Palpating a tender spinal segment suggests that something’s wrong, most likely intersegmental joint dysfunction. But tenderness doesn’t necessarily indicate that a joint is hypomobile…
The management of hypo- vs. hyper-mobility is divergent, so how can we quickly differentiate?
Review our latest blog and video to find out → .
Injections for pain relief are growing in popularity. Traditionally, corticosteroid injections are used to alleviate symptoms. However, research has highlighted ongoing concerns about the use of corticosteroids increasing the rate of future joint degeneration. Some contemporary studies promote a new class of regenerative injections that have a much different effect—to stimulate inflammation. There is also new data showing that injections using placebo (saline) may provide equivocal results. In this blog, we will dive deeper into non-spinal injections, and possibly add another alternative to your toolbox.
Last month, like many other months, the medical community was mal-educated by a published case study regarding the threat of CAD following SMT.
Cureus:
…cases of spontaneous dissection of the vertebral artery do have a history of trivial or minor injury involving some degree of cervical distortion such as chiropractic neck manipulation, as the extreme hyperextension and/or rotation of the neck may create areas of stretch and lead to intimal or adventitial tears in the vertebral artery causing dissection. It is a relatively rare, potentially disabling and sometimes an under-diagnosed cause of stroke. It accounts for 2% of all ischemic strokes …This report demonstrates the potential hazards associated with neck trauma, including chiropractic manipulation, as it is under reported…” (Almuaigel et al.)
Chiropractors armed with quality data can refute these inaccurate associations. Check out this blog, video, and new infographics for our compelling reply to this author’s opinion, including the current facts about the safety of SMT. Plus, three practical tools that you can employ today to change attitudes tomorrow.
Chiropractic is a profession, not a treatment.
As a profession, chiropractors are trained healthcare professionals with unique expertise in managing several common health conditions. Many chiropractors utilize procedures, including joint manipulation, therapy modalities, patient education, nutrition, and rehabilitation exercises, to address each patient’s unique presentation.
As chronic pain continues to rise within the US healthcare system, chiropractors utilize proven methods to reduce pain and disability without medications and surgery.
Here are five reasons people may choose to visit a chiropractor:
Mechanical neck pain is the second most common presentation in chiropractic offices worldwide. (1) Tightness in the levator scapula is a predictable finding in the majority of those cases. A new randomized clinical trial examined the efficacy of two proven therapies and concluded:
“Application of both kinesiology tape and postural control exercise combined can significantly reduce neck pain and normalize levator scapula activities in patients with mechanical neck dysfunction more than the application of either intervention.” (2)
Want to see that in action? We’ve got you covered. While we couldn’t track down a demonstration from the authors, we did find a widely-recognized expert on these two techniques.
Check out this week’s Vlog to watch Dr. Todd Riddle, director of education for FAKTR and SE Sports seminars, demonstrate his practical application of cervical taping and exercise.
ChiroUp’s earlier blog introduced a new test for the rotator cuff called the DIME test. The most common follow-up questions pertained to the rehab of a shoulder after a diagnosed rotator cuff tear. Successful rehabilitation of shoulder tendinopathy requires three concepts.
1. Mirror rehab
2. Create scapular stability
3. Increase the capacity of the shoulder girdle musculature.
Check out this week’s video blog to learn how to incorporate these concepts in your practice.
Have you been doing your home exercises?
That routine question yields various amusing responses, most of which could be summed up with a simple “no.”
Somewhere between 1/3 and 2/3 of all home exercise recommendations are not implemented by patients. (1-4) Many well-developed plans end up sitting in a drawer because the patient did not understand the importance of rehab or was not sufficiently motivated. Here are seven proven ways to improve patient adherence to your exercise prescription.
There is one orthopedic test you must add to your physical exam this month. It’s called the Dynamic Isokinetic Manipulation Evaluation (DIME) of the shoulder.
Today’s blog will cover how to perform the test, how the DIME can be a valuable addition to your shoulder exam, and provide direction into how evidence-based chiropractors are using this test to confidently rule out the need for an MRI or surgical referral.
Chronic pain is an outward manifestation of inner adaptations to pain processing. The brain is responsible for pain perception and remembering pain patterns. However, in addition to the brain, the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and peripheral tissue can also LEARN to be in pain.
Learning is a physiologic process and not an intellectual feat, and it doesn’t happen only in the brain. Each site adapts physiologically in response to constant stimulation. Today’s blog will highlight six evidence-based treatment concepts to help stop peripheral nociception- the instigator of chronic pain.
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