Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a common condition characterized by pain and discomfort while chewing, which is estimated to affect about 10% of adults to some degree. As with many musculoskeletal conditions that come on gradually and don’t require emergency care, treatment guidelines recommend conservative care as an initial treatment approach, of which doctors of chiropractic […]
Surgical Vs. Non-Surgical Care for Rotator Cuff Tears
The shoulder is a complex structure that consists of four joints that work together to allow for a large range of motion. Unfortunately, this flexibility results in instability and an elevated risk for injury. Perhaps the well-known shoulder injury is a rotator cuff tear, which will affect at least one-in-five persons during their lifetime. While […]
Eccentric Strength Training for Tennis Elbow
Lateral epicondylitis—also known as tennis elbow—is a tendinopathy of the extensor forearm muscles, which are located on the back of the hand side of the forearm. It’s estimated the condition affects up to 3% of middle-aged adults. As with many musculoskeletal conditions, treatment guidelines emphasize exhausting non-surgical options before consulting with a surgeon. In a […]
Core Stabilization Exercises for Chronic Low Back Pain
In addition to manual therapies and other treatments provided in a chiropractic office, patients with chronic low back pain are often advised to exercise—specifically the core muscles—as part of the recovery process. Is there a protocol that’s best for engaging the core muscles? In 2018, researchers recruited 34 chronic low back pain patients and assigned […]
Spine and Extremity Pain
The Relationship Between Spine Pain and Different Mechanisms of Extremity Pain Three Simple Categories of Patients Chiropractors have a public and health care (scientific) perception as the “go to” provider for low back pain and neck pain. This was confirmed in a large recent review of the chiropractic profession. It was published in the journal […]
Motor Control, Spinal Stability, and Low Back Pain
In a chiropractor’s ideal world, people would do everything possible to reduce their risk for a condition like low back pain, and in the event a low back injury occurs, they’d seek care right away. Barring any red flags that necessitate a referral to a specialist or a trip to the emergency room, the patient […]
The Patient Experience with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
When it comes to a condition like carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), we often look at it from the standpoint of risk factors, potential causes, and treatment options. However, there’s a perspective that’s often overlooked: the experience of the patient as they navigate the process from diagnosis to treatment outcomes. In a 2022 study, researchers conducted […]
The Various Causes of Patellofemoral Knee Pain
In addition to being the largest joint in the body, the knee is also very complex and consists of several components that all work together to help us stand, walk, run, jump, and climb. The patella, or kneecap, is located in the front of the joint at the distal end of the femur and rides […]
Dizziness and the Upper Cervical Spine
Dizziness affects about 15-20% of adults to some extent each year, and it is one of the most common reasons for emergency room visits. One of the three systems that works to help us maintain balance is the proprioceptive system that is made up of mechano-receptors located in our joint capsules, muscles, and more that […]
Whiplash-Related Dysphagia
The rapid acceleration/deceleration of the head and neck that occurs during a whiplash event can injure the various soft tissues of the head and neck, leading to a cluster of symptoms referred to as whiplash associated disorders (WAD). While features of WAD like neck pain and headache are well known, there are other symptoms that […]