Chiropractic News and Research by ChiroNexus

Neck Adjustments Effective for Cervicogenic Headache

January 28, 2014

Most people with chronic headache depend on medication to get by, but a recent study reminds us of the power of drug-free treatments. Cervicogenic headache is estimated to affect between 20-25% of the adult population, but because the symptoms often mimic migraine and tension-type headache, the diagnosis can be easily overlooked. This headache type is caused by musculoskeletal impairments in the cervical spine, or neck, that cause pain at the base of the skull or above the eyes. Patients also often report dizziness and lightheadedness.

The Sunshine Vitamin Soothes Fibromyalgia

January 24, 2014

Winter weather got you feeling a flare-up in chronic pain or fibromyalgia? You might try supplementation with vitamin D. A new study showed that patients with fibromyalgia who used vitamin D supplements had significant reductions in pain and fatigue compared to a placebo group. Lead author of the study, Florian Wepner, MD, said that vitamin D supplementation could be "an extremely cost-effective alternative or adjunct to expensive pharmacological treatment as well as physical, behavioral, and multimodal therapies." Wepner says that vitamin D levels should be closely monitored in fibromyalgia patients, especially during the winter. Fibromyalgia is a complex pain syndrome with no known causes, and no single "cure." Patients typically receive multimodal treatments of physical therapy, medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, massage, and chiropractic care. Earlier studies have demonstrated that patients with fibromyalgia are likely to be deficient in vitamin D levels, however it was unclear whether supplementation the vitamin could provide clinical benefits. In a randomized, controlled trial published in the journal PAIN, researchers from the Orthopaedic Hospital in Vienna randomly assigned 30 women with fibromyalgia syndrome to receive either vitamin D supplementation or a placebo.

Most Car Crash Victims Don't Sue Despite Chronic Pain

January 22, 2014

Auto injury victims have long been accused of faking their symptoms to earn a payout, but a new study shows that in most cases, that accusation is patently false. Researchers from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine found that the vast majority of patients fail to pursue litigation after an auto collision, despite suffering from chronic pain. "In the U.S., if someone develops chronic neck pain or other pain after a car accident, and they go to their doctor or tell their friends, they are often not believed or are viewed with great suspicion, as if their symptoms are not real and they are just trying to sue someone," explained Samuel McLean, MD, MPH, lead author of the study and associate professor of anesthesiology and emergency medicine at the University of North Carolina.

6 Tips for Staying in Shape this Winter

January 20, 2014

With the excitement of the New Year fading, you may be finding it harder to stick to those resolutions to lose weight or get to the gym more. But keeping a regular exercise routine throughout the winter can minimize your risk of catching the cold and flu, as well as prevent weight gain, chronic pain flare-ups, and seasonal depression. Don't let busy schedules and dropping temperatures get in the way of your workout.

Treating Stress Key for Kids with Migraine

January 17, 2014

Children with migraine experienced significant reductions in headache frequency after receiving cognitive behavioral therapy in a new study. Researchers found that kids treated with cognitive behavioral therapy plus medication had 4.7 fewer headache days per month, compared to kids treated with medication plus patient education.

Avocado: Good for Your Waistline and Your Joints

January 15, 2014

New research suggests that not only is avocado tasty, it may help to trim your waistline and aide in arthritis management. In a new study, researchers found patients with arthritis who used supplements of avocado and soybean oil had reduced joint space narrowing.

Chiropractic Patients Have Better Knees

January 13, 2014

Chiropractic care and massage therapy was tied to better knee function in patients with knee osteoarthritis in a recent study. The prevalence of arthritis is growing by nearly 1 million every year, according to a CDC report. An increasingly obese and arthritic population has also contributed to a rise in total knee replacement surgeries in younger patients.

Exercise Prevents Need for Hip Surgery

January 10, 2014

Exercise therapy could prevent the need for total hip replacement surgery, according to a new study. In patients with hip osteoarthritis, an educational and exercise program resulted in a 44% decrease in the need for surgery compared to a control group, according to researchers at Oslo University Hospital. For those who eventually opted for a hip replacement, patients in the exercise program delayed the need for surgery by 5.4 years, compared to 3.5 years in the control group. "Our finding, that exercise therapy enhances the survival of the native hip to [total hip replacement], is therefore important for healthcare consumption and for patients who may avoid surgery and its potential complications," stated lead author Ida Svege, MD, and his colleagues. The number of hip replacement operations has increased in the past 40 years, at a significant cost to the healthcare system.

Surprising Number of Headaches Tied to Chewing Gum

January 8, 2014

New research points to a surprising cause of headaches in teens: bubble gum. Researchers from Tel Aviv University found that chewing gum could be responsible for up to 87% of chronic headaches and migraines in teenagers. In the study, 63% of teens with headache had a complete resolution of symptoms after kicking the gum habit.

Athletes Jumped Higher with Chiropractic

January 6, 2014

Athletes with ankle problems had improved jumping performance after receiving chiropractic care in a new pilot study. Compared to patients in a sham group, those who received chiropractic adjustments were able to jump higher after just three weeks.