Original Articles Published at ChiroACCESS
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Gonstead Clinical Studies Society
The Gonstead Technique was originated by Clarence Selmer Gonstead (1898-1978). Dr. Gonstead encountered chiropractic care when severe leg and foot pains, which were resistant to conventional medical care, responded to chiropractic adjustments. This event prompted Dr. Gonstead to seek a chiropractic education.
ChiroACCESS |
February 8, 2010
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Anthony L. Rosner, Ph.D., LL.D.[Hon.]
Now that the second decade of the second millennium is upon us, together with the prospect of Spring Cleaning, it seems entirely appropriate to consider that perhaps the time has arrived to update both our conceptualization and exposition of the subluxation. In terms of how frequently one performs these updates compared to Microsoft, for instance, this shouldn’t be too much of a stretch. Think of it as Subluxation 2.0, 2.2, 2.7, 4.2…or whatever. But the larger picture is that better accessibility of the s-word by various healthcare professions in addition to chiropractic is clearly a necessity.
ChiroACCESS |
February 4, 2010
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ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff
According to recent research, obesity has a direct association with the risk of colorectal cancer. A recent study stresses the need for screening and patient education for the modifiable risk factors that can prevent this condition. Other studies have demonstrated a direct relationship between colorectal cancer and obesity.
ChiroACCESS |
February 2, 2010
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ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff
Over a third of the children in the United States have back pain they associate with wearing backpacks. Recently several studies were published that provide a better picture of the risks associated with the ergonomic loading of backpacks. From this research there is additional information that each chiropractor should be aware of in order to prevent unnecessary backpack related injuries to children.
ChiroACCESS |
January 20, 2010
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ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff
In the January 2010 issue of Medical Hypothesis, Becker and Schultz suggest that Tylenol may be implicated in both autism and asthma. The rate of these conditions has risen sharply in recent years but there continues to be controversy over the etiology. Little hard evidence exists but one study describes the significant increase in autism that began at the same time acetaminophen was recommended to take the place of aspirin.
ChiroACCESS |
January 18, 2010
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Jack Henry, DC, DACBR
A 65-year-old male reports continued neck pain and stiffness two weeks after MVA. The patient was imaged and treated status post trauma at an emergency room facility. All exams were read as normal and the patient was released. The patient subsequently sought out a local chiropractor for pain relief. The attending was unable to obtain the original ER images. Additional images were taken and sent for formal radiological interpretation. Neurological exam was unremarkable.
Radiology Diagnostics, LLC |
January 14, 2010
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Dr. Arlan W. Fuhr
The Activator Method is part of the tradition of instrument adjusting in chiropractic dating to the first decade of the profession, and even farther back into antiquity. Credit for the origin of the Activator adjusting instrument rests with two rural Minnesota practitioners (Arlan W. Fuhr and Warren C. Lee). Activator Method assessment procedures have multiple conceptual roots, all of which are anchored in various subluxation theories.
ChiroACCESS |
January 12, 2010
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ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff
This new randomized controlled clinical trial, conducted in Great Britain, examined the possible benefits of magnetic and copper bracelets on multiple symptoms associated with osteoarthritis. The strong research design used a wrist worn device resembling a wrist watch, where the internal contents were not visible to the research subjects.
ChiroACCESS |
January 11, 2010
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ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff
From Harvard Medical School in the U.S. to medical schools in Europe, medical education related to musculoskeletal conditions is inadequate. A 2009 survey tested physician’s knowledge related to simple low back pain management. The average survey score of family practitioners was 69.7 and the average score of orthopedists was far less at 44.3. Orthopedists were less likely to make the proper radiological referral and appropriate pharmacological prescription based upon the literature.
ChiroACCESS |
January 6, 2010
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Jack Henry, DC, DACBR
A 26-year-old male complains of low back pain and stiffness after physical activities such as running. Rest alleviates the symptoms. No radicular component was reported. Orthopedic and neurological exams were unremarkable.
Radiology Diagnostics, LLC |
January 5, 2010
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ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff
Watching the Olympic Games and other international sports venues demonstrates the global use of pre-competition warm-up and stretching exercises by athletes. Athletic trainers often assist athletes in their stretching routines. The expected benefits of stretching include increased flexibility and injury prevention. Often common beliefs and practices conflict with the scientific evidence and this is true to some extent with stretching. Although the use of stretching does provide some temporary increase in flexibility, the literature suggests that overall it does not help prevent sports injuries. As stated in a 2008 systematic review of the literature, “There is moderate to strong evidence that routine application of static stretching does not reduce overall injury rates.”
ChiroACCESS |
January 4, 2010
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ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff
The literature continues to draw a strong association with increased mortality and the Holiday Season. A significant association exists for cardiac deaths and both Christmas and New Years day. In the United States, the days of the year with the highest rate of noncardiac deaths are December 26th with the highest rate, the next highest death rate falls on December 25th, and the third, January 1st.
ChiroACCESS |
December 28, 2009
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ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff
There are many health and other myths surrounding the popular Holiday use of mistletoe. It has been associated with anything from a romantic unexpected kiss to a dangerous poisonous substance to avoid. The ancient Celts believed mistletoe held the soul of the host tree. However, there is another side to mistletoe. It is a very well established aid to improve the immune system and is used for the care of many forms of cancer. The 2009 scientific publications supporting the clinical use of mistletoe have been numerous.
ChiroACCESS |
December 16, 2009
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ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff
There is a great deal of consistency in the recommendations to provide only breast milk during the first four to six months of infant feeding. There has been some controversy regarding when to introduce solid food and what foods are appropriate to minimize allergies later in life. There have been several studies published this year that provide more evidence to guide feeding recommendations.
ChiroACCESS |
December 10, 2009
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Will Evans, DC, PhD, CHES
Physical activity (PA) is critical for the health of humans. The lack of PA leads to increased risks for a variety of diseases and is associated with overall premature mortality as well. As of 2009, rates of obesity in the United States (US) have increased 129% since 1990. This is partially due to lack of PA by many Americans. Unfortunately, the US is in the middle of an escalating pandemic of obesity and sedentary lifestyle leading to unprecedented challenges for health care providers who want to see patients they treat reach a stable level of better health. All health care professionals should do what they can to encourage regular PA in all of the patients they treat and when possible, directly cue those patients to take action. They must not only recognize those at high risk for disease related to little or no PA but must also prepare to assess and recommend regular PA to all patients whether they look like they need activity or not.
Parker College of Chiropractic Research Institute |
December 1, 2009
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ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff
Dr. Dennis Leduc, a McGill University pediatrician recently stated that “There are no physical ailments in childhood, whether they be ear infections, asthma, or other physical problems, that have ever been shown to be amenable to chiropractic manipulation or therapy.” The story released Friday by The StarPhoenix reports that the concern is over 5,297 chiropractic pediatric treatments at the cost of $80,921 paid in Saskatchewan this last year. The Health Ministry is considering if it will continue to subsidize chiropractic pediatric care in Saskatchewan.
ChiroACCESS |
November 30, 2009
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ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff
Avocado soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) is a largely ignored supplement in the popular media and in doctor’s offices. In spite of a lack of recognition it has possibly the highest level of evidence supporting its effectiveness of all the herbal or nutritional supplements.
ChiroACCESS |
November 23, 2009
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ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff
Several surveys of the medical community suggest that collegial interaction and education of other health providers can translate into an effective means of ethically building your practice. The results of a survey of orthopedic surgeons, published and released today by Spine, indicate that opinions about chiropractic vary significantly.
ChiroACCESS |
November 17, 2009
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ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff
Cold prevention research was the emphasis of several studies in 2009. This work included both new clinical trials and additional reviews of past literature. The status of Vitamin C remains the same. It may decrease the duration of common colds but the evidence does not support a role in prevention.
ChiroACCESS |
November 17, 2009
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ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff
The average income of chiropractors is difficult to identify precisely but several sources give at least a ballpark estimation. One important factor to keep in mind with most of these surveys is that they do not take into account the fact that many doctors do not work full time. This is especially true of doctors in their later years of practice. The primary sources of information about income, like the U.S. Department of Labor, don’t take these part time numbers into consideration. This could have the effect of underestimating the earning potential of those in full time practice.
ChiroACCESS |
November 11, 2009
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ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff
During the past year numerous epidemiological studies have increased the concern over cell phone use. Although some researchers suggest that it could be a number of years before we know the full extent of the problem. The early research was equivocal and the majority concluded that cell phones could be a concern but there was not enough evidence. The recent studies seem to be painting a more reliable picture with strong evidence of male sperm DNA damage and growing confirmation that cell phones contribute to ipsilateral brain tumors. Some researchers note that some of tumors are slow developing and for this reason it could be a decade or more before we know the full risks associated with cell phone use.
ChiroACCESS |
October 21, 2009
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Dwain M. Daniel, D.C.
As the chiropractic profession moves into the 21st century a renewed emphasis is being placed on the concept of the wellness practice. This paper addresses the evidence relating to vitamin D (ViD) in the prevention of many serious health conditions as well as its role in conditions which confront the chiropractic physician on a daily basis.
Parker College of Chiropractic Research Institute |
October 12, 2009
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Jack Henry, DC, DACBR
A 37-year-old female reports with low back pain. No history of trauma was reported. Physical exam was equivocal.
Radiology Diagnostics, LLC |
September 8, 2009
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ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff
Orthopedic testing plays an important role in physical diagnosis yet little research has been conducted to establish the reliability and validity of these tests. For the majority of tests we still have no support for their sensitivity or specificity and many are being evaluated for the very first time. When research is conducted, many tests are being shown to be useless or at least not useful unless if used in conjunction with other tests. The following is a brief update of some of the research from the last year related to the diagnosis of sciatica.
ChiroACCESS |
August 12, 2009
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Will Evans, DC, PhD, CHES
Every clinician communicates with their patients. Some are good at it and some are not so good. Believe it or not, there are studies that indicate what one should do if they are to be successful in communicating health messages to patients. How does a patient prefer to be greeted by the doctor? Do you state, “I’m Dr. So-and-so…pleased to meet you?” If so, you may not be starting off on the right foot. A study in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2007 found patients prefer to be greeted by their doctor by first and last name and to be called by their first name rather than Mr. or Mrs. They also preferred a handshake upon introduction. In about 50% of opportunities, physicians did not call the patient by name at all but offered a hand shake in about 83% of encounters. These actions represent non-verbal cues that may set the patient up to hear or fail to hear what is said next.
Cleveland Chiropractic College |
August 4, 2009
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Anthony L. Rosner, Ph.D., LL.D.[Hon.]
As everyone knows, this is a period of a major economic downturn and bailouts to major economic institutions, including our banks. With obsessions as to how safe our funds are, some have even gone so far as to revive interest in such storied bank robbers of the Depression Era, such as John Dillinger or Willie Sutton. So with apologies to Willie Sutton's infamous remark as to why he robbed banks ["Because that's where the money is"], it may be useful to reconsider the cost-effectiveness-in-healthcare delivery issue from another perspective which may tell us exactly what Mr. Sutton was driving at. In other words, where are the real mother lodes when it comes to locating healthcare dollar expenditures? And how would this relate to chiropractic care?
ChiroACCESS |
July 6, 2009
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Dwain M. Daniel, D.C.
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin D is set at 200 IU per day for individuals up to age 50 in the United States. These recommendations were developed in the 1940’s and were based on levels necessary to prevent rickets. No consideration was given at that time to the possible long term effects that dosing at a low level may produce over a lifetime.
Parker College of Chiropractic Research Institute |
June 23, 2009
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Anthony L. Rosner, Ph.D., LL.D.[Hon.]
The situation is just as absurd if we take a hard look at unblinded randomized clinical trials, which in most cases is what we are stuck with when it comes to comparing chiropractic intervention with either a placebo or alternative treatment. Think for a moment how a patient would react knowing which arm of a clinical trial he or she were assigned to in an unblinded randomized trial. Given the choice of things, being ordered to the conventional treatment might appear to some to be equivalent to drawing the short straw, if a crossover design were not employed.
Parker College of Chiropractic Research Institute |
May 5, 2009
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ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff
In a systematic review of high quality clinical trials, exercise was demonstrated to be the most successful strategy for preventing low back pain in working age adults. In addition to exercise, the interventions evaluated included lumbar supports, shoe orthotics, lifting techniques, education programs, back schools and stress management.
ChiroACCESS |
April 20, 2009
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Anthony L. Rosner, Ph.D., LL.D.[Hon.]
Evidence-based medicine, to which all clinical researchers strive and all third party payors genuflect, is anything but the immutable Gold Standard of medical decision-making in recent years. Rather than being viewed as a Rock of Gibraltar, EBM almost appears more like a sand castle subject to the shifting sands of changing public sentiment as well as the updated scientific findings themselves.
Parker College of Chiropractic Research Institute |
March 5, 2009
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Dwain M. Daniel, D.C.
Driven by remarkable health claims and aggressive marketing, acai berry products sales have soared from $435,000 in the 52 weeks prior to October 2003 to $13,800,000 annual sales just two years later. Touted as one of the most potent anti-inflammatory foods available this small purplish berry from the rain forests of Brazil has captured the imagination of a health conscious world.
Parker College of Chiropractic Research Institute |
February 23, 2009
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ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff
Disc degeneration has historically been believed to play a key role in a low back pain and sciatica. Research studies during the last few years give us reason to take another look at our previous model of disc degeneration. Until very recently, “Wear and tear” was believed to be the major cause of disc degeneration. However, a growing body of contemporary research is suggesting that this is not the case. It appears from many studies including some interesting epidemiological investigations, that the major factor in disc degeneration is genetics.
ChiroACCESS |
February 5, 2009
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Will Evans, DC, PhD, CHES
Smoking is on the decline in the United States with about 20% of American adults reporting that they currently smoke and although it has declined in adults, it is increasing in certain groups including adolescents and females. Still, tobacco use in general remains the most preventable cause of death in the United States leading to over 400,000 deaths and billions of dollars in medical expenses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that it should be the goal of every health care provider to ascertain the use status of their patients and advise them to make a quit attempt.
Cleveland Chiropractic College |
April 23, 2008
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Harrison Ndetan, MSc., MPH
The chiropractic profession relies largely upon specialized manual therapy procedures (adjustment/manipulation) as a means of patient care. The methods of delivering chiropractic adjustments are not homogeneous and often require complex motor skills. These manipulative procedures involve biomechanical variables such as velocity, amplitude and the line of drive of force. Consideration of these variables is important in order to render them therapeutically safe and functionally effective. Learning these techniques in private practice or in chiropractic colleges is a process that involves significant repetition. These teaching methods have potentially damaging effects. Doctors or students learning new manipulative procedures are initially at greater risk in the skill acquisition phase, when the neuromuscular system is adapting to the new skills associated with the manipulative procedure. Epidemiological studies demonstrate that work related musculoskeletal disorders are common among health providers. Chiropractors also risk injuries of various types related to their work. Some DC's are forced to leave practice due to injury sustained in practice. Thus, an emphasis needs to be placed upon safety to ensure practice longevity.
Parker College of Chiropractic Research Institute |
February 5, 2008
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Daniel A. Martinez, MA, DC, Research Scientist
Cold application (cryotherapy) is the simplest and most commonly used method for treatment of acute musculoskeletal injury. Among chiropractic practitioners it is the most often utilized (94.5%) passive adjunctive therapy. The pathophysiological effects of cold have been well documented. Studies have shown that cold applications can reduce the metabolic rate of a tissue, decrease pain and swelling, and reduce muscle spasm. Most health care practitioners are taught to use ice therapy for treatment of bruises, strains, sprains, or muscle tears and most are familiar with the rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) principle following acute soft tissue injury, yet there is little agreement in the literature on the optimum application technique for such care.
Parker College of Chiropractic Research Institute |
February 4, 2008
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Stephen M. Perle, D.C., M.S., FICC
Evidence-based practice is a combination of the judicious use of the best external evidence, doctor's expertise and patient's wishes and desires. External evidence means retrieving and evaluating published scientific studies. The first part in finding the evidence is to formulate a searchable question that one will use when searching an appropriate database.
University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic |
December 18, 2007
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Cheryl Hawk, DC, PhD, CHES
Falls in older adults are becoming an increasingly important issue for the public, for health care providers, and for society in general. Each year, approximately one-third of community-dwelling adults aged 65 or older experience a fall. Falls cause two thirds of all unintentional injury deaths in older adults. Of those older adults hospitalized due to falls, 40-50% lose their independence and enter a nursing home as a result. According to a 2005 study, the direct medical costs of falls are estimated to be $6-8 billion per year. Furthermore, not only is the population of older adults growing rapidly, but fall death rates are on the rise for both men and women.
Cleveland Chiropractic College |
November 11, 2007
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Dwain M. Daniel, D.C.
Traction as a therapeutic intervention in the treatment of low back pain has existed for many years. Its use has progressed from simple static traction to intermittent motorized traction. A recent systematic review found only seven randomized controlled trials for intermittent motorized traction and six reported no difference between the traction groups and the control groups. The most recent incarnation of traction has been a form of intermittent motorized traction commonly referred to as spinal decompression therapy. Developers and manufacturers of the equipment and often physicians as well consider it to be a unique form of traction.
Parker College of Chiropractic Research Institute |
June 1, 2007
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ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff
This series of reviews of the scientific literature explores Wellness risk factors, diagnostic strategies and treatment options for a variety of conditions. Data was gathered from the MEDLINE, MANTIS and CINAHL databases with an effective date listed on each review as the "as of" date. A variety of search strategies were used such as "prevention AND condition", "diagnosis AND condition", "therapy AND condition" as well as searching the specific condition under review.
Parker College of Chiropractic Research Institute |
May 28, 2007
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Will Evans, DC, PhD, CHES
According to the new 2006 US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines clinicians should discuss the potential benefits and risks associated with aspirin therapy with patients who have an increased risk of cardio-vascular disease (CVD).
Cleveland Chiropractic College |
May 15, 2007
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