Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year!


As 2012 brings me into my 22nd year of practice, I am full of gratitude for everyone who has made this journey possible. Running two offices has, at times, been challenging, but I enjoy the diversity of the two locations. The beautiful village of Homewood has been my main office location for over a decade and I am now entering my 4th year at the Michigan Avenue location, just across from Millennium Park. During 2011, I was honored to have had several published manuscripts; a chapter published in a text book, and have been involved in federally funded research studies. I continued to teach Cox Technic seminars around the country as well as hands-on seminars at my office. My web site is continually updated and I try to provide relevant information through my email blasts and this blog. Here’s wishing you a happy and healthy 2012!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Dr. Kruse's 2011 publications


During 2011, Dr. Kruse had the honor of being published four times. Two case reports were published in the peer reviewed Journal of Chiropractic Medicine. One study found a possible connection between low vitamin D levels and a loss of sense of smell. The other case documented the treatment of low back pain in a patient who previously had lumbar spine fusion surgery. A larger research study was also published in the peer reviewed Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics. This retrospective study documented the effective treatment of lower back pain in a group of 32 patients who previously had spinal surgery. Dr. Kruse also had a chapter discussing back pain and pregnancy published in the latest edition of Dr. James Cox's text book on low back pain.

Take a look at the publications page on my web site to read the articles.


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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Treating Sports Injuries

Treating Sports Injuries
Sports and exercise are important steps to maintaining health. Unfortunately, however, injuries during participation in sports are all too common. Often, these injuries occur in beginners or those who don’t use proper safety equipment or become overzealous about an exercise regimen.

Strains and Sprains
• An acute twisting or overextension of a joint can lead to tears of muscles and tendons, called “strains,” and tears of ligaments result in “sprains.”
• In mild injuries, just a few fibers are torn or stretched. Severe injuries, where there is a tear through the full thickness of the structure, frequently require surgical intervention.
• The intervertebral disc, a ligament between the vertebrae of the spine that works as a shock absorber, can also be torn, resulting in a disc bulge and/or herniation.
Tendinosis
• In those who are training too much, overuse of a particular joint or joints in the body can result in pain and dysfunction. There injuries are called “overuse syndromes.”
• A common overuse injury is tendinosis, a condition in which the tendon becomes inflamed from repetitive use.
Stress Fractures
• Some athletes may experience a stress fracture, which occurs when an abnormal amount of stress is placed on a normal bone, such as in a runner who rapidly increases the amount of mileage, rather than gradually progressing to longer distances.
• Shin splints are caused by microfractures on the front surface of the tibia (shin bone). This is most often seen in runners, although other athletes can be affected.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Sports injuries are most often diagnosed from the history of the activity which brought on the pain, along with a physical examination. In some cases, X-rays are necessary to rule out a fracture. Fractures require the application of some stabilizing device, such as a cast, after the bone is put back into position. Rarely, surgical intervention is required. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound may also be used.

There is a relatively standard treatment protocol for most types of sports injuries, which involves:
• Rest. Generally no more than 48 hours of rest and/or immobilization is needed, depending on the severity of the injury.
• Ice or heat can help with pain reduction and tissue healing.
• Compression of the area may reduce the amount of swelling from the injury.
• Elevation of the injured arm or leg above the level of the heart is thought to be helpful in reducing swelling.
• Joint manipulation. Recent research has shown that, in some cases, joint manipulation can help with pain reduction and more rapid recovery.
Prevention
In many cases, sports injuries can be prevented. Proper conditioning, warm-up and cool-down procedures, understanding proper techniques and using appropriate safety equipment can substantially reduce injuries.

Please visit our website for more information - click here -
or call our Chicago office: 312-269-5556
or our Homewood office 708.798.5556

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Thursday, December 8, 2011

Massage Gift Certificates...Perfect!

Please visit our website for more information - click here -
or call our Chicago office: 312-269-5556
or our Homewood office 708.798.5556


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