May - June 2009 (PDF Version) - New York Chiropractic College

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Chiropractic Care for Headaches Joseph Pfeifer, DC (NYCC ‘84), Chief of Staff at NYCC’s Levittown Health Center and Dean of Chiropractic Clinical Education; and Assistant Professor Christopher A. Marchese, DC (NYCC ‘93), contributed to this article Scientific studies now back up what chiropractors and their patients have known for decades: Chiropractic is an effective treatment for headaches. Chiropractors can provide relief to those suffering from benign headaches, which make up more than 98 percent of all headaches. In fact, headaches account for 5 to 10 percent of new chiropractic patients. Common benign headaches include migraine, tension-type headaches (TTH), and cervicogenic headaches, which originate in the neck. Most headache diagnosis is based on a thorough history, including details relating to headache location, onset and clinical course, and such provoking factors as mechanical or environmental triggers. Sufferers of cervicogenic headaches are often unaware of neck symptoms because the pain in the head is so intense. The true cause is discovered only after the chiropractor palpates the upper cervical spine. Patients often respond well to cervical adjustments, myofascial treatment, stretching, and therapeutic modalities including heat, ultrasound and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Postural and ergonomic modifications and relaxation techniques are also helpful. Migraine and TTH are less understood and are often linked to neck pain and certain triggering factors such as stress, hormonal fluctuations, and certain types of food. Because sensory systems that transmit painful sensations from the upper neck and head intermingle in the spinal cord, it is thought that neck pain can actually trigger migraine and TTH, and vice versa. Spinal manipulation has been found to reduce headache activity and severity. Because migraine, TTH and cervical spine dysfunction each have different causes, they can co-exist in the same patient, and can be triggers for each other, a multifaceted approach – including addressing trigger factors, chiropractic treatment, rehabilitation exercises, nutritional and herbal remedies, behavior therapy, acupuncture and medical management - is more likely to be effective. Research In 2001, researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, N.C., completed a study begun six years earlier by an Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) panel. Researchers focused on treating tension and cervicogenic headaches. When compared to an attention-placebo control group, patients who received cervical spinal manipulation for cervicogenic headaches saw immediate improvement in severity as well as sustained improvement in frequency and severity compared to those given soft-tissue therapies (massage). Researchers also compared the effects of chiropractic on tension headaches with the effects of amitriptyline, a commonly prescribed drug for headaches. Of the patients receiving a low dose of the drug for four weeks, 82 percent reported adverse side effects. Only 4 percent of those who received manipulation reported adverse side effects, and they also saw a reduction in headache frequency and severity. A similar study conducted at Northwestern College of Chiropractic and funded by the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER) corroborated these results. Researchers divided 126 patients, ages 18 to 70, into two groups randomly assigned to receive spinal manipulation or amitriptyline for six weeks. Both reported similar improvements. However, four weeks later the spinal manipulation group reported reductions of 32 percent in headache intensity, 42 percent in headache frequency, 30 percent in over-the-counter medication usage, and 16 percent improvement in functional health status. Those in the amitriptyline group reverted to their original levels reported at the beginning of the study. As in the Duke University study, 82.1 percent of the amitriptyline group suffered side effects such as drowsiness, dry mouth, and weight gain, compared to only 4.3 percent of the spinal manipulation group. Continued on page 34 14 1919-2009 - 90 Years Of Excellence - New York Chiropractic College
protegrity protection integrity The malpractice insurance offered by the OUM Chiropractor Program provides scope of practice* protection to chiropractors across the country. OUM knows that the value of protection is measured by the trust you have in the company. In building trust, experience and excellent customer service are key, but perhaps most important is integrity. You want malpractice insurance that offers you more. You want insurance that offers you protegrity. OUM offers new practitioner discounts of up to 75% off, so call Pittsburgh Property & Casualty, OUM Chiropractor Program’s New York representative, at (800) 548-4479 for a free no-obligation quote or visit us online at www.oumchiropractor.com. The OUM Chiropractor Program is underwritten by PACO Assurance Company, Inc. or PICA. *The OUM Chiropractor Program does not dictate how you practice as long as it is within your state’s scope of practice, subject to specific policy exclusions. www.nycc.edu 15
Page 1 and 2: A publication of New York Chiroprac
Page 3 and 4: May/June 2009 New York Chiropractic
Page 5 and 6: In Memoriam NYCC Trustee Emeritus,
Page 7 and 8: Dr. & Mrs. David Odiorne Seneca Fal
Page 9 and 10: Security. Back in 1946, NCMIC was f
Page 11 and 12: y stress. Cluster headaches do not
Page 13: LLOYD TABLE: AMERICAN MADE WITH WOR
Page 17 and 18: www.nycc.edu 17
Page 19 and 20: EARN YOUR MASTER’S IN Applied Cli
Page 21 and 22: Alumni Spotlight Justin Whittaker,
Page 23 and 24: Now’s the time to think DIGITAL I
Page 25 and 26: Ricardo J. Ferreras Olivieri, DC (N
Page 27 and 28: The Student Appreciation Event is p
Page 29 and 30: Angel Trail to the Colorado River a
Page 31 and 32: News Briefs Spring Trimester DC Ori
Page 33 and 34: A Professional Strength Dietary Sup
Page 35 and 36: News Briefs Dr. Reed B. Phillips Sp
Page 37 and 38: “Biofreeze ® topical pain reliev
Page 39 and 40: New Research in Bone Regrowth Calci

May - June 2009 (PDF Version) - New York Chiropractic College

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