Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Do Video Games Enhance Cognitive Abilities?
In a recent study, it was demonstrated that there is little solid evidence that games enhance cognition at all. On the other hand, it may be the people who have these enhanced abilities are more likely to play video games.
Frontiers in Psychology, Dec 2011

Health Alert: Diabetes Worldwide!
There are 366 million diabetics worldwide and 4.6 million die each year from the disease. In the US, 8.3% or 25.8 million children and adults have diabetes, with 79 million having prediabetes.
Diabetes Atlas, Nov 2011 & American Diabetes Association, 2011

Diet: Remember Cholesterol.
High cholesterol levels may be associated with a greater incidence of brain plaques, a marker for Alzheimer's disease.
Neurology, Sept 2011

Exercise: Wide Waists Trim Lifespan.
Runners who find it more difficult to run as they age can make the experience easier on themselves by adding strength training and flexibility exercises to their fitness routine.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, Dec 2011

Chiropractic: Chiropractic and the NFL.
All 32 teams in the National Football League offer their players and personnel chiropractic physician services for both managing and preventing injuries.
Professional Football Chiropractic Society

Wellness/Prevention: Too Much Booze, You Lose.
Men are more likely to binge drink than women. Research shows that drinking even a small amount of alcohol increases cancer risks, though moderate amounts of alcohol can show cardiovascular benefits that outweigh such risks. Men can play it safe by having no more than two alcoholic drinks per day.
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Nov 2011

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: A Good Laugh.
When we laugh heartily among friends, we exhale repeatedly without drawing breath. This physical effort leaves us exhausted and triggers the release of protective endorphins, one of the complex neuropeptide chemicals of the brain that regulate pain and promote feelings of wellbeing. Watching 15 minutes of comedy in the company of others can increase your pain threshold by an average of 10%. Laughter is 30 times more likely to happen when we are with others than when we are alone.
Proceedings of the Royal Society, Dec 2011

Health Alert: Antibiotic Resistance.
Overexposure to antibiotics has long been a concern in the medical community, most specifically the development of antibiotic resistant infections as a result of repeated use. Ophthalmologic antibiotics have been found to promote antimicrobial resistance too, prompting a call from Vanderbilt Eye Institute physicians to be more judicial in the administration of certain classes of antibiotics.
Archives of Ophthalmology, Dec 2011

Diet: Protect Your Bones.
A calorie-restricted diet higher in protein (mostly from dairy foods) and lower in carbohydrates, coupled with daily exercise, demonstrated a major positive impact on bone health. Bone health improvements were particularly evident due to the diet's high density of bone-supporting nutrients, such as calcium, vitamin D and dairy-based protein.
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Dec 2011

Exercise: It's Harder To Run As You Age.
Runners who find it more difficult to run as they age can make the experience easier on themselves by adding strength training and flexibility exercises to their fitness routine.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, Dec 2011

Chiropractic: Bad Posture.
Asymmetries in posture and motion can cause tethering, the adverse prolonged stretching of the central nervous system. This can result in spinal cord ischemia (lack of blood flow) and consequently motor, sensory, and autonomic neurological dysfunction. Tethering of the spinal cord has been linked to demylenating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.
Koch, 2002

Wellness/Prevention: Cancer Prevention In Your 50s.
Cancer is more likely to show up in men over 50 years old. That's why the majority of cancer screening exams begin at age 50. Finding and treating cancer as early as possible is one of the best ways to beat this disease. In the case of prostate cancer (the most common cancer in men), treating the disease at an early stage means men may be less likely to experience long-term side effects, like impotence.
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Nov 2011

Usually doing "Nothing" is the worst thing to do...

"In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing." - Theodore Roosevelt

This year we celebrate our 15th year in practice! It's a major milestone and one I am quite proud of. We now live in a world where becoming a doctor is no guarantee of success. In fact, doctors practices have become just like any other business in our economy, where more often then not, they will have to close their doors instead of succeeding. A recent statistic I read suggested that HALF of the doctors who graduate from school today will be out of business within five years!! So, what does this have to do with HEALTH? If you read my last email, I let you in on the secret of understanding "principles" and how they work in our lives. One of the most powerful of all is the law of "Cause and Effect". Simply stated - for every effect (or outcome) there is a specific cause (something that makes it happen).

Our bodies are governed by the principal of cause and effect as well. In almost every case - when it comes to physical pain there is a physical cause. The people you know who suffer from: Migraine headaches, herniated discs, neck pain, Spinal Stenosis, Neuropathy, Sciatica, etc. there is a specific PHYSICAL CAUSE. Some of them make them make the RIGHT DECISION and seek out ways to correct the problem (ie. they come and see me). Others make the WRONG DECISION - they self medicate with over-the-counter medicines and mask the symptoms/warnings OR they take stronger medicines OR get injections and Surgery. These are the wrong decisions because almost every physical pain comes from a physical problem and NOT A CHEMICAL PROBLEM. Eventually the drugs wear off and now the damage is worse.

However, THE WORST DECISION (see above quote) is sometimes "doing nothing". Without question, the people you know who are in pain and aren't doing anything for it are HOPING it will go away. And while the symptoms of the problem are prone to coming and going - THE CONDITION ALWAYS GETS WORSE WITH TIME. Whenever possible I encourage people who think this way to understand that it's always harder to fix these problems later. Physical problems always get worse with time and the amount of care to correct the problem is proportional to the amount of damage they have. When they wait ("do nothing") they develop more scar tissue, more nerve damage and more "bad" muscle memory. This leads to more treatments, more therapies and more expense to them.

I encourage you all to tell your friends and family members NOT TO WAIT, but instead to deal with these issues at the earliest possible time - WHICH IS NOW! Don't let your husband, wife, child, neighbor, co-worker or friend wait because it never works out. Please use 2012 as your year for helping them to help themselves. Refer them in and let me and my staff do what we do best - get them better! This month we have a special "GIVEAWAY" for you if you refer someone in.

Ask us how YOU CAN WIN A NEW APPLE IPAD!!

As always,
Dr. Brad

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Watch This!
A study compared mother-child communication while watching TV to reading books and the impact of each on child development. Watching TV led to less interaction between parent and child, with a detrimental impact on literacy and language skills. The team found that when reading a book with their children, parents used a more active communication style, bringing the child into contact with words they may not hear in every day speech, thereby improving their vocabulary and knowledge of grammar.
Human Communication Research, Dec 2011

Health Alert: Hard To Swallow.
70,000 emergency visits each year are due to unintentional overdoses by children under the age of 18. Alarmed by this statistic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) set up the PROTECT Initiative, a collaboration of public health agencies, private sector companies, professional organizations, consumer/patient advocates and academic experts to stop unintended medication overdose in children. The study found that of the cases of accidental poisoning in young children in the United States, exposure to prescription medications accounts for 55% of emergency visits, 76% of admissions and 71% of significant harm.
Journal of Pediatrics, Dec 2011

Diet: Have A Beer?
Beer containing 5% alcohol and consumed at the rate of one pint a day compares to wine regarding positive effects on cardiovascular health. The study emphasizes that there is no place for binge drinking or any other form of heavy consumption.
European Journal of Epidemiology, Dec 2011

Exercise: Good Reasons.
Exercise increases your maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max-perhaps the best measure of your physical working capacity of your lungs).
Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996

Chiropractic: Pain and Posture.
Patients demonstrating postural instability (body swaying while standing upright) are more likely to suffer from chronic neck or back pain.
Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, May 2011

Wellness/Prevention: Cancer Prevention In Your 40s.
As we age, our metabolism decreases, especially as we reach age 40! Making healthy food choices and staying active every day can help keep off unwanted pounds that may raise the risk of cancer.
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Nov 2011

Something to Think About for 2012!

"Our behavior is governed by principles. Living in harmony with them brings positive consequences; violating them brings negative consequences." - Stephen Covey

Dear Friends,

Welcome to 2012! As we venture into the new year, I encourage you to see it as a new opportunity to make this the best year ever. If you read the above quote you will note that it is from one of the world's foremost experts in business. However, what he is saying holds true for every area of our life ..... relationships, finances, health, etc. One of the great advantages I have as a Doctor of Chiropractic is that the science we use to help our patients is based on understanding the principles of how the body is designed to function. We realize that the body runs on certain principles and when those are violated - you experience negative consequences (pain, sickness, degeneration, etc.). Amazingly - at almost any point along the way, if you begin to "Live in Harmony" with those principles you will ALWAYS have positive consequences (less sickness, more energy, feel better, etc.).

It's for this reason that we ask all of our patients to commit to referring your friends, co-workers and relatives to our office this year. There is virtually no one you know who we cannot help on some level. For some of them it might mean the complete correction of their problem, for other it might mean an 80% correction ..... but they will ALL be better off.

SPECIAL CONTEST FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY: Our Patient Referral Contest for the next 6 Weeks is a NEW APPLE IPAD. For every referral to our office, you will be entered to win a brand new IPAD: 1 entry for one referral, 5 entries for two referrals and 10 entries for 3 or more!!!

Last Month's Winner: Susan A. referred in 5 members of her family and won a $500 Gift!!

As always,
Dr. Brad

Are Doctors of Chiropractic "Real" Doctors?

I'm sure you've heard something like this before: "Don't go to a Chiropractor. They will crack your bones and hurt you." Or, "You definitely shouldn't go if you have a herniated disk." Or, "Never let them 'crack' your neck!"

Well, nothing could be further from the truth. Take a look at the educational requirements of a Chiropractor according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA):

Educational requirements for doctors of chiropractic are among the most stringent of any of the health care professions. The typical applicant at a chiropractic college has already acquired nearly four years of pre-medical undergraduate college education, including courses in biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, psychology and related lab work. Once accepted into an accredited chiropractic college, the requirements become even more demanding -- four to five academic years of professional study are the standard. Because of the hands-on nature of chiropractic, and the intricate adjusting techniques, a significant portion of time is spent in clinical training.

Doctors of chiropractic -- who are licensed to practice in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and in many nations around the world -- undergo a rigorous education in the healing sciences, similar to that of medical doctors. In some areas, such as anatomy, physiology, rehabilitation, nutrition and public health, they receive more intensive education than their MD counterparts.

Like other primary health care doctors, chiropractic students spend a significant portion of their curriculum studying clinical subjects related to evaluating and caring for patients. Typically, as part of their professional training, they must complete a minimum of a one-year clinical-based program dealing with actual patient care. In total, the curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience. The course of study is approved by an accrediting agency which is fully recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This has been the case for more than 25 years.

This extensive education prepares doctors of chiropractic to diagnose health care problems, treat the problems when they are within their scope of practice and refer patients to other health care practitioners when appropriate.

Chiropractors are very well educated and Chiropractor is a very safe and effective treatment for back pain, neck pain and many other conditions.

If you would like to make an appointment - or have any questions - just give us a call.

Sincerely,
Dr. Brad Butler

The Whiplash Syndrome

The term "whiplash" was coined by Dr. Harold Crowe in 1928 during an interview on car collision related neck injuries but he reportedly "...regretted it later." The term "whiplash" quickly became a household word and relates to a sudden movement of the head producing a neck sprain. It is now accepted that not only forward/backward movements during motor vehicle collisions (MCV) result in neck injury but also side to side and angular movements at the time of impact. In the past, we've discussed the number of milliseconds that takes place during the whiplash process after impact (~500 msec.) and the fact that voluntary muscle contraction takes longer (~800 msec.) making it next to impossible to adequately "brace" prior to impact, even when the collision is anticipated. Today, we're going to look at the symptoms and complaints that are commonly described by whiplash patients.

"Early whiplash syndrome" is defined as the condition where immediate or very close to immediate symptoms are noted. One study reported symptoms commonly described after a MVC include the following: neck pain (93%), headache (72%), shoulder pain (49%) and back pain (38%) and, 87% of patients had multiple symptoms. Others reported nausea (48%) and dizziness (38%) as initial symptoms. For some, many of these symptoms resolve within days, weeks or months leaving a smaller percentage with symptoms that last beyond 6 months, which is then referred to as "late whiplash syndrome." In one study of 52 patients, symptoms improved over a 2 week to 12 month time frame but then remained static or unchanged for the following year. Another study of 117 patients at the 2-year point, reported the following symptoms (the frequency of occurrence is in parentheses): Neck pain (17%), headache (15%), fatigue (13%), shoulder pain (13%), insomnia (12%), anxiety (11%), concentration loss (10%), and forgetfulness (10%).

Reasons for the continuation into a late syndrome are supported by two possible causes. 1. It is due to a high level initial symptom, including severe neck pain and headache often with radiating arm pain (radiculopathy). 2. It is caused by the stressful events that are present either at the time of the motor vehicle collision or soon thereafter. These stressors could include work loss, marital stress, financial stress, and/or depression or anxiety issues associated with being injured. It was also reported that the specific type of headache suffered in the late whiplash syndrome in a 47 patient study, 74% had tension-type headache, 15% had migraine and 11% had cervicogenic headache. Some authors have reported that the type of headaches that occur as a result of an MVC are similar to almost identical to those seen after head trauma from other causes including sports injuries such as football, hockey, and boxing.

Because "whiplash""results in a mechanical type of injury to the small joints of the neck, muscles and ligaments, the only logical choice for management and treatment is chiropractic. This is because chiropractic addresses the mechanical injury with a manual, hands-on approach specifically aimed at restoring function in the injured area. Studies are clear that whiplash patients make a faster, less painful recovery, return to work and desired activities faster and are the most satisfied when utilizing chiropractic when compared to covering up the symptoms with medications that have negative side effects that interfere with being able to think and ultimately, reduce productivity.

We realize you have a choice in where you choose your healthcare services. If you, a friend or family member requires care for whiplash, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

Headaches, Neck Pain and Concussion

Have you ever "banged" your head from falling? For those playing backyard football, soccer, hockey, or baseball as kids or adults, it's really quite common. So, how can we tell when the "bang" is dangerous vs. not? And, how does a concussion occur?

What is a concussion? A concussion is "traumatic brain injury" (TBI) where the brain is "jarred" and literally bruises as a result of some sort of trauma (a "bang").

What causes a concussion? Causation is usually from some sort of trauma either by being hit by a moving object (like a ball), from hitting the head during a fall, and even without a direct strike if the head is violently moved back and forth (such as in a "whiplash" injury resulting from a car accident). When there is no direct strike of the head and in the absence of being "knocked out," the person may not be aware that they have a concussion.

What are the symptoms associated with concussion? Immediate symptoms usually include a headache and a reduced level of alertness or consciousness. A concussion temporarily interferes with the way the brain works and as a result (depending on the specific location and degree of the "brain bruise") it can affect memory (short term the greatest), levels of awareness, judgment, feeling "spacey," reflexes, speech, balance, coordination and sleep patterns. Other symptoms may include nausea and/or vomiting. Most people describe the experience as an abrupt injury where a bright flash of light occurs in the visual field that blocks the vision temporarily. Many do not actually become unconscious but may say they "blacked out" for a second or two. When unconsciousness does occur, the length of time they are "out" may be a way of determining severity. Symptoms can vary from mild to severe and the following are EMERGENCY symptoms where immediate health care provision is necessary: significant changes in alertness and consciousness, convulsions or seizures, muscle weakness on one or both sides, persistent confusion, persistent unconsciousness (coma), repeated vomiting, unequal pupils, unusual eye movements and walking problems. Neck injury is often associated with a head injury, which is why the injured person is stabilized on a board before being transported. Symptoms during recovery include being withdrawn, easily upset, confused, having a hard time with tasks that require memory and/or concentrating, having mild headaches and sensitivity to noise.

What tests are commonly performed on the post-concussive patient and, what is the treatment? A physical exam can include a careful evaluation of the cranial nerves such as pupil size and eye movement, as well as assessment of one's thinking ability, coordination and reflexes. Special tests may include an EEG (brain wave test), especially when seizures are involved. A head CT scan or head MRI. Treatment may require a hospital stay if severe signs are present. A "wait & watch" approach is often practiced but prompt gentle chiropractic approaches often facilitates healing and should strongly be considered. Refraining from rigorous sports is strongly advised.

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: I Can't Remember.
Older individuals' complaints about memory lapses (such as trouble remembering recent events) may indicate they are experiencing cognitive problems that are greater than typical age-related changes. The incidence of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias is expected to rise in the United States as adults 65 and older are projected to double in number over the next two decades. Clinicians are now incorporating cognitive screening tests as part of annual wellness visits for older people.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Nov 2011

Health Alert:Low-Dose Aspirin.
The risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding needs to be considered when determining the potential preventive benefits associated with low-dose aspirin for cardiovascular disease and cancer. The risk is increased with the use of cardiovascular disease-preventing therapies. Low-dose aspirin is defined as 75 to 325 mg.
Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Dec 2011

Diet: Soda Consumption.
The average American drinks 44.7 gallons of soda a year. That much soda weighs about 375 pounds!
AdAge, Dec 2011

Exercise: Benefits For Breast Cancer Survivors.
For breast cancer survivors, the benefits of exercise outweigh the risks, including those who develop lymphedema, a chronic swelling that commonly occurs after breast cancer treatment. Balance the pros and cons of the activity one chooses, but keep in mind that even remaining sedentary has risks and being active is beneficial in many ways, including possibly reducing the risk of cancer recurrence.
Journal of Cancer Survivorship, December 2011

Chiropractic: Nerve Interference.
The pressure caused by just the weight of just one United States quarter on a spinal nerve can decrease nerve transmission by as much as 60%.
Chang Ha Suh, PhD

Wellness/Prevention: Cancer Prevention In Your 30s.
TOne begins to lose muscle mass after age 30. Strength training can prevent muscle loss, build bone density and help the body burn calories faster to keep you at a healthy weight. Maintaining a healthy weight can help decrease the risk of cancer.
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Nov 2011

Fibromyalgia: "Why Won't The Pain Stop?"

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition that does not limit itself to just one area but rather, it manifests as a generalized, whole body condition where basically, everything hurts. The diagnosis is typically made by exclusion or, by eliminating all other possible conditions as there is no single blood test for FM and unless other conditions that are test sensitive are present at the same time, most tests come back negative. Of course, this leaves the FM patient upset because, "....no one can figure out what's wrong with me." We all seem to want a test to prove what we have is "real."

Unfortunately, in the real world, no blood test, x-ray, or exam procedure is 100% accurate (sensitive and specific), so even when tests return positive, there can be "false positives" that are caused by many things such as drug induced test alterations and/or other conditions that alter the same test. On the other hand, there are "false negatives," so even though the test came back negative, it's still possible that the problem one is present but the test may just not be sensitive (accurate) enough to detect it. FM is one of those conditions where only after a myriad of tests have been run and come back negative, can the diagnosis of FM be made with some degree of confidence.

Essentially, we have to prove that you don't have something else causing similar symptoms before we can confidently (or at lease more confidently) diagnose you with fibromyalgia. To complicate this further, in "secondary FM," the cause of FM is known and is due to an underlying condition such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, hypothyroid, HIV, cancer, as well as physical trauma such as after a car accident or a work injury. When an accident is involved, the symptoms may be more confined to one area (then called "regional FM") making the diagnosis even more challenging as the classic 11 of 18 tender points may not hold up in these cases.

Finally, there are doctors out there that simply don't "believe in" the condition and may say to the FM patient, "...there is no such thing, it's all in your head, you simply have learn how to live with it. There's nothing that can be done." Well, they actually may be partially right - that is, the "...it's all in your head" part (don't get mad... just wait!). Another finding that is well-published in peer review literature is the concept called central and peripheral "sensitization." This occurs when increased incoming sensory information from injured skin, muscles, and/or organs, in a sense bombard areas in the central nervous system (spinal cord and brain) leaving it "sensitized" or, more sensitive to "normal" incoming information. This is because the threshold or tolerance to normal incoming sensory stimuli is reduced and results in increased muscle pain commonly described by patients with FM.

To better illustrate this, hypersensitivity or central sensitization was found in people after a whiplash injury. They recruited 14 whiplash patients and 14 "normals" to compare their responses when stimulating the leg (the non-injured area) as well as the neck (injured area). Theoretically, if central sensitization didn't exist, the responses to the exact same stimulus on the healthy leg of both the whiplash patients and the normal subjects would be equal. Instead, what was found was that the whiplash patients had significantly lower pain thresholds for 2 of 3 tests (a single electrical stimulus in the muscle, repeated electrical stimulation in the muscle and on the skin, but not from heat when applied to the skin). Each pain threshold was measured at the neck and leg before and after local anesthesia was applied to the painful, sore neck muscles. In the whiplash cases, the lower pain threshold was found when stimulating both skin and muscles at the healthy leg and at the injured anesthetized neck equally. That proves that the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) has a "pain memory" which lowers the threshold so the whiplash patients feel pain more intensely and quicker than the non-injured people. This can help patients understand the answer to the question, "...why won't this pain go away?" This pain memory or hypersensitization is similarly found in FM patients.

If you, a friend or family member requires care for FM, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services!

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Sleeping

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night and noticed your hand sleeping to the point where you had to get out of bed and shake or flick your fingers to alleviate the numbness? If the numbness was primarily on the thumb-side half of your hand, it may have been carpal tunnel syndrome that woke you up. So, the question is, why is it such an issue at night?

To properly answer this question, let's get familiar with the anatomy of the wrist. There are 2 bones that make up the forearm - the ulna (on the pinky side) and the radius (on the thumb side). Just beyond that, there are two rows of four bones each called the carpal bones for a total of 8 small bones that make up the wrist joint. These carpal bones are arranged in a horseshoe or tunnel shape. When you look down at your wrist and wiggle your fingers quickly, you can see all the movement that occurs on the palm side of the wrist. That's a lot of movement! You can also see the muscles on the upper half of the forearm moving rapidly as the fingers wiggle.

There are 9 muscle tendons that travel through the carpal tunnel, as well as some blood vessels and most important, the median nerve sits on top of all those moving tendons. Just beneath the floor of the tunnel is a ligament called the transverse carpal ligament. The tendons inside the tunnel are surrounded by lubricating sheaths that make it easier for the tendons to slide back and forth as we wiggle our fingers, grip to open a jar, type on a computer, play a musical instrument, or so on. Without the tendon sheaths, the friction between the rubbing tendons would quickly build up heat, resulting in swelling, pain and numbness. However, in spite of the lubricating function of the sheaths, when we work our fingers and hands too much, swelling and inflammation does occur.

So, why do we have numbness at night when we aren't working, gripping and moving our fingers repetitively? The answer lies in how we sleep. Since we are asleep, we cannot control where we position our hands and wrists. Most of us curl up in a ball and tuck our hands under our chin or someplace cozy. Normally, when we bend our wrists, the pressure inside the carpal tunnel doubles. However, a carpal tunnel patient already has a higher level of pressure in their wrist. So, when a carpal tunnel patient bends their wrist in the exact same way, the pressure goes up even more - that is, 3, 4, 5, or more times than a normal person without their wrist bent. That is why a wrist "cock-up" splint works so well at night! It keeps the wrist straight so we can't bend it. Often, this allows the CTS patient to sleep through the night instead of waking up 2, 3, or more times with numbness, tingling, and/or pain on the thumb half of the hand.

We realize you have a choice in who you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs. If you, a friend or family member require care for CTS, we would be honored to render our services.

Low Back Pain & Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine that is shaped like a "C" or an "S" when looking at the person from behind. I'm sure you've noticed when you're at a beach, at a swimming pool, or walking in an airport, some people have a high shoulder, walk with a bit of a limp if one leg is short, and may have a shoulder blade that sticks out more than the other. Scoliosis often develops for unknown reasons (hence the term, "idiopathic") during the adolescent age range between 10 or 11 years old and can progress, not change or less often, improve up to age 16 to 18. During these 4-6 years, the time when the adolescent is growing quickly, the curve often worsens without any intervention but few studies have looked at what types of treatment or combinations of treatment work the best, especially non-surgical methods.

A recent study was conducted that looked at the response to non-surgical treatment using conventional medical treatment (MT) vs. conventional MT plus chiropractic, as well as conventional MT and "sham" (fake) chiropractic treatment. This is a pilot study using a small population of patients in order to determine if a larger scale study would be important to run (which was determined to be the case).

The conventional medical treatment approach included two groups - observation (a "wait and watch" approach) in a braced group verses a non-braced group. The chiropractic treatment group received spinal manipulation using "diversified technique" which is widely used where the patient is treated while lying on their stomach, sides, and back and the type of manipulation used was the thrust type where the "cracking" sound occurs (which is caused by the release of gas from the joint capsules and is technically called cavitation). This was applied to the regions determined by the chiropractor as requiring the treatment by using palpation (touch) methods, postural examination, range of motion, and x-ray and all chiropractors involved had 6-hours of training to assure consistent and similar approaches were used. Treatments were administered (determined by a survey of many chiropractors) at 3x/week for a month, 2x/week for a month, 1x/week for a month, and 2x/month for 3 months or as needed for a total of 6 months. The "sham" or fake chiropractic treatment used the same treatment frequency and similar positioning of the patient but purposely did not obtain a joint cavitation or "crack" but still seemed "real" to the patient.

The primary outcome used to determine "success" was a reduction of the scoliosis curve measured on x-ray at a 6-month point. Using the standard medical model, those with curves of 20-25 degrees require careful observation, curves 26-40 degrees are potential candidates for bracing, those greater than 40 degrees are potential candidates for surgery and, an increase in curve by more than 5 degrees measured twice a year or every 6-months is considered failure.

The results are interesting. Of those receiving only conventional medical treatment, none improved and one failed. The same occurred in the conventional MT plus sham/fake chiropractic. NO ONE failed and one improved in the chiropractic treatment plus MT group making it the only successful non-surgical treatment approach in the study. The preliminary findings from this study are huge! Chiropractic treatment in this group of adolescent children was determined to be THE ONLY non-surgical approach that had the ability to maintain (not allow the curve to progress) or even better, improve the curve!

We realize you have a choice in who you choose to provide your healthcare services. If you, a friend or family member requires care for low back pain, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Purchases That Make Your Mouth Water.
In certain situations, people actually salivate when they desire material things, like money and sports cars. Merely being exposed to the concept of money has been shown to have dramatic effects on behavior, and it has even been argued that money can be conceptualized as a drug in that it imitates the action of biological incentives in driving behavior.
Journal of Consumer Research, Dec 2011

Health Alert: Uninsured!
Approximately 50.2 million Americans live without health insurance.
U.S. Census Bureau, Sept 2011

Diet: Fish And Alzheimer's Risk.
5.1 million people in the US have Alzheimer's disease. Eating fish once a week is good for brain health, as well as lowering your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment. This is the first study to establish a direct relationship between fish consumption, brain structure and Alzheimer's risk. Consuming baked or broiled fish promotes stronger neurons in the brain's gray matter by making them larger and healthier. This simple lifestyle choice increases the brain's resistance to Alzheimer's disease and lowers risk for the disorder. Eating dried or fried fish does not seem to help preserve brain volume or lower Alzheimer's risk.
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Dec 2011

Exercise: Good Reasons.
Exercise helps prevent intestinal ulcers. It also increases the density and breaking strength of ligaments, tendons and the disks of your spine.
Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996

Chiropractic: Ringing In The Ears.
Patients with somatosensory tinnitus may find relief from cervical adjustments.
American Journal of Pain Management, 1994

Wellness/Prevention: Probiotics
The average American experiences two to six colds each year, usually mild viral infections that resolve themselves after a few days. Probiotics seems to provide both children and adults with protection against many upper respiratory tract infections, including the common cold. People who consume probiotics are also less likely to end up taking prescription antibiotics for an upper respiratory infection. Probiotics are found in fermented foods like yogurt, soy yogurt, kefir and in supplement form.
The Cochrane Library, Dec 2011