Rotator Cuff Surgery Rehabilitation

 

 Each year, over 200,000 Americans have surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and an additional 400,000 have surgery for related tendonitis or partial tear repairs.  Your arm is kept in your shoulder socket by your rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is a network of four muscles that come together as tendons to form a covering around the head of the humerus, or upper arm bone. The rotator cuff attaches the humerus to the shoulder blade and helps to lift and rotate your arm.

There is a lubricating sac called a bursa between the rotator cuff and the bone on top of your shoulder (acromion). The bursa allows the rotator cuff tendons to glide freely when you move your arm. When the rotator cuff tendons are injured or damaged, this bursa can also become inflamed and painful. 

It is important to have proper pre and post operative rehabilitation to retain the best range of motion and mobility for a pain free life.  Unfortunately, some studies are showing numbers close to 94% failure rates of post-surgical pain after rotator cuff repair. 

A study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics followed a group of patients placed under chiropractic care 6 weeks post rotator cuff surgery.  These patients received thoracic spinal adjustments (manipulations) for 6 weeks.  A form of ultrasound imaging called echography was used to measure active shoulder flexion and abduction mobility.  All patients were noted to have increased range of motion after receiving chiropractic care.  Research shows that there is an intricate relationship between the thoracic spine and shoulder, as well as the upper cervical neck and shoulder that leads to believe a well-adjusted spine is crucial in proper healing following rotator cuff surgery.  

Our office has the expertise to deliver gentle, safe, effective chiropractic treatments to post-surgical patients.  Having your spine adjusted post surgery can help your body recover to live a pain-free life!

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


Belon-Perez, P., &Cuesta-Vargas, A.I. (2018). Immediate Effects of Thoracic Spine Manipulation Upon Shoulder Functionality in Patients With Sutured Rotator Cuff Repair:A Prospective Study. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 41(7). 589-595. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2018.02.005

Depression and Your Autonomic Nervous System

Not all disorders or illnesses can be seen by the human eye or even on diagnostic testing such as x-rays, ct scans, or MRI's.  These disorders aren't any less real than those that you can physically see or touch.  Depression affects an estimated 300 million people around the world.  It not only affects our mental health, but also our physical well-being.  Depression and other mood disorders can leave us feeling isolated, helpless, and emotionally drained with only hopes of medicine that can actually make these symptoms worse.  We need to make our mental health as much of a priority as our physical health!  Our autonomic nervous system (ANS) includes our sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.  See the picture below for some of the specifics of what our autonomic nervous system is in charge of (among many others).

Our ANS keeps our organs and glands functioning properly.  In regards to mental health, studies have shown that depression can be linked to increased inflammatory markers and autonomic nervous system dysregulation.  Autonomic activity is often measured through heart rate variability. Heart rate variability is a measurement of beat-to-beat fluctuations over a specified period of time.  Depression has been linked to decreased heart rate variability and activity of the vagus nerve.  According to a 2018 research article, a lower heart rate variability was linked to increased depression risk as well as a decrease in the nervous systems ability to adapt to stressors.  Through heart rate variability, we can learn about what is going on in our body in a non-invasive way.  Our body is giving us a signal that what it is dealing with internally is contributing to our physical and mental health symptoms.
Neurologically-based specific chiropractic adjustments work to free the autonomic nervous system of interferences that disrupt the regulation of organs as well as heart rate variability.  Adjustments also help to regulate vagus nerve function which plays an essential role in patients with depression.  We gain a better understanding of how to manage mental health issues when we take a closer look at the physical aspects of these mood disorders.  This allows for a fully integrated health care model to care for ourselves and others.



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


Hu, M. X., Penninx, B.W., Geus, E. J. Lamers, F., Kuan, D.C. Wright, A.G., . . . (2018) Associations of immunometabolic risk factors with symptoms of depression and anxiety:The role of cardiac vagal activity. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 73, 493-503. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2018.06.013

Huang, M., Shah, A., Su, S., Goldberg, J., Lampert, R.J., Levantsevych, O.M., . . . (2018) Association of Depressive Symptoms and Heart Rate Variability in Vietnam War-Era Twins. JAMA Psychiatry, 75(7), 705. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.0747
 

32-year old with Chronic Back Pain Finds Relief with Chiropractic Care

When it comes to living with chronic pain, there are difference approaches in the diagnosis and treatment depending on the severity of the pain.  People often look for outside factors such as strenuous activity, incorrect sleeping patterns, allergic irritants, or even the weather!  We should also look to the possibility of a structural problem internally that is our bodies way of telling us that something is off and therefore we feel pain.
Chronic spinal pain and headaches can sometimes be linked with poor posture and position of the spine.  This puts unnecessary pressure and stress on the nervous system.  Improper posture is especially important to correct in younger patients, as this prevents long-term damage or health consequences down the road.  Chiropractic care seeks to correct posture at the source of the imbalances.
A recent case report was published following a 32 year old male who had been on disability due to his back pain.  He was no longer able to work and spent years trying different treatments to alleviate his chronic pain and return to normal functioning.  This patient had seen 5 different MD's (medical doctors), undergone multiple ct scans, xrays, MRI's, and ultrasounds, as well as 13 steroid injections, multiple prescriptions for pain relievers and muscle relaxers.  He had been told his last resort was spinal surgery.  He decided to seek out chiropractic care instead of surgery in the hopes of relieving a small amount of the pain without drugs or surgery.  His Doctor of Chiropractic found a severe forward head posture in which the neck and shoulders are rolled forward and there was a complete loss of normal curvature in the cervical spine.  There was also a large arch in the mid back area (thoracic spine).  He was placed on a care plan of 36 visits over a 13-week period for chiropractic adjustments.  His results were dramatic!  After 13 weeks of care, he reported 90% resolve of his chronic pain, headaches, and dizziness.  He was able to come off of long-term disability!
Imagine aging gracefully and pain-free by keeping your posture in good shape!

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


Alleviation of chronic spine pain and headaches by reducing forward head posture and thoracic hyperkyphosis:a CBP case report.

Research Finds Association Between Acid-Reflux Meds and Antibiotics with Allergies

Prescription medications are beneficial and are life-saving in many situations.  However, most medications also have side-effects.  Taking negative side effects into account when deciding to take a medication should be seriously thought out, and weighed against the positive effects.  Often times people forget to leave medicine as a last resort in certain situations instead of a first option.  Two of these times are with acid-reducing medications and antibiotics.
Acid-suppresive medications such as omeprazole, prevacid, zantac, prilosec, and nexium are available over the counter. So one would think that there is little to no harm in taking them for the discomfort felt with acid reflux.  These medications are often given to infants, less than 6 months old without thinking of long-term side effects.  When a baby vomits repeatedly or after every eating session, pediatricians may prescribe an acid-reducer medication.  Along with these acid-reducing medications, antibiotics are over prescribed in the infant population when most issues are in fact a virus and not a bacterial infection.
A recent research article published in the Journal of American Pediatrics has found an association when acid-suppressing medicines and antibiotics are given to an infant during the first six months of their lives, allergic disease will develop later in life.  Allergies reported with infants given these medications included asthma, allergic rhinitis, anaphylaxis, contact dermatitis, food allergies, medication allergies, and allergic conjuctivitis.  Often times these medical issues can and will remain with that person for the rest of their life!  These leads to a lifetime of more medications and medical issues, when alternative therapies could have been attempted to help with acid reduction.
Research supports chiropractic care to treat issues with the digestive system such as acid reflux and GERD in infants as well as children and adults.  Medications should be a last resort after chiropractic care and diet modifications.  Want to know more about how chiropractic care can help?  Call us to learn more.


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


Mitre, E, Susi A., Kropp LE, Schwartz DJ, Gorman GH, Nylund CM. Association Between Use of Acid-Suppressive Medications and Antibiotics During Infancy and Allergic Diseases in Early Childhood. JAMA Pediatr. 2018:172(6):e180315. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.0315

Chiropractic vs Tympanostomy Tubes

Tympanostomy tube placement is the second most common surgery for children.  Accounting for 35% of pediatric office visits each year, ear pain or ear infections are diagnosed to 62% of American children by the age of one.  80% of children will be diagnosed with an ear infection by the age of 3.  We often think of ear infections as a common childhood ailment due to the location and position of the eustachian tube in children.  Because infants are laying flat for the first several months of their lives, these tubes cannot drain properly because the tube then stays horizontal as seen in the photo above. Ear infections are the number one reason antibiotics are prescribed and overused in the pediatric population even though research has proven that the infection is more likely due to a virus than a bacteria, and that even when it is bacteria the antibiotics simply have a placebo effect.  Western medicine often looks to tympanostomy tube surgery to help the eustachian tubes drain.  30% of children will have a second set of tubes placed within the following 2 years of the first surgery.  

There are many factors that can cause ear infections in children. These include allergies, infection, mechanical obstruction, nutritional deficiency, birth trauma, not breast feeding, and pacifier use.  Allergies cause inflammation and increased mucous, leading to pressure changes in the middle ear and obstruction of the Eustachian tube (ET). The most common food allergies linked to ear infections include pasteurized cow’s milk and dairy, wheat, corn, soy, sugar and yeast, with dairy being the number one contributor. Infections elsewhere in the body weakens the immune system, and therefore a secondary ear infection may occur.  

Chiropractic adjustments remove interference within the nervous system by correcting misalignments in the spine, jaw and possibly cranial bones, without the use of drugs or surgery. Correcting misalignments also reduces muscle tension, decreases inflammation, increases mobility, and establishes proper blood flow & lymph drainage, all of which can affect the function of the middle ear and Eustachian tube.  Think of it as if you were to pinch a running hose, the water flow and pressure will be decreased.  The hose can not function properly with a kink.  This is similar to how a subulxation affects how our nerves (the hose) sends signals to our body for proper function.  A 2018 study followed a young boy who had been offered tympanostomy tubes as a "Fix" for recurrent ear infections and related hearing loss.  After only 12 chiropractic adjustments, the child returned to his ENT with complete hearling restoration and no ear infections.  Gentile, specific chiropractic adjustments are an alternative to tube placement with a higher success rate.  One adjustment however will not "fix" the issue.  A treatment plan of adjustments will correct the subluxations.  Think of it as if you were told to take a pill 3 times a day for 2 weeks.  Your doctor of chiropractic may suggest 3 times per week for 6 weeks to correct the issue.  Often times we don't allow our bodies to heal long enough while under chiropractic care.  It takes time to correct issues that have been going on for several weeks or months.  Pediatric populations take less time to heal as their bodies haven't been misaligned for as long as adult bodies have been.  

Want to learn more about the benefits of chiropractic care for ear infections?  We can help!

mtnislandchiro.com
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


K., N., DC (2018). Resolution of Hearing Loss, Improved Speech, & School Performance Following Chiropractic Management of Vertebral Subluxations in a Male Child:A Case Study. J. Pediatric, Maternal, & Family Health, 2018(2), 77-83

Could "Text Neck" Be the Cause of Your Pain?

Computers, screens, tv's, tablets, and especially cellphones surround us in our everyday lives.  All of this technology puts unnecessary strain on our eyes and brains, but in particular smartphones can cause serious and permanent damage to our back and neck.  Adolescents and young adults are particularly susceptible due to the number of people using these phones for a constant virtual connection with others.
When we look down at our phones, our neck tends to bend forward or hunch over, and this posture can have a serious impact on our health and wellness.  Prolonged tablet and smartphone use has been shown to cause changes in the joints in our neck that control our balance and posture.
A recent study of healthy individuals of young adult ages showed that use of a smartphone created a flexed cervical (neck) posture, which then resulted in a disturbance in neck proprioception.  The above chart explains that as the head and neck are brought forward and down by degree of curve, it adds weight to the neck and spine, causing damage.  At a 15 degree curve there is an added 27 pounds to the cervical spine.  At 45 degrees angulation an added 49 pounds happens!  Repetition of this posture can lead to several symptoms such as neck and back pain, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, arm and hand numbness or tingling, headaches, mood imbalances, sensory processing imbalances, nausea, decreased reflexes, shoulder discomfort, and even has an effect on the way our digestive system breaks down our food.  Text neck even has shown to alter how the brain perceives our environment!
The above chart also lists just a few of the things that a long term forward head posture can cause such as muscle and nerve damage, disc compression, arthritis, and loss of lung volume capacity!  How do you prevent long-term damage from forward head posture and text neck?  Start by lifting the phone to your face instead of face to the phone or tablet.  Secondly, limit screen time.  Although difficult to decrease our desires to constantly be connected to others, the constant use of tablets, computers, and phones can have detrimental health effects.  Lastly, visit your chiropractor! Especially an upper cervical specialist doctor who can help save the curve in your cervical spine that prevents long term damage.  Specific, gentle, cervical adjustments restore balance and curve to your neck and back.  All children should visit their chiropractor regularly as a normal part of their healthcare.  We cannot avoid the use of these technological advancements, however we can control how our bodies respond and adapt to the constant use of screen time.  Want to learn more about text neck?  We are  here to help!
mtnislandchiro.com
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



Mousavi-Khatir R, Talebian S, Toosizadeh N., Olyaei GR, Maroufi N. Disturbance of neck proprioception and feed-forward motor control following static neck flexion in healthy young adults.  Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology. 2018;41:160-7.

Help With Neuropathy

Living with chronic pain can be debilitating, frustrating, and just plain stressful for our minds and bodies.  Pain is your body communicating to yourself that something is wrong and needs attention.  A common cause of chronic pain is a condition called neuropathy.  There are several different types of neuropathy, including diabetic, peripheral, chemotherapy-induced, and small fiber among others.  Neuropathy is in short, nerve damage.  Causes of nerve damage can be wide-ranging, but most symptoms show as numbness or tingling especially in the arms, hands, and feet.  Symptoms also include muscle weakness or loss, burning sensation in extremities, sensitivity to touch, stabbing pain, bladder or bowel control issues, coordination difficulties, and loss of balance.  Because of the decrease in sensation in the hands and feet, long-term neuropathy sufferers often can have serious injuries to their extremities including wounds, infection, and fractures of the bones.
Although at first our instincts may tell us ignore pain to see if it just goes away, preventing nerve damage from chronic pain is an important thing to remember.  Medications simply cover the symptoms of pain, numbness or weakness but does not address the underlying cause of these symptoms.  Chiropractic care can help with all types of neuropathy.  Chiropractic targets the body as a whole unit, bringing all systems into alignment and regulation, including the nervous system, which can eliminate the condition itself instead of just the pain and numbness that accompanies it. When the body is being treated with its overall health in mind rather than just one problem area, symptoms of many problems or conditions can be reduced or eliminated at once.
A recent study was published following a male patient who had been suffering from chronic low back, leg and foot pain, along with associated neuropathy in the lower extremities.  He had been under physical therapy for 13 months and his condition had worsened.  He sought chiropractic care and found that not only did he have several subluxations (misalignments in the neck and spine), but his hips were so uneven that his legs appeared to be two different lengths.  His body had been under such stress for so long that instead of being distributed throughout the body, the subluxations were placing all stress on certain areas and they eventually became overworked and you have neuropathy as a result.  After just 2 adjustments, the patient reported improvement in sensation in the legs and feet and less pain.  Amazingly after just 4 adjustments this patient reported almost complete pain relief and was able to return to normal activities and reported an overall improvement of enjoyment of life!  Thanks to chiropractic care and working to uncover the root of the problem the body was able to heal itself.   

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

Russell, D., BSc (Psych), DC, Cert TT, & Doyle, M., BSc (Neuro). (2018). RESOLUTION OF LOWER LIMB NEUROPATHY AND IMPORVED PHYSICAL FUNCTIONING IN AN 18-YEAR OLD MALE CRICKETER RECEIVING CHIROPRACTIC CARE: A CASE REPORT. Chiropractic Journal of Australia. 46(2), 162-171.

The Gut-Brain Relationship

Did you know there are more microbia in your gut than there are cells in your body?  Your gut keeps a constant communication with your brain regarding both the quality and quantity of this bacteria.  For example, if there is an overgrowth of one particular bacteria in your colon, the digestive tract senses this overgrowth and sends a message directly to your brain to interpret and diagnose this message.  The brain determines the appropriate response and sends messages to your immune system, endocrine system (your hormones), cardiovascular system, and digestive system.  This entire communication process takes place every single day in our bodies.  This 2-way communication axis occurs mostly via the vagus nerve.  The vagus nerve or cranial nerve 10 (X) is the longest cranial nerve stretching from your brain stem through the atlas bone at the base of the skull all the way into your abdomen.  The close proximity of the vagus nerve to your atlas bone means that the slightest subluxation or misaligment of the atlas bone can potentially have huge implications for disease or disruption of the body.
Current research is shedding light on how important this 2-way communication between the gut and brain is.  In Frontiers of Neuroscience, a detailed research article explained the possible effects of interference of the vagus nerve may have on all areas of the body.  Specifically they looked at how abnormal function and flow of the vagus nerve can result in various types of digestive dysfunction such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel disease, crohn's disease, chronic diarrhea and chronic constipation.  Furthermore, the article shed light on the fact that because the vagus nerve controls anti-inflammatory responses that when someone experiences emotional stress with a dysfunctioning vagus nerve it can result in full body inflammation!
Chiropractic care influences the health and wellness of the vagus nerve by removing structural interference of the vertebrae.  Specifically, upper cervical chiropractic care focuses on the all important atlas bone and its alignment.  Gentle, specific, upper cervical adjustments focus to keep the nervous system functioning at its fullest potential.  The key to healing your gut abnormalities may lie in the health and wellness of your spine!  Chiropractic adjustments along with diet and exercise could be the combination to never dealing with gut issues again.  Want to learn more about the gut-brain axis?  Call or schedule online for a consultation.  We can help!
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


Bonaz B, Bazin T and Pellissier S., (2018) The Vagus Nerve at the Interface of the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis. Front. Neurosc. 12:49. doi:10.3389/fnins.2018.00049

Urinary Incontinence or Bladder Leaking? We Can Help

There are several different types of urinary incontinence including stress, urge, overflow, blockage, or temporary incontinence.  Did you know that chiropractic can help with some of these types of urine leakage?  No one wants to admit that urinary leakage is more common than we think.  In children, bed wetting is a common ailment that we assume kids will "grow out of" although there is scientific proof that chiropractic adjustments can halt bed wetting during the day and nighttime.  As adults, a common time for women to experience urinary incontinence is after having a baby.  Their bodies have just undergone a major change, and trying to find comfort in that new body can be difficult when you have the stress of leaking urine that you never experienced before!  For these women, it can be frustrating and embarrassing to feel out of control of their bodily functions.  Often times kegel exercises are recommended for postpartum moms, although recent studies show conflicting evidence about the effectiveness of kegels.
Often times women can experience urine leakage during coughing or sneezing, exercising, or even laughing!  These incidences are in the stress or urge types of incontinence.  As much as it may seem odd to relate your bladder to your brain, these types of bladder leakage can be helped with simple chiropractic adjustments.  Our brains send signals through nerves and the spinal cord (the central nervous system) down to our bladder and sphincter muscles located at S2, S3, and S4.  These signals allow our bladder (smooth muscle) to relax to allow the passage of urine.  When there is interference or a subluxation present in the neck and spine, these passageways are partially blocked, resulting in mixed signals to the S2, S3, and S4 and leakage or incontinence can occur.
A 2018 study followed a young mom who after having her first baby 3 years prior with severe perineum tears after delivery was still experiencing urine leakage. This patient experience urine leakage with little to no bladder fullness during daily activities such as coughing or sneezing, as well as without any triggers whenever her bladder felt about half full.  She also complained of lower back pan which is what initially brought her to the chiropractor after delivery.  Her doctor found several vertebral subluxations of the sacrum and lumbar spine (near her tailbone).  These subluxations were not only causing her back pain, but because the nerves were experiencing interference due to the vertebral subluxations, these misalignments were also the cause of  her bladder leakage and incontinence!  After only a few weeks under chiropractic care, this patient no longer experienced urine leakage when sneezing or coughing.  Her back pain was relieved as well and after 3 long years she could be comfortable and confident that her urinary incontinence had been eliminated!  Chiropractic care is an extremely important and useful part in postpartum care for women.

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


Davis, A., DC. (2018). Resolution of Chronic Postpartum Urinary Incontinence Following Chiropractic Care for Vertebral Subluxation. J. Pediatric, Maternal, & Family Health, 2018(1), 49-52.

Are You Living With Post-Surgical Pain?

 

Surgical procedures put our bodies under a tremendous amount of stress.  It is becoming more common for patients to have repeat surgery or "exploratory" surgery to try and cover up symptoms that arise after the initial procedure.  Pain is the number one post-surgical symptom that appears and can stay long after the recovery period.  This can be so frustrating for patients who turned to surgery for pain relief in the first place.  It is estimated that over 500,000 Americans undergo  back surgery each year, and some research has numbers projecting that back surgery to relieve pain has only a 30% success rate.  Other project that number to be even lower.  Often times surgeons refer their patients to other surgeons to look for a possible other "cause" of their pain but often times end up creating more symptoms by putting patients on more medications with dangerous side effects, or even worse, having a second unsuccessful surgery.
When we think of pain, our first goal is to resolve the symptoms for relief.  Relieving pain symptoms although fantastic, doesn't necessarily fix what the cause of the pain is.  There are little to no underlying symptoms without a cause.  By correcting the cause, the symptoms will dissipate.  Chiropractic care is a useful and noninvasive way to correct the underlying cause of back pain without drugs or surgery.
A recent study followed a 62-year old man who had chronic neck and back pain, along with numbness and tingling in his arm, and weakness in his arm as well.  He had 2 previous back surgeries over 25 years prior.  The patient had been experiencing these symptoms since 1991!  He constantly missed work as his profession was a mechanic, and finally sought alternative treatment after not being able to stand his symptoms any longer.  His chiropractic examination showed a forward head carriage that was not allowing his nervous system to function properly.  After 52 total visits of chiropractic adjustments, his neurological condition, pain, and neck dysfunction showed significant improvement, and he could return to work symptom-free!  Even after a 2.5 year follow-up to the initial study, his results were maintained with regular chiropractic adjustments.  His quality of life improved and he could live his life pain-free!  Although 52 visits may seem like a lot of visits, when looking at the fact that he had been in pain for over 25 years, that time of healing doesn't seem like much at all!  It is even a shorter time period than his previous surgical recovery periods 25 years prior.
Even after surgery, chiropractic adjustments can provide relief for those suffering with post-surgical complications and frustrations.

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






Harrison, D., Oakley, P., & Betz, J (2018). Anterior head translation following cervical fusion-a probable cause of post-surgical pain and impairment: A CBP case report. J. Physical Therapy. Sci., 30 271-276.

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.