Low back pain is one of the most common and disabling conditions worldwide. It’s estimated that nearly 200 million acute episodes of low back pain occur each year, of which roughly 20% persist for longer than three months. With the aging of the global population combined with the obesity epidemic, low back pain is expected … Read more

Americans spend a substantial amount on pharmaceuticals (prescription drugs) each year. In 2024, total prescription drug expenditures were approximately $806 billion, up 10.2% from 2023 (1). An additional $43 billion is spent yearly for over-the-counter drugs (2). Americans spend approximately $35 billion annually on pain medicines, encompassing both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription pain management drugs … Read more

In simple terms, chronic low back pain is pain affecting the lumbar spine region that lasts longer than three months. However, chronic low back pain is not simply acute (new) low back pain that has failed to resolve. Rather, it often reflects an overlap of two or even three distinct pain mechanisms, each of which … Read more

Neck pain is estimated to affect approximately 30–50% of the adult population in the United States each year, making it second only to low back pain as a primary reason patients seek chiropractic care. The goal of chiropractic care for neck pain is to help restore normal joint motion and function in the cervical spine, … Read more

As we age, it is natural to become more concerned about our longevity, especially if we have experienced health challenges or engaged in unhealthy behaviors earlier in life. One way to assess probabilistic near-term (under five years) and long-term (10–25 years) mortality risk is to use an assessment known as the Deficit Index, also called … Read more

Most people associate tinnitus with excessive noise exposure, such as the ringing that can follow a rock concert. However, tinnitus can also develop following a whiplash event, such as the rapid acceleration and deceleration of the head and neck that occurs during a motor vehicle collision. While a crash may involve loud noises that can … Read more

The act of straightening the leg during walking, running, jumping, or standing is accomplished through a coordinated anatomical mechanism involving the quadriceps muscles that attach to the patella (kneecap), which is connected to the tibia (shin bone) via the patellar tendon. Repetitive and forceful knee-extension movements can overload this tendon, leading to injury or inflammation … Read more

Whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) is an umbrella term used to characterize the myriad symptoms that can occur when soft tissues are injured during rapid acceleration and deceleration of the head and neck in a whiplash event, such as a rear-end automobile collision. Despite advances in the understanding and treatment of WAD, it is estimated that nearly … Read more

Since their introduction and rapid adoption in the mid-2000s, smartphones have become an integral part of daily life—not only by consolidating multiple technologies into a single device, but also by helping us stay connected with family, friends, clients, and colleagues. However, alongside these benefits, a growing body of evidence points to significant downsides. Excessive smartphone … Read more

Assuming patients and healthcare providers follow clinical guidelines for managing neck pain, most neck pain sufferers can experience resolution of their pain and disability with the aid of a conservative, multimodal treatment approach, such as those provided by chiropractors. However, for a variety of reasons, some patients may still undergo surgical intervention, and it is … Read more