Why We Chose Chiropractic

Did you know that chiropractic is a safe, effective, and affordable solution to helping you reach your health goals? Chiropractic has been shown to reduce hospitalizations, decrease the amount of lost work days, improve immunity, and so much more. Chiropractic has even been rated as one of the top CAM professions. “Chiropractic is the largest, most regulated, and best recognized of the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) professions. CAM patient surveys show that chiropractors are used more often than any other alternative provider group and patient satisfaction with chiropractic care is very high. There is steadily increasing patient use of chiropractic in the United States, which has tripled in the past two decades (Meeker 2002).

Though, why is it that Chiropractic is one of the top-rated CAM compared to other forms of medicine? Chiropractic focuses on your body’s nervous system which consists of your brain, spinal cord, and spinal nerves. The nervous system is the master system of your body that controls everything from your muscles, tissues, organs, and every cell in your body. Since the nervous system is so important, wouldn’t you agree that it should be protected at all costs? That’s where the job of a chiropractor comes to play.

Contrary to popular belief, chiropractic is not just for helping pains and aches that occur in the body. Though that comes as an added perk, the true purpose of chiropractic is to release any interference to the nervous system so that your body can function at its optimum ability. What could cause the interference? A condition called a subluxation causes interference to the nervous system. Subluxations occur when a bone in the spine misaligns creating pressure on the spinal nerve. When there is pressure on the spinal nerve, the nerve is not able to send communication from the brain to the body and vice versa. Think of a water hose: when you cause compression of a water hose by bending it in half, the water is not able to flow fully until you release the pressure. The same applies for the spinal nerves and vertebrae. If the bone is placing compression on the nerve, the flow of communication between the brain and the body is cut off. When there is compression, the body may communicate said compression as pain, however, only 10% of your spinal nerve deals with pain. That means that there could be an area of the nerve that does not transmit pain being compressed and you may not realize it. However, if the bones become stuck and there is pressure on the nerve that is not properly treated, both the nerve and bone will begin to break down. The breakdown that occurs is called spinal decay which happens in the form of four stages. Each stage presents with it’s own sets of symptomatology ranging from localized pain and discomfort, radiating symptoms, and/or loss of sensation to the area. The role of the chiropractic is to analyze the spine to find the areas of subluxation and apply safe and gentle adjustments to release compression of the nerves.

Chiropractic is a great option for someone who is looking for an all-natural approach to living a happier and healthier life. Chiropractic users were found to be 64% less likely to receiving opioid prescriptions than non-chiropractic patients (Corcoran 2019), and the odds of surgery were reduced from 42.7% from workers with back injuries who first saw a surgeon compared to 1.5% of those who saw a chiropractor first (Keeney 2012).

If you are interested in looking for a solution to your pain that is free of drugs and surgery, schedule an appointment with us at upstateclinicsc.com/schedulenow or give us a call at (864) 478-8758. We look forward to serving you and helping you live your best life possible!

References:

Corcoran, Kelsey L, et al. “Association Between Chiropractic Use and Opioid Receipt Among Patients with

Spinal Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” OUP Academic, Oxford University Press, 27 Sept. 2019,

academic.oup.com/painmedicine/article-abstract/21/2/e139/5575223.

Keeney, Benjamin. “Early Predictors of Lumbar Spine Surgery After Occupational Back Injury. Spine.” LWW,

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 15 May 2013,

journals.lww.com/spinejournal/Abstract/2013/05150/Early_Predictors_of_Lumbar_Spine_Surgery_After.18.aspx.

Meeker, W., and S. Haldeman. “[PDF] Chiropractic: A Profession at the Crossroads of Mainstream and Alternative

Medicine: Semantic Scholar.” Undefined, Annals of Internal Medicine, 2002,

www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Chiropractic%3A-A-Profession-at-the-Crossroads-of-and-Meeker-Haldeman/b7930

6fff0546cc3d2409cae0a3bdd080c443fae

~Published October 2021

What You Should Know About Headaches

Do you suffer from chronic headaches or migraines? If you do, you are not alone. Over 4 million people suffer from chronic headaches in the US. But what do you do when you suffer from headaches? Do you take medication or get injections to help relieve your pain? Do you go to a dark room and wait for the nausea to subside? Or do you push through and wait for the storm to pass? If you are tired of dealing with your headaches and are looking for a drug free approach to finding relief then chiropractic could be the answer for you.

Headache is pain in the head and/or face that can be caused by a plethora of issues. Some of this issues may include sinus inflammation, chemical activity in the brain, issues with the nerves or blood vessels surrounding your skull, imbalances of the muscles surrounding the head and neck, vertebral subluxation, stress, caffeine, alcohol, overexertion, hypoglycemia, brain aneurysm, dehydration, medication overuse, and so much more. To get a better understanding of where your headaches are coming from it is important to note several factors:

● The time of day in which the headaches are occurring (i.e. after working at a computer all day, after a stressful day, in the morning, etc.)

● Logging a food journal to determine possible triggers such as chocolate, caffeine, or alcohol. Also to determine if hypoglycemia or dehydration may be causing your

headaches.

● Additional symptoms: ringing in the ears, “seeing stars” (aura), nausea, light-headedness, pain radiating from the neck, burning pain in the shoulders, sensitive scalp, emotional abnormalities, loss of sensation of one side of the face or body, sneezing, coughing, high blood pressure, etc.

● Are the headaches occurring at a certain time in your menstrual cycle?

● Do you have a family history of migraines?

Because there are many different causes of headaches, there are also many different types of headaches ranging from cervicogenic, cluster, tension, migraines, allergic, and vascular. While most headaches are benign, if you are experiencing the worst headache of your life or a headache accompanied by confusion, difficulty speaking, fever, numbness or paralysis, blurred vision, difficulty walking, talking, or smiling then you need to seek emergency care. If you are not experiencing those symptoms, it is still important to find the root cause of your headaches. Chiropractic care has been shown through studies to give significant relief to headache sufferers.

In a study performed by the University of Macquarie, 22% of participants reported more than a 90% reduction of migraines as a consequence of the 2 months of Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT). Approximately 50% more participants reported significant improvement in the morbidity of each episode. Chiropractic care is beneficial to those who suffer from headaches due to the structure of the spine playing a major role in the root cause of many headaches whether they be cervicogenic headaches,tension headaches, cluster headaches, or migraines. A condition called vertebral subluxation occurs when a vertebra misaligns and creates pressure on the spinal nerve. Consequently, the nerve pressure causes dysfunction and sometimes pain which can lead to headaches. Vertebral subluxations can be caused by many circumstances such as trauma, emotional stress, chemical toxins, prolonged postural stress, and more. Chiropractors are the only doctors that undergo extensive training to be able to thoroughly assess an individual’s spine to locate said areas of dysfunction. They then can create treatment plan specific to the individual to release the nerve pressure. Not only can vertebral subluxations cause headaches, they can also cause a loss of the normal curvatures in your spine. When an individual loses the normal curvatures in their spine, it creates tension in the muscles that connect your spine to other parts of your body which in turn can lead to headaches.

Though headaches are common, they are certainly not normal. It is possible to find relief for your headaches through chiropractic care. If you are tired of dealing with pain that holds you back from living your best life possible, call our office at (864) 478-8758 or schedule an appointment online at upstateclinicsc.com/schedulenow. Relief is just around the corner!

References:

1. Bryans R, Descarreaux M, Duranleau M, et al. Evidence based guidelines for the chiropractic

treatment of adults with neck pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2014; 37: 42-63.

2. Bryans R, Descarreaux M, Duranleau M, et al. Evidence based guidelines for the chiropractic

treatment of adults with headache. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2011; 34: 274-89.

3. Tuchin, Peter J., et al. “A Randomized Controlled Trial of Chiropractic Spinal Manipulative

Therapy for Migraine.” Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Mosby, 18 Oct.

2004, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0161475400900733

~Published November 2021

Back Pain Relief - What Causes Back Pain?

Back Pain Relief

Back pain has become so prevalent in today’s society that over 80% of people will experience back pain at some point in their lives. For some, back pain can be debilitating to the point where it can begin to affect one’s everyday life. A very common misconception is that pain is a normal part of aging, however, though it is common, it is definitely not normal. There are treatments available to help relieve back pain so that you can live your best life free of pain.

Causes of Back Pain

Due to the complex nature of the back including joints, muscles, ligaments, intervertebral discs, nerves, and much more, there are many different causes of back pain. One’s discs could be injured causing bulging, herniation, or degeneration of intervertebral discs. Other injuries could include muscle strain, ligament sprain, facet syndrome, spondylolisthesis, spinal canal stenosis, or intervertebral subluxation. Intervertebral subluxation is a condition that occurs when vertebrae in the spinal column misalign and create pressure on the spinal nerves. This can lead to variations of consequential symptoms such as muscle tightness, radiating pain down the legs and/or arms, dull aching pain, and more.

Patients can suffer from pain caused by:

● Physical overexertion- lifting, pulling, pushing

● Emotional stress

● Major traumas- falls, car accidents, sports injuries, etc.

● Postural stress- poor posture/ergonomics such as sitting/standing for prolonged periods of time.

Diagnosing the Cause of Your Back Pain Treatment for back pain is dependent on the condition that is being treated. In order to determine the cause of one’s back pain, a thorough history and physical examination should be performed. Physical examination can include tests such as neurological testing, orthopedic testing, and X-ray. Further testing may be required in certain cases such as MRI, CT, or bloodwork to rule out any insidious causes.

Treatment for Back Pain

Research has proven that chiropractic care is effective in treating back pain. Research showed that chiropractic care combined with usual medical care for low back pain provides greater pain relief and a greater reduction in disability than medical care alone. The study, which featured 750 active-duty members of the military, is one of the largest comparative effectiveness trials between usual medical care and chiropractic care ever conducted.

Chiropractors are the only physicians trained to locate, analyze, and correct vertebral subluxations. Vertebral subluxations, if left untreated, can lead to a serious progressive condition called spinal decay. The breakdown of the spinal column over time can lead to pain, decreased range of motion, and decreased quality of life. Chiropractors use different techniques to analyze and correct vertebral subluxations. At Upstate Clinic, we utilize a method called the Gonstead Technique to treat our patients. The Gonstead Method is a specific method that utilizes visualization, instrumentation, motion palpation, static palpation, and X-ray to ensure that the root cause of one’s problem is what is being addressed. We also have state of the art technology such as spinal decompression and laser therapy to provide the best care possible to our patients.

Just like a fire alarm alerts us that there is a dangerous situation, pain is our body's way of alerting our brain that something is wrong. If left untreated, the underlying issue can progressively worsen causing additional problems. Don’t let your pain go untreated, find a solution today. Call to schedule an appointment at (864) 478- 8758 or schedule online at Upstate Clinic.

References:

Cluett, Jonathan. “What You Can Do about the Common Causes of Back Pain?” Verywell Health, 21 Nov. 2021, https://www.verywellhealth.com/common-causes-of-back-pain-diagnosis-and-treatmen t-2548504.

The Good Body. “39 Back Pain Statistics (to Send a Shiver down Your Spine).” The Good Body, 24 Nov. 2021, https://www.thegoodbody.com/back-pain-statistics/.

Goertz, Christine M, et al. “Effect of Usual Medical Care Plus Chiropractic Care vs Usual Medical Care Alone on Pain and Disability Among US Service Members With Low Back Pain.” Jama Network, 2018, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2680417

~Published December 2021

Chiropractic Care for Optimal Performance

Chiropractic and Athletic Performance

Chiropractic is based on the science that the Nervous System is the “Master System” of the body. Your Nervous System is composed of your brain, spinal cord, and spinal nerves which control every muscle, organ, and cell in your body. This system is so important, that it is fully surrounded by your spinal column to protect it. Chiropractic ensures that your Nervous System is functioning properly without interference. Therefore, it would be argued that having a fully functioning nervous system is important for range of motion, injury prevention, cognitive function, and more that result in optimum athletic performance.

Chiropractic and Range of Motion

In order for your body to perform any function, whether it be breathing, reaction time, smiling, throwing a ball, running, etc., your body sends signals down from your brain, through your spinal cord, out of your spinal nerves, and to every cell in your body to perform these functions. This makes your body’s functioning similar to that of a highway system. With that being said, just as a highway functions smoothly, it can also suffer delays in flow such as a traffic jam. Similarly, “a traffic jam”, or a disruption of signals flowing from your brain to your body, may occur called a subluxation. Subluxations occur when vertebra in your spine misalign creating pressure on your spinal nerves. When this happens, your brain is unable to communicate with your body leading to dysfunction of whichever body part is affected. These instances can occur from major traumas, sports injuries, emotional stress, chemical toxins, postural stressors, and more. When these bones misalign, they become stuck which in turn decreases the range of motion in one’s spinal column. Additionally, subluxations can occur to the extremities leading to loss of range of motion. Consequently, loss of range of motion can affect athletic performance in terms of shorter throwing distance, increased running times, and more. If left untreated, these subluxations can not only affect one’s performance, but they can also lead to a progressive condition known as Spinal Decay in which the bones, joints, and ligaments begin to deteriorate.

Chiropractic and Injury Prevention

Chiropractic care is essential for athletes due to the physical nature of their lifestyle. On an average year, 25 million people visit a doctor for injuries that they suffer as a result of athletics. In professional sports, injury is the number one reason for early retirement. Overall, 67 billion dollars is spent each year for the treatment of athletic injuries. (1) However, many of these athletes are treated for their symptoms and not the underlying issue. As a result, we see many individuals who were athletes at a young age suffer from chronic pain later in life due to the decaying of the spinal column from injuries sustained at a young age. Chiropractic provides a non-invasive, all natural approach to wellness that requires no surgery, injections, or medication. Due to it’s non-invasive nature, players are able to return to activity sooner without the worry of missing their season. Specific chiropractic care is not only necessary in the prevention and recovery of injuries but also in preventative care to enhance performance.

Chiropractic and Reaction Time

Research from the New Zealand School of Chiropractic and the University of Auckland determined the effects of chiropractic and reaction times.

Two groups were tested to study variations in reaction times; one group received spinal adjustments, while the other group, only receiving a short period of rest, acted as a control group for comparison. There was a marked improvement for the group that received an adjustment over the group that received nothing but rest. The group that got only a rest period did show an average decrease in reaction time: 58 milliseconds, an 8% faster reaction time. The group that received the chiropractic adjustment showed a decrease in reaction time of 97 milliseconds, representing a 14.8% faster reaction time.(2) Reaction times are a crucial factor in optimum performance and in some cases can be the sole difference between career ending injury or success. This is one of many studies that show the benefit of chiropractic care and athletic performance.

It is clear that chiropractic care is essential for optimal performance. So clear that the majority of major league teams and players utilize chiropractic care in their regimens to become the best at what they do. Tom Brady, 7-time Superbowl champion, has noted his affinity for chiropractic by saying, “As long as I am seeing my chiropractor, I feel like I am one step ahead of the game.” Chiropractic care ensures that you are addressing the root cause of underlying issues to improve range of motion, prevent injury, and improve cognitive function. If you are an athlete and want to enhance your performance, be sure to call us at (864)-478-8758 to see how we can help you in our office.

References.

U.S News and World Report, (1989, July 31)

Kelly DD, Murphy BA, Backhouse DP, J Manipulative Physiologic Therapeutics 2000 May; 23(4):246-51. Use of a mental rotation reaction time to measure the effects of upper-cervical adjustments on reaction time.

~Published February 2022

Is Knee Pain Making Your Daily Activities Difficult?

Is knee pain making it difficult for you to get up out of a chair, Walk up and down steps, clean around the house, keep your active lifestyle, or even play with little ones in your life? Have you tried things like cortisone shots, exercises or pain medication to deal with the pain but it continues to come back?

If you answered yes, know that you are not alone in your suffering. In fact, 1 in 4 individuals suffer from chronic knee pain. The most valuable knowledge to have is understanding the root cause as to why knee pain occurs and the treatments that are necessary to treat the root cause of the condition. The truth is, knee pain does not have to ruin your quality of life or keep you from the things that you enjoy doing the most.

First, it is important to understand that there are many different types of knee conditions that the population suffers from:

-Patellar arthralgia which can cause pain and swelling in the knee cap.

-Bursitis which causes swelling and Baker’s cysts.

-IT band syndrome causing tightness on the outside thigh and lateral knee pain.

-Ligament tears that can cause joint instability and weakness that can lead to pain throughout the entire knee joint.

Typically, these conditions are a result of previous injury, overuse, or imbalance that has not been properly addressed and has progressively worsened over time.

For example, imagine if you drove your car with improper alignment for years on end. What would happen? The tires would slowly wear down unevenly over time causing damage to not only the tires, but surrounding parts of your vehicle. Similarly, when your knee misaligns, the problem cascades to affect the surrounding soft tissue (I.e. meniscus, ACL, MCL, Bursa, and synovial fluid), and musculature that are responsible for keeping the integrity of the knee joint. When addressed by a professional, the alignment can be restored resulting in knee pain relief that will last.

In our office we combine the gentle, specific knee adjustments, neuromuscular reeducation, knee decompression and state of the art laser light therapy to bring relief to an area that has been suffering. If you or someone you love suffers from chronic knee pain, tell them to give our offices a call at 864-478-8758 to get them the natural knee pain relief that they need.

~Published April 2022

Can Chiropractic help with Scoliosis?

Scoliosis and Chiropractic Intervention - When examining the spine, there are good curvatures and there can be bad curvatures. Curvatures from the lateral view of the spine are normal curvatures. Those curvatures are important for shock absorption in the spine. However, when examining the spine from the front and back, the spine should be straight. When you begin to see curvatures from the front going off to the side, that is defined as a scoliosis, or an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine.

Most scoliosis are found during early adolescence when the Adams Test is performed. Adams test consists of the patient leaning forward to see if there are any abnormal curvatures present. Usually this test is performed in grade school to try and catch a scoliosis early. Radiographs can also be performed to determine the extent of the scoliosis and what treatment is necessary.

There are many different ways to treat scoliosis. Most treatments are dependent on the angle and severity of the scoliosis, the age of the patient, the location of the curvature, and if the scoliosis is due to a congenital anomaly. Radiographs are used to determine the angle of the scoliosis, known as Cobb’s Angle. Treatments can vary from observation (a “watch and wait” approach), bracing, or surgery. However, chiropractic treatment is also beneficial for a more conservative treatment option.

Chiropractic care focuses on finding misalignments of the vertebra of the spinal column. When vertebrae misalign, they can create not only dysfunction of the nerve they are

compressing, but can also create abnormal curvatures in the spine. This happens due to a process called the Righting Reflex. These righting reactions make their appearance around 6 months of age and persist through life. They bring the head and torso into mutual alignment in relationship to each other.

•The neck on body righting reaction (NOB). This orients the body in response to cervical afferents, reporting changes in the position of the head and neck. There are two forms of this reflex: the immature form, resulting in log rolling which is present at birth and the mature form which subsequently develops producing segmental rotation of the body.

•The body on body righting reaction (BOB). This keeps the body oriented with respect to the ground or surface regardless of the position of the head. This is necessary for the development of the rotary components of movement and for developing higher skills for assuming the sitting and quadruped position. (Key 2010).

Therefore, when bones misalign, your body's natural tendency is to fix itself which may present as a scoliosis. Chiropractors are thoroughly trained in managing scoliosis patients. Safe, gentle adjustments along with spinal orthotics can help manage scoliosis. In our office we perform a thorough examination including physical, neurological, and orthopedic testing to determine the root cause of your condition. If you or someone you know has scoliosis and are looking for conservative treatment without the use of drugs, surgeries, or injections, you can call our office at 864-478-8758.

Reference: Key, Josephine. Back Pain: A Movement Problem, Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier, Edinburgh, 2010

~Published June 2022

Knee Pain: A Fresh Perspective

Many people come into our office for issues with chronic knee pain that have been debilitating them for years. Often times those issue come from meniscus tears, ACL injuries, osteoarthritis of the knee, patellofemoral syndrome and so much more. As we stand today, most treatment options to help get knee pain relief are centered around pain medication, steroid or gel injections, and eventually knee replacement surgery. But nowadays, the community is starting to understand that there has to be another way to address this without having to “band-aid” a symptom, or to completely remove the knee altogether.

Laser Light Therapy

Recent research suggests that the most groundbreaking conservative treatments surrounding chronic knee pain come from a structural, metabolic and neurological approach. The leading research has pointed to Low level laser therapy (LLLT) as a treatment that has a stockpiling affect on the nervous system and musculature that surround the area of application. Reduction of pain and inflammation, increased cell turnover, and improved blood flow, through a process called angiogenesis, are all benefits of consistent LLLT. Laser therapy does this by directly affecting the neurons to the degree where it is able to create a blockade that will block pain signals to the brain. While this phenomenon is occurring, the stimulation of the laser is also facilitating increased ATP synthesis to the ligamentous tissues and therefore improves the rate of healing of the soft tissues in the surrounding area. As an added effect, the laser will also bring down overall inflammation to the area which helps improve mobility of the knee. The long term effects of LLLT occur within a week or two and can last for months and sometimes years as a result of improved tissue healing. (Cotler, et. Al).

Overall, Laser light therapy is a profound conservative treatment that will allow natural healing to occur to the knee joint. This overall leads to results that not only treat the root cause of knee pain, but also gives results that will last. Interested in learning more about how we can help treat your knee pain? Book an appointment on our website, or call us at 864-478-8758. We look forward to our journey with you!

Cotler H, Chow R, Hamblin M, Carrol J. The Use of Low Level Laser Light Therapy for Musculoskeletal Pain. MOJ Orthrop. 2016. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4743666/

~Published July 2022

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