Chiropractic News and Research by ChiroNexus

Painkillers Pose Risks in Pregnancy

February 19, 2014

A new study suggests that over 14% of women are prescribed narcotics at some point in their pregnancy, despite the fact that the drugs may be associated with an elevated risk of birth defects. Prescription rates of opioid painkillers (narcotics) have grown dramatically in the past decade. Between 1991 and 2001, more than 200 million prescriptions for narcotics like Vicodin and Oxycotin were administered, according to the National Institute of Health.

Chiropractic for Cervical Dystonia

February 18, 2014

Cervical dystonia, also called spasmodic torticollis, is a debilitating neuromuscular disorder that causes the neck muscles to contract involuntarily. These muscle contractions result in abnormal movements, twisting, and positioning of the head and neck, along with significant neck pain and shoulder stiffness.

Fruit Juice as Bad as Sugary Soda

February 14, 2014

For anyone who has reached for fruit juice as a healthier alternative to soda, a new study from The Lancet may surprise you. The study found that fruit juices may be no better than soda when it comes to sugar. The researchers explained that there is a common misconception that fruit juices and smoothies are lower in sugar than soda and other sugary beverages."Fruit juice has a similar energy density and sugar content to other sugary drinks," the researchers wrote.

Alarming Number of Whiplash Patients Still Disabled

February 12, 2014

If you've been injured in a car accident, you may wonder "How soon can I expect to return to work and my normal life?" While the answer to that question is highly individualized, a new study suggests that patients with whiplash-associated disorder may have slower return-to-work rates compared to people with other musculoskeletal injuries. A study published in the journal BMC Public Health found that only 44% of whiplash patients had returned to work after two years, compared to 57% of patients with other musculoskeletal disorders. An estimated 19-60% of patients with whiplash still experience symptoms six months after the injury, and up to half of WAD patients fail to return to work within a year. Researchers from Denmark sought to see whether these high rates of chronicity affected return-to-work rates in whiplash patients.

11 Natural Headache Cures You Need to Know

February 10, 2014

Instead of depending on pain medications to get you through the day, try one of these drug-free headache treatments for relief. Chiropractic Adjustments: Research shows neck adjustments can decrease disability and pain in many patients with cervicogenic headache, and reduce the frequency of migraine headaches. Ginger: In one study, ginger supplements were found to be as effective as sumatriptan for decreasing the severity of a migraine attack. As an added bonus, the patients taking ginger didn't experience any unwanted side effects. Butterbur: A review from the American Academy of Neurology concluded that supplements of a flower called butterbur are effective for preventing migraine, whereas non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were only categorized as "probably effective." Exercise: Women who exercised for 40 minutes three times per week had the same reductions in migraine pain as women taking an anti-seizure medication called topiramate in a 2011 study. Massage Therapy: Massage therapy can help to relieve neck symptoms in patients with cervicogenic headache, according to one new study.

Massage May Help Cervicogenic Headache

February 7, 2014

A new pilot study suggests that massage therapy could help to improve neck symptoms in patients with cervicogenic headache. Although massage therapy has previously been shown to help migraine, little research has examined the effects of massage on this specific headache type. Cervicogenic headache is caused by impairments in the cervical spine, or neck, which results in pain at the base of the skull, in the face, neck, and upper back.

Probiotics May Help You Lose Weight

February 5, 2014

A new study adds to the growing list of benefits from probiotics. Researchers from the Universite Lavel in Canada found that taking certain probiotics enhanced weight loss efforts in women. According to Science Daily, earlier studies have demonstrated that intestinal flora differs in obese people compared to thin individuals.

Lavender Better Than Placebo for Migraine

February 3, 2014

Here's a reason to stick some lavender in your Valentine's bouquet: research suggests essentials oils from the flower may help to naturally relieve headaches. A study from the journal European Neurology shows that lavender essential oil significantly reduced the severity of migraine headaches for 72% of cases.

More Young People with Hip Pain

January 31, 2014

Hip pain is becoming a growing concern among younger and middle-aged patients, especially in teen athletes and weekend warriors. Pain specialists at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center say they are seeing an increasing number of patients, from adolescents to baby boomers, who are suffering from a condition known as femoral acetabular impingement, or FAI. "FAI has become much more common in the last 10 years, and in younger people these injuries tend to be sports-related," explained Dr. Thomas Ellis, vice chair of the department of Orthopedics and chief of Hip Preservation at Ohio State's Wexner Medical Center.

Back Pain Affects Entire Nervous System

January 29, 2014

More and more research is suggesting that back pain can have significant ramifications for the health of the central nervous system. A new study confirmed that patients with lower back pain show signs of reduced pain tolerance along the entire spinal cord, which may indicate a hypersensitized central nervous system. Researchers publishing in the journal Spine tested pressure pain thresholds in 20 patients with chronic lower back pain and 20 healthy individuals.