Health & Chiro Articles

In the October 8, 2002 issue of the online magazine “The Beacon Journal” at Ohio.com, appears a story with the simple headline, “Adjusting baby”. The story talks about pregnant women’s success in going to chiropractors as part of their care. The article states that many women who go to chiropractors during pregnancy do so for back pain related issues. The misconception is that we treat pain,’ says Dr. Joseph Medina, an Ohio chiropractor. “My job in health care is to find pressure that’s in the spinal column and take it off. When I do that, back pain tends to clear up.”

Additionally, the article highlights that more women are going to chiropractors for a procedure known as the Webster technique. This technique is specifically intended to help women who have a breech pregnancy when the baby should be positioned with the head downward. Dr. Jeanne Ohm, a chiropractor from Philadelphia and executive coordinator and instructor for the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, described the Webster technique this way: “It’s a specific chiropractic adjustment that removes interferences of the nervous system, balances out pelvic muscles and ligaments, which in turn removes constraint to the woman’s uterus and allows the baby to get into the best possible position for birth.”

The article ended with a response from the patient who originally went to the chiropractor for the pain she was experiencing. Her comments about her results were, “In the morning, my back would hurt so bad it would be hard to walk,” she stated. “Now it’s not bad at all. I really think it’s helping.”

From the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) comes a case study of a 35-year-old woman with cauda equina syndrome helped by chiropractic care. The case study was published in the November-December 2004 Issue of the peer-reviewed research periodical.

In this evidence-based case report, the woman presented with complaints of midback pain, low-back pain, buttock pain, saddle anesthesia, and bladder and bowel incontinence, for a period of 6 months. She had undergone emergency surgery for acute cauda equina syndrome due to lumbar disc herniation, six months earlier. The cauda equina (CE) is formed by nerve roots at the end of the spinal cord inside the spinal column. Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is when there is low back pain, unilateral or usually bilateral sciatica, sensory disturbances, bladder and bowel dysfunction, and variable lower extremity motor and sensory loss.

The patient eventually began chiropractic care and received a series of adjustments. After only 4 adjustments, the patient reported full resolution of midback, low back, and buttock pain. After an additional 4 visits the patient had not yet seen improvement in her neurologic symptoms. However, even though this patient had received surgery, there were no adverse effects noted. This case study did not look at possible results beyond the initial 8 visits. The study noted that a review of previous studies showed that 2.3% to 12% of chiropractic patients have a history of at least one prior spinal surgery.

The conclusion of the published case study noted that this case appeared to be the first published case of chiropractic adjustments being used for a patient suffering from chronic cauda equina syndrome. It seems that this type of spinal adjustment was safe and effective for reducing back pain and had no effect on neurologic deficits in this case. They noted that rapid pain relief seen in this case is extremely unusual for patients with cauda equina syndrome. They therefore concluded that it was very likely that the adjustments contributed to the resolution of spinal pain in this patient

According to a report in the October 22, 2002 issue of the “Guardian Unlimited” from England, back pain among children is becoming a growing epidemic. Professor Peter Buckle, of the University of Surrey’s Robens centre for health ergonomics in Guildford England, as many as 40% of schoolchildren could be affected. He also noted a Danish study which showed that 51% of 13- to 16-year-olds had reported lower back pain in the previous year, as well as a study in the north-west of England which found 24% of 11 to 14-year-olds had complained of backache in the previous month.

In response the British Chiropractic Association (BCA), is recommending that parents bring their children in to see chiropractors. Dr. Stephen Hughes, a member of the BCA says, “It’s something I’m seriously worried about.” “The critical issue is that these youngsters are still growing, and they are already experiencing difficulties. The spine is incredibly resilient and usually it can put up with a lot of wear and tear over many years before it starts to actually hurt. When you’re getting real pain in a child that means there’s already going to be some considerable inflammation – so by the stage you see them it’s an established problem

The article blames several causes for the back problems in children. They mention the long hours sitting at desks, lack of physical exercise, carrying heavy loads of books and working at computers for long periods as some of the possible culprits. According to the article the suggested remedies for this situation include encouraging children to play sport outside of school as well as looking for opportunities for active family pursuits such as walking, cycling, swimming, and a chiropractic spinal checkup.

The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress issued a release published on May 6, 2009 in Earthtimes noting that according to a recent Consumer Reports study, consumers ranked chiropractic highest for relief of back pain. The release noted that Consumer Reports Health Rating Center surveyed over 14,000 people to determine their preferred method of care for back pain. Chiropractic came out the highest with 59% choosing chiropractic.

Gerard W. Clum, D.C., president of Life Chiropractic College West, Hayward, California, and spokesperson for the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, commented, “Individuals who accessed care from a hands-on methods approach, such as chiropractic, expressed the highest satisfaction rates.” Dr. Clum continued, “These people sought relief, having suffered with back pain that undoubtedly interfered with their everyday activities and limited their daily routines, sleep patterns, work responsibilities, and efforts to maintain healthy weight. Chiropractic care provided the help they were looking for.”

The release notes that traditionally, people thought first about drugs or surgery for back ailments. This past misinformation created many problems. “Unfortunately, this lack of information can lead to costly and unnecessary interventions and diagnostic testing by physicians who take an ‘ideological approach’ to back pain,” says Dr. Clum. “It is wise to explore conservative options for pain management once a more serious condition has been ruled out.”

Dr. Clum noted the real value of a study that actually asks consumers their opinion. “The Consumer Reports survey is an example of end-user oriented research,” he says. “As more evidence emerges, we hope that physicians will start to shift from traditional treatment ideology to approaches to back pain that would offer more benefit to patients and avoid medication and surgery whenever and wherever possible.”

It is the hope of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress and Dr. Clum that the previous medical mind-set will shift with this new information. Dr. Clum summed up his feelings by saying, “The traditional, often outdated approaches may lead to unnecessarily expensive and invasive treatment with undesirable results. It is clear that patients now recognize and appreciate the benefits of chiropractic care.”

A new poll from Canada points to snow shoveling as the leading cause of back and neck pain during the winter months. In the poll, 73 per cent of Ontario chiropractors surveyed say improper shoveling technique tops the list of reasons for winter back pain problems.

The story, reported in the January 9, 2003 Canadian News Wire, Quotes Dr. Dennis Mizel, President of the Ontario Chiropractic Association, who said, “Chiropractors are finding that some patients experience back and neck pain as a result of improper snow shoveling technique. Improper technique can be anything from bending at the waist instead of the knees to throwing snow instead of pushing it. When you combine improper technique with the average weight of one shovelful of snow (five to seven pounds) it becomes even more evident that this is a serious problem for both adults and the children who help them.”

Dr. Kristina Peterson, a chiropractor in Thunder Bay was also quoted in the article, “Back problems can surface in patients during the winter, especially those who are unaccustomed to participating in challenging physical activity on a regular basis. Activities requiring exertion that is higher than one’s daily routine such as winter sports or pushing stuck cars can cause back injuries. However, snow shoveling is the number one reason patients present with back pain in the winter.”

The Ontario Chiropractic Association offers the following preventive measures to help keep backs in shape:

Warm-up. Before beginning any snow removal, warm-up for five to ten minutes to get the joints moving and increase blood circulation. A good warm-up should include stretches for the back, shoulders, arms and legs. This will ensure that your body is ready for action.

Don’t let the snow pile up. Removing small amounts of snow on a frequent basis is less strenuous in the long run.

Pick the right shovel. Use a lightweight push-style shovel. If you use a metal shovel, spray it with Teflon first so snow won’t stick.

Push, don’t throw. Push the snow to one side and avoid throwing it as much as possible. If you have to throw, avoid twisting and turning – position yourself to throw straight at the snow pile.

Bend your knees. Use your knees, leg and arm muscles to do the pushing and lifting while keeping your back straight.

Take a break. If you feel tired or short of breath, stop and take a rest. Stop shoveling immediately if you feel chest or back pain.

A study published in the July / August 2004 peer-reviewed scientific journal, “Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics”, compared the effects of chiropractic adjustments to muscle relaxants in a group of patients with subacute low back pain.

This study defined subacute low back pain as lower back pain (LBP) with a duration of 2 to 12 weeks. The study noted that in the United States the incidence of low back pain is as high as 75% to 85% of the population being affected at some time in their lives. On a yearly basis, the study noted that between 15% to 20% of the adult population can expect to experience LBP in any given year.

In the study, conducted at Life University in Georgia, 192 subjects with LBP from 2 to 6 weeks were separated into three groups. One group received Chiropractic adjustments with placebo medication. The second group received muscle relaxants with sham (fake) adjustments. The third group was a control group and received both placebo medication as well as the sham (fake) adjustments. Care was rendered to the group for a 4 week period with evaluations being done at the 2 week and 4 week marks.

Results were measured in terms of patient reported pain, severity, disability and depression, as well as measured flexibility and the patients self usage of over the counter acetaminophen (Tylenol). The results of this short study showed that for the two primary indicators of pain and severity, the chiropractic group did better than the other two groups. No significant differences were seen for disability, depression, flexibility, or acetaminophen usage across groups in a study of this short a period of time. All three groups showed improvement in the areas of depression, disability and drug usage.

The authors of the study did note that a longer study could have yielded more differences in recovery. However, in the area of pain, a primary patient concern in subacute LBP cases, the group that received the chiropractic adjustments faired the best. Their comments were: “Statistically, the chiropractic group responded significantly better than the control group with respect to a decrease in pain scores.”

The above is a direct quote from a headline that appeared in of all places, the November 17, 2005, Medical News Today. The article, also picked up by UPI news and several other sources, was reporting on a new study published in the October 2005 issue of the scientific journal, The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT).

In this study 2780 patients with mechanical low-back pain referred themselves to 60 doctors of chiropractic and 111 medical doctors. These cases were reviewed for effectiveness of care and for costs. One of the articles noted that back pain care in the United States alone is estimated to reach $48 billion this year, and, at any given time, 80 percent of the U.S. population suffers from back pain.

The results of the study showed several interesting facts. With regards to the outcomes, the study showed that both the acute and chronic patients showed better outcomes in pain and disability reduction and higher satisfaction with their care after undergoing chiropractic care, as compared to medical care.

The costs of the care for the medical and chiropractic showed different results depending on the usage. Without adding the costs of any over-the-counter drugs, hospitalization, or surgical costs, when you simply compared the costs of in-office chiropractic to in-office medical care, the chiropractic care was slightly more expensive. If you then add in the additional costs for any referrals made by the chiropractor or the medical doctor, the chiropractic care costs for chronic patients were then 16 percent lower than medical care costs.

The authors of the study, noting that the satisfaction for the chiropractic care was higher, and the overall total costs were lower, made a concluding statement urging more chiropractic utilization in the health care system. They stated, “With their mission to increase value and respond to patient preferences, health care organizations and policy makers need to reevaluate the appropriateness of chiropractic as a treatment option for low-back pain.”

In April 2009 Consumer Reports released the results of a patient survey study, that will be published in their May 2009 paper edition, showing that chiropractic rated highest among patients in satisfaction of relief of back pain. Results of the study were reported on in several news articles including an April 6, 2009 WebMD article and an April 8, 2009 CBS news story.

The survey noted that 80% of US adults report having back pain some time in their life. Of those responding to the survey chiropractic received the highest grade with 59% saying that they were “highly satisfied” with their results. Physical therapy and acupuncture rated second and third with 55% and 53% respectively. In comparison, satisfaction with medical specialist and primary care medical physicians rated only 44% and 34% respectively.

CBS News medical expert Dr. Jennifer Ashton commented that the results of this study reflect what she is seeing in her practice. She noted that back pain is the most common ailment in the country and it is difficult to treat. Dr. Ashton stated that her patients are looking elsewhere, “They’re staying away from things like medication, prescription drugs and surgery.” Dr. Ashton also warned against a “quick fix” to get rid of the pain. She noted, “A lot of times that’s prescription narcotics, which is actually probably the worst thing for you.” She also warned, “Surgery is another option, but one that should be used as a last resort.”

American Chiropractic Association President Glenn Manceaux, DC, responded in a press release, “For the treatment of back pain, few options are better than chiropractic. As shown in this latest survey, chiropractic spinal manipulation is an evidence-based and effective treatment for low-back pain and other musculoskeletal injuries. Coupled with the high levels of patient satisfaction, patients should turn to chiropractic as their first choice.”

Dr. John Maltby, President of the International Chiropractors Association added, “For well over 100 years chiropractors have been seeing a large number of patients suffering with back problems. And although chiropractic does not directly treat the pain, we do work to correct the underlying structural and neurological problem that in many cases is causing the problem. This study shows what we have known for a long time. Chiropractic get results and helps people lead normal and healthier lives.”

A study published out of Canada in the winter 2006 issue of the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine shows that sleeping on a new mattress can significantly reduce stiffness and back pain. The study was conducted at Oklahoma State University and is the first of it’s kind.

The published report notes that sleep deficiency interferes with daytime activity, social interactions, mood, and even loss of work production resulting in 48 million lost hours of productivity every week due to poor sleep.

In this study researchers looked at a control group of 59 healthy participants (30 women and 29 men) who slept on their own five-plus year-old mattresses for four weeks and then slept on a new bedding system for the same time period. They then analyzed the difference in lower back discomfort, spine stiffness, sleep quality, comfort and efficiency.

The results showed that the volunteers reported immediate and sustained benefits in all areas of measurement after sleeping on a new mattress, regardless of their age or weight. This was especially true of participants who entered the study with high back pain complaints, as they reported a 63 per cent improvement in back discomfort with a new mattress.

Dr. Stacy Irvine, chiropractor and fitness expert, stated on behalf of the Better Sleep Council Canada, “There are many ways to treat back pain, but people may not realize that an answer might be right under their noses, literally, in the age and state of their mattress.” Dr. Irvine continued, “This research shows that a new mattress could hold a key to unlocking some of that pain and discomfort.”

Gary Baskerville of the Better Sleep Council Canada added, “On average, Canadians spend more than 2,000 hours each year sleeping. The mattress is one of the hardest working pieces of furniture in our home. And now we have further proof of its very real contribution to our personal health and comfort.”

The above headline comes from an October 10, 2010 article on the website Health Reform. The article, by Stephen Kelly, starts off by saying, “Research has shown that chiropractic care provides greater improvement and satisfaction to patients with chronic lower back pain. Patients who have been taking medicinal help have reported their back pain to be worse or much worse, whereas chiropractic patients felt more satisfied and their back pain was much better.”

The article is a general overview of chiropractic care as it relates to back and musculoskeletal health problems. The author discusses how back pain creates problems in daily life including disruption of sleep. He points out that not only the sleep of the victim is affected, but also that of the whole family. Kelly then offers some comfort by saying, “The good news is you can again sleep peacefully like a baby.”

In his lay-person description of chiropractic, Kelly says, “Spinal manipulation and chiropractic care is a safe, effective treatment for acute lower back pain.” He also reported that, “Not only does chiropractic care improve your spinal pain, but it can also bring relief to those killing headaches. Spinal manipulative therapy is an effective treatment for tension headaches.”

Dr. Gary Walsemann, president of the International Chiropractors Association noted that many articles use terminology that is not entirely accurate when describing chiropractic. Dr. Walsemann noted, “Chiropractors have maintained that they are correcting the underlying cause of health problems and not directly treating them. In response many authors describe chiropractic in terms that suggest chiropractic is a treatment for certain health issues.” Dr. Walsemann continued by clarifying, Chiropractors do not treat conditions directly, we also do not manipulate, we deliver specific chiropractic adjustments to the spine to correct nerve system interference caused by spinal subluxations. As nerve interference is corrected, the body’s own innate healing abilities correct the person’s health issues and help return that person to good health.”

In the conclusion of his article, Kelly noted other reasons “Why Chiropractic Care Might Be a Better Option for Your Back Pain”. He concluded, “Furthermore, chiropractic care is a more cost-effective option because it eliminates the pain, and improves the sleep cycle in much lesser time than conventional medicines or other alternative methods. Patients receiving manipulative treatment have shown better sleep patterns and fewer absences from work”.