Weekly Updates
Spinal Manipulation Reduces Pain Catastrophizing Too
Among a group of 98 chronic low back pain patients, those treated with spinal manipulative therapy—the primary form of treatment provided by doctors of chiropractic—not only experienced greater improvements in pain than participants who received a sham treatment, but they were also less likely to describe their pain in exaggerated terms (pain catastrophizing). Journal of…
Read MoreNonpharmacological Treatment for Cervicogenic Headaches
Cervicogenic headaches are secondary headaches caused by dysfunction in the neck. A systematic review that included eight studies concluded that manual therapies and therapeutic exercises are effective interventions for managing cervicogenic headaches. Doctors of chiropractic routinely adopt a multimodal approach when treating patients with cervicogenic headaches that involves one or more manual therapies and at-home…
Read MoreChronic Tension-Type Headache?
Tension-type headache is a common form of headache characterized by a dull, aching pain and tightness or pressure around the forehead or back of the head and neck. A recent case study described how a 63-year-old man with chronic tension-type headaches experienced full resolution of his symptoms following three treatments to address myofascial trigger points…
Read MoreRotator Cuff Injury?
A systematic review and meta-analysis of data from 24 studies concluded that the combination of manual therapy and specific exercises can improve pain and function in patients with a rotator cuff injury. Doctors of chiropractic often employ manual therapies and exercises as part of a multimodal approach to address musculoskeletal disorders, including shoulder injuries. Biomed…
Read MoreManual Therapy vs. Oral Pain Medications for Neck Pain
A systematic review and metaanalysis that included nine clinical trials found that manual therapy interventions are likely more effective than oral pain medications for managing neck pain in both the short- and long-term, with a lower risk for adverse events. Doctors of chiropractic are well-versed in the application of several manual therapies for addressing neck…
Read MoreManaging Tennis Elbow
For patients with lateral elbow tendinopathy, more commonly known as tennis elbow, a recent study found that a multimodal approach that included addressing trigger points in the forearm muscles, extremity manipulation, cervical spinal manipulation, and physiotherapy resulted in better outcomes with respect to elbow pain, pain intensity, function, and disability than physiotherapy alone. Such a…
Read MorePersistent Pain Following Endometriosis Surgery?
For women with persistent myofascial and pelvic pain following surgical treatment for endometriosis, a recent study found that manual therapies—such as those provided by doctors of chiropractic—may be an effective intervention for addressing such symptoms. Minerva Obstetrics and Gynecology, November 2023 Accelerated Aging Raises Risk for Some Cancers Using data from the UK Biobank study,…
Read MoreChiropractic 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…
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