Chiropractors can help people find headache relief by aligning the spine and removing vertebral subluxations. Chiropractors also teach people how to maintain correct posture which keeps their neck in the proper position and helps them avoid headaches.
What is a new patient visit like for someone who is seeking relief from headaches?
Dr. Scott Gardner: Headaches tend to come from misaligned vertebra that we call subluxation in the upper neck area. The new patient process consists of a thorough taking of the history of the headaches, history of their stresses, physical, mental and chemical. And we do a computerized posture evaluation to determine if they have what’s called forward head posture, which is a result of the neck becoming too straight, putting a lot of stress onto that upper part of the neck. Then we go on to orthopedic and neurological testing and then we do digital x-rays to measure and compare to normal x-rays.
Can you describe some of the specific chiropractic treatments you use to treat headaches?
Dr. Scott Gardner: If we determine that subluxation is at the root of the headaches, our goal is then to get the spine back to its correct alignment. We use a combination of different techniques to accomplish this. We also focus on posture building exercises and proper cervical or neck curve restoration.
For people taking medication for chronic headaches, is it possible for chiropractic treatments to help alleviate their headaches and lessen the need for medication?
Dr. Scott Gardner: Absolutely. If subluxation is at the root of the headaches, we find that in most cases we are told from our patients that they’re finding either no need or less need for the use of the medications.
What type of technology, x-rays or devices do you utilize in your treatments?
Dr. Scott Gardner: We’ve always stayed on top of the latest techniques and technology. Step one is really determining if chiropractic is the right fit and we use a computerized posture exam and digital x-rays to determine the proper measurements of the person’s spine and compare it to normal. Secondly, is really correcting the subluxation and we use multiple techniques to do this. Some are done by hand and some are done by instrument. And third, we follow up with post-posture evaluations and also post-x-rays to really be able to measure the progress for the individual.
Do you have any advice on lifestyle changes, exercises or other tips you give your patients to help them prevent or relieve headaches?
Dr. Scott Gardner: Yes. Really, posture is one of the most important areas to focus on. With the amount of time people are spending on technology, we’re seeing more and more forward head posture and that, again, is where the head is forward of normal as a result of the neck becoming too straight. And what happens is, we really want to focus then on proper work station setup and sleeping posture because if you think about it, those are the two places where we spend most of our time.
Learn More
If you are interested in speaking with Dr. Scott Gardner visit www.gardnerfamilychiro.com or call 973-614-9256 to schedule an appointment.
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