A relatively new test is now available that may help save many children with mild scoliosis unnecesary treatment. The test looks at various genetic markers and can help determine the appropriate treatment. The test is currently being used on 9-13 year old girls with a scoliotic curve of 10-25 degrees. A low score in this test can indicate that further treatment is not needed.
The typically treatment for scoliosis prior to this new test is frequent examinations and x-rays to monitor the progression of the abnormal curve. Patients in the at-risk category are commonly fitted with a brace that is worn nearly all of the time. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to stop curve progression. This new test can help doctors determine which patients should be braced (a socially awkward scenario for growing teens).
In addition to typical medical treatments that focus on limiting the progression of scoliosis but fail to address the symptomatic aspect of the disease, chiropractic treatment for scoliosis can be very benefitial to ensure the proper function of the spinal joints. Scoliotic patients often have various aches and pains caused by the abnormal curve. Chiropractic can help alleviate much of the discomfort caused by scoliosis.
If you would like to read more about the new DNA test, follow this link: www.healinghandsofskokie.com/dna-test-for-scoliosis.html.
If you have any questions regarding this topic, please contact Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Friday, December 10, 2010
Are New Vitamin D Recommendations Good Enough?
Earlier this year, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) put out new recommendations on Vitamin D supplementation. While the institute did raise the daily recommendations of the vitamin in every age group, many experts still feel that the recommended daily amounts are too low. Basically, they now recommend between 600-800 IU/day for adults. This approximately doubles the previous recommendations but is nowhere near the 2,000-4,000 many experts recommend.
Vitamin D is vital in many processes in the body. Some Vitamin D is obtained from food, but most comes from exposure to sun. For individuals with limited sun exposure or those that live in less sunny climates, supplementation is needed to reach appropriate daily doses of the vitamin. Some of the reported benefits of Vitamin D include decreased risk of cancer, weight control, prevention of osteoporosis, increased immunity and better brain function with aging.
The debate over how much Vitamin D is needed daily will continue between experts. Important to note is that each individuals need may vary depending on age, race, where they live and their overall health status. It is important for individuals to discuss vitamin D with their doctors and take the appropriate steps to proper supplementation.
If you would like to read more about the new Vitamin D recommendations, follow this link: http://www.healinghandsofskokie.com/vitamin-d-recommendations.html.
If you have any questions regarding this topic, please contact Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com/!
Vitamin D is vital in many processes in the body. Some Vitamin D is obtained from food, but most comes from exposure to sun. For individuals with limited sun exposure or those that live in less sunny climates, supplementation is needed to reach appropriate daily doses of the vitamin. Some of the reported benefits of Vitamin D include decreased risk of cancer, weight control, prevention of osteoporosis, increased immunity and better brain function with aging.
The debate over how much Vitamin D is needed daily will continue between experts. Important to note is that each individuals need may vary depending on age, race, where they live and their overall health status. It is important for individuals to discuss vitamin D with their doctors and take the appropriate steps to proper supplementation.
If you would like to read more about the new Vitamin D recommendations, follow this link: http://www.healinghandsofskokie.com/vitamin-d-recommendations.html.
If you have any questions regarding this topic, please contact Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com/!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Acupuncture shown to help with migraines and tension headaches.
A systemic review of two recently-published studies about acupuncture use for headaches was performed in 2009. The studies showed that people suffering from both migraine headaches and tension headaches respond well to acupuncture treatment. Subjects that received acupuncture had a lower occurrence rate of headaches as well as less severe headaches than those in the control group! Both of these studies were large studies that may help further demonstrate the many benefits of acupuncture.
If you would like to read more about these studies, please use the following link: http://www.healinghandsofskokie.com/acupuncture-for-headaches.html.
If you have any questions regarding this topic or acupuncture in general, please contact Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com/!
If you would like to read more about these studies, please use the following link: http://www.healinghandsofskokie.com/acupuncture-for-headaches.html.
If you have any questions regarding this topic or acupuncture in general, please contact Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com/!
Friday, August 6, 2010
FDA warns about Antibiotics in Meat!
I was recently watching an episode of Law & Order: SVU and the police in the show were investigating the murder of someone who was filming a documentary about a meat company. The show became fairly far-fetched in the story line, but the moral of the episode was to be wary of what companies are doing to the foods we eat.
A major problem with the food industry today is that companies sacrifice quality of food for quantity produced. Farm animals are given antibiotics to keep them alive so that they can grow to enormous sizes. However, these antibiotics are then passed through the animals to humans.
One of the major consequences of giving animals these antibiotics is the possibility of producing bacteria that is resistant to certain drugs. These "super bugs" can cause huge problems, especially in hospital settings.
The best resource for people wanting to know what they are eating is knowledge. We must continually research what is being done to our food and how we should eat. Everyone has an opinion on the subject, and no one can agree what is/isn't harmful to humans. A couple of books that can be helpful are by the author Michael Pollan. They are called "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and "In Defense of Food." The first explains, in Mr. Pollan's opinion, what is wrong with the food industry and the second tells us how we should eat. Both books will give you insight on the food industry and make you think the next time you are in the supermarket.
The FDA has recently given their opinion on antibiotics in meat. The following link is for an article in which the FDA calls antibiotics in meat a 'serious public health threat:' http://www.healinghandsofskokie.com/antibiotics-in-meat.html.
If you have any questions regarding this topic or chiropractic care in general, please contact Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com/!
A major problem with the food industry today is that companies sacrifice quality of food for quantity produced. Farm animals are given antibiotics to keep them alive so that they can grow to enormous sizes. However, these antibiotics are then passed through the animals to humans.
One of the major consequences of giving animals these antibiotics is the possibility of producing bacteria that is resistant to certain drugs. These "super bugs" can cause huge problems, especially in hospital settings.
The best resource for people wanting to know what they are eating is knowledge. We must continually research what is being done to our food and how we should eat. Everyone has an opinion on the subject, and no one can agree what is/isn't harmful to humans. A couple of books that can be helpful are by the author Michael Pollan. They are called "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and "In Defense of Food." The first explains, in Mr. Pollan's opinion, what is wrong with the food industry and the second tells us how we should eat. Both books will give you insight on the food industry and make you think the next time you are in the supermarket.
The FDA has recently given their opinion on antibiotics in meat. The following link is for an article in which the FDA calls antibiotics in meat a 'serious public health threat:' http://www.healinghandsofskokie.com/antibiotics-in-meat.html.
If you have any questions regarding this topic or chiropractic care in general, please contact Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com/!
Friday, June 11, 2010
New acupuncture study released!
A recent study has given some insight on how acupuncture helps with pain relief. The study, published in the journal Nature Neurosciences, indicates that the insertion of acupuncture needles helps to release natural pain killers in the body. The tests show an increase in adenosine, which helps control inflammation (and therefore pain) in the body. This demonstrates to many skeptics that acupuncture is not simply a "placebo treatment."
You can read more about this study by clicking on the following link: www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com/acupuncture-pain-relief.html.
If you have any questions regarding this article or acupuncture in general, please contact Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.healinghandsofskokie.com/!
You can read more about this study by clicking on the following link: www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com/acupuncture-pain-relief.html.
If you have any questions regarding this article or acupuncture in general, please contact Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.healinghandsofskokie.com/!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Chiropractic in Sports
In today's society, the trend in health care is moving into a more pro-active, preventative approach to sickness and disease. The rationale is that spending a little more money up front to prevent serious disease will cost us less and be less traumatic in the future. The chiropractic community has used this approach for decades. Chiropractic is based on keeping the body functioning at an optimum to prevent disease processes and injuries from occurring.
Because of the unique ability of chiropractic to help prevent injuries, athletes and teams from every major sport now utilize chiropractic services. Perhaps there is no better spokesperson for chiropractic than Hall of Fame football player Jerry Rice. Chiropractic helped him to achieve his goals in both sport and life. Those goals led to him being the all-time leader in touchdowns in NFL history!
In the following video, Jerry Rice describes how chiropractic has helped him:
For more information on how chiropractic can help you, please feel free to visit our website at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com or call us at (847) 673-6600!
-Dr. Dan Wiewel
Because of the unique ability of chiropractic to help prevent injuries, athletes and teams from every major sport now utilize chiropractic services. Perhaps there is no better spokesperson for chiropractic than Hall of Fame football player Jerry Rice. Chiropractic helped him to achieve his goals in both sport and life. Those goals led to him being the all-time leader in touchdowns in NFL history!
In the following video, Jerry Rice describes how chiropractic has helped him:
For more information on how chiropractic can help you, please feel free to visit our website at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com or call us at (847) 673-6600!
-Dr. Dan Wiewel
Friday, February 12, 2010
Massage Therapy Now Available!
Massage therapists are now taking appointments at Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center! Our therapists are experts in the field of massage and offer services such as Swedish, deep tissue and prenatal massage.
Our prices are very affordable and are, in fact, much lower than spa's in the Skokie area. Also, many insurance plans have benefits that could cover massage therapy. Please call for details!
For more information about massage services at Healing Hands including pricing, please call our office at (847) 673-6600 or visit www.healinghandsofskokie.com/massage.html.
Our prices are very affordable and are, in fact, much lower than spa's in the Skokie area. Also, many insurance plans have benefits that could cover massage therapy. Please call for details!
For more information about massage services at Healing Hands including pricing, please call our office at (847) 673-6600 or visit www.healinghandsofskokie.com/massage.html.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Consumer Reports Ranks Chiropractic #1
Consumer Reports, a company most recognized for their reviews of consumer products, recently surveyed over 14,000 subscribers about low back pain. All of those surveyed had experienced lower back pain in the past year. None of the participants had surgery for their back pain. The survey found that the people were most satisfied with chiropractic treatment for low back pain. Chiropractors outranked other types of physicians as well as physical therapists for patient satisfaction with treatment. Once again, chiropractors are being recognized as the leaders in the field of back pain relief!
You can read more about this study by clicking the following link: http://www.healinghandsofskokie.com/consumer-reports-chiropractic.html.
If you have any questions regarding this survey or chiropractic care in general, please contact Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.healinghandsofskokie.com/!
You can read more about this study by clicking the following link: http://www.healinghandsofskokie.com/consumer-reports-chiropractic.html.
If you have any questions regarding this survey or chiropractic care in general, please contact Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.healinghandsofskokie.com/!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Compression Fractures
Compression fractures are a common occurrence. By definition, a compression fracture is the collapse of a vertebra due to trauma or a weakened bone structure. This bone weakness often occurs in patients with osteoporosis. The result of the compression fracture may be increased pain in the region surrounding the fracture.
Surgeons often perform a procedure called vertebroplasty to fill the collapsed bone with an artificial cement material. The goal of this procedure is return the anatomy in the area to as near-normal as possible and, as a result, decrease the pain caused by the fracture. This procedure, however, has recently been shown to be only as effective as a placebo treatment. Two studies, one at the Mayo Clinic and the other in Australia, showed that both patients that have the procedure performed as well as those who have a placebo (in which no surgery is performed) procedure showed equal progress after one month post-procedure.
These studies show that procedures such as vertebroplasties may not be as effective as once believed. Vertebroplasties are also thought to increase the risk for future fractures in the surrounding vertebrae. We are not stating that this procedure should not be performed, but patients need to ask questions to their surgeons regarding the risks and benefits of every procedure. Also, try non-invasive alternatives such as chiropractic and physical therapy before consenting to surgery!
You can read more about this study by clicking the following link: www.healinghandsofskokie.com/compression-fracture-surgery.html.
If you have any questions regarding this article or chiropractic care in general, please contact Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com/!
Surgeons often perform a procedure called vertebroplasty to fill the collapsed bone with an artificial cement material. The goal of this procedure is return the anatomy in the area to as near-normal as possible and, as a result, decrease the pain caused by the fracture. This procedure, however, has recently been shown to be only as effective as a placebo treatment. Two studies, one at the Mayo Clinic and the other in Australia, showed that both patients that have the procedure performed as well as those who have a placebo (in which no surgery is performed) procedure showed equal progress after one month post-procedure.
These studies show that procedures such as vertebroplasties may not be as effective as once believed. Vertebroplasties are also thought to increase the risk for future fractures in the surrounding vertebrae. We are not stating that this procedure should not be performed, but patients need to ask questions to their surgeons regarding the risks and benefits of every procedure. Also, try non-invasive alternatives such as chiropractic and physical therapy before consenting to surgery!
You can read more about this study by clicking the following link: www.healinghandsofskokie.com/compression-fracture-surgery.html.
If you have any questions regarding this article or chiropractic care in general, please contact Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com/!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Chicago Tribune Highlights Chiropractic
On July 23, 2009 the Chicago Tribune presented an article discussing chiropractic. The article focused on differing views of chiropractic. One view (a "straight" chiropractic view) suggests that chiropractic can help prevent and/or cure nearly every ailment in the body. The other view suggests that chiropractic focus mainly on musculoskeletal issues.
The truth about chiropractic probably lies somewhere in the middle of these 2 views. Chiropractic is a terrific option for those with joint and muscle pains such as low back pain, neck pain, hip pain and shoulder pain. However, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that supports chiropractics ability to boost the immune system and affect the internal organs of the body. Since every nerve in the body (including those that control the heart, lungs, etc.) passes through the spine, problems with spinal joints could effect how these other tissues/organs function.
At Healing Hands, we primarily focus on the musculoskeletal aspects of chiropractic (along with an emphasis on nutrition). However, we will encourage patients to visit our office at times of high stress and sickness to receive the positive input to the immune system mentioned earlier. It is a quite common occurrence for our patients to report back to us that their GI problems have greatly improved with treatment or their ability to stay asleep has improved leading to more energy.
To read the article from the Tribune, please follow the following link: http://www.healinghandsofskokie.com/tribune-chiropractic.html.
If you have any questions regarding this article or chiropractic care in general, please contact Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com/!
The truth about chiropractic probably lies somewhere in the middle of these 2 views. Chiropractic is a terrific option for those with joint and muscle pains such as low back pain, neck pain, hip pain and shoulder pain. However, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that supports chiropractics ability to boost the immune system and affect the internal organs of the body. Since every nerve in the body (including those that control the heart, lungs, etc.) passes through the spine, problems with spinal joints could effect how these other tissues/organs function.
At Healing Hands, we primarily focus on the musculoskeletal aspects of chiropractic (along with an emphasis on nutrition). However, we will encourage patients to visit our office at times of high stress and sickness to receive the positive input to the immune system mentioned earlier. It is a quite common occurrence for our patients to report back to us that their GI problems have greatly improved with treatment or their ability to stay asleep has improved leading to more energy.
To read the article from the Tribune, please follow the following link: http://www.healinghandsofskokie.com/tribune-chiropractic.html.
If you have any questions regarding this article or chiropractic care in general, please contact Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com/!
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