 Chiropractic is a vital component of sports medicine (1). Many people do not know that chiropractic care can enhance athletic performance in many ways – namely by addressing any biomechanical imbalances and optimizing neuromuscular function (1). This can be very helpful in enhancing reaction time and preventing injury. It is important for holistic care to be taken more seriously amongst athletes, as health and performance pertains to so much more than our physical structure; we must consider all pillars of health when understanding athletic performance.
Chiropractic care includes a multitude of different techniques and modalities that target not only the musculoskeletal system, but also the nervous system which aids in promoting optimal function. Research has shown that the integration of chiropractic care into an athlete’s regimen has been associated with accelerated recovery, decreased rates of injury and improvement of biomechanical function (1). Chiropractic techniques enhance joint mobility, muscle flexibility and neuromuscular coordination which are 3 things that are crucial in maintaining performance as an athlete (1). A study involving judo athletes demonstrated that chiropractic care led to a significant increase in grip strength and reaction time which highlights the potential of chiropractic care and athletic performance (1). Furthermore, research reveals that spinal manipulation can accelerate recovery from minor injuries. This is possible because adjustments can help enhance blood flow to the affected areas, which in turn allows the affected tissues to receive more nutrients and oxygen, while also flushing out any inflammatory chemicals and damaged cells, thus providing a faster healing rate and improving overall function (2). By educating athletes about their bodies from a holistic perspective, we can decrease injury and improve recovery time and function. Chiropractic is so much more than pain management, and it is important that all demographics understand this! References
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 One of the most common questions we get asked in the practice is “Why could babies need a check-up?”. To answer this question, we need to look at one of the biggest physical stressors that can affect an infant which is childbirth.
Birth injury, unless major and life threatening, is under-recognised and under-treated (Gottlieb, 1993). In a recent study of 200 infants presenting to a clinic with pain and other physiologic disturbance, 95% demonstrated notable birth trauma. In a much earlier and larger study of 1250 newborns, 89% showed some mechanical strain or restriction (Frymann, 1966). Many injuries including asymmetry of the head, facial asymmetry, torticollis, asymmetry of the mandible, nasal septum deviation and spinal, rib or clavicle dysfunction often go undetected until associated health problems arise. It is increasingly common for births to be assisted with vacuum extraction instruments or surgery (Kozak and Weeks, 2002). Vacuum extraction has been shown to be a strong predictor of early cessation of breastfeeding (Hall et al, 2002). Even under normal conditions, birth consists of significant traction and rotation of the baby’s head and with sufficient force, clavicle fracture is seen as an “unavoidable side effect” in up to 10% of vaginal births (Miller et al, 2013). Babies with mild injuries have a high rate of cessation of breastfeeding, however a study by Miller et al (2009) found that 79% of new mothers presenting with feeding problems were able to exclusively breastfeed after a short course of manual therapy. More research is needed here, however these are promising results. Aside from feeding issues that may be associated with birth trauma, there are some other really important cues to look for in babies to see if they may be experiencing pain:
So if you baby is exhibiting any of these behaviours, give our Practice a call today so we can screen for musculoskeletal issues and help support you and your baby thrive as they grow and develop. References
 Cervicogenic headache is a type of headache involving one side of the head, though it may be felt in one or more areas of the head and/or face. This ranks among the most common of non-migraine headaches (1,2). Do you or a loved one experience headaches? This is an important article that can make the world of difference to you.
“The prevalence of cervicogenic headache has been estimated to be as high a 4.1% in the general population, with as high as 17.5% among patients who suffer from severe headaches.” (3,4) Neck pain, shoulder pain and lower back pain are the most frequently reported musculoskeletal complaints among office workers. There is a noticeable co-occurrence of cervicogenic headache with neck pain among this group, as it is often exacerbated by long hours of stationary sitting and computer use common in desk jobs (5). The International Headache Society defines cervicogenic headache as a headache caused by a disorder or lesion in the cervical spine, its bones, discs, and/or soft tissue elements (6). Being an underlying cause of misdiagnosed chronic headaches (5), is there anything that can be done to help? With chiropractic treatment being seen with widespread application in the management of head and neck pain (7,8), can chiropractic assist with the management of cervicogenic headache that is common among people who perform sedentary tasks? In a recent literature review, where the aim was to scrutinize the current available research and literature on the effectiveness of chiropractic interventions on pain management and life quality improvement for office workers who are affected by cervicogenic headaches. It was found that the current literature showed that chiropractic intervention holds promise in reducing pain and improving the quality of life for office workers who are suffering from cervicogenic headaches, although it shows that chiropractic has a positive effect with patients who have cervicogenic headaches, currently there are a limited number of studies available and small sample sizes so the indication is for more research to further confirm these positive findings (5). So if you want to find out if chiropractic care may help manage cervicogenic headaches for you or your loved ones, have a chat with one of our chiropractors to see how they can assist. “It is important to minimise the stress that is placed on our body from sedentary tasks, especially when it is over a long period of time with minimal movement” 1. Chaibi A, Russell MB. Manual therapies for cervicogenic headache: a systematic review. J Headache Pain 2012;13:351-9. 2. Feleppa M, Fucci S, Bigal ME. Primary headaches in an elderly population seeking medical care for cognitive decline. Headache 2017;57:209-16. 3. Sjaastad, O., 2008. Cervicogenic headache: comparison with migraine without aura; Vågå study. Cephalalgia, 28(1_suppl), pp.18-20. 4. Evers, S., 2008. Introduction: Comparison of cervicogenic headache with migraine. Cephalalgia, 28(1_suppl), pp.16-17. 5. İlter, S.E. and Gökçe, A., 2023. Assessment of chiropractic intervention influence on pain and life quality in cervicogenic headache afflicted office workers: a review. The European Research Journal, pp.1-9. 6. Olesen J. Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS) The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition. Cephalalgia 2018;38:1-211. 7. Bryans R, Decina P, Descarreaux M, Duranleau M, Marcoux H, Potter B, et al. Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with neck pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2014;37:42-63. 8. Côté P, Yu H, Shearer HM, Randhawa K, Wong JJ, Mior S, et al. Non-pharmacological management of persistent headaches associated with neck pain: A clinical practice guideline from the Ontario protocol for traffic injury management (OPTIMa) collaboration. Eur J Pain 2019;23:1051-70.  Each of us has innate biochemical factors which influence personality, behavior, mental health, immune function, allergic tendencies, etc. Scientists tell us that the number of different genetic combinations possible in a child from the same two parents exceeds 42 million. It's interesting to note that we do not possess a combination of characteristics from our parents, but instead have a diverse collection of characteristics from many ancestors on both sides of the family (1).
Because of genetic differences in the way our bodies process foods, most of us are quite deficient in certain nutrients and overloaded in others. Even with an ideal diet, most of us have certain nutrients that are at very low levels with many times the RDA required to achieve a healthy balance. The nutrients in overload must be carefully avoided in vitamin supplements or serious health problems can develop. After a group of scientists under the Walsh Research Institute studied the biochemistry of 10,000 persons, they learned that the greatest mischief is usually caused by nutrients that are stored in excessive amounts, rather than those at depleted levels. The most common nutrients in overload include copper, iron, folic acid, calcium, methionine, manganese, choline, and omega-6 fatty acids. Of course, these same nutrients may be in deficiency in other persons (1) Therefore giving a “one size fits all” vitamin is a bit like trying to determine the ideal shoe size for the population. The truth is that multiple vitamins and minerals are too indiscriminate, and may do as much harm as good. The brain is a chemical factory which produces serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and other brain chemicals 24 hours a day. The only raw material for these syntheses is nutrients, namely amino acids, vitamins, minerals, etc. If the brain receives improper amounts of these nutrient building blocks, we can expect serious problems with our neurotransmitters. More and more studies are being produced to demonstrate this. A recent study for problematic aggressive and violent behaviour disorders in male children and adolescents revealed that nutrient therapy appeared well tolerated, with favourable effects. The study included 32 males. It appeared effective in the reduction of parent reported aggressive and violent behaviours, and showed improvement in family functioning (2). Further research in the form of a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial is required to verify these initial positive observations. If you would like further advice on this subject please see one of our Drs of Chiropractic and Kinesiology at Sprouting Health. References1. Walsh, William. Biochemical Individuality and Nutrition. Walsh Research Institute. 2. Hambly, J.L., Francis, K., Khan, S., Gibbons, K.S., Walsh, W.J., Lambert, B., Testa, C. and Haywood, A., 2017. Micronutrient therapy for violent and aggressive male youth: an open-label trial. Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology, 27(9), pp.823-832. |
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May 2025
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