The clinical presentation of whiplash is dominated by head (cervicogenic headache), neck and upper thoracic pain. While the exact mechanisms of how the tissues become injured and how the pathology develops are not clear, the pain is usually attributed to soft tissues and joint dysfunction.
Whiplash is a common injury and the estimated incidence is about 4 cases per 1000 persons. Neck pain and stiffness are the most frequently reported symptoms associated with whiplash. This highlights the need for practitioners of manual therapies to be knowledgeable in the area of cervical acceleration-deceleration injuries.
Whiplash patients may also complain of headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, dysphagia, paraesthesia, shoulder girdle pain, temporomandibular joint dysfunction and cognitive difficulties following a whiplash type injury.
The vast majority of research performed on the effectiveness of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) has been for low-back pain. This is despite the fact that the most frequent site of injury in the spinal column is the cervical region. Two studies (2-3) have strongly suggested that manipulation has provided a successful long-term decrease in the symptoms of chronic whiplash.
Manipulated patients had more reduction in all the outcome measures than the control group, but only neck pain and thoracic pain measures were statistically significant. Clearly these two related studies provide information that people with whiplash injures have thoracic spine dysfunction and that manipulation the dysfunctional segments results in better outcomes than conventional physiotherapy alone.
Timely detection and care of cervical spine injuries and abnormal kinematics may prevent or reduce the severity of damage. Thoracic may play a role in the recovery of whiplash patients.
Thatcher Chiropractic is located at 3535 American Drive in Colorado Springs, Colorado 80917 near the intersection at Austin Bluffs Parkway and Academy Boulevard. For more information you can visit our website at thatcherchiropractic.com and if you have additional questions or if you wish to schedule an appointment, please feel free to contact us by phone at (719) 574-3700.
Monday, December 19, 2016
Friday, December 9, 2016
Chiropractic for Chronic Low Back Pain
A study published in an issue of the European Spine Journal compares the effectiveness of the flexion-distraction manipulation technique to a strengthening and conditioning program in patients with chronic low back pain.
This study utilized two groups of patients. One group received flexion-distraction manipulation of the spine and the other group received an exercise program designed to strengthen the muscles surrounding the spine and increase flexibility. The study revealed that flexion-distraction provides significantly greater pain relief and overall patient satisfaction (79.6%) compared to the exercise program (65.1%), particularly in patients with low back pain and nerve pain radiating into their legs. The authors noted that even though patient satisfaction and pain relief was significantly greater in the flexion-distraction manipulation group compared to the exercise group, both groups responded equally well in terms of return to function.
At this office, we utilize the flexion-distraction manipulation technique that this study investigated for chronic low back pain. We also incorporate flexibility and strengthening exercise for the core or lumbopelvic region to promote better and further recovery with long lasting results.
Thatcher Chiropractic is located at 3535 American Drive in Colorado Springs, Colorado 80917 near the intersection at Austin Bluffs Parkway and Academy Boulevard. For more information you can visit our website at thatcherchiropractic.com and if you have additional questions or if you wish to schedule an appointment with us, please feel free to contact us by phone at (719) 574-3700.
This study utilized two groups of patients. One group received flexion-distraction manipulation of the spine and the other group received an exercise program designed to strengthen the muscles surrounding the spine and increase flexibility. The study revealed that flexion-distraction provides significantly greater pain relief and overall patient satisfaction (79.6%) compared to the exercise program (65.1%), particularly in patients with low back pain and nerve pain radiating into their legs. The authors noted that even though patient satisfaction and pain relief was significantly greater in the flexion-distraction manipulation group compared to the exercise group, both groups responded equally well in terms of return to function.
At this office, we utilize the flexion-distraction manipulation technique that this study investigated for chronic low back pain. We also incorporate flexibility and strengthening exercise for the core or lumbopelvic region to promote better and further recovery with long lasting results.
Thatcher Chiropractic is located at 3535 American Drive in Colorado Springs, Colorado 80917 near the intersection at Austin Bluffs Parkway and Academy Boulevard. For more information you can visit our website at thatcherchiropractic.com and if you have additional questions or if you wish to schedule an appointment with us, please feel free to contact us by phone at (719) 574-3700.
Monday, December 5, 2016
Does Stiffness Come From Arthritis of Something Else?
Patients tell me that stiffness or soreness in their neck or back is arthritis or degenerative joint disease because an x-ray was performed and they are doomed to suffer forever. Often times, these patients think or have been told the only way to find relief is with an anti-inflammatory medicine.
People that thought or were told they had arthritis have found relief with chiropractic treatment. The reason is that the "arthritis" was not the problem at all or was only part of the problem. You see, rarely can a doctor look at an x-ray and identify that arthritis is "the problem." There are thousands of people, young or old, that have arthritis or degenerative joint disease on an x-ray and have no pain or functional deficit.
How could this occur? It is as simple as an imbalance in the spinal joints and muscles that create the stiffness or pain that is often mistaken for arthritis. Sometimes people do not notice these imbalances right away. However, after "a few thousand miles" one will start to feel symptoms and know that something is wrong. Usually, a course of chiropractic treatment coupled with core exercises are of great help. Studies have shown that long term use of anti-inflammatory medicines can cause problems with the stomach, liver, and kidneys. The message: fix your spinal problem with rehabilitation rather than continuing down the long term medicine path.
Thatcher Chiropractic is located at 3535 American Drive in Colorado Springs, Colorado 80917 near the intersection at Austin Bluffs Parkway and Academy Boulevard. For more information you can visit our website at thatcherchiropractic.com and if you have additional questions or if you wish to schedule an appointment, please feel free to contact us by phone at (719) 574-3700.
People that thought or were told they had arthritis have found relief with chiropractic treatment. The reason is that the "arthritis" was not the problem at all or was only part of the problem. You see, rarely can a doctor look at an x-ray and identify that arthritis is "the problem." There are thousands of people, young or old, that have arthritis or degenerative joint disease on an x-ray and have no pain or functional deficit.
How could this occur? It is as simple as an imbalance in the spinal joints and muscles that create the stiffness or pain that is often mistaken for arthritis. Sometimes people do not notice these imbalances right away. However, after "a few thousand miles" one will start to feel symptoms and know that something is wrong. Usually, a course of chiropractic treatment coupled with core exercises are of great help. Studies have shown that long term use of anti-inflammatory medicines can cause problems with the stomach, liver, and kidneys. The message: fix your spinal problem with rehabilitation rather than continuing down the long term medicine path.
Thatcher Chiropractic is located at 3535 American Drive in Colorado Springs, Colorado 80917 near the intersection at Austin Bluffs Parkway and Academy Boulevard. For more information you can visit our website at thatcherchiropractic.com and if you have additional questions or if you wish to schedule an appointment, please feel free to contact us by phone at (719) 574-3700.
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