Complimentary Posture Check with Dr.Robin Armstrong, Vancouver Chiropractor, Yoga Instructor, Active Release Technique Provider

Saturday March 21, 2009
12-2pm

Lululemon
2113 W4th Avenue

When was the last time you had your posture checked? Poor posture affects the way we feel about ourselves, predisposes us to headaches, backaches, and joint pain. Come see how you stack up and get some tips on improving or keeping great posture.

Hope to see you there,

Dr. Robin

By Dr. Robin Armstrong, Vancouver Chiropractor at Qi

It is an epidemic keeping workers off the job, increasing the strain on the medical system, and a contributing factor to depression.  It’s low back pain.  This might sound like the beginning of a ‘downer’ article but the good news is spinal manipulation, conventionally known as chiropractic, has been shown to be extremely effective in the management of acute (new)  and chronic (old) low back pain.

Last year, the American College of Physicians published their clinical guidelines in the Annals of Internal Medicine regarding treatment of low back pain.  They recommended the use of non-pharmacologic (without drugs) therapy with proven benefits.  Top of the list for both acute and chronic low back pain, was spinal manipulation, or chiropractic adjustments.

Chiropractic has been studied time and time again and shown to be extremely effective at managing and treating the pain and dysfunction associated with low back pain.

Do you have questions about how you might benefit from chiropractic?  Call our Vancouver office to ask.

Yours in Health,

Dr. Robin Armstrong - Chiropractic ~ Active Release Technique ~ Custom Foot Orthotics ~ Rehabilitative Exercise

Get Active - Older people can prevent heart flutters with light exerciseA recent study in Circulation Journal found that adults over the age of 65 can prevent atrial fibrillation - an irregular heart rythm- by light exercise.Researchers followed 5,400 adults over 12 years, who entered the study without arrythmia in their heart. Those participants who reported walking at least 60 blocks per week were 45% less likely to be diagnosed with an irregular heart beat compared to those who walked less that 5 blocks per week.Pace also played a role. People who walked at 3-5 kilometere per hour had a lower risk that those who walked more slowly. Interestingly, high intensity exercise didn’t lower the risk of atrial fibrillation.The researchers concluded that walking at least 12 blocks per week at a modest pace (3km/hour) would prevent a quarter of all cases of atrial bibrillation.More incentive for you or the people you love to get active and stay active. If you are considering starting a new exercise program, or feel held back by your current aches or injuries, our chiropractor may be able to help you get back to being active.Happy Walking,Dr. Armstrong, Kiem, Kelly, Peter, Francessca, Dr. Adatya, and Kelsey

By Dr. Robin Armstrong, Vancouver Chiropractor

Pain is more than a symptom of osteoarthritis. It causes biochemical changes that may contribute to the destruction of joints, a team of U.S. researchers has found.

The work,done in mice, show that compounds produced when mice process pain signals from injured joints may damage cartilage, the tough elastic material that covers and protects the ends of bones.

Until relatively recently, doctors and researchers believed the breakdown of cartilage that causes osteoarthritis was solely the result of wear and tear and part of the aging process.

Researchers used genetically engineered mice to learn more about the interleukin 1 beta chemical’s role in osteoarthritis. When they turned up the production of the chemical in the jaws of animals with the disease, they found higher levels in the pain processing centre of the spinal chord as well.

When they turned up levels of the chemical in their spines, they detected a corresponding spike in the injured joints. This suggests there is “crosstalk” between the spine and the joint.

When the researchers shut down this signalling pathway with drugs, both the pain and the arthritis went away, perhaps because pain normally triggers the release of other chemicals that cause inflammation. If inflammation had continued unabated, it might have led to further joint damage, researchers speculated.

With the inflammatory process halted “the joint had a chance to heal.”

Early pain treatment could have a beneficial effect and perhaps limit damage in potentially arthritic joints. Chiropractic, accupuncture, massage therapy, and natural remedies can all help you deal with pain and inflammation naturally. You can avoid the long term side effects of pain on the joint, and know that you are using safe, non-invasive treatments to achieve it.

Healthy News from your Qi Interated Health Team,

Dr.Armstrong, Kiem, Peter, Francesca, Kelly and Dr.Adatya.