Yet another study has found that chiropractic care helps headache sufferers: Spinal manipulation seems to have a significant positive effect in reducing hours with headache and intensity of headache and analgesic consumption in cases of cervicogenic headache.
Chronic Pain
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra slips out of place. This slight slippage can sometimes cause compression of the nerves and, in some cases, cause tingling, numbness, pain, and even weakness in the legs.
Spondylolisthesis can be the result of a trauma to the spine, a congenital defect or simply be a progression of osteoarthritis. Spondylolisthesis can occur, without apparent cause, as people age. In younger individuals, spondylolisthesis usually occurs as a result of trauma during sports such as gymnastics or football and can cause a fracture in the vertebra.
Spondylolisthesis is found in the spine. The spine is made up of bones called vertebrae and between them are the intervertebral discs, which act as shock absorbers. Spondylolisthesis most often affects the lumbar region, particularly the L5 vertebra.
Each person will react differently to the presence of spondylolisthesis and symptoms can vary considerably. Initially, spondylolisthesis may be present without any noticeable symptoms.
When pain is present, it is often felt in the lower back or the buttocks. It can range from mild to severe and can affect daily activities such as walking. Burning and tingling sensations may be felt in the area of the buttocks and legs.
Sitting or leaning forward is often less painful than standing or walking because of the positioning of the spine.
Relative rest is a good way to protect your back and prevent your condition from getting worse, but it is important to avoid over-protecting it. A temporary reduction in activity may be necessary, but a quick return to your daily activities, light cardiovascular exercise and specific strengthening and mobility exercises will allow for better recovery.
Follow your therapist’s advice. This will help you manage your symptoms and increase the chances of successful rehabilitation. Your therapist will accompany you during your rehabilitation program to restore your mobility, muscle strength and endurance, flexibility and functional status.
According to the principles of spondylolisthesis rehabilitation, the reduction of joint and muscle stresses in the lumbopelvic-hip complex (back, pelvis, hip), the improvement of posture and thoracic mobility, muscular balance and weight control would be important elements for a functional recovery.
A progressive training program over a period of a few weeks including education on load-lifting techniques is quite common.
Do not rely solely on a passive treatment approach. Patients who actively participate in their treatment plan tend to better manage the symptoms caused by spondylolisthesis. Remember that pain is not always a good indicator of tissue damage. As soon as you feel better and the pain is well under control, introduce, in collaboration with your therapist, mild strengthening, mobility and cardiovascular exercises based on your tolerance.
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Stress Fractures
A stress fracture is an overuse injury. This type of fracture is defined by a tiny crack in the bone, mainly caused by repetitive forces over time.
This condition affects mainly people that are involved in activities such as walking, running or jumping, where the lower body must absorb the bodyweight. Stress fractures can also develop from the normal use of a bone that’s weakened by a condition such as osteoporosis.
Generally, this injury happens when training intensity and/or volume is increased too quickly with inadequate recovery. Starting a new activity, modifying the training surface and quickly transitioning to a new type of inadequate training shoes are among the risk factors.A stress fracture is most commonly seen in the weight-bearing bones of the lower leg and foot. Metatarsals, which are five long bones between the center of the foot and the toes, are the most affected. Stress fractures are also common in the calcaneus, the talus, the navicular, the tibia and the fibula. The stress fracture generally occurs at the base or center of the bone.
Everyone will react differently after an injury and recovery will depend on the severity. A stress fracture can cause but is not limited to, pain and difficulty in weight-bearing activities and localized swelling.
Your rehabilitation plan, your health status, your fitness level and your nutrition affect recovery time. Generally, you can expect to fully recover from a stress fracture. Typically, this type of fracture heals within four to eight weeks.
Acupuncture Now Available

Acupuncture and back pain
Back pain (especially lower back pain) is a common chronic pain issue. Acupuncture is a physical therapy that has become a popular and well-researched method for managing this pain. We are excited to now offer acupuncture at Aberdeen Chiropractic.
Acupuncture Now Available In Winnipeg
Treatment consists of inserting needles at various points on the body and through the skin. Needles are not meant to cause pain, harm, or discomfort; in fact many patients barely feel anything at all when the needles are inserted.
A professional acupuncturist will target specific points for treatment called meridians, with some being of special benefit to painful structures in the back.
There are a few meridians that an acupuncturist may focus on for back pain that are actually not IN the back at all.
Some acupuncture points for lower back pain are:
- back of the knees points
- foot points
- lower back points
- hand points
- hip points
- stomach points
Points for upper back pain (also called thoracic spine or T-Spine pain) are often very different. These can be found on the head, neck, shoulders, and upper back.
By stimulating these points, parts of the nervous system are also stimulated to relieve pain. Acupuncture can also provide pain relief from other similar neuromuscular issues for which there may not be too many pain remedy options.
These include:
- headaches
- fibromyalgia
- musculoskeletal pain
- post-surgery recovery
- sciatica
- TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder)
Acupuncture and Science
There are a few ways by which acupuncture is thought to work for back pain:
- Stimulates nervous system. Trigger points stimulated by acupuncture could release chemicals from the spinal cord, muscles, and brain. Some of these are naturally pain-relieving.
- Releases opioid-like chemicals produced in the body. Along the same lines as the theory above, acupuncture may release pain-relieving chemicals. These naturally occur in the body and have similar properties to opioid pain relievers. (Hydrocodone or morphine are examples.)
- Releases neurotransmitters. These are hormones that send messages regulating the on/off mechanisms of various nerve endings. Acupuncture may stimulate some that shut off pain.
- Triggers electromagnetic impulses in the body. These impulses can help speed the body’s way of handling pain, including the release of endorphins.
Regardless of how it works, trials on acupuncture for treating back pain show great results with very little risk of side effects.
Some 2012 researchTrusted Source involved reviewing almost 20,000 people with chronic pain. They were given authentic acupuncture treatments, fake treatments, or no acupuncture at all. Those who received real acupuncture experienced 50 percent improvement in their chronic pain issues.
Two similar reviews from 2013 showed strong favor for acupuncture as successful therapy. These were specifically for chronic lower back pain.
One these studies expressed promise that acupuncture could be better than most pain medications.
What is CST and how can it help?
CranioSacral Technique is now available at Aberdeen Chiropractic!
Dr. Natalie Carriere has come on board offering CST, Karen Specific Technique (KST), Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Dry Needling and rehabilitation at Aberdeen Chiropractic.
What is CranioSacral Technique? What does it treat?
CranioSacral Technique (CST) is a light touch treatment method of relieving pain and dysfunction.
CST releases tension to allow the entire body to relax and self-correct. Using gentle, light touch you are evaluated and treated to reduce pain and physical stress.
Because it is such a gentle technique, it is considered an excellent treatment option for patients of all ages, especially newborn and elderly patients who are concerned with what is seen as traditional Chiropractic treatment.
For more information or to book an appointment with Dr. Carriere please call us at 204-586-8424 or email at info@aberdeenchiropractic.com
Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
Impingement syndrome |
Impingement syndrome is an irritation of the structures between the upper portion of your arm and your shoulder blade mainly during overhead arm movements.The rotator cuff is comprised of four muscles that help position the humerus, your upper arm bone, into the shoulder socket during arm movement.The shoulder has great mobility but at the same time is prone to injury during falls or accident, or when there is a lack of motor control (altered biomechanics).Men over 40 performing manual labour are the most affected with this condition. It is also present in young athletes practicing sports involving repeated overhead motion such as swimming, baseball or tennis. ▬▬▬▬▬ Structures involved The tendons of the rotator cuff, ligaments of your shoulder and subacromial bursa are the most commonly affected structures. The subacromial space gets smaller during overhead movements. This can cause, over time, irritation, inflammation and/or a lesion of the rotator cuff tendons. |
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Signs & Symptoms that you may experience
Everyone will react differently after an injury and recovery will depend on the severity of it.
Impingement syndrome can cause but is not limited to, pain at the front of the shoulder and localized swelling. Pain or tightness is often felt when you lift your arm overhead or when you lower it from an elevated position. Pain can also be felt around your shoulder blade in your back.
Other early symptoms can include light pain with activities or during rest and in some cases, irradiating pain around your shoulder. In severe cases, you might feel pain at night and a loss of strength or range of motion. Impingement syndrome can lead to rotator cuff tendinitis or shoulder bursitis when left untreated.
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Recovery
Your rehabilitation plan, health, fitness & nutritional status will affect recovery speed. Most of the time, you can expect to recover fully from impingement syndrome. As a rule of thumb, this condition can take up to three months to fully recover.
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▶ WHAT TO DO
Early Stage
Relative rest is a good way to protect your shoulder and prevent further damage, but it’s important to avoid overprotecting your injury. A few days rest where you avoid pain-inducing movement and activities might be necessary. A quick but progressive return to your activities of daily living, light cardiovascular exercise and specific range of motion and strengthening exercises will allow better recovery.
Rehabilitation
Follow your practitioner’s advice. It will help you manage the different phases of the recovery process and will increase the likelihood of successful rehabilitation. Your practitioner will assist you during your rehabilitation program in order to regain your normal range of motion, strength and endurance, optimal motor control and functional status.
As per the principles of rehabilitation for impingement syndrome, movement training through therapeutic exercises is an important part of functional recovery. A progressive exercise program performed over a few weeks period is pretty standard.
▶ WHAT TO AVOID
Don’t rely on passive treatment only. Each phase of the rehabilitation process is important. Patients that are actively involved in their treatment plan tend to recover faster. Keep in mind that pain is not always a good indicator of tissue damage. As soon as you feel better and the pain is well managed in collaboration with your therapist, you should reintroduce light strengthening exercises as tolerated.
Stiff neck??
One of the most common causes of a stiff neck are trigger points in the levator scapulae muscle. This muscle runs up the side of the neck from the top of the shoulder blade. It helps to shrug the shoulders and move and stabilize the neck. When trigger points form in this muscle they will produce pain and stiffness in the neck. Deep tissue trigger point massage applied to these knots is an effective treatment method.

Trigger points and headaches
Trigger points are contracted knots of muscle tissue that form in any muscle as a result of overload stress. Trigger points cause pain, referred pain, stiffness and weakness. Trigger points that form in the muscles of the neck and head often refer pain into the head and face. This is one of the most common causes of headache pain. Trigger point massage is an effective way to treat trigger points.


Myofascial Trigger Point characteristics

Myofascial pain syndrome.
Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic pain disorder. In this condition, pressure on sensitive points in your muscles (trigger points) causes pain in the muscle and sometimes can cause pain spread to other parts of your body. This is called referred pain. Trigger points can also cause stiffness and weakness. This syndrome typically occurs after a muscle has been contracted repetitively. This can be caused by repetitive motions used in jobs or hobbies or by stress-related muscle tension. While nearly everyone has experienced muscle tension pain, the discomfort associated with myofascial pain syndrome persists or worsens. Treatment options include massage therapy, dry needling, and physical therapy. relaxation techniques such as meditation also can help.
