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CHIROPRACTIC NEWS
August 1, 2008
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.
February 20, 2008
Fix spine, lower blood pressure?
About 72 million adults in the United States are living with high blood pressure. That's one in three people. Statistics show only 35 percent of them have it under control. Now, research shows a spinal adjustment may actually help control blood pressure.
A study by University of Chicago doctors shows the treatment lowers blood pressure by 17 points.
THE STUDY: Researchers enrolled 50 people with high blood pressure who also had a misaligned C-1 vertebra in the study. Half of the patients received a detailed, tailor-made atlas adjustment based on how misaligned their C-1 vertebra was. The other half of the patients received a sham adjustment, which was designed to be indistinguishable from the real adjustment. George Bakris, M.D., from the University of Chicago says the C-1 vertebra relies on soft tissue to maintain alignment and is uniquely vulnerable to displacement. A misaligned C-1 vertebra is common and can occur without pain. It often goes undiagnosed and untreated.
THE RESULTS: Results of the study show the patients who received a real adjustment of their atlas vertebra had a significant reduction in blood pressure over those who received the sham treatment. Researchers say the one-time adjustment lowered blood pressure by 17 points, which is equivalent to giving patients two different blood pressure medications at once. The lowered blood pressure was still seen eight weeks after the adjustment. The study was published in the March 2007 issue of the Journal of Human Hypertension.
February 20, 2008
Chiropractic Adjustments Can Help the Body Heal Itself
According to a study published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, chiropractic care may influence basic physiological processes affecting oxidative stress and DNA repair—in other words, how the body heals itself.
The study compared 21 subjects who underwent short-term chiropractic care to 25 subjects who underwent long-term chiropractic care, and a control group of 30 subjects who did not undergo any chiropractic care.
The researchers measured serum thiols levels, which are primary antioxidants and provide a surrogate estimate of DNA repair enzyme activity, or how the body heals itself.
The results showed a significant difference in the serum thiol levels of the three groups. The levels were highest in the long-term chiropractic care group.
“Going through life, we experience physical, chemical, and emotional stress," says Christopher Kent, DC, one of the authors of the study. "These stresses affect the function of the nervous system. We hypothesized that these disturbances in nerve function could affect oxidative stress and DNA repair on a cellular level. Oxidative stress results in DNA damage and inhibits DNA repair.”
"I remind my patients that chiropractors apply spinal adjustments to correct disturbances of nerve function and that chiropractic care appears to improve the ability of the body to adapt to stress and therefore heal itself faster and to a greater degree," he continues.
So what does Kent tell his patients when they ask him how to stay healthy?
"Get adjusted," he says
 February 6, 2008
Migraines, Sleep Habits and Melatonin
Another new study has linked Migraine headaches and sleep disturbances.
When hyperactive nerve cells send impulses to blood vessels, Migraines can be the result. This is accompanied by the release of brain chemicals and inflammatory substances that cause the pulsations to be painful.
Research recently published in the journal Headache demonstrated a link between migraines and sleep disturbance. Researchers conducted a detailed sleep interview with 147 women with migraines. When asked whether they were refreshed or tired upon waking, none reported feeling refreshed, and more than 80% said they were tired when they woke.
In a second study on sleep habits and migraines, also published in Headache, researchers provided stronger evidence that good sleep habits reduce both the number and intensity of migraine headaches. In these findings, 43 women with transformed migraines received behavioral sleep instructions or placebo instructions in addition to usual medical care. The women recorded their migraine headaches in diaries. At the end of the study, the women who received behavioral sleep instructions reported a significant reduction in migraine headache frequency and intensity.
Taking melatonin 30 minutes before bedtime can help curb migraine headaches, according to a small study by Brazilian scientists.
Melatonin is a hormone produced in the brain's pineal gland; it helps regulate sleep-wake cycles. Imbalances in the level of melatonin in the body may be related to headaches like migraines and cluster headaches.
The findings, which come from a team of researchers led by Mario F.P. Peres, MD, PhD, of Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in Sao Paolo, Brazil, show that melatonin may be used as a preventive therapy for frequent migraine sufferers.
During the study's last three months, participants took 3 milligrams of melatonin 30 minutes before bedtime.
Sources:
Peres, M. Neurology, August 2004; vol 63: p 757
American Headache Society: "Headache Hygiene Tips." The International Headache Society: "Epidemiology of Headache." WebMD Medical Reference: "Women and Headache: Migraine." The Women's Guide to Ending Pain by Howard S. Smith, MD, and Debra Fulghum Bruce, PhD. Calhoun AH. Ford S. Finkel AG. Kahn KA. Mann JD. Neurology. 2006; vol 46: p 1039. Calhoun AH. Ford S. Headache, 2007; vol 47: pp 1178-83. Vincent Fortanasce, MD, neurologist, psychiatrist; author, Anti-Alzheimer's Prescription. Ronald Fieve, MD, professor of clinical psychiatry, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center; author, Bipolar II. The Fibromyalgia Handbook, Harris H. McIlwain, MD, and Debra Fulghum Bruce, PhD. Medicinenet, "Migraine Headache."
February 6, 2008
Exercise as Good as Surgery for Knee Pain
An exercise regime is as effective as surgery for people with a chronic pain in the front part of their knee, known as chronic patellofemoral syndrome (PFPS).
PFPS is often treated with arthroscopic surgery, in which equipment is inserted through small incisions in your knee to diagnose and fix the problem. However, there is little evidence that this treatment is the best option.
The study, conducted by researchers at The ORTON Research Institute in Helsinki, Finland, compared arthroscopy with exercise in 56 patients with PFPS.
One group of participants was treated with knee arthroscopy and an eight-week home exercise program, while a second group received only the exercise program.
After nine months, patients in both groups experienced similar reductions in pain and improvements in knee mobility. A follow-up conducted two years later still found no differences in outcomes between the two groups.
The only difference discovered was in cost: those who had received the surgery had to pay over $1,300 more than the exercise-only group.
The researchers concluded that arthroscopy is not a cost-effective treatment for PFPS.
Sources: Science Daily December 13, 2007
February 6, 2008
Chiropractic Adjusments Helping Kids With ADHD
When school became difficult and concentration became strained, Sofie began taking medicine. But the medication had its side effects.
Watch this inspiring story originally reported on WBZ BOSTON to see how Sofie's mother turned to a chiropractor for a solution to her daughter's ADHD.
Ckick Here To Watch Video
Source: WWBZtv.COM Special Reports
February 6, 2008
Choosing a Mattress
An A mattress should provide uniform support from head to toe. If there are gaps between your body and your mattress (such as at the waist), you’re not getting the full support you need.
Be aware that changes in your life can signal the need for a new mattress. For example, if you’ve lost or gained a lot of weight, if a medical condition has changed the way you sleep, or even if you have changed partners.
Every few months, turn your mattress clockwise so that body indentations are kept to a minimum. Generally, your mattress should be replaced every 5 to 8 years to ensure proper support and comfort. If you’re waking up uncomfortable, it may be time for a new mattress.
A 2003 study published in The Lancet found that people who slept on mattresses of medium firmness were twice as likely to report improvement in lowback pain symptoms than those who slept on firm mattresses.
When selecting a mattress, look for one that is:
- Designed to conform to the spine’s natural curves and to keep the spine in alignment when you lie down.
- Designed to distribute pressure evenly across the body to help circulation, decrease body movement and enhance sleep quality.
- Designed to minimize the transfer of movement from one sleeping partner to the other.
When mattress shopping, give each option a good trial run before you buy; lie down on a mattress for a minimum of five minutes to get a good feel of its firmness – sitting on it simply won’t do. Also, don’t hesitate to toss and turn.
Sources: Reprinted from the American Chiropractic Association.
February 6, 2008
The Key to Better Aging is Mobility Says New Study
In a paper published in the September issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers closely examined the factors that affected Health-Related Quality-of-Life for a group of older Americans. The study revealed that mobility is a key factor impacting quality of life for older adults.
The researchers concluded that "Taken together with past research, which has demonstrated that loss of mobility predicts loss of independence, mortality, and nursing home admission, it is clear that interventions that can preserve or improve mobility in older adults could produce increases in both quantity and quality of life."
As a chiropractor I have always taught my patients that when it comes to their physical health, they must "use it or lose it". Mild stretching along with moderate exercise are a great start for most patients. Add to this a daily 30 minute walk during which you focus your mind in meditation, re-affirm your daily decisions and pray and you have a recipe for a long, happy, healthy life! Chiropractic adjustments are designed not only to improve nerve flow and relieve pain, but to restore your range of motion and balance.
The New Year is right around the corner. Maintain your mobility with stretching, exercise, regular adjustments and a hearty daily walk! Thus you will add "Years to Your Life and Life to Your Years!"
Source: Science Daily,American Journal of Preventative Medicine
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