The pain of abdominal flatus (bowel gas) is usually exquisitely intense. The amount of intestinal gas varies from individual to individual and comes from aerophagia, gases in ingested foods, disaccharidase deficiency, and as a by-product of colonic bacterial activity. Some gas is normally absorbed from the intestine and the remainder is expelled as flatus.
In sufficient volume, gas in the colon may give rise to extreme pain and may be associated with anxiety states: abnormal swallowing functions, eating too rapidly and too much food. Other agitating factors include ingesting large volumes of liquids with meals, taking laxatives, and often the pain is a by-product of the chewing of gum.
Whatever the etiology, it should be isolated by the chiropractic physician and managed to the point of correction, if possible.
In the meantime, the application of heat to the abdomen will usually result in reflex relaxation of the musculature of the intestinal wall, allowing for relief of the trapped flatus and possibly overcoming some of the surface tension of the gas, allowing for its increased dispersal and discharge. The heating agent may be infrared (a heating pad) for home use, employing the moist form, advising the patient not to lie down on the pad, or by shortwave diathermy in the office setting.
Auscultation of the abdomen will usually reveal very active bowel sounds with abdominal distress generalized, unless there is other active intra-abdominal pathology occurring concomitantly, which results in localization of pain.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
