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 […]
July 10, 2018
There are many important, continuing conversations that occur around the role and effectiveness of chiropractic care at various points in the lifespan. The common ones include non-musculoskeletal conditions, older adults, and paediatric and infant care. But nestled in among these cohorts is another one that doesn’t get too much of a loud shout: chiropractic care for fit, healthy people including athletes. Occasionally chiropractic gets a shout out from the pit crew of a big name athlete: Usain Bolt, Tiger Woods and the legendary Michael Jordan are all names synonymous with sporting prowess, who have also been said to benefit from […]
July 4, 2018
Quality of life in older adulthood is becoming a big issue as the Baby Boomer generation, and those that follow, reap the longevity benefits of advancements in healthcare. We don’t just want to live long, we want to live well. It has often been said “The aim of chiropractic is to add years to life and life to years.” What does the research say about that? We are a long way from knowing if the first part of that phrase is correct, but the second part we can begin to road test by measuring quality of life. If you are […]
January 25, 2018
Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is an indispensable tool in the monitoring and management of patients with inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, as well as patients recovering from injury or surgery. The VLA Quadscan provides you with a deeper insight into your patients’ health, allowing you to closely monitor their treatment progress, and provide tangible results for patients, significantly enhancing compliance. The Process and Purpose of Inflammation Acute inflammation evolved to be a protective process, to overcome a short-lived threat, such as an injury, with the function to restore tissue homeostasis. Unfortunately, the majority of the inflammation affecting patients in many clinics, […]
December 5, 2017
Inflammation Damages Lives Chronic inflammatory conditions are one of the most common presentations that Practitioners see in clinic. Whether it be autoimmune (AI) conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA); degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis (OA); or injury resulting in chronic pain and inflammation, the pain and discomfort caused by chronic inflammatory conditions can significantly impact a patient’s quality of life, interfering with social activities, sleep efficiency, occupation choices and daily activities that are taken for granted by the wider community. Recently, Health World conducted a research clinic to successfully demonstrate the effectiveness of natural treatment prescriptions […]
September 21, 2017
Fibromyalgia is widely viewed as a pain syndrome with an unknown cause. To some practitioners, it is a bona fide medical condition. To others, it’s merely psychosomatic. Sufferers will tell you a common truth though: it can be debilitating, distressing, and it’s very, very real. Sadly, the issue of how to treat this pain syndrome is no more straight-forward than finding its cause. Cognitive behavioural therapy, low-dose anti-depressants and mild exercise are often prescribed but “there is no permanent change associated with this form of treatment [1].” This often leaves sufferers feeling frustrated at the apparent permanence of their predicament. […]
September 13, 2017
Among the increasingly common mental health challenges facing the western world population are panic and anxiety disorders. However, there is a growing body of evidence showing that these so-called ‘mental’ health issues are not purely mental – that nutrition and other areas of health are in fact linked to our mental and emotional state. Imagine that! Proof that perhaps the whole body is linked, rather than separated into distinct ‘brain’ and ‘everything else’ categories. One such piece of evidence emerging from Okayama University, Japan, has shown an interesting link between low serum vitamin B and iron levels, and panic or […]
June 20, 2017
Why eat organic? It’s a question many people ask, and perhaps a reasonable one when presented with significant cost differences between seemingly identical food items. A recent study points to a concerning link between neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Motor Neurone Diseases, and a protein called TDP-43. What’s the catch? It’s commonly found in our food. Although there is certainly no single causal factor that leads to neurodegenerative diseases, at least not one that research has clearly identified at this time, evidence is starting to point to more possible contributors. Among the main offenders are genetics, environmental stress, and […]
June 20, 2017
Many a chiropractor deals with practice members right across the life cycle – from the tiniest of patients to octogenarians who are set on maintaining their health all the way. Across this life cycle, some significant changes take place. Many of us are acutely aware that we need to adapt to the changing needs of our practice members as they face different ages and stages. But there is one change that can be all too easily missed – the transition from child to adolescent. According to Dr Jenna Davis, if a chiropractor knows how to respond well in those tedious […]
May 2, 2017
Food is medicine. Genius, right? Well, in line with this old adage, a new study has some news for us: three or four servings of vegetables daily can have an incredible effect on kidney health. In fact, “Kidney disease patients who eat three to four more servings of fruits and vegetables every day could lower their blood pressure and their medication costs,” the research suggests [1]. The study, presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s Annual Kidney Week [2], looked at 108 patients with high blood pressure. All participants in the study were taking similar doses of blood pressure drugs, […]
April 27, 2017
“Whoever said money doesn’t buy happiness doesn’t know where to shop,” once quipped Mae West. It’s an interesting statement. If our collective goals as individuals and as a society are to accumulate more stuff… houses, cars, holidays, clothes, the list is endless, surely money must be the source of all happiness and therefore it’s lack, the source of sadness? The researches at Harvard1 dug a little deeper to find out what having a happy life really means. And by dug, we mean, over a period of 75 years, into the lives of two groups of men, in the worlds longest […]
April 26, 2017
Short term fasting seems to have made a resurgence into popularity in recent years, with intermittent fasting re-gaining fame for more than just weight loss benefits. So what happens when we move beyond the intermittent to prolonged fasting a couple of times a week? There is research revealing that fasting twice a week could significantly lower the risk of developing both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease [1]. But new research has revealed another benefit of fasting or diets that mimic it. It appears that it can trigger stem cell regeneration to help reboot damaged immune systems. The research revealed that “fasting […]
March 9, 2017
Depression is a worldwide issue. To give you some idea, it’s the number one psychological disorder in the western world1. And not unlike the common cold, it doesn’t discriminate between age groups or gender assignment. Depression is growing in all age groups, the largest increase noted in the younger generations, in our teenagers. At the rate of knots this psychological issue is developing, by 2020, it is estimated to be the second most debilitating condition behind heart disease. Think about it, the neuroscientists at the University of Bern2, have. Traditional treatment for depression is usually with antidepressant medication and psychotherapy. […]
March 2, 2017
There’s a new magic number. 39. That’s the number of hours you should be working in any given working week. That is, unless you want to get sick. That’s a substantial number less than the 49-hour week limit that was brought in around 80 years ago as the internationally recognised number of what a person should be slogging out for a wage. A new study, published in the journal of Social Science and Medicine1 has found that working beyond 39 hours a week puts employees at risk of developing mental health problems. With almost a quarter of Australians working longer […]
February 9, 2017
“The highly intelligent and healthy baby mammal is capable of instinctively breastfeeding with only the gentle assistance of its mother,” says Dr Robyn Thompson. You see this everywhere you look in nature. No forceful or complicated techniques are required. Just instinct. This observation leads to a very poignant question though: Why do so many women struggle with the practice of breastfeeding? Many a new mother has battled with breastfeeding; something they feel should come naturally. The complications can be many and varied – from nipple trauma and upper back and wrist pain to engorgement issues and mastitis problems. This says […]
January 5, 2017
There’s always some new fad that seems to hit our shelves. Bone broth has been the hipster drink de jour for the last couple of years. Given up caffeine? Bone broth. Trying to get healthy? Bone broth. The Brooklyn hipsters have been carrying around this meaty bone soup in lieu of a super sized Starbucks coffee like it’s going out of fashion. Except it isn’t. Going out of fashion that is. Instead, this age old recipe is going mainstream. And much like encouraging people to exercise more or get a good nights sleep, this wonder liquid may well be the […]
December 13, 2016
Probiotics are linked to improved microbia in the gut. These microbia are directly linked to the physical, mental and emotional health of your body. Fermented foods are a natural powerhouse of various strains of probiotics that are essential to good gut health. But what are fermented foods? And what’s so darn good about them?
November 3, 2016
Story at a Glance Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are causing about 70% of deaths worldwide. Focusing on bioscience, pharmaceutical treatment and public health messages have not dented the worrying rise in these conditions. Whilst lifestyle choices are important, it’s more important to influence the environments that have caused the rise in NCDs; poverty, lack of education, processed food, regulation of tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food. Yes you’ve heard of them before, the diseases we attribute, without trying to sound pithy, to our lifestyle. Obesity. Heart disease. Diabetes. Stroke. Cancer. Chronic respiratory diseases. But they’re not called lifestyle diseases. They’re called NCDs, […]