For older adults, falling down can result in a serious injury that can dramatically reduce their mobility and independence. In this study, researchers measured pain intensity, postural sway, and concerns about falling in 48 seniors with either neck or low back pain. The research team found that intense neck pain paired with limited neck mobility…

A recent study set out to investigate the influence of calcaneal (heel) position on the pelvic and trunk alignment of ten healthy subjects. Using 3-D motion analysis, the researchers found that calcaneal inversion (commonly seen among those with a high arch) can affect the alignment of the pelvic and trunk, increasing the risk for back…

This case study involved the non-surgical treatment of a 33-year-old male patient with straight back syndrome (lack of normal curve of the spine) using spinal traction and postural correction. After 16 weeks, the patient experienced a ten-degree improvement in thoracic spine curvature, a reduction in back pain, improved breathing, and a greater than two liter…

That annoying heel pain today may lead to future low back pain and disability. A recent study set out to compare the prevalence of low back pain among patients with and without heel pain and found that those with heel pain were more likely to have back pain than participants without heel pain. The researchers…

In this study, participants with acute or chronic low back pain received a series of six high-velocity, low-amplitude manipulative thrusts on alternate days for two weeks. At the end of the study, the participants not only reported a decrease in pain and perceived disability, but blood tests also showed a significant decrease in chemotactic cytokines—proteins…

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that includes high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels that occur together, increasing one’s risk for diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. A recent study involving 656 healthcare workers who experienced an episode of lower back pain in…

A recent systematic review investigated the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among construction workers and found that within a given year, more than half (51.1%) could expect to experience an episode of lower back pain. Other common conditions experienced each year by construction workers include knee pain (37.2%), shoulder pain (32.4%), wrist pain (30.4%), neck pain…

An analysis of data provided by 312 surgeons found that neck pain was the most common musculoskeletal complaint among respondents, followed by neck pain (45.8%), back pain (42.3%), and shoulder pain (40.1%). The research team also identified these work-related risk factors for musculoskeletal pain among surgeons: time spent performing surgeries per week (>25 hours per…

A recent report explored the benefits of employing a chiropractor part-time to provide on-site wellness care for one day each week. The investigators found that employees who utilized on-site chiropractic care had work absenteeism rates lower than industry norms. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, September 2017

Past research has demonstrated that dysfunction in the neck may play a role in the migraine headache process. In this study, researchers applied manual pressure to trigger points and non-trigger points in the trapezius muscle of 26 early adolescents with a history of migraines. Half of the subjects experienced a migraine headache when pressure was…