Weekly Health Update—Chiropractic: Acute Low Back Pain Treatment Comparison

Mental Attitude: Is Stress Contagious?
A new report finds that not only do babies pick up on their mother's stress but their bodies will also mimic physiological changes. Researchers found that when mothers were stressed and then reunited with their infant, the child quickly adopted his/her mother's stress response, including a corresponding change in heart rate. Lead author Dr. Sara Waters writes, "Before infants are verbal and able to express themselves fully, we can overlook how exquisitely attuned they are to the emotional tenor of their caregivers… Your infant may not be able to tell you that you seem stressed or ask you what is wrong, but our work shows that, as soon as she is in your arms, she is picking up on the bodily responses accompanying your emotional state and immediately begins to feel in her own body your own negative emotion."
Psychological Science, February 2014

Health Alert: Buckle Your Children Up!
Although child deaths resulting from motor vehicle crashes fell 43% in the United States between 2002 and 2011, car accidents still claim the lives of over 9,000 American children each year. Researchers working for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believe that nearly a third of these deaths can be prevented if parents simply secured their children in age/size appropriate car seats. They point out that in states where car seats are required until ages 7-8, more children are put into car and booster seats and serious injury rates are 17% lower than in states without such laws.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 2014

Diet: No More Than 2-3 Cups Per Day…
Using current research on the over-consumption of caffeine as a guide, Dr. Laura Juliano, co-author of "Caffeine Use Disorder: A Comprehensive Review and Research Agenda," recommends healthy adults limit caffeine consumption to no more than two to three cups of coffee per day (about 400 mg/day) and pregnant women to no more than half that amount. She also recommends people with health problems such as anxiety, insomnia, heart problems, or urinary incontinence limit or even eliminate caffeine consumption.
Journal of Caffeine Research, February 2014

Exercise: Sitting and Disability.
For the first time, a study has labeled sedentary activity as a risk factor for disability for people over age 60. Using data on over 2,000 adults over 60 years of age, researchers were shocked to discover that being sedentary is just as large a risk factor for disability as not exercising, and the risk of disability dramatically increases for each additional hour spent sitting at a computer or on the couch watching TV.
Journal of Physical Activity & Health, February 2014

Chiropractic: Acute Low Back Pain Treatment Comparison.
In this study, researchers compared the efficacy of spinal manipulation to diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), for the treatment of acute low back pain. Based on outcomes including self-rated physical disability, function, time missed from work, and rescue medication use during the following 12 weeks, spinal manipulation proved to be a significantly better treatment.
Spine, April 2013

Wellness/Prevention: Mammography Recommended for Women in Their 40s.
While the United States Preventive Services Task Force's 2009 guidelines recommend against routine mammograms for women in their 40s, new research shows that regular screenings would benefit this age group by helping doctors catch the disease when it can still be treated without extensive surgery or chemotherapy. Current statistics show that one in eight women will develop breast cancer, and if the disease is caught early enough, the five-year survival rate is 97%.
American Journal of Roentgenology, February 2014

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and the Neck?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a problem that occurs when the median nerve gets pinched as it passes through the tunnel at the wrist, resulting in numbness that includes the palm side of the hand, the thumb through digit three and the thumb-side half of the ring or fourth finger. So, how does the neck fit into the cause and/or the treatment of CTS? Let’s take a look!

The neck is comprised of seven vertebrae and eight pairs of nerves that travel down the arms allowing us to feel sensations such as hot/cold, vibration, and sharp/dull. These nerves allow us to move our muscles and joints including the fingers, wrist, elbow and shoulder. These eight pairs of nerve roots, like a super highway of eight lanes of traffic, eventually merge into the ulnar, median, and radial nerves that extend down our arms. The median nerve is the primary nerve involved in carpal tunnel syndrome, so let’s take a look at the route that it takes as it leaves the cervical spine, or neck.

Initially, when the eight nerve roots first exit the spine they interconnect forming the brachial plexus, and by the time the nerves reach the arm pit, they’ve “merged” into the three main nerves that extend the rest of the way down the arm. The median nerve can become trapped or pinched at a number of different places, most commonly at the wrist’s carpal tunnel followed by the pronator tunnel which is located at the elbow just past the crease on the palm side. It can also be pinched before the elbow by a ligament that exists in about 1% of us (Struther’s Ligament).

If a fracture should occur anywhere along the route of the nerve, that too can cause a compression. The neck is a common location where the cause of the numbness can arise. The median nerve arises from three nerve roots that exit the neck (C5, C6, and C7); therefore, ANYTHING that places pressure at this location in the neck can result in similar symptoms as CTS.

The term, “double crush” syndrome applies to the situation where compression (pinching) of a nerve occurs in more than one place. This was first discussed in 1973 and has since been a debated topic. When a nerve is compressed in more than one location, there is a physiological change in the way the nerve transmits a signal and a minor (sub-clinical) compression that would by itself not be symptom-producing becomes symptomatic if a second compression occurs elsewhere along the course of the nerve. Similarly, metabolic changes, such as diabetes, can also make minor CTS symptomatic. This is why it is ESSENTIAL that the entire course of the nerve be tested, not just at the wrist but also at the neck, shoulder, and arm. I’m sure you can see the importance of this, as surgical decompression at the wrist may NOT help in a case where a more significant pinch is present elsewhere. This has been estimated to occur between 30-75% of the time! A common site for double crush with CTS is at the cervical nerve root, and treatment of the compression site in the neck by a chiropractic adjustment can MAKE OR BREAK a successful outcome when treating CTS. The bottom line? Try chiropractic FIRST as you can’t reverse an unnecessary surgery!

Weekly Health Update—Chiropractic: Neck Pain Affects Breathing.

Mental Attitude: Have You Noticed Any Changes in Your Memory?
Dr. Erin Abner of the University of Kentucky's Sanders-Brown Center on Aging asked 3,701 men ages 60 and up if they had noticed any changes in their memory since their last doctor visit. She found that the patients who reported on-going incidences of memory loss that affected their daily lives were more likely to be diagnosed with cognitive decline later in the years ahead. This finding could lead to earlier detection and perhaps more effective treatments for Alzheimer's diseases and other conditions that affect cognitive function.
University of Kentucky, February 2014

Health Alert: Half of All Cancer Deaths Could be Avoided!
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), early detection could cut the worldwide cancer death rate in half. Experts note the leading preventable risk factors for cancer development are tobacco use, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, sedentary activity, unhealthy diet, sexually transmitted diseases, and air pollution. The WHO estimates cancer claimed 8.2 million lives in 2012.
World Cancer Report, February 2014

Diet: Four Ways to Reduce Sugar in Your Diet!
Here are four tips from the American Heart Association for reducing your added sugar intake: 1) Try putting less sugar on foods like cereals or in beverages like tea and coffee. When you're used to it, try cutting back even more. 2) Buy fresh fruits or fruits canned in water, not syrup. 3) Instead of sugar, add fresh fruit or dried fruit to foods like oatmeal. 4) Add spices like cinnamon, ginger, or nutmeg to foods instead of sugar.
American Heart Association, February 2014

Exercise: Walking Decreases COPD Hospitalization Risk.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition that describes difficulty breathing due to long-term lung damage. New research shows that COPD sufferers can greatly reduce their risk of hospitalization with severe attacks by simply walking 3-6 kilometers (~1.8-3.6 miles) per day.
Respirology, February 2014

Chiropractic: Neck Pain Affects Breathing.
Researchers at the Technological Educational Institute of Lamia in Greece examined a group of chronic neck pain patients and a group of individuals with no previous incidence of neck pain to see if a correlation exists between neck pain and respiratory dysfunction. They found that neck pain sufferers have significantly reduced breathing capacity and lower respiratory muscle strength. They also noted a strong association between increased forward head posture and decreased respiratory muscle strength.
Cephalalgia, July 2009

Wellness/Prevention: Prevent Divorce with Movies?
For newlyweds, watching and then discussing movies about relationships appears to be just as effective at preventing divorce as more time and energy intensive counseling programs. Participants attended a ten-minute lecture on the importance of relationship awareness and how watching couples in movies could help them pay better attention to their own behavior. Then, they watched a movie and had a 12 question guided discussion with their spouse. During the following four weeks, they were asked to watch one movie each week from a prepared list of movies and conduct the same guided discussion afterwards. When researchers later compared the three-year divorce rates of couples in this group with couples who participated in either conflict management or compassion and acceptance training, they found each resulted in an 11% three-year divorce rate. The three-year divorce rate for a control group that participated in no interventions was 24%. According to the study's lead author, Dr. Ronald Rogge, "The results suggest that husbands and wives have a pretty good sense of what they might be doing right and wrong in their relationships. Thus, you might not need to teach them a whole lot of skills to cut the divorce rate. You might just need to get them to think about how they are currently behaving. And for five movies to give us a benefit over three years—that is awesome."
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, December 2013

Whiplash Anatomy

Whiplash is an injury commonly associated with motor vehicle collisions (MVC) caused by a rapid forward and backward “whipping” of the neck. What varies between each case is the degree of injury and what anatomical parts of the neck are actually injured. Let’s take a look at the spine so we can better understand where the pain actually comes from…

The cervical spine is made up of seven moving vertebrae. The top vertebra (C1) is called the atlas and is shaped like a ring. This ring shape allows the head to rotate left and right so we can check traffic, carrying on conversation with someone sitting off to the side, and so on. It pivots around a peg called the “dens” of C2, or the axis, and the function of these first two vertebrae is very important. This is because the upper most three nerves that exit through this part of the cervical spine innervate the head and dysfunction here may be the cause of some headaches. Chiropractic adjustments concentrate a great deal on restoring function to this area. The C4-6 vertebrae make up the most mobile region of the spine in the forward and backwards directions. Generally, the greater the mobility, the lesser the stability, and because of this, injury to this area is quite common. We often see arthritis in this region first and we focus on keeping the areas that are less mobile (areas above and below C4-6) as mobile as possible. The upper back/lower neck area includes the rib/vertebrae joints, which are also commonly involved in whiplash injuries. Chiropractic adjustments applied to this region also help to restore function and mobility. The thoracic spine is made up of 12 vertebrae and includes the rib cage as well as the shoulder blades (scapulae). This area is sometimes neglected during treatment as the main focus is often placed on the more painful areas of injury like the neck. The lumbar spine consists of five vertebrae and is also frequently overlooked as an injured area due to the distance away from the neck. However, seat belts frequently injure the breast, chest, mid-back, and/or low back regions.

There are several tissues that could be injured. The ligaments—the tough, non-elastic tissue that holds bone to bone—function to maintain stability between the vertebrae. The articular capsule is also made of ligaments and is a frequently injured area, which generates pain with movement of the head and neck. Muscles and the tendon attachments are elastic and function to move the structures. Stability is facilitated by good muscle tone and strength and is a strong focus of treatment. Injury to these structures are called, “…soft tissue injuries,” and make up the majority of whiplash associated disorders (WAD II category).

The intervertebral disks are made up of a fibroelastic cartilage on the outside and a more liquid-like center that functions as shock absorbers between the vertebrae. Injury to the disk includes tears, cracks, and/or fissures where the liquid center part can migrate through and can rupture. Injury to the nervous tissues includes the free nerve endings when the articular capsule is “sprained.” Nerve root injuries are most commonly “pinched” or compressed by a “ruptured disk” and send pain, numbness, and/or muscle weakness to specific areas of the arm and/or hand. These injuries are classified as WAD III injuries and usually carry a worse prognosis than WAD II injuries.

Determining which tissues are injured, managing the acute, subacute, and chronic stages of healing and facilitating self-management strategies are the primary goals of chiropractic treatment of the whiplash injured patient.

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: It's Hard to Explain!

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a condition that typically has a slow, gradual onset that starts out mild and gradually worsens. The symptoms associated with FM include generalized pain all over the body (above and below the waist including neck, shoulders, chest, upper back, arms, hips, buttocks, legs, and feet). The pain can be symmetrical or more intense on the left or right side AND it can vary from day to day. To top it all off, the pain is “chronic” and is usually present for three or more months, sometimes for years, before the FM patient might even mention it to their health care provider. The onset can be so gradual that other issues often become the center of focus until the intensity gets to the point where the patient FINALLY complains.

To better appreciate the complexity of FM, there are two types of FM: Primary and Secondary. Primary FM has no specific cause while secondary FM is linked to something such as trauma associated with a car accident or sports injury, a condition such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic fatigue syndrome, restless leg syndrome (RLS), and others. Either way, it is often NOT the kind of thing many patients “bring up” during the discussion of history with their health care provider, especially if something else is bothering them that may be more pressing.

So, how does one explain the symptoms of FM? Words such as a deep ache, burning, tingling, shooting, tender, pins and needles, stiffness, and flu-like symptoms are often utilized when describing FM symptoms. Almost always, these complaints have been present for a long time – or for at least three months. Often, the patient is reluctant and almost embarrassed to mention it due to the difficulty in describing the symptoms and the fact that they often don’t know the cause. Equally, many doctors, “have an attitude” that is negative and/or non-supportive of the diagnosis of FM making it even more likely FM patients won’t pursue the condition with other health care providers. This polarization by physicians is a very common issue and often the reason FM sufferers continue to “put up” with their condition rather than consult with others.
The KEY to the diagnosis of FM includes the following: 1) Widespread pain NOT limited to one area of the body; 2) Greater than three months of symptom duration; 3) Symptoms including fatigue, sleep disturbance, depression/anxiety, as well as memory and/or concentration complaints; 4) Symptoms severe enough that they interfere with daily living activities/daily life; and 5) Difficulty finding an answer to the cause of the symptoms, USUALLY involving more than one health care provider. Even though awareness by both the general population and health care providers has improved in the last few years, research has shown that 92% of FM patients have talked to their doctor about their complaints, but this resulted in only 24% being diagnosed.

Another challenge confronting healthcare providers in making a diagnosis of fibromyalgia is because it can’t be seen on an x-ray or as an alteration on a blood test. Other diseases have to be “ruled out” before the diagnosis is even considered, but as was previously stated, secondary FM results from other conditions making it ALL the more challenging! It boils down to a very careful history and a physical exam has to be performed by the health care provider and the provider MUST believe in the diagnosis of FM. Tools such as the Fibromyalgia Pain Assessment can also be very helpful AND it’s available online for the FM patient to access. Bring those results with you to the provider for added help in making the diagnosis!

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: Decrease Pain Sensitivity.

Mental Attitude: Prevent Burnout.
Burnout is described as a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and job dissatisfaction. Teachers appear to be especially susceptible to burnout and this has resulted in poor classroom performance, more days missed from work, and high turnover rates in the profession. In this study, teachers were taught transcendental meditation and were followed for four months. Each participant meditated at least once per day, with half meditating at least twice per day. The researchers reported significant improvements in perceived stress, burnout, and depressive symptoms.
The Permanente Journal, February 2014

Health Alert: Are Chemicals Used in Food Packaging Harmful?
A new report warns that chemicals used in the production, storage, and processing of packaged foods may be harmful to your health over the long-term. The authors of the report note that food manufacturers regularly use small and regulated amounts of chemicals in food packaging known to cause cancer and or disrupt hormones. The trouble, they say, is that there are no existing studies that identify the long-term impact of such exposure or to see if such exposure may be linked to the rise in chronic conditions such as cancer, obesity, and diabetes.
Epidemiology and Community Health, February 2014

Diet: Daily Multivitamin May Reduce Cataract Risk in Men.
After reviewing roughly 15 years of data concerning 12,641 male doctors, researchers found that men who took a daily multivitamin were 9% less likely to be diagnosed with a cataract. While 9% may seem small, applied to a large population, this finding could have a substantial impact on public health.
Opthalmology, November 2013

Exercise: What Does Your Coach Know?
Researchers quizzed 70 youth coaches on topics ranging from exercise physiology, practice design, hydration, nutrition, basic first aid and acute injury management, concussion care, and strength training. While the majority tested well on first aid and CPR knowledge, most coaches scored poorly on questions related to hydration and concussion care. With over 40 million children in the United States participating in organized sports, the demand for coaches and volunteers is greater than ever. The researchers hope this information will help coaches become more knowledgeable on ways to keep youth athletes both safe and healthy.
American Council on Exercise, February 2014

Chiropractic: Decrease Pain Sensitivity.
Past research has found that spinal manipulation results in a decreased sensitivity to pain, but researchers wanted to find out if this was the result of the adjustment itself or because of the expectation of treatment. To find an answer, researchers divided participants into four groups: no intervention, spinal manipulation, sham manipulation, and sham manipulation with an instruction that the treatment they will receive has been shown to significantly reduce low back pain in some people. Pain sensitivity was assessed both pre- and post-treatment by applying heat to the body until participants reported it reached their pain threshold. The spinal manipulation group showed the greatest decrease in pain sensitivity.
Journal of Pain, February 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Postnatal Visits are Important!
While medical associations recommend women visit their doctor in the weeks after giving birth, only about half do and the rates aren't much higher among women who had complicated pregnancies because of high blood pressure, diabetes, or other health problems. These visits are important for all new mothers as they give the doctor an opportunity to recommend preventative care or to address risk factors for chronic diseases when a new mother may be most motivated to make healthier lifestyle choices.
Johns Hopkins Medicine, February 2014

Chiropractic and Neck Pain in Children

Children have been treated by chiropractors for spinal problems ever since chiropractic was founded in 1895, and neck pain is no exception. Neck pain is surprisingly common in kids, though not quite as common as it is in adults, reaching a similar occurrence rate by age 18. Studies conducted in the United States and in other countries report similar findings, leaving one to conclude there is a high prevalence of neck pain in kids all over the world. There are many causes of neck pain with a few being unique to children and some that could be a warning sign of something dangerous, such as meningitis. But far more commonly, neck pain in kids is NOT dangerous. Let’s take a look!

Looking at neck and shoulder pain in high-school-aged students, 931 males between 16 and 19 years of age were surveyed. More than two out of five students (44.3%) had recurrent neck and shoulder pain more than once a week with an overall prevalence of 79.1%. THAT’S A LOT! The study reported the student’s average sitting time was 10.2 hours a day, 59% did NOT sit up straight, and 11.9% reported that they stretched their neck and shoulders regularly throughout the day. Students with recurrent neck and shoulder pain also reported frequent fatigue and depressed moods. Looking specifically at 1,122 backpack-using adolescents, 74.4% were classified as having back or neck pain. When compared to non- or low use backpackers, there was nearly a two times greater likelihood of having back/neck pain! Also, females and those with a large body mass index (overweight) were also significantly associated with back/neck pain. Lastly, they found when compared to adolescents with no back/neck pain, those with pain carried significantly heavier backpacks.

Another common cause of neck pain in adolescents is a condition called torticollis or, “wry neck.” This is basically a muscle spasm of certain neck muscles that rotate and extend the head from the neutral/normal position, often described as being “stuck” in this position. Though there are several types of torticollis, it can be triggered by almost anything including a change in weather, sleeping in a draft, following an infection like a cold or flu, maintaining a faulty prolonged posture, certain types of medications, and many others. Some studies describe torticollis as usually improving within one to four weeks, but in the hands of a chiropractor, it usually takes two to three days for the acute pain to subside and one week to completely finish the job! Of course, this varies depending on the case. Infants can be born with “congenital torticollis,” which occurs in 0.3 to 2.0% of newborns. Here too, chiropractic is VERY effective.

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 neck pain, we would be honored to render our services.

Weekly Health Update—Chiropractic: Used by Severe Migraine Sufferers.

Mental Attitude: The Invisible Risk Group.
Researchers studied 12,395 European teenagers ages 14-16 to identify which risky behaviors were linked to depression, anxiety, conduct problems, and self-destructive behaviors. Risky behaviors included excessive alcohol use, illegal drug use, inadequate sleep, sedentary behavior, and excessive time spent watching TV, on the computer, or playing video games. The researchers identified three risk groups. The high risk group accounted for 13% of adolescents. They were likely to engage in all the risk behaviors previously mentioned and were most at risk for mental illness. The low-risk group accounted for 58% of adolescents. They engage in one or no risky behaviors and were at the lowest risk for mental illness. Researchers named the third group the invisible risk group. They had the same risk for mental illness as the high risk group but only participated in unobtrusive risky behaviors such as inadequate sleep, excessive media use, and sedentary behavior. The authors of the study conclude, "While discussions with adolescents often focus on substance abuse and delinquency, the risk behaviors indentured here need to be considered, and special attention given to encouraging sufficient sleep, participation in sports, and using new media moderately."
World Psychiatry, February 2013

Health Alert: The Average Obese Person Exercises Less Than Four Hours Per Year!
Using data from a 2005-2006 United States government survey on nearly 2,600 adults, researcher Dr. Edward Archer at the Nutrition Obesity Research Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham calculated that the average obese women gets just one hour of vigorous exercise per year while the average obese man manages only 3.6 hours per year.
Mayo Clinic Proceedings, December 2013

Diet: Possible Test for Obesity Predisposition.
A study of 2,258 10-year olds in the United Kingdom found that children with a genetic propensity towards obesity also had lower satiety responsiveness. This finding could be used to identify children who may be at risk for being overweight or obese and teach them techniques to feel fuller while eating such as controlling portion sizes, eating slower, keeping treats out of sight, and avoiding second helpings.
JAMA Pediatrics, February 2014

Exercise: Gardening is Good Exercise for Youth.
Researchers have identified gardening as a great exercise for kids. This study involved 17 children who engaged in ten gardening tasks: digging, raking, weeding, mulching, hoeing, sowing seeds, harvesting, watering, mixing growing medium, and planting transplants. The results showed that tasks such as digging and raking were high-intensity activities while the remaining activities were considered moderate-intensity physical activities. The researchers claim the study results could facilitate the development of garden-based exercise interventions for children to promote health and a physically active lifestyle.
HortTechnology, October 2013

Chiropractic: Used by Severe Migraine Sufferers.
A study of 225 severe migraine sufferers found that during the previous two years, nearly the same percentage sought treatment from a Doctor of Chiropractic (27.1%) as sought out pharmacological treatment from their General Practitioner (27.6%).
Headache, February 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Preventing Teen Prescription Drug Abuse.
Prescription drug abuse kills more people in the United States each year than cocaine and heroine combined. A six-year study on the efficacy of programs designed to curb teenage prescription drug abuse finds that school-based programs are largely ineffective unless they are coupled with home-based interventions. Still, even the best programs only decrease abuse rates by 10% suggesting that parents, educators, communities, and local governments need to work together to find better interventions to stop teenaged prescription drug abuse.
Preventive Medicine, February 2014

Low Back Manipulation: How Does it Work?

Low back pain (LBP) is such a common problem that if you haven’t suffered from it yet, you probably will eventually. Here are a few facts to consider: 1) LBP affects men and women equally; 2) It is most common between ages 30-50; 3) Sedentary (non-active) lifestyles contribute a lot to causation; 4) Too much or too little exercise can result in LBP; 5) A BMI around 25 is “ideal” for weight management, which helps prevent LBP; 6) Causes of LBP include lifestyle (activity level), genetics – including, but not limited to, weight and osteoarthritis; 7) Occupation; 8) Exercise habits, and the list can go on and on. Let’s next look at how an adjustment is done.

When spinal manipulation is performed in the low-back region, the patient is often placed in a side lying position with the upper leg flexed towards the chest and the bottom leg kept straight. The bottom shoulder is pulled forwards and the upper shoulder is rotated backwards at the same time the low back area receives that the manipulation is rotated forwards. This produces a twisting type of motion that is well within the normal range of joint motion. When the adjustment is made, a “high velocity” (or quick), “low amplitude” (a short distance of movement) thrust is delivered often resulting in “cavitation” (the crack or, release of gases). So, WHY do we do this?

Most studies show that when there is back pain, there is inflammation. In fact, inflammation is found in most disease processes that occur both within and outside the musculoskeletal system. We know that when we control inflammation, pain usually subsides. That is why the use of “PRICE” (Protect, Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate) works well for most muscle/joint painful conditions. We have also learned that IF we can avoid cortisone and non-steroidal drugs (like aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.), tissues heal quicker and better, so these SHOULD BE AVOIDED! If you didn’t know that, check out:

http://www.benthamscience.com/open/torehj/articles/V006/1TOREHJ.pdf

Please see our prior discussions on the use of anti-inflammatory herbs and diets that are MUCH safer than non-steroidal drugs! But what does spinal manipulation DO in reference to inflammation?

Different things occur physiologically during a spinal adjustment or manipulation. We know that the mechanical receptors located in muscles, muscle tendons, ligaments, and joint capsules are stimulated and this results in muscle relaxation (reduced spasm or tightness), increased measurable range of motion, and a decrease in pain. A recent study also reported that inflammatory markers (CRP and interleukin-6) measured in a blood test, NORMALIZED after a series of nine chiropractic low back manipulations! So, NOT ONLY do spinal adjustments give immediate improvements in pain, flexibility, and muscle relaxation, they also REDUCE INFLAMMATION without the use of any pharmaceuticals!

So, let’s review what manipulation does for your low back pain: 1) Pain reduction; 2) Improved flexibility – now you can put on your socks with less pain and strain; 3) Improved functions and activities of daily living like sitting more comfortably, getting in or out of your car, bending over to feed the cat, etc.; 4) Improved sleep quality; and 5) Faster healing time by actually reducing the inflammatory markers in the blood! If you have LBP, PLEASE don’t delay – make that appointment TODAY!

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: Just Two Treatments.

Mental Attitude: Online Courses for Stress Reduction?
While mindfulness training in a 1-on-1 setting has been shown to be beneficial for reducing perceived stress, anxiety, and depression, researchers at the University of Oxford wondered if such training delivered via the internet would be as effective. A group of 273 participants completed an online mindfulness course that consisted of 10 sessions over an average time span of four weeks. Following the course, outcome assessments showed reductions in perceived stress, anxiety, and depression similar to those reported by participants who experienced in-person trainings.
BMJ Open, February 2014

Health Alert: Amazing!
Scientists from the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland and the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Italy have announced the first known instance of an amputee "feeling" the world via a state-of-the-art sensory-enhanced artificial hand. Sensations felt by the "hand" are converted into electrical impulses that communicate with the patient via wires that were surgically connected to nerves in his arm.
Science Translational Medicine, February 2014

Diet: The Mediterranean Diet and Firefighters.
The Mediterranean diet is rich in fish, nuts, vegetables, and fruits and previous studies have linked it to a decreased risk for cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes. However, these studies tend to focus on an older population, patients with existing health problems, and people who live in Mediterranean countries. In this study, the participants were firefighters living in the Mid-Western United States. The firefighters who most adhered to the diet had a 35% decreased risk for metabolic syndrome and were 43% less likely to gain weight compared with those who least followed the diet.
PLOS ONE, February 2014

Exercise: Play Team Sports!
Because of declining estrogen levels, menopausal women are at greater risk for stroke and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Researchers found that menopausal women who participated in team-based sports for just twelve weeks had significant reductions in their blood pressure and improvements in blood vessel function, putting them at a 40% lower risk for stroke and a 20% lower risk for heart disease. As an added benefit, the majority of the women enjoyed the activity and were likely to continue participating after the study concluded.
AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, January 2014

Chiropractic: Just Two Treatments.
Nearly 200 adults with spinal pain were separated into two groups. One group received two chiropractic adjustments and the other received two sham adjustments so researchers could differentiate if results were the result of the adjustment itself or the expectation of treatment. Two weeks later, researchers assessed each group and found the adjustment group reported greater improvements in pain, better overall improvement, and higher satisfaction.
Spine, November 2013

Wellness/Prevention: Folic Acid and Pregnancy.
Despite decades of research recommending pregnant women take folic acid supplements in order to prevent spina bifida and other neural tube defects, only 31% of pregnant women in the United Kingdom (UK) do. Additionally, among women who had previously given birth to a baby with a neural tube defect, only 51% took a folic acid supplement during subsequent pregnancies. In the United States, Australia, and 74 other countries, some grain-based foods are fortified with folic acid in hopes of reducing the risk of these types of birth defects.
PLOS ONE, February 2014