Neck pain afflicts at least three quarters of people at some point in their lives, but There’s been little research on what treatments are the most helpful. Many take over-the-counter medications or visit doctors and chiropractors in search of relief. Sedentary office workers tend to be most susceptible to the condition.

Now a new study published on January 3, 2012 in The Annals of Internal Medicine has a surprising answer demonstrating the power of alternative therapies for neck pain: Chiropractic care and simple neck exercises done daily at home were much better at reducing pain than taking pain medications like aspirin, ibuprofen or even strong narcotics. It’s good news for patients that there’s something they can do themselves to take a more active role in their care — such as doing the exercises or visiting a chiropractor — instead of just swallowing a pill.

Good News For Patients With Neck Pain!

When it comes to neck pain the best medicine is no medicine at all!

Stretching exercises and a visit to the chiropractor were better at relieving neck pain than medication

And the relief provided by either exercise or spinal manipulation by a chiropractor was long-lasting — even up to a year later, when researchers checked back in with the study’s participants.

Spinal Manipulation, Medication, or Home Exercise With Advice for Acute and Subacute Neck Pain Full Text (PDF) FREE

The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, involved 272 adults, aged 18 to 65 years, who had had neck pain lasting for 2 to 12 weeks. The participants were then split into three groups and followed for about three months using three different methods:

1. Medication
2. Exercise
3. A Chiropractor

One group visited a chiropractor for 20-minute sessions throughout the study, for an average of 15 visits total. A second group was assigned to take common pain relievers like ibuprofen or, with a doctor’s guidance, stronger drugs like narcotics and muscle relaxants.

A third group met twice with physical therapists who taught them how to do simple, gentle exercises to stretch neck muscles at home. Each exercise called for 5 to 10 repetitions done up to eight times a day.

The researchers measured the subjects’ pain throughout the treatment, including at the end of the study and at six and 12 months after the start of treatment.

Both non-medication groups reported substantially more pain relief than the medication group. After 12 weeks, about 57 percent of the chiropractic group and 48 percent of the exercise group reported at least a 75 percent reduction in pain, compared to just 33 percent of the people in the medication group.

A year later, more than half of the subjects who had received spinal manipulation or exercise still reported at least 75 percent less pain, compared to just a 38 percent reduction in pain among those who had taken medication.

Spinal Manipulation an Effective Treatment for Neck Pain

The exercises prescribed to patients in the study were simple and designed to be performed at home with the help of instructional photos. Supplement Home Exercises For Neck Pain

Do you need to know more?  Find out for yourself the enormous benefits of Chiropractic care. You’ll be glad you did!
See the story on ABC World News Tonight.

Migraine headaches cost U.S. employers more than $24 billion annually

It was reported by Doheny in 2006 that migraine headaches cost U.S. employers more than $24 billion annually, including direct health care costs and indirect expenses such as absenteeism—when employees whose heads are pounding stay on the job but aren’t performing up to par.

Chiropractic vs. Medication Effectiveness & Safety

In randomized clinical trials, chiropractic was 57% more effective in the reduction of headaches and migraines than drug therapy.

There has been numerous other studies done on the treatment of headaches with chiropractic.  The following two studies are the most widely referenced and well respected.

Duke Study

A literature review performed by researchers at Duke University looked at a number of studies that looked at chiropractic treatment for headaches.  Researchers concluded the following: “Manipulation appeared to result in immediate improvement in headache severity when used to treat episodes of cervicogenic control. Furthermore, when compared to soft-tissue therapies (massage), a course of manipulation treatments resulted in sustained improvement in headache frequency and severity.”

Migraine Study

This study compared chiropractic spinal manipulation to amitriptyline which is a medication often prescribed for the treatment of headache. The researchers found that “spinal manipulation seemed to be as effective as a well-established and efficacious treatment (amitriptyline), and on the basis of a benign side effects profile, it should be considered a treatment option for patients with frequent migraine headaches.”

In other words, the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic treatment or spinal manipulation in the treatment of headache should be considered by patients suffering these symptoms.

The researchers also found that in the weeks immediately following treatment, patients who had received spinal manipulation had a 42% reduction in headache frequency, compared to only 24% of those who took amtriptyline. The chiropractic group had fewer headaches even after treatment had ceased.

Long Term Migraine and Headache Relief

Do your migraines or headaches have you feeling frustrated and helpless? Does it seem that despite everything medication you have tried, there really is no help? Well maybe you have been overlooking a more natural treatment that for many people has offered long term relief – chiropractic treatments!

Now you might be wondering how a chiropractor can actually help, and its simple. Drugs and medications only dull the pain of headaches and migraines, they do not actually treat the problem. On the other hand, chiropractic care treats the problem itself and actually aids the body in correcting it. Correcting the problem means long term relief!  Headaches and migraines can develop from many causes, therefore seeing a professional chiropractor can help you determine the cause, and treat the problem.

Nearly 14% of people who visit the chiropractor go for headaches or migraines, and many receive the long term relief they have always been looking for. If you or someone you know is suffering from migraines or headaches, visit your Minnesota Chiropractor.

Trampoline jumping poses a high risk of injury for both children and adults. Falling off a trampoline or using a trampoline incorrectly can result in strains, sprains, fractures and other injuries — including potentially serious head and neck injuries. In fact, the risk of injury is so high that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that trampolines should never be used at home or in outdoor playgrounds. The AAP supports limited use of trampolines in supervised training programs, such as gymnastics and diving classes. But even then, strict safety guidelines must be followed.

If you choose to buy a trampoline despite the risks, follow these safety rules:

• Use safety nets and pads. Install a trampoline enclosure — a special net designed to surround the trampoline — and cover the trampoline’s springs, hooks and frame with shock-absorbing pads. Regularly check the equipment for tears and detachments.
• Place the trampoline on level ground. Make sure it’s a safe distance from trees and other structures. Better yet, place the trampoline in a pit so the jumping surface is at ground level.
• Limit trampoline activity. Allow only one person to use the trampoline at a time — and never without supervision. Don’t allow somersaults or other potentially risky moves on the trampoline.
• Discourage unsupervised jumping. Don’t install a trampoline ladder, which could tempt young children to use the trampoline alone.

Trampoline injuries led to 98,000 trips to the emergency room last year alone. Children are the most frequent victims, but adults are also getting hurt, sometimes with devastating consequences.

The best way to protect children is to encourage parents not to use a trampoline or at least to supervise the child at all times.  There are several regions of the spine with which we should be concerned when a child has been injured from trampoline usage. Upper cervical trauma, sacral injury (similar to repetitive-stress syndrome) and flexion-extension injury to the lumbar spine all may be consequences of trampoline use. Should the child have moderate to severe complaints, it warrants taking radiographs and including orthopedic and neurological testing.

The chiropractic’s approach to healthcare is focusing on the patients overall health. Chiropractors provide natural, drugless, nonsurgical health treatments that solely rely on the body’s inherent recuperative abilities.  Chiropractors follow a standard routine to get information needed to diagnose and treat patients. They take patients health history; conduct a physical and an orthopedic examination.  Some chiropractors use additional procedures in their practice, including therapies using heat, water, lights massage, ultrasounds and electric currents.  They may also utilize equipment such as straps, tape, braces, or shoe inserts.

Obviously, we all as parents want what’s best for our children. We want them to be happy and most importantly, we want them to be healthy. That means making chiropractic checkups as a regular part of their health care routine.

Many parents purchase trampolines for their children, believing that trampolines are toys that will provide hours of outdoor fun for kids. What many do not realize, says SpineUniverse.com, is that home-use trampolines actually cause most of the overall trampoline-related injuries, and the American Academy of Pediatrics has gone so far as to recommend that parents never purchase trampolines for homes and never allow their children to jump on trampolines at someone else’s home.Types of Injuries

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons’ position statement on trampolines and trampoline safety reports that the majority of trampoline-related injuries are fractures and sprains. Less common are severe injuries, but those that occur can cause paralysis or death. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ AAP News adds cuts, strains and spinal damage to the list of potential injuries and says that boys and girls are injured at approximately the same rate.

A search of the medical literature failed to reveal any articles that discuss pediatric injuries acquired on privately owned recreational trampolines. This study was undertaken to quantify and qualify pediatric injuries from recreational trampoline use. A group of 114 patients who presented to the Emergency Department at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, with injuries directly related to use of a trampoline are discussed. There was a 1.2:1 male-female ratio. The average age was 8.0 years. Forty-eight percent of the patients were injured on their family’s trampoline, with the remainder injured on a friend’s, neighbors, relatives, or gymnasium’s equipment. The majority of injuries involved group use of the trampoline and the youngest person in a group was most often the injured participant. Extremity injuries were seen in 55% of the patient and head or neck injuries in 37%. Seventy-five percent of the patients required radiographs, 23% hospitalization, and 17% operative intervention. The history of the trampoline and medical literature discussions concerning injuries and safety are reviewed.

The best way to protect children is to encourage parents not to use a trampoline or at least to supervise the child at all times. There are several regions of the spine with which we should be concerned when a child has been injured from trampoline usage. Upper cervical trauma, sacral injury (similar to repetitive-stress syndrome) and flexion-extension injury to the lumbar spine all may be consequences of trampoline use. Should the child have moderate to severe complaints, it warrants taking radiographs and including orthopedic and neurological testing.

School vacation and summer weather entice us to enjoy the great outdoors. This is good for our health in many ways. Respiratory viral illnesses that thrive on close indoor contact become less of a problem. Sun exposure enhances the skin’s production of active vitamin D for better bone health. Also, recreational activities improve our mental and physical health through exercise.

This is not an attempt to discourage pursuit of outdoor fun. But now is an important time of the year to start thinking about the seasonal hazards of summertime and make a plan to enjoy the season in good health. One example of how an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is water safety.

Biking

The freedom of riding a bike can’t be beat, but following a few safety tips and obeying the rules of the road can help you stay safe. 

• Always wear a properly fitted helmet. Over 85% of head injuries can be prevented by wearing a helmet.
• Keep your bicycle in good working condition.

Boating

Before you set off in your boat this summer, remember these important safety tips:

• Have life jackets for everyone on board!  Children under 12 years old must wear a life jacket on any boat.  Children under 16 must wear a life jack on a sailboat.
• If the kids go out for a paddle they should always stay within eyesight of an adult.
• Never drink and drive a boat.

Inline Skating (i.e. roller-blading)

• Wear a helmet.
• Use wrist and elbow guards to avoid fractures in the wrist and elbows.
• Don’t go far until you know how to stop (safely)!

Note: Roller shoes are just like roller blades and require the same kind of safety gear.

Jet Skiing

Riding the waves is fun and exhilarating!  Stay safe and have fun.  Follow these tips:

• You must be 16 or older to operate a Personal Watercraft.
• The rules that apply to boats also apply to jet skis.  Wear your life jacket, use the buddy system, and ride only during the daylight hours.

Scooters and Skateboards

Helmets, wrist, elbow, and knee protectors need to be worn to prevent fractures.  Remember – the skateboard pros all wear helmets! Also, wear shoes and stay out of traffic!

For more information on water safety and swimming, visit the following links:

Water Safety Tips – (National Safety Council)

Inline Skating Safety – National Safety Council

Skateboarding Safety Tips – National Safety Council

Water#mce_temp_url#‐Related Injury Prevention

The sports chiropractor can enhance an athlete’s recovery from injury and prevent future injury. In the competitive sports world, these athletes realize that if spinal or extremity problems exist, their performance will be compromised. The goal for each patient is to get him/her in peak performance to produce a winning result.

Professional, amateur and weekend athletes seek out Sports Chiropractors for many reasons:

• Quicker recovery after training/games
• Prevention of injury
• Peak performance
• Better balance

If you have experienced an injury give your Minnesota Chiropractic a call. They can help with current injuries and also prevent any injuries.

Warm weather is here, which means that many people will soon be storing their winter coats and replacing them with swimsuits.  With this in mind, it is important to consider the potential for injury with water-related activities since they can occur just as easily as other seasonal sports. As is most often the case, prevention is essential.

Summer is a season full of beautiful weather, vacations, sports, and other enjoyable outdoor activities. Unfortunately, summer also means an increase in injuries. There are many ways to prevent the injuries that are most common during the summer months, as you and your family enjoy the warm weather.

Many of the tips for preventing summer sports-related back injuries revolve around being in good condition. You might be surprised at just what “conditioning” encompasses. Of course, maintaining a workout routine that includes the strengthening and stretching of your muscles will help protect your back — your back is vulnerable when the rest of your body cannot move easily and safely. But experts tell us that conditioning does not stop after you walk out of the gym.

Align Your Body:  Alignment refers to the relationships of parts of the body to the whole. Here’s how it works: Bones come together at joints, which are spaces that allow for movements you make when you run, hike, cycle, lift weights, or even type at your computer. For example, your knee is a joint, as is your elbow. Muscles do the work of moving those bones. With 26 movable bones; the spine has many joints that allow you to move it in several directions. When each bone is centered with the next, your muscles can focus their power on engaging in your sport instead of trying to hold your bones together.

Prevention of water-related summer injuries

Pre-activity stretching can help to prevent soreness and injury; emphasis should be placed on the back of the shoulder, pectoral and latissumus muscles, as well as the legs as a whole.  If you plan to participate in water-skiing, jet skiing, or other highly physical activities, plan to start a weight training program for the shoulders, upper/ mid back, core, and legs at least 6-8 weeks before the start of the season. Participants in triathlons or open water swimming events need to acclimate themselves to the lake environment.  This should involve at least 3-4 supervised lake training swims to become familiar with the poor visibility lake water as well as other influential factors such as wind and colder water temperatures. Lastly, it’s always advised to consult your primary care provider before starting any exercise program, especially if you’ve experienced a significant change in your health status over the winter months.

The sports chiropractor can enhance an athlete’s recovery from injury and prevent future injury. In the competitive sports world, these athletes realize that if spinal or extremity problems exist, their performance will be compromised. The goal for each patient is to get him/her in peak performance to produce a winning result.

Professional, amateur and weekend athletes seek out Sports Chiropractors for many reasons:

• Quicker recovery after training/games
• Prevention of injury
• Peak performance
• Better balance

If you have experienced an injury give your Minnesota Chiropractic a call. They can help with current injuries and also prevent any injuries.

Avoid Injury While Doing Yard Work

Spring is here and with it comes potential for injury. It is important to be prepared and safe when working in the yard. The following are tips for injury prevention:

Warm Up: Limber up before tackling the yard.  Go for a walk and stretch:  trunk rotations for stretching the back bring your knee up to your chest to stretch your lower back and legs, and reaching above your head with hands locked to stretch arms and shoulders.

Use Proper Body Mechanics: Be aware of body position when raking, bending or picking up debris in the yard.  Always bend from the knees and keep your back straight.  Consider using a cart or wheelbarrow to move items from one place in the yard to another.  When raking, place one foot in front of the other and then switch after 10 minutes.

Don’t twist when raking, shoveling or digging. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart with one foot forward. Alternate which foot you put in the front.

Change Tasks Often: Change positions often to avoid repetitive motions.  These motions are hard on your body and can lead to injury.  If you are pulling weeds, stand up after 10 minutes to stretch and change position. Rake a small part of the yard, then pick up the debris and move it out of the area.  Break up sitting tasks by walking whenever possible.

Use Ergonomic Tools and Be Safe: Choose tools with larger, padded or curved handles that are less strenuous to use over long periods of time.  Look for protective gloves that have a nonslip surface for grip and to help prevent blisters and add protection from sticks and thorns in debris.  When using ladders, have someone spotting and go slow to make sure to touch each step as you ascend and descend.  Use safety precautions when operating any machinery such as watching for electrical cords, wearing protective eye gear, and making sure you have cleared rocks or debris.

Lift with your legs, not your back. To do so, bend at your knees when picking up heavy objects instead of bending over at the waist. And don’t twist your back as you lift. If you have to turn, rotate your entire body.

For additional questions or if you need an injury evaluated, please contact your Minnesota Chiropractor.

Chronic pain is a devastating health problem that affects at least 116 million American adults–more than the total affected by heart disease, cancer, and diabetes combined. It costs the nation up to $635 billion each year in medical treatment and lost productivity. Chronic pain affects people of all ages, races, and occupations and without treatment, pain can have a significant impact on the pain sufferer and their entire family.

For every person seeking relief from chronic pain, others are inevitably affected: husbands and wives, parents and children, friends, employers and co-workers. Chronic pain can interfere with every aspect of a person’s life: work, relationships, self-esteem, and emotional well-being.

The Burden Of Pain

Chronic pain brings a burden of depression, anxiety, frustration, fatigue, isolation, and lowered self-esteem. Pain makes it hard to work, hard to play, hard to get support from others, and hard to live a happy life. Chronic pain can literally shatter productive lives.

Pain is the most common reason why people come to a chiropractor. Whether it’s intense throbbing from a migraine headache, fibromyalgia disorder, an auto, sports or work injury, or constantly aching joints from arthritis, we all want the pain to go away — and fast!  Sometimes pain is a temporary condition that will go away on its own (like after a minor injury or after surgery). But sometimes the pain is an indicator of something more serious, and it won’t get better until it’s treated. It is important that you get it diagnosed correctly.

Exercise Reduces Anxiety of Chronic Disease

People with chronic pain often experience pain that transcends the physical. Besides long-term low back or neck pain, patients can get so frustrated that they may develop depression and anxiety. To combat the multi-faceted nature of chronic pain, doctors often suggest that patients exercise.  A new report supports this common treatment.

The study, which was written by researchers from the University of Georgia and published in the February 22, 2010 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, was based off the results of 40 published studies that included approximately 3,000 patients with a variety of chronic illnesses, including chronic back pain.

On average, the researchers found that the patients who exercised on a regular basis reported 20% less anxiety symptoms compared to those who didn’t exercise regularly.

A chiropractor will advise you on available treatment options for pain management because it is important that you receive all the information you need about potential treatments. Psychotherapy, relaxation, massage or physical therapy, acupuncture, laser therapy, biofeedback, and behavior modification may be used to treat chronic pain.

Pain is a uniquely individual and subjective experience that depends on a variety of biological, psychological, and social factors, and different population groups experience pain differently. Because pain varies from person to person, your chiropractor can readily identify one dysfunction or injury from another to tailor your treatments to you.

Neck pain afflicts at least three quarters of people at some point in their lives, but there’s been little research on what treatments are the most helpful. Many take over-the-counter medications or visit doctors and chiropractors in search of relief. Sedentary office workers tend to be most susceptible to the condition.

Good News For Patients With Neck Pain!

When it comes to neck pain the best medicine is no medicine at all!

Now a new study published on January 3, 2012 in The Annals of Internal Medicine has a surprising answer demonstrating the power of alternative therapies for neck pain: Chiropractic care and simple neck exercises done daily at home were much better at reducing pain than taking pain medications like aspirin, ibuprofen or even strong narcotics. It’s good news for patients that there’s something they can do themselves to take a more active role in their care — such as doing the exercises or visiting a chiropractor — instead of just swallowing a pill.

Study found stretching exercises and a visit to the chiropractor were better at relieving neck pain than medication

And the relief provided by either exercise or spinal manipulation by a chiropractor was long-lasting — even up to a year later, when researchers checked back in with the study’s participants.

Spinal Manipulation, Medication, or Home Exercise With Advice for Acute and Subacute Neck Pain Full Text (PDF) FREE

The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, involved 272 adults, aged 18 to 65 years, who had had neck pain lasting for 2 to 12 weeks. The participants were then split into three groups and followed for about three months using three different methods:

1. Medication
2. Exercise
3. A Chiropractor

One group visited a chiropractor for 20-minute sessions throughout the study, for an average of 15 visits total. A second group was assigned to take common pain relievers like ibuprofen or, with a doctor’s guidance, stronger drugs like narcotics and muscle relaxants.

A third group met twice with physical therapists who taught them how to do simple, gentle exercises to stretch neck muscles at home. Each exercise called for 5 to 10 repetitions done up to eight times a day.

The researchers measured the subjects’ pain throughout the treatment, including at the end of the study and at six and 12 months after the start of treatment.

Both non-medication groups reported substantially more pain relief than the medication group. After 12 weeks, about 57 percent of the chiropractic group and 48 percent of the exercise group reported at least a 75 percent reduction in pain, compared to just 33 percent of the people in the medication group.

A year later, more than half of the subjects who had received spinal manipulation or exercise still reported at least 75 percent less pain, compared to just a 38 percent reduction in pain among those who had taken medication.

Spinal Manipulation an Effective Treatment for Neck Pain

The exercises prescribed to patients in the study were simple and designed to be performed at home with the help of instructional photos. Supplement Home Exercises For Neck Pain

Do you need to know more?  Find out for yourself the enormous benefits of Chiropractic care. You’ll be glad you did!
See the story on ABC World News Tonight.

Chiropractors have long been dedicated to delivering the safest and most effective healing methods for their patients. Scientific evidence supports chiropractic adjustments as safe, effective and an appropriate choice for patients with many common forms of neck pain and headaches.  Chiropractic health care has an impressive array of studies which support and prove the effectiveness of chiropractic care in a variety of different health ailments and many more studies are currently underway.

Chiropractic – A Clear Winner For Back Pain No Contest!

Many of these studies have been done not only by chiropractors, but by other health care professionals as well, including federal government studies of various countries.

So, how do chiropractors treat patients after an auto accident injury, work injury, or sports injury? In an accident, muscle, ligament, and tendon damage results from the violent movement of the body along with trauma from impacts. Many traditional medical treatments focus on obvious injuries while assuming that surrounding soft tissues will heal on their own.

In many cases, this is true because the body is an amazing healing machine, but often, back pain, neck pain, and headaches can emerge weeks and months after an accident when the body healing response compensates for misalignment and scar tissue. When underlying structural issues go unresolved, the body rebuilds an injured area with built-in potential for long-term pain and limited function. Old injuries can often be the underlying cause of sciatica or worsen existing chronic conditions.

Your back is an intricate structure of bones, muscles, and other tissues extending from your neck to your pelvis. Back injuries can result from sports injuries, work around the house, or a sudden jolt such as a car accident. The lower back is the most common site of back injuries and back pain.

Chiropractic Gets Injured Workers Back To Work FAST!

More than 85 per cent of the working population will experience back-related injuries or conditions.

Many workers’ compensation studies have shown chiropractic care to be superior to medical care in the treatment of on the job back injuries. Chiropractors have been able to get their patients out of pain and back to work faster and with lower treatment costs. For employers, this means that increased use of chiropractic care can reduce premium costs for benefits and contribute to improved productivity.

Injury in the workplace, following an auto accident or at home can be a serious matter. For your health and well-being, do not assume that immediate freedom from back pain or neck pain after an accident means you are fine. Too often, auto accident victims suffer ongoing symptoms years after the auto accident injury and insurance claims have been settled.

Employees may choose their health care provider for treatment of a work-related injury. The Minnesota workers’ compensation statutes entitle an employee to reasonable and necessary medical treatment or supplies to cure or relieve the effect of the work injury. The employer is required to furnish medical treatment as described in Minnesota Statutes 176.135, subd. 1, which includes psychological, chiropractic care, physical therapy, podiatric, surgical and hospital treatment.

Guidelines have been established for some common work-related injuries:  low back pain, neck pain, thoracic back pain, upper extremity disorders and reflex sympathetic dystrophy. The parameters also include broad guidelines that reflect good medical practice that apply to all injuries.

Chiropractic Is A Cost-Effective Option For Injured Workers

Chiropractors Get Injured Workers’ Back to Work Fast

The Third Most Widely Read Medical Journal Finds Chiropractic A Winner In Low Back Pain

The use, complications, and efficacy of spinal manipulation for low back pain was reviewed in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the third most widely read medical journal. The article concluded that spinal manipulation clearly helps patients with uncomplicated, acute low back pain.

The Mange Report – back to work, and fast!

As the largest existing analysis of scientific literature on low back pain, the 1993 Ontario Ministry of Health commissioned study drew international attention when it recommended the management of low back pain be moved from medical doctors to chiropractic doctors.

According to this Canadian government commissioned study, “Injured workers … diagnosed with low-back pain returned to work much sooner when treated by chiropractors than by physicians.”

Work Comp & Return-To-Work Studies

Do you need to know more?  Find out for yourself the enormous benefits of Chiropractic care if you have an injury of any kind. You’ll be glad you did!