Complementary and integrative medicine in the management of headache

Complementary and integrative medicine in the management of headache

A migraine often presents as an intense throbbing or pulsing sensation on one or both sides of the head, it is frequently accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and vomiting.

Migraines are commonly associated with triggers: hormonal changes, food and additives, stress, sleep, physical and sensory factors, changes in the environment and certain medications.

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Cupping Therapy

Cupping Therapy

Cupping is a technique where a vacuum is created in a cup, drawing the skin up into the cup decompressing the layers of the epidermis and subcutaneous superficial fascia. Cupping has been practiced in most cultures in one form or another throughout history but the true origin of cupping therapy remains uncertain.

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Physicians, now more than ever are recommending conservative treatment

Physicians, now more than ever are recommending conservative treatment

Physicians, now more than ever are recommending conservative treatment including massage as part of a multi-modal approach for patients suffering from low back pain, anxiety and stress.

This is supported by recent recommendations from Canadian Medical Association, The American College of Physicians, Center for Disease Control, Ontario Protocol for Traffic Injury Management (OPTIMa) and The Mayo Clinic.

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Effects of stretching and manual therapy on shoulder range of motion

Effects of stretching and manual therapy on shoulder range of motion

It has been documented that changes in rotator cuff stiffness are associated with the ROM deficits in pitchers, so rehabilitation programs that decrease tissue stiffness and improve range of motion have potential clinical implications for injury prevention.

If the goal is improving shoulder range of motion, a number of papers have demonstrated the effects of soft tissue mobilization or stretch training on tissue stiffness, shoulder internal rotation and horizontal adduction.  

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Placebos work even when patients know what they are

Placebos work even when patients know what they are

"Lying to patients is almost always unethical. But, in order for placebos to work, we have to believe they are “real” treatments, which means the doctor would have to lie to us and say that the placebo was actually a real treatment. Or, in the case of a clinical trial, that it might be a real treatment. After all, if a doctor handed you a pill and said, “this is just a sugar pill”, you’d probably assume it wouldn’t work. But sometimes our assumptions are mistaken."

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