Waldorf Chronicles

Waldorf Chiropractic Center as an app for you.  Make appointments, get directions to the office, one touch dialing, links to the office website, twitter, face book and much more.

Click here to be redirected to download. 

Dr Eric appeared on a TV morning show to talk about what chiropractic is.  Here is the link.

http://youtu.be/DzpTPyV_WZM 

#1. Not Very Many People Go To See A Chiropractor:

Chiropractic is the 3^rd largest primary health care profession in the western world next to Medicine and Dentistry.

#2. Chiropractic Doctors Are Not Real Doctors:

Doctors of Chiropractic and Doctors of Medicine take the same class load with a  exceptions that you can see in the table to the right. Residencies are required by both degrees prior to graduation. These entail the student successfully completing several hundred clinical hours of “real” patient management in a clinical setting under professional supervision.  Most Chiropractic colleges require students to partake in a clinical externship program which places them in actual chiropractic offices, which allows them to enhance their knowledge on clinical skills, as well as, how to run an office from all aspects. Both Doctors have to successfully complete National Board Exams prior to obtaining a license.  Continuing education is then required to maintain a high level of competency and to stay up to date on the latest research and techniques for both Doctorate degrees.

#3. Chiropractors Only Treat Back Pain:

Back pain is what Chiropractors are known for, but the root of Chiropractic is much deeper than that.  Chiropractors affect your spinal column, which in turn affects your nerves and tissues.  This allows us to help your body heal itself so you can develop Wellness from Within.  Some of the non soft tissue conditions we can help treat are: migraine headaches, ear infections, colic, ADD, sinus issues, common cold, dysmenorrhea  (painful menses), ulcers and bowel complications, just to list a few.

#4. Spinal Adjustments Hurt:

People usually feel instant relief after a spinal adjustment.  Patients tend to get off the table feeling more relaxed, higher energy, out of discomfort/pain . Patients that are in an acute pain level sometimes experience pain during the actual adjustment because any movement during the acute phase causes them pain, but after the treatment they usually feel relief and a decrease in the pain level.

#5. Spinal Adjustments Are Dangerous:

Chiropractic adjustments are safe when performed by a Doctor of Chiropractic, but can be dangerous when performed by another healthcare professional that is less trained in the area of expertise.  It has been shown that Chiropractic adjustments are among the safest and most effective ways to treat back and neck pain.  Conservative spinal manipulations should be pursued in most cases before considering drug and surgical intervention.

The result of injury following a chiropractic treatment is less than 0.01% according to medical studies.  This compares with a much higher risk of invasive procedures involving injections, medications, and surgeries. Some people fear they will have a stroke if their neck is adjusted; the truth is there is no scientific evidence to show an increase risk of any serious event following a chiropractic adjustment.  There are some who suggest that the chance of having a stroke after a spinal manipulation is about 1 in 1,000,000.  This number has never been scientifically proven it is only estimated, but it shows that you have a better chance of being struck by lightening, being killed on a bicycle and dying from taking aspirin then by being seriously injured by chiropractic care.

#6. Cracking your Knuckles will give you Arthritis:

There was a study done to see if there was a correlation between one developing osteoarthrits and cracking their knuckles on their hands.  The participants included 15 people who cracked their knuckles and 13 who did not crack their knuckles.  Of the 15 that did crack their knuckles only 1 showed arthritic changes. On the contrary, 5 of the 13 who did not crack their knuckles showed that they had arthritic changes in their hands.  This shows that joints receive a therapeutic effect from an adjustment.  This is because the movement of the joint back into place allows the joint itself to get nourishment from the exchange of gases .  It also allows the fluid and gases of the joint capsule to move and not stay stagnant, which also helps decrease the arthritic formation.

#7. Chiropractors Crack Your Bones:

A chiropractic adjustment is focused on mobilizing a specific joint that is fixated to restore normal function.  This fixation affects your whole body through handicapping other joints, as well as, internal organs.  The audible sound, which is sometimes heard during the adjustment, is the sound of Oxygen, Nitrogen and CO2 being released due to the opening of the joint space.

#8. Chiropractic Care Is Only For Adults:

Chiropractic care is safe for children of all ages, including babies.  Childhood is the stage in life where you are growing, learning, exploring and playing so the musculoskeletal system is under a lot of stress.  OSHA estimates that a child sustains 1,500 spinal related traumas before the age of 5.  Chiropractic care can help kiddos develop Wellness from Within and prevent many ailments that present during childhood such as: colic, ear infections, common colds, bowel issues, growth pains, athletic injuries to list a few.

#9. Chiropractic Care Is Expensive:

Most insurance companies have Chiropractic coverage.  Insurances are turning to more cost effective, preventative measures to help their clients stay healthy and prevent complications and serious health issues later in life. Most Chiropractors also offer a cash based price for those patients that do not have insurance or do not have insurance coverage for Chiropractic care.  This is usually at an affordable cost so that you can keep yourself and your family healthy.

#10. You Will Have To Continue Chiropractic Care For The Rest Of Your Life:

Chiropractors promote preventative care to help their patients avoid pain, disease and sickness in their patients.  After getting their patients out of acute pain, they usually recommend their patients return for checkups.  This is equivalent to a dentist recommending checkups to help their patients prevent cavities and gum disease.  The preventative approach in health care has been gaining large support in the medical community and with insurance because it has been proven to be cost and health effective in the long term. Chiropractic checkups are safe, convenient, quick and natural and prevent complicated problems in the future. Many patients see changes in their energy, immune function, sleep patterns and general well being with chiropractic care, but it always is your choice on how often you see your Chiropractor.

Well it is day eight and I am still loosing weight. I lost one pound this morning bringing my total weight lost to 32 pounds!  I am not really hungry and I am sleeping a lot better.  The last 2 nights I have slept the entire night though without waking up.  This in it self is really big!  I cannot remember the last time I was able to do this.  As I had said before I am starting pre-sale.  It takes about a week for me to get the drops here when I place an order so I want to know how many to get on my first order so no one has to wait.  

Call now 908-541-1717! 

So the first weekend on the HCG diet plan had its challenges being at home and having more food around me, but I think I did fine.   I am starting to see the weight loss in my face and my wife had told me over the weekend that see can see the by belly looks flatter.  I am also feeling it in my cloths.  Shorts that I wore on vacation just two weeks ago are now roomier!  

So I am going to start taking pre-orders for HCG is there anyone out there that is ready for the challenge of loosing weight and being healthy!

Call the office and let me know!  (908) 541-1717! 

So yesterday went just fine.  I was not starving, but when I did have a hunger pang I went for water and they did the trick.  500 cal.  a day is not easy and it is not hard at the same time.  It all comes down to discipline and how bad do you what it.  

When my wife and I got married I had gotten 2 wedding bands.  One that was very nice to wear every day and one to wear when I was doing things like diving and activities that could damage a nice band. I have not been able to get my nice band on my finger for a couple of months now so I have been wearing the plain band for a while.  After weighing myself today I thought it was time to try on the nice band, and it FIT!  So you might be thinking how much weight did I loose between yesterday and today........

THE ANSWER IS 15 POUNDS!!!!! This brings the total lost in 4 days to 19 pounds.  

Today's menu consists of stake and mushrooms for lunch with some fresh melon. When I get home I think I am going with the chicken bruschetta and some strawberries.

Come back tomorrow and see what is happening! 

So today starts my first day of loading!  My wife started yesterday and I saw how she had trouble eating the 6000 cal.  I am going to do a grazing, just making sure that I am eating something every hour until I get to 6000.  I took the drops as directed at 7 am and have to say they have to taste or smell so that will not be a problem for anyone.  The book says not to weigh in today or tomorrow so I am not going to.  Seeing what I weighed yesterday was enough to upset me.  

So I am going into this with the mind set of nothing tastes better then being thin and healthy!

See you tomorrow with day 2! 

On September 19 something big is going to happen at Waldorf Chiropractic Center!  Dr. Eric is going to embark on a 41 day HCG Diet Cycle.  If the diet is a success for him, he will endorse it and offer it to his patients.  Please come visit the blog daily as Dr. Eric will be posting everyday how things are going and how much weight he is loosing daily.  Dr. Eric has put many hours into researching different HCG companies and thinks he has found the one that will give the best results for his patients, however he wanted to go thought the program first to see what others doing the plan will experience.  This system claims that women who follow all the guidelines to the letter can lose as much as 1-1.5 lbs. a day and men can loose 1.5-2 lbs. a day.

So please stay tuned there will be much more information and possibly videos to follow! 

Have you ever had to restart your PC after the hard drive froze from being overwhelmed?  You probably hit 'Control+Alt+Delete' to get your programs running smoothly again, right?  Well your human computer needs a periodic rebooting too, and Chiropractic Adjustments do just that.

Your Nerve System gets easily overwhelmed from everyday stress.  An urgent deadline at work, unexpected crisis with your children or any inconvenient change in your routine can act as an unsolicited stressor (spyware or a virus) that bogs down your nerves.  The result... your body begins to slow down, you feel like you're running sluggish and eventually you "freeze up" with an illness.  Getting an adjustment is like hitting the Control+Alt+Delete buttons.  It clears your Nerve System of unwanted stress and gets things running smoothly again. 

All the stress our grandparents experienced in a week, today we absorb in just 24 hours!  If you're not making an effort to purge that tension from your human computer on a consistent basis, you're asking for trouble.  Don't wait until your hard drive crashes.  Get 'rebooted' routinely with Chiropractic care and stay ahead of the failure.   We're looking out for you!

Ever wonder why kids need chiropractic care.  I saw this video and it was clear as day!

   Fortune tellers read the life line in the palms of a client's hands.  Cardiologists interpret the blipping life lines of a patient's EKG.  But Chiropractors dedicate their work to the most important life line of them all, the spinal cord and it's protective covering... the spine. 

Your spinal cord conducts the data of Life from your brain to your body and is protected by a bony fortress called the spine.  The spine itself is an engineering marvel.  Made up of articulating bones called vertebrae, each segment lines up perfectly with the next to protect the data within the spinal cord and to allow for normal sitting, standing, and movement in an infinite number of ways.  It's this intimate relationship between spinal alignment, spinal motion and Life that the Chiropractor is devoted to.  Distort the alignment of the spine, and you distort the flow of Life...  Cement the motion of individual segments and you cement the flow of Life!

For a Chiropractor, normal lateral curves, plumb posture and uninhibited motion of a healthy spine are more than just simple diagnostic findings.  They are the validation that Life itself is flowing freely through the patient like a river.  And as long as Life is flowing through the Line... Healing is sure to follow.  Thanks for taking care of your Life Line!  Until next time. 

Chiropractic

Adjustments are like

In a landmark 1921 study done to show the effectiveness of chiropractic, Henry

Windsor, MD concluded “disease appears to precede old age and to cause it. The

spine becomes stiff first and old age follows. Therefore, we may say a man is as

old as his spine, the arteries becoming hardened later from constant vasomotor

spasm, following sympathetic irritation.”

So not only is Chiropractic great for keeping your spine limber and flexible. But the

extra benefits extend to improved nerve flow, organ function and overall health

performance!

Want to move, feel and function like you did when you were younger? Make

chiropractic a regular part of your age defying routine. With adjustments, 40 could

really be the new 25!

You're a couple of weeks into your chiropractic care and you're beginning to feel better already.  You want to get back to your regular routine as soon as possible.  There's a lot to do around the house, you've got a family to take care of and you can't wait to get back to exercising.  We understand your urgency to start 'living' again.  Problem is... the paint's not quite dry yet.

It's not uncommon to feel 'done' after a few adjustments.  When the Innate, recuperative abilities of your body kick in, you might look and feel remarkably new... like a fresh coat of paint.  But like a fresh coat of paint, looks can be deceiving.  What seems completely dry (healed) on the surface, may still have a few tacky areas underneath.  If you jump the gun and try to re-hang the fixtures, you might ruin the finish and have to start all over again.     

Complete and thorough healing requires time.  Even though you may feel like your old self after a few chiropractic sessions, it's no green light to go back to your old activities.  The stabilizing phase of care (where you feel so good you wonder why you're still coming in) is where all the 'paint curing' happens.  Give your body the time it needs to completely dry and you'll be happier with the end results.  Until next time.  

It was especially true of people who had strokes in one of their brain's four lobes, which have a greater chance of recurrence than strokes that occur deep in the brain.

People who have a stroke in one of their lobes have a 22 percent risk of a second stroke when they take statins, compared with a 14 percent risk among those not taking a statin.

According to Reuters:

"The researchers said it is not clear how statins increase the bleeding risk in these patients. It may be having low cholesterol increases the risk of bleeding in the brain, or it may be that statins affect clotting factors in the blood that increase the risk of a brain hemorrhage in these patients."

Sources:

NaturalNews) Chiropractic during pregnancy is an important part of prenatal care. Unfortunately, not enough women know of the benefits of chiropractic care both for themselves and their unborn baby. A woman's body undergoes an amazing amount of changes during pregnancy. As her baby grows her musculoskeletal system must adjust accordingly to accommodate the growing uterus and prepare for delivery. Chiropractic care helps her body to stay aligned as these changes occur and also helps to keep the nervous system functioning at its optimal level.

Many pregnant women experience low back pain, hip pain, and pubic symphysis. These discomforts are the result of the stresses put on the body by the rapid growth of the baby and the changes the body must undergo to accommodate those adjustments. As her belly gets bigger, the woman's center of gravity changes. The growth is so quick that it is often difficult for the low back and pelvis to adjust to this change. This causes stress in those areas, resulting in misalignments, (or subluxations as they are called by chiropractors) which then causes pain and dysfunction. If a woman's low back and pelvis was out of alignment before her pregnancy it is even harder for her back and pelvis to adjust. When the pelvis is subluxated (misaligned) it affects the uterus and the position of the growing baby.

The uterus is connected to the pelvis by ligaments: the broad ligament, the uterosacral ligaments, and the round ligaments. Like a hot air balloon tethered to the ground, these ligaments work to keep the uterus in the proper place in the pelvis and allow support as the uterus grows to accommodate the growing baby. If the pelvis is subluxated, these ligaments can become torqued. When the ligaments are affected, they directly affect the position of the uterus which can result in the baby not being in an optimal position. This type of situation may result in a breech baby or a transverse (sideways) baby.

The goal of the chiropractor is to correct the subluxations in the pelvis to help balance the uterus and allow the baby to get into a better position. Chiropractic adjustments for a pregnant woman are specific, gentle, and safe. Some chiropractors are certified in the Webster Technique which is a technique that is used to relieve intrauterine constraint caused by imbalance in the pelvis and the pelvic ligaments. Webster certified chiropractors adjust the pelvis and also feel for and relieve tension in the round ligaments.

Besides increasing a pregnant woman's comfort level, an aligned pelvis can result in a quicker, safer, and easier birth. When a baby is in breech or transverse position a cesarean section is almost always performed. Because they are so common many people forget that a c-section is a major abdominal surgery and can be risky. Helping the baby to get into a proper head-down position by balancing the pelvis and ligaments helps to avoid c-sections due to baby positioning. Other variations in baby position such as a tilted head or a "sunny side up" baby (face up during delivery) can also be caused by pelvic imbalance and may result in a more difficult, painful, and longer labor and delivery.

NEWLY RELEASED STUDY CONFIRMS:
Chiropractic Does Not Increase Risk of Stroke

by American Chiropractic Association

A new study finds there is no evidence of excess risk of stroke following chiropractic spinal manipulation, according to a February 2008 report in the journal Spine. In the study, researchers noted that patients are no more likely to suffer a stroke following chiropractic treatment than they would after visiting their family doctor’s office.

The study goes on to say that any observed association between a vertebrobasilar artery (VBA) stroke and chiropractic manipulation is likely due to patients with an undiagnosed vertebral artery dissection seeking care for neck pain and headache before their stroke.

“This may prove to be one of the most important and significant studies in the profession’s history,” said ACA President Glenn Manceaux, DC. “The results of this study confirm that chiropractic manipulation is a safe and appropriate course of treatment.”

The issue of stroke being associated with a chiropractic neck adjustment focuses around the very rare occurrence of a tear to the vertebral artery as it passes through the sides of the upper cervical vertebrae and into the base of the skull. An injury to the arterial wall may lead to formation of a blood clot, which can break free and travel upward until it lodges in one of the smaller blood vessels in the base of the brain, blocking circulation.

There are many reports in the literature of cervical artery dissections (CADs) occurring after everyday activities that most people would consider non-traumatic, such as turning the head when driving, having your hair washed at a beauty salon, or sleeping on your stomach.

A research paper published in 2001 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found there is only a one-in-5.85-million risk that a chiropractic neck adjustment will be associated with a subsequent CAD and stroke.

In this new study, the Canadian team looked at nine years of data in Ontario, and found that only 818 patients with a VBA stroke were reported among a population of some 11.5 million people. Unlike a previous study in 2001 that investigated the relationship between chiropractic visits and vertebral artery stroke, researchers in this study also studied visits to family doctors that preceded this kind of stroke.

According to the study’s authors, “Because the association between chiropractic visits and VBA stroke is not greater than the association between PCP visits and VBA stroke, there is no excess risk of VBA stroke from chiropractic care.”

Stroke Warning Signs

While there are no standard screening procedures to identify patients with neck pain who are also at risk of a VBA stroke, health care providers should be aware of the following stroke warning:

> Sudden difficulty speaking (slurred speech) understanding what people are saying
> Sudden onset of confusion or altered mental status, such as loss of consciousness, or recognizing people who should be familiar
> Sudden numbness or tingling on one side the face or body, or both
> Sudden onset of dizziness or unsteadiness, loss of balance or coordination, or both
> Sudden difficulty walking or standing upright
> Sudden severe headache
> Sudden severe unexplained upper-neck pain
> Sudden trouble with vision or sight

Vertigo is a condition characterized by dizziness with a sensation of spinning.  Because of the feeling of movement or rotation, many sufferers also feel nausea and can experience lightheadedness and balance problems.  The diagnosis of vertigo is typically based on the symptoms of the patients as there are not specific lab tests and the patients may have a variety of situations that seem to be related.  In this study, the nervous system was looked to for a causal relationship.

Of the 60 patients in this study, 56 reported having some form of physical trauma prior to the onset of their vertigo. Of these 25 had reported having automobile accidents, 16 had suffered a sports injury including skiing, bicycling, or horseback riding, and 6 slipped and fell on ice.  It was noted that all of these individual's suffered trauma to either their head or neck area.

Upon initial examinations of the subjects, it was reported that vertebral subluxations were found in all 60 patients. Analysis procedures using paraspinal digital infrared imaging and laser-aligned radiography, were performed in order to have a consistent means of measuring subluxation findings and progress of correction.

Specific chiropractic care for the correction of subluxations was rendered to all 60 subjects in this study. The results showed that all of the patients in this study responded positively to the chiropractic care. The time frame for the responses varied from between one and 6 months.  Of the original 60 patients, 48 were totally symptom free within six months. The remaining 12 patients had also shown good improvement by either decreases in severity or frequency in episodes of vertigo.

In the conclusion, the author of the study noted, "A causal link between trauma-induced upper cervical (neck) injury and the onset of vertigo appears to exist. Correcting the injury to the upper cervical spine through the use of IUCCA protocol (a form of chiropractic care) appears to improve and/or reverse vertigo disorders."

A report of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) on the Chiropractic Health Care Demonstration Project was finalized by DOD consultants Birch and Davis and was submitted to the U.S. Congress. The report authors, were cautious at best with their recommendations but the results of the study speak for themselves. The following are some of the statistics of patient responses to chiropractic care verses medical care.

• How satisfied are you with improvement in your condition: Excellent - Chiropractic care, 81.5% v. 55.6% for medical care.
• How satisfied are you with the practitioner's willingness to spend time with you:  Excellent: Chiropractic care, 93.7% v. 77.5%  for medical care.
• How satisfied are you with the explanation of your treatment: Excellent: Chiropractic care, 95.1% v. 81.1%  for medical care.
• What best describes you today?  Not restricted: Chiropractic care, 48.5% v 32.1%  for medical care. Somewhat restricted Chiropractic care, 44.1% v. 50.0  for medical care.  Very restricted: Chiropractic care, 7.4% v. 17.9%  for medical care.
• What is your current level of activity: * Not restricted: Chiropractic care, 73.4% v. 53.9%  for medical care.  Somewhat restricted: Chiropractic care, 19.2% v. 29.4%  for medical care.  Very restricted: Chiropractic care, 7.4% v. 17.7%  for medical care.
• I feel better now * Strongly agree: Chiropractic care, 78.5% v. 49.2%  for medical care.  Somewhat agree: Chiropractic care, 14.6% v. 22.0%  for medical care.  Strongly disagree: Chiropractic care, 6.9% v. 28.8%  for medical care.
• I had good results from the treatment * Strongly agree: Chiropractic care, 82.9% v. 50.7%  for medical care.  Somewhat agree: Chiropractic care, 12.6% v. 24.8%  for medical care.   Strongly disagree: Chiropractic care, 4.6% v. 24.6%  for medical care.
• The pain is worse now * Strongly agree: Chiropractic care, 4.4% v. 9.9%  for medical care.  Somewhat agree: Chiropractic care, 7.6% v. 19.6%  for medical care.   Strongly disagree: Chiropractic care, 88.0% v. 70.5%  for medical care.
• Days off duty (0 days) Chiropractic care, 87.1% v. 66.1%  for medical care.  (1-4 days) Chiropractic care, 9.6% v. 25.8%  for medical care.(5+ days) 3.3% v. 8.0%  for medical care.
• Days on restricted duty (0 days) Chiropractic care, 71.5% v. 51.1%  for medical care.(1-4 days) Chiropractic care, 4.2% v. 8.2%  for medical care.  (5+days) Chiropractic care, 2.3% v. 40.7% for medical care.

These studies document three separate cases of individuals who had suffered with asthma for years. The first was a 28-year-old athletic male who had been suffering from asthma since childhood.  The study notes that his symptoms were most prevalent when exercising and at night. He was using an inhaler daily in the morning and at night before going to bed.  The report then notes that he began a program of chiropractic care.  The study reported that a few weeks into his care he felt so good that one night he forgot to use his inhaler. He reported that he suffered no ill-effects and reported he had a “great night's sleep”.  From that point forward he reportedly did not use his inhaler at night, and was extremely pleased with the results achieved from chiropractic care.

The next case was a 56-year-old woman who had been diagnosed with asthma 5 years previously. She reported that her main symptoms were chest tightness and coughing.  After just 2 weeks of chiropractic care, she reported feeling “much better within herself”. She reported that she found it much easier to breathe with less coughing. Additionally she also reported feeling less tired, and had also noticed that her dry skin had apparently also shown dramatic improvement.  “I knew this treatment was having an effect as I could feel the changes happening.”

The third case in this report was of a 26-year-old woman, who had suffered with asthma since childhood.  In her case she played rugby competitively for a ladies’ team and she reported that she was always having to stop during the game to use her inhaler.  She would also awaken each night wheezing and have to use her inhaler. In her case, after starting chiropractic, she reported being able to play a whole game of rugby without needing her inhaler once, and was sleeping through the night uninterrupted.

The report noted that "the mechanism by which chiropractic is thought to affect asthma is based upon the proposition that spinal adjustment can modify autonomic nervous system". 

From the Chicago Tribune comes an article dated November 26, 2000 entitled, "New Respect Boosts Chiropractic as a Mainstream Therapy". In this article are various chiropractic success stories from patients.  The story then discusses an HMO company, Alternative Medicine Inc. This HMO, headquartered in Highland Park, is the first insurance company in the country to combine chiropractic and conventional medicine in an HMO setting. The real difference is that here chiropractors are used as primary care physicians and gatekeepers.   James Zechman is the co-founder of Alternative Medicine Inc., and reported in the article that the inclusion of chiropractic into the HMO is a huge success.  According to Zechman, the combination has resulted in an almost 80 percent reduction in hospitalizations during the last two years. Outpatient surgery was reduced by almost 85 percent and pharmaceutical drug usage was reduced by 56 percent.  A common saying in chiropractic is that, "Chiropractic does not cost, it pays!"  Based on the experience of this HMO, it appears to be more than just a slogan.

In a report released on January 10, 2000 from the development firm Sorelli B of Illinois comes the results of a survey that shows the public wants chiropractic and considers it a necessary part of health care coverage. Over 400 random adults from all over the US participated in the survey. Here are some of the results.

Over 46% said that they strongly agree that, "chiropractic benefits should become core benefits in my health plan." Only 33% of those who had visited a chiropractor in the year before the survey had those visits covered by insurance. Interestingly enough, slightly more people, 36% were willing to pay more than $20 for a visit to a chiropractor while only 32% were willing to pay that amount to see an MD. In addition, 64% were willing to increase their monthly insurance premium to include chiropractic care in their policy.

Patient satisfaction with chiropractic care was also surveyed. The results were equally impressive. Of those surveyed 37% agreed strongly that, "spending money on chiropractic today saves me money tomorrow." When compared to medicine, chiropractic did well in the consumers eyes. A full 14% of respondents reported that their condition was the same or got worse after going to the MD, while only 2% said they were no better or worse following the chiropractic visit. Amazingly, 93% expressed that they had a positive outcome after chiropractic care compared with 81% for medical care. But probably the best measure was that aside from having a positive outcome 60% of consumers in the survey reported that, "my chiropractor has improved the quality of my life."

The above is a quote from the title of a May 3, 2004 news release from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The release notes that most toddlers and preschoolers will be diagnosed with fluid in their middle ears known as otitis media with effusion (OME).  According to the release a new practice guideline from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery outlines the best way for pediatricians and other healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat OME.

The article notes that more than 2 million cases of OME are diagnosed in the United States every year.  The estimated cost of treatment is 4 billion dollars each year. OME is different from acute otitis media (AOM). OME is fluid-only, while AOM includes intense signs and symptoms of infection and inflammation. OME can happen spontaneously, or as a result of AOM. Usually OME will clear up on its own without treatment. But OME can affect hearing, and lead to speech, language and / or learning delays if it persists.

In the release there were several recommendations made. These clinical practice guidelines apply to children aged 2 months through 12 years. These include:

• Physicians should manage children with OME who are not at risk with "watchful waiting" for at least three months before recommending other treatment.
• Antibiotics and corticosteroids are not recommended for routine management of OME.
• Adenoidectomy (removal of adenoids) should not be performed unless a specific reason exists to do so.

In the same May issue of the academy's journal, Pediatrics, was also a new set of guidelines for the treatment of Acute Otitis Media, (AOM).  These new recommendations also included some degree of watchful waiting instead of immediate antibiotic treatment. One of the recommendations includes, "Observation without use of antibacterial agents in a child with uncomplicated AOM is an option for selected children based on diagnostic certainty, age, illness severity, and assurance of follow-up."

A survey of 1000 nurses showed that even though they consider themselves poorly trained in non-medical care, they gave chiropractic high marks.  The survey was published in the June 2001 issue of the Journal of Community Health.  The survey asked a variety of questions on a number of health care procedures termed by the study as "Complementary Alternative Medicine" (CAM). Chiropractic was included in this survey and received some of the best reviews from the nurses surveyed.

The Journal article starts by stating, "In 1997, 42 percent of the American adult population made 629 million visits to alternative health care practitioners and spent $27 billion out-of-pocket for these services.  It has been estimated that in the year 2000, Americans will spend $60 billion on complementary and alternative medical therapies."  The Journal uses these figures as a basis for wanting to understand how the nurses view these types of procedures.  

The survey to the nurses covered areas including, perceived effectiveness; perceived safety; recommendations made to friends, clients and associates; and personal use.  An interesting finding of the study was that the nurses felt that they themselves were poorly trained in understanding CAM procedures as only 21% of the respondents considered themselves to have received "good" or "excellent" professional preparation in dealing with these types of care, which include chiropractic.  Conversely, the vast majority (79%) of nurses perceived their professional preparation in the area of alternative and complementary medical therapies to be fair or poor.

In the area of effectiveness, the nurses ranked chiropractic first, in a tie with biofeedback. They overwhelmingly rejected the idea that chiropractic or the other CAM procedures were only effective because of the placebo effect.  According to the nurses chiropractic ranked second in safety behind hypnotherapy.  

The study also showed that approximately 14% of the nurses surveyed had used chiropractic themselves.  Even more surprising is that the study revealed that nearly one quarter (23%) of the nurses said they "periodically" or "regularly" recommend chiropractic care to their friends, patients and associates, while another 27% said they recommend it occasionally.  Apparently, as the survey results suggest, the more knowledge of CAM procedures such as chiropractic the nurses had, the more likely they were to use them themselves and refer others to them. 

Seniors and Chiropractic

The general population is going to chiropractors in record numbers.  Seniors, the fastest segment of the population is no exception.  According to a recent August 24^th 1999 article in USA Today, more than 80% of seniors age 65 or greater are aware of what the article termed alternative medicine.  This awareness has lead to a fairly fast growing utilization of these services.  The breakdown for usage of chiropractic and other non-medical health care is as follows:

Chiropractic lead the way with a utilization of 32%, second was massage therapy at 16%, followed by acupuncture 9%, homeopathy at 4%, naturopathy 3% and Chinese medicine 3%. 

A recent study published in Topics in Clinical Chiropractic of a randomized clinical trial showed data that found chiropractic geriatric patients were "less likely to have been hospitalized, less likely to have used a nursing home, more likely to report a better health status, more likely to exercise vigorously, and more likely to be mobile in the community."

Life Changed Under Chiropractic, Case Study

From the October 11, 2006 issue of the peer reviewed publication, the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (JVSR), comes a documented case study of a 36 year old man whose life was changed by chiropractic.  In this case study, the individual was suffering from a variety of ailments including; self reported stress, eye pain and left leg pain of 14 years going down into the foot. He additionally had complains of gastritis, ulcers, nervousness, depression, lack of concentration and general loss of interest in daily life.

His lifestyle was not ideal, it was noted that the patient smokes, did not exercise, and regularly ate a sub-optimal diet. It was also noted that the patient also had a history of alcoholism with several bouts of severe binge drinking which resulted in falls. The authors of this case report noted that the initiation of chiropractic care by itself is not "sufficient intervention to allow a person to achieve total health.” But they did note that "patients under chiropractic care tend, as their subluxations reduce, to spontaneously take up lifestyle changes or health enhancing activities."

The care rendered on this individual was specific for correction of vertebral subluxations. The patient was periodically re-evaluated for correction of subluxations and was asked to self rate his overall health and quality of life.  After the 6 months period, the patient experienced a (self rated) 95% improvement in left leg pain, headaches and eye pain.  He also reported an improvement in his secondary health concerns which included a decrease in stress levels, nervousness, lack of concentration, irritability and apathy, as well normalization of digestive function. After 6 months of care, the patient was physically pain-free and did not have to use medications.  He reported his overall health to be improved 100% after six months of chiropractic care.

In addition to the physical changes the patient also made many positive lifestyle changes while under chiropractic care. These spontaneous changes include smoking cessation, listening to classical music, start of regular exercise, relaxation and breathing exercises, as well as better nutritional choices. The authors of the case study felt it was important to point out that the patient was never told to undertake these changes.  He was, after the fact, provided resources and guidance to help him fulfill his newly discovered health interests.

From the June 7, 2003 issue of the Australian newspaper "The Advertiser" comes an article that features children and chiropractic.  The article begins with, "Chiropractic, long perceived as the cracking of bones – is becoming increasingly popular for babies." 

Dr. Paula Stacey, state president of the Australian Chiropractors' Association is quoted, "Babies can't tell you they've got a headache or a sore neck".  She notes that chiropractors provided gentle adjustment to the head and spine of newborns and also recommended regular maintenance visits.  "They get born," Dr. Stacey said. "The birthing process, coming down the birth canal, can be quite traumatic." She continues, "If the spine is in ideal alignment, you've got the best chance of the nervous system sending the messages as they should be sent."

Patient Hope Deane, said she first took her daughter Ruby to the chiropractor about two months after her birth. Now, Ruby goes for a "tune up" once per month.  She explains her reason by saying, "Young ones crash all the time, or they land in funny ways, or sleep in funny ways.   We're stopping the problems before they start, rather than looking for short-term results. She hasn't been sick. Maybe that's helping her stay healthy."

From the peer-reviewed scientific periodical, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, October 2004 edition, comes a study that shows that receiving maintenance chiropractic care after initial care helps patients continue reduction in their disability.

The study was performed with 30 volunteers who were suffering from long term non-specific back problems. These volunteers were divided into two groups. The first group received intensive chiropractic care consisting of 12 visits for one month, followed by a reduced schedule of one visit every three weeks for 9 months after the initial intensive care. The second group received nothing for the first 30 days, to establish a baseline, then received one month of initial intensive care.  The second group did not receive any reduced or maintenance care after the initial care. The two groups were then evaluated and compared for pain and disability.

The results showed that both groups had similar reduction of pain and disability after the initial 30 days of chiropractic care.  Additionally, both groups maintained their reduction of pain even though only one group had received maintenance care. However, the big difference was that only those individuals who were in the group that received the 9 months of maintenance care were able to maintain their reduction in disability.  The group that did not receive maintenance care was able to keep their reduction in pain, but they did return to the same levels of general disability that they were experiencing prior to the initial chiropractic care.

Disability was measured using a scientifically designed questionnaire that looked at 10 items addressing different aspects of functional capacities.  This questionnaire, known as the "Oswestry Disability Index" is the accepted method used to measure a person's function as related to their daily activities.  In this study, only the group that continued to receive chiropractic care every three weeks was able to maintain the functional improvement they received during the initial care.

The authors of the study concluded, "Intensive spinal manipulation is effective for the treatment of chronic low back pain. This experiment suggests that maintenance spinal manipulations after intensive manipulative care may be beneficial to patients to maintain subjective postintensive treatment disability levels."

Recently Doctors of Chiropractic have stepped up the fight for their patient rights.  In several different US states the issues have made it to the courtrooms.  In one such action in the state of Washington, the Washington State Chiropractic Association (WSCA), recently filed a formal complaint with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) against Regence/Blue Shield. The complaint, filed April 10th, 2001 seeks relief for actions and contemplated actions by Regence/Blue Shield against chiropractors and other complementary and alternative care professionals.  The purpose of the lawsuit is to get Regence/Blue Shield to abide by the "Patient Bill of Rights" state law that allows patients to see their chiropractors without a prior physician referral, and requires disclosure of utilization management guidelines for healthcare providers, including chiropractic and alternative providers.  ``The WSCA wants nothing more than for Regence to accept and follow state insurance laws without resorting to tactics that will blunt the effect and purpose of these laws,'' stated John Peick, attorney for the WSCA.

In another action ten Alabama chiropractors have filed suit against Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BC/BS) of Alabama for discriminating against chiropractors.  The suit alleges two antitrust violations of the Sherman Act: restraint of trade or commerce in an agreement with HealthSouth Corp., and monopolizing or attempting to monopolize health care reimbursement services in Alabama.  Along with other issues the suit also alleges that BC/BS has engaged in establishing severely restrictive benefit limits for chiropractic services that are arbitrary and without reasonable justification and reimbursing chiropractors at a much lower rate than the reimbursements paid to other providers for comparable services.  

In still another legal battle the New York State Chiropractic Association, in conjunction with several individual doctors of chiropractic and chiropractic patients, has filed suit against seven of the largest health plans and managed care networks in New York state.  The suit alleges the insurance industry's apparent failure to comply with the requirements set down in the New York Chiropractic Insurance Equality Law, a law designed to protect patient's rights.  The suit charges the plans with fee discrimination; unreasonable fee and benefit limits; improper restrictions on the scope of chiropractic practice and the services chiropractors provide to health plan beneficiaries; as well as other practices that discriminate against chiropractic patients and their doctors.

Recently more of these types of actions are being taken on behalf of chiropractic patients. The goal of all of these is always to allow patients the right to choose chiropractic care with out having any additional hardships or discrimination. As more people are going to chiropractors and demanding that these services be available, more of these types of actions will be brought up to protect and ensure the patient's rights.

Dr. Mitchell is present at the games adjusting players.  The story also notes that pitcher, Jason Schmidt, also loves to get adjusted and typically does so during the games to avoid the rush of other players who get adjusted before the games. Ironically, Dr. Mitchell missed both Barry Bonds' 715th and 716th home runs as he was in the clubhouse adjusting Schmidt.

The story noted that Jason Schmidt offered to halt the chiropractic session when Bonds was at bat chasing home run number 715, but Mitchell showed his dedication and responded, "No, let's do what we've got to do. Let's get you treated and get you ready."  The article reported that a few pitches later Bonds hit his 715th home run.  After missing seeing the historic home run Dr. Mitchell commented, "Schmidty looked and me and laughed, and I laughed, and we kind of blew it off and that was it."

It was a few days later when Dr. Mitchell was once again adjusting Jason Schmidt while Bonds was at bat that Bonds hit number 716. After this repeat performance all Dr. Mitchell could say was, "There goes the next one."

In typical baseball superstition, the players even joked about it saying that they were going to schedule Schmidt for an adjustment with Dr. Mitchell whenever the Giants are behind so that Bonds would hit a home run and win the game.

Even Barry Bonds himself found the situation amusing saying, "I'm going to have to get on the table with him." Jason Schmidt, however, felt bad having caused Dr. Mitchell to miss two historic sporting events.  Schmidt  commented, "I kind of felt bad. ... He takes a lot of pride on working on Barry, so I felt kind of bad he wasn't able to be out there at the time. He's been out there so many times, and it's like, it's not going to happen this time, so let's take our chances."

A study published in the May 2006 issue of the scientific periodical, The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, looked at how chiropractic adjustments would affect relative times to perform movements in a controlled test. 

Ten patients from a private chiropractic practice participated in this prospective, randomized, and controlled trial. These ten patients received chiropractic adjustments to areas determined to have vertebral subluxations. A separate group of individuals who did not receive chiropractic care were also tested to have a baseline for comparison with those receiving the chiropractic adjustments.

Movement time was measured on a computer screen where subjects were asked to move a cursor onto a target.

The results showed that all those in the study who received chiropractic adjustments for subluxation correction had significantly improved movement times.  This was in stark contrast to the control group that did not receive chiropractic care where only one participant showed improvement in their movement times.

The average improvement in movement time for the group that received chiropractic care was 183 ms (mille-seconds), which represents a 9.2% improvement.  This can be compared to the control group that showed only a 29 ms, or 1.7% improvement.  The study researchers reported, "The difference (improvement) scores after the intervention were significantly greater for the chiropractic group compared with the control group."

The authors showed the importance of the results of this study in their conclusion, "The results of this study demonstrated a significant improvement in movement time with chiropractic care. These results suggest that spinal adjustments may influence motor behavior."  The ramifications are large for those involved in sports, as these results suggest improved performance is possible with chiropractic care.

The study conducted by the BCA surveyed 2,374 people, found that 59% of the working population, in the top category at risk for back problems, sit down all day.  Many of these people do not leave their desks even for a lunch break.  This sedentary lifestyle coupled with  positioning and long hours puts office workers at a higher risk than the excessive lifting and carrying done by those employed in manual jobs. The top five list as released by the British Chiropractic Association is as follows:

1. Office Worker - Long periods of time sitting in awkward positions, often slouched over computer keyboards, or maybe sitting at chairs not properly adjusted for their needs.
2. Nurse - Long shifts, often on their feet all day as well as lifting and carrying.
3. Driver - Hours a day spent at the wheel, sitting in a poor position, along with limited movement.
4. Laborer - Repeated strain from lifting heavy weights and often twisting in awkward positions.
5. Teacher & Nursery Staff - Continuously bending down to a child's height and lifting children can cause back problems

Dr. Tim Hutchful speaking for the BCA comments: “This survey has highlighted what we chiropractors have known for some time. Lack of exercise and sedentary lifestyle is taking its toll. It is assumed that those most at risk from back pain are the ones who have very physical jobs however, as this research has unveiled, whilst lifting and carrying are still common triggers for back pain, it is those with less physically demanding jobs and who are often seated for the majority of the day that could be most prone to back problems.”

According to the BCA, one third of UK citizens will suffer from some sort of back problem. Dr. Hutchful added: "For many who work in an office environment, it is the day-to-day, mundane routines that are at the root of most back problems. Hunching over computer keyboards and cradling the phone between the ear and shoulder can all contribute to lower back and neck stiffness, not to mention the fact that many office workers sit for hours at a time with very little movement."

A study published in the July 2006 issue of the American Journal of Managed Care showed an increase in the number of people using insurance benefits for what the authors termed, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), with chiropractic leading the way. This study was a review of usage of CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) by more than 600,000 people enrolled in various healthcare plans in the state of Washington. 

The study notes that the State of Washington  has a law that requires private health insurance to cover complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) when delivered by licensed providers.  The results of the study showed that of the more than 600 000 enrollees in private insurance in Washington, 13.7% made CAM claims. The breakdown of these claims showed that 1.3% of enrollees made claims for acupuncture, 1.6% for naturopathy, 2.4% for massage, and by far the largest segment was for chiropractic at 10.9% of claims.

The study reviewed claims in the year 2002. What was also interesting was that they noted the increased insurance claims had no real additive effect on the total health expenditures.  They discovered that the median per-visit expenditures for CAM were $39.00 while the per visit average for conventional medical care was considerably more at $74.40. They tabulated that the total cost of the plans per person in a plan were $2589, of which only $75 (2.9%) was spent on CAM. This makes non-medical care a very affordable option.

The study also showed that enrollees made some 3,246,793 visits to medical practitioners in 2002 and during that same period they made 481,553 visits to chiropractors.  The authors noted in their conclusion, "The number of people using CAM insurance benefits was substantial; the effect on insurance expenditures was modest."

In their conclusion the researchers made a bold statement for insurance companies as to the costs of including chiropractic and other services they called CAM.  They stated, "Payers have resisted covering CAM providers in part because of a fear that coverage would result in large, steadily increasing, and unpredictable expenditures for CAM services, not unlike the history of prescription drug coverage. Our study performed 6 years after the mandated inclusion of CAM benefits in Washington state suggests that this is not going to be the case."

A paper published in the September 2001 issue of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research confirms what chiropractors have been saying for 106 years.  The study's title is, "The Effects of Mild Compression on Spinal Nerve Roots With Implications for Models of Vertebral Subluxation and the Clinical Effects of Chiropractic Adjustment: A Review of the Literature."  The author is George Muhs, D.C., Assistant Professor of Clinical Services at the University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic and Scott Alderson D.C., a chiropractor in private practice.

This paper was a thorough review of scientific literature that dealt with research on nerve pressure at the spinal level.  This is the nerve pressure seen in vertebral subluxations.  Chiropractors have maintained that small amounts of nerve pressure can cause malfunction and ill-health.  The results of this review helped further prove the chiropractic premise. 

The research revealed that "as little as 10 mm Mercury pressure can alter the nerve root and dorsal root ganglion's ability to function normally". The authors concluded that "these alterations would therefore alter the quality and/or quantity of the message sent. At the tissue and cellular level, the message received would not be adequate for the function the body demands. The entire body could then theoretically be affected."  The authors also noted "The concept that a vertebral subluxation can induce pressure increases at the level of the IVF (Intervertebral Foramen)  is supported by the literature. This increase, though seemingly mild, is enough to alter nerve function."  They continued "The chiropractic adjustment can effect a restoration of normal H-reflex (nerve function) in compressed nerve roots. 

The bottom line, science proves what chiropractic patients have known for over 100 years. 

A feature story appearing in the June 30, 2005 edition of the Catonsville Times in Maryland celebrated the 10 year anniversary that a chiropractor had been helping the Baltimore Ravens Professional Football team. Ten years ago the Ravens came to town.  At that time Dr. Doug Miller (right) started his relationship with the team that has lasted since then. 

Dr. Miller became the team's chiropractor by contacting the Ravens shortly after their move from Cleveland and telling officials about the services he provided to other sports teams in the area.  He was on the playing field when the Baltimore Ravens won the 2000 Superbowl.  He can also be found in the locker room and on the field on most Sundays during football season.

Raven's trainer Bill Tessendorf, refers most of the players that Dr. Miller sees for chiropractic care. Tessendorf, who has 32 years of experience as an NFL trainer explained, "A player favoring a knee or an ankle can cause alignment problems elsewhere. A chiropractor can help with a lot of those issues."

Dr. Miller explained that chiropractic care still remains misunderstood.  Most of his services are not necessarily related to the treatment of injuries.  He explains, "It's not just about relieving pain from backaches and injuries," he said. "It's about achieving optimum health. We can do a lot to help with the conditioning of muscles and joints."

The article notes that presently almost every NFL team has a chiropractor on staff. 

A clinical trial reported in Medical-News.net  on May 22, 2005 showed that 72% of migraine sufferers experienced either 'substantial' or 'noticeable' improvement after a period of chiropractic care.  The study was a randomized clinical trial completed over a 20 year period.  Dr. Peter Tuchin, was the chief researcher and presented his results in a thesis at Macquarie University in Australia.

The study involved 123 migraine sufferers, which was reduced down from aproximatly1000 who applied to be part of the study after responding to a television program about the research. The 123 participants were further divided into two groups.  One group received chiropractic care while the other group was a control group who did not receive any actual care but were told they were receiving a form of electrical physical therapy.

In commenting on the results, Dr. Peter Tuchin, a chiropractor for the past 20 years stated, "Around 22 per cent [of patients] had substantial reduction - which means that more than 60 percent of their symptoms reduced during the course of the treatment. What makes this a really strong result is that this was a really chronic group - the average length of time they'd had migraines was 18 years. To get a change of that sort of magnitude in a really chronic group was quite amazing."

In this study Dr. Tuchin went to great lengths to document the results.  He explained, "Both groups kept a record of their migraines for the whole six months, noting down how often they got them, how severe they were, how long they lasted, and if there was anything they could think of that contributed to them," Tuchin explains. "For two months prior to any treatment they just diarised their migraines, followed by two months of treatment and then two months of post-treatment"  

Dr. Tuchin summed up the results of the study by saying, "Chiropractic is not the be all and end all, but for a good percentage of migraine sufferers the neck is a significant contributing factor, and for them chiropractic treatment is really effective. I'm not saying that everybody's going to be cured, but there's very little to lose."

From the April 26, 2004 release of the peer-reviewed scientific journal, the "Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research" (JVSR), comes a very large literature review study showing the multiple benefits of chiropractic care on people who are not suffering from pain or other obvious problems. 

This literature review looked at more than twenty studies involving subjects who were specifically described as, “asymptomatic,” “healthy,” “normal,” or “free from physical injury.”  In addition, an equal number of studies were found also documenting objectively measured health benefits in subjects who had no symptomatic presentation, (asymptomatic).

The results of this large review showed measurable objective improvements in things such as range of motion, blood pressure, heart rate, plasma catecholamine levels,  immune responses, enhanced respiratory burst, pupil reactions, slower heart rate, improved pulmonary function, as well as many other objectively measured indications of improved body physiology.

The conclusion of the study stated, "Data reviewed in this article lend strong support to the popular contention that chiropractic adjustments, for the purpose of correcting subluxations, confer health benefits to people regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms."  The JVSR article authors further conclude, "A significant amount of preliminary evidence supports that people without symptoms can benefit from chiropractic care.  It is plausible that chiropractic care may be of benefit to every function of the body and have the potential for long-term, overall health benefit to those receiving chiropractic care."

Four documented case studies were published in the June 21, 2006 issue of the scientific periodical, the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research.  In each of these case studies the children were previously diagnosed with cerebral palsy secondary to birth trauma. Additionally each of these children were found to have the presence of vertebral subluxations as detected by objective testing. 

Chiropractic care was given to each of the children with the objective of correcting or reducing the detected vertebral subluxations. The mothers and or care providers of each of these children monitored changes in activities of daily living and observed their quality of life.  They noted that after one month of chiropractic care, all four children showed improvement in activities of daily living including mobility, feeding, and postural control.

The first case study was of an 8 year old female presenting with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy secondary to birth trauma who was also prone to seizures.  She also suffered from tremors of her arms and legs, frequent urination and had visual problems as well as poor posture. Her previous medical treatment consisted of physical therapy procedures including massage and acupuncture. 

Over a 9 week period this child received a total of 22 chiropractic adjustments. Following chiropractic care, the parents reported that she could sit better and was able to walk upright without anyone's help. She also gained the ability to walk up stairs on her own. She was able to use her left arm and hand better, especially
when feeding herself.  She was able to walk steadier and more confident, and was less "limp."  Her parents also noted that her overall coordination improved and they reported an increase in energy and that her emotional state improved. They also noted that she was less fatigued and needed less sleep, and the tremors lessened in severity.

Similarly each of the children also showed improvements. One 7 year old boy who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy also suffered from seizures. His parents reported that as an infant he did not move much and that he seemed to lack any emotion. He also did not start to crawl until he was 11 months old and did not walk until he was almost 5 years old.  Additionally, this unfortunate child suffered from frequent colds, numbness and pain in the arms and legs, seizures, nasal bleeding, throat pain, hoarseness of the voice, pain in the gums and teeth, rhinitis, extremity tremors, pain in the feet, and anemia. He had trouble sleeping, difficulty communicating, concentrating and working in school.

After the initiation of chiropractic care, his parents reported that he became more stable while standing and walking, had greater mobility and better balance of the upper part of the body.  Additionally, he was able to walk longer distances before tiring. His abilities in school improved and his sleeping problems resolved. They reported that his appetite, communication and emotional state improved.

The other two children in this study also showed improvements that included improved changes in their coordination, gait improvements, better sleeping and appetite.  Additionally, changes in posture and mental attitude were also noted.

The authors note that all of these improvements correlated with objective findings of reductions of subluxations during chiropractic care. In their conclusions they state, "These reports are consistent with widespread anecdotal reports of similar types of improvements and are consistent with other case reports in the literature. Given the significance of such types of improvements in the lives of these children the authors call for more extensive investigation of the effects of subluxation analysis and correction in children suffering from cerebral palsy."

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a letter dated January 15, 2002 which was a reversal from their previous position dating back to December 14, 1994 that had allowed Physical Therapists (PTs) to perform chiropractic services under the US Medicare law.  With the new ruling, PT's are not allowed to do chiropractic procedures under Medicare.

In actuality there was never an abundance of PTs performing chiropractic adjustments.  But the ruling as it previously was in the past allowed certain HMOs and insurance companies to exclude Doctors of Chiropractic from their provider lists because they claimed they were offering required chiropractic services when needed through their Physical Therapists.  With this new letter and ruling, all Medicare insurance companies and HMO's will not be able to use PT's as an excuse not to have chiropractors on their provider lists.

The chiropractic profession has been fighting this problem for years with both legislation and an ongoing lawsuit.  This ruling does not completely fix the problems but it is viewed by most as a good first step toward protecting the public and making chiropractic care available to Medicare beneficiaries without undue harassment. 

The letter itself stated: "Section 1861(r) of the Social Security Act provides the definition of a physician for Medicare coverages purposes, which includes a chiropractor for treatment of manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation. (As a  standard Medicare Part B benefit, manual manipulation of the spine to correct subluxations must be made available to enrollees in all Medicare + Choice plans)  The statute specifically references manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation as a physician service. Thus, Medicare + Choice organizations must use physicians, which include chiropractors, to perform this service. They may not use non-physician physical therapists for manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation." 

Polio and Chiropractic, a Case Study

A case study appeared in the June 2006 issue of Clinical Chiropractic and reported on a 69-year-old retired woman and civil servant who is a post-polio sufferer.  In this case the woman presented with left hand pain of over 40 years duration with limited flexion of the fingers of her left hand.  She reported that the pain had increased considerably over the past year.

The polio left the woman disabled, with the muscles of her right arm being severely wasted and affected so badly that it was now practically useless.  She also suffered from additional health issues, some of which were related to her history of polio. She also reported an itching in her left hand.  Her problems were severe enough that her surgeon recommended surgery for her multiple problems with her left hand.

In this case the patient began a course of chiropractic care and received care for 13 visits that were recorded for this case study.  Over this period a number of improvements were noted.  Following just her first visit, the patient noticed improvement with the feel and look of her left hand. She reported that it noticeably changed color from white to a more normal pink.  Over the next few days she continued to notice hand improvement as well as a discontinuation of her hand itching.

After her sixth visit the patient's hand strength was measured and monitored. Over the next seven visits it improved going from a measured strength of 11.5 kg to 16kg. The case study also documented a noticeable improvement in her posture, with a significant visual decrease in her scoliosis and an improvement in her gait. 

The case study noted that the woman returned to her surgeon after the study.  They noted that the surgeon was very pleased with the patient's improvement in her appearance and functionality in her left hand and stated that he believed there was no longer a need for surgery or for any further visits. 

In the discussion of this case the authors reported on a previous survey of 500 members of post-polio self-help groups in Australia, and their ratings of their responses to various forms of care including chiropractic.  The results of this survey showed that Chiropractors received the highest patient satisfaction ratings for being “very helpful” at 45%, and General Practitioners received the lowest percentage at 22%. Additionally, that survey showed that chiropractors were judged as providing significantly more help than the other major health practitioner groups.

 On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina came ashore on the US Gulf Coast and left a path of death, devastation and destruction that is unprecedented in recent US history.  Government emergency services and many other relief workers have begun the long job of rescue relief and restoration. People from all over the United States and the world have offered help and have shown overwhelming generosity toward those areas and people affected by the

devastation.

In response to this tragedy, many chiropractors have  begun setting up facilities to help those who were displaced by this event, as well as those who will be involved in the massive aftermath and cleanup.  This scene is strikingly similar to post 9-11 efforts, when the chiropractic profession responded by setting up free clinics at the Pentagon and Ground Zero to offer care to those workers who were involved with the massive cleanup.

The picture shown here documents the efforts of one newly set up facility at one of the large centers housing displaced citizens outside of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This is only the beginning of what will be an ongoing and growing chiropractic relief effort at this center, and many more to come.  At this one center alone, nine Doctors of Chiropractic have initially volunteered their time to help those affected by the storm.

Dr. Butch Sonnier, was one of a group of chiropractors who set up mobile chiropractic aid stations in and around New Orleans.  He reported, "We loaded up and then traveled into the city of New Orleans where we set up shop at several staging areas for different law enforcement groups that were working the area and adjusted several hundred more. Once we were past the checkpoints and in the area, it looked like scenes from a Hollywood disaster film. By the time we were out of the New Orleans area, we estimated that we gave approximately 1000 adjustments to refugees, guardsmen and law enforcement people in one and one half days. The docs from Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana really represented our profession with passion, love and devotion. In the short 2 days we were there, no one asked for our credentials, malpractice papers or gave us a hard time. We were welcomed with open arms and thanked profusely for our efforts. Out of the 1000 or so adjustments given, we estimated that approximately 80% were first time adjustments! Once again, thanks for the prayers and well wishes."

Chiropractic's great benefit at these facilities is to help those who were either displaced or who are involved in the massive cleanup.  "Those affected by this crisis are under extreme physical and emotional stress,"  said Dr. John Maltby, President of the International Chiropractors Association, (ICA). "Chiropractic care helps these people function as best they can under these extreme circumstances."  He continued, "We (the ICA and local chiropractic groups) are working to expand the number and outreach of these chiropractic aid facilities throughout the stricken areas."

Appearing in the March 2004 issue of the peer-reviewed Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, was a documented case study of a life changing case.  The subject of the study was a previously healthy 17 year old who was involved in high school sports. 

On one particular occasion he was competing as a pole vaulter in a high school track meet when he had an accident in which he landed on his head from a height of 10 feet.

Immediately following the accident, the young man noticed the onset of neck pain focused at the base of his skull. In addition he started suffering from back pain, daily headaches, and migraine headaches approximately 3 times per week.  He described his pain as an “unbearable everyday occurrence.”  Additionally, several days after the accident he began experiencing “blackouts,” which were later diagnosed as petit mal seizures. These seizures continued to increase until he was experiencing them 4 times per day.

Things continued to get worse for the young man as during the first 6 months following the accident, he started experiencing the onset of depression.  He described a complete loss of appetite, extreme lethargy, a lack of concern for himself, and an extremely erratic sleep cycle that often left him awake for several days followed by periods of 14 to 18 hours of sleep.

The patient and his mother reported that he consulted with approximately 24 practitioners during this time.  Prescribed medications and therapies did not alleviate or reduce symptoms.  To alleviate his pain and depression, he started using illegal drugs in an attempt to “make himself feel better.” After becoming addicted, his parents checked him into a drug rehabilitation program, which he completed. 

It was after this long and horrifying 6 year period, that this young man sought chiropractic care from the chiropractor who authored the published study. An examination was performed and it was determined that the young man was suffering due to a subluxation in the upper neck.  A course of corrective adjustments was begun to correct the subluxation and reduce nerve pressure.

The results as reported in the Journal was nothing short of life changing for the young man.  After 1 month of care, the patient reported an absence of seizures and manic episodes and improved sleep patterns. After 4 months of care, seizures and manic episodes remained absent and migraine headaches were reduced from 3 per week to 2 per month. After 7 months of care, the patient reported the complete absence of symptoms. And eighteen months later, the patient remains asymptomatic.  Needless to say, his life was changed!

Research published in the January 2005 issue of the scientific periodical the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, (JMPT) showed that patients with chronic spinal pain syndromes did markedly better than patients who received either medication or acupuncture.

Participants in this study were those who had pain for more than 13 weeks.  These participants were divided into three groups who exclusively received one type of care.  One group got medication, one group received acupuncture and one group received chiropractic care.  The participants were evaluated using standardized questionnaires.  These questionnaires were given initially when the participant entered the study, then again 9 weeks after the initiation of care.  These results were then compared to repeat questionnaires given to the same patients 12 months later.

Researchers were extremely careful to exclude patients who were receiving multiple forms of care for their problem.  Their intent was to have the results only reflect benefits from a single type of care.  In this way outside factors could be minimized and the results should be attributed exclusively to the type of care the patient received.

Results showed that 12 months later, only the group that received chiropractic care was still experiencing significant improvement. Researchers noted that all three groups had experienced some short term benefits from their various care.  They also noted that the patients who got acupuncture did better than those who were in the group that received medication.  However, they noted that the group receiving chiropractic are showed the best results.  The authors concluded "Overall, patients who have chronic mechanical spinal pain syndromes and received spinal manipulation gained significant broad-based beneficial short-term and long-term outcomes."

The case study notes that the term growing pain has been used for approximately 150 years. The term was first coined by Duchamp in 1832 in his treatise, “Maladies de la Croissance.” Studies indicate that what is termed as "growing pains" occur in approximately 20% of children and may be as high as 37% and is slightly more prevalent in girls compared to boys.

The study notes that growing pains may begin in infancy with the greatest discomfort between the ages of 3-5 years and generally seem to disappear as the child matures. A number of conditions have been implicated (though not fully substantiated) as possible factors in growing pains such as rapid growth, overexertion, rheumatic conditions, infection, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, orthopedic defects, vague ill health, and psychological factors.

The diagnosis of this condition is usually made by excluding other conditions and therefore leaving only the idea that the pains are "growing pains". In the case of this young boy, a chiropractic examination revealed the presence of subluxations and a course of care was initiated.

The care consisted of 15 visits over a 13 week period. After the first adjustment, the patient did not complain of leg pain for three days. After 7 visits, the mother reported that her son was sleeping through the night without leg pains. By the 15th visit, the child had become and remained symptom-free for almost 3 weeks.  The author's conclusion of this study was, "This case report provides supporting evidence of the effectiveness of chiropractic care in children with growing pains."

The events of September 11th 2001 have affected and changed us all in some way forever.  Most of us were shocked and horrified at how such a thing could occur.  For many our next feeling was probably anger and a desire to strike back.  Then came an overwhelming desire to help in some way. 

In watching the news we noticed that people from all over the world showed support and reached out for those most affected.  As chiropractors many in our profession wanted to help in the best way we knew how.  It was this desire to do something and help that lead to an amazing outreach by chiropractors in both New York and in Washington.  

At both the site of the World Trade Center and at the Pentagon in Washington DC chiropractors set up help stations to adjust the firefighters, police and rescue workers who were  on site at ground zero.  At these locations chiropractors provided round the clock chiropractic care free of charge to all who requested it. Thousands of relief workers responded as each station was continually busy with help being provided to those who were themselves helping. 

In Washington at the US Pentagon, the International Chiropractors Association was asked to provide chiropractic services to Pentagon rescue and security personnel.  Immediately chiropractors started working in three shifts to provide assistance.

To assist the rescue workers at the Pentagon, "Camp Unity" was set up using an extensive tent space provided by the Public Safety (police, fire and rescue) chaplains of greater Washington.  In Camp Unity more than two dozen chiropractors were working in long shifts to adjust all who need chiropractic care at the site. "Our patients include military personnel of all ranks and from all services, law enforcement, fire and rescue units on duty and other volunteers working with the Red Cross and Salvation Army," said Dr. Coralee Van Egmond a local chiropractor. "The response has been tremendous and reflects the vital need for the unique services doctors of chiropractic provide. In sometimes harsh conditions, our chiropractors have given care to as many as 300 people a day, and have worked ten and twelve hour shifts that last long into the night and early morning hours."

One of the chiropractors giving his time at the New York site, Dr. Robert Davis,  summed up his experience by saying. "One of the firemen I adjusted told me the best thing anyone can do to help all the rescue workers is to just support them and...Pray for them."

To read more stories of chiropractors involved in helping the rescue workers please visit, http://www.wcanews.com/archives/2001/oct/oct0101a.htm and http://www.chiropractic.org/news/disaster_relief.htm.

The above is the advice from the Colorado Chiropractic Association (CCA) and appeared as  a PRNewswire release on May 27, 2004. The article starts out by noting that bending, reaching, and digging in the garden can provide a great workout, but if you're not careful you can get hurt. 

The article suggests that a warm-up and cool-down period is just as important for gardening activities as it is for sports.  The CCA also recommends stretching before engaging in gardening.  They also recommend that if you feel aches and pains from gardening, and the pain persists, consider visiting a doctor of chiropractic.

The article gives several tips for stretching that should be done before gardening.

• Stand up and prop your heel on a back door step or stool with your knee straight. Bend forward until you feel a slight pull in the muscle at the back of the thigh, called the hamstring. Hold the position for 20 seconds, then relax. Do the stretch once more, then repeat with the other leg.
• Stand up and put your right hand against a wall or other stable surface. Bend your left knee and grab your ankle with you left hand. Pull your heel toward your buttocks to stretch the quadriceps muscles at the front of your thigh. Hold that position for 20 seconds, relax and do it again. Repeat with the other leg.
• Weave your fingers together above your head with your palms up. Lean to one side for 10 seconds to stretch the upper body, then reverse. Repeat two or three times.
• "Hug your best friend:" Wrap your arms around yourself and rotate to one side, as far as you can go. Hold it for 10 seconds, then reverse.

From the Savannah, Georgia Morning News, February 23, 2001 issue comes a human story of a young woman basketball player, Caroline Moore.  It seems a year ago Moore was unable to play for her team the "Beach Lady Bulldogs", until starting with chiropractic care.  "I know things happen for a reason," she said. "But I was disappointed. I was crying."

According to the paper, a local chiropractor discovered a problem in her right hip which left her right leg approximately one quarter of an inch shorter than her left leg.  After a chiropractic examination, x-rays and numerous chiropractic visits, as well as her work ethic, her leg difference has been decreased in length to an extremely small amount.  As a result Moore's coach felt compelled to comment.  His comments were, "I have gained a new-found respect for Caroline because of her courage and determination.  I don't know if I could do what she's done."

In an article from Reuters Health Information, printed in the Journal of the AMA is a report of a survey that showed many children with asthma were seeking what the article termed, “complementary medicine” for their problem.  Dr. Sheldon Spier, of Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary, surveyed the parents of 117 pediatric asthma patients. Thirty percent reported using complementary medicine to help manage their children's asthma symptoms, most commonly herbal medications, chiropractic, homeopathy, and vitamin C supplementation.  One of the common reasons given for the usage was, the non-medical practitioners were perceived as “treating the whole patient."

The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association lists several studies on their web site ( www.icpa4kids.org ) discussing the benefits of chiropractic for children with asthma.  The following are some of those excerpts:  “76.5% of patients with bronchial asthma said they benefited from chiropractic treatment. Peak flow rate and vital capacity increased after the third treatment.  Significantly lower quality of life impairment rating scores were reported for 90.1% of children after 60 days of chiropractic care. During this same time period the average number of asthma attacks decreased an average of 44.9%, and asthma medication usage was decreased an average of 66.5%.  Among parents of asthmatic children who had received chiropractic treatment, 92% considered this treatment beneficial.”

The author of the JVSR study was a Swiss chiropractor  Dr. Yannick Pauli, who is the president of the Swiss Chiropractic Pediatric Association, and who specializes in the care of children suffering from learning and behavioral disorders.  Dr. Pauli explained, "This review critically assessed eight previously published studies involving a total of 160 children.  He continued, "Although the results remain preliminary and more research is needed, the evidence strongly suggests that chiropractic care may help various cognitive abilities that are essential to learning."

The study notes that between 3-10% of the school-age population in the United States is considered learning disabled.  Some experts claim that the figure is closer to 20% of school age children. According to Dr. Pauli , "The main aim of this literature review was to investigate the clinical evidence for the effect of chiropractic care in people suffering from learning disorders and dyslexia."

Dr. Pauli explained,  "What appears from our review is that the chiropractor is not so much interested in the cure of the disorder itself, but rather in the correction of an underlying Central Nervous System dysfunction assumed to underlie the disorder(s) affecting the patient" He explained the connection of chiropractic care to learning disabilities by saying, "The only source of constant stimulation to the brain comes from the spine and the postural muscles constantly adjusting to the force of gravity. If the daily physical stresses of life cause misalignments in the spine -- called vertebral subluxations by chiropractors -- the brain is not adequately stimulated. This can cause problems throughout the body."

Dr. Matthew McCoy, a chiropractor and editor of JVSR, remarked, "This study is an exciting first step. It shows the beneficial effect of chiropractic care and may offer hope for thousands of suffering children."

A new poll from Canada points to snow shoveling as the leading cause of back and neck pain during the winter months. In the poll, 73 per cent of Ontario chiropractors surveyed say improper shoveling technique tops the list of reasons for winter back pain problems. 

The story, reported in the January 9, 2003 Canadian News Wire, Quotes Dr. Dennis Mizel, President of the Ontario Chiropractic Association, who said, "Chiropractors are finding that some patients experience back and neck pain as a result of improper snow shoveling technique. Improper technique can be anything from bending at the waist instead of the knees to throwing snow instead of pushing it. When you combine improper technique with the average weight of one shovelful of snow (five to seven pounds) it becomes even more evident that this is a serious problem for both adults and the children who help them."

Dr. Kristina Peterson, a chiropractor in Thunder Bay was also quoted in the article, "Back problems can surface in patients during the winter, especially those who are unaccustomed to participating in challenging physical activity on a regular basis. Activities requiring exertion that is higher than one's daily routine such as winter sports or pushing stuck cars can cause back injuries. However, snow shoveling is the number one reason patients present with back pain in the winter."

The Ontario Chiropractic Association offers the following preventive measures to help keep backs in shape:

1. Warm-up. Before beginning any snow removal, warm-up for five to ten minutes to get the joints moving and increase blood circulation. A good warm-up should include stretches for the back, shoulders, arms and legs. This will ensure that your body is ready for action.

2. Don't let the snow pile up. Removing small amounts of snow on a frequent basis is less strenuous in the long run.

3. Pick the right shovel. Use a lightweight push-style shovel. If you use a metal shovel, spray it with Teflon first so snow won't stick.

4. Push, don't throw. Push the snow to one side and avoid throwing it as much as possible. If you have to throw, avoid twisting and turning - position yourself to throw straight at the snow pile.

5. Bend your knees. Use your knees, leg and arm muscles to do the pushing and lifting while keeping your back straight.

6. Take a break. If you feel tired or short of breath, stop and take a rest. Stop shoveling immediately if you feel chest or back pain

The story starts of by saying, "When a Supreme Court justice is nursing an aching back or a senator has a crick in the neck, Dr. William Morgan is the man they may call for help."  Dr. Morgan is not new to the military. His history noted that after high school, he joined the Navy where he received training as a hospital corpsman, He was assigned to a Marine Corps reconnaissance unit and a Navy special warfare unit. 

After his time in the Navy, Morgan did not know what career to follow.  That is where fate seemed to step in.  The story notes that he found a career after he injured his back.  "For months I tried traditional treatments and had no relief," he said. "Finally, when I could barely walk, I went to a chiropractor. I was 90 percent better in just a week."

His experience led him to attend chiropractic school and he received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree. After school he started his chiropractic career with a three-month missionary team in western Africa.  He then practiced for 13 years in California when he heard that the National Naval Medical Center was looking for a chiropractor. He commented, "From my time in the Navy I knew that Bethesda was a world-class medical center and that working there would be something very special."

With his history in the military, and his desire to serve at Bethesda, Dr. Morgan packed up his family and moved to Maryland, where he became a contract employee of the U.S. Navy.   Since then he has enjoyed his time of being the chiropractor to many government officials.  Dr. Morgan concluded the article by saying, "I have the best job in the hospital and I get immediate gratification for what I do. When people come to me they are at the end of the line. They have tried everything and nothing worked. So, when I try something and it works, I am gratified."

It is estimated that up to 15 million people suffer from asthma. Of those, 14.8 million are children under the age of 18. In 1993 alone, there were 198,000 hospitalizations for asthma. In that same sample year, 342 people under the age of 25 died due to this problem. In money terms, the direct cost of managing a patient with severe asthma has been estimated at more than $18,000 per year.

The following statistics about asthma come from the Better Health & Medical Network.

• Asthma has increased 46% from 1982-1993 with an 80% growth in children under 18.
• In the 5-17 age group, asthma causes an annual loss of more than 10 million school days per year.
• Asthma accounts for more childhood hospitalizations than any other childhood disease.
• Children with asthma spend approximately 7.3 million days per year restricted to bed rest.
• In 1990, there were 7.1 million physician visits for asthma.
• Health care costs for asthma were estimated to be $6.2 billion, which is almost 1% of the total US health care costs.
• More than 5,200 Americans died from asthma in 1991.

Recent articles in publications such as "The American Chiropractor", and "Today’s Chiropractic" describe strong links between people who suffer from these conditions and nerve interference from subluxation. Subluxations are when bones in the spine pressure or irritate nerves causing abnormal nerve function. An article appearing in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research Vol. 1 No. 4, also demonstrated the positive effects of chiropractic care on 81 children with asthma.

According to Richard Pistolese, research assistant for the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, "Based upon information currently available, chiropractic care represents a safe non-pharmacological health care approach, that may be associated with a decrease in asthma-related impairment, reduced respiratory effort, and a decrease incidence of asthma attacks." Pistolese goes further to say, "The correction of vertebral subluxation is a non-invasive procedure, which could reduce or eliminate the need for medication, and potentially ease the severity of the asthmatic condition."

The Annals of Internal Medicine (of all places) published the results of a survey of 232 people who had arthritis and were under a rheumatologists care.  Of those 63% responded to the survey by saying they were using some form of "complementary care" as named by the study.  Of those people 31% were using chiropractic.  These number may themselves be grossly under reported as only 45% of the patients told their doctor about using the other forms of care.

These reported numbers translate to over 19% of the public who is seeing a rheumatologists is also seeing a chiropractor.  And if less that half of the patients are telling their doctor about it the actual number may be twice as high.

Possibly the most impressive statistic was that 73% of those trying chiropractic found it helpful.  The reasons given why people said they tried the non-medical care was to control pain, because they heard it helps, because it is safe, because it helped someone they know, and because their prescription medication wasn't working.

In a report from the Feb. 21, 2002  PRNewswire comes a story of a national telephone survey conducted by Media General Research in December 2001, in which it was revealed that consumers rely most on chiropractic as the number one natural, non-drug choice for most pains and injuries. The survey found for example, that 42 percent of consumers have experienced back pain during the past year. The number one natural choice was chiropractic care. The study also found that of those patients who saw a chiropractor, 91 percent rated their care as "very" or "somewhat" effective.

The study also showed that while sixty percent of consumers said they would go to an MD if they experienced an injury causing pain to their back or neck, about 23 percent said they would go to a chiropractor. This number was more than physical therapists at 7 percent, massage therapists at 4 percent, and acupuncturists at only 1 percent.

While it is a common public belief to associate chiropractic with back and neck pain, the survey also showed another area that is becoming more recognized by the general public when it comes to choosing chiropractic care and that area is the care of headaches. Although using drugs is still the most commonly used treatment for those who had experienced headaches in the past year, the second most popular choice of care for headache sufferers was chiropractic care.

The report also noted that in 1998, the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that chiropractic was the most frequently used drug-free treatment. Additionally the report mentioned that Chiropractic has been practiced in the United States for more than 100 years, and more than 3 million people visit one of the 60,000 chiropractors in the country every year.

A case study published in the December 7, 2006 issue of the scientific periodical, the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, followed a case of a 48-year-old man who had undergone recent blood and urine tests that indicated the early onset of diabetes mellitus as confirmed by his medical physician.

This patient sought chiropractic care to see if non-medical care could assist him and prevent the need for injectable insulin. The author of this report noted that there had been several previous studies that showed varied degrees of success for several non-medical therapies used for patients with diabetes mellitus.  Such therapies included vitamin therapy, exercise and acupuncture.

In this case the patient received chiropractic care for the correction of subluxations.  Additionally he implemented nutritional changes which included increased protein intake and specific nutritional supplementation.  He also engaged in a program of exercise.

Within one month of the initiation of chiropractic care the indicators used to monitor corrections of subluxations showed improvement.  In conjunction with this the patient's medical physician noted that the patient's blood and urine sugar levels were also balanced.  He continued to have his condition monitored and it was determined that he would not need insulin at that time, or in the immediate future if his condition continued to maintain itself.

The author of the study made it clear that chiropractic care is not the treatment of diabetes or any condition, when he stated that chiropractic, "does not look to treat any condition such as diabetes mellitus,"  However, he did point out that a significant contribution could be made to the health of diabetes sufferers if chiropractic were added to care. He concluded, "If chiropractic care can offer assistance in treatment of 5% of the diabetic conditions commonly presented to health care providers this alone could offer significant life style enhancement for those patients positively influenced."

Celebrities such as Mel Gibson and Arnold Schwarzenegger use chiropractic on a regular basis.  On the cover of the June 22, 2000 edition of  TV Guide Insider, is a picture of Mel Gibson dressed for his upcoming movie "The Patriot".  In that story they talk about how Mr. Gibson uses chiropractic on a regular basis. In the article he states, "I got a chiropractor to come along to the [Patriot] shoot, because they can actually stick you back together within 15 minutes. He used to come every other week, from Los Angeles to South Carolina — spend a week and work on the entire crew. All the stunt guys were like, Oh, fix my disc. He is putting their discs back in. The guy is amazing."  

Arnold Schwarzenegger is another fan and recipient of chiropractic care.  Each year in Columbus Ohio Arnold addresses a chiropractic fitness symposium held in conjunction with his "Arnold Classic". At the event in Feb 2000 he made the following remarks, "Chiropractic is about health and fitness. Chiropractic is about natural, preventive health care. What you are doing, and I have experienced this for the last 30 years myself on my own body, means that whenever I have a problem—or even if I don’t have a problem—and I go to a chiropractor, my problems are gone for a long time."

Chiropractic Helps Patients With Acute Back Pain and Sciatica with Disc Protrusion

A new study from Italy published in the March issue of The Spine Journal, showed that chiropractic care was effective in helping patients with acute back pain and sciatica with disc protrusion.  This randomized double-blind clinical trial involved 102 ambulatory patients with at least moderate pain or radiating pain, who had an MRI study showing disc protrusion.

The patients were divided into two groups.  One group received chiropractic adjustments 5 days per week by experienced chiropractors, with a maximum of 20 visits.  The second group received what the study termed, "simulated manipulations" in order to have a group for comparison to those receiving real chiropractic care.

The results showed that those who got the real chiropractic care improved significantly over the group that received the simulated manipulations.  In the group that received the chiropractic care, 55% were free of  radiating pain in the follow ups compared to 20% of patients who got the simulated manipulations.  Additionally, when measuring local pain, 28% of those who received real chiropractic were free of local pain, versus only 6% of those who got the simulated manipulation.

The results also showed improvements in days of pain with the group that received the real care reporting 6 less days of pain than those in the simulated care group.  In addition to these benefits the group with the real care reported using less medications to help with the pain as a result of the chiropractic care. 

In this study none of the patients in either group had any adverse effects, and one from each group did report no results at all and were listed as "treatment failures".  The researchers conclusions were, "Active manipulations have more effect than simulated manipulations on pain relief for acute back pain and sciatica with disc protrusion."

There is no such thing as to young or to old for Chiropractic care. Chiropractic patients range in years from birth to old age. Regardless of age, vertebrae can become misaligned.  If a vertebrae become misaligned it can cause pressure or irritation to nerves thus causing them to malfunction.  This process is known as a "Subluxation".   For example, the birth process may cause trauma to the neck and spine. If left uncorrected, the vertebral subluxation may disturb the delicate spinal cord and nerves which control the infants muscles and organs.  In some cases, an uncorrected subluxations may lead to a deformity of the spinal column. An early chiropractic checkup may detect subluxations while they are still easily correctable.

When should I start my child under Chiropractic care?
Your child should have a chiropractic examination as soon after birth as possible.  Spinal trauma to an infant's or child's spine can occur during the birth process as well as from any number of tumbles while learning to sit up or walk.  Your child's spine grows almost 50% in length during that first year (the equivalent of a six-footer growing to nine feet in just 12 months!).  It's this kind of tremendous growth and developmental changes which make continued chiropractic examinations so important in the early stages of your child's life.

In the January 2002 edition of the peer reviewed scientific journal, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, (JMPT) appeared a case study on a 41-year-old woman who sought chiropractic care with complaints of pain at the TMJ on both sides, ear pain, ringing in the ears, vertigo, decreased hearing ability, and a sensation of pressure or fullness in both ears.  She also reported that movements of her jaw while talking or chewing provoked pain at the TMJ. 

Before seeking chiropractic care she was treated for her TMJ by two medical doctors.  She was also referred to an eye, ear, nose, and throat specialist, who diagnosed her with TMJ syndrome. Additionally, she was referred to a dentist for the problem.  Medical recommendations were to apply heat to the area, reduce talking and yelling, and change her diet to a soft diet.  Even with all this medical and dental care her symptoms steadily continued to get worse.

Eventually she sought the care of a chiropractor. After an examination it was determined by the chiropractor that the patient had an Atlas subluxation, (first bone in the neck).  Care was begun by a series of adjustments.  After only a few visits the patient reported significant improvement in her symptoms.  After two and a half months she reported complete relief from the TMJ symptoms.  She also reported a decrease in the frequency and severity of her headaches. Prior to starting  chiropractic care, she was experiencing 1 to 2 migraine headache attacks per month.  The effects of the chiropractic care were long term as shown at her 1-year follow-up where she had not experienced any headache symptoms for a period of 9 months and her TMJ complaints had completely resolved.

Waldorf Chiropractic Center sees many of the areas senior popualtion! We strive to help them live pain free active lives! If you have any questions on how we can help you please call the office.  Dr. Eric would be more that happy to sit down with you and talk about your concerns.  If he can help he will tell you. If he can not help help you he will let you know that as well. We have a vest network of doctors we work with and Dr. Eric will be happy to send you to one of them if he can not help you.

Chiropractic was well represented at the 10th Annual International Congress on Anti-Aging and Biomedical Technologies at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas.  The chiropractic portion of this world-renowned program was hosted by the International Chiropractors Association, (ICA). As reported in the December 13, 2002 issue of the Chiropractic News from the ICA , the International Congress on Anti-Aging and Biomedical Technologies, was the world's largest and most prestigious international conference on anti-aging science. 

The chiropractic portion of the conference included authoritative chiropractic presenters who spoke on the clinical application of chiropractic in the care of the aging population.  Dr. D.D. Humber, ICA President stated, "This inter-disciplinary professional conference represents an important frontier for chiropractic because in a segment of the population awash with prescription drugs, and where one-half of all emergency room presentations by Medicare beneficiaries are related to those prescription drugs, awareness of and access to the benefits of chiropractic care becomes an urgent matter of public health."

The conference focused on  a strong professional awareness and education.  The conference brought together thousands of health professionals to explore the frontiers of prevention, health and healing. Dr. Humber further stated, ""This event provides the chiropractic profession with an opportunity to educate consumers, policy makers, and health care professionals alike on the value of chiropractic as a health care discipline that encourages wellness practices with their patients."

From the February 2004 issue of the Journal of Chiropractic Pediatrics, comes a documented case study of a 28 year old women who suffered with migraine headaches for over a decade before being helped with chiropractic care.  In her case there was no history of previous trauma.  Her migraines would last for several days and would cause nausea and dizziness.

In addition to her headaches, she also revealed a history of an irregular menstrual cycle, she would normally menstruate no more than twice per year.  This problem resulted in infertility.  After years of not becoming pregnant, she sought help from a reproductive endocrinologist. She was placed on medication which created additional side effects but did allow her to become pregnant.  Unfortunately, after 9 weeks she suffered a miscarriage.

After years of these problems the woman started chiropractic care.  She was initially given an examination and it was determined that she did have spinal problems.  A series of specific chiropractic adjustments were then initiated.  A re-examination was performed one month after care began. The patient reported a reduction in her headaches.  After the second month of care another examination was performed and the patient reported that she had no incidence of migraine headache for the entire previous month. Additionally, the patient noticed that she had started a regular menstrual cycle.  Within six months of the initiation of chiropractic care, she became pregnant.

September 5, 2000 MSNBC reports that, "Infants who use pacifiers continuously after six months of age are at higher risk of ear infections, according to researchers."  These finding come from the results of a study done on more than 400 Finnish children at the  University of Oulu.  The researchers estimate that between 75 percent and 85 percent of children in Western countries habitually use pacifiers.

One possible reason given by the researchers for the link between pacifiers and ear infections was that the sucking on a pacifier may upset the air pressure in the ear therefore blocking proper drainage. “It is reasonable to assume that the effect may lie in an alteration in the pressure equilibrium between the middle ear cavity and the nasopharynx, which apparently impairs the functioning of the Eustachian tube,”

The Eustachian tube is the passage that connects the back of the nose and the middle ear. It assists hearing and acts as a drain for the middle ear by opening when needed to regulate air pressure. If the Eustachian tube gets blocked it may prevent proper drainage and result in infections.  The only recommendations given to the parents in the article by the researchers were to restrict pacifier use to the moments when older babies are falling asleep.

The above title comes from a May 6, 2002 Reuter's Health article reporting on a study published in the May issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.  In this study Dr. Jan Lucas Hoving of Monash University in Victoria, Australia reports that what they called "Manual Therapy" included procedures performed by chiropractors.  Other previous studies have shown that over 90% of what most studies call "Manual Therapy" are performed by doctors of chiropractic.

In this study, 183 patients with neck problems were given either "manual therapy" (as the study calls it), exercise therapy or they were told to continue routine care from their medical doctor, which included advice on home exercises and prescriptions for pain medication for a 6 week period. All patients were allowed to continue on any pain medication they had been taking. 

The results showed that at the end of the study, about 68% of the "manual-therapy" patients said they were "completely recovered" or "much improved," according to the report.  This was vastly better when compared with 51% of those on exercise therapy and 36% of patients who continued their medical care.  The conclusion from the researcher was obvious when they said, "Manual therapy" seems to be a favorable treatment option for patients with neck pain." 

It should be noted that the results obtained in this study would probably be less than would be expected under chiropractic care. "Manual Therapy" as delivered by untrained individuals can not be as precise or specific as chiropractic adjustments delivered by trained practitioners who perform adjustments on a daily basis.

Asthma has become a large health concern for children in recent years. Over the past 20 years the incidence of asthma has doubled. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that in 1998, approximately 17,299,000 people in the United States, or 6.4% of the population, with cases among very young children up 160%. As reported in the June 16, 1999 issue of JAMA, the CDC also noted that between 1980 and 1994, the number of people self-reporting asthma grew 75%.

In a study conducted in 1996 by the Michigan Chiropractic Council (MCC), a panel of doctors performed an out-come assessment study to test the qualitative and quantitative effectiveness of chiropractic care on children with asthma. The high demand of parents seeking alternative care for pediatric asthma was shown by the overwhelming interest in the study. More than 500 parents called the MCC seeking to get their child involved in the chiropractic study.

The study, which took place during May and June of 1996, examined the chiropractic effectiveness in correcting the cause of asthma in patients from birth to age 17. The average age of the participant was 10 years.  "After 30 days of chiropractic health care, patients averaged only one attack, whereas prior to the study they were experiencing more than four attacks," said MCC Dr. Bob Graham, who directed the study.  "Medications, which can be costly, were decreased by nearly 70 percent. Finally, patient satisfaction was rated 8.5 on a scale of 10."  More than 70 chiropractors from 62 cities in Michigan studied more than 80 children suffering from asthma.

According to a story from the April, 8, 2002 issue of the New Yorker online magazine "Fact", the results of back surgeries performed over the years have been much less than expected. The article starts by asking the question, "Is surgery the best approach to chronic back pain?"  It then goes on to state, "Last year, approximately a hundred and fifty thousand lower-lumbar spinal fusions were performed in the United States."

When asked about the chances for success with spinal surgery, Dr. Eugene Carragee, at Stanford, who says he performs the operation only on a select group of patients who have been carefully screened, estimates that less than a quarter of the operations will be completely successful. For the majority of patients, the surgery does not have a dramatic impact on either their pain or their mobility.  He concludes, that the patient's prospects for a future that is free from back pain is fairly poor.

The New Yorker article also states that many patients who have had surgery end up going back to their surgeons. In a study in the state of Washington of workers injured on the job who received fusions for degenerative-disk disease, the results showed that  twenty-two per cent had further surgery.  The article also reported that Dr. Seth Waldman, at New York's Hospital for Special Surgery, claims to regularly see spinal-fusion patients who experience persistent pain after multiple operations. Sadly, few patients facing spinal surgery seem to have any idea that the statistics are so unfavorable.

In the December 2001 issue, the journal "Spine" published the results of an award-winning study from Scandinavia in which patients who underwent fusion surgery for chronic lower-back pain were compared with those who had had no surgery. In this randomized controlled trial, only one out of every six of the patients in the surgical group was rated by an independent observer as having an "excellent" result after two years.  Additionally, Dr. Richard Deyo, an internist and an expert on back pain at the University of Washington, recently published a statistical analysis of existing research which suggested that spinal fusion generally lacked scientific rationale, and also that it had a significantly higher rate of complication than did discectomy.

In conclusion, the article quotes Dr. Seth Waldman, who sees the consequences of failed fusions at the Hospital for Special Surgery every week. Dr. Waldman wishes that the medical profession could be persuaded to show a little restraint. He concludes the article by saying. "If you have a screwdriver, everything looks like a screw.  There will be a lot of people doing the wrong thing for back pain for a long time, until we finally figure it out. I just hope that we don't hurt too many people in the process."

A study released by the British, “Medical Research Council” (MRC) showed that Chiropractic and exercise was effective for patients suffering from lower back pain. The British study used the term “spinal manipulation”, (more correctly termed “adjustments”), which they noted is the primary form of care performed by Doctors of Chiropractic. The study, published in the November 19, 2004 edition of the British Medical Journal, stated that when combined with an exercise program, these two offer an effective treatment for those suffering from back pain.

The trial study recruited more than 1,300 patients from across the UK, whose back pain had not improved after receiving what they termed the “best care” in general medical practice. These patients were then compared and assessed to judge the effectiveness of three different types of care.

The three types of care were:

• A class-based physical exercise program.
• Spinal manipulation
• A combined package of spinal manipulation followed by a program of exercise

The results showed that to varying degrees all patients in the treatment groups reported improved back function and reduced pain over time. They noted that patients assigned to exercise classes in addition to general practice care reported a small benefit at three months but not at one year. Those assigned to spinal manipulation in addition to general practice care reported a small to moderate benefit at three months and a small, on average, benefit at one year. However, the greatest improvement was found in the patients assigned to combined manipulation and exercise in addition to general practice care.

It took an act of the US Congress, but the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) has finally taken steps toward offering chiropractic care to all US military and veterans. The first step involves the creation of a committee to oversee and make recommendations to the DVA on how best to offer chiropractic care to all their beneficiaries.  As was reported in the August 8, 2002 issue of the Chiropractic News Service, as well as most every other chiropractic publication, the five member Advisory Committee was made up of representatives from most national chiropractic associations.

Initial indications are that the Chiropractic Advisory Committee will have at least three meetings in the coming year, based on budget information the DVA has provided. "We are pleased to finally see some movement on this vital new chiropractic program," said International Chiropractors Association President Dr. D.D. Humber. "We continue to have concerns, however, over the delay in taking this first step of naming Chiropractic Advisory Committee members and what it might mean for the rest of the process. We will urge the chiropractic representatives of this committee to come together and aggressively assert the rights of veterans to receive the chiropractic services mandated by Congress, without obstruction or unnecessary delay on the part of the DVA."

Among the key issues which this Advisory Committee will deal with will be direct access to chiropractic care, a vital component of any benefits program and one of the top priorities in this and in all health benefits programs, both public and private. Most of the chiropractic profession is concerned that the DVA will attempt to limit the access of chiropractic care, placing the benefits under the direct referral of medical doctors.   The chiropractic profession and the national associations are unanimous in their objection to any provision that would limit the rights of US veterans to have direct access to chiropractic services when they desire them.

The wording of the bill that requires chiropractic care to be offered by the DVA includes the following. "The program shall be carried out at sites designated by the Secretary for purpose of the program. The Secretary shall designate [at least] one site for such program in each geographic service area of the Veterans Health Administration. The sites so designated shall be medical centers and clinics located in urban areas and in rural areas. The chiropractic care and services available under the program shall include a variety of chiropractic care and services for neuro-musculoskeletal conditions, including subluxation complex."

The above headline comes from the January 2005 issue of the magazine Up & Coming. This article tells the story of a 13 year old girl named May Beth, who had suffered from ear infections most of her life. Her father, was the author of the article. He started off by describing May Beth’s history and explained that by the time his daughter was 13 months old, she'd had 11 ear infections. He explained that each time she was given an antibiotic which caused the ear infection to go away after about a week, but it would soon return.

After a while May Beth was even give antibiotics as a preventative. However this did not work and her father began to get concerned about the effects all these antibiotics would have on his daughter. As matters got worse May Beth’s father grew more concerned. He stated, “I became desperate for an end to her misery. I was concerned about how

these chronic ear infections might be affecting her developing speech and how the antibiotics might be affecting her natural immunity. As a result, I arranged for her to have a myringectomy, a type of surgery in which tiny tubes are placed in the child's ear to prevent fluid buildup. While I believed the operation was May Beth's best option, I felt terrible about having her undergo a general anesthetic and surgery at such a young age. There are no words to describe the feeling I had watching my smiling baby girl dressed in a tiny hospital gown wave back at me as she was being wheeled in a little red wagon into the operating room.”

Unfortunately, even after the surgery May Beth’s ear infections didn't stop. Less than two months later, she was

 once again taking antibiotics. Soon after it was suggested that she have a second surgery. Her father noted, “I just cou

ldn't bear it. I was at my wit's end.”

Then coincidentally, May Beth’s father had just started chiropractic school and had heard that chiropractic care had helped many children with chronic ear infections. He then took May Beth to a family chiropractor who began

adjusting May Beth. The results were wonderful. May Beth’s father described the events by saying, “Since that time, she's had one ear infection that lasted less than two days with no medication. Her overall health has been excellent - and she can talk up a storm!”

He summed up his comments in this article by explaining, “Chiropractic adjustment may resolve the ear infecti

ons without the need for surgery. Our bodies - young and old - are wonderfully made to take care of many

 of the problems we encounter. A correct alignment of the spine maximizes the

body's potential to take care of itself.”

Virginia Tech's football team has had an impressive record over the last several years. Head Coach Frank Beamer took the "Hokies" to a Big East Conference championship where they finished number 2 in the Associated Press. Some of the credit for their physical health and recovery from injuries is attributed to chiropractic care.

Dr. Greg Tilley, a chiropractor from Blacksburg Virginia started caring for various members of the team after approaching the team physician to discuss how he could assist the team. "In the beginning there were times when I only saw one or two patients," says Dr. Tilley. "Now I have been allocated an office in the sports complex where I have my own portable table, and they have a schedule where the trainers can schedule times for their athletes to see me.

Junior quarterback Grant Noel began receiving adjustments in July of 2001. He feels that chiropractic gives him better flexibility and range of motion. "Just getting my back adjusted and loose helps with my trunk mobility as far as twisting and throwing."

With the success and testimonials of the football team, other athletes have also begun chiropractic. Athletes from the schools swimming, diving, lacrosse, soccer, and basketball programs have begun regular adjustments. Mike Gentry, the assistant athletic director for athletic performance, summed it up by saying, "I see chiropractic as having two functions from my perspective. It helps our athletes return to competition faster if they have sustained some injuries, and secondly, it seems to be preventative, in the sense that it keeps our athletes more mobile and flexible and feeling better."

Jonathan Lipnicki is the child star of movies such as Jerry McGuire and the two Stuart Little movies. He has been under chiropractic care most of his life. In fact, on one of his early interviews on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, he stated that he wanted to be a chiropractor when he grows up. Apparently his future employment will not be as a chiropractor since his acting career has continued to skyrocket. However, he still wants chiropractic to be a part of his life as he stated at a recent chiropractic convention appearance that he may not become a chiropractor, but he'd like to marry one.

Lipnicki, now 15, has also shown his love for chiropractic by taking on the role as a spokesperson for Pediatric Chiropractic. In an interview published in the January 2005 issue of Chiropractic Economics, he noted that he received his first adjustment when he was just a few months old and he's been receving adjustments all of his life. He stated, "It's a good way to live. You perform at your best, whether it's academically or physically."

He also showed his support for a chiropractic lifestyle in an interview for the February 26, 2005 issue of Dynamic Chiropractic where he commented, "If you want to perform at your ultimate best, if you want to be the best you can be in sports and in school, mentally, physically - chiropractic is the way, because everything has to do with your nervous system, and if you can clear up any subluxation in there, you'll be pretty much OK."

Lipnicki will be doing public service announcements and speaking to the press in a effort to raise the consciousness of children and their parents concerning chiropractic and a healthy lifestyle. He made his reasoning clear by saying in the Chiropractic Economics article, "I want to be part of the solution by telling kids. I love this wellness lifestyle."

In a recent study published in the September 2000 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics, researchers showed that chiropractic adjustments have an effect on the Autonomic Nervous System. This research was designed to measure the changes in "Edge Light Pupil Cycle Time" (ELPCT) which is one of the light reflexes of the eyes. This reflex is controlled by the Autonomic Nervous System. The results showed a decrease in the Edge Light Pupil Cycle Time therefore showing a direct link between a chiropractic adjustment and a response in the Autonomic Nervous System.

The implications of this research go well beyond the eye itself. The Autonomic Nervous System is that part of the nervous system responsible for the control and function of internal body organs. Chiropractors have said for over 100 years that interference to the nervous system creates a situation whereby various parts of the body will not be functioning at their fullest innate potential. Despite all the reported cases of people with a variety of internal problems responding to chiropractic care, the medical community would always dismiss these cases as a coincidence.

This new research adds much credibility to the reports of miraculous results under chiropractic by scientifically showing a link between chiropractic adjustments of the spine and the part of the nervous system responsible for the control of internal organs. This clearly validates and reinforces the great results that chiropractors have reported to see over the last 100 years. Chiropractic care can have a positive affect on organ system health problems.

An article published in the January 2001 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics follows two case studies of patients with various types of serious cancer. The article follows the chiropractic care and it’s effect on these patients pain and quality of life.

The first patient was a 57-year-old man with serious terminal pancreatic cancer. This patient received chiropractic care during the later stages of the disease. In the remaining time the patient had before succumbing to the disease it was documented that the patient had significantly less pain and was able to reduce his medications. The journal article summed up this case by stating, “In this case chiropractic care was able to provide significant pain relief, reduce the amount of pain medication being taken (as well as the potential side effects), and temporarily improve the quality of life for a patient with terminal cancer."

The second patient was a 54-year-old man recovering from surgery for lung cancer. This patient was continually suffering from upper back pain and had gotten no relief for over one year. At that point the patient began chiropractic care. In this case the patient received immediate relief and was able to discontinue all pain medication after two chiropractic visits.

The principles of chiropractic make it plain that the focus of chiropractic care is not to directly treat the patient’s pain but rather to assist the body and allow the body’s own healing abilities to work at that person’s maximum potential. These case studies show that ability and the effect on people suffering with serious conditions. The Journal article states it best when it said, “These clinical examples offer 2 specific instances of how chiropractic may improve the quality of a cancer patient’s life.”

Behavioral Changes and Chiropractic Care, A Case Study
A documented case study published in the October 4, 2006 issue of the peer reviewed publication, the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (JVSR), describes the results of chiropractic care on an 8-year-old boy with many learning and behavioral disorders. Additionally, his mother reported that the boy also suffered from, severe headaches, neck pain, constant “blood shot” eyes, stomach pains, an inability to sit still, incoordination, behavioral problems and learning difficulties. She noted that the child's medical doctor had no explanation for these problems.

It was noted that the majority of the boy's problems started after a fall he had 18 months earlier. The mother also noted that her son had normal development, activity and learning skills until the accident. Finally the mother brought the boy to a chiropractor. The chiropractor performed an examination and x-rays. It was noted that there was a restriction in neck movement and tenderness over certain neck vertebrae. After review of all the findings it was determined that vertebral subluxations were present.

Care was initiated for corrections of subluxations with visits initially starting at once per week for the first two months. However, as documented in this case, positive changes started occurring quickly. After the third adjustment the boy's mother brought in the spelling tests the child had taken. The tests prior to care showed severe problems as the child could only get two or three correct out of ten. After the second adjustment, the child scored a 100% and his tests continued to show drastic improvement. His teacher even noted that the boy was able to, "sit still and concentrate without disturbing the other children."

The child continued to receive reports from school commenting on his academic improvement as well as his social interactivity. The authors of the case study noted that there were many possible explanations for the results seen in this case. However, they noted that other than the usage of “over the counter” medications reported by the mother, the young boy did not take any prescribed medication. The only change that directly correlated with the improvement in this young boy was the introduction of chiropractic care.

On August 20, 2004, PRNewswire reported on the results of a study that shows that most people prefer drug free care for back pain over taking medications. The survey, conducted by the I/H/R Research Group, a full service market research firm that includes experienced health care managers, interviewed 800 adults nationwide in the Spring of 2004.

The survey, commissioned by the American Chiropractic Association, showed that more than 80 percent of chronic back pain sufferers surveyed would prefer to avoid the use of medication to treat their ailments. However, a majority of those surveyed were taking either narcotics, muscle relaxants or over-the-counter medications to deal with their pain.

The survey also showed that more than 64 percent of the respondents said that they would consider seeking the health care services of a Doctor of Chiropractic to provide their drug free care. However, the survey showed that only 13.8 percent of respondents were currently seeking health care from a Chiropractor.

The survey also showed the following:

18 percent of all chronic back pain was reported as the result of an accident or injury
Almost 40 percent reported their pain as very severe or severe at the time of the survey
71 percent of respondents said they had suffered from chronic back pain for five or more years
The survey participants were also asked if they felt their pain was under control as a result of their current treatment. To this question 30 percent indicated their pain was not, and an additional 39.3 percent said their pain was only moderately under control

In the Sept. 19, 2000 /PRNewswire was a report by the American Chiropractic Association on a survey of "Baby Boomers" conducted in the fall of 1999. The survey of baby boomers was conducted by Sorelli B, a national research firm. The survey found that more than one third of those surveyed said chiropractic care prevented the need for prescription drugs and physical therapy. Additionally, many respondents believe chiropractic care had helped them avoid back surgery and hospital stays.

The survey results strongly showed many participants desire for chiropractic care when it found that, they are willing to pay for the services out-of-pocket, although they would prefer to have the care covered by their insurance plans. The report also stated that nearly 60 percent of those surveyed said they would be willing to sign a petition asking their insurance companies to include chiropractic as a core component of their health plan.

One of the more telling quotes from the news story was the following, "most of the baby boomers surveyed in the recent study said they were influenced more often by their doctor of chiropractic than by their medical doctor or osteopath. And doctors of chiropractic received higher ratings in the area of patient satisfaction than did their medical counterparts." They concluded that, "Overall, 60 percent of the regular patients surveyed believe their doctor of chiropractic has improved their quality of life."