July 16, 2019
It would be a rare chiropractor who hasn’t witnessed an apparent correlation between chiropractic care and improvements in the frequency or severity of headaches and migraines. It may happen in one patient or several, but is there a connection, and if so what are the mechanisms behind it? While it is true that headaches and migraines can have a myriad of triggers and causes, it is also apparent from a range of recent case reports that chiropractic may have something to offer. In the past year, the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research have carried four separate case reports involving improvements […]
July 11, 2019
Few things are as natural as breastfeeding. Paradoxically, few things can be as challenging and frustrating on a deeply personal level as struggling to breastfeed a baby that won’t latch properly. While the World Health Organization recommends that mothers exclusively breastfeed for the first six months of life, and increasingly health organizations rally to support mothers along this line, sometimes the challenges are too great and as that baby can’t tell us what’s wrong, we remain in the dark as to why. Breastfeeding is no small task. It is baby’s first act of multitasking – sucking, swallowing and breathing. We […]
July 4, 2019
You’ve most likely read the line before: “We can’t generalize based on these findings, but…” It’s a common limitation of case reports. They are valid and valuable contributions to the evidence bank, but always carry a disclaimer that further research is necessary. A recent case report and literature review listed 18 separate cases in which an improvement in behavior was reported in a patient with ADHD under chiropractic care. We aren’t claiming that chiropractic is a cure – that would be far too simplistic for a complicated condition. But perhaps there is something to see here; something that may occur […]
June 25, 2019
Carpal tunnel syndrome, a painful condition affecting the wrist and bringing numbness, pins and needles, pain and weakness, is said to result from compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel of the hand [1]. While risk factors include pregnancy, gestational diabetes or pre-existing nerve conduction issues, and women between ages 40-60 are most at risk, it can affect anyone. But is there more to carpal tunnel than the wrist alone? It appears the issue may not be as cut and dried as commonly thought, and that there may be a role for chiropractic in the management of Carpal […]
June 17, 2019
As the Government of Victoria, Australia, winds up its review of chiropractic spinal manipulation of children under 12, the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic (based in the United States) has published a narrative review of the European Medical Literature on an issue often debated within pediatrics. It is the issue of spinal manipulation and infantile colic. The review provides a thorough look at the documented, peer-reviewed and indexed evidence surrounding the condition and the effectiveness of chiropractic care in its management. This is perhaps a complicated undertaking, given the unclear etiology behind what is termed “infantile colic.” Even now in 2019, […]
June 12, 2019
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) have long been an area of frustration for sufferers and clinicians alike. Being that they are not caused by abnormal brain electrical discharges like their epileptic counterpart, the condition exists in the “Somatoform disorder” category that is both ‘neglected and misdiagnosed [1]’ in many a case. A recent case report and literature review published in the journal Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research has shed light on the resolution of a patients symptoms while under chiropractic care. It’s a fascinating read, on a much neglected topic. The Epilepsy Foundation (based in America) has noted that, “Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures are an […]
June 4, 2019
A recent systematic review published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics has taken aim at an issue that is potentially close to many a chiropractors heart: the effectiveness of spinal manipulative in increasing muscle strength in healthy people. Following a spate of chiropractic-based studies showing increased muscle strength (or rather cortical drive to the muscles) post-adjustment, the results may not be all that surprising: they suggest that spinal manipulative therapy is superior to no intervention or sham manipulation when it comes to “augmenting the percentage change in isometric strength gain [1].” The systemic review took in 909 identified […]
May 28, 2019
The vertebral subluxation is central to the theory and practice of chiropractic. While it is often a hotly debated concept, it is nonetheless something many of us deal with almost daily. Dr. David Russell recently had a paper published in the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic regarding this very topic. We caught up with him to discuss it. While the video is a little longer than usual, we think you’ll find it full of valuable information and insights. The full paper can be found here, at the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic (a new, open-access journal lead by Dr. Dana Lawrence). Make […]
May 21, 2019
The Webster Technique has long been associated with chiropractic care during pregnancy. Combining sacral analysis and diversified adjustment, the aim of this technique is to “reduce the effects of sacral subluxation / SI joint dysfunction,” and in doing so, to facilitate “neuro-biomechanical function in the pelvis [1]”. A recent case series, published in the journal Pediatric, Maternal and Family Health, has covered five cases in which breech presentations resolved under chiropractic care [2]. Among the plethora of medical reasons a caesarean section birth might be performed, breech presentations are among the most persuasive. Following a study published in the Lancet […]
May 14, 2019
A recent study appearing in the Journal Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics has examined the evidence for a correlation between lumbar proprioception and clinical low back pain. It was a systematic review that searched 6 major databases and returned 5 studies (with a total of 204 patients) eligible for inclusion. At the end of the process, researchers have been able to claim that there is a relationship between pain intensity and proprioception, albeit a complex one. The nature of pain perception is complex and subjective. Research has revealed sex, age and ethnicity all impact on pain perception [1]. Other factors that […]
May 8, 2019
The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics carried a paper titled “Maternal Report of Outcomes of Chiropractic Care for Infants,” in its most recent edition. The study took in a sample of more than 2000 mothers, and is the first known large survey of “baseline and follow-up characteristics of infant patients presented to chiropractic practices”. While the data collection methods leave a lot to be desired in terms of investigating efficacy, the sheer number of participants make the results a striking addition to the chiropractic evidence base. Best of all, the findings are clear and positive for chiropractic care. Emerging […]
April 30, 2019
Here in the world of chiropractic, the spine and spinal cord have always held our attention. The steady advancement of research shows us that when we adjust the spine, we change the structure and function of the brain. We may see cortical drive to the muscles and reaction times improve. We may also restore joint position sense and increase proprioception. These are documented findings in the world of chiropractic. But where does the spinal cord end, and the brain begin? To many a neurology-buff, they are but one unit. While chiropractic researchers have had their eyes firmly fixed on what […]
April 23, 2019
In recent years, our understanding of concussion has grown significantly, with the American Centers of Disease Control and Prevention now labelling the mild traumatic brain injury as a public health issue [1]. Research has linked recurrent concussions with potential neurodegenerative problems in older adulthood [2]. For athletes who may be at risk of concussion, it is no longer simply a matter of resting for a few days and getting back out on the field. In 2010, a cohort study looked at elite and community-based players of Australian Rules Football. With pre-season cognitive testing on 1,015 original participants in the study, […]
April 16, 2019
The Journal of Chiropractic Humanities latest release has carried all ten of Simon Senzon’s papers on the Chiropractic Vertebral Subluxation and is now available online (open access). The papers, which present a comprehensive overview of and insight into the Chiropractic Vertebral Subluxation from 1897 onwards, delves into a range of issues. It looks at early theories and thinkers, factions and developments and then takes on the complex task of dispelling the historical mistakes that often enter arguments against the subluxation. All of this serves to open a discourse on embracing the Vertebral Subluxation as a foundation of the profession. In […]
April 9, 2019
As our understanding of stress, subluxation, and the effect of chiropractic on the brain grows, it’s a curious thing that research has yet to definitively prove the effect of chiropractic care on mental health (including depression and anxiety). So far, we have seen two clinical trials on the matter, one examining blood pressure and anxiety and the other looking at an individual’s perception of wellbeing. The studies offered up conflicting results. Yet in the broader research world, the link between chronic pain (especially back pain), depression and anxiety is very well documented. A new case study published in the Journal […]
April 2, 2019
With each passing year, and with each new chiropractic-based study released, we are gaining a little more understanding as to how chiropractic might influence the brain. While there’s a lot of work yet to do, the evidence we have is pointing to a world of possibilities when it comes to neuroplasticity and human performance. Still, there are new frontiers yet to be explored. One of these is the area of vagal stimulation. Recent research indicates that decreased neuro-inflammation is associated with higher vagus nerve activity [1]. While we are still waiting for dedicated chiropractic studies illustrating the impact of chiropractic on […]
March 26, 2019
Dr Monique Andrews is a chiropractor, neuroscientist and educator who we recently had the pleasure of interviewing. Taking on the topic of chiropractic and consciousness, Dr Mo brings unique a unique perspective by pairing chiropractic research with basic science knowledge and her lived experience as a practicing Buddhist. Thanks Dr Mo for showing us how chiropractic lights up the brain, and how this links to compassion and consciousness. Check it out below.
March 19, 2019
This month, a study looking at chiropractic and stroke was published, offering insight into how chiropractic may potentially assist patients in their recovery. Dr David Russell (chiropractor and friend of the Foundation) caught up with the brains behind the research, Dr’s Kelly Holt and Imran Niazi, to talk about the clinical applications, complementary case studies, what we can and can’t claim, and where research is going next. Check out the video for more.