Chiropractic Beats Physical Therapy for Back Pain

Many people are sent to physical therapists for back pain, but a recent study finds that chiropractic patients have better results.

Numerous studies have shown that chiropractic can be an effective treatment for patients with low back pain. Now a new report has looked further into the effectiveness of chiropractic by comparing it to physical therapy treatment, and, more significantly, studying the long-term benefits of chiropractic as measured by the annual number of office visits.

Most studies that look at long-term effects of treatment simply look at self-reported outcomes: level of pain and disability. This study took a different approach. By examining how much care patients sought after the initial study period, they could determine the effect each treatment method had on future health care consumption:

“Care seeking behavior by patients with low back pain is most commonly associated with increased pain and disability, meaning more care is sought when worse symptoms are experienced. The amount of health care utilized may therefore be used as a measure of patient health status, and thus may be compared between groups of patients to determine effectiveness of certain therapies.”

The authors started with 191 patients with low back pain. 107 patients received chiropractic care and 84 patients received active exercise therapy  from physical therapists. All patients received treatment 2 to 4 times per week for four weeks. The study subjects were then followed for one year to assess outcomes. The authors found:

38% of the chiropractic care patients and 54% of the physical therapy patients sought care for their back pain during the one-year follow-up. Chiropractic patients had an average of 2.2 visits to a health care provider after the treatment period, while physical therapy patients had an average of 6 visits.

“We hypothesized that there would be no group difference in the average number of visits to any health care provider. The results demonstrated that actually there were significant group differences during the year after trial participation, with a higher number of visits to any health care provider and to a general practitioner in the EP group.”

The authors conclude:

“Based on one-year follow-up data imputed for complete analysis, participants who received physical therapy (exercise program) during a clinical trial attended a higher number of visits to any health care provider and to general practitioners during the year after care when compared to participants who received chiropractic care (flexion distraction) within the trial.”

1. Cambron JA, Gudavalli MR, McGregor M, et al. Amount of health care and self-care following a randomized clinical trial comparing flexion-distraction with exercise program for chronic low back pain. Chiropractic and Osteopathy 2006:14:19.
2. Proctor TJ, Mayer TG, Gatchel RJ, McGreary DD: Unremitting health care utilization outcomes of tertiary rehabilitation of patients with chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 2004, 86A:62-69.

Written by: Michael Melton on October 27, 2014.

Dr David Marcon
463 Ohio Pike, Suite 104
Cincinnati, Ohio 45255
513-474-1111
www.marconchiropractic.com

Prescription Painkillers Deadlier Than Heroin

As rates of prescription painkillers soar, new research from theAmerican Journal of Public Health reveals just how deadly opioids can be. Media reports on these deaths focus on doctor errors and websites selling the drugs, but researchers from McGill University in Canada are finding something else.

What they found was that in 2010, prescription painkillers resulted in more than 16,000 deaths in the US, reports Medical News Today. That number was greater than the amount of deaths from heroin and cocaine combined – and there was little influence from websites and doctor errors.

The big problem is in how the painkillers work. They do decrease pain but in the process, the drugs bind to the same receptors in the brain that create a ‘high’; a sense of euphoria. These same receptors are also linked to addiction and physical dependence. This is why many people on prescription painkillers end up seeking their next dose – to feel the euphoria.

In fact, in 2010 over 12 million people used prescription painkillers without a prescription or because they wanted to get high, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These drugs also automatically cause you to slow down and relax to the point of sedation. That may seem like a good thing, but when your breathing slows down so much, you can end up in cardiac arrest.

Those likely to die from painkillers were people who combined them with other drugs and alcohol, and those who were taking the strongest, long-lasting opioids such as oxycodon.

One way to decrease the continually growing number of people on painkillers is to go right to the source of pain and address the issue. Many people take opioids for soft tissue injuries or spinal conditions; yet, these drugs are totally avoiding the primary goal – to heal the affected tissues.

Chiropractic manipulation of the spine and joints alleviates discomfort by decreasing compression of spinal nerves and allowing the affected body part to receive the proper nervous system influence that stimulates healing. Numerous studies have shown for example that patients who only receive care from a medical doctor for their back or neck pain don’t experience the same benefits that patients under chiropractic care do. For instance, one studyfrom The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics showed that patients with chronic lower back pain reported more improvements and a greater satisfaction with their treatment after one month compared to patients treated by a medical doctor.

The answer to the increasing deaths from painkillers seems quite obvious – involve chiropractors more often in medical treatment plans – and watch the potential victims return back to performing a vital role in the community.

 Photo by The Javorac via Creative Commons

Reference

King NB. Determinants of Increased Opioid-Related Mortality in the United States and Canada, 1990–2013: A Systematic Review.  American Journal of Public Health, doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.301966, published online 18 June 2014, Abstract.

Written by: Donna Schwontkowski on July 2, 2014.
Last revised by: Marissa Luck

Prescription Painkillers Deadlier Than Heroin

As rates of prescription painkillers soar, new research from the American Journal of Public Health reveals just how deadly opioids can be. Media reports on these deaths focus on doctor errors and websites selling the drugs, but researchers from McGill University in Canada are finding something else.

What they found was that in 2010, prescription painkillers resulted in more than 16,000 deaths in the US, reports Medical News Today. That number was greater than the amount of deaths from heroin and cocaine combined – and there was little influence from websites and doctor errors.

The big problem is in how the painkillers work. They do decrease pain but in the process, the drugs bind to the same receptors in the brain that create a ‘high’; a sense of euphoria. These same receptors are also linked to addiction and physical dependence. This is why many people on prescription painkillers end up seeking their next dose – to feel the euphoria.

In fact, in 2010 over 12 million people used prescription painkillers without a prescription or because they wanted to get high, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These drugs also automatically cause you to slow down and relax to the point of sedation. That may seem like a good thing, but when your breathing slows down so much, you can end up in cardiac arrest.

Those likely to die from painkillers were people who combined them with other drugs and alcohol, and those who were taking the strongest, long-lasting opioids such as oxycodon.

One way to decrease the continually growing number of people on painkillers is to go right to the source of pain and address the issue. Many people take opioids for soft tissue injuries or spinal conditions; yet, these drugs are totally avoiding the primary goal – to heal the affected tissues.

Chiropractic manipulation of the spine and joints alleviates discomfort by decreasing compression of spinal nerves and allowing the affected body part to receive the proper nervous system influence that stimulates healing. Numerous studies have shown for example that patients who only receive care from a medical doctor for their back or neck pain don’t experience the same benefits that patients under chiropractic care do. For instance, one study from The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics showed that patients with chronic lower back pain reported more improvements and a greater satisfaction with their treatment after one month compared to patients treated by a medical doctor.

The answer to the increasing deaths from painkillers seems quite obvious – involve chiropractors more often in medical treatment plans – and watch the potential victims return back to performing a vital role in the community.

 Photo by The Javorac via Creative Commons

Reference

King NB. Determinants of Increased Opioid-Related Mortality in the United States and Canada, 1990–2013: A Systematic Review.  American Journal of Public Health, doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.301966, published online 18 June 2014, Abstract.

Written by: Donna Schwontkowski on July 2, 2014.

David Marcon, DC,CCSP

Marcon Chiropractic & Wellness Center

463 Ohio Pike, Suite 104

Cincinnati Ohio 45255

(513) 474-1111

Oregon Lower Back Pain Guidelines: Try Chiropractic First

The new State of Oregon Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines for the Evaluation and Management of Low Back Pain recommend spinal manipulation as the only non pharmacological treatment for acute lower back pain.

 The guidelines, which have been adopted by the Oregon Health Authority, are a collaborative effort between the Center for Evidence-Based Practice, Oregon Corporation for Health Care Quality, Oregon Health and Sciences University's Center for Evidence-based Policy, and the new Oregon Health Evidence Review Commission.

Source: Dynamic Chiropractic  

Lower back pain is the second leading reason people make appointments to see their family doctor ( Upper Respiratory Infection is #1).  And worldwide more money is spent on the treatment of lower back pain than heart disease and cancer.  So, why has it taken so long for a Government entity to acknowledge the effectiveness Chiropractic compared to other conservative forms of care?

Like any Doctor, when you find a good one stick with him/her and continually update them on your entire health status, not just your back.

Work Smarter; Not Harder!

Dr David Marcon
Marcon Chiropractic & Wellness Center
Cincinnati, Ohio 45255
www.marconchiropractic.com

A changing Army: Ditching sit-ups after 30 years-How about you?

Old habits die hard and very few organizations are more rigid and structured then the US Military. That is why the elimination of the sit-up from Physical Training is a major breakthru.

"The full sit-up goes for several physiological and safety reasons: They don’t do much to strengthen the core to translate to battle strength, and the full flex movement, the actual crunch part of the sit-up, puts an unhealthy strain on the back at its weakest point. The push-up pace increases to assess upper body endurance, and the run gets shortened to 1.5 miles to assess the anaerobic capacity needed for high-intensity bursts in the battlefield."

"This is about training smarter, not training more,">

I recommend everyone read Dr. Stuart McGill's Book "Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance"

Dr. David Marcon
Work Smarter; Not Harder!
Cincinnati Ohio
drdavidmarcon.com

Lower Back Pain: Gluteus Medius Weakness

Chiropractic care has historically done well in the treatment of lower back pain. But lets be honest here,one treatment miracles are few and far between. I usually tell patients after their first treatment that the true test of any modality is not how it feels right now but how it feels in 24-48 hours. Increasing joint motion and thus relieving the mechanical pain is a relatively easy task; restoring muscular balance and returning long term stability to the lower back and lower extremities is a different animal. One of the muscles that is central to many low back cases is the gluteus medius.

The gluteus medius muscle originates at the dorsal ilium below the iliac crest and inserts at the top outside surfaces of the greater trochanter. It is the major abductor of the thigh. The anterior fibres rotate the hip internally and the posterior fibres rotate externally. The muscle is innervated by the superior gluteal nerve (L4, L5, S1) and gains its blood supply via the superior gluteal artery.



When bearing weight on one leg, such as the stance phase of running or walking up steps, the normal role of gluteus medius is reversed, causing it to act as a pelvic stabilizer.

For example, when the right leg is bearing all the body's weight and the left leg is in the swing phase (in the air), the glute medius muscle contracts on the right side to slow the downward motion of the left side of the pelvis. If the gluteus medius is not functioning well enough to achieve this control, the left (unaffected) pelvis will drop and the athlete is said to have a "Trendelenburg gait".
Often, but not always, you may see the same weakness in walking (producing a waddling motion or, in extremis, a limp), and the dysfunction will then be more marked when they run.

Weakness in gluteus medius will have implications all the way down the leg to the foot.
Gluteus medius weakness allows:

• the femur to adduct and internally rotate excessively-Hip & Back pain

• the knee to fall into a valgus position-Medial Knee pain

• the tibia to rotate internally relative to the foot-Foot & Ankle Pain, Lateral shin pain

• an increase in weight transfer to the medial aspect of the foot.-Achilles tendon pain, plantar fascitis

The glute medius being less than a full participant can lead to the patient needing hip and/or knee replacement!

Spare yourself the agony and the expense by taking the time to stretch & strengthen the glute medius.



Pictured at left is one stretch that can effectively lengthen the glute medius. In a seated position place the affected leg over the unaffected leg. Gently apply pressure against the upper thigh/knee until you feel the stretch in the buttock. Hold the stretch for 10-15 seconds and repeat 3 times. I always recommend stretching both legs.



The Clamshell Exercise for External Hip Rotation




If you belong to a gym, you can use the Abduction/Adduction Machine or any cable machine with the aid of an ankle strap.





Dr David Marcon
Work Smarter Not Harder!
Cincinnati, Ohio
drdavidmarcon.com