The problem is most of us are not perfectly healthy and there are things in our lives that prevent optimal function.  This can be as obvious as diet, rest, and stress.  Or as significant as subluxations.  Or combinations of both.

It turns out chiropractic if very helpful for most migraine sufferers.  At Stover Chiropractic, P.C., fortunately we can find the cause of the headache pain and correct it in most cases.  I don’t want to make it sound simple, but for most, a cause can be found.

It turns out there are several kinds of headaches, with different symptoms and physiologic triggers.  The most common types of headaches are tension, migraine, cervicogenic and cluster.  Migraine headaches unique issue we will talk about them in another post.

Tension headaches are the most frequent type in the general population.  Most commonly it starts with tension and tightness in the neck (especially at the top), and shoulders.  The pain then progresses to the base of the skull.  Often the forehead and temples will ache as well.

Cervicogenic headaches originate from problems in the neck.  Often preceded by awkward neck movement or position.  Like painting ceilings, working in odd positions (mechanics, electricians) or injuries to the neck.  This headache is usually associated with decreased range of motion in the neck and pain in the shoulder, neck or arm.

The cause of tension and cervicogenic headaches is related to irritation of nerves that lead to the scalp and the base of the skull.  Those nerves exit the spine in the neck and particularly the upper cervical region.  It is important to evaluate the neck and spine for subluxations to make sure they are not a part of the problem.

Any therapy that helps with relaxing the muscles will likely help.  However, if the tension or nerve irritation is caused by structural misalignments it will always be temporary to massage tight muscles.  Chiropractic will be a better solutions to the structural issues and nerve irritation.

Cluster headaches are another category of headaches.  They are rare.  Most suffers are men (85%).  It is characterized by intense bouts of pain in very specific focal points.  It occurs in clusters, minutes to hours in length.  Typically the pain centers around one eye.  Sometimes nasal congestion occurs on the affected side of the face.  For that reason it is suspected sinus problems are a trigger.  In my experience these are tough for chiropractic to solve.  That being said it is important to keep in mind that these headaches are multi-factoral.  I find it is often the case that a subluxation in the neck is a trigger or aggravating factor for people who suffer with these.  So if a subluxation can be corrected, pain intensity and frequency decreases.

What can be done other than chiropractic care to prevent headaches?  Check these ideas out:

1.  Manage stress – relaxation exercises, directed meditation, breathing exercises, taking breaks from work, vacation (> 4 days).

2.  Exercise regularly – Cardiovascular exercise helps muscles and sense of well being

3.  Watch your posture – The muscles that support the neck and head are often put under increased stress with poor posture.

4.  Drink plenty of water

Hope this helps.  Migraine headaches next time.

Not many people don’t think they could be in slightly better shape.  In my quest to get in better shape (a long, hard, marginally successful quest) I often run into the boredom problem.  I need variety or I start to dread the workouts.

Today (7/31/10) I saw some dragon boat races at Rockett’s Landing.  What are they?  That’s why I included the picture.  It turns out to be a subculture of sorts.  This I gathered from walking around the shore as the races were ongoing.  I may be wrong here, but there seemed to be some real enthusiasts in the bunch.  It was a feel good event as well.  Many of the teams were made up of people who were out there to contribute to a cause.  But it occurred to me this couldn’t be something you showed up for on race day for the first time.  Some, or maybe a lot, of training was needed.  That training must be tough!

What’s my take home?  If I’m creative I shouldn’t be able to use the boredom excuse to avoid conditioning.

Dr. Matthew McCoy editor@jvsr.comEditor – Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research
http://www.jvsr.com/

I recently testified in a case where the regulatory board hired experts to testify against the chiropractor on the issue of whether or not chiropractic care promotes health. In discussing the evidence on this issue one of the experts stated: “There is none.”
Another expert for the Board compared chiropractic to astrology and said there was no evidence of improved health outcomes and that basically if someone believes that chiropractic helps them there is no harm as long as they get the care they really need in addition to chiropractic. Yes – these were the experts hired by the chiropractic board.

Space does not permit an exhaustive review of the literature on this issue, however there are a number of significant studies and documents available that easily refute such unfounded contentions.  The 1996 Paradigm Statement by the Association of Chiropractic Colleges1-3 includes a section titled “Health Promotion” where it states that:  “Doctors of Chiropractic advise and educate patients and communities in structural and spinal hygiene and healthful living practices.”

Another key aspect articulated in the ACC document concerns case management issues. It outlines, in a generic way, how chiropractors conduct themselves on a clinical level:
“Doctors of Chiropractic establish a doctor/patient relationship and utilize adjustive and other clinical procedures unique to the chiropractic discipline. Doctors of Chiropractic may also use other conservative patient care procedures, and, when appropriate, collaborate with and/or refer to other health care providers.”

Chiropractic clinicians have a distinct manner in which they utilize the information, feedback and empirical results each patient case accumulates. For this reason, chiropractic care, especially subluxation based care, may not be linked to various diseases or conditions the patient may or may not have, before or after care has initiated. As we all know, the World Health Organization defines health as being “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Given this broad definition of health, epistemological constructs borrowed from the social sciences may demonstrate health benefits not disclosed by randomized clinical trials. Health benefits such as improvement in self-reported quality-of-life, decreased health care costs, behaviors associated with decreased morbidity, and patient satisfaction may be evaluated using such methods.

This performance-based domain focuses the doctor-patient relationship on the standards set by personal baselines and establishes guidelines for the utility of various chiropractic techniques. This type of chiropractic care is in a context with other non-invasive disciplines and is stratified into discrete application-based domains across a spectrum of parameters related to well-being.

Techniques and methods for correcting subluxation must be judged on their intended outcome and most if not all chiropractic techniques have some physiological and/or structural outcome that measures their results.4 Further, some techniques have as their goals – improvement in quality of life, an improved sense of well-being and a better sense of relationship with the patient’s environment and society.

Several studies warrant further discussion in this context. Blanks, Schuster and Dobson published the results of a retrospective assessment of subluxation-based chiropractic care on self-related health, wellness and quality of life.5 This is the largest study of its kind ever undertaken regarding a chiropractic population. After surveying 2,818 respondents in 156 clinics, a strong connection was found between persons receiving chiropractic care and self-reported improvement in health, wellness and quality-of-life. 95% of respondents reported that their expectations had been met, and 99% wished to continue care.
Coulter et al performed an analysis of an insurance database, comparing persons receiving chiropractic care with non-chiropractic patients. The study consisted of senior citizens over 75 years of age. It was reported that the persons receiving chiropractic care reported better overall health, spent fewer days in hospitals and nursing homes, used fewer prescription drugs, and were more active than the non-chiropractic patients.6
Rupert, Manello, and Sandefur surveyed 311 chiropractic patients, aged 65 years and older, who had received “maintenance care” for five years or longer. Chiropractic patients receiving maintenance care, when compared with US citizens of the same age, spent only 31% of the national average for health care services. There was a 50% reduction in medical provider visits. The health habits of patients receiving maintenance care were better overall than the general population, including decreased use of cigarettes and decreased use of nonprescription drugs. Furthermore, 95.8% believed the care to be either “considerably” or “extremely” valuable. Rupert reports that 79% of chiropractic patients have maintenance care recommended to them, and nearly half of those comply.7
In an online survey with 3018 respondents by Miller, 62% responded affirmatively when asked, “Although you feel healthy, would you follow your family member’s lead and visit a doctor who focuses on wellness and prevention just so you can stay feeling that way?”8

Three additional studies have addressed this issue. One of the studies consisted of a three arm randomized clinical trial with two control groups (one of which was placebo controlled).9 This was a single blind study utilizing subluxation-centered chiropractic care implemented in a residential addiction treatment setting.  A total of 98 subjects (14 female and 84 male) were enrolled in the year and a half study. 100% of the Active (chiropractic) group completed the 30-day program, while only 24 (75%) of the Placebo group and 19 (56%) of the Usual Care group completed 30 days.

The Active group showed a significant decrease in anxiety while the Placebo group showed no decrease in anxiety. The frequency of visits to the Nurse’s station was monitored during the course of the study and among the Active treatment group only 9% made one or more visits, while 56% of the Placebo group and 48% in the Usual Care group made such visits. This poor performance by the placebo group suggests that the chiropractic care had no positive placebo effect.

Treatment was five days per week over a period of 30 days, for a total of 20 treatment encounters. Therefore, a 100% retention rate was achieved in a residential treatment setting using subluxation-centered chiropractic. The possible mechanism for such a response is elaborated on in an earlier paper by Holder et al, in which they describe the Brain Reward Cascade in relationship to vertebral subluxation and its role in resolving (RDS) Reward Deficiency Syndrome.10

A third study by Blanks et al. looked at the degree to which chiropractic intervention affected a change in a healthy lifestyle. The study found that chiropractic care users do tend towards the practice of a positive health lifestyle, which also has a direct effect on reported improvements in wellness. These empirical links are relative to the sociodemographic characteristics of this population and show that use of chiropractic care is an aspect of a wellness lifestyle.11-12

There are numerous studies on chiropractic care in general and chiropractic care directed at reduction of vertebral subluxation that have demonstrated positive effects on physiological outcome measures.

In a review of literature related to objective physiological changes following chiropractic care, Hannon discusses more than twenty studies documenting objective health benefits in subjects who were specifically described as “asymptomatic,” “healthy,” “normal,” or “free from physical injury.” Nearly an equal number of studies were found documenting objectively measured health benefits in subjects in which no symptomatic presentation was described.13

Chiropractors have historically recommended initial care plans that involve a high frequency of visits as well as extended care plans of long duration to encompass corrective care and wellness based care. Care plans that do not base care solely on the presence or absence of symptoms have as their basis some very fundamental scientific laws that govern the connective tissue and neurological responses to abnormal biomechanical loads and neurological interference while also addressing the quality of life issues discussed above. The goal of care becomes the reversal of these insidious processes and an enhanced sense of well-being so that any judgment of that care must take into consideration those outcomes as well as outcomes related to the technique being applied.
As always I look forward to your feedback, comments and suggestions.

Dr. Matthew McCoy editor@jvsr.comEditor – Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research
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References

1. The Chiropractic Paradigm. The Association of Chiropractic Colleges 2001 The Journal of Chiropractic Education, Fall 2001, Volume 15, Number 2, pages 51-52

1. Phillips, R.B. The Chiropractic Paradigm. Today’s Chiropractic. November/December 1996.

1. McCoy, M. The ACC Paradigm – Something We Can All Agree Upon?  JVSR April 3, 2003, p 1-4

1. Cooperstein R, Gleberzon BJ. Technique Systems in Chiropractic. Churchill Livingston. 2004.

1. Blanks, R.H., Schuster, T.L., Dobson, M. A Retrospective Assessment of Network Care Using a Survey of Self-Rated Health, Wellness and Quality of Life. JVSR. Vol 1 # 4

1. Coulter ID, Hurwitz EL, Aronow HU, Cassata DM, Beck JC “Chiropractic Patients in a Comprehensive Home-Based Geriatric Assessment, Follow-up and Health Promotion Program” Topics in Clinical Chiropractic 1996; 3(2): 46-55

1. Rupert RL, Manello D, Sandefur R “Maintenance Care: Health Promotion Services Administered to US Chiropactic patients Ages 65 and Older, Part II” JMPT 2000; 23(1): 10-19

1. Miller S: chiroviewpresents.com. Survey says? 2/6/02.

1. Holder JM, Duncan Robert C, Gissen M, Miller M, Blum K. Increasing retention rates among the chemically dependent in residential treatment: Auriculotherapy and (in a separate study) subluxation-based chiropractic care. Journal of Molecular Psychiatry. Vol 6, Supplement No. 1. March 2001. http://www.naturesj.com/mp/

1. Blum K, et al. Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS): A Biogenetic Model for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Impulsive, Addictive and Compulsive Behaviors. Vol 32 Supplement. November 2000. Haight Ashbury Publications. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. http://www.hafci.org/journal/index.html

1. Schuster, Dobson, Jaurequi, Blanks J Alt and Comp Med, 10(2):349-368, 2004

1. Schuster TL, Dobson M, Blanks RH. Wellness Lifestyles. 10th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Quality of Life Research. Prague, Czech Republic. November 2003.

1. Hannon, S. Objective Physiologic Changes and Associated Health Benefits of Chiropractic Adjustments in Asymptomatic Subjects: A Selective Review of Literature. In Press. Journal of Vert. Subluxation Research.

I’ll grant there are situations that need many medications. Life after organ transplants for example. But the thing that is odd to me is how “normal” it is. It is common for folks to require a “list” so they can keep up with everything they take. But if I ask, no one likes taking so manys drugs, and no one thinks it is good for a body to be on drugs. This is why we need prescriptions in order to buy many of the drugs out there. But none the less, we live in a society that tries to solve health problems with drugs in many cases.

What sort of impact might this have? On culture? On families? On children? I use to think it was a stretch, what I’m getting ready to say, but that was before I had children. I feel like our love affair with prescription and OTC meds makes it very easy for a child to learn: if something is wrong with me, the solution just might come from outside, in pill form. That something, that pill, can help me feel better. Physically or emotionally. It will make the transition to recreational drugs much easier. Why not? I mean, Mom gave me a pill to help my fever. Why not take a pill to make me feel more fun loving and social?

So I think this is a tough one. After all, sometimes we really “need” a drug for exceptional reasons. What is clear to me is children pick up on all these sublties early in life. My daughter who is 6 has lived nearly a drug free life. But she has had a crisis or two. Other than that I don’t recall filling antibiotic or any other prescriptions for her. But she knows. She knows, if some one is sick, or hurt, they get medicine…

The following article is an interesting take on this whole issue. I hope you like it.

I found an article the very nicely explains the stress of “being born” and how chiropractic helps newborns, as well as pictures to show what the process looks like.

It is the inadequate development of the secondary curves that create the conditions encourage subluxations and lead to scoliosis.  If these conditions are corrected early, complete correction of minor curves is possible, which prevents further progressive scoliotic change.

It should quickly be added that scoliotic changes can occur even with normal secondary curves in place.  However, subluxations and/or disturbances in the righting reflex (proprioception) are present in these cases.

The take home information is how important it is to prevent activities that could be harmful to the normal development of the curves found in the neck and low back.

First some statistics and definitions:

There are four main types of scoliosis as defined on www.spine-health.com.

• Congenital scoliosis. This is a relatively rare form of congenital malformation of the spine. Patients with congenital scoliosis will often develop scoliotic deformities in their infancy.
• Neuromuscular scoliosis. This may occur when the spine curves to the side due to weakness of the spinal muscles or neurologic problems. This form of scoliosis is especially common for individuals who cannot walk due to their underlying neuromuscular condition (such as muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy). This may also be called myopathic scoliosis.
• Degenerative scoliosis. Scoliosis can also develop later in life, as joints in the spine degenerate and create a bend in the back. This condition is sometimes called adult scoliosis.
• Idiopathic scoliosis. By far the most common form of scoliosis is idiopathic scoliosis, which most often develops in adolescents and typically progresses during the adolescent growth spurt. Because it most often occurs during adolescence, this condition is sometimes called adolescent scoliosis.

“Idiopathic” means, of unknown origin.  Of course many chiropractors will take issue with that designation, however, technically that is the diagnosis name.  To further differentiate, idiopathic scoliosis can be broken down into 3 categories:

• From birth to 3 years old – called infantile scoliosis.
• From 3 to 9 years old – called juvenile scoliosis.
• From 10 to 18 years old – called adolescent scoliosis.

The adolescent scoliosis is by far most common.  I have seen figures of 500,000 to 600,000 children being affected.  Girls are 7 times more likely than boys to get it.  It is the growth spurt in the early teens during which it often develops.  But the cause is not during that time.  The root of the problem starts in early early spinal development.

So, against most medical opinions I agree with Dr. Barge, that idiopathic scoliosis does have know causes.  On page xix Dr. Barge lists them succinctly.  He spends the rest of the book making the case.

They are as follows:

1. Lack of proper development of the normal sigmoid (saggital) curve of the human spine, in particular the lumbar lordosis.
2. Youthful exercise regimens that stress back bends thus reducing (sometimes reversing) the normal thoracic kyphosis; example, gymnastics and ballet.
3. Vertebral Subluxation
   1. Two Factors
      1. i.     Unilateral Vertebral Inferiority
      2. ii.     Foraminal Encroachment – Neuronal Disturbances
      3. Unilateral Sacral Inferiority
      4. A retarded development or disturbance in the righting reflex, proprioceptive spinal balance mechanisms, commonly caused by vertebral subluxations.

There is some controversy as to causes of scoliosis.   Many opinions.  Chiropractors have never been big on the “wait and see” approach (x-ray every 6 months).  It seems the medical field is starting to brace earlier now.  However you do it, the earlier one starts to treat, the easier it is to help.

Does regular medical care provide it? Is there a prescription to give someone without a diagnosed disease, that will make them healthier? With no side effects? Not in the medical field. What about screenings? Mammograms? Prostate exams? Colonoscopies? They don’t prevent, they detect. Early detection, as important as it is, is not prevention or wellness. You still have the disease, no matter how early it gets detected by these tests.

Chiropractic actually offers a service/treatment that increases function. Increases health. It is called a chiropractic adjustment. This article in the Creston News Advisor does a great job addressing and explaining these issues.