Yearly Archives: 2015

/2015

Acupuncture for Pain

This month I’ll turn my attention to an article I found online researching the effects of acupuncture for the treatment of stomach pain. Even though this article focused on acupuncture, the results of this study help explain why other manual methods may produce beneficial results in patients. Acupuncture has been accepted to effectively treat pain related disorders by inserting needles into specific acupuncture points. Some practitioners connect these needles to an electrical current (electroacupuncture) or manipulate them by hand by twisting or turning motions. Pain, discomfort, and a sense of bloating in the upper abdomen were frequently reported by individuals with stomach disorders. In clinical practice patients will often describe an improvement in these disorders after completing a course of acupuncture. To cut a long and complicated article short, the authors placed a small balloon inside the stomach of an anesthetised rat. They also placed a probe into a part of the spinal cord which transmits pain signals to the brain, these pain signals were measured by the probe. To recreate stomach pain the scientists inflated the balloon by a small amount to distend the stomach and measured the electrical signals passing up the spinal cord. After inflating the balloon, an acupuncture needle was inserted into the right hind limb of the rat which corresponded to the acupuncture point for the stomach. After the needle was inserted a small electrical current was activated through the needle at different frequencies. The researchers discovered that when the balloon was inflated the pain signals through the spinal cord were elevated, indicating the rat was feeling pain. When the acupuncture needle was inserted and an electrical current was passed through it, the pain signals measured in the spinal cord significantly reduced. This demonstrated that application of electroacupuncture to the rats leg improved the rats stomach pain. This is important research as it demonstrates that electroacupuncture applied to a specific acupuncture point can reduce pain from an organ. This helps us understand the mechanisms behind how acupuncture reduces a patient’s pain. It also helps understand how other manual therapies like Chiropractic and Massage techniques can improve a patients pain levels and perceived general health.

How Many Bones?

For this month’s article I was inspired by a Halloween competition we ran at the clinic. The question was how many bones are there in the adult human body. The answer is 206. Additionally there is a network of other structures that connect the bones together, this system performs a number of vital functions such as giving the body its form, assisting with bodily movements and producing new blood cells. So this got me thinking what other interesting facts I could find about our skeletal system. The skeleton of a newborn baby has approximately 270 bones, which are a mixture of bones and cartilage. Over time, these additional bones in infants fuse in a process called ossification to form larger bones, reducing the overall number of bones to 206 by adulthood. Bones come in all shapes and sizes, and are not evenly distributed throughout the body. Each hand has 27 bones, and each foot has 26, which means that together the body's two hands and feet have 106 bones, which is more than half of the bones in your entire body. The hyoid, a horseshoe-shaped bone in the throat, is the only bone in the human body not connected to another bone. The hyoid works with the larynx and tongue to help create speech, interestingly Neanderthals are the only other species to have hyoids like humans, its presence has led scientists to speculate that the Neanderthals had complex speech patterns similar to modern humans. Bones are made of active, living cells. And like other cells in your body, the cells of your bones are susceptible to tumours. Modern humans and their relatives have dealt with tumours for thousands of years. In 2013, scientists found a tumour in a Neanderthal rib bone dating back 120,000 years. It is the oldest human tumour ever discovered. Organisms with a bony skeleton, Vertebrates, account for only 2 percent of all animal species on the planet. As our skeleton is so amazing, its best to look after it as well as we can as we age, don’t wait till a minor skeletal issue becomes a more severe problem, see a local CAA NT Chiro today.  

The Spinal Column

Following on from last months column about bones, this month I thought I’d discuss some interesting facts about the spine. The spinal column has 3 very important functions. It supports the body’s weight, provides flexibility for movement and protects the spinal cord and the nerve roots from damage. As babies, we are born with 33 bones in our spine (vertebrae) but as adults we end up with 26.  Four fuse to make our tailbone (coccyx) and five fuse to make the back of the pelvis (sacrum). The first vertebrae in our spine is called the Atlas. Atlas is a character from Greek mythology who, after losing a fight, was turned to stone and had to carry the weight of the Earth on his shoulders. This vertebrae were given his name as it carries the entire weight of the head. Around one quarter of the spine’s length is made up of fibrocartilage, this is due to presence of the intervertebral discs, which act as shock absorbers between our vertebrae. These discs expand in the absence of gravity, so as a result astronauts returning from space may be 1.5 to 2 inches taller than when they left. Gravity’s effect on these discs is also the cause of humans shrinking between a quarter to half an inch every decade after the age of 40. It also why we are generally taller in the morning than at night because of the daily effect of gravity upon the body. Four out of five adults will experience some type of spinal pain during their lifetime. Lower back pain is the most common type of spinal pain experienced. This is because the lower spine twists and bends more than any other part of our spine, it also bears the weight of our upper body. Sometimes back pain can be caused by other ailments in the body. Pain experienced in the middle of the back, which becomes worse after eating, may be a sign you have a stomach ulcer. And if you experience an intermittent back pain that reaches your groin, it could indicate you have kidney stones.    

Ergonomics

Last month I was part of a rehabilitation panel at the Safety institute of Australia conference in Darwin. Whenever I’m involved in a return to work case one of the major aspects of the patients care that I tend to focus on is ergonomics. Ergonomics is a very important aspect of a patients return to work program particularly when that patient’s condition is caused by sedentary posture, as with office workers. From a spinal perspective when an office worker is sitting for an extended period of time it does place a great deal of stress on the patient’s spine. So much, that after many hours a day this can produce stiffness and pain in the patient’s upper back and neck. If left untreated this can also lead to headache, arm or chest pain. For many years there has been a focus on providing a worker with the best chair possible in order to support the patient’s spine. However gradually I believe we are learning that no matter how ergonomic the chair is, when we sit down for many hours a day, it still leads to spinal complaints and other health problems. As a result there have been multiple studies that are looking at the benefit of how we can reduce the length of time office workers are sitting and how much energy they are expending. There have been different attempts over the last few years but the solution that seems to be most effective is a standing desk. Meaning that a worker can choose throughout the day whether to sit or stand depending on how they are feeling or what task they are performing. This ergonomic flexibility is a very effective way of assisting a worker manage their work and ergonomic demands. We as practitioners realise that all workers have repetitive strains placed upon their bodies and a lot of the time it’s just part of the job. However there may be simple ways to minimise these strains to help the worker function more effectively. Even though we need to make sure the patient is not sent back to work too early, improving patient ergonomics can mean a patient can return to work more quickly. In addition by improving ergonomics, it should make a permanent benefit so that the worker can continue to work effectively and minimise the chance of down time in the future.

5 Common Causes of Neck Pain

5 Common Causes of Neck Pain. Neck pain can be acute or chronic but regardless, when you're in pain, relief is the first thing on your mind. Just as important as relief, of course, is finding the cause and ensuring you avoid the behaviour that brought the pain on in the first place. Poor Posture: Leaning over a desk all day or slouching in your office chair? You're bound to develop neck pain eventually. Monitor Fixation: Staring at the computer screen for hours at a time? That's not good for your spine, it places a great deal of strain on your upper back and neck and can produce neck pain, and headache. Sleep: Ideally, we spend a third of our life sleeping, so sleep can have a dramatic effect on your health. So don’t sleep on your stomach, try sleeping on your back or your side. If you need a new pillow try a contoured Chiropractic pillow to better support your head and neck. Technology: As a culture we are increasingly spending another third of our day typing, and texting. That can be especially bad for your neck, one doctor has even coined the phrase “text neck” the neck pain that results from constant interaction with technology. Random Movements: Twisting, turning, stretching and stressing your neck too much is an easy way to cause neck pain. While the joints and muscles in the neck are strong, they can be strained and sprained like any other tissue. It's important to note that beyond these common causes, various other health issues can also contribute to or directly cause neck pain. The good news is that a chiropractor can help identify which of these or the above causes is to blame. When people suffer from neck pain most people turn to a temporary solution first: pain-relieving medication. But that's not a permanent solution, of course, and it doesn't address the cause of the pain at all. Furthermore, research suggests chiropractic spinal manipulation is better than medication for relieving neck pain1. Suffering from neck pain? Then give your doctor of chiropractic a call. They'll help you relieve your pain and determine the cause.   Williams CM et al. Efficacy of paracetamol for acute low-back pain: a double-blind, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2014 Jul 23. [Epub ahead of print]

Cycling

Cycling completely changes the weight distribution through your muscles and spine, and also bends the spine into an unnatural position. The neck in particular must compensate so that you can see where you are going. In a poor riding position this can be quite extreme; like standing and staring up into space for hours on end; it’s no wonder neck muscles can get tired and irritated. If you are experiencing a few niggles and aches on long rides, chances are they can easily be resolved with positional adjustments, long before they become a runaway problem. Thankfully the human body is extremely versatile and with consideration for position, through correct bike sizing and set-up, cycling should be a comfortable experience. It’s fairly clear that riding position directly affects the alignment of your neck and spine, in particular, your handlebar position and set-up is crucial. Making changes to your handlebar position to prevent or correct problems can be simple as alterations in this area are easily achieved.  By taking your bike in for an assessment, changes can be made to the bike quickly and relatively cheaply with an almost immediate effect. A primary concern is excessive reach to the bars, causing the neck to be permanently ‘craned’ or hyper-extended. This can be a combination of not just how far the handlebars are from the saddle, but also how low down they are. Changes can be achieved by increasing the handle bar height by placing spacers beneath the stem to lift it up or by or altering the stem angle to give you more or less rise to achieve the optimum position. Lever position is also important, even with your handlebars in the right position there is still the question of where to position the levers. Positioning the brake levers slightly higher will encourage a more upright riding position, as you will spend a considerable amount of time riding with your hands here. To learn more, including exercises you can do to further prevent neck discomfort whilst riding from a Chiropractic viewpoint, follow the link on our Facebook site to the original article this column is based on.

Skills of a Chiropractor

Whether its performed by hand or by an instrument the manual skills of a Chiropractor to perform an adjustment (manipulation) is a vital part of what differentiates Chiropractors from other professionals that deal with the spine. As a profession we are always aiming to be specific. Meaning that through conducting a history and an examination we are able to decide exactly which parts of the spine are not moving or functioning properly. Once we have decided on the area of interest we use an adjustment to mechanically move the joints intended, this movement stimulates the receptors in the joints and surrounding muscles and sends information to the brain. Usually this stimulation of the nervous system leads to 3 main benefits, pain reduction, increased joint movement and increased muscle strength1. The benefit of the adjustment is also directly related to the exact joint being adjusted, meaning that if the incorrect joint is manipulated the stimulation of the nervous system won’t be as effective to treat the patients complaint. So you shouldn’t just let anyone move your spine around or try manipulating it yourself, because the desired result is linked directly to the ability to decide the exact level of treatment. This was recently demonstrated in journal article which measured the electrical activity from small muscles around the spine. The study showed that when a quick manual pressure was applied to one vertebra there was a significant discharge of electrical activity produced at that exact level, however when the activity of one bone above and below was measured the electrical discharge was significantly less. This demonstrates that to produce the best response for the patient the adjustment needs to be performed at the exact level intended, any force applied to the spine at the incorrect level will produce a less than ideal response and therefore may not improve the patient’s condition. So have your spine checked by a CAA NT Chiropractor today, we may be able to make an impact where others haven’t. Fritz JM, et al. Preliminary Investigation of the Mechanisms Underlying the Effects of Manipulation. Spine 2011: 36; 1772-1781. See comment in PubMed Commons belowReed, W.R. Neural responses to the mechanical characteristics of high velocity, low amplitude spinal manipulation. Man Ther. 2015 Mar 27.  

National Spinal Week, “get you happy back”

National Spinal Health Week ran from the 25th to 31st of May and this year the CAANT were encouraging people to ‘Get Their Happy Back’. Every day more Australians experience low back pain, neck pain and headaches, limiting their ability to work and engage in an active healthy life. One explanation for this is the negative impact that an increasingly sedentary lifestyle has on posture. Think about all the hours you spend each day sitting at work or school, commuting, or at your computer or mobile device. Poor posture increases pressure on your spine which can cause lower back pain, neck pain, headaches and fatigue. Lower back pain is a growing problem and now ranks second in Australasia and seventh in the world according to the World Health Organisation’s latest Global Burden of Disease study. This year the CAA NT are encouraging our existing patients and the Darwin Community to begin a conversation about preventative health and wellbeing and to adopt healthy habits. Chiropractors have an important role to play in preventative health and wellbeing because they understand that a vital part of maintaining normal spinal function occurs by helping patients to make healthy lifestyle changes regarding nutrition, exercise and wellness. Helping patients make positive changes with respect to nutrition, exercise and wellness is also fundamental to maintaining normal spinal function. Adopting healthy habits today, such as improving postural fitness, can significantly reduce the risk of injury or pain in later years, positively impacting on our self-esteem, social relationships and mental health. Back, neck and other spinal problems are also a leading cause of lost productivity in the workplace and forced early retirement. Every year forced early retirement has a traumatic effect on the hopes and prosperity of a large number of Australians. So make an appointment with your local CAA NT member for a spinal health check-up and discover what steps you can take to improve your health and wellbeing and Get Your Happy Back.

You’re In Good Hands

You’re in good hands. This month I’d like to discuss the risks of injury with chiropractic care. In clinical practice we still encounter patients who are apprehensive about receiving care, specifically in relation to spinal manipulation. This is particularly the case if the patient is older and suffer from common complaints like Osteoporosis or an Arthritic condition. Even though there are many different techniques in our profession to treat these cases, spinal manipulation is still the backbone of what differentiates our profession from others. Recently I discovered an article from the Journal of Spine, arguably the worlds most respected journal for spinal research which anaylsed the risk of injury to the head, neck or trunk during treatment of a neuromusculoskeletal condition from a Chiropractor versus a Medical Doctor. This information was obtained from patients over the age of 65, an age bracket where there is a perceived increased risk of injury due to advanced age. This study discovered that the probability of injury in the chiropractic group was 40 injuries per 100,000 patient visits, as compared to 153 injuries per 100,000 patient visits in the Medical group. This study further concluded that for patients aged 65 and older the risk of injury to the head, neck or trunk for a neuromusculoskeletal condition was 76% lower among patients who presented to a Chiropractor as compared to those who saw a Medical Doctor. Whedon J.M. et al. Risk of Traumatic Injury Associated with Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation in Medicare Part B Beneficiaries Aged 66-99. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2014 Dec 9. [Epub ahead of print]