Osteoklinika Pain Management

Wednesday, 7 January 2015

Bio-Structural Integration™: Everyday Stress and the Power of Massage

Bio-Structural Integration™ rehabilitation that is unique, effective and provides quick relief of pain and is a unique, trademarked process at Osteoklinika!

Over 15 years ago we discovered that therapy centered around only one system simply does not work!

Why? The body functions as a unit. When we get injured the central nervous system may be affected, the joints will develop misalignment, the muscles will be in spasm, connective tissue and fascia become tight, the inflammatory process sets in, even internal organs can be affected. Every cell in our body works synergetically together to maintain homeostasis. When one system is disturbed the other cannot function properly. In our method of Bio-Structural Integration™ we address the dysfunction at every level.

Within one treatment Cranial Osteopathy is used to release central nervous system lesions. After that Osteopathic Structural Adjustments are used to correct the joints, followed by Myofascial Release of connective tissue.

Neuromuscular Massage is implemented to reduce muscular tension, and electrotherapy helps to interrupt the pain cycle.

All of the above is done within a 1 hour treatment. After the structure is realigned, we recommend BioFlex Low Intensity Laser Therapy to deal with inflammation. Now the healing is stimulated at the cellular level. This session may take 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the condition being treated. Elimination of inflammatory process assists in structural stabilization of the joints.

The program of rehabilitation is around 5 weeks long and provides consistently over 90% of success in bringing back a pain-free life. If you have tried every possible known therapy and still have pain, you shouldn't give up! During many years of my practice I developed protocols for numerous difficult- to-treat conditions.

The Power of Massage

There’s no denying the power of massage. What comes to your mind when you think "massage"? Sometimes we think of the process as pampering, rejuvenating or therapeutic, or we seek it out as a luxurious treat, stress relief, pain management, etc. Whatever comes to mind, this might help you recognize what 'massage' can mean to you as a powerful partner in your healthcare routine. There is nothing "fluffy" about our massage!

Experts estimate that over 90% of disease is stress related. And nothing ages us faster, internally and externally, than high stress. Massage can and does help to manage stress. It can:
Massage is a hands-on manipulation of the soft tissues of the body, such as muscles, connective tissue and joints to speed the healing process, reduce pain and help improve the functioning of the immune system. Massage may also alleviate stress and depression, as well as symptoms of migraines, soft tissue injuries, strains/sprains, lower back pain and muscle tension. At OsteoKlinika we offer many alternative massage types, for example:

· Decrease anxiety

· Enhance sleep quality

· Increase energy level

· Improve concentration

· Increase circulation

· Reduce fatigue

Clients often report a sense of perspective and clarity after receiving a massage. Emotional balance is often just as vital and valuable as obvious physical benefits.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage targets the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. The massage therapist uses slower strokes or friction techniques across the grain of the muscle. It is used for chronically tight or painful muscles, repetitive strain, postural problems, or recovery from injury.

Reflexology Massage

Although reflexology is sometimes called foot massage, it is more than simple foot massage. Reflexology involves applying pressure to certain points on the foot that correspond to organs and systems in the body. Reflexology is very relaxing, especially for people who stand on their feet all day or just have tired, achy feet.

Sports Massage

Sports massage is specifically designed for people who are involved in physical activity. But you don't have to be a professional athlete to have one-it's also used by people who are active and work out often. The focus isn't on relaxation but on preventing and treating injury and enhancing athletic performance. A combination of techniques are used.

Neuromuscular Massage Therapy

Neuromuscular Massage Therapy (NMT) is an advanced massage technique that focuses on stimulating the origin and insertion of the muscles and areas of the muscle that exhibit metabolic changes called Myofascial Trigger Points. These points are located within taut bands of muscle and are treated with the application of sustained pressure.

Longitudinal strokes along the muscles fibers are also used in a specific manner to reduce hypertonicity of the muscles. NMT, by manipulating the soft tissues of the body (muscles, tendons and connective tissue), balances the Central Nervous System with the Musculoskeletal system and corrects any imbalances between the two. As a result chronic pain is reduced, the function of joints and muscles is improved and range of motion is increased. It also speeds the healing process by facilitating the release of endorphins.

Benefits of Massage

Alleviate low-back pain and improve range of motion.

Assist with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shorten maternity hospital stays.

Ease medication dependence.

Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body’s natural defense system.

Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.

Help athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts.

Improve the condition of the body’s largest organ—the skin.

Increase joint flexibility.

Lessen depression and anxiety.

Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.

Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation.

Reduce post-surgery adhesions and swelling.

Reduce spasms and cramping.

Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles.

Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body’s natural painkiller.

Relieve migraine pain.

I hope since you have read this article that you don't underestimate the power of massage and how it can assist you in your day to day life, effortlessly, offering lasting mobility when massage is combined in the Bio-Structural Integration™ process at Osteoklinika.

Please contact our pain management and rehabilitation clinic at 905.660.8810 to learn about Bio-Structural Integration and for consultation or immediate treatment! - Andrew Subieta

Monday, 5 January 2015

Sugar Addiction is Making You Sick!

Is sugar making us sick? A team of scientists at the University of California in San Francisco believes so, and they're doing something about it. They launched an initiative to bring information on food and drink and added sugar to the public by reviewing more than 8,000 scientific papers that show a strong link between the consumption of added sugar and chronic diseases.

The common belief until now was that sugar just makes us fat, but it's become clear through research that it's making us sick. For example, there's the rise in fatty-liver disease, the emergence of Type 2 diabetes as an epidemic in children and the dramatic increase in metabolic disorders.

Laura Schmidt, a UCSF professor at the School of Medicine and the lead investigator on the project, SugarScience, said the idea is to make the findings comprehensible and clear to everyone. The results will be available to all on a website (SugarScience.org) and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

Added sugars, Schmidt said, are sugars that don't occur naturally in foods. They are found in 74 percent of all packaged foods, have 61 names and often are difficult to decipher on food labels. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires food companies to list ingredients on packaging, the suggested daily values of natural and added sugars can't be found.

The FDA is considering a proposal to require food manufacturers to list information on sugars in the same way they do for fats, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates and protein. But because so much added sugar is dumped into so many products, one average American breakfast of cereal would likely exceed a reasonable daily limit.

"SugarScience shows that a calorie is not a calorie but rather that the source of a calorie determines how it's metabolized," said pediatric endocrinologist Robert Lustig, a member of the SugarScience team and the author of "Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity, and Disease." Lustig said that more than half of the U.S. population is sick with metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors for chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and liver disease that are directly related to the excessive consumption of added sugars in the Western diet.

Figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show the category of heart attack/stroke as the leading cause of death in the United States. Every day, 2,200 Americans die of cardiovascular disease. That's about 800,000 a year, or one in three deaths.

The latest statistics from the American Diabetes Association show that 29.1 million Americans, or 9.3 percent, have diabetes. Of that number, 21 million have been diagnosed and 8.1 million have not, and the numbers continue to grow, according to the association.

It doesn't stop there. The American Liver Foundation says at least 30 million Americans, or 1 in 10, has one of 100 kinds of liver disease.

Clinicians widely believe that obesity is the cause of metabolic disease. Although it is a marker for these diseases, Lustig said, it's not the cause. "Too much sugar causes chronic metabolic disease in both fat and thin people," he said, "and instead of focusing on obesity as the problem, we should be focusing on our processed-food supply."

The average American consumes 19.5 teaspoons (78 grams) of sugar a day, substantially more than the amount recommended by the American Heart Association. The association sets these limits: 6 teaspoons (24 grams) for women, 9 teaspoons (36 grams) for men, and 3-6 teaspoons (12-24 grams) for children, depending on age. Just one 12-ounce soda contains 8 to 9 teaspoons (32-36 grams) of sugar. (Average Canadian consumes 26 teaspoons of sugar a day!)

Liquid sugar in sodas, energy drinks and sports drinks is the leading source of added sugar in the American diet. That represents 36 percent of all added sugars consumed, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. And because liquid does not include fiber, the body processes it quickly. That causes more sugar to be sent to the pancreas and liver than either can process properly, and the resulting buildup of sugar leads to heart disease, diabetes and liver disease.

Consuming too much sugar causes the level of glucose sugar in the bloodstream to increase. That, in turn, causes the pancreas to release high levels of insulin that cause the body to store extra calories as fat.

Too much insulin also affects the hormone leptin, a natural appetite suppressant that signals the brain to stop eating when full. But the imbalance of insulin levels caused by the intake of too much sugar causes lipid resistance, and the brain no longer gets that signal.

Another member of the SugarScience team, Dean Schillinger, is a professor of medicine at UCSF and a practicing primary care doctor at San Francisco General Hospital. He believes the over-consumption of added sugars is a social problem, not a problem of individual choice and freedom.

"People are becoming literate about the toxic effects of sugar," Schillinger said, "and have more understanding of the idea that high doses are bad for one's health." He sees evidence that those in a higher socioeconomic bracket are taking steps to limit intake of sugar when compared with poorer, less literate people.

Healthy food is expensive and less readily accessible in poorer neighborhoods, and because corn is so abundant and cheap, it is added to many food products. "Dumping high fructose corn syrup into cheap foods, sodas, sports drinks and energy drinks is toxic to the body, causing epidemic metabolic diseases and a serious health crisis," Schillinger said.

To underscore the scope of the problem, he pointed out that during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, 1,500 American soldiers lost a limb in combat. In that same period, 1.5 million people in the U.S. lost limbs to amputations from Type 2 diabetes, a preventable disease. "We have yet to mobilize for a public health war," he said, "but the time has come to do so."

Such a war would have to take on the root causes of the problem. As a nation, Schillinger added, we would need to look at our food policies, food pricing, availability of healthy foods, and the marketing being carried out by food and beverage industries to hook the public on unhealthy choices loaded with added sugar.

Frank Hu, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health, is not a SugarScience researcher, but he agreed that the amount of sugar consumed by the American public is too high. SugarScience, he said, is being helpful by bringing the information about added sugar to public attention.

"It's just about impossible," Hu said, "to know from food labels what kinds and amounts of sugars are in a product." That's why he thinks the FDA should require food companies to list those amounts on all food labels so people know what they're eating, in what amounts they're eating it, and what amounts are safe.

Food labels are important, Schillinger said, and they need to be revised, but the most important change needed is to make the healthier choice the easier choice. - medicalxpress.com

Sugar causes inflammation and inflammation causes pain and chronic disease!

For more information, Andrew Subieta and the clinic staff can be reached at Osteoklinika Pain Management & Rehabilitation 905.660.8810.

Also, please check our website at www.osteoklinika.com for more information about Bio-Structural Integration™, or our Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter pages.

Sunday, 28 December 2014

Bio-Structural Integration™ and The Effects of Microwave Radiation

Bio-Structural Integration™rehabilitation that is unique, effective and provides quick relief of pain and is a unique, trademarked process at Osteoklinika!

Over 15 years ago we discovered that therapy centered around only one system simply does not work!

Why? The body functions as a unit. When we get injured the central nervous system may be affected, the joints will develop misalignment, the muscles will be in spasm, connective tissue and fascia become tight, the inflammatory process sets in, even internal organs can be affected. Every cell in our body works synergetically together to maintain homeostasis. When one system is disturbed the other cannot function properly. In our method of Bio-Structural Integration™ we address the dysfunction at every level.

Within one treatment Cranial Osteopathy is used to release central nervous system lesions. After that Osteopathic Structural Adjustments are used to correct the joints, followed by Myofascial Release of connective tissue.

Neuromuscular Massage is implemented to reduce muscular tension, and electrotherapy helps to interrupt the pain cycle.

The Effects of Microwave Radiation

Keep in mind these 12 effects of microwaves the next time you opt to use one. You might be better of just turning on the oven!

1. A breakdown of the human “life-energy field” in those who were exposed to microwave ovens while in operation, with side-effects to the human energy field of increasingly longer duration

2. A degeneration of the cellular voltage parallels during the process of using the apparatus, especially in the blood and lymphatic areas

3. A degeneration and destabilization of the external energy activated potentials of food utilization within the processes of human metabolism

4. A degeneration and destabilization of internal cellular membrane potentials while transferring catabolic [metabolic breakdown] processes into the blood serum from the digestive process

5. Degeneration and circuit breakdowns of electrical nerve impulses within the junction potentials of the cerebrum [the front portion of the brain where thought and higher functions reside

6. A degeneration and breakdown of nerve electrical circuits and loss of energy field symmetry in the neuroplexuses [nerve centers] both in the front and the rear of the central and autonomic nervous systems

7. Loss of balance and circuiting of the bio-electric strengths within the ascending reticular-activating system [the system which controls the function of consciousness]

8. A long term cumulative loss of vital energies within humans, animals and plants that were located within a 500-meter radius of the operational equipment

9. Long lasting residual effects of magnetic “deposits” were located throughout the nervous system and lymphatic system

10. A destabilization and interruption in the production of hormones and maintenance of hormonal balance in males and females

11. Markedly higher levels of brainwave disturbance in the alpha, theta, and delta wave signal patterns of persons exposed to microwave emission fields

12. Because of this brainwave disturbance, negative psychological effects were noted, including loss of memory, loss of ability to concentrate, suppressed emotional threshold, deceleration of intellective processes, and interrupted sleep episodes in a statistically higher percentage of individuals subjected to continual range emissive field effects of microwave apparatus, either in cooking apparatus or in transmission stations.

Sources: earthwearone.com preventdisease.com FDA.gov

For more information, Andrew Subieta and the clinic staff can be reached at Osteoklinika Pain Management & Rehabilitation 905.660.8810. Also, please check our website at www.osteoklinika.com for more information about Bio-Structural Integration™, or our Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter pages.

Friday, 19 December 2014

Bio-Structural Integration™ and Diagnosing Yourself on the Internet

Why? The body functions as a unit. When we get injured the central nervous system may be affected, the joints will develop misalignment, the muscles will be in spasm, connective tissue and fascia become tight, the inflammatory process sets in, even internal organs can be affected. Every cell in our body works synergetically together to maintain homeostasis. When one system is disturbed the other cannot function properly. In our method of Bio-Structural Integration™ we address the dysfunction at every level.

Within one treatment Cranial Osteopathy is used to release central nervous system lesions. After that Osteopathic Structural Adjustments are used to correct the joints, followed by Myofascial Release of connective tissue.

Neuromuscular Massage is implemented to reduce muscular tension, and electrotherapy helps to interrupt the pain cycle.

Never, Ever Self Diagnose!

We’ve all been there: waking up in the middle of the night with a pounding headache, lymph nodes the size of tennis balls, tingling fingers or another ailment with an unexplained origin. More often than not, we’re concerned, and the first thing we’re inclined to do is fire up a computer and begin nervously Googling our symptoms, looking for possible problems our symptoms can lead to and treatments that can ameliorate them. In fact, according to Pew Internet and American Life Project, eight in 10 Internet users look online for health information.

Cyberchondria

Sometimes Internet searches can lead to the right answers, other times it can lead to anxiety or what’s called"cyberchondria": the unfounded concern over common symptoms based on online literature and research. Once someone begins self-diagnosing and agonizing over a health problem they may have, this becomes an issue.“I don’t think people should diagnose themselves, but they should use the Internet to become educated,” Mago says. He stresses that patients should use the Internet constructively to research their symptoms and the possible conditions they can lead to in order to come up with questions to ask a doctor. In a way, this helps both parties.And aside from helping patients becoming better educated medical consumers—and in return, better communicators with their doctors—some impressive things could happen if the Internet were used as a viable healthcare resource with curated information from doctors themselves. And it all starts with a site that has 1 billion unique users: YouTube.

“The Internet is a tool,” says Rajnish Mago, psychiatrist and director of the Mood Disorders Program at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. “You can use the tool appropriately or you can misuse it.” It’s no news that there is a lot of bogus information on the Internet, particularly when entering the realm of medical forums. But while self diagnosis can lead to stress and improper diagnosis or self-treatment, the use of the Internet in healthcare actually has some amazing potential.

Help Your Medical Professional Through Education

Doctors can be very busy. They don’t always have enough time to fully assess each patient and educate patients on their symptoms and possible side effects of medications. “Many diagnoses are missed,” Mago says. For example, working in the psychiatric field, Mago has seen many cases of bipolar disorder and ADHD in patients that have gone undiagnosed. This alone may send many to the Internet for answers.

“Doctors need to be proactive about this, but that’s not what’s happening,” Mago says. He surveyed patients and found that none of them had ever been referred to a credible Internet resource by a doctor. Mago takes a different approach, embracing the fact that many patients go to the Internet for information.

YouTube and Internet

Videos have become very much a favored way of learning, Mago says. He did a project in which he pretended to be a patient and looked for answers on YouTube. “The overwhelming majority of results were highly negative,” he says. The lack of credible healthcare sources on YouTube shows that it’s an outlet the medical profession has yet to tap in to. Perhaps that should change.

And the Internet’s potential in healthcare doesn’t end there.

“There needs to be a systematic tool to screen for illnesses,” Mago says. “The Internet could be a very powerful tool for screening millions of people.” All of his depression patients must be screened for bipolar disorder because the latter can go undiagnosed in depressed patients. Use of the Internet could possibly aid screenings like this.

In his current research, Mago is looking at ways to use the Internet to identify if symptoms are more likely side effects of medication than symptoms of the illness itself.

Another possibility is using the Internet to develop a website that will ask patients questions about their symptoms and use an algorithm to come up with possible problems. The website would then give the patient a list of questions that she should bring up with her doctor. One of Mago’s associates used this model for blood pressure.

Don't Scare Yourself!

Rather than discouraging their patients from using the Internet in the hopes that they don’t end up scaring themselves with false information, doctors should perhaps explore other alternatives and opportunities for what this resource can do. “The Internet is here to stay in healthcare,” Mago says. “The question medical professionals have to ask is if they are going to embrace it and use it to their advantage or be dragged in kicking and screaming.”

Diagnosing yourself on the Internet can take hours and hours of reading, watching videos and it can be very confusing! Please call us, visit us and see that in just one hour you could actually feel better and recognize that you don't have to worry about your health and that you could be making yourself "sick" just trying to figure it all out on the internet!

For more information about your general health, inflammation and pain, Andrew Subieta can be reached at Osteoklinika Pain Management & Rehabilitation 905.660.8810. Also, please check our website at www.osteoklinika.com for more information about Bio-Structural Integration™, or our Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter pages.

Thursday, 18 December 2014

Bio-Structural Integration™: ACL Injury and Low Intensity Laser Therapy

Bio-Structural Integration™ sets the new standard of rehabilitation that is unique, effective and provides quick relief of pain! It is a unique, trademarked process at Osteoklinika!

Over 15 years ago we discovered that therapy centered around only one system simply does not work. Why? The body functions as a unit. When we get injured the central nervous system may be affected, the joints will develop misalignment, the muscles will be in spasm, connective tissue and fascia become tight, the inflammatory process sets in, even internal organs can be affected. Every cell in our body works synergetically together to maintain homeostasis.

When one system is disturbed the other cannot function properly. In our method of Bio-Structural Integration™ we address the dysfunction at every level. Within one treatment Cranial Osteopathy is used to release central nervous system lesions. After that Osteopathic Structural Adjustments are used to correct the joints, followed by Myofascial Release of connective tissue. Neuromuscular Massage is implemented to reduce muscular tension, and Electrotherapy helps to interrupt the pain cycle.

Low Intensity Laser Therapy

Low Intensity Laser Therapy can effectively reduce pain and inflammation, while stimulating healing. It isn't a magic cure however; in cases where surgery is recommended, Laser Therapy applied prior to and after surgery will improve healing and get you back to the things you enjoy faster!

What Is An ACL Injury?

Anterior Cruciate Ligament injuries are common in contact sports and those involving a sudden change of direction. Often an ACL injury will occur in combination with injury to other structures in the knee joint.

Torn ACL symptoms

At the time of injury, symptoms of an anterior cruciate ligament sprain will include extreme pain in the knee. There is likely to be a lot of immediate swelling from bleeding within the joint which will feel warm. There may be an audible pop or crack at the time of injury and a feeling of instability.

Often an athlete will seek professional advice at a clinic the next day or two after injury. By that time there will be considerable swelling making it very difficult to diagnose exactly what is wrong with the knee. After a few days when the swelling has gone down it will be easier to examine the knee joint. Symptoms will include restricted range or movement with particular difficulty straightening the leg. It will be tender all around the knee joint. There will be positive signs in the Anterior Drawer test and Lachman's test.

Anterior Drawer Test

With the patient laying on their back with the injured knee bent to 90 degrees and the foot flat on the table. The practitioner may stabilize the foot by sitting on it.The practitioner will grasp the upper Tibia (shin bone) with both hands. They will then attempt to pull the Tibia forwards, towards them. A positive result is if the Tibia moves excessively forwards.The injured knee should always be compared to the healthy knee for 'normal' movement.

Lachman's Test

The patient lies on their back with the knee flexed between 15 and 30 degrees. The practitioner grips the outside of the lower femur or thigh bone with the upper hand and the inside of the upper Tibia with the lower hand. The femur is stabilized with the upper hand as the lower hand applies an anterior force on the tibia. A positive result is found if the tibia moves excessively forward compared to the healthy knee.

As well as the tests described above, the practitioner may also test the range of motion at the joint, the strength of the surrounding muscles, and test for associated injuries such as meniscus tears.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Explained

A torn ACL is an injury or tear to the anterior cruciate ligament which is one of the four main stabilizing ligaments of the knee.

The ACL attaches to the knee end of the femur or thigh bone at the back of the joint and passes down through the knee joint to the front of the flat upper surface of the tibia or shin bone. It passes across the knee joint in a diagonal direction and with the posterior cruciate ligament passing in the opposite direction forming a cross shape, hence the name cruciate ligaments.

The role of the anterior cruciate ligament is to prevent the tibia bone from moving forwards of the knee. The posterior cruciate ligament does the reverse preventing the shin bone moving backwards. Together these two ligaments are vitally important for the stability of the knee joint, especially in contact sports and those that involve fast changes in direction.

A torn ACL usually occurs through a twisting force being applied to the knee whilst the foot is firmly planted on the ground or upon landing. A torn ACL can also result from a direct blow to the knee, usually the outside, as may occur during a football or rugby tackle. This injury is usually seen in combination with a medial meniscus tear, articular cartilage injury or medial ligament sprain.

Immediate treatment for ACL injuries

If an ACL injury or knee joint sprain of any kind is suspected then stop play or competition immediately, assuming you have a choice! Apply the PRICE principles of protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation. Applying ice and compression will help limit pain and stop bleeding and swelling. Some professional therapists at pitch side will immediately apply a compression wrap fairly tightly to prevent the knee swelling up however this should only be left on for 10 minutes at a time to avoid stopping blood flow completely and causing further injury. Seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Ice can be applied for 10 to 15 minutes every hour for the first 24 to 48 hours although not directly against the skin. There are a number of commmercially available cold wraps which are excellent for knee joint injuries as they provide compression as well as cold at the same time. Elevating the limb will also help swelling and tissue fluids drain away from the site of injury.

What can a Professional do?

A doctor or sports injury professional is not likely to be able to do much the day after an injury. The joint is likely to be too tender and swollen to properly assess. Once the swelling has died down then a more accurate assessment and diagnosis can be done. An MRI scan can confirm the diagnosis and an X-ray eliminate an avulsion fracture where the ligament pulls a piece of bone away.

It is likely the doctor will refer for ACL surgery if required as well as advice on a pre-surgery rehabilitation program in order to strengthen the knee and reduce the swelling in preparation for surgery. This will help produce the best results following surgery.

When is ACL surgery required?

The decision whether or when to operate to reconstruct a torn anterior cruciate ligament is a controversial one. Surgery can be performed shortly after injury, a few weeks or even months after injury or not at all.

The decision of whether to operate is based on a number of factors, including the athletes age; lifestyle; sporting involvement; occupation; degree of knee instability and any other associated injuries. Older people who are less active and perhaps injured their ACL following a fall as opposed to during sport may be unlikely to undergo surgery.

A younger, fit person who regularly plays sport or needs to be active for work and would be more likely to adhere to a complex rehabilitation program is more likely to be offered surgery. Other factors include whether a meniscus repair is required or any other joint injury and the degree of instability in the knee.

After Surgery?

Here is a short story. Increasing instability of the knee developed in a 27-year-old man who had torn his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) approximately 10 years prior to surgical intervention. After initial conservative treatment, including use of a functional brace for activity, the patient opted for surgical reconstruction with a patellar tendon graft. One of the authors conducted three preoperative examinations to assess the condition of the patient's musculoskeletal system. These manual examinations included findings of somatic dysfunction in the lumbo-pelvic region. In addition, there was extension of muscular tension from the injured left knee and ankle into the lower thorax and ribs 6 through 9. During the postoperative rehabilitation process, examination at regular intervals included documentation of somatic dysfunction and osteopathic manipulative treatment. Following ACL reconstruction and OMT, the patient showed increasingly stable mobility in the lumbopelvic region. Furthermore, episodic new dysfunctions readily resolved with OMT. The patient returned to his regular sports activities 6 months after surgery! (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16790541)

Before you consider surgery and if you are still experiencing more than 6 months after surgery, or for more information about inflammation and pain, Andrew Subieta can be reached at Osteoklinika Pain Management & Rehabilitation 905.660.8810. Also, please check our website at www.osteoklinika.com for more information about Bio-Structural Integration™, or our Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter pages.

Wednesday, 10 December 2014

Bio-Structural Integration™ and Nature's Anti-Inflammatory

Bio-Structural Integration™ sets the new standard of rehabilitation that is unique, effective and provides quick relief of pain! It is a unique, trademarked process at Osteoklinika!

When one system is disturbed the other cannot function properly. In our method of Bio-Structural Integration™ we address the dysfunction at every level. Within one treatment Cranial Osteopathy is used to release central nervous system lesions. After that Osteopathic Structural Adjustments are used to correct the joints, followed by Myofascial Release of connective tissue. Neuromuscular Massage is implemented to reduce muscular tension, and Electrotherapy helps to interrupt the pain cycle.

If you have tried every possible known therapy and still have pain, you shouldn't give up!

Heart disease - Obesity - Diabetes - Alzheimer's - Irritable Bowel Syndrome

While they may appear to be separate diseases, in truth, they all have one single cause...

Inflammation! Inflammation's ability to turn your own body against you, can wreak havoc on just about every organ in your body — from your brain to your bones.

As scary as that sounds, there is some good news for you...

Many causes of inflammation are fully preventable. Pain comes from inflammation!

It's much easier than you think to put an end to all those health problems caused by inflammation —

Unfortunately and oftentimes, the knee-jerk reaction of the medical community to inflammation is to dole out drugs to reduce it. In fact, there is a whole classification of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, available by prescription and over-the-counter.

"NSAIDs are associated with a variety of risks, according to new labeling by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, including an increased risk for cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke."

Fortunately, you can use at least 10 herbs for inflammation instead of dangerous drugs!

Black Pepper
People refer to black pepper as the King of Spices because of its intoxicating, rich aroma and complex flavor. Black pepper owes its distinctive pungent flavour to piperine, which also provides an astonishing anti-inflammatory effect. Piperine inhibits the expression of a gene associated with arthritis and the spread of cancer, MMP13. Even at low doses, piperine reduces inflammation by depressing prostaglandin production. Furthermore, piperine significantly suppresses the perception of pain and arthritis symptoms while decreasing inflammation in joints.

Cardamom
As the Queen of Spices, cardamom also reduces inflammation. Part of the ginger family, cardamom is native to India and Sri Lanka; healers there have used cardamom to reduce inflammation for centuries.

Cayenne
Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin. Exposure to capsaicin causes body tissues to release substance P, which your body usually releases immediately after tissue damage. Capsaicin does not actually damage tissue — this chemical only tricks your body into acting as if damage had occurred.

Repeated exposure of one part of your body to capsaicin will deplete that area of its substance P, which increases tolerance to capsaicin in people who regularly eat hot peppers.

Reducing substance P in one area of your body also decreases your sense of pain in that part. Capsaicin cream products take advantage of this effect to reduce arthritis pain in joints and other sources of chronic pain. Best of all, the capsaicin in cayenne pepper can help protect your stomach from ulcers associated with NSAID use.

Chamomile
Ancient physicians Dioskurides, Galen and Plinius recommended tea to relieve inflammation of the mouth. Chamomile is a sun-loving plant whose flowers smell like fresh apples. Oil distilled from these flowers contain a-bisabolol and chamazulene cyclic sesquiterpenes, which directly reduce inflammation. Chamomile oil also contains bisabolol oxides, farnesene and spiro-ether that have anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties.

Ginger
Traditional medicine has relied on ginger’s anti-inflammatory powers for centuries. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, there is also evidence that ginger eases pain associated with that classic inflammatory disease, arthritis. Additionally, ginger eases stomach upset, nausea and vomiting.

Turmeric
Turmeric gives curry its flavor and yellow color; food manufacturers also add turmeric to butter and cheese for color. Healers have used turmeric for more than 4,000 years to relieve inflammation, treat digestive problems and fight infections.

The active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, is an antioxidant that removes dangerous free radicals from the body. Free radicals cause cell damage that leads to inflammation, including damage to cell membranes, negatively affect DNA and cause cells to die. Additionally, turmeric lowers two types of enzymes known to cause inflammation.

Aloe
Aloe not only reduces inflammation but also eases pain and promotes skin repair and healing. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the anti-inflammatory effects of aloe gel are superior to 1 percent hydrocortisone cream.

Celery seed
Celery seed works to reduce inflammation by acting as a diuretic, which means it helps the body get rid of excess fluid by increasing urine output. Celery seed is especially effective in treating inflammation caused by arthritis and gout, a type of arthritis.

Green tea
Green tea contains polyphenols, micro-nutrients that work in the body to prevent certain disease mechanisms — such as inflammation — from happening. The main polyphenol in green tea is epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG. Together, EGCG and the other polyphenols in green tea have anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties.

Green tea is especially helpful in reducing inflammation in the digestive tract. This natural herb may reduce gastrointestinal inflammation associated with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Green tea may also help with arthritis by reducing inflammation and slowing down cartilage destruction associated with the disease.

Pomegranate
Pomegranates contain flavonols, a type of antioxidant, which seem especially helpful in reducing inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. In that condition, inflammation contributes to the destruction of cartilage. Pomegranate seems to block the production of an enzyme associated with cartilage destruction.

The next time you struggle with inflammation or the medical conditions caused by inflammation, try using an herbal remedy before resorting to dangerous drugs and chemicals. Herbs are highly effective in reducing inflammation and carry relatively low risks for complications. (Natural Cures, Not Medicine)

For more information about inflammation and pain, Andrew Subieta and the clinic staff can be reached at Osteoklinika Pain Management & Rehabilitation 905.660.8810. Also, please check our website at www.osteoklinika.com for more information about Bio-Structural Integration™, or our Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter pages.

Sources:
http://www.fda.gov
http://arthritis-research.com
http://www.med.nyu.edu
http://umm.edu
http://science.naturalnews.com