Posts by Dr. Mark Holland

Chiropractic is centered on the philosophy of enabling your body to naturally heal through spinal adjustments and lifestyle changes that encourage wellness. For Dr. Holland, this means working hard to reestablish your body's healthy performance to avoid the need for medications or surgery. We notice that many of our Downtown St. Louis, MO patients are happy to find a natural answer for their health problems.

One advantage of chiropractic is that it helps people reduce or even eliminate the use of drugs. Medications are frequently issued to people who have back pain. This is such a serious crisis that the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) issued a report stating that opioid (painkiller) dangers outweigh the benefits when administered for back pain.

Some of the most popular narcotics, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, include hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin and Percocet), morphine, and codeine. Data presented by the AAN cite the fact that roughly 50% of the people taking these drugs for a period of three months are still taking them five years later. This can further complicate the issue of back pain and recovery, particularly if an opiate addiction arises.

Compare that to chiropractic which engages natural healing and the benefits are crystal clear. While a pill might be useful at briefly reducing the symptoms of a health problem, it's not a long-term solution to the problem. Drugs can't fix your damaged back; 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 solve the problem -- without the need for risky medications.

If you're ready for relief of your pain, naturally, give our Downtown 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

We manage many car accident cases in in our Downtown St. Louis, MO office, and a common symptom we see in our patients is thoracic outlet syndrome. The key to recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome caused by a crash is to understand the root cause of the problem and how chiropractic care can help.

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

In a collision, these muscle groups can be stretched and strained. If injured, the muscles become swollen and tender, and they can develop scar tissue which restricts motion 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 wrist. Pressure on the blood vessels can also cause problems in the arm.

Downtown St. Louis, MO Thoracic Outlet Treatment

Chiropractic 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 Downtown 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 determine 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.

We work with many back pain patients in our Downtown St. Louis, MO chiropractic office, and Dr. Holland and our staff uses an assortment of techniques to help get you out of pain and restore your spine's normal, healthy function. We find spinal decompression to be a highly effective approach.

Understanding Spinal Decompression Therapy

To help you better understand spinal decompression therapy, think of the discs in your spine like little balloons filled with gelatin. When you squeeze them (which occurs due to normal living, sustaining an injury, or other medical conditions), they can protrude, placing pressure on the nerves in your spinal column. This affects your brain's ability to communicate with tissues in the rest of your body.

If the force on the discs becomes too high, the discs can herniate or protrude. This reduces the cushion between your vertebrae and can cause pain. The purpose of spinal decompression therapy is to alleviate this pressure to help restore your body's function and also reduce your level of pain.

Can Spinal Decompression Therapy Help Me?

Spinal decompression therapy relieves disc pressure through the use of a specially designed table that carefully elongates your spinal column through slow and controlled movements. This reduces the pressure placed on your discs. Some studies state an increase in disc height by as much as 1.3 millimeters after just six weeks of this treatment.

If you're wondering if spinal decompression therapy could help you feel and function better, simply call our Downtown St. Louis, MO office and schedule an appointment with Dr. Holland today. Your optimal health is our number one objective!

Resources

Apfel CC, Cakmakkaya OS, Richmond C, et al. Restoration of disk height through non-surgical spinal decompression is associated with decreased discogenic low back pain: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2010;11(155). doi:10.1186/1471-2474-11-155

In our Downtown St. Louis, MO office, it's common for us to see patients suffering with sciatica, and Dr. Holland has helped many of these people heal with chiropractic. What makes chiropractic so helpful to those who suffer with sciatica? First, it reduces their recovery time and a Norwegian medical study confirms it.

Research Proves Chiropractic Helps With Sciatica Pain

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

The authors discovered that all but two patients returned to work after receiving chiropractic care, 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."

Given the fact 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 almost 112,500 work days that could potentially be recovered each and every year solely by receiving chiropractic care. Not only could that increase productivity, but it could also reduce costs to businesses and workers from lost work.

We Can Help People Find Relief From Sciatica

If you live in Downtown St. Louis, MO and you suffer with sciatica, Dr. Holland is here to help. 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 recovery.

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.

Neck and headache pain are common problems that affect millions of men and women around the world. If you are dealing with this type of issue, you're not alone. The good news is that chiropractic is an excellent way to not only treat these common problems, but also help hold off future episodes.

Research Shows Chiropractic Helps With Neck Pain and Headaches

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

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

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

We Can Help People Find Relief 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 Downtown 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 those that originate in your neck.

Dr. Holland sees a lot of patients in our Downtown St. Louis, MO office who are suffering with frequent, reoccurring headaches. Fortunately, chiropractic can often help, potentially reducing these types of headaches by 50%, and research confirms it.

Research Proves Chiropractic Helps With Cervicogenic Headaches

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

The individuals were divided 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 patient was assessed based on head pain, neck pain, and disability prior to the study and 12 and 24 weeks after treatment was complete. The researchers 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.

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

We Can Help Clients Find Comfort From Head Pain

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

Reference

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 Downtown St. Louis, MO chiropractic office who are looking for relief from the pain and distress they feel due to herniated discs. Our experience isn't unique; the medical literature confirms that chiropractic is an effective way to treat herniated disc problems.

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

One particular 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 individuals reported that they were experiencing pain, reduced range of motion, and sensory issues bad enough to keep them off work.

Over the course of the research study, the participants were managed 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 individual 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 severity of the disc herniation, treatment ranged anywhere from six weeks to six months, with MRIs being conducted 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 authors found that 80 percent of the subjects experienced 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 adjustments 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 Downtown 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.

In our Downtown St. Louis, MO office, we see a lot of people who are suffering from back pain, and some of these patients have been informed they might need surgery to recover. Thankfully, Dr. Holland has helped many people get relief without the need for any type of surgery. The scientific research confirms the success we see in our office. One research study published in the academic journal Spine found that seeing a chiropractor as your first move in overcoming with your back pain may actually keep you out of the operating room.

In this report, medical experts from Dartmouth analyzed statistics from about 1,900 workers from the state of Washington who first saw either a surgeon or a chiropractor for their low back issues. They then used three years' worth of follow-up medical records to determine whether the patients wound up having back surgery in an attempt to treat the problem.

What the researchers observed was that 42.7% of the people who first saw a surgeon for their back problems ended up in surgery in that 3-year time span, whereas only 1.5% of those who first consulted with a chiropractor had the same fate. The authors wrote:

"Even after controlling for injury severity and other measures, workers with an initial visit for the injury to a surgeon had almost nine times the odds of receiving lumbar spine surgery compared to those seeing primary care providers, whereas workers whose first visit was to a chiropractor had significantly lower odds of surgery."

These are remarkable findings. Consulting with a chiropractor drastically decreases your odds of getting back surgery, plus the chiropractic patients in this study "had lower odds of chronic work disability" and they also had fewer expensive MRI tests.

Let's also take note this important detail: this study was performed by orthopedic surgeons from Dartmouth College, and printed in the world's most distinguished medical publication on spinal injury.

Why You Should Avoid Surgery

Any surgical procedure has risks, but a serious problem linked to spinal surgery is that there's a very high rate of failure. In an important analysis in the European Spine Journal, researchers wrote:

"Failed back surgery is a problem that has become sufficiently widespread to even warrant its own special conferences, with recent reviews reporting failure rates ranging from 5 to 50%."

The authors of this same study concluded:

"It is extremely difficult to identify unequivocal predictor factors that can be used to accurately predict the outcome of surgery."

As a chiropractor, Dr. Holland believes that surgery should be the absolute last resort for treating back pain. Chiropractic care works to restore your spine to its normal function--without the need of risky surgery or drugs--and many studies have confirmed the efficacy of chiropractic for back pain.

If you live in Downtown St. Louis, MO and you need care for your back pain, give our office a call today at (314) 588-9100 for a consultation or an appointment. We'll help get you back on the road to a pain-free life!

Studies

• Keeney BJ, Fulton-Kehoe D, Turner JA, Wickizer TM, Chan KC, Franklin GM. Early predictors of lumbar spine surgery after occupational back injury: results from a prospective study of workers in Washington State. Spine 2013;38(11):953-964.
• Mannion AF, Elfering A. Predictors of surgical outcome and their assessment. European Spine Journal 2006;15(Suppl 1):S93-S108.
  

If you are dealing with back pain after a car crash, don't despair. Dr. Holland sees this type of condition very often in our Downtown St. Louis, MO office. Let's look at why back pain is commonly experienced after an auto collision and see how your chiropractor can help you get better.

During a rear-end car crash, your car and car seat are rapidly accelerated forward against your body. Since car seats don't perfectly align with the curvature of your back, the seat can put inconsistent force on your 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 ligaments that hold your spine together. These types of injuries can cause chronic back pain if not treated promptly. Thankfully, chiropractic is one of the most effective ways to treat back pain.

You don't have to suffer from back pain. Dr. Holland is conveniently located in Downtown St. Louis, MO to help you get better, whether you've been in a car crash or not. 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 sports activities that demand a lot of lower body movement, 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 athletes have found themselves out of commission. Dr. Holland has seen all of these problems in our Downtown St. Louis, MO patients. The good news is, chiropractic can help prevent some of these injuries from happening and research proves it.

Research Supports Chiropractic Helps With Sports Injuries & Recovery

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

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

Every major sports organization in the United States and the US Olympic Team has chiropractors on staff for their athletes, because they know that chiropractic really works. If you live near our practice in Downtown 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.

Dr. Holland Can Help Clients Find Comfort From Sports Injuries and Recover Faster

If you're suffering from severe pain, Dr. Holland and our staff are here to help you recover. Give our Downtown St. Louis, MO office a call today at (314) 588-9100 for an appointment today.

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).