Surprising Number of Preteens Have Chronic Headache

Preteens may experience headaches and neck pain far more often than their parents would expect. A Swedish study of 131 students ages 10-13 years old compared the spinal health of students with and without pain. A surprising finding was that parents significantly underreported their child’s experience of pain.

The study found a wide discrepancy between what the children and parents reported regarding the child’s health. Children rated their experience and frequency of pain on surveys, prior to the assessment. Parents were asked separately to answer the same questions on behalf of their children.
Nearly a third of of children reported that they “often” had neck pain and/or headaches yet only 6% of parents thought their kids frequently had headache. Similarly, 61% of children reported trauma to the head and/or neck region but only 20% of the parents said that their children had experienced such trauma.

Overall, 40% of students ages 10-13 reported some type of neck pain or headache. Long periods of reading or using the computer tended to make headache worse.
To address the prevalence of headaches, chiropractors can:

• Educate adult patients about the high levels of neck pain and headaches among youth
• Encourage parents to talk with their children about neck pain and/or headaches and its origins
• Teach families techniques to prevent headaches following computer or reading time

Chiropractors who continue to educate themselves on the latest findings and techniques in pediatric chiropractic are best equipped to protect the development of children’s spines.
References

Weber Hellstenius S A, Recurrent Neck Pain and Headaches in Preadolescents Associated with Mechanical Dysfunction of the Cervical Spine: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study With 131 Students. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, October 2009. (32)8:625-634.

Written by: Marissa Luck on September 17, 2014.on September 15, 2014.

 

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

 

Chiropractic Cuts Headache by 50%

Cervicogenic headaches, or headaches that originate in the neck, are usually more than a little bothersome. Not only do they cause you a decent amount of pain, but they can also reduce your quality of life – especially if you start avoiding certain events or activities you used to love due to the hurt. Fortunately, according to a study published in The Spine Journal, relief may be just a few chiropractic visits away.

Researchers took 80 people who suffered with regular, chronic cervicogenic headaches and split them up into two groups, with some individuals participating in eight weeks of light massage and the rest receiving spinal manipulation therapy for the same amount of time. Then each group was split yet again with some members receiving treatment once a week and others receiving double that amount, or twice a week sessions, totaling 16 visits all together.

Individuals treated by a chiropractor were more likely to see a 50% improvement in the amount of pain they were experiencing. They also experienced a 50% reduction in headache frequency compared to the group who had light massage. Additionally, the gains experienced by the subjects who received 16 chiropractic adjustments were only slightly higher than those who received eight adjustments.

Reference

Haas M, et al. Dose response and efficacy of spinal manipulation for chronic cervicogenic headache: a pilot randomized controlled trial. The Spine Journal. 2010; 10: 117-128.

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.