Goodbye to Headaches… You DON’T have to live with headaches anymore!

Posted by on Aug 5, 2008 in Blog | 0 comments Headaches affect 8 out of 10 adults. Some common causes are: diet, medications, hormone imbalances, weather changes, allergies, injury like whiplash, repetitive strain movements as with some exercises, muscular tension, poor posture, and stress.  Some uncommon causes are infections like meningitis and brain tumors. The uncommon causes often have other symptoms that are present. It is important to rule out the uncommon from the common causes. The tension, whiplash, posture, stress, repetitive strain movements, and migraine type headaches make up the majority of headaches and often respond well to Chiropractic care because adjustments are aimed at restoring alignment and movement in the spine and the neck.   The International Headache Society (IHS) has long maintained that Abnormal movement of the joints in the neck can lead to headaches.  It is well accepted that head pain can be caused by the irritation or inflammation of the nerves in the neck.  It makes sense to correct structural problems that contribute to headaches with a structural solution.  The research team with Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center agrees!  They reviewed the literature addressing the safety and effectiveness of treating headaches. They found spinal manipulation (aka spinal adjustments) to be the one procedure with proven effectiveness for cervicogenic (neck-based) headaches. The Duke University study highlighted the two distinct advantages of spinal adjustments over medication.  First, spinal care targets the source of pain rather than just controlling symptoms, and second, it's safe! Another study, funded by the U.S.. National Institutes of health, showed that neck related headaches were reduced through spinal adjustments by more than half, in just four weeks.  And Improvements were still present six months later! That's good news. Imagine no more vice-like tension headaches, pressure at the base of your head, or migraines that take over your day.  Chiropractic spinal adjustments have a proven track record, whatever the cause, to improve structure and function that often gets rid of the headache. I see the results daily. Those I adjust experience the results and benefits. Having this information is part of the equation. Doing what it takes is the half that matters most.  If you hare having headaches I hope you give me the opportunity to see if I can help you and make you one of those that say goodbye to your...
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“Neck Adjustments”…safe and effective

Posted by on Aug 5, 2008 in Blog | 0 comments It's the end of the day.  You hope to relax after a hard day at work. However, before long, you are aware that your hand is now cradling your neck.  That spot! Right there! That tender, relentless, painful area of your neck- you know exactly where it is! You are not alone: 70% of people experience neck pain (lower back pain is 90% and headaches are at 80%).  You may be tempted to pop a pill when you're in pain! Because your comfort and your well being matter to me, I want you to be informed and know the potential risks associated with pain medications and neck adjustments based on evidence. Chiropractic adjustments correct mechanical problems that can cause neck pain and stiffness. Pain medications don't correct the underlying mechanical cause of your pain. Pain medications can give temporary relief but it can not correct structural problems such as posture and alignment and movement of the neck. Most people don't think twice when it comes to taking Over The Counter (OTC) pain relievers such as Advil, Motrin, Aleve, or Bayer…or prescription Celebrex. Yet, These are just a handful of Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) that are implicated in some 33,000 deaths every year- mainly from internal bleeding! The FDA warns that NSAIDs can also increase the risk of hypertension, heart attack and stroke. Tylenol (aka acetaminophen) poisoning is ranked 5th on the fatal Adverse Drug Reaction list, exceeding all other causes of liver failure in the U.S..  It is found in more than 600 medications, including prescription drugs like Vicodin and OTC Sudafed. Accidental overdose can occur when someone takes Nyquil for the cold, Benadryl for allergies, and Tylenol for chronic arthritis exceeding the recommended dose. Risks are even greater with prolonged use combined with alcohol consumption.  Aside from mortality risk, prescription painkillers can impair your judgment and lead to falls and severe injuries. On the other hand, the Annals of Internal Medicine, published the National Institutes of Health study and found that after 12 weeks of Chiropractic care, patients were more than twice as likely to be pain free as those relying on medical care. Another study published in the Journal of Manipulative Therapy reports, that for some types of neck problems, there is "quality evidence that immediate improvements are obtained from a single spinal adjustment."  Every person and neck problem is unique and depending on your condition, it may take a series of visits for optimal results. Another study based...
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Proof Positive Posture Matters.

Posted by on Aug 5, 2008 in Blog | 0 comments Did you know the average head ways the same as a bowling ball?  Imagine carrying a 16 pound bowling ball around all day.  Now instead of carrying it close to your body carry out away from your body.  It's not so easy.  That's exactly what happens when your head posture is forward or backward or tilted to one side even if 1 degree. A forward head posture can add up to 30 pounds of tension on the back of the neck and the shoulders.  This will also create imbalances along your entire spine. Faulty posture can certainly lead to an unattractive appearance, loss of height, drooping shoulders, and a sagging chest.  But healthy posture isn't just about looking good. Rene Cailliet, MD, previously a clinical professor with the University of Southern California School of Medicine, warns that slouching can place tremendous stress on your spine causing a loss of energy, affecting your chest and lung capacity by as much as 30%, and adversely affect your bowel function. In chiropractic we have a saying, as the tree is bent so it grows.  As a hunched position becomes your "norm", your muscles adapt to a poorly aligned spine. Then they don't stretch like they once did because of muscle memory! Shortened muscles and ligaments become stiff and painful, creating a dysfunction of your spinal joints. This poor posture can lead to headaches, back pain, shoulder, hip, knee and ankle pain. A recent study, at Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong, looked at the relationship between forward head posture, neck pain, and disability.  Researchers found that the greater the forward head posture, the greater the neck related disability. A consistent program of Chiropractic care can help "retrain" your supportive soft tissues to hold your neck joints in proper positions. Restoring head, neck and spinal posture is a process. It is easy to check posture and the sooner it is addressed the sooner and often easier it is to make corrections.  I would be honored to look at your posture and let you know what my trained eyes see.  You won't have to undress and the procedure is painless.  When completed you will have a baseline and more importantly what can be done to correct...
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