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What’s the first thing that comes to mind when somebody brings up chiropractic? Commonly when people think of going to the chiropractor, they most often associate that with getting “cracked” or “popped.” In todays blog we will dive into what a chiropractic adjustment actually is and how it can be helpful for treating pain.

The musculoskeletal system is made up of muscles, bones, joints, cartilage and tendons, all of which together gives us the ability to move and also plays a vital role in protecting our organs. Since the musculoskeletal system makes up the overwhelming majority of our bodies, it is no wonder that it is to blame for so many pain driven conditions. This being said, lets talk about how chiropractic adjustments can be helpful in treating pain.

A chiropractic adjustment is a therapeutic treatment that uses controlled force directed at a specific joint in the body. Within the musculoskeletal system, there are well over 300 joints, all of which play a vital role in proper function of the body. When a joint is not moving properly, it often times results in pain. When this is the case, a chiropractic adjustment can be applied to that specific joint, which helps to restore function, range of motion and decrease pain.

During a chiropractic adjustment it is not unusual to hear an audible “popping” sound. This is caused by the release of small pockets of gas trapped from within the joint, while it is being taken through a full range of motion during the adjustment. Although this does not always happen, nor does it need to happen for an adjustment to be effective, it is a phenomenon that is often times associated with the adjustment. After a adjustment is performed, the joints within the body are able to move through a greater range of motion which helps to restore natural body function.

As complex as our musculoskeletal system can be, we can greatly reduce the risk for pain when all joints are moving as they were designed to do. Benefits of getting adjusted are quite vast and include everything from improved mobility and balance to decreased pain and muscular tension. The chiropractic adjustment is a researched and proven technique that is safe and effective for restoring proper motion within a joint, helping to improve overall body function. The chiropractic adjustment plays a vital role in our success with decreasing pain and increasing function with almost all of our patients. When paired with other modalities such as acupuncture/dry needling, soft tissue therapy and dynamic rehabilitation we are able to provide a comprehensive and integrated plan to help them achieve their goals in a timely fashion. Do you feel like your body is holding you back from doing the things you love to do? If so, chiropractic care may be a great option for you. Give us a call at 317-449-2020 with any questions you may have or to set up an appointment so we can help get you back to doing the things you love.

Content provided by Dr. Milton Brinza

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Call it dry needling, call it acupuncture, whatever you want to call it – it works. Dry needling acupuncture therapy has shown to provide some of the best results in our clinic. But, what is actually happening when all those filaments are put into your body? Why is it that those teeny tiny filaments are so powerful?

Let’s begin with differentiating dry needling and traditional Chinese medicine (acupuncture). At IHS, we use the same size filaments as those used in TCM. TCM focuses on placing the filaments along the meridians or channels discovered over 3,000 years ago to be the most effective in all types of healing, not just musculoskeletal. Dr. Ma, founder of Integrative Dry Needling, states that dry needling is the evidence-informed practice of ancient Chinese medicine. Dry needling focuses on finding the trigger points aka those knots and ropes you feel in your muscles in order to restore tissue extensibility. TCM also tends to place the filaments more superficially whereas the depth of dry needling varies based on the muscle, tendon, or ligament being addressed.  Interestingly, Dr. Ronald Melzack found that more than 70% of classic meridian acupoints correspond to common trigger points. 

Now for the fun stuff. How can one little 0.25mm gauge needle be so effective? According to Dr. Ma, inserting a single filament with a depth of only 1 cm can break at least 1,000 muscle fibers. When pushed deeper, tens of thousands of muscle fibers as well as come capillaries and nerve endings are damaged by the filament. Now, multiply that by however many filaments have been inserted, and you can see how powerful this form of musculoskeletal treatment truly is.

You may be thinking at this point, why would these nice doctors be wanting to injure my tissue? This is because the brain is able to identify the trauma caused by the filament and direct your body’s natural healing processes to that area. Your cardiovascular, immune, and endocrine systems are able to target the damaged region and replace it with fresh tissue within just a few days.  Not only is short-term pathology addressed, but chronic pathology is also prevented by promoting self-healing and reducing both the mechanical and biological stress on the body. Another bonus – the filament is so thin that you barely feel it inserted – if at all!

Keep in mind that according to Janet Travell, after an injury, tissues heal, but muscles learn, they readily develop habits of guarding that outlast the injury. You do not always have to be in pain to benefit from acupuncture/dry needling. Myofascial pain involves tissue inflammation, tissue contracture, swelling, degeneration, tissue adhesion, scarring, and biomechanical muscle imbalance. All of these changes outlast the pain itself, which you may not notice until one day your shoulder starts to hurt, or your back is a little tense.  

In short, even without pain, there still may be trigger points and imbalances causing repetitive dysfunction throughout the body.  One of the purposes of dry needling acupuncture therapy is to lower the stress in muscles so that they can absorb more force during sporting activity and thereby prevent or reduce stress-related injuries to the musculoskeletal system. If the muscles are tight, they will pull on the tendons, causing the tendons to be tight, and so on and so forth. 

Here at Integrated Health Solutions, we have seem amazing results with dry needling acupuncture therapy. What were thought to be cases of frozen shoulder were actually just some dysfunctional tissues that were able to be relieved by dry needling and rehab after just 8 visits.  Presumed hip labral issues were overactive hip flexors that were able to be released via dry needling and some exercises to get the patient back to all activities of daily living. The cases could go on and on. Give it a try for yourself!

Content provided by Jennifer Brenneisen

Reference: Ma, Y.-tao. (2011). Biomedical acupuncture for sports and trauma rehabilitation: dry needling techniques. St. Louis, MO: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier.

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Lets face it – injuries, especially sports-related injuries, are inevitable. Whether it’s a torn rotator cuff muscle suffered while pitching or a sprained knee from ballet dancing, injuries are a part of being active. Rehabilitation, therefore, should also be active.  I missed my entire junior year of football due to a sprained ankle that occurred during pre-season training.  I was told to R.I.C.E and…well, that’s about it. Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate, repeat. Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate, repeat. I was following the athletic trainer’s orders and sat passively on the sideline with a bum ankle that never seemed to strengthen. I then spent the next season taping my ankles before every practice and game and wearing ankle braces over the tape. 

It wasn’t until I read about Indianapolis Colts star Dwight Freeney rehabbing his sprained ankle 2 weeks before the 2010 Super Bowl with a chiropractor that I realized there was another way. As a chiropractor, I have been educated on the latest therapies and most effective protocols for treating all kinds of injuries. So when a patient came into our clinic on crutches with a sprained ankle, I knew this was the perfect opportunity to demonstrate our approach to injury rehabilitation. 

Patient is a 40-year-old male with an inversion sprain that occurred while landing from a flying round house kick at taekwondo.

Treatment consisted of medical dry needling of the surrounding tissue with a TENs unit to decrease tension, soft tissue mobilization to remove muscular adhesions, joint centration for proper alignment and kinesiotaping to reduce swelling. This protocol was implemented twice a week for the first 2 weeks.  After just one week, swelling was down, bruising had dissipated and mobility was returning.

After 4 visits the therapy shifted to exercises and treatments that promote joint motion and weight-bearing.  A study by Linde et al. supports this approach – the study consisted of 150 patients with inversion sprains being treated with early motion and weight bearing exercises. After one month, 90% of patients demonstrated pain-free gait and 97% had increased work ability.

Within 8 visits, the patient’s issues had resolved and so the emphasis turned to preventative care and improving resilience through balance training. 

At Integrated Health Solutions, we take an active approach to our patient’s injuries and pain with a primary focus on functionality.  Our goal isn’t just to get you back on the field, its to make you the best version of you possible so that you can enjoy physical activity without fear of re-injury. 

Content provided by Dr. Drew Hunt

Sources: 

1. https://www.lanjochiro.com/2010/02/dwight-freeney-superbowl-hopeful-using-chiropractic-to-heal-ankle/
2.  Linde F, Hvass I, Juergensen U, Madsen F. Early mobilizing treatment of ankle sprains: A clinical trial comparing three types of treatment. Scan J Sports Sci.1971;8:71-7

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Do you find yourself with new aches and pains on a regular basis? Maybe it’s from an intense work out, a long drive, or perhaps you’ve chalked it up to just simply part of this glorious thing we call aging. Whatever the reason, before you pop a pill to dull the pain, take into consideration the damage medications can cause. Ibuprofen, which is the go to for many, can trigger ulcers and increase blood pressure; and even low doses of aspirin can cause intestinal bleeding. It’s very well known that prescription painkillers are highly addictive, and can even be lethal. So, before you grab a bottle of meds from the medicine cabinet, (or drawer…I don’t know where you keep these things) consider an alternative approach. Here you will find 7 simple remedies to ease your pain:

1. Use meditation or deep breathing to relax. These techniques send messages to your muscles to release tension and tightness. Like hey, deltoid, chill the hell out. If you notice an ache or pain during the day, take a moment and find a quiet location, relax your body, ignore distracting thoughts, and focus on deep breathing. Meditation will help calm the mind and the body while delivering powerful pain-relieving chemicals to the brain.

2. Exercise to release natural endorphins. While a strenuous workout may not be doable if you’re in pain, movement and exercise will help diffuse your symptoms. A low-impact workout will help gently stretch and strengthen the muscles. Endorphins released during exercise help improve your mood while also blocking pain signals.

3. Release natural painkillers with acupuncture. Regular acupuncture treatments help prevent pain and are an excellent treatment alternative during flare-ups. Thin, essentially painless, needles are strategically placed to encourage better circulation of blood and nutrients throughout the body, helping to relieve pain and inflammation.

4. Reduce stress. Stress can be the cause of so many of our ailments. Negative feelings can increase the body’s sensitivity to pain. We are not suggesting you quit your job, or tell your mother in-law how you really feel, but learning to take control of your stress may help you find relief from your pain. There are several techniques to reduce stress and promote relaxation; we highly recommend flotation therapy as the ultimate stress reliever.

5. Watch what you eat. Avoid eating inflammatory foods, such as sugar, processed foods, sugary drinks, etc. Fresh, whole foods from organic sources have pain-taming nutrients. Pain and inflammation go hand in hand, so adjusting what you put on your plate, may help ease your pain. For more information on anti-inflammatory foods, check out our Guide to a Healthier Lifestyle.

6. Heal with heat. A few weekly sessions in an infrared sauna can help relieve pain, and provide many other amazing benefits. Infrared heat is more than just hot air. It penetrates tissue, joints, and muscles—relieving pain from injury and chronic conditions.

7. Freeze yo self. Whole Body Cryotherapy stimulates circulation, and as blood flows through your body it brings with it healing agents like oxygen and other nutrients. By purifying your blood, soft tissue healing is accelerated, and most patients report reduced pain after just one session.

Taking a more holistic approach to pain management, will not only help you find relief from your pain, but will also help you avoid the adverse side effects of medication.

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Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years and is a key component of Traditional Chinese Medicine for which it is used to correct imbalances in the body.  But that’s not all it can do. Studies have shown that acupuncture can help against depression and be helpful for cancer sufferers too.  Recent studies have shown that acupuncture adds many benefits to the body and is a great asset to those who suffer from diseases ranging from cancer to depression.

Depression is associated with multiple symptoms, some of which include fatigue, lack of happiness, excessive sadness, anxiety and many others. In a recent study, acupuncture was distributed alone or with medication such as SSRI’s (Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors).  It was found that acupuncture actually enhances the effectiveness of these drugs, as well as reduces the side effects that these drugs can cause.  An analysis of the research found that acupuncture helped mild depression, as well as moderate and severe depression disorders.  This research is invaluable to those who suffer from depression.

Acupuncture has been shown to help cancer sufferers in recent research done by several universities. Patients who undergo treatment for cancer experience horrible side effects, such as nausea, hot flashes, insomnia, lack of motivation, dry mouth, and many others.  There has been a great deal of research on how acupuncture, used in conjunction with cancer therapies, can reduce the side effects associated with radiation and chemotherapy.

It has also been found that acupuncture actually increases serotonin output in the brain, thus releasing opiates, which are responsible for alleviating pain; they also protect the immune system and its function.

Other studies have shown that acupuncture is beneficial in slowing cancer cell division, as well as reducing tumor-related inflammation. In fact, in the 1990’s, cancer clinics in California refused to see cancer patients who were not simultaneously receiving acupuncture treatments.  According to the clinics, cancer patients had significantly higher outcomes if their cancer treatment was in conjunction with acupuncture.

It is important that we understand the significance that acupuncture can provide and really use it to our advantage in order to help people feel better.  Continuing this type of research will be beneficial in our society as time passes and we continue to look for cures for multiple diseases and disorders. Contact our Indianapolis chiropractic clinic to learn more about the benefits of acupuncture.

Sources: Acupuncture for Symptom Management in Cancer Care: an Update, Is Acupuncture Beneficial in Depression, Can Acupuncture Relieve Depression?

About Integrated Health Solutions

Dr. Charbel Harb is a licensed chiropractic physician and the Medical Director of Integrated Health Solutions. Our core belief is that each patient who walks through the doors is a person, not just a medical record or chart. Our greatest pleasure is bringing joy to our patients and helping them to fully embrace life, allowing them to enjoy each day: active, healthy and pain free.

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TMJ, or temporomandibular joint, is the joint that connects your jaws to your skull. Temporomandibular joint disorder, otherwise known as TMJD, is a disorder of the joint that may create discomfort and pain not only in the joint itself, but the pain may also be sensed around the ear, in the neck area and in the head, often resulting in headaches.

Many of our patients come into our affordable chiropractic clinic, unaware that their symptoms are caused by their TMJD. They often express that their pain is in their neck, around their ear, and up into their head. In addition, many of them describe a sensation of clinching and grinding their teeth, and a feeling of tightness around their jaw. After a thorough exam, we are able to link their symptoms to TMJD.

There is no direct causality of why TMJD occurs, however in most cases it is contributed by tension in the temporal musculature, otherwise known as the temporalis and the masseter muscle, which are the chewing muscles located in your cheek. This tension, that develops, often in forms of trigger points within the muscle fibers, restricts the muscles and joint from their proper function, making the joint problematic and symptomatic.

What can you do to help reduce your TMJD symptoms?

TMJD can be considered a biopsychosocial matter. At our Indianapolis chiropractic clinic, we begin by encouraging and educating our patients on the importance of eliminating external factors and stressors, whether emotional or environmental; many are able to do so through meditation, breathing exercises, and journaling.

In addition, maintaining proper mouth posture will help eliminate undue stress on affected muscles. A proper mouth posture is maintained by keeping lips sealed, teeth slightly separated, with your tongue resting just behind your upper teeth. It is important to be aware of your body posture, as well, when driving, eating, and sitting at a desk. We also recommend refraining from chewing gum, and when possible, chew your food equally on both sides.  We do encourage our patients to consult with their dentist, to make sure there is no dental work that needs to be addressed.

An integrated approach to address the TMJD is the most appropriate treatment plan. At our Indianapolis chiropractic clinic, we address these symptoms and disorder by administering different soft tissue therapies, and when necessary, we incorporate acupuncture and dry needling into the treatment plan. This approach diffuses the trigger points and the tension that has formed along the jaws and the temporal areas, which will also help reduce anxiety and tension.

If you are suffering from tension in your jaw or neck, are suffering from frequent headaches, or have found yourself clinching and grinding your teeth, call our affordable chiropractic clinic, today at 317.449.2020 to see how we can help.

About Integrated Health Solutions

Dr. Charbel Harb is a licensed chiropractic physician and the Medical Director of Integrated Health Solutions. Our core belief is that each patient who walks through the doors is a person, not just a medical record or chart. Our greatest pleasure is bringing joy to our patients and helping them to fully embrace life, allowing them to enjoy each day: active, healthy and pain free.

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Achilles tendon injuries are common among the active population, especially runners and cross fitters. The pain is typically localized at the far end of the calf, just above the heel where the Achilles tendon inserts into the heel bone.

There are a variety of factors that may contribute to the pain, such as increased activity, improper footwear, increased tension in the calf muscles, as well as poor activation of the hamstrings and glutes. All of these contributing factors lead to inflammation of the tendon, and potentially degeneration, known as tendonitis or tendinosis, or in worse case scenarios, the tendon can rupture.

In most instances, repetitive stress is the biggest contributor to Achilles pain. The repetitive stress caused by, for example, excessive running or cycling, will create increased tension and a lack of flexibility in the musculature, which in turn creates a tug and pull on the tendon, causing it to become inflamed and irritated.

These issues can easily be overcome by adhering to proper flexibility and mobility regiments. We recommend, for example, utilizing a lacrosse ball and a foam roller, as shown by Dr. Charbel in these videos, in order to maintain proper tissue mobility and elasticity; in addition to maintaining a regular routine of stretching and proper strengthening.

At our Indianapolis chiropractic clinic, we evaluate our patients by analyzing the entire kinetic chain of the patient. We do not focus only on the Achilles tendon; we also examine other factors, which may be contributing to the patient’s current symptoms . We begin by analyzing the anatomy of the foot to ensure the patient is wearing the appropriate footwear. We analyze the range of motion at the ankle, knee and hip in a functional manner. We also look at the functionality of the hamstring muscles, the plantar of the foot, the patient’s core, and the activation of the gluteus muscle, just to name a few.

By using the active release technique, along with acupuncture and dry needling, we are able to assist patients in eliminating adhesion, tension and tightness in the muscle. The active release technique, or ART, is a soft tissue treatment that focuses on eliminating the cause of the pain, rather than covering up the symptoms.

At our active release technique chiropractic clinic, our focus is not only to treat the condition, but also to educate our patients on the proper program that will help them with the continuation of their care independently of us once they have reached a balanced state. We encourage our patients to be an active participant in their treatment plan; by positively impacting their prognosis and expediting their healing.

If you suffer from sports injuries, such as, Achilles tendon pain, contact our active release technique chiropractic clinic today at 317.449.2020, to see how the active release technique can benefit you!

About Integrated Health Solutions

Dr. Charbel Harb is a licensed chiropractic physician and the Medical Director of Integrated Health Solutions. Our core belief is that each patient who walks through the doors is a person, not just a medical record or chart. Our greatest pleasure is bringing joy to our patients and helping them to fully embrace life, allowing them to enjoy each day: active, healthy and pain free.

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I am often asked what dry needling is, and how it works. Dry needling, in a sense, is very similar to acupuncture, when it comes down to the tools that we use. We use very thin filaments, which are inserted into the tissues, such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments that are dysfunctional and deranged. However, with dry needling, our main focus is on musculoskeletal pain, reduction of pain, and enhancement of soft tissue function.

In a simple form, dry needling normalizes and resets the muscles and tissue to its original homeostatic function. For instance, if a muscle is too tight, tense, and has trigger points and adhesion, dry needling resets it back to a normal density with no spasms or tension. On the other hand, if the muscle is inhibited and is not functioning, as it should, dry needling will reset the mechanism in that muscle, helping to reawaken it.

There are several theories about how dry needling works. One of the predominate theories was proven by observing the brain in a functional MRI, while a patient was treated with metal needles that were not conductive to magnetic fields. This study showed, that the brain sensors responsible for pain reduction became more active, and in turn secreted pain reduction chemicals, such as endorphins.

Another theory suggests that the very thin filaments that are inserted into the tissue, even though they are quite thin and unnoticeable in almost all instances, create damage to thousands of cells. The brain perceives this damage, and initiates a healing effect and rejuvenation of the tissue.

In another study, it was shown that the biochemical changes that occur around the needle are favorable in reducing inflammation and pain.  A final theory of how dry needling works is a study that suggests that a properly placed needle in a triggered point of a muscle or tendon, will send a signal to the nervous system in a reflex form, which will reset the muscle and tissue fibers.

Dry needling differs from acupuncture, in a sense that it does not follow the meridian channels, and focuses primarily on musculoskeletal pain. At our Indianapolis chiropractic clinic, we utilize dry needling for a variety of symptoms, such as runner knee pain, TMJ, and headaches.

If you have been suffering with pain and are looking for an alternative treatment, contact Integrated Health Solutions, an affordable Indianapolis chiropractic clinic, today at 317.449.2020.

About Integrated Health Solutions

Dr. Charbel Harb is a licensed chiropractic physician and the Medical Director of Integrated Health Solutions. Our core belief is that each patient who walks through the doors is a person, not just a medical record or chart. Our greatest pleasure is bringing joy to our patients and helping them to fully embrace life, allowing them to enjoy each day: active, healthy and pain free.

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Treatment of Injuries Caused by Car Accidents

At Integrated Health Solutions, a large percentage of our patients have experienced some sort of trauma, whether it is from a sports injury or involvement in a motor vehicle accident. When it comes to injuries sustained from accidents, it is from our experience and patient feedback, that an individual does not always feel the pain immediately.  Many of our patients have reported that they did not feel any pain until a few weeks after the accident. This is because our body has an immense ability to keep us from sensing pain.  However, the soft tissues have been affected since the time of the trauma.

Many people who experience physical trauma believe that the pain will eventually go away on its own. We have had patients come to us six months, and even a few years, after their accident, who have unfortunately realized the pain is now a chronic problem and are desperate to feel better. Because of this, we suggest anyone involved in a car accident pay attention to any of their symptoms, some of which may include, but are not limited to: blurred vision, dizziness, clenching of the jaw, pain in the shoulders, neck and back, and headaches.  If you experience any of these symptoms, we encourage you to seek professional help.

Many times, we see patients who have gone to the emergency room after their accident, which is excellent for an initial triage however the main concern of the emergency room is to make sure you do not have any life threatening injuries or fractures. Some patients may be given medication to help with their pain, but please keep in mind that the medicine is doing just that, it’s helping you deal with the pain, not treating the source of it.

We encourage our patients to consider rehab to help reactivate the soft tissue that was damaged in the accident. Different kinds of soft tissue therapies help loosen up the adhesion and fibrotic formations that set in after injury to muscles, ligaments, tendons, etc. Acupuncture is a phenomenal tool for decreasing pain and inflammation, and rejuvenating the tissue. Chiropractic care will help centralize the joint and help with proper mechanics.  At Integrated Health Solutions, we follow this integrated approach to help treat the cause, not just cover the symptoms.

If you have been involved in an accident, or have experienced an injury, please seek medical attention by a provider who specializes in restoring soft tissue integrity, joint mechanics, and who is focused on addressing the cause of the pain, not just masking it.  Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate in contacting us at 317.449.2020.

About Integrated Health Solutions

Dr. Charbel Harb is a licensed chiropractic physician and the Medical Director of Integrated Health Solutions. Our core belief is that each patient who walks through the doors is a person, not just a medical record or chart. Our greatest pleasure is bringing joy to our patients and helping them to fully embrace life, allowing them to enjoy each day: active, healthy and pain free.

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