Ventura Spinal Care Center

Chiropractic Care For Low Back Pain –

Dr. Steve Alff, D.C. — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:46:25 +0000

There has been a debate for years regarding the use of spinal manipulation and its benefits in the treatment of low back pain. Since the founding of chiropractic in 1895, the initial reaction against the early pioneer chiropractors resulted in doctors of chiropractic (DC’s) being incarcerated for “…practicing medicine without a license.” But chiropractors kept forging ahead and because of obtaining good results and helping millions of people, by 1971, Medicare adopted coverage for chiropractic – a first in chiropractic’s history. In 1975, the US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare invited an international group of health care provider types (MD’s, DC’s, DO’s, etc.), to share with each other at the National Institute of Health, and determine what the “current” research status of spinal manipulative therapy was at that time. Recommendations for future needed research resulted and the proceedings were published in: The DHEW Publication No. (NIH) 76-998 “The Research Status of Spinal Manipulative Therapy.” That landmark gathering stimulated a plethora of research that was to follow over the course of the next 30+ years and continues today. Due to the overwhelming positive benefits of chiropractic published in many research studies, by the late 1980’s, most insurance companies included coverage for chiropractic care. Today, many chiropractors practice in multidiscipline health care centers that include DC’s, MD’s, and PT’s others. The following list of research studies has had a significant impact in vaulting chiropractic to its current accepted status in the health care system (the URL is included for further study):

1) Meade TW, Dyer S, Browne W, Townsend J, Frank AO. British Medical Journal 1990 (Jun 2); 300 (6737):1431-1437. http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/ABSTRACTS/LBP_of_Mechanical_Origin.shtml

2) Manga P, Angus DE, Papadopoulos C, Swan WR. A Study to Examine the Effectiveness and Cost-effectiveness of Chiropractic Management of Low-Back Pain. 8/1993; Ontario, Canada. http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/GUIDELINES/Manga_93.shtml

3) Bigos S, et. al., 1994, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=hstat6.chapter.25870

4) Meade TW, Dyer S, Browne W, Frank AO. Randomised Comparison of Chiropractic and Hospital Outpatient Management for Low Back Pain: Results from Extended Follow up. British Medical Journal 1995 (Aug 5); 311 (7001): 349–351 http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/ABSTRACTS/Chiropractic_and_Hospital_Outpatient.shtml

5) Luo X, Pietrobon R, Sun SX, Liu GG, Hey L. Estimates and Patterns of Direct Health Care Expenditures Among Individuals With Back Pain in the United States. Spine 2004 (Jan 1); 29 (1): 79–86. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14699281

At the Ventura Spinal Care Center, we use a computerized instrument to do the spinal adjusting and extremity adjusting….it is called the ProAdjuster. There is no twisting, cracking, or popping..it is extremly safe and comfortable. We can adjust all types of patients, even those who have had back surgery in the past. If you, a family member or a friend requires care, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services. We are proud that chiropractic care has consistently scored the highest level of satisfaction when compared to other forms of health care provision and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE OR SPINAL DECOMPRESSION FOR LOW BACK PAIN! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 805-648-7987

Neck and Shoulder Strengthening

Dr. Steve Alff, D.C. — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:04:31 +0000

As you can probably imagine, I have a lot of patients who struggle with neck and shoulder pain. Many people who work in offices and on computers complain of frequent neck pain and tightness.
Here’s a way to target the neck and shoulders: dumbbells.
Strength training using dumbbells not only reduces pain, but also improves the function of your neck and shoulder area. Here are 5 exercises that you can do with dumbbells to reduce pain and improve function in the neck and shoulders.
1. The one-arm row
2. Shoulder abduction
3. Shoulder shrug
4. Reverse fly
5. Upright row
Start with light hand weights and increase the weight of your dumbbells only after you are comfortable with the lighter weights. The starting weight should be 6 to 12 pounds.
Perform these exercises 3 times per week. Mix up your workouts. Do exercises 1, 2, and 5 one day, and then the next day do exercises 1, 3, and 4. Switch back and forth each time you exercise.
When starting out, do 2 sets of each exercise 8 to 12 times. As you get stronger, add a third set. Once you can do an exercise comfortably for 3 sets, then increase the weight slightly.
These exercises are a great compliment to your chiropractic adjustments. Try them out and see how it goes! If you have any questions about the exercises, email me at alff@sbcglobal.net. Dr. Steve Alff, D.C.

Tour The New Office With Dr. Steve Alff, D.C.

Dr. Steve Alff, D.C. — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:12:39 +0000

Have you seen our new office?

Dr. Alff Helps Out Santa on Christmas Day

Dr. Steve Alff, D.C. — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:01:40 +0000

Santa Claus knew who to call on Christmas Day because his back was hurting after a hard night delivering packages! He had heard about Dr. Alff’s expertise and also about the Pro-Adjuster; a computerized spinal adjusting instrument that can realign the spine and relieve back pain; without any twisting, cracking or popping! Santa felt like a new man after his adjustment! The Ventura Spinal Care Center was glad to help out ol’ Saint Nick!

What You Can Do At Home When You Have Back Pain

Dr. Steve Alff, D.C. — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:49:50 +0000

Did you know that at any given time, over 31 million people in the US suffer from back pain? It’s true. In fact, 80% of all Americans will have back problems and back pain at some point in their lives.

Why is this?

I think it’s because we were never taught to take care of our back on regular basis…like how we take care of our teeth. The simple fact is most people neglect their spinal health. They take a “reactive approach” which means they do nothing until a problem is already there.

The better approach would be to take care of not only your spine but your health on a regular and consistent basis. Aging and stress break down our bodies and unless we are doing something positive to keep our bodies healthy, then we are on a crash course with back and body problems.

If you’ve had really bad back pain, you know what a life changer it can be. It’s miserable. It negatively affects everything. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Here are some simple things you can take to reduce or eliminate your back pain:

* First, it starts with “how you think.” The bottom line is you can’t ignore your spinal health. There is a price to pay for neglect. The best approach to health is “attention” instead of neglect. You will want to take care of not only your spine but the rest of your body on a regular basis…even when you are feeling good. After all, you brush your teeth everyday and your teeth don’t have pain. After all, who says you need to be in pain to take care of yourself?

* Next, use services that work great for back pain. Chiropractic care has been PROVEN countless times to be the BEST choice for back pain. So when you have back pain, make sure you get adjusted. If you are suffering with back pain due to a herniated or bulging disc then you need to come in and get evaluated and see if non-surgical spinal decompression is your answer to not taking toxic medications or having surgery. And when you are feeling good, get an adjustment once a month to MAINTAIN your good health. A monthly adjustment will not only prevent major back “flair ups” but will also keep your spine healthy. Massage therapy and acupuncture can also help with back pain and stiffness.

* Exercise regularly. Your body was meant to “move.” Your joints like motion, so if you aren’t moving and exercising regularly, your joints will stiffen up. This includes your back. So make sure you are active and exercising. Even something simple like taking a walk every day is better than doing nothing.

* Stretch regularly. It’s important that you keep the muscles in your back and legs limber and flexible. The tighter these muscles get, the bigger chance you have of developing back pain. Make sure you stretch after you exercise.

* Pay attention to how you lift things. Make sure you bend with your legs and not at the waist. Keep the object you are lifting as close to you as possible. And try not to bend and twist. Instead, turn your entire body.

* Check your mattress. It’s important that you have a quality mattress that gives you BOTH comfort and support. A bad mattress can be a cause of developing back pain.

* Watch your posture. A bad posture doesn’t just look bad; it’s bad for your back too. Pay attention to how you stand and sit. If you work at a desk all day, or on a computer, make sure you maintain good posture.

I promise that if you incorporate these strategies into your daily routine, your back will feel great!

If you have any questions or comments, just email me. I’d love to hear from you!

Sincerely,

Dr. Steven Alff, D.C.

Spondylolisthesis-What Is That?

Dr. Steve Alff, D.C. — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:16:59 +0000

So, what is spondylolisthesis? In simple terms, it is the sliding forward of one vertebra over another. It occures in about 7% of the western population and up to 30-50% in cultures that carry their young on their back (like a backpack). It is reported that most people who develop spondylolistehsis acquire this between ages 6 and 16 due to a developmental weakness in that part of the spine. However, the cause can also be traumatic, where rapid, uncontrolled backward bending occurs. It can also gradually occur over time (called “degenerative”), usually not found before age 50-60, where no single event can be recalled by the patient. There is also a congenital type that can be hereditary where one is born with it, though most authorities feel it is acquired at an early age. The good news is that it is often stable and does not require surgery. In the more severe case, the nerves and/or spinal cord can get pinched in which case surgery is nevessary. The symptoms would then include leg pain, weakness and/or numbness with or without significant low back pain. Most cases, however, can be sucessfully managed without surgery and do not compromise the nerves or cord.

Chiropractic care, and sometimes, non-surgical spinal decompression has been found to be very successful in managing patients with spondylolistehesis as the pain generator is often above or below the slipped vertebra. In face, in one report, chiropractic was found to be more beneficial than medical care of this condition (Mierau D, et. al., J Manip Physiol Therap 1987;10:49-55).

If you, a family member or a friend require care, we sincerrely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

A Great Stretch That Helps Your Low Back Pain

Dr. Steve Alff, D.C. — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:29:08 +0000

A lot of my patients get lower back pain and/or stiffness due to sitting for long periods of time. Whether it’s sitting at your desk, or working on your computer, long drives in the car, long airline trips, or even bleacher seats at ball games, sitting can trigger back pain, especially as we get older.

Did you know that 80 to 90% of all Americans will experience back pain in their lives? It’s true!

And in addition to chiropractic adjustments, stretching the right muscles is one of the best ways to avoid chronic back pain…especially if you have trouble sitting for a long period of time.

The bottom line is as we age, we lose flexibility. And if we don’t stretch your flexibility will be even worse. And if you sit at a desk all day, you make things even worse. So it’s important to keep the right muscles stretches and flexible, and this will help decrease your back pain too!

So today I want to show you a quick and easy stretch for low back pain that will benefit you. What you want to do is stretch the front of your hips and legs either daily or every other day. This area of your body is called your “hip flexors.” If you sit all day, you put a lot of pressure and stress on your hip flexors. And if your hip flexors get tight and stiff, it will lead to low back pain. Here’s a simple stretch for your hip flexors…

What you want to do is stand in a runner’s stance, with your right foot forward and your left foot back, with your feet flat on the floor. Then, either put your hands on your hips or have a chair next to you that you can hold on to for support. Make sure you keep your back and hips in straight alignment. Next, push your hips forward while keeping your back straight. Slowly, keep moving your hips forward until you feel a comfortable level of tension in your upper leg. Hold for 10 to 15 seconds. Then switch sides and do the other leg. Do each side 3 times.

If you sit for long periods of time each day, you should find this stretch to be very beneficial. If you have any questions about how to do it properly, either email me or ask me the next time you are in the office for an adjustment.

Have a great day and I’ll talk to you soon!

Sincerely,

Dr. Steve Alff, D.C.

Doctor, When Can I Play Golf Again?

Dr. Steve Alff, D.C. — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:44:06 +0000

If you are a golfer undergoing non-surgical spinal decompression to help you, 1). avoid having a risky spinal surgery and, 2). get you back on the golf couse, I know what your first question will be. You will want to know….when can I play golf again?

Having worked with many golfers in the last 4 years (I’ve been doing spinal decompression that long), I know what golfers what to know, I know how important it is to you to get back to your golf game. And, I want you to get back to the game too!

But, the answer to the question is….you will be able to get back to golf when it is absolutely safe for you to do so without reinjuring your back. Each case of spinal decompression is different. There is no cookbook recipe to determine when you can golf again. If someone tells you that they can predict exactly when you will be able to golf again; they aren’t being honest!

If you are suffering from low back pain or sciatica from a bulging, herniated or degenerative disc, non-surgical spinal decmpression is your best hope of returning ti your golf game. When will you be able to play again? One thing for certain, the sooner you start your non-surgical spinal decmpression, the sooner you will be able to start playing golf!

Importance of Rehydration

Dr. Steve Alff, D.C. — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:24:03 +0000

Every patient of mine is told the importance of hydration. When they start re-hydrating, wonderful things begin to happen.

According to Dr. Batmanghelidj, M.D. found in his book entitled “Your Body’s Many Cries For Water“, “fully 75 percent of the weight of the upper part of the body is supported by the water volume that is stored in the disc core; 25 percent is suppoted by the fibrous materials around the disc…..(water) provides the hydraulic support for the weight-bearing qualities of an intervertebral disc.”

In chronic dehydration, the discs begin to fray. They cannot keep up wit the stress of subluxations (vertebrae being out of alignment), in addition to day to day wear and tear. Patients with disc problems respond very well to rehydration.

The list of conditions that Dr. Batmanghelidj found to respond to re-hydration includes migraines, high blood pressure (the blood is thickened due to water loss, so it takes more force to push it through the body), asthma, colitis, angina, back pain, arthiritis, heartburn, early adult-onset diabetes, high cholosterol and many others. Dr. Batmangheldi claims that many of these conditions are part of the body’s early-warning system, and if not heeded, can progress to stroke, cancer, heart disease and other serious health conditions.

Rehydration takes about two weeks, according to Dr. Batmangheldi. His book has various protocols people should use. But, he states that the beneficial effects of water are noticed immediately usually.

So, if you are experiencing any of the health conditions listed above, it is time to start drinking water!

If you should need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Dr. Steven Alff, D.C./Ventura Spinal Care Center

“Refuse to Fuse”

Dr. Steve Alff, D.C. — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:44:54 +0000

Scott L. Blumenthal, M.D. of the world renown Texas Back Insitute has his personal philosophy on the official website of the Institute. Blumenthal states “anterior cervical fusion has been the gold standard for the treatment of cervical radiculopathy and neck pain for many years. However, fusion is designed to limit motion and may lead to adjacent segment degeneration”.

Dr. Blumenthal now recommends a new unproven mechanical disc replacement for patients experiencing neck and arm pain.

This new stance by the leading edge of the medical/surgical profession to reverse many years of recommending surgical fusion of degenerated cervical disc is a complete turn around from previous fusion surgery recommendations.

The question is: how effective will these new mechanical discs actually be? The answer will not be known for a long time. My opinion is there is NEVER gonig to be an adequate replacement from the original equipment…in the human body we were born with.

If you are considering spinal fusion, contact the Ventura spinal Care Center first and see if you qualify for non-surgical spinal decompression with the amazing DRX9000.

For a free consult, contact us at 805-648-7987.

Yours for health, naturally,

Dr. Steve Alff, D.C.