TEXT NECK-How it's Damaging our Nervous System

The average American spends a minimum of 4 hours each day looking at a smartphone, tablet, or computer screen.  The neck becomes unsupported when we look down and puts heavy strain and stress on our bodies.  For each degree of tilt, the neck feels added pounds of force as seen in the above diagram.  Added force on the neck is damaging and leads to musculoskeletal disorders of the head, neck and spine.  We have seen such a large increase in these disorders, especially in the pediatric population with the introduction of smartphones and tablets to our youth.  Before, we thought that these disorders were mostly related to whiplash injuries, however "text neck" is proving to show the same damaging results as those injuries.
Some symptoms of text neck can be headaches, shoulder pain, decreased lung capacity (shortness of breath), numbness and tingling down the arms to the hands, irritability, decreased reaction times, decreased attention spans, and neck pain.  When the natural curve of the neck is diminished or even reversed, a whole new group of problems can occur such as low back pain, difficulty with digestion and elimination, herniated or bulging discs in the spine among many others.  Even worse, when the lungs have a diminished capacity to fully expand and circulate oxygen to the body, this causes added stress to the heart and makes it work harder to pump the blood through the body.  Increased stress on the heart has life-long damaging effects to the entire body.
Things you can do to avoid text neck include raising your phone or tablet to your face, instead of face to the phone.  Take breaks often.  Raise up the computer screen on a desk or table by placing a stand underneath so that it is at eye level.  Take several deep breaths while taking a break from electronics use.  And most importantly is to limit use all together of these devices.  Use headphones when possible to avoid having to look down or even now most devices have voice recognition so you don't even have to look at your phone or tablet.  Go out and live your life instead of watching someone else live theirs!  Health cannot be sustained without movement.  Get regular chiropractic adjustments to maintain movement in the head, neck, and spine to remain free from nervous system interference.

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

Had Spinal Surgery?

 

Surgical procedures are often not a simple, in and out occurence when it comes to our health.  Not only are there pre-surgical preparations, but there can be post-surgical complications and recovery that we often don't think about.  Even when the surgery goes exactly according to the doctor's plan, there is no guarantee that the surgery will fix the underlying problem.  Any time that you alter the original state of the body, no matter the reason, there will be changes that can cascade in other areas of the body post-surgery.   Most spinal fusion surgical patients often believe that once they have had a fusion done, chiropractic care is no longer an option for them.  However, the goal of chiropractic is to restore function back to the body, no matter how small the change may be.  

Last year, a case study was published in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science following a 56-year old female patient who sought chiropractic care 6 years after spinal fusion surgery.  This patient had still suffered from chronic neck pain after her surgery, and was relying on pain medications daily for those 6 years!  The chiropractic examination revealed distortions or subluxations in the head and neck.  Often, postural changes like hers can lead to headaches, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, neck pain, shoulder pain, numbness or tingling down the arms and hands, and difficulty concentrating.  Her pain ranged from a 3 out of 10 on a "good" day, and got to as bad as a 9 out of 10 on a "bad" day.  Her average pain scale rating on a daily basis was a 6 out of 10!  Not only was she on pain medications, she also was taking an anti-migraine medication, tricyclic antidepressants, anti-nausea medicines and muscle relaxers.  She was seeking help also because of her concern for addictive tendencies with her narcotic pain medications.  After 11 days of chiropractic treatment, this woman experiences a 50% improvement in her posture, and her pain level went to a 2/10 on her "bad" days and a 0 out of 10 on her "good" days.  This case study followed up with her at 7.5years after initial chiropractic treatment, as well as 11.5 years, and 14 years post chiropractic care.  She reported virtually no pain and was able to be removed from ALL medications entirely related to her neck pain!  

Even post-spinal surgical pain can be reduced or possibly eliminated when the body is returned to proper alignment with gentle, specific, chiropractic adjustments.  While I don't hope for surgery as an early option or treatment for spinal discomfort or disorders, I do believe that chiropractic can help everyone, no matter their age or health history. 

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

Oakley, P. A., & Harrison, D. E. (2018). Alleviation of pain and disability in a post-surgical C4-C7 total fusion patient after reducing a lateral head translation (side shift) posture: A CBP case report with a 14 year follow-up.  Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 30(7), 952-957. doi:10.1589/jpts.30.952

How Chiropractic Can Help With Bell's Palsy

Bell's palsy is a sudden onset of weakness or paralysis of one side of the face.  It can also include headaches, drooping of the eyelid or inability to close one eye completely.  Also, facial drooping including a corner of the mouth as well as changes in saliva and tears production can be symptoms.  It is estimated that over 40,000 people each year have a new onset of Bell's palsy.  Repeat attacks are common as well once you've been affected by this disorder.  Bell's palsy is extremely scary, especially because the symptoms can mimic a stroke.  It is important to note that a stroke should be ruled out first and foremost if these symptoms suddenly arise.  The good news is that with Bell's Palsy, although frightening actually has a simple, single reason behind it and there can be relief with chiropractic care.  The facial nerve, or 7th cranial nerve, becomes damaged or irritated during this disorder.  The facial nerve travels through a narrow canal called the Fallopian canal in the skull, underneath the ear to the muscles that control the side of the face.  These muscles affected are those in charge of controlling eye blinking, eye closing, smiling and frowning. Also, the 7th nerve is in charge of sending messages to the tear and saliva glands which becomes greatly affected with the nerve has experienced trauma such as inflammation or subluxation.  This means that the structure of the skull and spine have a direct effect on the treatment of Bell's Palsy.
A recent case study in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research followed a 68-year old man suffering from Bell's Palsy who had previously tried steroids, eye drops, and anti-inflammatory prescription medications without relief.  He sought chiropractic care and after a short time with regular chiropractic adjustments his facial paralysis was completely resolved!  No need for continued medications with costly side-effects.  While chiropractic adjustments do not treat specific symptoms, the brain and nervous system were allowed to function freely without interference or disruption and therefore his facial nerve was restored to send proper messages to the face.  
Significant relief is found when the spine is aligned and free from interference to function at optimal levels!

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


Preece, S., D.C., & Alcanta, J., D.C. (2019).  Resolution of Bell's Palsy in a 68-year old Man Following Correction of Upper Cervical Subluxation:A Case Report & Review. J. Upper Cervical Chiropractic Reasearch, 28-35.

Study Shows 87% of Nurses Experience Back and Neck Pain

 

The nursing profession is a job which requires a great deal of physical and emotional strength.  Nurses often stand on their feet for an extended period of time and work long shifts, ranging from 4-16 hours at a time.   Any profession that requires you to stand on your feet all day can suffer from tremendous discomfort and it takes a toll on the mind and body.  Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are among the most frequent occupational disorders among the nursing profession.  Working overnight shifts and forcing your body to be out of the "normal" sleep/wake cycles can often make these disorders more intense.  

A 2018 study followed 110 nurses working in a hospital setting to determine the type of physical and psychological toll that their profession was taking on them.  With increased sick days called for musculoskeletal pains, it was found that 86.24% of those studied had pain and discomfort in their spine.  Long periods of time on their feet, bending, pushing beds, lifting patients, among many other repetitive movements all made their pains worse during shift work.  42% of those studied reported residual fatigue each time at work.  All 86.24% of those reporting back pain also reported that their pain contributed to decreased satisfaction and productivity with their job.  

Nurses give so much of themselves while caring for others that they often are left feeling overwhelmed and stressed both physically and emotionally.  It is of upmost importance that nurses take care of themselves so that they can continue to perform at a high level for many years in their demanding profession.  Spinal health is crucial to these professionals so that they may continue doing what they love pain-free.  We love to care for nurses in our office. Chiropractic adjustments can help relieve back and neck pain, and well has help their bodies recover faster from long shifts and overnight hours.  Chiropractic care can also boost energy, reduce inflammation, restore sleep function, aid in cognitive clarity, and reduce stress and anxiety levels.  My wife is a RN and so I know first-hand how demanding their profession is, and the toll it can take on the body.  Have a nurse that you care about?  Remind them to take time for themselves by getting their spine checked!  

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


Dias da Silva, T.P., Navegantes de Araujo, W., Stival, M. M., Martins de Toledo., A., Burke, T. N., & Carregaro, R. L. (2018). Musculoskeletal discomfort, work ability, and fatigue in nursing professionals working in a hospital environment.  Rev Esc Enferm USP, 52(e03332). 1-8. doi:10.1590/S1980-220X2017022903332

Long-Term Effects after a Car Accident

There are an estimated 6 million car accidents in the US every year, with over 3 million resulting in serious injuries.  Its easy to think of only the "right now" effects of a car accident when it comes to our health.  Most people who have been in an accident do not feel pain immediately, and research shows it takes about 48 hours for pain and stiffness to set in after a collision.  However, over 68% of people involved in a motor vehicle accident still feel pain in their back and neck at one year post-accident when left untreated.  It only takes a collision at 8 miles per hour to have damaging effects or whiplash of the neck.  If whiplash is untreated, this leads to long-term pain in the neck and damage to the nervous system.  Even more so, chronic neck pain is the 4th leading cause of disability in the world for adults!
Whiplash is a neck injury due to forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck. Symptoms people may experience after whiplash of the neck due to a car accident include neck pain, stiffness in the neck and shoulder, loss of range of motion in the neck, headaches, upper arms and back soreness, numbness and tingling in the arms and hands, fatigue, dizziness, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, sleep disturbances, irritability, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and depression.  Taking medication after a car accident such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or opioids will help with short-term pain control, but won't correct the injury sustained.  Inflammation that the body produces after an injury is what causes long-term effects because proper flow of blood and nutrients to the body is interrupted.  Chronic interruption of these impulses is what can lead to chronic health issues and pain.  Therefore, reducing inflammation by removing interference to the nervous and skeletal systems will allow the body to heal properly and avoid long-term effects from a car accident. Not only can a chiropractic adjustment reduce inflammation and correct subluxations of the neck and spine, it restores motion in the joints as well as reduces scar tissue formation and helps the body to release IL-6 and other pain-reducing hormones.
Our office located in Charlotte, NC is the areas leading expert in identifying and treating injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents and can help restore your body to proper functioning.

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


Nolet, P. S., Emary, P. C, Kristman, V. L., Murnaghan, K., Zeegers, M.P., & Freeman, M.D. (2019). Exposure to a motor vehicle collision and the risk of future neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Pm&r. doi; 10.1002/pmrj.12173

Decreasing Frequency of Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches affect an estimated 38 million Americans, with 91% of those patients reporting that their daily lives are affected by them.  Migraines are debilitating.  Different than an "average headache," migraine headaches can not only cause pain but affect vision, sensitivity to light and noise, seeing spots or "halos," tingling on one side of the body, increased sense of smell, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, all with no relief from pain medications.  Migraine sufferers often are debilitated during an attack and miss work and other daily activities. With little to no relief from prescribed medications, patients have been turning to alternative therapies during migraine attacks as well as preventative measures to increase time between attacks. Every day your brain is making about 500 milliliters of spinal fluid that acts like the blood for the brain and spinal cord. Once this fluid is made in the brain, it is transferred out of the skull, down the spinal cord, all the way down your spine, where it finally gets pumped back up to the brain. This fluid is very important as it delivers essential nutrients to your central nervous system. When a subluxation or misalignment is present in the top bone of your neck (called the Atlas or C1) due to its attachments to the brain, it can pull the cerebellum partially through the skull. The result is that spinal fluid will not be able to escape the brain, causing a back flow of spinal fluid. This back flow will cause swelling and will eventually cause damage to the small blood vessels of the brain, resulting in a migraine headache. A recent research article published in the journal Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain reviewed chiropractic care specifically for effectively treating and preventing migraine headaches.  Researchers found that chiropractic adjustments significantly reduced migraine headache frequency as well as reduced symptoms during a migraine attack.  Specifically an upper cervical adjustment have been proven to reduce frequency of migraine headaches in one month by 8!  Read about this study here https://nucca.org/blog/chronic-migraine-sufferers-find-significant-improvement-nucca/.  Our office specializes in upper cervical chiropractic and the NUCCA technique and we are experts at helping to manage migraine headache attacks by taking a multi-disciplinarian approach to your care.   Don't suffer any longer with these awful headaches...we are here to help!

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


 Woodfield, H. Charles, III. “Effect of Atlas Vertebrae Realignment in Subjects with Migraine: An Observational Pilot Study.”
Rist, P. M., ScD, Hernandez, A., MS. Bernstein, C., MD, Kowalski, M., DC, Osypiuk, K., MS, Vining, R., DC...Wayne, P., M., PhD. (2019). The Impact of Spinal Manipulation on Migraine Pain and Disability:A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 59(4), 532-542. doi:10.1111/head.13501

Chiropractic Aids in Recovery of Any Kind

 

Healing takes time.  Often we don't listen to our bodies to fully understand its needs when recovering from an illness or injury.  Trauma to the body, no matter what form, doesn't heal overnight.  Have you ever said to yourself "usually I'm not bothered by this but for some reason I'm not getting over it this time as fast?"  If so, you haven't allowed your body to properly recover from an illness or injury in the past.  Therefore, each incident takes a larger toll on the body and mind for a longer period of time.  No matter what we are recovering from, providing our body with the best opportunity to function, recover, and heal is essential.  

Plenty of rest, good nourishment and hydration, and relaxation are all key components whether you've broken your leg, suffered with a simple cold, lost a loved one, drug addiction, or recently had surgery.   Another important piece to the recovery puzzle is allowing your nervous system which controls all functions of the body be free from interference.   Chiropractic care focuses on helping restore proper function to your nervous system which allows for better overall health and an improved recovery process.  It allows for faster healing times by removing any nervous system inference. 

A case study followed a 37-year old man who recently had surgery.  Post-surgical symptoms included nausea, fatigue, gastric reflux, dizziness, and migraines.  Multiple spinal subluxations (or blockages of the spinal cord) were found.  He received chiropractic adjustments to remove those interferences to his nervous system.  This allowed his body to maintain a more optimal healing environment after his surgical procedure.  Following 3 weeks of chiropractic care, the patient reported improvements in all of his symptoms and was also able to stop taking multiple medications.  Chiropractic care helps create a pathway to healing no matter what the initial injury or illness is.  The power that made the body heals the body when it is free from interference!

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



Harden, J., D.C., & Smedley, L., D.C. (2019). Improvement in Vestibular Dysfunction & Quality of Life Following Chiropractic Care in a Male Suffering from PostSurgical Complications for Vestibular Schwannoma:A Case Report & Review of the Literature. Vertebral Subluxation Res., A, 34-44.