Chiropractic Insights

Looking for a new Massage Therapist

Dr Ron Christensen — Wed, 18 May 2011 15:25:33 +0000

As of the beginning of May, we are in need of a new massage therapist. Chantelle Ward had been with us since last year and is heading north for a new adventure in her life. Consequently, we get to look for a suitable replacement for her.

We enjoyed having Chantelle with us for as long as we had her. She is a fantastic therapist and we wish her well on her new ventures.

If you have anyone you could recommend to us for her replacement, please contact our clinic at either 208-678-2629 or email us at completechiropractic@gmail.com

Or if you happen to be a massage therapist and are looking into working in the Burley, ID area, please email a resume to the above address. Or you could mail or drop it by to:

1635 Overland Ave, Burley, ID 83318

Google has it figured out.

Dr Ron Christensen — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 23:35:15 +0000

I’ve been loving Google’s products lately. Starting with the Chrome web browser which is clean, intuitive and appears faster than even Firefox. I recently discovered the extension area on the upper right of the screen that keeps me connected to Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and even my voice-mail box via Google Voice all with the glance and a click of an icon. One more thing I love about the Chrome web browser is that you can sync your settings across platforms and on different computers via your Google account. Pretty slick.

I also just discovered Google Voice. A wonderful side of Google that allows you to have different voicemail greetings for different groups of people in your google contacts. It also allows you to have free SMS texting from your PC and email enabled smart phone. Saves on texting fees–always a good idea.

I’ve known about Google docs for a while now, but recently began using them for collaboration in a business development group I’m connected with. Nice way to stay connected.

I’m sure there’s more, but that’s a good start. Google has brought the cloud down to earth and made is usable for the average Joe. And everything I’ve mentioned is Free.

Hot or Cold?

Dr Ron Christensen — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 19:13:12 +0000

One of the questions I get asked quite frequently is when do you use ice and when to use heat?

There is a simple rule of thumb. Ice is anti-inflammatory and is to be used when there is inflammation–ie right after an injury. The inflammatory process peaks within 3 days after an injury so stay away from heat during that time. Heat increases bloodflow and conseqeuently inflammation and should not be used right after and injury. Heat is great for relaxing muscles, however, and should be used for those tight shoulders and tight low back muscles.

Rule of thumb: ice when injured, heat when tight.

I recommend only heating or icing for 20 minutes at a time and giving yourself about 20 minutes for a break in between.

One way to use ice and heat during a healing process is to ice 3-4 times/day for the first day of the injury, decreasing to 2 times per day over the next two days. Then starting on the 4th day start alternating ice and heat for 2 days. After that it is generally ok to just use heat.

I have found though that everybody reacts differently to ice and heat. Some people can’t stand to be cold or to use ice on them in any way. Others are very warm blooded and can’t take extra heat no matter how beneficial it may be. I recommend sticking to the above rule of thumb for inflammation purposes but listen to your body.

What’s worse, low back pain or low back pain?

Dr Ron Christensen — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 19:35:47 +0000

Probably the most common condition we see at our clinic is low back pain. No surprise there. But there are significant differences in what could be causing that back to hurt. Probably the most common is sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Luckily, that is also the easiest to treat and responds the fastest to care.

SI joint dysfunction simply means that that big joint at the bottom of your spine–where your spine connects to your pelvis–is out of alignment. Your body glides on groves between your ilium (pelvis) and your sacrum (the bottom of your spine).

So how can you tell if it’s your SI or something else? I’ve found that when it’s your SI that’s causing you pain, you have trouble standing from sitting, your pain is usually right at the bottom of your back, sometimes referring to the buttocks or upper thigh, and it feels like you are standing with one leg longer than another. It usually doesn’t refer pain past the knee, but your body hasn’t read the text books so really anything is possible. It also doesn’t present with severe weakness in your legs, electric shocks shooting to your feet, or difficulty in going to the bathroom. If you have any of these last group of symptoms, it’s likely something more serious and you should be seen by a professional.

The good news is that SI joint dysfunction responds very quickly to treatment–usually resolving (no more pain) within 2-3 treatments. And there are some simple exercises you can do to help keep your pelvis stable.

So there you go. If you have any questions about this article, post a comment.

Welcome!!

Dr Ron Christensen — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:57:18 +0000

This is my first entry into what I hope to use as my professional journal. Here I intend to put my thoughts and impressions about my practice including thoughts on common health conditions I come across on a regular basis and how I treat them.

This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be used in place of seeing professional. There, I got the legal stuff out of the way.

Please feel free to comment on what you read on this site as well as my website.