Weekly Health Update—Chiropractic: Significant Improvement!

Mental Attitude: Blood Test for Concussions.
Currently, 15-30% of concussion sufferers will experience significant, persistent cognitive deficits, such as processing speed, working memory, and the ability to switch or balance multiple thoughts. Unfortunately, doctors have no reliable way to asses if a concussion sufferer may fall into that group. Now, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Baylor College believe they have discovered a blood test that can determine if a concussion sufferer will experience long-term neural complications. By testing blood for elevated levels of a specific protein (STNF), medical professionals can accurately identify if recovery issues will arise and what additional treatment measures should be taken.
Frontiers in Neurology, November 2013

Health Alert: Alcohol and Acetaminophen.
There were 116,395 new kidney failures, 571,414 people living with kidney failure, and 90,118 deaths from the disease in the United States in 2009. Moderate or light consumption of alcohol taken with acetaminophen may increase the risk of kidney dysfunction. Acetaminophen usage and low to moderate alcohol consumption are not considered as individual risk factors for kidney damage, but together, they increase a person's risk for kidney damage by 123%.
Mayo Clinic, November 2013

Diet: Fruits and Veggies are Good for Your Child's Bones!
A study from the United Kingdom found that fruit and vegetable intake was positively associated with increased total body bone mineral density and bone mineral content in adolescent girls and boys.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, June 2006

Exercise: It Can Take Time…
After the first two months of an exercise program, volunteers who had insomnia reported they were not sleeping any better than they had at the start of the study. It wasn't until the four month mark that their insomnia improved. They also rarely reported sleeping better on nights when they had exercised and they almost always exercised for a shorter amount of time on the days after a poor night’s sleep.
Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, November 2013

Chiropractic: Significant Improvement!
Fifty patients with neck and arm pain caused by an MRI-confirmed cervical disk herniation received chiropractic adjustments over a 90-day period. After two weeks, 55.3% of patients reported their pain had significantly improved. This number rose to 68.9% after one month and 85.7% after three months of care. No adverse events were reported.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, October 2013

Wellness/Prevention: Pesticides and Endometriosis.
Endometriosis is a common condition that affects 10% of women during their reproductive years. Symptoms may include painful menstrual periods, pelvic pain, and infertility. Researchers looked to see if exposure to environmental chemicals with estrogenic properties (like some pesticides) could increase a woman's risk for developing the disease. They found that women with blood samples showing exposure to two now-banned pesticides (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane and mirex) have a 30-70% higher risk for developing the condition. Study author Dr. Kristen Upson concludes, "The take-home message from our study is that the persistent environmental chemicals, even those used in the past, may affect the health of the current generation of reproductive-age women with regard to a hormonally driven disease."
Environmental Health Perspectives, November 2013

CTS “Facts” Continued

Last month, we covered what Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is, its symptoms, causes, who is at risk, and how it's diagnosed. This month, we’ll center our focus on CTS treatment.
How is CTS treated? For the best success, treatment should begin as early as possible. Unfortunately, most people wait a long time before they get to the point where the symptoms interfere with daily activity enough to prompt them to act quickly and make an appointment. Once the cause or causes of CTS are determined, treatment can address ALL the presenting contributing conditions. The FIRST course of care should be NON-SURGICAL, though this is not always practiced – so be aware! Non-surgical care includes the following:

1. Chiropractic:
   • Manipulation: This usually includes adjusting the small bones of the hand, the wrist, the forearm, elbow, shoulder, and/or the neck.
   • Soft-tissue therapy: This includes loosening up the overly tight forearm muscles where the median nerve runs through (on the palm side of the forearm).
   • Modalities: Such as electrical stimulation and/or laser/light therapy can be very beneficial in reducing swelling or inflammation. In chronic CTS, ultrasound may be helpful as well.
   • Nutritional: Nutrients such as vitamin B6 have been shown in studies to be effective in some cases. Also, anti-inflammatory herbs (ginger, turmeric, bioflavinoids) and/or digestive enzymes (bromelain, papain, and others) taken between meals are quite effective.
2. Anti-inflammatory: The first important distinction is that ice can be very effective depending on how long the CTS has been present. In particular, ice cupping or rubbing ice directly on the skin over the carpal tunnel is the most effective way to use ice as an anti-inflammatory agent. When doing so, you will experience four stages of cooling: Cold, Burning, Achy, Numb or, “C-BAN.” It’s important to remember this as you are REALLY going to want to quit in the burning/achy stages when it feels uncomfortable. Once the skin over the wrist/carpal tunnel gets numb (which takes about four to five minutes) QUIT as the next “stage” of cooling is FROST BITE! Most medical practitioners promote the use of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like Advil, aspirin, or Aleve. However, these carry negative side effects including gastritis (burning in the stomach that can lead to ulcers), or liver and/or kidney damage. Try the nutritional anti-inflammatory approach FIRST as they are extremely helpful without the bad side effect potential!
3. Diet: An ant-inflammatory diet, like the Paleo-diet or gluten free diet, serves as a great tool in reducing the inflammatory markers in the body. Though only 7-10% of the population has celiac disease (gluten intolerance), it’s been estimated that over 80% of us are gluten “sensitive.” Reducing systemic inflammation can make a BIG DIFFERENCE in the management of many conditions including CTS!
4. Mechanical: Wrist “cock-up” splints can also be REALLY HELPFUL, especially for nighttime use. The reason for this is because when our wrist is bent forwards or backwards, which frequently occurs when sleeping, the pressure inside the carpal tunnel increases, and over time (minutes to hours), the increased pressure in the tunnel exerts compression on the median nerve which then creates numbness into the thumb, index, third and half of the fourth finger, which can wake you up out of a sound sleep. Keeping the wrist straight at night prevents you from curling your wrist under your jaw while sleeping.
5. Ergonomic Modifications: Changing your work station (computer station, line position, machine controls, pace or rate of repetitive movements, and more) is VERY effective.

NOTE: ALL of the above can be managed through the services offered at our clinic!

We realize you have a choice in whom 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 requires care for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, we would be honored to render our services.

Weekly Health Update—Chiropractic: Herniated vs. Bulging Disks?

Mental Attitude: Meditation May Slow Progression of Dementia.
A small study of adults with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (which may progress to dementia) divided participants into two groups. One group participated in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) using meditation and yoga. The other group served as a control. The MBSR group participated in a day-long retreat, met as a group for two hours a week, and was encouraged to meditate at home for 15-30 minutes per day. After just eight weeks, brain scans of MBSR group participants showed positive improvements related to memory and cognitive function. This may indicate a slowing in dementia progression.
Neuroscience Letters, November 2013

Health Alert: Depression Worldwide!
When compared to other diseases and injuries, "major depressive disorder" (MDD) ranked as the second leading cause of global disability and 11th leading cause of global burden (quality years lost to disability).
PLoS Medicine, November 2013

Diet: Green Tea Slows Prostate Cancer Progression.
New research shows that green tea polyphenols may help slow or prevent some types of cancer. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that premalignant prostate lesions were three times less likely to progress to malignant tumors in men who took a 600mg green tea catechins supplement daily for a year (9% vs. 30% in the control group).
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, December 2013

Exercise: Combat Health Conditions!
No matter what your current weight, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good" cholesterol, and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which decreases your risk of cardiovascular diseases. Regular physical activity can help you prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, arthritis, and falls.
Mayo Clinic, November 2013

Chiropractic: Herniated vs. Bulging Disks?
Disks act as cushions between the vertebrae in your spine. They're composed of an outer layer of tough cartilage that surrounds softer cartilage in the center. A bulging disk extends outside the space it should occupy. The bulge typically affects a large portion of the disk, so it may look a little like a hamburger that's too big for the bun. A herniated disk results when a tear in the outer layer of cartilage allows some of the inner cartilage to protrude out of the disk. The protrusion of inner cartilage in a herniated disk usually happens in one distinct area. Herniated disks are also called ruptured disks or slipped disks.
Mayo Clinic, November 2013

Wellness/Prevention: Stressed Mothers and Offspring.
Female rats born to mothers who had been through stressful life events prior to pregnancy showed increased expression of the CRF1 gene (a gene that mediates the body's response to stress) in the frontal cortex, the part of the brain involved in emotional regulation and decision making. When the female offspring were exposed to stress, they behaved differently than female offspring whose mothers were not stressed prior to pregnancy. This finding is a part of a growing body of evidence that a parent's experiences can affect their offspring, even before conception takes place.
Biological Psychiatry, November 2013

Whiplash – Can We Predict Long-Term Problems?

Whiplash (or the rapid acceleration forwards followed by deceleration or sudden stopping of the moving head during the whiplash event) occurs at a speed that is so fast, we can’t prepare for it. In other words, by the time it takes us to voluntarily contract a muscle to guard ourselves against injury, that rapid forward/backwards “whipping” of the head and neck is already over! When considering the details of the injury event, sometimes we lose focus on what REALLY matters. Is there a way to reduce the chances for a long-term chronic, disabling, neck pain/headache result? Last month, we found out that the long-term use of a cervical collar is NOT a good idea. What are some other ways to prevent long-term disability?

A very interesting study investigated the first 14 days of treatment during the acute stage of whiplash neck sprain injuries following a car accident. The researchers wanted to determine what long-term consequences resulted from two different treatment approaches. In one group (201 patients, 47% of the total group), the patients were encouraged to, “…act as usual,” and continue in their normal daily, pre-injury activities. The patients in the second group were given time off from work and were immobilized in a soft cervical collar during the first 14 days after the car crash. At the end of the 14 days, there was a significant reduction of symptoms between the first visit to the fifteenth day (24 hours after the 14 day initial treatment time frame in both groups). However, when evaluated at the six-month point, the group that continued their normal daily routine, did not take time off work, and did not wear a collar had, “…a significantly better outcome,” compared to the other group. This study supports that over-treatment with a collar and time off from work “sets people up” for adopting a “sick role” where the patient is overly-focused on their problem. This study parallels what we discussed last month and embraces the chiropractic philosophy to staying active, exercise, don’t use a collar, and the use of manipulation which exercises joints and keeps them from stiffening up, thus reducing pain and the fear of doing activity!

Another study looked at different presenting physical factors that might be involved in the development of long-term handicaps after an acute whiplash injury in a group of 688 patients. They measured these physical factors at three, six, and twelve month intervals and found the relative risk for a disability a year after injury increased with the following: 1) A 3.5 times disability increase with initial high pain intensity of neck pain and headaches; 2) A 4.6 times increase with initial reduced neck movement or ranges of motion; and 3) A 4 times greater chance with initial multiple non-painful complaints (such as balance disturbance, dizziness, concentration loss, etc.). In yet another study, both physical and psychological factors were found to predict long-term disability. These included initial high levels of reported pain and poor activity tolerance, older age, cold sensitivity, altered circulation, and moderate post-traumatic stress.

The “bottom line” is that as chiropractors, we are in the BEST position to treat and manage whiplash injured patients based on the type of care we perform and offer. We promote exercise of muscles and joints, encourage activity not rest, and minimize dependence on medication, collars, and other negative treatment approaches.

We realize you have a choice in whom 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 requires care for Whiplash, we would be honored to render our services.

Fibromyalgia Wholistic Care

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a very challenging condition to both diagnose and treat since there are different clinical signs and symptoms that make each patient with FM unique. Therefore, we usually make the diagnosis by excluding other possibilities. To make matters even more challenging, there are “primary” and “secondary” types of FM, or those who develop FM for no know reason (primary) vs. those whose FM arises from a known condition (secondary). Because of these challenges, there is no single treatment program to apply to all struggling FM patients. Rather, studies often suggest that a multidisciplinary “team” of health care providers be utilized in the management of patients with FM. It is recommended that EACH FM patient have their needs be uniquely treated. This month, we will look a “multimodal” approach to treating FM that incorporates a “team” approach.

For those less familiar with FM, many patients with this condition have symptoms that include fatigue, “all over” body pain, sleep problems, mood symptoms, and chronic pain. They may also have conditions including irritable bowel syndrome, palpitations, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal dysfunction, gastroenterological symptoms, chronic headaches, and MANY others. Dealing with these and other FM symptoms can have a tremendous negative impact on one’s quality of life and activities of daily living.

So as previously stated, the treatment of FM requires a comprehensive approach where the patient’s individual symptoms are targeted, as there is no “cookie cutter/one size fits all” management approach. Effective management approaches include chiropractic, allopathic, acupuncture, soft tissue therapy, sleep hygiene counseling, nutritional counseling, mind-body therapy, and dietary counciling including nutritional supplementation that target specific deficiencies determined by lab/blood tests and/or are based on the clinical history.

Treatment is centered on the human body’s deficiencies with the most important being the removal of any and all “trigger(s)” that causes inflammation in the body. Use of an anti-inflammatory herb such as ginger, turmeric, boswellia, (and others) can help until the causes are identified. A gluten-free diet is often very successful in reducing the autoimmune reaction that occurs with gluten sensitivity, which is estimated to be as high as 80% of the general population. This is NOT to be confused with gluten intolerance or celiac disease (they affect 7-10% of the general population). Once inflammation is controlled, weaning away of the anti-inflammatory supplements can be done successfully.

The hormonal levels of the body must also be in balance, especially the thyroid, adrenal, and sex hormone levels. Lab tests should include a complete thyroid panel (TSH, T3, T4, T7/free thyroxin), a salivary cortisol test (for adrenal function), and sex hormone levels (DHEA, pregnenolone, progesterone, estradiol, and, free and total testosterone). Assess and eliminate food sensitivities/allergies (gluten and dairy are most common). Nutritional supplementation should include vitamins (a multiple, omega 3 fatty acids, Vitamin D3, and Co-enzyme Q-10; minerals (calcium, potassium, magnesium), amino acids and sometimes others (case dependant)). These keep our organs functioning well, like a finely tuned machine! Care must also be taken not to over-dose as well, so let us guide you in this process – consider chiropractic your “coach” in this team-based approach!

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

Weekly Health Update—Chiropractic: Pain in the Neck?

Mental Attitude: Long-Term Opioid Use and Depression.
Recent studies show more than 200 million prescriptions for opioid analgesics were issued in 2009 in the United States. Data on over 50,000 patients reveals that those on opioids for 180 days or longer have a 53% increased risk of developing major depression.
Journal of General Internal Medicine, November 2013

Health Alert: Alcohol and TV.
According to a voluntary standard adopted in 2003, alcohol companies agreed not to place any ads on TV programs where more than 30% of the audience was younger than age 21. However, a survey of television programs popular with youths shows that 25% of the programs still featured ads selling alcohol. Studies have shown that exposure to alcohol marketing increases the risk that children and young adults (under age 21) will begin drinking, and those who do start drinking will drink more and do so more often.
CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, November 2013

Diet: Cruciferous Vegetables and Ovarian Cancer Survival Rates.
Women with the highest fruit and vegetable intakes have better ovarian cancer survival rates than those who generally neglect these foods. Researchers found that yellow and cruciferous vegetables contributed to longer survival. The authors concluded that low-fat, plant based diets are not only beneficial for cancer prevention, but they may also play a role in increasing survival time after diagnosis. Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the United States.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association, August 2010

Exercise: Even Elderly Hearts Can Benefit From Exercise.
A pilot study involving 310 adults over age 70 found that even men and women in their later years can improve their heart's health with moderate physical exercise. To assess the effect of exercise on the heart, researchers measured a blood-based injury marker called Troponin T that is traditionally used to assess damage to the heart. After one year, Troponin T levels in the exercise group were less than a third of the levels found in the control group that did not exercise. The study's lead author, Dr. Christopher DeFilippi adds, "Our findings suggest biochemical evidence to support the old adage, 'You're never too old to start a physical activity program to improve cardiac health.'"
American Heart Association, November 2013

Chiropractic: Pain in the Neck?
The cervical spine is made up of seven bones called vertebrae, and these vertebrae are separated by disks filled with a cushioning gel-like substance. Your cervical disks stabilize your neck and also help it to turn. Decades of movement can really take a toll on the neck as two-thirds of people will experience neck pain at some point in their lives. Researchers estimate that 50% of the population at 40 years of age and 70% of those at 65 years have some level of cervical disk degeneration. Cervical disk degenerative processes can cause radiating pain, as well as numbness and weakness in your shoulders, arms, and hands.
Clinical Evidence Concise, 2004

Wellness/Prevention: Sleep for Children.
In a recent study, when children increased their sleep by 90 minutes per night over just a few weeks, they consumed an average of 134 fewer calories per day, weighed a half pound less (~.2 kg), and had lower fasting levels of leptin, a hunger-regulating hormone that is also highly correlated with the amount of adipose (fat) tissue in the body.
Pediatrics, November 2013

What Kind of Headache Do I Have?

Headaches come in MANY different sizes, shapes, and colors. In fact, if you search headache classification,” you will find the IHS (International Headache Society) 152 page manual (PDF) lists MANY different types of headaches! Last month, we discussed migraine headaches. This month, we’ll talk about the other headache types. So WHY is this important? Very simply, if we know the type of headache you have, we will be able to provide you with the proper treatment. Headaches are classified into two main groups: “primary” and “secondary” headaches. The “Primary” headache list includes: 1) Migraine; 2) Tension-type; 3) Cluster; 4) “Other primary headaches,” of which eight are listed. One might think that with this simple breakdown of the different types of headaches it should be easy to diagnose a type of headache. Unfortunately, that’s NOT true! In fact, a 2004 study published that 80% of people with a recent history of either self or doctor diagnosed sinus headache had NO signs of sinus infection and actually met the criteria for migraine headaches! So, the more we can learn about the different types of headaches, the more likely that we will arrive at an accurate diagnosis.

Tension-Type Headaches: This is the most common type affecting between 30-78% of the general population. It is usually described as a constant ache or pressure either around the head, in the temples, or the back of the head and/or neck. There is typically NO nausea/vomiting, and tension-type headaches rarely stop you from performing normal activities. These headaches usually respond well to chiropractic adjustments and to over-the-counter medications like Advil, aspirin, Aleve, and/or Tylenol, though we’d prefer you first reach for an anti-inflammatory herb like ginger, turmeric, bioflavonoid, and the like as these have less stomach, liver, and/or kidney related side-effects. These headaches are typically caused by contraction of the neck and scalp muscles, which can be result of stress, trauma, lack of sleep, eyestrain, and more.

Cluster Headaches: These are less common, typically affect men more than women, and occur in groups or cycles. These are VERY DISABLING and usually arise suddenly and create severe, debilitating pain usually on only one side of the head. Other characteristics include: a watery eye, sinus congestion, or runny nose on the same side of the face as the headache. An “attack” often includes restlessness and difficulty finding a pain-reducing, comfortable position. There is no known cause of cluster headaches, though a genetic or hereditary link has been proposed. The good news is that chiropractic adjustments can reduce the intensity, frequency, and duration of cluster headaches!

Sinus Headaches: Sinusitis (inflamed sinuses) can be due to allergies or an infection that results in a headache. This may or may not include a fever, but the main distinguishing feature here is pain over the infected sinus. There are four sets of sinuses. Many people know about the frontal (above the eyes on the forehead) and maxillary (under the eyes in our cheeks) but the two sinuses deep in head (ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses) are much less known or talked about. These two deep sinuses refer pain to the back of the head, and when infected, it feels like the back of the head could explode. Lying flat is too painful so sitting up is necessary. Chiropractic adjustments applied to the sinuses, upper neck, and lymphatic drainage techniques work GREAT in these cases!

We will continue next month with the remaining types of headaches!

We realize you have a choice in whom 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 requires care for headaches, we would be honored to render our services.

Weekly Health Update—Chiropractic: Neck Ribs?

Mental Attitude: Stress and Eating.
Nearly half of Americans believe their stress has increased over the past five years, and 33% say they are living with extreme stress. People who overindulge and those who shun food in times of stress compensate for their behavior when positive events occur. Stress eaters eat less following a positive experience, while stress shunners eat more. Overeating or eating unhealthy food when faced with stress is something 43% of Americans admit to doing, while 36% confess to skipping at least one meal in the last month due to stress.
Psychological Science, November 2013

Health Alert: New Knees Please!
Each year in the United States, over 600,000 knee replacement surgeries are performed. Younger patients who are obese may experience the same amount of (or more) pain and functional disability as older patients. Over half of knee replacement patients under age 65 were considered technically obese compared to 43% of knee replacement patients over age 65. Compared with the over 65 age group, twice as many younger knee replacement patients are in the morbidly obese category (BMI > 40).
University of Massachusetts, October 2013

Diet: Holiday Survival Guide.
1. Re-think appetizers. Incorporate healthier pre-meal snacks. Include berries, pineapple, and apples. 2. Smaller portions. You can still taste all the foods without overeating. 3. Don’t get stuffed. Just because there is more food sitting around does not mean you need to eat more. 4. Have a calorie-free chat instead of second helpings. Holidays are a great time to talk to loved ones. 5. Make sure you eat prior to a party or dinner. This will help avoid over-eating. 6. Exercise. Take a walk after your meal. This can prevent overeating, and also burns off some of the extra calories.
Mayo Clinic, November 2013

Exercise: Improve Your Mood.
Need an emotional lift? Or need to blow off some steam after a stressful day? A workout at the gym or a brisk 30-minute walk can help. Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.
Mayo Clinic, November 2013

Chiropractic: Neck Ribs?
A cervical rib in humans is an extra rib which comes off of the seventh cervical vertebra. Sometimes known as "neck ribs", their presence is a congenital abnormality located above the normal first rib, which comes off the first thoracic vertebra. A cervical rib is present in only about 1 in 500 (0.2%) people. In even rarer cases, an individual may have two cervical ribs. The presence of a cervical rib can sometimes interfere with nearby blood vessels and/or nerves, resulting in neck pain or numbness in the arm known as thoracic outlet syndrome.
National Health Service, August 2012

Wellness/Prevention: Music and the Mind.
Despite not having played an instrument in 40 years, researchers found that people who completed 4-14 years of music training early in life had a one millisecond faster response to speech sound than people who did not play an instrument during their youth. This finding suggests that musical training early in life has a long-term benefit on how the brain processes sound.
Journal of Neuroscience, November 2013

Can Chiropractic Help the Post-Surgical Patient?

Low back pain (LBP) accounts for over 3 million emergency department visits per year in the United States alone. Worldwide, LBP affects approximately 84% of the general population, so eventually almost EVERYONE will have lower back pain that requires treatment! There is evidence dating back to the early Roman and Greek era that indicates back pain was also very prevalent, and that really hasn’t changed. Some feel it’s because we are bipedal (walk on two legs) rather than quadrupedal (walk on four limbs). When comparing the two, degenerative disk disease and spinal osteoarthritis are postponed in the four-legged species by approximately two (equivalent) decades. But regardless of the reason, back pain is “the rule,” NOT the exception when it comes to patient visits to chiropractors and medical doctors. Previously, we looked at the surgical rate of low back pain by comparing patients who initially went to spinal surgeons vs. to chiropractors, and we were amazed! Remember? Approximately 43% of workers who first saw a surgeon had surgery compared to ONLY 1.5% of those who first saw a chiropractor! So, the questions this month are, how successful IS spinal surgery, and what about all those patients who have had surgery but still have problems – can chiropractic still help them?

A review of the literature published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons showed that in most cases of degenerative disk disease (DDD), non-surgical approaches are the most effective treatment choice (that includes chiropractic!). They report the success rate of spinal fusions for DDD has been only 50-60%. The advent of artificial disks, which originally proposed to be a “cure” for symptomatic disk disease, has fared no better with possible worse long-term problems that are not yet fully understood. They state, “Surgery should be the last option, but too often patients think of surgery as a cure-all and are eager to embark on it." They go on to write, "Also, surgeons should pay close attention to the list of contraindications, and recommend surgery only for those patients who are truly likely to benefit from it." Another study reported that, when followed for 10 years after artificial disk surgery, a similar 40% of the patients treated failed and had a second surgery within three years after the first! Similar findings are reported for post-surgical spinal stenosis as well as other spinal conditions.

So what about the success rate of chiropractic management for patients who have had low back surgery? In a 2012 article, three patients who had prior lumbar spinal fusions at least two years previous were treated with spinal manipulation (three treatments over three consecutive days) followed by rehabilitation for eight weeks. At the completion of care, all three (100%) had clinical improvement that were still maintained a year later. Another study reported 32 cases of post-surgical low back pain patients undergoing chiropractic care resulted in an average drop in pain from 6.4/10 to 2.3/10 (that means pain was reduced by 4.1 points out of 10 or, 64%). An even larger drop was reported when dividing up those who had a combination of spinal surgeries (diskectomy, fusion, and/or laminectomy) with a pain drop of 5.7 out of 10 points!

Typically, spinal surgery SHOULD be the last resort, but we now know that is not always practiced. IF a patient has had more than one surgery and still has pain, the term “failed back syndrome” is applied and carries many symptoms and disability. Again, to NOT utilize chiropractic post-surgically seems almost as foolish as not utilizing it pre-surgically! Give us a call!

We realize you have a choice in whom 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 requires care for back pain, we would be honored to render our services.

Weekly Health Update: Chiropractic & Pain Relief

Mental Attitude: Kids and Moms.
A mother's friendships with other adults can impact their adolescent children's relationships with their own friends, particularly the negative aspects of these relationships such as conflict and antagonism. Adolescents may mimic the negative characteristics of their mothers' relationships in their own peer-to-peer friendships. Mothers who display high levels of conflict with friends may signal to their children that such behavior is acceptable.
University of Missouri, November 2013

Health Alert: Bacteria in Your Gut?
Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that attacks joint tissue and causes pain, affects 1.3 million Americans. Researchers have linked a species of intestinal bacteria known as Prevotella copri to the onset of rheumatoid arthritis. Of those tested, 75% of stool samples from patients newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis carried Prevotella copri compared with 21.4% of samples from healthy individuals.
NYU Langone Medical Center, November 2013

Diet: Pickled Turnips?
Scientists have discovered that the bacteria Lactobacillus brevis may prevent the flu. Lactobacillus brevis comes from Suguki, a pickled turnip popular in Japan. When a particular strain of Lactobacillus brevis was eaten by mice, it showed protective effects against influenza infection. Suguki enthusiasts have often cited its protective powers, but it is not known yet whether the same effects will be seen in humans. Human clinical trials using a probiotic drink containing Lactobacillus brevis bacteria are underway and scientists are hopeful that, given a suitable quantity of bacteria, foods containing Lactobacillus brevis may turn out to be the next superfood.
Letters in Applied Microbiology, November 2013

Exercise: Exercise Helps Arthritis.
Seniors who participated in classes that promoted the self-management of arthritis through exercise reported decreased pain, improved mobility, reduced stiffness, more energy, and an improved quality of life. According to Dr. Linda Russell, a rheumatologist and chair of the Public and Patient Education Advisory Committee at Hospital for Special Surgery, "Getting seniors to be active in any way will generally improve their quality of life and help them function better in their everyday activities. People believe that if you have arthritis you shouldn't exercise, but appropriate exercises actually help decrease pain."
American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, November 2013

Chiropractic: Pain Relief!
Patients with chronic spinal pain (either neck, mid-back, or low back) were randomized to receive NSAIDs (pain relief medication), acupuncture, or spinal adjustments. Care was provided for four weeks, followed by assessment of improvement. After 30 days, spinal manipulation was the only intervention that achieved statistically significant improvements in pain and disability.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, July 1999

Wellness/Prevention: Physical Fitness Helps the Heart Too!
Coronary heart disease is the number one cause of death among both men and women in the United States. After following 9,800 coronary heart disease patients for an average of 11 years, researchers found that the patients with higher levels of physical fitness were less likely to suffer a cardiac event and were 75% more likely to still be alive a decade after diagnosis. Senior study author Dr. Michael Blaha writes, "We hope that as a result of this study, more physicians will consider prescribing physical activity as a front-line therapy to improve survival and quality of life for their patients who are able to safely exercise."
John Hopkins Medicine, November 2013

CTS “Facts”

WHAT is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)? CTS occurs when pressure is applied to the median nerve which travels from the neck, through the shoulder, upper arm, elbow, forearm, and through the carpal tunnel where the “pinch” is located. The median nerve innervates most of the palm of the hand, the thumb, the index finger, middle finger, and the thumb side of the ring finger. The carpal tunnel is made up of eight little bones in the wrist that form the arch and a ligament that forms the floor. There are nine muscle tendons, the median nerve, as well as blood vessels that travel through the tunnel.

WHAT are the symptoms of CTS? The “classic” symptoms include burning, itching, tingling, and/or numbness of the second to fourth fingers with the need to shake or “flick” the fingers to “wake up the hand.” When present long enough, or when the pressure is hard enough on the nerve, weakness in the grip occurs and accidental dropping of tools, coffee cups, and so on can occur. Pressure on the nerve increases when the wrist is bent backwards or forwards, especially for long time frames and/or when the wrist is moving in a fast, repetitive manner with jobs like carpentry using vibrating tools, a screw driver, hand drill, a hammer, line production work, waitressing, and so on. Often, symptoms are first noticed at night, as we tend to sleep with our wrists bent and tucked under our chin or neck. Symptoms can also occur during the day, especially when driving or when performing repetitive work. Difficulties buttoning a shirt, making a fist, grasping small objects and/or performing manual tasks are common complaints of CTS.

WHAT are some causes of CTS? CTS is most commonly caused by a combination of factors that result in swelling of the tendons that travel through the carpal tunnel. This includes over working the arm and hand in any of the jobs described above, but it is more likely to happen when conditions that create generalized swelling occur. Some of these conditions include trauma (like a sprained wrist), hypothyroidism, an over-active pituitary gland, during menstruation or pregnancy, menopause, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, mechanical wrist problems, repetitious work (work stress), or the repeated use of vibratory hand tools. It is also possible to develop a cyst (like a ganglion) or a fatty tumor within the tunnel. CTS is also more common with obesity, but sometimes, no logical cause can be identified!

WHO is at risk of developing CTS? Women are three to four times more likely to develop CTS. This may be because of the hormonal aspects described above and/or the relative smaller wrist, which results in a smaller carpal tunnel. There's also an increased risk of CTS in people over the age of 50. Other at risk individuals include diabetics, people with hormonal imbalances (taking birth control pills, pregnancy, hypothyroid, etc.), and people who work on assembly lines.

How is CTS diagnosed? EARLY diagnosis and treatment is KEY to a successful outcome! The physical exam includes assessing the structures of the neck and entire upper extremity, as the pinch is often in more than one place. A blood test for thyroid disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis is also practical. Other tests that may help us diagnose CTS can include and EMG (nerve test) and/or x-ray/MRI. Next month, we’ll discuss treatment and prevention!

We realize you have a choice in whom 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 requires care for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, we would be honored to render our services.

Weekly Health Update: Lack of Motion and the Heart and Lungs

Mental Attitude: Einstein's Brain
The left and right hemispheres of Albert Einstein's brain were unusually well connected to one another, which may have contributed to his brilliance. This study is the first to detail Einstein's corpus callosum, the brain's largest bundle of fibers that connects the two cerebral hemispheres and facilitates interhemispheric communication.
Brain, October 2013

Health Alert: Death in Boom Times?
Historically, when economies expand, death rates increase for both middle-aged and older people; however, when economies head for recession, the death rates among these groups decrease. For every 1% point increase in GDP, death rates appear to rise by 0.36% among older people, and by 0.38% among the middle-aged. Two popular explanations include: 1) During recessions, unemployed people reduce alcohol consumption, resulting in fewer road accidents. 2) Job stress and air pollution are known to increase when economies grow.
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, October 2013

Diet: More Reasons to Eat Broccoli and Cauliflower!
Sulforaphane (found in cruciferous vegetables including broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and collards) may help reduce the risk of respiratory inflammation that leads to chronic diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In a study setting, researchers found that those who consumed 200 grams of broccoli had nearly three times as many antioxidant enzymes in their upper airway cells compared to baseline measurements. These protective antioxidant enzymes help fight against common environmental pollutants.
Clinical Immunology, March 2009

Exercise: Better Math, English, and Science Grades!
Research on British school children has found a link between academic performance and daily exercise. English, math, and science scores went up as the number of minutes per day of exercise increased with the greatest gains in female science scores. With boys and girls only exercising 18-29 minutes per day on average, how much could grades improve if physical education hours were increased instead of cut back to save money?
British Journal of Sports Medicine, October 2013

Chiropractic: Lack of Motion and the Heart and Lungs.
The negative effects of immobilization (lack of proper motion) begin as soon as four hours after injury! The direct effects of deconditioning on the cardiopulmonary system (heart & lungs) include an increase of the maximal heart rate and a decrease in your maximal oxygen consumption potential.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 1992

Wellness/Prevention: Kids Need Regular Bedtimes.
A study of 10,000 children in the United Kingdom found that children with inconsistent bedtimes are more likely to suffer from behavioral and emotional problems than their peers who go to sleep at the same time every night. The good news is that the effects are reversible once children settle into a regular bedtime.
Pediatrics, October 2013

Whiplash – Rest or Treatment?

Whiplash, or WAD (whiplash associated disorders) results from the rapid movement of the neck and head resulting in injury. This is the net result of the “classic” motor vehicle collision, though other injury models (like slips and falls) can result in similar injuries. Better results (less long-term pain and disability) tend to occur with initial active treatment of the neck with mobilization/manipulation, exercise, and encouraging movement vs. placing a collar on the patient and “resting” the injured neck. Though there are a few studies that suggest there is no difference in results, the majority state that it is BEST to actively treat the patient and encourage movement (of course, assuming no unstable fractures have occurred) rather than to place the patient into a collar and limit activities. The first question that we’ll address this month is, why is this important?

The simple answer is that you, as an advocate for an injured friend, family member or as a patient yourself, may NOT be offered “the best” treatment approach by the ER or primary care physician. In fact, one study cited a survey regarding the management of whiplash injuries in an ER and reported that between 23-47% of physicians prescribed a soft cervical collar for acute whiplash rather than promoting immediate active treatment. By knowing this information, the knowledgeable patient can refuse the collar method of care and seek care that emphasizes the use of early mobilization and manipulation, like chiropractic! Though referrals to chiropractors are increasing as more research becomes available, chiropractic care is still significantly ignored or not considered by many practicing ER and primary care physicians. As always, you need to be your own “best advocate,” and the only way to do that is to be informed, hence the intention of this Health Update! Some studies even report that the use of a collar may have deleterious or “bad” side effects and can actually make you WORSE (this was reported by the Quebec Task Force)! The majority of studies on the subject of whiplash report that encouraging “normal activity,” as opposed to immobilization, IS the best approach. We will certainly help steer you in the right direction!

Next, let’s talk about WHY does this method works better? The research supports that soft tissues injuries heal better and with less scar tissue formation when patients receive active treatment/early activity types of care (like manipulation/chiropractic). In general, any treatment approach that reduces patient suffering sooner, encourages one to return to “normal activities” faster, and promotes independence and self-care methods earlier is the best approach!

We realize you have a choice in whom 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 requires care for whiplash, we would be honored to render our services.

Weekly Health Update: Chiropractic and Osteoarthritis of the Hip.

Mental Attitude: Sports Stars and Junk Food?
The majority of foods that star athletes promote are nutrient-poor, which may encourage young people to adopt bad eating habits. The top 100 athletes endorsed 512 brands, with sporting goods and apparel representing the largest category at 28.3%, followed by food and drinks at 23.8%. Most of the food and beverage endorsements were for sports drinks, soft drinks, and fast food. 93% of the endorsed beverages received 100% of their calories from added sugars. 79% of the food products were energy-dense and nutrient-poor.
Pediatrics, October 2013

Health Alert: Global Warming and Toxic Metal?
Scientists have observed that the appetites of some species of fish can increase in warmer water. Rising ocean surface temperatures caused by climate change could result in some fish accumulating greater concentrations of mercury in their bodies, posing a health risk to people who eat seafood.
JAMA, October 2013

Diet: Walnuts vs. Olive Oil.
Adding walnuts (a healthy plant source of omega-3 fatty acids) to a high-fat meal appears to benefit the arteries of people with high cholesterol. Researchers compared how arteries were affected by five teaspoons of olive oil versus eight walnuts when added to a fatty meal. While both walnuts and olive oil decreased inflammation, walnuts increased the elasticity and flexibility of the arteries (flow-mediated dilation, or FMD) in high cholesterol patients by 24%. In comparison, high-cholesterol patients who consumed olive oil showed a 36% decrease in FMD.
American Journal of Cardiology, 2006

Exercise: Exercise and Esophageal Cancer.
Observational research indicates that those who regularly exercise have 19% reduced risk of esophageal cancer. According to Dr. Siddharth Singh, a gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic, "Esophageal cancer is a deadly disease. On average only 1 in 6 people survive to 5 years, and that's with chemotherapy and radiation as well as surgery. It's an intensive treatment. So we would be best served if we can prevent this cancer, especially in patients with high risk for developing [esophageal cancer]."
American College of Gastroenterology, October 2013

Chiropractic: Osteoarthritis of the Hip.
118 patients with diagnosed unilateral hip osteoarthritis received either patient education (PE) with or without manual therapy (MT, performed by a chiropractor), or a minimum control intervention (MCI) consisting of an at-home stretching program. The study found that the combination of patient education and manual therapy to be the most effective of the three treatment options. Interestingly, MCI outperformed PE alone (no MT) suggesting that the primary benefit in the PE & MT group was the manual therapy delivered via chiropractic care.
Osteoarthritis Cartilage, October 2013

Wellness/Prevention: 5 Meals a Day?
A regular five meal pattern - breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks a day - was associated with a reduced risk of being overweight or obese. Skipping breakfast was associated with a greater BMI and waist circumference.
PLoS One, October 2013

Fibromyalgia Diagnosis: A Breakthrough!

Fibromyalgia (FM) is truly a challenging condition to manage, as anyone with this condition will attest to! In the past, we’ve discussed many management strategies, including dietary suggestions. Although much of the nutritional information available about FM management is not supported by a lot of “scientific study,” the National Institute of Health through the NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine -- formed by Congress to evaluate and appraise alternative treatments) provides information on dietary recommendations and supplements. They also provide dietary guidelines and define the benefits and effectiveness for FM patients and us doctors to follow. This month, we will dive deeper into nutritional considerations as this can REALLY make a huge difference for the FM patient!

Since fatigue, sleep quality, and muscle pain are three VERY common FM complaints, the FM patient can track their response to different dietary approaches as they add, modify, or delete various foods and/or supplements from their diet. We recommend “grading” these three symptoms daily on a 0-10 scale (0=good and 10=bad) as this can REALLY help the FM sufferer keep track of various changes that are made in the diet and is extremely useful for future reference.

FOODS: Since many FM sufferers have “sensitivities” to certain foods (reported to be as high as 42% of all FM patients), eliminating these foods makes GREAT sense.

First, it is REALLY IMPORTANT that you KEEP A FOOD JOURNAL for future reference (using the 0-10 scale) as it is impossible to remember all the reactions or responses to various foods even a day or two later, but especially a week or month later! Some common food offenders include MSG (commonly found in Chinese food – simply ask for the MSG to be NOT included when you place your order), certain preservatives, eggs, gluten (grains like wheat, oats, barley and rye), dairy, as well as other common allergens (such as chocolate, nuts, shellfish, and others). Common symptoms may include headaches, indigestion (irritable bowel syndrome), fatigue, and sleep interruptions. When using an “elimination diet,” it is important to make sure you’re getting the essential nutrients in your diet, in which supplementation can help.

Secondly, make it easier to eat in a healthful way! Have fruits and vegetables cut up and ready to eat so when you’re hungry, you can QUICKLY satisfy that urge. Lean meats or proteins are also VERY important! Remember, a well balanced diet gives you the “ammo” needed to fight fatigue, hurt less, help you sleep more deeply, and give you energy. By doing so, you will be able to stay more active and productive. Accept the fact that unless you pre-prepare the foods, you will instinctively reach for pre-packaged, no prep time, “fast food” options that most likely have poor nutritional content. Look for healthy foods that do not require a lot of preparation such as buying pre-washed, pre-cut vegetables. Some deli sections have pre-prepared foods like beet salad or quinoa that can be purchased in small quantities to add variety to your diet.

Third, plan for WHEN you eat. It is well known that eating small meals frequently during the day helps increase energy levels, such as at 9-10am and 2-3pm, especially if you’re feeling tired. Make sure the word “SMALL” is understood or else you’ll gain weight and not be hungry for the next meal! ALSO, DON’T SKIP BREAKFAST, AND DON’T EAT LATE AT NIGHT!!! Our metabolic rate (which regulates how efficiently we digest and breakdown our food) is highest in the morning and slowest at night. Try to include some protein and whole grains with your breakfast such as a boiled egg and oatmeal as this keeps the blood sugar from spiking and provides energy that lasts longer. Next month, we will look at supplementation including vitamins, minerals, and herbs that GREATLY help as well.

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

Weekly Health Update: Lack of Motion and the Nervous System.

Mental Attitude: Group Sessions?
A study of 509 British youths found the incidence of mental health issues was reduced over the following 24 months after just two 90-minute group therapy sessions. Researchers noted a 21-26% reduction in severe depression, anxiety, and conduct problem symptoms. A similar program is now being implemented in 32 Canadian high schools.
National Association of School Psychologists, October 2013

Health Alert: Antibiotics Prescriptions!
New research finds high rates of unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions for sore throats and bronchitis across the United States (US). This is despite the fact that for decades the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other organizations have pushed to reduce the inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics. Antibiotics are a class of drugs used to treat, and in some cases prevent, infections caused by bacteria. They don’t work against viruses, and in fact, taking antibiotics for viral infections can do more harm than good. While only 10% of adults with a sore throat have strep (the only common cause of sore throat that warrants antibiotics), the national prescribing rate of antibiotics for American adults with a sore throat remains at 60%. For acute bronchitis, the rate for antibiotic prescriptions should be near 0%, yet the national average is 73%.
JAMA, October 2013

Diet: Calcium Confusion.
With new research claiming that calcium supplements can cause adverse effects like indigestion, constipation, and even cardiovascular issues, researchers stress the importance of including calcium-rich foods in the diet. Because calcium helps maintain healthy bones, this information is particularly important for post-menopausal women over 50 years old and men over 70 years old.
University of California at San Francisco, October 2013

Exercise: Good Cholesterol and Exercise Work Together.
Just having normal levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL, also known as "good cholesterol") may not be enough if you don't regularly exercise. Not only is the combination more beneficial to the heart but exercise appears to help HDL perform other duties in the body such as reducing inflammation and acting as an antioxidant.
American Physiological Society, October 2013

Chiropractic: Lack of Motion and the Nervous System.
The negative effects of immobilization (lack of proper motion) begin as soon as four hours after injury! The direct effects of deconditioning on the nervous system include decreased proprioception (ultimately affecting balance and joint coordination) and a decrease in central neuromotor control of movement and posture.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 1992

Wellness/Prevention: Citrus for the Kidneys!
Regular consumption of naringenin, a component found in grapefruit and other citrus fruits, may successfully block the development of kidney cysts.
British Journal of Pharmacology, October 2013

Is it a Migraine?

There are MANY different types of headaches, of which migraines are a common type. This discussion will concentrate on some unique characteristics that are associated with migraine headaches. This information may help you understand what type of headache you’re having. A unique feature of migraine headaches is that prior to the start of the headache, there is often a pre-headache “warning” that the migraine is about to commence. This is often referred to as an “aura,” and it can vary from a few minutes to a few hours, or in some cases, two days prior to the start of the migraine. Here are some of the more common “warning signs” that you are having, or are about to have, a migraine:

• Neck pain. In an online survey, the National Headache Foundation found that 38% of migraine patients “always,” and 31% “frequently” had neck pain accompany their migraine headache.
• Frequent urination. This can precede the migraine by an hour or as much as two days.
• Yawning. A 2006 article in the journal Cephalgia reported that about 36% of migraine sufferers describe yawning as a common pre-migraine warning. This can occur quite frequently, such as every few minutes.
• A “sensory aura” may occur on half of the body, moving from the finger tips through the arm, across the face, or elsewhere and usually includes a temporary lack of feeling as if the body region is “half asleep.”
• Nausea and vomiting. This is a common aura. According to the American Migraine Study II (a mail survey of more than 3,700 migraine patients) 73% reported nausea and 29% vomiting. Another study reported that migraine sufferers who have nausea/vomiting usually have more severe migraine headaches and get less relief from migraine medications compared to those who do not get nausea or vomiting.
• Other common auras or “sensitivities” during the migraine include bright light, noise, and/or smells (like perfumes), and many migraine sufferers seek refuge in a dark, quiet room and try to sleep.
• Physical activity. Routine activities such as walking, climbing steps, running, weight lifting, or sexual activity can trigger a migraine and/or increase the intensity of an existing migraine headache.
• Trouble speaking. Difficulty “getting the words out” or formulating thought (staying on task) can be another warning sign of an impending migraine. Obviously, if this is the first time this symptom has occurred and it’s “…out of the ordinary,” we’ll have to make sure it’s not something more serious (…like a stroke)!
• Weakness. This may occur in an arm or leg or entire half of the body (left or right side) and also could be a more serious sign of a stroke, but it is also a fairly common pre-migraine aura.
• Visual aura. This can include double vision and/or vertigo (balance loss with a spinning feeling). This often occurs in a special type of migraine called a “basilar-type migraine” and symptoms can include dizziness, double vision or loss of vision. The balance loss is often associated with a “bad migraine” and occurs when the migraine is stronger or more intense than usual.
• “Headache hangover.” This usually occurs after the migraine has passed and people describe a feeling of being “wiped out.” Symptoms can include fatigue, difficulty concentrating, weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, and extreme energy loss.

In many cases, adjustments applied to the neck and upper back, especially when delivered BEFORE the migraine, can reduce the intensity and in some cases STOP the migraine from even starting!

We realize you have a choice in whom 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 requires care for headaches, we would be honored to render our services.

Low Back Pain – Is it on the Rise?

The prevalence of low back pain (LBP) is REALLY high! In fact, it’s the second most common cause of disability among adults in the United States (US) and a very common reason for lost days at work. The total cost of back pain in the US, including treatment and lost productivity, ranges between $100 billion to $200 billion a year! Is low back pain on the rise, staying the same, or lessening? Let’s take a look!

In the past two decades, the use of health care services for chronic LBP (that means LBP > 3 months) has substantially increased. When reviewing studies reporting insurance claims information, researchers note a significant increase in the use of spinal injections, surgery, and narcotic prescriptions. There has been an increase in the use of spinal manipulation by chiropractors as well, along with increased physical therapy services and primary care physician driven non-narcotic prescriptions. In general, LBP sufferers who are chronic (vs. acute) are the group using most of these services and incurring the majority of costs. The reported utilization of the above mentioned services was only 3.9% in 1992 compared to 10.2% in 2006, just 11 years later. The question now becomes, why is this? Possible reasons for this increase health care use in chronic LBP sufferers may be: 1) There are simply more people suffering from chronic LBP; 2) More chronic LBP patients are deciding to seek care or treatment where previously they “just accepted and lived with it” and didn’t pursue treatment; or, 3) A combination of these factors. Regardless of which of the above three is most accurate, the most important issue is, what can we do to help chronic back pain sufferers?

As we’ve discussed in the past, an anti-inflammatory diet, exercise within YOUR personal tolerance level, not smoking, getting enough sleep, and obtaining chiropractic adjustments every two weeks are well documented methods of “controlling” chronic LBP (as there really ISN’T a “cure” in many cases). You may be surprised to hear that maintenance care has good literature support for controlling chronic LBP. In the 8/15/11 issue of SPINE (Vol. 36, No. 18, pp1427-1437), two Medical Doctors (MDs) penned the article, “Does Maintained Spinal Manipulation Therapy for Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain Result in Better Long-Term Outcomes?” Here, they took 60 patients with chronic LBP (cLBP) and randomly assigned them into one of three groups: 1) 12 treatments of sham (fake) SMT (spinal manipulation) have over a one month period; 2) 12 treatments, over a one month period but no treatment for the following nine months; or 3) 12 treatments for one month AND then SMT every two weeks for the following nine months. To measure the differences between the three groups, they measured pain, disability, generic health status, and back-specific patient satisfaction at baseline, 1-, 4-, 7-, and 10-month time intervals. They found only the patients in the second and third groups experienced significantly lower pain and disability scores vs. the first group after the first month of treatments (at three times a week). BUT, only the third group showed more improvement at the 10-month evaluation. Also, by the tenth month, the pain and disability scores returned back to nearly the initial baseline/initial level in group two. The authors concluded that, “To obtain long-term benefit, this study suggests maintenance SM after the initial intensive manipulative therapy.” Other studies have reported fewer medical tests, lower costs, fewer doctor visits, less work absenteeism, and a higher quality of life when maintenance chiropractic visits are utilized. The question is, WHEN will insurance companies and general practitioners start RECOMMENDING chiropractic maintenance care for chronic LBP patients?

We realize you have a choice in whom 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 requires care for back pain, we would be honored to render our services.

Weekly Health Update: The Benefits of Chiropractic Adjustments

Mental Attitude: Improve Brain Health with Exercise?
Previous studies have shown endurance exercise can improve cognitive function, especially in older adults; however, the underlying mechanism was unknown. New research shows that muscular exertion results in the release of a protein called FNDC5 into the blood stream. In turn, FNDC5 stimulates the brain to produce a protein called BDNF that promotes the development of new nerves and synapses, and prolongs the survival of existing brain cells. Researchers artificially added FNDC5 into the bloodstream of mice and observed increases of BDNF in the animals' brains a week later. This finding may lead to new treatments to help maintain healthy brains in patients who aren't able to exercise due to injury or disability.
Cell Metabolism, October 2013

Health Alert: Gloves and Gowns Don’t Work?
Wearing gloves and gowns in intensive care units does not reduce the overall rates of acquiring methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). These are two of the most common complications arising from hospital care, affecting an estimated 5% of inpatients. The cost of antibiotic-resistance in the United States is estimated at $4 billion per year.
Journal of the American Medical Association, October 2013

Diet: Beans!
People who eat beans have healthier diets overall, lower body weight, and a reduced risk for obesity. A study found bean-consumers between the ages of 12-19 weighed 7 lbs (~3 kg) less and had nearly an inch (~2.5 cm) smaller waist circumference than their non-bean consuming peers. Those who ate beans frequently had a 22% reduced risk of being obese.
The Experimental Biology Conference, 2006

Exercise: More Reasons.
Exercise increases the diffusion capacity of the lungs, which enhances the exchange of oxygen from your lungs to your blood.
Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996

Chiropractic: The Benefits of Adjustments.
Besides pain relief, what are the benefits of getting adjusted? 1. Adjustments restore joint motion, both symmetry and range of motion. 2. Adjustments normalize the biomechanics and load distribution of the spine, bone, joints, and disks. 3. Adjustments pump out metabolic waste products and edematous fluid from soft tissue cells. 4. Adjustments improve nutrition to disks and articular cartilage. 5. Adjustments relax tight muscles. 6. Adjustments accelerate healing as movement increases the metabolic rate, and increases collagen and protein production.
Malik Slosberg, D.C.

Wellness/Prevention: Mushrooms & Cancer Risk?
Eating fresh mushrooms (greater than or equal to 10 grams per day) and dried mushrooms (greater than or equal to four grams per day) may decrease your cancer risk by 64% and 47%, respectively. The most commonly consumed mushroom in this study was the white button mushroom (one small white button mushroom weighs 10 grams). An additional protective effect was seen when mushrooms and green tea were both consumed on a daily basis.
International Journal of Cancer, 2009

Weekly Health Update: Heads Up!

Mental Attitude: Low Self-Esteem?
According to a new study, a man is likely to feel worse about himself when his wife or girlfriend succeeds. Scientists discovered that men automatically interpret their partner's success as their own failure, even when they are not in direct competition. The study did not find that a woman's self-esteem is negatively affected by her partner's success.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, September 2013

Health Alert: Motorcycle Deaths.
Fatal motorcycle injuries in the United States (US) increased 227% from 1998 to 2010. Men face a 7.8 times higher risk of death from motorcycle crashes than women. In 2010, there were 149,992 traffic fatalities in the US, with motorcyclists representing 15% of these deaths.
International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion, September 2013

Diet: Battle of the Binge.
Binge eating, or “the repeated consumption of large quantities of food in a short period of time without some other compensatory activity,” is a problem under-recognized in men. According to researchers, the discrepancy between overweight female binge eaters and overweight male binge eaters is that women gain weight faster and seek a diet sooner. There is also a cultural component that sends the message that men are expected to eat more.
Health Behavior News Science, September 2013

Exercise: Exercise, Alcohol Abuse, and Brain Damage.
Heavy drinking has previously been linked to brain damage. However, preliminary studies indicate that individuals who drink heavily but engage in regular physical activity can maintain the health of their white brain matter. The study's authors are quick to point out that this finding is not a license to drink as much as you can, provided you exercise. Alcohol abuse can still take a toll on many organs in the body, not just your brain.
University of Colorado at Boulder, April 2013

Chiropractic: Heads Up!
If your head is in a forward posture, it can add up to 30 lbs (~13 kg) of abnormal leverage on the cervical spine (neck). In time, this can pull the entire spine out of alignment. Forward head posture may even result in the loss of up to 30% of vital lung capacity. These breath-related effects are primarily due to the loss of the cervical lordosis (the inward curve of the cervical spine), which blocks the action of the inferior hyoid muscle responsible for helping lift the first rib during inhalation.
Rene Cailliet, M.D., January 1996

Wellness/Prevention: Stop Smoking.
Smokers are twice as likely to have a heart attack compared to people who have never smoked. Not smoking is the most important thing someone can do to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease.
European Society of Cardiology, August 2013

Weekly Health Update: Chiropractic for Every Inch!

Mental Attitude: Video Games are Good!
Scientists have developed a video game-based training strategy called NeuroRacer that could "repair" cognitive decline in older individuals. The 3D video game challenges cognitive control by providing a series of distractions on the screen that the players must try to avoid while driving. After playing the game, the study participants showed a dramatic increase in their multi-tasking abilities. These improved abilities continued to last for six months without any "booster" training on the game. EEG scans showed increased measurements in the pre-frontal cortex of the brain, the area responsible for problem solving and complex thought.
Nature, September 2013

Health Alert: Young Adults and Stroke.
Hospital discharges in the United States for strokes among young adults (15-44 years old) increased at least 23% from 1996 to 2008. Lifestyle risk factors for stroke include obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels.
Neurology, September 20133

Diet: Vitamin D Deficiency.
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with osteomalacia, osteopenia, osteoporosis, and risk of fracture. Emerging evidence also points to increased risk for cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Good sources of vitamin D include sunlight, cod liver oil, salmon, mushrooms, mackerel, tuna fish, milk, orange juice, and supplements.
British Journal of Nutrition, September 2013

Exercise: Obesity and Post Heart Attack Mortality.
A study of French heart attack survivors found that obesity (BMI =35 kg/m²) is associated with the largest risk of absolute mortality five years later (+65%).
European Society of Cardiology, August 2013

Chiropractic: Every Inch!
For every inch your head is forward, your upper back and neck muscles have to hold an extra 10 lbs (~4.5 kg), as they have to work harder to keep the head (chin) from dropping to your chest. This also forces the sub-occipital muscles (they raise the chin) to remain in constant contraction, putting pressure on the three sub-occipital nerves. This nerve compression may cause headaches at the base of the skull or mimic sinus (frontal) headaches.
Kapandji, Physiology of the Joints, Volume III

Wellness/Prevention: Sleep and Your Brain.
Sleep increases the reproduction of the cells (oligodendrocytes) that form myelin. Myelin is the insulating material found on nerve cell projections in the brain and spinal cord that's responsible for allowing electrical impulses to move from cell to cell, similar to the insulation around electrical wires.
University of Wisconsin, September 2013

Weekly Health Update: Chiropractic Increases Productivity!

Mental Attitude: The Brain and Learning a Second Language.
Learning a second language requires the brain to create and strengthen new neural connections in the brain's inferior frontal cortex. This is similar to the structural changes seen in people learning complex motor skills, such as juggling.
Montreal Neurological Institute, September 2013

Health Alert: Obesity in the United States.
78 million adults and 13 million kids are obese in the Unites States (US), with the total number increasing to 113 million by 2022. 60-70% of the US population is either overweight or obese, putting them at risk for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
American Heart Association, September 2013

Diet: Vitamins and Violence.
Deficiencies of vitamins A, D, K, B1, B3, B6, B12 and folate, and of minerals iodine, potassium, iron, magnesium, zinc, chromium and manganese can all contribute to mental instability and violent behavior.
Sylvia Onusic, PhD, April 2013

Exercise: Watch Your Step!
When exercising, the force centered on your ankle can exceed up to seven times your body weight. 23,000 people sprain their ankle every day in the United States, resulting in 1.6 million doctor office visits annually. The direct and indirect costs (e.g., lost days from work) associated with treating ankle sprains exceed $1.1 billion annually. To make matters worse, these numbers do not take into account the long-term disability often associated with ankle sprains. Overweight athletes with a prior history of ankle sprain are 19 times more likely to suffer another ankle sprain.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, February 2011

Chiropractic: Increased Productivity!
A small, one-year study of office workers with neck and upper extremity pain found that chiropractic care combined with improved workstation ergonomics resulted in decreased pain, increased quality of life, and up to 100% increased productivity.
Work, September 2013

Wellness/Prevention: Obesity Microbes?
New research suggests changing the mix of gut microbes can prevent obesity, but only if combined with a healthy diet. Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables encourages leanness-related microbes to populate the gut leading to better weight control. However, a diet high in saturated fat and low in fruits and vegetables thwarts the invasion of microbes associated with leanness.
Science, September 2013

Weekly Health Update: Spinal Pain Treatments Compared

Mental Attitude: No Yelling.
Harsh verbal punishments, such as shouting, cursing, or using insults, are just as harmful to adolescents as physical discipline. Adolescents whose parents used harsh verbal punishment are more likely to suffer from depression and are more likely to engage in vandalism or aggressive behavior. Parental warmth, love, emotional support, and affection between parents and their kids is not enough to outweigh the negative effects of harsh verbal discipline.
Child Development, September 2013

Health Alert: Advances in Infant Mortality.
European infant mortality rates fell from 178 deaths (< 1 year of age) per 1,000 births in the 1870s to 120 per 1,000 during 1911-1915. In the 1950s, these rates fell to 41 per 1,000, and in the late 1970s, they continued to fall to only 14 per 1000. In 2010, the mortality rate was 4.1 per 1,000 births. Factors for these improvements include increased income per capita, more sanitary living conditions, better general education about health and nutrition, better social services and health systems, and medical advances.
Oxford Economic Papers, September 2013

Diet: Chew Your Food.
It is not a surprise that almonds are a great source of healthy fats and extra energy. However, the extent that almonds are chewed can make a difference in how much nutrition is absorbed by the body and how much is expelled. The more you chew, the more your body can use.
Institute of Food Technologists, July 2013

Exercise: Sudden Cardiac Death Risk and Exercise.
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) accounts for 50% of all deaths from coronary heart disease, and is defined as death with cardiac origin within 24 hours after onset of symptoms. A 19-year study looked at the impact of high leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) combined with cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) on the risk of SCD. The results showed that the risk of SDC was nearly double among men who are inactive (low CRF and low LTPA).
Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study, September 2013

Chiropractic: Spinal Pain Treatments Compared.
In this study, acupuncture, medication, and chiropractic care were compared on a patient population with spinal pain, including neck and back pain. Only spinal manipulation provided both short-term and long-term benefits.
Spine, July 2003

Wellness/Prevention: The Great and Powerful Ginger.
Ginger is an herb that is used as a spice and also has therapeutic qualities. The underground stem (rhizome) can be used fresh, powdered, dried, or as an oil or juice. Ginger is used for treating loss of appetite, nausea/vomiting after surgery, flatulence, upset stomach, colic, morning sickness, motion sickness, upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis, cough, menstrual cramps, arthritis, and muscle pain.
National Library of Medicine, September 2013

Weekly Health Update: Chiropractic Adjustments Validated

Mental Attitude: Control Over You Own Life?
When people were provided with scientific evidence that supported the ability to predict the future, they felt a greater sense of control over their lives. One group of study participants read a paragraph stating that researchers had found evidence supporting the existence of precognition, while another group read a paragraph that refuted these findings. On a subsequent survey, people who read the paragraph confirming the ability to predict the future agreed more strongly with statements like "I am in control of my own life"; "My life is determined by my own actions"; and "I am able to live my life how I wish."
PLOS ONE, August 2013

Health Alert: Taxing Sugary Beverages?
Obesity rates in the United States are 36% for adults and 17% for children. Medical costs associated with obesity are ~$147 billion per year. A sugary beverage tax may reduce the consumption of soda but will likely lead to an increase in calories, salt, and fat intake from untaxed foods and beverages.
American Journal of Agricultural Economics, August 2013

Diet: Comfort Food Preferences?
Researchers found that rats exposed to heightened levels of stress during their first few days of life were more likely to be prone to anxiety and stress in later life and preferred sugary and high-fat foods. This is the first study to demonstrate that comfort food preference could be enhanced by such an early stress exposure.
Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior, August 2013

Exercise: Teenaged Physical Fitness Reduces Suicide Risk in Adulthood.
An analysis of over one million Swedish men found a link between physical fitness at age 18 and suicide risk up to 40 years later. Young men who performed poorly on an exercise bike test had an adulthood risk of suicide nearly 1.8 times that of their peers who were deemed physically fit.
Psychological Medicine, June 2013

Chiropractic: Adjustments Validated.
Patients with neck pain, neck dysfunction, and headache showed significant improvement with cervical spine adjustments.
Duke Evidence Report, 2001

Wellness/Prevention: Breastfeeding and Alzheimer's.
Mothers who breastfed their children have a reduced risk for Alzheimer's disease later in life. Researches have two theories on why this may be the case: 1) Breastfeeding deprives the body of progesterone and progesterone is known to desensitize the brain's oestrogen receptors. This may increase the amount of oestrogen in the brain, a hormone that may play a role in protecting the brain from Alzheimer's. 2) Breastfeeding restores a woman's insulin sensitivity after pregnancy. Alzheimer's has been characterized as a resistance to insulin in the brain so much so that it has even been referred to as type 3 diabetes.
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, August 2013