Joint Dysfunction - #ThinkChiropractic

Over time the human body can and will experience static malalignments that alter the optimal resting length and tension of the muscles within the musculoskeletal system. Common static malalignments include joint fixation and myofascial adhesions that lead to or can be caused by poor posture.

Joint dysfunction (a.k.a. hypomobility) is one of the most common causes of pain in the human body.[1] [2] Once a joint has lost its normal range of motion, the muscles around that joint may tighten to minimize the stress at the involved segment (altering the length-tension relationship) or become overactive to prevent movement and further injury (altering the force-couple relationships).[1] [2] This process initiates the cumulative injury cycle which subsequently alters normal movement patterns and leads to structural and functional inefficiency.[3] [4] [5]

Joint Dysfunction

The doctors at Life in Motion Chiropractic & Wellness have been specifically trained to assess and treat joint dysfunction, myofascial adhesions, as well as a variety of other musculoskeletal disorders. The goal of treatment at Life in Motion Chiropractic and Wellness is to restore balance, flexibility, and control which instills self-efficacy and helps to keep your body moving naturally, feeling good, and aging well.

To learn more visit us at LifeInMotionChiro.com

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[1] Janda V. Muscles and Motor Control in Cervicogenic Disorders. In: Grant G, ed. Physical Therapy of the Cervical and Thoracic Spine . New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 2002:182-199.

[2] Lewit K. Muscular and articular factors in movement restriction. Man Med . 1985;1:83-85.

[3] Sahrmann SA. Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes . St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2002.

[4] Chaitow L. Muscle Energy Techniques . New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 1997.

[5] Sahrmann SA. Does postural assessment contribute to patient care? J Orthop Sports Phys Th er . 2002;32:376-379.

Integrative Care for Headache Pain

Headache has been a bane of humankind for centuries and one of the most common conditions that affects the nervous system. The universally accepted premise is that pain sensitive components of the head and neck are what elicit headache.[1] It is estimated that 47% of adults will experience a headache at least once within the next year.[2]

In 1988, the International Headache Society (IHS) devised a uniform system for classifying headaches which has unequivocally aided headache research. However, the clinical application of this system is limited due to its length, intricate detail, contradictory elements, and lack of real-world observation and data.[3] In fact the World Health Organization admits that many people have their headaches inaccurately diagnosed by their health-care provider.[1] An understandable fact when primary care physicians (PCP) only receive an average of four hours of instruction on headache disorders while in medical school.[1]
This statistic in no way indicates incompetence, just inadequate training with regard to headache. A comprehensible fact given the other more fatal pathologies a PCP must learn about on an intricate level.

This does, however, lead one to theorize that the prescribed drug treatments utilized to combat headache pain may be improperly applied due to the many coinciding aspects of migraine and tension-type [4] headaches. Therefore these analgesics provide no lasting relief to the patient and out of their frustration to feel better easily leads to the development of a medication-overuse headache (MOH).[5]

An integrative approach to headache pain is the most logical way to manage this epidemic given the reasons and biologic elements that contribute to it. According to the research, especially in the case of migraine and tension-type headaches, this may be the most successful strategy to help patients overcome their headache pain.

Since the principal causative factor of headache is spine related, wouldn’t it make sense to have a physician who is specifically trained in spine related disorders be the hub of the diagnostic, management and treatment of headache pain. The doctors at Life in Motion Chiropractic and Wellness are trained Primary Spine Practitioners who can deferentially diagnosis, rule out serious pathology, and provide evidence-based management for the majority of headache patients while also integrating that care with their already established healthcare providers.

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[1] Swenson, Rand and Grunnet-Nilsson, N. 2005. The Management of Headache. In: Haldeman, Scott, et        al, eds. Principles and Practice of Chiropractic. New York: McGraw-Hill, pp. 999-1011

[2] "Headache Disorders." WHO. Ed. WHO Media Center. World Health Organization,
         Oct. 2012. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.

[3] McKenzie, Robin, Stephen May. The Cervical & Thoracic Spine – Mechanical Diagnosis & Therapy.
            Raumati Beach: Spinal Publications New Zealand Ltd, 2006. Print.

[4] Most common type of primary headache. Its mechanism may be stress-related or associated with musculoskeletal problems in the neck. [World Health Organization]

[5] Most common type of secondary headache. [World Health Organization]