Posts by brady anderson
Chiropractic Helps Radicular Low Back Pain Patients Avoid Opioids
Among a group of more than 2,300 patients with new-onset radicular low back pain, those who initially sought treatment from a doctor of chiropractic were 68% less likely to receive a subsequent prescription for tramadol, a less potent opioid, in the following year than patients who first received usual medical care. BMJ Open, May 2024…
Read MoreTreating Frozen Shoulder
Adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder, is described as a painful restriction of the shoulder’s range of motion. Among a group of 20 adhesive capsulitis patients, those who received a multimodal treatment plan that included specific exercises, heat therapy, and manual therapies—an approach that patients may encounter in a chiropractic setting—reported significant improvements with…
Read MoreManual Therapy’s Impact on Ankle Dorsiflexion
For individuals with reduced ankle dorsiflexion following a lower limb injury, a recent study found that ankle joint mobilization and calf muscle massage are effective interventions for improving ankle range of motion. Doctors of chiropractic are trained in the use of these and other therapies in the management of musculoskeletal disorders of the extremities, including…
Read MoreMonthly Pain Update – June 2024
Low Back Pain and the Hips and Legs It’s estimated that 84% of individuals will experience at least one episode of low back pain during their lifetime, with 23% developing chronic low back pain. While dysfunction in the lumbar region is typically thought to be the cause of a patient’s low back pain, there’s a…
Read MoreChiropractic Care for Trigeminal Neuralgia
This case study involved a 55-year-old female with trigeminal neuralgia that failed to respond to conventional treatment. A chiropractic examination revealed joint dysfunction at several levels of the cervical and thoracic spine, as well as trigger points in the trapezius and levator scapulae muscles. The patient underwent a multimodal treatment plan that included spinal manipulative…
Read MoreConservative Treatment for Tennis Elbow
For patients with lateral elbow tendinopathy, a systematic review that included twelve studies found that a conservative treatment plan that includes manual therapy, electrotherapy, and exercise may provide greater long-term benefits and a lower risk of recurrence than corticosteroid injections. Doctors of chiropractic often manage patients with tennis elbow using such a multimodal approach. Shoulder…
Read MoreTreatment for Mechanical Neck Pain
Mechanical neck pain is a term used to describe neck pain that results from the application of stress or strain on the anatomical structures of the neck. A recent study that included 78 mechanical neck pain patients found that a treatment plan that included a combination of manual therapies and therapeutic exercises—an approach commonly used…
Read MoreTwo Manual Therapies That May Benefit Patients with Knee Pain
When trigger points affect the function of the gluteus medius muscle, it can lead to altered gait, reduced hip stability, misalignment of the patella, and increased force on the knee, all of which can contribute to patellofemoral pain syndrome. A recent study found that for patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome associated with gluteus medius trigger…
Read MoreMonthly Pain Update – May 2024
Chiropractic Manipulation After Lumbar Diskectomy Lumbar diskectomy is a surgical procedure for removing herniated intervertebral disk material when non-surgical options fail to satisfactorily alleviate radiating leg pain, numbness, or weakness. However, there’s no guarantee such a procedure will provide relief. Up to 12% of patients require reoperation within three months to address post-surgical complications and…
Read MoreScapula Stabilization Exercises Benefit Chronic Neck Pain Patients
A systematic review that included five clinical trials found that including scapular stabilization exercises in a treatment plan for chronic neck pain resulted in better outcomes with respect to pain. The finding demonstrates how issues in one area of the body can lead to problems elsewhere, thus the importance of the chiropractic practice of examining…
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