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MIDWEST SPORT AND SPINE

5 ways chiropractic therapy can help heal the IT band syndrome

9/20/2024

Photo by Emma Simpson

Where Can I Get IT Band Treatment In Chicago

By Dr Khong Lamvichit September 20, 2024 3min

Chiropractic therapy offers effective treatment for IT (Iliotibial) band syndrome, a common overuse injury among runners, cyclists, and athletes. This therapy focuses on realigning the body and improving biomechanics to reduce pain and accelerate healing. Here are five ways chiropractic therapy can help heal IT band syndrome:

1. Spinal Adjustments: Chiropractors use spinal adjustments to correct misalignments in the spine and pelvis. Proper alignment helps improve overall posture and movement patterns, reducing the stress placed on the IT band during physical activities, which can help alleviate pain and speed recovery.

2. Soft Tissue Therapy: Techniques such as Active Release Technique (ART) or Graston Technique target the IT band and surrounding muscles, breaking down scar tissue and adhesions. This reduces tension in the IT band, increases flexibility, and promotes faster healing by improving blood flow to the affected area.

3. Correcting Muscle Imbalances: Chiropractic therapy includes a thorough assessment of the body’s muscle balance. By identifying and correcting muscle imbalances, especially in the hips, glutes, and thighs, chiropractors help reduce strain on the IT band, allowing it to heal properly.

4. Stretching and Strengthening Exercises: Chiropractors prescribe specific stretches and strengthening exercises to enhance the flexibility and strength of the muscles supporting the IT band. These exercises help reduce tension, improve mobility, and prevent future flare-ups.

5. Gait and Posture Correction: Chiropractors assess and correct gait abnormalities and improper posture that may contribute to IT band syndrome. By optimizing walking and running biomechanics, they reduce the stress on the IT band, promoting quicker healing and preventing re-injury.

Chiropractic therapy provides a comprehensive approach to healing IT band syndrome, addressing the root causes of the condition while promoting long-term recovery and injury prevention.

5 Ways How Spinal Adjustments Help Prevent Injuries?

9/10/2024

Chiropractic Spine Adjustments

By Dr Khong Lamvichit September 10, 2024 5min

Spinal adjustments, a key chiropractic treatment, are highly effective in preventing injuries, particularly for athletes and active individuals. Here are five ways spinal adjustments help prevent injuries:

1. Improved Alignment: Spinal adjustments correct misalignments (subluxations) in the spine, promoting proper alignment of the musculoskeletal system. When the spine is properly aligned, it reduces stress on muscles and joints, lowering the risk of injuries caused by imbalance or poor posture.

2. Enhanced Mobility: By addressing spinal restrictions, adjustments increase flexibility and range of motion. Improved mobility allows for better performance during physical activities, reducing the likelihood of strains, sprains, or other movement-related injuries.

3. Reduced Muscle Tension: Misalignments in the spine can lead to muscle tension and tightness. Spinal adjustments help alleviate this tension by restoring proper nerve function, leading to more relaxed muscles. This relaxation decreases the chance of muscle strains, cramps, and other soft tissue injuries.

4. Optimized Nervous System Function: The spine houses the central nervous system, which controls the body's movements and responses. Spinal adjustments ensure that nerve pathways are clear and functioning optimally, leading to faster reflexes and better coordination, which can help prevent accidents and injuries during physical activities.

5. Injury Prevention through Maintenance: Regular chiropractic care, including spinal adjustments, acts as preventative maintenance for the body. By addressing minor issues before they become significant, individuals can avoid chronic injuries and maintain overall physical health.

By incorporating spinal adjustments into a regular health routine, individuals can enhance their physical well-being, reduce the risk of injuries, and maintain optimal body function.

5 ways lymphatic drainage massage therapy help heal the skin faster after surgery?

9/2/2024

Photo by Toa Heftiba

Lymphatic Massage Therapy For Surgery

By Dr Khong Lamvichit September 2, 2024 3min

Lymphatic drainage massage therapy is an effective treatment for accelerating skin healing after surgery. This gentle massage technique stimulates the lymphatic system, promoting fluid drainage and enhancing recovery. Here are five ways it helps heal the skin faster after surgery:

1. Reduces Swelling: After surgery, the body can retain excess fluids, leading to swelling and discomfort. Lymphatic drainage massage helps move these fluids away from the surgical area, reducing swelling and promoting faster healing of the skin by decreasing pressure on the tissues.

2. Promotes Detoxification: The lymphatic system plays a critical role in eliminating toxins and waste from the body. By stimulating lymph flow, this massage therapy enhances the body’s ability to remove toxins from the surgical site, which can speed up the healing process and improve skin recovery.

3. Boosts Circulation: Lymphatic drainage massage improves blood flow to the affected areas. Increased circulation delivers essential nutrients and oxygen to the skin, which are vital for cell regeneration and faster wound healing after surgery.

4. Reduces Scarring: Gentle lymphatic drainage helps prevent the build-up of scar tissue by reducing inflammation and improving the flow of lymph fluid. This minimizes the formation of thick, rigid scars and promotes smoother, healthier skin recovery.

5. Enhances Immune Response: The lymphatic system is integral to the immune system. By supporting lymphatic drainage, this therapy enhances the body’s immune response, which aids in quicker recovery from surgical wounds, reducing the risk of infections and promoting overall skin healing.

Lymphatic drainage massage therapy is a powerful, non-invasive method for boosting post-surgical recovery, helping the skin heal more efficiently and effectively.

What 5 therapies a chiropractor uses to help iron man athletes?

8/27/2024

Chiropractors play a crucial role in helping Ironman athletes recover, maintain peak performance, and prevent injuries. Here are five therapies they often use:

1. Spinal Adjustments: Chiropractors use spinal adjustments to realign the spine, improving posture, and relieving pressure on nerves. This helps Ironman athletes recover from the physical stress of endurance training, reducing pain and increasing flexibility.

2. Active Release Technique (ART): ART is a specialized soft tissue therapy that targets muscle, tendon, ligament, and nerve adhesions. Chiropractors apply precise pressure and movement to break down scar tissue, helping Ironman athletes recover faster from overuse injuries, such as IT band syndrome or plantar fasciitis.

3. Graston Technique: This instrument-assisted therapy involves using stainless steel tools to break up scar tissue and fascia restrictions. The Graston Technique is highly effective for treating chronic inflammation, muscle stiffness, and tendon injuries that are common in Ironman athletes.

4. Kinesiology Taping: Chiropractors use kinesiology tape to support muscles and joints without restricting movement. This technique helps reduce swelling, improve circulation, and stabilize weak areas, which is beneficial for Ironman athletes during training and competition.

5. Rehabilitation Exercises: Chiropractors design individualized rehabilitation programs that include stretching and strengthening exercises. These exercises help Ironman athletes correct muscle imbalances, improve range of motion, and prevent future injuries, ensuring they stay at the top of their game.

By combining these therapies, chiropractors provide Ironman athletes with comprehensive care that enhances performance, aids in faster recovery, and minimizes the risk of injuries.

Many Chiropractic Therapies

By Dr Khong Lamvichit August 27, 2024 3min

WE HAVE VARIETY

By Dr Khong Lamvichit August 26, 2024 5min

How much research chiropractors perform in their career?

8/19/2024

Photo by Katya Ross

We're On It!

By Dr Khong Lamvichit August 19, 2024 3min

In the dynamic field of chiropractic care, research plays a crucial role in shaping effective practices and ensuring patient safety. Chiropractors are committed to continuous learning and integrating the latest scientific advancements into their methods. On average, chiropractors engage in extensive research throughout their careers to stay abreast of emerging techniques, treatment protocols, and evidence-based practices.
Chiropractors routinely conduct literature reviews, attend specialized seminars, and participate in professional conferences to remain informed about recent studies and developments. This ongoing research is vital for optimizing patient care and enhancing treatment efficacy. By analyzing peer-reviewed journals and clinical trials, chiropractors can assess the latest findings related to spinal health, musculoskeletal disorders, and neurological conditions, ensuring that their methods are grounded in solid scientific evidence.
Moreover, many chiropractors contribute to research themselves, exploring novel treatment approaches and clinical outcomes. This not only furthers the field but also helps in refining existing practices. They may publish findings in reputable journals, collaborate with other healthcare professionals, and engage in interdisciplinary research to explore integrative approaches to patient care.
In essence, the amount of research chiropractors perform throughout their careers is substantial and integral to their practice. This commitment to continuous education and evidence-based practice underscores their dedication to providing the highest standard of care. As the field evolves, chiropractors' research efforts ensure they remain at the forefront of healthcare innovation, ultimately benefiting their patients and advancing the profession.

How MSK Ultrasound Can Be Used to Diagnose Hand Injuries?

8/6/2024

By Dr Khong Lamvichit August 6, 2024 3min

Musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound is a powerful diagnostic tool that provides real-time imaging of soft tissues, including muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. Its application in diagnosing hand injuries is becoming increasingly popular due to its non-invasive nature, cost-effectiveness, and ability to deliver immediate results.

When a patient presents with a hand injury, MSK ultrasound can be used to assess various conditions such as tendon tears, ligament sprains, and nerve entrapments. Unlike X-rays, which primarily capture bone injuries, ultrasound excels at visualizing soft tissue structures. This makes it particularly effective for diagnosing conditions like De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tendonitis.

One of the significant advantages of MSK ultrasound is its dynamic imaging capability. This allows clinicians to observe the hand’s structures in motion, helping to identify abnormalities that might not be visible on static images. For instance, a dynamic ultrasound can reveal how tendons move within their sheaths, highlighting issues like subluxation or snapping.

Moreover, MSK ultrasound is safe for repeated use, making it ideal for monitoring the progression of injuries and the effectiveness of treatments. It also offers the benefit of guiding injections with precision, improving the accuracy of therapeutic interventions.

In summary, MSK ultrasound is a versatile and efficient tool for diagnosing hand injuries, providing detailed insights into soft tissue conditions that are crucial for effective treatment planning.

Dry Needles For My Neck Pain

7/24/2024

Dry Needles For Muscle Pain

Photo by Katherine Hanlon

By Dr Khong Lamvichit July 24, 2024 5min

Dry needling is an increasingly popular therapeutic technique used by physical therapists and other healthcare professionals to treat musculoskeletal pain, including neck muscle pain. This technique involves the insertion of thin, filiform needles into specific points on the body, known as trigger points, to relieve pain and improve function. Here's how dry needling helps with neck muscle pain:

Trigger Point Deactivation

**Trigger points** are hyperirritable spots in the skeletal muscle that are associated with palpable nodules in taut bands of muscle fibers. These points can cause localized pain or refer pain to other areas of the body. In the case of neck pain, trigger points in muscles such as the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, and sternocleidomastoid can contribute to discomfort and restricted movement.

Dry needling aims to deactivate these trigger points. When the needle is inserted into a trigger point, it creates a localized twitch response, which is an involuntary contraction of the muscle. This response helps to release the tightness and reduce the irritation in the muscle fibers, leading to pain relief.

Reduction of Muscle Tension and Spasm

By targeting trigger points, dry needling helps to alleviate muscle tension and spasms. The mechanical action of the needle disrupts the dysfunctional motor end plates (neuromuscular junctions), which can lead to a reduction in muscle tightness. As the tension decreases, the muscle can relax, which helps to relieve pain and improve the range of motion in the neck.

Enhancement of Blood Flow

The insertion of needles into the affected muscles can stimulate blood flow to the area. Improved circulation aids in the healing process by bringing oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and removing metabolic waste products. Enhanced blood flow also helps to reduce inflammation, which can contribute to pain reduction and faster recovery.

Neurophysiological Effects

Dry needling may also produce neurophysiological effects that contribute to pain relief. The insertion of needles can stimulate the release of endogenous opioids (natural pain-relieving chemicals produced by the body) and other neurotransmitters that modulate pain perception. Additionally, the mechanical stimulation of the needle may activate descending inhibitory pathways in the central nervous system, which can help to decrease the sensation of pain.

Reduction of Central Sensitization

Chronic neck pain can lead to central sensitization, a condition where the central nervous system becomes hypersensitive to pain stimuli. Dry needling can help to reduce central sensitization by disrupting the ongoing input from peripheral nociceptors (pain receptors) and by normalizing the communication between the peripheral and central nervous systems. This can result in a decreased perception of pain and an improved pain threshold.

Improving Function and Mobility

By alleviating pain, reducing muscle tension, and improving circulation, dry needling can enhance overall function and mobility. Patients often experience an increased range of motion in their neck and shoulders, which can improve their ability to perform daily activities and reduce the risk of further injury.

Combining Dry Needling with Other Therapies

Dry needling is often used in conjunction with other therapeutic modalities, such as physical therapy exercises, manual therapy, and stretching. This multimodal approach can provide more comprehensive and longer-lasting relief from neck muscle pain. For example, after dry needling releases the trigger points, specific exercises can help to strengthen the muscles and improve posture, further preventing the recurrence of pain.

Conclusion

Dry needling is a valuable tool in the management of neck muscle pain. By deactivating trigger points, reducing muscle tension and spasms, enhancing blood flow, and producing neurophysiological effects, dry needling can effectively alleviate pain and improve function. When integrated into a comprehensive treatment plan, dry needling can help patients achieve lasting relief from neck muscle pain and enhance their overall quality of life.

Chiropractors Integrating With Modern Medicine

7/17/2024

Back Medicine

By Dr Khong Lamvichit July 17, 2024 5min

Photo by Roman Kraft

Chiropractic care, once considered an alternative or complementary approach to health care, has increasingly integrated into mainstream medicine. This integration is driven by a growing body of evidence supporting its efficacy, an increasing emphasis on holistic and patient-centered care, and collaborative efforts between chiropractors and other healthcare professionals.

Chiropractic care originated in the late 19th century with Daniel David Palmer, who proposed that spinal adjustments could cure various ailments. For much of the 20th century, chiropractic care was viewed skeptically by mainstream medicine. However, the latter part of the century saw a shift as chiropractors began to adopt more scientific approaches and as research started to validate the benefits of chiropractic treatments, particularly for musculoskeletal conditions.

One of the key factors in the integration of chiropractic care into mainstream medicine is the growing body of evidence supporting its efficacy. Numerous studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments can be effective for conditions like low back pain, neck pain, and headaches. The American College of Physicians, for example, recommends spinal manipulation as a first-line treatment for low back pain, highlighting its effectiveness and safety.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in interdisciplinary collaboration between chiropractors and other healthcare professionals. Many hospitals and healthcare systems now include chiropractors as part of their integrated care teams. These collaborations often focus on musculoskeletal health, where chiropractors can offer specialized skills in spinal manipulation and other manual therapies. This interdisciplinary approach not only improves patient outcomes but also fosters a more holistic approach to health care.

The integration of chiropractic care into mainstream medicine aligns with the broader shift towards patient-centered care. Chiropractors often spend more time with patients than other healthcare providers, focusing on comprehensive assessments and personalized treatment plans. This approach resonates with the growing demand for healthcare that addresses the whole person rather than just treating symptoms. By incorporating chiropractic care, healthcare systems can offer a more diverse range of treatment options tailored to individual patient needs.

The integration of chiropractors into mainstream medicine is also supported by advances in education and training. Chiropractic education programs have become more rigorous, often including coursework in anatomy, physiology, and evidence-based practice. Many chiropractors now pursue additional certifications and training in specialized areas such as sports medicine, pediatrics, and neurology. This advanced training enhances their ability to collaborate effectively with other healthcare professionals and to provide high-quality care.

Regulatory and policy changes have also facilitated the integration of chiropractic care into mainstream medicine. In many countries, chiropractors are now recognized as primary care providers, and their services are covered by health insurance plans. This recognition not only legitimizes chiropractic care but also makes it more accessible to a broader population. Additionally, policy initiatives that promote interdisciplinary care and the inclusion of alternative therapies in healthcare plans have further supported the integration of chiropractic care.

Despite the progress, challenges remain in fully integrating chiropractic care into mainstream medicine. Skepticism among some medical professionals persists, and there are ongoing debates about the scope of practice for chiropractors. However, as research continues to validate the benefits of chiropractic care and as more healthcare systems adopt integrative approaches, the role of chiropractors in mainstream medicine is likely to expand.

Looking forward, the integration of chiropractic care into mainstream medicine holds great promise for improving patient outcomes and promoting holistic health. By continuing to build on the foundations of evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and patient-centered care, chiropractors can play a vital role in the evolving landscape of healthcare.

In conclusion, the integration of chiropractic care into modern medicine represents a significant shift towards a more holistic and patient-centered approach to healthcare. Supported by growing evidence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and policy changes, chiropractors are increasingly recognized as valuable members of the healthcare team, contributing to improved patient outcomes and overall health.

4 Therapies Chiropractors Can Do In Your State

6/28/2024

NOT JUST SPINE ADJUSTMENTS

By Dr Khong Lamvichit June 28, 2024 2 mins

Chiropractors are known for several therapies and treatments aimed at managing musculoskeletal issues and promoting overall health and wellness. Four common therapies practiced by chiropractors include:

1. Spinal Manipulation (Adjustment):
This is the hallmark treatment of chiropractic care. It involves applying controlled force to a joint of the spine or other parts of the body to correct misalignments, reduce pain, and improve function. The goal is to restore proper alignment and mobility.

2. Therapeutic Exercise:
Chiropractors often prescribe specific exercises to help strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and enhance range of motion. These exercises are tailored to address individual needs and may include stretching, strengthening, and stabilization exercises.

3. Soft Tissue Therapy:
This includes various techniques such as massage therapy, trigger point therapy, and myofascial release. Soft tissue therapy aims to reduce muscle tension, improve circulation, and promote healing of soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments).

4. Electrotherapy Modalities:
Chiropractors may use electrical stimulation techniques such as ultrasound therapy, electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). These modalities can help reduce pain, inflammation, and muscle spasms.

Additionally, chiropractors may provide nutritional counseling, ergonomic advice, and lifestyle modifications to support overall musculoskeletal health and well-being.

Dr Khong Lamvichit

Dr. Khong Lamvichit has been establishing himself as the movement doctor in physical therapy, writer, presenter, sports injury doctor and chiropractic sports physician in Chicago, IL. Currently owner and president of Midwest Sport and Spine Inc. at River North in Chicago, IL. See his bio...

Our FIRST EVER Transformation Scholarship

3/28/2024

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