Author: Andre Broussard, D.C.
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Spondylolisthesis – What Is That?
Spondylolisthesis, or a slipped vertebra (as opposed to a slipped disk or herniated disk), is when one vertebra slips or slides forwards on the vertebra below, which can occur for a number of reasons including getting older (“degenerative spondylolisthesis”) or trauma (from a fracture in the back of the vertebra called the “pars interarticularis”).…
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Headache Danger Signals
There are four main arteries that bring blood to the brain: two in the front of the neck called the carotid arteries and two in the back of the neck called the vertebral arteries. The carotid arteries supply the front and middle portions of the brain with blood while the vertebral arteries join together to…
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Fibromyalgia “Diet” – Is There Such a Thing?
Folks suffering with fibromyalgia (FM) commonly complain that certain foods can make their symptoms worse. How common is this? One study reported 42% of FM patients found that certain foods worsened their symptoms! Because FM affects each person differently, there is no ONE FM diet or, “…one size fits all” when it comes to eating…
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Whiplash – What Exercises Should I Do? (Part 1)
Whiplash, or “Whiplash Associated Disorders” (WAD), results from a sudden jarring motion, often from a car crash that occurs too fast for someone to voluntarily “brace” themselves. This is because the whole “whiplash cycle” is over within 300msec, and we cannot contract a muscle faster than 700-800 msec. Other injury factors include: the type and…
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Let’s Get the FACTS! (Part 1)
If tingling/numbness primarily affects your thumb, index, third, and ring fingers, it very well could be carpal tunnel syndrome, or CTS. Chances are you’ve probably had this condition for months or even longer but it’s been more of a nuisance than a “major problem” and therefore, you probably haven’t “bothered” having it checked out. Let’s…
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Surgery for Neck and Arm Pain?
We in the healthcare management world are all biased. If a patient with neck and arm pain presents to chiropractic clinic, the doctor of chiropractic will usually recommend a non-surgical trial of care as long as “red flags” don’t exist (that is, “bad” things like bowel/bladder weakness, rapidly worsening symptoms, and a few others). Frequently,…
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Low Back Pain and Pregnancy
Did you know that 50-72% of women have low back pain (LBP) and/or pelvic pain during their pregnancy but only 32% do something about it? Let’s look closer! Pregnancy-related low back pain (PLBP) can be a highly debilitating syndrome that accounts for the most common cause of sick leave for pregnant women. In 2004, Americans…
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Body Mass Index and Risk of Knee Osteoarthritis
In the British Medical Journal, an article was published that concluded that being overweight or obese is a risk factor for developing knee arthritis, and they recommend that doctors advise their overweight patients on weight reduction in the treatment and prevention of knee arthritis. ~ Dr. Broussard December 25, 2015 BMJ Open TAKE-HOME MESSAGE The…
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Chiropractic Treatment Safe For Internal Carotid Artery
This study showed that the maximum internal carotid artery strains measured during spinal manipulation did not exceed any of the strains experienced during normal everyday movements, and the authors concluded that spinal manipulation provided by trained clinicians is not a factor in internal carotid artery injuries. ~ Dr. Broussard Internal Carotid Artery Strains During High-Speed,…
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Slouched Posture Found Associated With Increased Neck and Shoulder Pain-Disability
A slouched body posture decreases arm mobility and changes muscle recruitment in the neck and shoulder region European Journal of Applied Physiology December 2015, Volume 115, Issue 12, pp 2491–2503 Eva-Maj Malmström Abstract PURPOSE: Long-term use of unfavorable postures, congenital deformations and degenerative processes associated with aging or disease may generate an increased thoracic curvature…