February 1, 2019
The topic of how chiropractic care influences consciousness may sound like an entirely philosophical subject, but as we take a tour of the research we can see that the two are very much connected. Last week, in the second instalment of this series, we covered how even low back pain and subclinical neck pain can have an effect on consciousness. Now we move into a complex yet fascinating area of research – how chiropractic care can cause neuro-plastic changes in the brain, impacting not only pain and proprioception, but also cerebellar and prefrontal cortex activity. For the sake of this […]
January 24, 2019
It seems that the musculoskeletal/pain association is a hard one to shift when it comes to chiropractic, yet research is painting an interesting picture when it comes to how chiropractic can influence neurology. This month’s topic on the blog delves into something that has its roots in both research and philosophy, yet is in some ways an undiscovered frontier – can chiropractic influence consciousness? The unlikely starting point: chronic lower back pain, and subclinical neck pain. For the Foundation, the topic first arose when Nimrod Weiner presented on it at “The Gathering” in September. It was a highlight in a […]
December 13, 2018
It’s a postural phenomenon once driven by age, now arguably driven also by technology. The head drops forward, and the thoracic kyphosis increases beyond normal physiological parameters. Other postural adjustments take place in order to keep the head upright – with the lumbar and cervical curves often implicated. The results can range from low back pain, increased load on the cervical spine, decreased rib excursion, tidal volume and much more. We know the presentation. We know the associated symptoms. But what do we do to restore proper posture and put right the altered thoracic curve? While the answers to this […]
December 10, 2018
To some, functional neurology is somewhat outside the chiropractic modality. To others, it is central to everything we do. When a recent article hit the Journal of Chiropractic and Manual Therapies, alleging that there was no evidence for the effectiveness of functional neurology, it provided an opportunity to reflect on common misunderstandings that surround the practice of functional neurology. We’ve already taken a look at the actual state of the evidence. Now it’s time to take a look at it from a chiropractic specific perspective. Dr Michael Hall, of Brain DC fame, is very much embedded in the chiropractic and […]
November 29, 2018
A new study published in the Chiropractic Journal of Australia will be music to the ears of anyone who has been asked, “why on Earth would infants need chiropractic?” The study took in data from 176 infants under 112 days old and found that vacuum-assisted delivery and Caesarean section deliveries were associated with “a higher prevalence of reduced cervical spine ROM [range of motion] when compared to a vaginal delivery without assistance [1].” While the outcome of the study carried the standard ‘further research required’ disclaimer, it is a fascinating look at a topic very pertinent to the Australian chiropractic […]
November 23, 2018
A recent article has hit the Journal of Chiropractic and Manual Therapies concluding that their search parameters found “no acceptable evidence on the effect or benefit of FN [functional neurology] in relation to various conditions and purported indications for intervention [1].“ On face value, it’s a damning review of a practice that spans not only chiropractic, but several other professions. However, a second look shows us that this is not a statement on the state of evidence for functional neurology, but an opportunity to broadly discuss what it comprises, how it can improve human function and where we can find […]
November 13, 2018
The last two instalments of this series have concentrated more heavily on what happens at the northern end of the spine when posture goes awry. Today we move to an issue that affects more than one third of women in the US, and contributes heavily to the burden of disease globally. It is the issue of pelvic floor disorders and it has some very real postural links. While it is possible for men to experience pelvic floor dysfunction, it is an issue that is often thought of as a women’s problem because the burden of pregnancy and childbirth can contribute […]
November 7, 2018
In part one of our posture series, we covered the links between posture and the cardiopulmonary system, including lung function, tidal volumes and cervical/thoracic kyphosis. Today, we arrive at another important issue: how does posture affect the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, and potentially link to neuro-degenerative diseases? Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is the great liquid cushion that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, protecting it both structurally and immunologically. It’s a feat of nature that “maintains the electrolytic environment of the central nervous system (CNS), influences systemic acid-base balance, serves as a medium for the supply of nutrients to neuronal and […]
October 31, 2018
Is there a day that goes by when a chiropractor doesn’t deal with a postural concern? If we were to sit purely on the orthopaedic wagon, we would have enough to concern us. Poor posture can cause pain – headaches, pain in the shoulders or neck, problems with the gait, uneven distribution of weight resulting in referred pain (i.e. heavy backpacks slung across one shoulder for extended periods of time). These issues are no big surprise. But beyond the banner headlines, there is a deeper story to be told when it comes to posture and the body. Science is now […]
October 24, 2018
With an aging population now a reality in many Western nations, how well we age is becoming as much of a focus as longevity itself. A new study emerging from the Manchester Metropolitan University, published in the Journal of Physiology, is throwing new light on this topic and it is news that nervous system and health enthusiasts will welcome. It appears that the muscle loss many have accepted as “inevitable” in old age is actually a nerve issue. The study took 143 men, aged either 18-40 or 65-90 years old and living independently, and used MRI and EMG data to […]
October 16, 2018
Welcome to the final instalment of our stress series. The gut is arguably one of the hottest topics in health at present. From the gut microbiome, to the role of fibre in feeding the microbiota, there’s a plethora of conversation happening around this significant chunk of our physiology. Yet one thing remains notably absent from the conversation: the fact that the gut houses our enteric nervous system, the gut brain (if you will), and it is inextricably linked with the rest of our nervous system via the vagus nerve. Ever had a gut feeling someone was a foe rather than […]
October 8, 2018
An Interview with Dr Michael Hall Chiropractic, stress and mental illness. Does it link? Has it ever linked? It is a topic modern research hasn’t devoted much to in terms of resources and thought, but history and basic science tell us an interesting story. “Much of the very early work in chiropractic was done in the Sanatorium –said Dr Michael Hall in a recent interview with Spinal Research [1, 2]. “Most of our greatest work was done on mental health patients. In my world, I am seeing a big circle and we are coming right back around. In the middle, […]
September 24, 2018
Chiropractors and posture – they are a seamless fit. From the very first visit in clinic, posture is assessed. As subluxations are checked and corrected, posture can improve over time. But is posture just a symptom, or is it stressor that can kick off a physiological stress response impacting both brain and body? We’ve taken a quick look at the research to see what the deal is. In 2015, the Journal of Health Psychology published a randomized trial regarding posture and stress [1]. The hypothesis of whether or not muscular states were related to stress had been supported by research […]
September 17, 2018
In the second instalment of our series on stress, we caught up with Dr. Wayne Todd; author of the book and practitioner training program The SD Protocol which targets sympathetic dominance. To Dr. Wayne, the connection between chiropractic and stress is so deeply entrenched as to be inseparable, but it’s how we as practitioners deal with this that has the potential to break the cycle of repetitive subluxations and help the patient regain control of their health. Stress And Subluxation Long before the lightbulb moment that saw him put together the protocol, Dr. Wayne was a busy chiropractor spending long […]
September 11, 2018
What is chiropractic about? Explanations and theories abound. There are those who claim our only concrete offering sits firmly in the domain of back and neck pain, yet other research indicates impacts on brain function, cerebellar function, muscle drive, and much more. Over the course of this series, we will be taking a walk through a topic that is often thought to be simple yet, on a neurological and physiological level, is quite complex. Though checking and adjusting subluxations is what we as chiropractors do, there is one thing that has profound if not primary impacts on those very subluxations. […]
September 5, 2018
As the conversation around the US opioid crisis continues, with claims that more than 115 people in the US die every day after overdosing on opioids, a new study has examined whether there could be any link between chiropractic care and the risk of adverse drug events (ADE’s). While a topic such as this is loaded with possibilities that no single paper could rule out, the study did reveal that adverse drug reactions were 51% lower for the cohort studied. Now that is something that certainly warrants further investigation. As you can imagine, it was a complicated research question to […]