Headaches affect almost half of the population. 15-25% of all headaches are referred from the cervical spine and are classified as “cervicogenic” (1,36). The pathophysiology of cervicogenic headache (CGH) is debatable, but the anatomical basis is thought to be a convergence of sensory neurons from the cervical spine and trigeminal nerve in the trigeminocervical nucleus located in the upper cervical spinal cord
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When a patient presents with numbness and tingling in their first 3 ½ fingers, most clinicians presume a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. Without confirming this source of median nerve compression we may be directing our treatment at the wrong culprit. Pronator Teres Syndrome describes the constellation of signs and symptoms that results from compression of the median nerve by the pronator teres muscle near the elbow. It is the second most frequent cause of median nerve compression with features similar to but discernable from its more common distal counterpart, carpal tunnel syndrome (1). Pronator Syndrome (PS) responsible for 9.2% of all cases of median nerve entrapment (2).
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Most chiropractors enjoy treating torticollis patients. We know that in a matter of hours to days that contorted patient, who is writhing painfully in your waiting room, will be telling everyone about the dramatic relief they experienced in your office. Unfortunately, unlike your excited patient, chiropractors have apparently told no one in the scientific community about these outcomes. A literature search for “acute torticollis” produces…well…almost nothing! Let’s change that- but first, some background information may be relevant.
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I have compiled a short list of common neurological disorders that may present in a chiropractic office and a brief review of the symptoms and diagnostic criteria. Guillian Barre Syndrome, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Parkinson’s Disease
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Severs disease, or calcaneal apophysitis is a painful inflammation of the cartilaginous growth center at the site of insertion for the calcaneal tendon. This condition, first reported by Sever in 1912 (1), is a common cause of posterior heel pain in active adolescents.
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Tarsal tunnel syndrome, first described in 1962, is a relatively common compression neuropathy of the posterior tibial nerve as it passes through the tarsal tunnel. Tibial nerve compression results in pain and/or paresthesia radiating into the plantar arch and heel. Tarsal tunnel syndrome may be under-diagnosed as it sometimes mimics plantar fasciitis or heel spurs.
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Ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow is often referred to as “Cubital Tunnel Syndrome.” Cubital tunnel syndrome is second only to carpal tunnel syndrome as a leading compressive neuropathy (1).
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What is arthrography? The original arthrogram studies that predated MRI utilized plain film x-ray after the injection of contrast material into a joint. This type of arthrogram suffers the same deficiencies when compared to MRI imaging, as does plain film x-ray in comparison to MRI.
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