Executive Chiropractic of Iowa Addresses the Range of Motion of the Cervical Spine in Treating Neck Pain and Headache
The cervical spine is unique among spinal curves. Unlike the thoracic and lumbar spine curves, the cervical spine houses the spinal cord a bit more snugly. The diameter of the vertebral canal in which the spinal cord lies ranges from 11 to 19 mm while the spinal cord measures from 7 to 14 mm depending on the level of the spine. If the size of the spinal canal is small and the cord big, a condition known as stenosis exists and makes pain and disability a greater problem. (4-8) Whatever the size, there isn’t a lot of space for the spinal nerves that exit the spinal cord regardless of any disc herniation or bone spur and such that may develop. Plus, the cervical spine has to support the average head weighing 9 pounds! The cervical spine is remarkable. No wonder it appeals to researchers and anatomists and chiropractors like yours at Executive Chiropractic of Iowa and produces such pain for West Des Moines neck pain sufferers. Fortunately, your West Des Moines chiropractor knows the cervical spine anatomy and potential painful cervical conditions as well as the gentle, stretching technique protocols of the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management to reduce the pain.
RESEACHERS STUDY THE CERVICAL SPINE MOTIONS
Such cool developments in the field of radiology are now available and may help back pain healthcare providers like your West Des Moines chiropractor better diagnose and treat neck pain as well as surgical colleagues develop more appropriate surgical techniques! New 3D computed tomography imaging permits a look at the cervical spine in various positions in normal volunteers. What did the researchers find happens in the neck with this? Flexion-extension range of motion is greatest at C1-2 and C4-5. C1-2 is where 70% of all axial rotation takes place, too. C3-4 range of motion for lateral bending is larger than C1-2, C5-6 and C6-7. (1) Using Cox® Technic for cervical spine pain allows segment-specific treatment of each of the cervical spine ranges of motion to decrease pain and restore normal ranges of motion as best as possible.
CERVICAL SPINE TREATMENT FOR CERVICOGENIC HEADACHE
The cervical spine range of motion is addressed in patients with cervicogenic headache. When West Des Moines chiropractic patients come in with a headache, they’ll often note limited range of motion. That isn’t unusual. A randomized control trial of spinal manipulation versus spinal mobilization for relief of cervicogenic headache explained that manipulation and mobilization have comparable effects on disability, pain, global rating of change score, and cervical ranges of motion. (2) Our chiropractic care of the cervical spine addresses West Des Moines neck pain as well as related range of motion issues like acute neck pain.
SPINAL MANIPULATION FOR ACUTE NECK PAIN
Acute West Des Moines neck pain is a common issue for which patients will seek help from healthcare practitioners like chiropractors as well as general practitioners (GPs). Medications and/or manual therapy are usual treatments. Researchers state that GPs were sometimes uncertain in referring for manual therapy as they weren’t sure about effectiveness and adverse events. In a review of randomized controlled trials published about the effect of spinal manipulation for acute neck pain, researchers found that spinal manipulation alone or in combination with other therapies was valuable for acute neck pain with no serious adverse effects being reported. (3) Your West Des Moines chiropractor who understands the cervical spine well and provides safe spinal manipulation works with West Des Moines general practitioners to assist neck pain sufferers find relief.
CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
Check out this PODCAST with Dr. David Kulla on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes how the Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction System of Spinal Pain Management helps him help his patients with neck pain and headache relief.
Make your West Des Moines chiropractic appointment today. The uniqueness of the cervical spinal curve and the pain conditions affecting it merit a unique treatment protocol to take care of pain. At Executive Chiropractic of Iowa, that protocol is safe, gentle, and effective!