Life Can Be a Pain without Chiropractic

That pain in your knee is often what doctors call patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Simple activities such as running, jumping, or going up and down stairs can contribute to knee pain, which means that most of us will eventually suffer from some form of PFPS.

It has been suggested that PFPS can be relieved by sufficient stretching and lengthening of tight structures around the patella (the kneecap). A study in the Journal of the Neuromusculoskeletal System investigated this potential intervention in 30 patients with PFPS. Patients were divided into two groups: The first group received “patella mobilization” (extension of the knee with pressure and movement applied for 10 minutes, followed by patellar adjustment in the direction of restricted movement); the second group received detuned ultrasound as placebo (five minutes of ultrasound, but with the intensity set at zero).

Patients receiving mobilization had positive improvements in PFPS symptoms compared with the placebo group. The authors note that this type of conservative care may be useful when combined with other treatment options such as exercise, orthotics and activity modification. If you're suffering from knee pain and would like to know more about nonsurgical approaches to relieving your pain, contact your doctor of chiropractic.

Rowlands BW, Brantingham JW. The efficacy of patella mobilization in patients suffering from patellofemoral pain syndrome. Journal of the Neuromusculoskeletal System 1999: Vol. 7, No. 4, pp142-49. --

Bed Rest for Aches and Pains? Not an Effective Prescription

Bed rest has been recommended for many conditions, including low back pain and rheumatoid arthritis. The idea of prescribing bed rest for illness perhaps stemmed from a quote by the “father of medicine,” Hippocrates: “In every movement of the body, whenever one begins to endure pain, it will be relieved by rest.”

Hippocrates' advice was proffered in the 4th century B.C., but the practice of prescribing bed rest remains, despite little evidence of its effectiveness. In a review published in the journal Lancet, authors evaluated 39 different studies on bed rest prescribed for 15 different conditions, involving a total of 5,777 patients.

Results of the analysis revealed that bed rest was not an effective treatment recommendation. In 24 trials investigating bed rest following a medical procedure, no patients improved significantly and eight worsened significantly. And in 15 trials investigating bed rest as a primary treatment, no patients improved significantly, while nine worsened significantly.

Healing involves much more than rest, a fact which this study seems to emphasize but which many doctors seem to ignore. Don't settle for quick medical advice (pills, bed rest, etc.) that may end up doing more harm than good, or no good at all. Consult with your doctor of chiropractic for information on active, noninvasive approaches to managing a variety of health problems.

Allen C, Glasziou P, Del Mar C. Bed rest: a potentially harmful treatment needing more careful evaluation. Lancet 1999: Vol. 354, pp1229-33. --

Can Chiropractic Help Relieve PMS?

Headache, backache, abdominal bloating, cramping, fatigue and mood swings are just some of the symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Most women suffer some symptoms of PMS during their childbearing years, but between 10-20% experience severe or disabling symptoms.

Drugs, vitamin supplements and psychotherapy have proven ineffective or undesirable treatment options, with many patients reporting unpleasant side effects and only minimal relief of symptoms. Previous research has suggested the potential benefit of chiropractic care (see “Chiropractic for PMS” in the August 1999 issue of To Your Health), and a recent study provides further evidence of this association.

In a nine-month clinical trial involving 25 women with diagnosed PMS, 16 patients received active chiropractic treatment (spinal manipulation and soft-tissue therapy) 2-3 times in the week before menses for at least three menstrual cycles; the remaining nine patients received a placebo in the form of chiropractic “adjustments,” using an instrument set for minimum force, such that patients did not effectively receive treatment.

The two groups eventually changed over, so that both groups received treatment and placebo during the study period. In both groups, results showed that PMS symptom scores decreased after chiropractic manipulation, with a significant decrease in scores for the active treatment phase compared to the nontreatment (placebo) phase.

Schedule an appointment with your doctor of chiropractic and find out more about the benefits of chiropractic care and its potential role in relieving your PMS symptoms. For more information on women's health, visit http://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/women.html

Walsh MJ, Polus BI. A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial on the efficacy of chiropractic therapy on premenstrual syndrome. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Nov/Dec 1999: Vol. 22, No. 9, pp582-85. --

Smoking Linked to Back Pain in Children

Even if you've been confined to a deserted island for 50 years, you're no doubt aware of the dangers of smoking. Overwhelming evidence links smoking to terminal diseases (including lung cancer and emphysema) and the risk of premature death, including several recent studies mentioned in this publication. (See “Long-Term Smoking Linked to Arthritis,” Oct. 1999, and “Cigars Just as Dangerous as Cigarettes,” Dec. 1999.)

Smoking may also influence back pain, a suggestion also supported by recent evidence (See “Another Reason Not to Smoke,” Aug. 1999) and a study that appeared in the December 1 issue of Spine. Students from three high schools in Montreal, Canada were monitored for one year to evaluate the incidence of low back pain (LBP) and its potential association with smoking.

Back pain (pain occurring at least once a week in the previous six months) was twice as likely in smokers than nonsmokers. Additionally, moderate-to-heavy smokers (25 or more cigarettes per week) experienced more pain than light-to-moderate smokers (1-25 cigarettes per week).

Far too many people suffer from low back pain, and far too many people continue to smoke despite the warnings. With increasing numbers of our children smoking and suffering from back pain, isn't it time to lead ourselves and our children down a healthier path?

Feldman DE, Rossignol M, Shrier I, et al. Smoking: a risk factor for the development of low back pain in adolescents. Spine, Dec. 1, 1999: Vol. 24, No. 3, pp2492-96.

For more information on childhood conditions, go to http://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/childhood.html --

Hormone Therapy May Contribute to Breast Cancer

It is estimated that cancer ends a human life every minute in the United States, and that more than three million others currently suffer from some form of the disease. Among women, breast cancer is the second most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths.

After menopause, many women use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to compensate for the body's natural decline in hormone production. However, as a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests, the risks associated with HRT use may end up outweighing the benefits.

As part of a nationwide breast cancer screening program called the Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project, 46,355 postmenopausal women were evaluated for duration and type of hormone use and monitored for the incidence of breast cancer. Of particular interest was the influence of estrogen, progestin, or a combination of the two hormones on the risk of developing the disease.

During the 15-year study, 2,082 cases of breast cancer were identified. Women taking the progestin-estrogen combination were at higher risk for the disease than women taking estrogen alone, and this risk increased more rapidly in the combination therapy group vs. the estrogen group per year of use.

The authors note that their data suggest that “the estrogen-progestin regimen increases breast cancer risk beyond that associated with estrogen alone.” Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits associated with hormone replacement therapy.

Schairer C, Lubin J, Troisi R, et al. Menopausal estrogen and estrogen-progestin replacement therapy and breast cancer risk. Journal of the American Medical Association, Jan. 26, 2000: Vol. 283, No. 4, pp485-91. --

Zinc: An Important Mineral for Children and Adults

Most people aren't aware of the importance of zinc in their diet. Zinc deficiency can contribute to acne, fatigue, growth impairment, slow wound healing, delayed sexual maturation, hair loss, high cholesterol, and many other health problems.

Zinc deficiency can also impair the body's ability to fight infection. In children, this can greatly increase the risk of suffering from two of the more common infectious childhood diseases: pneumonia and diarrhea. But there may be a solution, and it could be as easy as making sure you and your children get enough zinc.

A study in the Journal of Pediatrics reviewed previous research on the benefits of zinc supplementation, finding 10 trials worthy of analysis. In seven studies, zinc supplementation was provided at 1-2 times the recommended daily allowance (RDA), 5-7 times per week. In the remaining three studies, zinc supplementation amounted to 2-4 times the RDA daily for two weeks.

Zinc supplementation reduced the risk of developing diarrhea and pneumonia in both sets of trials. The authors note that these results emphasize the importance of adequate daily zinc intake, and add that their findings are especially significant to developing countries where zinc deficiency is common (and where diarrhea and pneumonia represent the two leading causes of death).

Good sources of zinc include fish, egg yolks, lima beans, meats, pecans, poultry, soybeans and whole grains. Your chiropractor can evaluate the nutritional needs of you and your children and help ensure that your family gets the vitamins and minerals necessary to stay healthy and fight disease.

Bhutta ZA, Black RE, Brown KH, et al. Prevention of diarrhea and pneumonia by zinc supplementation in children in developing countries: pooled analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Pediatrics 1999: Vol. 135, pp689-97. --

The Road to Recovery Is Paved with nutrition

If you've recently suffered an injury, you're probably all too familiar with the physical rigors of rehabilitation. Regaining strength and endurance in injured muscles, joints or tissue is a complex process requiring consideration of physical, biological, physiological and nutritional factors.

Speaking of nutrition, a review paper in the Journal of Sports Chiropractic & Rehabilitation addresses the value of nutrition in returning patients to preinjury status. Various nutritional considerations are discussed, including:

· specific energy and nutrient requirements; · ways of reducing inflammation (enzymes, amino acids, herbs/botanicals); · repairing/strengthening tissue (glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate); and · avoiding potential food sensitivities (corn, wheat, milk products, red meat, etc.)

Whether you're recovering from injury or just trying to maximize health and wellness, proper nutrition is a good place to start. Consult with your chiropractor to develop nutritional and exercise guidelines appropriate to your needs.

Simon JJ. Rehabilitative nutrition. Journal of Sports Chiropractic & Rehabilitation, Dec. 1999: Vol. 13, No. 4, pp145-49.

For additional information on nutrition, go to http://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/nutrients.html --

Spread the Word about Lifelong Health and Wellness

Doctors of chiropractic are recognized as capable, efficient providers of health care services, particularly for their emphasis on preventing illness and promoting health and wellness.

A recent two-part study sought to specify the role and use of maintenance care (MC) within the chiropractic profession. Part I focused specifically on chiropractors' attitudes toward MC and the preferred types of MC provided in U.S. chiropractic offices; part II addressed the frequency of MC use by the elderly.

Results from part I:

• Chiropractors agree that the primary functions of maintenance care are to optimize health, prevent conditions from developing, reduce/relieve conditions, and minimize the recurrence of such conditions.
• They also agree that MC should combine exercise, chiropractic adjustments/manipulation, and dietary and lifestyle changes.
• While MC is recommended to nearly 80% of chiropractic patients, only 34% actually receive such care.

Results from part II:

• Elderly patients make an average of 17 visits per year for chiropractic MC.
• These patients report making only half the annual number of visits to medical doctors compared with the national average.
• Stretching exercises, aerobic exercises, dietary advice and other prevention strategies are also recommended for this age group.

The moral to this story is simple: Chiropractors believe in providing well-balanced preventive care that focuses on maintaining wellness and dealing with potential health problems. Many people take advantage of this opportunity, but many more have yet to receive the benefits chiropractic can offer. Do you have friends or family who've never been to a chiropractor? Tell them about your experiences and help them follow the same road to wellness you've chosen.

Rupert RL. A survey of practice patterns and the health promotion and prevention attitudes of U.S. chiropractors. Maintenance care, part I. Also: Rupert RL, Manello D, Sandefur R. Maintenance care: health promotion services administered to U.S. chiropractic patients aged 65 and older: part II. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Jan. 2000: Vol. 23, No. 1, pp1-9 and 10-19.