Bethesda Spine & Posture

06/28/2025

There’s no single answer to whether most people would prefer spinal fusion surgery or weekly chiropractic care for life, but surveys, studies, and patient behavior suggest this:

📊 Most people prefer non-surgical care when given a choice—even if it’s ongoing.

🔹 Reasons people avoid spinal fusion surgery:
• Fear of complications: Spinal fusion carries risks including infection, adjacent segment disease, hardware failure, and even paralysis in rare cases.
• High failure/dissatisfaction rates: Studies show 20–40% of fusion patients report unsatisfactory outcomes or continued pain (JAMA, 2018, [Spine, 2011]).
• Recovery time: Long rehab and downtime deter many people.
• Cost: Even with insurance, it’s expensive and may not guarantee better outcomes.

🔹 Why people accept frequent chiropractic care:
• Perceived safety: Chiropractic adjustments are non-invasive and low risk for most.
• Satisfaction rates: Surveys show high satisfaction among chiropractic patients—often over 80%.
• Pain relief without drugs or surgery: A major draw, especially with chronic spine conditions.

✅ What the data supports:

A 2017 Gallup-Palmer survey found:

“Over 90% of Americans prefer to try conservative care before considering surgery for neck or back pain.”

🧠 Bottom line:

Most people, when informed of the risks and outcomes, would rather commit to regular, non-invasive chiropractic care than undergo a one-time, high-risk surgery—especially if surgery isn’t guaranteed to “fix” the problem.

05/31/2025

🧓📉 Degenerative Scoliosis Isn’t Just a Curve — It’s a Life-Altering Condition.
Many older adults develop spinal curvature that progresses with age, leading to pain, disability, and loss of independence.

📚 Research shows:
🔹 Berven & Lowe (2007) – Degenerative scoliosis causes substantial pain and functional decline.
🔹 Ploumis et al. (2007) – Curve severity and imbalance directly impact quality of life.
🔹 Glassman et al. (2005) – Forward-leaning posture increases pain and lowers health scores.
🔹 Bridwell et al. (2009) – Adults with spinal deformity experience greater suffering than those with other chronic conditions.

📸 This X-ray-style image highlights how severe scoliosis can alter body alignment from the inside out.

✅ At Bethesda Spine & Posture, we offer advanced, non-surgical care for spinal deformities — including Chiropractic BioPhysics® and custom scoliosis bracing with ScoliBrace.

📍 Bethesda, MD | ☎️ 301-656-2435
🌐 www.bethesdaspineandposture.com

05/31/2025

🧠 Neck Pain? It Might Be More Than Just Muscle Tension.
📉 Loss of the natural cervical curve (neck lordosis) has been scientifically linked to chronic neck pain, tension, and disability.

🔍 What the research says:
✅ Harrison et al. (2004) – Improving cervical curvature leads to pain and function improvement
✅ Moustafa et al. (2011) – Flattened neck curves cause biomechanical stress and chronic pain
✅ McAviney et al. (2005) – Hypolordosis is highly correlated with neck pain
✅ Moustafa et al. (2012) – Curve correction predicts long-term relief
✅ Kumari et al. (2020) – Less curve = more pain in desk workers

📸 This X-ray-style image says it all — when the neck loses its natural shape, the spine suffers.

At Bethesda Spine & Posture, we specialize in restoring normal posture and correcting spinal alignment to help you feel better, longer.

📞 Call 301-656-2435 or visit
🌐 www.bethesdaspineandposture.com

05/31/2025

🦻 Did You Know Chiropractors Can Adjust Ears?
It’s true — while it might sound surprising, some chiropractors are trained to perform gentle adjustments around the ear and skull to support better function and drainage.

👶 Especially in children, this can help with:
• Eustachian tube dysfunction
• Chronic ear fluid or pressure
• Sinus congestion
• Jaw tension and more!

🧠 These techniques often involve cranial or upper cervical adjustments, aimed at restoring proper movement in the bones surrounding the ear — not the ear itself.

🎯 It’s a safe, non-invasive, drug-free approach that may offer relief when traditional treatments plateau.

📍 At Bethesda Spine & Posture, we use advanced, gentle methods tailored to your body — head to toe.

📞 Call us to learn more or schedule a consultation today! 301-657-2435 ☎️

04/24/2025

04/24/2025

Spring time is back to health time! Get checked today!

04/11/2025

Subluxation defined by the International Chiropractic Association 🩻

03/30/2025

ScoliBalance PT: A Modern Approach to Scoliosis Rehabilitation
ScoliBalance PT is a customized, exercise-based rehabilitation programdesigned for individuals with scoliosis. It focuses on improving posture, muscle balance, and spinal function using evidence-based principles. This method is often integrated with ScoliBrace bracing, but it can also be used as a standalone therapy for patients of all ages.

03/26/2025

03/16/2025

03/13/2025

A common misconception about scoliosis bracing is that it weakens trunk muscles, reducing endurance over time. However, recent research indicates that certain braces, like the ScoliBrace®, when combined with specific exercises (like ScoliBalance®), can actually help improve trunk muscle endurance. This approach has been shown to strengthen muscles, enhance stability, and better support the spine, offering a more proactive and beneficial role for bracing in scoliosis care.

A common misconception about scoliosis bracing is that it weakens trunk muscles, reducing endurance over time. However, recent research indicates that certain braces, like the ScoliBrace®, when combined with specific exercises (like ScoliBalance®), can actually help improve trunk muscle endurance. This approach has been shown to strengthen muscles, enhance stability, and better support the spine, offering a more proactive and beneficial role for bracing in scoliosis care.

ScoliCare Executive Director of Education and Research, Rose Mirenzi, Clinical Director, Dr. Juan Du Plessis, Dr. Tamara Pooke and CEO Dr. Jeb McAviney completed a retrospective study of trunk muscle endurance of 33 adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis patients who received ScoliBrace® and ScoliBalance® treatment. The paper was published in The Journal of Clinical Medicine in 2024.
The paper can be accessed here: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/3/653