• Paying attention to your posture. When you walk, stand, or sit with poor posture, you’re not only fatiguing your muscles as they work to keep you upright, but you also limit your mobility as your discs and joints fall out of line. One way to break this habit is to put a sticky note someplace where Quick read more or view full article you will see it often, reminding you to sit or stand up straight.
• Taking your vitamins. Certain vitamins and minerals can help improve the strength and stability of your spine. These include vitamin D and calcium, the two nutrients that Harvard Medical School calls the “keys to strong bones.”
• Drinking enough water. When you’re born, your spinal discs are comprised of 80 percent water. This enables them to work as they should. Therefore, in order to keep them operating at maximum function, you want to make sure you drink enough water.
• Getting more active. If you tend to spend a lot of time sitting, you may notice the effects in your back due to the inactivity. Of course, the way to remedy this is to simply get more physical activity. Even if it’s not a standard exercise program, anything you can do to move around more can help.
• Letting go of your ego. Sometimes it’s easier to do things yourself versus asking for help. However, if you lift things that are too heavy or awkward for you, then you risk injuring your back, potentially setting you up for massive problems both immediately and later in life. Ask for help when you need it. It may keep you from being in pain, making it more than worth it.

Best Chiropractor 2016 Minnesota Monthly

Lyn Lake Chiropractic 

There’s an electrifying energy at Lyn Lake Chiropractic. When you open the door to the hip, loft-like clinic, you’re greeted by friendly smiles, rockin’ tunes piping in from ceiling speakers, and staff of some of the most dedicated chiropractors and massage therapists in the metro area. The atmosphere is upbeat, fast-paced, and family-friendly. It quickly becomes obvious that the Lyn Lake Chiropractic staff loves what they do.

Dr. Kevin Schreifels, Dr. Ryan Jones, and four massage therapists treat car accident patients, prenatal, children, anyone with back pain, and those suffering from running injuries and athletic injuries. As the Official Chiropractors of The Twin Cities Marathon, the doctors—both avid marathoner—have a wealth of knowledge and deep understanding of running injuries. 

At Lyn Lake Chiropractic, every patient gets a great deal of muscle work done, including massage and muscle stretching prior to adjustments. Quick read more or view full article High-tech rehab equipment is also used to speed up the healing of injured muscles.

Schedule an appointment with the 24-hour answering service (so convenient!) or online. Same-day appointments are often available with these Minneapolis Chiropractors.

Lyn Lake Chiropractic • 2937 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls., MN • 612-879-8000

How to Exercise Safely Outdoors In the Winter

Here in our Minneapolis chiropractic office, we see a number of patients with sports-related injuries. While some are due to overuse or pushing too hard, others are a result of the weather. Specifically, winter offers some challenges that you don’t see other times of the year—especially in Minnesota.

Because we get our fair share of cold temperatures, snow, and ice, it’s important to take precautions if you like to exercise outside in the winter months. Here are a few to consider:

• Warm up properly before. Warming up your muscles is advised any time of year, but it is even more critical when it is colder outside. This means taking 5 to 10 minutes at the beginning of your workout and engaging in a light-intensity cardiovascular activity such as walking or riding a stationary bike.
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• Stretch your muscles after. Stretching after you work Quick read more or view full article out outdoors helps keep them from tensing up, which means less pain and soreness in the next few days. Massage can help with soreness as well, so this is something to consider if you are engaging in a high-intensity or long-distance training or event held outdoors that will likely leave you fatigued.
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• Stay hydrated. Although you might not get as thirsty exercising outdoors in the winter as you do in the summer, you’re still losing water through sweat, so it’s important to stay hydrated. For this reason, be sure to take a water bottle with you so you can sip on it as you go.
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• Dress appropriately. Ideally, you want to wear clothes that wick the moisture away from your skin because, as we just discussed, you’re likely going to be sweating despite the colder temps. Also, it’s a good idea to dress in layers so you can keep your body at a healthy temperature throughout your entire workout, from beginning to end.
•  
• Mind your step. Because snow and ice can be prevalent in this area, you always want to be mindful of where you’re stepping to avoid a slip and fall. Although this is basic common sense, we still wanted to mention it because it is important to consider.

Do these five things and make your winter workouts safer. Also, don’t forget to come into our Minneapolis chiropractic office for your regular visits so we can help keep your spine healthy enough to sustain your active life…even in these colder months!

Lyn Lake Chiropractic Minneapolis Chiropractor - 612-879-8000

Dr. Kevin Schreifels

Sinus Problems Got You Down? Chiropractic Can Help

This time of year, it isn’t uncommon to see many of our Minneapolis chiropractic patients struggling with sinus issues. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that almost 30 million adults are diagnosed with sinusitis on an annual basis, prompting over 11 million office visits. So this is a rather common problem in other regions as well. Admittedly, sometimes the issues can only be resolved by seeing a Quick read more or view full article medical doctor and being prescribed medication, but chiropractic can usually also help as well. 
 

The reason chiropractic is beneficial when it comes to your sinuses is that vertebral alignment is necessary in order for your sinuses to drain properly. Specifically, if the fluids don’t flow as they should due to issues within your spinal column, it increases the likelihood of swelling in that region and this is when problems begin as the drainage begins to accumulate, sometimes becoming infected as a result. 
 

Research has proven the benefits of chiropractic care when it comes to effectively dealing with recurrent sinus problems. For instance, there was one case study which involved a 12-year-old boy who was dealing with sinus infections every couple of months. Even though he was taking antibiotics to help control them, they kept reappearing over and over again—that is, until he started chiropractic care. 
 

After just two sessions with a chiropractor, he was finally able to quit taking his antibiotic as the infection was no longer present. Additionally, once he had completed three weeks of chiropractic care, researchers noted that he had better movement in his neck and upper-middle spine, allowing him to carry his head in a more upright, thus healthier position. 
 

Based on the amount of progress he made in a relatively short period of time, researchers concluded that "both patient and parents are aware of the quality of life that is returning as an apparent result of chiropractic care.” In other words, chiropractic can help not only relieve the bothersome symptoms of sinus issues (congestion, runny nose, headache, and fatigue), but it can essentially give you your life back by dealing with these issues once and for all.
 

If you struggle with sinus issues and live in the Minneapolis area try our Minneapolis Chiropractor  Dr. Kevin Schreifels at  Lyn Lake Chiropractic at (612) 879-8000 and schedule an appointment with us today!

Fun Ways to Increase Spine Health This Winter 

Most of our Minneapolis chiropractic patients realize that physical activity is important when it comes to maintaining a healthy weight and reducing your risk of disease. However, getting in enough regular movement is also beneficial to your spine. This makes finding fun ways to burn excess energy critical to lessening the chances that you’ll experience back pain, neck pain, or any other issues commonly associated with an inactive and inflexible spinal column. 

Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to stay physically active during the winter months if you’re an outdoors person because of the snow and ice we tend to get in this region, but that doesn’t mean that you have to hibernate until Quick read more or view full article spring to benefit your spine either. In fact, there are several fun ways to stay active (and healthy) this colder time of year. 

For instance, although fresh fallen snow may stop you from hitting the trails if you’re concerned about slipping and falling, you can still get in a great workout (and create some amazing memories) by joining your kids or grandkids in building a snowman or a snow fort. You can even use colored water in spray bottles to create a beautiful finished product. 

And if it isn’t the type of snow that packs well, shoveling the walkway or drive can be enjoyable if you prefer to engage in physical activities that also have a purpose. Certainly, it may be easier to pay someone else to do it, but the sense of accomplishment you feel when you look at all of the progress you’ve made is often worth the effort. 

Winter weather is also great for many fun sports ranging from skiing to sledding to ice skating, and more. So, grab the family or a friend and find a local hill or frozen pond and test your skills while having some laughs at the same time. That way, you can stay active this winter AND have fun while doing it, giving you a healthier body and spine. 

Don’t forget to keep up with your chiropractic visits too. Call our Minneapolis Chiropractic Clinic today at (612) 879-8000 to schedule your next appointment with our Minneapolis Chiropractor.

(As a side note: It’s always recommended that you consult with your physician before taking part in any new or higher intensity physical activity than you’re used to in order to ensure that you can do so safely.)

The Graston Technique: What It Is and Why We Use It

Here at Lyn Lake Chiropractic, our goal is to help all of our Minneapolis patients achieve maximum health and wellness. That’s why we pride ourselves on offering a variety of different techniques designed to both prevent and treat musculoskeletal issues. And one that we use regularly is the Graston Technique.

What Is the Graston Technique?

The Graston Technique is a method which involves using stainless steel instruments to help effectively reach scar tissue or other soft tissue adhesions and get them to release, providing you with greater movement and less pain. The goal of the Graston Technique is to resolve both the symptoms and the cause of the issue, which means short and long-term relief.

Chiropractors aren’t the only ones that use the Graston Technique either. It is also commonly used by physical therapists, Quick read more or view full article athletic trainers, and other types of therapists and medical professionals in a number of different fields. What makes this technique so desirable to health care workers around the world?

Why Do We Use It?

Well, the reason we use the Graston Technique at Lyn Lake Chiropractic is simple: It works. There have been numerous research studies on this particular method of treatment and many have found extremely positive results.

For instance, one study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics involved 10 subjects with plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis, foot pain is diagnosed when the band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot becomes inflamed, resulting in heel pain—especially first thing in the morning. However, after just a few treatment sessions using the Graston Technique and doing some in-home stretches, the participants experienced less pain and greater functionality. 

Additionally, this technique is good for sports-related injuries. For example, a University of Wisconsin study published in the Journal of Undergraduate Kinesiology Research involved 14 athletes and assessed the range of motion in their shoulders before, during, and after engaging in care with the Graston Technique. Based on the results, the researchers concluded that this particular technique helped improve shoulder motion, which makes it a great addition to the standard stretching and strengthening training programs.

To find out if the Graston Technique can help you ease your pain or discomfort, call our Minneapolis chiropractic office today and schedule an appointment 612-879-8000. We’ll do what we can to get you the relief you deserve!

Chiropractic Great for Expectant Mothers

Pregnancy is definitely a memorable time in a woman’s life. When you’re getting ready to welcome your precious little one into the world, feeling his or her tiny body growing inside of you, it can bring about excitement about the new life that is about to come. One way to make it even better is to come into our Minneapolis chiropractic office for regular spinal manipulations.

Research Confirms Chiropractic Benefits During Labor and Delivery

Various research studies have found that chiropractic care offers a lot of benefits for expectant mothers. Perhaps the most common one is relief from back pain often caused by the structural shifts in your body during pregnancy. In fact, approximately three-quarters of the expectant mothers who engage in chiropractic care during their pregnancy report experiencing relief after just a few treatment sessions.

Not only is this important for Quick read more or view full article a more pleasurable pregnancy, but relieving back pain is critical when you’re in labor as well. How? Women who have back pain during their pregnancy are three times more likely to have back labor, which refers to the intense back pain that some feel when giving birth. Thus, avoiding the pain while you’re carrying your child increases the likelihood that you will avoid it when delivering too.

Chiropractic Deemed Safe During Pregnancy

Of course, one of the top questions that a lot of pregnant women have when it comes to receiving chiropractic care, or any type of care for that matter, while expecting is whether or not it is safe. After all, it needs to be harmless for mother and baby alike. The good news is that it is.

Even the American Pregnancy Association endorses chiropractic for expectant mothers to help deal with common pregnancy issues such as increased back curvature, changes to the structure of the pelvis and posture, and sometimes nausea. Plus, since spinal manipulations open up the nerves to let the brain communicate effectively with the rest of the body, it allows all of your systems to function maximally, which means a healthier pregnancy and birth.

If you’re currently pregnant and want to make this time in your life as healthful and pain-free as possible, call Lyn Lake Chiropractic in Minneapolis and schedule a visit. Both you and your baby are our priorities!

4 Lesser Known Health Benefits of Massage Therapy

Although most people consider massage a luxury, something they can enjoy only when they have a spare bit of cash or when they’ve endured a week so stressful that they can’t even think straight, the reality is that massage therapy offers a lot of health benefits. Most aren’t very well-known though, so here are four of them to consider in case you are looking for a good reason to come into our Minneapolis chiropractic office and enjoy a massage (or two):

1. Reduced anxiety. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America reports that anxiety is one of the top mental issues in the U.S., afflicting roughly 40 million adults and costing over $42 billion annually due largely to repeat doctor visits. However, many studies have found that massage helps lessen feelings of anxiousness, which means that you’ll not only feel Quick read more or view full article better, but you’ll also potentially spend less time in the doctor’s office.

2. Improved digestion. Johns Hopkins Medicine reports that therapeutic massage is helpful in easing chronic constipation. Therefore, if you find your bathroom time difficult and lengthy, a visit with one of our Minneapolis massage therapists may be just what you need to kind of “get things moving along.”

3. Fewer headaches. If you suffer from regular, chronic headaches or migraines, research has proven that massage will likely help. In fact, in one study published in the American Journal of Public Health, the participants reported that they experienced fewer headaches after just one week of massage therapy. Furthermore, the headaches that they did have were shorter in duration, so the positive effects were twofold.

4. Better sleep. When you are stressed and anxious or dealing with some type of physical pain due to an injury, your sleep will likely suffer. Fortunately, because massage helps resolve both anxiety and pain, you’ll probably notice that you have an easier time getting and staying asleep when engaging in regular massage therapy. Sleep has even been found to improve in cancer patients who engage in massage therapy which shows just how powerful this type of therapy is.

If you’re ready to experience these benefits (and more), contact Lyn Lake Chiropractic in Minneapolis at (612) 879-8000 and schedule your appointment today. Your health will thank you!

When your head is pounding, it can feel almost impossible to simply live your life. And even though you have work, home, and family obligations, you may find that the only thing that makes you feel better is lying in bed or on the couch, which may be okay if you only have headaches occasionally. But if you tend to experience head pain more often than not, like some of our Minneapolis chiropractic patients do, then you are probably looking for a better solution.

Certainly, there are a number of medications out there designed to help you relieve your headaches and migraines, but they’re not always the best option. Either the ingredients in them make you feel wired and keep you up all night, or they make you so drowsy that you can’t stay awake long enough to hear about your Quick read more or view full article child’s day when they get home from school. 

So, if you’re looking for some all-natural headache cures that work, here are five to try the next time your head pain strikes:

• Watch your diet. Certain foods have been found to actually trigger headache and migraine pain, which means that watching your diet can help reduce the number of head pain episodes, as well as lessening their duration and intensity. Some foods and ingredients to watch out for, according to WebMD, include cheeses, food additives such as nitrites and food coloring, Chinese food (thanks to the MSG), chocolate, caffeine, dried fruits, crackers, canned soups, and cold foods like ice cream. It also helps to keep a food diary so you can identify triggers specific to you.
   
• Do some stretching exercises. Sometimes headaches are caused due to tight muscles in the neck and shoulder area, which makes loosening them critical to relieving the headache pain. One stretch to try is simply tilting your head from side to side as far as you can. Another involves standing up straight and rolling your shoulders back, bringing your shoulder blades together as close as you can. No matter which type of stretches you do, be sure to use slow and controlled movements so you don’t aggravate the area even further. 
   
• Get a massage. If your headaches are due to stress and tension, a massage may be just what you need to help relax your tense muscles and your mind. Here at Lyn Lake Chiropractic, we offer soft tissue and massage therapy services to all of our Minneapolis chiropractic clients, potentially helping you lessen or eliminate your head pain entirely. In the meantime though, don’t be afraid to take a few minutes and give yourself a nice, soothing temple or neck massage. It may just release some of the pain and make you feel a better almost instantly.
   
• Take peppermint oil and rub it on your forehead and temples. One study published in a German health publication found that, when compared to a placebo, individuals who took two peppermint oil capsules (each one containing 10 grams of 10% peppermint oil) and also spread some of the oil on their temples and foreheads experienced greater levels of relief in just 15 minutes time, with the positive effects lasting an hour later. This is definitely a great all-natural way to say goodbye to your head pain.
   
• Engage in regular chiropractic care. Of course, we would be totally remiss if we didn’t tell you how great engaging in regular chiropractic care can be for easing your chronic headache pain. If your headaches are due to tension, they typically respond well to chiropractic since these particular types of headaches are often caused by subluxations (misalignments) in your neck area. Even migraines symptoms can lessen with chiropractic care, as one study conducted by a doctor at Macquarie University revealed that 22% of chiropractic patients experienced a “substantial reduction” in migraine symptoms as a result of treatment, with an additional 50% reporting “quite noticeable improvement.”

If you suffer from frequent headaches, make an appointment at Lyn Lake Chiropractic today. Our Minneapolis chiropractors will do what we can to help you relieve, and possibly even eliminate, all of your head-related pain!

4 Simple Ways to Ease (Or Even Eliminate) Your Back Pain

Although our Minneapolis chiropractic patients experience a number of positive benefits from regular spinal manipulations, back pain is definitely one of the top reasons they keep coming through our door. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that roughly 60-70% of all people will experience this type of pain at some point in their lives, hitting the 35-55 year old age group the hardest. 

What can you do to help ease or even eliminate your back pain if you fall somewhere in these all-too-high ranges? Here are four options to consider:

• Get and stay active. Some people with back pain shy away from physical exercise, but oftentimes this type of pain can be lessened simply by moving about more. Worried it is going to make the pain worse instead of better? Don’t be. Research confirms Quick read more or view full article that “exercise is safe for individuals with back pain.” Just don’t overdo it and you’ll be fine.
   
• Watch your posture. If you’re slouching or otherwise have poor posture, you could easily be making your back pain worse. Instead, stay aware of your form and keep your head facing forward, your shoulders down and back, and your pelvis slightly tilted and you’ll likely feel better because of it.
   
• Limit your texting time. Dr. Kenneth K. Hansraj, Chief of Spine Surgery at New York Spine Surgery & Rehabilitation Medicine conducted a study to determine the effect that constantly having your head tilted forward (like when texting) has on the spine. What he found was that just leaning your head forward 15 degrees more than doubled the weight of your head on your spinal column. Tilt your head 60 degrees and it’s like having a 60 pound head. No wonder too much texting makes your neck and upper back hurt!
   
• Buy a new mattress. When your mattress is broken down from years of use, then buying a new one can potentially help you get rid of your back pain. Be sure to choose one that supports your spine best, and if you’re not sure which one that would be, ask us and we’ll be glad to give you some pointers so you find the right one for you!

Do these four things, in addition to regular visits to Lyn Lake Chiropractic, your Minneapolis chiropractor, and it will increase the likelihood that your back pain will become a thing of the past!

Want to Prevent or Treat a Sports Injury? See Your Minneapolis Chiropractor!

While having any type of injury is obviously no fun, sports injuries can seem ten times worse. This is largely because, in addition to the pain and aggravation they usually cause, sports injuries can also keep you from engaging in the one activity that makes you smile and brings you joy. 

Quick read more or view full article style="font-size:14px;">So, preventing these types of injuries helps you live a happier life and one way to achieve that goal is to make (and keep) regular appointments with Lyn Lake Chiropractic, your Minneapolis chiropractor. How does chiropractic help you avoid sports injuries?

Chiropractic as a Sports Injury Preventative

The main reason chiropractic is such a great preventative for sports injuries is that keeping your spine aligned allows your brain to effectively communicate with the rest of your body via your central nervous system, which is housed in your spinal column. This means better muscle response, improved performance, and a whole host of other sports-related benefits in addition to fewer sports injuries.

In fact, research published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders confirms chiropractic’s injury prevention effect on the lower body. In this particular study, 59 semi-elite Australian Rules footballers were split into two groups. Both received medical and sports management, but only one (the intervention group) received sports chiropractic treatments—first weekly, then bi-weekly, then monthly—for a period of 7 ½ months.

Each athlete was assessed prior to the study, as well as at the end. Based on a comparison between the groups, researchers concluded that chiropractic helped lower the number of lower-limb injuries these elite athletes endured, primarily when it came to strains and non-contact knee injuries.

Chiropractic Also Beneficial Should An Injury Occur

Of course, in addition to chiropractic helping prevent sports injuries, it is also beneficial should an injury occur. That’s why an estimated one-third of all American NFL football teams have a chiropractor on staff with three-quarters of the teams having referred a player to a chiropractor, even if one wasn’t immediately available. 

The types of sports injuries that can often be treated with a visit or two to your Minneapolis chiropractor include: neck pain, headaches, sprains, knee injuries, tendonitis, shin splints, elbow injuries, and more.

To prevent or treat your sports injury, make an appointment with Lyn Lake Chiropractor today. We’re here to make all of our Minneapolis chiropractic patients feel better before, during, and after participating in their sport of choice!

3 Ways Our Minneapolis Chiropractors Can Help You Improve Your Child’s Health and Wellness

As a parent, your child’s health and wellness is probably one of your most important priorities, if not the top one on your list. Well, the doctors and staff at Lyn Lake Chiropractic feel the same as we want all of our Minneapolis chiropractic patients—no matter how young they are—to experience the highest level of health possible. 

Quick read more or view full article initial;">What types of benefits does chiropractic care have to offer children? Here are three to consider…

Ease of Asthma Symptoms

The American Lung Association reports that “asthma is one of the most common chronic disorders in children, currently affecting an estimated 7.1 million children under 18 years.” Furthermore, asthma can actually result in death if not managed properly, which makes addressing this particular condition critical to not only your child’s quality of life, but their life period. Fortunately, chiropractic can help and research confirms it.

For example, one case study involved a 7-year-old male child who had suffered with asthma since he was only five months old. In fact, between his asthma, allergies, and frequent colds, this poor kid missed school at least once a month if not more and, as a result, often found himself sitting in the doctor’s office instead of the classroom. However, after just two weeks of chiropractic care, he was able to go off his asthma medication completely. Plus, he went an entire school year without missing any days due to illness, showing just how positive the chiropractic treatments were on him as a whole.  

Improvement in Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 10% of children between the ages of 3 and 17 are diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD for short. This equates to roughly six million children in the United States, with young boys being diagnosed almost three times more often than girls. If your child falls into these numbers and has been diagnosed with ADHD, then it is possible that chiropractic care in our Minneapolis chiropractic office can help alleviate some of the symptoms. 

For instance, in one study published in Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing, four young boys between the ages of 9 and 13 with ADHD were assessed during a course of chiropractic treatment. Based on feedback from parents, teachers, and the boys themselves, researchers concluded that chiropractic resulted in “improvement in ADHD symptoms (ie, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattentiveness, as well as behavioral, social, or emotional difficulties).” Just imagine what this could do for your child’s achievement levels both personally and academically!

Fewer Learning and Behavioral Issues

When improving a child’s health and wellness, we would be remiss if we didn’t talk about learning and behavioral issues. After all, sometimes neurological issues can cause problems in these particular areas, which can ultimately lower your child’s quality of life as it negatively affects their ability to learn, stress levels at home, and so much more. One way to help lessen these effects is to have your child engage in regular chiropractic care. What can chiropractic do for a child behaviorally?

Well, one particular study set out to answer that question, so researchers decided to look at what effect, if any, chiropractic had on learning impaired students. They did this by splitting a group of 24 students into two, with one-half of the young participants engaging in chiropractic and the other half receiving no treatment at all. Here are just a few of the positive results achieved by some of the group members who had chiropractic treatments:

• One high school student went from failing three different classes to passing all of them, switched from having low morale to being highly motivated,  and even became coordinated enough to become involved in athletics…all while eliminating all medications.

• Another high school student who was taking Ritalin was also able to stop taking this particular medication, all while experiencing gains in both reading comprehension and speed.

• Yet another student who was in elementary school was able to be taken off medications as well, receiving other benefits from the chiropractic care such as a reported better attitude, higher academic grades, and fewer behavioral problems.

There are many reasons chiropractic is great for improving children’s health and these are just three. To see what our Lyn Lake Chiropractic Minneapolis chiropractors can do for your child, call and schedule an appointment today. Their health is our priority!

Lyn Lake Chiropractic is Proud to be the Official Chiropractor of Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon!

If you’re going to the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, “the most beautiful urban marathon in America,” on October 4^th, make sure you look us up because
Lyn Lake Chiropractic, home of your trusted Minneapolis chiropractors, is the official chiropractor of the race!

We love the Medtronic Twin Quick read more or view full article Cities Marathon because it is the perfect event for the beginner and novice runner alike. Plus, it offers many wonderful perks such as free transportation from various areas in and around Minneapolis and Saint Paul, a special little gift for all of the runners to remember this particular accomplishment, and blankets and beer at the finish line. Does it get any better than that?

So, what is our role in all of this?

Chiropractic and Marathon Running

When it comes to running, there are some pretty common injuries that can occur, such as:

• Shin splints – tightness or pain in the lower leg
• Achilles tendonitis – achiness or shooting pain in the heel area
• Stress fracture – pain in the lower leg, often confused with shin splints
• Runners knee – pain in and around the kneecap
• Plantar Fasciitis – tightness or pain on the bottom of the foot and/or heel area

Fortunately, chiropractic has been proven to be an effective treatment remedy for all of these conditions. For instance, one of the techniques we use for a lot of our Minneapolis chiropractic patients who run is called the Graston Technique. The Graston Technique involves taking one of six specially designed stainless steel instruments and moving it expertly to reach the injured area and relieve the issue causing the pain and discomfort.

We also offer RockTape which is a type of kinesiology tape that a number of runners use to help prevent or relieve common running injuries. It contains no latex so it is safe for people with allergies, and it also helps boost performance, so if you’re looking for a little edge, RockTape may help!

A Couple Quick Tips for Reducing Running Injuries

If you’re running in the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon on October 4^th, our Minneapolis chiropractors would love to see you! However, we also want to help you stay injury free, so make sure you stretch beforehand, run with good posture, and keep your gait so your foot isn’t overstepping your knee.

See you at the race…and good luck!

http://www.lynlakechiropractic.com/14700Lyn Lake Chiropractic - Runners helping Runners!

How Do I Know If I Need a Chiropractor After An Auto Accident?

Here at Lyn Lake Chiropractic, we’ve had a number of Minneapolis chiropractic patients who have been involved in some type of auto accident, ranging from minor fender benders to crashes that have resulted in major physical trauma, at some point or another in their lives. Unfortunately, this really comes as no major surprise since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that “motor vehicle crashes Quick read more or view full article are the leading cause of injury and death in the U.S.” 

However, the one question that is asked quite often is how to know if you need a chiropractor after being involved in an auto accident. So, let’s examine that more in-depth now.

When you’re in a car crash, sometimes it is immediately evident that something is wrong. For instance, you may notice that there is pain present in various areas of your body (such as back pain or neck pain associated with whiplash), which is a clear sign that something just isn’t right.

Or, you might begin experiencing headaches or dizziness, start to have difficulty sleeping, or are feeling just overall irritable. In these cases, even if there are no physical marks present, making the decision to seek medical treatment via chiropractic care is typically an easier one. Obviously, something is going on internally and it’s best to find out what it is so it can be treated effectively and the pain and other possible symptoms minimized.

Yet, when there is no pain present, and no other signs at all that you may be injured externally or internally, you are less inclined to get yourself checked out and assume that you’re 100% okay. While this may seem logical, the reality is that you could have actually sustained an injury in the accident and don’t even realize it.

The reason this can happen is that sometimes pain and other symptoms don’t come to the surface for days, weeks, months, or even years to come. Furthermore, not seeing a doctor because of a lack of symptoms can greatly impact your ability to overcome the injury at a later point in time as some studies have confirmed that delayed treatment can negatively affect positive outcome capabilities.

Now, some people believe that minor accidents (like the ones that don’t leave any marks on the vehicles or involve super-slow speeds) aren’t capable of creating injury that requires chiropractic treatment. But one study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found otherwise. 

In this case, the researcher found “a lack of relationship between occupant injury, vehicle speed and/or damage.” Specifically, even when crash speeds were as low as 2.5 miles per hour, physical injury could result. So, it doesn’t matter how minor the auto accident is, you may have an injury that needs medical attention to resolve it effectively.

In short, any time that you’re involved in a car accident, no matter how minor it may seem and how good you feel afterward, you still want to follow up with your Uptown Minneapolis chiropractors to ensure that you’re okay and that your spinal discs and vertebrae are still in their proper and healthy place. With a quick exam, Drs. Schreifels, Eckstein, and Jones will be able to tell what injury, if any, exists or if further testing needs to be conducted to make sure you weren’t hurt in any way.

We even have a 24-hour answering service which allows you to call no matter when you have an auto accident and get your appointment scheduled to come in. Remember…the sooner you get in to see us at Lyn Lake Chiropractic in Minneapolis, Minnesota after a car crash, the sooner you will start to heal and the better your chances of recovery!

Success in the Business World With Better Posture!

Harvard Business School recently distributed an article entitled, "The Power of Posture" stating that your stance, broadly speaking, signals to the world how energetic, confident, and powerful you are. Slumped shoulders, a slow pace, and a sagging belly are taken by the world to mean that you lack confidence, that you don't have much energy, and that you are probably less important, successful, and powerful as a result. 

These impressions may be neither accurate nor fair, but they are the inevitable results of the fleeting impressions. Before your next meeting, take a couple of Quick read more or view full article minutes to "power pose" by standing with your feet apart, hands on your hips, and breathe deep while you visualize a successful outcome to the meeting.

Depression and Energy Can be Contolled by you!

In the journal Biofeedback, a study found that simply choosing to alter body posture to a more upright position can improve mood and energy levels. The subjects walked down a hallway in a slouched position and then skipped down the hallway.

The whole group reported slouched walking decreased energy levels while skipping increased energy. The participants were also asked to rate their general depression levels. Those generally more depressed noted far lower energy levels after slouched walking than those who were generally not experiencing depression.

Increase energy throughout the day. Try the 50/10 rule if you sit a lot at work or at school. For every 50 minutes you sit, get up and move around for 10 minutes. Walk the halls with a colleague while discussing a project, take the stairs outside for a quick breath of fresh air or stand up and stretch.  

Aging - Your future risk of Disability and neck pain and back pain!

Did you know that your posture can predict your future risk of disability? According to a Japanese study just published in Journals of Gerontology Series A the shape of a person's spinal column may be an indicator of their need for home assistance later in life. If you knew you could do something now to change things down the road, would you do it? No one wants to require help with bathing, feeding, dressing, going to the bathroom and other simple activities of daily living later in life. 

To check your posture look in a mirror, watch the windows when your walking down the street, take a look and see how your posture is doing.  Some people tell us poor posture is from having neck or back pain, they feel better when the slouch or lean.  If you feel your having posture issues and would like some help correcting your posture with the help of chiropractic please feel free to call us or reach out to a chiropractor near you!

http://www.lynlakechiropractic.com/Chiropractic-Clinic-Care-Minneapolis-MN   Lyn Lake Chiropractic Minneapolis, MN 612-879-8000

Work, family, bills and other issues in your life can cause a great deal of daily stress. So why is it some people deal with these stress situations better than others?   Stress can cause your muscles to tighten up causing your spine to twist and roate out of place casuing neck pain and back pain - depends on where you carry your stress. Most people carry their stress in their shoulders and neck, some in their lower back, everyone is different.

You might be surprised to find that chiropractors are full of sound good advice on ways to deal with stress in your life.  When you are receiving regular chiropractic care and massage you will begin to learn that improving nerve and spinal function has a positive affect on your emotional, mental, and physical function in your life.

Chiropractors and Massage Therapist understand that problems with your spine and nervous system Quick read more or view full article come from 3 primary stresses:  Physical, Chemical & Emotional.  

If stress is taking its toll on your life, call your local chiropractic clinic.  Chiropractic care can help. We see many patients everyday with neck pain, headaches and upper back pain. It’s amazing how many of these patients tells us they didn’t do anything streneous to cause their pain.  We ask them if they have extra stress at work or home, and they usually tells us yes!  Our thought is, why not keep your body and spine working at 100% function so you can deal with the stress that comes at us daily!  Try Chiropractic!

The months ahead bring lots of snow for us and with it comes frequent snow removal.  The American Chiropractic Association suggests the following tips to help you avoid muscle strain and other injuries when shoveling:

• Do some stretching before you grab the shovel.
• Use a lightweight, ergonomically-designed shovel.
• If possible, push the snow straight ahead. Don't try to throw it; walk it to the snow bank.  Avoid sudden twisting and turning motions.
• Bend your knees to lift when shoveling.  Let the muscles of your legs and arms do the work, not your back.
• Take frequent breaks – a fatigued body asks for injury.
• Stop immediately and seek medical attention if you feel faint, dizzy or have chest pain.

If after a few days you continue to feel soreness or muscle strain, it may be time to visit your chiropractic clinic, a chiropractor can help you feel better.

Neck pain is one of the most common complaints patients have when they come to a chiropractic clinic for the first time, second only to lower back pain. Neck pain affects all of us at some point in life.

Some patients come in and tell us they just woke up with neck pain. If you wake up with neck pain with very limited range of motion, this may be due to torticollis, or Wry Neck. Feels like muscle spasms in your neck. Torticollis (I just woke up with neck pain.) can be caused by exposure to a draft, changes in weather, trauma, stress, hard work out or after a cold or flu. When in doubt, seek chiropractic care to speed up your healing and get rid of the neck pain. 

Chiropractic care can help reduce the pain quickly, it's better than just thinking I'll just wait for a Quick read more or view full article couple of days, the sooner you get in the faster you'll heal. Why not is my thought, if you're in pain why not try chiropractic.

If you have any questions please feel free to call Lyn Lake Chiropractic and just speak to one of our chiropractors or make an appointment and see if we can help.

The summer is over. The kids are back in school. There is still some awesome weather ahead before the snowflakes start flying.  Autumn in Minnesota is a treasured time with the nice weather, and beautiful fall colors. Call me crazy, but I like this time of year. It averages 72 degrees – perfect to enjoy the great outdoors. And Minnesota has a lot of fun places to go and a lot of ways to get there… cars, motorcycles and everything else. Unfortunately when we hit the road some of us hit each other.

Accidents are accidents… you can’t plan for them — they just happen! People have car accidents all the time. Sometimes drivers get into small accidents – fender benders in a parking lot, 5 MPH.

Whiplash is the common name given to the injury where there is a hyperextention (increased backward motion) and hyperflexion (increased forward motion) of the cervical (neck) spine Quick read more or view full article and is also known as Acute Soft Tissue Neck Sprain.

When whiplash injury occurs, the soft tissues – the tendons, ligaments and muscles – which support the head and neck become stretched out of their natural range of motion and torn.

The muscles and ligaments of the neck contract in order to prevent excessive motion and protect you from further serious injury such as a neck fracture or spinal cord injury.  This is called a stretch reflex (myotatic reflex).

More simply put, the head is dramatically thrust forward and backward. Car accidents (rear-end collisions) are usually the cause whiplash injuries.

Although whiplash is most frequently the result of a rear-end collision, whiplash can occur in several other situations including:

It takes a trained Minneapolis MN Chiropractor to know what to look for.  Usually hospitals and MD’s will check vital  signs, make sure there are no life-threatening conditions and release the patient with pain relief medication. Pills do not correct the damage to soft tissues and other systems that can lead to future pain. There are special chiropractic treatments for such conditions. If you are having problems, you should see a chiropractor. Or, call Lyn Lake Chiropractic.

 

The summer is over. The kids are back in school. There is still some awesome weather ahead before the snowflakes start flying.  Autumn in Minnesota is a treasured time with the nice weather, and beautiful fall colors. Call me crazy, but I like this time of year. It averages 72 degrees – perfect to enjoy the great outdoors. And Minnesota has a lot of fun places to go and a lot of ways to get there… cars, motorcycles and everything else. Unfortunately when we hit the road some of us hit each other.

Accidents are accidents… you can’t plan for them — they just happen! People have car accidents all the time. Sometimes drivers get into small accidents – fender benders in Quick read more or view full article a parking lot, 5 MPH.

Whiplash is the common name given to the injury where there is a hyperextention (increased backward motion) and hyperflexion (increased forward motion) of the cervical (neck) spine and is also known as Acute Soft Tissue Neck Sprain.

When whiplash injury occurs, the soft tissues – the tendons, ligaments and muscles – which support the head and neck become stretched out of their natural range of motion and torn.

The muscles and ligaments of the neck contract in order to prevent excessive motion and protect you from further serious injury such as a neck fracture or spinal cord injury.  This is called a stretch reflex (myotatic reflex).

More simply put, the head is dramatically thrust forward and backward. Car accidents (rear-end collisions) are usually the cause whiplash injuries.

Although whiplash is most frequently the result of a rear-end collision, whiplash can occur in several other situations including:

It takes a trained Minneapolis MN Chiropractor to know what to look for.  Usually hospitals and MD’s will check vital  signs, make sure there are no life-threatening conditions and release the patient with pain relief medication. Pills do not correct the damage to soft tissues and other systems that can lead to future pain. There are special chiropractic treatments for such conditions. If you are having problems, you should see a chiropractor. Or, call Lyn Lake Chiropractic.

 

Minneapolis Chiropractic Care for Neck pain is a non-surgical treatment option that can help reduce your neck pain symptoms.

Some neck conditions that can improve with chiropractic care are:

• cervical intervertebral disc injuries that don’t require surgery
• cervical sprain injuries
• degenerative joint syndrome of the neck
• facet joint sprain
• Whiplash

How Does a Chiropractor Diagnose Neck Pain?

Your chiropractor will evaluate your spine as a whole because other regions of the spine may be affected as well—not just your neck. Along with treating the spine as a whole, Minneapolis chiropractors at Lyn Lake Chiropractic treat the “whole person,” not just your specific symptoms. 

Before deciding which approach to try for your pain, the our chiropractor will do a thorough examination to diagnose the specific cause of your neck pain.

He will determine any areas of restricted movement and will look at how you walk as well as your overall posture and spinal alignment. Doing these things can help your chiropractor understand your Quick read more or view full article body mechanics.

In addition to the physical exam, you’ll also go through your past medical history with the chiropractor, and he or she may take x-rays or order imaging tests (eg, an x-ray or MRI) to help him or her diagnose the exact cause of your neck pain.

All these steps in the diagnostic process will give your chiropractor more information about your neck pain, which will help your chiropractor create a treatment plan customized for you.

Your chiropractor will also rule out a neck pain condition that will require surgery—if he or she believes your neck pain would be better treated by surgery, then you’ll be referred to a spine surgeon.

Chiropractic Treatments:

Your chiropractor may use a combination of spinal manipulation, manual therapy, and other techniques as part of your treatment plan for neck pain.

Below are some spinal manipulation techniques your chiropractor may use.

• Flexion-distraction technique is a gentle, hands-on spinal manipulation that involves a pumping action on the intervertebral disc instead of direct force.
• Instrument-assisted manipulation also known as Activator - a hand-held instrument to allow your chiropractor to apply force without thrusting into the spine.
• Specific spinal manipulation helps restore joint movement using a gentle thrusting technique.

Your chiropractor may also use manual therapies to treat your neck pain to help relax your muscles, relieve muscle spasm and hopefully relieve your pain.

• Graston or Active Release Techinque ( ART ) uses special instruments to diagnose and treat muscle tension which helps resore injured muscles, tendons and ligaments. 
• Manual joint stretching and resistance techniques can help reduce neck pain and other symptoms.
• Therapeutic massage can help relax tense muscles.
• Trigger point therapy is used to reduce tight, painful points on a muscle.

Other therapies may also be used to ease neck pain symptoms.

• Inferential electrical stimulation uses a low frequency electrical current to stimulate neck muscles.
• Ultrasound sends sound waves into your muscle tissues to help stiffness and pain in your neck.

Therapeutic exercises may also be recommended—these can help improve overall range of motion in your neck and prevent neck pain from progressing.

The treatments listed above are simply examples of possible chiropractic treatments for neck pain; your actual treatment plan will depend on your diagnosis. Your chiropractor should thoroughly explain your treatment options so that you know what will happen. If you have any questions please always feel free to ask questions and ask you chiropractor doing the exam to explain what and why they are deciding on your treatment plan or options.

Most chiropractors are there to help people and enjoy making people feel better with working with your body.  If needed medication and pain meds might be needed, conatct your medical doctor but for sure follow up with a chiropractor or P.T. to correct what is causing your pain.

If your reading this blog or posting and would like a Free Consulation at  Lyn Lake Chiropractic please call anytime 612-879-8000.  Or if you would like us to help refer you to a chiropractor in your area, call us we will help find you a chiropractor near your home.

Many athletes and runners have started to rely on sports trained chiropractors. While physical therapy can focus on strengthening and coordination, chiropractic care is designed to improve joint mobilization, making sure that all the joints in the body are moving correctly.

Lyn Lake Chiropractic believes that sports chiropractic care has evolved to incorporate the best of both worlds of joint mobilization techniques and soft tissue repair, creating a new gold standard of best practices in treatment plans for patients especially when the chiropractor specialize in running injuries.

Chiropractic emphasizes that not only do all the joints in the body need to move correctly, but they also need to move in coordination with the soft tissue – a healthy body is one where all the factors are Quick read more or view full article working well together. Runners who decide to visit a sports chiropractor should expect, a thorough evaluation of bio-mechanics including:

• How they are moving, How they are standing, What the arch of the foot looks like, How the knees are aligned, How the hips are aligned.

Once an evaluation is completed, sports chiropractors will create a treatment plan taking into account the needs of each specific patient to decide between a variety of techniques, each designed to help the body to heal and to help the athlete prevent further running injuries. 

Some types of chiropractic treatment for running injuries 

Active Release Technique (ART) is a combination of massage and stretching where trained therapists apply deep tension while they move a joint through a range of motion. ART is used primarily for adhesions deep in the muscle.

Active Release Technique can be beneficial – especially for iliotibial band and hip injuries – is that it combines different muscle work that breaks down scar tissue while also emphasizing correct flexibility. Through Active Release you can actually "elongate (stretch)  some of the muscle fibers making those muscles more pliable and therefore healthier.

Graston Technique is a therapy best used for surface level scar tissue that uses handheld stainless steel tools to break down scar tissue-releasing adhesions.

Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) stimulates surface muscles to contract releasing tension as a complement to other techniques.

Staying healthy is a constant concern for professional athletes who get constant care from stretching to active release to heat or ice. Most adults or mature athletes, on the other hand, do not make the time every day to use a foam roller, apply ice or heat or keep up with stretching. Runners who have overcome an injury should consider ongoing preventive care.
Lyn Lake Chiropractic feel they can help running injuries with adjusting your spine, hips, knees, ankle and your feet.  They use many different treatments such as Adjusting, Massage, ART, Graston, Ultrasound, Stretching, Cold Laser and Rock Tape. 

Our chiropractor will be glad to help with assessing your running shoes or sport shoes to make sure you have the right support, and if we feel you need a different pair of running shoes we will refer you to one of our favorite running stores. 

If you have any questions please look for s sports chiropractor close to your home or call Lyn Lake Chiropractic.
612-879-8000

www.lynlakechiropractic.com

"Runners Treating Runners"


 

There are two temporomandibular joints (TMJ), one on each side of the face. They connect the jawbone to the skull and act like sliding hinges to open and close the mouth. They are important in chewing, talking, biting, singing, and making facial expressions.
 

The TMJ complex involves the jawbone, skull, tendons, ligaments, muscles and 2 discs. The discs are like cushions within each joint. The muscles around the TMJ include superficial muscles (close to the surface), and deep muscles (deep within the tissues), and they are collectively called the muscles of mastication.

Problems with the TMJ or the surrounding structures cause temporomandibular dysfunction. This Quick read more or view full article is often referred to as TMJ.
 

Causes

There are many causes of dysfunction. Any problem with the bones, joints, muscles or connective tissues around the joint can cause TMJ. Some of the more common causes include the following:
 

1) Injury- falling, car accidents, fights and any direct trauma to the area can cause damage to the joint and muscles.

2) Disc dislocation- the cushioning disc within the joint itself can become dislodged or stop gliding properly which can cause the joint to stop opening and closing properly.

3) Tight muscles- the muscles that attach the head to the jaw can become tight enough that they pull the jaw to one side when opening and closing the jaw.

4) Stress- stress can cause tension in all the muscles, which can contribute to grinding and clenching the jaw.

5) Weak posture- the muscles that attach to the head and jaw also attach to the neck and shoulders. Stress on postural muscles alters motion in the TMJ.
 

Due to the potential complexity of determining the cause of TMJ symptoms, it is always best to seek treatment with a health care professional familiar with all the different causes of TMJ. Most TMJ is benign and responds well to chiropractic care. The chiropractors at Lyn Lake Chiropractic can help determine the cause of TMJ symptoms, and help you decide if chiropractic care for TMJ might help you.
 

Symptoms

TMJ problems can have many symptoms that can be present all the time, or come and go with motion, chewing, stress levels, or opening and closing the jaw. Some of the common symptoms of TMJ include the following:
 

• Jaw Pain.
• Pain in the face or neck
• Ear pain
• Headaches
• Difficulty chewing
• Inability to open the mouth
• Clicking
• Jaw locking or popping
• Stiffness

 

A health care professional familiar with all the causes of TMJ symptoms can evaluate your condition to determine the cause of symptoms. Once the cause has been determined, most TMJ symptoms will resolve with conservative, non-surgical, treatment.
 

Biomechanical Issues

The TMJ slides, glides and rotates. As the mouth starts to open the jawbone begins to rotate. As the mouth opens more widely the TMJ glides down and forward and continues to rotate slightly. The reverse happens when closing the mouth. There is a soft disc in the middle of the joint that cushions the joint and glides with the bottom part of the joint. Muscles, tendons and ligaments stabilize the TMJ.

There are two joints, one on each side of the face, that are connected by the one jawbone. If muscles on one side of the face are stronger than the other they will pull the jawbone to one side when it is opening and closing. This causes uneven wear and tear on the joints. Any muscle in the body become stronger with use and weaker with disuse- the muscles of mastication follow this same rule. When one side of the jaw is used more than the other side of the jaw, like chewing on one side consistently (especially with gum chewing), the stronger muscles pull tighter and cause the jaw to move unequally.

The disc within the joint can become locked in one place and stop gliding with the jawbone. If this happens it can block the motion of the TMJ so that the mouth cannot open all the way.

The muscles around the jaw connect to the front and back of the neck. Poor posture, with the shoulders rounded and the head forward, causes stress on all the muscles around the neck, including the jaw muscles. This frequently contributes to TMJ pain.
 

Evaluation

While many medical doctors will listen to the symptoms and provide medications that temporarily relieve pain, or refer to a surgeon, chiropractic for TMJ includes a thorough examination of the muscles, ligaments, joints, posture, and gait, as well as discussing past injuries and lifestyle habits that may be contributing to your condition. The chiropractors at Lyn Lake Chiropractic also have specialty training in complex joint and soft tissue problems that may cause TMD. This training gives patients the confidence that their doctor is providing thorough chiropractic TMJ pain relief.
 

Treatment

Most TMJ conditions respond well to conservative treatment like chiropractic, and do not require surgery. Chiropractic care for TMJ generally includes several techniques, each chosen to relieve specific causes of TMJ. At Lyn Lake Chiropractic  incorporates:

• Chiropractic adjustments: Gentle, controlled, and directed adjustments delivered to your joints and tissues to restore optimal movement and function.

• Myofascial Release (MFR): TMJ pain can be associated with overly tight and over worked muscles in the jaw, shoulder, neck and upper back. MFR works with the muscles and the soft tissues between the muscles to relax them and optimize their function. Similar to massage, MFR is a more focused and deep treatment of the soft tissues to relieve pain and restore movement.

• Active Release Technique (ART): This is a very targeted treatment of specific regions in the muscles and other soft tissues to release scar tissue, and impure muscle function.

If you have any question please feel free to call Lyn Lake Chiropractic or call your local chiropractor.

The cycle of many running injuries goes something like this: After admitting that the pain was more than just soreness, you listened to your orthopedic surgeon talk about options ranging from surgery to rehabilitation. You spent months in physical therapy trying to rebuild strength and repair soft tissue damage, eventually hitting a plateau, only to wonder if you'll ever go out for a run again. Avoid Running injuries be pro-active in your care.

The desire to get back out to run is why many runners seek alternative rehabilitation plans that include seeing a sports chiropractor for targeted treatments for their injuries. In my case, after two months in physical therapy, my pain was shifting from my hip to Quick read more or view full article my iliotibial band and psoas muscle, and I knew that it was time to try something new if I ever wanted to run again (or even sit for any length of time).

Why see a sports chiropractor for a running injury?

Although physical therapy is often the first line of defense in rehabbing a running injury, many athletes and runners have started to rely on sports medicine-trained chiropractors. While physical therapy can focus on strengthening and coordination, chiropractic care is designed to improve joint mobilization, making sure that all the joints in the body are moving correctly. Sports chiropractic care has evolved to incorporate the best of both worlds of joint mobilization techniques and soft tissue repair, creating a new gold standard of best practices in treatment plans for patients.

Lyn Lake Chiropractic emphasizes that not only do all the joints in the body need to move correctly, but they also need to move in coordination with the soft tissue – a healthy body is one where all the factors are working well together. Runners who decide to visit a sports chiropractor should expect, according to Lyn Lake Chiropractic a thorough evaluation of bio-mechanics by their chiropractor, including:

• How they are moving.

• How they are standing.

• What the arch of the foot looks like.

• How the knees are aligned.

• How the hips are aligned.

Once an evaluation is completed, sports chiropractors will create the "recipe for the treatment stew" – taking into account the needs of each specific patient to decide between a variety of techniques, each designed to help the body regenerate healthy cells to "activate healing mechanisms."

Four types of chiropractic treatment for running injuries 

1. Active Release Technique (ART) is a combination of massage and stretching where trained chiropractors apply deep tension while they move a joint through a range of motion. ART is used primarily for adhesions deep in the muscle.

2. Graston Technique is a therapy best used for surface level scar tissue that uses handheld stainless steel tools to break down scar tissue-releasing adhesions.

3. Functional dry needling ( aka: Deep Tissue Massage ) is used for very deep trigger points to release tension in the muscles through deep muscle stimulation provided by the needles. Dry needling can be helpful for injuries involving the psoas muscle, which is a critical hip flexor muscle for runners.

4. Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) stimulates surface muscles to contract releasing tension as a complement to other techniques.

Active Release Technique for runners 

After three months of not being able to run, in almost constant pain ranging from my iliotibial band to the back of my hip and then into my psoas muscle, I was admittedly ready for anything when my orthopedist suggested trying Active Release Technique. According our chiropractor, the reason that Active Release Technique can be beneficial – especially for iliotibial band and hip injuries – is that it combines different muscle work that breaks down scar tissue while also emphasizing correct flexibility. Through Active Release, as our chiropractor explains, you can actually "elongate some of the muscle fibers making those muscles more pliable and therefore healthier."

Anyone preparing for ART should know that this is not a particularly gentle treatment. I tried telling myself that it would be like a deep tissue massage, which I enjoy, although I quickly learned that while highly effective (after three weeks my pain, though still there, was incrementally improving), the pressure and work on the muscles is deep and sometimes painful.

How to stay healthy for the long term

Staying healthy is a constant concern for professional athletes who get constant care from stretching to active release to heat or ice. Most adults or mature athletes, on the other hand, do not make the time every day to use a foam roller, apply ice or heat or keep up with stretching. Runners who have overcome an injury should consider ongoing preventive care, ranging from every two weeks to every six weeks to maintain progress and reduce future injuries.

Spring is coming soon, so when you start your spring training don’t forget to keep Lyn Lake Chiropractic the Official Chiropractor Of The Twin Cities Marathon on your speed dial.  Call if you have any questions or need some quick TLC to keep you running.

chiropractic minneapols 55408

The cycle of many running injuries goes something like this: After admitting that the pain was more than just soreness, you listened to your orthopedic surgeon talk about options ranging from surgery to rehabilitation. You spent months in physical therapy trying to rebuild strength and repair soft tissue damage, eventually hitting a plateau, only to wonder if you'll ever go out for a run again. Avoid Running injuries be pro-active in your care.

The desire to get back out to run is why many runners seek alternative rehabilitation plans that include seeing a sports chiropractor for targeted treatments for their injuries. In my case, after two months in physical therapy, my pain was shifting from my hip to Quick read more or view full article my iliotibial band and psoas muscle, and I knew that it was time to try something new if I ever wanted to run again (or even sit for any length of time).

Why see a sports chiropractor for a running injury?

Although physical therapy is often the first line of defense in rehabbing a running injury, many athletes and runners have started to rely on sports medicine-trained chiropractors. While physical therapy can focus on strengthening and coordination, chiropractic care is designed to improve joint mobilization, making sure that all the joints in the body are moving correctly. Sports chiropractic care has evolved to incorporate the best of both worlds of joint mobilization techniques and soft tissue repair, creating a new gold standard of best practices in treatment plans for patients.

Lyn Lake Chiropractic emphasizes that not only do all the joints in the body need to move correctly, but they also need to move in coordination with the soft tissue – a healthy body is one where all the factors are working well together. Runners who decide to visit a sports chiropractor should expect, according to Lyn Lake Chiropractic a thorough evaluation of bio-mechanics by their chiropractor, including:

• How they are moving.

• How they are standing.

• What the arch of the foot looks like.

• How the knees are aligned.

• How the hips are aligned.

Once an evaluation is completed, sports chiropractors will create the "recipe for the treatment stew" – taking into account the needs of each specific patient to decide between a variety of techniques, each designed to help the body regenerate healthy cells to "activate healing mechanisms."

Four types of chiropractic treatment for running injuries 

1. Active Release Technique (ART) is a combination of massage and stretching where trained chiropractors apply deep tension while they move a joint through a range of motion. ART is used primarily for adhesions deep in the muscle.

2. Graston Technique is a therapy best used for surface level scar tissue that uses handheld stainless steel tools to break down scar tissue-releasing adhesions.

3. Functional dry needling ( aka: Deep Tissue Massage ) is used for very deep trigger points to release tension in the muscles through deep muscle stimulation provided by the needles. Dry needling can be helpful for injuries involving the psoas muscle, which is a critical hip flexor muscle for runners.

4. Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) stimulates surface muscles to contract releasing tension as a complement to other techniques.

Active Release Technique for runners 

After three months of not being able to run, in almost constant pain ranging from my iliotibial band to the back of my hip and then into my psoas muscle, I was admittedly ready for anything when my orthopedist suggested trying Active Release Technique. According our chiropractor, the reason that Active Release Technique can be beneficial – especially for iliotibial band and hip injuries – is that it combines different muscle work that breaks down scar tissue while also emphasizing correct flexibility. Through Active Release, as our chiropractor explains, you can actually "elongate some of the muscle fibers making those muscles more pliable and therefore healthier."

Anyone preparing for ART should know that this is not a particularly gentle treatment. I tried telling myself that it would be like a deep tissue massage, which I enjoy, although I quickly learned that while highly effective (after three weeks my pain, though still there, was incrementally improving), the pressure and work on the muscles is deep and sometimes painful.

How to stay healthy for the long term

Staying healthy is a constant concern for professional athletes who get constant care from stretching to active release to heat or ice. Most adults or mature athletes, on the other hand, do not make the time every day to use a foam roller, apply ice or heat or keep up with stretching. Runners who have overcome an injury should consider ongoing preventive care, ranging from every two weeks to every six weeks to maintain progress and reduce future injuries.

Spring is coming soon, so when you start your spring training don’t forget to keep Lyn Lake Chiropractic the Official Chiropractor Of The Twin Cities Marathon on your speed dial.  Call if you have any questions or need some quick TLC to keep you running.

chiropractic minneapols 55408

Although whiplash is a very common occurrence in car accidents, whiplash injuries can also occur in sports, where impacts from behind are common. As a matter of fact, any activity or accident which involves the head being snapped forward and backward suddenly and rapidly can result in whiplash. Whiplash injury is a very serious reality for those victims.

Whiplash refers to an injury to the soft tissues of the neck and upper back including the ligaments, tendons, and muscles. The symptoms of whiplash include neck pain and stiffness amongst many others. Upper back and shoulder pain can also occur. Depending on the severity Quick read more or view full article of the whiplash injury and the health of the person involved in the accident, whiplash injuries can heal within weeks or can linger and turn into chronic conditions that last for years and lead to pain and sometimes disability.

If you have been involved in a car accident and have sustained whiplash injury, it’s important to see a minneapolis chiropractor or medical doctor for a diagnostic evaluation and determination of the extent of your injuries. Most injuries are similar to those of muscle strains and include soft tissues injuries to the muscles and ligaments. Whiplash is a more complex injury because there may be damage to the cervical discs as well as soft tissue damage. Your chiropractor can refer you to a physician should the extent of your injuries fall outside of chiropractic alternative care.

Recent studies have shown that early movement and activity, rather than immobilization, helps reduce the symptoms of whiplash as well as encourage recovery of the upper back and neck. Your minneapolis chiropractor or physician may recommend the use of a soft cervical collar to help support the head and relieve pressure on the neck while ligaments heal. More readily available treatments for whiplash include plenty of rest, ice, compression and elevation. Ice may be applied for the first 24 hours, followed by gentle active movement. Over the counter pain medications are also helpful to reduce inflammation and pain. They are reliable and effective when used appropriately for moderate pain relief.

Neck pain and upper back injuries are one of the most common problems resulting from a car accident. Car accident neck injuries can result in symptoms such as pain in your neck, headaches, pain in your shoulders, arms or hands, reduced range of motion in your neck, numbness, weakness and slower reflexes in your arms and hands, and muscle spasms in your neck.

To understand car accident neck injuries, you have to know something about the anatomy of your spine. This is why working with doctors of chiropractic to correct whiplash type injuries makes so much sense. Chiropractors are specifically trained to deal with spinal issues resulting from impact trauma and much more. Through diagnostic examination, digital x-rays and hands on manipulation, your local chiropractor can diagnose, treat and adjust you back to optimal health.

Chiropractor focus on the treatments for different neck injuries using alternative methods of rehabilitation including adjustments, physical rehabilitation, lifestyle changes and wellness programs. However, given the severity of the neck injury your chiropractor can refer you to a medical doctor who can then assist recovery and alleviate inflammation and pain with medications and in the most serious cases surgery.

Typical neck injuries include neck sprains - whiplash where injury to the ligaments has occurred by virtue of being stretched or torn in the neck, resulting in a neck sprain, which can cause pain and stiffness. Then there are neck strains where the muscles in the neck are stretched or torn. Neck pain are typically called “pulled muscles” and often occur when the muscles are suddenly and powerfully contracted or when they stretch outside their normal range of motion. This can be the case in a car accident or even sporting accidents and collisions.

Lyn Lake Chiropractic -  Chiropractors specializing in car accident, workers compensation, whiplash injury, back pain, and much more.

Contact our Chiropractor for more information.

Contact us for a free evaluation.

Chiropractors are known to help many people with neck and back pain, and the majority of chiropractic practices work on conditions relating to the neck and back.  Most all chiropractors also work on the different extremity joints of the body.  Some chiropractors specialize more in sports injuries, and occupational injuries and perform adjustments on these joints more than other chiropractors.  Today I will talk of the common extremity adjustments that can help people with many joint conditions.

Let’s start at the foot, and head upward.  The foot has 13 bones, and all of these Quick read more or view full article bonesarticulate with their neighboring bone.  Many times due to traumatic events in sports and/or injuries relating to auto or work these joints become misaligned and dysfunctional.  Each one of the thirteen bones and their related joints can be manually adjusted and/or adjusted utilizing hand instruments.  The long axis distraction of the talus adjustment is probably the most popular and well known chiropractic adjustment.  It can be beneficial for sprained ankles, plantar fasciitis and other conditions relating to the foot.

Heading north the knee joint can be adjusted also by manual and/or mechanical device.  My favorite adjustment is an adjustment on the medial meniscus which helps the meniscus function better.  The fibular head also goes anterior often.  There are great fibular head adjustments to ease lateral knee pain.

Adjustments on the hips and pelvis are very common.  The main hip adjustment is a long axis distraction maneuver.  This adjustment helps many patients with arthritis in their hip.

The upper extremity adjustments are more commonly used than the lower extremity adjustments.  As patients often have common injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff injuries and frozen shoulder.  Shoulder adjustments include sternal clavicular ac joint adjustments and glenohumural adjustments.  Chiropractors also utilize many muscle techniques when addressing shoulder injuries.  There are 8 carpal bones in the wrist, and all of these articulations can be adjusted by chiropractors.  The middle bone in the wrist is called the lunate.  This bone many times falls forward and closes the carpal tunnel.  Adjusting this bone is my favorite adjustment to help someone with carpal tunnel syndrome.

The last joint is the elbow.  The radial head is the most often misaligned joint in the elbow.  Adjustments on the cranial head are very helpful with common elbow injuries.

If you are suffering from any type of extremity injury, most chiropractors will have treatments that will help you recover.

Author:  Michelle Caron

Chiropractic and Whiplash

Many Minneapolis auto accident injuries do not show symptoms until weeks or even months after the crash. However, even without symptoms, internal damage to the musculoskeletal system and soft tissues can happen immediately. At Lyn Lake Chiropractic our chiropractors and entire wellness team have helped thousands of Minneapolis - St. Paul patients safely recover from whiplash and other auto injuries. 

One of the most stressful events in life is dealing with the issues that occur after an auto accident. The first thing a person thinks about after the crash is the car. Most people are not aware that some injuries are not detected for months or even years. It is absolutely imperative that anybody that is in an auto accident immediately go see a Doctor trained in soft tissue injuries.
 

Quick read more or view full article border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Whiplash is the common name given to the injury where there is a hyperextention (increased backward motion) and hyperflexion (increased forward motion) of the cervical (neck) spine and is also known as Acute Soft Tissue Neck Sprain.

When whiplash injury occurs, the soft tissues – the tendons, ligaments and muscles – which support the head and neck become stretched out of their natural range of motion and torn.

The muscles and ligaments of the neck contract in order to prevent excessive motion and protect you from further serious injury such as a neck fracture or spinal cord injury.  This is called a stretch reflex (myotatic reflex).

More simply put, the head is dramatically thrust forward and backward. Car accidents (rear-end collisions) are usually the cause whiplash injuries.

Although whiplash is most frequently the result of a rear-end collision, whiplash can occur in several other situations including:
 

* Tipping accidents

* Bicycle accident and motorcycle crashes

* A direct blow to the face, neck, head, or back (usually from playing sports)

* Diving into shallow water

* Roller coasters that hyper-extends the neck or causes it to be snapped suddenly and violently in the wrong direction. Head, neck, and back injuries, and even whiplash are commonly reported amusement park injuries.

 

Symptoms of whiplash include headaches; visual disturbance; neck pain and stiffness; restriction of movement; and shoulder, neck, or arm pain. These symptoms may or may not be felt immediately. It is estimated that most whiplash injuries are not felt for several hours, days, and in some cases even five years after the original injury.

Whiplash Injuries and Chiropractic

Studies are clear that whiplash patients make a faster, less painful recovery, return to work and could return to activities faster and are the most satisfied when utilizing chiropractic when compared to covering up the symptoms with medications that have negative side effects that interfere with being able to think and ultimately, reduce productivity.

Chiropractic Spinal Adjustments Ease Whiplash Pain

Whiplash and whiplash-associated disorders is a common affliction in the United States with up to 42% of patients exhibiting long term symptoms, and that if they are still symptomatic after three months there is about a 90% chance that they will remain so. Most treatments used in dealing with this ubiquitous problem have not been shown to be effective by rigorously controlled scientific studies. The one exception to this finding is Chiropractic.
 

Chiropractic has been a blessing to millions of people suffering from neck and whiplash problems, saving many sufferers from unnecessary drugs and surgery.

Even if you are not in pain following a whiplash incident, it is important to receive prompt attention to your injury, as the structural balance of your neck and spine is important to your health. We can assist in your recovery by correctly adjusting your neck and/or spine so it has the chance to heal properly.

Please just take the time and get checked out by a chiropractor soon.

Plantar fasciitis is a pain on the bottom of the foot. It is a condition that normally does not respond well to traditional methods of treatment. It causes muscular dysfunction and sharp pain. Very common injury for runners.

The plantar fascia is a band of fibers which runs from the heel bone to base of the toes. Plantar Fasciitis occurs when these tissues are irritated and become inflamed.

Plantar fasciitis can be caused by any number of things from too much standing, wearing unpadded shoes on hard ground, or repetitive stress to a diet low in vitamin C, being overweight, or an increase in activity among other things.

Chiropractic care helps in treating plantar fasciitis.  Lyn Lake Chiropractic, Official Chiropractor of the Twin Cities Marathon has been treating running injuries more more than 13 years with awesome success. Our Minneapolis Chiropractor enjoys treating runners beacsue they are runners. Lyn Lake Chiropractic offer so many different treatments Quick read more or view full article that help keep runners and athletes.

Some of the many different treatments we offer:

Active Release Technique is a patented, active hands-on soft tissue treatment with a movement based massage-stretching technique that treats dysfunctions within muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. 

Graston Technique is an innovative, patented form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables clinicians to effectively detect and treat scar tissue, adhesions, and restrictions that affect normal function. Graston is used to break down the scar tissue so it can be absorbed by the body. 

Therapeutic Ultrasound is a form of deep therapy created by sound waves. When applied to soft tissues and joints, the sound waves are a form of micro-massage that helps reduce swelling, reduce scar tissue, increase blood flow, and decrease pain, stiffness, and spasms leading to faster healing times. 

Cold Laser Therapy or Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a treatment that uses specific wavelengths of light to interact with tissues and is thought to help accelerate the healing process. It can stimulate all cell types including muscle, ligament, cartilage, nerves, and bone allowing a number of conditions to be treated. 

Kinesiology Tape is a type of tape that uses a bio-mechanical lifting mechanism to lift the skin increasing the blood flow around the muscle, facilitating the natural healing process.  It is often used with athletes as a way to help joint stability without inhibiting normal range of motion of the joint or muscle being treated. Lyn Lake Chiropractic is Certified Rock Tape Doc Clinic!

Lyn Lake Chiropractic Specializes in treating Sports Injuries. We work with kids, weekend athletes, high school and college athletes, and pro athletes. Anyone that is active can end up with a sports injury that would benefit from being treated by a sports chiropractic clinic.

Plantar fasciitis is a pain on the bottom of the foot. It is a condition that normally does not respond well to traditional methods of treatment. It causes muscular dysfunction and sharp pain. Very common injury for runners.

The plantar fascia is a band of fibers which runs from the heel bone to base of the toes. Plantar Fasciitis occurs when these tissues are irritated and become inflamed.

Plantar fasciitis can be caused by any number of things from too much standing, wearing unpadded shoes on hard ground, or repetitive stress to a diet low in vitamin C, being overweight, or an increase in activity among other things.

Chiropractic care helps in treating plantar fasciitis.  Lyn Lake Chiropractic, Official Chiropractor of the Twin Cities Marathon has been treating running injuries more more than 13 years with awesome success. Our Minneapolis Chiropractor enjoys treating runners beacsue they are runners. Lyn Lake Chiropractic offer so many different treatments Quick read more or view full article that help keep runners and athletes.

Some of the many different treatments we offer:

Active Release Technique is a patented, active hands-on soft tissue treatment with a movement based massage-stretching technique that treats dysfunctions within muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. 

Graston Technique is an innovative, patented form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables clinicians to effectively detect and treat scar tissue, adhesions, and restrictions that affect normal function. Graston is used to break down the scar tissue so it can be absorbed by the body. 

Therapeutic Ultrasound is a form of deep therapy created by sound waves. When applied to soft tissues and joints, the sound waves are a form of micro-massage that helps reduce swelling, reduce scar tissue, increase blood flow, and decrease pain, stiffness, and spasms leading to faster healing times. 

Cold Laser Therapy or Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a treatment that uses specific wavelengths of light to interact with tissues and is thought to help accelerate the healing process. It can stimulate all cell types including muscle, ligament, cartilage, nerves, and bone allowing a number of conditions to be treated. 

Kinesiology Tape is a type of tape that uses a bio-mechanical lifting mechanism to lift the skin increasing the blood flow around the muscle, facilitating the natural healing process.  It is often used with athletes as a way to help joint stability without inhibiting normal range of motion of the joint or muscle being treated. Lyn Lake Chiropractic is Certified Rock Tape Doc Clinic!

Lyn Lake Chiropractic Specializes in treating Sports Injuries. We work with kids, weekend athletes, high school and college athletes, and pro athletes. Anyone that is active can end up with a sports injury that would benefit from being treated by a sports chiropractic clinic.

Facts on Sciatic Leg Pain

Your sciatic nerve is the longest and widest nerve in your body, and runs from the lower back, down through the buttock, and all the way into the lower leg, where it controls the muscles in that area. It also provides sensation to the thighs, legs, and the soles of the feet. When the sciatic nerve becomes irritated for some reason and causes pain, this pain is known as sciatica. Sciatica refers to the various symptoms associated with the irritation, and does not give any indication as to the root cause of the irritation.

Much of the low back pain and leg pain reported is sciatic pain, and it is most evident in the age bracket of 30 to 50 years old. It is more commonly a result of general wear and tear, rather than an injury.

Symptoms of Sciatica

The most obvious giveaway that you are Quick read more or view full article suffering sciatic pain is when it follows the route of the sciatic nerve, as previously described, and is typically apparent only on one side of the body. However, there are variations in how exactly that pain is felt, including tingling, aching or burning. It depends on where the sciatic nerve is being affected. Some patients may also feel pins-and-needles in the toes or foot, or muscle numbness/weakness in the affected leg or foot

More often than not, sciatica first manifests slowly, then increases in intensity, often being accentuated after sitting or bending, or sudden movements such as sneezing or coughing.

Diagnosis of sciatica

This starts with your doctor of chiropractic taking a complete patient history. Your descriptions of where the pain is, how it is felt, when it began, and which activities cause you most pain, are all important in helping to form a diagnosis. It is also necessary to undergo a physical and neurological examination, with a particular focus on your spine and legs. Your ability to perform certain activities will be monitored to assess your sensory strength, muscle strength, and reflexes, and any pain resulting from these activities.

Diagnostic imaging, such as x-ray, MRI, or CT scan may be ordered by your doctor of chiropractic if it is felt there may be more at play, such as a serious underlying problem. This may happen if there is no improvement in symptoms following 6 to 8 weeks of conservative treatment.

Treatment options for sciatica

Conservative care, including chiropractic treatment, is a very effective solution for most people suffering from low back pain or sciatic pain. As there is an array of possible causes of sciatica, treatment plans will be individually tailored depending on what your chiropractor finds in your particular case. When we talk about “conservative”, it refers to the absence of surgical procedures or medication. Instead, chiropractic seeks to rectify spinal problems, thus restore spinal movement and reduce the inflammation that’s causing the sciatica. 

Treatment at Lyn Lake Chiropractic may include spinal manipulation and adjustments, the application of ice/heat therapy, Ultrasound, Traction, Active Release Technique (ART), Massage and rehabilitative exercises. If you have any questions please call your local chiropractor or call Lyn Lake Chiropractic to schedule an appointment today!

Many Minneapolis auto accident injuries do not show symptoms until weeks or even months after the crash. However, even without symptoms, internal damage to the musculoskeletal system and soft tissues can happen immediately. At Lyn Lake Chiropractic our minneapolis chiropractor and entire wellness team have helped thousands of Minneapolis - St. Paul patients safely recover from whiplash and other auto injuries. 

One of the most stressful events in life is dealing with the issues that occur after an auto accident. The first thing a person thinks about after the crash is the car. Most people are not aware that some injuries are not detected for months or even years. It is absolutely imperative that anybody that is in an auto accident immediately go see a Doctor trained in soft tissue injuries. 

While whiplash is a common injury from auto accidents, another common complaint of crash victims is Quick read more or view full article that they don’t “feel like their normal selves”. They may also experience other symptoms like dizziness, blurred vision, headaches, back pain, muscle stiffness or spasms, neck pain, numbness and tingling in their arms or legs, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, irritability, memory loss and difficulty concentrating. 

The reason people choose minneapolis chiropractic care for treatment of injuries sustained in auto accidents is simple – chiropractic care is exceptional in the treatment of soft tissue injuries, especially of the spine. Since the most common injuries associated with these events are sprains and strains of the spinal muscles and ligaments, it is only natural that chiropractic be the treatment of choice. 

It is imperative that people involved in auto accidents consult with a doctor who is trained in the biomechanics of the human body; someone who treats these injuries every day. 

Often, passengers can be hurt more than a driver, especially if it is a side wreck or T-bone type of collision. Children can suffer the same injuries as adults and should be given the same care despite a feeling by the parent that a child can’t be “that injured” if no bones are broken or there is no bruising to the skin. Put it this way: if damage was done to a vehicle that actually bent metal, the people inside the vehicle surely absorbed that force as well. 

Due to the body producing adrenaline at the time of an accident, a hormone that acts as a natural pain killer, people are able to muster the courage to move through the impact and “take care of business”.  As mentioned above, it is often days or weeks later that the full impact of the car crash is felt. A trained Chiropractor can be a brilliant source of diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue and joint injuries. 

In addition, x-rays or MRI’s (if indicated) will be used to check for any structural damage. 

Lyn Lake Chiropractic routinely evaluates and treats auto accident victims and makes any appropriate referrals to other health care providers if necessary. Our primary responsibility is to provide the proper care and submit the required medical reports to the insurance company or attorney (if one is involved) so the rights of the patient are protected. 

The Real Pain in the Neck- Your Forward Head Posture

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When your head translates forward, it forces muscles in parts of your neck to stretch and get longer, and others to contract and stay shorter.  It forces muscles to work harder to compensate for this imbalance.  These increased forces on your spine can cause can accelerate degenerative spinal disease (arthritis) and it doesn't have to do with your age.  

Your body attempts to compensate for this imbalance by altering its center of gravity and by deepening your curves.  However, these exaggerated spinal curves invariably lead to neuro-musculoskeletal imbalances, which effect your internal organs, and can also cause long term chronic pain.  

The scary part of this, is that you can have all of this happening, you may not have any pain.  

So you can have it and not feel it! 

Maximize your healthy spine and nervous system with Chiropractic.

                                                                                                Call your Chiropractor Read Less

Injured Workers get back to work fast with chiropractic care.

Many workers’ compensation studies have shown chiropractic care to be superior to medical care in the treatment of on the job back injuries. Chiropractors have been able to get their patients out of pain and back to work faster and with lower treatment costs. For employers, this means that increased use of chiropractic care can reduce premium costs for benefits and contribute to improved productivity.

Injury in the workplace, following an auto accident or at home can be a serious matter. For your health and well-being, do not assume that immediate freedom from back pain or neck pain after an accident means you are fine. Too often, auto accident victims suffer ongoing symptoms years after the auto accident injury and insurance claims have been settled.

Acute Neck Pain (Torticollis), Disability
 and Chiropractic:
Patient Satisfaction Results

The overall patient satisfaction rate was 94%

By
Mark Studin DC, FASBE (C), DAAPM, DAAMLP
William J. Owens DC, DAAMLP

 

An article by Jane Sheppard that I thought was worth sharing.

More and more parents are beginning to look to chiropractors to complement their children’s health care. Chiropractic care involves diagnosing spinal misalignments and correcting them by adjusting the spine. A slight pressure is most commonly used with children rather than the more forceful manipulation sometimes used with adults. Chiropractors attempt to get to the root cause of a health problem rather than just treat the symptoms. Misalignments of the spine (also called subluxations) can occur during childbirth, from tumbles or falls, or from any other normal activity. Misalignments left untreated can irritate the nerves and eventually disrupt the body’s ability to function properly. The purpose of a chiropractic adjustment is to help to restore the normal functioning of the nervous system so the body can heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery. Ear Infections and Quick read more or view full article href="http://www.lynlakechiropractic.com">Chiropractic Ear pain is the number one reason for child visits to chiropractors. Many chiropractors believe that there is a strong link between the birthing process and recurrent ear infection… Ear infection accounts for over 35% of all pediatrician visits in the United States. Antibiotics, the usual treatment, are not always effective and may even lead to a recurrence of ear infections. Many children are dealing with a continuing cycle of repeat ear infections, which lands them back at the pediatrician for more antibiotics. For nearly 100 years, the chiropractic profession has claimed that ear and other upper respiratory infections respond favorably to chiropractic adjustments. A promising study published in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics indicates that there is a strong correlation between chiropractic adjustments and the resolution of ear infections. 332 children with chronic ear infections participated in the study. Each child, ranging in age from 27 days to 5 years, was given a series of chiropractic adjustments. The results show that close to 80% of the children did not experience another ear infection within the six-month period following their initial visits. The six-month period included maintenance treatments every four to six weeks. Joan M. Fallon, D.C., the author of the study and the chiropractor who treated the children in the study, states that this pilot study can serve as a starting point from which the chiropractic profession can begin to examine its role in the treatment of children with chronic ear infections… chiropractic treatment is a conservative, drugless approach to consider trying if your child has a history of chronic ear infections.

 The Holistic Pediatric Association also provides an online directory of pediatric health professionals, including chiropractors. Related Article: Ear Infections: Alternative Solutions Fallon JM. The Role of the Chiropractic Adjustment in the Care and Treatment of 332 Children with Otitis Media. Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics. 1997; Volume 2, No. 2:167-183. Coulter ID. Efficacy and Risks of Chiropractic Manipulation: What Does the Evidence Suggest? Integrative Medicine 1998;1:61-66.

Consumer Reports ~ May 2009 plus this Quick read more or view full article href="http://pressroom.consumerreports.org/pressroom/2009/04/consumer-reports-survey-hands-on-therapies-among-top-rated-treatments-for-back-pain.html" target="_blank">second review.

April 10, 2009 — A study in the May issue of Consumer Reports shows that hands-on therapies were tops among treatments for relief of back pain. The study, which surveyed more than 14,000 consumers, was conducted by the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center.

According to the report, the survey respondents tried a variety of different treatments and rated the treatments on how helpful and satisfied they were with the results. The report concluded that hands-on therapies were the top-rated.

The report states that, “eighty-eight percent of those who tried chiropractic manipulation said it helped a lot, and 59 percent were ‘completely’ or ‘very’ satisfied with their chiropractor.”


The Results at a glance:

Professional	Highly satisfied
Chiropractor	59%
Physical therapist	55%
Acupuncturist	53%
Physician, specialist	44%
Physician, primary-care doctor	34%

From their article:

About 80 percent of U.S. adults have at some point been bothered by back pain. The Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center recently surveyed more than 14,000 subscribers who had lower-back pain in the past year but had never had back surgery. More than half said pain severely limited their daily routine for a week or longer, and 88 percent said it recurred through the year. Many said the pain interfered with sleep, sex, and efforts to maintain a healthy weight. Back pain can be tough to treat. Most of our respondents tried five or six different treatments. They rated the helpfulness of the treatments tried and their satisfaction with the health-care professionals visited.

Hands-on therapies were among the top-rated. Fifty-eight percent of those who tried chiropractic manipulation said it helped a lot, and 59 percent were "completely" or "very" satisfied with their chiropractor. Massage and physical therapy were close runners-up.

Many of those who tried spinal injections found them to be very helpful, although the techniques their doctors used varied. Most respondents had used some type of medication. Forty-five percent of those who took prescription drugs said they helped a lot, double the percentage of those who said they were helped by over-the-counter medications.
 

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a common problem for children and adults who are adjusting to life with less sunlight from shorter winter days and more time spent indoors.

If you find that you have less energy, are feeling depressed, overeating and sleeping longer but feeling worse then you’re likely suffering from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).

Consider these tips to help you get through the colder overcast months with your mind and body intact:

Indulge In The Day Light Hours. Regardless of how much sunlight you’ve lost, take advantage of the sun when you can get it. Whether it be a

 
Indulge In The Day Light Hours. Regardless of how much sunlight you’ve lost, take advantage of the sun when you can get it. Whether it be a
quick walk around the block, opening your curtains with intention each day Quick read more or view full article or finding an activity that will get you outdoors during the day, take advantage of that sunshine. Just because there is less light doesn’t mean you have to curb your activities.

Use The Sunlight To Set a Rhythm. A regular sleep-wake cycle will help regulate the other areas of your life- mentally and physically. When our bodies are familiar with a routine we just function better making us feel better. When you get up in the morning open your blinds to help your body connect wakefulness with sunlight. This can boost your mood and kick start your body for the day.

Stress Less. While the darkness can feel like a sad or stressful time to your body and there isn’t much you can do to change that, eliminate other stressful events in your life or at least keep them to a minimum. Many find to release stress they indulge in a physical activity that releases stress, visit Lyn Lake Chiropractic on a regular basis for a chiropractic adjustment or disconnect with relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation.

There’s no right way to deal with SAD but helping your body and mind to transition and thrive during the winter months is possible. Find ways to stay active and get as much sunlight as possible so that when spring arrives you’re ready for all of the things you didn’t remember missing so much.

Acute (Severe) Low Back Pain, Early Intervention
and Chiropractic

87% of chiropractic patients showed improvement

 By
Mark Studin DC, FASBE (C), DAAPM, DAAMLP
William J. Owens DC, DAAMLP

Best Chiropractic Care for Runners

by Klovey36 at Citysearch

LynLake Chiropractic is the best clinic for runners hands down. I have been a patient of Kevin's for the last few years battling typical overuse injuries and have been impressed with the knowledge, speed of care and technique from all his staff.

But when I broke my foot four weeks ago, they surpassed all expectations. I limped in on a Friday morning, had an x-ray within 10 minutes at the clinic, suggesting 5th metatarsal fracture. Then Kevin took charge of my care - scheduled a MRI that morning and an ortho consult that afternoon and essentially created my treatment plan for me (thus giving me hope). For four weeks, I've been a regular frequent flyer for ice, stim, laser on the foot, ultrasound and massage on the achilles and Quick read more or view full article the occasional alignment problems from walking with a boot.

I always knew Kevin and his team were talented. But the level of expertise, dedication and kindness combined with much needed humor have been instrumental to get me moving these past few weeks.

Thank you LynLake.

Are you looking for an event that offers genuine interaction,
connectedness and community?

Quick read more or view full article 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-align: center; "> Join other expecting and new moms as they connect with companies that support their lifestyles and family transitions.

The first annual My Healthy Beginning Experience will take place on September 24th from 10am-6pm and September 25th from 10am-5pm at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Join other expecting and new moms as they connect with companies that support their lifestyles and family transitions.

The first annual My Healthy Beginning Experience will take place on September 24th from 10am-6pm and September 25th from 10am-5pm at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Here are just a few of things you can expect from the My Healthy Beginning Experience:

• An interactive, entertaining stage and lots of comfortable seating
• A private space for breastfeeding moms who prefer not to nurse in public
• Plenty of fun, age-appropriate activities for the littles in your life!
• Friendly, supportive, informative exhibitors to answer all your questions about what’s what in the world of pregnancy, birth early childhood.
• PLUS: Help us donate 5,000 pounds of food to to help MN mamas feed their families! Get $1 off your admission fee of $6 (12 and under FREE!) by bringing along a non perishable nutritious food item for our Second Harvest Heartland food drive!  We will also accept: diapers, wipes, and baby food in cardboard or plastic packaging (No GLASS please!)

What will you take away from the My Healthy Beginning Experience?

* Peace of mind about your parenting style

* Inspiration to make a difference in your family’s life

* A sense of empowerment from what your community has to offer you!


Lyn Lake Chiropractic are proud partners with Mommy's Connections in Burnsville Minnesota. "Most women have found that chiropractic care helped them avoid the use of pain medications during their pregnancy, and studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments help to reduce time in labor.  Read more......http://www.lynlakechiropractic.com/page.cfm?pageid=14939

Call for a free consultation!  Minneapolis Chiropractic Clinic 612-879-8000
 

Cervical and Lumbar Disc Herniations and Chiropractic Care

80% of the chiropractic patients studied had good clinical outcomes

By
William J. Owens DC, DAAMLP
Mark Studin DC, FASBE (C), DAAPM, DAAMLP
 

Low Back Pain:

Chiropractic Adjustments vs. Muscle Relaxants

by Mark Studin DC, FASBE(C), DAAPM, DAAMLP

Chiropractic had a better outcome in 24% of the patients

Low back pain is one of the most common maladies among the general population and the incidence of occurrence was reported by Ghaffari, Alipour, Farshad, Yensen, and Vingard (2006) to be between 15% and 45% yearly. Hoiriis et al. (2004) reported it to be between 75% and 85% over an adult lifetime in the United States. Chou (2010) writes that, "Back pain is also the fifth most common reason for office visits in the US, and the second most common symptomatic reason..." (p. 388). Historically and based upon this authors 3+ decades of treating low back pain with treatment options that range Quick read more or view full article from heating pads, ice packs, over-the-counter drugs, prescription drugs, surgery, acupuncture and beyond, the most important questions are, "What works? What's proven and what has the best results with the least side effects allowing the patient to regain a normal lifestyle as quickly as possible."

Muscle relaxers are a common drug that has been prescribed by medical doctors for years for nonspecific low back pain. According to Chou (2010), " The term ‘skeletal muscle relaxants’ refers to a diverse collection of pharmacologically unrelated medications, grouped together because they are approved by regulatory agencies for treatment of spasticity or for musculoskeletal conditions such as tension headache or back pain." They are drugs that has been long studied and the effects and side effects have been well documented. Van Tudlar, Touray, Furlan, Solway, and Bouter (2003) concluded that, "Muscle relaxants are effective in the management of nonspecific low back pain, but the adverse effects require that they be used with caution"(p. 1978).

Chou (2010) also stated that, "Skeletal muscle relaxants are an option for acute nonspecific low back pain, although not recommended as first-line therapy because of a high prevalence of adverse effects" (p. 397). He reported that muscle relaxants had a moderate success rate defined by a 1-2 decrease in pain scales rated out of 10. Simply put, if a patient had a pain scale of 9, one could expect the muscle relaxers prescribed to bring the pain to an 8 or 7 at best and include all of the side effects. According to Drugs.com, side effects of muscle relaxants include:

More common

Blurred or double vision or any change in vision; dizziness or lightheadedness; drowsiness

Less common

Fainting; fast heartbeat; fever; hive-like swellings (large) on face, eyelids, mouth, lips, and/or tongue; mental depression; shortness of breath, troubled breathing, tightness in chest, and/or wheezing; skin rash, hives, itching, or redness; slow heartbeat (methocarbamol injection only); stinging or burning of eyes; stuffy nose and red or bloodshot eyes

Less common or rare

Abdominal or stomach cramps or pain; clumsiness or unsteadiness; confusion; constipation; diarrhea; excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability; flushing or redness of face; headache; heartburn; hiccups; muscle weakness; nausea or vomiting; pain or peeling of skin at place of injection (methocarbamol only); trembling; trouble in sleeping; uncontrolled movements of eyes (methocarbamol injection only)

Rare

Blood in urine; bloody or black, tarry stools; convulsions (seizures) (methocarbamol injection only); cough or hoarseness; fast or irregular breathing; lower back or side pain; muscle cramps or pain (not present before treatment or more painful than before treatment); painful or difficult urination; pain, tenderness, heat, redness, or swelling over a blood vessel (vein) in arm or leg (methocarbamol injection only); pinpoint red spots on skin; puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes; sores, ulcers, or white spots on lips or in mouth; sore throat and fever with or without chills; swollen and/or painful glands; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual tiredness or weakness; vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds; yellow eyes or skin.(http://www.drugs.com/cons/skeletal-muscle-relaxants.html)

When comparing chiropractic spinal adjustments to muscle relaxants for low back pain, it first must be clarified that we are not discussing physical therapy or osteopathic manipulation. While different specialists render tremendous benefits to patients specific to various diagnoses, this research review is limited to a chiropractic spinal adjustment.

Wilkey, Gregory, Byfield, & McCarthy (2008) studied randomized clinical trials comparing chiropractic care to medical care in a pain clinic. "The treatment regimens employed by the pain clinic in this study consisted of standard pharmaceutical therapy (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, and gabapentin), facet joint injection, and soft-tissue injection. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) machines were also employed. These modalities were used in isolation or in combination with any of the other treatments. Chiropractic group subjects followed an equally unrestricted and normal clinical treatment regimens for the treatment of [chronic low back pain] were followed. All techniques that were employed are recognized within the chiropractic profession as methods used for the treatment of [low back pain]. Many of the methods used are common to other manual therapy professions" (p. 466-467).

After 8 weeks of treatment, the 95% confidence intervals based on the raw scores showed improvement was 1.99 for medicine and 9.03 for the chiropractic group. This research indicates that chiropractic is 457% more effective than medicine for chronic low back pain.

Within that group of 457% falls patients cared for by muscle relaxants.

Hoiriis et al. (2004) reported in their raw data that the chiropractic groups responded 24% better in reducing pain and concluded that, "Statistically, the chiropractic group responded significantly better than the control group with respect to a decrease in pain scores" (p. 396). This was done in "blinded, randomized clinical trials [which] are considered the gold standard of experimental design" (Hoiriis et al., 2004, p. 396).

REFERENCES

1. Ghaffari, M., Alipour, A., Farshad, A. A., Yensen, I., & Vingard, E.(2006).Incidence and recurrence of disabling low back pain and neck-shoulder pain. Spine, 31(21), 2500-2506.

2. Hoiriis, K. T., Pfleger, B., McDuffie, F. C., Cotsonis, G., Elsangak, O., Hinson, R., & Verzosa, G. T. (2004). A randomized clinical trial comparing chiropractic adjustments to muscle relaxants for subacute low back pain. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 27(6), 388-398.

3. Chou, R. (2010). Pharmacological management of low back pain. Drugs, 70(4) 387-402.

4. van Tudlar, M. W., Touray, T., Furlan, A. D., Solway, S., & Bouter, L. M. (2003). Muscle relaxants for nonspecific low back pain: A systematic review within the framework of the cochrane collaboration. Spine, 28(17), 1978-1992.

5. Drugs.com, (2004). Skeletal muscle relaxants (systemic). Retrieved from http://www.drugs.com/cons/skeletal-muscle-relaxants.html

Common Questions About Chiropractic

Many everyday things can cause neck pain, such as watching TV, using your computer, reading a book or falling asleep in a chair or on an airplane. The temporary pain that results usually resolves on its own, especially when the offending activity is discontinued. When it doesn't, a more serious underlying problem may be indicated.

Here are the most common questions we get about headaches and neck pain:

Q: What causes headaches?

A: The three most common causes are physical trauma, emotional stress, or chemical toxins. Sometimes there may be a combination of factors. A thorough examination process helps identify the most likely cause(s).

Q: Why would a chiropractor take pictures of my lower back?

A: Many patients are surprised when their chiropractic examination involves other areas of their body besides the local site of their symptom(s). Some neck pain cases can be a compensation to problems in the feet, knees, Quick read more or view full article hips and lower back. We see you as a whole person, not just a collection of "parts."

Q: Will I have to have neck adjustments?

A: If your problem is the result of abnormal motion or position of spinal bones in the neck, cervical adjustments can be effective. There are many ways to adjust the neck and your chiropractor has become an experienced master. Years of practice make these spinal adjustments safe and effective. Much safer than common aspirin or muscle relaxers!

Q: How long will I need chiropractic care?

A: Some patients see quick improvement and then immediately discontinue their care. They often suffer a relapse since muscles and soft tissues have not had time to fully heal. Others discover that degenerative changes to their spines make periodic checkups a worthwhile investment. We'll make recommendations, but how long you benefit from chiropractic care is up to you.

If the weakest link in our bodies is our neck, stress shows up there. While chiropractic care cannot reduce the stress of your busy life, it can help improve your ability to handle and tolerate it. Without drugs or surgery!

Call Lyn Lake Chiropractic today!