Tag Archives: chiropractic care

Researching Chiropractic: Muscle Relaxants, Degenerative Spinal Disease

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 positively to chiropractic care. How many people suffering, reliant on medication and drugs, and facing a life of limitation could be helped by chiropractic care?

Probably most of them. 

researching chiropractic

Chiropractic vs Muscle Relaxants for Low Back Pain

Most people dealing with a flare of low back pain get handed a prescription for muscle relaxants. It is the path of least resistance in a busy medical system, and it feels like doing something. A randomized clinical trial published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics compared that approach directly against chiropractic adjustments for patients with subacute low back pain and found that chiropractic produced significantly greater reductions in pain and disability than muscle relaxant medication. The chiropractic group also reported fewer side effects, which is not surprising given that muscle relaxants carry a list of them, including drowsiness, dependence risk, and diminishing effectiveness over time. Addressing the mechanical source of the problem rather than chemically suppressing the muscular response produces better outcomes because it treats the right thing. That distinction matters more than most people realize when they are standing at the pharmacy counter.

Chiropractic Care & Degenerative Spinal Disease

Degenerative joint disease of the spine is one of those diagnoses that can feel like a dead end. Imaging shows changes, the doctor mentions arthritis, and the implicit message is that this is just what aging looks like and that management is the best available option. Research published in the Spine Journal suggests the story does not have to end there. A study examining dose-response relationships in chiropractic care for chronic low back pain found that patients with degenerative spinal changes who received chiropractic care reported significantly greater improvements in pain levels, physical function, and quality of life compared to those receiving standard medical management alone. More care produced better outcomes up to a meaningful threshold, suggesting that consistent, ongoing chiropractic is not just maintenance but active improvement for patients with degenerative conditions. A diagnosis of spinal degeneration is not a reason to stop caring for the spine. It is one of the strongest reasons to start.

Do you know someone with any of these issues?

Please encourage them to make an appointment with us!

Call today for an appointment: 517.627.4547

Chiropractic & Headache Prevention: The Cervical Spine Connection

Where Most Headaches Actually Start

The head hurts. The instinct is to treat the head. That logic is understandable and usually wrong. A significant proportion of recurring headaches, particularly tension-type and cervicogenic headaches, originate not in the skull but in the cervical spine, specifically the upper three segments where the nerve supply to much of the head and face originates. When those segments are restricted, irritated, or moving poorly, pain refers upward in patterns that can be indistinguishable from headaches that have nothing to do with the neck.

Cervicogenic headache is defined by its source in the cervical spine and its referral pattern into the head. It typically presents as a one-sided ache that starts at the base of the skull and radiates toward the eye or temple, accompanied by neck stiffness and reduced cervical range of motion. Tension headaches, while not always cervical in origin, are heavily influenced by the muscular tension and joint restriction that accumulate in the neck and upper back. Addressing the cervical spine addresses both.

The Evidence for Chiropractic in Headache Management

A randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that spinal manipulative therapy produced significantly greater reductions in headache frequency, intensity, and duration compared to a soft tissue control group, with benefits maintained at follow-up.2For patients who have been cycling through over-the-counter pain relievers and prescription medications without lasting relief, the cervical spine represents a frequently overlooked piece of the puzzle.

Chiropractic assessment of a headache patient goes beyond the head and neck in isolation. It examines how the entire cervical and upper thoracic spine moves, where restrictions create referred pain patterns, and what postural factors load the cervical joints between episodes. Correcting those factors does not just reduce headache frequency. It changes the underlying mechanical environment that was generating the headaches in the first place.

Prevention Is a Better Goal Than Management

Most headache sufferers are in management mode. They treat episodes as they arrive rather than addressing the conditions that produce them. Regular chiropractic care shifts that model toward prevention. Maintaining cervical mobility, reducing chronic muscular guarding, and keeping the upper thoracic spine moving freely all reduce episode frequency before it starts.

For anyone whose headaches arrive with predictable regularity, that shift from reactive to proactive is worth pursuing seriously.

Chiropractic & the Aging Spine: Staying Mobile, Strong, and Pain-Free

What Aging Actually Does to the Spine

The spine does not age the way most people imagine. It doesn’t suddenly deteriorate after a certain birthday. It is a gradual accumulation of wear, restrictions, and compensation that builds across decades, largely invisibly, until something tips the balance and symptoms appear. Disc height decreases slowly as discs lose hydration and resilience. Facet joints develop arthritic changes from years of uneven loading. Ligaments thicken and lose elasticity. Bone density shifts. None of these processes are dramatic in isolation. Together they produce stiffness, reduced range of motion, and increased pain sensitivity that most people associate with getting older.

The critical distinction is between inevitable aging and aging accelerated by how you’ve maintained your spine. A spine that has moved well throughout life, received regular care, and avoided prolonged periods of restriction ages differently than one that has been sedentary, repeatedly injured, or ignored. Research is consistent: movement quality across the lifespan is one of the strongest predictors of spinal health in later decades.

What Chiropractic Contributes to Healthy Spinal Aging

Regular chiropractic care for an aging spine does several important things. It maintains segmental mobility in areas prone to stiffening, reducing the uneven load distribution that accelerates facet joint degeneration. It supports the neurological feedback loops that govern balance, coordination, and postural stability, all of which decline with age and all of which respond positively to spinal care. It addresses the compensatory patterns that develop when one area of the spine stiffens, and adjacent segments take on extra load.

Research published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that older adults receiving regular chiropractic care reported significantly better overall health, greater mobility, and fewer falls compared to age-matched peers not receiving care, with benefits compounding over time.¹ That last detail is worth sitting with. The longer care continued, the greater the benefit. This is not a short-term fix. It is a long-term investment with returns that grow.

The Conversation Worth Having Earlier

The most common mistake people make with spinal aging is waiting until something is significantly wrong before seeking care. By the time pain is significant enough to motivate action, the degenerative changes driving it are often well established. Starting or maintaining regular chiropractic care in your forties and fifties, before degeneration becomes symptomatic, gives your spine a meaningfully better trajectory into your sixties, seventies, and beyond.

Aging is not optional; how the spine ages is, at least in part, a choice.

Make an appointment with LanjoChiro today!

Call (517) 627-4547

Shoulder & Neck Tension in Desk Workers

The Modern Posture Problem

Somewhere between the morning commute, eight hours at a desk, and an evening on the couch with a phone, the average adult spends the majority of their waking hours in a forward-flexed position. The head drifts forward, the shoulders round inward, and the upper back curves into a gentle hunch. This pattern has a clinical name: upper crossed syndrome. It describes the predictable combination of tight, overactive muscles in the chest and neck paired with weak, inhibited muscles in the deep neck flexors and mid-back.

The consequences are not limited to cosmetic concerns about posture. Every inch the head moves forward from its neutral position adds roughly 10 pounds of effective load on the cervical spine. A head that sits three inches forward is placing the equivalent of 40 pounds of stress on the structures designed to support 10 to 12. Over time, that load accelerates disc compression, facet joint wear, and the chronic muscular tension that most desk workers accept as a normal part of their week.

What Chiropractic Addresses

Upper crossed syndrome does not resolve on its own, and stretching the chest or strengthening the back in isolation rarely produces lasting change if the underlying spinal restrictions are not corrected. Restricted segments in the cervical and thoracic spine alter the muscle activation patterns that create and maintain the problem. Chiropractic adjustments to those segments restore normal joint motion, reduce nerve irritation, and give the muscular system a better foundation to work with.

A study published in the Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology found that spinal manipulation produced immediate changes in muscle activation patterns in patients with neck pain, supporting the case that joint function and muscular function are tightly linked.2. Patients who combine chiropractic care with targeted postural exercises tend to see faster and more durable improvements than those who address only one side of the equation.

Practical Steps That Make a Difference

Screen height, chair position, and screen distance all contribute to the amount of postural stress that accumulates throughout the day. A screen positioned at or just below eye level, a chair that supports the lumbar curve, and brief movement breaks every 45 to 60 minutes significantly reduce cumulative load. These changes do not require an expensive ergonomic overhaul. Most of the benefit comes from awareness and small, consistent adjustments made over time.

Make an appointment with LanjoChiro today! Call (517) 627-4547

Sleep Posture & Spinal Recovery

What Happens to Your Spine While You Sleep

Sleep is not passive. While the body is at rest, the spine is actively decompressing, rehydrating intervertebral discs, and consolidating the physical repairs initiated by daytime movement. That process works best when the spine is in a neutral position throughout the night. When it is not, the muscles, joints, and discs that are supposed to recover are instead subjected to low-grade mechanical stress for up to 8 hours.

The position most people default to, and the one most consistently supported by research, is side sleeping with a pillow that keeps the head and neck level with the rest of the spine. Stomach sleeping is the most problematic, forcing the cervical spine into sustained rotation and compressing the lumbar facet joints for hours. Back sleeping works well for many people but requires adequate support under the knees to prevent excessive lower back arching.

The Pillow and Mattress Equation

Pillow height matters more than most people realize. A pillow that is too high or too flat pushes the cervical spine out of alignment and creates the kind of sustained muscle tension that produces morning stiffness and headaches. The right height depends on shoulder width, sleep position, and individual spinal curves, which is why there is no single universal answer.

Mattress firmness follows similar logic. A surface that is too soft allows the hips to sink, creating a lateral curve in the lumbar spine. Too firm, and pressure points at the shoulder and hip prevent the muscles from fully releasing. Medium-firm mattresses have the strongest support for spinal health and pain reduction in side sleepers.

How Chiropractic Fits Into the Picture

A spine that carries restriction and misalignment into the night cannot fully recover regardless of sleep position or mattress quality. Research published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that patients receiving chiropractic care reported significant improvements in sleep quality, along with reductions in pain, suggesting that spinal function and sleep quality are closely linked.¹

Chiropractors also assess posture and movement patterns to indicate how a patient sleeps, often identifying cervical or lumbar issues that trace directly back to nighttime positioning. Small adjustments to sleep habits, combined with regular spinal care, can produce meaningful improvements in how rested and mobile patients feel each morning.

 

Researching Chiropractic: Migraines, Torticollis & Tic Douloureux

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

hypnic headaches

Migraine and hypnic headaches

A 59-year-old woman suffered from chronic migraines and hypnic headaches (headaches that wake people from sleep) along with nausea and skin rashes. Migraine has a global prevalence of 10% and is the seventh leading cause of time spent disabled. Hypnic headaches are less common.

The patient’s migraines began 15 years prior and significantly affected her quality of life. During that time, her care consisted of RelpaxT, a prescription drug, massage and TylenolT. Her headaches continued unabated. She also recalled that her mother had migraines that began around her menopause.

Chiropractic care of two visits a week for 3 months and then once per week for 6 weeks resulted in resolution of her headaches as well as additional health benefits. (1)

Torticollis, cranial distortion and difficulty feeding

A 13-day-old boy and his twin sister were brought in for chiropractic evaluation and possible care. The boy had torticollis, difficulty latching to his mother’s left breast and cranial distortion. The parents reported that the baby was very gassy and seemed uncomfortable daily. The pediatrician could offer no options. 

The parents reported that the boy was in the head down position for most of his time in utero with the weight of his sister on top of him.

After analysis for subluxations of his spine and skull, the boy was adjusted while he was lying on a pillow on his back or on his mother’s chest while she was lying on her back on the chiropractic table. 

The child had seven visits over 6 weeks with continued improvements. He was able to latch onto both breasts, the gassiness had decreased and the torticollis had resolved. Improvements were noticed by his third appointment. (2)

Tic douloureux

Trigeminal neuralgia, also known as “tic douloureux,” is a chronic nerve disorder characterized by intense, persistent and often debilitating shooting sensations of pain in the face. The pain is so intense people have killed themselves and for that reason it is sometimes called the “suicide disease.” 

A 62-year-old woman came to a chiropractic clinic with a chief complaint of chronic right-sided facial pain of 2 years’ duration which she said felt like stabbing and throbbing, “like a bunch of pitch forks.” 

She had experienced three separate automobile accidents over the past 27 years but had no residual symptoms. The pain began four months after she had had a dental surgical procedure, either a filling or root canal on a wisdom tooth on the right side of her face. Over the course of two years, numerous prescription drugs and alternative supplements had been prescribed by multiple doctors and specialists. She had spent over $9,000 in personal funds seeking relief.

Over the course of six months, the patient received 26 chiropractic adjustments. As a result, she experienced significant reductions in frequency and duration of pain. (3)

Do you know someone with any of these issues?

Please encourage them to make an appointment with us!

(517) 627-4547

  1. Niddery E, Alcantara J. Resolution of chronic migraines and hypnic headaches in a 59-year-old female: a case report & review of the literature. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research. September 2, 2019:117-126.
  2. Green S, Alcantara J. Resolution of torticollis, breastfeeding difficulties & cranial distortion in a twin infant undergoing chiropractic care for vertebral subluxation: a case report & review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic. July 10, 2019:78-81.
  3. Cramer J, Persky A. Reduction of chronic trigeminal neuralgia following upper cervical specific chiropractic care: a case report & review of the literature. Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research. September 9, 2019:56-62.

What Puts the Ache in Headache?

The ache in headache does not come from your brain-your brain cannot feel pain. For example, during brain surgery a patient may be wide awake, talking to the surgeons while his brain is being operated on (a local anesthetic numbs the scalp). What puts the “ache” in headache? Stretched, compressed, irritated, inflamed or infected blood vessels, membranes and cranial nerves.

ache in headache

The Chiropractic Approach

Millions of headache sufferers turn to the natural, drug-free chiropractic approach to health. (2) Why? Because chiropractic has a unique approach-chiropractors are the only health professionals trained to analyze your body for a serious and often ignored condition that can damage your nerves, inflame your tissues, cause muscles to tighten and knot, weaken your body, cause fatigue and set the stage for sickness and disease: the subluxation. A subluxation is a tiny distortion or misalignment in your spine that stresses your nervous system, the system that controls your body.

Patients who received chiropractic showed significant improvement, on a par with those given a powerful prescription drugs and without the side effects. (3) 

Anyone suffering from headaches (and any other condition) should make sure they are free from subluxations-for the health of their whole body, not just certain parts.

Make an appointment with Lanjo Chiro today! If you know someone who suffers from headaches, please share this resource with them.

(517) 627-4547

  1. https://www.aish.com/sp/dl/46123052.html
  2. Nilsson N, Christensen HW, Hartvigsen J. The effect of spinal manipulation in the treatment of cervicogenic headache. JMPT. 1997;20:326-330.
  3. Nelson CF, Bronfort G, Evans R et al. The efficacy of spinal manipulation, amitriptyline and the combination of both therapies for prophylaxis of migraine headache. JMPT. 1998;21(8):511-519. 

Researching Chiropractic: Dowager’s Hump, Fibromyalgia

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 positively to chiropractic care. How many people suffering, reliant on medication and drugs, and facing a life of limitation could be helped by chiropractic care? 

Probably most of them.

Dowagers Hump

Dowager’s Hump in 40 Year Old Woman 

A 40-year-old woman developed a pronounced thoracic kyphosis-commonly called a Dowager’s hump-along with chronic neck and upper back pain. Her condition was linked to long-term forward head posture from excessive smartphone use. Examination confirmed hyperkyphosis and reduced cervical mobility. Chiropractic care included spinal adjustments, postural correction, myofascial therapy, exercises, and ergonomic changes.

Over nine months of consistent treatment, the patient experienced complete pain relief and visible improvement in posture. Follow-up radiographs showed a significant reduction in the kyphotic curvature. This case suggests that multimodal chiropractic care can effectively manage postural deformities like Dowager’s hump without surgery, especially when addressed early.[1]

Fibromyalgia in 34-Year-Old U.S. Veteran 

A 34-year-old U.S. veteran with fibromyalgia presented with widespread spinal pain affecting the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions, along with bilateral shoulder and hip discomfort and intermittent tingling in all four limbs. His condition significantly limited daily function and quality of life. An integrated care approach introduced a multimodal chiropractic management strategy, encompassing spinal adjustments, soft-tissue therapy, stretching, and exercise recommendations.

Throughout the course of care, the patient reported significant reductions in pain and improved functional capacity, enabling greater participation in daily activities. This case highlights the potential role of chiropractic care as part of a multidisciplinary strategy for managing complex chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia.[2]

Do you know someone with any of these issues?

Please encourage them to make an appointment with us!

(517) 627-4547

 

  1. Rocha-Romero E, López-Romero S, et al. Treatment of thoracic hyperkyphosis (Dowager’s hump) through chiropractic care: a case report. J Med Life. 2023;16(4):559-565. https://doi.org/10.25122/jml-2023-0026

2. Hansen C, Hecimovich M. Multimodal Chiropractic Care of a Veteran With Fibromyalgia: Case Report. J Chiropr Med. 2022;21(2):96-101. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2022.02.005.

 

Can Chiropractic Help with PMS and Menstrual Cramps?

For many women, the days surrounding their monthly cycle can bring discomfort that interferes with work, family, and daily life. Cramps, bloating, irritability, and irregular timing are common complaints. Some women quietly accept this as “normal,” but it doesn’t have to be that way. A growing number have discovered that chiropractic care can make a real difference.

The Connection Between the Spine and Hormones

The nervous system controls the body’s hormonal signals, including those that regulate the menstrual cycle. If the spine is misaligned or under stress, communication between the brain and the reproductive organs may not flow smoothly. Gentle adjustments ease this tension, giving the nervous system a chance to function more effectively. Many women notice that their cycles become more regular, cramps lessen, and the intensity of PMS symptoms fades.

One patient described how her cramps were so intense that she had to miss school and later workdays. After beginning regular chiropractic visits, she noticed the pain was less intense, and she no longer needed to rely on over-the-counter medication to get through the week. Stories like hers are common in chiropractic offices.

Relief Through Releasing Tension

The pelvis and lower spine are areas that carry physical and emotional strain. When the muscles and ligaments in this region are tight, blood flow can be restricted and discomfort amplified during menstruation. Adjustments that release this stress often bring a surprising sense of relief. Women frequently report that their posture feels easier, their lower back less achy, and their cycles less disruptive.

A study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that women with primary dysmenorrhea (painful periods without underlying disease) experienced decreased pain intensity following chiropractic care [1]. This research supports what many have already observed in practice.

A Natural Approach

Chiropractic does not add anything artificial to the body. Instead, it works with the body’s own ability to heal and regulate itself. By reducing nerve interference and pelvic tension, the body has a better chance to balance hormones naturally and ease the monthly burden. For women who prefer to avoid medications or who have not found relief elsewhere, this approach can be life-changing.

Many women are surprised to learn that menstrual health and spinal health are closely connected. They often come into the office for unrelated issues like headaches or back pain, only to find their cycles improve as a welcome side benefit. For others, seeking help for cramps is the main reason they walk through the door. Either way, their experiences highlight the body’s remarkable ability to restore balance when given the right support.

Make an appointment with Lanjo Chiro today!

(517) 627-4547

  1. Hondras, M. A., Long, C. R., Brennan, P. C. (1999). Spinal manipulation, medication, and pain relief for menstrual pain: a randomized, controlled trial. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 22(9), 582-585.

From Head to Toe: Surprising Conditions Helped by Chiropractic

Most people connect chiropractic care with back or neck discomfort, but many are surprised to learn that adjustments can influence health in areas far beyond the spine. Because the nervous system controls every function of the body, changes in spinal alignment may relieve stress on nerves and restore communication to tissues that seem unrelated to the back. Patients often report improvements in unexpected ways.

From Head to Toe: Surprising Conditions Helped by Chiropractic

Relief in the feet and hands

Plantar fasciitis can make every step miserable. The fascia of the foot is closely tied to posture and spinal alignment. When stress in the lower back and pelvis is corrected, pressure on the feet can ease. Some patients notice less morning stiffness and are able to return to walking or standing for more extended periods without discomfort.

Carpal tunnel is another condition that has shown improvement with adjustments. By addressing the wrist, elbow, shoulder, and spinal segments of the neck, many patients regain strength in the hand and notice less tingling or numbness.

Help for children and adults alike.

Parents are often surprised when ear infections improve after chiropractic visits. The upper neck and its relationship to the muscles around the Eustachian tube can influence drainage in the ear. Gentle adjustments for children may support this natural function. Some parents report fewer recurrences and less need for antibiotics.

Digestive complaints, such as reflux, have also been observed to improve with chiropractic care. The nerves controlling the stomach and diaphragm exit through the mid-back. When those spinal segments move better, patients often share that their digestion feels calmer and less irritated.

Beyond the expected

Stories continue to surface about improvements in breathing, sinus congestion, menstrual discomfort, and even balance after adjustments. While chiropractic is not a cure for every ailment, the nervous system’s wide influence means that almost any area of the body may respond in positive ways. Research has documented a reduction in symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux in children receiving adjustments, reinforcing what many patients already experience in practice [1].

Chiropractic care is more than “just for backs.” It supports the body’s natural ability to heal by restoring clear communication between the spine, nerves, and every organ they reach. Patients who explore care often discover unexpected benefits from head to toe.

Make an appointment with Lanjo Chiro today!

(517) 627-4547

1.Dobson, D., Lucier, M., Miller, J., & O’Connor, S. (2019). The effect of chiropractic care on pediatric patients with gastroesophageal reflux: A case series. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 42(6), 482-487