Stover Chiropractic, P.C.Chiropractic | Stover Chiropractic, P.C.

What Is Head Forward Posture?

Dr. Tripp Stover — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 03:28:00 +0000

Mechanicsville, Virginia — Subluxations Impact health in many ways. Posture is one of the most obvious changes that can be seen if a subluxation has been present for more than a couple of years. In particular “head forward posture” is common. Common does not mean benign. Check out these extra-chiropractic references that shed light on the problems it causes.

DID YOU KNOW?   The effects of long term forward neck posture leads to “long term muscle strain, disc herniations and pinched nerves.” Mayo Clinic Health Letter Vol. 18, #3 March 2000

  It was noted in regard to Respiratory Dysfunction in Chronic Neck Pain Patients; …”the study demonstrated a strong association between an increased forward head posture and decreased respiratory muscle strength in neck patients.” – The journal Cephalalgia, 2009 Feb 2

  “For every inch of forward head posture, it can increase the weight of the head on the spine by an additional 10 pounds.” – Kapandji, Physiology of Joints, Vol 3.   

Forward head posture (FHP) can add up to thirty (30) pounds of abnormal leverage on the cervical spine. This can pull the entire spine out of alignment. –Rene Cailliet, M.D., Director of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Southern California   

FHP has been shown to flatten the normal neck curve, resulting in disc compression, damage, and early arthritis. – Gore DR, Sepic SB, Gardner GM.

Roentgenographic findings of the cervical spine in asymptomatic people. Spine 1986; 6:591-694   FHP results in loss of vital capacity of the lungs by as much as 30%. This shortness of breath can lead to heart and blood vascular disease. –Rene Cailliet, M.D., Director of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Southern California   

The entire gastrointestinal system is affected; particularly the large intestine. Loss of good bowel peristaltic function and evacuation is a common effect of FHP. –Rene Cailliet, M.D, Director of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Southern California  

Chiropractic for Children

Dr. Tripp Stover — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 18:42:37 +0000

Mechanicsville, Virginia — Most of my practice members have seen that we help children at Stover Chiropractic. So it isn’t going to be big news to read this post. However many people don’t consider a child may need to be adjusted. the following article came out of, Superior Telegram, the November 5th edition. I was impressed because so often these question and answer columns give straight medical orthodoxy and aren’t too friendly to chiropractic. Not only is this one friendly but it is clear and informative. Check it out.

“Dear Dr. Miller:

My neighbor takes her baby to a chiropractor. She says that this has improved his health to the point that he is a much happier boy. I thought that chiropractors were only for people suffering from back pain. I don’t understand this.

Dear Reader:

Many people think chiropractic is only for people experiencing back pain but this is a mistake. Chiropractic actually deals with subluxations. Chirotips.com defines subluxations as “areas of interference to the nervous system caused by pressure or irritation from spinal bones.” A chiropractor can correct these subluxations.

How could a baby end up with subluxations? Birth is a stressful experience for a baby and his or her body can become misaligned as it is being pushed through the birth canal. This can leave the body out of alignment and may lead to other problems such as being fussy, some feeding problems, colic or even other problem areas.

In baby world, the reader is asked to imagine the baby is beyond fussy and is actually miserable and there is nothing that seems to sooth the infant. The suggestion is made that the unhappiness of the baby could be caused by bay’s birth experience and that there is a solution to this problem. In this article the reader is asked to consider whether or not there are any symptoms of birth trauma, to investigate how the birth process could affect a baby’s spine and to find out if chiropractic treatment can help.

In chirotips.com Traumatic Birth Syndrome is discussed. During the second stage of labor the mother is pushing, which puts a lot of pressure on the baby’s spine. As a baby makes the way through the birth canal, its body must flex and rotate and damage can occur to the nervous system in its neck during the trauma involved with the birth process. This damage can range from mild subluxations in the neck to more serious ones that can include central nervous system problems.

With careful adjustments, a chiropractor can relieve the physical discomfort that a baby experiences due to birth trauma. Adjustments on newborns and older infants involve a lot of massage and trigger point therapy and are safe and gentle. Many parents have found that these treatments have made a dramatic and positive improvement in the health and happiness of their babies. This, in turn, creates a huge improvement in the harmony of their homes.

When you take your baby to a chiropractor, it is important to find a chiropractor that has experience with babies. Make sure your chiropractor lets you touch your baby or be near as the adjustment is done. Bring along a favorite blanket or toy to help baby feel more at home.

Consult only licensed chiropractors and don’t be shy about interviewing as many of these professionals as you need to in order to find one that you are comfortable with.

For nearly 100 years, doctors of chiropractic have been treating babies and children with care that is both safe and effective. Their techniques are both gentle and beneficial. All parents want only the best for their children and one of the most important goals is that they be health. When the baby is healthy and happy the benefits are obvious.

When a baby is comfortably settled in his or her home, the happiness of the entire family is improved. Chiropractic can help.”

How to Age Successfully

Dr. Tripp Stover — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:12:25 +0000

Successful Ageing

Mechanicsville, Virginia — Ah, the Golden Years: time to enjoy life, with a healthy body and plenty of leisure time. Sounds wonderful, yes? Unfortunately, fewer and fewer of us live such care-free lives. Each of our life goals takes planning, knowledge, focus, and perhaps good fortune; but what can you do to make “successful ageing” more likely — whether you’re a child, working age, winding down, or already retired? Here are some facts and tips, courtesy of Stover Chiropractic, P.C.

A healthy body helps ensure both ability to work and play. Did you know that in the U.S. and Europe, the top 2 reasons we miss work are either the common cold, or musculoskeletal injuries?(1) Did you know that among athletes, the injury rate (“injury” is defined as a disorder that disallows training, playing, or competition for 1 or more days) rises towards 100% as we move from recreational to competitive to professional sport? Whether you’re seeking to build your nest egg and provide for your family, or to play with the grandkids or participate in sport, staying healthy is critical. There are many ways you can protect yourself from the common cold, from hand washing, to a healthy night’s sleep, to a diet rich in raw vitamin-rich food, to chiropractic care [yes, chiropractic care may have beneficial effects on the immune system](2). Ask your doctor of chiropractic to learn more.

When it comes to musculoskeletal injuries—or NEUROmusculoskeletal disorders (injuries and illnesses involving not just lifeless body parts, but instead directed by the nervous system and its control of those parts)—chiropractic care is a safe, proven, and cost-effective option.(3,4) But it’s not just the wonderful things that chiropractors do with their hands that can and do boost patient health—it’s also the information they provide, and the example they set, that benefit our health. “Modeling” positive health behaviors affects a doctor’s patients; and when you engage in it, research shows you’ll also affect those around you, as well as inspire positive health behaviors of your family including your children.(5,6,7,8) Remember, your taking steps to improve your well-being, health, and safety has benefits for everyone in your life; so don’t consider any time or resources your pour into your health “selfish.”

The Golden Years can quickly become soured by a fall. 1 in 3 seniors will fall every year.(9) With your doctor of chiropractic’s guidance, you can limit or avoid these mis-steps and consequences. Joints in the neck and the base of the spine are especially important in helping you balance; and your doctor of chiropractic is trained to help them move properly, especially when they’re a bit stiff from the ravages of time. A chiropractor’s care may also help you stand straighter, helping you not just feel younger, but look younger and more vibrant too! Evidence-based fall prevention programs can decrease your risk(10), and exercise programs—which are essential to fall prevention—can improve your odds of avoiding a fall even if bone density scans suggest it’s not making a difference.(11) Don’t believe the hype of the drug industry that touts the benefits of bone-density increasing drugs, and a host of other illusory “wonder drugs,” as your only hope. If there is a true wonder-drug, it’s the healing power inside of YOU.

Your doctor of chiropractic can help you with your family’s necks, backs, headaches, sports injuries, and more—but don’t’ forget that “doctor” means “teacher.” Doctors of chiropractic are extensively trained in the human frame and nervous system, and are uniquely qualified to help you feel and FUNCTION at your best—regardless of your age. For more information on ways to help your family live better, please call us at 804-559-1100 for guidance; or visit http://virginiachiropractic.org to find a highly-qualified chiropractor near you.

Let’s enjoy our aging,

Dr. Tripp Stover, D.C.

References:

1 http://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/reports/7807300

2 Brennan et al. Enhanced neutrophil respiratory burst as a biological marker for manipulation forces: duration of the effect and association with substance P and tumor necrosis factor. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1992 Feb;15(2):83-9.

3 Liliedahl et al. Cost of Care for Common Back Pain Conditions Initiated With Chiropractic Doctor vs Medical Doctor/Doctor of Osteopathy as First Physician: Experience of One Tennessee-Based General Health Insurer. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. November – December 2010;33(9):640-643.

4 New Zealand Report, Report of the Commission of Inquiry. Government Printer, Wellington, New Zealand, 1979. 2000;30(12):755-766

5 Patients consider their physicians to be more credible and better equipped to help motivate them to become physically active if the physicians appeared to be practicing healthy life behaviors themselves. (Hash et al. Does physician weight affect perception of health advice? Preventative Medicine, 2003, 36, 41-44.

6 Baranowski et al. How individuals, environments and health behaviors interact. In K. Glanz, F.M. Lewis, and B.K. Rimmer (eds.), Health behavior and health education: Theory, research and practice (2nd ed., pp 153-178), 1997. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

7 Freedson, P.S. & Evenson, S. [1991]. Familial aggregation in physical activity. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 63, 384-389.

8 Moore et al. [1991]. Influence of parents’ physical activity on activity levels of young children. Journal of Pediatrics, 118, 215-219.

9 Hausdorff et al. Gait variability and fall risk in community-living older adults: a 1-year prospective study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2001;82:1050-1056.

10 CDC. Trends in hospital utilization: United States, 1988–92. Vital Health Stat 1996;13(124):62-64)

11 M, Itoi E, Wahner H, Wollan P, Gelzcer R, Mullan B, Collins D, Hodgson S. Stronger Back Muscles Reduce the Incidence of Vertebral Fractures: A Prospective 10 Year Follow-up of Postmenopausal Women. Bone. June 2002; 30(6), 836-841

Celebrate Wellness! is provided as a public service by the Unified Virginia Chiropractic Association, PO Box 15, Afton, VA 22920, phone 540-932-3100, e-mail vcacentral@hughes.net. Production and content courtesy of Trusted Voice. All rights reserved.

Chiropractic and Major League Baseball

Dr. Tripp Stover — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:43:40 +0000

Mechanicsville, VA — Regular chiropractic care is primarily about function and performance. This is a great article about two world championship teams using chiropractic care to help them achieve their highest level of play on the field. Check it out.

http://www.chiroeco.com/chiropractic/news/11929/52/chiropractic%20contributes%20to%20success%20of%20st-%20louis%20cardinals-%20san%20francisco%20giants/

“Consumer Reports” survey

Dr. Tripp Stover — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 09:45:12 +0000

Mechanicsville, Virginia — Consumer Reports reported on a survey of its readers related to alternative healthcare. They have not been friendly to chiropractic in the past. This time around it had a little different feel but still not written to put chiropractic care in a favorable light. I’ve copied and pasted two reports on the article. The first by the Richmond Times Dispatch and the second by Dynamic Chiropractic. I thought the RTD did a great job of summarizing.

The most interesting part to me was in reference to the folks who used chiropractic for respiratory problems: allergies, flu, and cold. Though only two percent of the respondants tried chiropractic for cold, flu, and allergy, 40 percent said it helped a lot. That isn’t reporting the group that said it helped, some, or a little! If you ask me that seems better than over the counter meds success rate. So as we head into “cold and flu” season, give some thought to trying chiropractic (a non-drug, natural option) to help you get through your symptoms.

Make sure to read the editorial comments, they are very helpful.

Alternative therapies get high marks for some ailments

By: TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF
Published: September 04, 2011

» 0 Comments | Post a Comment

Done anything alternative lately? If so, you have a lot of company.

When Consumer Reports surveyed 45,601 subscribers online, it found that three out of four were using some form of alternative therapy for their general health.

CR readers rated prescription drugs as helping the most for the majority of 12 health problems, butchiropractic, deep-tissue massage and yoga dominated the lists of helpful alternative treatments for discomfort from conditions such as back pain, neck pain and osteoarthritis.

The survey also suggests that meditation, deep-breathing exercises and yoga are being used to treat a range of conditions including anxiety, headaches and migraines, depression and insomnia.

Some highlights from the report:

Prescription drugs helped the most for nine of the 12 conditions Consumer Reports Health asked about:allergies, anxiety, cold and flu, depression, digestive problems, headaches and migraines, insomnia,irritable bowel syndrome and osteoarthritis.

Meditation and yoga proved equally effective for treating anxiety (42 percent and 46 percent respectively said these therapies “helped a lot”) and depression (36 percent and 35 percent respectively).

Yoga did about as well as meditation for insomnia (21 percent and 24 percent) but it significantly outperformed meditation for headaches and migraines and especially for back pain.

For back pain, yoga, deep-tissue massage and Pilates all rated about the same as prescription medication.Chiropractic therapy outperformed all other treatments. Meditation was helpful to almost a third (29 percent) of those few who tried it (5 percent).

For respiratory problems such as cold, flu and allergies, the survey found that very small numbers of readers tried deep-breathing exercises or chiropractic care.

Those who did reported promising results. Although only 2 percent of cold, flu or allergy sufferers soughtchiropractic care, more than 40 percent said it helped a lot. Similarly, 3 percent tried deep breathing forallergies and 32 percent said it helped a lot. Three percent also tried deep breathing for cold and flu and 35 percent said it helped a lot.

Of alternative treatments used for general health, mainstream vitamins and minerals were the most widely used, with 73 percent of respondents taking them. About one in five reported using mind-body therapies such as yoga or hands-on therapies such as massage.

Readers are keeping their doctors in the loop to varying degrees about their use of alternative therapies.

For instance, 57 percent of people who got shiatsu massage, usually for back or neck pain, said their doctors knew about it, and so did 81 percent of those who sought chiropractic care.

Sixty-five percent of those who practiced progressive relaxation said their medical caregivers knew about it, as did 68 percent of readers who meditated.

Smaller numbers of readers said their doctors had pointed them to an alternative therapy in the first place.

Twenty-eight percent of readers who used deep-tissue massage, usually for back or neck pain, said their doctors had recommended it. So did 26 percent of people who used deep-breathing exercises and 21 percent who saw a chiropractor.

People who decide to try alternative treatments should talk to their physician first to set realistic expectations for improvement.

Many insurers cover acupuncture and chiropractic, and some offer discounts for other treatments.

Consumer Reports Surveys Readers on Alternative Health Care Use

Chiropractic use, satisfaction high for back, neck pain; medication still the choice for other common health issues.

By Peter W. Crownfield, Executive Editor

If you’re wondering what consumers – your patients and potential patients – think about chiropractic care, particularly as it relates to its effectiveness managing common health conditions, consider findings from a Consumer Reports online survey of more than 45,000 of its subscribers.

Survey results suggest that with the exception of back and neck pain, consumers – and Consumer Reports itself – continue to buy into the pharmaceutical model Big Pharma and others spend billions annually to promote.

And the Survey Says…

Back pain: Thirty-six percent of survey respondents utilized chiropractic for back pain; 65 percent said it “helped a lot.” Prescription medication use was slightly higher (38 percent), but only a little over half (53 percent) of those who used it said it helped a lot. Over-the counter medication use was much higher (58 percent), but only 28 percent of users said it helped substantially. Other therapies with high utilization and/or perceived benefit: deep-tissue massage (24 percent use, 51 percent said it “helps a lot”).

Some of the other therapies used: glucosamine / chondroitin (14 percent use / 12 percent said it “helps a lot”), fish-oil supplements (10 percent / 7 percent), yoga (9 percent / 49 percent), acupuncture (8 percent / 41 percent), multivitamins (11 percent / 5 percent).

Neck pain: Forty-one percent of CRsubscribers responding to the survey said they’ve utilized chiropractic for neck pain; 64 percent said it “helps a lot.” Deep-tissue massage was second in terms of perceived benefit (58 percent), although a distant third in terms of use (35 percent reported use). Over-the-counter and prescription meds were the second and fourth most utilized treatment methods (56 percent and 33 percent), but only 39 percent and 25 percent of users, respectively, said the medication “helped a lot.”

Other therapies used: yoga (10 percent reported use / 45 percent perceived substantial benefit), acupuncture (10 percent / 44 percent), calcium supplements (11 percent / 6 percent) and multivitamins (13 percent / 4 percent).

Other conditions: For conditions from osteoarthritis to headache/migraine to fibromyalgia, chiropractic utilization was nonexistent or significantly lower than prescription and/or over-the-counter medication use. In fact, with the exception of fibromyalgia, for all remaining conditions surveyed (irritable bowel syndrome, osteoarthritis, digestive problems, depression, anxiety, headache/migraine, insomnia, cold/flu, and allergy), prescription medication was the most utilized and perceived as most beneficial (“helped a lot”). (For fibromyalgia, deep-tissue massage was utilized by 41 percent of those surveyed, compared to 71 percent using prescription meds and 49 percent who used OTC meds; but was perceived as effective by 54 percent, compared to 52 percent of prescription users and only 22 percent of OTC users).

For headache and migraine, chiropractic was utilized by only 11 percent, 46 percent of whom said it helped a lot. For fibromyalgia, 27 percent reported use; 35 percent said it helped. Eleven percent used chiropractic for osteoarthritis; 46 percent said it helped. And 2 percent of survey respondents said they used chiropractic for cold, flu and allergy symptoms, 47 percent of whom said it helped with cold/flu, while 41 percent said it helped with allergies.

CR‘s Consumer Warnings

We would be remiss if we didn’t mention a few of the intriguing (read: typical) editorial notes from the survey article, which appears in the September 2011 issue of Consumer Reports along with comprehensive findings. For example, CR cautions readers: “Chiropractic procedures on the neck have been linked with severe side effects, including stroke, which appears to be very rare.” And in a sidebar titled “Hand-on and Mind-Body Therapies: A User’s Guide,” the chiropractic section states: “Chiropractic is possibly effective for back pain. But there’s insufficient evidence to rate its effectiveness for neck pain and many other conditions. Our medical experts warn that it might be risky for neck pain.” No cautions are given for acupuncture, massage, medication or yoga.

It’s also important to note that while CR tells readers chiropractic and many other therapies, including acupuncture and massage, are only “possibly” effective for limited conditions, no such qualifications are made regarding prescription and over-the-counter medication, nor are any warnings given regarding their potential side effects.

Can Flying be Safer Than the Hospital?

Dr. Tripp Stover — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 09:06:08 +0000

Mechanicsville, Virginia — Riskier than flying? Most of us would guess going to the hospital is riskier than flying if we reflect for a minute. I came across an article that reported on a WHO release about hospital safety. They compare the risks of staying in a hospital with flying. Really they should have picked another risky activity. Aren’t there better ideas like running with scissors, swimming right after you eat, or taking a bath in an electrical storm? All kidding aside, we are often doing things that put our lives at risk to a greater degree than flying. And it turns out going to the hospital is one of them. The following article from Reuters, based on a World Health Organization release, is shocking. Get some of these quotes:

“If you were admitted to hospital tomorrow in any country… your chances of being subjected to an error in your care would be something like 1 in 10. Your chances of dying due to an error in health care would be 1 in 300,”

“Of every 100 hospitalized patients at any given time, 7 in developed and 10 in developing countries will acquire at least one health care-associated infection, according to the United Nations agency.”

Wow. Here is the link to the article.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/21/us-safety-idUSTRE76K45R20110721

So what are the odds of death by flying? One chance in a million… Seriously? That is what they said alright. Logic would say that anything I can do to stay out of the hospital must increase my odds of living longer, right? I’m thinking maybe more people should take airplanes, to the chiropractor, perhaps?

The following is copied from the ACA website regarding the safety of chiropractic care. It is helpful.

With best wishes and in hopes of helping your path to healing I am,

Sincerely,

Dr. Tripp Stover

Chiropractic: A safe treatment option

Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of back pain, neck pain, joint pain of the arms or legs, headaches, and other neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects.

The risks associated with chiropractic, however, are very small. Many patients feel immediate relief following chiropractic treatment, but some may sometimes experience mild soreness or aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise. Current literature shows that minor discomfort or soreness following spinal manipulation typically fades within 24 hours.¹

In addition to being a safe form of treatment, spinal manipulation is incredibly effective, getting patients back on their feet faster than traditional medical care. A March 2004 study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that chiropractic care is more effective than medical care at treating chronic low-back pain in those patients who have been experiencing the symptoms for one year or less. In addition, a study published in the July 15, 2003, edition of the journal Spine found that manual manipulation provides better short-term relief of chronic spinal pain than a variety of medications.

Neck Adjustments

Neck pain and some types of headaches are treated through precise cervical manipulation. Cervical manipulation, often called a neck adjustment, works to improve joint mobility in the neck, restoring range of motion and reducing muscle spasm, which helps relieve pressure and tension.

Neck manipulation is a remarkably safe procedure. While some reports have associated upper high-velocity neck manipulation with a certain kind of stroke, or vertebral artery dissection, recent evidence² suggests that this type of arterial injury often takes place spontaneously, or following everyday activities such as turning the head while driving, swimming, or having a shampoo in a hair salon.

Patients with this condition may experience neck pain and headache that leads them to seek professional care—often at the office of a doctor of chiropractic or family physician—but that care is not the cause of the injury. The best evidence indicates that the incidence of artery injuries associated with high-velocity upper neck manipulation is extremely rare – about 1 case in 5.85 million manipulations.³

To put this risk into perspective, if you drive more than a mile to get to your chiropractic appointment, you are at greater risk of serious injury from a car accident than from your chiropractic visit.

It is important for patients to understand the risks associated with some of the most common treatments for neck and back pain—prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)—as these options may carry risks significantly greater than those of manipulation. According to a study from the American Journal of Gastroenterology, approximately one-third of all hospitalizations and deaths related to gastrointestinal bleeding can be attributed to the use of aspirin or NSAID painkillers like ibuprofen.⁴

Furthermore, surgery for conditions for which manipulation may also be used carries risks many times greater than those of chiropractic treatment. Even prolonged bed rest carries some risks, including muscle atrophy, cardiopulmonary deconditioning, bone mineral loss and thromoembolism.⁵

If you are visiting your doctor of chiropractic with upper-neck pain or headache, be very specific about your symptoms. This will help your doctor of chiropractic offer the safest and most effective treatment, even if it involves referral to another health care provider. If the issue of stroke concerns you, do not hesitate to discuss it with your doctor of chiropractic. Depending on your clinical condition, he or she can forego manipulation, and instead can recommend joint mobilization, therapeutic exercise, soft-tissue techniques, or other therapies.

Research Ongoing

The ACA believes that patients have the right to know about the health risks associated with any type of treatment, including chiropractic. Today, chiropractic researchers are involved in studying the benefits and risks of spinal adjustment in the treatment of neck and back pain through clinical trials, literature reviews and publishing papers reviewing the risks and complications of neck adjustment.

All available evidence demonstrates that chiropractic treatment holds an extremely small risk. The chiropractic profession takes this issue very seriously and engages in training and postgraduate education courses to recognize the risk factors in patients, and to continue rendering treatment in the most effective and responsible manner.

References

1. Senstad O, et al. Frequency and characteristics of side effects of spinal manipulative therapy. Spine 1997 Feb 15;435-440.

2. Cassidy D, et al. Risk of Vertebrobasilar Stroke and Chiropractic Care. Spine 2008; 33:S176–S183.

3. Haldeman S, et al. Arterial dissection following cervical manipulation: a chiropractic experience. Can Med Assoc J 2001;165(7):905-06.

4. Lanas A, et al. A nationwide study of mortality associated with hospital admission due to severe gastrointestinal events and those associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use. Am J Gastroenterol 2005;100:1685–1693.

5. Lauretti W. The Comparative Safety of Chiropractic. In Daniel Redwood, ed., Contemporary Chiropractic. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1997, p. 230-8.

DNA Is Not Destiny

Dr. Tripp Stover — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 08:52:27 +0000

Mechanicsville, Virginia — “DNA is not destiny” is a phrase you’ve likely heard if you’ve read any popular level science articles on the latest and greatest findings the field of genetics and cell biology has to offer. The following article is a great summary of epigenetics, the field that studies things that affect DNA that isn’t in the double-helix. In other words, we are not victims of our DNA genetic code?
http://m.discovermagazine.com/2006/nov/cover

Along those lines there has been a great study that demonstrated people who got regular chiropractic adjustments had higher levels of serum thiol in their blood. This is wonderful because serum thiol is an enzyme that repairs DNA damage. How is that beneficial? It means those people (all things being equal) will have less cancer. Or less chance at getting it. That is exciting, and that helps to keep our DNA from becoming our destiny! So get preventative chiropractic care, it looks like it you and the next generation will benefit!

Chiropractic Helps Child’s Tremors

Dr. Tripp Stover — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 23:00:09 +0000

Mechanicsville, Virginia — I’m always a sucker for these sort of reports. So often I hear patients say “I wish I’d started going to chiropractor when I was younger.” Or “I wish I’d brought my daughter in when she was a baby.” Well sometimes chiropractic will help when all else fails, even with children. This is the way the profession has survived for over 115 years. The video below is a great testimony. If you know someone who is trying find answers to a child’s health problems, please consider chiropractic.

Enjoy your Fourth of July weekend!

Head-spinning Meniere’s disease may have met its match

Dr. Tripp Stover — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 07:30:34 +0000

Mechanicsville, Virginia — Over the last year or so I’ve seen and helped quite a few people with dizziness, vertigo, and/or head spinning. But chiropractic isn’t always the solution. One of my patients forwarded this link to me. I can’t officially endorse it, but I’m not alarmed by it either. Just thought it might be nice for Meniere’s sufferers to know there are things like this out there. I’ve copied the article below.

The Body Odd – Head-spinning Meniere’s disease may have met its match.

By JoNel Aleccia

Dizzy doesn’t begin to describe Gene Pugnetti’s bouts of vertigo.

For at least four years, the 56-year-old Yakima, Wash., man has suffered repeated episodes of stomach-lurching, head-spinning disruptions in his equilibrium, attacks so severe that they require him to sit down, cover his eyes and wait an hour – until the Valium kicks in.

Just since February, Pugnetti has endured 45 such spells, all caused by what doctors diagnosed as a severe case of Meniere’s disease, an inner ear disorder that erodes victims’ hearing and leaves them vulnerable to unexpected vertigo. The most recent bout was three weeks ago.

“It was pretty bad,” said Pugnetti, an information technology worker, who has 65 percent hearing loss in his right ear. “Just, bang!, you’re focusing on something and then all of a sudden you can’t focus on anything.”

Pugnetti has tried almost everything to quell the problem, which affects some 615,000 people in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health. Drugs, diet, exercise and even an implanted shunt failed to do the trick.

On Thursday, though, Pugnetti became the first person to be implanted with a new device aimed at stopping the vertigo as soon as it starts. Dr. Jay Rubinstein and Dr. James Phillips of the University of Washington’s otolaryngology-head and neck surgery department, assisted by a team of experts, chose Pugnetti as the first member of a 10-person clinical trial to test an invention four years in the making.

It’s the “UW/Nucleus Vestibular Implant,” a clunky name for the behind-the-ear device that’s basically a revamped version of a cochlear implant, an electronic aid typically used to help deaf people hear. In Meniere’s, the disease short-circuits the power supply that allows balance, Rubinstein said. The new device restores it by sending electrical impulses to electrodes implanted in the bony ear, disrupting the vertigo.

Once it’s turned on, in about three weeks, Pugnetti will be able to don the device at the first sign of dizziness, disarming symptoms ranging from mild to severe.

It won’t eliminate the Meniere’s, for which there is no certain cause or cure, but it should get rid of the worst effect. If the clinical trial is a success, the device that was tested in monkeys and approved in June by the Food and Drug Administration could find a wide audience of Meniere’s victims, says Pugnetti, who has no qualms about being first.

“The fact is, there are a whole lot of people who are out there suffering,” he said. “Just talking about this procedure to them gives them hope. And that’s a big deal.”

Mechanicsville Chiropractic and Headaches

Dr. Tripp Stover — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 07:45:10 +0000

Mechanicsville, Virginian — When many people in the Mechanicsville area think to visit a chiropractor they are typically suffering from back pain, yet your Mechanicsville chiropractor can sometimes offer you relief for other health symptoms such as headaches (HA).

For many Mechanicsville residents headaches are a common part of everyday life. Some headaches can signal a deficiency in your body that is keeping you from your optimal health levels. Chiropractic may be able to offer you advice or treatment that could help improve your overall health and wellness and reduce your suffering from headaches.

Chiropractors deal with assessing and treating your musculoskeletal system, which is the system of your body that gives you the ability to move using your muscles and bones. When your muscles, bones, and all the other little pieces of your back, such as your spine, are not in their proper places your health may be reduced and you may incur back pain.

While headaches can be caused by stress, toxic fumes, and alcohol consumption it is also possible that misalignments of the joints, muscles, tendons, and bones in your upper back and neck could be the cause of your headaches. If someone has been through a trauma, like and auto accident, it is not uncommon to have problems with head pain and migraines (a post traumatic HA). A very common cause of migraines and tension type HA is a subluxation in the neck (the cervical spine). It is called a cervicogenic headache.

Regular chiropractic care is a drug free way to attempt to realign any misaligned aspects that may be causing headaches or pain to Mechanicsville residents through spinal adjustments, diet, exercise, and stress management etc. At Stover Chiropractic, P.C. we specialize in upper cervical chiropractic care. More specifically, orthospinology or Grostic technique.

Every patient and headache problem is unique, so you should make sure to get a good diagnosis and treatment plan with which you are comfortable. If you are suffering and in pain and live in the Mechanicsville area and would like to see what Stover Chiropractic, P.C. can do for you come visit us at 9097 Atlee Station Rd. Suite 118 Mechanicsville, VA 23116.

804-559-1100

“Helping You To Heal”