How spinal adjustments can reduce pain
Perhaps the most important tool in the chiropractor’s toolbox is the
spinal adjustment. This is a very specific procedure applied to the spine
that has a direct effect on the nervous system and muscle function.
Although an adjustment can be performed in a variety of different ways –
from a very light touch to a deep quick thrust – the outcome for patients
is often improved spinal function and the reduction of pain.
Many people see chiropractors regularly to maintain wellbeing and
vitality, but most people first see a chiropractor because they are
experiencing pain or symptoms. This may include back pain, neck pain,
headaches or a variety of other ailments.
There is no doubt that pain can significantly interfere with quality of
life, however, the experience of pain is a very subjective one. Pain can
be influenced remarkably by our state of mind – a cuddle from a parent, the
excitement of sport or the adrenalin rush of war can diminish or completely
block pain perception. In contrast, an anxious state will heighten the
pain experience.
Pain may also vary according to cultural back ground. One study
compared patients with leg fractures in two U.S. hospitals with a matched
group of patients in three urban hospitals in Vietnam. Over a 2 week
period, the Vietnamese patients were given, on average, 0.9 mg of morphine
equivalent units as compared to 30.2 mg given to those in the United
States. Interestingly, only 8% of the Vietnamese patients reported that
their pain control had been inadequate, whereas 80% of the American
patients did so.i
Clearly there is a difference between nociception (neurological
perception of a noxious stimuli that is potentially harmful to the body)
and pain (emotional conscious awareness of a noxious stimuli). A noxious
stimuli can be thermal (hot or cold), (crush, tear, etc) or chemical (eg
acid on skin).
Our perception of pain takes place in the brain. This processing can be
influenced by a range of things including spinal imbalance that changes
sensory awareness in the brain.
At the National Development Forum in Melbourne in 2011, Dr Heidi Haavik
(chiropractor and neurophysiologist) explained why some patients might have
a very quick reduction in pain following chiropractic care, while others
may take much longer.
The group that gets off the chiropractic table and immediately notices
reduced pain most likely had a problem with central processing in the
brain. The spinal adjustment “resets” the system. Better sensory input from
the spinal muscles to the brain dampens the pain sensitive nerve
fibres.
In the case where improvement is slower, there are usually also
inflammatory mediators and other nociceptive issues around the painful
tissues. In this case the healing time is longer.
iCarragee EJ, et al. Am J Orthop 1999; 28(2):97-102
The benefits of breakfast
We’re often told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
It refuels the body by replenishing glycogen stores that supply muscles
with energy and provides nutrients to keep energy levels up throughout the
day. People who skip breakfast can have a hard time concentrating and
increased fatigue throughout the day. Research has shown eating breakfast
can have a positive effect on mood and memory as well as reducing hunger
later in the day, making it easier to resist reaching for high calorie
snacks when you need an energy boost.
Prolonging the overnight ‘fast’ by skipping breakfast can make your body
produce more insulin, which encourages fat storage and weight gain. So
oddly enough, skipping breakfast (whether to save time or cut calories)
actually increases your risk of obesity. Instead, breakfast should be seen
as an opportunity to get healthy foods into your diet to give your body the
energy it needs to function. Making healthy choices early in the day can
encourage healthy choices later on, with meals that are more nutritious and
lower in trans fat.
Whether it’s for brain function or weight management (or both), eating
breakfast is a great way to start the day.
Grabbing a toasted sandwich or croissant with your coffee may be
tempting (and quick), but a nutritious breakfast will be more beneficial
when it comes to your wallet and your waistline. Don’t forget lots of café
and takeaway meals contain high levels of salt and calories so make your
own breakfast whenever you can. And be aware of some claimed ‘healthy’
options, such as many packaged cereals, which are often full of sugar.
Good Health on the Menu
Yummy summer egg white omelette
Ingredients
3 egg whites
½ red capsicum, finely chopped
2 green onions, sliced
50g baby spinach
10g low fat cheese (low fat tasty, feta or goat’s cheese perhaps)
1T chopped fresh dill
1T reduced fat milk
½ t seeded mustard
Spray of canola or extra virgin olive oil
Pinch nutmeg
Black pepper (to taste)
Method
Lightly spray a non-stick frying pan with olive oil or canola spray. Add
green onion, red capsicum, spinach, dill, and cook over medium heat for a
few minutes until spinach is wilted. At the same time separate your egg
whites from the yolks using the shells and put the whites into a bowl with
the milk, nutmeg and mustard. Lightly whisk together with a fork. Season
vegetables with sea salt and cracked black pepper.
Add your egg mixture to the pan with the vegetables and cook over medium
heat until nearly set (this should only take a couple of minutes). Sprinkle
cheese over the top.
Now you can carefully fold the omelette over and cook on both sides
until cooked through, or pop (in the pan) under the grill for a few minutes
until the cheese is melted and the omelette is cooked through and golden
brown. Serve immediately.
Tip: In a rush? Cutting up a few days’ worth of vegetables can help
speed up the preparation process. Feel free to experiment with different
fillings too – mushrooms, tomato, red onion, parsley, chives and some
sliced low fat ham or turkey are all good options too.
Watch out for that doorway – you might leave your memory behind!
Ever walked into another room only to forget what is was you were meant
to do, get or find. According to the Quarterly Journal of Experimental
Psychology, you might not be alone in this experience.
Researcher, Professor Gabriel Radvansky, has concluded that passing
through doorways might be the trigger for these memory lapses.
His experiment used college students as subjects who were required to
perform memory tasks while walking through a doorway.
Specifically, the subjects were required take an object from a table –
walk through a doorway - and switch it with another object from another
table. The students then performed the same task (walking the same
distance to another table), but this time remaining in the same room.
Radvansky noted that subjects forgot more after walking through a
doorway than when they remained in the same room. So does Radvansky know
where I left my car keys??
Can Chiropractic Make Birthing Easier?
The mechanical and hormonal changes that occur in a woman’s body during
pregnancy can lead to problems such as low back and pelvic pain,
indigestion and sciatica. For this reason many women will receive
chiropractic care during pregnancy, which has been shown to be safe for
both mother and foetus.
Regular chiropractic care during this period may not only assist with
reducing these symptoms, but may also improve pelvic balance. Uneven
muscle tension through the pelvis can create a torsion that effectively
narrows the pelvic inlet and outlet - obviously not the desired outcome for
a woman approaching labour! An important goal of chiropractic care is to
restore pelvic balance and therefore improve the likelihood of a good
labour.
Dr Joan Fallon presented a paper at the World Federation of Chiropractic
Congress suggesting labour times may be reduced by 24% in first time
mothers who receive regular chiropractic care compared to those who do not.
In second and third pregnancies labour was shortened by 39%. i
More research is needed to confirm these findings, but the results so
far are promising.
The Australian Spinal Research Foundation is currently sponsoring a
study headed up by Professor Bernadette Murphy into the effects of
chiropractic adjustments on pelvic floor muscle function in pregnant women.
The results of this study will no doubt be of interest to pregnant
mothers.
iFallon, J. The Effects of Chiropractic Treatment on Pregnancy and
Labour: 1991: 24-31
Exercise and Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a weakening of bones that happens in both men and women,
but is particularly prevalent in post-menopausal women. It is estimated
that women will lose 1% of bone mineral density every year after
menopause.
Osteoporosis is not typically painful until compression fractures begin
to appear, usually associated with a stooping (kyphotic) posture. The most
significant concern with osteoporosis is the increased risk of hip
fracture. These types of fractures in a person over the age of 65 years
are very serious and full recovery is rare.
One way you can help maintain your bone strength is through weight
bearing exercise. As a 2009 study shows, it is intense, high impact
exercise that has the greatest effect on increasing bone density.i
The challenge is that many people find high impact exercise too much,
especially if they also experience arthritic pain or other spinal related
problems. This group of patients tend to find gentler weight bearing
exercise such as walking and Tai Chi easier on their body, though this will
be less effective in building bone strength.
If you do have osteoporosis it is important to discuss with your
chiropractor what form of exercise is likely to work best for you – both
for your osteoporosis and your general wellbeing.
iSchmitt et al. Maturitas. 2009 May 20;63(1):34-8
Reducing your child’s toxin exposure
In many ways, living in a modern society is easier than it would have
been 100 years ago. But with all the advancing technology we have also
managed to pollute our environment and (in most cases quite deliberately)
our food sources.
Over 3,000 chemicals are added to our food supply and more than 10,000
chemical solvents, emulsifiers and preservatives are used in food
processing.
While environmental exposure to toxins is a concern for people of all
ages, children are particularly vulnerable. One study stated, “Data
strongly suggests that exposure to neurotoxic compounds at levels believed
to be safe for adults could result in permanent loss of brain function if
it occurred during the prenatal and early childhood period of brain
development”.i
Harmful toxins are not only found in food, but also packaging,
furniture, toys and personal care and cleaning products. Remember, up to
60% of the creams you wipe on your skin are absorbed into the body.
Dr Jennifer Barham-Floreani (chiropractor and author) discusses some of
the toxins commonly exposed to children in her book Ticklish – New ways to
help your child Learn, Love and Playii. These include:
POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC)
Denoted with the recycling number “3”. Health concerns due to exposure
from mouthing toys or offgassing (release of gas from the product over
time).
PHTHALATES
These are man-made chemicals found in personal care products (lotions,
powders and shampoos) that can damage the endocrine and reproductive
systems. One of the phthalates, DEHP, has been banned in the European
Union out of concern for children’s safety.
DIOXINS
Dioxins are a by-product of PVC and found in a variety of household
goods such as baby diapers. They persist in the environment for extended
periods and have been linked to a variety of cancers.
BISPHENOL A
Commonly known as BPA, this chemical is found in many plastics and the
epoxy lining of food cans. The structure of BPA is chemically similar to
oestrogen and has been linked to various endocrine disorders such as low
sperm count and hyperactivity. Be sure your child uses a BPA free drink
bottle.
PARABENS
These are widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic and
pharmaceutical industry, as well as food products.
iLearning disabilities and the environment. B McElgunn. Paediatr Child
Health. 2001 December
iiwww.welladjusted.me
