Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "Osteoporosis"

Today I'd like to discuss a topic that is important to a lot of patients out there, particularly if you're female; Osteoporosis.

What is Osteoporosis exactly? Osteoporosis is a bone disease where by bone mass and tissue deteriorates over time. In effect, the bones become "less dense". A very simple way to think of it would be like imagining Swiss cheese. Now everybody knows Swiss cheese is known for having characteristic "holes" throughout. Now just imagine the Swiss cheese developing more of these holes over time. More holes means more empty space and thus, less cheese. Now this is a crude example but I think you get the picture.

Now a common misconception is that Osteoporosis is a problem unique to females, but not so. Did you know that 1 in 8 men over the age of 50 will also develop Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis, is known as a "silent thief" because as the bones deteriorate, the patient often notices no symptoms at all. However, Osteoporosis is a real problem because with weaker bones, a person may be subject to disfigurement, lowered self esteem, loss of mobility and an increased chance of severe injury.

For example, as one ages, co-ordination and balance often suffers. This is a major reason why falls are more common in the elderly. Now if a person with Osteoporosis also suffers a fall, the chance of a fracture goes way up. Did you know that 80% of hip fractures are Osteoporosis related? Once an elderly person suffers a hip fracture, the chances of complications and maybe even death also become a very real possibility.

So what can you do to prevent Osteoporosis? firstly, you might want to get a bone scan or measure your bone density. It's good to know what you're starting with right. Next, there are simple things like the appropriate exercise, nutrition and even supplements that can help to prevent osteoporosis. It's a good idea to have a talk with your doctor/ Chiropractor to find out the appropriate actions for you.

If you have questions or comments, feel free to visit YOUR COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR HERE!

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "How Chiropractic Works (In Everyday Terms)"

This is a very important question and one that many people have of Chiropractic, especially those that have never been to one. So how does Chiropractic work?

I've heard people and even patients say to me, "Chiropractors 'crack' bones, re-align your joints and then you feel better". Well, although that's not entirely wrong, it's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

What's missing in this description is the understanding that your nervous system plays an even bigger role. Let's put it this way. Most people will seek the help of a Chiropractor when they feel pain or discomfort. Ever stop to think what exactly is going on here? Well, pain is your body's way of telling you that, 'something's wrong' and you need to address it. "Pain" is how your brain interprets the signals it gets from the rest of your nervous system. Like cars travelling on a highway, your nervous system is how your brain and the rest of the body communicates with each other.

Now most people have experienced a traffic jam before. Cars and trucks just stuck and going nowhere. But a few miles ahead is a three car pile-up. This small accident can have a significant effect on traffic for miles. This accident can even stall traffic going the other way!

Well imagine if something similar occurred with your nervous system. The signals traveling along your nerves like cars on a highway can become 'stalled' or interrupted. Now a chain reaction occurs resulting in your body feeling "PAIN!!".

Now how Chiropractic works simply is to help to restore function! Chiropractic works to keep your nervous system working well and making sure there is no irritation or 'roadblocks' along this information highway. Chiropractic care can help to reduce inflammation in irritated tissue thereby restoring normal function and reducing pain.

This can be done without the use of drugs, which often just temporarily mask the symptoms. It's like tricking your brain into thinking there's no problem at all.

Hopefully this explanation helps to get people thinking differently about pain. More importantly, I hope it helps you to understand how Chiropractic works!

If you have questions or comments, get in touch with your COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR HERE!!

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor: Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "Chiropractic Is Cost-Effective In Treating Chronic Back Pain, Study"

This study from the United States wanted to compare the cost effectiveness of Chiropractic care compared to standard medical interventions for people suffering from back pain.

A little background first; in the U.S. alone, "back-pain" costs the American economy an estimated $48 billion a year. A staggering amount and one that underscores the prevalance of this problem. It is also estimated that at any given time, 80% of the population will be suffering from back pain.

Now back to the study. The researcher followed 2780 patients with mechanical low back pain who referred themselves to either Doctors of Chiropractic or General Practitioners. The cost of treatment and also the patient's satisfaction of care were monitored at 3 and 12 months after their initial visits.

The study found that initially, Chiropractic care cost more, however when additional costs involving medical care was factored in such as; advanced imaging, physical therapy, and specialists, Chiropractic care quickly became more cost-effective.
More importantly, when asked about their satisfaction of care, the respondents rated Chiropractic care more favorably than those who opted for standard medical care.

Important to note was that both choices for low back pain treatment involved physical activity and exercise, however it appears that Chiropractic patients fared better in the long term (ie. at 12 months) than patients who saw a General Practitioner. All things being considered, this study strongly suggests that Chiropractic is not only a viable treatment option for patients suffering from low back pain, but for a medical system as a whole, a cost-effective one as well!

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Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor: Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "Let's go Biking!"

Well the summer is here in full force and what better way to enjoy the outdoors than to go for a bike ride.

Luckily, Vancouver is a city that has a multitude of bike paths and parks that are bike friendly. In addition, the city has introduced a dedicated bike lane on the Burrard bridge going into and leaving the downtown core.

Bike riding is a great cardiovascular exercise. It works the major muscles of your legs and hips. In addition to being easy for most people, bike riding is also a fun activity you can enjoy alone, or with friends!

In practice, I actually encourage my patients to ride bikes because many of them have recurring or acute lower back and hip issues. I find that riding bikes is great for them not only for the exercise but for proprioception of their muscles too. That's to say, once you're on a bike and pedaling, you become very aware of tightness or muscular imbalances regarding your hips and lower back. This can actually help patients to become more aware of their bodies and can help to gauge their progress and recovery.

If you need more information, please visit the website of your YOUR COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR!