function more effectively - and this is something all allergy sufferers need.
Many studies have revealed the effect of a healthy nervous system on immune system health. Ronald Pero, Ph.D., chief of cancer prevention research at New York's Preventive Medicine Institute and professor of medicine at New York University, measured the immune systems of people under chiropractic care as compared to those in the general population and those with cancer and other serious diseases.
His study found that chiropractic patients have a 200% greater immune competence than people who had not received chiropractic care. Allergies can make people's lives miserable. The standard medical approach may give short-term relief but is controversial and dangerous, and its long-term effects are untested. Common sense tells us to explore the safest, most natural means of dealing with problems before resorting to more extreme measures. A two-fold approach to allergies is often recommended: first, the avoidance of those substances that cause severe reactions and, second, correction of the basic cause - a malfunctioning immune system.
As one authority states, “A healthy body is capable of neutralizing these toxic substances and a body which has malfunctioning defense mechanisms cannot. The emphasis on allergies must be on building a healthy body, not on trying to use evasive tactics by eliminating all the allergens."
For additional information, please call Northgate Chiropractic at
(206) 367-2224.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
"I don't believe in chiropractic"
Chiropractic is different.
This difference, because it avoids drugs and surgery, has delighted millions for over a century. And like anything different it has produced misunderstandings and a few skeptics.
While chiropractic is different, it certainly isn't something that you have to "believe in" for it to work.
Instead, chiropractic results are produced by adhering to scientifically confirmed facts:
The nervous system controls every cell of your body. Nerve impulses flow from the brain, down the spinal cord, and to every organ and tissue. Impulses sent back to the brain confirm that the body is working as it should.
The moving bones of the spine can interfere with this exchange by irritating adjacent nerves. Ill health can result from distorted or compromised nervous system control of the body. Chiropractic care helps restore the integrity of the nervous system by reducing interferences caused by the spine.
Still skeptic???
Call (206) 367-2224 and we will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
This difference, because it avoids drugs and surgery, has delighted millions for over a century. And like anything different it has produced misunderstandings and a few skeptics.
While chiropractic is different, it certainly isn't something that you have to "believe in" for it to work.
Instead, chiropractic results are produced by adhering to scientifically confirmed facts:
The nervous system controls every cell of your body. Nerve impulses flow from the brain, down the spinal cord, and to every organ and tissue. Impulses sent back to the brain confirm that the body is working as it should.
The moving bones of the spine can interfere with this exchange by irritating adjacent nerves. Ill health can result from distorted or compromised nervous system control of the body. Chiropractic care helps restore the integrity of the nervous system by reducing interferences caused by the spine.
Still skeptic???
Call (206) 367-2224 and we will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
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