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Chiropractic Manipulation: A New Study Regarding Headaches

Headaches are a common complaint in patients presenting for professional care, including chiropractic management. Patients with headaches seek chiropractic care because they find manipulation or adjustments applied to the cervical spine and upper back region are highly effective in reducing the intensity, frequency and duration of the headache pain. This is because the cervical spine / neck, is often the origin of the headache as the three nerves in the upper neck (C1, 2 and 3) pass through the thick, overly taught neck muscles in route to the scalp / head. When the muscles of the neck are in spasm, the nerves get “pinched” or squeezed by the overly tight muscles resulting in headache pain. Each nerve runs to a different part of the head and therefore, pain may be described as “…radiating over the top of head (sometimes into the forehead and eyes),” or, into the head and over the ear, sometimes reaching the temple. Also, an area located in the back and side of the head is the area where the C1 nerve innervates, so pain may also be reported in that location. When more than one of the C1-3 nerves is pinched, the whole side to the top of the head may be involved.

In the October 2009 issue of The Spine Journal, Western States Chiropractic College, Center for Outcomes Studies, reported benefits are obtained with the utilization of spinal manipulation in the treatment of chronic cervicogenic headaches. The word “chronic” means at least 3 months of headache pain has been present. This new study compared 2 different doses of therapy using several outcome measures including the pain grade, the number of headaches in the last 4 weeks and the amount of medication utilized. Data was collected every 4 weeks for a 24 week period and patients were treated 1-2 times/week and separated into either an 8 or a 16 treatment session with half the group receiving either spinal manipulative therapy or a minimal light massage (LM) control group.

The results of the study revealed the spinal manipulation group obtained better results than the control group at all time intervals. There was a small benefit in the group that received the greater number of treatments with the mean number of cervicogenic headaches reduced by 50% in both pain intensity and headache frequency.

The importance of this study is significant as there are many side effects to medications frequently utilized in the treatment of headaches. Many patients prefer not taking medications for this reason and spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) offers a perfect remedy for these patients. Couple SMT with dietary management, lifestyle modifications, stress management, and a natural, vitamin/herbal anti-inflammatory (such as ginger, turmeric, boswellia) when needed, a natural, holistic approach to the management of chronic headaches is accomplished.

We are proud that chiropractic care has consistently scored the highest level of satisfaction when compared to other forms of health care provision and look forward in serving you and your family presently and in the future.

If you have any health problems that concern you, Please give our office a call at 770-817-0833 for a FREE Consultation!!

Rockville and Gaithersburg Now Has Spinal Decompression Therap Back pain sufferers from all over Maryland can now rejoice as The Spinal Correction & Wellness Center has a machine and protocol to help save and improve degenerated discs. Humans are constantly under pressure from gravitational forces which squash the delicately soft discs which interject our spines. Over time, the discs can rub and chafe against nerves, leading to severe discomfort. Medication only masks the underlying problem. Dr. Steve Wander, the treatment director of the company said, “We now offer our patients a sophisticated machine which gently undoes the forces which are against spinal tissue”. He went on to suggest, “Our main objective has been to stop compression of the spine and the machine has blown away our expectations”. Spinal Decompression Therapy, as with many chiropractic treatments, always has skeptics ready and waiting to pounce. However, in an independent study, Dr Thomas A. Gionis had 219 patients treated and had a 92% success rate. Brian Griffin, who participated in the experiment said, “My back had been causing me pain for years, I have tried all of the medicines and acupuncture. Nothing has been more helpful than spinal decompression therapy”. Many sufferers of back pain notice neck and shoulder pain also. Headaches can be a common occurrence too. Once the spine has been gently pulled away from the nerves, which have vital communications to and from the brain, the body is able to restore its natural balance again. Their spinal decompression machine uses the Pettibon system, which is a table with straps for the feet and gently tilts to stretch the vertebrae causing pain.

This stretching, with pauses in between, helps the spine’s mobility and increases the normal function of the facet joints. Discs, which are soft and pulpy matter that connect the bones of the spine together, are restored back to their normal size. It is not only Gaithersburg and Rockville which offer this machine, all over Maryland the clinics are supplying them. Rockville, Bethesda, Silver Spring, Germantown and Potomac are all highly equipped and ready with fully licensed chiropractors and massage therapists. One such therapist, Lisa Holland, from the Rockville clinic said, “It’s fantastic to work here and see the development of patients who come through the door”. She added, “They come in limping and all stiff, and leave being more supple and invigorated.” Spinal decompression therapy is known to help not only lower back pain, but also sciatica, disc herniations and cervical neck problems. This drug free and natural way of treating adults and children is becoming more accepted by the majority, especially with the previous results. Gravity may be all around us and cannot be stopped, but its effects can be reversed with a little time and some spinal decompression therapy. The Spinal Correction & Wellness Center offers its patients a natural approach to wellness. Another happy patient, Dorothy Brannan 63 from Gaithersburg said, “I feel free again, I have more mobility now than I did 20 years ago”.

The Causes and Treatments of Sciatica Sciatica is the name given to a tremendous pain which originates from the lower back and carries on to the upper legs. Prolonged sitting or standing can exacerbate the problem. Sciatica is caused by a multitude of different issues. Years of poor posture, low muscle tone or being overweight can cause the discs in the lower back to be compressed and agitate the nerves. These nerves are highly sensitive and this is where the pain really takes hold. It travels down the leg via the sciatic nerve and can stop the patient in their tracks. Other traumas which can cause sciatica may be a car crash. The rapid deceleration is the factor which causes whiplash and back pain. Untreated pains can cause lower back problems, which may only be apparent years later. The ways in which to treat sciatica are with a certain massage. We at The Spinal Correction & Wellness Center do not believe in using drugs or surgery which tend to mask the pain rather than treat it or have irreversible outcomes. We provide a natural approach to wellness and our massages are specifically designed to deal with tender back problems. The therapeutic massage increase strength, promotes joint health, stability and boosts the range of motions. This protects against new injuries and reduces the pain of old. The onset of sciatica can take years to show and therefore sticking to a regular chiropractic plan will keep the spine in check. Some patients stop the treatment when they feel a little better to only have a relapse later on. One or two relapses bring back the excruciating pain and the process starts again. Our staff offer therapeutic stretches which prevent scar tissue from forming.

It also helps the tissue be flexible to protect the sciatica from worsening. Another method is the traction massage, where the patient lies face up on a table with a pillow under their legs. A series of rollers moves up and down the spine to elongate it and gently stretch it. This motion helps the discs sit properly and reduces the bulging, which is very painful. There are more ways in which chiropractors can reduce the severity of the sciatica. We provide diet and nutritional counseling to maintain good health and help the massages and treatments work in harmony. Coupled with treatment and diet, our lifestyle coaches can show ways of how to enhance the way you live to reduce back pain. Regular exercise, stopping smoking and a reliance on medication can minimize stress which also can cause problems. Sciatica is an acute pain in the upper legs which stems from the lower back. The sciatic nerve causes pain from the discs in the spine which have thinned or bulge from a trauma. This causes pressure on the nerves and thus pain occurs. There are many massages and chiropractic treatments which can help reduce the pain and help strengthen the muscles to stop any further or future pain.

I would like to get an idea on what classes I would need to be an equine chiropractor. I m starting high school next year and I don’t want to get half way through high school without the right classes for an equine chiropractor. Is there required classes, if so what are they? I would love to hear from chiropractors all over, from people to dogs to horses.

I am doing a project on chiropractic care. I would like to know what exactly does a chiropractor look for when they are checking your spine. Like when they run their hands down your back, what do they look for. And how do they know where to apply pressure? Please help me understand the process of their methods and techniques. Thank you!

longview chiropractor www.chiropractorinlongview.com (903) 759-5631 Find out how to choose the best chiropractor in longview chiropractic and receive your FREE videos and a FREE guide to Chiropractor In Longview Texas

Boulder Chiropractor Dr Daniel Knowles and Dr Richelle Knowles of boulder chiropractic office network family wellness center have their practice members share their network chiropractic experience. www.networkwellness centers.com 303.998.1000

Neck pain – just the facts Please!

Do you have a literal pain in the neck? If you do, you’re in good company. Experts estimate that more than one-third of adults suffer from neck pain each year. The statistics are worse if you’re a working woman. A University of Sydney study found that working women are more than three times as likely as men to suffer from neck pain.

You don’t, however, need to live with the discomfort. Sure, you could turn to drugs that alleviate the aches, but they only take care of the pain—they don’t do a thing to prevent what’s triggering the discomfort. Here are the facts about neck pain and how an experienced Lawrenceville, GA chiropractor can help you prevent it from reoccurring.

The cause of your neck pain might be you.

Do you slouch in front a computer all day? Does your posture make your mom bark, “Stand up straight?” Sometimes we’re the cause of our own neck aches—and we don’t even know it.

A good chiropractor will adjust your spine to relieve the pressure that’s causing your aches, but he or she will also teach you the proper way to sit and stand so you can avoid future neck pain. In addition, your chiropractic professional will show you stretches you can do at home to keep your neck healthy.

Neck pain can become chronic.

Many patients take a hands-off approach when it comes to neck pain. Some will chalk it up to aging. Some will brush it off, thinking it will go away on its own.

Science suggests this kind of thinking is a neck pain no-no. One team of researchers found that when acute pain—the kind you suffer immediately following an injury—is not treated, it’s more likely to morph into chronic pain, a serious condition that may result in anything from insomnia to depression.

Some people, however, might not even be aware of a neck injury. Car accident victims and athletes are two groups who might sustain injuries without immediate pain. These injuries can linger, triggering neck pain months or years after the initial injury.

Whether you realize you’re injured or not, chiropractic care will adjust the misalignment in your spine to head off neck pain before it becomes chronic.

You can find relief.

For many neck pain sufferers, medications and physical therapy are the go-to treatments. While these can work for some, they’re not always the best or most effective options. Chiropractic care has a long-established record of alleviating the aches of neck pain.

Research supports the effectiveness of spinal manipulation. For example, a 2006 study found that patients with chronic neck pain reported significantly reduced levels of pain in a mere five weeks of treatment. Another study found that neck pain patients who received chiropractic care had reduced rates of surgery, diagnostic testing, and in-patient care than those who had not had spinal manipulation.

If it’s time to get rid of that pain in your neck, look for an experienced Lawrenceville, GA chiropractor to help you start living a neck-pain-free life.

“I can’t tonight, sweetie. I’ve got a headache.”

It’s an amusing statement when we hear our favorite sitcom character say it, but it’s not as funny when you’re actually having a headache that prevents you from doing the things you love—whether that’s getting intimate with a loved one or kicking around a ball with your toddler.

If headache pain stops you from living your life or even if the aches make your life just a little less enjoyable, it’s time to take action. This guide will help you identify the most common types of headaches, and tell you how a Lawrenceville, GA chiropractor will help free you of the pain.

Tension headaches

Experts say as many as 80% of American adults experience tension headaches, sometimes called “stress” headaches. They’re caused by stressors, such as job loss, relationship problems, birth of a child, loss of a loved one, or taking on too many responsibilities.

Although tension headaches are common, you can find drug-free ways to relieve your pain. Chiropractic care has a well-established record of alleviating tension headaches. A 2001 study found that participants who received spinal manipulations reported the headaches were 42% less frequent and that the patients used 30% less over-the-counter medications. In contrast, the group that received amitriptyline, a commonly prescribed drug, showed no improvement, and in some cases, the patients reported worsening symptoms. In fact, four weeks after treatment ended, the chiropractic group still experienced the benefits, while the drug group did not.

Migraine headaches

From blinding pain to blurred vision, migraines can be debilitating. As a result, migraine sufferers sometimes find themselves missing out on everything from time at work to time with family or friends.

The good news is that an experienced chiropractor can help prevent or alleviate migraines without heavy drug therapies. A 2000 study of migraine sufferers who received chiropractic care over a two-month period found that nearly a quarter of participants reported a 90% reduction in the frequency of migraines. What’s more is that more than 50% of the remaining participants reported significant improvement in the severity of their symptoms. Another study, from Australia, found that migraine sufferers who were given chiropractic care reported significant decreases in migraine frequency and a decrease in the amount of pain-relieving drugs they used.

Cluster headaches

These headaches, which tend to center on one side of the body, occur over a period of months and can often last for up to 30 minutes for each episode. Some sufferers can have as many as eight headaches a day. It’s not just the pain that causes problems, either. Cluster headaches also trigger watery, red eyes as well as droopy eyelids.

Chiropractic care offers a drug-free approach to treating cluster headaches. Spinal manipulation, which is done manually or with handheld devices, essentially corrects the spinal damage that is triggering the pain and discomfort.

No matter which type of headache you suffer from, you deserve a therapy that works for you. Don’t live with the pain in your head any longer. Look for your Lawrenceville, GA chiropractor to give you the relief you need.

Some 80% of people suffer from back pain at some point in their lives, and, after the common-cold it’s the second most common reason for people to visit their GP. The social as well as the personal cost is enormous. What’s more, contrary to popular opinion, and even some well-meant if misguided medical advice, it won’t go away on its own. Your spine is a very complex structure of bones, ligaments and other tissues and most cases of back-pain are actually mechanical and not caused by serious underlying problems. This is good news, since it means the solution to back pain is relatively simple if you follow a few simple rules. In evolutionary terms, we’ve only just begun to walk upright, and our back has yet to evolve to compensate for this. As a consequence it’s easy to damage and suffer back pain. Even with small errors in posture when lifting or just in your day-to-day activities, you can very easily sprain ligaments, strain muscles, rupture disks, and irritate joints, all of which can lead to back pain. It might seem “obvious” that strenuous sports such as football, rugby, hurling, and martial arts can cause back pain, you’d be surprised how even the simplest of movements, like, say, picking a pencil off the floor-can result in excruciatingly painful back pain. Not only this, but arthritis, poor posture, obesity, and psychological stress can all cause, contribute to or complicate back pain (and the stresses and strains of modern life do nothing to make it easier on us!).

Finally, back pain can also be a direct result of some diseases of the internal organs, like kidney stones, kidney infections, blood clots, and bone loss. There’s quite a lot you can do to reduce the risk of back pain, chiefly in your environment and with your own body and choice of lifestyle. In terms of your body, good posture, exercise and proper nutrition enables you to strengthen the back and abdominal muscles and keep them healthy – this all contributes to keeping your back healthy! As for your lifestyle, smoking reduces your body’s ability to heal itself, and obesity puts more strain on all the supporting structures of the body and makes injury more likely (and harder to heal). There’s no doubt about it: back injuries are an occupational hazard of being a human being, and, fortunately for us, the spine is actually quite good at dealing with these minor problems, and we’ll often refer to them as “pulled” muscles.

Usually, we can expect a minor injury to heal within one or two days, and perhaps a little longer the older we get. Some pain, however, continues. Why this is, no one is 100% sure… but there is one thing we’re now sure of, and that is… Back Pain Will Not Go Away on Its Own! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Until recently, the common wisdom was back pain would eventually heal itself if you just “soldiered on” and left it alone. Now we know this is not true. For example, a recent American study found that 33% of people who experience low-back pain actually experience it for more than 30 days; and, more important, just 9% of the people who had low-back pain for more than 30 days were pain free 5 years later! The conclusion is clear: low-back pain generally affects people for long periods after it first begins. That’s where Chiropractic comes in. How Chiropractic Treats Back Pain +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Chiropractic is safe, gentle and effective treatment for many different causes of back pain as well as other joints and is accomplished without drugs or surgery. Many people seek Chiropractic treatment for their general wellbeing; others, like many pensioners, find treatment helps them maintain mobility and good range of motion. Back pain, too, tends to plague us as we get older.

There are many reasons to seek Chiropractic care: work, accidents, sports injuries, household chores, even the stress of daily living can cause painful joint and spinal problems. Even if you do not have painful symptoms, Chiropractic care can help you maintain healthy spine and joint function. Safe, gentle, effective Chiropractic care is the treatment of choice for people of all ages for headaches, neck and low back pain, sciatica, scoliosis, arthritis, joint problems, ear infections, and many forms of chronic pain. Periodic Chiropractic care minimises spinal and nerve stresses, reduces recurrences of old injuries, prevents new injuries from developing, minimises degenerative processes, which enhances overall health and wellness. And that’s got to be good news, hasn’t it?