Dr. Wayne Coghlan: Chiropractor - Locum tenens

"The term syndrome refers to the association of characteristics that often occur together, so that the presence of one feature alerts the physician to the presence of the others." Wikipedia. Standing straight when one leg is shorter is the equivalent of standing sideways on a hill. The person cannot help but lean to the shorter side. The spine may compensate, to limit leaning to the short side, by tilting the upper body in the opposite direction. This produces a "scoliosis" or sideways deviation of the spine. NOT GOOD. Often a person will try to compensate for a short leg by perching on short leg, usually with the other leg bent at the knee and turned out...effectively shortening the long leg. NOT GOOD. Rather than balancing the pelvis, fatigue and strain usually causes the pelvis to over compensate. In either case, the distortion of the spine unevenly loads the joints and muscles, and promotes faster wear and tear, and injury. If you, or someone you care about, is

Count your blessings A new study by researchers at the Universities of California and Miami shows that people who consciously remind themselves every day of the things they are grateful for show marked improvements in mental health and some aspects of physical health, reports The Dallas Morning News. The results appear to be equally true for healthy college students and people with incurable diseases, according to research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Compared with groups of subjects who counted hassles, such as "hard-to-find parking," grateful subjects felt better about their lives and more optimistic. The college students exercised more; the chronically ill adults reported sleeping longer and waking up refreshed. Being grateful was also superior to its distant cousin -- seeing oneself as better off than others. People who took pleasure in the troubles of others had better mental health than those who counted hassles, but worse than grateful

That persistent muscle pain may be drug-induced! Complaints of general muscle pain, weakness, tendonitis, and lupus-like symptoms maybe be caused by the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins). Statins such as Lipitor, Mevacor, Socor, Poravachol and Lesco, all lower cholesterol by inhibiting a specific liver enzyme. Without this enzyme, the liver cannot make its own cholesterol, so the liver removes cholesterol from the blood for use in producing hormones and other cell functions. Reported musculoskeletal side effects include muscle pain, inflammation and destruction of the muscle tissues. When muscle tissue is destroyed, it releases iron into the blood stream. Excessive concentrations can clog the pathways of the kidneys, leading to kidney failure and eventual death. Most patients tolerate statins extremely well though a few experience side effects serious enough to discontinue treatment. Multiple drug therapy, along with the statins, increases the danger. Statins represen

That persistent muscle pain may be drug-induced! Complaints of general muscle pain, weakness, tendonitis, and lupus-like symptoms maybe be caused by the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins). Statins such as Lipitor, Mevacor, Socor, Poravachol and Lesco, all lower cholesterol by inhibiting a specific liver enzyme. Without this enzyme, the liver cannot make its own cholesterol, so the liver removes cholesterol from the blood for use in producing hormones and other cell functions. Reported musculoskeletal side effects include muscle pain, inflammation and destruction of the muscle tissues. When muscle tissue is destroyed, it releases iron into the blood stream. Excessive concentrations can clog the pathways of the kidneys, leading to kidney failure and eventual death. Most patients tolerate statins extremely well though a few experience side effects serious enough to discontinue treatment. Multiple drug therapy, along with the statins, increases the danger. Statins represen

Whiplash prevention – A moment of your time, please. That headrest in your car isn’t for resting your weary noggin while driving. It is an important yet overlooked part of your car’s safety systems – your safety! A Canadian study revealed that only 14% of drivers had their headrests in the proper position. Adjusting vehicle headrests, can help prevent the pain of whiplash. Experts say there are two measurements – vertical and horizontal or, in other words, how high your headrest is and how far from the back of your head (backset). If the top of the headrest is higher than your ear, your rating is good. If the top of the headrest is between the top and bottom of your ear the rating is marginal and poor if below the ear. The accepted good rating for proper backset is two to four inches; if the distance was more than half the width of the head, the position is rated as poor. Mild to moderate whiplash injuries result in neck, joint pain and loss of movement. Symptoms may also include h

Tuesday, December 2, 2008 Foot Orthotics Where necessary, I will recommend a patient get a pair of foot orthotics to stabilize their posture. When you are sitting (in socks or bare feet), notice the general shape of the arch of the foot. A few people will have flat arches, most have a fairly obvious curve. Stand now and note if the arch drops substantially. If so, note how the ankle rolls in, the knees turn, as do the hips. You may be feeling a bit of pressure in your lower back because the distortion from the foot works its way up, the pelvis tips forward and in turn cause the low back to arch more. That’s like bending your fingers back…eventually it becomes sore in the joints. Pronated feet may be the reason behind plantar fasciitis.. that is really sore feet first thing in the morning.. ankle arthritis pains, bunions, pain under the knee caps, hip degeneration and low back problems. Theoretically, a person’s headaches could be related to pronated (fallen arches) feet through a seque

Low Intensity Laser Therapy...continued... For the sake of clarification, most clinics use two methods to apply light energy to promote healing. A third method using helium-neon devices is beyond the scope of this article. Laser Emitting Diodes produce a concentrated and focused beam of light that can penetrate about 5cm. into the tissue. Energy of the same wave length is also produced by Super Luminous Diodes. While this is a less concentrated energy and does not penetrate quite as deep. It is more suitable for skin and tissues just a few cm. deep. Conditions effectively treated by Light therapy include (but are not limited to): head, neck, and back pain; arthritis (osteo and Rheumatoid); post-surgical recovery; pulls, strains, and muscle injuries' joint twists and sprains; carpal tunnel, and other repetitive strain injuries; tendonitis; shoulder injuries. While not a scientific analysis, I've tried the laser/light therapy on cold sores and those annoying cankers on the inside

LOW INTENSITY LASER THERAPY (LILT) is the most exciting therapy in many years. Using light energy to promote healing is nothing new. Most people will have some experience of rashes disappearing after being exposed to the sun. Infrared lamps have been around since my grandmother’s day. The problem with the sun’s rays, and incandescent flood lamps is the risk of burning the skin before enough energy to be useful can be absorbed. With the emergence application of Light and Laser emitting diodes (LED), we now have a means to apply enough light energy to be therapeutic, with only minimal amount of heat. The skeptical reader might wonder if light can really be an effective treatment method. Keep in mind that light is a form of electro-magnetic (EM) energy which, depending on the wavelength, interacts with living tissue in different ways. The long waves associated with telecommunications, pass through us with no strong effect. The use of microwaves to cook food was discovered when a researche

Chiropractic and Safety of Adjustments Chiropractic: Safe and Effective Health Care Answering your questions about neck adjustment Chiropractic care has a strong safety record and is widely accepted as a drug-free, surgery-free form of health care. However, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects – even common non-prescription pain relievers carry a risk. Fortunately, adverse effects associated with chiropractic adjustment are usually minor and short-term. What is a neck adjustment and how do I benefit from this procedure? A neck adjustment (also known as a cervical manipulation) is a precise manual procedure applied to the joints of the neck. Your chiropractor has received extensive training to perform this procedure. Neck adjustment works to improve the mobility of the spinal joints in the neck to reduce muscle tightness, restore range of motion and help relieve pressure and tension. Patients typically notice a reduction of pain, soreness and stiffnes

I am taking liberty to post this excellent article written by Leslie Beck for the Globe and Mail. A link to the original source is provided. The article explains the contribution of excess weight to degenerative arthritis of the weight bearing joints, and some methods to ease the situation . Take a load off your waist to spare your knees. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080917.wlbeck17/EmailBNStory/specialScienceandHealth/home Weight control tops the list of ways to thwart ‘wear and tear’ arthritis, but these foods and supplements may also help your joints It’s no surprise that getting older and being overweight boosts your risk for heart attack, Type 2 diabetes and a number of cancers. Now, researchers say, this combination of risk factors will cause one in two people to develop painful knee osteoarthritis in their lifetime, with those who are obese at greatest risk. Among the more than 100 different forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis is the most common, affecting

ANY COMMENTS? From time to time, using post-cards questionnaires, patients have been invited to anonymously rate their experience with our office. When asked of their overall approval, 94% of patients responding stated either good or excellent results. The reason we do such a survey is to ensure that we are meeting your needs as best as we can. We do invite you to give us your feedback on this blog or on service received here at the clinic. It is important for us to let you know that we do appreciate you. Your Well-Being is our priority! Thank you for showing your trust and gratitude when you refer a friend, co-worker or loved one to our clinic.

SO... DO CALORIES COUNT? The greatest predictor of adult onset - degenerative illness is excessive body weight. This includes cardiovascular disease, degenerative arthritis, some cancers, and diabetes. It is important to keep it in check. In my years of study and practice experience, I have explored many methods of weight loss. These range from nutritional meal replacements, fad diets, recipes of the month, etc. Basically, there two proven methods to losing excess body fat. The first is to be more active and eat less. The second is to eat less and be more active. No matter what the diet or gimmick, it all comes down to either of those simple formulas. There is some evidence that low carb diets like the Atikin’s plan are more effective than traditional diets. Such diets do encourage you to be more aware and selective of what you eat...and that’s not a bad thing at all. Yet the benefits come mostly from a reduction in calories and not some miraculous metabolic process. A healthy person c

A multinational study on the value of chiropractic care confirmed that the vast majority of patients who seek chiropractic treatment do so for concerns related to the musculo-skeletal system (sore back, neck pain, pinched nerves, headache, etc.). Well over 80% of patients reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the results for the musculo-skeletal complaints for which they saw their chiropractor. In addition, nearly one quarter of patients also reported a definite improvement to non-musculo-skeletal related areas such as respiratory disorders, digestive disorders, cardiac/circulation problems, visual disturbances and problems related to balance and hearing. While the study did not address cause and effect, it did support the experience of many chiropractic patients who find that chiropractic treatmentenhances their well-being beyond relieving their sore backs. The Chiropractic Report, Editor: David Chapman-Smith, LL.B. (Hons.), September 2005 Vol. 19 No. 5., www.chiropracticrep

McLean’s magazine reported in their October 29, 2001 edition some interesting information regarding health and life expectancy for men and women in the south Georgian Bay area. Life expectancy at birth for men and women is 76 and 81 years respectively. Of those years, men can expect to live disability free until age 65 and women age 68. At age 65, because one has dodged accidents and illness, life expectancy has increased. Men can expect to live another 16.9 years, and women another 20.6. Of those years, men can expect to enjoy living disability free for some 10.7 years and women, 11.7 years. This means that at age 65 a woman can expect – all things being equal – to live another 20.6 years to age 85.6 and expect an able bodied life for 76.7 years of it! It’s great that we are enjoying longer lives and more of it active and well. Yet, to quote from the magazine: “It’s a sobering reminder that, while life expectancies have been growing, Canadians, on average, may spend

Whiplash – A moment of your time, please. That headrest in your car isn’t for resting your weary noggin while driving. It is an important yet overlooked part of your car’s safety systems – your safety! A Canadian study revealed that only 14% of drivers had their headrests in the proper position. Adjusting vehicle headrests, can help prevent the pain of whiplash. Experts say there are two measurements – vertical and horizontal or, in other words, how high your headrest is and how far from the back of your head (backset). If the top of the headrest is higher than your ear, your rating is good. If the top of the headrest is between the top and bottom of your ear the rating is marginal and poor if below the ear. The accepted good rating for proper backset is two to four inches; if the distance was more than half the width of the head, the position is rated as poor. Mild to moderate whiplash injuries result in neck, joint pain and loss of movement. Symptoms may also include headaches, d

A comment about…. Despite the wisdom of aged female spouses…Cracking one’s knuckles DOES NOT cause arthritis or big joints. The popping sound is a natural process as tension is relieved in the joint. Certainly, if the joint is reefed too hard it can be sprained and if done incessantly day after day the joints may become looser. Yet ‘cracking the knuckles’ a few time a day is essentially harmless and may even prevent arthritis. It can however, be annoying to people nearby! Stepping on cracks is another story…. Research supports that mothers are in danger from children stepping on cracks in the sidewalk. The best remedy is to buy the children off with generous amounts of Popsicle’s.

Does stress seem to get the better of you? Studies reported in Scientific American emphasize the danger of stress to one’s health and well being. Students are more apt to get sick before exams and take up to twice as long to recover than during vacation periods. When people with allergies are forced to deliver a speech or face stressful situations, their allergy condition worsens over the course of the next day. Wounds take 24% longer to heal for stressed caregivers than for non-caregivers. Stress limits the ability of the immune system to fight off infections and even undermines the effectiveness of flu vaccines. With chronic stress, all sorts of bad things can happen. Not only does stress hamper your body's ability to fight infection and heal wounds, but also increases your risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and autoimmune diseases including type 2 diabetes. Make no mistake… this is a significant health problem. What does this have to do with chiropractic, you ask? For many peo

Before ...... Collingwood Chiropractic & Sports Injury Clinic ....... After (Individual results may vary) Dr. Wayne Coghlan Collingwood Chiropractic & Sports Injury Clinic 516 Hurontario Street at 9th, Collingwood, Ontario, L9Y 2N3 705 445-5401 drwaynecoghlan@gmail.com

Pondering the rubber band. Meagan was trying to get my attention the other day and being the creative soul she is, found a convenient rubber band and fired it at me! In one of those Eureka "ouch!" moments, a flash of inspiration came upon me. No... I didn’t run naked down the street like Archimedes... Not since college days anyway. Hmmmm? Find yourself a rubber band. It may surprise you that a rubber band with all it’s marvelous uses can even improve your health. Go ahead ... pick it up ... it won’t bite. Consider the fresh rubber band you have in your hand. When new, the band is soft and flexible. You stretch it, it snaps back. You can work with it and even have some fun! That’s the way your ligaments, muscles and tendons are supposed to be, soft and supple and stretchy. Imagine now the rubber band neglected and left out in the dry air and harsh sun. It won’t be long before it becomes stiff and brittle. Try to stretch that and you’ll see what being stiff is all about!! When

Pack it Light, Wear it Right As September is here, children everywhere are putting on their backpacks and heading back to school. This year, help your child learn how to choose, pack and wear a backpack to avoid neck, back and arm pain in the future. Choose the right backpack: • Select a bag that is vinyl or canvas - the lighter material makes it easier to carry. • Look for a backpack with two wide, adjustable and padded shoulder straps. o A waist strap, padded back and many pockets are also important features of a good backpack. • Make sure that the backpack fits correctly; the size should be proportionate to your child’s body. Proper packing: • The total weight of the filled backpack should be no more than 10% of the child’s body weight for students up to grade eight, 15% for those in grades nine to twelve. o Encourage your child to pack only what they will need for the day to avoid extra weight. • Distribute the weight evenly: o Pack the heaviest objects closest to the body. o Use c