Recent Posts

Research Shows Acupuncture Helps with Smoking Cessation

Anyone who has ever tried to quit smoking knows just how difficult it can be, as many of my Daphne, AL chiropractic and acupuncture patients can attest. It takes every ounce of effort you have, and then some, in order to not give in to the cravings that strike you many times throughout the day and night, making it very hard to reach your goal of living a smoke-free life. Fortunately, research has found something that improves your chances of achieving success with smoking cessation, and that something is acupuncture.

In a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, 141 participants who had previously tried to stop smoking but couldn’t were divided into three different groups. The first group engaged solely in acupuncture treatments. The second group received acupuncture and participated in a five-week program designed to educate them about smoking and smoking cessation. The third group also participated in the five-week educational program but, instead of undergoing actual acupuncture, they had sham acupuncture treatment sessions.

All three groups reported positive results when it came to reducing their consumption of cigarettes, with the greatest effects coming from group number two, the ones who had real acupuncture and five weeks of smoking cessation education. Furthermore, the people who smoked the most and the longest actually had the best results.

The great thing about acupuncture is that it is all natural. That means no drugs or relying on any other chemical-based solution in order to reach your goal. So, if you would like to quit smoking for the last time, Dr. Smith at Back in Motion Chiropractic & Acupuncture in Daphne, AL may be able to help. Call and schedule your acupuncture appointment today and you can be one step closer to being smoke-free tomorrow!

Reference

Bier, I et al. (2002, October). Auriculur acupuncture, education, and smoking cessation: a randomized, sham-controlled trial. American Journal of Public Health. 92(10), 1642-1647. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1447300/

Did you know that 1 in 10 people suffer from ringing in the ears, commonly known as tinnitus?

Tinnitus is often due to a nerve disorder.  Causes are related to living in a high stress society. These causes include exposure to loud or repetitive noises, history of high blood pressure and use of certain medications. Frequent use of aspirin is known to be a major cause of tinnitus. Many cases of tinnitus result from motor vehicle accidents when TMJ and neck sprain occur.

Home based strategies for dealing with tinnitus include supplementing with Ginko and massage around the ear lobe. If these approaches fail, you might consider therapies such as acupuncture and chiropractic adjustments. The use of tiny pellets or needles embedded in adhesive tape and placed over specific acupuncture points allow you to enhance the post-treatment effect. These treatments  improve blood flow to the inner ear. In addition,  oxygen therapy with exercise (EWOT) has proven effective for many tinnitus sufferers.

For all the amazing cures that modern medicine offers, there is no proven cure for tinnitus. So how exactly does acupuncture work? From a traditional Chinese perspective, it is felt that blockages of "Phlegm" prevent energy or "CHI" rising to level of the ear.

In the west, this mechanism may seem too esoteric. This explains why many acupuncturists in the U.S. explain the symptomatic improvements as being due to accepted physiological  changes, like improved circulation, that occur when a patient is under the influence of acupuncture.

Either way you look at it, the combination of chiropractic, acupuncture and EWOT may be the solution for your tinnitus.

Everybody would agree that after a vigorous walk, the fresh air gives us an invigorated sensation. What if there was a way to intensify that feeling and at the same time gain the health  benefit of increased tissue and brain oxygenation?

Well, there is a way and it is called "Exercise with Oxygen Therapy" or EWOT. At our office we use a pair of oxygen concentrators in tandem to deliver a total of 8-10 liters of oxygen that is 90% pure. In contrast atmospheric air contains about 20% oxygen, 78% nitrogen and 2% other gases. While you are exercising with a shoulder ergonometer, the concentrated oxygen is delivered to the lungs through a nasal canula. Before and after each 15 minute session, we monitor tissue oxygen concentration with an oximeter. There are usually major improvements in blood pressure readings after a session.

BENEFITS OF EWOT FOR BRAIN ACTIVATION

Heightened Concentration

Calmer  Mind

Strengthened Immune System

Accelerated Healing

Improved Athletic Performance and Faster Recovery

Better Sleep and Less Fatigue

CONDITIONS THAT RESPOND TO EWOT

Headaches/Migraines

High Blood Pressure

Vertigo

Tinnitus

Neck Pain

In terms of unwanted health conditions,  EWOT has a significant impact on brain based conditions like those listed above. Upper cervical or neck adjustments performed prior to EWOT boost the effect and amplify brain activity. The brain does not just end at the foramen magnum where the spinal cord begins. Certain tracks of the brain travel downward to the level of  C3. This is why so many patients report improved brain function following an adjustment. The combination of EWOT and adjustment intensifies this effect.

Here in the U.S., it isn’t uncommon for older people from the North to travel to southern states during the frigid winter months in search of someplace warmer to rest and relax after years of hard work. “Snow birds” we call them. And one great activity for snow birds to consider engaging in is acupuncture, as the two make the perfect combination.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a practice that involves placing tiny needles at very specific points in the body in order to release tension, reduce pain, and improve overall health. This makes acupuncture perfect for snow birds because these are generally the same reasons that they “fly south” for the winter, winding up in Daphne, AL and similar warmer climates. But doesn’t acupuncture hurt?

The Myth Behind Acupuncture Pain

Admittedly, the one thing that can keep snow birds from engaging in acupuncture is the thought of pain as needles are being placed in their skin. However, this is more myth than fact because acupuncture isn’t as painful as it sounds. In fact, many snow birds find it thoroughly relaxing as their trigger points become released. Plus, the needles are so tiny that they are barely felt upon insertion. So, how does acupuncture work?

Imagine Your Body as Roadways

Imagine that your body is made up of tiny roadways. Just like regular roadways can become obstructed due to everyone getting out of work at the same time or an accident, the roadways in your body can become obstructed too. This can throw your whole system off balance, ultimately affecting your health and wellness.

Therefore, the goal of acupuncture is to reopen the roadways and get traffic flowing smoothly once again (the Chinese refer to it as yin and yang). This makes you feel better mentally and physically, as a lot of snow birds can attest.

One of the main reasons snow birds “landing” in the Daphne, AL area want acupuncture is because it is an effective pain reliever. While some opponents suggest that this benefit is “all in one’s head,” research shows otherwise.

In fact, one particular study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine concluded that “Significant differences between true and sham acupuncture indicate that acupuncture is more than a placebo.” In other words, it actually provides physical results.

If you’re a snow bird who is in the Daphne, AL area and would like to see what acupuncture can do for you, call Back in Motion Chiropractic & Acupuncture today at (251) 621-2224 and schedule an appointment. We’ll have you “flying right” in no time!

References
Vickers, A et al. (2012). Acupuncture for Chronic Pain. Archives of Internal Medicine, 172(19), 1444-1453, doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2012.3654

Acupunture points used for weight loss aid in dealing with stress and anxiety, two main factors that contribute to overeating. The primary point used to achieve this effect is known as shen men, located in the upper part of the ear. In addition, auriculotherapy can help reduce food cravings and balance the energy, or chi in the digestive system.

There are over 1oo acupoints located on the ear. The most common points used include specific points related to the mouth, stomach and lungs. For those with endocrine or blood sugar issues, thyroid or spleen points may be used.

Treatment consists of 3-4 office visits each month during which small gauge needles are inserted into the above points and stimulated with micro-current electrical probes. Small pieces of clear adhesive tape containing a tiny "seed" or needle are then inserted on two to three of the pints treated. This procedure allows the patient to manually re-stimulate the points during  the moments when they are dealing with their specific dysfunctional eating habits. The tape is removed on ensuing visits and the procedure is repeated until the patient's weight loss goals are achieved. The cost for three treatments per month is $100.

Auriculotherapy is not for everyone who desires to lose weight. Rare occurances include  nausea and persistent soreness at the treatment points. For those with "needlephobia" we have achieved success  in many cases by  simply using electrical probes on these points. The points are that powerful. If you have struggled with weight loss and have concerns about the side effects of medical weight loss, auriculotherpy may be for you.

Given the alarming increase in obesity in our society, it is wise to consider natural approaches that have been proven effective. One of these approaches is auriculotherapy or ear acupuncture. The public is becoming more aware of the efficacy of acupuncture thanks to coverage on shows such as Dr, Oz. Auriculotherapy has been heavily researched with recent findings suggesting that it may even improve insulin resistance. Obesity is not a simple issue and requires an integrative approach that considers many factors such as exercise, diet and metabolic status.

Predictive injury analysis is the latest trend in sports medicine. There are now facilities in major league cities that utilize inertial sensors taped all over the athletes body to detect asymmetries and weakness present during sport specific functional movements. The goal is to predict which areas are more predisposed to injury.

With the same goal in mind, Back in Motion Chiropractic and Acupuncture now offers functional sports evaluations. They DO NOT use high tech (and expensive) force plates and sensors. This affordable  sports evaluation  consists of two parts: Keen observation of functional movements such as jumping style and lunge  capability along with kinesiological muscle testing evaluation ( based on Janda's cross syndromes). This assessment can provide a wealth of reliable information relative to an athletes "weak links". When diagnosed, these weakness' often respond to specific corrective exercises. If this approach does not lead to satisfactory results, then a course of chiropractic adjustments would be suggested. Often, poor movement coordination and muscular weakness can be traced to malfunctioning, misaligned spinal and extremity joints.

Dr. Smith has treated many professional athletes during his 30 year career including many members of the N.O. Saints when he was located in Destrehan, LA. He was certified as Chiropractic Sports Physician in 1991 and has earned a Masters Degree in Sports Medicine. He also holds a CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist) from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Dr. Smith currently works part-time (Tuesday and Thursday) at Parisi Speed School in Mobile where athletes benefit from the type of evaluation described above.

If your sport or activity has ever been derailed by injury and you want to stay healthy or if you are seeking maximum performance, you owe it to yourself to give them a call.

Over the years, we have helped many men and women in Daphne, AL recover from chronic neck pain. This isn't surprising, as research shows that chiropractic care leads to significant improvements for 94% of neck pain patients. But how does chiropractic contrast to other conservative therapies in the management of neck pain?

To answer this question, it's helpful to look back at an important study from 2003 printed in the British Medical Journal. The study reviewed a variety of conservative treatments and concluded that manual therapy was the most cost-effective choice for neck pain.

Researchers from the Netherlands were interested in comparing not only the costs associated with manual therapy but how successfully manual therapy provided relief when compared to other treatments. They randomly assigned 183 patients with acute neck pain to receive care from manual therapists (MT), physiotherapists (PT), or general practitioners (GP).

Patients receiving manual therapy had the speediest recovery rate. After seven weeks of treatment, 68% of the MT group had recovered, compared to 51% of the PT group and 36% of the GP group. These differences in recovery rates were still statistically significant after 26 weeks but not after 52 weeks.

To calculate costs of treatments, the researchers considered direct costs such as visits to the healthcare provider and the costs of prescription medications, in addition to indirect costs like work absenteeism and travel time. The manual therapy group had substantially lower costs, with patients spending only a third of the costs spent by patients in the PT and GP groups. On average, manual therapy patients had approximately $611 in costs compared to $1773 in the physiotherapy group and $1885 in the general practitioner group (or 447 euros, 1297 euros, and 1379 euros, respectively). Only 9 patients in the MT group reported missed work due to neck pain, compared to 12 in the PT group and 15 in the GP group.

The reduced cost likely stemmed from the fact that MT patients were using substantially less prescription medications and required fewer treatment interventions due to quicker recovery rates. The authors concluded that manual therapy, particularly spinal mobilization, is less expensive and more successful at treating neck pain than physical therapy or care from a general practitioner.

Dr. Smith has worked with many people who have suffered from neck pain. If you live in Daphne, AL and would like to stop suffering from chronic neck pain, give our office a call at (251) 621-2224 for a consultation.

Korthals-de Bos IB, et al. Cost effectiveness of physiotherapy, manual therapy, and general practitioner. British Medical Journal 2003;326:911.

Neck soreness is the most widespread symptom disclosed after a car crash, and it's not hard to see why.

During a wreck, your body moves with the car seat while your head lags behind due to inertia. It is this difference in movement that results in injury.

Your spinal column is prone to sprain and strain from shear forces that come from the head and body going in different directions. This shearing motion can stretch or tear the ligaments and discs of your spine, producing pain, swelling and scar tissue. Getting early treatment, is necessary for preventing chronic pain, particularly because of the high risk of persistent symptoms in people with whiplash .

Research has established that up to 20% of individuals may have neck pain symptoms even 10 years after the collision.

If you have been hurt in a collision, chiropractic adjustments Dr. Smith might be able to help. Research shows that chiropractic can help restore neck range of motion and reduce the risk of scar tissue from forming after an injury. And other research shows that early treatment can also help prevent the development of chronic pain.

If you've been in an auto collision and have symptoms of neck pain, Dr. Smith is here for you. We can identify the root cause of your pain and develop a plan of action to support you in restoring your health. We have helped many patients in Daphne, AL recover from these sorts of problems since 2003.

Call our office today at (251) 621-2224 for an appointment or for more advice.

We all have days when we feel like Superwomen or Superman when we can handle any challenge with ease. Would you like to have more days like this? Certainly there are many strategies for enhancing our energy. Acupuncture and chiropractic can help free up blocked energy. Traditional exercises such as resistance training and running are great for most of us but there are many people who cannot tolerate cardiovascular training.

Qigong exercises are different. They emphasize breathing and body awareness. The main goal of Qigong is to activate and harness "chi" flow in the body. Give these maneuvers a try for at least one month and I am confident you will see a difference in your energy.

And for those "workout warriors" who might view Qigong as something for senior citizens,  keep an open mind and give it a try.