Posts by Dr. Mark Holland

Chiropractic Better Than Drugs for Back Pain

Here in our North St. Louis, MO practice, Dr. Holland has helped countless people recover from back problems. If you are suffering from back pain, you've most likely been tempted to take drugs to reduce the pain. You should recognize that research shows that chiropractic is oftentimes a much healthier alternative than drugs when it comes to relieving this particular type of problem.

In a 2013 report published in the medical journal Spine researchers included 101 subjects who had experienced back pain for more than two days. Each patient was then assigned to one of three groups. The first group, which was made up of 37 patients, received chiropractic care and a placebo of the medication diclofenac. The second group of 38 participants received fake chiropractic adjustments and the real drug. The third group of 25 individuals served as the control as those subjects received sham chiropractic and also received the placebo, thus having no real treatment whatsoever.

Both of the groups that received some type of real treatment, whether through chiropractic care or the NSAID, fared better than the control subjects who had no actual care. However, when the two active groups were compared to each other, the patients who received chiropractic had improvements that were "significantly better" than those who took the drug diclofenac.

Chiropractic Promotes Natural Healing

Because chiropractic is non-invasive and doesn't use drugs, it helps enhance healing without unwanted side effects. For instance, NSAIDs can result in ulcers, heart problems, and other serious health issues. Plus, the benefits of chiropractic care last longer as it's intended to resolve the source of the spinal interference, not just treat the symptoms.

If you're ready to get help for your back pain naturally, then chiropractic care is for you. Call and make an appointment in our North St. Louis, MO office with Dr. Holland today at (314) 588-9100. We'll help relieve your back problems in a healthy way!

References

von Heymann WJ, Schloemer P, Timm J, Muehlbauer B. Spinal high-velocity low amplitude manipulation in acute nonspecific low back pain: a double-blind randomized controlled trial in comparison with diclofenac and placebo. Spine 2013;38(7):540-548.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is a common symptom after a car accident, and it's something that Dr. Holland sees often in our North St. Louis, MO office. What causes thoracic outlet syndrome after an auto collision? How can chiropractic help?

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

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

North St. Louis, MO Thoracic Outlet Treatment

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

You don't have to suffer from thoracic outlet syndrome. Dr. Holland is conveniently located in North St. Louis, MO to help you heal, whether you've been in a car crash or not. First, we'll do a careful assessment to establish the root cause of your problem, and then decide how to restore your body's natural functioning. Ready to make an appointment? Give us a call at (314) 588-9100 and we'll get you back on the road to health.

Many people suffer from headache pain, and tension headaches are a common problem in our busy lives. Postural problems and stress are common sources of tension headaches, and ones that Dr. Holland and the staff here in our North St. Louis, MO chiropractic office have a lot of experience in treating.

Research Supports Chiropractic Eases Tension Headaches

The scientific literature verifies our findings: A 2016 study from Spain treated a group of 76 men and women with chronic tension headaches. The participants were divided into four treatment groups: 19 patients were treated with suboccipital inhibition (the therapist presses on the tight tissues at the top of the spine); 19 with chiropractic adjustments; 19 with both adjustments and suboccipital inhibition; and 19 received no treatment.

The researchers found that the spinal adjustments were effective at relieving pain, and that the best results were found when spinal adjustments were coupled with the suboccipital inhibition.

When we get stressed out, the nerves and tissues in the neck can be disrupted, leading to pain. Chiropractic works by eliminating these stresses and restoring the normal nerve function to the tissues.

We're Here to Help People Find Help From Tension Headaches

If you live in North St. Louis, MO and suffer from any kind of headache, we're here to help you get relief. Call Dr. Holland today at (314) 588-9100 for an appointment or more information.

Citation

Espi-Lopez GV, Rodriguez-Blanco C, Oliva-Pascual-Vaca A, et al. Do manual therapy techniques have a positive effect on quality of life in people with tension-type headache? A randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Physical Rehabilitation Medicine 2016; February 29.

Chiropractic is based on the philosophy of helping your body to naturally heal through spinal adjustments and lifestyle changes that stimulate wellness. For Dr. Holland, this involves working to reestablish your body's natural functioning to avoid the need for medications or surgical treatments. We find that most of our North St. Louis, MO patients are pleased to find a natural answer for their health issues.

One advantage of chiropractic is that it helps people minimize or even eliminate the use of drugs. Prescription medications are frequently supplied to people who have back problems. This is such a significant crisis that the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) issued a report stating that opioid (painkiller) dangers outweigh the benefits when prescribed for back pain.

Some of the most common narcotics, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, include hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin and Percocet), morphine, and codeine. Numbers provided by the AAN cite the fact that roughly half of the people taking these drugs for a period of three months are still dependent on them five years down the road. This can further complicate the problem of back pain and healing, particularly if an opiate addiction arises.

Compare that to chiropractic which incorporates natural healing and the advantages are evident. While a pill might be useful at temporarily relieving the discomfort of a health problem, it's not a solution to the problem. Drugs don't fix your damaged spine; it will only conceal the pain.

Dr. Holland will first examine you to get to the root of your back pain and then work with you to correct the problem -- without risky medications.

If you're ready for relief, naturally, give our North St. Louis, MO office a call at (314) 588-9100 to make an appointment with Dr. Holland.

References

• Risk of opioids outweigh benefits for headache, low back pain, other conditions. American Academy of Neurology;September 29, 2014.
• What are opioids? National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/prescription-drugs/opioids/what-are-opioids

Back Pain is a common problem after an auto injury, and it's something that Dr. Holland sees frequently in our North St. Louis, MO office. What causes back pain after an auto injury? How can a chiropractor help?

During a rear-end auto collision, your car and car seat are rapidly accelerated forward against your body. Since car seats don't perfectly align with the curve of your spinal column, the seat can put uneven force on your lower back. This can cause some of your spinal vertebrae to move in one direction while an adjacent vertebrae might move in another direction. This differential movement can sprain or strain the structures that hold your spine together. These types of injuries can cause chronic back pain if not treated right away. Thankfully, chiropractic is one of the most effective ways to treat back pain.

Dr. Holland is here in North St. Louis, MO to help you recover from back pain. We've been helping patients since 2000 and we can probably help you, too. Dr. Holland will first determine what's causing your pain and then work to restore your body to its natural functioning. Ready to make an appointment? Give us a call at (314) 588-9100 and we'll get you back on the road to health.

When performing activities that demand a lot of lower body motion, like football, soccer, and basketball, it's not uncommon to suffer some type of injury to your hips or legs. Between pulled hamstrings, sprained ankles, knee injuries, and more, many people have found themselves out of commission. Dr. Holland has seen all of these problems in our North St. Louis, MO patients. The good news is, chiropractic can help prevent some of these injuries from occurring and research proves it.

Dr. Holland keeps up-to-date with all of the latest scientific research, and in a paper published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, researchers from Macquarie University in Australia studied 59 semi-elite Australian Rules football players. Roughly one-half were placed in a control group and the other half were put in a therapy group that received sports chiropractic care at regular intervals. During the first six weeks, this meant receiving care once per week. The following three months consisted of an adjustment every two weeks before decreasing those to one visit monthly for the final three months of the study.

The authors noted that there was a "significant" decrease in the number of lower limb strains the players received in the treatment group when compared to the control. Furthermore, they observed that the subjects who received chiropractic also had fewer weeks of missed practice and games as a result of non-contact knee injuries. This led them to determine that sports chiropractic treatment should be added to "the current best practice management."

Every major sports team in the US and the US Olympic Team has chiropractors on staff for their players, because they know that chiropractic really works. If you live near our office in North St. Louis, MO and would like to see if Dr. Holland can help you boost your performance or reduce sports injuries, give our office a call today at (314) 588-9100 for an appointment.

Bibliographic Reference

Hoskins W, Pollard H. 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 2010;11(64).

In our North St. Louis, MO office, it isn't uncommon for us to see patients struggling with sciatic nerve pain, and Dr. Holland has helped many of these people improve with chiropractic. What makes chiropractic so beneficial to those who suffer with sciatica? For starters, it shortens their recovery time and a Norwegian medical study confirms it.

In the study, which took place in a Norwegian hospital's orthopedic department, the authors looked at 44 patients who reported abrupt low back pain that was diagnosed as acute sciatica. The participants were all treated by a chiropractor, with the average follow-up being two years after treatment.

The authors found that all but two patients returned to work after receiving chiropractic treatment, which is a 95% success rate. Furthermore, the average amount of time that the patients spent off work "was reduced by two thirds as compared with that associated with conventional medical treatment."

Considering that the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 170,450 days of work were missed in 2013 due to employees dealing with back or spine-related issues, that is about 112,500 work days that could potentially be recovered each and every year solely by receiving chiropractic care. Not only would that increase work productivity, but it might also decrease costs to businesses and workers from lost work.

If you live in North St. Louis, MO and you suffer with sciatica, Dr. Holland is here to assist. Give us a call at (314) 588-9100 and we'll work with you to find the source of your sciatica and get you back on the road to health.

Orlin JR, Didriksen A. Results of chiropractic treatment of lumbopelvic fixation in 44 patients admitted to an orthopedic department. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2007;30(2):135-139.

Headache and neck pain are common problems that affect millions of people around the world. If you are suffering from this type of condition, you're not alone. The good news is that chiropractic care is an excellent way to not only treat these common issues, but also help avoid future episodes.

Research Proves Chiropractic Helps With Neck Pain and Headaches

For many years, people with neck and headache pain in North St. Louis, MO have been helped by the chiropractic adjustments of Dr. Holland. Our success is backed up by a recent review done in Canada that found that non-surgical, non-drug treatments are the best choice for neck and headache pain.

The review looked at 15 studies from 1990 to 2015 and found that conservative treatment comprised of chiropractic adjustments, exercises, and stretches was advisable before turning to drugs or more invasive procedures.

Previous studies have shown that chiropractic is effective and safe for neck pain and many other health conditions.

We Can Help Clients Find Comfort From Neck Pain and Headaches

If you're suffering with neck pain or headaches, Dr. Holland and our staff are here to help you heal. Give our North St. Louis, MO office a call today at (314) 588-9100 for an appointment today.

Reference

Varatharajan S, Ferguson B, Chrobak K, et al. Are non-invasive interventions effective for the management of headaches associated with neck pain? An update of the Bone and Joint Decade Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders by the Ontario Protocol for Traffic Injury Management (OPTIMa) Collaboration. European Spine Journal 2016; February 6:1-29.

There are many different kinds of headache, but one of the most common types is known as "cervicogenic headache," or headaches that originate in your neck.

Dr. Holland sees a lot of patients in our North St. Louis, MO office who are suffering with recurring headaches. Luckily, chiropractic can often help, potentially reducing these types of headaches by 50 percent, and research confirms it.

A study was conducted involving 80 participants who reported experiencing at least five cervicogenic headaches during the prior three months. The goal was to see how effective chiropractic care was for this type of head pain, as well as to ascertain the number of treatment sessions required to achieve a positive effect.

The individuals were split into four separate groups, so that each group was similar in age, gender, number of cervicogenic headaches, and their intensity. Of the four groups, two engaged in chiropractic treatments and two received light massage. Furthermore, one group assigned to each treatment received eight sessions and the other patients received double that amount.

Each person was assessed based on head pain, neck pain, and disability prior to the study and 12 and 24 weeks after treatment was complete. The authors found that those who received chiropractic as opposed to massage reported fewer headaches at the conclusion of the study. Furthermore, improvements were maintained when checked six months after treatment ended.

Furthermore, participants who were taking medications for their headaches were able to lower their intake after completing the study. Those who received chiropractic had lower medication usage 24 weeks post-study.

Dr. Holland has helped many patients who were suffering from headaches in our North St. Louis, MO office. Call us today at (314) 588-9100 for more information or for an appointment.

Haas M, Spegman A, Peterson D, Aickin M, Vavrek D. Dose response and efficacy of spinal manipulation for chronic cervicogenic headache: a pilot randomized controlled trial. The Spine Journal 2010; 10: 117-128.

Dr. Holland sees many patients weekly in our busy North St. Louis, MO chiropractic office who are looking for relief from the pain and suffering they feel due to herniated discs. Our experience isn't unique; the medical literature confirms that chiropractic is a successful way to treat herniated disc pain.

Don't Suffer! Dr. Holland and Chiropractic Care Helps With Disc Herniation

One particular research study involved 27 people, 8 male and 19 female, who had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirming a disc herniation in either their neck or lower back. The people documented that they were experiencing pain, reduced range of motion, and sensory problems bad enough to keep them off work.

During the course of the research study, the participants were treated using one of two common chiropractic practices: traction for herniated discs in the cervical area or flexion distraction for the people who had herniation issues in the lumbar area.

Each man or woman was seen four or five times per week for the first two weeks, then three times each week, and then as needed for the rest of the study. Based on the extent of the disc herniation, treatment ranged anywhere from six weeks to six months, with MRIs being performed at a variety of stages to determine what effect, if any, the chiropractic care was having in regard to the disc herniation.

Research Shows Chiropractic Helps With Back Pain and Herniated Disc

The investigators found that 80 percent of the patients enjoyed a "good clinical outcome," meaning reduced pain and a reduction in other symptoms, such as numbness. Additionally, 77 percent of these individuals also showed MRI evidence that their disc herniation was either reduced or resolved completely. This resulted in 78 percent of the study participants being able to return to their place of work and led the researchers to conclude that chiropractic care is both "safe and helpful" for disc herniations.

If you have a herniated disc and suffer from chronic back pain and are near Dr. Holland in North St. Louis, MO, contact our office today to see what chiropractic can do for you!

Reference
BenEliyahu, DJ. Magnetic resonance imaging and clinical follow-up: study of 27 patients receiving chiropractic care for cervical and lumbar disc herniations. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 1996;19(9):597-606.