Johnson Chiropractic and Integrative Health

Dr. Valorie Prahl Has Joined the Clinic!

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:07:01 +0000

Dr. Valorie Prahl has joined our dream team! After a 6-year hiatus she has returned to the Cedar Valley! Dr. Prahl practiced in Cedar Falls from 1985-2002.

She's a skilled practitioner with years of experience. Since she last practiced in the community she has earned a diplomate from the American Chiropractic Board of Nutrition and has become a Certified Clinic Nutritionist.

Welcome aboard Dr. Valorie!

Study: Chiropractic Does Not Increase Risk of Stroke

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 15:48:00 +0000

A new study finds there is no evidence of excess risk of stroke following chiropractic spinal manipulation, according to a February 2008 report in the journal Spine . In the study, researchers noted that patients are no more likely to suffer a stroke following chiropractic treatment than they would after visiting their family doctor’s office.

The study goes on to say that any observed association between a vertebrobasilar artery (VBA) stroke and chiropractic manipulation is likely due to patients with an undiagnosed vertebral artery dissection seeking care for neck pain and headache before their stroke.

Functional MRI and Chiropractic Research

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:47:36 +0000

Unlike conventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which discloses only anatomy and pathology, functional MRI is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique which demonstrates alterations in brain physiology. The technique relies on the relationship between neuronal synaptic activity, energy metabolism, and blood circulation.

Chiropractic Adjustment Lowers Blood Pressure -- WebMD News

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:34:08 +0000

A special chiropractic adjustment can significantly lower high blood pressure, a placebo-controlled study suggests.

"This procedure has the effect of not one, but two blood-pressure medications given in combination," study leader George Bakris, MD, tells WebMD. "And it seems to be adverse-event free. We saw no side effects and no problems," adds Bakris, director of the University of Chicago hypertension center.

Chronic Pain Harms The Brain

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:21:22 +0000

CHICAGO -- People with unrelenting pain don't only suffer from the nonstop sensation of throbbing pain. They also have trouble sleeping, are often depressed, anxious and even have difficulty making simple decisions.

In a new study, investigators at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine have identified a clue that may explain how suffering long-term pain could trigger these other pain-related symptoms.

Researchers found that in a healthy brain all the regions exist in a state of equilibrium. When one region is active, the others quiet down. But in people with chronic pain, a front region of the cortex mostly associated with emotion "never shuts up," said Dante Chialvo, lead author and associate research professor of physiology at the Feinberg School. The region is stuck on full throttle, wearing out neurons and altering their connections to each other.

An Adjustment Helps Restore A Blind Man's Sight!

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 22:05:47 +0000

Back Pain Facts and Stats

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:32:19 +0000

Although chiropractors care for more than just back pain, many patients visit chiropractors looking for relief from this pervasive condition. In fact, 31 million Americans experience low-back pain at any given time.¹

A few interesting facts about back pain:

One-half of all working Americans admit to having back pain symptoms each year.²
Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work. In fact, back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections.
Most cases of back pain are mechanical or non-organic—meaning they are not caused by serious conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture or cancer.
Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on back pain—and that’s just for the more easily identified costs.³
Experts estimate that as many as 80% of the population will experience a back problem at some time in our lives.⁴