Medical massage is defined as a diagnostic and therapeutic treatment that involves stroking and pulling deep connective tissues to release the existing tension and return them to a natural alignment. May be uncomfortable and produce vasodilatation and sweating.
It is primarily the application of specific treatment protocols targeted to the specific problem the patient presents with physician's diagnosis and administered after a thorough assessment by a massage therapist. Until a specific symptom is treated with a specific set of procedures to bring about a specific outcome then massage it is not "medical massage". Medical massage is useful in addressing conditions such as:
Pain associated with bulged or injured spinal disks (medical massage cannot 'fix' the disk, but can help alleviate much of the pain associated with the injury).
Sciatica
Migraines/headaches
Carpal Tunnel
Piriformis Syndrome
Rotator Cuff injuries
Pain associated with pregnancy
Constipation
Range of motion issues
Fibromyalgia
Back and Neck pain
Plantar Fasciitis (involving pain in the foot)
Repetitive use injuries such as those listed and Tennis elbow, Golfer's elbow
TMJ
Pain associated with restricted fascia
Pain associated with postural imbalances
Muscle cramps
Restless Legs Syndrome
Sports injuries
Work Injuries
Auto Injuries
Edema (swelling)
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (numbness/tingling in hands/arms)
Doctors prescribe medical massage to treat a variety of musculoskeletal problems. Medical massage may be used as part of a physical therapy program to build strength and increase flexibility, and a wide variety of other physical problems.
Find out more at
Health updates for the consumer concern with wellness
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Headaches, its a pain in the neck
Great article on headaches and conservative care of them:
One of the most common ailments encountered by doctors is headache. More than 40 million people in this country suffer from severe headaches, according to the Center for Disease Control, and the number is increasing steadily. The majority of these people are women between the ages of 18 and 45 years, but many men also are affected. Unfortunately, many headaches are misdiagnosed and people continue to suffer, often becoming reliant on various medications to function in everyday life.
One of the most common of these headaches is called the cervicogenic headache. The term cervicogenic simply means that the headache is caused by the cervical spine (the seven bones that make up the neck). These headaches are typically more severe on one side of the head than the other and can cause pain at the base of the head, the temples and behind the eyes. They can last from hours to weeks and often are accompanied by pain and stiffness of the neck or shoulders.
Common daily activities such as driving, reading, gardening, sports, watching television, sleeping and even everyday stress can all contribute to the wear and tear on the joints of the neck. When these joints stop working properly they can become a source of constant irritation to the nerves and lead to pain.
Research into cervicogenic headaches has been gaining a lot of steam in recent years, which is good news for sufferers. Only 10 years ago, the idea that headaches could be caused by the neck was a foreign concept. The cervical spine (neck) is now thought to be one of the most common causes of headache. The real transition in thinking occurred in 1995 when a group of medical doctors and researchers at Syracuse University established the neck as the cause of a significant number of headaches. According to Peter Rothbart, M.D. and president of the World Cervicogenic Headache Society:
“We couldn’t believe it at first. We’ve been able to put together a scientific
explanation for how neck structure causes headaches — not all headaches, but a significant number of them. It’s true that chiropractors have been saying this for years.”
It’s interesting that many of the patients I see who suffer from these headaches come to my office for other reasons. Neck pain, back pain, numbness or tingling in the arms or fingers, and pain in the shoulders or between the shoulder blades are among the most common. Only through questioning the patient does it come to light that they’re also suffering from chronic headaches; headaches they believe are migraines and thus
totally unrelated to their other symptoms. These headaches can show up years after an auto accident or fall, or may be the result of years of activity such as sports, physical labor, or daily wear and tear. As their headaches continue, people begin to sleep poorly, feel tired and moody, and lack
energy. Overuse of headache medications can further complicate the problem by producing more severe headaches called “rebound headaches.”
Chiropractors have been helping patients successfully with headaches for decades now. Not all headaches are cervicogenic headaches, but many are. In most cases, with reduction of headache comes better sleep, increased energy, a better sense of health and well being, and a return to normal activity. Perhaps most important, people become less reliant on medications and are less likely to be subject to the serious side effects that come with them. A healthy diet, exercise, and good posture can go a long way in preventing their return.
– (Originally published in the Puget Sound Consumer, June 2005)
If this interested you visit our website at http://www.gechiropractic.com
One of the most common ailments encountered by doctors is headache. More than 40 million people in this country suffer from severe headaches, according to the Center for Disease Control, and the number is increasing steadily. The majority of these people are women between the ages of 18 and 45 years, but many men also are affected. Unfortunately, many headaches are misdiagnosed and people continue to suffer, often becoming reliant on various medications to function in everyday life.
One of the most common of these headaches is called the cervicogenic headache. The term cervicogenic simply means that the headache is caused by the cervical spine (the seven bones that make up the neck). These headaches are typically more severe on one side of the head than the other and can cause pain at the base of the head, the temples and behind the eyes. They can last from hours to weeks and often are accompanied by pain and stiffness of the neck or shoulders.
Common daily activities such as driving, reading, gardening, sports, watching television, sleeping and even everyday stress can all contribute to the wear and tear on the joints of the neck. When these joints stop working properly they can become a source of constant irritation to the nerves and lead to pain.
Research into cervicogenic headaches has been gaining a lot of steam in recent years, which is good news for sufferers. Only 10 years ago, the idea that headaches could be caused by the neck was a foreign concept. The cervical spine (neck) is now thought to be one of the most common causes of headache. The real transition in thinking occurred in 1995 when a group of medical doctors and researchers at Syracuse University established the neck as the cause of a significant number of headaches. According to Peter Rothbart, M.D. and president of the World Cervicogenic Headache Society:
“We couldn’t believe it at first. We’ve been able to put together a scientific
explanation for how neck structure causes headaches — not all headaches, but a significant number of them. It’s true that chiropractors have been saying this for years.”
It’s interesting that many of the patients I see who suffer from these headaches come to my office for other reasons. Neck pain, back pain, numbness or tingling in the arms or fingers, and pain in the shoulders or between the shoulder blades are among the most common. Only through questioning the patient does it come to light that they’re also suffering from chronic headaches; headaches they believe are migraines and thus
totally unrelated to their other symptoms. These headaches can show up years after an auto accident or fall, or may be the result of years of activity such as sports, physical labor, or daily wear and tear. As their headaches continue, people begin to sleep poorly, feel tired and moody, and lack
energy. Overuse of headache medications can further complicate the problem by producing more severe headaches called “rebound headaches.”
Chiropractors have been helping patients successfully with headaches for decades now. Not all headaches are cervicogenic headaches, but many are. In most cases, with reduction of headache comes better sleep, increased energy, a better sense of health and well being, and a return to normal activity. Perhaps most important, people become less reliant on medications and are less likely to be subject to the serious side effects that come with them. A healthy diet, exercise, and good posture can go a long way in preventing their return.
– (Originally published in the Puget Sound Consumer, June 2005)
If this interested you visit our website at http://www.gechiropractic.com
Friday, April 30, 2010
What to do when the hurt goes away!
When many people seek care in our office they have one goal: relief. So that's where we start!
When they get the relief they desire what do you do next? This article uncovers the facts about a wellness chiropractic program and the many benefits it delivers.
The underlying premise of wellness care is that the focus of care should be directed away from treating disease and toward promoting good health. Another way of stating this is that wellness care concentrates on two areas: disease prevention and health promotion.
After most patients go through a corrective care treatment plan they discover what it is like to feel good again. They put in the hard work that it takes to correct the spine and restore normal biomechanics. Corrective care is like braces for your teeth, only for your spine. Wellness care is the retainer. It promotes prevention and encourages healthy decision making with respect to your body.
The benefits of Chiropractic Wellness Care include:
· helps keep your spine flexible and your joints moveable and healthy
· helps improve posture, and thus energy levels· helps remove pressure to your spinal cord allowing your nerves to work properly
· helps foster a more responsive nervous system, reducing chances of "throwing your back out" due to poor muscular coordination.
Chiropractors are deeply concerned about making sure your body is able to function to the best of its ability and be as healthy as possible for as long as possible. That's why they recommend regular spinal check-ups for everyone for a lifetime. Why a lifetime? How long do you want to be healthy?
More questions visit us at http://www.gechiropractic.com
When they get the relief they desire what do you do next? This article uncovers the facts about a wellness chiropractic program and the many benefits it delivers.
The underlying premise of wellness care is that the focus of care should be directed away from treating disease and toward promoting good health. Another way of stating this is that wellness care concentrates on two areas: disease prevention and health promotion.
After most patients go through a corrective care treatment plan they discover what it is like to feel good again. They put in the hard work that it takes to correct the spine and restore normal biomechanics. Corrective care is like braces for your teeth, only for your spine. Wellness care is the retainer. It promotes prevention and encourages healthy decision making with respect to your body.
The benefits of Chiropractic Wellness Care include:
· helps keep your spine flexible and your joints moveable and healthy
· helps improve posture, and thus energy levels· helps remove pressure to your spinal cord allowing your nerves to work properly
· helps foster a more responsive nervous system, reducing chances of "throwing your back out" due to poor muscular coordination.
Chiropractors are deeply concerned about making sure your body is able to function to the best of its ability and be as healthy as possible for as long as possible. That's why they recommend regular spinal check-ups for everyone for a lifetime. Why a lifetime? How long do you want to be healthy?
More questions visit us at http://www.gechiropractic.com
Friday, April 23, 2010
Our location
We have recently been asked where we are located and directions. Get them here:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?name=Schaffnit+Chiropractic&city=Glen+Ellyn&state=IL&address=799+Roosevelt+Rd+%23+4-103&zipcode=60137&country=US&latitude=41.85941&longitude=-88.0527&geocode=ADDRESS&id=263500445
As always, you can get directions from our updated website at
http://www.gechiropractic.com
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?name=Schaffnit+Chiropractic&city=Glen+Ellyn&state=IL&address=799+Roosevelt+Rd+%23+4-103&zipcode=60137&country=US&latitude=41.85941&longitude=-88.0527&geocode=ADDRESS&id=263500445
As always, you can get directions from our updated website at
http://www.gechiropractic.com
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Follow us on twitter @schaffnitchiro. As always you can visit our website at http://www.gechiropractic.com
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Myofacial Pain
What is it?
Myofascial pain is a technical way to describe muscle pain. This is pain and inflamation around the body's soft tissue structures. It can be a chronic condition that affects the connective tissue that covers muscles (fascia). These conditions can often times be aggravated by poor posture, bad ergonomics, and common day to day activity like gardening.
Myofascial pain may involve either a single muscle or a muscle group. In some cases, the area where a person experiences the pain may not be where the myofascial pain generator is located. Research has shown that the actual site of the injury prompts the development of a trigger point that, in turn, causes pain in other areas. This situation is known as referred pain. Pain referral is very common and can sometimes be tricky to diagnose properly due to pain emitting from tissue that is not the origin of the injury.
How do we treat it?
Myofascial pain is a technical way to describe muscle pain. This is pain and inflamation around the body's soft tissue structures. It can be a chronic condition that affects the connective tissue that covers muscles (fascia). These conditions can often times be aggravated by poor posture, bad ergonomics, and common day to day activity like gardening.
Myofascial pain may involve either a single muscle or a muscle group. In some cases, the area where a person experiences the pain may not be where the myofascial pain generator is located. Research has shown that the actual site of the injury prompts the development of a trigger point that, in turn, causes pain in other areas. This situation is known as referred pain. Pain referral is very common and can sometimes be tricky to diagnose properly due to pain emitting from tissue that is not the origin of the injury.
How do we treat it?
- Massage- Trigger points are found and eliminated by condition specific treatment.
- Chiropractic adjustments- When joints are free to move properly, surrounding muscle works more efficiently thus lessening the total load.
- Physical Therapy- When trigger points are eliminated muscle is strengthen to reduce the recurrence of them.
For more information please refer to our website at
or call the office at 630-474-9500
Friday, May 1, 2009
Open House
Schaffnit Chiropractic had its inaugural open house on Friday April 24th 2009. We would like to personally thank everyone who attended. It was nice to have friends and family come out and show their excitement for health. In the following months Schaffnit Chiropractic will be blogging on health and events in our community. Please check for weekly updates and conditions of the month. Like always you can check our website at www.gechiropractic.com. Thanks.
Schaffnit Chiropractic
-I got your back
Schaffnit Chiropractic
-I got your back
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