Recent Posts

We see a large number of men and women with back pain in our Woburn & Chelmsford, MA office, and Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin finds that many cases of back pain originate in the sacroiliac (SI) joint. Investigation shows that around 25% of all back pain originates in the SI joint, and now new research ratifies what we have observed in our clinic: chiropractic is an effective way to treat this issue.

Research Shows Chiropractic Treatment Helps Increase Movement in the SI Joint

In the study released in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 32 women with sacroiliac joint syndrome were separated into two groups and asked to engage in one of two treatment methods. one group went through a chiropractic adjustment isolated to the sacroiliac joint, and the alternate group had an adjustment to the sacroiliac joint and the lumbar spine.

Specialists found greater improvements in both pain and movement immediately following treatment, two days later, and 30 days after for the patients who received high-velocity low-amplitude manipulation to both the sacroiliac joint and the lumbar spine. This asserts that chiropractic manipulation applied to these two areas offers both short term and lasting results for sacroiliac joint pain sufferers—even after just one treatment round.

Therefore, if you are having trouble with sacroiliac joint pain, or cope with back and leg pain and want to know if your sacroiliac joint is the source, a consultation at our Woburn & Chelmsford, MA office could be the first—and best—step towards recovery. Give our office a call today at (781) 460-0939.

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.

Although some people are still skeptical about chiropractic, even the American Medical Association (AMA) recommends that adjustments should be tried prior to surgery--the one option that should be a last resort.

Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin has seen many back pain patients in our Woburn & Chelmsford, MA office who have been in pain for years and who are afraid that they might need an operation for their back pain. Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin has had great success in helping patients recover and avoid risky back surgery, and the science backs up our experience.

Research Proves Chiropractic Helps You Avoid Risky Surgery

Recently, in a study conducted on almost 2,000 Washington State workers who suffered from a back injury while at work, more than 42% who saw a surgeon first following their injury found themselves having back surgery within three years. That compares to just 1.5% of the people who first sought treatment with chiropractic care, proving that this non-invasive approach is extremely effective at keeping you off the operating table.

Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin Can Help Clients Find Comfort From Back Pain Without Surgery

There are alternatives 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. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin has helped many patients in Woburn & Chelmsford, MA recover. Give our office a call today at (781) 460-0939 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.

We know how difficult persistent headache pain can be. Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin and our staff have worked with many people in our Woburn & Chelmsford, MA chiropractic clinic, and we've had great success in helping folks eliminate their headache pain.

Research Proves Chiropractic Helps With Cervicogenic Headaches

A 2016 research study confirms what we see in our office. In this study, the authors started with 110 individuals who were suffering with headaches 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 outcomes 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. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin a call today at our Woburn & Chelmsford, MA office at (781) 460-0939. We're here to help get you out of pain.

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.

Don't Choose Drugs for Back Pain

In our Woburn & Chelmsford, MA practice, Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin has helped several people recover from back pain. If you are dealing with back pain, you've probably been tempted to take drugs to reduce the discomfort. You should understand that studies have shown that chiropractic care is oftentimes a better alternative than drugs when it comes to alleviating this specific type of problem.

In a 2013 study published in the journal Spine researchers included 101 people who had suffered back pain for at least two days. Each patient was then designated to one of three groups. The first group, which consisted of 37 patients, received chiropractic treatment and a placebo of the NSAID diclofenac. The second group of 38 participants received sham chiropractic adjustments and the genuine drug. The third group of 25 individuals served as the control as those subjects received sham chiropractic care and also received the placebo, thus having no real treatment whatsoever.

Both of the groups that received some type of treatment, whether through chiropractic or the drug diclofenac, fared better than the control patients who had no actual care. However, when the two active groups were compared to one another, the subjects who received chiropractic adjustments had improvements that were "significantly better" than those who took the medications.

Chiropractic: Natural Healing

Because chiropractic is non-invasive and doesn't use drugs, it helps enhance healing without negative side effects. For example, NSAIDs can result in ulcers, high blood pressure, and other serious health concerns. Plus, the benefits of chiropractic care last longer as it's intended to correct the source of the spinal interference, not just treat the symptoms.

If you're ready to address your back pain naturally, then chiropractic is for you. Schedule an appointment in our Woburn & Chelmsford, MA office with Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin today at (781) 460-0939. We'll help improve your back pain in a healthy way!

References

von Heymann WJ, Schloemer P, Timm J, Muehlbauer B. Spinal high-velocity low amplitude manipulation in acute nonspecific low back pain: a double-blind randomized controlled trial in comparison with diclofenac and placebo. Spine 2013;38(7):540-548.

Many people suffer with headache pain, and tension headaches are a common problem in our busy world. Postural problems and stress are common causes of tension headache, and ones that Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin and the staff here in our Woburn & Chelmsford, MA chiropractic office have a lot of experience in treating.

Research Shows Chiropractic Eases Tension Headaches

The scientific literature confirms 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 doctor 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 discovered that the spinal adjustments were helpful at relieving pain, and that the best results were found when spinal adjustments were combined with the suboccipital inhibition.

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

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

If you live in Woburn & Chelmsford, MA and are suffering from any kind of headache, we're here to help you get relief. Call Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin today at (781) 460-0939 for an appointment or more information.

Reference

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.

Chiropractic is based on the approach of aiding your body to naturally heal through spinal adjustments and lifestyle changes that promote overall health. For Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin, this means working hard to restore your body's normal functioning to avoid the need for drugs or surgical treatments. We see that most of our Woburn & Chelmsford, MA patients are pleased to find a natural solution for their health problems.

One benefit of chiropractic is that it helps people minimize or even eliminate the use of narcotics. Prescription medications are commonly issued to individuals who have back problems. This is such a serious crisis that the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) issued a news release stating that opioid (painkiller) risks overshadow the advantages when prescribed for back pain.

Some of the most well-known opiates, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, include hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin and Percocet), morphine, and codeine. Statistics provided by the AAN mention the fact that roughly 50% of the people taking these types of substances for a period of three months are still taking them five years down the road. This can further complicate the issue of back pain and healing, especially if an opiate dependency arises.

Contrast that to chiropractic care which incorporates natural healing and the benefits are clear. While a medication might be useful at briefly relieving the discomfort of a health condition, it's not a real solution to the problem. A drug won't fix your injured back; it will only conceal the pain.

Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin will first examine you to get to the source of your back problems and then work with you to solve the spinal interference -- without risky drugs.

If you're ready for relief, naturally, give our Woburn & Chelmsford, MA office a call at (781) 460-0939 to make an appointment with Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin.

References

• Risk of opioids outweigh benefits for headache, low back pain, other conditions. American Academy of Neurology;September 29, 2014.
• What are opioids? National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/prescription-drugs/opioids/what-are-opioids

In our Woburn & Chelmsford, MA office, it isn't unusual for us to see patients troubled with sciatica pain, and Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin has helped many of these people improve with chiropractic. What makes chiropractic care so beneficial to those who suffer with this condition? First off, it reduces their time of recovery and a Norwegian research study confirms it.

In the report, which took place in a Norwegian hospital's orthopedic division, the authors looked at 44 patients who had sudden low back pain that was identified as acute sciatica. The participants were all treated by a chiropractor, with the mean follow-up being two years after treatment.

The authors discovered that all but two patients returned to their jobs after receiving chiropractic care, which is a 95% success rate. Moreover, the average length of time that the individuals spent off work "was reduced by two thirds as compared with that associated with conventional medical treatment."

Considering that the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 170,450 days of work were lost in 2013 due to employees dealing with back or spine-related issues, that is nearly 112,500 work days that could potentially be recovered each and every year solely by receiving chiropractic care. Not only would that increase work productivity, but it would also reduce costs to businesses and employees from lost work.

If you live in Woburn & Chelmsford, MA and you suffer with sciatica pain, Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin is here to assist. Give us a call at (781) 460-0939 and we'll work with you to find the source of your sciatic pain and get you back on the road to recovery.

Orlin JR, Didriksen A. Results of chiropractic treatment of lumbopelvic fixation in 44 patients admitted to an orthopedic department. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2007;30(2):135-139.

Headache and neck pain are common problems that affect millions of men and women around the world. If you suffer from this type of problem, you're not alone. The good news is that chiropractic is the best way to not only treat these common issues, but also help prevent future episodes.

Research Shows Chiropractic Helps With Neck Pain and Headaches

For many years, people with neck and headache pain in Woburn & Chelmsford, MA have been helped by the chiropractic care of Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin. Our success is backed up by a recent review done in Canada that found that non-invasive, non-drug treatments are the best choice for neck and headache pain.

The report looked at 15 studies from 1990 to 2015 and found that conservative treatment comprised of chiropractic adjustments, exercises, and stretches was suggested before resorting to drugs or more invasive treatments.

Previous scientific studies have shown that chiropractic is effective and safe for neck pain and many other health conditions.

We Can Help Clients Find Comfort From Neck Pain and Headaches

If you're troubled with neck pain or headaches, Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin and our staff are here to help you feel better. Give our Woburn & Chelmsford, MA office a call today at (781) 460-0939 for an appointment today.

Reference

Varatharajan S, Ferguson B, Chrobak K, et al. Are non-invasive interventions effective for the management of headaches associated with neck pain? An update of the Bone and Joint Decade Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders by the Ontario Protocol for Traffic Injury Management (OPTIMa) Collaboration. European Spine Journal 2016; February 6:1-29.

There are many different kinds of headache, but one of the most common types is known as "cervicogenic headache," or headaches that start in your neck.

Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin sees a lot of people in our Woburn & Chelmsford, MA office who are struggling with recurring headaches. Thankfully, chiropractic can usually help, potentially reducing these types of headaches by 50 percent, and research confirms it.

Research Proves Chiropractic Helps With Cervicogenic Headaches

A study was conducted involving 80 participants who reported experiencing at least five cervicogenic headaches during the prior three months. The objective was to discover how effective chiropractic care was for this type of head pain, as well as to determine the number of treatment sessions required to achieve a positive effect.

The individuals were split into four separate groups, so that each group was similar in age, gender, number of cervicogenic headaches, and their intensity. Of the four groups, two engaged in chiropractic treatments and two received light massage. Furthermore, one group assigned to each treatment received eight sessions and the other group received double that amount.

Each patient was assessed based on head pain, neck pain, and disability prior to the study and 12 and 24 weeks after treatment was complete. The researchers found that those who received chiropractic as opposed to massage reported fewer headaches at the conclusion of the study. Furthermore, improvements were maintained when checked six months after treatment ended.

Additionally, participants who were taking medications for their headaches were able to lower their intake after completing the study. Those who received chiropractic had lower drug usage 24 weeks post-study.

We Can Help Clients Find Relief From Head Pain

Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin has helped many people who were suffering from headache pain in our Woburn & Chelmsford, MA office. Call us today at (781) 460-0939 for more information or for an appointment.

Reference

Haas M, Spegman A, Peterson D, Aickin M, Vavrek D. Dose response and efficacy of spinal manipulation for chronic cervicogenic headache: a pilot randomized controlled trial. The Spine Journal 2010; 10: 117-128.

Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin sees many people weekly in our busy Woburn & Chelmsford, MA chiropractic office who are looking for relief from the pain and suffering they feel due to herniated discs. Our experience isn't unique; the medical research verifies that chiropractic care is a successful way to treat herniated disc problems.

Don't Suffer! Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin and Chiropractic Care Helps With Disc Herniation

One particular research 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 documented 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 study, the individuals were treated using one of two common chiropractic techniques: traction for herniated discs in the cervical area or flexion distraction for the people who had herniation issues in the lumbar area.

Each person 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 seriousness of the disc herniation, therapy ranged anywhere from six weeks to six months, with MRIs being performed at a variety of stages to determine what effect, if any, the chiropractic care was having in regard to the disc herniation.

Research Shows Chiropractic Helps With Back Pain and Herniated Disc

The investigators found 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 work and led the authors to conclude that chiropractic is both "safe and helpful" for disc herniations.

If you have a herniated disc and suffer from chronic back pain and are near Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin in Woburn & Chelmsford, MA, 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.