Proactive vs Reactionary Care

There seems to be two main groups of patients in my office. The first group always has an appointment scheduled and comes into the office for spinal adjustments on a regular basis, while the other population presents for care when they are in crisis.  These two groups illustrate two different models for healthcare.  The regularly scheduled patients are proactive and present for care to maintain their well-being.  Patients who present only when they are in pain represent care which is reactionary – this is how most Americans utilize healthcare.  Reactionary or crisis care means needing a root canal when flossing, brushing and regular cleanings would have preserved healthy teeth and gums; requiring ER services for any number of life-threatening conditions preventable with good diet and exercise; letting our automobile engines seize instead of regularly changing the oil; or visiting the doctor when back pain is too great to bear.

The Eventuality of Back Pain & Arthritis

Estimates indicate that about 80% of people will deal with significant low back pain at some point in their lives.  And a great many of us will eventually experience arthritis pain and stiffness.  Just witness the huge proliferation in products to treat joint discomfort, low back and arthritis pain as a testament to this expanding problem.  From the New England Journal of Medicine, a review found that a clear diagnosis could not be made in near 85% of low back injury cases^[1].  After careful examination, abnormalities could not be found.  Another study, with emphasis on imaging, determined that 97% of low back pain was mechanical in nature^[2].  Maybe degeneration is not pathological, but normal…

Pain, injuries and accelerated degeneration are the result of biomechanical stress.  Indeed, Wolff’s Law tells us that any bone, subjected to prolonged biomechanical stress will adapt to that stress^[3].  This is the same process that causes premature degenerative changes, osteoarthritis, and loss of joint motion.

How Do We Combat These Changes?

With treatments to resolve structural imbalances and support proper biomechanics.  Chiropractic maintenance care is effective because it allows patients to preserve good spinal biomechanics and smooth, pain-free joint mobility.

We know how to abide by a more sensible, preventative model.  We follow a similar paradigm in the maintenance of our teeth and automobiles.  Unfortunately, our spines are not something that can be replaced.  Start the new year off right and resolve to keep your spine happy and healthy for years to come.

Call Matthews Chiropractic Center today to schedule a spinal biomechanical evaluation and get on the road to wellness.

1. Deyo RA, Weinstein JN.  Low Back Pain. N Engl J Med. 2001 Feb 1;344(5):363-70. [↩]
2. Jarvik JG, Deyo RA.  Diagnostic evaluation of low back pain with emphasis on imaging. Ann Intern Med. 2002 Oct 1;137(7):586-97. [↩]
3. “Wolff’s Law.”  Stedman’s Medical Dictionary.  26th ed.  1995.  Print. [↩]

There was great interest at this past Monday’s Siskey YMCA Health Fair in Matthews, NC.  It was terrific to meet neighbors working hard to stay fit and healthy.  Most folks were headed to or had just finished their workouts when we fielded questions related to chiropractic, spinal stability, and Foot Levelers orthotics.  A full line of Foot Levelers Spinal Pelvic Stabilizers are available at Matthews Chiropractic Center.  Kim Johnson, LMBT, joined me to offer complimentary chair massages… her magical hands stayed busy start to finish.  The Siskey YMCA is a wonderful, buzzing, and well equipped facility.  Thank you to Sarah Duncan, RN, CCM (Siskey YMCA Health Nurse) for her coordinating efforts.

With temperatures dipping, local trees have sprung to life in shades of yellow, orange, and red, while the cool autumn breeze has strewn the leaves on our lawns.  Before you suit up to go out and gather the colorful foliage, I have a few precautions for you to bear in mind.

Playing in the Leaves is Fun, Raking Can Be More than a Chore

Raking leaves is one of those one-sided, repetitive activities that could upset the usual, happy balance in our backs.  Muscles in our back fire in unison to maintain our posture and allow us to do work, but toil in a manner that overworks one side, and this could lead to a real stiff back.

• First, beware working predominantly on one side of the body, like when raking, digging, loading the dishwasher, placing groceries in your car, or putting a child into a car seat.  If you are raking or digging, try to periodically switch the side of your body, where you are working. If you are raking, specifically, alternate between raking front to back and side to side (across your body), to prevent any one group of muscles from fatiguing.
• Split loading activities like packing the car’s truck or bagging those colorful leaves into separate squatting and bending movements.  Avoiding motions that simultaneously twist and bend the low back can help you steer clear of back pain.  Bending and rotating at the same time puts the spine in a position of weakness and increases the chances of injury – this is the mechanism that leads to many disc injuries.
• When bending or lifting, bend your knees to lift with your legs.  The legs are the strongest muscles in your body and using the legs can save your back.

If you should happen to upset the delicate balance of muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons that allow for all our movements, remember I’m here at Matthews Chiropractic Center to help make everything work better again.  And, if just the thought of raking your leaves makes your back ache and pain-free is not your status quo, then chiropractic care could be your remedy.

This past Saturday, October 24, I volunteered as part of the medical crew for Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Charlotte. Representing Matthews Chiropractic Center, I provided chiropractic adjustments to many sore and weary walkers.  These inspired women had walked 26 miles on Saturday and were planning to walk 13 miles more on Sunday.

I hope that my adjustments helped them rest easier and prepare for the last leg of their walk.  What wonderful efforts the walkers made to expand awareness, fund raise, and demonstrate their support through 39 miles of walking over two days to combat breast cancer.

Visit the Avon Foundation site to learn more and show your support.

Dr. Matthew Leibman and Kim Johnson, LBMT

Last Saturday, October 10, Matthews Chiropractic Center participated in the Lake Park Fall Festival in Indian Trail, NC.

People were curious about how chiropractic could help their neck pain, back pain, headaches, and other concerns. It was great to meet folks out on a lovely fall day and answer questions from our neighbors. Kim Johnson was on hand, offering massage, while I conversed on chiropractic.

Look for us again on November 2nd, from 9:00-11:00am, as Matthews Chiropractic Center takes part in a Community Health Fair at the Siskey YMCA in Matthews, NC.

If you have any questions about chiropractic care we’re always helpful at trying to find your answers and diagnose any problems you might have. Give us a call at 704-841-3833 or contact us today.