Commercial Drive – East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC – “What’s That ‘POP’ I Hear During an Adjustment?”

This question comes up very often when patients are treated in my office. Many ask, “Doc, what’s that pop/crack coming from my back?” A few patients that have not visited a Chiropractor have asked, “Is it my bones breaking?”

The simple answer is; the pop is coming from the space between your bones or what is commonly known as the joint. The corresponding picture will make it a lot more clear. When one bone ‘connects’ to another, you get a joint. But what you may not be aware of is the joint is not empty space. In fact, the joint is actually surrounded by connective tissue. Namely; ligaments, tendons and a membrane called a Synovial membrane may surround the joint, forming collectively a ‘joint capsule’. As mentioned before, the space between bones is not empty. It is actually filled with a fluid called; Synovial Fluid. Synovial fluid is very thick and acts to help lubricate movement between the bones. Just think of it like grease making the hinge of a door move without catching or squeeking.

When we take a closer look inside the synovial fluid, we will discover that there is gas suspended in the fluid. When you hear a “pop” during a Chiropractic adjustment, what is happening is that your joints are being stretched. This stretching of the joint momentarily makes the space in the joint bigger. Along with this, the stretching helps to decrease the pressure within the joint. If pressure drops enough, it forces the gases in the synovial fluid to leave the fluid producing a ‘pop’ as it does. (A simpler analogy would be taking a can of any soda. When you first open the can and pull the tab back, what do you hear? That’s right, you will probably hear a “hissing” sound due to you releasing the pressure inside the can by opening the top) A similar phenomenon is happening in the joint, but what you’ll hear is a pop.

Specifically it is known that when you stretch a joint that is stiff and relieve the pressure, you activate a part of your nervous system called the Golgi tendon organs. The stimulation will actually register in your brain as; relief, less pain, more flexibility, lightness etc. That’s exactly what many patients feel after a Chiropractic adjustment and why they get relief.

If you’re in the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver, please contact me here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC>

Commercial Drive – East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC – “Think Twice Before Going to Your Family Doctor for Back/Neck Pain!”

I am fully aware that many will read this headline and feel a degree of skepticism. Perhaps you think that this article is self-serving? Okay let me explain. For years now I have informed patients that Chiropractors are uniquely positioned to diagnose and treat problems involving the Musculoskeletal system (Muscles/Joints/Bones).

In my years of practice I have been able to provide relief for patients that either; wanted a natural, conservative approach to pain relief or were dissatisfied with what traditional medicine could do for them.

Here is a study that will definitely open your eyes and maybe make you think twice about going to your family doctor the next time you have pains in your back, neck or elsewhere!

This survey was published in; Academic Medicine: Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges. This Survey was conducted at Harvard Medical School, a world famous institution with a stellar reputation. The purpose of this survey was to assess the medical student’s knowledge and clinical confidence in musculoskeletal medicine as well as their attitudes toward the education they receive in this specialty. The survey was given to more than 600 medical students and they were asked about 30 different questions and asked to rate their responses. The results should surprise you!

74% of the students responded and their answers are very sobering. (NOTE: the authors noted that although the survey was conducted at Harvard, they claim the results are consistent with other schools). Medical students rated Musculoskeletal education of major importance (3.8 out of 5) but when asked to rate the amount of time spent learning about the musculoskeletal system, they rated it as poor (2.1 out of 5).

In addition, 3rd year medical students rated their confidence at performing a complete musculoskeletal exam as low to adequate (2.7 out of 5) but when asked to actually perform a competency exam, scored shockingly low with only a 7% pass rate!! (That is not a typo, these 3rd year medical students had a pass rate only in the single digits!!)

When 4th year students were asked the same, they again rated their confidence similarly to their 3rd year classmates (2.7 out of 5). Although, their competency exam results improved (26% pass rate) that still means about 74% of 4th year medical students failed to prove competency in musculoskeletal medicine. Remember, these students are on the brink of earning their MD’s and becoming family doctors!

These results surprised even me. Here is what the authors of this survey concluded;
“These findings, which are consistent with those from other schools, suggest that medical students do not feel adequately prepared in musculoskeletal medicine and lack both clinical confidence and cognitive mastery in the field. Implementing a four-year integrated musculoskeletal curriculum is one way that medical schools can address this concern”.

I will write posts comparing Chiropractic vs Medical school education at a later date but for now, if you’d like more information about this survey, go here;

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17457065

So remember the next time you’re having back/neck pain and wondering what to do for relief, consider what you’ve read here!

If your near the Commercial Drive area of East Vancouver, contact your YOUR COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN HERE!!!>

Commercial Drive – East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC – “Who’s the ‘Typical’ Chiropractic Patient?”

When I look at my practice, it seems to me that I can identify a ‘typical’ Chiropractic patient. Now of course it wouldn’t be fair to generalize but I do believe there is a pattern. Following up on this, it seems that I’m not the only one. Stumbling across some research, it seems that others have also asked this very question and this is some of the tid-bits they came up with.

The ‘Typical’ Chiropractic patient is;

- Female
- Between the ages of 30-49
- Well educated, with chances being good of a post-secondary education.
- Often has researched her health-care options
- Top three health related searches are for;
a) Disease and Conditions (60%)
b) Medical Treatments and procedures (47%)
c) Vitamins, minerals and supplements (44%)

Now adding to that, I’d like to share some personal insights on the general trends I see in my practice.

Most of my patients are in seek of pain/symptom relief (Over 90%). I do have some patients that see me without any complaints. But they realize the benefits of Chiropractic and are looking to maintain their health and vitality. (A few of these patients have described it to me like getting a ‘tune-up’ for their bodies)

I would estimate that about 70% of my patients are at least mildly active. Meaning they do get out to participate in activities like walking, biking and regular exercise. This last trend is very important to me because I prescribe stretches and exercise for 100% of my patients!

I like to use this analogy a lot because it’s so simple and implicit that there’s little ambiguity here. I often ask my patients if they brush their teeth? Almost everyone says yes, many saying twice a day. Then I proceed to ask them why? The natural response is, “Well, it’s good for me and it prevents cavities and other problems from occurring”. Exactly correct!!

However consider this, you could conceivably go for days without eating and using your teeth. But, you could not go for days without using your muscles, joints and spine. So, the question is, “Why do most people take better care of their teeth, than they do their bodies?”

Encouraging a healthy lifestyle for all my patients is very important to me. Luckily for me, most of my patients understand the connection between healthy habits and a healthy body. This is paramount to me because most of my patients will not receive this kind of lifestyle advice from any of their health-care providers on a regular basis.

If you have questions regarding how Chiropractic could help you, CONTACT YOUR COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC HERE!!!

Commercial Drive – East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC – “Think One Diet Fits All?…Think Again!”

Many of my patients are encouraged to exercise and adopt healthier lifestyle changes for their overall well-being. In addition, the recommendations for more exercise usually isn’t met with a lot of resistance because most people want to lose a few pounds here and there.

However, my patients sometimes admit that they have tried fad diets and changed their eating habits before only to lose momentum and return to old, unhealthy habits. Well, this article I came across may shed some light as to why many people are unable or unwilling to stick to a new diet.

Now first of, what I’m about to say probably makes a lot of sense in theory but may be very hard to practice. YOU MUST BE HONEST. The honesty I speak of is the conversation you must have with yourself as to what you want to achieve, how committed you are and what you are willing to do to get to your goals.

Choosing a weight-loss plan that’s going to work “takes some self-reflection,” said Amy Jamieson-Petonic, a registered dietitian who directs wellness coaching at the Cleveland Clinic and is a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.

You must analyze your current eating habits and see where you are willing to make changes. And remember what worked for your best friend, may not necessarily work for you. But the point is, get educated about your options!!

Here are a few tips to look for in a diet;

* Does the plan include a variety of foods?
* Does it include high-fiber foods?
* Does it educate you on the value of foods that are low in saturated fat?
* Does it tell you about “good” fats, such as olive oil?

Look to make small changes slowly instead of making too many dramatic changes overnight. Remember, a new diet is going to be part of a new lifestyle, so give yourself some time and room for a ‘setback’ here and there on your journey.

One more thing to look out for. Stay away from Diets that claim you will not have to exercise at all!! I think that’s just common sense. You are looking at this change as a way of life and being active will have to be a part of it. But heck, you’re worth it right?

Contact your COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC HERE!!!!>

Commercial Drive – East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC – “Mediterranean Diet Can Keep You Smarter!”

So for a while now, the media has been touching on the benefits of a “Mediterranean Diet”. So what does that entail exactly. Well, this type of diet is one that is rich in Olive Oil, vegetables, whole grains, fish and fruit. It has already been shown that the Mediterranean diet can help lower risks for depression, heart disease, cancer and premature death.

This study wanted to explore some of the reasons why.

The latest study was led by Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas, an associate professor of neurology at Columbia University Medical Center, New York City, and involved 712 men and women averaging 80 years of age. All of the participants had no history of stroke and received MRIs to look for brain infarcts — tissues that have died because of reduced or cut-off blood supply.

The participants in this study were separated into three different groups; those who did not follow the diet closely, those who followed it to a moderate degree and finally, those who adhered to the diet closely.

Scarmeas found that nearly 240 of the participants showed signs of damage to the brain based on follow up MRI’s. These were considered areas of infarcts or areas where the blood supply had been compromised, and thus damaged.

What the study found was that the group that followed the diet moderately had a 21% decreased chance of showing signs of brain damage compared to the lowest adherence group. Better still, was the group that followed the Mediterranean diet closely. Their chance of demonstrating signs of damage was 36% less than the lowest adherence group.

Scarmeas, explains that the as we age, the incidence of mental decline increases. He also explains that these small infarcts that lead to small areas of brain damage is an explanation why. Although the areas affected are small, the thing to note here is the cumulative effect of suffering many of these infarcts over time.

This study suggests that following a Mediterranean diet can help decrease the incidences of this type of damage, thus providing a protective factor to cognitive function as we age.

Remember if you’re by the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver, visit your COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR HERE!!!