Chiro Blogs, Headaches

Headaches and Chiropractic

If you have a headache here in Fairbanks, AK,  you’re not alone. Nine out of 10 Americans suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea. What do you do when you suffer from a pounding headache? Do you grit your teeth and carry on? Lie down? Pop a pill and hope the pain goes away? There is a better alternative.

Research shows that spinal manipulation – one of the primary treatments provided by doctors of chiropractic – may be an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck. A 2014 report in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) found that interventions commonly used in chiropractic care improved outcomes for the treatment of acute and chronic neck pain and increased benefit was shown in several instances where a multimodal approach to neck pain had been used1. Also, a 2011 JMPT study found that chiropractic care, including spinal manipulation, improves migraine and cervicogenic headaches2.

Headache Triggers
Headaches have many causes, or “triggers.” These may include foods, environmental stimuli (noises, lights, stress, etc.) and/or behaviors (insomnia, excessive exercise, blood sugar changes, etc.). About 5 percent of all headaches are warning signals caused by physical problems. The remaining 95 percent of headaches are primary headaches, such as tension, migraine, or cluster headaches. These types of headaches are not caused by disease; the headache itself is the primary concern.

The greatest majority of primary headaches are associated with muscle tension in the neck. Today, Americans engage in more sedentary activities than in the past, and more hours are spent in one fixed position or posture (such as sitting in front of a computer). This can increase joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck, upper back and scalp, causing your head to ache.

What Can You Do?
The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) offers the following suggestions to prevent headaches:
If you spend a large amount of time in one fixed position, such as in front of a computer, on a sewing machine, typing or reading, take a break and stretch every 30 minutes to one hour. The stretches should take your head and neck through a comfortable range of motion.
Low-impact exercise may help relieve the pain associated with primary headaches. However, if you are prone to dull, throbbing headaches, avoid heavy exercise. Engage in such activities as walking and low-impact aerobics.
Avoid teeth clenching. The upper teeth should never touch the lowers, except when swallowing. This results in stress at the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) – the two joints that connect your jaw to your skull – leading to TMJ irritation and a form of tension headaches.
Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to help avoid dehydration, which can lead to headaches.

What Can a Doctor of Chiropractic Do?
Your doctor of chiropractic may do one or more of the following if you suffer from a primary headache:
Perform spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustments to improve spinal function and alleviate the stress on your system.
Provide nutritional advice, recommending a change in diet and perhaps the addition of B complex vitamins.
Offer advice on posture, ergonomics (work postures), exercises and relaxation techniques. This advice should help to relieve the recurring joint irritation and tension in the muscles of the neck and upper back.
Doctors of chiropractic undergo extensive training to help their patients in many ways beyond just treatment for low-back pain. They know how tension in the spine relates to problems in other parts of the body, and they can take steps to relieve those problems.

» If you are suffering from headaches in Fairbanks, AK, call Spaulding Chiropractic Clinic today at 907-456-4234.

REFERENCES:

1. Bryans R, Descarreaux M, Duranleau M, et al. Evidence based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with neck pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2014; 37: 42-63.
2. Bryans R, Descarreaux M, Duranleau M, et al. Evidence based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with headache. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2011; 34: 274-89.

Chiropractic, Headaches

Headaches and Migraines

Headaches, Migraines In Fairbanks, AK

If you have a headache, you’re not alone. Nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea.

What do you do when you suffer from a pounding headache? Do you grit your teeth and carry on? Lie down? Pop a pill and hope the pain goes away? There is a better alternative that is both natural, and better for your health.

Research shows that spinal manipulation – the primary form of care provided by doctors of chiropractic – may be an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck. If you have headaches in Fairbanks, AK, the Chiropractors at Spaulding Chiropractic Clinic want to get to the cause of your headaches.

A report released in 2001 by researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, NC, found that spinal manipulation resulted in almost immediate improvement for those headaches that originate in the neck, and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of tension-type headache than a commonly prescribed medication.

Also, a 1995 study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that spinal manipulative therapy is an effective treatment for tension headaches and that those who ceased chiropractic treatment after four weeks experienced a sustained therapeutic benefit in contrast with those patients who received a commonly prescribed medication.

Headache Triggers

Headaches have many causes, or “triggers.” These may include foods, environmental stimuli (noises, lights, stress, etc.) and/or behaviors (insomnia, excessive exercise, blood sugar changes, etc.). About 5 percent of all headaches are warning signals caused by physical problems.

Ninety-five percent of headaches are primary headaches, such as tension, migraine headaches, or cluster headaches. These types of headaches are not caused by disease. The headache itself is the primary concern.

“The greatest majority of primary headaches are associated with muscle tension in the neck,” says Dr. George B. McClelland, a doctor of chiropractic from Christiansburg, VA. “Today, Americans engage in more sedentary activities than they used to, and more hours are spent in one fixed position or posture. This can increase joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck, upper back and scalp, causing your head to ache.”

What Can You Do?

The Chiropractors at Spaulding Chiropractic Clinic suggest the following:

  • If you spend a large amount of time in one fixed position, such as in front of a computer, on a sewing machine, typing or reading, take a break and stretch every 30 minutes to one hour. The stretches should take your head and neck through a comfortable range of motion.
  • Low-impact exercise may help relieve the pain associated with primary headaches. However, if you are prone to dull, throbbing headaches, avoid heavy exercise. Engage in such activities as walking and low-impact aerobics.
  • Avoid teeth clenching. The upper teeth should never touch the lowers, except when swallowing. This results in stress at the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) – the two joints that connect your jaw to your skull – leading to TMJ irritation and a form of tension headaches.
  • Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to help avoid dehydration, which can lead to headaches.

What Can a Doctor of Chiropractic Do?

Dr. Moore says your doctor of chiropractic may do one or more of the following if you suffer from a primary headache:

  • Perform spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustments to improve spinal function and alleviate the stress on your system.
  • Provide nutritional advice, recommending a change in diet and perhaps the addition of B complex vitamins.
  • Offer advice on posture, ergonomics (work postures), exercises and relaxation techniques. This advice should help to relieve the recurring joint irritation and tension in the muscles of the neck and upper back.

“Doctors of chiropractic undergo extensive training to help their patients in many ways – not just back pain,” says Dr. Moore.

If you are suffering from headaches in Fairbanks, AK, call Spaulding Chiropractic Clinic today at 907-456-4234.

Car Accident, Chiro Blogs

How Chiropractic Care Can Help After an Auto Accident

Being in a car accident can be one of the most terrifying and overwhelming experiences a person lives through. One moment everything may seem fine, the next moment you are involved in a serious collision. Many people who survive automobile accidents must deal with both physical and emotional damages following their accident, and treating these injuries can be a difficult process.

While no one ever wants to be in an automobile accident, it is important to know how to proceed with treating your injuries should you ever be involved in one. Visiting a chiropractor for professional chiropractic care is always one of the first things you should do, as these healthcare professionals specialize in treating many of the most common automobile accident-related injuries there are. 

Chiropractors are able to treat neck and back injuries, whiplash injuries and help with soft tissue pain and injuries. Many times, individuals who have been injured in a car accident have so much muscle pain and stiffness that they simply cannot function normally. This discomfort, on top of other injuries, can be a serious issue.

The first step on the road to recovering from these injuries is to make an appointment with your chiropractor. First, your chiropractor may want to take x-rays to determine if there are serious injuries in the neck or spine. You may not notice the signs or symptoms of this type of injury, so it is important that you consider x-rays.

You may also be suffering from headaches, pain or general discomfort as a result of a whiplash-related injury. Most people assume that whiplash injuries only occur during high-speed accidents, but a change in speed of just 2-3 miles per hour during an accident can cause them.

Some individuals experience indicators of whiplash injuries right away, such as blurred vision, headaches, shoulder pain, dizziness, reduced range-of-motion and arm pain. Whiplash can also result in minor back injuries, muscle injuries, ligament problems and disc damage. Other individuals may not experience any serious injuries right away and may think they are just “stiff” or “sore” after the accident, when serious injuries could be forming.

If left untreated, these issues can go on to cause other additional serious health problems. In fact, you may not think you have been injured after a car accident, and then start to experience discomfort or headaches several months after the fact. This is why you should always visit a chiropractor for an evaluation, even if you think there may not be a serious injury to blame.

 When you treat an injury like this right away, you are putting the body in the best possible position to heal and recover quickly. This is why you need to visit a chiropractor right away. They can help put the spine in line and help the body start healing right away. Chiropractors can help relieve pain, provide exercises that can act as physical therapy for injuries and give you nutritional advice that can also help with the healing process.

 The first step in healing after an accident is taking the initiative to go visit your chiropractor. With professional help, you can start recovering after a traumatic automobile accident and put yourself on track to fully recover.

Car Accident, Chiro Blogs

Car Accident – What You Should Know

What You Should Know If You Have Been Involved In A Car Accident In Fairbanks, AK

One of the most stressful aspects of living in modern life is dealing with a car accident. Auto accidents are even more common in a place that has long winters and frequent icy roads. Doesn’t that sound like Fairbanks? Were you also aware that some auto accident injuries are hidden and are seldom detected for months or even years? Traumas, even ones that seem minor, can set a person up for a future of discomfort and decreased quality of life. If you have been involved in a car accident in Fairbanks, AK, call us for an evaluation before you even think about settling your claim. Chiropractic care at Spaulding Chiropractic Clinic can have a tremendous impact on your future quality of life!

    Why? Because once you settle your case, you lose the right to have your insurance company pay for treatment if you need it. Be informed of your rights and then make a decision. Get the care you need to get you back to the way you felt and functioned just before the accident.

   Here’s where the problem begins… Most people who suffer from an auto accident have one thing on their mind: their automobile!

Common questions include:

  • “Who is going to fix my car?”
  • “What will I drive in the mean time?”
  • “Will my insurance rates go up?”
  • “Who is going to pay for it?”
  • And the last thing on their mind is: “Am I Really O.K.?”

Auto accidents are an inconvenience, and a common complaint of car accident victims is that they don’t feel like their normal selves. You may also be experiencing obvious pains and symptoms like muscle stiffness or spasm, neck pain, headaches, numbness and tingling, back pain, difficulty sleeping, irritability, memory loss, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and many other difficulties. Worse than that, you may be injured and feel nothing at all.

Did you know that auto accidents can cause post-traumatic osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis (aka degeneration) can cause you to stiffen up and suffer from chronic pain, often years after the car accident. This occurs because  scar tissue forms in the injured area (often your neck) leading to chronic stiffness and the inability to move properly. Poor motion over time leads to pain and decreased quality of life, leaving you with the inability to do the things you want to do as you get older.

If you are still suffering from pain with a past car accident come see us, our trained chiropractors will take care of you.

Car Accident, Chiro Blogs

Car Accident in Fairbanks AK

A car accident in Fairbanks, AK, can be particularly harmful to us due to the icy roads. Icy roads often lead to higher collision speeds and more soft tissue damage.

Things To Understand If You Have Been Involved In A Car Accident in Fairbanks, AK

  • Most Doctors are not trained in the detection of hidden soft tissue injuries.  
  • If you have been in an auto accident, you need a doctor who is trained in the biomechanics of the human body; someone who treats these injuries every day. In addition, x-rays can be taken to find out if there has been any structural damage. In our office, we evaluate auto accident victims and make any appropriate referrals to other health care providers if needed.
  • At Spaulding Chiropractic Clinic, we give you the care  you need, and submit the required medical reports to the insurance company so your rights are protected.If you have been in an auto accident in Fairbanks, AK, there are some important questions you may need answers to:
  • Q: Should I See An Attorney Before I See My Chiropractor?
  • A: It is important to get checked out by the doctor first. That way the findings from your exam will allow you the information you need in order to decide if an attorney is necessary.
  • Q: What If My Car Sustained Only Minor Damage?
  • A: Documented studies done by Charles Carroll, M.D., Paul McAtee, M.D. and Lee Riley, M.D. revealed that: “The amount of damage to the automobile bears little relation to the force applied to the cervical spine (neck) of the occupants.”In other words, the damage to the passengers is not necessarily directly related to the damage to the vehicle.
  • Q: If I Need Treatment For This Injury, Do I Have To Pay For It Myself?
  • A: No. Most car insurance policies have what is called “Med Pay.” This means that medical bills will be paid at 100% up to a certain limit. Using your medical coverage should not raise your premiums.
  • Q: The Insurance Company Has Been Calling Me And Wants To Settle,What Should I Do?
  • A: Do not sign or settle until you have had us evaluate your injury for you. If you settle before your injury is fully resolved, you will be completely on your own and will have to pay out of pocket for your care.
  • Q: I’ve Been To The Hospital And My Medical Doctor, Do I Really Need to See a Chiropractor?
  • A: You need a doctor who focuses in the treatment and diagnosis of auto accident injuries. Usually hospitals will check vital signs, make sure there are no life-threatening conditions and release the patient with pain relief medication. They normally do not treat the underlying improper musculoskeletal biomechanics that can and often do lead to future pain. If your doctor has given you pills, you must understand that pills do not correct structural or soft tissue damage. 
  • Q: Does Your Care Hurt?
  • A:  The care is very gentle and comforting.
  • Q: Is The Care Safe?
    A: Yes. Particularly when compared to the side effects from medication.

If you have been in a car accident and are in any kind of pain, come see our trained chiropractors once you have seen your doctor or any other specialist, again, we will give you the care you need.

Acupuncture, Acupuncture Blogs

Uses and Benefits of Acupuncture

1 Comment

Uses

The NCCIH (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health) note that it has been proven to help in cases of:

•low back pain

•neck pain

•osteoarthritis

•knee pain

•headache and migraine

They list additional disorders that may benefit from acupuncture, but which require further scientific confirmation.

Also the World Health Organization (WHO) listed a number of conditions in which they say acupuncture has been proven effective.

These include:

•high and low blood pressure

•chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

•some gastric conditions, including peptic ulcer

•painful periods

•dysentery

•allergic rhinitis

•facial pain

•morning sickness

•rheumatoid arthritis

•sprains

•tennis elbow

•sciatica

•dental pain

•reducing the risk of stroke

•inducing labor

Other conditions for which the WHO say that acupuncture may help but more evidence is needed include:

•fibromyalgia

•neuralgia

•post-operative convalescence

•substance, tobacco and alcohol dependence

•spine pain

•stiff neck

•vascular dementia

•whooping cough, or pertussis

•Tourette syndrome

The WHO also suggest that it may help treat a number of infections, including some urinary tract infections and epidemic hemorrhagic fever.

They point out, however, that “only national health authorities can determine the diseases, symptoms, and conditions for which acupuncture treatment can be recommended.”

Benefits

Acupuncture can be beneficial in that:

Performed correctly, it is safe.

There are very few side effects.

It can be effectively combined with other treatments.

It can control some types of pain.

It may help patients for whom pain medications are not suitable.

The NCCIH advise people not to use acupuncture instead of seeing a conventional health care provider.

Acupuncture, Acupuncture Blogs

Nerve Repair and Acupuncture

Acupuncture repairs injured nerves. Findings published in Neural Regeneration Research demonstrate that acupuncture causes injured lower and upper limb motor nerves to repair. Electromyographic nerve conduction tests of acupuncture patients with nerve injuries document “an effective response” in 80% of patients participating in the study.

Electromyography confirms that acupuncture significantly improves motor nerve conduction velocity and amplitude and also promotes functional nerve repair. The researchers made an important discovery. A special set of acupuncture points resulted in good to excellent clinical responses at a very high rate. Using only local acupuncture points, patients had an effective rate of 38.5%. By adding acupuncture points to the Du meridian in addition to local acupuncture points, the effective rate jumped to 80%.

The Du meridian is a pathway composed of 28 primary acupuncture points plus extra acupoints. Many of the Du meridian acupuncture points are located on the midline of the back below the spinous processes of the vertebrae. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the application of acupuncture points to the Du meridian (Governor vessel) are used for the treatment of many disorders including spine and brain ailments, vertigo, numbness, tremors, febrile diseases, and infertility.

The research published in Neural Regeneration Research confirms the Du meridian’s significant role in the treatment of nerve injuries. Electroacupuncture was applied to both the upper and lower limb groups at a rate of once per day, five times per week for a total of six weeks. The total number of acupuncture treatments was 30 sessions per patient. The researchers conclude, “Our results indicate that Governor vessel and local meridian acupoints used simultaneously promote functional repair after peripheral nerve injury.”

The acupuncture points used in the study were a protocolized set of two acupuncture point prescriptions, one for the upper limbs and one for the lower limbs. The upper limb acupuncture point prescription consisted of local acupoints at the site of the injured nerve plus the following Du meridian acupoints:

  • Baihui (DU20)
  • Fengfu (DU16)
  • Dazhui (DU14)
  • Shenzhu (DU12)

The lower limb acupuncture point prescription consisted of local meridian acupoints at the site of the injured nerve plus the following Du meridian acupoints:

  • Jizhong (DU6)
  • Mingmen (DU4)
  • Yaoyangguan (DU3)
  • Yaoshu (DU2)

The local acupuncture points used in the study were chosen based on the area of nerve injury. Radial nerve injuries were treated with the following acupuncture points:

  • Jianyu (LI15)
  • Binao (LI14)
  • Quchi (LI11)
  • Hegu (LI4)
  • Yangxi (LI5)

Ulnar nerve injuries were treated with the following acupuncture points:

  • Qingling (HT2)
  • Xiaohai (SI8)
  • Zhizheng (SI7)
  • Wangu (SI4)
  • Houxi (SI3)

Median nerve injuries were treated with the following acupuncture points:

  • Quze (PC3)
  • Daling (PC7)
  • Neiguan (PC6)
  • Laogong (PC8)

Peroneal nerve injuries were treated with the following acupuncture points:

  • Yanglingquan (GB34)
  • Guangming (GB37)
  • Juegu (GB39)
  • Qiuxu (GB40)

Tibial nerve injuries were treated with the following acupuncture points:

  • Yinlingquan (SP9)
  • Sanyinjiao (SP6)
  • Diji (SP8)
  • Lougu (SP7)

Sciatic nerve injuries were treated with the following acupuncture points:

  • Huantiao (GB30)
  • Ciliao (BL32)
  • Zhibian (BL54)
  • Yanglingquan (GB34)
  • Weizhong (BL40)
  • Juegu (GB39)

Brachial plexus injuries were treated with the following acupuncture points:

  • Jianyu (LI15)
  • Binao (LI14)
  • Quchi (LI11)
  • Waiguan (SJ5)
  • Baxie (EX-UE8)

The acupuncture needles were 0.35 x 25 mm and were applied to an approximate depth of 1 cun at each acupoint. Manual acupuncture was applied to elicit a response followed by application of electroacupuncture with a sparse-dense wave between 2 – 100 Hz. Intensity was set to tolerance levels.

The researchers note that nerve injuries affect the metabolic microenvironment. Citing an example, they note that sciatic nerve injuries reduce acetylcholinesterase activity in the lumbar spinal cord microenvironment. This causes neuronal cell death thereby impeding nerve repair. The researchers note that acupuncture counteracts this effect citing that it successfully increases “acetylcholinesterase expression in spinal cord tissue after peripheral nerve injury.” As a result, the researchers suggest that this may be an important mechanism by which acupuncture promotes the healing of peripheral nerves.

 Reference

Gh, He, Ruan Jw, Zeng Ys, X. Zhou, Y. Ding, and Zhou Gh. “Improvement in acupoint selection for acupuncture of nerves surrounding the injury site: electro-acupuncture with Governor vessel with local meridian acupoints.” Neural Regeneration Research 10, no. 1 (2015): 128.