Archive | Chiropractic News

What Exactly Does a Chiropractor Do?

Are you thinking of going to a Chiropractor for the first time?

Maybe you’re wondering about going to a chiropractor or maybe you’re asking yourself, “What is the doctor doing when I’m in his office?”

We’re glad you asked.

Here’s a simple explanation and it’s the reason why chiropractic has become the most popular drug-free healing art in the world today.

What does a Chiropractor do?

Using his/her hands and various instruments, Doctors of Chiropractic locate and release a serious form of stress in your spine and body structure called a subluxation. Chiropractors are the only professionals trained to do this.

What is a subluxation?

A subluxation is a tiny distortion in your spine and structural system that irritates your nervous system and stresses your entire body. These distortions may be tiny but they can cause big problems. How?

Subluxations make you off balance. This causes your ligaments, tendons and muscles to work harder because an off-balance person is not in harmony with gravity. Sitting, standing and moving take more energy resulting in fatigue and ultimately a feeling of being exhausted all the time.

A person who is out of balance often has “hot spots” or painful areas in their muscles and joints due to overworking certain muscle groups and underworking other muscle groups.

Additionally, subluxations can affect your internal organs and glands – even your brain.

Make an appointment today and start feeling better!

Chiropractic Case Studies: Sciatica, ADHD, Developmental Delays, Fatigue

Researching Chiropractic

Chiropractic clinical case histories have been a regular feature of our patient newsletter since its inception. There seems to be no limit to the health problems that respond to chiropractic care. How many people suffering, on drugs, facing a life of limitation could be helped by chiropractic care?

Probably most of them.

Bilateral sciatica in a 77-year-old man.

The patient was examined for the presence of vertebral subluxation complex using infrared thermography, radiography and video fluoroscopy. Vertebral subluxations and a deviated sacrum were located. After 1½ months of care there was a marked reduction in sciatica symptoms.

Two children with neurodevelopmental issues.

Case 1: An 11-year-old girl with ADHD.

She had difficulties with reading comprehension, handwriting and mathematics. Since beginning chiropractic care, her social interaction and emotional state improved. By her 23^rdvisit she was in the A range and selected to be tested for the honors program.

Case 2: Developmental delays in crawling and walking in a 13-month-old girl.

The mother described the child’s crawling as a ‘scooting’ motion since the patient’s buttocks remained in contact with the ground. She also was not standing on her own or trying to walk. After four adjustments, she was crawling normally, had taken four steps unassisted, and had not performed the scooting motion since the second visit.

Fatigue, loss of energy and depression in a 30-year-old male.

He also complained of occasional headaches and acid reflux. Over an eight-month period the SF-36 general health survey demonstrated significant improvement particularly in the areas of General Health, Mental Health, and Mental Component Summary with improvements in fatigue and malaise.

What diseases do chiropractors treat?

The answer is: None of them and all of them

Chiropractic is not a treatment for named diseases but should be sought out no matter what conditions or diseases a person suffers from or is diagnosed with – back pain, depression, cold. flu, cancer, autism, allergies, asthma – everything from A to Z.

How can that be?

Chiropractic’s purpose is to release subluxations – blockages or interferences in your body that prevent you from functioning at your best.

Think of chiropractic subluxation correction as you would good nutrition. What diseases do you need good nutrition for? All of them!

The chiropractic message is simple: do not live with subluxations and do not let your children, your spouse and your friends and relatives live with subluxations.

One day going to the chiropractor for a subluxation checkup will be done by most everyone on a regular basis. We need to start more conversations with, “Hey, did you see your chiropractor this week?”

Have you?

Neck and Lower Back Pain

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.

– Maria Robinson

Did you know that neck and lower back pain often accompany one another?

Nearly every chiropractic patient who complains of chronic or even occasional lower back pain reports that they have occasionally woken up with neck pain or neck stiffness. Coincidence?

It’s No Coincidence

Although your spine is made up of many different spinal bones (vertebrae) going from your lower back (lumbar area) up to the top of your neck (cervical area), your spine is one entire unit. Therefore, each part can affect the other parts.

By the way, that includes more than your spine. Your entire body may be affected: your arms, hands, legs, feet, head, internal organs, brain, muscles, tissues, glands and more may be affected.

Now you know why chiropractic care is so powerful. When your subluxations are located and corrected, your entire body benefits in many ways.

Chiropractic helps your nerves communicate better so all your parts work together more efficiently.

Chiropractic Case Studies

The following case studies report findings on how chiropractic care helped people with Breastfeeding, Edema, Low Back Pain, and fibromyalgia.

If you have one of these conditions, or know someone who does, please share this information. We can help!

Breastfeeding and latching difficulty

A four-week-old baby girl was brought in for chiropractic care by her mother who was concerned about the child’s inability to effectively latch onto her left breast when held in the traditional cradle position or any other position.

Multiple subluxations with spasm, limited motion and tenderness were found at the sacrum, the fifth thoracic vertebrae (T5), the atlas (C1) and right TMJ.

Following a specific adjustment to the upper cervical spine and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) the infant could turn her head better and there was a decrease in spasm of the right TMJ-related musculature and the left neck. Immediately afterwards the baby could breastfeed with success and no further issues remained.

The mother reported the baby was able to latch perfectly and nursed without interruption for 30 minutes. The mother returned the next week and reported total resolution of the infant’s inability to latch onto her left breast. (1)

Edema and lower back pain in pregnancy

A 28-year-old mom-to-be, pregnant for 33 weeks, presented at a chiropractic office. Her chief complaint was tingling and numbness in the second through fourth fingers on her right hand. She also reported low back pain and right leg swelling. She also had endometriosis, ovarian cysts and two miscarriages.

She was scheduled for 9 visits of care. Within that period of time she received chiropractic adjustments. Her presenting complaints resolved within the time of care. (2)

Chiropractic & exercise: perfect for fibromyalgia

Fifty-five women with fibromyalgia ages 21-59 years old were divided into two groups: some completed resistance training and the others received chiropractic adjustments in addition to resistance training. The patients who received chiropractic care were more likely to follow the exercise program consistently and had more significant improvements in functionality, balance, flexibility and endurance.

This study confirmed the power of exercise and resistance training to ease the pain of fibromyalgia. At the same time, it demonstrates that combining chiropractic adjustments and physical therapy may enhance the benefits of both treatments. (3)

References

Drobbin D, Stallman J. Resolution of breastfeeding and latching difficulty following subluxation based chiropractic care: case report and review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic. 2015;3:102-108.
Edwards J, Alcantara J. Resolution of peripheral neuropathy, lower extremity edema, and low back pain in a pregnant female undergoing chiropractic care. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic. 2015;3:86-91.
Panton LB, Figueroa A, Kingsley JD et al. Effects of resistance training and chiropractic treatment in women with fibromyalgia. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2009;15(3):321-328.

Researching Chiropractic: Case Studies in Trigeminal Neuralgia, Asthma and headaches, and Constipation

Probably most of them.

Case Study for Trigeminal Neuralgia (tic douloureux)

For seven years a 77-year-old woman suffered from severe right-sided face pain (trigeminal neuralgia or TN). Her pain was made worse by chewing, talking, and smiling and when her symptoms were at their worst, she was unable to eat or talk well for up to 4 days. Medication gave temporarily relief and at times did not help at all.

When she began chiropractic care she rated her pain 10 out of 10, describing it as a constant hot, throbbing, burning sensation that progressively got worse. Subluxations were located at C1 (upper neck) as well as other areas. The patient was put on a protocol for subluxation adjustment/correction.

After six visits of subluxation correction there was a significant reduction in pain; after four months of care she went off her medication and after 6 months of care was pain free. (1)

Case Study in Asthma and Headaches

A 15-year-old boy was suffering from asthma and headaches. He began specific chiropractic care for correction of his subluxations. His asthma and headaches resolved completely following care. (2)

Case Study in Constipation in an eight-month old

An 8-month-old baby boy was suffering from constipation. When the mother brought him in for care he had not made a bowel movement for five days. Increased fluid intake was unsuccessful.

Within a short period of his first adjustments, the infant proceeded to have a very large bowel movement while sitting in his car seat. Two hours later additional bowel movements occurred. The mother also stated that her child was of a much happier disposition. (3)

Zielinski E, Mankal K, Pirini J. Resolution of trigeminal neuralgia following chiropractic care utilizing Chiropractic Biophysics and diversified techniques: a case study. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research. November 6, 2014:177-183.
Jaszewski E, Willard A. Resolution of asthma in a teenager following subluxation-based chiropractic management utilizing the Pierce Results System: a case study & selective review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic. 2016;3:84-91.
Miceli J, Alcantara J. Resolution of constipation in an 8-month-old child following adjustment of vertebral subluxation. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic. 2016;1:14-17.

Thinking about back surgery?

How Back Surgery is Performed

Few surgeries have a higher failure rate than lumbar spinal fusion, a common back surgery that involves scraping slivers of bone off the hip and placing them in the disc space or the back of the spine. The raw bone promotes growth above and below causing the segments to fuse over an 18-month period. This results in less motion in the spine.

The surgery is done to eliminate back pain but the failure rate is so high it has a special name: “failed back surgery syndrome.”

Surgeries for chronic low back pain are on the rise

A recent paper revealed that spinal fusion surgeries for chronic low back pain are on the rise, despite the lack of research to back their efficacy. As a result, experts are now calling for tighter guidelines, including a waiting period. Orthopedic surgeon Richard Williams, MD, who is also the spokesperson for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, says patients should wait 12 months before a spinal fusion surgery is performed because, “Most patients will recover after these 12 months.” Further, “spinal fusion rarely results in having no pain at all. The surgery works for a proportion of patients, not all.” (1)

Of course chiropractic care has been a blessing for countless people told that surgery was their only option, often saving them from this dangerous, costly and often useless medical procedure.

Atkinson L, Zacest A. Surgical management of low back pain. Med J Aust. 2016;204(8):299-300.

How did D.D. Palmer Discover Chiropractic?

Dr. Palmer makes a discovery

In 1895 Dr. Daniel David Palmer, a popular magnetic (energy) healer, discovered a spinal “bump” on a deaf individual. It appeared as if the spinal bone were out of place. Upon questioning, Dr. Palmer learned that the man had bumped his head seventeen years prior and became deaf shortly afterwards.

Palmer reasoned that the accident may have displaced a vertebra in the man’s spine, hence the slight bump, and that re-aligning the vertebra may give relief.

A slight adjustment

Using his hands, he “adjusted” the bone back into alignment and after 17 years the man could hear again. Shortly thereafter a patient with a heart condition was similarly found to have spinal displacements. When they were adjusted the heart condition improved.

Palmer reasoned that if two conditions so different, deafness and heart disease, could be caused by displaced vertebrae in the spine, could not other conditions be related to spinal displacements (later called subluxations)?

So began the discovery and evolution of chiropractic.

Research and Chiropractic: Case Studies in Female Infertility, BPPV (vertigo), Asthma and headaches

Chiropractic clinical case histories have been a regular feature of our patient newsletter since its inception. There seems to be no limit to the health problems that respond to chiropractic care.

How many people suffering, on drugs, facing a life of limitation could be helped by chiropractic care?

Probably most of them.

Female Infertility

Two female patients, ages 28 and 37, each with a history of infertility came to their chiropractor for care. Both also had a history of motor vehicle accidents.

Both patients had cervical (neck) subluxations that were corrected. They were then able to conceive and deliver naturally.

The first patient’s menstrual cycle irregularity returned to normal after which she was able to conceive. The second patient was able to conceive without the use of assisted reproductive treatments for the first time. (1)

BPPV (vertigo)

A 33-year-old pregnant woman suffered from Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): a spinning sensation when she changed head position. She was prescribed medication, but refused to take it because she was nursing.

She began care during her most severe BPPV episode. She was unable to drive herself to appointments. Spinal and cranial adjusting techniques were administered and within three visits the symptoms had diminished to the point that she was able to drive herself to her visits. By the 14th visit she reported being symptom-free. (2)

Asthma and Headaches

A 15-year-old male presented with chief complaints of asthma and headaches. The patient was under specific chiropractic care and analysis utilizing static radiology, videofluoroscopy, infrared thermography and high frequency pulsating instrumentation. Symptoms of asthma and headaches resolved following care. (3)

Hilpisch J, Stenberg J. Female infertility and upper cervical chiropractic care: a case series. Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research. September 15, 2016:31-43. https://uppercervicalsubluxation.sharepoint.com/Pages/2016_1453_infertility.aspx

2. Stone-McCoy P, Taylor C. The resolution of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) in a 33-year-old female following chiropractic care: a case report & selective review of literature. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research. August 25, 2016:84-91. http://www.mccoypress.net/annals/docs/2016-1449_vertigo.pdf

3. Jaszewski E, Willard A. Resolution of asthma in a teenager following subluxation-based chiropractic management utilizing the Pierce Results System: a case study & selective review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic. 2016;3:84-91. https://chiropracticpediatrics.sharepoint.com/Pages/2016_1442_asthma.aspx

Why Lifetime Chiropractic Care?

You’ve probably heard the old myth that “once you go to a chiropractor, you have to go for the rest of your life.”

It’s not true.

However, we do have many patients who chose to see us once a month or even more frequently.

What’s going on?

Stress levels

Those who face physical, chemical, or emotional stress (that’s all of us) often find regular chiropractic adjustments helpful in correcting muscle tightness and the resulting postural changes.

Avoiding a relapse

Because long-standing spinal problems can produce weakened areas that are susceptible to repeated problems, regular care may often help strengthen supporting muscles and ligaments, avoiding a flare-up.

Prevention

Regular chiropractic checkups can often detect smaller problems before they become more serious (and difficult to correct).

Wellness

Being our best starts with an interference-free nervous system.

Gravity

And let’s not forget the relentless effects that gravity places on our body. Regular chiropractic care helps maintain proper spinal curves to accommodate the compression of spinal joints due to gravity.

Remember, how long you choose to benefit from chiropractic care is always up to you.

We are here to serve you. How can we help you live life to it’s fullest?

(THANKS, PATIENTMEDIA)