Recent Posts

Dr. Ramsey sees a lot of patients struggling with carpal tunnel syndrome in our busy Gresham, OR chiropractic office. While some people think that the origin of this wrist-related pain is muscular, it's actually a condition that arises from the nerves--and not just the nerves in your hands.

Research Supports Chiropractic Helps With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Recent research published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy evaluated 71 women between the ages of 35 and 59 who were diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. Upon investigating the subjects' neck range of motion, the doctors found that the patients had less cervical flexibility when compared to a healthy control group.

In addition, they also observed that the degree of the women's reported carpal tunnel discomfort was related to the lateral flexion of the cervical spine. In short, the less mobility in the neck, the greater the level of pain.

This research is very important, as you can't effectively address a condition until you fully understand its source. By realizing that the root of carpal tunnel issues is in the neck, this means that all-natural approaches like chiropractic can often restore normal function, reducing the need for risky surgery.

We Can Help Clients Find Comfort From Carpal Tunnel

If you are suffering from carpal tunnel pain, call our Gresham, OR office and ask how Dr. Ramsey can help you get relief!

Research Studies

De-la-Llave-Rincon A et al. (2011, May). Women with carpal tunnel syndrome show restricted cervical range of motion. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy;41(5):305-10.
Simon H. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. University of Maryland Medical Center. Updated May 6, 2012. Retrieved from https://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/carpal-tunnel-syndrome on November 2, 2015.

Most of us suffer from lower back pain at some point in our lives. Researchers estimate that nearly 1 out of 3 adults deal with some kind of regular spinal pain. Dr. Ramsey and our talented staff see many back pain cases in our Gresham, OR office, and we've found that chiropractic care is a great way to not only help you recover from back pain, it's also a great way to hold off future episodes.

Research Supports Chiropractic Helps With Chronic Back Pain

A recent study from the University of Utah verifies what our Gresham, OR patients have reported: your Gresham, OR chiropractor is the best first option for an episode of back pain.

In this study, 747 patients were treated for low back pain. Each patient was evaluated based on the first person they sought treatment with, whether it was a primary care physician, a chiropractor, or a physiotherapist.

What the researchers discovered is that the subjects who first saw a chiropractor had fewer advanced imaging tests and fewer surgeries.

Other studies have found the same results. A 2012 study found that chiropractic patients had the best functional recovery and pain relief for chronic back pain.

Chiropractic works by restoring the natural, pain-free function of your spine. Dr. Ramsey and our team help your body heal with gentle chiropractic adjustments that don't use drugs or risky surgical procedures.

Dr. Ramsey Can Help Clients Find Relief From Back Pain

If you live near our Gresham, OR office and would like to get out of pain, give our office a call today at (503) 667-6744 for an appointment.

Reference

Fritz JM, Kim J, Dorius J. Importance of the type of provider seen to begin health care for a new episode of low back pain: associations with future utilization and costs. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice. 2015(Sep 29).

Cecchi F, et al. Predictors of functional outcome in patients with chronic low back pain undergoing back school, individual physiotherapy or spinal manipulation. European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine 2012;48:371-8.

Every year, over 500,000 people have back surgery in the US. Although in some cases it's necessary to have surgery for back pain, the fact is that if you can avoid this type of invasive procedure, you're often better off.

Dr. Ramsey is here to make sure that people in Gresham, OR have a natural, non-surgical option for back pain. We've helped many people heal from back pain without the need for surgery.

There are many reasons to avoid unnecessary medical treatments: Surgeries often result in a longer recuperation time and additional complications, neither of which is a desirable scenario. Fortunately, as one medical study has found, chiropractic care may actually keep you off the surgeon's table entirely.

Research Shows Chiropractic Care Helps Avoid Back Surgery

In this report, about 1,900 workers with back injuries were assessed over a three year period. When the workers first sought care with a surgeon, over 42 percent ended up having surgery for their pain. For patients who saw only a chiropractor, only 1.5 percent had surgery!

These findings imply that chiropractic care can help you recover from back pain without surgical procedures.

If you live in the Gresham, OR area, Dr. Ramsey can probably help you with your back pain. Give our office a call today at (503) 667-6744 for more information or an appointment.

Keeney BJ, Fulton-Kehoe D, Turner JA, et al. Early predictors of lumbar spine surgery after occupational back injury: results from a prospective study of workers in Washington State. Spine 2013;38(11):953-964.

We help a good number of people with back pain in our Gresham, OR office, and Dr. Ramsey has noticed that many cases of back pain originate in the sacroiliac (SI) joint. Investigation shows that about one quarter of all back pain begins in the SI joint, and now new research corroborates what we have observed in our clinic: chiropractic is an effective method for treating this pain.

Research Proves Chiropractic Treatment Helps Increase Movement in the SI Joint

In the study published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 32 women who suffered from sacroiliac joint dysfunction were split into two groups and asked to take part in one of two treatment methods. The first group received a chiropractic adjustment isolated to the sacroiliac joint, and the second group got an adjustment to the sacroiliac joint as well as the lumbar spine.

Researchers observed greater improvements in both pain and movement immediately following treatment, two days later, and 30 days after for the group who had been given high-velocity low-amplitude manipulation to both the sacroiliac joint and the lumbar spine. This demonstrates that chiropractic manipulation applied to these two areas offers both prompt and continuing benefits for sacroiliac joint pain sufferers even after just one treatment session.

So, if you are having trouble with sacroiliac joint pain, or live with back and leg pain and are ready to know whether your sacroiliac joint is the root, a consultation at our Gresham, OR office could be the first and best step towards recovery. Give our office a call today at (503) 667-6744.

Kamali F, Shokri E. The effect of two manipulative therapy techniques and their outcome in patients with sacroiliac joint syndrome. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 2012;16(1):29-35.

Dr. Ramsey sees many patients weekly in our busy Gresham, OR chiropractic office who are searching for relief from the pain and agony they feel due to herniated discs. Our experience isn't unique; the medical literature verifies that chiropractic is an effective way to treat herniated disc pain.

Don't Suffer! Dr. Ramsey and Chiropractic Care Helps With Disc Herniation

One particular study involved 27 people, 8 male and 19 female, who had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirming a disc herniation in either their neck or lower back. The subjects reported that they were experiencing pain, reduced range of motion, and sensory issues bad enough to keep them off work.

Over the course of the research period, the participants were managed using one of two common chiropractic methods: traction for herniated discs in the cervical area or flexion distraction for the patients who had herniation issues in the low back.

Each man or woman was seen four or five times per week for the first two weeks, then three times weekly, and then as needed for the rest of the study. Depending on the extent of the disc herniation, therapy ranged anywhere from six weeks to six months, with MRIs being performed at various stages to identify what impact, if any, the chiropractic care was having in regard to the disc herniation.

Research Shows Chiropractic Helps With Back Pain and Herniated Disc

The researchers discovered that 80 percent of the participants enjoyed a "good clinical outcome," meaning reduced pain and a reduction in other issues, such as numbness. Additionally, 77 percent of these people also showed MRI evidence that their disc herniation was either reduced or resolved completely. This resulted in 78 percent of the study subjects being able to return to their place of employment and led the researchers to conclude that chiropractic care is both "safe and helpful" for disc herniations.

If you have a herniated disc and suffer from chronic back pain and are near Dr. Ramsey in Gresham, OR, contact our office today to see what chiropractic can do for you!

Reference
BenEliyahu, DJ. Magnetic resonance imaging and clinical follow-up: study of 27 patients receiving chiropractic care for cervical and lumbar disc herniations. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 1996;19(9):597-606.

Although some people are still hesitant about chiropractic care, even the American Medical Association (AMA) suggests that adjustments should be tried prior to surgical treatment--the one option that should be a last resort.

Dr. Ramsey has seen many back pain patients in our Gresham, OR office who have been in pain for years and who are worried that they might need an operation for their back pain. Dr. Ramsey has had great success in helping patients recover and avoid risky back surgery, and the science backs up our experience.

Research Shows Chiropractic Helps You Avoid Risky Surgery

For example, in one study carried out on about 2,000 Washington State workers who suffered from a back injury while at work, more than 40% who saw a surgeon first following their injury found themselves having back surgery within three years. That compares to just 1.5% of the patients who first sought treatment with chiropractic care, showing that this non-invasive approach is extremely effective at keeping you off the operating table.

Dr. Ramsey Can Help Clients Find Relief From Back Pain Without Surgery

There are options to risky medical procedures. Chiropractic is a proven effective and safe way to improve the function of your spine, which is the root cause of back pain. Dr. Ramsey has helped many patients in Gresham, OR recover. Give our office a call today at (503) 667-6744 for an appointment.

Reference

Goodman DM, Burke AE, Livingston. Low Back Pain. The Journal of the American Medical Association 2013;309(16);1738.

Keeney BJ, Fulton-Kehoe D, Turner JA, et al. Early predictors of lumbar spine surgery after occupational back injury: results from a prospective study of workers in Washington State. Spine 2013;38(11):953-964.

Many people suffer from headache pain, and tension headaches are a common problem in our busy lives. Postural problems and stress are common sources of tension headaches, and ones that Dr. Ramsey and the team here in our Gresham, OR chiropractic office have a lot of experience in treating.

Research Supports Chiropractic Eases Tension Headaches

The scientific literature verifies our findings: A 2016 study from Spain managed a group of 76 patients with chronic tension headaches. The participants were divided into four treatment groups: 19 patients were treated with suboccipital inhibition (the therapist presses on the tight tissues at the top of the spine); 19 with chiropractic adjustments; 19 with both adjustments and suboccipital inhibition; and 19 received no treatment.

The authors reported that the spinal adjustments were beneficial at relieving pain, and that the best results were found when spinal adjustments were coupled with the suboccipital inhibition.

When we get stressed out, the nerves and tissues in the neck can be disrupted, resulting in pain. Chiropractic works by eliminating these stresses and restoring the normal nerve function to the tissues.

We're Here to Help Clients Find Relief From Tension Headaches

If you live in Gresham, OR and suffer from any kind of headache, we're here to help you get relief. Call Dr. Ramsey today at (503) 667-6744 for an appointment or more information.

Citation

Espi-Lopez GV, Rodriguez-Blanco C, Oliva-Pascual-Vaca A, et al. Do manual therapy techniques have a positive effect on quality of life in people with tension-type headache? A randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Physical Rehabilitation Medicine 2016; February 29.

With the Migraine Research Foundation reporting that migraines affect 38 million adults and children in the U.S. (more than asthma and diabetes put together), it's no surprise that Dr. Ramsey treats a lot of headache patients in our Gresham, OR office. Although some people choose to relieve migraine pain with medications, chiropractic care is a great, all-natural approach that usually provides positive results.

Research Supports Chiropractic Care Helps With Migraines

For example, one report published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics involved 127 patients ranging in age from 10 to 70-years-old who suffered with regular (at least monthly) migraines. Each subject received up to 16 chiropractic sessions. The patients noted that their headache frequency, duration, and disability two months before the study began, during the duration of the sessions (which was two months), and two months post-treatment.

What the researchers discovered is that chiropractic reduced the frequency, duration, and disability of the migraine headaches when compared with the control group who didn't receive chiropractic. Furthermore, this enabled them to take less medication for the pain, providing them an all-natural solution for a chronic problem.

Another study found that a combination of chiropractic and neck massage reduced migraine pain almost 68%.

If you have migraine headache pain and are looking for relief, call Dr. Ramsey today and request an appointment in our Gresham, OR chiropractic office. We'll do what we can to help you become pain-free!

Resources

Migraine Fact Sheet. Migraine Research Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.migraineresearchfoundation.org/fact-sheet.html on November 2, 2015
Noudeh Y et al. (2012). Reduction of current migraine headache pain following neck massage and spinal manipulation. International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork;5(1):5-13
Tuchin P et al. (2000, February). A randomized controlled trial of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for migraine. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics;23(2):91-5

We know how difficult persistent headache pain can be. Dr. Ramsey and our staff have worked with many people in our Gresham, OR chiropractic clinic, and we've had great success in helping patients reduce their headache pain.

Research Supports Chiropractic Helps With Cervicogenic Headaches

A 2016 research study confirms what we see in our practice. In this study, the authors started with 110 people who were suffering from headache pain that originated in the cervical spine. 58 of these patients were given a series of neck adjustments; 52 were given some stretches and exercises. The treatment period for both groups was four weeks.

The report found that the patients who received cervical and thoracic spinal adjustments "experienced significantly greater reductions in headache intensity, disability, headache frequency, headache duration, and medication intake as compared to the group that received mobilization and exercise."

The investigation also found that these results were maintained at the three-month follow-up exam.

Chiropractic is a safe and effective way to treat headache, back pain, neck pain, and many other health conditions. If you're tired of suffering, give Dr. Ramsey a call today at our Gresham, OR office at (503) 667-6744. We're here to help get you relief.

Citation

Dunning JR, Butts R, Mourad F, Young I, et al. Upper cervical and upper thoracic manipulation versus mobilization and exercise in patients with cervicogenic headache: a multi-center randomized clinical trial. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2016;17(1):64.

We see a number of patients in our Gresham, OR office with ankle sprains but Dr. Ramsey has had a lot of success helping them heal more quickly. Why are ankle sprains so common and how can chiropractic help?

According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), an estimated 25,000 men and women in the US sprain their ankles every day. As a matter of fact, these injuries make up almost half of all sports injuries, causing people to spend time away from the activities they enjoy most.

Like any injury, there are many causes of ankle sprains. The most common is inversion, or when the ankle rolls inward. This injury can happen due to one forceful movement, or it can develop over a period of time, and exercises that increase the risk for this type of ankle sprain include running and jumping. You're also at risk if you have previous ankle injuries, poor posture or balance, weak muscles, and reduced range of motion.

How Can Chiropractic Treatments and Dr. Ramsey Help?

A report published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics set out to determine chiropractic's role when it comes to ankle sprain recovery. The authors recruited 33 people between the ages of 18 and 45 who had a history of ankle inversion sprains, who were reporting tenderness and/or pain, and had not re-injured the ankle in the previous six weeks.

18 of the participants were assigned to participate in rehabilitation and the other 15 individuals received chiropractic in addition to rehabilitation. Each individual had five full weeks of treatment, with the rehab group receiving treatment seven days a week and the rehab plus chiropractic group receiving care six out of the seven days.

Research Shows Chiropractic Helps With Ankle Sprains

The study found that the individuals who had both rehab and chiropractic fared the best at the 4-week mark when it came to pain and joint restriction. Furthermore, no undesirable effects were reported, showing that chiropractic is safe.

If you're near our location in Gresham, OR and you're suffering from an ankle injury, give us a call. We'll do what we can to keep you up and moving... literally!

Sources

• American College of Sports Medicine. (n.d.). Ankle sprains and the athlete. Retrieved from https://www.acsm.org/docs/current-comments/anklesprainstemp.pdf
• Lubbe, D et al. (2015, January). Manipulative therapy and rehabilitation for recurrent ankle sprain with functional instability: a short-term, assessor-blind, parallel-group randomized trial. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 38(1), 22-34, doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2014.10.001