Immune Function Helped by Chiropractic - Study Says

A recent study found that a chiropractic adjustment immediately improved immune function and enables a patient to better fight infection for at least 2 hours, but potentially for much longer, by increasing certain biochemicals at the cellular level.

This study was designed to see if certain blood cells would produce more of a substance called Interleukin-2 (IL-2) after chiropractic adjustments. IL-2 is produced by blood cells and is instrumental in the body's natural response to infection. If blood cells produce IL-2, the body can fight infections more readily. IL-2 also helps the body to know the difference between a foreign threat of infection, and what is naturally inside the body.

In this study, blood samples were taken from 76 individuals. The blood samples were tested to see if they produced IL-2 when exposed to a bacteria. Then the participants were separated into 3 groups. One group was used as the control and received no adjustments. The other two groups both received adjustments, but one group received an adjustment that included joint cavitation (the familiar "popping" sound) and the other group receiving adjustments that made no sound at all.

Four blood samples were taken from the group. The first was prior to the chiropractic adjustment, the second was immediately after the adjustment, the third was taken 20 minutes after the adjustment and the final sample was taken 2 hours after the adjustment. Each sample was then tested to see how much IL-2 they produced when exposed to a bacteria.

The results documented that both groups that had some form of adjustment showed an increase of IL-2 at both the 20 minute and 2 hour times. The group that was tested at those same time intervals but had not received a chiropractic adjustment did not have a rise in IL-2 levels and therefore would not have been as receptive to fighting an infection. The researchers were therefore able to conclude that one single manipulation to the thoracic (mid-back) spine of asymptomatic subjects causes a significant enhancement in IL-2 production by blood cells when tested in a culture dish. Additionally, adjustments associated with joint cavitation demonstrated slightly better immune improvement at 2 hours than the adjustments that did not elicit a "popping" sound.

The study was published on May 28, 2008 in the scientific journal, Chiropractic & Osteopathy, by the Chiropractic & Osteopathic College of Australasia.

Reference:
Chiropractic and Osteopathy

Dr. Richards Comments:
This study demonstrates another reason why chiropractic care is good for your overall health. Occasionally patients will cancel appointments because they "don't feel well", instead of canceling, they should keep the appointment so that their immune system can benefit.

Adjustments Impact Brain Function

Have you ever noticed improved clarity of thought or improved bodily coordination after your chiropractic adjustment? Researchers may have discovered why.

Using EEG (a brain-wave test), researchers in New Zealand found significant changes in brain function after patients receive chiropractic adjustments.

"This is the first time that anyone has used EEG's to prove that there are definite changes to the way the brain processes information after chiropractic care." said Dr. Heidi Haavik-Taylor, director of research at New Zealand College of Chiropractic.

"The process of a spinal adjustment is like rebooting a computer. The signals that these adjustments send to the brain, via the nervous system, reset muscle behavior patterns."

"By stimulating the nervous system we can improve the function of the whole body. this is something that chiropractors and their patients have known for years; and now we have some scientific evidence to prove it."

The researchers found that the adjustment instantly caused changes in the signals that the brain sent to muscles. This may change posture and coordination and help explain the improved function and pain releif that patients experience.

The adjustments did not simply cause muscles to relax either. The adjustment may improve complex firing patterns sent from the brain to the muscles. Most body movements require the integrated action of many muscles, sometimes hundreds (as in walking) and this integration and coordination is accomplished by the brain.

"[Dr. Haavik-Taylor's] work is groundbreaking on an international level by proving that chiropractic adjustments do alter and benefit the nervous system" said Dr. James Burt, president of the New Zealand Chiropractors Association.

References:
JMPT
The Chiropractic Journal

Chiropractic Side Effects Evaluated by New Study

A new study published in October sought to evaluate the risks of serious adverse side effects following neck adjustments. The findings were surprising and may change the way physicians view chiropractic care.

The researchers collected data from over 50,000 cervical spine (neck) adjustments. Though they did find minor side effects (like light-headedness, headaches or numbness), they found no serious adverse side effects. That is right, not a single serious adverse side effect in over 50,000 neck adjustments!

Chiropractic remains one of the safest, cheapest and most effect treatments available and certainly a preferred treatment for spine related disorders like neck pain and headaches.

References:
Spine
Mercola

Nurses Give Chiropractic High Marks

A survey of 1000 nurses showed that even though they consider themselves poorly trained in non-medical care, they gave chiropractic high marks. The survey was published in the June 2001 issue of the Journal of Community Health. The survey asked a variety of questions on a number of health care procedures termed by the study as "Complementary Alternative Medicine" (CAM). Chiropractic was included in this survey and received some of the best reviews from the nurses surveyed.

The Journal article starts by stating, "In 1997, 42 percent of the American adult population made 629 million visits to alternative health care practitioners and spent $27 billion out-of-pocket for these services. It has been estimated that in the year 2000, Americans will spend $60 billion on complementary and alternative medical therapies." The Journal uses these figures as a basis for wanting to understand how the nurses view these types of procedures.

The survey to the nurses covered areas including, perceived effectiveness; perceived safety; recommendations made to friends, clients and associates; and personal use. An interesting finding of the study was that the nurses felt that they themselves were poorly trained in understanding CAM procedures as only 21% of the respondents considered themselves to have received "good" or "excellent" professional preparation in dealing with these types of care, which include chiropractic. Conversely, the vast majority (79%) of nurses perceived their professional preparation in the area of alternative and complementary medical therapies to be fair or poor.

In the area of effectiveness, the nurses ranked chiropractic first, in a tie with biofeedback. They overwhelmingly rejected the idea that chiropractic or the other CAM procedures were only effective because of the placebo effect. According to the nurses chiropractic ranked second in safety behind hypnotherapy.

The study also showed that approximately 14% of the nurses surveyed had used chiropractic themselves. Even more surprising is that the study revealed that nearly one quarter (23%) of the nurses said they "periodically" or "regularly" recommend chiropractic care to their friends, patients and associates, while another 27% said they recommend it occasionally. Apparently, as the survey results suggest, the more knowledge of CAM procedures such as chiropractic the nurses had, the more likely they were to use them themselves and refer others to them.

Reprinted from: www.chiropracticresearch.com

"Spinal Decompression", Good or Bad?

You may have seen the ads in the papers or even on TV. Just what is "spinal decompression therapy" and is it worth considering? Let's take a look at the facts.
(Note: Spinal Decompression therapy is often referred to as SD therapy or IDD therapy)

SD therapy is typically described as a "safe, painless, comfortable, non-surgical, non-invasive" alternative to spine surgery. It involves traction of the lumbar vertebrae. Costs typically range from $3000 to $7000 for a full treatment regimen. Most insurance plans pay little if any of the bill. The majority of this cost is typically paid by the patient.

Recently published research stated that at this point "Only one small randomized controlled trial and several lower level efficacy studies have been performed on spinal decompression therapy. In general the quality of these studies is questionable." The researchers concluded that "Only limited evidence is available to warrant the routine use of non-surgical spinal decompression, particularly when many other well investigated, less expensive alternatives are available."

So, can "Spinal Decompression" help? I am certain that it can. Health practitioners have been using various forms of traction therapy for literally thousands of years, and with good results. However, traction therapies generally cost around $25 per treatment and are covered by insurance while SD therapy often costs as much as $250 or more per treatment and is not generally covered by insurance.

Is SD therapy just a fancy traction table with computer screen and a high price tag? The jury is still out on this one, but so far the corporations who brought it to market are still placing their bets on high dollar advertising and not on real research. At least one major manufacturer of SD therapy equipment has been in serious trouble over their unsubstantiated claims. For now, I believe the wise old saying should apply: Buyer Beware.

Source: Chiropractic & Osteopathy

Chiropractic is Better and Cheaper- Study Suggests

A study published this May shows that chiropractic patients have lower costs and higher patient satisfaction levels than patients treated by conventional medical doctors!

Researchers found that over the course of the seven-year study, patients visiting chiropractors (and other alternative health care physicians) had 60 percent fewer hospitalizations, 62 percent fewer outpatient surgical cases, and 85 percent lower drug costs when compared with total network HMO utilization rates and costs.

Lastly, the study found that patients seeing chiropractors (and other alternative health care physicians) consistently rated higher levels of patient satisfaction than patients who saw conventional medical doctors.

Study published in the May edition of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics.


JMPT

ACA

Minor Nerve Pressure Causes Big Problems, Research Shows

Chiropractors have historically maintained that even small amounts of pressure on the nerves that exit the spine can cause health problems. They have even stated that such pressure can go undetected for years and lead to long-term difficulties. A review of literature published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (JVSR) adds further evidence to this contention.

The study, "The Effects of Mild Compression on Spinal Nerve Roots With Implications for Models of Vertebral Subluxation and the Clinical Effects of Chiropractic Adjustment: A Review of the Literature," was authored by Scott Alderson D.C., a private practitioner and George Muhs, D.C., Assistant Professor of Clinical Services at the University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic.

Chiropractic theory maintains that the bones that make up the spinal column -- known as vertebrae -- can become misaligned and/or not move properly, which could place abnormal pressure on nerves and cause interference with how those nerves work. Chiropractors call these misalignments and neurological alterations vertebral subluxations.

According to the authors, research shows that "these alterations would therefore alter the quality and/or quantity of the message sent. At the tissue and cellular level, the message received would not be adequate for the function the body demands. The entire body could then theoretically be affected."

The authors also discussed the possibility that subluxations can go unnoticed for long periods of time since they may not be severe enough in the beginning stages to create outward signs and symptoms. In their view, this makes both age and degree of subluxation factors in the healing process. "One must consider the age of the person with a vertebral subluxation," the researchers explained. "The younger they are, the better the chance for a complete correction."

Matthew McCoy, D.C., editor of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research noted: "This review of literature is extremely comprehensive in nature and adds significant evidence to some of the fundamental positions chiropractors have long maintained -- namely, that subluxations don't always cause symptoms and that the longer a patient goes without correcting them, the worse they become and the more difficult they are to correct. This is another strong argument for having children checked by chiropractors at a young age for vertebral subluxation."

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Reprinted from EurekAlert

JVSR

Chiropractic Helps Neck Pain, Review Suggests

Chronic neck pain sufferers showed significant improvement with chiropractic care suggests a recent literature review published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT).

Dr. Howard Vernon, DC, PhD, the review's chief author, and his colleagues reviewed nine previously published trials and found "high-quality evidence" that patients with chronic neck pain showed significant improvements in pain-level following spinal manipulation (the form of treatment used by chiropractors). No trial group was reported to remain unchanged, and all groups showed positive changes up to 12 weeks post treatment. No trial reported any serious adverse effects.

Additionally, the reviewers found that mobilization therapy (a physical therapy technique) was beneficial with many patients gaining a full recovery within six to seven weeks; the current evidence did not support a similar level of benefit from massage therapy.

Chiropractors practice a hands-on, drug-free approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of back pain, neck pain, headaches and other neuromusculoskeletal complaints. In addition, a significant amount of evidence shows that the use of chiropractic care for certain conditions can be more effective and less costly than traditional medical care.

EurekAlert

JMPT

Chiropractic Plus Exercise for Low Back Pain

A study published by the British Medical Journal (2004) finds that spinal manipulation plus exercise offers effective treatment for those suffering from back pain. The Journal concluded that this collective approach to back pain treatment provided "significant relief of symptoms and improvements in general health."

Specifically, the study found that the greatest reduction of pain and the greatest improvement in back function was experienced by patients who received a treatment approach consisting of spinal manipulation and exercise in addition to care from their general practitioner.

"The costs of back pain and other musculoskeletal conditions on the country's economy and workforce productivity are staggering - conservatively estimated at about $50 billion per year," commented American Chiropractic Association President Donald J. Krippendorf, DC. "The ACA is pleased that research such as this is being conducted and brought to the attention of the public through journals such as the British Medical Journal. With reports such as these, we can offer our patients the best care possible."

The MRC trial included more than 1,300 patients from across the United Kingdom, whose back pain had not improved after receiving care from a general practitioner.

According to the ACA, the MRC study is one of a number of recent studies regarding chiropractic's effectiveness for back pain over traditional medical care

EurekAlert

British Medical Journal

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Dr. Richards' Comments:
I came across this article, now 3 years old, and felt it was worth posting anew. The study offered something that isn't considered frequently enough. The patients who had the best results were co-managed by their Chiropractor and their General Practitioner. I love this spirit of co-operation and have been able to work together with members of Hendersonville's medical community to help many patients . I find that with every passing year Chiropractic becomes more accepted by mainstream medical practitioners - not only for their patients, but for themselves. I have had the opportunity to help a number doctors, surgeons, dentists, physical therapists, psychologists, nurses and massage therapists to improve their own spinal alignment.

Chiropractic Lowers Blood Pressure, New Study Suggests

A single chiropractic adjustment significantly reduced the blood pressure of patients with diagnosed hypertension. The improvement lasted through the 8 week duration of the study.

This double blinded placebo controlled trial included 50 participants with documented spinal misalignments at the C1 level (just below the skull). The participants were treated by a Chicago area chiropractor who specializes in a particular technique of upper cervical adjusting (NUCCA). The chiropractor performed a single, specific adjustment to the atlas vertebrae and blood pressure measurements were taken over an 8 week period. Though the improvement in blood pressure was significant, equal to taking 2 blood pressure medications at once, there was not a corresponding change in heart rate. Results were published in the Journal of Human Hypertension.

According to Dr. George Bakris, MD, the studies author, "The mechanism as to why this improvement in blood pressure occurs is unknown and cannot be determined by this study." "The data presented, however, raise a number of important questions including: a) How does misalignment of C1 affect hypertension?; and b) If there is a cause and effect relationship between C1 misalignment and hypertension, is malposition of C1 an additional risk factor for the development of hypertension?"

A larger trial involving multiple practitioners is being planned.


EurekAlert

Journal of Human Hypertension

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Dr. Richards' Comments:
This is a very exciting study. The lion's share of chiropractic research has focused on pain syndromes. This research helps to expand the understanding of chiropractic treatment to other health conditions. The study has several important limitations which must be taken seriously. Particularly relevant to me as a chiropractor is the fact that the chiropractic technique used in this study is not one in common use. It would be very interesting to determine if the same results could be achieved utilizing a mainstream chiropractic technique.

Chiropractic Helps Migraines, Clinical Trial Says

72% of migraine sufferers experienced either 'substantial' or 'noticeable' improvement after chiropractic treatment, according to clinical trials performed at a university in Australia. This study defies the historical bias against chiropractic that some medical practitioners have maintained.

The 123 participants in the study had suffered migraines for an average of 18 years. Approximately 22 per cent of patients had a 60% reduction or better and an addition 50% noted "quite noticeable improvement"- The results are very significant because many of the migraine medications are very strong drugs which have lots of side effects. Some of the migraine medications also have the problem of giving instant relief to the migraine, but creating another 'rebound migraine' the next day.

"Chiropractic is not the be all and end all, but for a good percentage of migraine sufferers the neck is a significant contributing factor, and for them chiropractic treatment is really effective. I'm not saying that everybody's going to be cured, but there's very little to lose" says Dr. Peter Tuchin, the studies author. "I think the vast majority of medical practitioners are now open to chiropractic, but there's a very small percentage who don't realise what developments we've had, what inroads we've made," Tuchin says.

Macquarei University Australia

EurekAlert

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Dr. Richards' Comments:

It is refreshing to see this kind of research finally being done. It troubles me however, that such research has to come from another continent. American medical schools are still dangerously addicted to pharmaceutical research dollars and as such must avoid conducting research that would point patients away from the drug store or risk losing their other research grants. As a Chiropractor, I love to help patients with migraines. The results of chiropractic care are often dramatic and life changing. Please click the link to the headache testimonials page to read the real stories of real patients.