Chiropractic Stories

NIH Endorses Alternative Therapies for Back Pain

In the midst of the debate on healthcare, it may be interesting to note to what extent the Federal government is changing its bureaucratic mindset about what is good medicine and healthcare. The evidence: The National Institute of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
(Read more)

Chiropractic Targets Back Pain Caused by Sacroiliac

Physical therapy and chiropractic care can often relieve the lower-back pain associated with problems of the sacroiliac joint. Some 40 percent of lower-back pain stems from sacroiliac joint issues. This joint is one of two - one on the left and one on the right - in the pelvis that link the tailbone (sacrum), which is part of the spine, and the large pelvic bone (ilium). This strong, snug union produces the base for spinal movements to take place. The sacroiliac joint can be injured by such things as a direct fall on the buttocks, a vehicle accident, or even overlifting - and sometimes it just happens through normal activities without a noticeable trauma.
(Read more)

Knee Cartilage Damage Raises Osteoarthritis Risk

A recent study of middle-aged and elderly patients showed that damage to the cushioning cartilage in the knee can often lead to osteoarthritis. The cartilage is known as the meniscus. Actually, there are two menisci, one on the inside of the knee and one on the outside. These tough, resilient, wedge-shaped cushions protect the thigh bone (femur) and main shin bone (tibia) from damaging one another and properly distribute the load of the body onto the joint.
(Read more)

Expert Commentary: Thomas Hyland Robertson, DC 9/23/2009

Imagine a complicated pulley setup with rubber shock-absorbers between the parts and ropes moving through the system. What if you left this pulley out in the weather for 30 years, with minimal maintenance or lubrication? Rust and grit would probably start to restrict the movement of the parts, and the rubber might get brittle. The ropes could even tighten up and jam the pulley's motion.
(Read more)

Chiropractic Can Relieve Rising Economy-Related Stress

Stress, and the tension in the spine, nervous system, back and neck that it breeds, is rising like a tide in America today along with the economic woes afflicting the nation – and chiropractors are well positioned to tackle the problems.
    
A survey done not too long ago by the American Psychological Association (APA) revealed that economy-related stress is making Americans angry, sleepless and anxious. Seventy-two percent of respondents pointed to money as a major source of stress, and 69 percent cited the economy, according to the APA.

The 3 Legs of the Chiropractic "Stool"

Chiropractors the world over see their profession supported and given solidity by three “legs,” much like a three-legged stool – all three of which are necessary for it to be stable.
   
Chiropractic philosophy. If the stool’s seat is the profession of chiropractic itself, the first leg is that of the profession’s philosophy. The philosophy is summed up in the notion that the road to perfect maintenance of health is ensured by keeping the neural pathways between the brain and the body open.

Test for Lou Gehrig's Disease Investigated

A long-sought simple test to identify Lou Gehrig’s disease in its earliest stages may be in the offing with the discovery of high levels of several proteins in the spinal fluid of the disorder’s victims, a recent study published in the journal Neurology revealed.
   
If such a test is developed, it might also lead to accurate measurement of the development of the sometimes fast-progressing malady and useful monitoring of the effects of treatment.

Chiropractic Stress Management May Boost Overall Health

When the wear and tear of life start to “get on our nerves,” it’s exactly our nerves that may be getting impacted. Stress bears down on the nervous system, and that in turn can create problems with headaches, backache, neck pain, fatigue or digestive difficulties.

And that’s where chiropractic care comes in. Chiropractors’ primary area of expertise is the nervous system, especially the spine. The nervous system as a whole is the coordinator of all of the body’s processes – including those in the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, reproductive, endocrine and musculoskeletal systems. So to correct problems in those systems, the chiropractor focuses on the all-important nervous system, which underpins them all.

Expert Commentary: Dr. Peter Ferraro, DC May 6, 2009

Chiropractic and stress management. To chiropractors it is a natural fit. For stress can be a hidden danger to your health, And the key word here is: hidden. In some ways those who say they are stressed out are lucky. At least in one sense they have an awareness of a problem. It’s up to them to deal with it.

Expert Commentary: Dr. Peter Ferraro, D.C. April 24, 2009

Back pain may be the leading debilitating ailment in the United States. maybe the world. And with a problem of such proportions, there is a great deal of money to be made. Tens of thousands of patients every year undergo traumatic and expensive back surgery to repair herniated discs.