Treatment for Children Suffering with Anxiety

Anxiety and chronic health conditions in children are on the rise.  It is estimated that 1 in 8 children under the age of 14 suffer from anxiety, and the numbers increase to 1 in 5 in children between 14-18.  Anxiety at any age ca be debilitating, but especially in children anxiety can hold a child back during their crucial growth and development periods.  When it comes to treating anxiety, often patients and parents of patients turn to medication to help reduce symptoms.  SSRI medications such as Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro or Klonopin are prescribed with potentially harmful side effects.  These include nausea, vomiting, headaches, irritability, depression, suicidal thoughts, panic attacks, insomnia, tremors, weakness, dizziness and many many others.  However, chiropractic seeks to create the best functioning adaptable body possible to overcome anxiety. 

Anxiety disorders are known to happen when improper functioning of the nervous system occurs.  Subluxations (interference to the nervous system) has been proven to play a role in the increase of anxiety in both adults and children.  When you remove or reduce the interference to the nervous system, the functionality increases and a state of homeostasis is restored.  Especially with upper cervical chiropractic care, adjustments can provide huge improvements in children with anxiety disorders.  A study following an 11 year old boy with unstable emotions and high-level anxiety published in 2018 showed subluxations of the childs upper cervical (neck) area.  X-rays and thermal scans were performed to pinpoint exactly the precise area that needed focused on in treatment sessions.  The child's nervous system was dysfunctional because of these subluxations.  After his initial visit, the child reported a reduction in anxiety levels.  After a short time receiving chiropractic treatment, he stated that stress triggers that would have before set him of to a level 10/10 was now reduced to a 4/10.  His anxiety continued to decrease with further care as the subluxations were removed and his neurological system was no longer in a state of dysfunction.

Finding the root cause of the issue helped this child to manage his anxiety and kept him off of SSRI medications.  We often forget that children can have major issues even though their bodies are younger than adults.  As we say in our office, healthy children grow to become healthy adults!

Yours in Health,

Dr. Nicholas J. Knutson, DC

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


Merkt, M., DC. (2018). The Effect of Upper Cervical Specific Analysis and Procedure Has On Children With Anxiety. J. Philosophy, Principles & Practice of Chiropractic, 2018.

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.