October 11, 2019
We often hear cases if increased thoracic kyphosis – that of forward head posture due to lifestyle or other factors. But straight back syndrome (SBS) is somewhat lesser know. A thoracic deformity characterized by “loss of the normal upper thoracic spinal kyphosis”, this condition can lead to reduced antero-posterior chest diameter, compression or displacement of the heart, cardiac murmurs, chest pain and tracheal compression [1]. It is an uncommon diagnosis, so there isn’t a wealth of chiropractic literature on it, but two case studies have revealed positive results when chiropractic is introduced into the mix. Differential diagnosis of SBS is […]
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 […]
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 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 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 […]
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 […]
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 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 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. […]
August 15, 2018
[The following is an interview with Dr David Fletcher in which he discusses his approach to objectively measuring the subluxation and communicating findings to patients. It is not a paid advertisement or product endorsement.] Recently, we reported on a case series published in the Chiropractic Journal of Australia that covered sustained improvements in heart rate variability in six individual cases. It followed the publication of another study emerging from the New Zealand College of Chiropractic that found we can indeed reliably detect subluxations, and that the inter-examiner confidence is high. They are important findings, and they feed into an essential […]