Perth Chiropractor in Hillarys

Dr. Wakefield Demands Retraction for Hoax Run Against Proven Vaccine / Autism Link

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 09:07:00 +0000

http://www.infowars.com
http://www.prisonplanet.tv
In this important Sunday edition, British surgeon and researcher Dr. Andrew Wakefield joins Alex in studio for an in-depth interview dealing with the fraud and hoax that was run against his research to help children by the media and and Big Pharmaceuticals. He also calls for a united resistance against the policy and profits being wrought by the Big Pharmaceuticals which are destroying any possibility for safe vaccines to be acquired.

Interview with Dr Andrew Wakefield about the British Medical Journal, science and vaccines

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 06:52:00 +0000

Interview with Dr Andrew Wakefield about the British Medical Journal

(reposted from The Health Ranger http://www.naturalnews.com)

Interview with Dr Andrew Wakefield about the British Medical Journal, science and vaccines. In this video interview, Dr Wakefield says that BMJ is factually incorrect in accusing Wakefield of falsifying the study data in his 1998 paper published in The Lancet.

"[The data] were faithfully reproduced in the Lancet paper, and they were made in the most scrupulous, meticulous way. Those are the facts. Brian Deer knew those facts. When he made his allegations to the BMJ, he knew those facts. Did he disclose them to the BMJ? More importantly, did the BMJ, as a peer reviewed scientific journal, did they check the facts? Because the facts were fully available to them in the book Callous Disregard."

Dr Wakefield also explains how this desperate move by the BMJ to attack Dr Wakefield has eroded the credibility of the publication:

"They have been hijacked by a freelance journalist who is not expert in any of these fields. They have handed over their journal to this man and allowed him to publish knowingly false allegations, and they have gone along with it. In my opinion, they [the BMJ] have blown their scientific credibility. In their desperation... their fundamental belief that vaccines must be safe, [they say] please don't tell me this terrible disease has been caused by the physician, don't tell me that. Tell me anything but that, and we will take any information, even information from Brian Deer, that will convince us it's safe, and we will publish that, because that conforms with our belief system. That makes us feel more comfortable. That makes us feel that we, as a profession, are not culpable in this extraordinary disorder."

In this interview, Dr Wakefield also discusses the motivation for the BMJ to grasp at any effort to discredit those who question the safety of vaccines:

"They are so keen to prove me wrong, to prove the parents wrong, and to exonerate the medical profession, their political friends, their pharmaceutical friends, whoever it is, that...

Yours in health,
Dr. Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski
Doctors of Chiropractic
West Coast Family Chiropractic,
22 Banks Ave, Hillarys, WA 6025, AUSTRALIA
(08) 9402 8845

Our Blog Is Now Relocated At Our Home Site

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 09:00:00 +0000

West Coast Family Chiropractic Blog Page

What Is Chiropractic Instrument Adjusting?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 10:58:00 +0000

As with many of the health professions, chiropractic has continued to develop advanced instrument adjusting technology. The advantages of instrument adjusting are many, but first let us examine exactly what is instrument adjusting? The ArthroStim is an adjusting instrument that is an alternative to manual adjustments.

At our Perth chiropractic office like many other offices worldwide now, we use the ArthroStim adjusting instrument. I believe that this instrument offers technological advances that are not available from other instruments and products in the marketplace. Being able to employ multiple techniques, styles and technologies I feel we are able to address a wide variety of challenging and debilitating cases that we often see.

Instrument adjusting is not new. However over the past 25 years or so, the advances in technology have seen the effectiveness and versatility of the instruments improve at a rapid rate. Research initially began in the early days using a modified dental instrument on animals. Then focusing on force, speed, vertebral movement and the neurophysiology of the body, research was begun on human subjects.

Five Benefits of Instrument Adjusting

The ArthroStim instrument that we use in our office is specifically designed to deliver gentle, safe and precise chiropractic adjustments to the spine and other joints. If proper function can be restored the benefits may include, pain relief, improved range of motion, increased immune function, and improved general overall well being.

Different force settings can be used in different areas of the body. Different force and frequency settings allow the practitioner to select the appropriate force settings for safety, effectiveness and achieving the best results with patients. The instrument can be adjusted to deliver from a few ounces of force up to 40 pounds of force.

The instrument produces 12 thrusts per second. Multiple thrusts or single thrusts can be utilised depending on the area of the body being adjusted. Single thrust adjusting may be more indicated for articular adjusting or extremities. The multiple thrust application may be used for misaligned or fixated musculo-skeletal areas. These rapid successive adjustments allow the practitioner to administer a more comfortable, effective adjustment.

This article is meant as a guide and a general overview of chiropractic instrument adjusting, it is not meant to substitute for a thorough examination or medical advice from a qualified health care professional. Consult your chiropractor or other provider for specific advice regarding your particular individual health needs.

Yours in health,
Dr. Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski
Doctors of Chiropractic
West Coast Family Chiropractic,
22 Banks Ave, Hillarys, WA 6025, AUSTRALIA
(08) 9402 8845
http://www.westcoastfamilychiropractic.com

Captured on Tape: 60 Minutes Exposes the Maker of the #1 Most Fatal Drug of 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 11:52:00 +0000

Captured on Tape: 60 Minutes Exposes the Maker of the #1 Most Fatal Drug of 2009

Shoulder Pain: Why Does My Shoulder Hurt?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 23:32:00 +0000

Shoulder pain is one of the most common problems that brings a person to a Chiropractor's office. Hillarys Chiropractor Stacey Burke discusses three common types of shoulder pain and how chiropractic can help.

The shoulder joint is the region of the body where the humerus attaches to the scapula, and the supporting muscles.
Painful shoulder problems are one of the most common reasons for chiropractic visits for musculoskeletal symptoms. The shoulder has the most movement of the major joints in the body. On the flipside, because of this large range of motion, it is relatively unstable and easily subject to injury. The head of the humerus (ball) is larger than the socket of the shoulder joint that holds it. To stabilise the shoulder joint, the muscles, tendons and ligaments anchor the bones of the joint together. Overuse injuries, degenerative changes and lack of use or movement can all contribute to tissue breakdown, loss of function and disruption to the supporting musculature.

The shoulder is comprised of three osseus structures: the clavicle (collarbone), the scapula (shoulder blade), and the humerus (upper arm bone) as well as the supporting musculature, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The muscle groups and tendons that stabilise the shoulder are called the "rotator cuff." These muscles include the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis, they hold the humerus (ball) in the glenoid fossa (socket).

There are many types of shoulder conditions, for the purposes of this article, are aim is to give a broad overview of three different types and how Chiropractic care may improve the health and function of the shoulder region.

Some indications that you may be experienceing a shoulder problem or shoulder pain and need further examination include: the inability to carry objects or use your arm without pain, pain while sleeping or at rest, pain that is ongoing and lasts more than a few days, unable to lift your arm, sweeling or bruising around the shoulder area, redness, joint size changes or other obvious unusual changes to the shoulder area. The pain can be local and just in and around the shoulder joint, or it may be referred and going down the arm and possibly into the hand, or into the middle back and lower neck area. Sometimes gallbladder, liver or heart disease, or cervical spine disease can all cause referred pain into the shoulder through the various nerve pathways. However, shoulder blade pain or scapula pain have a higher probability of the problem coming from the cervical spine.

A comprehensive evaluation that would include a personal history, a complete physical examination, orthopedic and neurological examination and if required xrays and possibly advanced imaging to determine the exact cause of the pain. If there is a tear, it most likely could be in one of the tendons of the rotator cuff, occasionally a tear may occur in one of the rotator cuff muscles . The supraspinatus tendon is the most commonly torn rotator cuff tendon.
The orthopedic tests can help determine or isolate which tendon or tendons and muscles (in a severe injury) may be injured.
Some of the shoulder pain conditions that I see in my office are arthritis, referred pain second to cervical disc degeneration and frozen shoulder. On rare occassion, shoulder pain may be caused by some form of pathology or tumour inside the body.

Arthritis
Arthritic shoulder pain is not as common as the other types. It is usually progressive and develops slowly over time. The shoulder joint area may have tenderness, swelling and stiffness when aggravated. The shoulder joint can be affected by both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Degeneration in the joint, or "wear and tear," is a progressive wearing away of the cartilage on the boney surfaces of the joint, exposing bare bone. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is a systemic condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the joints. This inflammation can, over time, invade and destroy the cartilage and bone. Gentle chiropractic mobilisation of the shoulder and spine, accompanied with stretching and strengthening of the muscles around the shoulder joint may help with the inflammation improve function of the shoulder joint. Maintaining strength in the shoulder muscles may prevent further atrophy of the muscles, and possibly slow down any further degenerative changes. In severe cases joint replacement surgery may be an option.

Neck Pain or Degeneration
Shoulder pain can happen as a result of degeneration in the cervical spine or injury to the neck or thoracic spine. Degenerative disks narrow the joint space between two vertebra, causing increased irritation and pinching on the nerves in the neck or middle back region. Those nerves leave the neck or upper back area and go into the shoulders and arms, or provide the nerve supply of muscles that are around the shoulder girdle. This type of damage can cause referred pain into the shoulder area. Sometimes shoulder pain is actually due to problems in your neck or a mixture of several different problems. Neck pain as a result degenerative change is relatively common. The pain may radiate, or spread, into the shoulder blade or down the arm. Patients may have an arm or shoulder complaint , such as pain or weakness, as the result of nerve root compression. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is one type of advanced imaging to determine if the discs are injured or being encroached upon. Symptoms may include neck pain, pain around the back of the shoulder blades, arm complaints such as pain, numbness, or weakness, and rarely, difficulty with hand dexterity or walking. Treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease provides good to excellent results in over 75% of patients. A multi-disciplinary approach includes: Chiropractic adjustments which can be useful in decreasing muscle spasms and improving mobility. Heat, and exercise may also have benefit in improving function and stabilising the degenerative area. In severe cases surgery may be an option.

Frozen Shoulder
The proper term for Frozen shoulder is adhesive capsulitis. The shoulder capsule, and the connective tissue around the shoulder joint, inflame and become very stiff. The tissues then start to grow together forming abnormal tissue bands, called adhesions. These adhesions cause a reduced range of motion or movement and chronic pain. The pain is often felt deep in the shoulder joint and may be worse at night. The exact cause of frozen shoulder is still not certain. It can be very painful and disabling and patients are sometimes slow to recover. Chiropractic may have a few applications when it comes to frozen shoulder. It may be preventative, by maintaining mobility in the joint, as well as lifestyle modifications with a healthy diet and exeercise, that may decrease the likelihood of frozen shoulder occuring. Certain diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease can have an effect on joint mobility as they progress. If you are able to keep moving well, perhaps you will age well also. Chiropractic may help to stimulate physical health and may offset the common ailments that are often associated with aging. For treatment, chiropractors generally don't use anesthetics in treating frozen shoulder. Instead they employ a variety of techniques to manage the pain, and to restore range of motion and function in the shoulder. Chiropractors often use heat and cold to relieve pain and gentle chiropractic mobilisation of the shoulder and spine, accompanied with stretching and strengthening of the muscles around the shoulder.

This is a very general overview of three types of shoulder pain. Treatment varies from person to person and can involve any of the following: chiropractic, massage therapy and surgery in severe cases. Response to treatment and the length of time it can take, varies from person to person, depending on the level of damage. Chiropractic can be a safe, gentle and effective approach to helping with shoulder pain conditions. As with any type of health problem it is recommended to see your health care professional for a further in depth assessment and examination for a more accurate individual treatment recommendation.

Yours in health,
Dr. Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski
Doctors of Chiropractic
West Coast Family Chiropractic,
22 Banks Ave, Hillarys, WA 6025, AUSTRALIA
(08) 9402 8845
http://www.westcoastfamilychiropractic.com

The Dangers of Dental Amalgam (Mercury poisoning, Silver fillings)

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 21:13:00 +0000

Millions of people have dental amalgam silver fillings implanted in their teeth. Dental amalgam is the most commonly used material to repair cavities. Amalgams are a mixture of the toxic metals mercury, zinc, tin and copper. Amalgam fillings contain 50% mercury and only 20 to 35% silver. Mercury is highly toxic and causes many health problems!
http://relfe.com/mercury.html

Mercury vapor escapes from amalgam fillings, is inhaled and swallowed. This causes low level mercury poisoning in the body. The amount of mercury in the brain is directly linked to the number and the size of amalgam fillings. Mercury passes through the placental barrier and even enters the mother's breast milk! Mercury affects the body chemistry and disrupts organs.
http://wholebodymed.com/thescience.php

Symptoms of mercury poisoning include:
Auto-immune diseases, mental disorders, migraines, cancer, insomnia, arthritis, depression, oral lesions, infertility, birth defects, stomach pains, memory loss, autism, developmental disorders, ADHD, anxiety, mood changes, asthma, allergies, etc.
http://buzzle.com/articles/mercury-po...

Dental amalgams were first introduced in 1833 but many dentists refused to implant them due to the mercury. In 1843, the American Society of Dental Surgeons declared the use of dental amalgam a malpractice(!) and forced its members to abstain from using amalgams.

Proponents of amalgam continued to claim that dental amalgam was safe because it was supposedly inert in the filling. Since dental amalgam was less expensive and easier to work with than gold fillings, it wasn't long before dental amalgam was routinely used by most dentists.

In 1926, Dr. Alfred Stock showed that mercury vapor escapes from amalgam fillings and that this could cause significant health damage. The American Dental Association (ADA) vigorously defended dental amalgams its widespread use was continued.

In 1986, the ADA finally admitted that mercury vapor escapes from the amalgam fillings but remained adamant that amalgams were safe, and in 1986 it changed its code of ethics, making it unethical for dentists to inform patients of the health risks of amalgams or to recommend removal of amalgams...
http://wholebodymed.com/historypolit.php
http://wholisticresearch.com/info/art...

In 2008 the FDA admitted in 2008 that dental amalgam can cause health problems.
http://naturalnews.com/024993_mercury...

Norway, Denmark and Sweden have ended use of mercury fillings and many dental schools no longer teach mercury placement. Germany, Canada, and California require mercury toxicity warnings to be given to pregnant women.

Videos about Dental Amalgam:
http://youtube.com/view_play_list?p=A...
http://americasholisticdentist.com/ca...

There are healthier alternatives to dental amalgam such as composite resin (white) fillings, porcelain, and glass ionomers but make sure they don't contain added fluoride! Gold is not a healthy alternative as it will produce electrical currents within your mouth.

Improve your health by having your amalgam fillings removed!
http://hugginsappliedhealing.com/test...

Amalgam removal should be done SAFELY! Use a dentist who specializes in safe amalgam removal. Mercury vapor escapes during the removal process.
It is essential that you are protected!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MgIUrj7s3PA
http://sarkissiandds.com/articles/100...
http://evenbetternow.com/proddetail.a...

Safely remove mercury and other metals from your body with Zeolite, a 100% natural mineral.
http://hankszeolite.com
http://zeoliteinfo.com/home.html

Don't use a dentist who still implants amalgam fillings in other patients as this causes second hand mercury vapor.

Mercury-free & mercury-safe dentists:
http://dentalwellness4u.com/freeservi...

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."
Hosea 4:6 (KJV)

More information about dental amalgam:
http://mercuryfreenow.com
http://dentalwellness4u.com
http://hugginsappliedhealing.com
http://americasholisticdentist.com/we...
http://naturaldentistry.us
http://drpgilbert.com/amalgam-poisoni...
http://y2khealthanddetox.com/mercfill...
http://alternativesmagazine.com/41/ru...
http://talkinternational.com
http://autism.com/ari/dental.htm
http://donaldrobbinsdmd.com
http://toxicteeth.org
http://yourhealthbase.com/amalgams.html
http://healingcancernaturally.com/tox...
http://dentalmercuryvictims.blogspot....
http://curezone.com/dental
http://iaomt.org
http://amalgamguide.com
http://diagnosismercury.org/index.php...

For all the Health Ranger videos search for: health4me
http://youtube.com/view_play_list?p=2...

Yours in health,

Dr. Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski 
Doctors of Chiropractic
West Coast Family Chiropractic,
22 Banks Ave, Hillarys, WA 6025, AUSTRALIA 
(08) 9402 8845

What is the relationship between emotions and disease?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 05:27:00 +0000

Perth chiropractor Stacey Burke of West Coast Family Chiropractic http://www.westcoastfamilychiropractic.com speaks to the holistic health expert Helena Ederveen http://www.helenaederveen.com. Helena Ederveen is a clinical nutritionist, Holistic Health Coach, Certified Master Neurolinguistic Practitioner and Certified Eriksonian Practitioner. Helena answers the question, "What is the relationship between emotions and disease"
Serious about discovering the Blueprint of Your Health?
Yours is totally different to anyone else and I help you to understand yours. This Phenomenal unique Prescription for Health will give you a sure-fire way to understand and be in charge of your wellbeing for the rest of your life.
I invite you to book yourself in for this Preliminary Analysis valued at $180 but yours for FREE. Go to http://www.helenaederveen.com

Yours in health,

Dr. Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski 
Doctors of Chiropractic
West Coast Family Chiropractic,
22 Banks Ave, Hillarys, WA 6025, AUSTRALIA 
(08) 9402 8845

Perth Chiropractor's in Hillarys

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 10:06:00 +0000

Here are 5 important things to look for when choosing a Chiropractor:
#1. You should insist that they respect your time as valuable. That's why our office has a 15 Minute Wait Guarantee. We appreciate your time is valuable and don't expect anyone to wait more than 15 minutes. After all, isn't your time just as valuable as your Doctors? #2. You should insist on years of practical experience. The average Chiropractor internationally has treated 389 patients however, Dr. Burke and Dr. Brukwinski at West Coast Family Chiropractic http://www.westcoastfamilychiropracti... have each treated over 3000 chiropractic cases to date which is almost 10 times more than the average Chiropractor.
#3. You should insist that your chiropractor offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Most won't because they aren't confident in their services. We are. Just how confident are we? We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We can't guarantee you results but we can guarantee you complete satisfaction in the way you've been treated. If at any time during your treatment you feel like you haven't been treated like a V.I.P., tell us and we'll make it right.
#4. You should insist that your Doctor provide a risk-free way for you to try out his office. Most offices charge in excess of $200 for a first visit. However we offer a new patient special rate at our Hillarys Chiropractic office of just $49 for your first visit and that covers everything.#5. You should insist that your Chiropractor offer a no-pressure, affordable way to seek treatment. Many will suggest extended treatment plans lasting 6 months or more. We believe in a more affordable and conservative approach to treatment. We offer multiple payment plans that put our treatment plans within reach of every type of budget.

Yours in health,

Dr. Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski 
Doctors of Chiropractic
West Coast Family Chiropractic,
22 Banks Ave, Hillarys, WA 6025, AUSTRALIA 
(08) 9402 8845

How To Choose The Best Mattress

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 23:03:00 +0000

Perth chiropractor Eric Brukwinski of West Coast Family Chiropractic http://www.westcoastfamilychiropractic.com speaks to the experts, Tony and Tania Santoro of Bedroom World http://www.bedroomworld.com.au in Clarkson WA about "How To Choose The Best Mattress." A good nights sleep can change a person's entire life, don't play guessing games. Listen to what the experts have to say.

Yours in health,

Dr. Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski 
Doctors of Chiropractic
West Coast Family Chiropractic,
22 Banks Ave, Hillarys, WA 6025, AUSTRALIA 
(08) 9402 8845

Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 12:55:00 +0000

Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days is an independent documentary film that chronicles six Americans with 'incurable' diabetes switching their diet and getting off insulin.

The film follows each participant's remarkable journey and captures the medical, physical, and emotional transformations brought on by this diet and lifestyle change. We witness moments of struggle, support, and hope as what is revealed, with startling clarity, is that diet can reverse diabetes* and change lives.

Additional wisdom is provided by Morgan Spurlock, Woody Harrelson, Anthony Robbins, Rev. Michael Beckwith, and Doctors Fred Bisci, Joel Furman, and Gabriel Cousens.

Yours in health,

Dr. Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski 
Doctors of Chiropractic
West Coast Family Chiropractic,
22 Banks Ave, Hillarys, WA 6025, AUSTRALIA 
(08) 9402 8845

Calorie Restriction Appears Better Than Exercise At Slowing Primary Aging

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 00:06:00 +0000

(Natural News) Investigators at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that eating a low-calorie yet nutritionally balanced diet lowers concentrations of a thyroid hormone called triiodothyronine (T3), which controls the body's energy balance and cellular metabolism. The researchers also found that calorie restriction (CR) decreases the circulating concentration of a powerful inflammatory molecule called tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF). They say the combination of lower T3 levels and reduced inflammation may slow the aging process by reducing the body's metabolic rate as well as oxidative damage to cells and tissues.
Previous research on mice and rats has shown that both calorie restriction and endurance exercise protect them against many chronic diseases including obesity, diabetes,cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer. However, the research has shown that only CR increases the animals' maximum lifespan by up to 50 percent. These animal studies suggest that leanness is a key factor in the prevention of age-associated disease, but reducing caloric intake is needed to slow down aging.
For the new study, researchers examined 28 members of the Calorie Restriction Society who had been eating a CR diet for an average of six years. Although the CR group consumed fewer calories -- averaging only about 1,800 per day -- they consumed at least 100 percent of the recommended daily amounts of protein and micronutrients. A second group of 28 study subjects was sedentary, and they ate a standard Western diet. A third group in the study ate a standard Western diet -- approximately 2,700 calories per day -- but also did endurance training. The researchers found reduced T3 levels -- similar to those seen in animals whose rate of aging is reduced by CR -- only in the people on CR diets.
But their serum concentrations of two other hormones -- thyroxin (T4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) -- were normal, indicating that those on CR were not suffering from the thyroid disease of clinical hypothyroidism. The findings are published online in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Interestingly, body fat levels did not affect serum T3 concentrations. The people in the CR group and the endurance athletes had similar amounts and composition of body fat. But although the CR group had lower T3 levels, the exercise group had T3 levels closer to those seen in the sedentary people who ate a standard Western diet.
"The difference in T3 levels between the CR group and the exercise group is exciting because it suggests that CR has some specific anti-aging effects that are due to lower energy intake, rather than to leanness," says first author Luigi Fontana, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor ofmedicine at Washington University in St. Louis and an investigator at the Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy. "These findings suggest that although exercise helps prevent problems that can cut life short -- such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease -- only CR appears also to have an impact on primary aging."
Primary aging determines maximal length of life. Secondary aging, on the other hand, refers to diseases that can keep a person or an animal from reaching that expected lifespan. Eliminating factors related to secondary aging allows more people to reach their projected length of life. By slowing primary aging, CR may increase maximal lifespan.
In a related study in 1997, co-investigator John O. Holloszy, M.D., professor of medicine at Washington University School of Medicine, reported in the Journal of Applied Physiology that in rats, CR extended life longer than exercise.
"Sedentary rats who ate a standard diet had the shortest average life-spans," Holloszy says. "Those who exercised by running on a wheel lived longer, but animals on calorie restriction lived even longer."
Earlier this year, Fontana's group reported that CR seemed to prevent or delay primary aging in the heart. Ultrasound examinations showed that the hearts of people on calorie restriction were more elastic than those of age- and gender-matched control subjects. Their hearts were able to relax between beats in a way similar to the hearts of younger people.
This latest study targeted another marker of primary aging. The thyroid gland produces critical hormones that play an indispensable role in cell growth and development as well as in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. T4 is the main product secreted by the cells of the thyroid gland, but most actions of thyroid hormone are initiated by T3. Fontana says T3 controls body temperature, cellular metabolism and to some extent, it also appears to be involved with production of free radicals, unstable molecules that can damage cells. All are important aspects of aging and longevity. In fact, a 2002 study in Science magazine from researchers at the National Institute on Aging observed that men with lower body temperatures tended to live longer those with higher body temperatures.
Fontana says lower levels of T3, cholesterol and the inflammatory molecules TNF and C-reactive protein, combined with evidence of "younger" hearts in people on calorie restriction, suggest that humans on CR have the same adaptive responses as did animals whose rates of aging were slowed by CR.
Holloszy and Fontana are getting ready to launch a 2-year study to look at the effects of calorie restriction. Later this year, they will begin recruiting volunteers between the ages of 25 and 45 who are willing to go on a CR diet for 24 months.
Called the Comprehensive Assessment of the Long Term effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE) study, the goal is to get some clues about whether putting a normal weight person on calorie restriction will lower their levels of inflammation and their serum concentrations of T3, improve their heart function and change other markers of aging, as Fontana and Holloszy have observed in members of the Calorie Restriction Society.
"We want to learn whether calorie restriction can reverse some of these markers of aging in healthy people," Holloszy says. "It's going to be many years before we know whether calorie restriction really lengthens life, but if we can demonstrate that it changes these markers of aging, such as oxidative damage and inflammation, we'll have a pretty good idea that it's influencing aging in the same way that CR slows aging in experimental animals."

Be sure to check out "Chiropractic Exposed!" A Free 11 Day Mini course ALL About Chiropractic!

Yours in health,

Dr. Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski 
Doctors of Chiropractic
West Coast Family Chiropractic,
22 Banks Ave, Hillarys, WA 6025, AUSTRALIA 
(08) 9402 8845

Types of Chiropractic Care For Various Health Needs

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 22:23:00 +0000

What is Involved in Chiropractic Care?

There are a wide variety of chiropractic care suited for all types of ailments or medical condition. It can be used to address general health care or treat specific types of condition. Therefore, chiropractic care also has its own share of specialized branches just like any areas of medical profession. In cases wherein misalignment (termed as subluxations in chiropractic industry) is detected, chiropractors perform mild adjustments to provide relief for patients on the area where the misalignment was found.

In terms of the treatment approaches, there are three main ones that chiropractors focus on.

Stage #1: Relief Chiropractic

This type of chiropractic care is done on patients who suffer from any form of pain or discomfort, regardless of cause. The purpose of this treatment is to provide immediate relief from any undesirable sensation. The length of treatment period largely vary according to the extent of the damage acquired by the patient and how it can be corrected.

Stage #2: Corrective Chiropractic

This is a more advanced type of chiropractic care. It is performed on patients who suffered from spinal problems over a long period of time and have developed into a more complicated condition that have been neglected of proper treatment. For corrective chiropractic care, the process usually extends on a long term treatment. The length in itself is determined by the extent of the damage and how the patient responds to the treatment given.

Stage #3: Maintenance Chiropractic

As the name implies, this type of chiropractic care is intended to sustain any form of treatment already administered to a patient with spine problems. In some cases, chiropractic treatment are continued even after the initial treatments have proven successful. The idea behind this type of chiropractic care is to prevent the possibility of the condition's recurrence, especially in the case of your spine.

Importance of Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care is a form of alternative medicine that helps one achieve overall health. It focuses on an internal healing system that addresses any spinal problems that cause interference on the activities of your nerves and cells. This explains the growing popularity of chiropractic care for its focus on attaining the normal functions of the body.

As for your different health needs, there are different types of chiropractic care available. Hence, initial consultation with a chiropractor is necessary to evaluate the extent of the damage and what specific chiropractic treatment to correct them. By restoring your body's normal functions, you are enabling your body to naturally heal.

Also, it helps prevent further damage caused by the presence of such dysfunction in your health system. As soon as you start feeling any abnormalities in your body, seek the help of a nearby chiropractor to prevent the worsening of your condition and improve overall health.

Yours in health,
Dr. Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski
Doctors of Chiropractic
West Coast Family Chiropractic,
22 Banks Ave, Hillarys, WA 6025, AUSTRALIA
(08) 9402 8845

Do Cortisone Shots Actually Make Things Worse?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 02:02:00 +0000

Posted By Dr. Mercola

The steroid cortisone has long been considered a safe, reliable means to treat the pain and inflammation associated with sports injuries. Cortisone shots are one of the preferred treatments for overuse injuries of tendons.

But a major new review article, after examining the results of nearly four dozen randomized trials, found that people who received cortisone shots had a much lower rate of full recovery and a 63 percent higher risk of relapse.

The New York Times reports:

“In other words, in some way, the cortisone shots impede full recovery, and compared with those adopting a wait-and-see policy, those getting the shots ‘are worse off.’ Those people receiving multiple injections may be at particularly high risk for continuing damage."

Sources:New York Times October 27, 2010

Yours in health,
Dr. Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski
Doctors of Chiropractic
West Coast Family Chiropractic,
22 Banks Ave, Hillarys, WA 6025, AUSTRALIA
(08) 9402 8845

What is Wellness?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 22:04:00 +0000

Wellness is all the rage now. There are wellness coaches, wellness experts, wellness practitioners and the list continues to grow. Optimal health allopathically speaking has always been viewed as freedom from disease, so basically if you weren't sick you were considered healthy. This perspective has slowly started to change. Most people would agree that absence of disease, sickness or symptoms is a component of wellness, but does not indicate whether you indeed actually "well" or healthy.

Wellness is a mindset and a perspective not only associated with health but also with a certain lifestyle. A lifestyle that may include certain nutritional parameters to minimise chemicals or processed and refined foods for example. Maybe it also address maintaining a certain body weight, includes strength training and aerobic or anaerobic exercise regimes. A wellness model may also address controlling other recreational substances like cigarettes, alcohol and illicit drug use. Meditation, breathing exercises and yoga are some others to also name just a few that could also be included. All of these are an example of variables that can be included when discussing wellness, and are controllable by the individual who is including them in their wellness model.

Some other commonly used wellness approaches include dental checkups, eye exams and chiropractic adjustments. These are just three examples of proactive wellness professions that focus on optimal function and not just waiting for a problem to arise before providing crisis care. Can you imagine if your dentist said "wait until you're in a lot of pain to come and see me?" I am sure you would have a nice cavity by the time you were in pain! Or how about your chiropractor saying the same thing, "Wait until your back blows out before you come and see me." Not a good approach to maintaining your wellbeing!

Statistics indicate that individuals, who exercise, avoid high fat processed foods and are proactive with regards to their health, have fewer absences from their jobs, and access medical services less frequently than others who don't. One article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicated that, in one study, the "wellness" approach resulted in a 17 percent decline in total medical visits and a 35 percent decline in medical visits for minor illness. The subjects involved participated in a year-long self-care education program.

Lifestyle factors are largely found to be the most important determinants in an individual's pattern of general health and wellbeing. Expanding our awareness and continue our education may help an individual to make better decisions with regard to their daily lives and health and lifestyle objectives. The choices we make will influence many aspects of our daily lives, from our energy levels, our moods, how we feel etc. Leaving those decisions up to someone else to give us a tablet or perform a procedure may be too late. The secret is in learning to develop habits and make decisions that provide consistent "self care." The traditional medical model focuses on treating symptoms and curing sickness. The wellness concept encourages us to take responsibility for our decisions and lifestyles for our optimal wellbeing.

Being proactive and focusing on prevention may help a person achieve optimal levels of physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. We could then say wellness is an active ongoing process, whereby we continue to learn, become more aware and improve our decision making toward a more optimal wellbeing experience. Adopting habits and behavioural routines that promote improved health and quality of life.
A person's quality of life may be individually defined, wellness is an approach to optimal wellbeing that focuses on the whole person.

What is wellness? Keeping it simple we could define wellness as an integration of body, mind and spirit, and understanding that we each may have the ability to impact our individual state of health and wellbeing more than any other person, place or thing, and then act on that awareness to improve many aspects of our lives.

Yours in health,
Dr. Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski
Doctors of Chiropractic
West Coast Family Chiropractic,
22 Banks Ave, Hillarys, WA 6025, AUSTRALIA
(08) 9402 8845

Caution Over Back Surgery

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 21:29:00 +0000

New studies show some procedures used to relieve back pain for spinal compression fractures may offer no benefit, Dr. Jennifer Ashton tells Harry Smith.

Yours in health,
Dr. Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski
Doctors of Chiropractic
West Coast Family Chiropractic,
22 Banks Ave, Hillarys, WA 6025, AUSTRALIA
(08) 9402 8845

What Does A Chiropractor Do?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 21:29:00 +0000

Often the word chiropractor brings many thoughts to mind. In the early days of the profession many medical doctors labelled chiropractors "quacks" and charlatans. Chiropractic has often been associated with back and neck pain but a lot of the controversy that previously surrounded the profession grew out of chiropractors claims of many other improved health conditions such as asthma, ear infections, and a multiple of other medical conditions. People who are under chiropractic care either swear by it, or think that they are being coerced to come in for repeated care.
Chiropractic philosophy evolved around the principle that proper maintenance of the spine through chiropractic adjusting could improve, and support the nervous system keeping a person healthy. A Doctor of Chiropractic as they are also known, treats many musculo-skeletal problems as well. There are over 200 chiropractic techniques and 31 Chiropractic Colleges within the United States (18), Canada (2), Australasia (6), and Europe(5). Most chiropractors practice with the approach of relieving any interference or spinal mis-alignments that interfere with normal functioning of the spinal column and nerves associated with those structures. Many chiropractors use traditional manual adjusting procedures and some use both manual and mechanical multi-thrust instrument adjusting.
The spinal cord is housed within the spinal vertebral column. Many chiropractors understand that conditions or maladies may be affected through these nerves, and their nervous system pathways, affecting the organs and tissues. When there is a disturbance within this bony mechanism, this mechanical distress may disrupt the normal balance and harmony within our bodies, creating disturbances in our nervous system either through pain or symptoms, or in other ways which are not as obvious to us, until the dis-ease accumulates in a greater degree.
The evidence supports chiropractic improving back and neck pain and other musculo-skeletal problems through chiropractic adjustment. Continuing research into other areas of health benefits is still needed to fully understand the effects of chiropractic adjustments on the rest of the nervous system and a person's overall health.
Your initial visit to a chiropractor will most likely include a thorough medical history and consultation. Afterwards they will probably conduct a very thorough physical examination depending on the reasons you have presented with. Most commonly, orthopaedic and neurological tests will be conducted and other exams may also be necessary like x-rays or other imaging. From this information a chiropractor would then be able to determine if you are indeed a candidate for chiropractic care, or if referral to another health care specialist may be necessary. If you are a chiropractic candidate, an appropriate treatment plan can be formulated based on your needs and objectives for care. Depending on the nature and severity of a person's problem the number of adjustments can vary from person to person, as well as their personal medical history and the type of chiropractic technique utilised for treatment.
Most chiropractors work in conjunction with other allied health professionals and are very effective in the "team approach" of getting a person back to being in optimal state of wellness. A lot of the previous problems that existed between the different health professions has become less and less as educational standards and technology have allowed the different professions to improve their standards of care and practice more evidence based approaches, for the benefit of the patient.
This article is meant as a guide as a general overview and anyone experiencing a problem should consult with their doctor immediately for a complete and thorough assessment. For other interesting articles and health updates check out Latest Health News

Dr. Stacey Burke graduated from Logan College of Chiropractic in 1996 with a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree. He also holds an International Chiropractic Sports Science Diploma (I.C.S.S.D.). He is the co-founder of West Coast Family Chiropractic in Hillarys, Perth Western Australia.
Dr. Burke has had a passion for health, Chiropractic and nutrition from an early age. Always involved in sport he has completed the gruelling Hawaii Ironman Triathlon World Championships on two separate occassions, and is a six-time Ironman Triathlon finisher. He has also competed in several marathons including the Boston Marathon. Ice hockey still remains close to his heart and he still likes to play "oldtimers" hockey as often as he can. He regularly cycles and loves the West Australian people and lifestyle. His goal is to help people restore and maintain their health, and the health of their families and community through natural chiropractic methods, community outreach, and education.

Juicing is the Key to Radiant Health

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 21:17:00 +0000

by: Alex Howard, citizen journalist
(NaturalNews) Juicing is the vital key to giving you a radiant, energetic life and truly optimal health. There are valuable and sensitive micronutrients that are damaged when you heat foods. Cooking and processing food destroys these micronutrients by altering their shape and chemical composition. However, it is important not to see juice as a meal replacement - it is not. You still need to eat whole vegetables and some fruit for fiber, but this should not deter you from juicing.

*Most of us have compromised intestines as a result of less than optimal food choices over many years. This limits your body`s ability to absorb all the nutrients from the vegetables. Juicing will help to "pre-digest" them for you so you will receive most of the nutrition.
*You need to eat one pound of raw vegetables per 50 pounds of body weight per day. Vegetable juicing allows you to accomplish this, as you can eat more vegetables than you would normally. Reaching this goal through eating whole vegetables and salad alone is hard!

About a pint per day is ideally recommended. Always have the juice 20 minutes before a meal or 2 hours after a meal to allow digestion. A pint all at once makes less work cleaning up the juicer of course, but if a pint all at once is too much, it is fine to spread it out to more than one glass per day- it just takes slightly more effort!

Juicing is a time-consuming process, so you`ll probably be thinking to yourself, "I wonder if I can juice first thing and then drink it later?" This isn`t a great idea. Vegetable juice is very perishable so it`s best to drink all of your juice immediately. However, if you`re careful you can store it for up to 24 hours with only moderate nutritional decline. To store your juice:

1. Put your juice in a glass jar with an airtight lid and fill it to the very top. There should be a minimum amount of air in the jar as the oxygen in air (air is about 20 percent oxygen) will "oxidize" and damage the juice.
2. Wrap the jar with aluminum foil to block out all light. Light damages the juice.
3. Store it in the refrigerator until about 30 minutes prior to drinking, as vegetable juice should be consumed at room temperature.

Step 1: Now that you`re ready for the benefits of vegetable juice, you need to know what to juice.
Start out with these vegetables, as they are the easiest to digest:
- 5 sticks of celery (good source of sodium, antioxidants)
- Fennel (can help stomach cramps and indigestion, is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, can improve liver regeneration and is useful for upper respiratory catarrh, bronchitis and coughs
- A cucumber (good source of potassium, antioxidants)
- 1-2 carrots (anti-oxidants)
- 1 apple (anti-oxidants, anti-cancer cardio-protective)
- Raw ginger to taste (anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, immune stimulant, anti-inflammatory)

These aren`t as beneficial as the more nutritionally intense dark green vegetables. The carrot and apple are optional - if you can, leave them out, but if you need to sweeten the juice, use these - but always ensure the juice is MOSTLY vegetable-based. Once you get used to these vegetables, you can start adding the more nutritionally valuable, but less palatable, vegetables into your juice.

Vegetables to avoid in excess include carrots and beetroot. If you are healthy, you can add about one carrot or beetroot per pint of juice. The deep, intense colors of these foods provide additional benefits for many that are just not available in the green vegetables listed above.

Please remember that vegetable juice and fruit juices are two completely different substances in terms of nutrition. Excessive fruit in juices should be avoided. Although vegetable juice is processed, it doesn`t raise insulin levels like fruit juice. The only exceptions are carrot and beetroot juice (and most vegetables that grow underground), which function similarly to fruit juice in excess.

Step 2: When you have acclimatized yourself to juicing, you can start adding these vegetables:
- Red leaf lettuce
- Green leaf lettuce
- Romaine lettuce
- Endive
- Raw beetroot
- Spinach

Step 3: After you are used to these, then go to the next step:
- Cabbage
- Chinese Cabbage
- Bok Choy

Step 4: When you are ready, move on to adding herbs to your juicing. Herbs also make wonderful combinations, and there are two that work exceptionally well:
- Parsley
- Coriander
You need to be cautious with coriander, as many cannot tolerate it well. If you are new to juicing, hold off. These are more challenging vegetables to consume, but they are highly beneficial.

Step 5: The last step: Only use one or two of these leaves, as they are very bitter:
- Kale
- Collard Greens
- Dandelion Greens
- Mustard Greens (bitter)

www.healingdaily.com/juicing-for-he...
www.mercola.com/nutritionplan/juici...
www.living-foods.com/articles/benef...

About the author

Alex Howard is author of "WHY ME? My Journey from M.E. to Health and Happiness" and founder of The Optimum Health Clinic, an award winning clinic specialising in M.E./C.F.S./Fibromyalgia based in Harley Street Clinic, London, UK. The clinic has treated over 5,000 patients with M.E./Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia in over twenty-five countries around the world, and is currently running a two year clinical trial in conjunction with two top universities. A free information pack, including a 75 documentary about the clinic and its work, can be ordered from www.FreedomFromME.co.uk

Yours in health,
Dr. Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski
Doctors of Chiropractic
West Coast Family Chiropractic,
22 Banks Ave, Hillarys, WA 6025, AUSTRALIA
(08) 9402 8845

Ask The Perth Chiropractor What are muscle cramps?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 03:44:00 +0000

Perth chiropractor Dr. Eric Brukwinski of West Coast Family Chiropractic http://www.westcoastfamilychiropracti... answers the question "What are muscle cramps?"
A muscle cramp is an involuntarily and forcibly contracted muscle that does not relax. When we use the muscles that can be controlled voluntarily, such as those of our arms and legs, they alternately contract and relax as we move our limbs. Muscles that support our head, neck, and trunk contract similarly in a synchronized fashion to maintain our posture. A muscle (or even a few fibers of a muscle) that involuntarily (without consciously willing it) contracts is in a "spasm." If the spasm is forceful and sustained, it becomes a cramp. Muscle cramps cause a visible or palpable hardening of the involved muscle.

Perth Chiropractor Tennis Elbow Exercises

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 03:57:00 +0000

Perth chiropractor Dr. Eric Brukwinski of West Coast Family Chiropractic http://www.westcoastfamilychiropractic.com demonstrates a simple yet highly effective exercise for tennis elbow. Tennis elbow is also known as lateral epicondylitis and can be a painful condition affecting the outside of the forearm and elbow.

Perth Chiropractor "What is Fibromyalgia?"

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:48:00 +0000

Perth chiropractor Dr. Stacey Burke of West Coast Family Chiropractic http://www.westcoastfamilychiropractic.com answers the question "what is a fibromyalgia?"

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes muscle pain and fatigue (feeling tired). People with fibromyalgia have "tender points" on the body. Tender points are specific places on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, and legs. These points hurt when pressure is put on them.
People with fibromyalgia may also have other symptoms, such as:
Trouble sleeping
Morning stiffness
Headaches
Painful menstrual periods
Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
Problems with thinking and memory (sometimes called "fibro fog").

The Safety of Chiropractic Care By B.J. Hardick, D.C.

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:32:00 +0000

“Doctor, are chiropractic adjustments safe?”

This is one of the most common questions asked by people seeking or considering chiropractic care along with

“What are the risks?”
“Can I receive spinal adjustments without the chiropractor adjusting my neck?”
“Do chiropractic adjustments cause arthritis or even strokes?”

With media scrutiny over natural health procedures, specifically chiropractic and cervical adjustments, these are very important and serious questions, especially when one’s health is a priority. As a practicing chiropractor, I welcome the opportunity to address these questions. Chiropractic care is profoundly safe, and this article summarizes the current research, providing answers to these common questions and misconceptions.

Myths vs. Facts
In 1990, when I started working in the chiropractic profession, a common concern that patients had about chiropractic care was that “too many adjustments would cause arthritis.” Years later, science has affirmed what chiropractors have always seen and known to be true in clinical practice – that in fact chiropractic care is not only one of the most popular forms of care for people with arthritic conditions but one of the most effective.^1,2

Unfortunately, for hundreds of years, health care practices have been permeated by folklore, sometimes known as “old wives tales.” The trend continues today. A 2010 study of over 1,000 board-certified American pediatricians found that over 75% of the doctors subscribe to at least one known health care myths.³ These include the myths that eating chocolate causes acne, listening to Mozart will make a baby smarter, and swimming within 30 minutes of eating is not safe. Many doctors in this study were also found guilty of not knowing the expected protocols for treating burns, healing wounds, administering Aspirin to children, and safely dealing with seizures.

A review of the current literature indicates that frequent or extreme complications of chiropractic care should also be included in the list of the most common medical myths prevalent even in our medical offices.

Spinal Care vs. Chiropractic Care

The spinal column’s role in overall health cannot be undermined as it houses the brainstem, spinal cord, and central nerve system. Thus, for optimal health the spinal column must be examined and cared for by a skilled doctor.

Specifically, the foundation of chiropractic care teaches that damage to the spine, and misalignments of the vertebrae (subluxations) create interference in the nerve system, which are therefore reduced and corrected through specific chiropractic adjustments.^4,5

On that basis, chiropractic adjustment techniques have historically been rooted in precision and accuracy. Although there are now many unique chiropractic techniques taught in professional schools and in continuing education, these techniques commonly focus on the evaluation and measurement of subluxation patterns in the spine and the specific protocols used to reduce the areas of misalignment. In contrast, most other health care practices addressing the spine, never mind non-medical procedures attempted at home, are for the most part, generalized treatments of pain, global mobilizations of joints, and overall tractions of entire regions of the spinal column.

Receiving a specific chiropractic adjustment to reduce a subluxation is immensely different from receiving any form of “treatment” on the spine. Admittedly, I did not understand this practice in my first 20 years of receiving chiropractic adjustments. Until I attended chiropractic school and learned the techniques and analyses used in chiropractic science, I thought that chiropractic adjustments were all one-of-the-same. I can understand how the general public might also construe this misconception – I did and I grew up in a chiropractic family. Subluxations and adjustments are specific; the more extensive the analysis used by the chiropractor, the more precise the adjustment, and thus the better improvement in the patient’s health.

In my experience, the majority of the “chiropractic horror stories” shared in folklore, and even many of the cases cited by medical research, fall into one of two categories:

(a) The case of a the patient receiving care without extensive and correct analysis

(b) A person receiving spinal care incorrectly identified as “chiropractic care” administered by someone other than a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic

In fact, a 1995 report in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeuticsrevealed that many "manipulations," incorrectly attributed to chiropractors, had been rendered by non-chiropractic professionals including GPs, osteopaths, and physiotherapists, and even laypeople including a wife, a Kung-Fu practitioner, a blind masseur, and an Indian barber.^6,7 Therefore before someone suggests they were hurt or injured by a “chiropractor,” it is imperative to learn more about their experience. In all likelihood some level of scrutiny was overlooked – or they weren’t seeing a licensed chiropractor at all.

Modern chiropractors use advanced technological analyses such as X-ray, surface electromyography (sEMG), thermography, and digital postural analysis, along with traditional chiropractic methods of motion and static palpation, leg length analysis, and visual postural inspection to make a diagnosis and determine the appropriate adjustment. Naturally, to use layman’s terminology, if a patient presented to the chiropractor with a low left hip, and the chiropractor adjusted the left hip “even lower,” the patient would get worse. For this reason, your Doctor of Chiropractic is not only highly trained but expected under every state and provincial law to thoroughly assess your spine and condition prior to making recommendations or giving adjustments.

What about stroke?

Since the 1990s, the most extreme fallacy about chiropractic care is that “adjustments of the cervical spine cause strokes.” As a practitioner, I am pleased to observe greater inter-professional cooperation between physicians and chiropractors, but I am disappointed by the increasing number of patients who have consulted me following a discussion with their medical doctor and told to “not get their necks adjusted.”

A basic understanding of the origins of chiropractic care, and the critical function, anatomy, and physiology of the central nerve system demonstrates why the suggestion that patients should “not get their necks adjusted” is absurd. While chiropractors are concerned with the reduction of nerve system stress caused by spinal subluxations throughout the entire spine, one must understand that all spinal nerves first pass through the upper cervical spine. Therefore, interference to the nerves passing from the brain through the spinal cord to any area of the body could occur either at the associated spinal segment where the peripheral nerve exits the spinal column, or at any place higher, including the upper cervical spine. Historically, Dr. B.J. Palmer, who developed the modern chiropractic profession, focused the majority of his research and efforts into the reduction of upper cervical spine subluxations, expressing that upper cervical subluxations were the foremost cause of disease and dysfunction compared to other subluxations in the spine.⁸ Years later, science continues to affirm the importance of upper cervical alignment. It has been demonstrated that abnormal cervical alignment is a leading cause and an almost universal finding related to not only cervicogenic pain and headaches, but also the development of scoliosis^9,10 and even sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).^11.12,13 This awareness of the basic physiology of the nerve system is enough to understand the utmost importance of reducing subluxations in the cervical spine, above all other areas of the nerve system.

The “stroke hypothesis” stems from the theory that the irritation of the vertebral arteries, which pass through the cervical vertebrae, could lead to an ischemic stroke by causing accumulated plaque in the arteries to be dislodged. As strokes may cause serious, permanent impairments in a person’s health, there has naturally been much interest and research in this topic.

Consider how plaque develops in the arterial system of the body. Exposure to the known risks of poor diet, alcohol consumption, and smoking over a period of many years may cause molecular plaquing in the arteries, and it is true that when those molecules become dislodged, they can affect the brain, which is known as a stroke. Unfortunately, your family doctor or your chiropractor can’t prevent this from happening – you would need immediate emergency medical attention in hospital to prevent this from occurring.

Warning signs that a stroke may be about to occur include upper back pain, neck pain, and headaches. Naturally, people dealing with these symptoms may consult their chiropractor, hoping for a resolution of pain. Many may also consult their MDs and/or other trusted health care providers. Unfortunately, such pre-stroke symptoms as back pain, neck pain, and headaches may not explicitly appear to be the early stages of a vascular incident without the “red-flag” accompanying symptoms of blurred vision, dizziness, slurred speech, facial drooping, and lack of coordination. Therefore, as it is not standard practice for chiropractors or medical physicians to refer every case of back pain or headaches to the emergency room, patients may receive chiropractic or medical intervention without knowing that a stroke is ensuing.

When is a chiropractor or medical doctor negligent? If a patient visits the doctor’s office with neck pain and headaches while showing the classic signs of stroke (slurred speech, dizziness, poor coordination, etc.), the doctor is obligated to identify this and ensure that a stroke is not about to happen. If, after examination, a doctor identifies that a stroke may be forthcoming, the doctor must see that the patient receives the necessary immediate medical attention. Doctors who do not rule out the possibility of an imminent stroke or do not ensure necessary medical attention if a stroke is indeed forthcoming, would indeed be negligent – but this is very far from “causing” the person’s stroke, whether or not any treatment was rendered.

In fact, although a chiropractic adjustment would not slow down the incidence of the stroke, 2008 research shows that it would no more accelerate it than a visit to the medical doctor. In an article published in SPINE, a multi-disciplinary team of researchers found that while strokes are very rare events in the general public, there was only an increased correlation between chiropractic visits and the occurrence of stroke, due to patients with headaches and neck pain seeking care before their stroke.¹⁴Notably, the correlation of medical visits and strokes matched that of chiropractic visits and strokes; neither form of care was shown to increase the risk of stroke. In either case, the unfortunate patient was headed for a vascular incident. The occurrence of a stroke after a visit to the chiropractor (or the medical doctor) provides no association of cause, only correlation.¹⁵

Is your chiropractor required to warn you about the possibility of a stroke with a chiropractic adjustment? Interestingly, Dr. Christopher Kent, who is an attorney, independent researcher, and president of the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation, has expressed that “such informed consent must be based on appropriate information and since there is no scientific evidence that chiropractic adjustments or neck manipulations actually cause strokes, it is inappropriate to require a doctor to suggest that such a risk exists.”¹⁶ Nevertheless, most state and provincial laws require Doctors of Chiropractic to disclose a remote risk of stroke to their patients, for this is common practice for “material risks” even when the likelihood of occurrence is very small.¹⁷

Long-term Benefits of Chiropractic Care

Rather than study isolated reports of adverse incidences which may (or may not) occur within one visit to the chiropractor, it is more revealing to measure the long-term benefits of chiropractic care. Ultimately, studies consistently demonstrate that a healthier spine relates to a healthier person.

Beyond symptomatic relief, a growing number of chiropractors place emphasis on corrective care and spinal hygiene, to maintain and promote the health of the spinal column and nerve system.

Without maintenance of spinal health, we now know through numerous studies that posture misalignment not only affects neurology but also the vascular system. A 2004 study revealed that older men and women with hyperkyphotic postures have increased rates of death, specifically associated with increased atherosclerosis.¹⁸ With atherosclerosis increasing the incidence of an ischemic stroke, it is only logical for health-conscious individuals trying to prevent strokes to maintain healthy posture through chiropractic care.

Further, whereas a 2005 study showed that the reversal of the normal cervical curvature results in vascular changes in the spinal cord,¹⁹ the maintenance of this proper alignment should be of highest importance to those interested in the prevention of vascular incidents.

Statistically, the incidence rates favour those individuals receiving chiropractic care. In 1995, the Journal of Manual and Physiological Therapeutics published the risk of fatal stroke associated with chiropractic cervical adjustments. Although no cause was shown in the article, the correlation is estimated to be 1 in 400,000 or 0.00025%.²⁰ Newer studies suggest the risk may be as low as 1 in 6 million, 0.00002%.²¹ Notably, the National Center for Health Statistics indicates the mortality rate from stroke in the general population is more than twice the rate of the most conservative estimates correlating chiropractic. The risk in the general population is 1 in 175,000 or 0.00057%.²²

Not only is the risk of death from stroke after a cervical adjustment substantially less than the risk of fatal stroke in the general population, other long-term studies of chiropractic patients have shown:

Improved lung capacity, athletic ability, and vision²³
Better functional capacity, and reduced relapse of prior disability²⁴
Better overall health and greater activity levels²⁵
Enhanced DNA repair and enzyme activity; reduced impact of oxidative stress²⁶
Fewer hospital visits, reduced pharmaceutical costs, and medical expenditures²⁷
Improvement in health, wellness, and quality of life^28,29

The Final Verdict: Malpractice Claims

Lastly, as it is always possible that research could be slanted based on who was conducting it, perhaps the best measures of safety are the malpractice insurance costs for chiropractors and the actual frequency and success of claims filed against them. No one pays closer attention to injury statistics than Malpractice Insurance carriers.

According to the Canadian Medical Protective Association, annual malpractice rates for Ontario medical doctors range from $1,572 for the family physician and $7,332 for the neurologist, to $44,520 for the Obstetrician.³⁰By comparison, the Canadian Chiropractic Protective Association’s standard rate for chiropractic malpractice insurance is less than $1,300 per year. Notably, the first-year doctor of chiropractic is extended a new member discount of approximately 50% (as opposed to an increased premium), not reflecting any greater risk for a patient seeing a doctor with less experience.³¹

American rates reflect the inter-professional differences to an even greater degree. Whereas the U.S. physician could pay $25,000 to $50,000 per year for malpractice coverage, U.S. chiropractors pay annual rates less than $5,000.^32,33 The chiropractic profession has a well-established record of safety and efficacy, and the chiropractor’s malpractice insurance rates remain among the lowest across health professions.³⁴The varying rates are directly related to the risk involved in the doctors’ procedures, the claims filed against them, and the likelihood of future lawsuits.³⁵

Although they are sensationalized in the media when they do occur, claims against chiropractors are very rare. Your chiropractor’s office consistently proves itself to be one of the safest health care facilities you can choose for your family.

Moving Forward

Unquestionably, there have been decades of misinterpretations, and unfortunately chiropractic myths have been passed down through generations. Certainly, professional bias has also played a role in the public’s misunderstanding of the safety and efficacy of chiropractic care. (The U.S. Court of Appeals determined in 1990 that the American Medical Association had engaged in a “lengthy, systematic, successful and unlawful boycott” designed to restrict cooperation between medical doctors and doctors of chiropractic.³⁶) Fortunately, we are long past that day. What you would hope to find in the 21^st century are cooperative teams of health care professionals working together for your benefit.

My personal recommendation is to seek a chiropractor who not only uses current technology and techniques to analyze and render care to his or her patients, but also is willing to engage in dialogue with your other health care providers. I recommend the same when choosing an M.D.

With this better understanding of chiropractic myths and the benefits of maintaining a healthy spine, I trust that you can comfortably move forward, integrating chiropractic care into your wellness lifestyle.

¹ Rao JK, Mihaliak K, Kroenke K, Bradley J, Tierney WM, Weinberger M. Use of complementary therapies for arthritis among patients of rheumatologists. Ann Intern Med 1999;131:409-416.
² Chiropractic for arthritis - new research shows wide usage and satisfaction. Dynamic Chiropractic November 1, 1999;17(23)., http://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=36338
³ Tobin AM. Do pediatricians subscribe to old wives’ tales? Some do, U.S. survey suggests. The Canadian Press; May 3, 2010. http://www.fftimes.com/node/233157
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Perth Chiropractor

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 06:56:00 +0000

Perth Chiropractic Clinic West Coast Family Chiropractic http://www.westcoastfamilychiropracti...located at 22 Banks Ave Hillarys, West Australia 6025. Our phone number is (08) 9402 8845. We are conveniently located across from the south entrance of the Whitfords Shopping Center. easily accessible to many suburbs including Kallaroo, Mullaloo, Padbury, Beldon, Sorrento, Marmion, North Beach, Karrinyup, Scarborough, City Beach, Floreat, Joondalup and many others.

Perth Chiropractor - What is a whiplash injury?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:49:00 +0000

Perth Chiropractor Dr. Eric Brukwinski discusses "What is a whiplash injury" Dr. Brukwinski is co-founder of West Coast Family Chiropractic in Perth, Western Australia.http://www.westcoastfamilychiropracti... Whiplash injuries often describes a series of symptoms associated with hyper flexion - extension injuries of the head and neck after a motor vehicle accident or trauma.

Perth Chiropractor - What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Stacey Burke and Dr. Eric Brukwinski) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:56:00 +0000

Perth Chiropractor Dr. Stacey Burke discusses "What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?" Dr. Burke is co-founder of West Coast Family Chiropractic in Perth, Western Australia. http://www.westcoastfamilychiropractic.com. Carpal tunnel syndrome often describes a series of symptoms involving inflammation and irritation on the nerves of the wrist.