BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Sept. 28, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A Birmingham chiropractor is making use of natural healing methods to relieve neck pain, headaches, and migraines for area residents. According to Dr. Scott Duca, DC of Back on Track Chiropractic and Wellness Center, neck pain and cervical misalignments can contribute to tension headache and migraine symptoms. He says these problems can often be addressed with chiropractic adjustment and other natural techniques.
Local chiropractor Dr. Scott Duca, DC is urging people to see care for neck problems and resulting headaches. "Patients may be able to dull their discomfort temporarily with medications, but treating the root of the problem provides more consistent, longer-lasting relief without the risk of dependence or side effects," said Dr. Duca.
The chiropractor states that in many cases, symptoms felt in the head actually have their origins in the neck. He explains that the cervical spine can drift out of its normal alignment, either gradually or as a result of sudden impact trauma. He cites whiplash as a common example of the latter, saying, "When the head is whipped back and forth in an impact, the vertebrae are jarred out of position and the discs between them shift so that they're pressing on the cervical nerve roots."
Dr. Duca adds that years of poor posture or a chronic degenerative condition can cause similar misalignments in a much less dramatic manner, sneaking up on patients over a period of time.
In addition to nerve impingement in the neck as a source of headache pain, Dr. Duca cites chronic muscular strain in the neck as another potential headache trigger. "Spending long hours in a fixed position -- hunched over a computer screen, for instance -- can place the muscles of the neck under unremitting stress, producing a classic tension headache," he said.
Dr. Duca employs chiropractic adjustment to help resolve many underlying issues that create tension headaches and injury-related headaches. According to the chiropractor, spinal adjustments can correct misalignments that contribute to both nerve impingement and muscular strain. He states that he frequently uses a combination of spinal adjustments, electrical muscle stimulation and, in some cases, massage therapy to treat neck pain and headaches.
Migraines present a more complex picture, says Dr. Duca, because many potential triggers can set them off. He notes that since changes in blood flow are connected to migraine attacks, chiropractic treatment's ability to normalize physical functions can help migraine patients ward off attacks. "We also provide lifestyle counseling to help our patients recognize their migraine triggers," he added.
Dr. Duca recommends natural methods over the use of painkillers. He states that drugs often only mask pain symptoms without resolving the causes.
In addition to neck pain, headache and migraine relief, Back on Track Chiropractic and Wellness provides treatment for sciatica, back pain and other symptoms.