No Evidence that Chiropractic Causes Stroke According to Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation

Amidst a great deal of emotion and rhetoric coming out of Connecticut this week regarding the stroke issue The Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation has just released a very clear position statement on the issue of chiropractic and strokes.

Atlanta, GA, January 07, 2010 –(PR.com)– According to the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation there is no human experimental evidence that chiropractic adjustments or neck manipulations are causally related to strokes.

“While plaintiff’s attorneys and expert witness make claims and statements contending that such a causative link exists, the fact remains that these are based largely on anecdotes, case reports, and case controlled studies and cannot be used to prove causation” stated Foundation President Christopher Kent DC, JD a chiropractic researcher and attorney.

According to researchers and the scientific method itself there are all sorts of biases and distortions that effect conclusions drawn from such studies and other criteria must be used to determine whether such a link exists.

“What this boils down to is a simple lack of understanding of biostatistics and epidemiology” stated Foundation Vice President Matthew McCoy DC, MPH, a chiropractic researcher and public health expert. “Words like ‘association’ and ‘causation’ and ‘risk’ have very specific meanings when it comes to their use in epidemiology and it’s clear that laypersons involved in this debate are using these terms inappropriately.”

While the experience of a stroke can be devastating and no one would suggest ignoring the concerns of those who have suffered one, the reality is that when it comes to the contention that chiropractic causes strokes – the evidence just isn’t there. And while the strokes these people have experienced are indeed real, McCoy suggests there are often other issues involved and offered an example. “Millions of people visit a dentist every year and a certain number of those same people get into car accidents on their way home. If we were to run the stats on it we might find that there is a statistical association between visiting a dentist and getting into a car accident on the way home. But no one would even consider suggesting that the dentists are causing the car accidents.”

Self described chiropractic stroke victims say there is a risk and that people should be advised about it prior to undergoing chiropractic care. The majority of chiropractors would agree that patients should be informed of the risks, benefits and alternatives of any health care intervention, but according to Dr. Kent “Such informed consent must be based on appropriate information and since there is no scientific evidence that chiropractic adjustments or neck manipulations actually cause strokes, it is inappropriate to require a doctor to suggest that such a risk exists.”

Dr. McCoy added another often overlooked issue “Chiropractors utilize a number of techniques to address joint dysfunction and vertebral subluxation and in fact there are over 300 named chiropractic techniques and many do not employ the type of manipulation that has been alleged to be a factor in vertebrobasilar accidents. This adds to the inappropriate nature of such a disclosure.”

In the end, chiropractic has an impressive safety record compared to traditional medical care with estimates are that anywhere from 100,000 (Institute of medicine) to 750,000 (Null et al) people die every year from medical care. In comparison, other than some minor soreness following chiropractic treatment, research has shown chiropractic to be very safe.

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Losing Weight But Still Not Feeling Fit?

Fit VS. Fat: New Research Sheds Light On Debate

Although proper nutrition alone can lead to weight loss, it doesn’t necessarily equal true health or fitness, says a new study in the January issue of the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Enette Larson-Meyer, Ph.D., R.D., FACSM, directed 36 overweight (not obese) adults to participate in one of three programs during a six-month intervention: diet alone, diet plus exercise, or a weight-maintenance program (control group). The diet-only and weight maintenance groups were instructed not to change their physical activity regimens during the six-month period.

Although both the diet and diet-plus-exercise groups lost weight during the course of the study – around 10 percent of total body weight – only the exercising individuals improved their internal fitness in addition to their waistlines. Read more at medicalnewstoday.

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Brief Training In Meditation May Help In Pain Management

Living with pain is stressful, but a surprisingly short investment of time in mental training can help you cope.

A new study examining the perception of pain and the effects of various mental training techniques has found that relatively short and simple mindfulness meditation training can have a significant positive effect on pain management.

Though pain research during the past decade has shown that extensive meditation training can have a positive effect in reducing a person’s awareness and sensitivity to pain, the effort, time commitment, and financial obligations required has made the treatment not practical for many patients. Now, a new study by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte shows that a single hour of training spread out over a three day period can produce the same kind of analgesic effect. Read more…

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Santa Clara Chiropractor: Growing Older Doesn’t Have to Hurt

Let’s face it, there’s just no getting around the fact that as we age our body doesn’t feel or respond the same way as it did when we were younger. It just doesn’t seem right that our body seems to become less “cooperative,” while our mind appears to improve and become more “inventive.” We’re stiff when we get out of bed; certain activities during the day make us sore at night; and, if we’re not truly careful, even a movement as simple as turning too quickly or bending over to pick up a dropped object, can send our back or some other muscle group into spasm. But, it isn’t necessary for our body to go from bad to worse because there is help for us, “boomers,” that can not only slow down the aging process of the body, but help us to avoid some of those problems altogether.

Take arthritis for instance. Most of us would agree that, with the exception of pharmaceuticals, allopathic medicine doesn’t attend to this age-related affliction. What is the basis for such a limited approach? It is because most medical practitioners focus only on the symptoms of arthritis. Chiropractic care, on the other hand, not only relieves the pain of arthritis, naturally, without drugs, but it addresses the root of the problem and eliminates it.  For more than one hundred years, chiropractors, like your Santa Clara Chiropractor, have been helping men and women suffering from back pain and other conditions produced by arthritic changes in the musculoskeletal system.

Arthritic changes take place as your body ages because, over time, wear of certain joints takes place as the result of repetitive stresses, and years of incorrect gait, improper posture, and insufficient movement. Chiropractic treatment reestablishes motion in your joints and decreases pain, and it ameliorates any vertebral misalignment that may be causing irritation and restriction. In addition to causing arthritic changes in the spine and increasing pain, did you know that misaligned vertebra can also lower your resistance and immunity? It’s true, and this might be one of the reasons why it may seem to you that as you get older you experience more health issues and that it frequently takes longer for you to feel better again. According to studies done on older individuals, those who received regular chiropractic care stayed healthier. To put it another way, as you get older, chiropractic care is good for what ails you!

When it comes to the health of the musculoskeletal system, chiropractors are experts whether it’s the small, growing frame of an infant or the full-grown body of a mature adult.  Your chiropractor understands the aging process and has exceptional observational and diagnostic skills that assist in finding spinal misalignments and joint problems. A chiropractic examination can, in fact, frequently reveal some age-related conditions before they’ve had a chance to create noticeable pain. Furthermore, your Santa Clara Chiropractor can evaluate your posture and analyze your gait to identify faulty patterns that could create more arthritic changes in the future.

So, if feeling your age has become a painful experience, see your Santa Clara Chiropractor today!

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Feeling old and blue? Green tea may help

(Reuters Health)  Elderly men and women who sip on several cups of green tea a day may be less likely to have the blues, hint findings of a study from Japan.

Dr. Kaijun Niu, at Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering in Sendai, and colleagues found men and women aged 70 and older who drank four or more, versus one or fewer, cups of green tea daily were 44 percent less likely to have symptoms of depression.

Several prior studies have linked green tea consumption to reduced levels of psychological distress. This led Niu and colleagues to look at associations between drinking green tea and symptoms of depression in 1,058 relatively healthy elderly individuals.

About 34 percent of the men and 39 percent of the women had symptoms of depression, according to a report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. These symptoms were severe in about 20 percent of the men and in about 24 percent of the women.

Overall, 488 participants said they drank four or more cups of green tea a day, 284 said they downed two to three cups daily and the remaining 286 reported having one or fewer cups daily.

According to the investigators, the apparent protective effect of greater green tea consumption on symptoms of depression did not fade after they factored in social and economic status, gender, diet, history of medical problems, use of antidepressant medications, smoking, and physical activity. Read more…

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Treat Varicose Veins and Other Leg Problems with Horse Chestnut

The Europeans have been using horse chestnut for years for a variety of vascular roles, particularly the legs. This natural supplement is now gaining ground in the United States and other places around the world because it has shown in a number of clinical trials its effectiveness in treating a variety of conditions.

Horse chestnut trees are native to Greece, Albania, Bulgaria and other countries in the Balkan Peninsula. However, you can find these trees elsewhere in the world as well. Also called the Spanish chestnut and the buckeye, horse chestnut should not be confused with the buckeye trees in California and Ohio. It is important when you use horse chestnut that you choose a seed extract supplement form rather than preparing a treatment yourself as some parts of the tree are poisonous.

If you have varicose veins, leg swelling, nerve twitching and itching, restless legs, skin ulcers or general leg pain, you could benefit from horse chestnut. Most often found as a seed extract, this supplement is also effective with a condition called CVI or chronic venous insufficiency, which also presents some of the symptoms above.

Evidence of Effectiveness

In a number of tests, horse chestnut seed extract was used in patients with CVI. In a large percentage of cases, leg swelling decreased significantly as well as pain, nerve itchiness and even leg tiredness. Restless leg occurrences were reduced as well. While some professionals are still unsure of this natural supplement, many people who suffer from a variety of vascular leg conditions have found that horse chestnut is just as effective as the common treatment of wearing compression stockings.

Other Conditions Possibly Treated

Because of the anti-inflammatory properties of horse chestnut, there are a few other conditions that might benefit from its use. Rheumatoid arthritis, deep venous thrombosis, hemorrhoids, menstrual cramps and even a variety of skin conditions could find relief with this natural supplement. People with tinnitus and post-trauma swelling have found relief too.

Some Warnings to Note

If you are otherwise in good health, horse chestnut can definitely help with inflammatory conditions. However, some people may have adverse reactions if they take anticoagulants or have hepatic or renal problems. Children should not take this supplement. If you have a metabolic condition like diabetes, medical professionals advise against using horse chestnut. Always consult with your personal physician before adding any supplement to your daily medication regiment. Read more…

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Likely Culprits of Back Pain and How You Can Handle Them

Many people have back pain at some point in their life and at least half of them experience recurring back pain. Sometimes, there is no one particular cause for the pain but rather a build-up of activities they might have done. Back pain is so commonplace that it is one of the top three leading reasons why people see the doctor and miss work. The good news is that most back pain clears itself up within a few weeks. If you are one of the many people that experience back pain, there are a number of causes to consider.

Referred Back Pain

Referred back pain means that you feel pain in your back but it is attached to some other underlying health condition in your body. For example, kidney infections can cause back pain as can appendicitis and bladder infections. Women with infections or disorders in the pelvic area can also experience pain in the back.

Pulled or Stressed Out Muscles

Have you ever slept in an awkward position and paid for it in pain the next day? Sleeping funny can stress out your muscles, ligaments and tendons in addition to lifting heavy objects or even turning or twisting the wrong way. When you experience sensitivity and pain in certain muscle groups, like in your back, doctors refer to it as myofascial pain. Many kids experience this type of back pain because they tote heavy backpacks and school bags. Poor posture and improper lifting techniques can also contribute.

Musculoskeletal Diseases and Conditions

There are a number of musculoskeletal diseases and conditions that can contribute to back pain. For example, fibromyalgia causes pain and tenderness in nerve trigger points and joints in the back and other areas of the body. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition that causes deterioration of the discs between the vertebrae.

Osteoporosis can also cause back pain. Calcium leaches out of your bones over time and puts them in danger of stress fractures and breaks. If you have osteoporosis and decide to partake in heavy lifting or other overly strenuous exercise, you can create tiny compression fractures in one or more vertebrae.

Disc Problems

A herniated disc is a common cause of back problems. Wear and tear over time can cause one or more of your discs along your spinal column to rupture (herniated). Sometimes called a slipped disc, this rupture can pinch one of the many nerves that emanate from the spinal column. The sciatic nerve is one of the most commonly affected nerves and it runs down to your leg, so not only would you feel pain in the back because of a herniated disc but also feel sharp, shooting pain down your leg as well.

Over the counter pain relievers can help as can topical herbal remedies for pain such as lavender oil, eucalyptus, chamomile, witch hazel and arnica. Some herbs consumed in tea form have anti-inflammatory properties that can alleviate pain too such as chamomile, valerian, rosemary, elderberry and black cohosh. Ice packs can numb pain while heating pads can loosen tight muscles in the back.

If you can afford it, make it a point to visit a chiropractor because your spine may be out of alignment. Acupuncturists can also treat your back pain as well. What you should not do is lie around and be lazy when you have back pain because the joints and muscles may seize up. Rather, light exercise such as walking and stretching can be beneficial. With a little TLC and time, most back pain eventually resolves on its own.

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Losing Weight Adds Life to Your Years as Well as Years to Your Life

From the “Duh, you think?” department of research. A new study, partially funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in the medical journal BMJ late last month, says that women who are overweight in middle age not only have a decreased chance of living to age 70 in good health, but that their chances severely drop by almost 80 percent. The study details the significant effect being overweight in middle age has on a woman’s quality of life in old age. Now, I have to say right here that my overweight chiropractic patients do not experience a high quality of life even in middle age, much less into old age. Every system of the body, including the musculoskeletal system is affected by the burden of carrying around excess body weight.

Researchers defined “healthy survival” past 70 years of age as being free from chronic disease and able to maintain an active daily life, e.g., being able to climb stairs or shop for groceries. They followed more than 17,000 women with an average age of 50 over the course of 24 years. They found that for every 2.2 pounds gained from the age of 18, a woman’s chances of even living past 70 years of age fell 5 percent.

So, let’s face, this study didn’t really reveal anything that most people, men and women alike, don’t already know. A healthy lifestyle is the only way to put life into your years as well as adding years to your life. Longevity is not a gift, in and of itself, if a person is unable to enjoy those added years. That’s why, along with chiropractic treatment, I offer my patients advise on exercise and nutrition.

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Pack Right for the Holidays to Avoid the ER

Luggage that’s too big or too heavy can lead to strains or worse

(HealthDay News) — There may be nothing wrong with stuffing your turkey full to bursting, but you might not want to do the same thing with your suitcase as you pack for holiday trips.

More than 53,000 people were treated in 2008 in U.S. hospital emergency rooms, doctors’ offices, clinics and other medical facilities for luggage-related injuries, such as muscle strains, pulls and tears, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

“Lifting and carrying luggage that is too big or heavy for a person’s size and frame can put serious strains on your body,” Dr. Jeffrey A. Fried, an orthopedic surgeon and spokesman for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, said in a news release from the academy. “To minimize any damage to your neck, shoulders and back, it is important to bend at your knees, lift luggage with your leg muscles while tightening your abdominal muscles and avoid twisting and rotating your spine.” Read more…

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Sacramento Chiropractor: If You Want to Avoid Golf Injuries, Shape Up!

Sacramento Chiropractor

Injuries are not uncommon with any kind of sport. It is beneficial to discover what injury is likely to take place in a favorite sport and then to do whatever it takes to avoid it. The truth is, however, that sports injuries can’t always be avoided. As a result, it’s advantageous to be physically fit to make incurring injury less probable, or less traumatic.   The most important thing that you can do is to be certain that you have the proper fitness level prior to starting to play a sport, such as golf. By perpetuating a healthy lifestyle, making sure your joints are mobile and your muscles are limber, warming and stretching your body prior to activity, using proper form and good postures while actively playing, and giving yourself an appropriate amount of cool down and relaxation time, you will probably keep your body safe from injury.

It isn’t only amateur golfers who get injured. It has been approximated that close to a third of pro golfers playing in the same time frame are playing with injuries. The good news is that general good health and fitness can reduce how many injuries you may experience and may conceivably deter them totally.

Proper body strength in the muscle areas most utilized during golf is crucial. However, before you make an effort to build muscle strength, it’s prudent to determine that your spine is aligned and has good mobility. A injury-free golf swing relies on your spine’s capacity to adequately rotate efficiently. Back injuries are the most widespread type of injuries sustained by golfers. Your Sacramento chiropractor will take care that your spine is in healthy alignment and that there is efficient movement of the vertebrae. Chiropractic treatment can make a big difference in helping you to prevent back injury.

Once you’re “straightened” it’s time to strengthen. A safe, injury-free day on the green depends upon your being prepared for your golf activity. You can warm up your muscles and make straining them less likely by doing golf stretching and flexibility exercises. Full body range of motion (ROM) exercises will enhance flexibility, often rather fast, in all parts of the body. Additionally, elastic band conditioning offers targeted golf range of motion advantages and can increase needed strength in the shoulders, hips and deep muscles of the core. Since elastic band training offers the dynamic resistance that regular weight lifting does not, sports professionals, like your chiropractor, are adding them to their golf conditioning programs.

Quite a few golfers have painful “Golfer’s Elbow” along with back injuries. There is a minor difference between golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow though they are nearly identical injuries. Tennis elbow disturbs the outside of the upper arm whereas golfer’s elbow affects the inner arm. Golfer’s elbow, like tennis elbow, can result from a single intense action, such as (in golf) thrusting down on the mat at the driving range or striking a hard fairway surface. Repetitive stress from smaller shocks, though, is most often the reason. Moreover, it can come upon those who abruptly start playing too much golf. As a case in point, if players that ordinarily play golf once or twice a month choose to enter into a tournament, they are conceivably at risk for contracting the injury.

Golf makes unique requests of the body. Fatigue can be problematic because the game generally lasts longer than many other sports. Poor posture and impeded coordination are frequently the consequences of a fatigued body. These two factors combined can cause a number of injuries. In addition, because of the repetitive swinging of the golf clubs, the shoulder muscles are prone to injury. Just as attention should be given to make certain that your muscles are stretched and warmed up before starting your golf game, be sure to rest your body suitable between games.

A surprising injury occasionally related to golf is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. But, this injury can be the result of a large number of games of golf played over several months constantly since it is a problem that comes about as a result of repetitive stress Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be a serious injury producing incapacitation and on occasion necessitating surgery. However, chiropractic management and, frequently the use of a brace will relieve the problem if a health professional, such as your chiropractor, detects it at an early stage.

The majority of golfers seem to feel that injuries are merely an inevitable part of a golfer’s life. But, a healthy, mobile spine, dedicated preparation, specific exercise and muscle conditioning, attaining and maintaining a an appropriate fitness level, and reasonable rest and recuperation after your game is over, can assisting in making injuries far less a part of your golfing experience.

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