Chiropractic Research
Read the latest news and research on how chiropractic care can benefit you and your family!
Headache Research
Every day people suffer from headaches, and they can be experienced by young and old alike. In some cases, the headaches can be so pervasive that they cause missed school days or missed days of work. It is estimated that over 37 million people suffer from severe headaches in the United States. Of the adolescents checked, 75% suffer from debilitating headaches that are severe enough to cause them to miss school or special events. Headache Variations We have all suffered from headaches, and the majority of them are minor and caused by stress, strained muscles in the neck, or being in a certain position for too long. When these types of headaches occur, a chiropractic adjustment and some stretching can usually get rid of the discomfort quite quickly. But what if you are plagued by more severe headaches, such as ones that are so severe they cause nausea, blurry vision, and extreme pain? About 5% of serious headaches are caused by another underlying physical issue, whereas with the remaining 95% of headaches, the headache itself is the primary complaint. When the pain is severe, people will look for any option to control it and some will go to their doctor [...]
Fibromyalgia Research
Many people in the world have to deal with fibromyalgia and its painful symptoms. There’s no specific cause that’s linked to whether or not an individual will experience fibromyalgia symptoms, but it’s often related to a traumatic experience or significant surgery. Those suffering from fibromyalgia may experience some or all of the following symptoms: Mood disorders Chronic pain across entire body Fatigue Memory impairment Irregular bowel movements Sleep apnea And more Everyone who deals with fibromyalgia and its symptoms has various methods of managing or reducing the pain or intensity of the symptoms. Medication is usually the go-to option for many, but it may not always be the most effective solution. Thankfully, there are other alternatives. Many overlook the healing and pain management benefits of Lithia Springs chiropractic care. Once someone understands the purpose of chiropractic care, it often becomes a regular part of their routine for managing pain and dealing with other health symptoms they are experiencing. It’s also a common measure that many take for proactively improving their overall health and wellness. Managing Pain with Medication Doesn’t Get to the Root of the Pain Medication may be an important component to managing pain for a lot of people. [...]
Ear Infections Research
Statistics show that ear infections are the number one cause of childhood doctor visits. Additionally, five out of six children will have at least one ear infection by their first birthday. Kids up to age 6 are the most likely to get ear infections, with the likelihood peaking around age 2. It is estimated that about 80% of ear infections will go away on their own within a few days, yet medical doctors are still regularly prescribing antibiotics to treat these infections, many of which are viral and are not affected by antibiotics. Thankfully, most doctors nowadays support “watchful waiting” with most ear infections, meaning they wait 1-2 days before prescribing an antibiotic to see if symptoms lessen on their own. Research has proven that chiropractic is a more effective way to treat ear infections than medication, warm compresses, and any other at-home treatment. Whether a child has one singular ear infection in their lifetime or chronic ear infections over the course of many years, chiropractic care offers a natural, drug-free, safe, and effective solution to ear infections. And unlike medication or tubes, chiropractic seeks to get to the root of the problem and provide an actual solution to the [...]
Digestive Problems
RESEARCHERS DISCOVER POSSIBLE LINK BETWEEN CROHN’S DISEASE AND SPINAL PROBLEMS According to a recent study, researchers in Japan say there is a possible link between Crohn’s disease and interference to the nervous system from spinal misalignments. The research was published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research and grew out of a previous study involving more than 3,000 patients with allergic diseases and over 1,000 non-allergic patients. It focused on the relationship between immune function, spinal displacements called vertebral subluxations, and how reducing those displacements resulted in improvement, and in some cases complete remission, of symptoms of Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease causes inflammation in the small intestine but it can affect any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus. The inflammation causes pain and makes the intestines empty frequently, resulting in diarrhea. There are many theories about what causes Crohn’s disease but none has been proven. The most popular theory is that the body’s immune system reacts to a virus or a bacterium by causing ongoing inflammation in the intestine. Treatment for Crohn’s disease includes corticosteroids to control inflammation but while these drugs are considered the most effective for active Crohn’s disease, they can cause serious [...]
Colic Research
The word “colic” can instill fear in parents of new babies as it is associated with inconsolable crying for long periods of time even after being fed, changed, and rocked. If you are a parent of a colicky infant, know that you are not alone. On average, 25% of babies experience symptoms of colic. While no specific cause of colic is known, it is thought to be caused from abdominal pain or gastrointestinal issues. A colicky baby will often tense their abs, flex their legs, and clench their fists as they cry. While this can be physically and emotionally hard on parents of a colicky infant, know that chiropractic care has been shown to be effective in relieving symptoms of colic. Methods for Managing Colic Not many treatments are available for colic as it is known to be a self-resolving problem that usually corrects itself when an infant is about 3 months old, although some cases can last longer. Some parents will turn to prescription medication, diet change, or different holding positions in an effort to bring about relief for an infant suffering from colic. However, not all methods work, and medications can come with the risk of harmful [...]
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Today just about everyone can be affected, but particularly people involved in occupations or leisure activities that require repetitive use of the hands and wrists (i.e., office, skilled labor jobs, tennis, golf or even knitting). Medical doctors commonly prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs, which prove ineffective in most patients and cause adverse side effects in others. The double crush syndrome is a compression neuropathy characterized by affecting two areas along the same nerve, one usually distant from the other. A growing number of researchers have suggested a correlation between some peripheral neuropathies like carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical nerve root compression another. The nerve is “crushed” or irritated in the spine, “priming” the more distal areas of the nerve for dysfunction when that part is stressed by the second “crush”). Autonomic dysfunction in idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome Verghese J, Galanopoulou AS, Herskovitz S, Muscle Nerve 2000 Aug;23(8):1209-13 This is the study of 76 patients with CTS (in 139 limbs). Autonomic symptoms were reported in 76 limbs (47 patients). Of these, 59% consisted of swelling of the fingers, 39% dry palms, 33% Raynaud’s phenomenon, and 32% blanching of the hand. Sympathetic skin response (SSR) had a sensitivity/specificity ratio of 34/89% in CTS with [...]
Blood Pressure
Latest findings show Chiropractic can help reduce blood pressure More than 3.6 million Australians over the age of 25 have high blood pressure or are on medication for the condition, but findings recently released by the Chiropractors’ association of Australia indicate there is a non-drug alternative that can lower abnormal blood pressure in healthy bodies by 7.8% – 13%. The latest findings published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics Vol, 24,No.2,by Dr Gary Knutson DC., show chiropractic adjustments to the upper neck can lower systolic blood pressure almost immediately. According to Dr Laurie Tassell, National Spokesperson for the Chiropractors’ Association of Australia, a chiropractic pilot study involving 80 people found there is a relationship between the upper neck vertebrae and the body’s natural blood pressure control reflexes. “With gentle chiropractic adjustment to the upper neck, blood pressure can be lowered, with good results measured for older patients in particular,” he said. Traditionally the causes of blood pressure, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, have been linked to excess weight, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, dietary salt intake and nutrition patterns with low intake of fruit and vegetables and a high intake of saturated fat. Data from [...]
Back Pain Research
A chief complaint among people in the U.S. today is back pain. Visits to the doctor due to this type of pain are numerous, as an average of 31 million Americans complain of suffering from back pain each year. It can range from minor aches and pain to debilitating and severe pain that keeps you from working or performing everyday, small tasks. But what is the cause of pain in the back? And what can be done about it? The good news is that many are finding relief through chiropractic care. Causes and Symptoms of Back Pain Back pain is different for everyone. For some, it may consist of stiffness and aches of the back. For others, it could feel like specific pain that radiates outward or regular back spasms. It can occur at any time throughout the day. Sitting or standing for long periods of time may result in flare ups of back pain. Too much movement or physical activity could also lead to more pain. Whether your pain is just starting or you suffer and have suffered from chronic pain for a long period of time, back pain should be addressed as soon as possible to ease discomfort [...]
Autism
Chiropractic treatment has transformed the life of Max Willson and his parents. Christina Hopkinson reports Quentin Willson is not an obvious advocate of alternative medicine. This is the man, after all, who came to prominence as a presenter on that bastion of blokes, Top Gear, and named his daughters Mercedes and Mini. He admits that until two and a half years ago, the most alternative potion he had ever taken was a vitamin C tablet. But after his taking his son Max to see a chiropractor, he has become one of the treatment’s most evangelical exponents. “I’m startled by the difference in Max before and after chiropractic,” he says. “He has gone from being labeled autistic and needing a classroom assistant to becoming an active and feisty seven-year-old in mainstream education.” Max was born in April, 1998 after a very difficult labor. The umbilical cord was wrapped twice around his neck as well as being knotted and, due to his heart rate slowing, he had to be delivered quickly. To add to his wife’s distress, Quentin was six hours late for the delivery. “I was stuck in the floods on the M40 with no mobile reception. Michaela thought I was dead.” Quentin [...]
Asthma
AN IMPAIRMENT RATING ANALYSIS OF ASTHMATIC CHILDREN UNDER CHIROPRACTIC CARE A self-reported asthma-related impairment study was conducted on 81 children under chiropractic care. The intent of this study was to quantify self-reported changes in impairment experienced by the pediatric asthmatic subjects, before and after a two month period under chiropractic care. Practitioners, representing a general range of six different approaches to vertebral subluxation correction, administered a specifically designed asthma impairment questionnaire at the appropriate intervals. Subjects were categorized into two groups; 1–10 years and 11–17 years. Parents/guardians completed questionnaires for the younger group, while the older subjects self-reported their perceptions of impairment. Significantly lower impairment rating scores (improvement) were reported for 90.1% of subjects 60 days after chiropractic care when compared to the pre-chiropractic scores (p < 0.05) with an effect size of 0.96. As well, there were no significant differences across the age groups based on parent/guardian versus self rated scores. Girls reported higher (less improvement) before and after care compared to boys, although significant decreases in impairment ratings were reported for each gender. This suggested a greater clinical effect for boys which was supported by effect sizes ranging from 1.2 for boys compared to 0.75 for girls. Additionally, [...]