Healing takes time, repetition

Time and repetition are the key components to chiropractic helping people with headaches, neck and upper back pain. These are essentially the findings of a study published in the August 21, 2008 edition of the scientific periodical, the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research.

Over the years critics of chiropractic and insurance companies attempting to maximize profits at the expense of good patient care, have attempted to limit the number of chiropractic visits claiming that more than 6 to 12 visits are not needed. While it is accepted that every individual under chiropractic care will respond differently, a comprehensive study was done to see if there was any legitimacy to the attempts to limit chiropractic to a certain number.
Researchers in this study looked at published "Randomized Clinical Trials" (RCTs) to determine if there was any validity to the 6 - 12 visit argument. In total 47 chiropractic studies were found involving 2,069 patients with headaches, neck and upper back pain. The data from these RCTs was analyzed by reviewing the total number of subjects in these 47 studies, the average number of visits, the total initial pain score, the total follow-up pain score and the percent of improvement. Averages were then calculated to see the number of visits needed for resolution of the symptoms of headaches, neck and upper back pain.The results for individuals will most certainly vary. And the number of visits for total correction of spinal structures and subluxations was not looked at in this review. However, for relief and stabilization the number of average visits projected according to the researchers calculations was 24 for patients suffering from headaches, neck and upper back pain. The study judged progress on these patients as helping the individual patient achieve a return to normal, which they defined as,

The results for individuals will most certainly vary. And the number of visits for total correction of spinal structures and subluxations was not looked at in this review. However, for relief and stabilization the number of average visits projected according to the researchers calculations was 24 for patients suffering from headaches, neck and upper back pain. The study judged progress on these patients as helping the individual patient achieve a return to normal, which they defined as, range of motion within normal limits and activities of daily living within the normal range.
Dr. John Maltby, president of the International Chiropractors Association and researcher on this study commented, "Every patient is a unique individual and will respond differently to chiropractic care. However, in reviewing the data, the evidence shows that placing an arbitrary limit of 6 to 12 on the number of visits for chiropractic care falls outside the averages and is not in the best interest of good patient care. Each patient has a unique spine and will respond differently."

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Headaches and
Chiropractic
The title above is from a release by the American Chiropractic Association on August 2, 2013, that appeared in several news outlets including the American News. The release, and several associated news articles discuss how chiropractic helps people who suffer from headaches.
The ACA release begins by noting, "If you have a headache, you're not alone. Nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea."
Another article about chiropractic and headaches in the Merritt Herald from Canada on July 24, 2013, starts by stating, "Did you know that one of the most common forms of headache is actually caused by problems in the neck?"

The ACA release reported on research of how chiropractic helps headaches by noting, "A report released in 2001 by researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, N.C., found that spinal manipulation (adjustments) resulted in almost immediate improvement for those headaches that originate in the neck, and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of tension-type headache than a commonly prescribed medication."

Using chiropractic care for headaches is not a common medical procedure. This fact was illustrated in the Merritt Herald article, "Unfortunately, the medical understanding of headaches often does not take into account the chiropractic model, which remains foreign to many within the medical profession."
The Merritt Herald article also reported that this information is not new, noting that, "In 1995, a team of MDs at Syracuse University established neck problems as the cause of many headaches with scientific, anatomical proof." The researchers were headed up by Dr. Rothbart, a medical doctor.
In an interview after the research, Dr. Rothbart stated, "Some brilliant people have put their hearts, souls and minds to this (headache) problem and haven't come up with anything. All we've been able to do is treat people with an array of medicines, one after the other, and hope the side effects won't be too bad. We couldn't believe it at first. We've been able to put together a scientific explanation for how neck structure causes headaches -- not all headaches, but a significant number of them. It's true that chiropractors have been saying this for years. Unfortunately, many (medical) doctors tend to have a jaundiced view of chiropractors, but they were right about headaches."

For more information on Chiropractic care contact:
Cannon County Chiropractic
Dr. Trea Wessel
824 McMinnville Hwy.
Woodbury, Tn 37190
615-563-3320