Infantile Colic

At Chiropractic Dubai, Dr. Leader has had many years experience of treating babies from birth onwards. Their parent’s usually come, having read about the use of soft tissue massage for colic, constipation, or babies who are constantly regurgitating their food. Babies are examined, spinal and muscular problems are often discovered and then they are treated very gently. Symptoms usually clear up in two to three treatments and with this a normal sleep pattern is usually established.

The spinal muscles can become very tense and the correction of this tension and the spinal joints helps to normalize and rebalance the autonomic nervous control of the intestines and stomach. This in turn aids the digestive process, ends the baby’s pain and calms the baby. The crying stops and the whole family breathes a sigh of relief! The emphasis is on gentle treatment methods suitable for babies and children.

Common children’s problems that respond well to soft massage :

- Neck pain
· Scoliosis
· Headache
· Back pain
· Infantile colic
· Bed wetting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you would like your baby or child to be examined and treated for any spine related problem, call our clinic in Umm Suqeim on (04) 3481166 and make an appointment with Dr. Pamela or visit www.chiropracticdubai.com and book an appointment online.

KISS Syndrome

KISS Syndrome (Kinematic imbalances to sub-occipital strain) is a problem found in infants that is largely misdiagnosed or may remain undiagnosed. This problem usually occurs with a misalignment of the upper cervical vertebrae which in turn can lead to tension on the ligaments and muscles found in the neck that can cause interrupt signals to the brain and cause it to misinterpret information. The area affected by KISS syndrome is important as it is the reflex centre that controls special awareness and controls muscle tone in the body’s postural muscles.

This can in turn lead to negative health implications for infants that can include:
– Head tilted to one side (Torticollis)
– Scoliosis
– Slow development of the hip joints, slow development of basic motor skills
– Interrupted sleep patterns
– Not eating or drinking well

What can cause KISS syndrome?

• long and difficult births, needing forceps or a suction cup
• emergency Caesarean section
• constrained intrauterine position
• breech presentation
• twin birth
• little intrauterine space
• infections
• planned Caesarian sections
• very fast birth
• birthweight over 4000g (8lb 13oz)

If left untreated KISS syndrome can develop into problems with balance, fatigue or lack of energy, stomachache, migraines, restless sleep, bad temper, delay in learning words, tourettes and difficulty concentrating. These are all symptoms that can develop once the infant has matured.

How can KISS syndrome be treated?

Unfortunately many parents are informed that their child can just ‘grow out of’ the symptoms that are seen in many cases of KISS syndrome which go misdiagnosed or undiagnosed a lot of the time. In our clinic we would provide a thorough assessment of the infant including observation of the child, assessment of their movement and checking the vertebral column, cranium (skull) and pelvis for any imbalances the child may be showing.

If treatment is required, it consists of gentle corrective spinal adjustments to the upper vertebral column. Soft massage and low force techniques are used to help correct the misalignment in the vertebrae. If you think your child is suffering from KISS syndrome or know of someone who may be please call us on 04 3481166, visit www.chiropracticdubai.com to book online or e-mail us on info@emirateseuropean.com.

Patellar Tracking Syndrome

The knee is a complex and solid structure that connects the thighbone with the bones of the lower leg. The patella (kneecap) is found in the front of the knee where it is held in place by tendons and ligaments at the top and bottom and at the sides. Cartilage underneath the kneecap allows it to glide freely during bending or straightening of the leg.

Patellar tracking syndrome happens when the patella moves out of position as the knee bends or straightens. In the majority of cases, the patella will move in an outward motion however in some cases it can move to the inside of the leg.

What causes Patellar tracking syndrome?

Patellar tracking syndrome is usually the result of a misalignment brought on by a combination of factors.

These can include:
- Overuse of the joint
- Damage to cartilage
- The shape of the patella
- Muscles and tendons in the leg being too tight or too loose
- Trauma to internal structures of the knee
- Genetics

What are the symptoms of Patellar tracking syndrome?

- A popping sensation in the kneecap
- Grinding, slipping or catching of the kneecap when bending or straightening the knee
- Discomfort or pain that is increased when you go down stairs, stand up from a sitting position, squat or when you sit for an extended period of time
- A sensation that your knee is giving way to your body weight

Treatment

First of all, our Chiropractors will do a check of your past health history and examine you to rule out other possible problems. You may also require an X-Ray and/or MRI scan. We will then also check your lower limb alignment and look for any muscle weakness or imbalance and also see if orthotics should be recommended. These may be since any errant foot biomechanics will have a knock on effect, which may contribute to the problem in the knee.

Reducing the pain is an important first step as well as avoiding activities that may be causing pain such as squatting, kneeling, jumping, running and high impact activities. Icing the knee initially to deal with swelling is also advisable.

After a complete spinal and pelvic check-up, Chiropractic manipulation and mobilization techniques to areas that are restricted of movement in the knee and surrounding joints may also improve function in unison with ultrasound and laser therapy may be used to improve the healing process. When the knee has improved and the pain has reduced, a series of rehabilitation exercises may be introduced to further restore full movement. Taping and knee bracing may also be advised for some patients at this stage.

If you wish to find out more about what we can do for knee injuries, please visit us at www.chiropracticdubai.com, call us on 043481166 or visit our Chiropractic Dubai facebook page!

Iliotibial Band Syndrome

The Iliotibial band (ITB) is a fibrous band of tissue that runs down the side of your leg from pelvis to lateral knee. It is a stabiliser of the knee, helping knee ligaments to resist lateral (sideways out) movement. However, its main job is to resist lateral displacement of the hip. Many doctors diagnose this syndrome as an overuse injury that occurs when the ITB rubs on the lateral condyle (bone) of the knee, which the patient is often told, will be resolved by a small surgery to ‘release’ the ITB band. Actually the ITB injury is a more likely to be a secondary, compensatory injury.

Why is the ITB under more tension, on one side than the other?

The ITB is thick and tough, it was evolved when we were cavemen walking and running for miles. So what are we doing differently to our ancestors? Why would a ten K run bring on this very painful condition? Why is the traditional medical treatment rest, massage and stretching not relieving the problem?

To consider the ITB syndrome we need to consider some major pelvic muscles in the ITB syndrome, called tensor fasciae latae (TFL), glut max and glut medius. TFL is a relatively small muscle that tensions the ITB when the knee is flexed. The ITB is made up of thick collagen fibres, which, flow from its insertion in TFL and glut max/medius down to the lateral bone of the knee and some fibres go into the tibial plateau (knee joint) and the kneecap. The band is thick and broad at the hip end and thins as it progresses down your leg, which shows that most of the work goes on at the top.

ITB syndrome

How does ITB start? Unfortunately the TFL has a secondary job and that is acting as a synergist (helper) to glut medius. When a person is running or cycling the first muscle to contract is glut medius. This muscle stabilises the pelvis when the leg is off the floor, by contracting the glut medius the pelvis is squeezed together and this keeps the pelvis level. If we did not contract the muscle, every time our foot left the floor we would lurch to the side, as our hip would fall. The glut medius not only does this job it is also a postural muscle and any lower back problems force it to go into spasm to protect the stability of the spine. When it is in spasm, the synergists are recruited. TFL now does a job that it is not supposed to do and ultimately causes the continuous tension of ITB. This may go unnoticed for years but will give pain that “just starts” when we seem to be fit and healthy. If we have no problems with our lower back, TFL/ITB will be balanced because the nervous system is not stimulating the TFL muscles to protect the lower spine.
Any threat to the balanced nervous system is registered in the brain and acted on immediately. Something as simple as having a tight lower back from driving too much or sitting in an office chair all day is registered by the nervous system responding to the potential threat.
Chiropractic Treatment Option

Chiropractor’s examine you whole body viewing the spine as fundamental in the big picture of your balanced health. To treat ITB syndrome successfully, you need a thorough neurological, postural and biomechanical examination starting with your feet. Hyperpronation of the foot is one of the main causes of tibial (shin bone) rotation, this rotation puts strain on the ITB and structures further up the leg and in turn the pelvis followed ultimately by the spinal joints. After dealing with your foot problems, we check hip and pelvic rotation, which often cause the gluts to be tight. Ultimately this causes your TLF/ITB to be painful. Our Chiropractors at the Emirates European Medical Centre look at obvious pain in your ITB as a symptom, for which they must find the true causes and treat them. If you suffer from this condition or similar unexplained pain that is brought on after running, cycling or simply walking, you can call the clinic and you will be seen by a Chiropractor who will be able to diagnose and treat the condition at it’s origin. To find out more about this syndrome or to book an appointment, please call us on 04 3481166 or visit www.chiropracticdubai.com

Disc Herniation

What is a Disc Herniation?

A disc herniation is a condition of the spinal joint where the intervertebral disc (cushion located between the vertebrae or bones in your spine) bulges out of position or even ruptures may press on the spinal nerve and cause symptoms of pain and discomfort. When discs are healthy, they act as shock absorbers for the spine and keep it flexible. When they are damaged by injury, disease or wear and tear, they can bulge or rupture. Other terms for a disc herniation you may have heard include a slipped disc, a bulging disc or a ruptured disc. We will be discussing how a disc herniation can occur, what the symptoms are and how effective Chiropractic care can be at treating this painful condition.

What can cause a Disc Herniation?

Herniated Discs are caused by an injury or trauma to the spine, ageing or degeneration of the disc such as a disc disease. Disc disease can result from miniscule cracks in the outer capsule of the disc and the material inside the discs can be forced out through these cracks. This causes the disc to bulge and it can develop as part of the normal aging process as after 30 years of age, the centre of a spinal disc begins to lose its fluid content making it less flexible and easier to injure. Herniated discs are most commonly seen between the ages of 35 and 45 and in people who have been exposed to extended bouts of manual labour such as lifting heavy equipment or driving for long periods. Injury to cause a Disc Herniation can include a sudden strain or increased force to the lower back. Activities that are repeated such as poor lifting habits, extended hours of sitting, bad gym technique with weights, extended exposure to heavy vibration or sports related injury can, also cause disc herniation.

Diagnosis and Chiropractic Treatment

If a patient is experiencing leg and back pain, a medical history and physical examination will be necessary to see if the symptoms might be caused by a herniated disc. An X-ray is generally not that useful in determining a disc herniation alone, however it does help rule out other conditions such as severe nerve damage or in extreme cases a tumor. It is also recommended if after two to four weeks of treatment, there is no improvement. Electromygraphy (EMG) is used to diagnose certain nerve and muscle disorders and can be done for those experiencing prolonged pressure on a nerve root. This test however, will not determine alone if the Disc is causing the compression of the nerve root. An MRI scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is the gold standard of analysis to confirm location and severity of the disc herniation.

With regards to treatment it has been researched that 90% of patients who have disc herniations will improve within six months after nonsurgical treatment. The goals of treatment are to relieve the pain of the patient and to prevent further injury while strengthening, rehabilitating and mobilizing the affected area. Recent research concludes that in 10 cases for a study, non-surgical treatment showed a recovery from pain within 3 to 6 weeks, which, correlated with the resorption of disc herniation, as viewed on MRI scans. The study found that disc herniation would benefit from an initial course of conservative treatment for at least 2 months before recommending considering intervention unless severe signs of deterioration are evident in the physical and neurological examination.

Chiropractic treatment may include:
- Side posture adjusting
- Cox Therapy
- Thompson Drop Therapy
- Laser
- Trigger Point Therapy

The continuation of Therapy used is assessed for each individual patient according to their case and the doctor’s recommendations. At Chiropractic Dubai we have extensive experience in treating disc herniations and a wide array of joint and spinal complaints. To book an appointment please call us on 04 3481166, e-mail us on info@emirateseuropean.com or book an appointment online at www.chiropracticdubai.com

Shoulder Bursitis

What is Bursitis?

A bursa is a very small sac that is filled with fluid that reduces friction between tissues in your body by acting as a form of ‘gliding’ surface. Bursitis occurs when one of these sacs or ‘bursae’ become inflamed. Bursae can be found alongside tendons near the large joints in your body such as the shoulders, knees, hips and elbows. Following on from our article on impingement syndrome, we shall again be concentrating on the shoulder joint, where the bursa can often occur under the bone called the acromion.

What causes Bursitis?

Bursae can become inflamed from injury, an underlying rheumatic condition or in some rare occasions from infection. Bursitis can in many cases present itself in the form of impingement syndrome especially in younger patients. Repeated abduction (moving away from the centre line of the body) can cause inflammation of the tendons and bursae in the shoulder resulting in pain. Bursitis can also appear in older patients more spontaneously in an action as simple as lifting up a bag full of shopping.

What are the symptoms?

Depending on how inflamed the bursa is there can be localized pain and tenderness or in more severe inflammation, local swelling, stiffness, redness and warmth. It can be difficult to support weight with the shoulder and performing activities such as pushing or lifting weights above your shoulder or away from your body in the gym.

How can we treat Bursitis?

Initially treatment would include ice treatment, laser therapy and ultrasound, a support such as a sling and rest! Complete inactivity is not advised so within the first week, active range of motion exercises should be completed, with an emphasis on the first four days. If pain occurs during a certain motion, it should be stopped immediately. As healing begins to occur then more advanced exercises should be prescribed as long as they are pain-free.

Chiropractic approach

Your chiropractor will assess the whole body, looking at the spine and posture. If a bursa has developed with no apparent injury, then it may be that the shoulder joint is compensating for an imbalance in the pelvis for example. There may be a low back problem underlying the bursitis in the shoulder. Twisting of the pelvis results in an opposite twist in the upper spine and shoulders. This puts tendons in the shoulder under strain when doing normal activities and can result in a bursitis distant from the actual origin of the problem. Therefore your chiropractor will do a check up from the feet to the top of your neck and be able to detect any biomechanical imbalances, which could have contributed to a bursitis developing. Consequently treating both the existing bursitis as well as any other imbalances will ensure that the bursitis does not recur. Call us on 043481166 to book a consultation if you feel we can help you with this type of problem.

Impingement Syndrome

What is impingement syndrome?

Impingement Syndrome occurs when there is an inflammation in the subacromial space in the shoulder as result of inflamed tendons of the rotator cuff muscle. One of these tendons passes through a space that if narrowed can cause squashing of the tendon. This causes a loss in the normal sliding motion between soft tissues of the tunnel between the arch and top of the humerus in the shoulder joint. This sometimes follows a frozen shoulder as certain muscles weaken due to underuse.

Who suffers from it?

The most common cause of this syndrome is a combination of overuse and faulty mechanics of the shoulder, often caused by a postural or muscle imbalance. Research suggests there are two main groups who suffer from Impingement Syndrome. One group found is young athletic patients who participate in sports that involve repetitive motions such as throwing (tennis, bowling, baseball, cricket etc) where the onset of impingement usually shows up before 25 years of age and the second group consists of older patients where the symptoms appear spontaneously, in sporting activities or due to occupational injury.

What are the symptoms?

Traditionally, the impingement is characterized by a sharp pain associated with abduction, (raising the arm sideways from the body) of 70-120 degrees, external rotation of 20-30 degrees and an internal rotation greater than 30 degrees. A full range of motion is usually still present albeit painful. An MRI scan may show changes in the supraspinatus tendon and it is common to see evidence of swelling and fluid.

Picture of the painful arc here

How can it be treated?
This depends on the severity of the disorder, how often it occurs and what other abnormalities have been associated with it. Chiropractors are well trained in the treatment and management of shoulder complications and after spinal care this is generally seen as the leading type of treatment by Chiropractors. Treatment for the complication will usually involve ultrasound, spinal manipulation, soft tissue therapy and a variety of home exercises prescribed to the patient. Chiropractic care early on can deter the risk of surgery in the long-term and can lead to a full recover using a natural approach to healing the injury.

www.chiropracticdubai.com

 

 

 

Sinusitis

Certain headaches can be a sign of sinusitis. How can you know?

You may awaken with a heavy head and tight throat. You may notice that you have a cold, or that the last cold has not gone away completely. You may just have a terrible headache, which hurts even when you roll over in bed. The chances are that you are suffering from sinusitis. It is very common in people between 18 and 45 years of age. The sinuses consist of 8 spaces in the skull bones, under the forehead, the cheek bones and behind the bridge of the nose. They are normally involved in producing mucus to moisten the nasal cavities, but when they are inflamed they can fill up with mucus and become blocked. This mucus is a sticky elastic gel, which helps to protect us from infection and toxins. Healthy sinuses are lined with mucus which warms and moistens the air as we breath in. By filtering the dust and toxins, they protect the nose, throat and lungs.

During the course of a normal cold, the inflammation may block the drainage canals for the sinuses, increasing the pressure within them. This pressure causes local pain, headache, pressure on the eyes and at times shivering, fever, dizzyness, decreased appetite, avoidance of the light and is also linked with depression.

Sinus headaches are sometimes associated with a deep and constant pain in the cheekbones, forehead, or bridge of the nose. The pain usually intensifies with sudden head movement or straining. The pain is sometimes accompanied by other sinus symptoms, such as nasal discharge, feeling of fullness in the ears, fever, and facial swelling.

Causes:

A common misconception is that allergies cause a Sinus headache, the truth is that allergies can cause sinus congestion which may then lead to a Sinus headache.

Allergy usually involves anything which irritates the mucus membranes, including:
• Dust
• Mould
• Pollen
• Virus and bacteria
• Air conditioning, too hot, dry or too cold
• Excess bone growth inside the nose
• Nasal polyps
• Facial trauma
• Deviated nasal septum
• Problems with the upper teeth
• Extremely rarely tumors

The traditional medical approach

There are two main principles to this:
1. Increase the drainage of the mucus
2. Decongestants, antibiotics and antihistamines

Problems caused by medicines
Antihistamines and nasal sprays thicken and dry up the mucus, when the goal should be to dilute it.
The sprays are overused, and should be limited to twice a day for a maximum of 4 days. Often patients continue to use the spray without realizing that it is actually prolonging the problem.
In the end, when the medicine has not worked, doctors may advise surgical drainage.

The chiropractic approach to Sinusitis

Those who suffer from this painful disorder often find relief after chiropractic treatment for other problems. Why is this? If the body is in good order the immune system works better and will give you more resistance to bacteria, viruses and dust, so that the sinuses drain better. This is particularly important, considering that chronic sinusitis has been associated with a lowered immunity.
Chiropractic also lowers stress on the nervous system and the joints. This in turn allows free movement between the skull bones helping to permit uninterrupted drainage of the sinuses. The sinuses can also be directly drained by treating pressure points.

Chiropractic and the Immune System

Many research papers have established the positive effects of chiropractic on the immune system. Scientific research has demonstrated that treating the spine improves the efficiency of the immune system. Moreover, it has been shown that specific spinal manipulation can benefit sinusitis and other nasal problems. The relationship between the nervous system and the immune system appears to be more extensive than was once thought.
A recent piece of research demonstrated that white blood cells, which have a role in protecting against infection, can be influenced by the nervous system, through a complex chain of neuro-transmitters. Modern scientific research is today confirming what chiropractors had already noticed and understood 100 years ago: that a well functioning neuro-musculo-articular system can help us to enjoy good health and notably increase resistance to many illnesses.

Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are a form of headache that can happen repeatedly over a period of time. During a period when they are occurring someone can experience them one to three times per day and this may happen from a few weeks to several months.

These headaches may lay dormant for a while but can reappear again repeatedly. Cluster headaches usually wake someone up once they have been asleep for one to two hours and can be more severe at night than daytime attacks. Cluster headaches have been linked to a person’s biological clock and sufferers usually find that they experience the headaches seasonally or at similar times each year.

Who suffers from these headaches?

This form of headache can be very severe but is also not very common and affects less than 1 in 1,000 people. These headaches are also more common in men and in people under the age of 30.

What is the cause?

This is widely debated and the true cause of these headaches is still considered unknown. What is known though is that headaches occur when a nerve pathway in the base of the brain is activated. The trigeminal nerve in particular is the main nerve responsible for feeling in your face such as pain. When this nerve is activated you will experience the pain in your eye associated with cluster headaches. This nerve also affects another group of nerves that can cause eye tears, nasal congestion and redness in your eyes that are all symptoms of cluster headaches. The trigeminal nerve connects with the pain centres of the brain and the hypothalamus in your brain, home to our “biological clock”, which is why there is a link in recent research.

Normalizing the neural input to the pain centres of the brain, for example by spinal manipulation of the cervical spine often has a positive effect on the patients pain levels. Together with an exercise program to correct any postural abnormalities in the neck and some lifestyle changes, chiropractic care may give a good outcome for these patients.

Sleep – When it’s time to go to bed!

Nowadays with our busy lives, long working hours and abundant use of technology, we find ways to eat into our valuable sleeping time.

Most people need between seven and eight hours of sleep a day, however, Lisa Shives who is the medical director of Northshore Sleep Medicine in America, believes that eight and a half hours is advisable to ensure the body gets enough sleep.

Many believe they are receiving enough sleep because they can function throughout the day on coffee or sugary drinks, however the truth and the effects on your body may be very different.

What can lack of sleep lead to?

1. Obesity
Appetite hormones in your body become out of sync when you stay up late and can lead to binge eating. The levels of leptin, which controls appetite, are reduced staying up late causing you to become hungry. Ghrelin, which is a hormone produced by fat cells increases and you want to eat more and also, more fat calories. A lack of exercise combined with lack of sleep can easily lead to obesity.
Recently research in the journal SLEEP found teenagers who slept less than eight hours a night would consume more fattening foods than those who received more than eight hours.

2. Heart disease
Those who do not sleep eight hours a night can initiate an onset of stress hormones in their body, which in turn, can lead to high blood pressure and poor circulation in the blood vessels.
In men especially recent research has shown that sleep apnea and intentional sleep deprivation can contribute to heart disease.

3. Diabetes
As mentioned previously, sleep loss can lead to obesity, which is heavily linked to diabetes. The sleep medicine review published in 2007 showed that after a night of sleep deprivation, glucose absorption was impaired. Much research must be done to cement this complex link.

4. Headaches
Research is being done into why headaches can be caused by sleep deprivation. Recent studies have shown that REM (The stage of sleep when we dream) may be linked to those who wake with migraine headaches.
Sleep Apnea has also been recognized as a factor as the lack of oxygen caused by this breathing disorder that can cause transient hypertension and morning headaches.

5. Depression
Again this is a suggestion that is being researched as the chemicals in the brain involved in the sleep cycle are also involved in mood and energy concentration.

6. Lapses of attention/delayed reaction times
Sleep deprivation is linked with a decrease in one’s neurological function. Those who are sleep deprived will usually perform poorly at work or for children at school and those driving are encouraged to pull over and sleep if they can.

7. Death
Recently much has been made of our lifespan linked to sleep deprivation.
In a 2010 study published in Sleep, researchers from the University of Warwick in the U.K. found an association between early death and a lack of sleep.

Go to Bed!

Although much research still needs to be done to prove the true ill effects lack of sleep can cause, the majority of medical opinion is that 8 hours of sleep is advisable. Although we are all different and require different amounts of sleep tailored to our personal functions, the risk of ill health is enough to be sensible and go to bed when you are tired!