Health-E-News July 2016
empowering you to optimal health
Shoulder Pain? Chiropractic Can Help
If you suffer from chronic shoulder pain and your range of motion is restricted, chiropractic care can help.
Shoulder pain is a common complaint amongst individuals. It is attributed to a number of causes, which can include the single onset or a combination of: tears in the rotator cuff muscles, overuse of the muscles, bursitis, adhesive capsulitis, tendinitis, impingement syndrome, avascular necrosis, osteoarthritis, or from traumatic injury. The condition can cause significant pain and can restrict range of motion in the effected shoulder.
The patient is a 55 year-old male who presented for chiropractic care with a complaint of pain in his right shoulder after falling from a 10-foot ladder. He had been experiencing the pain over a 7-month period. He had previously been taking medication that only provided short-term pain relief. During the Range of Motion (ROM) examination, the patient was distressed due to pain. He demonstrated restricted ROM in abduction and flexion, and reported pain at the rotator cuff muscles.
The patient received four adjustments over a period of two weeks. The patient’s full ROM in the shoulder returned after the first visit, and the ROM was maintained for the next three visits. The patient had no further complaints, so he did not require or continue further care. After just one visit to the Chiropractor, his ROM was restored. This demonstrates the power of Chiropractic Care.
Alcantara, Joey., Alcantara, Joel & Alcantara, Junjoe. (2014). Upper Cervical Care of Patients with Chronic Shoulder Pain and Restriction in Motion: A Case Series. Journal of Upper Cervical Research- Chiropractic4, (3).
If you have tried traditional medical care for shoulder pain without success, know that there are numerous studies that demonstrate how Chiropractic can help those who suffer with shoulder pain.
How Effective Is Chiropractic Care For The Treatment Of Headaches?
Very!
Research has shown that the Chiropractic care is incredibly effective in treating headaches that are caused by neck problems. In 2014, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) stated that chiropractic treatment often results in marked improvement in patients with chronic neck pain and headaches originating from neck problems.
Some headaches are caused by a triggers such as: lights, stress, noise, foods, insomnia, changes in blood sugar, and more. Of the different classifications of headaches, “primary” headaches include cluster, migraine and tension headaches; and it is these types of headaches that Chiropractic typically helps.
Most primary headaches are due to tension, stress and irritation to the neck muscles and nerves. Inactive lifestyles, poor posture, and mis-alignment of the neck vertebrae all cause irritation of the nerves in the neck. It’s when these nerves become irritated, they cause muscle tension, neck pain and headaches.
Chiropractors check the alignment of the bones in your neck, ensuring they are moving properly and not causing nerve irritation. When the vertebrae, or bones, in the neck are moving properly, the irritation to the nerves is eliminated, allowing the muscles and body function smoothly.
Other than Chiropractic, frequent movement is crucial if you spend a lot of time in one position. If you sit in front of a computer, for instance, getting up and moving every 30-60 minutes is perfect to reduce the tension in your neck. Even going for a walk at lunch is a perfect activity to help loosen up the tight muscles and joints in your neck.
One of the most sought after forms of alternative healing is Chiropractic care. Amongst cancer survivors who seek chiropractic therapy, 84% do so to alleviate pain, improve mood and sleeping habits, as well as to relieve stress.
Top Benefits Of Seeing A Chiropractor
The purpose of Chiropractic treatment is not only to relieve pain, but to improve quality of life by alleviating systemic problems relating to muscles and the central nervous system. Given the researched benefits of chiropractic care, it is likely that you or someone you know could benefit from this alternative therapy.
Here are the top 10 reasons why almost anyone can benefit from chiropractic therapy:
- Elevates Sports Performance
- Reduces Headaches
- Stimulates the Immune System
- Wellness & Prevention – treats underlying health problems
- Alleviates Allergies & Asthma
- Pregnancy – balancing the muscles, pelvis, and ligaments to relieve pressure on the uterus
- Mitigates Chronic Pain
- Manages Behavioral and Learning Disabilities
- Weakens Dependence on Medication and Medical Interventions
- Normalizes Blood Pressure
Have High Blood Pressure? Chiropractic Can Help
Over the last few years, the leading cause of death in North America is cardiovascular disease. This is alarming because issues related to heart health are highly preventable. Individuals at risk of cardiovascular diseases can be assessed based on measurements such as blood pressure. Blood pressure is the necessary force that the cardiovascular system generates to circulate blood throughout the body. Normal blood pressure is measured to be 120/80 mmHg. Whereas, high blood pressure or hypertension, is classified as having multiple blood pressure measurements of ≥ 140/90 mmHg in resting conditions. Hypertension indicates a greater stress and an increase in demand for the heart to work at rest. The cardiovascular system has to work harder when arteries are narrowed or blocked. Thus, individuals with hypertension are at risk for heart attacks and other heart conditions.
A 57 year old male patient with hypertension had been taking medication for his condition for five years. Without experiencing any improvements from taking medication, he sought out chiropractic care. He then received regular Chiropractic care while continuing to monitor his to monitor his blood pressure. After his eighth visit, his blood pressure improved by 70% relative to his initial visit. Following two months of regular adjustments, the patient’s blood pressure has been reduced to 120-130/80-90 mmHg. Hethen stopped the medication and chose to continue on with Chiropractic care.
Blood pressure is regulated by areas of the brain stem. Chiropractic adjustments to the upper cervical spine, which is located at the base of the brain stem, has been shown to reduce hypertension without the use of medication. Chiropractic care aids the restoration of healthy bodily functions to reduce the risk of disease.
Jonathan Chung D.C., Justin Brown D.C., Joseph Bursa D.C. Resolution of Hypertension Following Reduction of Upper Cervical Vertebral Subluxation. Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research. 2014; 1: 1-6.