Our brain is the main command center for the rest of our body, and uses our spinal cord and nerves to control all function and healing within the body. Therefore, attaining overall health and wellness is directly associated to maintaining proper nerve supply

The intricacy of the nervous system is so powerful and subtle that it is able to control millions of cells inside dozens of operating systems all at once. Right now you are currently breathing, your heart is beating and your eyes are blinking, all while sustaining feeling and keeping pace within your limbs. All of these individual operations are done without effort and sometimes unknowingly due to your nervous systems ability to manage and regulate your body’s function. While your body may be able to go days without water, weeks without food, and even minutes without oxygen, it cannot keep going one second without the power created by your nervous system!

The nervous system is so crucial to your body that it is covered within a complicated bony structure to keep damaging elements away from the sensitive nerves. This bony structure consists of the skull, which guards the upper brain, and the spinal column, which shelters the spinal cord and nerve roots. When this spinal column is not well taken care of, it may shift out of place or develop degeneration, interfering with your body’s ability to create maximum nerve supply.

The benefits of spinal correction are not just pain relief, but also greater neurological health, proper organ function, prevention of spinal degeneration, optimum range of motion, high performance, and a far greater resistance to injury.

Treatment includes Rest for at least 2 weeks and possibly as much as 4-6 weeks if the pain persists. Ice the area at least twice per day for about 20 minutes for the first 5 days. Begin stretching and strengthening exercises after the fifth day.  A Tennis elbow strap may help to minimize the force on your elbow when you return to play. At Peak Performance we use a combination of therapy to treat Tennis Elbow. Active release therapy helps to break down the scar tissue along with Graston technique which is an instrument-based manual therapy. This is done for the first few weeks in conjunction with Kinesiotaping. Exercises to strengthen the forearm and upper arm muscles are incorporated after the first week. Most cases resolve within 4-6 weeks. If you have been suffering from Tennis elbow for many years then it may take longer to resolve. Seek treatment as soon as possible to reduce the risk of suffering from chronic pain.

References:

Haavik-Taylor H, Murphy B. Altered central integration of dual somato-sensory input after cervical spine manipulation. JMPT, 2010; 33: 178-188.

Haavik-Taylor H, Murphy B. Cervical spine manipulation alters sensorimotor integration: a somatosensory evoked potential study. Clin Neurophysiol, 2007; 118: 391-402.

Imagine your roof is leaking and you develop wet spots in your ceiling. The water starts to affect your pot lights and causes mould to grow in the insulation. The integrity of the structure of the ceiling can be compromised. The ‘masking’ solution would be to paint over the wet spot in the ceiling or patch it. The pot light would still not work because the wiring is damaged and the structure of the ceiling and roof will still be weakened. The insulation would be hazardous to your health as well. Is this such a good idea? You would never treat your home this way so why would you treat your body this way and cause wiring problems (nervous system) and structural damage (premature arthritis and motor dysfunction). Pain and inflammation need to be dealt with properly so see your chiropractor to discuss the best treatment plan to fix the problem (fix the roof damage that caused the leak in the first place) instead of ‘masking’ the problem with pain killers.

There are many reasons why your body may not be perfectly symmetrical:
-leg length inequalities
-structural abnormalities
-muscular imbalances, etc
If you notice imbalances we can help. Using a combination of techniques we can assist in restoring your body back to balance.

SELF CHECK

Stand in front of the mirror and assess your symmetry. First, close your eyes and march on the spot for 2 or 3 seconds. Now stop marching, put your feet shoulder width apart and check the following:

1. Is your head shifted to one side?

2. Are your ears level? Can you see both ears equally?

3. Are your shoulders the same height?

4. Can you draw a straight line down from between your eyes, through the nose, center of your chin, sternum, belly button and down to between your feet?

5. Do your arms hang evenly at your sides? Is there equal space between your arms and body?

6. Do your knee caps face straight ahead?

7. Do your feet point ahead equally? Does one foot flare out more?

Of course there are natural asymmetries that are not significant but if you notice any imbalances from the above observations please check with us to see if it can be corrected. The more you are misaligned the more damage you are doing to your body. Just like a car with misaligned wheels, left unchecked for a long time it can lead to significant wear and tear. And God forbid that you neglect your car. Be good to your body and it will return the favour.

This review of Glucosamine supplements (taken from ConsumerLab) yielded the following results:

Quality control and Safety:
***Most brands contained the stated amount of glucosamine and very few were contaminated with lead. The brands to stay away from are the following:

-FeelAnew Glucosamine and Chondroitin was labeled as containing only 5 mg of sodium, but this is contradicted by the listed amount of Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate (334 mg), which inherently provides 34 mg of sodium.

Many studies have shown benefits to joint cartilage by taking glucosamine. After the age of 40 our natural production of glucosamine declines and joints start to erode. Taking a supplement with glucosamine sulfate and MSM is recommended for most of people over the age of 40 especially if there is a history of joint problems, arthritis, or injuries. Chondroitin is not as important to take as it is a large molecule with lower absorption rate and with enough glucosamine intake, chondroitin content in joints should not be an issue. Glucosamine is safe to take for most people with few known side effects. Some people may find they have stomach upset and those with diabetes should check with their family doctor before taking glucosamine.
At Peak Performance we distribute professional brands which are free of contaminants and contain a high quality yield of both glucosamine sulfate and MSM. Adults over 40 should take 500mg per day and those with early osteoarthritis should take 1000-1500mg per day.

Running produces substantial force and shock to the joints, bones and soft tissue of the lower extremity through repetitively loading and unloading of those structures.  Every time the heel strikes the ground, a force of 5-10 times the athlete’s body weight must be absorbed by the soft tissue such as muscles, tendons, ligaments and cartilage.  Over time, this repetitive cycle can wreak havoc on those tissues.  The most vulnerable of the at-risk structures are the hamstrings, meniscus and Iliotibial Band (ITB).

The ITB is of specific interest because it is one of the most common conditions that plague the recreational and competitive runner.  The ITB is a fibrous tissue that runs down the outside (lateral) side of the upper leg from the hip to the knee.  One of the ITB’s main functions is to stabilize the knee joint.  Increased mileage means increased workload for all of the structures involved in running including the stabilizing ITB.  The increase in activity often results in increased tension in the ITB that will ultimately change the mechanics of the knee joint.  In the case of a tight ITB, the knee is constantly being pulled in one direction resulting in a lateral and torsion load on the knee joint that will wear out the other structures of the knee.  Think about driving your car when the wheel alignment is off.  The car will always be pulled to one side of the road, so you have to steer in the opposite direction.  After hundreds of miles of slightly “turning to the left”, the tires are going to wear out far quicker than if the wheels were aligned properly.  Not only does this lead to injury and pain symptoms, but performance declines as well.  The body must expend energy to overcome an intrinsic force resisting proper knee motion before it is able to expend energy to perform the intended task, in this case running.

Many runners are great about maintaining their strength and flexibility, and others are not.  However, most runners, in general, forget to stretch their ITB.  It is a simple structure to stretch, but not in the classic sense.  Most people view stretching as a ‘position and hold’ type maneuver.  While this is appropriate for many muscles, the ITB is a certain exception.  Because there is not a large range of motion associated with the ITB, it is very difficult to place the body in a position that will lengthen ITB.  The most effective way to stretch the ITB is to “roll it out”.  This is accomplished by placing a foam roll (think rigid pool noodle) on the ground.  Orient your body so that the outside of your leg is on top of the foam roll and the foam roll is perpendicular to the leg.  Hold your upper body off the ground with your arms and move your body back and forth over the foam roll so that the rolling like a rolling pin on the ground.

Foam rolls are inexpensive and can be purchased from most sports supply stores or our clinic for $15.  They are also available at most gyms and fitness centers.

Rolling out the ITB in conjunction with stretching the hamstrings and quadriceps on a regular basis goes a long way in keeping the recreational and competitive runner fast and pain free.

Happy running!