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.

Runny nose; itchy, watery eyes; sneezing; itchy throat or nose… do these symptoms sound familiar? Well, for seasonal allergies, it’s that time of year again. Unfortunately, many of my patients are among the sufferers. And, most of those patient have mentioned how adjustments have helped them reduce sinus pressure, breathe easier, and generally cope with seasonal allergy symptoms. The recent regularity of these discussions prompted me to do a little digging (research, not yardwork… the pollen bothers me too) and share.

Make Breathing Easier

Easier breathing following chiropractic treatments in patients with asthma has been demonstrated for many years^[1][2]. The mode by which chiropractic helps those who suffer from seasonal allergies is more complicated. In the body, all of our involuntary functions, like breathing and digestion, are controlled by the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS in turn is composed of two divisions, the sympathetic nervous system, credited with the fight or flight response, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which operates more when the body is calm and at rest.

Calm the Inflammation

Research on the causes of allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis (inflammation of the nose) indicate that an imbalance in the ANS is a factor^[3]. Just as histamine increases in response to higher concentrations of allergens (pollen, mold, grasses, etc.), the sympathetic nervous system can become over-excited (reacting to inflammation and irritation of the sinuses) by the same irritants^[4]. Certain levels of the spine correspond to the sinuses, and chiropractic adjustments to these areas can help to calm the over-stimulated nervous system response just as anti-histamine would help to reduce the body’s response to pathogens, but without the medication of course^[5]. The take home message being that adjustments don’t just help the spine move better, but areas related to certain spinal levels can see improvements as well.

Thank you Matthews Chiropractic Center patients who have shared their treatment benefits beyond the more common improvements in neck and back pain, headaches, and other spinal conditions. If you have question’s you would like me to answer just let me know.

1. Miller WD. Treatment of Visceral Disorders by Manipulative Therapy in The Research Status of Spinal Manipulative Therapy; 1975 Goldstein M, NINCDS Monograph, Bethesda: US Dept Of Health, Education and Welfare, pp295-301. [↩]
2. Hviid C. A Comparison of the Effect of Chiropractic Treatment on Respiratory Function in Patients with Respiratory Symptoms and Patients Without; Bul Eur Chiro Union; 1978; 26:17-34. [↩]
3. Editors. Autonomic abnormalities in asthma. Lancet;1982;1:1224-1225. [↩]
4. Korr IM. Sustained sympatheticotonia as a factor in disease. In: Korr IM, ed The neurobiologic mechanisms in manipulative therapy. New York, Plenum Press, 1978:229-268. [↩]
5. Patterson M. The spinal cord: participant in disorder. J Spinal Manip 1993;9(3):2-11. [↩]

Hopefully many of you are learning the importance of maintaining a healthy spine. Something that I haven’t yet discussed in this space is the importance of our spine’s foundation… our feet. With the spring upon us and many outdoor sports and activities starting again, this is a great time to check the health of our feet and arches.

The feet form the foundation of the skeleton in the same way that a foundation provides a steady platform on which a house can be built. If there is a problem with the foundation, then the structure above may lack stability/balance and be prone to excessive wear and tear/degeneration. In our bodies, improper support of the feet can affect the ankle, knee, hips, pelvis, low back and up the spine. So, the importance of a solid foundation can not be understated.

Supporting the Alignment of Your Feet

The more you move and exercise, the greater the importance of good support and alignment of the feet. Every time the foot strikes the ground information is transmitted to the ankle and up to the spine to inform the body of the foot’s position in space, so that our bodies can maintain balance and know how the position the foot and ankle for the next step. Imagine the number of times that the feet hit the ground when you go for a jog or track down a fly ball for example. Moving over unlevel ground (cross country, rounding the bases) or running while avoiding obstacles (basketball, soccer, football, field hockey) put even greater demands on the feet and ankles.

Foot Levelers has devised the following screening to determine if you might benefit from custom made spinal pelvic stabilizers:

1. Do you stand or walk on hard surfaces for more than 4 hours daily?
2. Do you participate regularly in any physical sport?
3. Have you had a prior injury to your knee, back, or neck?
4. Do your shoes/sneakers wear unevenly?
5. Do you have joint pain while standing, walking, or running?
6. Is one of your legs shorter than the other?
7. Do you have knock-knees or bow legs?
8. Do you have obvious foot problems (bunions, corns, etc.)?
9. Do your feet “toe out” when you’re walking?
10. Do either or both feet appear “flat” with no arch support or extra high in the arch area (strong arch)?

Find Balance

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may be a good candidate for Foot Levelers custom-made stabilizers. Whether your feet need improved support or if you simply desire custom fitting, Foots Levelers offers a full line of products including Spinal Pelvic Stabilizers, Shoethotics, and Sandalthotics to help put the spring back in your step. At Matthews Chiropractic Center, we offer custom scanning of your feet and the full catalog of Foot Levelers products. Come in today to have your feet scanned, so you can be more comfortable in all your spring activities.

Dr. Leibman will be conducting a free foot screening at the Matthews Vitamin Shoppe on Saturday, April 18th from 11am until 1pm.

*Images provided by Caselet & Joel Bedford respectively.

Matthews Chiropractic Center wants you to stay well. With the upcoming cold season creeping closer you need to be at your best so your downtime is little and recovery swift. We welcome October and the spreading of National Chiropractic Month!

Staying Well is Staying in Flow

Chiropractic is an alternative health discipline which aims to remove interruptions to the flow of normal nerve transmission. The spinal cord is the main pathway for nerve messages to and from the brain. These signals allow our brain to perceive sensations, control our heart, lungs, and other organs and allow us to direct movements of our body. The nerve branches, which bring signals to all parts of the body, exit the spinal cord through holes on either side of the vertebral column. Each of the 26 bones of the vertebral column are separated by discs, which form joints with the vertebrae above and below. These joints are what connect the spine and give it flexibility. The vertebral column also surrounds and protects the spinal cord.

Inhibiting Your Wellness

Should a vertebra move out of alignment, say from trauma, emotional stress or another cause, it is likely that the nerve signals will be compromised. The chiropractic profession believes that this compromise negatively impacts the ability of nerves to carry messages and therefore a person’s health. Likewise, emotional stress, muscle tension, and poor ergonomics can stress the body/spine and also reduce the transmission of normal nerve messages. Chiropractic medicine is based on the belief that the body has an innate ability to heal itself. Chiropractors work to remove impediments to spinal motion and normal nerve transmission to aid the body in self-healing. Chiropractors primarily use adjustments to improve spinal motion. In this way, patients can be relieved of back, neck or joint pain, and headaches without drugs or surgery.

Recognizing Your Health through Chiropractic Care

National Chiropractic Month is a consolidation of two previous observances: Correct Posture Month and Spinal Health Month. Since good posture and proper ergonomics helps to eliminate stress on the body and spine, training to improve and maintain good posture is one of the things I usually stress during treatment. Considering how integral posture and spinal health are to chiropractic, it is very fitting that these endeavors be recognized this month. Poor ergonomics and lack of joint motion today could be the cause of your back pain or headache tomorrow… Call to make an appointment and have your spine checked today!