Arlington, Va.--An article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) suggests patients try chiropractic services for the treatment of low back pain. According to the article, surgery is not usually needed and should only be considered if more conservative therapies fail. The information in JAMA reinforces the American Chiropractic Association’s (ACA) position that conservative care options should serve as a first line of defense against pain. 

The article, part of JAMA’s Patient Page public education series, explains that the back is made up of bones, nerves, muscles and other soft tissues such as ligaments and tendons that support posture and give the body flexibility. Back pain can be caused by problems with any of the structures in the back.

As neuromusculoskeletal experts, chiropractic physicians are particularly well suited to manage and help prevent low back pain.

“We are encouraged to see JAMA suggest patients try chiropractic and other more conservative types of treatment for their back pain. In many cases pain can be alleviated without the use of unnecessary drugs or surgery, so it makes sense to exhaust conservative options first,” said ACA President Keith Overland, DC.

“Research confirms that the services provided by chiropractic physicians are not only clinically effective but also cost-effective, so taking a more conservative approach at the onset of low back pain can also potentially save both patients and the health care system money down the line,” he added.

For those who are currently pain-free, the exercise tips, posture recommendations and guidance on injury prevention routinely provided by chiropractic physicians can help people maintain a healthy back throughout their lives. To learn more, visit www.acatoday.org/backpain.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2013, is the largest professional association in the United States representing doctors of chiropractic. ACA promotes the highest standards of patient care and professional ethics, and supports research that contributes to the health and well-being of millions of chiropractic patients. Visit www.acatoday.org.

Part of the chiropractic philosophy is to live life in a natural way. Your body is designed to function well in an environment with other people, animals, and even bacteria. When that environment changes, the function of our bodies can change, too.

Recent studies have shown that children who are allowed to play in dirt grow up healthier than those who live mostly indoors, and that Amish children are surprisingly resistant to asthma and allergies. The cleaner we try to be, and the more chemicals we use in that pursuit, the more we interfere with the natural environment that our bodies expect.

And here is yet another interesting study that shows that intimate contact between parents and infant has positive results for the baby's immune system. Children who breastfeed already have intimate contact with their mother's skin (and the hosts of bacteria who peacefully live there). If parents additionally kiss their children or deliver them vaginally or suck their pacifiers to clean them, the parents can also transfer healthy bacteria to their children. This stimulates the children's immune system.

Parents who boil their children's pacifiers to sterilize them, however, may not be passing along these bacteria and thus putting their children at some risk for asthma and eczema. If the children never encounter these healthy bacteria, their immune systems may not develop properly.

PEORIA -- Many Peoria County water wells have been exposed to flood waters which can pose a public health hazard.  Flood waters carry contaminants such as parasites, bacteria, and viruses from backed up septic systems and other sources.  All wells that have been exposed to flood waters need to be tested prior to use to help ensure the water is safe to drink.

The Peoria City/County Health Department is providing water well test kits free of charge to Peoria County residents with wells that have been exposed to flood waters. Test kits will be available at specific locations in the vicinity of the flooded areas and at the Peoria City/County Health Department, 2116 N. Sheridan, Peoria, from 8am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. Locations for test kits are listed on our website at www.pcchd.org and will be updated as needed.

There are many ways to relieve pain by placing something on the skin: ice, hot packs, Bengay, Biofreeze, Sombra, etc. Ice and heat have been around for millennia, and research has now revealed many secrets about how they work. Relatively speaking, however, the lotions, sprays, and rubs are the new kids on the block... so do they work?

Let's go to the research!

Ah, the 17 billion dollar question: What is fibromyalgia, anyway, and how do you know if you have it?

First, a couple facts, courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fibromyalgia affects about 2% of the United States population, which is about 5 million individuals. The cost of treating fibromyalgia is about $3500 per person per year. That means that the cost of treating all those individuals with fibromyalgia costs about $17 billion per year.

This is significant and sobering, especially since fibromyalgia has often been considered a "disease of last resort." That is, if a doctor was unable to identify another disease process that was causing chronic pain, and if the doctor was able to identify 11 specific sore points on your body, then the doctor would say that you had fibromyalgia. The trouble with that diagnosis, however, is that it is a diagnosis of exclusion, not inclusion. Most diagnoses are made by identifying symptoms and causes: "This causes that, therefore you have X disease." But the diagnosis for fibromyalgia, for many years, was made by saying the opposite: "We don't know what causes that, therefore we'll call it fibromyalgia."

Research still has not proven what causes fibromyalgia, but we now know a whole lot more about fibromyalgia. What we now know may just surprise you.

The beauty of blog analytics is the simplicity of finding out which pages are the most popular. If you have ever wondered (as I have) which of the Johnson Family Chiropractic pages have received the most views since January of 2012, you need to wonder no longer! Here are the top 7 most popular pages on Johnson Family Chiropractic of Peoria (excluding the home page):

7. Hours. Every chiropractor has slightly different hours, based on patient preferences and insurance demands.

6. Contact Us. This page has a convenient form that goes right to the doctor. Any questions, comments, concerns, or inquiries can be confidentially written into this form. In fact, some patients even regularly schedule their next appointment right from this page.

5. Where to Carry Your Wallet. This has proven to be one of the most popular blog posts on the site. People instinctively know that carrying a wallet in their back pocket probably isn't the best idea, but often don't know why. This post lays out in detail the health effects of "wallet sciatica" and sitting on uneven surfaces.

4. Meet the Doctor. Having confidence in your doctor is extremely important. And almost even more important is knowing whether your doctor's personality will conflict or complement your own. This page lists Dr. Johnson's bio and community involvement, and features a video of Dr. Johnson. So before you ever step foot in the office, you'll already have a very good idea of Dr. Johnson's background and personality.

3. Activator Methods. Dr. Johnson specializes in this chiropractic technique, so it's no surprise that this page is the third-most-visited page on the website. The pictures on this page give a good sense of what an Activator adjustment looks like. And patients have many other initial questions: How does the activator work? Why does the Activator work? How does the Activator Method help a doctor know when to adjust, where to adjust, and when not to adjust? Why is Dr. Johnson the only Activator chiropractor in Peoria? Dr. Johnson is certified in the use of the Activator Methods chiropractic analysis and adjusting method.

2.  The Towel Roll. This passive stretch for the cervical curve is extremely popular because of its simplicity, and that's why it is the most-visited blog post on Johnson Family Chiropractic. Check it out!

1. Chronic strep throat. This is the most frequently visited page on the Johnson Family Chiropractic website. Surprised? Chiropractic has a long track record in helping a variety of conditions other than back and neck pain.

For the day-by-day description of what I do, the simple answer is: I analyze people's bodies and supply the Activator Methods chiropractic technique to all individuals who want to heal or improve their body's function.

But for the larger question of WHY a chiropractor is a chiropractor, or what exactly a chiropractic adjustment is FOR, I turn to the many chiropractic minds who put together the Palmer College Identity Statement:

That is what a chiropractor does. That is what I do every day.

Come and see how it works!

Arlington, Va.--Chiropractic physicians are ready to provide key support to patients who are trying to create healthy working environments, according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). This reminder comes as communities across the country this week observe National Public Health Week (NPHW), which promotes creating a healthy workplace on Wednesday, April 3.

The theme of NPHW 2013—“Public Health is ROI: Save Lives, Save Money"—promotes the value of prevention and the importance of well-supported public health systems in preventing disease, saving lives and curbing health care spending. For more than 100 years, the chiropractic profession has promoted prevention as a key component of health and wellness, and a growing body of research shows that chiropractic services reduce health care spending.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2011 musculoskeletal disorders made up 33 percent of all work-related injury and illness cases. When considering the impact of proper ergonomics on workplace safety, ACA stresses three basic principles:

1. When lifting, the largest muscles in the area should perform the task. The larger the muscle or muscle group used for lifting, the lower the stress on smaller, more vulnerable muscles.
    
2. During any work activities, people should be able to comfortably assume a number of different postures and not remain in one position for an extended time. Muscles will fatigue and be more prone to injury when assuming a particular posture, especially a poor one (e.g., partially bent forward at the waist).
    
3. When performing tasks, it is important to keep the joints either in their neutral posture or approximately halfway into the range of motion. Working with your joints at the extremes of their ranges of motion for prolonged periods places abnormal stresses on them and can cause repetitive stress injuries.

“Our bodies are not designed to maintain the same posture for long periods of time or to repeat the same motions endlessly,” said ACA President Keith Overland, DC. “Stretches and exercises can help prevent pain and injury. There are also natural, cost-effective approaches to treating pain, such as chiropractic services, that can help patients avoid unnecessary drugs or surgery.”

For more information about creating a healthier working environment, please visit ACA’s website for health and wellness tips.

Since 1995, when the first full week of April was declared NPHW by the American Public Health Association (APHA), communities across the country have recognized the contributions of public health and highlighted issues important to improving public health. APHA creates planning and outreach materials that can be used year round to raise awareness. APHA has featured a section devoted to chiropractic and the role that DCs play in public health since 1995.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2013, is the largest professional association in the United States representing doctors of chiropractic. ACA promotes the highest standards of patient care and professional ethics, and supports research that contributes to the health and well-being of millions of chiropractic patients. Visit www.acatoday.org.

Johnson Family Chiropractic will close at 1 PM today to observe Good Friday, and will reopen with normal business hours on Monday, April 1.

Have a happy and blessed Easter!

Thirty years ago today, my father, Alan Johnson, graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IA.

The name "Johnson Family Chiropractic" has many meanings to me. One of the more important words in that name is "Family". We treat all members of your family, from grandparents to infants. We consider you as part of our family. And my family's history is deeply intertwined with the history of chiropractic.

My grandfather, father, and uncle are all chiropractors, and we all rejoice together when patients improve and milestones are reached.

And this is a big milestone! Thirty years a chiropractor. And looking forward to many more.

Congratulations, Dr. Alan Johnson, DC!