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If you suffer from thoracic outlet syndrome after a car accident, don't despair. Dr. Heusler sees this type of condition very often in our New Carrollton office. Why is thoracic outlet syndrome such a common condition after a car accident? How can your chiropractor help you recover?

The thoracic outlet is a bundle of blood vessels and nerves that pass through your neck and shoulder to your arm. These vessels don't have a lot of room, so they travel under and between the strong bands of muscles that support your head.

In a crash, these muscle groups can be stretched and strained. If damaged, the muscles become swollen and tender, and they can develop scar tissue which limits movement and puts pressure on the tissues of the thoracic outlet. Pressure on the nerves can cause tingling or numbness in the shoulder, elbow and even the wrist. Pressure on the blood vessels can also cause problems in the arm.

New Carrollton Thoracic Outlet Treatment

Chiropractic adjustments can be an effective way to treat thoracic outlet syndrome, as Dr. Heusler will help improve mobility in your spine and restore normal nerve function in your neck and shoulder.

Dr. Heusler has been helping patients in New Carrollton since 2002, so we know what you're experiencing. We're here to help you, too. The first step is to get an accurate diagnosis to determine what's causing your pain and then we will determine an appropriate treatment plan of action. Give our office a call today at (301) 577-0023 to make an appointment.

When you're trying to sustain your family, take care of your home, and pay all of your bills on time, every day at work counts. Work injuries can be a serious problem for many people, and we see many of these types of injuries in our New Carrollton office. Dr. Heusler understands your situation and is here to help.

The advantages of chiropractic care for work injuries are well-documented. A 2013 research paper involving 651 adults who were suffering with either back or neck pain found that the individuals who didn't see a chiropractor missed work at twice the rate of those who were seeing a chiropractor.

So, why don't more people use Chiropractic Care?

According to the respondents in this report, two of the primary reasons were that they thought they needed a referral for chiropractic care (which is typically no longer true) and they overestimated the costs associated with chiropractic treatment sessions by almost 70 percent.

The fact is, chiropractic patients actually spend less on care than medical patients, plus they are less likely to use drugs for their symptoms.

Dr. Heusler Can Help Clients Find Relief From Chronic Pain

If you live in New Carrollton and you've been injured at work, we can help. Give our office a call today at (301) 577-0023 for an appointment.

References

"Thousands of Minnesotans with Back and Neck Pain Don't Seek Treatment." (2013, June 12). ChiroCare.

Because trauma to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is often quite painful, we do our best to help our New Carrollton patients find relief as quickly and effectively as possible. In fact, Dr. Heusler will tell you that the medical literature shows just how much chiropractic care can help ease pain in the jaw.

Research Supports Chiropractic Helps With TMJ Pain and Discomfort

For example, one study published in Physiotherapy Theory and Practice included 15 people with temporomandibular disorders who were treated with neck adjustments, middle-back adjustments, and trigger point therapy via dry needling. Individuals were evaluated prior to these therapies and at 15 days and two months post-treatment. The researchers reported positive outcomes such as reduced discomfort, greater jaw movement, and lower impairment at both follow-ups.

Another group of researchers conducted a review of almost 800 studies involving manual and manipulative therapy for conditions such as TMJ and revealed similar findings. They concluded that there is a "fair...level of evidence" that chiropractic care can help ease pain associated with TMJ and other upper extremity disorders.

This is great news since the triggers of TMJ are largely unknown. While injury to the jaw area can cause pain symptoms, there are other causes to consider as well, such as grinding teeth, osteoarthritis, and clenching of the jaw due to stress.

Dr. Heusler Can Help Patients Find Relief From TMJ Pain

No matter what is making your jaw ache, call Dr. Heusler today and schedule an appointment to come into our New Carrollton practice. We'll do our best to help you smile pain-free!

Resources

• Gonzalez-Iglesias J et al. (2013, November). Mobilization with movement, thoracic spine manipulation, and dry needling for the management of temporomandibular disorder: a prospective case series. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice;29(8):586-95
• Brantingham J et al. (2013, March-April). Manipulative and multimodal therapy for upper extremity and temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics;36(3):143-201
• Oral Care. WebMD. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/temporomandibular-disorders-tmd on November 2, 2015

We come across a lot of sports injuries in our New Carrollton office, and Dr. Heusler is generally able to help these athletes. Stanford Children’s Hospital states that over 3.5 million children aged 14 and younger are injured each year while playing sports. Add that to the close to 2 million adults injured each year while participating in sports-related activities, as reported by statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and you can start to see the importance of preventing these types of widespread injuries. One way to potentially realize that goal, as stated in a study published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, is to engage in regular chiropractic treatments.

In Australian Rules football, hamstring and other leg traumas are commonplace, often sidelining the players and affecting their team's odds of securing a win. One particular study was administered using 59 semi-elite Australian Rules footballers to see how well chiropractic could reduce these injuries and help keep them playing.

Research Shows Chiropractic Helps in Treating Sports Injuries

For this study in particular, every one of the players received medical treatment. Additionally, half of them also were given chiropractic treatments at the rate of one treatment per week for the first 6 weeks, biweekly treatments for the following three months, and one session per month for the final 3 months of the study. The remaining participants were given no chiropractic intervention at all and acted as the control group to assess the benefits of chiropractic care.

After twenty-four matches, scientists noted a reduced number of lower limb muscle strains in the group that had received chiropractic care. Furthermore, that same group also missed fewer matches correlated to non-contact knee injuries. This lead the researchers to conclude that chiropractic ought to be added to sports training programs to dramatically reduce the amount of leg injuries.

Dr. Heusler Can Help People Find Comfort From Sports Injuries & Help You Recover Faster

If you or your child are active in sports and you want to ensure greater time is spent on the field versus on the sidelines, call our New Carrollton office at (301) 577-0023 and make an appointment today. We will do our best to keep you in the game!

References

• Hoskins, W, & Pollard, H. (2010, April 8). The effect of a sports chiropractic manual therapy intervention on the prevention of back pain, hamstring and lower limb injuries in semi-elite Australian Rules footballers: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 11(64), doi:10.1186/1471-2474-11-64
• Misra, A. (2014, March 17). Common sports injuries: Incidence and average charges. Department of Health & Human Services.
• Stanford Children’s Hospital. (n.d.). Sports injury statistics.

Dr. Heusler sees many back pain patients in our busy New Carrollton chiropractic office. Many of our patients have some form of spinal disorder that is causing them pain and distress. Fortunately, Dr. Heusler finds that spinal decompression therapy is a great way to help these folks.

What is Spinal Decompression and How Can it Help Me?

Non-surgical spinal decompression is a treatment approach that takes all of the positive benefits that one normally gets from chiropractic, traction, physiotherapy, exercise therapy, and myofascial release and merges them all into one.

The objective of this technique is to keep you out of the operating room, and that is precisely what it's achieved for a number of folks, as it has a reported 85% success rate.

Some of the issues spinal decompression helps with include generalized back pain, sciatica, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, compression fractures, and joint pain.

Spinal decompression works by reversing the effects of wear, tear, and gravity that compresses the intervertebral discs in your neck and back. The video below demonstrates how it works to eliminate stress on your back and helps decrease pain and disability.

Dr. Heusler Can Help People Find Comfort From Chronic Back Pain

If you live in New Carrollton and you're struggling with back issues, spinal decompression treatment might be the fix. Call Dr. Heusler today at (301) 577-0023 for a consultation or appointment.

According to research, roughly 5 percent of the population will experience painful conditions like frozen shoulder syndrome at some point in their lives. That makes shoulder pain a common problem and one that Dr. Heusler sees in our New Carrollton practice on a regular basis.

Research Supports Chiropractic Helps With Shoulder Pain

Generally, this condition is more common for people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, and it tends to affect women more often than men. While ice, heat, and gentle stretches can sometimes help alleviate the pain, so too can chiropractic adjustments.

For example, one study published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine looked at 50 patients with frozen shoulder who received chiropractic care. The length of care ranged from 11 days to 51 days, with 28 days being the average.

The researchers found that almost all of the study participants fared extremely well with chiropractic care. The study found:

8 of the subjects reported 50-75 percent improvement
25 indicated improvement ranging from 75- 90 percent
1 participant had complete resolution of their frozen shoulder pain

Only one patient reported an improvement of 50 percent or less, so studies like this demonstrate just how beneficial chiropractic care can be when it comes to decreasing shoulder pain and increasing quality of life.

We Can Help Patients Find Relief From Shoulder Pain

Let Dr. Heusler help you decrease your suffering by contacting our New Carrollton office and scheduling your appointment today.

Resources

Murphy F et al. (2012, December). Chiropractic management of frozen shoulder syndrome using a novel technique: a retrospective case series of 50 patients. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine;11(4):267-272

Dr. Heusler works with countless sciatica patients here in our New Carrollton office, and many of these patients were afraid that they might need surgery to alleviate their pain. The most recent research shows that a large number of people don't require surgery for this common problem, and that chiropractic is more effective at solving sciatic nerve pain.

A common surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, specialists looked at 80 women and men with sciatica who were referred for this operation.

Forty patients were then randomly sorted into one of two groups. The first group was to receive surgical microdiscectomy and the second group received chiropractic care.

Both groups improved; however, no noticeable difference in outcome was recorded one year post-treatment between the surgery group and the chiropractic group. Furthermore, roughly 60% of the participating patients who could not find relief from any other treatment method "benefited from spinal manipulation to the same degree as if they underwent surgical intervention."

Simply put, chiropractic offered the same positive benefits as surgery without having to go through the increased levels of surgery-based pain or suffer through lengthy recovery times often associated with that specific treatment method. Additionally, you also don't run the risks linked to surgical microdiscectomy, including nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.

Surgery should be the last option for sciatica pain. If you live in New Carrollton and you're suffering from back pain or sciatica, give Dr. Heusler a call today at (301) 577-0023. We'll help identify the origin of your pain and work hard to get you relief.

References

• McMorland, G et al. Manipulation or microdiskectomy for sciatica? A prospective randomized clinical study. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2010;33(8):576-584.
• Solberg TK, Nygaard OP, Sjaavik K, Hofoss D, Ingebrigtsen T. The risk of "getting worse" after lumbar microdiscectomy. European Spine Journal 2005;14(1):49-54.
  

While many women automatically assume that pregnancy and back pain go hand in hand, they are often surprised when they learn that this is not necessarily the case. In fact, chiropractic adjustments can often help reduce back pain for pregnant women by as much as 85 percent.

Dr. Heusler has helped many pregnant women with back pain in our New Carrollton office.

A research study published in Chiropractic & Manual Therapies involved 115 women who were pregnant (most of which were in their third trimester) and reported pain in their lower back region, pelvic area, or both. Data was gathered prior to the study, as well as one week, one month, three months, and one year after treatment commenced. At each follow-up, the participants were asked to rate their level of pain based on a 7-point scale to determine whether it was better, worse, or stayed the same. The results?

52% reported that their pain was better after one week of chiropractic treatment. After one month, that amount jumped up to 70 percent, climbing even more to 85 percent showing improvement at the three month mark. Positive effects were still reported at six months post-treatment, which was generally after delivery, and continued to the final data collection one year after treatment commenced.

There are also many additional benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy. Not only does it efficiently ease back pain, but it does it in a completely natural and non-invasive way. This means that you don't have to worry about taking any drugs or undergoing any type of treatment that could potentially harm your unborn child.

Furthermore, it makes your time spent carrying your child more pleasant. When you're not distracted with pain, you can enjoy the experience even more as you prepare your home and your life for all of the fun and exciting changes that lie ahead.

We're here in New Carrollton to help you have a healthy, pain-free pregnancy. Give us a call today at (301) 577-0023 to make an appointment.

Peterson CK, Muhlemann D, & Humphreys BK. Outcomes of pregnant patients with low back pain undergoing chiropractic treatment: a prospective cohort study with short term, medium term and 1 year follow-up. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies 2014;22(15):doi:10.1186/2045-709X-22-15.

According to The American Academy of Pain Medicine, more people in the US suffer with chronic pain than diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer combined. Furthermore, neck pain is the third most documented type of pain, beat out only by lower back pain and headache.

Not surprisingly, a lot of patients come to our New Carrollton office looking for neck pain treatment, and Dr. Heusler has helped many of them find relief. This is a smart choice, as some studies have shown that over 90% of neck pain patients get relief with chiropractic care.

Studies Confirm Chiropractic's Positive Effects

A study published in The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy included 64 men and women who were suffering with neck problems. Approximately half were placed in an experimental group and the other half were designated to a comparison group. Both were given chiropractic adjustments of the neck as well as a home exercise program, while the experimental group also received thoracic spine adjustments.

Data was collected before treatment began and one week post-treatment. The authors found that 94 percent of the experimental group reported "significantly greater improvements" in regard to pain and disability in their neck symptoms. Just 35% of the patients who received neck adjustments showed the same level of improvement, showing that looking at the entire spine is an important part of restoring the body's normal function.

Yet another study posted in Physical Therapy involved 60 adults who were dealing with neck pain. Each person was randomly assigned to one of two groups--thoracic spine thrust manipulation or non-thrust manipulation--with follow-up exams occurring two and four days after the treatments.

The investigators discovered that the study patients who received the thrust manipulations (the same adjustments that provided such positive results in the first report) "experienced greater reductions in disability" than the patients who received the non-thrust manipulations. Their pain was lower as well, which shows that this type of approach offers many benefits.

Help After Failed Neck Surgery

One study even found the same sort of positive outcomes after thoracic adjustments in a patient who had a failed neck surgery. This specific case involved a 46-year-old woman who had recently had neck surgery but still experienced neck pain, headaches, pain in her elbow, and muscle fatigue.

The patient reported decreased pain in her neck and reduced headache intensity, right after the first chiropractic treatment session. After six weeks of care, which involved chiropractic, exercise, and patient education, the patient still rated her pain at a zero on a scale of 1 to 10. Her neck disability improved as well, with a rating score that represented that it was a "great deal better."

It is studies like these that prove the effectiveness of chiropractic care, even if you've already attempted neck surgery that didn't provide relief. So, if you are dealing with neck discomfort and would like to find a remedy that has a high success rate, try chiropractic. It may just be the help you're looking for.

We're located in New Carrollton and Dr. Heusler can help you recover from neck pain. Give us a call today at (301) 577-0023.

References

• AAPM facts and figures on pain. The American Academy of Pain Medicine.
• Masaracchio M, Cleland JA, Hellman M, Hagins M. Short-term combined effects of thoracic spine thrust manipulation and cervical spine nonthrust manipulation in individuals with mechanical neck pain: a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy 2013;43(3):118-127.
• Cleland JA, Glynn P, Whitman JM, Eberhart SL, MacDonald C, Childs JD. Short-term effects of thrust versus nonthrust mobilization/manipulation directed at the thoracic spine in patients with neck pain: a randomized clinical trial. Physical Therapy 2007;87(4):431-440.
• Salvatori R, Rowe RH, Osborne R, Beneciuk JM. Use of thoracic spine thrust manipulation for neck pain and headache in a patient following multiple-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: a case report. The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy 2014;44(6):440-449.
  

With the Migraine Research Foundation reporting that migraine headaches affect 38 million adults and children in the United States (more than diabetes and asthma put together), it's no surprise that Dr. Heusler treats a lot of headache patients in our New Carrollton office. While some people try to relieve migraine pain with medications, chiropractic is a great, all-natural alternative that usually provides positive results.

For instance, one report published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics involved 127 people ranging in age from 10 to 70-years-old who suffered with regular (at least monthly) headaches. Each subject received up to 16 chiropractic sessions. The subjects noted that their headache frequency, duration, and disability two months before the study began, during the duration of the sessions (which was two months), and two months post-treatment.

What the investigators discovered is that chiropractic reduced the frequency, duration, and disability of the migraine headaches when compared with the control patients who didn't receive chiropractic. In addition, this enabled them to take less medication for the pain, offering them an all-natural answer for a chronic condition.

Another report found that a combination of chiropractic and neck massage reduced migraine pain almost 68%.

If you have migraine headache pain and are looking for relief, call Dr. Heusler today and request an appointment in our New Carrollton chiropractic office. We'll do what we can to help you become pain-free!

Studies

Migraine Fact Sheet. Migraine Research Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.migraineresearchfoundation.org/fact-sheet.html on November 2, 2015
Noudeh Y et al. (2012). Reduction of current migraine headache pain following neck massage and spinal manipulation. International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork;5(1):5-13
Tuchin P et al. (2000, February). A randomized controlled trial of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for migraine. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics;23(2):91-5