Newsletter: June 2004

• Calcium Deposits - What's that about?
  
• Quote of the month
  

Calcium deposits come from strain

When patients complain of pain in a joint, a diagnosis may be calcium deposits, heel spurs or osteoarthritis.

Such a diagnosis is a description of the current condition of the tissues or joint, but it doesn't explain why that particular part of the body is involved.

Calcium deposits, in the absence of systemic disease, are the body's response to stress on a tendon or ligament over a period of time. The buildup is a result of the condition, rather than the cause of pain of most cases.

Osteoarthritis is a deterioration of cartilage and buildup of bony tissue at an area of stress. This is often the result of abnormal wear and tear.

It's important to emphasize that calcium deposits in a joint are not an indication of too much calcium in the diet. Calcium which is laid down in soft tissue as a result of stress or strain comes from the diet, from body reserves or, if necessary, from the bones.

When there are calcium deposits in a joint or osteoarthritis is present, the cause of the problem can often be found in an imbalance in the body structure. The most common problems arise from spinal misalignment or an imbalance in movement of the pelvic joints. This can cause calcium buildup in the shoulders, hips, knees, ankles and feet.

Often, correcting the spinal imbalances can relieve the pain associated with calcium deposits in the shoulder, hip or knee, as well as heel spurs, or osteoarthritis.

Your chiropractor can determine whether you have a condition of the spine or other joints which should be corrected and which may have a bearing on your problem.

The above article was reprinted with permission from Karin Mattern who is a chiropractor in Nanaimo.

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Contact the office:
Dr. Larry Smith D.C., B.P.E.
Chiropractor

P.O. Box 307
255 Island Highway
Parksville, British Columbia
Canada V9P 2G5