RELIEF FOR LIFESTYLE-CONNECTED NECK PAIN VIA NERVOUS SYSTEM CALMING
Chronic
neck pain is quite common
today with lifestyle issues like cellphone use,
stress, and telecommuting. A meta-analysis of published randomized clinical trials regarding
the effectiveness of
manual manipulative therapy stated that it
has been described as and demonstrated to be a safe, less
painful, and customary way to reduce chronic neck pain
and related neck disabilities. (1) And a paper that was just published on June 1, 2023, reported that
long-standing
neck pain treated with manual therapy was statistically significant at improving
and reducing heart rate
variability consistent with reduced sympathetic tone (a positive
outcome!) and patient-perceived pain. (2) Sympathetic tone is the
‘fight or flight’ response to stressful (like long-standing, chronic neck pain)
or hazardous situations and is part of the autonomic
nervous system
(the system of functions you don’t have to think
about controlling like blood pressure, heart rate, digestion, sweating,
urination, etc.). These autonomic signals begin in the spinal cord
and extend out throughout the body. Calming sympathetic tone can
go a long way in managing neck pain.
The chiropractic treatment
technique we use at OrthoIllinois Chiropractic called Cox® Technic spinal
manipulation has been well-tested and documented
to manage neck pain, too. It’s been shown to lessen
intradiscal disc pressures which are seen with neck pain. (3) NIH and HRSA
funded studies have demonstrated clinician proficiency in learning
and delivering proper Cox® protocols after training.
(4,5,6) Further,
case studies have been published displaying reduction
in pain and disability with
Cox® Technic like one case of severe neck and arm
pain that was relieved in 15 visits in 10 weeks and another with
10 treatments in 4 weeks.
(7,8) Let us calm your nerves and reduce
your neck pain! They are all spine connected!
TIP OF THE MONTH: Add Breathing Exercise with Physical Exercise
Do you think about breathing? How about when you are
exercising? Most of us do not. Breathing just takes place without
a thought. As mentioned in the above article,
breathing is part of the autonomic nervous system that ensures
these kinds of functions persist without our thinking. A study studied how chronic neck pain patients
breathed and if better breathing exercise could help. 68 chronic neck pain
patients were split into 2 groups: one with breathing
re-education exercise or routine physical therapy. The breathing group showed
significant improvement in neck flexibility, extension, endurance, and strength
of neck flexors and extensors. (9) Since this breath work seems to help
neck pain patients, studies are now in the works for chronic low back pain
patients. One that will study how conscious connected breathing
may help focused on how closely connected the
respiratory system is throughout the body and “bidirectionally related” to
emotion, stress, and pain. (10) Another study will have back pain patients perform
exercise with specific breathing techniques and without and compare
outcomes related to pain, disability, anxiety, sleep, quality of life, health
status, and more. (11) Breathing more consciously and exercising seems
to be an up-and-coming benefit for the treatment plan of chronic back and neck
pain adn good additions to McHenry chiropractic care!
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Lee Hazen and Cheri Hazen on The Back Doctors Podcast with
Dr. Michael Johnson as they explained their combined
efforts in helping back pain patients realize less pain and improved
function with The
Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management and breath coaching.
CONTACT OrthoIllinois Chiropractic
Set your next McHenry
chiropractic visit with OrthoIllinois Chiropractic now. We look forward to seeing you soon!