The Effects of Chiropractic Care on Sports Performance: Mind Over Body

Dr. Ryan Durand

 

                During my years as a professional athlete, I always wondered why I had a superstition about getting chiropractic care before an event.  I never kept tabs or logs on being adjusted and how I performed in a successive game, but I always felt incomplete without doing so.  I do know that getting adjusted was of great importance to me and once my career in the NFL was over I became a chiropractor.  In my curiosity as a student and new graduating doctor I wanted to find out what it was that made my body crave adjustments before competition.

 

                My search for answers to how chiropractic effects sports performance led me to the book “The Reality Check” written by Dr. Heidi Haavik whom is a chiropractor and neuroscientist. Like myself, Dr. Haavik was curious about what effects the chiropractic adjustment had on the body.  Going even further, what effects do the chiropractic adjustments have on the brain. The brain, which is the master controller of the entire body, dictates everything you do including the muscles and the coordination of these muscles’ movement.    

               

                When it comes to sports performance, all movements are coordinated by the brain.  The higher learning center of the brain (cortex) learns new movement patterns and creates reflexive movement patterns (‘muscle memory’) in the cerebellum.  Communication to the tissues in the body (like muscle) occurs through the spinal cord.  The spinal cord is a super highway for nerve communication from the brain to the body which is housed within the spine. The primary function of the spine is movement and protection of the spinal cord.  When the spine is not able to move properly, the ability of the brain to sense its environment is inhibited and higher cognitive demands like coordination of movement are inhibited.  That is the short version of why we are interested in treating the spine.

 

                Dr. Havvik makes a beautiful analogy to help explain how decreased spinal movement effects the ability of the brain to control the body.  Imagine you have lived in a house all your life and at the end of a long hallway is your circuit breaker.  One night the power goes out and having lived in that house all your life, you are easily able to walk down that long hall in the pitch black and reset the circuits.  How would you fare if your child put a toy bicycle in the hall without you knowing?  Would you make it to the circuit box without tripping?  Eventually you would make it and turn on the power back on, but not without the high probability of tripping over the unknown obstacle. This is the analogy Dr. Haavik used to describe how a spinal fixation can be like a toy bike that the brain trips over because it cannot see down the hallway and assumes that nothing is blocking the path (1).

 

The brain is always analyzing data about our environment.  It utilizes our five senses and the proprioceptors found throughout our body (mainly in muscles) and makes determinations based upon this information concerning our body’s current state.  There are very small paraspinal muscles located around the spine that are known to be loaded with proprioceptors.  These receptors are providing constant data to the brain about our body’s position.  The spine is like the rudder of the brain; it allows the brain to sense where the body is in space.  A portion of the proprioceptors located in the muscles are called spindle cells which detect muscular stretch; Dr. Havvik refers to them as “The eyes of the brain” (1). When an area of the spine is immobile, the muscle spindles found within those local paraspinal muscles are not able to communicate to the brain.  The brain is blind to the spatial orientation in that area of the spine. Instead of shutting down, the brain will fill in the missing information the same way the brain does for our visual blind spot. Every person has a blind spot in their vision where the optic nerve enters the eye.  We do not notice this blind spot because the brain fills in the missing visual information from input of the other eye and using assumptions based upon the environment. This can not be prevented but spinal fixation and immobility can. When there is fixation in the spine the brain is unable to receive 100% accurate data.  Also, these spinal paraspinal muscles contain many pain sensors and can get triggered when there is spinal fixation (1).

 

The research in this book also points to how chiropractic care can positively affect the strength of muscular contractions, improve balance, prevent injury, reduce pain, etc (2-5).  I recommend those who are curious about this topic to check out “The Reality Check” by Dr. Heidi Haavik.  People that experience chiropractic care know that it works and experience ‘miracles’ every day.  There is still so much for the medical community to discover about how the brain works and how chiropractic care can affect the nervous system.  Research is still being conducted as we speak and hopefully more light can be shed on how chiropractic care can allow the brain to function optimally pushing the body to perform at peak levels.

 

 

1)      Haavik, Heidi. The Reality Check. Haavik Research: 2014

 

2)      Hawk, Pfefer, et. Al, “Feasibility Study of Short-term Effects of Chiropractic Care In Older Adults with Impaired Balance.” Journal of Chiropractic Medicine. Dec 2007; 6(4):121-131.

 

3)      Hillermann, Gomes et. Al, “A Pilot Study Comparing the Effects of spinal Manipulative Therapy with Those of Extra-spinal Manipulative Therapy on Quadriceps Muscle Strength.” Journal of Manipulative Phisological Therapeutics. Feb 2006;30(23):2614-2620.

 

4)      Qaseem, Amir, et. Al, “Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians.”  Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians. Apr 2017.

 

 

5)      Suter, McMorland, et. Al, “Decrease in Quadriceps Imbibition After Sacroiliac Joint Manipulation in Patients With Anterior Knee Pain.”  Journal or manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 1999; 22(3): 149-153.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Essentials of Essential Oils

 

By Ryan Durand, DC

 

     Most have heard about essential oils and their potential health benefits.  Today, they play an important part in the trend towards a healthier lifestyle and are utilized for many purposes in achieving this end.  In the past, essential oils were used for food preparation, perfume and bathing, and antibacterial agents and medicine.  Many of the ’fathers’ of modern day medicine utilized essential oils in their care of their patients.  Both Hypocrites and Galen utilized various combinations of essential oils in treatment of their Roman and Greek people.  Roman soldiers would even carry a tincture of myrrh into battle with them in the event of receiving a wound.  At that time, modern medicine did not exist.  There were no tablets or creams available to be prescribed. There are even references in the Bible to the use of essential oils with frankincense and myrrh being possibly the most famous being given by the wise men to Mary mother of Jesus.

 

Ancient versus modern medicine

 

      Modern medicine is the derivative of a natural source (plant, micro- organism, etc.) concentrated down from its original source into a tablet or pill.  Much time, energy, and resources are used to create the medicine of today and the discovery of these drugs have shaped our modern world. There can be no argument that the advent of such drugs has led to an increase in life expectancy and a decrease in disease.  Research has shown that Essential oils can be as effective in treating common place ailments today.  Tea tree oil is shown to be as effective as common place acne medications, antibacterial to MRSA and other ’super bugs’, and for several rashes and dermatitis type skin conditions.  Sandalwood oil is used for skin cancer prevention. Peppermint oil is effective in decreasing irritable bowel syndrome.  Aromatherapy can reduce anxiety and pain.  Thyme reduces inflammation.  Lavender is used for inflammation, anxiety and insomnia reduction. There are many more examples of the effects of these botanicals on common place ailments but, the fact remains that these are the purest forms of these substances.  Drugs take the component that is found to be most effective and concentrates it into a tablet.  Who is to say that some of the lesser impactful components of that plant were not just as vital in promoting the healing effects of the primary ingredient?  With so many known side effects to drugs, maybe, the balance is now out of whack due to most impactful ingredient not being kept in order.  Time will tell.  Whenever research compares an essential oil to the drug counterpart for a specific ailment most often, the drug is quicker to act but also has higher side effect occurrence compared to the essential oil.  This point should be made that essential oils too, have side effects associated with them and proper use and recommendations from a doctor should always be maintained.

 

What now?

 

      It is always recommended that one should consult their doctor before they make any medical changes.  Never stop taking medications prescribed to them without their doctor’s consent. Essential oils can be an excellent alternative to prescription drugs.  in some cases, for more common place ailments, essential oils can be used in place of OTC drugs.  Many oils can be used as a topical agent, ingested, and/or diffused in the air as mist.  However, some can only be used one way and should never be ingested, for example.  It is important to consult your doctor before use and follow the oil instructions. The nature of their natural composition makes risk of side effects low and, in many cases, negligible but, care must still be taken.  The key to usage of essential oil is education and purity. Many companies put out a decent product. In my experience, Young Living and doTerra are two of the higher quality brands with reputations of having the highest quality and standards for purity second to none. Many less expensive brands dilute their oils or add in additives for increasing shelf life, lowering cost, etc.  If an oil truly is 100% pure, it will last many years providing it remains pure and is not corrupted.  This would be another benefit to buying products more on the expensive side.

     In summary medicine is a vital component to our health system.  Essential oils have been used for centuries and possibly before the written word as medicine.  They can be utilized to treat common place ailments in a more natural way.  Care should be taken to only take oils as they are recommended. Quality is vital to the effectiveness of the oil with purity being of utmost importance.

 

References

 

Al-Shuneigat, J., Cox, S. D., & Markham, J. L. (2005). Effects of a topical essential oil-containing formulation on biofilm-forming coagulase-negative staphylococci. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 41(1), 52-55.

 Bassett, I. B., Pannowitz, D. L., & Barnetson, R. S. (1990). A comparative study of tea-tree oil versus benzoylperoxide in the treatment of acne. Med J Aust, 153(8), 455-458.

 

Brady, A., Loughlin, R., Gilpin, D., Kearney, P., & Tunney, M. (2006). In vitro activity of tea-tree oil against clinical skin isolates of meticillin-resistant and -sensitive staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci growing planktonically and as biofilms. Journal of Medical Microbiology, 55(Pt 10), 1375-1380.

Burt, S. A. (2003). Antibacterial activity of selected plant essential oils against Escherichia coli O157:H7. Letters in Applied Microbiology 36, 162-7.

 

Caelli, M., Porteous, J., Carlson, C. F., Heller, R., & Riley, T. V. (2001). Tea tree oil as an alternative topical decolonization agent for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. The International Journal of Aromatherapy, 11(2). [Originally published in The Journal of Hospital Infection (2000), 46, 236-237.]

 

Are you a veteran?  Thank you for your service to our country.  Did you know there is a program providing care for veterans outside of the Veteran Administration system?

Patient-Centered Community Care is a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) nationwide program that utilizes health care contracts to provide eligible Veterans access to primary care, inpatient/outpatient specialty care, mental health care, limited emergency care, and limited newborn care for enrolled female Veterans following birth of a child. - See more at: http://www.va.gov/purchasedcare/programs/veterans/nonvacare/pccc/#sthash.p7Dglrgv.dpuf

You may be surprised to learn that we provide community care for veterans.  We see patients for both acupuncture and chiropractic. The care here in the community must be authorized by the VA.  Contact your primary care physician to request either acupuncture or chiropractic care.  Massage therapy is not an approved service within this program.  

It has been and continues to be our honor to serve those who have served us so well.  

     Headaches are one of the most common reasons that our patients seek Chiropractic, Massage therapy and Acupuncture. At one time or another, we've all experienced throbbing or stabbing pains in our heads.  Headaches come in may shapes and sizes with complex causes.  Headaches can be
triggered by physical or emotional stress, toxic fumes, certain foods, preservatives, alcohol, bright light, trauma, hormonal changes, to name a few.  A cause that is often overlooked is misaligned spinal bones in the neck.  When these bones lose their normal position and motion, delicate nerves and blood vessels to the head can be affected.  Frequent, recurring headache is a sign that something is wrong.  While pain-relievers may temporarily ease discomfort, they also mask symptoms and do nothing to correct the cause of the problem.

    Chiropractic care can help your headache.  In many cases, relief is immediate.  Finding the cause behind the headache as well as relieving the pain, chiropractic adjustments help.  A chiropractor can also help in identifying triggers, suggest exercises and lifestyle changes to avoid future headaches.

Many patients find that chiropractic care offers a safe natural alternative to traditional medical management of headaches.  It is often helpful to keep a journal of your headache symptoms and possible triggers.  Here at Mission Chiropractic & Wellness, we work together with massage therapists and our acupuncturist to find the best treatment for your condition.

We offer free chiropractic consultation.

To your health,
Brad Willits, D. C.

By: Margaret Older, LAc  

http://www.missionwellnesskc.com/Acupuncture.html

Recently there was a piece on ABC Good Morning America about a woman who felt her mercury levels were raised by taking Chinese herbs and other supplements.  Without knowing  levels before these items were taken, whether there was fish (like tuna) consumed or dental fillings (some do use mercury) ,  I cannot say  what caused her levels to be high.  I want to assure people who take herbs that I recommend, they are tested by the labs who produce them and again by a third party independent lab for heavy metals.   Here are links to their websites so you  can read the information yourself.  

https://www.mayway.com/quality-assurance-and-control/

http://www.bluepoppy.com/ (click on Herbal Test Results on top banner)

The Effects of Chiropractic Care on Disc-related Sciatica

Posted by Greg Ingram, DC
(learn more: http://www.missionwellnesskc.com/Chiropractic/bio.html)

 

Some people are under the impression that chiropractic adjustments should be avoided by patients who are suffering from disc related sciatica. In fact, a few of the medical doctors I have worked with in the past have recommended that the patient avoid lumbar manipulation due to disc issues.   (I have actually seen this on referral scripts!)  This couldn’t be further from the truth.  In fact, according to a study published in Spine Journal in 2006, chiropractic treatment is a successful method of reducing and eliminating the acute lower back pain resulting from sciatica.  These results were derived from a random double-blind clinical trial on a set of more than one hundred patients experiencing severe pain and disc protrusions.

More specifically, nearly 55% of the patients receiving chiropractic care were relieved of radiating pain as compared to the 20% of patients from the group that received simulated, or “sham” chiropractic manipulation.  Additionally, 28% of the patients receiving care from chiropractors were free from the local pain as opposed to 6% of those that received simulated manipulations.

In conclusion, chiropractic care is more effective that other forms of sciatica treatment and has the added benefit of being free of side effects that many drugs can cause.

Chiropractic Care for the Treatment of Hypertension

Posted by Greg Ingram, DC

http://www.missionwellnesskc.com/Chiropractic/bio.html


 

A study headed by George Bakris, MD compared blood pressure readings of 25 patients who received specific adjustments to the atlas vertebra (the top bone in the neck), compared to 25 patients who received sham chiropractic adjustments.  Eight weeks after undergoing the procedure, 25 patients with early-stage hypertension had significantly lower blood pressure than the 25 similar patients who received sham chiropractic adjustments. 

Compared to the patients who received sham adjustments, those who received real chiropractic adjustments saw an average of 14mm Hg greater drop in systolic blood pressure (the top number) and an average 8 mm Hg greater drop in diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number).

So how is this possible?   The control centers for the body are located at the base of the brain called the brainstem.  These centers control basic unconscious bodily functions such as breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure.  If the Atlas vertebra pinches against the brainstem, it may not cause pain but it can upset these basic functions. 

This procedure has the effect of not one, but two blood-pressure medications given in combination.  The adjustment has the additional benefit of not causing adverse side effects.

Reading Labels by Margaret Older, Lac

            

What are you looking for on a label?   They have so much information, lets break it down further.

            1. Read the list of ingredients.  Do you know what they all are?  If there is something that you have to look up to know what it is and then you are still not sure, don’t eat it. 

            2.  Look for the amounts of sugar and salt or sodium as well as fiber and fat.

The Recommended Daily Amount (RDA) of sodium for an average healthy adult is 2300 mg which is the equivalent of 1 teaspoon. 

Sugar may hide under many aliases: maltose, dextrose, fructose, honey, molasses and more.   There is no RDA for sugar but about 6 teaspoons per day for an adult woman and 8 for an adult man 

Fiber is beneficial to the whole digestive system as well as the heart.  You should eat 20- 35 grams per day for optimal health benefits.    

Fat comes in many forms.  Unsaturated are the healthier fats.  Avoid trans-fats and saturated fats, they raise “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and may lower “good”  (HDL) which is bad for your heart.  

Understanding Blood Pressure posted by John P. Willits, DC When your blood pressure is taken, 2 sounds are heard. The first is called Systolic, or top number. This is defined as the pressure reading in the arteries when the heart beats, or when the heart muscle contracts. The bottom number called diastolic, measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats. This is when the heart muscle is resting. Actually the lower reading is the more important of the two, but typically more attention is given to the systolic number. The numbers are recorded in millimeter of mercury (mg). The normal [or national average) is considered to be 120/80, though many people may have a "normal" pressure reading a little higher or lower. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is considered any systolic reading over 140mg, and diastolic reading over 90mg. If your blood pressure is close or above these numbers consult your physician, medication may be necessary. Chiropractic care and Acupuncture has been known to lower blood pressure in some circumstances.

FOOD by: Margaret Older, L.Ac

Eating well should be easy.  With a constant stream of diet plans and conflicting studies on what is or isn’t healthy, it can seem difficult.

Lets try and simplify.

1.       Practice moderation.   

                     2.    ALWAYS read labels.  No matter what brand you use, or where  

                            you shop or even if is a product you have bought before. 

3.       Avoid processed food.  Yes, this does include fast food.        

Why moderation ? Here are some examples.  Too much protein can lead to kidney stress, dehydration, calcium loss, gout, high cholesterol and weight gain.   Too little protein can lead to muscle weakness / wasting, swelling due to water retention, low blood pressure, low heart rate anemia and liver problems.  The recommended daily intake for the average adult female is 46 grams and for the average adult male it is 56 grams.  (Number varies with weight and activity level)

Even water can cause problems.  Too much leads to a burden on your heart and circulatory system, kidney overwork that can cause permanent damage and diluted electrolyte levels.   Too little can cause dehydration ranging from mild to severe.   Dry, skin without elasticity, low blood pressure, light-headedness and rapid heart rate.    Over time, this can cause unconsciousness or delirium.  

Why should you use a chiropractor?

This simple explanation was given by Patrick J. White, D.C. http://www.patwhitedc.com/ 938 Princeton Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19111-4107 Why Should You Use a Chiropractor What a Chiropractor does seems so simple... Just put the bones back where they want to be. What the Chiropractic Adjustment effects is simple — it effects everything!!! When the bones are in their desired place, all of the nervous system can operate at maximum potential. When the nervous system is working with no interference, all of the cells of the body can work in harmony. When the bones are in their desired place, all of the muscles and bones can move properly with minimum resistance. When the musculoskeletal system is working with no interference, there is plenty of energy left for the daily activities of living. When the bones are in their desired place, the person can live a more fulfilled life. What a Chiropractor does seems so simple, and so important.

|t is spring, the season of rejuvenation! Now is the time to escape our “cabins”, get outside,  breathe fresh air and do some spring cleaning - especially of ourselves. During the winter we tend to overindulge in heavy, fatty foods, while at the same time, being less active. Now is the time to address this stale situation.  In Traditional Chinese Medicine, diet should change with the season. Each season has its own characteristics and its own particular effect. Foods too, have their own qualities which help us adapt better to these seasonal changes.   Remember, when making dietary changes, always try to be moderate and learn to listen  to your body.   Choose the foods you like from the list below as a start and then try one new thing.    If you feel you can’t give up a certain food, then limit it. There is always a chance a recommended food does not agree with you so don’t eat that particular food or related foods. Do Not make drastic changes or you won’t be inclined to continue. Spring is associated with the Liver and Gall Bladder. These organs function to keep all our energies flowing. Stagnation can develop from, as mentioned above, rich foods, less exercise and stress. Thus causing physical symptoms such as general feeling of sluggishness, emotional frustration or agitation.  In order to cleanse this system and give it a new start, we must stop adding to the congestion. Avoid saturated fats like heavy meats, eggs, dairy as well as alcohol and hot peppers. Limit nuts, Eat more unrefined (unprocessed) grains and legumes and choose from the following:   Veggies: parsnips, young beets and carrots, baby greens (often found at farmer’s markets), seaweeds (dulse is a nice mild one to try), watercress, onions, mustard greens, cabbage, kohlrabi, turnips, cauliflower, broccoli.   Fruits: peaches, cherries, lemons, limes, pears, apples   Spices: horseradish, ginger*, basil, cumin, fennel*, turmeric, cardamom*, mint*, dill *indicates traditionally used as a digestive aid                                                                                                Use honey sparingly with or without apple cider vinegar for a little sweet taste or sweet and sour which helps cleanse. You may use just apple cider vinegar. Try Chamomile and/ or Cleaver's tea daily.  Add 5-5 teaspoons daily of cold-pressed flax oil drizzled over one or two meals. Eat I or 2 radishes between meals once or twice a day. Food preparation is important.  Eat only a small amount of raw vegetables but when you cook, use light steaming or quick sautéing. |f you have weak digestion, it is best to avoid raw veggies. Remember, if you suffer from seasonal allergies, acupuncture can help without the drowsy side-effects.   Margaret Older, L. Ac

Patient Testimony regarding her care:

Since the birth of my 1st child, in 2007, I have been getting monthly migraines (every time lasting 3 days) related to my hormones. Once I couldn't handle it anymore, I went to several doctors, (the male doctors didn't believe they were migraines although my mom suffered with them every month also at the same time) the 1st female doctor I went to understood and prescribed me the typical migraine pills. I tried several different ones, and thought I had found one that worked. Well, the migraines were so bad, I felt like I was having to take too many pills, so I went back to the doctor (same office as before, but different doctore) and told the nurse that my migraines were worse, and instead of getting one a month, I was now getting two. I asked for a MRI of my head, and if they came back normal, I was going to try acupuncture.

 The doctor came into the room, told me she wasn't going to order an MRI, that I was fine and gave me a prescription to get some pills I would take every day to prevent the migraines and then when I got the migraine, I would have to then take the migraine pill. I don't like taking pills, especially when it is to prevent something that I don't get every day, and more than likely choke full of other side effects.

 So I took my prescription, left the doctors office and called Mission Chiropractic and Wellness. The acupuncturist, Margaret, (aka Peggy) is GREAT!! I honestly feel like she has listened to me better than any physician I have been to. She didn't just ask me about my migraines, we talked about every aspect of my health. I feel like she really cares, and strives to make my body work in harmony like it is suppose to. It doesn't hurt at all when she puts the needles in, and she is always happy to answer any questions I have. I am happy to report that since I have been seeing her, I was suppose to have had two migraines, and I haven't had one! I come from a medical background. My mom and dad both are medical technologist, and I have been around it myself for a long time. It doesn't necessarily make since to me why what Peggy does works, but I am telling you it does! I have told my husband that if anything happens to me and I'm not around to tell my daughter myself, that when she starts getting these, because I'm certain she will, save herself some money, time and frustration and just go straight to acupuncture!

Happy to be Migrainefree, MM, Olathe, KS

missionwellnesskc.com

HOT OR COLD THERAPY

 written by: Drs. John and Brad Willits

Many of you are often confused about which therapy is best for what.  Let me start with a few simplifications:

            Use ice on injuries.

            Heat is only good for tight uninjured muscles.

            Never use a heating pad for heat therapy.

What does cold therapy do?  Cold therapy is used to reduce the blood flow to an area by constricting the small blood vessels.  The cold can also reduce the pain by deadening the nerves.  This therapy is most effective on new injuries that are in their initial inflammation.  The vessel constriction of the therapy restricts the faucet to the swelling.  Therefore reducing the onset and hopefully reducing the severity of the inflammation and swelling.  If cold therapy is delayed and inflammation and swelling has set in cold therapy can still be helpful in reducing the swelling and pain of the inflammation. 

What if my pain is not from an injury?  Most pain is caused by inflammation.  Inflammation can be from many causes other than an injury, like; repetitive irritation, and chronic areas of pain old injuries.  If you are treating a "pain" cold is usually the thing to do.  If you still are unsure; always use cold on pain.  Cold therapy can not make things worse. 

When using cold therapy there are 2 ways to do it.  If using a bag of ice put a little bit of water in it to reduce the amount of air in the bag and put it right to the skin.  If you are using a reusable gel pack out of the freezer put one layer of a damp wash cloth between the gel pack and the skin.  Then only use the ice for 20 minutes.  Then wait at least 30 minutes before repeating.  You should feel burning, aching then it goes numb.  One other thing, cold therapy is only good for tissue up to 3/4 of an inch deep.  So if the injury is deeper it may not have as much effect. 

What about heat?  Heat is only good for tight muscles.  Heat is used to relax tissue and make it more pliable.  The heat increases the blood flow to an area by dilating the small blood vessels.  It is more difficult for the body to get blood into tight muscles and the toxins build up in the muscles which are an irritant making the muscles get even tighter.  The relaxation effect of the heat allows more blood flow through the muscles releasing those toxins.  The relaxing of the muscle will also take some of the tension off the painful areas of the muscles and tendons.  When using heat therapy always use something that starts hot and gets cooler like a hot bath, hot water bottle, a microwave bean bag, etc.  A heating pad should not be used; it is too hot, too long.  The body accommodates to the heat and you feel like it is not hot enough and turn it up or just don't stop using it.  The heating patches can also have this problem. 

There is one exception to using heat on inflammation.  Heat does seem to comfort the aches of arthritis which is a chronic inflammation of the joints. 

Sport rehab use of heat.  Following the healing of an injury when you are returning to play it is helpful to heat the area that was injured as close to the playing time as possible.  The heat will make the tissue more pliable and reduce the chance of re-injury.  Make sure to ice the area following the activity for any inflammation that may occur because the tissue was not quite ready for the activity.