drmichelleclark.com RSS Edit-X CMS 41 2008-03-24 09:34:35 <![CDATA[Pacificare]]> Now an in-network provider with Pacificare.  Pacificare was added to the American Chiropractic Network ACN as of January 2008.  I now accept and am in-network with United Healthcare, Great West, and Pacificare.  If you have these insurances call our office today for an initial consultation.  It is never too late to take responsibility for your health.

 I am here to help.

 Dr. Clark 

]]> http://drmichelleclark.com/ http://drmichelleclark.com/ http:// 40 2008-03-20 07:49:37 <![CDATA[Yogi Beware]]> http://drmichelleclark.com/ http://drmichelleclark.com/ 35 2007-07-24 07:29:49 <![CDATA[Deep Venuos Thrombosis (DVT)]]> A deep venous thrombosis is essentially a blood clot in the calf that when dislodged can travel to the lungs and even eventually to the brain if it mobilizes from there.  This is a very serious condition never to be taken lightly as it can lead to a stroke and can cause permanent damage possibly even death.  I bet you are wondering why I would write about this. 

To be quite honest, I never thought I would see this condition in anyone in my practice but in the past year I have had two very scary cases and thus I thought it was important to share with you.  The first case was a massage therapist who called me on a Saturday to see if I would meet him at my office to adjust his rib.  I started asking him questions because not only did it sound weird, but I also didn’t want to go to the office on my day off.  As I investigated things further I realized that this patient was not suffering from a musculoskeletal ailment, even though it seemed like that to him.  He was having chest pain of cardiopulmonary origin and needed immediate attention.  I advised him to go straight to the ER.  He begrudgingly did so, and then about a month after this all happened he called to give me all the details.  He said that not only was it pain coming from his lungs, but that a few days before his chest pain began he reported pain in his calf that he had massaged.  His massage therapist loosened the knot in his calf and by morning the pain was in his chest. 

What he described to me was a deep venous thrombosis that he had dislodged by getting an aggressive massage of the calf.  The chest pain was the loosened clot, or embolism, and the only place that this clot could now go, was his brain.  He was lucky, I scared him and he went to the hospital. 

The second case I saw was last week and it was a member of my own family.  The patient was adamant that his complaint was purely biomechanical and there was not any cause for alarm.  I never actually saw this person in my office, but the next morning when he said that his calf was swollen I knew that things were much more serious than originally thought.  I urged him to go straight to the ER.  He didn’t listen to me; he made an afternoon appointment with his doctor instead.  By the time he got in to see his doctor, the doctor sent him to the ER.  He did have a clot, fortunately not a deep venous thrombosis, but a clot none-the-less. 

Another lucky one.  The moral of the story, calf pain and swelling should never be taken lightly.  PLEASE have it evaluated to rule out a possible life threatening affliction.

I’m here to help.

Dr. Clark

]]> A deep venous thrombosis is essentially a blood clot in the calf that when dislodged can travel to the lungs and even eventually to the brain if it mobilizes from there.  This is a very serious condition never to be taken lightly as it can lead to a stroke and can cause permanent damage possibly even death.  I bet you are wondering why I would write about this. 

To be quite honest, I never thought I would see this condition in anyone in my practice but in the past year I have had two very scary cases and thus I thought it was important to share with you.  The first case was a massage therapist who called me on a Saturday to see if I would meet him at my office to adjust his rib.  I started asking him questions because not only did it sound weird, but I also didn’t want to go to the office on my day off.  As I investigated things further I realized that this patient was not suffering from a musculoskeletal ailment, even though it seemed like that to him.  He was having chest pain of cardiopulmonary origin and needed immediate attention.  I advised him to go straight to the ER.  He begrudgingly did so, and then about a month after this all happened he called to give me all the details.  He said that not only was it pain coming from his lungs, but that a few days before his chest pain began he reported pain in his calf that he had massaged.  His massage therapist loosened the knot in his calf and by morning the pain was in his chest. 

What he described to me was a deep venous thrombosis that he had dislodged by getting an aggressive massage of the calf.  The chest pain was the loosened clot, or embolism, and the only place that this clot could now go, was his brain.  He was lucky, I scared him and he went to the hospital. 

The second case I saw was last week and it was a member of my own family.  The patient was adamant that his complaint was purely biomechanical and there was not any cause for alarm.  I never actually saw this person in my office, but the next morning when he said that his calf was swollen I knew that things were much more serious than originally thought.  I urged him to go straight to the ER.  He didn’t listen to me; he made an afternoon appointment with his doctor instead.  By the time he got in to see his doctor, the doctor sent him to the ER.  He did have a clot, fortunately not a deep venous thrombosis, but a clot none-the-less. 

Another lucky one.  The moral of the story, calf pain and swelling should never be taken lightly.  PLEASE have it evaluated to rule out a possible life threatening affliction.

I’m here to help.

Dr. Clark

   ]]> http://drmichelleclark.com/ http://drmichelleclark.com/ http:// 34 2007-06-05 10:22:56 <![CDATA[Chiropractic in Denver]]>  

What is chiropractic and how can a local Denver Chiropractor help me?

What is Soft Tissue?

Soft tissue is any structure in the body that is not comprised of organs or bones.  More specifically it is typically referred to as muscle, ligament, tendon, and fascia.  These are the tissues that get damaged by repetitive overuse and postural abnormalities.   Nerves and blood vessels travel through these tissues and can become compromised by them.  These aliments will not appear on x-rays, but will only be evident on an MRI.

The Relationship between Soft Tissue and Chiropractic

  • Muscles and tendons attach directly to bones.
  • When muscles are tightened, injured, or in spasm they have a profound effect on the bones and joints they attach to.
  • Injured muscles work harder to accomplish less all while getting less nutrients to them.
  • When injured muscles get decreased nutrients, they also have less cellular debris removed from them.
  • With more cellular debris, the body lays down scar tissue to protect itself.
  • Scar tissue decreases range-of-motion, produces pain and edema.
  • Scar tissue, if found in muscles that nerves travel through, can cause numbness and weakness.

What is Active Release Technique (ART)?

ART is a patented, state-of-the-art soft tissue system that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART. These conditions all have one important thing in common: they are often a result of overused muscles.

Every ART session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. The ART provider uses his or her hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements.

How Active Release Technique ART Can Help You

  • Reduces scar tissue is soft tissue.
  • Promotes blood flow to injured tissues and removes cellular debris.
  • Allows more blood flow and thus nutrients to tissues.
  • Increases range-of-motion limited by scar tissue.
  • Reduces numbness caused by nerve adhesions.
  • Decreases pain.
  • Enhances athletic performance.

These are the techniques that I use to help my paitents.  I am here to help.

Dr. Clark

]]> What is chiropractic and how can a local Denver Chiropractor help me?

What is Soft Tissue?

Soft tissue is any structure in the body that is not comprised of organs or bones.  More specifically it is typically referred to as muscle, ligament, tendon, and fascia.  These are the tissues that get damaged by repetitive overuse and postural abnormalities.   Nerves and blood vessels travel through these tissues and can become compromised by them.  These aliments will not appear on x-rays, but will only be evident on an MRI.

The Relationship between Soft Tissue and Chiropractic

  • Muscles and tendons attach directly to bones.
  • When muscles are tightened, injured, or in spasm they have a profound effect on the bones and joints they attach to.
  • Injured muscles work harder to accomplish less all while getting less nutrients to them.
  • When injured muscles get decreased nutrients, they also have less cellular debris removed from them.
  • With more cellular debris, the body lays down scar tissue to protect itself.
  • Scar tissue decreases range-of-motion, produces pain and edema.
  • Scar tissue, if found in muscles that nerves travel through, can cause numbness and weakness.

What is Active Release Technique (ART)?

ART is a patented, state-of-the-art soft tissue system that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART. These conditions all have one important thing in common: they are often a result of overused muscles.

Every ART session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. The ART provider uses his or her hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements.

How Active Release Technique ART Can Help You

  • Reduces scar tissue is soft tissue.
  • Promotes blood flow to injured tissues and removes cellular debris.
  • Allows more blood flow and thus nutrients to tissues.
  • Increases range-of-motion limited by scar tissue.
  • Reduces numbness caused by nerve adhesions.
  • Decreases pain.
  • Enhances athletic performance.

These are the techniques that I use to help my paitents.  I am here to help.

Dr. Clark

 

]]> http://drmichelleclark.com/ http://drmichelleclark.com/ http:// 32 2007-05-22 10:29:54 <![CDATA[Shin Splints]]> A term that most of my patients that are avid runners throw around from time to time is  Shin Splints.  I often here the term and dismiss it not fully understanding why they use that term in such a derogatory way.  I did a little research and this is what I came up with.  The feared shin splints are perceived as a much worse condition than it actually is.  I think it got this stigma however, because it is very painful and it WILL prevent you from running and training up to your fullest potential. 

 

 Let's start with anatomy.

Usually a shin splint is a strain of a muscle on the front of the lower leg called that tibilais anterior muscle.  This muscle attaches to the top of the foot and functions to flex the foot toward the ceiling, so you can imagine that it gets quite the workout during a run (especially a long one).  This muscle can in fact become overworked and endure a repetitive overuse injury, which can potentially cause micro-tearing in the muscle and promote scar tissue formation.  If this scar tissue gets to be too problematic, it will be felt EVERYTIME you contract that muscle (like during a run).  So you see, this can be a very limiting condition and hence the fear in a runners' eyes when they mention they have the dreaded shin splints. 

 

 The good news

Shin splints, whether they are mild, moderate, or severe respond extremely well to Active Release Technique (ART).  Although a painful procedure with very angry shin splints, significant difference is noticeable after the first few sessions.  And if this is a matter that needs imaging and more aggressive care, I can get you to the proper practitioner.  There is no reason why you should let shin splints get in the way of your recreation or training.  Get your shin pain evaluated before it really affects your activities.

I'm here to help.

Dr. Clark

]]> A term that most of my patients that are avid runners throw around from time to time is  Shin Splints.  I often here the term and dismiss it not fully understanding why they use that term in such a derogatory way.  I did a little research and this is what I came up with.  The feared shin splints are perceived as a much worse condition than it actually is.  I think it got this stigma however, because it is very painful and it WILL prevent you from running and training up to your fullest potential. 

 

 Let's start with anatomy.

Usually a shin splint is a strain of a muscle on the front of the lower leg called that tibilais anterior muscle.  This muscle attaches to the top of the foot and functions to flex the foot toward the ceiling, so you can imagine that it gets quite the workout during a run (especially a long one).  This muscle can in fact become overworked and endure a repetitive overuse injury, which can potentially cause micro-tearing in the muscle and promote scar tissue formation.  If this scar tissue gets to be too problematic, it will be felt EVERYTIME you contract that muscle (like during a run).  So you see, this can be a very limiting condition and hence the fear in a runners' eyes when they mention they have the dreaded shin splints. 

 

 The good news

Shin splints, whether they are mild, moderate, or severe respond extremely well to Active Release Technique (ART).  Although a painful procedure with very angry shin splints, significant difference is noticeable after the first few sessions.  And if this is a matter that needs imaging and more aggressive care, I can get you to the proper practitioner.  There is no reason why you should let shin splints get in the way of your recreation or training.  Get your shin pain evaluated before it really affects your activities.

I'm here to help.

Dr. Clark

]]> http://drmichelleclark.com/ http://drmichelleclark.com/ http:// 30 2007-05-07 07:24:59 <![CDATA[Psoas Strain]]> The psoas muscle, otherwise known as the hip flexor, is probably one of the most underestimated muscles in the body. It is very powerful and is usually the cause of long standing issues when relating to recurrent back pain.

The psoas originates at the lumbar spine and crosses the pelvis at the sacroiliac joint, terminating on the front of the femur (or thigh bone). It functions to flex the hip (raise the knee from a standing position) or bend the trunk forward at the hip. The problem with this muscle is that when it becomes tight, the erector muscles compensate and the body begins a tug-of-war of sorts (the front of the body is fighting the back of the body).

The hip flexors are notoriously tight in today's society. Let's face it. We are a society of sitting. We sit at our jobs all day long, after that we get in ours cars and drive home. When we get home, we sit for dinner and then possibly even for the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy. The longer the psoas muscles remain tight, the more your body will do to compensate for this. For example, your low back muscles will become tight and quite possibly your core muscles will become weak in response because you are always using your hip flexors instead of your core. The point is, we unintentionally do everything to keep the psoas muscles shortened and tight. Coincidentally, we do virtually nothing to stretch them out. Even if you are a yoga practitioner, you understand that in yoga you do a lot to stretch the back of the body and not much to stretch the front. if you are a runner or a cyclist, you are especially at risk for some tight hip flexors because of the repetitive nature of those sports.

Psoas strains are the great imitator of low back pain. How so? When you have a tug-of-war occurring in your body, your hip flexors may or may not be hurting, but your low back muscles (the ones that are compensating) probably are. And thus your psoas muscles are mimicking your back pain. If you feel pain in your low back when going from a sitting position to a standing one, your hip flexors may in fact be the problem.

How do we rectify this situation? Stretching is a start, especially if you take part in some of the sports that I mentioned above. Above that, if you need help figuring out the cause of your pain and you think that your psoas muscles are the culprit, I'm here to help.

Dr. Clark

 

]]> The psoas muscle, otherwise known as the hip flexor, is probably one of the most underestimated muscles in the body.  It is very powerful and is usually the cause of long standing issues when relating to recurrent back pain. 

The psoas originates at the lumbar spine and crosses the pelvis at the sacroiliac joint, terminating on the front of the femur (or thigh bone).  It functions to flex the hip (raise the knee from a standing position) or bend the trunk forward at the hip.  The problem with this muscle is that when it becomes tight, the erector muscles compensate and the body begins a tug-of-war of sorts (the front of the body is fighting the back of the body).  

The hip flexors are notoriously tight in today's society.  Let's face it. We are a society of sitting.  We sit at our jobs all day long, after that we get in ours cars and drive home.  When we get home, we sit for dinner and then possibly even for the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy.  The longer the psoas muscles remain tight, the more your body will do to compensate for this.  For example, your low back muscles will become tight and quite possibly your core muscles will become weak in response because you are always using your hip flexors instead of your core.  The point is, we unintentionally do everything to keep the psoas muscles shortened and tight.  Coincidentally, we do virtually nothing to stretch them out.  Even if you are a yoga practitioner, you understand that in yoga you do a lot to stretch the back of the body and not much to stretch the front.  if you are a runner or a cyclist, you are especially at risk for some tight hip flexors because of the repetitive nature of those sports.

Psoas strains are the great imitator of low back pain.  How so?  When you have a tug-of-war occurring in your body, your hip flexors may or may not be hurting, but your low back muscles (the ones that are compensating) probably are.   And thus your psoas muscles are mimicking your back pain.  If you feel pain in your low back when going from a sitting position to a standing one, your hip flexors may in fact be the problem.

How do we rectify this situation?  Stretching is a start, especially if you take part in some of the sports that I mentioned above.  Above that, if you need help figuring out the cause of your pain and you think that your psoas muscles are the culprit, I'm here to help.

Dr. Clark

 

]]> http://drmichelleclark.com/ http://drmichelleclark.com/ http:// 29 2007-04-16 05:43:30 <![CDATA[High Ankle Sprain]]> I treat a lot of athletes in my practice. I see many long-distance runners and came across an interesting case that all of you runners should be aware of. There is a specific kind of ankle sprain that is different from the normal inversion spain. It's different not by mechanism of injury, but by severity and prognosis.

Let's start with anatomy. There is a connective tissue membrane that separtaes the fibula and tibia (the long bones of the lower leg). It can sometimes tear a little with a bad enough sprain. When this membrane (the interosseous membrane) tears it not only hurts, but it makes the entire ankle complex less stable. Here's the kicker, if you don't let it heal it will be painful for much longer than needed and the ankle joint will become less and less stable leading to long term effects and predisposing one to injury in the future.

Here is what the American Family Physicians journal has to say about it:

Acute ankle injury, a common musculoskeletal injury, can cause ankle sprains. Some evidence suggests that previous injuries or limited joint flexibility may contribute to ankle sprains. The initial assessment of an acute ankle injury should include questions about the timing and mechanism of the injury. The Ottawa Ankle and Foot Rules provide clinical guidelines for excluding a fracture in adults and children and determining if radiography is indicated at the time of injury. Reexamination three to five days after injury, when pain and swelling have improved, may help with the diagnosis. Therapy for ankle sprains focuses on controlling pain and swelling. PRICE (Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) is a well-established protocol for the treatment of ankle injury. There is some evidence that applying ice and using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs improves healing and speeds recovery. Functional rehabilitation (e.g., motion restoration and strengthening exercises) is preferred over immobilization. Superiority of surgical repair versus functional rehabilitation for severe lateral ligament rupture is controversial. Treatment using semirigid supports is superior to using elastic bandages. Support devices provide some protection against future ankle sprains, particularly in persons with a history of recurrent sprains. Ankle disk or proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation exercise regimens also may be helpful, although the literature supporting this is limited. (Am Fam Physician 2006;74:1714-20, 1723-4, 1725-6.)

If in fact you are afraid that you have torn the interosseous membrane in a bad sprain that refuses to go away there is a simple test you can do to confirm it. It is called the crossed-legged test.



If this test is positive, you have a much more serious sprain on your hands and you should see someone for it.

I'm here to help.
Dr. Clark

]]> I treat a lot of athletes in my practice. I see many long-distance runners and came across an interesting case that all of you runners should be aware of. There is a specific kind of ankle sprain that is different from the normal inversion spain. It's different not by mechanism of injury, but by severity and prognosis.

Let's start with anatomy. There is a connective tissue membrane that separtaes the fibula and tibia (the long bones of the lower leg). It can sometimes tear a little with a bad enough sprain. When this membrane (the interosseous membrane) tears it not only hurts, but it makes the entire ankle complex less stable. Here's the kicker, if you don't let it heal it will be painful for much longer than needed and the ankle joint will become less and less stable leading to long term effects and predisposing one to injury in the future.

Here is what the American Family Physicians journal has to say about it:

Acute ankle injury, a common musculoskeletal injury, can cause ankle sprains. Some evidence suggests that previous injuries or limited joint flexibility may contribute to ankle sprains. The initial assessment of an acute ankle injury should include questions about the timing and mechanism of the injury. The Ottawa Ankle and Foot Rules provide clinical guidelines for excluding a fracture in adults and children and determining if radiography is indicated at the time of injury. Reexamination three to five days after injury, when pain and swelling have improved, may help with the diagnosis. Therapy for ankle sprains focuses on controlling pain and swelling. PRICE (Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) is a well-established protocol for the treatment of ankle injury. There is some evidence that applying ice and using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs improves healing and speeds recovery. Functional rehabilitation (e.g., motion restoration and strengthening exercises) is preferred over immobilization. Superiority of surgical repair versus functional rehabilitation for severe lateral ligament rupture is controversial. Treatment using semirigid supports is superior to using elastic bandages. Support devices provide some protection against future ankle sprains, particularly in persons with a history of recurrent sprains. Ankle disk or proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation exercise regimens also may be helpful, although the literature supporting this is limited. (Am Fam Physician 2006;74:1714-20, 1723-4, 1725-6.)

If in fact you are afraid that you have torn the interosseous membrane in a bad sprain that refuses to go away there is a simple test you can do to confirm it. It is called the crossed-legged test.



If this test is positive, you have a much more serious sprain on your hands and you should see someone for it.

I'm here to help.
Dr. Clark

]]> http://drmichelleclark.com/ http://drmichelleclark.com/ http:// 28 2007-04-10 03:59:38 <![CDATA[Did I just break my finger?]]> I would consider myself one who plays organized sports. I play in a competetive, adult kickball league called the Denver Kickball Coalition (DKBC). We are very serious about our kickball. Last Tuesday at kickball practice, I was going for a grounder and hyperextended my finger. At first, I thought I jammed my finger, which I have done numerous times in previous seasons. By the end of practice, my finger was throbbing pretty badly. I asked some teammates what it feels like to break a bone as I never had before. They all thought I was overexaggerating my symptoms.

That night I realized that the pain and swelling was significant, so much so that I couldn't sleep. I knew something was wrong. First thing that morning I went to get an xray of my finger. Sure enough, it was broken. This kind of fracture can progress to a full tenden rupture and thus I must bench myself for the next 4-6 weeks to avoid the possibility of surgery.

Moral of the story: even if your team thinks you are a pansy for a simple "jammed finger". If you know that something is not right, get a professional opinion. I knew that throbbing in my finger was not something I had ever felt before. I just have to sit the bench for 4-6 weeks, where if I didn't know it was fractured and went about my normal activites I could be having surgery to repair the tendon. It's better to be safe than sorry.

If you have any questions, I'm here to help.

Dr. Clark

]]> I would consider myself one who plays organized sports. I play in a competetive, adult kickball league called the Denver Kickball Coalition (DKBC). We are very serious about our kickball. Last Tuesday at kickball practice, I was going for a grounder and hyperextended my finger. At first, I thought I jammed my finger, which I have done numerous times in previous seasons. By the end of practice, my finger was throbbing pretty badly. I asked some teammates what it feels like to break a bone as I never had before. They all thought I was overexaggerating my symptoms.

That night I realized that the pain and swelling was significant, so much so that I couldn't sleep. I knew something was wrong. First thing that morning I went to get an xray of my finger. Sure enough, it was broken. This kind of fracture can progress to a full tenden rupture and thus I must bench myself for the next 4-6 weeks to avoid the possibility of surgery.

Moral of the story: even if your team thinks you are a pansy for a simple "jammed finger". If you know that something is not right, get a professional opinion. I knew that throbbing in my finger was not something I had ever felt before. I just have to sit the bench for 4-6 weeks, where if I didn't know it was fractured and went about my normal activites I could be having surgery to repair the tendon. It's better to be safe than sorry.

If you have any questions, I'm here to help.

Dr. Clark

]]> http://drmichelleclark.com/ http://drmichelleclark.com/ http:// 23 2007-03-13 03:46:03 <![CDATA[Tips for outdoor fun!]]> Some of us have been somewhat inactive during the snowy months and now that it's nice out and we have more daylight, training for a marathon sounds like a good idea. Let me caution you about jumping into a full fledged workout regime. As anything, you must build up to your goals. And it is very important that you warm-up properly and STRETCH!

Before you head to Wash Park to play volleyball, kickball, or run, bike, or play tennis please do these simple things to avoid injury so that you can enjoy the whole summer outdoors:

  • Stay hydrated. Bring plenty of water with you for outdoor activities. Dehydration is not fun and is easy to get in this dry climate.
  • Wear Sunscreen. Don't underestimate this Colorado sun. It can be brutal and it will only get hotter as we approach the summer solstice.
  • Warm up. Especially for sports that require some intermittent sprinting (volleyball, kickball, tennis, ultimate Frisbee, soccer, etc).
  • Stretch! Even is you don't stretch beforehand, stretching after you have warmed your muscles is so important for maintaining flexibility and preventing muscle and tendon tears. All you golfers need to stretch every hole and between each club on the driving range.
  • Look both ways. Please look both ways before crossing the street. This goes for pedestrians, bicyclists, and cars. More people are out and about, be mindful of people in your surroundings and heed traffic laws.
  • Turn your iPod down. It's hard to hear traffic coming with the music blaring. So just turn it down a bit and avoid a collision.

Safety first people! Hopefully these tips will allow you a much longer and safer time outdoors.

If not, I'm here to help.

Dr. Clark

]]> Some of us have been somewhat inactive during the snowy months and now that it's nice out and we have more daylight, training for a marathon sounds like a good idea. Let me caution you about jumping into a full fledged workout regime. As anything, you must build up to your goals. And it is very important that you warm-up properly and STRETCH!

Before you head to Wash Park to play volleyball, kickball, or run, bike, or play tennis please do these simple things to avoid injury so that you can enjoy the whole summer outdoors:

  • Stay hydrated. Bring plenty of water with you for outdoor activities. Dehydration is not fun and is easy to get in this dry climate.
  • Wear Sunscreen. Don't underestimate this Colorado sun. It can be brutal and it will only get hotter as we approach the summer solstice.
  • Warm up. Especially for sports that require some intermittent sprinting (volleyball, kickball, tennis, ultimate Frisbee, soccer, etc).
  • Stretch! Even is you don't stretch beforehand, stretching after you have warmed your muscles is so important for maintaining flexibility and preventing muscle and tendon tears. All you golfers need to stretch every hole and between each club on the driving range.
  • Look both ways. Please look both ways before crossing the street. This goes for pedestrians, bicyclists, and cars. More people are out and about, be mindful of people in your surroundings and heed traffic laws.
  • Turn your iPod down. It's hard to hear traffic coming with the music blaring. So just turn it down a bit and avoid a collision.

Safety first people! Hopefully these tips will allow you a much longer and safer time outdoors.

If not, I'm here to help.

Dr. Clark

]]> http://drmichelleclark.com/ http://drmichelleclark.com/ http:// 22 2007-03-02 04:03:39 <![CDATA[Is it Sciatica or a Disc Herniation?]]> Sciatica. The pain of this condition can vary largely because it is pain involving the largest nerve in the body. It can travel down the low back, buttock, posterior thigh, and sometimes below the knee. It can be burning pain, achy, and sometimes sharp. It is usually worse when sitting or bending forward.

Disc Herniation. The pain of this condition is usually a lot worse than in sciatica. For some it is the worst pain they have ever felt in their lives. It can start in the back and usually travels all the way to the foot and toes. It is distinctively characterized by numbness and often accompanied by weakness in the lower leg. This is a more severe presentation and usually needs immediate attention. It is described as electrical in nature as well as sharp and shooting pain. It is also usually worse with bending forward and sitting (but not always). Pain with this condition is usually relieved with lying on the back with knees bent.

These two conditions have many similarities and thus it is no surprise that they get confused. It's the subtleties of the conditions that make diagnosing them on your own virtually impossible. Please leave that to the experts. But hopefully what you will take from this blog is that if you have back pain with leg pain, please see someone immediately as it may be more serious than you think.

I'm here to help.

Dr. Clark

]]> Sciatica. The pain of this condition can vary largely because it is pain involving the largest nerve in the body. It can travel down the low back, buttock, posterior thigh, and sometimes below the knee. It can be burning pain, achy, and sometimes sharp. It is usually worse when sitting or bending forward.

Disc Herniation. The pain of this condition is usually a lot worse than in sciatica. For some it is the worst pain they have ever felt in their lives. It can start in the back and usually travels all the way to the foot and toes. It is distinctively characterized by numbness and often accompanied by weakness in the lower leg. This is a more severe presentation and usually needs immediate attention. It is described as electrical in nature as well as sharp and shooting pain. It is also usually worse with bending forward and sitting (but not always). Pain with this condition is usually relieved with lying on the back with knees bent.

These two conditions have many similarities and thus it is no surprise that they get confused. It's the subtleties of the conditions that make diagnosing them on your own virtually impossible. Please leave that to the experts. But hopefully what you will take from this blog is that if you have back pain with leg pain, please see someone immediately as it may be more serious than you think.

I'm here to help.

Dr. Clark

]]> http://drmichelleclark.com/ http://drmichelleclark.com/ http:// 21 2007-02-27 03:40:33 <![CDATA[The Natural History of Uncomplicated Low Back Pain]]> This is just a fancy way of describing the length of time you should expect low back pain to last if there is absolutely no reason for its onset. 

Let me let you in on a little secret. The natural history of low back pain is about eight weeks. That's all. You could roll around in the snow, let your dog walk on your back, or do absolutely nothing and chances are, your back pain will subside in about eight weeks. If you want it to go away sooner, you should see someone. And if you see me for it, I would bet it would go away in about half that time, but only if you are following my advice. (I play hardball with back pain and I expect you to do a lot of rehab). 

Please keep in mind that all low back pain is not the same and if it lasts longer than two months you could have something more serious going on. 

My advice: if your back hurts, get it evaluated before it becomes something that takes weeks to treat. If your body hurts in anyway, it is usually a pretty good indicator that something is wrong. Listen to your body it will reward you with years of health and activity. IF you take care of it.

Let me know if I can help.

Dr. Clark

]]> http://drmichelleclark.com/ http://drmichelleclark.com/ http:// 20 2007-02-14 03:55:11 <![CDATA[Everything You Wanted to Know about Carpal Tunnel Syndrom, But Were Afraid to Ask...]]> Let's start with the anatomy. The syndrome itself is named for the area in the wrist called the carpal tunnel. It is a "tunnel" that some tendons and nerves travel through. If the wrist experiences extreme repetitive flexion or extension that tunnel space becomes compromised and the result can be pain, numbness, and weakness in the hand and fingers. These symptoms are quite common in people who type a lot with their wrists in bad positions. It is also a very common type of workers' compensation claim in the white collar work force. It should never be taken lightly if you experience these symptoms.

What I want to point out to you is that Carpal Tunnel symptoms can be coming from five to nine different sites upstream from the tunnel itself. CTS surgery usually only addresses one site, the carpal tunnel.

Be aware that you may be manifesting these symptoms from as far up your arm as just above your collar bone. Also be aware that the nerves can be compromised at more than one site.

So what's the next step? Surgery?

No. Surgery should be your last ditch effort. You definitely need an evaluation by a qualified professional before you make that decision. But there is so much you can do on the conservative front first and Active Release Technique is a great place to start. Let me know if I can help.

Dr. Clark

]]> http://drmichelleclark.com/ http://drmichelleclark.com/ http:// 19 2007-02-13 01:36:04 <![CDATA[What is Muscle Activation Therapy (MAT)?]]> It is another way to rehabilitate the weaknesses in your body due to injury and pain. In conjunction with Active Release Technique (ART) it is a wholistic approach to fighting pain from the source. Once these weaknesses are identified in the body it is important to remove the underlying scar tissue in the weak muscles (with ART) before strengthening with other techniques because its hard to strengthen a muscle that has scar tissue.

How do I know if I have Scar tissue?

Pain is usually a good idicator that scar tissue is present. Decreased range-of-motion is another good indicator of the presence of scar tissue.

Once these issues are identified, work with your practitioner to understand the mechanisim of your injury and what rehab you can do to fix it.

For more information on MAT visit www.muscleactivation.com and for more information on ART visit www.activerelease.com.

Dr. Clark]]>

 It is another way to rehabilitate the weaknesses in your body due to injury and pain. In conjunction with Active Release Technique (ART) it is a wholistic approach to fighting pain from the source. Once these weaknesses are identified in the body it is important to remove the underlying scar tissue in the weak muscles (with ART) before strengthening with other techniques because its hard to strengthen a muscle that has scar tissue.

How do I know if I have Scar tissue?

Pain is usually a good idicator that scar tissue is present. Decreased range-of-motion is another good indicator of the presence of scar tissue.

Once these issues are identified, work with your practitioner to understand the mechanisim of your injury and what rehab you can do to fix it.

For more information on MAT visit www.muscleactivation.com and for more information on ART visit www.activerelease.com.

Dr. Clark]]> http://drmichelleclark.com/ http://drmichelleclark.com/ http:// 18 2007-02-12 03:56:21 <![CDATA[How important is posture?]]>

When you sit in a not-so-ideal position for hours upon hours your body takes a toll. When muscles contract to hold your joints in a certain position, they can become fatigued. Tired muscles get less blood to them and can go into spasm. Tired and spasming muscles can't remove cellular debris because they don't get enough blood to them to take it away. The body deals with this debris by laying down scar tissue. Scar tissue acts like glue and can accidentally adhere muscles together. Tired, hypoxic, and adhered muscles become weak. Then less of the muscle does more of the work. Now these muscles are tired, don't get as much oxygen, are adhered to surrounding structures, and now are weak. Remember, their job is to hold your joints in the right place. Do you think they can now?

Exactly.

How important is your posture, you ask? Very.

I give all my patients postural advice and rehab exercises to combat these poor habits of slouching and slumping.

You don't have to fight the "slump" alone.

Dr. Clark

]]> http://drmichelleclark.com/ http://drmichelleclark.com/ http:// 16 2007-02-09 04:31:56 <![CDATA[Plantar Fascitis]]> Besides being a chiropractor, I specialize in a soft tissue technique that was designed to treat conditions like Plantar Fascitis. You can read about it on the home page or on the ART channel of this site.

First of all what is plantar fascitis?

There is a peice of connective tissue on the bottom of the arch of the foot that connects the front of the heel bone (calcaneus) to the base of the toes (metatarsal heads) and it's purpose is to help maintain the arch and absorb shock with every step you take. Sometimes when your arches fall (overpronation) this fascia or connective tissue becomes overstretched and inflammed, which in turn results in pain especially the first step you take in the morning. When this happens scar tissue forms to protect the foot arch and less blood can reach these structures, which results in more pain.

I have had numerous patients that claim they cannot run, bike, hike, or ski because of this exact kind of pain.

I just want you to know. This is very treatable and if uncomplicated resolves fairly quickly with Active Release Technique.

I'm here to help.

Dr. Clark]]>

 Besides being a chiropractor, I specialize in a soft tissue technique that was designed to treat conditions like Plantar Fascitis. You can read about it on the home page or on the ART channel of this site.

First of all what is plantar fascitis?

There is a peice of connective tissue on the bottom of the arch of the foot that connects the front of the heel bone (calcaneus) to the base of the toes (metatarsal heads) and it's purpose is to help maintain the arch and absorb shock with every step you take. Sometimes when your arches fall (overpronation) this fascia or connective tissue becomes overstretched and inflammed, which in turn results in pain especially the first step you take in the morning. When this happens scar tissue forms to protect the foot arch and less blood can reach these structures, which results in more pain.

I have had numerous patients that claim they cannot run, bike, hike, or ski because of this exact kind of pain.

I just want you to know. This is very treatable and if uncomplicated resolves fairly quickly with Active Release Technique.

I'm here to help.

Dr. Clark]]> http://drmichelleclark.com/ http://drmichelleclark.com/ http:// 17 2007-02-09 10:58:40 <![CDATA[The Rotator Cuff]]>

Two of the four rotator cuff muscles function to externally rotate the shoulder. One of them functions to raise the arm overhead, and the last is the internal rotator and stabilizer of the whole complex. They are named Teres Minor, Infraspinatus, Supraspinatus, and Subscapularis respectively.

Since it is a "cuff", people often think of it as just one structure. In reality the "cuff" is four indepentantly moving parts that drives the full shoulder range-of-motion. So when patients tell me that they have a strained rotator cuff, that really only tells me one thing.... that their shoulder hurts. You would really be impressing your doctor if you knew exactly which muscles were involved in your injury. However, that seems to be what my job is, finding the problem and helping to resolve it from the source.

I am just fine knowing that your "shoulder hurts" but I want you to know exactly what part is causing the pain, why, and how YOU can fix it.

Let me know if I can help.

Dr. Clark

]]>

Two of the four rotator cuff muscles function to externally rotate the shoulder. One of them functions to raise the arm overhead, and the last is the internal rotator and stabilizer of the whole complex. They are named Teres Minor, Infraspinatus, Supraspinatus, and Subscapularis respectively.

Since it is a "cuff", people often think of it as just one structure. In reality the "cuff" is four indepentantly moving parts that drives the full shoulder range-of-motion. So when patients tell me that they have a strained rotator cuff, that really only tells me one thing.... that their shoulder hurts. You would really be impressing your doctor if you knew exactly which muscles were involved in your injury. However, that seems to be what my job is, finding the problem and helping to resolve it from the source.

I am just fine knowing that your "shoulder hurts" but I want you to know exactly what part is causing the pain, why, and how YOU can fix it.

Let me know if I can help.

Dr. Clark

]]> http://drmichelleclark.com/ http://drmichelleclark.com/ http://