Tag Archives: Health

Cranio-Cervical Flexion Exercises for Chronic Neck Pain

13 Mar

Chronic neck pain is defined as pain persisting for longer than three months in the area between the base of the skull (occiput) and the upper thoracic region, specifically up to the T3 level of the thoracic spine. For many patients, chronic neck pain arises from the accumulation of microtraumas to the tissues in the neck and surrounding regions, often coupled with postural faults. Over time, these issues can lead to muscle imbalances and increased strain on the soft tissues that support the head.

When examining patients with chronic neck pain, chiropractors often observe weakness in the deep neck flexor muscles, which are critical for stabilizing the cervical spine. Strengthening these deep muscles is often a key goal for recovery. Unlike the superficial neck flexor muscles, the deep neck flexors cannot be voluntarily contracted in the same way. Instead, we must inhibit the superficial muscles to engage the deeper ones.

Here’s a simple exercise to strengthen the deep neck flexors: lie on your back, tuck your chin slightly, and lift your head while keeping your eyes forward. Hold this position for ten seconds. Initially, this may be challenging, but with consistent practice, it becomes easier. Once you can hold the position for ten seconds, you can progress by increasing the duration, adding sets with brief rest periods, or applying resistance by pressing your hands against the front of your head. Your chiropractor may recommend additional or alternative exercises tailored to your specific needs. To make this routine easier to incorporate into your day, consider doing these exercises before bed or in the morning.

Your doctor of chiropractic may also have you perform these exercises during office visits as part of your treatment plan. In one study involving 58 chronic neck pain patients, researchers found that cranio-cervical flexion exercises led to greater improvements in neck range of motion and pain intensity if they were performed immediately following the application of manual therapies to improve the mobility of the upper cervical spine. This suggests that restoring cervical spine mobility may be a necessary first step to maximize the benefits of cranio-cervical flexion exercises.

This finding highlights the advantages of a multimodal treatment approach for managing chronic neck pain. By combining the strengths of different therapies, such as manual therapy and targeted exercises, patients can benefit from their synergistic effects, potentially achieving faster and more effective relief.

Pain Relief Chiropractic

4909 Louise Drive, Suite 102

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

painreliefcare.net

Member of Chiro-Trust.org

This information should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all healthcare concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a healthcare professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.

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Treating the Neck of the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Patient

6 Mar

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most frequently diagnosed peripheral neuropathy and one of the most common conditions affecting the hand. The disorder typically results from compression of the median nerve on the palm side of the wrist, leading to numbness, tingling, and sometimes weakness in the thumb and fingers—except for the pinky and the pinky-side of the ring finger, which are innervated by the ulnar nerve. To avoid surgery, many CTS patients seek chiropractic care, which often includes manual therapies applied beyond the wrist and even to the neck due to the nature of the median nerve.

The median nerve originates from the C6-T1 spinal nerve roots in the neck and provides sensory and motor functions to the palm-side forearm and hand. It enables gripping, forming a fist, and detecting temperature and texture. If the mobility of the median nerve is restricted along its course, the resulting symptoms may mimic or overlap with traditional CTS. To complicate matters further, compression can occur at multiple sites, all of which need to be addressed for effective treatment.

In an October 2024 study, researchers divided 48 CTS patients into two groups. Both groups received wrist-focused treatment, including ten sessions of wrist mobilization, electrotherapy, and the use of a nocturnal wrist splint to maintain a neutral wrist posture overnight. However, one group also received manual therapies targeting the cervical spine. Patients underwent motor and sensory nerve conduction testing and completed questionnaires on CTS-related disability at baseline, immediately after treatment, and at six-month follow-ups.

Initially, both groups reported similar improvements in all outcome measures. However, at the six-month follow-up, the group that received cervical spine care showed greater improvements, suggesting that long-term benefits favor incorporating cervical spine treatment into CTS care.

Doctors of chiropractic are well-equipped to assess the entire course of the median nerve—from the neck to the hand—and identify all potential areas of restriction. They can provide conservative treatments to restore normal nerve function and help patients return to their daily activities. In more complex cases, chiropractors may coordinate care with specialists or medical physicians as needed.

Pain Relief Chiropractic

4909 Louise Drive, Suite 102

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

Painreliefcare.net

Member of Chiro-Trust.org

This information should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all healthcare concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a healthcare professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.

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Low Back Pain and The Importance of Sleep

27 Feb

Monthly Health Update: Whole Body

Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and it’s estimated 619 million people suffer an episode each year. By 2050, it’s expected this total will jump to 843 million! In addition to the direct and indirect effects low back pain can have on the individual patient, the overall healthcare costs and productivity losses associated with this musculoskeletal disorder add up to more than $230 billion dollars each year in just the United States! This in mind, identifying and mitigating risk factors for low back pain by even a small amount can result in large societal gains. One risk factor for low back pain that isn’t typically imagined is sleep.

Sleep is considered essential for survival. Many vital functions occur during slumber including tissue growth and repair, cytokines production to bolster the immune system, heart rate and blood pressure regulation, memory consolidation, and brain detoxification, just to name a few. If an individual suffers from insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, or sleep bruxism, these critical processes are impeded, which can make the body more susceptible to developing musculoskeletal pain, including low back pain.

In one study, researchers looked at health data concerning 6,285 older adults and found that an individual’s risk for low back pain increases by 13.6% for each hour less than seven hours of sleep he or she averages a night. However, any additional sleep beyond seven hours does not confer additional low back pain reduction benefits. Interestingly, this finding held true even after adjusting for age, gender, income level, education level, and occupation.

Not only can poor sleep increase the risk for low back pain, but it can stimulate changes in how pain is perceived, leading to greater pain sensitivity, which in turn results in increased disability and avoidance behaviors. One study, published in December 2020, found that older adults with moderate-to-severe sleep disturbances will likely accumulate chronic neuropsychiatric and musculoskeletal conditions at a faster rate than seniors with good sleep hygiene. To complicate matters, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine reports that 80% of American adults experience daytime sleepiness, meaning they either aren’t sleeping enough each night or the quality of their sleep is poor. So what can be done to improve sleep hygiene?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the following tips for better sleep: be consistent with bed times; make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, relaxing, and kept at a comfortable temperature; remove electronic devices from the bedroom; avoid large meals, caffeine, and alcohol before going to bed; and get some exercise during the day. If low back pain is keeping you up at night, be sure to let your doctor of chiropractic know. They may be able to recommend additional strategies to improve your sleep and if necessary, co-manage your case with an allied healthcare provider.

If you are struggling with sleep, come on in for a visit!

Watching your back,

Dr. B

Pain Relief Chiropractic

4909 Louise Drive, Suite 102

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

 717-697-1888

Painreliefcare.net

Member of Chiro-Trust.org

This information should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all healthcare concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a healthcare professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.

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Chiropractic Treatment for Lumbar Disk Herniation

10 Dec

The annulus of the intervertebral disk is comprised of tough, dense, and strong cartilaginous fibers that protect the nucleus within, which facilitates the movement of the spine. If the structure of the annulus is compromised, the nucleus can leak into or beyond the annulus, a condition that may be classified as a disk herniation, protrusion, extrusion, or sequestration. In the event a disk herniation in the lumbar spine places pressure on a lumbar nerve root, an individual may feel pain down into the leg, which is called lumbosacral radiculopathy or sciatica. Absence a red flag—infection, fracture, cancer, and cauda equina syndrome (loss of bowel and/or bladder control)—that may necessitate immediate emergency and/or surgical intervention, what treatment approach may best serve a patient with a newly diagnosed lumbar disk herniation?

In 2022, researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study that looked at outcomes of more than 11,000 patients under age 49 with a newly diagnosed lumbar disk herniation, half of whom received initial treatment from a doctor of chiropractic. While the authors of the study note that additional studies are needed, their analysis revealed that lumbar disk herniation patients whose first choice of treatment is chiropractic care are significantly (up to two-times) less likely to undergo lumbar diskectomy in the following two years than disk patients who initially seek out a different healthcare provider.

It should be noted that treatment guidelines generally advise conservative treatment approaches, which include chiropractic care, before consulting with a surgeon. However, another study published in 2022 found that, among a group of 144 patients who underwent back surgery, 60 (41.7%) did not receive any conservative treatment in the six months before their procedure. A 2021 study that looked at questionnaires completed by 3,724 adults revealed that the majority of respondents believe that surgery is always needed for a disk herniation, which is inaccurate.

For the management of a lumbar disk herniation, doctors of chiropractic will typically employ a multimodal approach that includes spinal manipulative therapy, mobilization therapy, soft tissue therapy, and exercise training. Chiropractors may also offer additional services such as traction or non-surgical decompression that can benefit such patients. If the patient does not experience improvement in their pain and disability or their condition worsens, they may be referred to an allied healthcare provider to explore other treatment options.

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An Important Message From The Most Famous Chiropractor You’ve Probably Never Heard Of.

24 Feb

There is a very famous person you probably do not know was a Chiropractor.  Here is a quote from one of his shows… let’s see if you can guess who it is…

“You know this is a nation of tired people.

“Everyone is tired.

“Everyone is suffering from that disease I like to call pooped-out-itis.  

“People wake up in the morning they are tired.  They go to bed at night they are tired.  They are tired throughout the day.  And life doesn’t hold much is store for anyone when you are tired all the time.  

“Now let’s find out why people are tired.

“#1 LACK OF EXERCISE.

“#2 EMPTY CALORIES.

“#3 NERVOUS TENSION.”

Know who it is?  It was Jack Lalanne (yes, he was a Chiropractor) and this quote was from the 1950s!  Jack was far ahead of his time. It’s no wonder he was able to perform all those incredible feats of strength and lived to be 96 years old.

Here’s the best part (and how this ties into this month’s newsletter)…

On the same video we pulled the above quote from, Jack says (in reference to something he was reading), “The doctor emphasized the importance of physical exercise.  There is evidence to show that hard physical work is good for us, but moderation and consistency is important.  We ought to play 3 holes of golf every day and not 18 of golf all at once.”

Jack went on to say, “Try to get a few minutes of exercise every day rather than to get a whole lot every once in a while.”

In this month’s Health News & Views, there is information from a new study that says strenuous exercising may be bad for your heart.  It seems that Jack Lalanne had one of the keys to health and success back in the 50s:  Consistency and Moderation.

Eat right, get proper rest, reduce stress, exercise moderately… and do it all CONSISTENTLY.  In other words, be the tortoise, not the hare!

There are no quick fixes.  But, there are long-term solutions  So, start right now.

Watching Your Back,

Dr. Brent Binder

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Is Exercise A Drug and Can It Hurt Your Heart?

21 Feb

“Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy.” ~ Isaac Newton

In today’s high-tech, fast paced society, we all tend to over think,  over complicate, and make things more difficult.  This is especially true when it comes to our health.

For example, there is pretty good evidence that exercise is good for you and people who exercise are, in general, healthier than people who do not exercise.

Few people would dispute it,  but that simple statement can be taken to the EXTREME. How? Many people think if a little exercise improves health, then more must really improve health.

Well, some researchers are now saying this thought process may be very, very, very flawed.

Here is why:  Researcher Dr. James O’Keefe, a cardiologist at the Mid America Heart Institute of St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, reported in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings that strenuous exercise might actually harm your heart.

According to Daily Mail, “Extreme exercise, such as marathons, may permanently damage the heart and trigger rhythm abnormalities… [Researchers] say the safe ‘upper limit’ for heart health is a maximum of an hour a day, after which there is little benefit to the individual. 

“A review of research evidence by US physicians says intensive training schedules and extreme endurance competitions can cause long-term harm to people’s hearts. Activities such as marathons, iron man distance triathlons, and very long distance bicycle races may cause structural changes to the heart and large arteries, leading to lasting injury.” 

Dr. James O’Keefe said, “Physical exercise, though not a drug, possesses many traits of a powerful pharmacologic agent. A routine of daily physical activity can be highly effective for prevention and treatment of many diseases, including coronary heart disease, hypertension, heart failure, and obesity.

“However, as with any pharmacologic agent, a safe upper dose limit potentially exists, beyond which the adverse effects of physical exercise, such as musculoskeletal trauma and cardiovascular stress, may outweigh its benefits.”

Dr. O’Keefe thinks the research suggests that extreme endurance training can cause elevated cardiac biomarkers and transient structural cardiovascular changes that normalized in about a week.

The review found:

Approximately 12% of seemingly healthy marathon runners showed evidence for patchy myocardial scarring.

The two-year follow-up showed a significantly higher rate of coronary heart disease in marathon runners versus runners who do not run marathons.

Elite level athletes commonly develop abnormal electrocardiograms. Studies show that too much exercise can lead to abnormal heart rhythms.

Continued excessive exercise may lead to arterial wall stiffening.

It is important to note that Dr. O’Keefe mentioned long-term, vigorous exercisers have a lower death and disability rate than non-exercisers.

If the information in the report is accurate, exercising like crazy is better than not exercising at all… but moderate exercise is better than over-doing it.

Many people (marathon runners, triathletes, etc.) were enraged by this report, and quite frankly, many factors were not accounted for in this research.

For example, does nutrition change the results?  What about high carbohydrates versus low carbohydrates?  The list here could go on and on…

But the really important point is:  EVERYTHING HAS LIMITS.

For example, most people believe that drinking water is good for you.  Not always. If you drink too much water, you can actually DIE. In fact, a 2005 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that close to one-sixth of marathon runners develop some degree of hyponatremia, or dilution of the blood caused by drinking too much water.

Drinking the proper amount of water is good for you.  Too little is bad.  Too much is also bad.

We may need to look at exercise the same way.  Too little exercise is bad and too much is also bad.

Genetically, we are all different. We all have different amounts of stress and strain we can take.

But, we all have a threshold.  Exercising up to that threshold will be beneficial, but crossing it will not be beneficial and probably harmful.

Will some people be “okay” doing marathons or triathlons because they are genetically superior?  Probably. It’s just like some people smoke and live to be 95 years old and seem to be “healthy” their whole lives.

Then again, other people get lung cancer in their 40’s and don’t survive it.

Famous Chiropractor Jack Lalanne frequently said it is all about moderation.  He thought it was better to exercise a little every day than to go crazy every now and then. He was probably on to something.

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