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.
March 13, 2019
In 2016, Baarbe et al released a study investigating subclinical neck pain and patients ability to perform a mental rotation task. The study threw light on the connection between subclinical neck pain and slower reaction times when it came to performing such tasks [1]. The study followed work by Kelly, Murphy and Backhouse, which showed the impact of upper cervical adjustments (specifically chiropractic adjustments) on cortical processing [2]. Both studies were instrumental in establishing a link between neck pain and reaction times. But the world of research was not done with this issue of chiropractic and reaction times yet. A […]
March 7, 2019
A long awaited study on the effect of chiropractic care for stroke patients has been released, with the journal ‘Scientific Reports’ carrying Dr Kelly Holts latest offering. The study examined whether or not chiropractic care “could increase strength in weak plantar flexor muscles in chronic stroke patients [1].” Results are in and they are encouraging. The topic of chiropractic and stroke risk has long been the topic of hot debate, but by and large, the focus of those conversations has been on the risk of stroke for chiropractic patients. While research found no evidence for causation when it comes to […]
February 20, 2019
Frontiers in Neuroscience recently published an article that highlighted the links between large muscles in the leg and brain health. It has been reported that the study fundamentally alters brain and nervous system medicine “giving doctors new clues as to why patients with motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy and other neurological diseases often rapidly decline when their movement becomes limited.” [1]. Beyond the ramifications for traditional medicine, the study increases the importance of chiropractic research that also shows the links between the brain and leg muscles. While the relationship between brain activity (especially cognitive ability) and physical […]
February 15, 2019
In 2006, three researchers undertook a study looking at the effect of chiropractic adjustments on movement time [1]. They were looking specifically at Fitt’s Law – a model of human movement based on pointing and manipulation tasks involving computers. The group was small, with just ten participants. But a significant change was noted in the treatment group (who received high-velocity, low-amplitude adjustments to areas of “joint dysfunction.”) There was a significant improvement in movement time with chiropractic care, which suggested that, “spinal adjustments may influence motor behaviour.” It was a pilot study, and it was small, but the results were […]
February 8, 2019
In the last three weeks, we have covered many aspects of chiropractic’s interaction with consciousness, all involving the brain. The brain and consciousness have some level of interaction, and chiropractic could impact that interaction via neurological pathways (as has been reviewed in the previous articles) as well as via other mechanisms, which is the focus of today’s discussion. Chiropractic potentially impacts systems and functions that, in turn, could impact consciousness, such as the autonomic nervous system, glucose metabolism, the endocrine system, and our mental and emotional perception of our environment. These all impact our experience of life (i.e. consciousness) in […]
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 […]