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Chiropractic’s MANY Benefits!

25 Aug

In 2010, Dr. Gert Bronfort published a pinnacle report that reviewed studies published up to 2009 and identified 26 categories of conditions for which there is evidence that manual therapies (including spinal manipulation, mobilization, and massage) are beneficial. These 26 categories included thirteen musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions (like low back and neck pain), four types of chronic headache, and nine non-MSK conditions (like infantile colic).

In 2014, the 2010 study was “updated” by Dr. Christine Clar and five colleagues from the Warwick Medical School in the United Kingdom using the same methodologies. They concentrated on the conditions that resulted in a “negative” or an “inconclusive” result in 2010 and either confirmed, updated, or added a new category based on the results of newer research.

After reviewing 25,539 studies, other conditions such as shoulder rotator cuff disorder, cervicogenic headache, and other types of headaches were added to the list. They also added a large number of non-MSK conditions they had not previously considered, of which most were rated ‘inconclusive.’

The 2014 study pointed out the continued need for more high-quality research on many conditions, but it shed light on a significant number of conditions not previously reported in the 2010 study such as TMD (jaw pain), myofascial pain syndrome, active upper trapezius trigger points and neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, shoulder disorders, nerve and muscle pain in the shoulder, plantar fasciitis, arthritis with and without angulation of the great toe (big toe), and many more!

The non-MSK conditions that Dr. Clar and her team found that are in need of further high-quality studies include: asthma, cervicogenic dizziness, hypertension, infantile colic, enuresis, pneumonia/respiratory disorders, dysmenorrhoea, and PMS.  “NEW” categories include: ADHD/learning disorders, cancer care, cerebral palsy, chronic fatigue, chronic pelvic pain, cystic fibrosis, gastrointestinal, menopause, Parkinson’s disease, pregnancy and neonatal and post-natal care, rehabilitation, and peripheral arterial disease.

Obviously, these two studies have taken the quest of determining the current “science” behind many of the claims that doctors of chiropractic have made for many conditions HEAD ON. This is a VERY important step in the right direction so we as healthcare professionals can tell our patients which conditions are likely or not likely to respond to this form of care based on research!

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, we would be honored to render our services.

Driving While “INTEXTICATED”!

23 Aug

Is texting while driving any different than drinking and driving? One might argue that because there is no alcohol involved, “it’s okay.” But is it? Here are some SOBERING FACTS about texting and driving:

  1. Believed to contribute to 1.6 million crashes/year. (National Safety Council)
  2. Linked to an estimated 330,000 injuries per year. (Harvard Center for Risk Analysis Study)
  3. Associated with eleven teen deaths EVERY DAY. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Fatality Facts)
  4. Texting contributes to nearly 25% of ALL car accidents.
  5. Texting while driving carries the same risk as driving after drinking four beers. (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration)
  6. It’s the number one driving distraction (as reported by teen drivers).
  7. The MINIMUM amount of attention time taken away from the road (like being blindfolded) is five seconds, which is EQUAL to traveling 100 yards, or the length of a football field, when traveling 55 mph.
  8. The likelihood of increased risk by cell phone use: 1.4 times more when reaching for the phone, 1.3 times greater than talking or listening, 2.8 times more when dialing, but 23 times more when texting!
  9. Of drivers involved in crashes between age 18-20, 13% admitted to texting or talking on their cell.
  10. When surveyed, 34% admit to texting & driving; 82% of 16-17 year old teens own cell phones; 52% say they have talked on their phone when driving; 77% are “very” or “somewhat confident” that they can safely text while driving; 55% of young adults claim it’s easy to text and drive!
  11. When teens text & drive, approximately 10% of driving time is spent OUTSIDE of their lane.
  12. In ADULTS: 48% of kids age 12-17 say they’ve been in a car while the driver was texting, have seen a parent talk and drive, 15% have seen their parent text and drive, and 27% of adults have sent or received text messages while driving.
  13. One in five drivers (all ages) confess to ‘surfing the web’ while driving and justify it with: “…reading a text is safer than composing and sending one;” holding the phone near the windshield makes it safe, “…I increase my distance from the car ahead,” “…I only text at a stop sign or red light.”
  14. Laws: Ten states and Washington D.C. prohibit ALL drivers from using handheld cell phones; 32 states and Washington D.C. prohibit novice drivers from using cell phones; 39 states and Washington D.C. prohibit ALL drivers from texting.
  15. What can parents of teen drivers do… Install a drive cam, download the app such as AT&T Drive Mode (Android & Blackberry) or DriveID by Cellcontrol ($129 works on all phones). At textinganddrivingsafety.com, teens and parents can take a “text-free-driving pledge. Social media options: Facebook/Twitter  – @RayLaHood, @DistractionGov, @NHTSAgov, @DriveSafely. Blogs: FromReidsDad.Org, RookieDriver.wordpress.com, ctdrive.blogspot.com, EndDD.org.

We all can improve our driving habits, and with this awareness and given the weight of the current evidence, do we really have a choice? STOP DRIVING WHILE INTEXTICATED!

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.

Are Headaches and Dizziness a “Dangerous Combination”?

22 Aug

Last month, we discussed some startling new research that found that lightheadedness upon standing up (orthostatic hypotension) may be more serious than previously thought. This month, we’ll look specifically at headache AND dizziness and if we should we be concerned about this combination of complaints and if so, when?

A team of researchers from Johns Hopkins University reviewed past medical records of 187,188 patients presenting to over 1,000 emergency departments (EDs) between 2008 and 2009. They found the combination of headache and dizziness—especially in women, minorities, and young patients—was a potential signal of an impending stroke!

Specifically, they reported that 12.7% of people complaining of headache and dizziness were later admitted for stroke and had been misdiagnosed and inappropriately sent home from the ED within the previous 30 days. Patients were told they had a “benign condition” such as inner ear infection or migraine, and in some cases, they weren’t given a diagnosis at all. Slightly less than half of this population had a stroke within seven days and over half had a stoke within the first 48 hours of the initial pre-stroke ED presentation!

The study reported that women were 33% and minorities 20-30% more likely to be misdiagnosed, suggesting gender and racial disparities may play a role. The researchers estimate that doctors miss 15,000 to 165,000 strokes that result in harm to the patient each year.

Studies have found that the early diagnosis and quick treatment of strokes is critical in reducing serious residuals in patients having a transient ischemic attach (TIA), sometimes referred to as a “mini-stroke” or “pre-stroke.” TIAs are often pre-cursors to a more catastrophic stroke leading to death or permanent disability without appropriate treatment.

Again, to put this in perspective, MANY people present to healthcare providers with headaches and dizziness with NO relationship to stroke—about 87%—though it is sometimes not possible to know whether a potentially dangerous problem may arise in the near future. The good news is that it usually does not!

The importance of this study is to alert both healthcare providers AND patients of the potential risk. When in doubt, it’s ALWAYS best to seek out multiple opinions. An MRI may be the best way to confirm the most common type of stroke (according the study reviewed above), as a CT scan may not show the brain changes early on and could lead to false reassurance.

Doctors of chiropractic commonly see patients presenting with headaches and dizziness. When this occurs suddenly, out of the ordinary, and/or at a relatively young age (women > men), it’s better to be safe than sorry and obtain multiple opinions, especially WHEN IN DOUBT!

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 or headaches, we would be honored to render our services.

Fibromyalgia and Physical Activity

18 Aug

Are there differences in lifestyle between people with vs. without fibromyalgia (FM)?

A recent study found women with FM found spend more time engaged in sedentary behaviors and less time in physical activity. In the study, researchers followed 413 female patients with FM and 188 age-matched healthy female controls. Researchers used three different approaches to access physical activity: a triaxial accelerometer to examine sedentary time, time spent in physical activity, and step counts.

They discovered those who suffered from FM spent an average of 39 more minutes per day in sedentary activity and 21 fewer minutes per day in light physical activity, 17 fewer minutes per day in moderate physical activity, and 19 fewer minutes per day in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. In addition, those with FM took a mean of 1,881 fewer steps that those without FM.

Now, this isn’t really a surprise given the fact that people with FM are in pain and more likely to have difficulties sleeping and tolerating prolonged activities. After comparing the sufferers to the non-sufferers, the researchers found only 21% of FM patients vs. 46% of non-FM controls achieved the recommended 150 minutes/week (a little over 20 min. / day) of “moderate-to-vigorous” physical activity. They also found that only 16% vs. 45%, respectively, walked the recommended ≥10,000 steps per day.

One of the BEST forms of exercise for most people is walking. A walking program should be a staple exercise. It’s important to note that this should be GRADUALLY introduced so as to avoid an overuse injury—strain or sprain of the muscles and joints. This gradual introduction into activity is ESPECIALLY important for the FM sufferer as overuse injuries can make them afraid to do something that can REALLY help when done correctly!

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

The Most Important Principles for Staying Young: Stem Cell Repair Mechanism

16 Aug

Our basic premise is that your body is amazing.  You get a do over. It doesn’t take that long, and it isn’t that hard if you know what to do.  In these notes, we give you a short course in what to do so it becomes easy for you and for you to teach others. We want you to know how much control you have over both the quality and length of your life.

One of everyone’s big hopes is to find ways for your body to use its own stem cells to repair itself. Your body naturally already uses its own stem cells to make you stronger, healthier, and more resistant to the conditions that have the potential to slug away at you day after day and year after year. The problem is, you lose stem cells as you age, whether by using them to repair damaged organs or because they’re destroyed by such toxins as chemotherapy or radiation or oxygen free radicals—leaving you vulnerable to many problems.

A key to slowing aging or reversing it is repairing damage with brand new cells. When you smoke, stem cells are sent to the lungs to respond to the damage that results from each drag of a cigarette. Or when your skin burns from the sun, stem cells go there to make repairs. But— and this is a big but—there are two unfortunate consequences of that repair, and it’s another example of how a valuable process has the power to flip you up-side your head.

First, the more stem cells you send in for repair (say, the more times you burn your skin from lying out by the pool unprotected), the more stem cell reproduction occurs. The more reproduction, the higher the chance that something will go wrong during cell division—meaning that your stem cells have a higher chance of differentiating into a tumor cell. Stem cells know how to replicate quickly, so, boom, you’ve got cancer. (That’s why repeated damage to an organ—via smoking, sunburn, alcohol abuse, or inflammation from saturated fat or just being fat—predisposes you to cancer.) Second, if your stem cells are constantly repairing sunburn, then there won’t be enough of them available to aid in maintaining your other organs.

Stem cells come in two varieties: Blastocysts (often mistakenly called embryonic, a charged word that has created a political and moral brouhaha) and Progenitor cells (also called adult stem cells): These adult stem cells retain the ability to grow into other kinds of cells. Why is this so exciting from a medical and scientific perspective? If your own stem cells—the cells you currently have—can be used to regenerate new tissue to replace broken-down or diseased tissue and fix your own organs, then you have the opportunity to punch frailty right in the face.

One of the goals of stem cell research is to harvest some of these universal cells, grow them in laboratories, and then use them to undo the damage done by such things as heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and many other diseases associated with aging. How do we know that this process has potential? Well, just look at the work that’s been done on the heart.

Cardiology was one of the specialties most resistant to the potential power of stem cells, and the damaged heart was considered to be a representative of the key organs that could not regenerate themselves. In research involving heart transplant, scientists studied groups of men who received a female heart (in heart transplantation, the sex of the heart doesn’t matter, but, rather, the size). In theory, the cells of a female heart, when transplanted into a man, should have only their original double- X chromosomes, with no male Y chromosomes in them at all. But when researchers examined the hearts only a few months after transplantation, they actually found Y chromosomes in the heart—meaning that the male stem cells were migrating from the bone marrow to the heart to make periodic repairs. Similar reinvigoration of almost all of your organs continually occurs with your own full- time stem cell repairmen.

In a recent story that you may have seen in the non-medical press, researchers found people who had lost some mobility following a stroke could recover substantial motor and brain function when their own adult stem cells (increased in numbers when grown in culture) were injected into the parts of the brain damaged by the stroke.

Thanks for reading. Feel free to send questions—to youdocs@gmail.com, and some of them we may know enough to answer (we’ll try to get answers for you if we do not know).

Young Dr Mike Roizen (aka, The Enforcer)

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Can it Be Prevented?

15 Aug

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a VERY common condition where the median nerve is compressed or squeezed as it passes through the wrist. One reason that it’s so common is because MANY daily activities require fast, repetitive use of the fingers, hands, and arms, and the friction of the rapidly moving muscle tendons inside the tunnel results in swelling and compression of the nerve. So, can CTS really be prevented?

There are many factors associated with CTS, and some risks can be prevented. For example, some conditions like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and IBS increase the risk of CTS. Therefore, it would be safe to assume those who better manage such conditions would have a lower risk for developing CTS.

Due to the many factors associated with CTS, there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to treatment and prevention of CTS. With that said, here are some VERY effective methods:

1) Ergonomic workstation modifications: Altering the work space (monitor height, keyboard/mouse style, different chair, chair/desk height, etc.) to reduce the number and speed of movements needed to perform commons work tasks.

2) Rest periods: Insert “micro-breaks” into a busy task. Combine breaks with stretching exercises of the wrist/hand/fingers and vary job tasks between fast and slow repetitive types.

3) Exercise: Shake the fingers and hands, lean back in a chair with the arms/shoulders stretched back (“Brugger’s Exercise”), move the neck (chin tucks, rotations, etc.), bend the hand/wrist backwards on a wall or the desk’s edge, self-massage and deep tissue release of the forearm and hand muscles. Do regular aerobic exercise (walking, swimming, biking, etc.) several times each week.

4) Posture: Sit up straight, elbows about 90° on height-adjustable arm rests or comfortably at the sides, forearms parallel to the floor; knees level or slightly lower than the hips, feet flat on the floor or on a footrest or box, if needed. Place typing materials at eye level / avoid prolonged head/neck rotation. Use a wrist rest for the keyboard and mouse, and use a headset when on the phone.

5) Reduce hand tool forces: Choose a tool that allows the wrist to remain neutral. Avoid side to side and flexion/extension wrist positions—especially if they’re prolonged! Tool handles should NOT dig into the palm of the hand or the wrist, and should not have sharp edges. A textured handle can improve grip. Minimize vibration from power tools. Wear shock absorbing gloves. Avoid cold work environments and cold tools.

6) Diet: Cut down on caffeine and smoking. Avoid obesity—a known risk factor of CTS! Consider an anti-inflammatory diet (Paleo, Mediterranean).

7) Splints: A wrist cock-up splint at night prevents prolonged faulty positions and REALLY helps!

This is a partial list of preventative measures that can REALLY help. Doctors of chiropractic treat the WHOLE person and can teach you the right exercises, ways to modify your diet, offer manual therapies and modalities, and help guide you in your self-management of CTS, as this can be a lifelong affliction. A multi-modal treatment approach generally works best!

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.

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