One of the most common condition that we treat at my chiropractic office in Springfield, VA is Migraines.  Migraine sufferers have to endure a pain that is recurring, severe and can last up to 72 hours. Warning signs such as an “aura”, which is a type of visual disturbance, and nausea, sometimes accompany migraines. Many sufferers find that conventional medicine and prescription drugs offer little relief from their condition, and many are turning to alternatives methods of treatment in order to manage the pain. One such alternative is chiropractic treatment.

A holistic approach to pain relief, chiropractic treatment focuses on aiding numerous health issues through massage, spinal manipulation and adjustment of the body’s soft tissues and joints, predominantly in the back. But is it effective against migraines?

In February 2000, a study published by Dr. Tuchin et al. [1] cited the possible benefits of chiropractic treatment in alleviating or easing both the pain and frequency of recurring migraines. The study used a sample of 127 migraine patients, all of whom suffered from at least one migraine per month; this sample was divided into two groups – one control group who received inactive treatment, while the other group received chiropractic treatment, focusing on aligning and treating specific areas of vertebral swelling and misalignment. The study concluded that those who received chiropractic treatment experienced subsequent improvement in the duration of the study, showing reduced pain and frequency of their migraines within two months of treatment. The latter group also reported a decline in the need of migraine medications. Further results from the same study found that one in five sufferers from the chiropractic treatment group had a 90% reduction of migraine frequency, while 50% found significant improvement in the severity of their migraines.

Recent studies conducted by R. Bryans et al. published in 2011 [2], concluded that chiropractic care, including spinal manipulation, were found to improve both cerviocogenic headaches as well as migraines. A systematic literature search on controlled clinical trials on the topic of migraines and headaches involving chiropractic treatment, published through August 2009, was conducted using a selection of medical and alternative therapy databases. Research found that chiropractic treatments such as spinal manipulation and massage could significantly help patients who suffer from chronic or episodic migraines, whereas sufferers of tension-type headaches did not respond to such treatment.

While using alternative methods of treatment such as chiropractic care can help sufferers to gain more control over their migraines, it should be treated as another form of support or extra help, instead of completely overlooking conventional medical care.  If you or someone you know suffers from migraines give us a call today at (703) 912-7822 or visit us at Chiropractor in Springfield, VA.

Headaches are a common condition that we treat at my chiropractic office in Springfield, VA .  95% of women and 90% of men have had at least one in the past 12 months.  And for about 45 million of us, those headaches are chronic.

While a wide variety of over-the-counter and prescription medications have been developed to relieve this pain, they generally do little to address the underlying cause of the problem.  In addition, many of these compounds can have unwanted side effects, particularly if they’re used often, over a prolonged period of time or in combination with other medicines.  A growing awareness of both the limitations and risks of pharmaceuticals has led many headache sufferers to explore alternative approaches to managing them, including chiropractic.

Understanding Headaches

Headaches occur for many reasons and can vary greatly in their intensity and duration.  They may arise on their own (these are termed “primary headaches” and account for about 90% of all headaches) or be triggered as a result of some other health condition (described as “secondary headaches”).  Chiropractic physicians most commonly encounter three types of headaches in their work:

• Tension headaches are primary headaches that are brought on by unrelieved muscular contractions in the head, neck and shoulders, usually as a result of stress that cannot find an outlet.  These muscular contractions can themselves become the source of broader tension and stress throughout the body, setting in motion a feedback loop that eventually produces a headache.

• Migraine headaches are also primary headaches.  They are sometimes referred to as vascular headaches because they happen when blood vessels in the head suddenly expand, or “dilate”.  However, we know that the nervous system and genetic factors are also leading contributors.  Sufferers report a wide range of triggers and related symptoms.  Research into the exact cause of migraines is ongoing, and the condition has stubbornly resisted efforts to find a pharmaceutical “silver bullet”.

• Cervicogenic headaches are secondary headaches produced when pain begins in the neck or back of the head and is referred to the forehead or the area behind, in and around the eyes.  Trauma, chronic tension and disease are some of the more common initial sources of neck pain that is referred to the head.  Trigger points in the neck, shoulder blade and spine may also be sources of these headaches, though they can be much more difficult to identify.

How Chiropractic Can Help

There is a large and growing body of medical research that suggests chiropractic care can be effective in preventing or reducing the frequency and severity of primary headaches.  There is also some evidence that it may have benefits for cervicogenic headache sufferers.

Chiropractic adjustments of the spine and neck is used to improve the alignment of the spine and relieve muscle tension.  It also reduces nerve irritation and improves vascular flow.  Your chiropractic physician may also include massage and other therapies as part of a well-rounded treatment plan.  He or she will likely suggest exercise, stretching and relaxation techniques as well as nutritional strategies designed to help prevent future headaches.

If you or someone you know is looking for headache relief give us a call today at (703) 912-7822 or visit us at Chiropractor in Springfield, VA.

You may believe that everyone gets headaches.  After all, they’re normal, right?  Well…nine out of ten people get headaches.  Some occur frequently.  Some are dull; others are throbbing.  Some occur on only one side; other produce nausea, light and sound sensitivity.  Normal? No. Common? Yes.

The most common types of headaches are:

• Tension headaches, caused by muscle tension in the head, neck or shoulders as a result of stress.  With chronic stress, these can become constant when tight muscles fail to relax.
• Migraine headaches, usually the result of certain triggers, which include food, smoke, wine, weather, stress, and hormonal changes.  These are more common in women than men.
• Cervicogenic headaches, often the result of whiplash or poor posture, the pain associated with these headaches begins in the upper cervical spine, neck and shoulders, and often ends with pain in the forehead or eye area.

Many people reach for some type of prescription or over the counter (OTC) pain reliever when headache pain starts.  Many migraine sufferers take daily medication designed to prevent a headache from ever starting.  But these medications carry some potential dangerous side effects and address symptoms, rather than the causes, of headaches.

Many patients in my chiropractic office find relief from chronic headaches as a result of chiropractic adjustments.  Often we find that a patient’s nervous system has been compromised because of stress, a vertebra that is out of place impinging on a nerve, or poor posture that has distorted the spinal curve in the neck.  Chiropractic adjustments can alleviate interference to the nervous system and restore health, often resulting in a decrease in the severity and frequency of one’s headaches.

So the next time you’re plagued with headache pain, instead of reaching for a pill, reach for the phone and call our chiropractic office to set up an evaluation.  You have nothing to lose…except that pain in your head!

If you or a family member is suffering from headaches call our chiropractic office in Springfield, VA at (703) 912-7822.

Mental Attitude: Risks For Quitting College.
40% of students in the US fail to get a bachelor’s degree within 6 years at the college where they began. Surprisingly, events such as a death in the family and students’ failure to get their intended major did not have a significant influence. The critical event with the most influence was depression. Other reasons include recruitment by an employer or another institution; losing financial aid or experiencing a large increase in tuition or living costs; unexpected bad grades; and roommate conflicts.
Journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Feb 2011

Health Alert: Cough It Up.
Research has linked over-the-counter cough and cold products to poisoning or death in hundreds of children, ages 2 and younger. Studies also show these medicines do little to control symptoms. In 2008, the FDA formally recommended OTC cough and cold products not be given to children under age 2. 61% of parents of children ages 2 and younger gave their children OTC cough and cold medicine within the last 12 months. More than half of parents report their child’s doctor says OTC cough and cold medications are safe for children under 2.
University of Michigan Health System, Feb 2011

Diet: Too Fat!
The rate of obesity among children and adolescents in the US has nearly tripled between the1980s and 2000s. Childhood obesity can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep problems, cancer, liver disease, skin infections, asthma and other respiratory problems later in life.
Pediatrics Journal, February 2011

Exercise: The “Skinny” on Exercise.
Exercise boosts blood circulation and the delivery of nutrients to your skin, helping to detoxify the body by removing toxins. As exercise boosts oxygen to the skin, it helps increase the production of collagen, the connective tissue that keeps your skin elastic.
Mayo Clinic, Feb 2011

Chiropractic: Headache Help!
A study compared 6 weeks of chiropractic adjusting for tension-type headaches to 6 weeks of medical treatment with amitriptyline, a medication often prescribed for severe tension headache pain. Chiropractic patients experienced fewer side effects (82.1%) and only chiropractic patients continued to report fewer headaches when treatment ended.
JMPT, 1995

Wellness/Prevention: Zinc!
The cold accounts for 40% of sickness absence from work and millions of school days missed each year. Zinc taken within a day of cold symptoms can reduce severity and shorten the length of illness. At 7 days after onset, a higher proportion of people who took zinc reported no cold symptoms compared to those who took a placebo.
The Cochrane Library, Feb 2011
“If we did all the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.” ~ Thomas Edison

We realize you have a choice in who you consider for your health care providers and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs.  If you, a friend or family member require care please give us a call at (703) 912-7822 or visit us at Chiropractor in Springfield, VA.

Headaches are a common complaint at my chiropractic office in Springfield, VA. There are many causes of headaches, some of which are “idiopathic” or, unknown. Some headaches arise from “vascular” (blood vessels) causes such as migraine and cluster headaches.  These often include nausea and/or vomiting and can be quite disabling and require rest in a dark, quiet place sometimes for a half or a whole day.  Another type of headaches can be categorized as “tension” headaches.  These usually result from tightness in the muscles in the neck and upper back caused from stress, work, lack of sleep, sinusitis, trauma such as whiplash, and others.

So “how does chiropractic work?” To answer this, let’s first discuss what we do when the headache patient comes in.  First, the history is very important! Here, we’ll ask “how/when did the headaches start.  This may glean the actual cause of headaches such as a car accident or injury of some sort. Next, we’ll ask about activities that increase or create the headache, which gives us ideas of how we might help manage the headache patient. For example, when certain activities precipitate the onset of a headache, we will modify the work station and/or give specific exercises on a regular schedule to keep the neck tension under control. When information gathered about what decreases or helps the neck pain and headaches, we will recommend treatments often that can be done at home such as a home traction unit. This would be suggested if we are told that “…pulling on my neck feels great!”  The quality of pain (throbbing = vascular, ache and tightness = neck), intensity of pain (0-10 pain scale), and timing (worse in the morning vs. evening) help us track change after treatment is rendered, usually gathered once a month.  The examination includes blood pressure which can in itself create headaches when high, looking in the eyes to view the blood vessels in the back of the eye to make sure there is no evidence of increased pressure against the brain, ears – to see if there is an infection or wax blockage.  This can help if there is dizziness and/or balance loss.  We will sometimes listen to the throat as well as the heart to see if there may be a blockage, a valve problem, or other issues.  Neck muscle tightness (spasm) will be evaluated along with the range of motion, paying particular attention to the positions/directions that increases and decreases pain, especially those that decrease pain.  Nerve function by checking reflexes, sensation and muscle strength as well as correlating information like positions that decrease arm or leg pain will be included as any position that reduces pain in the arm or leg must be incorporated into an exercise. X-rays may include bending “stress” views so that ligaments (that hold bones together) can be evaluated for “laxity” (torn and unstable).  When this is found, we avoid adjustments to these vertebrae.

As you can see, if is very important do a thorough evaluation so headache patients can be properly managed. Treatment approaches include: 1. Adjustments; 2. Soft tissue therapy (trigger point stimulation, myofascial release); 3. Posture correction exercises and other exercises; 4. Education about job modifications; 5. Co-management with other health care providers, if medication or injection therapy is needed.

If you, a friend or family member suffers from headaches or migraines have them give us a call at (703) 912-7822 or visit us at http://www.NovaChiroWellness.com to learn more.

Few conditions leave their victims as miserable and agitated as headaches.  There are many causes of headaches including stress, odors, bright lights, noise, fatigue, certain foods, hormonal shifts, allergies, as well as genetic predisposition.  With all the possible causes of headaches, it’s not surprising many people seek help from many different approaches such as conventional medical therapies like pharmaceuticals and injections.  Others prefer a non-drug treatment approach such as chiropractic, massage therapy, acupuncture, and nutritional counseling. 

            Usually, there is not one specific cause of headaches so treatment can focus on various areas.  For example, muscles that attach to the base of the skull in the neck and upper back are often very short and tight, resulting in pressure or a squeezing effect on the surrounding nerves and blood vessels — resulting in headaches.  Chiropractic treatment includes methods aimed at reducing the tightness found in the joints and muscles. One of these approaches is called spinal manipulation or “adjustments” where the joints in the neck are moved to restore motion and reduce joint fixations. By relaxing the muscles and tension between the joints, the nerves in the neck are less pressured which, in turn, can reduce headaches.  The top three nerves that exit the upper neck travel into the head and are often the culprit behind the onset of headaches.  The second nerve from the top is the one responsible for causing radiating pain over the top of the skull which communicates with other nerves sometimes causing the pain behind the eye.

           Another chiropractic approach in the management of headaches includes soft tissue therapy where trigger points found in tight muscles are addressed through various forms of massage and mobilization methods.  Manual traction of the head and neck can also be highly effective in reducing the tension found in headache sufferers.  Exercises are often taught to the headache patient with significant benefits reported.  Some of these, such as range of motion exercises with and without resistance (example: pushing your head into your hand during neck movements) and posture re-training (chin tucks – reducing the forward head position), help address the limited motion problems of the neck. Cervical (neck) traction performed by placing a rolled up towel placed behind the neck while lying on the back so that the head can hang off the side of the bed can also be very helpful.  Another neck traction approach is the use of a unit that hangs off a door where water is placed in a plastic bag calibrated for weight for 15 minutes at a maximum tolerated weight. This can be of great benefit as it can be performed at home at your convenience multiple times a day or, as needed.

          Other treatment approaches that chiropractic utilizes include stress management (such as biofeedback, relaxation instructions, meditation, visualization and others), diet modifications (as certain foods can trigger headaches), nutritional supplementation (such as fish oil, Vitamin D, feverfew and others), and sleep restoration.

            If you, a family member or a friend require care, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our service.  We are proud that chiropractic care has consistently scored the highest level of satisfaction when compared to other forms of health care provision and we look forward in serving you and your family presently and in the future.  Give us a call today at (703) 912-7822 if you are suffering from headaches or learn more about headaches at http://www.NovaChiroWellness.com

If you suffer from headaches, you’re not alone. Nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea.

What do you do when you suffer from a pounding headache? Do you grit your teeth and carry on? Lie down? Pop a pill and hope the pain goes away? There is a better alternative.

Research shows that spinal manipulation – the primary form of care provided by doctors of chiropractic – may be an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck.

A report by researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, NC, found that spinal manipulation resulted in almost immediate improvement for those headaches that originate in the neck, and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of tension-type headache than a commonly prescribed medication.

Also, a study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that spinal manipulative therapy is an effective treatment for tension headaches and that those who ceased chiropractic treatment after four weeks experienced a sustained therapeutic benefit in contrast with those patients who received a commonly prescribed medication.

Headaches have many causes, or “triggers.” These may include foods, environmental stimuli (noises, lights, stress, etc.) and/or behaviors (insomnia, excessive exercise, blood sugar changes, etc.). About 5 percent of all headaches are warning signals caused by physical problems.

On the other hand, ninety-five percent of headaches are primary headaches, such as tension, migraine, or cluster headaches. These types of headaches are not caused by disease. The headache itself is the primary concern.

The greatest majority of primary headaches are associated with muscle tension in the neck. Today, Americans engage in more sedentary activities than they used to, and more hours are spent in one fixed position or posture. This can increase joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck, upper back and scalp, causing your head to ache.

Early diagnosis and treatment are important in identifying a serious underlying cause for your headache. In most cases, an in-depth history and physical examination can help determine if your symptoms are related to an easily treated problem, or if it is more serious.  X-rays, laboratory tests and even advanced imaging studies like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be needed.

 If you are having headaches and regardless of the type of pain you currently have, don’t take chances.  Get examined by your local chiropractor.  Give a call today (703) 912-7822.