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Parkinson’s Disease And Chiropractic Care

Some Common Symptoms Include:

Chiropractic Adjustment On Advanced Parkinson’s Patient For Relief/Mobility

Tremors

One of the more common symptoms of Parkinsons is tremors. They are usually active when the body is at rest and usually begin in a limb, such as an arm or hand. Pill-rolling tremors are particularly common.

Bradykinesia

Slowed movement is a typical symptom of Parkinsons. Over time, the disease may slow your movement, making simple tasks more difficult, causing you to drag your feet when you walk or make your steps shorter.

Impaired balance/posture

Balance problems and stooped posture is a regular side effect as a result of Parkinsons disease.

Muscle rigidity

Stiff muscles can occur in any part of your body, which can be painful and limit the range of your motion.

Loss of automatic movements

Parkinsons Disease: Can It Be Prevented

Presented by Dr. Marc Davis, Wellness Expert

Dr. Marc Davis

Unless you live under a rock, youve probably heard a lot about Parkinsons disease lately. In recent years, this formerly obscure disorder has captured the media spotlight. Much of this attention is due to high-profile personalities with the disorder, including actor Michael J Fox, United States Attorney Genera Janet Reno and boxing legend Mohammed Ali.

Parkinsons disease involves the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain region that control muscle movement . Destruction of these cells causes a drop in levels of dopamine, a brain chemical that transmits information between nerve cells. Insufficient coordination problems, frozen facial expression, speech impediments and tremors. Rigidity, memory loss and depression are also associated with this condition.

Although scientists have yet to discover the exact cause of PD two out of 1,000 people are afflicted with the disease genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors all appear to play a role.

Parkinsons, like many others, affects members of every race and walk of life. Although PD is more common in people over the age of 50, its afflicting younger adults at a rapidly escalating rate .

Chiropractic Adjustment For Parkinson’s Disease

For more than a century, chiropractors have used spinal adjustments and other treatments to provide relief to patients with concerns ranging from back pain to menstrual cramps. As alternative medicine is becoming more mainstream in Western culture, people are now seeking chiropractic treatments for degenerative diseases such as Parkinsons, Alzheimers and multiple sclerosis. Although the treatments dont actually slow the progression of a disease like Parkinsons, patients can find reprieve from their symptoms and live an overall better quality of life.

Dr. Randall Davis, a chiropractor at the Center for Holistic Medicine , in Riverwoods/Deerfield, who also maintains a private practice, says that although there are several different chiropractic techniques, the overall goal is to restore the body to normal functioning. In general, chiropractic treatments involve the application of the mechanical forces to the spine, using the spine as a lever to facilitate the chiropractic adjustment. The chiropractor can use his or her hands or an instrument that also applies the specific forces to engage in the adjustment.

Chiropractor Dr. Kim Martin, DC, FASA, BCIM, CFMP, founder and clinical director of North Shore Health Solutions in Northbrook, has worked with Parkinsons patients for 16 years, and says that over a course of treatments, they can regain some of their strength.

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What Role Does Chiropractic Play

Chiropractic care has shown to improve the quality of life as well as slow down the progression of the disease for those suffering from Parkinsons. Medications may help, but these are often only short-term solutions that mask the symptoms for a short period of time. Chiropractic care is neurologically-based, which means it starts with the nerves and nervous system to focus on treating the root cause of any health issue. A Lithia Springs chiropractor will improve nerve function by improving spinal health. Dr. Ron Bolar of Vital Life Chiropractic performs gentle and specific chiropractic adjustments to remove nerve interference that is affecting overall body function. Improved nerve function can improve symptoms of Parkinsons as well increase the quality of life for those living with the disease.

Does It Really Work

Parkinsons Disease and Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care ...

When first told about the amazing benefits of chiropractic care for improving health and wellness, many people are skeptical. But case studies show that chiropractic can indeed help with the management of Parkinsons. One particular case study found that a 68-year-old woman with tremors, lower back pain, poor range of motion in the neck, and fatigue found relief from Parkinsons symptoms after regular chiropractic care. In another study, chiropractic care drastically reduced Parkinsonssymptoms in a 63-year-old male who was experiencing tremors, back pain, and loss of energy. Being under chiropractic care has countless benefits for not only Parkinsons symptoms, but also increasing energy, health, and quality of life. If someone you love is suffering from Parkinsons, chiropractic can help. Get in touch with Dr. Ronnie Bolar of Vital Life Chiropractic to find out more about how chiropractic can improve symptoms of Parkinsons.

Landry, S. Upper Cervical Chiropractic Management of a Patient Diagnosed with Idiopathic Parkinsons Disease: A Case Report. Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research, 2012 July: 63-70. .

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Chiropractic Care For Parkinsons Disease

Parkinsons disease affects over 1.5 million Americans. Each year, 60,000 people in America are diagnosed with Parkinsons. It can affect both men and women, although the rate among men is slightly higher. Most men and women diagnosed with the disease are over the age of 60. However, around 15% of those affected by Parkinsons are diagnosed before the age of 40.

Parkinsons is a debilitating disease that affects brain and muscle function. The main sign of Parkinsons disease is shaking or trembling, especially of the hands. As the disease progresses, muscle shaking worsens which can lead to falling, inability to swallow, or loss of bladder control. Not only does Parkinsons affect the body, but it also affects the mind as well, often causing confusion or dementia. There is yet to be a cure for Parkinsons, but there are methods for managing both the progression and the symptoms of the disease. Chiropractic care from a Lithia Springs chiropractor has shown to be an effective method for improving the overall quality of life for those affected by this disease.

Natural Parkinson’s Disease Doctor Los Angeles

Parkinsons Disease affects nearly a million people in the United States. You may ask yourself why am I reading a blog on Parkinsons disease on an Upper Cervical Chiropractic page?

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Many people suffering from Parkinsons Disease in Los Angeles do not have the awareness that the brain-stem and associated spinal nerves control all body functions. When there is a bio-mechanical irritation to the nerve network it can cause a global breakdown in body function and health.

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Care For Patients With Parkinsons Disease

While health and quality of life deteriorate dramatically, Parkinsons does not appear to shorten a persons lifespan. Thus, the focus of care is on slowing progression of the disease and maintaining quality of life and independence for the patient for as long as possible.

Since it affects the central nervous system primarily, keeping this part of the body functioning optimally is a must. Lets look at three ways upper cervical chiropractic may be able to help maintain proper CNS function.

Chiropractic Can Improve Quality Of Life For Those With Parkinsons

Chiropractic Care for Parkinson’s Disease, Shoulder Pain, Back Pain, and More

Parkinsons disease is characterized by nerve cells in the brain that are unable to make dopamine. Dopamine is an important chemical that plays an important role in telling your brain and body to move. It contributes to smooth and easy muscle movements, and when the nerve cells that create the dopamine break down, people suffer from Parkinsons disease and have trouble moving properly.

The most common sign of Parkinsons is tremors, or a shaking or trembling in various parts of the body, particularly when not moving. Other symptoms of Parkinsons include slow movement, stiff muscles, and balance problems. Parkinsons disease gradually worsens over time, and eventually, the lack of dopamine can lead to severe movement problems, as well as other muscle control issues, such as swallowing and using the restroom. At its worst, Parkinsons disease can also affect the mental function of a person, resulting in dementia and confusion.

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Seeking Nucca Chiropractic For Parkinsons Disease

I have had several cases in my office where the rigidity has reduced substantially after NUCCA care. This improvement alone can be very helpful to the person and improve their quality of life. The rigidity can increase back and neck pain, alter posture dramatically and involuntarily, and inhibit normal activity. In one case I have helped, the rigidity was so severe it forced the posture of the trunk forward. This made it impossible for the person to straighten the trunk or lift the head so that the eyes were looking straight forward.

Instead the person was forced into a bent forward posture with the head and eyes looking downward. This posture was extremely rigid once it occured. Even taking a deep breath was inhibited, and laying flat on the back impossible. After, NUCCA care this rigidity decreased and the posture became normalized decreasing the painful and debilitating symptoms for the patient.

If you or someone you know would like more information please contact me.

Remember, there are alternative approaches to these difficult problems. This procedure can be very helpful, either in addition to standard medical care as a complementary system, or in some cases as an alternative to drug treatment alone.

To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Sherwood, call or just click the button below.

If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.

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What Is Parkinsons Disease

Parkinsons disease is a chronic and degenerative brain disorder that occurs when brain cells producing the neurotransmitter dopamine become damaged or die. Dopamine is a vital brain chemical that your nervous system uses to signal the parts of the brain controlling coordination and movement.

Once 80% of dopamine-producing cells die, people often begin experiencing the symptoms of Parkinsons disease, including:

  • Tremors or shaking

Ongoing studies have found that chiropractic care can help manage symptoms of Parkinsons disease.

The conditions exact cause continues to be scrutinized, but some believe that accidents involving head trauma could be linked to the disease. Whip-lash-like injuries to the upper cervical spine can misalign the vertebrae and cause compression of the brainstem and surrounding nerves. This type of compression may increase the risk of Parkinsons-related symptoms, which can develop months or even years after trauma occurs.

Upper cervical care using the NUCCA technique corrects spinal misalignments caused by trauma and can reduce or remove compression of the brainstem and surrounding nerves. Once nerve compression is removed, proper communication between the brain, spinal cord and surrounding nerves is restored, potentially allowing for a reduction in symptoms and improved mobility.

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Finding Relief Through Chiropractic Care

With lupus, widespread inflammation is very common, explains Dr. Henderson. The adjustments, I have found, help decrease the body-wide pain, improve joint mobility, and can lessen the amount of inflammation. Its more palliative care, as were not going to reverse or cure the lupus, but more trying to keep them in the least amount of pain possible while improving their ability to be active.

The same goes with Parkinson, except with that disease theyget body-wide uncontrollable muscle tightening and spasms, she continues. Ihave found with those patients that adjustments help ease muscle spasm, improvejoint mobility, improve range of motion, and offer some pain relief.

There is no fixed treatment plan or set duration because everyhuman body is very different and it makes a huge difference how far along thedisease is, she admits. If were talking about just the symptoms of thedisease then its more about palliative/symptomatic relief. If they have othermusculoskeletal issues outside of the auto-immune disease, then corrective carecan be done, depending on the issue.

New Research Suggests That Chiropractic Care May Quell Parkinsons

Parkinsons disease and chiropractic care

Although additional studies are needed before a firm link is established, preliminary research supports what many patients report: chiropractic care alleviates the symptoms of PD and may help to prevent the disease altogether. For instance, a just published scientific case study followed a 60 year old man with PD who underwent chiropractic care. Physical examination revealed that the patient had a common condition of the spine called vertebral subluxations . These dysfunctional spinal segments result when movement is restricted or bones are out of alignment. Dr Davis corrects vertebral subluxations by applying a gentle, specific, force of the spine a procedure called a chiropractic adjustment.

After nine months of receiving chiropractic adjustments to the upper neck, the patient in the study experienced a dramatic reduction in rigidity, tremor and speech difficulties. These findings were confirmed by improved scores in the Unified Parkinsons Disease Rating Scale, a standard test used to measure PD progression .

How may chiropractic adjustments avert PD? The spine houses the spinal cord, the lifetime of the central nervous system. Experts speculate that vertebral subluxations may disrupt spinal cord activity, in turn restricting nerve flow back and forth from the brain to the limbs. In PD, inhibited nerve flow may aggravate symptoms like tremor and rigidity.

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Chiropractic Adjustments For Parkinsons Disease

Chiropractic spinal adjustments are used to realign misaligned and off-balance spinal chords. This involves manipulating the vertebrae in the spine to return to as normal a position as possible. For Parkinsons patients, this can be exceptionally helpful in improving posture, which in turn leads to positive benefits like reduced pain that is the result of a hunched posture. For many individuals suffering from Parkinsons, because the muscles throughout the body including the neck and back have weakened, the spine naturally begins to bend forward, making it difficult for Parkinsons patients to maintain good posture themselves. With subtle chiropractic adjustments, we are able to help prevent spinal misalignment and fix spinal misalignments, ensuring that your posture contributes as little as possible to the pain you feel with Parkinsons. Well work with you to determine the best form of chiropractic care for your needs, whether it be long-term chiropractic care, spread out into monthly visits, or perhaps more frequent visits to begin addressing more severe spinal misalignments.

Parkinsons Sufferer Helped With Chiropractic

A case study published in the research periodical the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research documents a case of a patient suffering from Parkinsons disease being helped with chiropractic care. According to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, “Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and progressive movement disorder, meaning that symptoms continue and worsen over time. Nearly one million people in the US are living with Parkinson’s disease.”

In this case, a 68-year-old woman was involved in a car accident three years before going to a chiropractor. The case history records that the woman was traveling in a car going approximately 10 miles per hour and decelerating when her vehicle was rear-ended by a car traveling roughly 65 mph. After the accident she was experiencing neck stiffness, pain radiating into the left arm, and low back pain. She also started experiencing tremors which were diagnosed as Parkinsons disease a year later.

Based upon the findings of subluxations, specific chiropractic care began with the woman being initially seen twice per week for 2 months. At that point, the patient underwent a re-examination. During this exam she reported a decrease in hand tremors, and an improved range of motion in her neck. She also reported a reduction in her back pain, and an increase in her energy levels.

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Get Chiropractic Care For Parkinsons Disease

Dr. Troy Dreiling and his team at Vancouver, Washington-based Zenaptic Chiropractic can help care for Parkinsons Disease. This includes providing a free consultation which you can setup via our online form. Or, you may call directly to schedule an appointment.

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Anyone Who Is Diagnosed With Parkinsons Disease Shouldhave A Consultation By An Upper Cervical Specialist

Kalkstein Chiropractic Treats Parkinson’s Disease Patient

Any chiropractor doctor has a passion for Upper Cervical careand wants to help those who have Parkinsons Disease. You may stillbe asking yourself how is a brain condition helped by chiropractic?Parkinsons is not just a brain condition but also something thatimpacts the nervous system. An Atlas misalignment impacts the brainsince the brain stem runs through the atlas and axis and anymisalignment will impact its ability to function and communicatewith the rest of the body.

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Case Studies On Chiropractic Care & Parkinsons

A good amount of research has been done on the connection between chiropractic care and relief from symptoms of Parkinsons. Most case studies have found that individuals with Parkinsons have similar cervical subluxations, or misalignments in the neck.

One study resulted in almost a complete relief of Parkinsons symptoms in a 68-year old female who had previously complained of tremors, fatigue, poor range of motion in neck and lower back, and lower back pain. Another similar study found that the Atlas bones alignment was key in reducing symptoms of Parkinsons. A 63-year old male experienced tremors, loss of energy, anxiety, and middle back pain, which led to a diagnosis of Parkinsons. After receiving chiropractic care, his Parkinsons symptoms decreased , his motor function improved, and his quality of life was positively affected.

Parkinsons can be an incredibly difficult disease to live with, as it not only creates pain and discomfort, but it can also keep an individual from maintaining a high quality of life and experiencing life to the fullest. You do not have to suffer or struggle with symptoms anymore. Give Dr. Grant a call at Greater Life Chiropractic in Charlotte and get started with chiropractic care today. The research has proven that chiropractic care can reduce symptoms and improve quality of life, so dont put it off any longer.

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