BIRMINGHAM, Ala., May 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Birmingham chiropractor Dr. Scott Duca announced that his practice, Back on Track Chiropractic, has had significant success treating patients for headaches by using non-invasive pain management techniques such as chiropractic care. A misalignment in the cervical spine can place pressure on the rectus capitis posterior minor muscle (RCPM), leading to tension headaches, according to Dr. Duca. The chiropractor recommends a combination of chiropractic adjustments with lifestyle counseling to reduce the frequency and severity of headaches while eliminating common headache triggers from a patient's lifestyle.
Headache and migraine sufferers may benefit from chiropractic care to relieve their pain. According to Back on Track Chiropractic, chiropractic care is an effective treatment option for naturally relieving headache pain. Birmingham chiropractor Dr. Scott Duca says that treatment is effective because it targets the root trigger for a patient's pain.
"Tension headaches can strike without warning, leaving a patient feeling as if their head is trapped in a vice," said Dr. Duca. "Research shows that tension headaches can be triggered by spasms of the RCPM muscle. These spams can be caused by a loss of the normal cervical curvature in the neck or pressure from a cervical spine misalignment. By correcting the curve and misalignment, we relieve pressure on the muscle and stop the spasms, thereby reducing the likelihood that a patient will develop recurring tension headaches."
Dr. Duca stressed that while chiropractic care cannot eliminate all headaches, regular adjustments do help many patients maintain proper spinal alignment, which may play a role in reducing the frequency and severity of headaches.
The chiropractor also cautioned that individuals who have been in a car accident may have sustained a whiplash injury. This injury may lead to a cervical spine misalignment that ultimately triggers headache pain, including headaches at the base of the skull.
"Rather than relying on medication to cover up pain, we hone in on the underlying cause," said Dr. Duca. "Many patients are surprised to find that an untreated whiplash injury, for example, may be the root cause for a cervical spine misalignment that is now triggering their headache pain. The entire body is connected, and what affects one part can lead to pain in another. Understanding these connections and restoring a state of balance is a fundamental basic principle of chiropractic care."
The Birmingham chiropractor also coaches patients to avoid lifestyle triggers that may intensify the severity of pain or frequency of headaches. How people sleep, sit at a desk or even the position/posture sitting in the car can all contribute to this problem. Low blood sugar, the sudden absence or excess of caffeine, eyestrain, and certain food ingredients are also associated with an increased risk for headaches, said Dr. Duca.
"We find that a combination of chiropractic adjustments, together with lifestyle modification, delivers the best results for our patients," said Dr. Duca. "This reflects our 'whole body' approach to headache management. A holistic approach delivers superior pain management results."
For more information regarding chiropractic care for headache pain management, prospective patients are invited to visit Birmingham Chiropractor Sports Injury Auto Injury Chiropractic Care.