Tag Archives: mechanicsburg pa chiropractor

Decision-Making Factors for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Care

17 Apr

While carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a very common condition, controversy still exists among researchers and healthcare professionals regarding best practices for managing the condition. Most studies on musculoskeletal disorders, including CTS, focus on identifying treatments that provide symptom relief rather than exploring the factors influencing patients’ decisions, particularly when choosing between surgical and non-surgical options.

A December 2024 meta-analysis reviewed six studies that examined CTS treatment from the patient’s perspective, revealing four key decision-making themes:

  • Return to Normalcy – Does this treatment effectively relieve symptoms and restore quality of life, allowing for uninterrupted sleep and daily activities?
  • Patient-Centered Care – Is treatment information clear, specific, and accessible? Are patients given options, or are they simply told what their treatment will be?
  • Work Considerations – Will treatment require time off work or job modifications? Will the doctor provide necessary documentation for the employer? Will the patient be able to return to their usual job, or must they consider a career change?
  • Expectations – How quickly will relief occur? What is the likelihood of full recovery? If this treatment fails, what are the next steps?

The authors emphasized the importance of healthcare providers considering multiple decision-making factors and prioritizing clear communication and shared decision-making in CTS care. This approach enhances patient satisfaction and may lead to better treatment outcomes.

Chiropractic care provides CTS patients with a non-surgical treatment option that incorporates manual therapies to restore mobility to the median nerve, not only at the wrist but along its entire course from the neck to the hands. In addition, chiropractors may use complementary approaches such as night splinting, exercise training, physical therapy modalities, ergonomic assessment and modifications, and anti-inflammatory strategies. If necessary, care may be co-managed with other healthcare professionals who provide services beyond a doctor of chiropractic’s scope of practice.

Pain Relief Chiropractic

Painreliefcare.net

Mechanicsburg, PA

 (717) 697-1888

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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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.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Low Back Pain and The Importance of Sleep

6 Feb

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.

Watching your back,

Brent Binder, D.C.

4909 Louise Dr. Suite 102

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

(717) 697-1888

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Glute Weakness & Low Back Pain

30 Jan

Glute Weakness and Low Back Pain

While we traditionally view low back pain as the result of a problem localized to the low back itself, several studies have found that issues in adjacent parts of the body can play a role in the development of low back pain.  For example, chronically tight hamstrings can affect pelvic tilt, which in turn can alter the posture of the lumbar spine, potentially leading to low back pain. Another potential contributor to low back pain that’s often overlooked is glute muscle weakness.

In September 2024, the New York Times ran an article focused on a condition called gluteal amnesia, though it’s more colloquial name is dead butt syndrome. Gluteal amnesia is the result of prolonged inactivity of the three glute muscles (maximus, medius, and minimus). Prolonged inactivity can occur from things such as sitting at a desk or in a car for more than two to three hours at a time without getting up to move around and stretch. The gluteals help stabilize the hip, lift the leg, and rotate the thigh. This muscle group also serves an important role in the kinetic chain, and when not working properly, the risk for problems like hamstring tears, sciatica, shin splints, and knee arthritis increases.

Gluteal amnesia is NOT like the temporary numbness/tingling noticed when we sleep on an arm and it “falls asleep” or goes numb and recovers quickly when we change positions. Some people may feel a dull ache or pain after a long walk or after a jog or hike. Because muscle strength and activation are affected, the body may recruit nearby muscles to help perform regular movements, which can lead to pain in the lower back, for example.

            Though it’s best to be examined by a qualified healthcare provider, like a doctor of chiropractic, you can perform the following test to check if you may have dead butt syndrome: stand on one leg letting the other leg dangle (standing sideways on a step holding onto a railing works well) press into your buttocks region on the dangling leg, it should feel soft (not firing); do the same on the other side; now stand on both feet and squeeze your “cheeks” hard; you should feel the muscle contract or get firm; if it takes a few squeezes before you feel it get firm, then you may have gluteal amnesia.

            The key to overcoming this condition is to restore normal activation to the gluteal muscles. You can start by setting an alarm on your phone to stand up every 30-50 minutes and gently tap on your glut/butt cheeks with your fingertips. This reminds the brain that these muscles need to fire. Better yet, march in place, do some hip circles and squats and consciously tighten your gluts with each rep. Other exercises for this include clamshells, hip thrusts, side planks, split squats, and single-leg glut bridges. Just remember to consciously engage the glutes.

            If the condition persists, schedule an appointment with your doctor of chiropractic so they can determine if there are additional problems present that can be addressed with treatments provided in the office, such as manipulative or mobilization therapy, with the goal of helping restore normal function.

Pain Relief Chiropractic

4909 Louise Drive, Suite 102

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

Painreliefcare.net

717-697-1888

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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