What Position Do You Sleep In?

I almost always ask a patient what position they sleep in. No matter what the condition. It’s not because I assume that the way they sleep could be causing their problem, but it could be one of the many factors that don’t allow their body to recover like it should. If my goal is provide fast, long lasting relief than all factors need to be considered and sleep position can be a big one. Here is a general rule:
For the majority of people the recommendation is to sleep in a position that keeps your spine and hips in a neutral position. In simpler words, keep everything aligned. Positions that pass this test are sleeping on either side with a pillow or roll between your legs or sleep on your back. For some, sleeping on your back may require a pillow or roll under the knees depending on how much mobility is lacking in the front part of the hips.

With all that being said, others may receive a different recommendation if they are dealing with specific conditions or have other deficiencies. For example, certain conditions of the shoulder or hip may not warrant side sleeping. Or in rare cases, a patient with a lumbar disc issue may benefit from sleeping on his or her stomach. Be aware that if you are waking up with increased pain, your sleep position may have to be modified.

Shaw Chiropractic & Sports Injury Center serves Des Moines, Clive, Waukee, and surrounding communities.  For more information call (515) 987-6332 or visit shawchiroandsport.com

What You Need to Know About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common causes of median nerve entrapment.  The tunnel itself lies between the transverse carpal ligament and the bones of the wrist.  Along with several tendons, the median nerve must travel through this tunnel.  When this space becomes compromised and the nerve is affected it is known as CTS.

The thumb, index, and middle finger on the palm side can become symptomatic.  Symptoms could include numbness,tingling, pain, and weakness.  Early signs may include a feeling of having to shake the hand to “wake it up”.  The nerve can become permanently damaged if left untreated.

The most common cause of CTS is overuse of the hands and wrist.  This can include things like computer work, sewing, and playing a musical instrument.  Other risk factors can include age, obesity, pregnancy, and diabetes.

Although we are discussing the carpal tunnel, the median nerve can also be compromised at other locations.  When treating a patient with median nerve symptoms, we also have to consider the neck, shoulder, elbow, forearm, and thumb, along with the carpal tunnel, as possible entrapment sites.

The most common treatment for median nerve entrapment used in the office is manual therapy which includes soft tissue and nerve release, and in some cases joint mobilization.  Other considerations may include naturally reducing inflammation, splinting, and ergonomics.

Shaw Chiropractic & Sports Injury Center serves Des Moines, Clive, Waukee, and surrounding communities.  For more information call (515) 987-6332 or visit shawchiroandsport.com.

Understanding Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissues are muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and fascia.  They can become injured for different reasons including an acute episode as well as a repetitive or cumulative trauma.  Whether the tissues are recovering from an acute injury or under constant demand from repetition they respond in similar ways, they lay down scar tissue.  This is our body’s way of repairing and healing itself.

Unfortunately this scarring changes the normal function of the tissue along with its surrounding tissues.  It can cause them to become shorter and weaker.  This scarring can also lead to tendon dysfunction which may lead to tendonitis, and can also cause nerve entrapment.

Active Release Technique (ART®) is designed to identify and address scar tissue adhesions that are interfering with the normal strength and flexibility of the body, not simply stretch out the muscles.  As an ART® practitioner I assess the texture and tension of the tissue to determine if the tissue is healthy or contains scar tissue that needs further treatment. When scar tissue adhesions are felt the amount and direction of tension can be modified to treat the problematic area.  ART® treatment is performed on most patients as soft tissue dysfunction is usually present.

Shaw Chiropractic & Sports Injury Center serves Des Moines, Clive, Waukee, and surrounding communities.  For more information call (515) 987-6332 or visit shawchiroandsport.com

Can Tight Hips Cause Low Back Pain?

The short answer to this is yes, tight hips can cause pain in the lower back.  We can dig a little deeper into this question to shed light on when it becomes a larger factor in causing and slowing recovery of a painful condition or episode.

Mechanical lower back (that is nothing is broken or torn) is most commonly the result of one of two things.  The first is from underuse or being sedentary.  The second is overuse or repetitive use.  The latter will more likely be affected by lack of motion in the hips.  Our body is smart in that if it can’t get motion from one joint it will take it from another.  The hip and low back relationship is a perfect example of that.  The hip joint is meant to have a tremendous amount of motion.  When the joint is restricted or tight the body may compensate by relying on more motion from the lower spine.  Over time this could result insymptoms.   Some good examples of this could include a golfer or a throwing athlete who rely on a lot of hip mobility (among other things) to swing or throw.  Another example is simply walking.  Walking only requires about 15 degrees of hip and pelvic rotation, which nowhere close to full motion but it is often found that that much restriction exists in some low back cases.  This hip and back relationship is a perfect example of why we always look above and below the area of pain when evaluating.  In cases where the hip is a contributing factor to low back, treatment to that area must be employed to fully resolve the condition.

Conservative Treatment for Rotator Cuff and Other Shoulder Injuries

The shoulder is designed to allow a lot of movement.  It is a ball and socket joint, which allows for a wide range of movements.  A lack of this motion or a faulty movement can develop into pain or injury.  Many people with shoulder issues are surprised when they learn that many conditions, including rotator cuff injuries, can be treated conservatively.

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles.  They originate from the scapula (backbone) and attach to the head ofhumerus (upper arm).  Although they do assist with shoulder movement, the main job of the rotator cuff is to stabilize and control the joint.  For this reason healthy tissue with optimal muscle balance is needed to keep the joint
healthy and pain to a minimum.

When a painful shoulder presents to the office one of the most important components of the examination is to determine if it can be treated conservatively.  This is done through a series of tests.  If any red flags or concerns are present than further imaging or a referral is needed.  Most often, shoulder conditions, including rotator cuff problems, can be treated conservative and respond very well.

Conservative treatment will often consist of multiple approaches.  Soft tissue treatment is the most common hands-on method of treatment as muscle, tendon, or ligament dysfunction will be present.  Active Release Technique is the gold standard in soft tissue treatment.  Manipulation or mobilization to shoulder joint may also be needed in some cases.  Other treatment considerations could include exercise, stretching, taping, or modifications to exercise or other activities currently being performed.

Shoulder diagnoses that often present to our office may include rotator dysfunction, sprain/strain, impingement syndrome, bursitis, frozen shoulder, and tendonitis.