Breakthrough Medical Plus

04/30/2026

Manual Therapy vs. Surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

When people suspect they have carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), it’s typical that their first thought is that their condition will require surgery and a lengthy recovery. While surgery may be warranted in emergency situations, treatment guidelines encourage patients to seek non-surgical options first. So how do non-surgical approaches like manual therapy interventions —provided in a chiropractic setting—compare with surgery to treat CTS?

When people suspect they have carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), it’s typical that their first thought is that their condition will require surgery and a lengthy recovery. While surgery may be warranted in emergency situations, treatment guidelines encourage patients to seek non-surgical options

04/30/2026

Headaches: Headache Triggers and Causes

We often think headaches are caused by different stressful triggers. It could be long days at work, staring at a computer screen all night, or the aggravation of spending an extended amount of time stuck in traffic. Some of us get headaches after drinking red wine or eating certain foods. While these triggers make headaches develop and worsen, they are not necessarily the underlying cause of the problem. Some people get headaches after exercise or working in the garden, but these activities cannot be considered the cause—they are aggravating factors.

We often think headaches are caused by different stressful triggers. It could be long days at work, staring at a computer screen all night, or the aggravation of spending an extended amount of time stuck in traffic. Some of us get headaches after drinking red wine or eating certain foods. Whi

04/29/2026

A Cause of Post-Whiplash Headaches

Headaches are a common complaint among patients with whiplash associated disorder (WAD) following a motor vehicle collision, slip and fall, or sports injury. While in some cases, the cause of WAD-associated headache can be a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI), in many instances the underlying cause of WAD-related headaches can be injury to the neck. How is this possible?

Headaches are a common complaint among patients with whiplash associated disorder (WAD) following a motor vehicle collision, slip and fall, or sports injury. While in some cases, the cause of WAD-associated headache can be a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI), in many instances the underl

04/29/2026

Short, Light Exercise Boosts Kids’ Focus and Mood.

Waseda University researchers report that a quick bout of light-intensity exercise of just 3.5 minutes can improve executive function and elevate mood in children aged 10–14 years.

04/28/2026

Natural Daylight May Aid in Type 2 Diabetes Management.

New research suggests that office workers with type 2 diabetes who are exposed to natural daylight have healthier blood glucose levels, improved fat metabolism, and better circadian rhythm regulation than peers who work exclusively under artificial lighting.

04/28/2026

Low Back Pain and Directional Preference for Exercises

Several studies have found that a treatment approach that combines specific exercises with spinal manipulation, mobilization, and nutrition is often ideal for reducing pain and improving function in patients with low back pain. But how does your doctor of chiropractic know which low back exercises to recommend and which to avoid? The answer: it depends.

Several studies have found that a treatment approach that combines specific exercises with spinal manipulation, mobilization, and nutrition is often ideal for reducing pain and improving function in patients with low back pain. But how does your doctor of chiropractic know which low back exercise

04/27/2026

Just 10 Minutes of Exercise Before Class Helps Concentration.

In a recent experiment, college students who engaged in ten minutes of moderate-intensity, continuous physical activity prior to class exhibited better concentration and executive function skills than their peers who did not exercise beforehand.

04/27/2026

How the Brain Changes After Whiplash

Whiplash associated disorders (WAD) is a term applied to a constellation of symptoms that can arise following a motor vehicle collision (MVC), slip and fall, or sports injury. It’s estimated that up to 25% of WAD patients fail to fully recover from their injury and new research suggests this may be due to changes in the brain

Whiplash associated disorders (WAD) is a term applied to a constellation of symptoms that can arise following a motor vehicle collision (MVC), slip and fall, or sports injury. It’s estimated that up to 25% of WAD patients fail to fully recover from their injury and new research suggests thi

04/23/2026

The Cost of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral neuropathy—or pinching of a nerve outside of the spine—affecting between 3-6% of the population. While we usually focus on how carpal tunnel syndrome is managed, in this article we’re going to focus on why CTS is one of the costliest musculoskeletal disorders.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral neuropathy—or pinching of a nerve outside of the spine—affecting between 3-6% of the population. While we usually focus on how carpal tunnel syndrome is managed, in this article we’re going to focus on why CTS is one of

04/23/2026

Recovering from Whiplash

A whiplash neck injury occurs when the head is abruptly thrown backward and then forward. This violent motion, which happens faster than the body can brace against, can damage soft tissues—including ligaments, muscles, nerves, and disks—as well as cause bone injury or fracture with or without dislocation. Symptoms typically develop within days and may include neck pain and stiffness, reduced motion, headaches (often starting at the base of the skull), shoulder or upper back tenderness, dizziness, fatigue, tingling or numbness in the arms, and pain that worsens with movement. Each case is unique, making recovery time highly variable and difficult to predict.

A whiplash neck injury occurs when the head is abruptly thrown backward and then forward. This violent motion, which happens faster than the body can brace against, can damage soft tissues—including ligaments, muscles, nerves, and disks—as well as cause bone injury or fracture with or

04/22/2026

Lumbar Disk Herniation Size and Surgery

It stands to reason the more an intervertebral disk herniates, the more it will compress the spinal nerves, leading to a greater likelihood for surgical intervention. But what if that isn’t the case?

It stands to reason the more an intervertebral disk herniates, the more it will compress the spinal nerves, leading to a greater likelihood for surgical intervention. But what if that isn’t the case? The current standard treatment of lumbar disk herniation (LDH) involves FIRST the i

04/22/2026

Hands-On Treatment May Benefit Bruxism Patients.

Bruxism is a condition characterized by involuntary clenching or grinding of the teeth, typically occurring during sleep or periods of stress, and is often associated with jaw muscle pain, tooth wear, and temporomandibular joint symptoms. In a recent study, researchers found that applying myofascial release—a hands-on technique in which a doctor of chiropractic uses manual pressure (with the hands, elbow, or a tool) to reduce muscle tension and improve tissue mobility—to the masseter and sternocleidomastoid muscles led to significant improvements in jaw and neck pain, as well as maximal mouth opening, in individuals with bruxism. These findings support the use of myofascial release as part of a multimodal approach to managing bruxism.