Chiropractic is the FIRST CHOICE

I just love when research backs up things that my patients and I see in the office every day.
-Dr. C

F4CP points to new study documenting chiropractic as first option for back pain relief

January 14, 2013 — The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP) cites the results of a new study as further documentation of chiropractic care as a first option for back pain relief and surgical avoidance.

“Early Predictors of Lumbar Spine Surgery after Occupational Back Injury: Results from a Prospective Study of Workers in Washington State,” (Spine; 12.12.2012) observed reduced odds of surgery for those under age 35, women, Hispanics, and those whose first provider was a chiropractor.

“In total, 42.7 percent of workers who initially visited a surgeon underwent surgery, in contrast to only 1.5 percent of those who first consulted a chiropractor,” reports Gerard Clum, DC, spokesperson, F4CP, who indicates the important study was conducted by a collaboration of prestigious institutions, including Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, University of Washington School of Public Health, University of Washington School of Medicine, Ohio State University College of Public Health and the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. “Back injuries are the most prevalent occupational injury in the U.S., and care is commonly associated with one of the most costly treatments — spine surgery. Chiropractic is clearly the most appropriate first treatment option for patients with back pain, and this study confirms the value.”

An additional study, “Health Maintenance Care in Work-Related Low Back Pain and Its Association with Disability Recurrence,” (Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine;4.1.2011) also examined chiropractic care for occupational back injuries and found similar outcomes. The study reported for work-related nonspecific low-back pain, chiropractic care was associated with a lower disability recurrence, when compared to treatment by other medical interventions. Overall, chiropractic patients illustrated consistently better outcomes, less use of opioids, and had fewer surgeries, with lower medical expenses.

“As more data continues to surface touting the benefits of chiropractic care — lower costs, less risks and higher satisfaction rates — I expect that patients and practitioners will move toward considering chiropractic first, medicine second, and surgery last,” says Clum, who closes with praise of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Health Plan for already adopting this approach.

- Dr. Louis S. Crivelli II
  Chiropractor
  Greenbelt, MD

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What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis.

An estimated 27 million Americans live with it according to the Arthritis Foundation. And because it's two major risk factors: aging and obesity, are so prevalent among the baby-boomer generation, the number of people with OA is predicted to exceed 60 million by 2020.  Osteoarthritis causes cartilage and joints to degenerate over time.  Recently, researchers at Chicago's Rush University Medical Center identified a specific protein that appears to play a key role in translating cartilage and joint damage into the pain that Osteoarthritis suffers feel.   

Osteoarthritis can start to affect the joints before symptoms like stiffness and pain become apparent. By that time, joint damage may have already become advanced an pain may be triggered by such things as climbing stairs.  Eventually, pain may even be caused by touch or pressure. and eventually even at rest.  

Research Says

Researchers conducted a 16-week-long study in mice that attempted to simulated the slow, chronic progression of osteoarthritis  in humans. They monitored the nerves that carry signals from the sensory organs to the brain and found that a protein known as monocyte chemoattractant protein or (MCP)-1 (CCL2) and its receptor are central to feeling OA pain.  When researchers elevated the levels of this protein in one group of mice with simulated OA and the mice exhibited signs that they were experiencing pain. Another group of mice with simulated knee degeneration, but without the protein, did not exhibit the pain-avoidance behaviors. 

Now instead of looking at why this process starts, the cartilage beginning to degenerate, these researchers will be looking for a drug so that you cannot feel the pain, but do nothing to help the reason behind the pain.  As I stated before the two biggest factors contributing to OA are obesity and aging. Now we are all getting older, so we can't do anything about aging, but obesity we can.  We all need to eat better,and exercise.  Take supplements, such as glucosamine and chondrotin sulfate, be proactive, even getting adjusted by your Chiropractor can help keep you more mobile.  Don't wait until you have OA to do something about it, but start now to try to minimize it, or better yet, not suffer from it at all.

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Orthodontics like Chiropractic

If I had to pick one other form of care for the body that is similar to Chiropractic care I would choose Orthodontics. When you get braces the idea is that you want straighten  your teeth to make them healthier and work better for you.  

Chiropractic Care works in a similar way to straighten and strengthen your spine to make you healthier and allow your nervous system you work optimally, so that your body may function at its best.  If you have ever had braces you know that they tend to stay on for some time, even after your teeth appear to be straight! So what do you think would happen if you took your braces off too early? You teeth would start to shift back to where they originally were!  

Much like with Chiropractic Care if you stop coming or reduce care too soon your spine is going to start going back to the way it was before you started coming.  Stick with your care plan so you can be as healthy as possible.  Remember it is always less expensive to keep something working properly than to fix it in an emergency.

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Automobile Accidents

Most likely at some point in your life you will be involved in a car accident. 

Automobile accidents can vary from very mild injury to deadly. The latest research suggests accidents as low as 3 mph can result in injury or whiplash. The whole body is susceptible to injury, but the spine is the most at risk. The neck is the most common area to damage in a car accident. The worst part is that the effects of the automobile accident may not show up for days, weeks or even months after the accident.

Broken bones, bruising or cuts do not have to be present for significant damage to have happened. 

Most people make a trip the emergency room. This trip is usually long waits, lots of x-rays and painkillers, anti-inflammatories, and muscle relaxers. The pills help manage the symptoms, but nothing actually corrects the issues. In some instances, headaches form, you experience numbness and tingling.

We all pay car insurance.

The purpose of this is to insure that our medical care is cover in accidents. You are entitled to this care in order to return to your pre-accident status. If the proper steps are not taken in a timely fashion you to correct the damage you may miss out on having the responsible party pay for your care. If the damage from the accident goes untreated in could result in permanent injury. Most people who do not take care of the problem right away regret it. Do not become one of those people. If you or someone you know has recently been injury in a car accident call us today.

Rosa Family Chiropractic maintains an active presence on many popular search and social media websites. Select your favorite website below to stay connected or review us.