Whiplash...Correct the Injury Now to Avoid Long-Term Effects

A whiplash injury occurs between 4-10 G's of force to the head and neck.  The number one cause of whiplash is automobile accidents, however we may experience whiplash injury without necessarily knowing it.  Other causes of whiplash are riding a roller coaster, falls during water sports, contact sport collisions, or even hitting your head during a daily activity.  Although you may not experience full symptoms after a whiplash injury, research is showing the long-term damage that an injury sustained years before can lead to.  

Some patients experience neck pain, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, headaches, ringing in the ears, nausea, pain or numbness down the arms and hands, and even low back pain.  If not treated, symptoms can last for several weeks, even years after the initial injury!  Damage done to the muscles, ligaments, tendons, discs, nerves and vertebrae of the neck is the result of sudden hyperextension and hyperflexion of the neck. When a patient experiences a sudden force that moves the neck forcefully backward then forward, the ligaments and tendons that hold the vertebrae in correct alignment are damaged, causing the vertebrae to change their position and irritate the adjacent nerve roots. This in turn can cause impairment of the function of the body parts that are controlled by these nerves.  A car accident experienced in your teen years if not corrected will impact your spinal health for several years to come, and you may not even experience symptoms until adulthood.  

Chiropractic care helps the body to heal the injury by delivering specific, gentle adjustments to the neck, spine, and extremities.  These adjustments remove interference to the nerve allowing the inflammation and irritation to calm, and the ligaments and tendons to heal back to their "normal" state.  A 2018 study in the Journal of Physical Therapy and Science followed a 46-year old male who had experienced symptoms post whiplash injury for 2 years!  2 years this man lived with neck stiffness, dizziness, ringing in his ears, heart palpitations, lower back pain, knee pain, shoulder pain, and spots in his vision.  This patient reported a 90% reductions in all symptoms while under chiropractic care.  This study shows that even an older injury can be corrected with chiropractic adjustments.  It's never too late to help correct an injury.  Chiropractic adjustments remove interference to allow the body to heal itself and return to its proper function.  We see patients every single day who've experienced whiplash injury from as little as one day ago to 15 years ago and they all see relief with chiropractic care!  Could whiplash be the cause of some of your symptoms?  

Yours in Health,

Dr. Nicholas J. Knutson

Owner/Doctor

MOUNTAIN ISLAND CHIROPRACTIC

10917 Black Dog Ln., Suite 101 

Charlotte, NC 28214

Tel (704) 394-8556

Fax (704) 395-8556

mtnislandchiro.com

"If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special." JV

 Fortner, M. O., Oakley, P.A., & Harrison, D. E. (2018). Alleviation of posttraumatic dizziness by restoration of the cervical lordosis:A CBP case study with a one year follow-up.  Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 30(5), 730-733. doi:10.1589/jpts.30.730.

Pediatric Concussion Recovery

Sports can be risky at any age, but especially to children as their bodies are growing and changing daily.  Injuries sustained can affect the way their bodies develop and have the potential to become chronic issues if not cared for properly at the time of the injury.  Prevention is the key to best protect themselves against injury.  There was a staggering 70% increase in emergency room visits for traumatic brain injuries between 2001 and 2010.  Research studies are currently showing us that injuries not given much thought previously actually may have long-term effects.  However, upper cervical chiropractic care has been shown to treat and heal these hazardous brain injuries acquired during sports.
According to a recent case study, chiropractic care following a concussion to three different pediatric patients had phenomenal results.  Three different patients aged 11, 15, and 16 all had similar symptoms.  These included headaches, neck pain, dizziness, difficulty focusing, drowziness, and overall not feeling well.  All three pediatric patients received gentle, specific chiropractic adjustments within 3 days of their concussions.  As a result, they no longer experienced headaches and neck pain was relieved.  Their subluxations were corrected and therefore the body was allowed to heal itself after the traumatic concussion.  Although chiropractic care cannot prevent a head injury, it is a necessary tool in the healing process. 
It may surprise a person to learn that the brain is highly dependent on the correct alignment of the top two bones of the neck in order to function properly. A misalignment of either the C1 or C2 vertebrae can lead to a variety of problems within the body. The reason for a misalignment in this area can often be traced back to a concussion, even if it happened many years ago.  Especially in children, where healing tends to occur at a faster rate, upper cervical chiropractic adjustments corrects these misalignments to the C1 and C2 vertebrae allowing the body to function at its highest capacity.


Yours in Health,

Dr. Nicholas J. Knutson

Owner/Doctor

MOUNTAIN ISLAND CHIROPRACTIC

10917 Black Dog Ln., Suite 101 

Charlotte, NC 28214

Tel (704) 394-8556

Fax (704) 395-8556

mtnislandchiro.com

"If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special." JV


Olson, H., DC CCSPS, ICCSP, Tunning, M., DC, ATC, & Lindholm, S., DC. (2018). CHIROPRACTIC MANAGEMENT OF THREE YOUNG ATHLETES WITH CONCUSSION. Chiropractic Journal of Australia, 46(1), 30-48.

Children and Adults with Asthma Find Relief with Chiropractic Care

Patients suffering with asthma may find everyday activities difficult to cope with at times.  Asthma statistics are steadily increasing, especially in pediatric populations.  Estimations of over 12 million people live with asthma, and of that over 3 million are children.  Often times asthmatic patients learn to adjust their lifestyle around their condition, and chiropractic care can offer relief when you may not realize the effects that an adjustment may provide.  Causes of asthma range from pollutions, food preservatives, mold, genetic make-up, and side effect of medications.  Although difficult to determine an exact cause in each patient, symptoms and asthma attacks have been researched to show complete subsidation in patients under chiropractic care.  

Pediatric asthma patients especially find great relief with chiropractic adjustments.  Specifically, a 12-year old female case study was presented in the Chiropractic Journal of Australia earlier this year.  This child missed school weekly, was not able to participate in activities, and overall had a low quality of life due to the number of asthmatic episodes she was experiencing.  By removing subluxations in the neck and spine, nerve interference was removed to the lungs, throat, upper airway, and brain.  This child was then able to enjoy everyday activities and saw a decrease in asthma attacks after only a few adjustments.  

Asthma patients have reported increased energy, better sleep, less asthma attacks, decreased need for their inhalers, less sick days, and an overall better quality of day to day life while under chiropractic care.  When the spine is misaligned, the body is in a state of dysfunction.  The physical and psychological stress associated with subluxation of the spine results in interruptions of the body's ability to function freely and heal properly.  Chiropractic care looks to the structure of the body to explain the function or dysfunction of the body.   

Yours in Health,

Dr. Nicholas J. Knutson

Owner/Doctor

MOUNTAIN ISLAND CHIROPRACTIC

10917 Black Dog Ln., Suite 101 

Charlotte, NC 28214

Tel (704) 394-8556

Fax (704) 395-8556

mtnislandchiro.com

"If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special." JV


Rome, P. L. DC. (2018). Chiropractic Management of a Patient With Asthma: Case Report and Follow-Up of a 12-year-old Female. Chiropractic Journal of Australia, 46(1). 49-78.
 

The Hypothyroid Epidemic...How Chiropractic Can Help

According to a 2015 research article, Synthroid is the number one prescribed brand medication in our country.  Each month, over 23 million prescriptions are written for the synthetic thyroid hormone to treat hypothyroidism.  Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone (TSH, T3, T4) to meet the body's needs.  Estimations of people living with thyroid disease is at a staggering 20 million Americans, of which only 60% of those are even aware or being treated for it.  What's worse, thyroid cancer is the most rapidly increasing cancer in the United States. Symptoms can be vague, and therefore go undetected or treated for long periods of time.  People with hypothyroidism often experience fatigue, constipation, sensitivity to cold, muscle weakness, infertility or heavy menstrual cycles, thinning hair, depression, impaired memory, dry skin, weight gain or difficulty losing weight, elevated cholesterol levels, pain or stiffness in your joints, and swelling or puffiness of the face.  Although small, the thyroid gland is such a powerful piece to your health! 

Hypothyroidism can be attributed to an iodine deficiency, but most likely it is from an autoimmune source.  Current medical management for hypothyroidism is synthetic thyroid hormone, such as medications called Synthroid or levothyroxine.  These medications have serious side effects, which are often overlooked because of the misunderstanding of alternative treatments to help the thyroid gland.  

Many patients that seek chiropractic care for their hypothyroidism find great success.  Simply by adjusting the spine and neck, communication channels between the brain and thyroid gland are opened, and as a result the thyroid and immune systems can function properly.  A case report from 2018 followed a 49-year old male who had been suffering with hypothyroidism for over 4 years, as well as back, neck, and shoulder pain.  After 2 months of intensive chiropractic care, his thyroid levels were considered "normal", and after 8 months he no longer needed his thyroid medication!  His pain was eliminated and no longer complained of low energy levels.  Chiropractic seeks to cure the cause of the issues, not just treat the symptoms.  

Although the thyroid gland can be a complicated system, there are many other treatments to help with the cause of your hypothyroidism.  Chiropractic adjustments are a large piece to the puzzle to correct thyroid dysfunction.  We can help with your hypothyroidism!

Yours in Health,

Dr. Nicholas J. Knutson

Owner/Doctor

MOUNTAIN ISLAND CHIROPRACTIC

10917 Black Dog Ln., Suite 101 

Charlotte, NC 28214

Tel (704) 394-8556

Fax (704) 395-8556

mtnislandchiro.com

"If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special." JV


Fuller, D., DC, & Douts, B., DC. (2018). Improved Thyroid Function Following Chiropractic Care to Reduce Vertebral Subluxation:A Case Study & Review of the Literature. A. Vertebral Subluxation Res., 2018(1). 57-68. doi:10.1007/s10286-017-0498-3

SIDS and Chiropractic

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) involving unexpected death during infancy, is being somewhat better understood after many years of the unknown.  Awareness raised by campaigns such as Safe to Sleep or Back to Sleep have helped reduce SIDS rates by almost 50%!  In recent years, the decline in SIDS cases has leveled and this has caused researchers to dive deeper into the possibility of other factors that can cause such a horrendous tragedy.  Things such as sleeping on your back, no loose bedding or sheets, no exposure to second hand smoke, no blankets, and being breastfed all decrease your newborns risk factors for SIDS. However, researchers are looking more at studying the actual sleep cycle in newborns to help answer more of the unknown.
Sleep and arousing from that sleep are controlled by our nervous system.  During sleep, our nervous system allows for protective mechanisms that control functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing.  Meaning while we sleep, we are not in control of these measures, it is an automatic response.  Research is shedding light on impairments in these automatic controlled mechanisms that may lead to SIDS.
Unfortunately, the only way to diagnose SIDS is after all other possibilities have been ruled out such as suffocation, abuse, or trauma.  But one thing found in infants with SIDS are large deficits in brainstem function.  Our brainstem controls and regulates things like breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose.  It also controls our sleep and wake cycles.  What researchers are also seeing is that infants who developed in a restricted uterus also have huge deficits in their function of the brainstem and therefore have an increased risk for SIDS.
Where chiropractic can help is by correcting nervous system interference and impairments with adjustments.  Over 95% of babies have misalignments directly after birth!  With how rapidly a newborn changes and develops each day the longer you let the misalignment sit untreated so grows the infants spine and nervous system.  Affecting everything from sleep, feeding, pooping, eating, mood and motor control.  Babies under chiropractic care significantly decrease their risk for SIDS.  Moms can help too by seeking chiropractic care during pregnancy.  The biomechanical function increases of mom's lower back, pelvis, and ligaments attached to the uterus by removing interferences to the nervous system.  This allows for the fetus to grow and develop at an optimal level.
Although more research needs to be done on SIDS, we do know that certain measures can be taken to ensure your child is at the lowest risk possible.  Want more information on how chiropractic can help prevent SIDS?  Call our office at 704-394-8556

Yours in Health,

Dr. Nicholas J. Knutson

Owner/Doctor

MOUNTAIN ISLAND CHIROPRACTIC

10917 Black Dog Ln., Suite 101 

Charlotte, NC 28214

Tel (704) 394-8556

Fax (704) 395-8556

mtnislandchiro.com

"If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special." JV

Home, R. S. (2018). Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in sudden infant death syndrome. Clinical Autonomic Research. doi:10.1007/s10286-017-0490-y.

Spinal Injections vs. Chiropractic Care for Back Pain

Steroid injections to relieve back and neck pain are part of a medical management to treat issues such as sciatica, spinal stenosis, and disc issues.  A needle is inserted into the epidural space of the spinal canal and a steroid medication is released with the hopes of reducing inflammation pressing on the nerve root and relieving pain in the area.  However, it is known that this procedure only works about 50% of the time according to a 2018 study published in the Journal of Spine.  This is also only a temporary solution.  The likelihood of having a second or third injection is extremely likely, and this medication is only allowed to be injected only 2 or 3 times per year.  In other words, an injection merely "covers up" symptomatic pain, and doesn't address the actual cause of the pain.  According to the Stem Cell Institute, spinal injections have no determination of preventing back surgery, and that the patient is destined for surgery of non-successful spinal injections, with the likelihood of 60% of those spinal surgery patients going back for a second surgery.  They suggest that epidural spinal injections are only a "temporary pain relief for possibly 3 months, but do not fix a bad back."    

The procedure of spinal injections also pose risks such as bleeding, spinal headaches, loss of spinal fluid, sleep disturbances, high blood sugars, stomach ulcers, loss of bladder and bowel control, numbness and tingling in arms and legs, and uncontrollable fevers to name just a few! The only way to safely and effectively treat the cause of the back and neck pain is through chiropractic care.  By correcting the cause of the nerve interference, inflammation is reduced and pain is relieved.  Chiropractic adjustments are gentle, specific treatments that correct the cause of the pain, not just temporarily cover up the symptoms.  Epidural injections are not as research supported as chiropractic adjustments are.  The injections have been a go-to medical treatment for several years without high success rates or research to support the continued use of epidurals.  

We offer a unique approach to successfully treat pain and discomfort by restoring the body's balance and health through chiropractic adjustments.  

Yours in Health,

Dr. Nicholas J. Knutson

Owner/Doctor

MOUNTAIN ISLAND CHIROPRACTIC

10917 Black Dog Ln., Suite 101 

Charlotte, NC 28214

Tel (704) 394-8556

Fax (704) 395-8556

mtnislandchiro.com

"If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special." JV

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Carreon, L., Y., Bratcher, K., R., Ammous, F., & Glassman, S. D., (2018). Cost-effectives's of Lum bar Epidural Steroid Injections, Spine, 43(1), 35-40. doi:10.1097/brs.