How Spinal Decompression Therapy is Thought to Work

In nonsurgical spinal decompression therapy, the spine is stretched and relaxed intermittently in a controlled manner. The theory is that this process creates a negative intradiscal pressure (pressure within the disc itself), which is thought to have two potential benefits:

• Pulls the herniated or bulging disc material back into the disc
• Promotes the passage of healing nutrients, into the disc and fosters a better healing environment.

Spinal Decompression Session

During spinal decompression therapy for the low back (lumbar spine), patients remain clothed and lie on a motorized table, the lower half of which can move.

• A harness is placed around the hips and is attached to the lower table near the feet.
• The upper part of the table remains in a fixed position while the lower part, to which the patient is harnessed, slides back and forth to provide the traction and relaxation.

One difference between various decompression therapies is the patient's position on the table:

• Some older devices place the patient in the prone position on the table, lying face down (e.g. VAX-D)
• Some newer devices have the patient lying supine, face up (e.g. Spine Med, or DRX9000)

The patient should not feel pain during or after the decompression therapy although they should feel stretch in the spine.

Treatment Series and Costs

Decompression therapy typically consists of a series of 15 to 30 treatments, lasting 30 to 45 minutes each, over a four to six-week period. Sessions are conducted in the practitioner's office.

The cost of each session typically ranges from $100 to $200, which means that a recommended series of treatments will typically cost from $3,000 to $6,000. Although insurance companies might pay for traditional traction, decompression therapy is not usually allowed although they are nearly the same.

Sessions may include additional treatment modalities, such as electric stimulation, ultrasound, and cold and/or heat therapy applied during or after the procedure.

Recommendations may also include drinking up to a half-gallon of water per day, rest, utilizing nutritional supplements, and/or performing exercises at home to improve strength and mobility.

Go to Dr Garrett Bode's website http://www.bodespinalcenter.com/ or see our latest press release (Click Here). [Chiropractor oldsmar], Chiropractic Tampa, 33635, Chiropractors Tampa, Bode Chiropractic Accident & Wellness Center, Oldsmar, 33635, Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, Automobile Accidents, Headaches. Link Link http://fl.local.yahoo.biz/chiropractortampa/

The Physics Behind a Whiplash Injury

Whiplash is the most common injury associated with a car accident. It typically happens when a person gets rear-ended but could be a result of any type of accident. But, although you’ve likely heard of whiplash, do you understand the physics behind a whiplash injury?

Many people assume that whiplash only occurs in severe accidents and if you are just bumped from behind at a stoplight, you have nothing to worry about. This simply is not the case. Whiplash can occur at surprisingly low speeds and cause an unexpected amount of damage.

What Happens When a Car Gets Rear-Ended?

Let’s start with a simple scenario. Someone is stopped at a stoplight on a city street. A car approaches behind them and slows down; however, because they are on their cell phone, they fail to stop completely in time. The two cars collide at approximately 15 miles per hour. Since the first car is at rest, presumably with the brakes on, it resists the impact. However, that resting car still absorbs 15 miles per hour worth of force.

So, what happens when your vehicle absorbs that amount of force?

When impact occurs, the seats of the first car jolt forward suddenly and with more force than you might expect. Of course, the seats aren’t the only things moving; the torsos of the driver and passengers also jolt forward. The heads of the driver and passengers, however, do not move with their bodies at the same speed. This is what causes the whiplash action.

You may not have known it, but the headrests in your car are not just for comfort; they’re another of your vehicle’s safety features. The headrest lessens the severity of the impact.

The Movement of the Spine in a Rear-End Collision

Normally, the head initiates most spinal movement. The movements of the neck in the cervical spine primarily consist of rotating and looking up and down. When a car gets rear-ended, however, your body moves beneath the spine rather than the head initiating the action. This unnatural movement causes an abnormally high amount of strain to be put on the spine, causing whiplash injury.

This abnormal movement can cause more damage than you might expect. Common damage includes neck stiffness and soreness, but also nerve pain. And, depending on the amount of damage done, you may feel pain immediately, or it could be days or months before the effects of the impact set in. The only way to immediately know the amount of damage done to your body is to have a doctor or chiropractor examine you. Doctors can give a good initial estimate of the damage, but consider seeing a chiropractor who specializes in whiplash injury.

What to Do If You Are in a Car Accident

Most people know the steps you should take if you are involved in a car accident. Check the damage done to people and the cars, call the police, exchange information, and file an insurance claim. However, many people forget that not all injuries are noticeable at first glance. Many people think they are okay while their body is in shock, shielding them from any awareness that they may have suffered bodily damage. Once this shock effect wears away, however, the pain will eventually set in. Getting checked out immediately can make whiplash injuries easier to connect to the car accident. This is especially important in the event of an insurance claim. Often, when whiplash injuries are left undiagnosed, insurers resist covering the injury once symptoms finally appear. It is important to understand the physics of whiplash injury and know how to take proper care if it happens to you.

Go to Dr Garrett Bode's website http://www.bodespinalcenter.com/ or see our latest press release (Click Here). [Chiropractor oldsmar], Chiropractic Tampa, 33635, Chiropractors Tampa, Bode Chiropractic Accident & Wellness Center, Oldsmar, 33635, Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, Automobile Accidents, Headaches. Link Link http://fl.local.yahoo.biz/chiropractortampa/

Relationship Between Headaches and Neck Pain Characteristics With Neck Muscle Strength

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study was to assess the correlations between neck muscle strength and pain features, such as neck-related disability, neck pain frequency and intensity, and headache frequency in women with headache.

Methods

Seventy women with migraine between 18 and 55 years of age diagnosed according to International Headache Society criteria were assessed. Participants provided clinical information regarding neck pain and headache. The Neck Disability Index was used to assess neck-related disability, and neck muscle strength was assessed via maximum voluntary contraction during flexion, extension, and lateral flexion with a handheld dynamometer. The correlation was verified with Spearman’s correlation coefficient (ρ). Multiple linear regression was performed to verify whether the clinical variables could predict the strength of neck muscles. All calculations were performed adopting a level of significance of 0.05.

Results

Neck extensor strength was negatively correlated with all clinical variables (ρrange = –.24 to –.32, p < .05); lateral flexor strength was negatively correlated with headache frequency, neck pain intensity, and neck-related disability (ρrange = –.27 to –.39, p < .05); and flexor strength also correlated negatively with neck pain intensity and related disability (ρr = –.26 to –.29, p < .05). Headache frequency and neck pain intensity were identified as significant predictors of the strength variability in extension (R2 = 0.16, p < .05) and in lateral flexion (R2 = 0.18, p< .05).

Conclusions

For the women with migraine in this study, correlations of headache and neck pain with neck muscle strength features were weakly to moderately negative. Headache frequency and neck pain intensity may influence a small proportion of the strength variability in extension and lateral flexion.

Go to Dr Garrett Bode's website http://www.bodespinalcenter.com/ or see our latest press release (Click Here). [Chiropractor oldsmar], Chiropractic Tampa, 33635, Chiropractors Tampa, Bode Chiropractic Accident & Wellness Center, Oldsmar, 33635, Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, Automobile Accidents, Headaches. Link Link http://fl.local.yahoo.biz/chiropractortampa/

Cervical Radiculopathy a Case Study

CLINICAL CASE STUDY

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Case # 4842: The patient is a 54 year-old female who experienced severe cervical spine pain and severe right upper extremity pain, numbness, and tingling resulting from lifting objects in her home. Patient has been diagnosed by primary physician and emergency room physicians as cervical radiculopathy. Medication was rendered consisting of Vicodin with mild relief. Patient presented to Batson Chiropractic with complaints of cervical spine pain, pain into the upper bilateral shoulder and scapular region with pain radiating to the right shoulder, right upper extremity region 8/10 in severity. Patient described numbness, tingling, and pain throughout the entire right upper extremity region extending into the hand and fingers consisting of the first, second, and third digits. Patient describes cervical crepitus, pain in all ranges of motion, muscle spasm and tension into the shoulders bilaterally, loss of strength of the right upper extremity region as well as pain into the right shoulder and scapula region.

Physical Examination: reveals a 54 year-old female, presenting with pain to the cervical spine and right upper extremity. Patient presents with positive orthopedic and neurological findings consistent with the diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy.

X-ray Examination: consisted of static A-P, Lateral, Flexion, Extension views of the cervical spine revealing loss of cervical lordosis with mild kyphosis of the lower cervical region measuring 34 cm, gross anterior head translation measuring 45 mm as measured from the anterior superior endplate of C7 to a perpendicular plum line from the anterior aspect of the C1 tubercle, C5 zygapophysis angle of 37 degrees, C2 angle of -30 degrees, and C1 angle of 22 degrees, degenerative joint and disc disease with disc space thinning C5-C6 with large osteophytic formation and vacuum phenomenon, milder vertebral and disc degeneration at the C4-C5, and C6-C7 segmental levels with mild osteophytic formation. Facet sclerosis noted at multiple levels. Flexion-extension views of the cervical region revealed subluxation: C0 in flexion, C1 flexion, C2 flexion, C6 flexion, C3 extension, C4 extension, C5 extension, C6 extension.

MRI examination: revealed mild atlantodental joint degeneration, minimal posterior disc bulge at C3-C4 right of midline, mild circumferential disc annual bulge C4-C5 with mild impression upon the thecal sac without evidence of spinal cord impingement or neuroforaminal or canal stenosis. C5-C6 revealed degeneration of the intervertebral disc with circumferential annular bulging approximately 3.5 mm posteriorly. There was effacement of the CSF space and slight flattening of the surface of the cord by the bulging disc annulus without evidence of cord compression. Moderate bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing due to the bulging of the intervertebral disc and adjacent posterolateral uncovertebral joint osteophytes. There was impingement of the C6 nerve root bilaterally. C6-C7 disc degeneration with eccentric right posterolateral annual bulging of approximately 2 mm. Moderate to marked right neuroforaminal narrowing due to the posterolateral soft disc protrusion with possible impingement of the right C7 nerve root and foramen.

Patient received twenty therapeutic chiropractic treatment sessions as outlined above and twelve cervical traction sessions over a nine week period of time. Patient responded to chiropractic procedures with positive outcome, experiencing complete resolution of all subjective symptomatology, normal findings of all objective findings, marked improvements in post radiographic findings. Patient returned to normal daily living status with mild restrictions.

Post static lateral radiographic findings after nine weeks of care demonstrated improvements in line analysis as: C1 angle 16 degrees (prior 22 degrees), C2 angle -17 degrees (prior -30 degrees), C5 zygapophysis angle 34 degrees (prior 37 degrees), lordosis angle -58 degrees (prior -34 degrees), measurement of anterior head translation of 16 mm (prior 45 mm).

Conclusion: Patient responded to chiropractic spinal care with complete resolution of cervical radiculopathy, and all subjective symptomatology. Resolution and restoration of proper objective findings are demonstrated by examination and post radiographic findings. Continued care was recommended for further structural spinal restoration.