Upper Cervical St Louis

Over 1.5 million Americans suffer from Parkinson’s Disease, a degenerative condition of the central nervous system that often impairs motor skills, speech, and other functions. Common Parkinson’s symptoms include rigid muscles, tremors, slow movement, gait disturbance, and postural instability.

According to a recent study, people who suffer head injury are 400% more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. The study also found that this risk increases 8-fold for people with a head trauma requiring hospitalization and 11-fold for those with a severe head injury involving loss of consciousness. Lead author Dr. James Bower, a Mayo Clinic neurologist, says: “I was surprised by the strength of the association and was also surprised that the average head trauma was about 20-years before the start of the disease.”

New Idea Magazine printed the results of an Australian study in 2005 stating, “If you are knocked unconscious, your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease increases 32%. If you’re knocked out twice, that risk increases to 174%.”

Upper Cervical Chiropractors have a great deal of experience caring for patients with head & neck injuries. I’ve helped a number of Parkinson’s sufferers, and interestingly enough, evidence of head or neck injuries was found in every single one of them. While not all could recollect specific incidences of trauma, many were able to recall incidences like auto accidents, falls, or concussions that may have caused their upper cervical injury.

A noteworthy chiropractic study performed in 2000 by Erin Elster, DC, demonstrated that eight out of ten Parkinson’s patients who received a unique Upper Cervical procedure noted improvements within the first 30 days of the program. Participants in this study further reported increased energy level and sleep, and showed a decrease in spinal pain and rigidity as well. About 50% of the patients also had better balance, more fluid walking, improved hand agility, clearer speech, improved facial expression, and better strength, among other improvements.

While medical science has not determined the exact cause(s) of Parkinson’s Disease, sufferers are encouraged to visit an Upper Cervical Chiropractor for evaluation. A referral directory for specialists in your area can be found online at www.UpCspine.com.

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Adam Tanase, D.C.

www.drtanase.com

              NORMAL                                            ABNORMAL
        

If there's one thing you can learn from today's blog entry, it's that posture is powerful!

A lot can be said about a person based on their posture. In fact, it can have a major effect on how you look and feel. Research shows your posture conveys a lot of information to the world around you about your mental and emotional state. But that’s not all… Posture can also be a window into your overall health. According to the American Journal of Pain Management, “To live a long, active, energetic life, few things matter more than good posture.”

The first x-ray above, on the left, is an example of what many doctors would identify as "healthy" - almost perfect.

The second x-ray, on the right, is an example of very poor posture. What can be said about the overall health of this patient? Parkinson’s Disease, constipation, incontinence, low back and pelvic pain, headaches, extreme stiffness of the neck muscles, insomnia, foggy memory, and kidney trouble.

So, what’s the connection? The spinal cord itself is intended to fit loosely within neural canal of the spine. It should never be stressed or agitated. Thanks to good posture, the left picture suggests this "normal" presentation. However, when the cervical spine translates forward due to poor posture, the spinal cord becomes stretched, hindering its laxity. This can impact the function of the entire nervous system, and all of the organs and tissues it controls.

Nobel-prize winner Roger Sperry, Ph.D., advocated this concept when he said, “The more mechanically distorted a person is, the less energy is available for healing, metabolism, and thought.”

This is why it's so important for people to have a chiropractor to call their own. Just like you go to the dentist to make sure your teeth and gums are healthy, visiting your chiropractor to make sure your spine and nervous system are healthy is a smart thing to do!

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Adam Tanase, D.C.

www.drtanase.com

While most people are aware that medications can have side effects, many are surprised to learn that chiropractic care produces positive “health effects.” Here’s a brief list of what some of my recent patients noticed within 48-hours of their first Upper Cervical adjustment.

June from Shrewsbury, MO experienced dramatically improved sleep quality and much better bowel function.

Beth from Chesterfield, MO felt reduced stress and less muscle tension, much improved motion throughout her neck and back, and slept great. Plus, her migraine headache stopped!

Annie from Glendale, MO felt much better, and the ringing in her ears (tinnitus) subsided.

Nicole from Oakville, MO slept great and the knee pain she had completely vanished!

Margo from Maplewood, MO had improved sleep quality, increased sensation and warmth into her hands and feet, and better motion in her neck and back.

Vicky from Webster Groves, MO had deeper and improved breathing, increased alertness and awareness, her sinus pressure evaporated, and experienced increased warmth in her fingers and toes.

Rita from Webster Groves, MO enjoyed the feeling of reduced muscle strain, and her nagging shoulder pain disappeared!

I have a number of patients who call me a few times per year for help, but it’s not because they have back or neck pain! They call because… they’re constipated.

It started about five years ago after I helped a patient who had been suffering from chronic constipation. Her case was heartbreaking, and by far the worst I’d ever seen. The only consistent form of bowel movement she had involved her husband manually “de-compacting” her with a rubber glove every 3-4 days. Not a pretty picture!

Within three days of her first Upper Cervical adjustment, she had five natural bowel movements. Her husband called ecstatic, and just couldn’t believe it worked!

Over the months and years following this case, a number of constipation sufferers have found their way to my practice. With similar results, they choose to come in whenever they’re feeling “backed up.” Interestingly enough, within about 24-hours of their visit, they too have regular bowel movements.

This may sound surprising, so I’ll shed some light on this topic by explaining why Upper Cervical care can be beneficial for constipation sufferers.

Symptoms of bowel diseases such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) include painful cramping, bloating, and constipation. Evidence supports that certain cases of bowel disease result from the malfunction of nerves that control gastrointestinal function and/or immune response. It can also result following trauma to the spine. Uncorrected spinal trauma can create malfunction within the autonomic nervous system, the immune system, and the nerves traveling from the brain to the G.I. tract.

The purpose of Upper Cervical Care is to reverse the trauma-induced neck injury; thereby reducing irritation to the injured nerves that supply the immune system and small and large bowel.

It’s important to note that there are many different causes of constipation and not all can be helped the same way. An upper cervical examination is necessary in each individual’s case to determine if benefit from Upper Cervical Care can be achieved.