Forward Head Posture Can Cause Headaches

September 8, 2011

It is very common for patients to come into my office with headaches and stress on their neck.  This isn’t much of a surprise since most people work at a desk with a computer, have a laptop that they use at home and text on their phone.  All of these actions cause the head to move forward.

According to Kapandji (Physiology of the joints, volume III), for every inch your head moves forwards, it gains 10 pounds in weight, as far as the muscles in your upper back and neck are concerned, because they have to work that much harder to keep the head (chin) from dropping onto your chest.   This also forces the suboccipital muscles (they raise the chin) to remain in constant contraction, putting pressure on the 3 Suboccipital nerves.   This nerve compression may cause headaches at the base of the skull. Pressure on the suboccipital nerves can also mimic sinus (frontal) headaches.

Rene Cailliet M.D., famous medical author and former director of the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Southern California states:

“Head in forward posture can add up to thirty pounds of abnormal leverage on the cervical spine. This can pull the entire spine out of alignment. Forward head posture (FHP) may result in the loss of 30% of vital lung capacity. These breath-related effects are primarily due to the loss of the cervical lordosis, which blocks the action of the hyoid muscles, especially the inferior hyoid responsible for helping lift the first rib during inhalation.”

Persistent forward head posture (a.k.a. “hyperkyphotic posture”) puts compressive loads upon the upper thoracic vertebra, and is also associated with the development of Upper Thoracic Hump, which can devolve into Dowager Hump when the vertebra develop compression fractures (anterior wedging).  A recent study found this hyperkyphotic posture associated with a 1.44 rate of mortality. 

It’s not uncommon to observe 2″ of anterior head placement in new patients.   Would you be surprised that your neck and shoulders hurt if you had a 20-pound watermelon hanging around your neck?   That’s what forward head posture can do to you.   Left uncorrected, FHP will continue to decline.   Chiropractic can be very corrective, especially in the hands of a chiropractic rehabilitationist.   Our specialty is in reversing the joint fixations (what we refer to as “subluxations”) and in re-invigorating the muscles that normally retract the head.

http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/Forward_Head_Posture.shtml

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in Chiropractor Redwood City, Redwood City Chiropractor, San Carlos Chiropractor | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Sometimes Chiropractic can be life changing!

August 5, 2011

Appearing in the March 2004 issue of the peer-reviewed Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, was a documented case study of a life changing case. Here is what that article stated:

The subject of the study was a previously healthy 17 year old who was involved in high school sports.
On one occasion he was competing as a pole vaulter in a high school track meet when he had an accident in which he landed on his head from a height of 10 feet.

Immediately following the accident, he noticed neck pain at the base of his skull. In addition he started suffering from back pain and daily migraine headaches approximately 3 times per week. He described his pain as an “unbearable everyday occurrence.” Additionally, several days after the accident he began experiencing “blackouts,” which were later diagnosed as petit mal seizures. These seizures continued to increase until he was experiencing them 4 times per day.

Things continued to get worse for him during the first 6 months following the accident, he started experiencing the onset of depression. He described a complete loss of appetite, extreme lethargy, a lack of concern for himself, and an extremely erratic sleep cycle that often left him awake for several days followed by periods of 14 to 18 hours of sleep.

He and his mother stated that he consulted with approximately 24 practitioners during this time. Prescribed medications and therapies did not alleviate or reduce symptoms. To alleviate his pain and depression, he started using illegal drugs in an attempt to “make himself feel better.” After becoming addicted, his parents checked him into a drug rehabilitation program, which he completed.

It was after this long 6 year period, he sought chiropractic care from a chiropractor. An examination was performed and it was determined that the young man was suffering due to a subluxation in the upper neck. A course of corrective adjustments was begun to correct the subluxation and reduce nerve pressure.

The results as reported in the Journal was nothing short of life changing for the young man. After 1 month of care, the patient reported an absence of seizures and manic episodes and improved sleep patterns. After 4 months of care, seizures and manic episodes remained absent and migraine headaches were reduced from 3 per week to 2 per month. After 7 months of care, the patient reported the complete absence of symptoms. And eighteen months later, the patient remains asymptomatic. Needless to say, his life was changed!

This is why we love our job :-)

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in Chiropractor Redwood City, Redwood City Chiropractor, San Carlos Chiropractor | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Whiplash is helped with chiropractic care

August 4, 2011

In an article published in the Journal of Orthopedic Medicine in 1999, they pointed out the superiority of chiropractic care for patients suffering from long term whiplash.

The authors of the article noted that a previous study had shown that 26 of 28 patients, or 93 percent, of patients with chronic whiplash benefited from chiropractic care.

In the authors own study, they interviewed 100 consecutive chiropractic referrals of patients with chronic whiplash. Their results also showed that of the 93 patients who remained in the study, 69 of them, or 74 percent, found improvement. The researchers concluded their opening comments with the statement, “The results from this study provide further evidence that chiropractic is an effective treatment for chronic whiplash symptoms.”

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in Chiropractor Redwood City, Redwood City Chiropractor, San Carlos Chiropractor | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Whiplash and chiropractic

August 1, 2011

Whiplash is an injury to the cervical spine (neck).  In a whiplash injury the joints between the spinal bones (vertebrae), discs, muscles, ligaments and nerves may be irritated or damaged.

When does whiplash occur?
Whiplash is commonly seen with car accidents but it can happen in any case where a person is hit from behind.  This can be from sports or even if someone playfully pushes you from behind a little too hard.

Symptoms of whiplash can happen within a two week period.  It doesn’t necessarily happen right after the incident.  Pain in neck, arm, hand and/or shoulders is common.  Limited neck movement, swelling, stiffness, dizziness, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, concentration or memory difficulty, insomnia may also occur.

How do you know if you have whiplash?
Most of the time you will have discomfort and not be able to move properly.  After car accidents it is common to take an X-ray.  It will show the bone positions in the neck and soft tissue swelling in the neck.   After a car accident it is common for most hospitals to take a CT Scan or MRI to see if there is any serious soft tissue or cervical disc damage.

How can whiplash be helped?
Well, first the swelling needs to be diminished.  Ice packs help this problem tremendously.  Then after the swelling is down, we can start working with getting the scar tissue and damage in the soft tissues of the neck repaired and functioning properly.  Gentle adjustments to the neck allow the neck to keep its curve and move without promoting more damage.  During treatment, exercised to strengthen the neck are performed.

In the past cervical collars were immediately put on patients after a car accident.  This is not recommended unless there is a severe injury with a lot of instability in the neck.  Normally, if a collar is worn and there is no severe damage, the muscles and ligaments in the neck weaken and this can promote further injury.

We have helped several patients that have come in with whiplash.  Soft tissue repair and neck adjustments can get you back to normal.  Just because you have a car accident and were hurt doesn’t mean you have to live your life in pain and dysfunction.  We can help!

Call our office today!

Precise Moves Chiropractic
Redwood City, CA
650-353-1133

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in Chiropractor Redwood City, Redwood City Chiropractor, San Carlos Chiropractor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Neck Pain

May 8, 2011

What are causes and risk factors for neck pain?

Neck pain is a common condition.  It can occur from a number of disorders and diseases of any tissues in the neck.

Common conditions that may cause neck pain are degenerative disc disease (decreased size of disc space) neck sprain or strain, whiplash, disc problems or nerves that are pulled, squished or stretched.

If you are involved in sports or have had a motor vehicle accident, you are at risk of having neck pain.  It is not only sport or car accident related.  Bad posture when sitting at the computer, office or even texting and watching television can put a strain on the neck.

Symptoms:

Neck pain is commonly associated with dull aching. It can keep you from sleeping if neck positions pull on the adjacent nerves.  Sometimes pain in the neck is worsened with movement of the neck. Other symptoms associated with some forms of neck pain include numbness, tingling, tenderness, sharp shooting pain, difficulty swallowing, dizziness or lightheadedness.

Problems with the neck can lead to headaches, pain in the jaw or face, shoulder pain.  Since the nerves of the neck go all the way to the fingers, it can cause pain all the way to the tips of the fingers.

What are the structures of the neck?

The neck has seven bones that protect the spinal cord.  Since the neck moves in every direction, there are several different angles of muscles and tissues.  Since we also have discs, skin, muscles, arteries, veins glands, the esophagus, trachea and larynx, any or all of these areas can be affected with dysfunction or stress on the neck.

How can chiropractic help neck pain?

Well, since your neck pain really stems from physical stress or nerve irritation, we specialize in keeping your nervous system and body functioning at its highest level.  We can easily diagnose and treat your condition safely and gently.  We also use physical therapy and massage to help you get better faster and keep you healthy!

Remember, any pain or sensation you feel is generated by a nerve.  So, if you have pain, a nerve is involved, we track the pattern of your nerve problem and find the area that needs care.  Then we show you how to keep good posture and give you exercises to stay healthy.  No drugs, no pain, just relief!

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in Chiropractor Redwood City, General Health, Redwood City Chiropractor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Low Back Pain is the 2nd most common reason for seeing a doctor!

May 7, 2011

Did you know that about 60 – 80% of adults in the U.S. have low back pain?   It is the second most common reason people visit their doctor. Low back problems can really debilitate you and it affects your spine’s movement, stability and strength.  All of this leads pain, discomfort, and stiffness.

When you think of low back pain, you may think of an older person, but back pain is the leading cause of disability in Americans under 45 years old!  Every year about 13 million people go to the doctor because they are experiencing back pain.

This is a serious problem.  Back pain causes approximately 2.4 million Americans to be chronically disabled and another 2.4 million temporarily disabled.

Signs and Symptoms:
* Tenderness, pain, and stiffness in the lower back
* Pain that spreads into the buttocks or legs
* Having a hard time standing up or standing in one position for a long time
* Discomfort while sitting
* Weakness and tired legs while walking

Why does back pain happen?
Most people who come into my office with low back pain describe the injury occurring from a strain from lifting, twisting, or bending.  One thing that a lot of people may not know is that it may not be a one-time occurrence.  It is frequently caused by chronic bad posture and long hours of sitting.  There are rare cases of low back pain that can be a sign of a more serious condition, such as an infection, a rheumatic or arthritic condition, or a tumor.

Many people under the age of 40 can experience a ruptured or bulging disk.  This happens when the middle of the disk leaks out when there pressure or a tear of the disk that is between each vertebra.

Don’t ignore your body’s signals:
You may have had a twinge or a pull that went away and ignored it.  Well, that is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong.  In time, your body will force you to take care of this problem by putting you in pain and interfering with your life.

What are the Risk factors?
*Age

*Smoking

*Becoming overweight

*Depression

*Sedentary lifestyle

*Physical labor (repetitive movements)

So what can help if you are experiencing Low Back Pain?  Chiropractic of course!
According to a comprehensive review conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, chiropractic care was determined to both relieve pain and restore function.  Chiropractic care is effective for acute and chronic low back pain. We are so successful because we guide your body to its proper position and the stress is taken off the problem area, allowing for inflammation to go away and your body heal naturally.

Chiropractic has great success with back and neck pain!  We understand body posture and movement.  You don’t need to suffer with back pain, we can help!

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in Chiropractor Redwood City, General Health, Redwood City Chiropractor | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

3 Examples to prevent yoga injuries

January 14, 2011

When done correctly, yoga provides you with a stronger, flexible body.   It relaxes you, increases your athletic performance, sharpens your concentration and promotes better breathing.   This is all wonderful but if yoga is done incorrectly, it can result in injuries including pulled muscles, joint pain, hernias or chronic problems leading to chronic problems and permanent disability.

Knowing what is good for you and not good for you will keep you healthy and prevent chronic injuries.  Partial poses keeping a strong core and proper body alignment is recommended rather than perform poses that puts added stress into the body. Yoga can be very physically challenging and hard on your joints so knowing your limits will allow you to prevent injuries.

How do Yoga Injuries Occur?

Injuries usually occur when:

  1. Trying hard poses when your body is not flexible or strong enough
  2. Not posing correctly
  3. If you have a physical problem already and you push yourself too hard, you may worsen it by pushing beyond their capabilities

What are some common yoga injuries?

  • knee popping or clicking
  • Chronic adhesions and scar tissue injuries happening over time because of long-term repetition of poor technique.

Neck: Poses like “plow,” “shoulder stand” and “headstand” if done improperly can put undue pressure on the neck and cause pain or discomfort. Beginners should try these poses only under the close supervision of an experienced teacher.

Wrists: Do you have carpal tunnel syndrome or weak wrists? Then do not perform poses that put excess weight on your wrists.

Knees: Don’t force your knees into Lotus or other vulnerable positions. Without adequate hip-joint flexibility you could tear a meniscus (cartilage) or you could stretch or tear one of the knee ligaments.

Lower Back: Forward and backward bends and twists, if done incorrectly, can result in back damage. Do not over-twist or push your back through a painful bend.  Your body is telling you that it is too much!

Inversion Poses: Inversion poses like shoulder stand and headstand put the head lower than the heart and raise blood pressure. If you have cardiovascular problems, hypertension, diabetes or glaucoma please don’t do these poses.

A great rule of thumb…make sure you are supervised if you are beginning so you prevent injuries.  If you have been doing yoga for a long-time, periodically have someone look at your posture and poses to make sure you are still doing them correctly.

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in General Health | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

The Importance of Good Posture

October 26, 2010

Why is posture so important?

Posture is as important as eating a healthy diet, sleeping 7-9 hours a day, avoiding harmful substances like drugs, alcohol and tobacco.  Keeping good posture means that your bones, joints, ligaments are working the way that they should.  It also means that there is no pulling or tugging on your organs so they can function properly.  It also contributes to normal function of your nervous system.

When posture is bad, your health and function are compromised.  Long term effects may effect your digestion, breathing, muscles, joints and ligaments.  It can also effect your bodies ability to release toxins in your body.  We can avoid these problems caused by bad posture and  The good news is that most everyone can avoid problems caused by bad posture and it doesn’t matter how old you are, improvements can happen and you can get great results!

How Does it Happen?

Often, poor posture develops as a result of an accident or fall. In the majority of cases, it develops from environmental factors or bad habits. This means that you have control and can avoid getting symptoms.
In most cases, poor posture results from a combination of several factors, which can include:
1. Accidents, injuries and falls
2. Poor sleep support (mattress)
3. Excessive weight
4. Visual or emotional difficulties
5. Foot problems or improper shoes
6. Weak muscles, muscle imbalance
7. Careless sitting, standing, sleeping habits
8. Negative self image
9. Occupational stress
10. Poorly designed work space

Poor Posture & Pain - A lifetime of poor posture can start a progression of symptoms in the average adult. It can start with:

1. Fatigue – Your muscles have to work hard just to hold you up if you have poor posture. You waste energy just moving, leaving you without the extra energy you need to feel good.

2. Tight, achy muscles in the neck, back, arms and legs – By this stage, there may be a change in your muscles and ligaments and you may have a stiff, tight painful feeling. More than 80% of the neck and back problems are the result of tight, achy muscles brought on by years of bad posture.

3. Joint stiffness and pain – At risk for “wear and tear” arthritis, or what is termed degenerative osteoarthritis. Poor posture and limited mobility increase the likelihood of this condition in later years.

What are some common symptoms of poor posture?

Headaches, neck pain, arthritis, muscle strain, muscle spasms, pinched nerves, disc injury, carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, TMJ, fibromyalgia, fatigue, numbness or tingling in hands/legs, and low back pain.

From the ICA web page. For more information write to: International Chiropractors Association, 1110 N. Glebe Road, Suite 1000, Arlington, VA 22201 (703) 528-5000.

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in Chiropractor Redwood City, Redwood City Chiropractor, San Carlos Chiropractor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Issues?

June 11, 2010

TMJ can be very painful.  It can lead to headaches, vision problems, neck pain, earaches, the inability to chew properly and much more.

The Cartilage that is above your mandible can move forward or be pushed up behind the joint.  This will either make it impossible for you to put your teeth together or chew evenly on both sides.  You may sometimes hear cracking and experience pain when chewing, talking or moving your mouth.

How can I help you with this problem?

I have taken specialized training in TMJ to move the disk to the proper place above your jaw so that it moves properly without pain or dysfunction.  There is no need for  surgery, x-rays or medication, just a gentle adjustment which will alleviate your symptoms.

Why go through unnecessary procedures when a specialized exam can be performed and find out how your TMJ is working.

If you have this problem, please contact us today for an exam, we can help!

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in Redwood City Chiropractor | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

How can I take care of Vertigo and dizziness?

April 17, 2010

Vertigo and dizziness can be scary but there are a couple of maneuvers that can help.

Vertigo happens sometimes when we change position of our head rapidly.  This can happen when changing from a sitting position to standing or from a laying down to standing position.  It can even happen if we turn our head too fast.

Sometimes this problem is because of a blocked nerve in the upper portion of our neck which goes to our inner ear.  It can also be caused by a mass of particles in the inner ear.  In either case, it can be taken care of and you can get your life back!

The Epley Maneuver is helpful with this problem.  It reconfigures the fluid in the ear and allows the inner ear to function.  How this works is a patient is taken from the seated position to laying down on his/her back with the affected ear facing down.  This is held for about 20-30 seconds and then the head is rapidly moved to the other side.  It is again held in this position for 20-30 seconds.  After staying in this position, the patient is then put on their side.  Then the patient is turned to face the floor.

After this maneuver it is recommended to remain in an upright position for 24 hours (or as long as you can sit comfortably).

Chiropractic adjustments to the top of the neck are safe and also help greatly with vertigo or dizziness.  Since the head is moving properly and the nerves are functioning normally, the ear works the way it should and the equilibrium is maintained.  Performing both the Epley Maneuver and adjusting the neck gets great results!

Call our office today if you have this problem!  We can help!

Precise Moves Chiropractic
San Carlos, CA
650-353-1133

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in General Health, San Carlos Chiropractor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)