Stillorgan Chiropractric http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:20:17 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 I can hear my joints ‘crack’ – what is that noise? http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/various/i-can-hear-my-joints-crack-what-is-that-noise/ http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/various/i-can-hear-my-joints-crack-what-is-that-noise/#comments Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:20:17 +0000 admin http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/?p=192 Ever wondered where the popping sound or cracking your back noise comes from? When a chiropractor does a spinal manipulation do you hear your spinal joints click? Do you click your fingers or knuckles because it feels good, but wondered what makes the popping sound in finger joints? Today I want to explain where the “click, pop, snap, or cracking” sound can come from when clicking your back or fingers.

Cracking Your Joints

It is a common question I get as a chiropractor “What causes the popping sound in my back?”. Most people have heard that it is “air bubbles” popping in the joint. Some people are also worried bones may be breaking causing the noise. Well lets look more closely at the source of the joint cracking noise.

You finger and back (spinal) joints are called diarthrodial joints. This means that there are two bones connecting to one another at a joint. Each bony surface is covered in cartilage and there is a fluid in the joint (synovial fluid) with a capsule keeping the fluid inside.

You could imagine our spinal joints and knuckles are like any mechanical joint you can see bending and moving. Some joints can move in lots of directions whilst others only backward and forwards.

So where does that cracking joint sound come from inside then? Well a joint cracking noise comes from the synovial fluid. To be more specific it comes from the air bubbles (gas) in the synovial fluid. The air bubbles in the bony joint are made up different gases, mainly of carbon dioxide then nitrogen and oxygen. This joint gas then goes through the cavitation process to give you the click noise. The joint gasses make up about 15% of the joint volume and is about 80% carbon dioxide. I will explain the joint cavitation process below.

The Joint Cavitation Process

When a back joint or knuckles “clicks” then a cavitation has mostly likely happened. Chiropractors call a joint cavitation from spinal manipulation an “audible release”. A joint cavitation is created by the following process:

  1. You place the joint in a certain position. This is usually at the end range of movement of a joint.
  2. When you then push or pull the joint in this end range position. You may hear the popping sound.
  3. The reason that joints “pops” is that the pressure drops within the synovial fluid that lubricates the joint. This drop in joint volume pressure allows a gas bubble to form within the joint.
  4. The air bubble pushes on the joint ligaments and other surrounding structures forcing them to ‘pop’ outwards, producing the first of the possible two noises that you hear when you click your back or knuckles.
  5. The pressure in the joint then increases, causing the  air bubble to implode. This implosion will produce shockwaves and pull the joint ligaments inwards. This is what you hear as the cracking, popping, clicking or snapping sound from the joint.

FAQ about Cracking Joints

Here are some of the the frequently asked questions I then get asked after the “What causes the cracking noise” question

1. Is it Good or Bad to Crack your Knuckles?

The answer is Yes and No.

Yes, because cracking your knuckles frequently and habitually can weaken your grip strength. It also annoys parents, teachers and work colleagues who have to listen you popping your fingers all day :)

No, beacuse cracking your knuckles will not cause arthritis or big knuckles when your older. Donald Unger performed a study on himself. Donald wrote in his paper “Does Knuckle Cracking Lead to Arthritis of the Fingers?” for Arthritis & Rheumatism 1998 that after cracking his knuckles on his left hand for 50 years the left hand knuckles and fingers didn’t have more arthritis than the right hand.

2. Is it Good or Bad to Crack Your Back?

Again the answer is Yes and No.

Yes, because there are times when clicking your own back will feel needed to release pressure when moving.

No, if you are trying to crack your back often and it becomes a daily habit. This is a common one for especially chronic neck ache and low back pain sufferers. I’m sure you know the person rolling in bed to get that click sound or sitting in their chair pushing on their chin or rolling their neck to get a crack out the joint to relieve the pressure. What could be happening here is loosening the supporting ligaments and causing muscles to spasm around the joint to act like the supporting ligaments. This then feels like neck tension again which you try ‘pop’ again and again only making things worse.

3. Does Clicking my Joints Cause Arthritis?

No. As with the worry about knuckle cracking arthritis don’t worry about cracking a joint causing arthritis. Chiropractic manipulation of your spine won’t cause arthritis.

4. Why Does it Feel so Good to Crack Your Back?

When a joint ‘cracks’ you have changed the pressure in the joint. You have also stimulated the mechanoreceptors in the joint capsule. These mechanoreceptors sense the change at the joint and can rely information through the nervous system. This new information in the nervous system can help relax the surrounding muscles. This is why it then makes you feel good to crack your back.

5. My Neck Makes a Grinding Noises When I Move It

There are other sources for the noises you may hear when you move a joint. This is usually noticed by people when moving their necks. The other causes for joint sounds are:

  • Tendons moving over bones
  • Arthritic changes in the joint

If the joint keeps making a sound with repetitive movements then it is not a joint cavitation process as mentioned above. It takes time (approximately 20min) for the air bubble to enter the synovial fluid again.

I hope you have learnt a bit more about where the cracking your back or knuckles sound comes from and have cleared your mind of some of your clicking your back questions.

]]> http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/various/i-can-hear-my-joints-crack-what-is-that-noise/feed/ 0 Just how much power does medical establishment wield? http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/various/just-how-much-power-does-medical-establishment-wield/ http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/various/just-how-much-power-does-medical-establishment-wield/#comments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:52:49 +0000 admin http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/?p=187 Here is a taster of a documentary to be released in March 2012.

What influences consumers to trust modern medicine?

Why do alternative treatments pose such a threat?

http://www.medicalincmovie.com/Medical_Inc.html

]]> http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/various/just-how-much-power-does-medical-establishment-wield/feed/ 0 New Research: Chiropractic Care and Exercise More Effective Than Drugs For Neck Pain http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/research-update/new-research-chiropractic-care-and-exercise-more-effective-than-drugs-for-neck-pain/ http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/research-update/new-research-chiropractic-care-and-exercise-more-effective-than-drugs-for-neck-pain/#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:39:35 +0000 admin http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/?p=182 http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/03/for-neck-pain-chiropractic-and-exercise-are-better-than-drugs/

]]> http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/research-update/new-research-chiropractic-care-and-exercise-more-effective-than-drugs-for-neck-pain/feed/ 0 Safer Alternatives to Common Medications http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/uncategorized/safer-alternatives-to-common-medications/ http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/uncategorized/safer-alternatives-to-common-medications/#comments Fri, 11 Nov 2011 09:48:58 +0000 admin http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/?p=175 I wanted to share with you another extract about helping support a child’s immune system naturally…

Please refer to the research in the previous post if you are unsure of the risks of commonplace medications.

FOCUS ON COMFORT, NOT MEDICATION

A proactive approach to fevers and coughs and colds is to focus on comforting our child rather than directly trying to reduce their symptoms or their temperature. This includes making sure our children consistently eat a range of the high quality foods (preferably organic fresh produce), that they get ample sleep, filtered water, sweaty exercise, a loving home environment and that their nervous system is fully functioning to govern immune and digestive strength.

MOST FEVERS WILL SAFELY SELF-REGULATE

There is no doubt that a very high fever can impair the immunological response. Interestingly, however in her book Integrative Medicine for Children Dr Loo MD says that “in the absence of exacerbating situations (e.g. dehydration, being in a closed, hot automobile) and in neurologically normal children, the body does not allow fever to rise to a potentially lethal level and produces substances that work to keep the body temperature in a homeostatic balance. Without exacerbating situations, a child’s temperature very rarely exceeds 41.1° C (106° F)”.

NASAL SALINE SOLUTIONS FOR COUGHS AND COLDS

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends Nasal Saline Solutions over cough and cold drugs. These are available as solutions, sprays, and irrigations, and can be used for both infants and children to help relieve the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections (Bell, 2010). One trial showed that they improve the acute symptoms of colds, reduce the recurrence of symptoms, and reduce the need for other medications for fever or congestion (as cited in Bell, 2010).

CHIROPRACTIC TO IMPROVE IMMUNITY & REDUCE FEVERS

In her book Integrative Medicine for Children (2009), Dr Loo, MD, references a number of studies that demonstrate that “there is ample evidence that the chiropractic adjustments positively affects the immune system”. She adds ”it is not unusual for the fever to drop several degrees within 20 minutes of the chiropractic adjustment.”

FURTHER SUGGESTIONS

  • Acupuncture has been shown to be able to reduce fevers by correcting disturbances to the overall balance in the body (Loo, 2009)
  • Acupressure can be used for fever management at home (Loo, 2009)
  • Homeopathy offers a wealth of different remedies for fever that are specific to your child
  • Omega-3 fatty acids have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body
  • Vitamin C can also be used to manage the inflammatory effects of fever
  • Echinacea and goldenseal have the ability to boost immunity
  • Garlic has antimicrobial properties
  • Peppermint tea or oil may be helpful to assist fever reduction naturally (Loo, 2009).
  • Honey can be used as an anti-cough agent, and this is supported by research trials (Paul, 2001).

Remember: fevers, colds and flu can actually help your child

Certainly none of us enjoy feeling run down and unwell and it can be especially difficult to see our little ones this way. But we need to remember that colds and flu actually help to build our children’s immunity. A good fever will help your child fight the infection more effectively. As a society we hand out so many pills to our babies and children, believing they are effective and safe. In the case of cough and cold medications and fever reducing medications — this simply isn’t true.

Knowing this we can ask ourselves whether or not the treatments we offer them will support their immune-building process or hinder it. Searching for safer alternatives gives us confidence that we are bringing our children lifelong health.

Wishing you and your children health confidence!

Dr Jennifer Barham-Floreani
B.App.Clin.Sci, B.Chiropractic

For more information, please consult Well Adjusted Babies
and download our free eBook “Safe Parameters For Fevers“

]]> http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/uncategorized/safer-alternatives-to-common-medications/feed/ 0 Research: Effects of Giving Children Common Medications http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/research-update/research-effects-of-giving-children-common-medications/ http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/research-update/research-effects-of-giving-children-common-medications/#comments Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:16:25 +0000 admin http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/?p=173 Some research news on common childhood medication…

As proactive parents many of you have probably wondered if there are any ill-effects of commonplace medications like nurofen and panadol…

When our child has a raging fever or an acute earache we feel pressed to act quickly. We often automatically reach for paracetamol to reduce their pain and fever, to calm them down and help them sleep (Allotey, Reidpath & Elisha, 2004).Signs that we should think twice…

In 2008 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) committee unanimously voted against the use of cough and cold medications in children under the age of 2, and further recommended that they should not be given to children under the age of 6 (Schaefer, 2008).  In 2007, actions were voluntarily taken on behalf of drug manufacturers by the Consumer Healthcare Products Association to withdraw 14 cough and cold medications for children.  The drug companies themselves later chose to write warnings on their drug labels, “Do not use in children under the age of four years” (Bell, 2010).

There are millions upon millions of drug prescriptions given to children every single year. The question is:

Why have these medications, ones that have been used for decades, recently become restricted?

The FDA and the drug companies have had to respond for to two separate concerns:

  • First — professional concern over the lack of evidence showing these drugs are even effective in children.
  • Second — professional and public concern over mounting evidence of serious risk associated with their use.

Cough and cold medications, most of which are over-the-counter, show especially high use in children. Studies have found that 75% of 3-4 year olds and 50% of 5-7 year olds had been given cough and cold medications in the past year (Vernacchio, 2008). Pseudoephedrine (a decongestant and a base ingredient for the street drug ‘speed’) and dextromethorphan (for coughs, also used as a street drug similar to ketamine and ‘angel dust’) were among the leading medications given to children under the age of 12 (Schaefer, 2008).

Numerous experts have expressed concern that there is insufficient evidence that these drugs have any benefit in children, and many have called for the products to be entirely withdrawn until more research is done (Schaefer, 2008). Out of the 6 randomised controlled trials done since 1985, not one showed any advantage of cough and cold medications for children over placebo (Bell, 2010).

The majority of parents still think they’re safe

Many parents may not be aware of this lack of evidence, and a great number believe these drugs are safe. In fact, 64% of parents responding to a national survey in the US considered these drugs to be very safe or somewhat safe and 20% stated that they planned to give them to their children under 2 (Schaefer, 2008). Bell notes that in the past decade 750,000 calls have been made to poison control centres in regards to these drugs and that the FDA has investigated the deaths of 123 children.

Part of the problem is that these drugs in particular are fraught with risk of overdosing. The recommended dosage for children is not based on scientific data but is taken from data that relates to the average 60kg adult. In doing so, there has been a failure to recognise that children process drugs differently from adults, and that the colds experienced by children may not be the same.

Studies show ill-effects of Paracetamol

Paracetamol is the most commonly used pain medication in children; A survey of 40 parents found that at some point in time, all had administered paracetamol to their children when the child was not feeling well, was teething or couldn’t be settled (Allotey et al., 2004).

In the largest study ever conducted on the long-term side effects of paracetamol use in children (looking at over 200,000 children from 31 different countries), it was found:

  • Use of paracetamol for fever in the first year of life was associated with an increased risk of asthma symptoms when aged 6–7 years.
  • Current use of paracetamol was associated with an increased risk of mild-severe asthma symptoms.
  • Paracetamol use, both in the first year of life and in children aged 6–7 years, was associated with an increased risk of symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema.

An Australian report on paracetamol by the 7.30 Report (ABC TV, 2002) noted that paracetamol generates more calls to poison information centres than any other substance and that one Sydney hospital alone recorded 17 cases of liver failure in children from paracetamol from 1985-2002. Another study  looking at medication ‘adverse event reports’ received by the FDA between 1997 and 2000 for infants and children under 2 years, showed that paracetamol was the 6th most common drug listed in those reports as the suspected cause of serious or fatal outcome (Moore, Weiss, Kaplan & Blaisdell, 2002).

Studies show ill-effects of Tylenol, Advil and Motrin

In the journal Paediatrics (Finkelstein 2000), which reported that half of a group of 161 paediatricians surveyed about fever management reported that they regularly advise parents to alternate between acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin). This is particularly alarming since the authors of the study report that there is presently no scientific evidence that this is safe or achieves faster resolution than either agent alone. The frequently recommended practice of alternating doses of acetaminophen with ibuprofen has never been studied; in fact, this practice may lead to parental confusion and overdosing of medication (Mayoral 2000). The study showed that parents interviewed perceived acetaminophen as a safe drug, and were unaware of its potential consequences of allergic reactions and liver damage when given incorrectly.

As Derasse, Klein and Weiser (2005) note, the risk of paracetamol overdose in children may be due to the narrow window between a medically active dose and a toxic dose — often narrower still when multiple doses are given, in which case the harmful dose may be only just greater than the recommended maximum dose.

Are there benefits to having a fever or catching a cold?

Advertising has given us the perception that the natural thing to do when our child is ill is to give them medication, creating powerful images that associate medication use with compassion for our children. Many of us are familiar with the message that we can help our child to “soldier on” by giving medication and “turn a sick day into a work day” (Craig, 1992). These messages were so successful in Australia that in the space of four years, from 1992–1996, more over-the-counter medication was sold and used than in the entire preceding decade (Allotey et al., 2004).

However, it is important to understand that whilst uncomfortable, fever actually plays an important healing role. Fever may shorten the duration of illness and improve survival by killing bacteria and viruses and enhancing the immune response (Blatteis, 2003).

For more information, please consult Well Adjusted Babies
and download our free eBook “Safe Parameters For Fevers“

Read more —> http://welladjustedbabies.com/nurofen-and-panadol/#ixzz1dJyK7lP1
Get a free subscription to “Healthy Families” Magazine

]]> http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/research-update/research-effects-of-giving-children-common-medications/feed/ 1 Short Survey http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/uncategorized/short-survey/ http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/uncategorized/short-survey/#comments Wed, 05 Oct 2011 08:42:52 +0000 admin http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/?p=163
If you get a minute (literally) we would appreciate your contribution to a short survey on posture and back pain.
The results will help with our Straighten Up Ireland campaign running this month.

Just follow this link

Many Thanks!

]]> http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/uncategorized/short-survey/feed/ 0 “Doc, Why Does My Neck Hurt?” http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/tips/%e2%80%9cdoc-why-does-my-neck-hurt%e2%80%9d/ http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/tips/%e2%80%9cdoc-why-does-my-neck-hurt%e2%80%9d/#comments Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:43:18 +0000 admin http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/?p=137

Jimmy woke up sore this morning.  It isn’t going to be a good day for him.  He can’t even turn his head a little without wincing in pain.  Worst thing about it, he’s got no clue how he did it… C’mon Man!

The Atlas is a small 2 oz bone that holds up the entire weight of your head, about 10-12 pounds or the size of a bowling ball.  When it gets stuck in one position too long (Subluxation), it creates tension in your Nerve System and turns you into one unhappy camper.

So what ‘did Jimmy in?’  He fell asleep on the couch watching Desperate Housewives and now he’s paying the price.  He’s human, it happens.  We just hope Jimmy doesn’t make another mistake by waiting for it to get worse.  He should really get to the Chiropractor and have it checked right away.  The moral of the story?  Don’t be a Jimmy!

]]> http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/tips/%e2%80%9cdoc-why-does-my-neck-hurt%e2%80%9d/feed/ 0 Is exercise good for your discs? http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/research-update/is-exercise-good-for-your-discs/ http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/research-update/is-exercise-good-for-your-discs/#comments Thu, 04 Aug 2011 08:53:46 +0000 admin http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/?p=125

Exercise may produce positive effects on intervertebral discs

Contrary to what many people think exercise actually helps to deliver oxygen and nutrition to your spinal discs.

This helps them to regenerate and improves their cushioning effect.

It is not yet clear if the same effect occurs with damaged discs.

]]> http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/research-update/is-exercise-good-for-your-discs/feed/ 0 The Spark of Life Promotion http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/promotions/the-spark-of-life-promotion/ http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/promotions/the-spark-of-life-promotion/#comments Wed, 03 Aug 2011 08:33:28 +0000 admin http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/?p=118

For the month of August we are giving you the opportunity to help out a friend, colleague or loved one.

They will receive their first consultation, examination and adjustment free of charge.

Simply call Marianne at the office 01 2055550.

This offer is for the month of August only and has limited space so please book early to avoid dissapointment.

]]> http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/promotions/the-spark-of-life-promotion/feed/ 0 Stillorgan Chiropractic Clinic http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/promotions/stillorgan-chiropractic-clinic/ http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/promotions/stillorgan-chiropractic-clinic/#comments Tue, 02 Aug 2011 08:27:13 +0000 admin http://www.southsidechiropractic.ie/?p=108 Open late Tues and Thurs as well as Saturdays.

Follow us on Facebook by pressing the ‘Like‘ button

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