13 Feb 2009
There is a new book, there is an old movie, there are old books. There are Plays, and spin offs, and there is only one Dorothy of Oz. This is my site dedicated to the memories and the memorabilia.
So, we’re off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Stay tuned and come along for the journey!
Scoliosis an Introduction
When the body is seen from behind, a normal spine is straight without much deviation from side-to-side.Scoliosis is an affliction that is commonly associated with a lateral, or side-to-side, curvature of the spine.This disorder many times gives the appearance of the patient leaning to one side but it should not be confused with bad posture. Scoliosis is a complicated deformity that is defined by both lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebra often causing a symptomatic “rib hump” in the mid or thoracic spine. This is caused by the vertebrae in the area of the major curve rotating toward the concavity and pushing their connected ribs posterior thereby creating the distinctive rib hump seen in thoracic scoliosis. The pulmonary and cardiac functions can be obstructed if the thoracic curve and rib rotation is greater than 70 degrees. This degree of curve and resulting cardiac and pulmonary changes are oftentimes seen later in life in untreated severe idiopathic infantile and juvenile scoliosis patients and, quite frequently, present a threat to life.
Anatomy
The spine reveals four normal curves: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral, all of which are observable from a side view of the trunk. In the lower spine there is a normal “C-shaped” curve called swayback or lordosis, while the thoracic curve in the chest vicinity has a “reverse C” called a kyphosis. Hyperlordosis is the term used to describe increased swayback, while increased kyphosis in the thoracic spine is called hyperkyphosis. Changes from normal that are visible from a side view regularly accompany scoliosis changes. Some round back deformities are simply due to bad posture and can often be resolved with postural exercises. A small portion of patients with kyphosis have more rigid deformities than the postural type, which are associated with vertebral deformity. This class of deformity, called Scheuermann’s kyphosis, is much more difficult to treat than postural kyphosis, and it’s cause is unknown.
Almost anyone can help to identify a child or fully-grown individual with scoliosis simply by viewing the person in a standing position, preferably with no shirt and in , and observing the following:
The child or adult should be sent to a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, for further evaluation once scoliosis is suspected. your chiropractor would be happy to help.
There are various origins and many varieties of scoliosis, but the most common, by far, is Idiopathic Scoliosis, which accounts for nearly 85 % of all cases. “Idiopathic” means “no known cause” and is seen with equal prevalence in boys and girls in the mild or low curve magnitudes. Depending on the age of onset, this disorder can be sub-classified into infantile, juvenile and adolescent cases. Idiopathic Scoliosis may be due to genetic or hereditary influences as it often runs in families. However girls, for unknown reasons are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves grow in size and require treatment. The most frequent time for the development of Idiopathic Scoliosis is during adolescence when children are ending the last major growth spurt. Unfortunately, at this age young people are reluctant to let their body to be looked at by parents and other adults, so it is wise to have this age group observed on a regular basis.
It is crucial that if a scoliotic curve is found in a growing adolescent, the curves be monitored for any change by a periodic examination and from time to time standing x-rays. In ninety percent of instances, the scoliosis is mild and does not require active treatment, though| increases in spinal deformity demand evaluation to determine if a brace or other therapy is needed. In a small number of people, surgical treatment may be needed.~Surgery may be necessary for a small number of individuals.
Brace treatment (orthosis) is recommended for both juvenile and adolescent children when an increase in their scoliosis or kyphosis is discovered, or when new conditions of moderate scoliosis or abnormal kyphosis are discovered. There are quite a few types of braces, all created to prevent curves from increasing through the process of acting as a buttress for the spine during active skeletal growth. Braces normally will not make the spine entirely straight, and cannot always keep a curve from increasing. But, bracing is effective in preventing curve progression in an impressive portion of skeletally-immature adolescents.
Scoliosis has no simple solution. The majority of cases, even though often monitored, are not actively treated. Severe cases are infrequently treated surgically, but the common medical treatment for moderate symptoms is a brace. You may want to see your local chiropractor first.
Specialized exercise, electric stimulation of spinal muscles, nutritional programs, and chiropractic treatments are among the complementary treatments used along with bracing. It looks as if the best results have been supported with a multi-faceted approach to the management of this condition.
There are chiropractors, that have years of experience managing scoliosis cases.
One of the most frequently misunderstood conditions among sufferers is arthritis..Often the word, “arthritis,” inspires images of a future that includes crippled and twisted joints. However “arthritis” is an all-inclusive word that encompasses many different conditions from the benign to the severe. For our purposes we will confine this discourse to the most common forms of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis and Chiropractic Care
The most common form of arthritis has many labels: osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease (DJD), and spondylosis if it is in the spine. This form of arthritis is not limited to humans, but occurs in all mammals, and is due to the breakdown of the cartilage that protects the joint surfaces. When joint cartilage is damaged, the sensitive bone tissue that is normally guarded by the cartilage becomes stressed causing degenerative changes in the joint. Sometimes, osteophytes, or bone spurs, can develop when the bone around the joint proliferates. Bone spurs create painful hypersensitivity to other tissues surrounding the joint aggravating the already grievous condition.
Degenerative joints principally occur in the lower neck and lower back, the knees, hips, and fingers. Everyone may experience DJD at one point in their lives, though previous trauma, ones occupation, activities, weight, diet, and heredity affect the degree of the condition and its onset.
The symptoms of DJD perpetually involve some degree of pain and/or stiffness in the body part involved. If the weight-bearing joints, such as the hips or knees are involved, ones mobility can be affected notably in the more advanced stages of the condition. In some cases, if the joint is sufficiently worn and the person can no longer walk without severe pain, the joints are surgically replaced with synthetic devices. Of course, one should make an effort to manage the condition early on in ones life to avoid the need for surgery.
The best management of DJD is, of course, prevention that involves taking care of ones joints at an early age.
* One should always guarantee that, especially when young, all injuries to joints are suitably managed to insure proper healing to avoid future disability.
* People involved in occupations that necessitate standing or walking should wear proper shoes that give good support and shock absorption.
* Excess body weight can create increased stress upon the weight bearing joints of the body.
* Care should be taken to cushion knees from pain and strain when kneeling on hard surfaces.
* Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables as they have natural vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are vital for the health of the joints, as well as the rest of the body.
Recent studies have shown that long-term use of the nutritional supplement, Glucosamine, can not only assist with DJD symptoms, but can possibly help to rebuild joint cartilage.
Chiropractic adjustments are not only safe, but an effectual treatment for arthritis, and can aid in the restoration of proper mobility and function to the spinal joints, thereby giving patients great relief. Your Chicago chiropractor has many of years of expertise in helping people with arthritis pain. In addition, chiropractic modalities such as joint mobilization, ultrasound, cold laser therapy, massage and electro-therapy may be used to aid in the treatment of painful and stiff joints. Occasionally, a brace is used to support the joint and relieve pain. A chiropractor may suggest exercises such as stretching, yoga, tai chi and other gentle mobilizing activities to help maintain arthritic joints.
Gout
Gouty arthritis is produced by high levels of uric acid in the blood and the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints. Generally, gouty arthritis is characterized by acute pain and swelling of the joints in the big toes, knees, ankles and wrists. A large number of people who develop gout are predisposed through heredity, though episodes are more often than not brought on by binge eating of agitative foods, when dehydrated or fasting, or after a major surgery or illness. Certain foods such as red meat (especially organ meat), certain seafood, legumes, and mushrooms contain the natural substance, Purines, that are metabolized in the liver to form uric acid. Since individuals with gout cannot properly metabolize uric acid, the buildup in the bloodstream causes joint problems. In addition to the foods specified and additional foods containing Purines, other dietary restrictions must be followed including the avoidance of alcohol.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease, is systemic in nature and thought to be caused by immune system dysfunction. The most common joints affected are the small joints of the hands and fingers, the feet, knees, and shoulder, though other areas of the body can be affected as well. Morning stiffness irritated by movement is generally associated with the disease. Further symptoms can include general malaise and fatigue, and in its more advanced stages other systems of the body may be affected. Rheumatoid arthritis can be easily identified through specific blood tests. Management includes medication and vitamin and diet therapy, as well as chiropractic adjustments. In addition, joint mobilization and modalities such as ultrasound, heat, electro-therapy and massage can help with the pain and stiffness associated the condition. Your Chicago chiropractor is dedicated to helping people in getting relief from the pain and suffering associated with arthritis.
Do you have back pain due to arthritis? Do you also have a difficult time with your weight? If you’ve answered yes to both questions, it’s conceivable that you’re having back pain not only as the result of arthritis, but also as a consequence of the strain your weight is putting on your spine. The body was not constructed to carry around extra weight in the form of body fat. If you are carrying around only an additional 20 or 30 pounds on a regular basis, your spine, which supports the body, is being put under a tremendous amount of strain. This kind of burden can cause abnormalities of the vertebral column. These misaligned vertebra can produce arthritic changes in the spine and persist in causing inflammation to the degenerative changes that have already taken place. Furthermore, your body may counteract in other ways, for instance your hips moving forward or tilting to counterbalance the extra weight. This can compress the sciatic nerve, which is extremely painful.
A new survey by the NPD Group, a leading market research company based in Rosemont, Ill., shows that approximately 62% of adults and 34% of adolescents are overweight or obese. The prevalence of arthritis increases with increasing weight. Research suggests that cultivating a healthy weight reduces the risk of developing arthritis in the first place and may decelerate degenerative progression. A reduction of just 11 pounds can reduce the occurrence (incidence) of new knee osteoarthritis and would do wonders to decrease back pain as well.
In order for an individual to overcome their back pain, knee pain, and joint pain in other places in the body, a nutritious diet and routine exercise is definitely required. Although it’s an easily apparent solution, it really is the only action for you to take in order to get out of pain and get your life back.
First of all, we’ll talk about the dieting issue. Most diets (and there are a large number from which to choose) can be temporarily useful. Obviously, if you were to lose weight for good, the diet industry would lose a life-long customer! If you want weight efficiently, you are simply going to need to eat a healthy diet as well as to cut your calories so that you are at a slight calorie deficit. Don’t try to lose 20 pounds every week because that is a limited and perilous fix. You should be losing about 2 pounds every week in order for it to work well.
As far as exercise is concerned, research has shown that physical activity reduces pain, augments function, and delays disability. It is important for you to get no less than 30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least 3 days a week. Even at 10-minute intervals such movement is beneficial.
In addition to the health advantages your joints will get from exercise, chiropractic manipulation is a proved way to get movement back in the joints of your spine and other places in your body. A spine in alignment makes exercise and physical activity a lot easier and will slow down arthritic degenerative changes. The Annals of Internal Medicine released the results of a survey of 232 people who were under a rheumatologist’s care for their arthritis. Of those people, 63% responded to the survey by indicating they were taking advantage of some form of “complementary care” as named by the study. Of those responders, 31% were utilizing chiropractic. Possibly the most notable statistic was that 73% of those trying chiropractic found it beneficial. Explaining why they’d tried the non-medical chiropractic care, the responders offered a number of reasons: 1) to curb pain, 2) they’d heard that it helps, 3) they felt certain that it is safe, 4) it had helped someone they knew, and 5) because their prescription medication wasn’t working.
Chiropractors, also called doctors of chiropractic, have been aiding individuals suffering from back pain due to arthritis in addition to other arthritic conditions for over a hundred years. Your San Diego chiropractor treats misaligned vertebra that, in addition to creating arthritic pain and degenerative changes in the spine, can lower resistance and immunity, thus causing new health challenges.
It is always a good idea to visit a health care professional to talk about diet and exercise. Your chiropractor is an excellent resource for advice on the type of lifestyle changes that you will need to assist you in managing your arthritis. Moreover, in addition to getting your spine in alignment through gentle adjustments, your chiropractor will analyze any faulty gait patterns or posture irregularities that may be contributing to the pain you are experiencing.
02 Apr 2009
Dorothy of Oz the movie will premiere in 2009. Box Office Productions lll and Alpine Pictures have produced the much anticipated animation full length feature. Martin Short will be the voice of the Jester and Jim Belushi and the Lion. We at Dorthy of Oz cannot wait to see the film. Lets hope the film gives justice to the great tradition the Baum family started.
In my opinion as an Oxnard Chiropractor, if the Scarecrow would have asked for a spine instead of a brain the would have been much further ahead:) You see being able to walk around is key to survival in the Land of Oz. And since he wasn’t going back with Dorothy, I think mobility is of utmost importance.