What if Age Is Nothing but a Mind-Set?

The subjects were in good health, but aging had left its mark. “This was before 75 was the new 55,” says Langer, who is 67 and the longest-serving professor of psychology at Harvard. Before arriving, the men were assessed on such measures as dexterity, grip strength, flexibility, hearing and vision, memory and cognition — probably the closest things the gerontologists of the time could come to the testable biomarkers of age. Langer predicted the numbers would be quite different after five days, when the subjects emerged from what was to be a fairly intense psychological intervention.

At the end of their stay, the men were tested again. On several measures, they outperformed a control group that came earlier to the monastery but didn’t imagine themselves back into the skin of their younger selves, though they were encouraged to reminisce. They were suppler, showed greater manual dexterity and sat taller — just as Langer had guessed. Perhaps most improbable, their sight improved. Independent judges said they looked younger. The experimental subjects, Langer told me, had “put their mind in an earlier time,” and their bodies went along for the ride.

After a lecture in 2010, in which she’d discussed how when we talk about “fighting” cancer we actually give the disease power, a man buttonholed Langer and laid into her. His wife had died of breast cancer. “He said she had fought it, and I made it seem that it was her fault,” Langer told me.
Langer apologized to the man. “Those are good points, and I’m sorry I didn't address them,” she said. “But let me explain to you that it’s the culture that teaches us that we have no control. I’m not blaming your wife; I’m blaming the culture.” Langer imagines a day when blame isn’t the first thing people reach for when things go awry. Instead, we will simply bring to bear the power of our own minds — which she believes will turn out to be far greater than we imagined.

New York Times Magazine

Dr. David Marcon
463 Ohio Pike, Suite 104
Cincinnati, Ohio 45255
513-474-1111
www.marconchiropractic.com

What If You Could Seriously Reduce The Frequency of Your Headaches?

Surely you must have dreamed of the day when you don’t have headaches! This blog post will contain two ways you can potentially decrease the frequency and severity of your headaches and do so in a short period of time.

The first method is to get a chiropractic manipulation for your headache. To some people, this may seem like out-of-the-box thinking but after it’s explained why it works, it will make sense to you.

Spinal nerves and cranial nerves (nerves inside the head) control the sensation of pain on the face and head, as well as the five senses. When any of them are irritated, that’s when you will have symptoms. A headache is only one of numerous symptoms that could potentially result from irritated nerves. Chiropractic manipulation allows the irritated nerve the chance to heal, and thus helps restore the nervous system impulses.

In a study of 127 people who suffered from migraines (at least one per month), 83 people in the chiropractic group received a maximum of 16 chiropractic treatments for headache over a two-month period of time. The rest of them were in the control group. There was a significant improvement in frequency of migraine headache, how long they lasted, how disabled they were as a result of a headache and how much medication they used.

Now here’s the best part: 22% of these patients had more than a 90% reduction of migraines! All these positive effects happened from chiropractic treatment.

About 50% of those who received chiropractic treatment reported significant improvement in the seriousness of their migraine headaches as well.

Your first method to seriously reduce the frequency of your headaches is to start chiropractic treatment.

The second method is to decrease your dependence on migraine headache medication. It can be difficult to suffer through a migraine headache but the fact is that headache medications can cause headaches!

Who needs or wants to be saddled with a headache anymore? Take this information and make it usable right away!

Source: Tuchin, P.J., Pollard, H. and Bonello, R. A randomized controlled trial of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for migraines. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2000 Feb; 23(2): 91-5.

Written by: Dr. Barry Hitchcock on October 1, 2014.

David Marcon, DC
463 Ohio Pike, Suite 104
Cincinnati, Ohio 45255
513-474-1111
www.marconchiropractic.com

Dizziness subsides with chiropractic

A 2011 case study suggests that chiropractic adjustments may alleviate chronic dizziness associated with neck pain.1

A 29 year old man had been suffering from cervicogenic dizziness for 10 years. His dizziness developed in his 20s after a lifetime of neck and back pain as a result of an auto accident he’d been in as child. The man had tried a slew of both medical and alternative treatments but nothing seemed to work. That’s when he began receiving chiropractic adjustments as part of a case study on chiropractic treatment for dizziness. The man immediately felt less dizzy after just one adjustment, and continued to improve from there.

After just 2 months of treatment, the young man had substantially less dizziness and pain, better neck range of motion, and an improved quality of life. Since there were no serious side effects, researchers concluded that chiropractic adjustments were a safe, effective treatment for this patient’s pain.
Although this was just a case study, it verifies research from another study in which chiropractic care combined with other approaches reduced dizziness in 80% of patients.²

References

1. Chaibi, Aleksander, and Peter Tuchin. Chiropractic spinal manipulative treatment of cervicogenic dizziness using Gonstead method: a case study. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine.2011;10: 194-8.

2. Bracher E, Almeida C, Almeida R, Duprat A, Bracher C. A combined approach to the treatment of cervical vertigo. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2000;23(2):96-100.

Written by: Marissa Luck on September 22, 2014.
Last revised by: Michael Melton

 

David Marcon, DC
463 Ohio Pike, Suite 104
Cincinnati, Ohio 45255
513-474-1111
www.marconchiropractic.com

 

A recent case study suggests that chiropractic adjustments may alleviate chronic dizziness associated with neck pain.1

A 29 year old man had been suffering from cervicogenic dizziness for 10 years. His dizziness developed in his 20s after a lifetime of neck and back pain as a result of an auto accident he’d been in as child. The man had tried a slew of both medical and alternative treatments but nothing seemed to work. That’s when he began receiving chiropractic adjustments as part of a case study on chiropractic treatment for dizziness. The man immediately felt less dizzy after just one adjustment, and continued to improve from there.

After just 2 months of treatment, the young man had substantially less dizziness and pain, better neck range of motion, and an improved quality of life. Since there were no serious side effects, researchers concluded that chiropractic adjustments were a safe, effective treatment for this patient’s pain.

Although this was just a case study, it verifies research from another study in which chiropractic care combined with other approaches reduced dizziness in 80% of patients.2 To learn more about how chiropractic can relieve dizziness, contact our office today.

References

1. Chaibi, Aleksander, and Peter Tuchin. Chiropractic spinal manipulative treatment of cervicogenic dizziness using Gonstead method: a case study. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine.2011;10: 194-8.

2. Bracher E, Almeida C, Almeida R, Duprat A, Bracher C. A combined approach to the treatment of cervical vertigo. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2000;23(2):96-100.

Professionally speaking, I have seen numerous cases of vertigo aided by Chiropractic adjustments.  The mechanism is the same as that of ear infections, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and cervicogenic headaches in that the restriction of nerve impulses to the upper cervical nerves interferes with cranial nerve function affecting the eyes, ears and nose.  If you or anyone you know has vertigo be sure to recommend Chiropractic as an option. 

463 Ohio Pike, Suite 104
Cincinnati,Ohio 45255
513-474-1111
www.marconchiropractic.com

Prescription Painkillers Deadlier Than Heroin

As rates of prescription painkillers soar, new research from the American Journal of Public Health reveals just how deadly opioids can be. Media reports on these deaths focus on doctor errors and websites selling the drugs, but researchers from McGill University in Canada are finding something else.

What they found was that in 2010, prescription painkillers resulted in more than 16,000 deaths in the US, reports Medical News Today. That number was greater than the amount of deaths from heroin and cocaine combined – and there was little influence from websites and doctor errors.

The big problem is in how the painkillers work. They do decrease pain but in the process, the drugs bind to the same receptors in the brain that create a ‘high’; a sense of euphoria. These same receptors are also linked to addiction and physical dependence. This is why many people on prescription painkillers end up seeking their next dose – to feel the euphoria.

In fact, in 2010 over 12 million people used prescription painkillers without a prescription or because they wanted to get high, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These drugs also automatically cause you to slow down and relax to the point of sedation. That may seem like a good thing, but when your breathing slows down so much, you can end up in cardiac arrest.

Those likely to die from painkillers were people who combined them with other drugs and alcohol, and those who were taking the strongest, long-lasting opioids such as oxycodon.

One way to decrease the continually growing number of people on painkillers is to go right to the source of pain and address the issue. Many people take opioids for soft tissue injuries or spinal conditions; yet, these drugs are totally avoiding the primary goal – to heal the affected tissues.

Chiropractic manipulation of the spine and joints alleviates discomfort by decreasing compression of spinal nerves and allowing the affected body part to receive the proper nervous system influence that stimulates healing. Numerous studies have shown for example that patients who only receive care from a medical doctor for their back or neck pain don’t experience the same benefits that patients under chiropractic care do. For instance, one study from The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics showed that patients with chronic lower back pain reported more improvements and a greater satisfaction with their treatment after one month compared to patients treated by a medical doctor.

The answer to the increasing deaths from painkillers seems quite obvious – involve chiropractors more often in medical treatment plans – and watch the potential victims return back to performing a vital role in the community.

 Photo by The Javorac via Creative Commons

Reference

King NB. Determinants of Increased Opioid-Related Mortality in the United States and Canada, 1990–2013: A Systematic Review.  American Journal of Public Health, doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.301966, published online 18 June 2014, Abstract.

Written by: Donna Schwontkowski on July 2, 2014.

David Marcon, DC,CCSP

Marcon Chiropractic & Wellness Center

463 Ohio Pike, Suite 104

Cincinnati Ohio 45255

(513) 474-1111

Case Study: ADHD and Migraine Improve with Chiropractic

Children who suffer with migraines have it tough. Not only do they have to find a way to deal with the throbbing pain coming from their head, but they may also experience behavioral or learning difficulties too. This can put them behind in school and in trouble at home, neither of which is a good place for a child to be.
Some researchers are finding that kids with migraines are being prescribed narcotics at an alarming rate, putting them at-risk of painkiller addictions and other adverse side effects associated with the drugs. For parents interested in a non-pharmaceutical method of managing migraines, one recent case study suggests that chiropractic care may not only resolve head pain, it could have  a positive impact on learning and behavior in kids.

A Case Study
An adolescent male who was 15 years of age had a migraine headache for over a month. In addition to the consistent and recurrent head pain he was experiencing, he had also been diagnosed with three separate behavioral conditions, namely attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and Tourette syndrome (TS), more than 10 years before.

Testing showed that even though the subject was in ninth grade, he scored between fourth and eighth grade levels. He also exhibited factors that confirmed his previous diagnoses for ADHD as he scored extremely high on that scale.

As a course of treatment, he engaged in regular spinal manipulations (42 in total) that involved realignment of the entire length of his spine. He also did exercises that were meant to assist with his treatment, all of which happened over the course of 19 weeks. The results?

Physically, he no longer had his migraine, his TS tics happened less often, and he even required new glasses because his vision had improved. Mentally, he experienced a 90% gain in his ability to be attentive and he was able to stay awake long enough to study, whereas he previously fell asleep when trying to learn.
This study confirms the benefits of chiropractic care on children who suffer from reoccurring headaches, as well as from behavioral and learning issues. That makes this drug-free treatment option a win-win for children and parents alike.


Reference
Kuhn K and Cambron J. Chiropractic management using a brain-based model of care for a 15-year-old adolescent boy with migraine headaches and behavioral and learning difficulties: a case report. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine (2013) 12, 274-280.

Written by: Christina DeBusk on May 12, 2014.

Neck Adjustments Effective for Cervicogenic Headache

Most people with chronic headache depend on medication to get by, but a recent study reminds us of the power of drug-free treatments.



Cervicogenic headache is estimated to affect between 20-25% of the adult population, but because the symptoms often mimic migraine and tension-type headache, the diagnosis can be easily overlooked.

This headache type is caused by musculoskeletal impairments in the cervical spine, or neck, that cause pain at the base of the skull or above the eyes. Patients also often report dizziness and lightheartedness. Both invasive and non-invasive treatments are available for CGH, but more research was needed to confirm the effectiveness of non-invasive approaches.

A recent study included a meta-analysis of six randomized, controlled trials on the effects of manual therapies for CGH. The interventions assessed included therapist-driven cervical manipulation and mobilization (neck adjustments); self-applied cervical mobilization; cervico-scapular strengthening; and therapist-driven cervical and thoracic manipulation.

Patients in all but one study reported a decrease in disability and pain after these treatments, as well as an improvement in function. The researchers found that a combined treatment of therapist-driven cervical manipulation and mobilization, along with strengthening exercises, were the most effective for minimizing pain.

These results add to previous research demonstrating the efficacy of a combined chiropractic and exercise treatment for CGH. Before you reach for medication for your headache, consider seeing a chiropractor who can help to diagnose and treat your headache once and for all.

References

Jull G, Trott P, Potter H, et al. A randomized controlled trail of exercise and manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache. Spine 2002; 27(17):1835-1843.
Racicki S, et al. Conservative physical therapy management for the treatment of cervicogenic headache: a systemic review. Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy 2013; 21(2): 113-124. 

Written by: Marissa Luck on January 28, 2014.on January 27, 2014.

David Marcon, DC
463 Ohio Pike, Suite 104
Cincinnati, Ohio 45255
513-474-1111
drdave@marconchiropractic.com
www.marconchiropractic.com 

Clinicians Contribute to Negative Back Pain Beliefs

Despite research showing otherwise, many patients continue to believe that bed rest and avoiding certain activities is an adequate model for recovery after a back injury. A new study sought to examine how patients develop these negative back pain beliefs, and pointed to one unifying factor: their doctors.

Research shows that this old model of thinking about back pain– staying in bed to wait for it to get better– actually worsens your prospects of recovery. Countless studies have shown that staying active hastens healing, prevents muscle degeneration, and allows you to strengthen your muscles to avoid future injuries. However many patients continue to exhibit fear avoidance beliefs, which have been tied to chronic back pain symptoms.

“Many messages from clinicians were interpreted as meaning the back needed to be protected,”  the authors wrote. “These messages could result in increased vigilance, worry, guilt when adherence was inadequate, or frustration when protection strategies failed.”

Any messages to rest or avoid certain movements contributed to the idea that their backs were vulnerable, and subsequently facilitated the development of fear avoidance beliefs. At the same, clinicians could have a beneficial effect on perceptions of back pain, with reassurance and advice to stay active resulting in a positive outlook and confidence.
“Healthcare professionals have a considerable and enduring influence upon the attitudes and beliefs of people with low back pain. It is important that this opportunity is used to positively influence attitudes and beliefs,” the authors concluded.

Chiropractors understand the importance of patient education and exercise therapies in treating back pain. They’ll work with you to provide you with safe, symptom-targeted exercises to reduce pain; and support you in staying active during your recovery for efficient relief.
 

Reference

Darlow B, et al. The enduring impact of what clinicians say to people with low back pain. Annals of Family Medicine 2013. doi: 10.1370/afm.1518.

Written by: Marissa Luck on November 25, 2013.

 

Dr. David Marcon

463 Ohio Pike, Suite 104

Cincinnati, Ohio 45255

(513) 474-1111

 

Located in the Beechmont Racquet Club Professional Center

Beneath Beacon Orthopedics

Will your back pain become chronic?

Back pain, like other health problems, should now be “considered as a chronic recurring condition” argue the authors of a new study on acute low-back pain. The authors found that symptoms of acute and persistent low-back pain are likely to last longer than six weeks, and can even last up to a year. Since acute-low back pain is typically treated as a temporary problem, the research could significantly alter the way patients receive care.

The research was based on a meta-analysis of 11,000 patients with acute and persistent low-back pain gathered from several studies in a dozen countries.  In all countries, patients with acute and persistent low-back pain experienced substantial improvements in the first 6 weeks but often suffered from ongoing pain and disability thereafter. While the majority of acute low-back pain patients had recovered in 12 weeks, those with persistent pain were unlikely to recover within a year.*
This is the latest in a string of recent studies questioning the conventional notion that acute-low back pain is temporary. The authors suggested that patients be better educated about the likelihood of recurring episodes of low-back pain, and that doctors should reconsider how they manage back pain. Since back pain may be a long-term issue, the authors wrote that “a one-off visit when [the pain] is bad is not likely to provide the best outcome.”
Chiropractic has been shown to reduce the frequency of recurring back pain and may help you avoid developing chronic pain.

* In this study, acute low-back pain participants were defined as patients who had low-back pain for less than 6 weeks at that time they enrolled in a study; persistent low-back pain patients had pain for longer than 6 weeks at the time they enrolled in a study, but their pain had not yet become chronic.

Reference
Costa OP, Maher C, Hancock M, McAuely J, Herbert R, and Costa L. The prognosis of acute and persistent low-back pain: A meta-analysis. Canadian Medical Association Journal 2012; DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.111271.

Work Smarter; Not Harder!

Dr David Marcon
Marcon Chiropractic & Wellness Center

Headaches & Chiropractic

If you have a headache, you're not alone. Nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea.

What do you do when you suffer from a pounding headache? Do you grit your teeth and carry on? Lie down? Pop a pill and hope the pain goes away? There is a better alternative.

 

Research shows that spinal manipulation – the primary form of care provided by doctors of chiropractic – may be an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck.

 

A report released in 2001 by researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, NC, found that spinal manipulation resulted in almost immediate improvement for those headaches that originate in the neck, and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of tension-type headache than a commonly prescribed medication.

 

Also, a 1995 study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that spinal manipulative therapy is an effective treatment for tension headaches and that those who ceased chiropractic treatment after four weeks experienced a sustained therapeutic benefit in contrast with those patients who received a commonly prescribed medication.

 

Headache Triggers

 

Headaches have many causes, or “triggers.” These may include foods, environmental stimuli (noises, lights, stress, etc.) and/or behaviors (insomnia, excessive exercise, blood sugar changes, etc.). About 5 percent of all headaches are warning signals caused by physical problems.

 

Ninety-five percent of headaches are primary headaches, such as tension, migraine, or cluster headaches. These types of headaches are not caused by disease. The headache itself is the primary concern.

 

“The greatest majority of primary headaches are associated with muscle tension in the neck,” says Dr. George B. McClelland, a doctor of chiropractic from Christiansburg, VA. “Today, Americans engage in more sedentary activities than they used to, and more hours are spent in one fixed position or posture. This can increase joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck, upper back and scalp, causing your head to ache.”

 

What Can You Do?

 

The ACA suggests the following:

• If you spend a large amount of time in one fixed position, such as in front of a computer, on a sewing machine, typing or reading, take a break and stretch every 30 minutes to one hour. The stretches should take your head and neck through a comfortable range of motion.
• Low-impact exercise may help relieve the pain associated with primary headaches. However, if you are prone to dull, throbbing headaches, avoid heavy exercise. Engage in such activities as walking and low-impact aerobics.
• Avoid teeth clenching. The upper teeth should never touch the lowers, except when swallowing. This results in stress at the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) – the two joints that connect your jaw to your skull – leading to TMJ irritation and a form of tension headaches.
• Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to help avoid dehydration, which can lead to headaches.

What Can a Doctor of Chiropractic Do?

 

Dr. McClelland says your doctor of chiropractic may do one or more of the following if you suffer from a primary headache:

• Perform spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustments to improve spinal function and alleviate the stress on your system.
• Provide nutritional advice, recommending a change in diet and perhaps the addition of B complex vitamins.
• Offer advice on posture, ergonomics (work postures), exercises and relaxation techniques. This advice should help to relieve the recurring joint irritation and tension in the muscles of the neck and upper back.

“Doctors of chiropractic undergo extensive training to help their patients in many ways – not just back pain,” says Dr. McClelland. “They know how tension in the spine relates to problems in other parts of the body, and they can take steps to relieve those problems.”

Work Smarter; Not Harder!

Dr David Marcon

Marcon Chiropractic & Wellness Center

www.marconchiropractic.com

How to reduce Job Stress

I routinely tell patients that the source of some of their pain is stress.  Of course everyone has stress in their life but when a physical injury or illness meets a stressful environment the negative effects are magnified and treatment can be seen as less than effective. The potential also exists that the stress is the direct cause of the breakdown in health.

"Stress sets off an alarm in the brain, which responds by preparing the body for defensive action. The nervous system is aroused and hormones are released to sharpen the senses, quicken the pulse, deepen respiration, and tense the muscles. This response (sometimes called the fight or flight response) is important because it helps us defend against threatening situations. The response is preprogrammed biologically. Everyone responds in much the same way, regardless of whether the stressful situation is at work or home.

Short-lived or infrequent episodes of stress pose little risk. But when stressful situations go unresolved, the body is kept in a constant state of activation, which increases the rate of wear and tear to biological systems. Ultimately, fatigue or damage results, and the ability of the body to repair and defend itself can become seriously compromised. As a result, the risk of injury or disease escalates."

Read the entire article: "Stress...at Work"  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Work Smarter; Not Harder!

Dr. David Marcon
Marcon Chiropractic & Wellness Center
Cincinnati Ohio 45255
www.marconchiropractic.com 

Oregon Lower Back Pain Guidelines: Try Chiropractic First

The new State of Oregon Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines for the Evaluation and Management of Low Back Pain recommend spinal manipulation as the only non pharmacological treatment for acute lower back pain.

 The guidelines, which have been adopted by the Oregon Health Authority, are a collaborative effort between the Center for Evidence-Based Practice, Oregon Corporation for Health Care Quality, Oregon Health and Sciences University's Center for Evidence-based Policy, and the new Oregon Health Evidence Review Commission.

Source: Dynamic Chiropractic  

Lower back pain is the second leading reason people make appointments to see their family doctor ( Upper Respiratory Infection is #1).  And worldwide more money is spent on the treatment of lower back pain than heart disease and cancer.  So, why has it taken so long for a Government entity to acknowledge the effectiveness Chiropractic compared to other conservative forms of care?

Like any Doctor, when you find a good one stick with him/her and continually update them on your entire health status, not just your back.

Work Smarter; Not Harder!

Dr David Marcon
Marcon Chiropractic & Wellness Center
Cincinnati, Ohio 45255
www.marconchiropractic.com