Stress Awareness Month - Stress and Your Spine

As we move into April, we are starting to come into better weather and ~hopefully~ will be seeing Spring flowers soon! However, as we leave the cold behind, it is just as important to check-in with ourselves and manage our stress accordingly. Stress isn’t just a mental state of anxiety, tension, and worry. There is a notable physical state as well, this can be due to repeated traumas, chronic discomfort, as well as stress the nerves of the spine due to subluxation. When our bodies are stressed it can be felt as a headache, chronic fatigue, difficulty sleeping, stomach discomfort, muscle aches and pains, and a weakened immune system.

Stress is often ignored or just viewed as a part of life that is an unavoidable aspect we all must endure silently. But the truth is, while we may not always be able to remove the source of stress, we CAN change the way our body responds to it—and that’s where chiropractic care comes in. When the spine is subluxated and lacking motion, it can place unnecessary pressure on the nervous system, disrupting the natural communication between the brain and body. This disruption can keep the body stuck in a heightened state of stress, making it more difficult to relax, heal, and function optimally.

Chiropractic adjustments help to restore proper motion and alignment in the spine, alleviating pressure on the nerves and allowing the nervous system to better regulate itself. By reducing the interference experienced by our nervous system, patients will experience improvements in sleep, energy levels, digestion, and even mood. Maintenance care can help ensure we keep our body in its optimal state, allowing you to DO the things YOU want to do. Throughout this month, be mindful of your well-being and stress levels. Prioritize your health as we move deeper into Spring, and support your body to be a healthier and more sustainable you.

In Good Health,

Drs. Mark, Matt & Tami
(www.mifflintownchiro.com)

PS: Remember to check back often to our website.  Please leave feedback on the layouts!

PSS:  If you would like an email reminder of your appointments please stop by at the front desk and talk to Sharon. 

References:

1: https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/data/index.html#:~:text=As%20of%20January%2024%2C%202025,most%20areas%20of%20the%20country.

2: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.984678/full

Newsletter Articles
April 2025

• Post Spinal Surgery Patient with Neck Pain and Headaches Helped by Chiropractic
• Chiropractic Helps Improve Academic Performance in Dyslexic Students
• Symptoms of Long COVID Helped by Chiropractic
• Chronic Lower Back and Neck Pain Helped by Chiropractic, A Case Study

Post Spinal Surgery Patient with Neck Pain and Headaches Helped by Chiropractic

The Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research published the results of a case study on March 10, 2025, that documented the resolution of neck pain and headaches in a patient who had previously had spinal neck surgery.

According to the American Society of Spine Surgery, an estimated 132,000 Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) surgeries are performed in the United States each year. Healthline states that between 73 to 83 percent of people who had ACDF surgery for neck pain reported positive results. This means that between 17% and 27% do not report positive results. However, long-term results statistics are harder to find as most of these ACDF surgeries are considered successful if they give short term relief, so long-term improvement rates are probably smaller.

In this case, a 52-year-old woman, who had previously had ACDF surgery went to a chiropractor seeking help for her pain. At that time, the woman was suffering with constant, dull neck pain with daily headaches. She described her neck pain as severe with a rating of 7 out of 10 with 10 being the worst. She also was suffering with muscle spasms and headaches that were getting progressively worse over the previous four weeks. Her pain was not responding to any of the natural remedies she was using. She did, however, see some temporary relief from lateral stretching of her neck.

A chiropractic examination and x-rays were performed. The results of these tests showed that vertebral subluxations were present in her spine. A vertebral subluxation is when one or more of the bones of your spine (vertebrae) move out of position and create pressure on, or irritate spinal, or other related nerves. The result of subluxation is an alteration in the transmission of normal nerve impulses that can result in malfunctions within the body or pain.

A care plan focused on specific chiropractic adjustments for the correction of subluxations that were present. The result of this care was that the patient experienced a reduction in pain intensity and improvement in range of motion in just four weeks of care. The study reported that these benefits continued to be present at a three-month follow-up period with a reduced frequency of her chiropractic adjustments.

In the conclusion the study author wrote, "This clinical scenario involves a female patient exhibiting persistent and deteriorating neck pain and headaches alongside a medical background that includes a past posterior surgical fusion procedure at the C5-C6 vertebral level. The patient experienced improvement through a combination of chiropractic interventions…"

Chiropractic Helps Improve Academic Performance in Dyslexic Students

The 2025 second-quarter issue of the Asian Pacific Chiropractic Journal published the results of a case series documenting the chiropractic care of three students diagnosed with dyslexia and struggling with learning disabilities.

According to this study, "Dyslexia is a neurobiological learning disability, defined by word recognition difficulty and poor spelling abilities despite normal intelligence and adequate education and exposure to written material." Estimates vary by authority, but it is commonly believed that between 5% and 15% of the world’s population has some form of dyslexia.

This case series involved three students who were underperforming in school and had been diagnosed with dyslexia. The first student was a 9-year-old girl who had been diagnosed with dyslexia by her pediatrician. The second student was a 7-year-old girl who was diagnosed with dyslexia by her psychiatrist. The third student was a 15-year-old boy with no formal diagnosis of dyslexia but who was struggling with academic performance in school.

These students were all expressing a variety of symptoms associated with dyslexia including poor long-term and short-term memory, poor concentration, struggling with reading, writing and spelling, as well as difficulty retaining information, and a lack of motivation for learning.

Each of these students received a comprehensive chiropractic and neurological examination. All three started specific forms of chiropractic care in addition to other forms of brain and neurological therapies.

The study documents that each of the three students experienced improvements in their various symptoms. These improvements included better concentration, improved reading including reading out loud, better comprehension, more motivation for learning, and a noticeable improvement in memory. One of the student teachers even reported that her student had improved 5 levels of reading within 1 term. Another student became more talkative, more willing to accept challenges, showed improved handwriting, began enjoying homework, and was generally happier.

All three students involved in this case series saw various improvements with their dyslexia symptoms. They authors explained "Case 1 and 2 student subjects were both diagnosed with specific learning disability with impairment in reading (Dyslexia) under DSM-5 criteria. Case 3 student was not formally diagnosed, but was identified by his school as struggling in academic performance." They concluded, "A 12-week treatment program yielded significant improvement in reading levels, learning behavior as well as academic grades across all subjects."

Symptoms of Long COVID Helped by Chiropractic

The Second Quarter 2025 issue of the Asian Pacific Chiropractic Journal published the results of a case study documenting the improvement of a patient under chiropractic care who had been suffering with the effects of long COVID. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control defines this condition by saying, "Long COVID is defined as a chronic condition that occurs after SARS-CoV-2 infection and is present for at least 3 months. Long COVID includes a wide range of symptoms or conditions that may improve, worsen, or be ongoing."

The authors of this study report that there has been some reference to chiropractic for long COVID by the US Veterans Administration (VA). "The Veterans Administration of the United States included chiropractic under ‘consults to consider’ in a booklet on long COVID. A survey of more than 89,000 patients found that 14.4% of people with long COVID symptoms used Chiropractic care for relief."

In this case, a 66-year-old retired military officer decided to seek chiropractic care as a result of responding to a call for participants for a study on chiropractic’s effect on long-term COVID cases. This man had an initial bout of COVID in September of 2021. He suffered a second bout of COVID in February of 2024. His long-term symptoms seemed to have arisen from his second bout of COVID.

Upon seeking chiropractic care, the man was suffering with symptoms that included chronic deep fatigue, muscle aches, brain fog, light headedness, a pins and needles sensation, dizziness, exercise intolerance, and a loss of his sense of smell. His symptoms were affecting his life to the point where he needed to take an Uber to his first chiropractic visit as he felt he was unable to drive.

A detailed chiropractic examination was performed which revealed the presence of vertebral subluxations. With these findings, a series of specific chiropractic adjustments were started. As the man’s care continued, the study reports a gradual improvement in his symptoms. In particular, the study documented his improvement in his sense of smell and the improved ability to increase his exercise without resulting in severe post-exercise malaise which he was experiencing before the chiropractic care.

The authors note that this man’s chiropractic care took place during a stressful time in his life as he was dealing with the sickness and eventual death of his father. Even under these difficult and stressful circumstances, the man did show improvement in his long COVID symptoms. The study authors commented, "This case report joins several others in highlighting the potential benefit of Chiropractic care for long COVID sufferers. Our patient exhibited significant improvement in exercise tolerance and olfactory function during less than three months of chiropractic care." They added, "While this former military officer is certainly not ‘back to himself’, his improvement in less than three months is significant."

Chronic Lower Back and Neck Pain Helped by Chiropractic, A Case Study

The MDPI journal "Healthcare" published the results of a case study on April 3, 2025, documenting the long-term improvement of chronic lower back pain and chronic intermittent neck pain of a patient under specific forms of chiropractic care. MDPI is a non-profit organization in Basel, Switzerland, that publishes a number of open-source scientific journals.

This study begins by describing the impact that chronic lower back pain has on society. "CLBP has been the leading cause of disability globally for the past few decades, resulting in decreased quality of life physically and emotionally." CLBP is first on the list of health conditions that cause disability worldwide. Chronic neck pain is fourth on that list. The study also reports that lower back pain expenses exceed 40 billion dollars each year in the U.S. alone.

In this case, a 38-year-old man presented himself for chiropractic care because he had been suffering for the past five years with severe lower back pain. On a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being the worst, the man rated his pain as a 7. His pain was interfering with his daily activities and his work and was made worse by long days at work and with prolonged periods of driving. Over the prior five years, the man had sporadically received some chiropractic care but not specific forms of care on a regular basis.

A detailed history and assessment of his condition showed that the man was significantly disabled from his back pain with a disability score of 54%. Standardized survey forms also showed that his pain was causing a significant decrease in his overall quality of life.

A chiropractic examination and spinal x-rays showed significant overall postural deviations as well as specific spinal segment misalignments commonly known as subluxations. With the findings of the examination and x-rays, a regular regimen of specific chiropractic care along with specific spinal exercises was started.

After 36 chiropractic visits over a three-month period, a reassessment was done, and new x-rays were taken. The results showed a significant improvement in his posture and spinal positioning. Testing also showed a drastic reduction in his symptoms and the disability related to those issues. The improvements produced a significant improvement in the man’s quality of life.

One year after the beginning of the man’s regular chiropractic care, a follow-up examination showed that his improvements were maintained, and he was still enjoying a higher quality of life. The authors commented, "This case documents the successful treatment of a male who suffered from chronic spine pain and significant disability." The authors went on to explain, "…all the postural improvements corresponded with improvements in pain, disability, and function after only 3 months. The improved posture and symptom reductions were maintained at a long-term follow-up."