Chiropractic Health & Wellness Blog

Acute Neck Pain (Torticollis), Disability
 and Chiropractic:
Patient Satisfaction Results

The overall patient satisfaction rate was 94%

By
Mark Studin DC, FASBE (C), DAAPM, DAAMLP
William J. Owens DC, DAAMLP

 

"Acute neck pain means immediate neck pain.  Neck pain that just started. This type of pain comes on suddenly and affects the ability to properly move your head in its proper range of motion. One serious type of acute neck pain is whiplash - the sudden jarring motion of your head going backwards and forward. This often occurs with a rear end collision. Acute neck pain can also be the result of a fall, sleeping awkwardly, a trauma or even a fall.. Often times when someone has just strained or irritated their neck in some way the pain is Quick read more or view full article most severe. There is usually inflammation, immobility, and muscle tenderness. Often with acute neck pain, the muscles or ligaments are involved".
 
The “real life” issue for the patient who either wakes up with this debilitating pain or is in an accident that causes it, is that taking drugs without narcotics is insufficient for relieving the pain. With the narcotics, one can be severely hampered and may not be able to go about his/her life. It is often a double-edged sword; take strong drugs and compromise your life or don't take drugs, receive no chiropractic care and suffer.
 
A 2006 study examined "...the extent to which a group of patients with acute neck pain managed with chiropractic [adjustments]...and the degree to which they were subsequently satisfied...A total of 115 patients were contacted, of whom 94 became study participants, resulting in 60 women (64%) and 34 men. The mean age was 39.6 years...The mean number of visits was 24.5...Pain levels improved significantly from a mean of 7.6...before treatment to 1.9...after treatment...The overall patient satisfaction rate was 94%" (Haneline, 2006, p. 288).
 
"There were reductions in disability recorded during the study that were statistically significant. Approximately 84% of the patients related that their activities were restricted before chiropractic treatment because of their neck pain, whereas only 25% still had activity restrictions at the time of the interview. Furthermore, 57% of those with physical restrictions described their disabilities as moderately severe or greater before treatment, whereas at the time of the interview, just 12% did (Haneline, 2006, p. 294).

"When comparing trauma with no-trauma cases, Trauma cases received more than 3 times as many visits. This difference may be related to tissue damage that often accompanies trauma, which, many times, heals imperfectly. In addition, patients with this type of problem may have ensuing long-term pain and physical impairment, which further shows that trauma complicates the recovery of acute neck pain (Haneline, 2006, p. 294).
  
This study along with many others concludes that a drug-free approach of chiropractic care is one of the best solutions to acute neck pain and returning to a normal life.

Lyn Lake Chiropractic would like to share this research with you since we see a great deal of neck pain.  Many patients come in with pain neck especially when they wake up with neck pain.


Read Less

How can I tell if my child has spinal problems or needs to be taken to a chiropractic clinic for treatment?

Unless your child has obvious problems it can be difficult for a parent to know when a child’s spine is not working correctly. There are some signs which can indicate spinal problems.

These include:

• Sleeping patterns changing for the worse
• Breastfeeding difficulties 
• Can't turn their head to one side
• One shoulder higher than the other as you stand behind them

Common childhood disorders can also be linked with spinal dysfunction, these include:

• Having too many ear infections
•  Regular sore throats and colds
• Colic/reflux
• Asthma 
• Scoliosis
• Headaches - child should not have headaches!
• Bedwetting and/or constipation
• Growing pains - usually the muscles are sore from the bones growing and muscles catching up.
• ADHD

One of the most common reasons for parents to do look for a chiropractic clinic is after some type of injury happens, we see a great Quick read more or view full article deal of playground injuries, gymnastics injuries, football and soceer injuries.  Neck pain and back pain seems to be common withthese sports.

Spinal misalignments that may occur at the time of the injury will not necessarily result in immediate pain or symptoms.

In addition to physical stress, parents should be aware that emotional and chemical stress affect the child’s nervous system and may also warrant a spinal check up and maybe some regular adjustments.

Having three girls and very active in sports, there has been many times I was able to help them.  And, there has many times we had to take them in to see an Orthopedic for broken bones, but even after they getthe cast off we were able to help them get there already sore muscles to heal faster with some hands on massage, stretching, Rock Taping and other physiotherapy.  When look for a chiropractor or a chiropractic clinic, one advice I tell people is, see if that chiropractor has child of his own.  Chiropractic care for children is for sure something worth checking into. 
  Read Less