Studies Show Headaches Can Be Helped
By Dr. Jason Rower, Rower Chiropractic
More than 15 million Americans suffer from persistent recurring headaches with no obvious cause. According to a U.S. Public Health Service Report, these chronic sufferers spend over 300 million dollars each year for prescription or over the counter medications that provide temporary symptom relief. Numerous studies have found that chiropractic care helps a variety of headaches. There are two major types of chronic headaches, the tension headache and the migraine headache.
Recent studies show that tension headaches originate in the neck where the cervical vertebrae are located. A medical doctor doing research at Syracuse University, said “We’ve been able to put together a scientific explanation for how neck structure causes headaches…It’s true that chiropractors have been saying this for years…They were right about headaches.” A recently published controlled trial concluded, “Spinal manipulation has a significant positive effect in cases of cervicogenic (originating from the neck) headaches.” The study found that chiropractic care reduced the number of headache hours by a whopping 69% and reduced the intensity of the remaining headaches. If you suffer from headaches this is welcome news.
Migraine headaches, the most common chronic headache and perhaps the most severe, also respond well to chiropractic care. The migraine is also call the vascular headache, migraine syndrome or sick headache. In one study, 74.7% of migraine patients were greatly improved under chiropractic care and the success rate was maintained for two years after the care ended. Then there was the Parker trial, funded by the Australian government, which found chiropractic care effective for migraines. A follow-up study of the Parker trial concluded, “This trial clearly established that chiropractic was an effective treatment regimen for migraine.”
The chiropractor uses no pain killing drugs so when pain is relieved, the patient can be sure the doctor is working on the underlying cause and not just the symptoms. Gentle manipulative therapy is often very effective in relieving the cause of nerve irritation taking place in the neck area. Additional treatment consisting of physical therapy, therapeutic exercise, and other conservative measures may be utilized to effectively treat the condition.
Chiropractic care is not just for backaches. If you suffer with headaches by all means get a spinal check up. The research indicates that chiropractic evaluation and treatment is both safe and effective.
BIO
Dr. Jason E Rower is a 1998, summa cum laude, graduate of Life University, College of Chiropractic. He received his undergraduate degree, cum laude, from Brooklyn College. Dr. Rower has a masters certification in the treatment of whiplash related injuries and spinal trauma. He is also certified in the treatment of upper and lower extremity conditions. For more information about chiropractic care and how it can benefit you, Dr. Rower can be reached at (410) 799-7550.
