This is such a common question, is continually being researched, and is so rarely answered well, that I thought it would be good to create a full page to the answer.  I will also update it periodically?  When I do update it I will create a post about the update so that you can be kept up to date, and the information will be all in one place.

In my first post on this topic.  I decided to leave out some reasons for space limitations (I try to keep my blogs under 400 words, not that I’m always successful), and some for the lack of research, some for  them being controversial, and many others I just don’t know about.

So, here goes…

Chiropractic manipulation is not just joint popping. In fact the audible pop doesn’t even need to occur for a successful manipulation, though it often does, and some patients and doctors like to hear it. Research has found that “pop” or not, the same benefits are experienced.

The mechanism of why manipulation works is not completely understood. One thing that is understood is that it does work. Most of the simple explanations are incomplete or just plain wrong. The most recent research points to a more complex reason for the therapeutic effects of chiropractic manipulation. It is suggested that many things are occurring at the same time that provide the benefits.

Here are some of the known things that can begin to explain why manipulation works.

1. Proprioceptive stimulation triggers the release of endorphins. These endorphins cause a near instant and temporary relief similar to pain medication making you less aware of the problem. This “trick” of the body can cause a secondary benefit, that of relaxing local tissues such as trigger points or tight musculature that may be “pinching” nerves.

2. Manipulation provides improved nutrient supply. The cartilage and other structures inside of a joint have no blood supply. These structures get their nutrients through motion. The blood supply goes to the outside of the joint and nutrients move into the synovial fluid of the joint. Joint motion moves this fluid around thus providing fresh nutrients to all parts of the joint. If a joint becomes “locked down” by muscle spasm, scar tissue, a cast, or any other means for a prolonged period of time the joint begins to feel stiff. You know the feeling of needing to stretch after sitting in the car for a long time.

The facet joints in your spine are particularly vulnerable to this problem because they work in tandem and because of the body’s amazing ability to compensate. Your facet joints all work together, if one is injured it can become locked down to prevent further injury. When this happens you may get the desire to stretch or move your back. This usually works, but if all of the other joints compensate for the problem joint and take that added stress of movement on themselves then the problem joint stays locked down. Specific manipulation induces full range of motion and synovial fluid movement.

3. Your nervous system is the control center of your body, and it is not without weaknesses.  Nerves and nerve bundles are soft tissue.  They don’t function well under physical pressure.  In fact it has been shown that inflammation, a bulging disc, or fragment floating around can interfere with proper nerve conduction.  The “stuck” joint as discussed previously can also physically be stuck pressing on a nerve, or could be causing inflammation that is pressing on the nerve, or could just be moving in a way that rubs the nerve.  In any case.  The adjustment can cause a relief of this pressure. through movement of the joint to the correct position, or motion.

4. The brain also records these proprioceptive signals from the joints motion. Especially for chronic conditions the brain is in need of retraining regarding the motion of that joint. Manipulation takes a joint through its full range of motion. This new input is then stored and replayed in the brain, similar to muscle retraining that physical therapists will do, or physical training of athletes, when the body has done the motion enough times it “remembers” it. This retraining provides a functional correction that may provide pain relief.

Here are some of the more controversial observations, benefits, and mechanisms of chiropractic. (I must note that just because we don’t know how it works doesn’t mean that it doesn’t.)

Somatovisceral effects – That they exist are not so much controversial as the predictability.  We know that the spine can effect the visceral organs, but we can’t really say that if you adjust this level this often in this way that you will get the pancreas to work again.  The mechanism, more likely, is one of many things acting on the organs.  As with everything else in the body it is more complicated than one single interaction.

Reduced high blood pressure – WebMD research article more research needed, and mechanism unknown.

Improved immune system response – I have yet to see a great side by side study of people who receive chiropractic care next to a control group who doesn’t to see who gets a cold and how long they last.  However there are articles and case studies out there.  Even if chiropractic does benefit the immune system, we don’t know the mechanism of how.

Decreased colic in babies – I’ve seen an association, and I’ve read studies that show that there is an effect.  I don’t know the mechanism, and I’ve not seen anything more than theories.

Many other benefits have been observed, and still others suspected. Research is still going on and much more is needed.  I will add them and any new or additional documentation as I find them, and as my time permits.

By John Cerf, DC

Original Article

It is unlikely that you became a chiropractor to work in an ER. Imagine my surprise when members of our hospital’s chiropractic department were asked to take a call in the emergency department (ED)! We are now in our second year of providing chiropractic coverage to the ED.

In our hospital, DCs do not work as pseudo-medical physicians. Hospitals and EDs do not need “want-to-be” medical physicians. While trained in diagnosis and knowledgeable of medical procedures, chiropractors in the ED provide services as chiropractors to increase the satisfaction of the most important people in the hospital – the patients. Perhaps you should also consider taking steps to provide care for patients in your local hospital.

In November 2000, Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center in Secaucus, New Jersey began offering chiropractic care in the ED. In an effort to satisfy the Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation’s mandate to better address pain management, Meadowlands ED Director Gina Puglisi,MD, and Albert Cataffi,DC, former chiropractic department chief, developed and instituted a “chiropractor on-call” program. Dr. Puglisi readied the chiropractors with an orientation program to define the roles of the chiropractors and the rest of the ED in treating neck and back pain patients.

Patients who present to the ED with neck or back pain are screened by the attending ED physician, who is responsible for ruling out serious pathology, fracture, neurological deficit, and other findings that might contraindicate spinal manipulation. The ED physician may order x-rays, blood work or other diagnostic tests. When a severe condition presents, orthopedists, neurologists or neurosurgeons are enlisted to take over the case. Historically, all patients without serious pathology were given prescriptions and discharged from the hospital, with or without adequate relief. With our chiropractor-on-call program, the ED physician now has the option of calling for a chiropractic consultation, which gives the patient the opportunity to receive additional relief.

The typical chiropractic patient in the ED is one that would present only on occasion in a chiropractic office. One such patient was a 33-year-old man who reported injuring his lower back by lifting a heavy airplane tire at work. He found himself immobilized by pain and supine on the cement floor of the aircraft hangar. He remained on his back for four hours before he would admit that he was not going to be able to get up. His coworkers called for the ambulance and he was brought into our emergency department. Following evaluation by the ED physician and radiographic examination, the patient was given injections of Toradol for pain and Flexeril to relax muscles. Due to his persistent inability to ambulate, he was later given an injection of Demerol, a narcotic analgesic. As the patient was still unable to move about, the ED physician called for a chiropractic consultation.

Upon my arrival, the ED physician gave me a summary of the patient’s history, examination findings, and treatment. I reviewed the chart and the available x-ray films and test results. Upon meeting the patient, he was still unable to get out of bed. I performed a detailed history and physical examination to clarify the nature of the patient’s disorder and to further rule out contraindications and the need for additional tests. I performed an analysis to determine the most appropriate type of chiropractic care.

The patient complained of severe lower back pain and paresthesia that radiated down his posterior left lower limb to his foot. My examination revealed severe muscle spasms and vertebral joint fixation. Orthopedic testing was positive for a strain/sprain injury to the lumbar spine. The patient was neurologically intact, with normally responsive deep tendon reflexes, equal bilateral dermatome sensations, +5/5 bilateral great toe strength, and a down-going Babinski’s reflex.

This patient is a good example of a minor injury, by emergency department standards, accompanied by severe incapacitating pain. The medication had not given him sufficient relief. The attending ED physician did not want to resort to stronger narcotic analgesia or hospitalization. The patient would have obviously avoided additional diagnostic testing if something were done to relieve the severity of his pain.

Having determined that chiropractic care was both warranted and safe, I began treatment with the application of electrical muscle stimulation to the lumbar paraspinal muscles. The purpose of the adjunctive therapy was provided to supplement the effects of the medication to relieve spasm and reduce pain and make it easier to perform lumbar chiropractic adjustments. The patient and I discussed his injury and how his body was overreacting with severe pain and muscle spasms. We talked about how this would be an appropriate response if a vertebra had been fractured. He appeared to understand how his body’s overreaction of pain, spasm, anxiety and joint fixation would slow his healing and prevent the quick resolution of his pain. I advised the patient of what I was going to do and what he could expect. I told him to alert me if he felt he would not be able to tolerate continuing the treatment.

The patient moved slowly to a lateral recumbent position in preparation for a side-posture adjustment. As he moved into position, I checked to see that he was not in additional pain. I performed a stretch in the side-posture position to check for patient tolerance. I demonstrated an adjusting thrust to his shoulder so he would know what to expect. As he exhaled, I performed a quick, light, lumbar adjustment to the fixated segments, and noticed a modest release. The patient did not report relief, but he was able to tolerate the procedure without complication. I performed the same procedure on the other side, with a good release noted. Returning to the first side, I repeated the procedure – this time with a good release.

Following the treatment, the patient appeared surprised, noting that his pain had lessened significantly, and that he no longer felt an abnormal sensation in his left lower limb. He was able to get out of bed, dress himself and be discharged from the hospital. On his way out, he stopped at the nurse’s station. The nurses were equally surprised to see that the patient was able to leave the ED under his own power. Not only had the patient improved, but the improvement was witnessed by our medical counterparts.

In the past, it was rare for me to see a patient in this much pain in my office. The ambulance doesn’t bring acute agonizing patients to the chiropractor’s office. I would have likely suggested that the patient be seen first in the ED. Now, as part of that department’s team, I can participate in the early treatment of the severe patient with the backup of a well-staffed and equipped hospital.

John Cerf,DC
Chief, Department of Chiropractic, Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center
Secaucus, New Jersey

Chiropractic has never been shown to cause stroke, though it has also never been definitively ruled out either.  The plain fact is that it is so rare that it is nearly impossible to study enough to prove causality.  However there have been recent studies that indicate that chiropractic may lower your risk for stroke by decreasing hypertension.  “This procedure [Chiropractic manipulation of the Atlas] has the effect of not one, but two blood-pressure medications given in combination,” study leader George Bakris, MD, told WebMD. “And it seems to be adverse-event free. We saw no side effects and no problems,” adds Bakris, director of the University of Chicago hypertension center. Full Article Here

There is a group out there the “Chiropractic Stroke Awareness Group LLC” who claim to make people aware of the risks of chiropractic.  To clarify there are risks associated with chiropractic treatment.  Those risks are less than the risk you take by taking a dose of Asprin, but they do exist.  According to recent studies the risk of stroke following a chiropractic adjustment (not because of, but following) is 1 in 5.85 million.  For perspective here is a comparative list:

Proven Possible Side Effects of…

Here are some recent articles on the topic:

Stroke risk not raised by chiropractic treatment – January 25, 2008 – BC Local News

Chiropractic care and stroke are not connected – Posted 1 February 2008 – By Dr. Stuart Kinsinger

Posted by EditorsChoice
Sunday, 30 September 2007

We’ve all heard stories about someone who was crippled or even killed by a Chiropractor. Sometimes we’re even warned by our family doctor not to let our Chiropractor adjust us as it may cause a stroke. Even the L.A. Times recently called the safety of manipulation into question. Just how safe is chiropractic treatment? What are the facts?

1. Due to the extreme rarity of injuries caused by Chiropractic treatment and its unequaled safety record, chiropractic doctors pay only a fraction (i.e. 1/10 to 1/50) the malpractice rates compared to medical physicians. (1)

2. Only 19 deaths have been attributed to Chiropractic treatment worldwide over the latest 65 years studied (1934-1999). In fact, the risk of “serious injury” from anti-inflammatory medication including Aspirin and Advil is 400 times greater than from manipulation. (2)

In other words, it’s much safer to have a chiropractic treatment for your neck pain or headache then taking medicine (over the counter or prescribed).

3. Nearly 10,000 studies have been performed on manipulation (making it the most thoroughly studied form of treatment for back pain) and the great majority have found the following when compared to medical treatment:

a. Increased patient satisfaction.
b. Shortened time to return to activities or work.
c. Less permanent disability.
d. Less costly.

The governments of several countries, including the United States (A.H.C.P.R.) and Canada (Manga), have found manipulation to be the most effective form of treatment for back pain. In fact, the Canadian report suggested that Chiropractors be the “gate keepers” for back pain saying that it would save Canada hundreds of millions of dollars if their citizens saw Chiropractor’s first. After reviewing all published studies, it was determined that there were “no medical procedures that were as safe as Chiropractic treatment.”

The British Medical Journal and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found similar results. In fact, the U.S. government reported that physical therapy and acupuncture were not “cost effective” and that surgery was useful in only 1% of cases.

Further, the report was emphatic that they should be employed only after conservative approaches (like manipulation) were first exhausted.

So why are there still news reports of the dangers of Chiropractic? Lets take a look at the last article that was reported by the journal, “Neurology”, and reported in the L.A. Times.

The study found that seven out of the 51 people questioned who had a stroke were adjusted by a Chiropractor in the previous month. This compared to two of those in the control group. So an association was drawn between manipulation and strokes. The problem with making such an opinion is that headaches and neck pain are the early symptoms of this type of stroke. So of course more people with neck pain and headaches sought chiropractic care versus those who were in the control group who were pain free.

This illustrates the problem with association-type studies. They don’t show the cause only association. For example, the following is a common example taught in research courses that warn against making conclusions from such studies.

Since there are more churches in violent neighborhoods, churches lead to violence. Actually, establishing churches are a reaction to people living in a violent neighborhood, not a cause.

In fact, another study published by the same journal, “Neurology,” found fewer people having strokes if they were adjusted than the control group that wasn’t. Unfortunately, that never made the newspapers nor did most of the other studies which showed chiropractic treatment far safer than all other medical treatments.

Why the media prints inflammatory stories while ignoring others that would put your mind at ease is beyond the scope of this paper. But it is unfortunate that people are being scared away from a treatment that is absolutely safer and more effective and by default being directed to one that has significantly greater risks.

Personally, between Dr. Murray and myself, we have practiced about 40 years and have never injured anyone (more than some temporary soreness as part of the treatment). The real danger comes from having musculoskeletal problems that are covered-up with drugs and surgery. Since the cause is not addressed this way, the patients often get worse, more discouraged and depressed and there are often side effects.

We use only the safest of all procedures and specifically screen for all risk factors that make manipulation unsafe. I’m sure you have already noted how thorough we are. This is the only way that you should be treated by any of your doctors. If you ever have questions about the risks or benefits of any procedure, always feel free to speak to us directly.

(1) Malpractice Statistics from the National Chiropractic Mutual Insurance Company, West Des Moines, Iowa.

(2) Terrett, A, Current Concepts in Vertebrobasilar Complications, NCMIC Group, Inc., 2001, p 199.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/is-chiropractic-treatment-dangerous-222924.html

About the Author:
Dr. Rick Morris is the founder of the The Morris Spinal Stenosis and Disc Center in Santa Monica, Ca. You can read more of his health articles or contact him at his website and find out about his non-surgical treatment of low back pain disorders

By Buzz McClain
Special to The Washington Post
Tuesday, July 17, 2007; Page HE01

The sound of cavitation is music to my ears. That’s the popping noise made when a joint is taken past its normal range of motion and a bubble of gas emerges in the surrounding synovial fluid. Keep twisting or pulling and eventually the bubble bursts, relieving pressure on the joint.

And it feels good.

And here it comes again. I’m facedown on a brown padded table, my nose positioned in an opening so I can breathe. My arms hang loosely to the floor and my legs are extended behind me.

It’s comfy here, and I could nap, except Glenn Loebig is probing a tender spot on my lower right back with one of his preternaturally muscular thumbs.

“There it is,” he announces, making me wince with a poke. With his open hands, he presses on my lower back, leans in and with a swift push . . .

Ah, cavitation. And not just one pop but a short, quick sequence of them, creating a snap, crackle, pop effect. “That was a good one!” Loebig says enthusiastically, as if even he’s surprised at the intensity. “That’s going to feel better now.”

Chiropractic medicine has been derided as a fringe practice or worse since founder Daniel David Palmer began adjusting spines just over a century ago. For decades, anyone who wanted chiropractic treatments for backaches or other ailments had to find them on his own and pay for them out of pocket. But times are changing. While the medical profession remains deeply skeptical of chiropractic as a comprehensive health-care approach, more doctors are referring patients to chiropractors to treat lower-back and other musculoskeletal pain.

“I’m an orthopedic spine surgeon, so I treat all sorts of back problems, and I’m a big believer in chiropractic,” says William Lauerman, chief of spine surgery and a professor of orthopedic surgery at Georgetown University Hospital. “I’m more of a believer for acute problems like short-term back pain, although I know [chiropractic] can be helpful for some cases of more-chronic conditions.”

Chiropractic treatment for short-term back pain — “three or four days, can’t get out of bed, that sort of thing” — Lauerman says, “is one of the few things that has been demonstrated to significantly alter the natural history of acute back pain. . . . People get better quicker if they go to a chiropractor for a few visits.”

An Uneasy Truce

Chiropractic students study a minimum of 4,200 hours, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, with most states requiring a four-year undergraduate degree and four years of postgraduate training at an accredited chiropractic college. Chiropractors also must pass national and state licensing exams before practicing. But just as in mainstream medicine, sometimes things go wrong. In 2003, a 43-year-old woman in Mahopac, N.Y., suffered a stroke after a routine neck adjustment. The case is headed to court.

“[That stroke] is a rare occurrence, but it is something we have to be concerned about as a responsible profession,” says William Morgan, one of two chiropractors at the Bethesda Naval Medical Center. “We’ll study the risk and will do everything we can to minimize the risk.”

Chiropractic patients now number about 22 million, thanks to medical referrals and the fact that “87 percent of all American workers who have insurance have plans that include chiropractic service,” says Kevin Corcoran, executive vice president of the American Chiropractic Association, based in Arlington. The ACA represents 16,000 of the country’s estimated 60,000 practicing chiropractors.

That doctors refer patients to any of them is a sea change from 1990, when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of a lower court’s ruling that the medical establishment was trying to put the chiropractic industry out of business through a campaign of denigration. The case, Wilk v. American Medical Association, prompted the AMA to change its code of ethics in 1992 regarding chiropractors.

“I think the majority of MDs recognize the value chiropractors bring,” Corcoran says.

The American College of Physicians, which includes about 120,000 internists and medical students, agrees the doctor-chiropractor relationship is no longer a hot topic. “It just isn’t on our radar,” ACP spokeswoman Susan Anderson says.

The AMA declined to comment beyond noting its revised policy, which says, among other things, “It is ethical for a physician to associate professionally with chiropractors provided that the physician believes that such association is in the best interests of his or her patient.”

Chiropractors can’t prescribe drugs or perform surgery, but “we are trained to recognize and diagnose and send patients to the appropriate care if it’s something beyond our scope,” says William Lauretti, an assistant professor at the New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls, N.Y., and a former chiropractor in suburban Maryland. Some cancers, for instance, “can present as low-back pain. We’re trained to tell the difference when there’s something more serious and more urgent than the basic muscle or joint problem.”

Morgan, a former Navy petty officer, has been working under contract alongside staff physicians at the Bethesda Naval Medical Center for nine years, trying to relieve symptoms and reduce dependence on medication. In many cases, he’s the first chiropractor his patients have ever seen.

“They trust their physician a great deal, and if they think I can help make them better, they’ll trust me, too,” he says. “And if I can’t make them better, then we’ll find someone who can.”

Making Adjustments

A study conducted over seven years by a physician and a chiropractor and reported in June’s Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics showed that patients who turned first to chiropractors and other alternative-medicine professionals for care were hospitalized and had surgery 60 percent less often and spent 85 percent less on pharmaceuticals than those with medical doctors as primary care providers.

And that’s what I’m counting on. After three spinal surgeries since 2002, two lumbar and 2004’s brutally intrusive cervical fusion, which put a piece of cadaver bone in my neck in a procedure that was supposed to correct chronic shoulder and arm pain — and didn’t — I’m hoping to minimize my time under the knife.

My neurologist, who is trying to find the right combination of chemicals to control that pain, prescribed chiropractic as part of his treatment. Loebig focuses on my shoulder and arm, finishing each visit with adjustments to the neck and lower back.

“That should help your golf swing,” Loebig says with a pat on the back as he makes marks on my chart.

I’ve been adjusted, and not just my back and golf swing but my outlook as well. I step into the bright sunshine outside Loebig’s Great Falls office a little lighter on my feet, a little less aware of the chronic pain in my right shoulder. My head feels looser on my neck, and I feel taller. The sensation of well-being won’t last, I know. It could be a matter of days, or even hours, before the pressure builds again and my joints stiffen with stress and tension. But for now, I’ll take it. ·

Buzz McClain is a Washington area freelance writer. Comments:health@washpost.com.

by Michael Dorausch, DC
Original Story Here

The New York Yankees and chiropractic have been in the news the past few weeks thanks to major-league baseball player Johnny Damon. In most recent news, the New York Times reported earlier this week that the Yankees would be hiring a team chiropractor, apparently on the advice of Johnny Damon.

There were several articles circulating in the news about Johnny Damon and the chiropractic care he has been receiving in Orlando, Florida. According to Damon, his chiropractor is amazing. The New York Yankees center field ballplayer hopes his chiropractic care will translate into better results on the field, not only for himself, but for his team.

This wouldn’t be the first time the New York Yankees have utilized the team chiropractor. Back in May of 1934, a magazine from the National Chiropractic Association featured a front-page photo of New York Yankees team chiropractor (Dr. Painter) working with a ballplayer, with Babe Ruth watching on. I don’t know if there’s any truth of this, but I once heard that at the time, the New York Yankees asked the New York Daily News to keep quiet about the Yankees having a team chiropractor, which was from the 1920s to the 1930s. Apparently, they wanted to maintain a competitive edge by keeping the chiropractic care a secret. Perhaps coincidentally, the Yankees recorded their best season ever (1927 – World Champions) and won four World Championships (1923, 1927-1928, 1932) during the time of Dr. Erie Painter, chiropractor.

According to various news reports, Johnny Damon has not spent a single day on baseball’s disabled list during his lengthy playing career.  You can visit the official Johnny Damon web site at johnnydamon.net to view his bio, long list of awards and records, as well as some very impressive statistics.

PLAY BALL! Chiropractic Adjustments Keep Boston Red Sox Organization Physically Fit Throughout the Baseball Season

BOSTON & CARMICHAEL, Calif. (BUSINESS WIRE)

Original Story Here

Thanks to an integrated medical team of orthopedists and internists, certified athletic trainers, chiropractors, massage and physical therapists, the Boston Red Sox organization actively practices injury prevention in anticipation of a winning season in 2007. Competing at an exceptionally high level, both players and staff cover all their bases when it comes to maintaining optimal health, with chiropractic adjustments contributing to the overall fitness of the organization.

According to Michael D. Weinman, DC, Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP) and a member of the medical team who provides chiropractic care for three to four hours prior to the first pitch of about two-thirds of all home games, “When the body’s joints, muscles and nerves are well-conditioned, a player performs at the top of his game and is able to stave off nagging injuries. Chiropractic adjustments enhance physical health and promote top performance.”

Jim Rowe, a certified athletic trainer who has served as head team trainer and is currently the medical operations coordinator for the past two years for the Boston Red Sox explains, “Chiropractic care is part of the overall healthcare approach and provides yet another service to our players. Dr. Weinman does not do everything — but what he does, he does best. We intend to continue offering this service which is valued by active team members of every age.”

With a demanding schedule that includes seven weeks of spring training, 162 games, and potentially weeks of play-off games or a World Series, Rowe cites the importance of keeping players in top physical condition for every game as well as between games.

“Once the season gets into swing, players are traveling on late night flights, falling asleep on a bus or airplane, or sleeping in different hotel beds,” says Rowe. Rowe has worked in the Minor Leagues with the Milwaukee Brewers for five years, then one year in Pawtucket, then 11 years as head trainer for the Boston Red Sox before becoming their medical operations coordinator. “This type of schedule takes a toll on the body, and chiropractic adjustments help across-the-board. We find that chiropractic adjustments can play an important role in injury prevention and can be effective for acute injuries as well as in-between games.”

Dr. Weinman, a member of The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness of the benefits of chiropractic, adds, “A baseball player’s body is put to the test both on and off the field. Given these intense physical demands, accompanied by the pressure to win, players value an integrated medical approach that includes chiropractic adjustments.”

He says that the most common problems among baseball players are rotator cuff injuries, neck, mid-back and lower back conditions, as well as hamstring pulls, which occur from running full out from a standstill position.

“Chiropractors would adjust the involved joint to keep it mobile, reduce inflammation and break-up adhesions,” explains Dr. Weinman. “With the Red Sox I get to work with physical therapists, trainers and strength and conditioning staff, to provide the best care and to maintain the highest level of health and wellness for all the athletes and staff.”

American Chiropractic Association Article
03 May 2007

A new literature review finds evidence that patients with chronic neck pain enrolled in clinical trials reported significant improvement following chiropractic spinal manipulation, according to a March/April 2007 report in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT).

According to Howard Vernon, DC, PhD, the review’s chief author, “The results of the literature review confirm the common clinical experience of doctors of chiropractic: neck manipulation is beneficial for patients with certain forms of chronic neck pain.”

As part of the literature review, Dr. Vernon and his colleagues reviewed nine previously published trials and found “high-quality evidence” that patients with chronic neck pain showed significant pain-level improvements following spinal manipulation. 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.

This literature review did not include studies involving patients with acute neck pain, neck and arm pain, neck pain due to whiplash, or those with headaches. In this review, chronic neck pain was defined as being a minimum of 8 weeks duration.

Researchers also found that mobilization therapy was beneficial in improving patients’ pain levels, with many achieving full recovery after six to seven weeks of treatment; however, the current evidence did not support a similar level of benefit from massage therapy.

Neck pain is a very common complaint – approximately 15 percent of women and 10 percent of men are estimated to have chronic neck pain at any one time. According to a report issued by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, 18 percent of chiropractic patients list neck pain as their chief complaint.

Spinal manipulation, commonly referred to as a chiropractic adjustment, is the main therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of chiropractic. The purpose of manipulation is to restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become hypomobile.

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.

The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT), the premier biomedical publication in the chiropractic profession and the official scientific journal of the American Chiropractic Association, provides the latest information on current research developments, as well as clinically oriented research and practical information for use in clinical settings.

Christopher Duncan DC
March 2007

With the recent inadequacies found within the military healthcare system and Walter Reed Hospital, there have been many attempts to determine how far the lack of care for our soldiers goes. According to a 2006 report by the Veterans Administration, “42.7 percent of veterans who sought VA health care after returning from duty in the Middle East or Southwest Asia were diagnosed with a musculoskeletal condition…making it the most common diagnosis among the subject population.” This diagnosis is understandable when considering that these soldiers stand, march, and run around in combat zones wearing, at times, over 80 pounds of gear. That additional weight adds extreme stress and strain on the back and on the body over all.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has done research and determined the most cost effective and efficacious method of treating these conditions. Yet the DoD does not make it available to the soldiers deployed overseas, and stateside its use is limited if even possible to receive when they return home. This treatment is Chiropractic. Chiropractic care has been shown to be extremely effective in treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. As far back as 1986 research done by the DoD has shown the efficacy of chiropractic in regard to musculoskeletal conditions, the number one complaint of returning soldiers.

The research was so conclusive that in 2001 the National Defense Authorization Act replaced the demonstration program. According to the Tricare (the DoD health insurance company) website, “Chiropractic care became a permanent benefit for active duty at designated sites on October 1, 2001. The Chiropractic Care Program is currently available at 42 Military Treatment Facilities.” The website also lists a total of 236 treatment facilities. That means that there are 194 facilities where returning soldiers cannot receive this proven and cost effective treatment for their number one health care complaint.

Utah soldiers do not really have the option. Those preparing to mobilize, returning home, and those stationed here receive treatment at Hill Air Force Base Medical Facility. The closest authorized chiropractic facility for our fighting forces in Utah would be in Colorado over an 8 hour drive. These soldiers are not left without care, according to Tricare soldiers, family members, and non-active duty personnel, “…may seek chiropractic care in the local community at their own expense,” because, “Chiropractic care received outside of the designated locations is not covered under the Chiropractic Care Program.”

Due to the nature of their work and for force security many of our Special Forces troops can’t reveal their identity. One such is a veteran of the war in Afganistan. He is a Staff Sgt. and served in Afganistan from 2001 to 2002. The US Military does an excellent job of making sure that all their soldiers are in peak condition because a unit can only move as well as its slowest component. When asked about his training he said, “We train hard, and we’re in good shape.” However even these soldiers after all that training can get injured, especially when they are carrying their daily load of 150 pounds with ammo. When asked if he and others in his unit suffered any musculoskeletal injuries his response was, “oh yeah, but we don’t complain.” This soldier never received treatment for his back and knee injuries from the military. When he came home they were bad enough that he sought chiropractic care at ALIGN Rehab and Wellness Center, a local Provo based clinic. Because the military doesn’t cover chiropractic outside of the designated locations, he had to pay out of his own pocket.

Dr. Christopher Duncan, a chiropractor at ALIGN where this soldier was treated, comments on the injuries that are seen with these returning soldiers and the success that they have had with chiropractic treatment. “Most of the injuries that we see are overloading or repetitive stress injuries. These types of problems are the bread and butter of chiropractic. It’s what we do. We have seen a great success with the soldiers who come to us with these problems. In fact these soldiers are in such good shape beforehand that their recovery if not delayed is faster than normal. It really is a shame that Tricare doesn’t extend coverage to local chiropractors in the same manor that other insurance plans do. That way, if these soldiers don’t live near a designated military facility they could go to their local doctor, get the care that they need and still be covered for it.”

The US Military is the finest in the world, with soldiers well trained and well armed. Congress has already granted all active duty soldiers chiropractic coverage in their health care package. Here in Utah, overseas, and in 194 military stations with access to medical services, they just can’t use it.

UPDATE: Legislation Would Provide More Chiropractors at VA Centers Nationwide

Christopher Duncan DC
February 2007

Low back pain and pregnancy can go hand in hand.  In fact, studies show, as many as 80% of pregnant women experience low back pain.  However, just because it is common does not mean that it should be viewed as normal or untreatable.  Like back pain during pregnancy, poor eyesight is extremely common today, but we don’t just endure it.  Optometry can provide relief to those with bad eyesight.  Similarly there is effective treatment and relief for low back pain during pregnancy; it does not simply need to be endured, but that is just what is happening.  In a recent study at Yale it was found that only 32% of women report their low back pain to their healthcare provider despite the pain being so severe that it caused sleep problems and impaired their daily activities.

Because pregnant women cannot use standard medical approaches to reduce the pain, due to the possible effects on the unborn child of prescribed medication, they often do nothing.  Some providers don’t know the different ways available to treat this problem.  Some just recommend stretching and hot baths.  A few providers have discovered a way to help their patients without the use of drugs.  Obstetric physicians and midwives are increasingly utilizing chiropractic and massage therapy for their patients along with educating their patients regarding home care options that can provide relief. In conjunction with traditional medical care chiropractic and massage have been found to decrease pregnancy pains, decrease labor times, improve the quality of life while pregnant, and decrease the risk of serious complications overall.

Pregnancy is a time when a woman’s body is going through drastic changes and often pain. There are many reasons for back pain during pregnancy. Most women gain between 20-35lbs during pregnancy which adds stress to joints. Hormonal changes in a woman’s body causes joint laxity, which aids in the birthing process, but also contributes to decreased support for the joints. As the dimensions of her body change so does her center of gravity. Her body is not used to this new position and her muscles attempt to compensate for the change.This can lead to muscular imbalances, increased muscle fatigue, and abnormal strain.

The largest difficulty in getting these women treatment is a lack of knowledge.  If you have poor eyesight everyone knows you go to the eye doctor.  Not everyone knows about chiropractic and what it can do for pregnant women even their care providers may not know.  Here in Utah County some doctors are trying to change that.  Working with obstetricians, midwives, and birth educators I am trying to get the word out.  I am giving lectures on pregnancy and back pain in clinics and guest speaking in childbirth education classes.  If you treat pregnant women or know someone who is pregnant do them a favor and let them know that they don’t have to suffer through the pain.  There is help.

House passes directive on chiropractic care

May 29, 2008 — The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a directive that orders the Pentagon to make chiropractic care a standard benefit for all active-duty military personnel. The legislation is contained in H.R. 5658, a bill authorizing defense programs in fiscal year 2009, and is based in part on recommendations from the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC).

The bill — passed by the Armed Services Committee on May 14 and the full House on May 22 — also contains language allowing for chiropractic demonstration projects at overseas military locations and clarifies that chiropractic care at U.S. military facilities is to be performed only by a doctor of chiropractic.

In 2000, Congress passed and the president signed a

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similar authorization bill, which contained language calling on the secretary of defense to develop a plan to get the chiropractic benefit to all active-duty service members

To date, DC are at 49 military bases around the country; however, according to a 2005 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, only 54 percent of servicemen and women eligible for chiropractic care can reasonably access the benefit. This most recent legislation shelves the plan approach and simply states that chiropractic care is a standard healthcare benefit.

According to ACA sources, the House Armed Services committee also expressed concern that there were no doctors of chiropractic stationed at overseas military facilities.  The language contained within H.R. 5658 allows the Pentagon to conduct demonstration projects to implement chiropractic care at these sites.

Source: American Chiropractic Association, www.acatoday.com