First Step in the Morning Heel Pain What is it? Plantar Fasciitis (pronounced plan-tar fash-ee-eye-tis) is a common cause of heel and foot pain in adults. “Plantar” means the bottom of the foot; “fascia” is a type of connective tissue, and “itis” means “inflammation”. The classic symptoms of plantar fasciitis include heel pain that is usually most severe first thing in the morning. This condition is characterized by inflammation at the insertion point of the plantar fascia on the heel bone. Plantar fascia is a layer of tough fibrous tissue that runs...

Figure 1. Shown in A, is the human spinal column from the side showing you perspective for where the thoracic-ribcage region of the spine is located. In B, the normal curvature in the thoracic region is shown and is called the normal thoracic kyphosis. The red line is the ideal normal curve and the black dashed line is a subject’s curve showing near normal alignment. In C, an abnormal increased thoracic curvature is shown termed thoracic hyper-kyphosis. In D, a skeletal model is shown where a thoracic hyper-kyphosis is depicted. Abnormal thoracic curves can stretch and irritate the rib and...

What Is Frozen Shoulder? Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is a condition that causes restriction of motion and pain in the shoulder joint. When a patient develops a frozen shoulder the capsule surrounding the joint contracts and bands of scar tissue called adhesions are formed within the joint. The contraction of the capsule and the formation of the adhesions cause the shoulder to become stiff and movement to become painful. Who Does Frozen Shoulder Affect? Frozen Shoulder usually affects women more than men and often occurs between the ages of 40 -60 years. Patients will experience severe...

Figure 1. What Is Constipation? Constipation, or irregularity, is a problem of the digestive system. Bowel movements may be difficult to pass, infrequent, or feel incomplete. Severe cases may lead to obstruction, which can result in no bowel movements. Who Does Constipation Affect? Constipation affects at least 2% of the population. Constipation is: · More common in children, elderly, and women. · Due to the fact that we are all individuals, there is not a definition of a daily “normal” bowel movement. · The average bowel movement range varies from 3 times a day...

What Is Colic? Colic is the diagnosis given to infants that cry excessively for an unknown reason, and is possibly linked to digestive pains or temperament (sensitivity to environment). Who Does Colic Affect? Colic affects infants, more often bottle fed than breast fed, typically in the first month of life. What Causes Colic? A possible cause is thought to be related to abnormal gut flora (stomach and intestinal bacteria). That is a lack of normal bacteria found in the gut that helps the digestion. Abnormal digestion or breakdown of food may cause excessive gas production and abdominal pain and...

Figure 1. Pain from irritation to the cervical spine structures is referred to as ‘Cervico-genic’ pain. What Is Cervicogenic Pain? Cervicogenic pain is pain that is generated from the cervical spine. It can include headaches, dizziness, shoulder pain, and upper back pain. Pain originating from the cervical spine can be felt from the base of the skull, into the neck, upper shoulders, and the upper back or shoulder blade region. The different structures and different cervical/neck joint levels can cause pain in different regions. The neck is comprised of 7 cervical vertebra or bones;...

Figure 1. What is Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy? Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy or CSM is a condition where the spinal cord in the neck (cervical region) is compressed and pinched by either bone spurs (arthritis in the neck), herniated discs, or by other tissues such as a tumor. See Figure 1 . The sustained pinching pressures acting on the spinal cord eventually cause damage to the nerves and these begin to breakdown and deteriorate resulting in a diverse range of symptoms. 1,2 Who does it affect? Typically CSM occurs in older generally over the age of 55. In fact, it is the most common spinal...

Figure 1. X-ray of the hand and the wrist showing the ‘carpal bones’ or wrist bones. Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the thumb and 1 st two fingers of the hand. What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)? Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the effects of pressure on the median nerve as it passes through the wrist into the hand. It most likely occurs with inflammation of the 9 wrist flexor tendons that pass through the carpal tunnel (8 carpal bones on the back of the hand and the carpal ligament on the front side) with the median nerve. See Figure 1 . Who does it affect? Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or CTS...

What Is Enuresis? Enuresis ("en-yur-ee-sis"), or “nocturnal (nighttime) enuresis” is a term used to describe bed-wetting during sleep. Wetting the bed prior to the age 6 is not uncommon. Bed-wetting is not a behavioral problem. It is not due to the child being too lazy or disinterested in getting out of bed to use the bathroom. Who Does Enuresis Affect? It is not uncommon for children to wet the bed up to age 6; bladder function is developed at varying ages so there is a slight variation to this. Although bed wetting is frustrating for the parents, it can be more frustrating...

Arthritis- Spinal & Other Joints Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} Figure 1A and 1B. In A, a side view X-ray of the neck is shown where the neck joints and disc...