Lance Kjendalen, D.C.

Traction is defined as, “…the act of pulling a body part.” Therefore, it is commonly used in many regions including the legs, arms, low back, mid-back, and the neck. We will be limiting this discussion to cervical or neck traction, and the question of the month is, “…does it help patients with neck pain and [..]

Neck Pain can arise from many different sources with a similar clinical presentation, which can make it a challenge to diagnose. One of those related, and sometimes co-existing conditions, is called thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). Let’s first discuss the anatomy of the neck and the thoracic outlet so we all have a good “picture” in [..]

It's estimated that as many as 213 per 1,000 people may have neck pain at any given time with the twelve-month prevalence ranging between 30-50%. There is a lot of convincing peer-reviewed literature (research) that supports chiropractic as one of the first and best courses of care to consider when choosing a treatment option for [..]

The relationship between neck pain and our pillow is more important than most of us realize! Though we all may have at one time or another slept on a variety of surfaces, and used any number of pillows (flat, medium, bulky) made of different materials (foam, feather, air, water, or memory foam), it’s usually not [..]

It’s safe to say that if one hasn't had neck and/or shoulder pain, they probably will at some point in the future. Like lower back pain, once someone has had neck pain, the chances for a future episode are significantly higher. A 2012 study reported that over a 12-month period, 16-18% of participants complained of [..]

Neck pain is one of the most common complaints for which patients present to chiropractic offices. Headaches are also another very common problem and often go hand-in-hand with the presence of neck pain. So, the question that is frequently asked is, "…why do headaches and neck pain often occur together?" There are many types of [..]

Does mobilization (MOB) get less, the same, or better results when compared to spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) when it comes to treating neck pain? To answer this question, let’s first discuss the difference between the two treatment approaches. Mobilization (MOB) of the spine can be "technically" defined as a "low velocity, low amplitude" force applied [..]

Mechanical neck pain affects an estimated 70% of people at some point in life. Because many different treatment approaches are available for neck pain, it can be very difficult for those suffering from neck pain to know which treatment approach(es) to choose. Research on this topic has revealed some very interesting information that places chiropractic [..]

We have all heard about the "placebo effect" and the "power of positive thinking." A placebo, according to Wikipedia, is "…a simulated or otherwise medically ineffectual treatment for a disease or other medical condition intended to deceive the recipient." When a placebo is used, it will sometimes have a perceived beneficial effect. When this occurs, [..]

Given the close anatomical proximity between the neck and shoulder, it’s no wonder the two are intimately related. With our hectic lifestyles that include driving, hunching over computers and electronic devices, and talking on the phone (not to mention stress arising from multiple sources), sometimes it seems like the muscles in the neck, upper back, [..]