Approximately 80 percent of adult men and women will experience knee pain in their lifetimes. Sometimes this pain might go away within a few days while in other situations it might last for much longer. Nearly 20 percent of people will have chronic knee pain that hinders their ability to move, function, and perform basic tasks. In the past, knee pain doctors might have prescribed cortisone injections, anti inflammatory medications, and in some cases painkillers. They also at times suggest surgery in addition to physical therapy. Although these treatments are still widely utilized, there is a new innovation that many patients are finding success with. This is the newly popular knee injection treatment or also known as PRP treatment. 

Understanding PRP Injections

PRP injections are a natural method of treatment. When considering other treatment options, PRP treatment can save money and time. The treatment can treat, restore, and rebuild torn muscle tissues and injured cartilage in the knee. It can also reduce swelling and alleviate knee pain. It should be noted that if you have long term, chronic knee pain, your knee pain doctor might still advise you to have a knee replacement surgery. If this is true, you may not be a candidate for PRP treatment. 

Knee Injection: How It’s Made

A PRP injection is made from your own blood and spun in a centrifuge. It is injected into the area of pain to stimulate repair of damaged cells and new cell growth. In short, the PRP knee injection supplies the body with the necessary building blocks to promote healing and recovery. 

Benefits of PRP Treatment for Knee Pain

As a knee pain doctor might explain to you, many people are opting to try PRP treatments over other conventional methods. If you are unsure, consider the following advantages and consult a knee pain doctor for further assessment. 

• PRP is made from your own blood. 

• It is a natural, minimally invasive, treatment.
• There are very little side effects.

Unlike cortisone injections that can weaken tissues and ligaments over time, PRP can strengthen them. 

• PRP treatment takes approximately one hour. 
• There is no down time. 

Not everyone will qualify for PRP injections. If any of the below applies to you, a knee doctor might advise against PRP treatment. 

• You are pregnant
• You are taking blood thinning medication
• You have an autoimmune disorder
• You have certain blood disorders
• You have certain cancers

Regardless of what may be the cause of your knee pain, or whether it is chronic or acute, PRP treatment may be able to help you

You hear the drill every time you go to your dentist: brush twice a day and floss once. How often does your dentist discuss a mouthwash or rinse? If they are not mentioning every time you go for an exam, then does that mean it is not necessary? If it is necessary, then how do you select the right rinse or wash? This article aims to shed a little light on the subject.

Do You Need a Mouthwash or Rinse?

Mouthwash is not essential, but it doesn’t hurt. While it will not replace brushing and flossing, it can help, especially if you have a hard time brushing correctly. Mouthwashes and rinses are used before and after brushing to help eliminate as much bacteria and debris as possible. Taking the extra precaution of mouthwash is beneficial in terms of preventative care.

What Are the Common Ingredients?

When you look at the oral health aisle of your local drug store, you will see many choices, from whitening to bad breath. However, don’t be fooled by shiny labels and marketing tricks. Check the ingredients. Fluoride helps to prevent cavities and reduce the spread of tooth decay. Astringent salt is used to mask bad breath. Peroxide fights against staining and antimicrobials kill oral bacteria. Essentially, the best way to choose a wash or rinse it to look for the ADA seal of approval.

When Is the Best Time to Rinse?

While it sounds strange, there may actually be a good time for using a mouthwash or rinse. For example, the National Health Service recommends using a fluoride rinse immediately after brushing, but they also recommend waiting to use a non-fluoride mouthwash. It is best to wait to use a non-fluoride mouthwash until later in the day or some time after brushing.

How Do You Rinse?

While each mouthwash and rinse will have its own recommendations on use, there is a standard rinsing protocol. You want to swish the wash around in your mouth for a minimum of 30 to 60 seconds. It is better to rinse for at least a minute, but less is OK if you can’t handle it.Mouthwashes and rinses are considered additional preventative care. They work in tandem with brushing and flushing to help reduce the risk of cavities and gum disease. Although, if you want to make sure that you are incorporating the healthiest oral habits, contact a dentist, like a dentist from John Redmond Orthodontics, and schedule an appointment to discuss your dental habits.

There are a lot of things you should be concerned about as an expecting mother, and that’s understandable. One thing you shouldn’t be concerned about is seeing a chiropractor. In the majority of cases, it’s not only safe to see a chiropractor while pregnant, it can offer support to both you and baby. The next time you start wishing there was another way to deal with pregnancy symptoms, consider a chiropractic adjustment.

Chiropractic Care Is a Non-Invasive Treatment Plan

There are a lot of things besides just back and neck issues chiropractic care has been known to treat. A lot of those issues also happen to be symptoms of pregnancy. While you can’t take a lot of medications while you’re pregnant, and you can’t participate in a few of the activities you would normally participate in to care for your health problems, you can have a chiropractic adjustment. As you can see, it’s a non-invasive way to care for headaches, nausea, heartburn, sleeplessness and various other issues expecting mothers often deal with.

Chiropractors Offer Specific Treatments for Pregnant Bodies

Most chiropractors can treat pregnant women, though some complete an additional year or two of training to be specialized in the area. Some differences in chiropractic care specifically for pregnant women include an adjustable table that accommodates a pregnant belly, as well as techniques that don’t risk abdominal pressure. Chiropractors can also show a pregnant woman some tension-relieving stretches so she can relieve some of the discomfort of pregnancy on her own at home.

There Are Benefits of Chiropractic Care That Extend Beyond Pregnancy

When it’s time to deliver your baby, your body will be in better shape if you have received chiropractic care along the way. It’s often easier to deliver if your body is limber and flexible. Chiropractic care has also been known to help your body relax so your baby can move into the right position for delivery. Postpartum recovery is also easier for many women when they have been adjusted as their pregnancies progressed.

Contacting a Chiropractor for a Prenatal Adjustment

Every little thing you do during pregnancy counts. The food you eat, the exercise you get, the amount of sleep you get, your OB/GYN visits, how much you can prepare and so many other things might be at the top of your mind. Be sure to include chiropractic care in there, as it’s one of the most non-invasive ways to care for your pregnant body, your baby and your postpartum self. Contact a chiropractor, like from AmeriWell Clinics, to get started with prenatal adjustments today.

When you experience subluxation, it often comes with pain, discomfort and other similar sensations. You might consider chiropractic treatment as a remedy, but could also wonder if a good workout would do the same thing. Chiropractic care is a lot different than your typical workout. While they should actually be completed in conjunction with each other, they are two different actions that offer two different results.

Chiropractic Care vs. Exercise

Chiropractic care consists of gentle movements of the spine and joints. With gentle force, the spine is brought back into alignment after an injury or any other type of normal life event. Many patients feel immediate relief after just one appointment, while others require multiple adjustments before the pain is permanently relieved.

Exercise consists of sometimes gentle, sometimes vigorous movements of the entire body. There are low-impact exercises that are softer on the joints and other body parts, and there are higher-impact exercises that require proper training to avoid injury. Many individuals feel a rush of adrenaline during and after an exercise routine, and while it’s a similar feeling to the after effect of an adjustment, it’s a different result.

Which Action Should Come First

If you need a chiropractic adjustment and are also considering an exercise routine, you may wonder which to complete first. The following are three reasons to visit your chiropractor before you work out.

1. Adjustments remove pressure. If you’re experiencing any type of pain, it won’t be relieved after a workout, which could make your workout uncomfortable. If you are adjusted first, that pressure will be relieved, allowing you to move more fluidly during your workout and feel better after.
2. Adjustments balance the muscles. Your muscles get a lot of movement when you take on a good workout. If you balance your muscles before your workout, it will be safer and you’ll be more flexible. This makes your workout more effective overall.
3. Adjustments relax the body. It’s easier for you to relax after you have been adjusted. Many times, your muscles are tense going into a workout, but if you have been adjusted beforehand, those muscles will be less tense. This helps you to avoid injury during your workout.

Scheduling a Chiropractic Appointment

Before you head into that workout, remember that chiropractic care is equally as important and will work together with your exercise routine for better health. Contact a chiropractic clinic, like a chiropractor at Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic, to schedule an appointment.

How Long Will Braces Need to Stay On?

The day braces go on, you or your child will probably be asking when they can come off. Most orthodontic treatments last 18 to 24 months, but there is no way to know exactly how long the treatment will last.

Every Case is Different

Orthodontic care can range from correction of relatively minor misalignment of teeth to profound bite issues. All other things being equal, more adjustment will require a longer time in braces. Your orthodontist has a number of options that they can employ, and they will discuss them with you. In some cases, there are tradeoffs between how long you or your child will be in braces on the one hand and the level of discomfort, difficulty, or inconvenience required on the other. For example, ceramic braces or clear braces may be more comfortable, but can’t generally withstand as much adjustment pressure as traditional metal braces. This may mean that treatment takes a little longer.

The Patient’s Behavior Affects the Length of Treatment

There are things that you or your child can do to make things go faster – or slower. If your orthodontist recommends that you or your child wear rubber bands, they should be worn at all times, except when activities like eating make that impossible. If you or your child runs out of rubber bands, go to your orthodontist’s office and get more. An appointment is usually not needed, and waiting until the next scheduled time may make braces less effective and stretch out the treatment.

Cutting up food better and chewing carefully can help speed up treatment as well. Vigorously chewing hard foods can put pressure on teeth that work against the adjustment being provided by the braces. Along these lines, chewing on things like straws, pencils, and the like should be avoided, as they put a lot of pressure on teeth. These kinds of activities can also damage your braces. Anything that causes damage to braces, such as broken wires, can be a major setback in your treatment.

You or your child should be especially careful to keep your teeth clean when wearing braces. While braces make it more difficult to keep teeth clean, it’s more important than ever to keep them clean. This makes orthodontic treatment go faster and protect the teeth during this time.

Wearing braces isn’t fun for most people. If you or your child is willing to be diligent while wearing them, it can take months off the course of treatment.

For more information about orthodontic care, for a consultation, or to answer any questions you may have, contact an orthodontist, like an orthodontist in San Clemente, CA, today.

Thank you to the experts at San Clemente Orthodontics for their input into orthodontic care.

Does Your Child Need Orthodontic Treatment?

As your child’s teeth grow in, you may wonder if they are going to need orthodontic treatment. The answer depends on a number of factors, and it’s practically impossible to determine this on your own.

What Does Your Dentist Say?

Your family dentist is often the first to notice the signs that your child may need orthodontic treatment. You should be taking them for periodic cleanings and exams, and during this process, your dentist will see the progress that your child’s juvenile and adult teeth are making as they grow in. It may be premature to adjust teeth that are just growing in, but on the other hand, it may be necessary to avoid problems, either now or in the future.

Does Your Child Have Trouble With His or Her Bite?

Orthodontics is often thought of as a cosmetic procedure to achieve perfectly straight teeth. But in some cases, it can be much more profound than that. Your child may be experiencing serious issues with his or her bite, or even the alignment of his or her jaw. This can have serious implications and can lead to problems that are easy to fix now but may get more difficult to fix as your child gets older. If orthodontics now can help you avoid jaw surgery later, it’s worth it, even if further work is needed when your child is older.

Does Your Child Have Issues With Their Baby Teeth?

Orthodontics is usually considered something to worry about with adult teeth, but the issues often begin with the baby teeth. Losing them early, having them stay in later than expected, or baby teeth that are growing in at extreme angles are all factors that may disrupt the proper formation of your child’s adult teeth.

An Orthodontist Can Help You Decide

An orthodontist can help you understand your options and the pros and cons of each. They aren’t automatically going to recommend braces or other orthodontic treatment for your child. Rather, they will take X-rays and examine your child’s teeth and jaw formation. Initial evaluations are often free or at a very reasonable cost. They can help you determine if your child needs immediate orthodontic treatment or will need it later. They often suggest coming back for another look in a year or more if the situation is uncertain.

You should not wait it out or try to figure out the situation on your own if your child’s teeth are coming in crooked. Get the advice of your dentist and an orthodontist to be sure.

For more information about orthodontic care, for a consultation, or to answer any questions you may have, contact an orthodontist, like an orthodontist in San Clemente, CA, today.

Thank you to the experts at San Clemente Orthodontics for their input into orthodontic care.