Wellness Articles

The body is one of those things in life that needs to be regularly maintained. Your body needs regular and frequent water intake to remove the dangerous toxins that our body takes in from the air you breathe and the food you eat. Water also cushions your joints, carries oxygen and nutrients into all your cells, regulates your body temperature and keeps your metabolism working properly. Your body also needs regular food intake not just for the nutrients, but to for regular cleansing of the intestinal tract. This is why we will never be able to be like the cartoon “The Jetsons” and just take a pill to get all of our food. Your teeth need to be regularly brushed and checked. It is not luck to get to your 80’s and still have all of your own teeth. Your spine needs to be regularly maintained as well because of the things we do every day; lifting wrong, sitting, driving, falls, accidents, sports impacts, childhood injuries, birth process, etc… All of these things over a lifetime can cause your spine to shift out of alignment and affect your health. Just like the tires on your car, if they are misaligned they wear out much faster. Your spine is no different; if there is misalignment it wears out causing osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease. With your car you can put new tires on, however you cannot replace your spine.

Contributed by: Dr. Aaron on November 28, 2007   ·  Filed under: portland oregon chiropractic  ·  

At my office Discover Chiropractic in Beaverton Oregon we are seeing less people who smoke compared to years past. It has been great to see people making more healthy choices.

On average, people who smoke will reduce their life expectancy by approximately 14 years. Respiratory diseases, lung cancer, and other smoking-related health problems are responsible for 440,000 deaths each year in the United States.

Smoking-related sickness and disease is not an easy battle to fight or win. That’s why smokers are asked to stop smoking today, make efforts to maintain a healthy weight, eat more vegetable and fruits, exercise each week and be screened for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer on a regular basis.

Remember, you’re only given one body to live in. Do all you can to take care of it and enhance the quality of your life. In addition to kicking the habit, make sure you’re eating plenty of vegetables, increase your heart rate for 30 minutes a day, and participate in weekly chiropractic adjustments.

[Source: www.dccps.nci.nig.gov]

Contributed by: Dr. Aaron on November 1, 2007   ·  Filed under: portland oregon chiropractic  ·  

If you have family members and friends suffering with painful physical conditions and illness, encourage them to give chiropractic adjustments a try. Here’s what they probably don’t know.

A vertebral subluxation is a misalignment of the spine that many times goes unnoticed, yet causes many bodily discomforts and physical aliments. When a vertebra in the spine goes out of alignment it can interfere with nerve, brain and spinal cord communication, causing various body parts to stop functioning as they should, and instead, experience pain and deterioration.

For example, a misalignment in the spine can do the following things:

- Disrupt the function of your internal organs, glands, muscles, joints and discs

- Cause pain not only in the back region, but anywhere in your body

- Induce headaches

- Accelerate joint aging

- Cause osteoarthritis

- Open the door to disease, by lessening your body’s ability to adapt to stress and heal itself

- Drain you of energy

Prescription drugs can’t remedy a structural problem, they only mask the symptoms of one. Encourage your family and friends to get checked by a chiropractor where they can start to enhance their health and quality of life the safe and noninvasive way.

Contributed by: Dr. Aaron on October 24, 2007   ·  Filed under: portland oregon chiropractic  ·  

If you have family members and friends suffering with painful physical conditions and illness, encourage them to give chiropractic adjustments a try. Here’s what they probably don’t know.

A vertebral subluxation is a misalignment of the spine that many times goes unnoticed, yet causes many bodily discomforts and physical aliments. When a vertebra in the spine goes out of alignment it can interfere with nerve, brain and spinal cord communication, causing various body parts to stop functioning as they should, and instead, experience pain and deterioration.

For example, a misalignment in the spine can do the following things:

- Disrupt the function of your internal organs, glands, muscles, joints and discs

- Cause pain not only in the back region, but anywhere in your body

- Induce headaches

- Accelerate joint aging

- Cause osteoarthritis

- Open the door to disease, by lessening your body’s ability to adapt to stress and heal itself

- Drain you of energy

Prescription drugs can’t remedy a structural problem, they can only mask symptoms.
Encourage your family and friends to get checked by a chiropractor where they can start to enhance their health and quality of life the safe and noninvasive way.

Contributed by: Dr. Aaron on   ·  Filed under: portland oregon chiropractic  ·  

Here at Discover Chiropractic in Beaverton / SW Portland, we have worked with many local Midwives and O.B. Doctors to help their patients avoid C-sections. We help their babies turn naturally using the Webster technique. We have had great results with this technique and the mothers we have worked with were always surprised with how little pressure it takes to help their babies turn. If you have further questions, feel free to contact our office at 503-297-3771. I have included an explanation from the ICPA about the Webster Technique.

You have seen the Webster Technique — that chiropractic technique to help pregnant mothers with breech babies — featured on The Learning Channel’s hit series “A Baby Story.” You have read about it in Mothering magazine and Midwifery Today. You have seen it on the Internet. You have heard it talked about by birthing professionals. But what is it?
The Webster Technique, discovered by Dr. Larry Webster, founder of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA), is a specific chiropractic adjustment for pregnant mothers. It is a chiropractic technique designed to relieve the causes of intrauterine constraint.
Formerly known as Webster’s “In-Utero Constraint Technique” or “Webster’s Breech Turning Technique,” the Webster Technique was developed by Dr. Webster in 1978. For over 20 years, it has been highly successful in relieving intrauterine constraint and allowing babies to get into the best possible position for birth.
What is intrauterine constraint? Intrauterine constraint is defined as any forces external to the developing fetus that obstructs the normal movement of the fetus. Intrauterine constraint can prevent the developing fetus from attaining a head down vertex position and achieving a vaginal birth, resulting in cesarean section delivery. Today, nearly 13% of all cesarean deliveries performed are due to breech presentation.
In 1985, the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed 15% as the highest acceptable limit for cesarean section rates. This figure was based on the cesarean section rates of countries with the lowest perinatal mortality rates in the world. In 1991, the figure was adopted as a goal for the year 2000 by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Currently, approximately 4.6 % of all singleton pregnancies develop into breech presentation and the incidence of perinatal mortality with breech presentation is approximately four times that of a vertex presentation. While many infants in breech presentation before 34 weeks will convert spontaneously to a cephalic presentation, few will do so afterward.
Decreasing the number of caesareans for breech presentation has been offered as a strategy to reach the Healthy People 2000 goal of 15% cesarean section rate. The importance of preventing intrauterine constraint and subsequent cesarean section delivery is apparent, considering in the United States approximately 22% of all births were cesarean section deliveries. In Canada the incidence of cesarean section ranges from 15%-22%, depending on the province. The Webster Technique is a chiropractic means of decreasing the number of caesareans for breech presentation.
Performance of the Webster Technique involves analysis of the relationship of the bones of the pelvis, and correction of aberrant biomechanics through the use of a light force chiropractic adjustment of the sacrum (Step 1). It also involves analysis and relief of specific abdominal muscle tension or spasm (Step 2). Both steps are intended to relieve the musculoskeletal causes of intrauterine constraint that may lead to cesarean section delivery.
It is important to stress at this time that the Webster Technique is not to be misconstrued as the practice of obstetrics. The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic technique intended to relieve a specific musculoskeletal condition. At no time does the chiropractor attempt to change the position of the fetus as is done in external cephalic version (ECV). Untrained individuals should not attempt the Webster Technique.

Contributed by: Dr. Aaron on October 3, 2007   ·  Filed under: childcare and kids  ·  

At my chiropractic clinic, Discover Chiropractic in the SW Portland / Beaverton area I get several questions daily about diets. I am not a fan of most of the fad diets I have seen and read about. It seems everyone I know has tried a few and failed. What I do recommend is to ADD good quality foods to what you normally eat (fruits & vegetables). It has been working much better with my patients instead of taking away foods. Once you get used to the added quality foods it becomes easier to drop away the unhealthy ones. We have advanced lectures in our office in Beaverton / SW Portland on Nutrition. If you are interested in learning more call our office to find out the date for our next nutrition lecture.

Contributed by: Dr. Aaron on September 26, 2007   ·  Filed under: portland oregon chiropractic  ·  

At my chiropractic clinic called Discover Chiropractic in the SW Portland / Beaverton area I work on athletes of all levels and from almost all sports. I am posting a few of the studies that have been done concerning athletes and how Chiropractic has improved their performance and reaction time.

Peer Reviewed Journals:

The use and role of sport chiropractors in the national football league: a short report. Stump JL, Redwood D. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2002 (Mar-Apr); 25 (3): E2

There is significant chiropractic participation in US professional football. Certified athletic trainers see a role for the sport chiropractor in the NFL, primarily as a spinal specialist treating low back and other musculoskeletal injuries. A substantial majority of NFL trainers have developed cooperative relationships with chiropractors, with 77% having referred a player to a chiropractor. Thirty-one percent of NFL teams have a chiropractor officially on staff, and an additional 12% of teams refer players to chiropractors but do not directly retain these chiropractors.

Chiropractic effects on athletic ability. Lauro A. Mouch B. Chiropractic: The Journal of Chiropractic Research and Clinical Investigation. 1991; 6: 84-87

Fifty athletes were tested. They were divided into two groups. One group received chiropractic adjustments, the other served as controls. Eleven tests were used to measure aspects of athletic ability including: agility, balance, kinesthetic perception, power, and reaction time. After 6 weeks, the control group exhibited minor improvement in eight of the 11 tests while the chiropractic group improved significantly in all 11 tests. In a hand reaction test measuring the speed of reaction with the hand in response to a visual stimulus, the control group exhibited less than a 1% response while the chiropractic group exhibited more than an 18% response after 6 weeks. After 12 weeks the chiropractic group exhibited more than 30% improvement.

Athletic performance and physiological measures in baseball players following upper cervical chiropractic care: a pilot study. Schwartzbauer J, Kolber J, Schwartzbauer, DC, Hart, JDC, Zhang J. Paper Presented at the National Subluxation Conference, October 12-13, 1996 Phoenix, Arizona, Sponsored by Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic. Published in the J of Vertebral Subluxation Research 1997; 1 (4): 7

Abstract: The athletic performance of university baseball player was assessed before, during and after chiropractic care. Each athlete’s performance was evaluated by athletic abilities, such as the vertical jump, standing road jump. Linear space (specified), broad jump (specified), muscles strength; and physiological tests such as electrical cardiogram, blood pressure, pulse rate and treadmill stress testing. 28 players were recruited for the study. Twenty players completed the entire experiment with usable data. All players were randomly divided into control and experimental groups. Every player was required to complete three sessions of athletic ability and physiological tests. The first test was administered before any chiropractic care was given. The second test was given after six weeks of chiropractic care. The third test was given after fourteen weeks of chiropractic care. Only the subjects in the experimental group received chiropractic adjustments to remove/reduce vertebral subluxation. The results showed a positive correlation between chiropractic adjustments and athletic performance.

Note: In addition to the above improvements, the chiropractic group showed significant improvement in capillary count at five and fourteen weeks of chiropractic care. Since healthy oxygenation of tissues is dependent up blood supply, this physiologic parameter may be the most important one of all.

Additional publications:

Jocks and Chiropractic Care From: The Latest Stuff from Gerry by Gerald Clum, DC President of Life Chiropractic College-West. November 1998 issue (on-line):

There have been a number of recent high profile articles and references to world class athletes receiving chiropractic care. On October 16, USA Today carried an extensive article about Emmitt Smith with the headline “Cowboys’ Smith still runs ahead of time” with a tag line “Body maintenance key to longevity for backfield star.” The article notes “Smith will head to his chiropractor.” Smith himself commented, “I started doing this on a regular basis about four or five years ago. I believe what I am doing is helping me go on. I think Warren Moon does the same thing. So I’ve become a big, big believer in servicing my body and making sure it is lined up properly and functioning the way it should be on Sundays.”

The San Francisco Chronicle ran an article a few days later under the headline “Considering the Alternative,” which was a discussion of the use of alternative health care by professional athletes. “More and more professional athletes are embracing alternative health practices, forcing teams to acknowledge the effectiveness of everything from shark cartilage to chiropractic care.” “Though more teams are acknowledging the effectiveness of acupuncture and chiropractic care, even these practices are considered too unusual for by some teams. The Chicago Bulls, for example, do not have a chiropractor on staff, so Scottie Pippen has to hire one on his own. In the NBA finals in June, Pippen received chiropractic care at least once during a game-only because he brought the chiropractor to the game.” “Chiropractors are flown in at the player’s expense,” said Dr. Malcolm Conway, a chiropractor in Pennsylvania who works with wide receivers Rocket Ismail and Qadry Ismail and other professional athletes. “Athletes like Pippen are willing to pay for chiropractic care because they need to recover quickly from injuries and they believe chiropractic treatment has a good rate of success.” I agree!

References from Koren Publications’ brochure: Sports and Chiropractic
Green, J. Fort Lauderdale Sun-Tattler, July 7, 1988. Sec. D. P.1
Athens, N. Chiropractic Achievers, Nov/Dec 1989, p.38.
Haldeman, S. “Spinal Manipulative Therapy in Sports Medicine.” Clinics in Sports Medicine 5(1986): p. 277.
U.S. News and World Report, 31 July, 1989, p.56.

If you have any specific questions feel free to call my office and I would be happy to talk with you. Call my office Discover Chiropractic in SW Portland / Beaverton at 503-297-3771.

Contributed by: Dr. Aaron on September 19, 2007   ·  Filed under: portland oregon chiropractic  ·  

This was a research paper in Spine that looked into the effects of poor posture. I included comments from Dr. Murphy. We have been focusing on structural correction of abnormal postures in Portland at our clinic for the last five years. Since our move to the Beaverton / Raleigh Hills area we have incorporated a multi faceted approach to postural correction.

The Impact of Positive Sagittal Balance in Adult Spinal Deformity

Spine Volume 30(18), September 15, 2005 pp. 2024-2029
Glassman, Steven D. MD; Bridwell, Keith MD; Dimar, John R. MD; Horton, William
MD; Berven, Sigurd MD; Schwab, Frank MD

FROM ABSTRACT:
Study Design.
This study is a retrospective review of 752 patients with adult spinal deformity
enrolled in a multicenter prospective database in 2002 and 2003.
Patients with positive sagittal balance (N = 352) were further evaluated regarding
radiographic parameters and health status measures, including the Scoliosis
Research Society patient questionnaire, MOS short form-12, and Oswestry Disability
Index.

Objectives.
To examine patients with adult deformity with positive sagittal balance to define
parameters within that group that might differentially predict clinical impact.
Summary of Background Data.
In a multicenter study of 298 adults with spinal deformity, positive sagittal balance
[forward head / body] was identified as the radiographic parameter most highly
correlated with adverse health status outcomes.
Methods.
Radiographic evaluation was performed according to a standarized protocol for 36-
inch standing radiographs. [IMPORTANT: the analysis in this study was a
measurement for forward head / body done on an upright full-spine lateral
x-ray]. Magnitude of positive sagittal balance [forward head / body] and
regional sagittal Cobb angle measures were recorded.
Statistical correlation between radiographic parameters and health status measures
were performed. Potentially confounding variables were assessed.

Results.
The C7 plumb line deviation ranged from 1 to 271 mm. [about 11 inches]
All measures of health status showed significantly poorer scores as C7 plumb line
deviation increased. [WOW!]
Patients with relative kyphosis in the lumbar region had significantly more disability
than patients with normal or lordotic lumbar sagittal Cobb measures.

Conclusions.
This study shows that although even mildly positive sagittal balance is somewhat
detrimental, severity of symptoms increases in a linear fashion with progressive
sagittal imbalance.
The results also show that kyphosis is very poorly tolerated in the lumbar spine.
THESE AUTHORS ALSO NOTE:
With respects to spinal deformities, “investigators have begun to apply
reproducible evaluation techniques, including standardized radiographs, gait
analysis, and validated health status measures.”
“In a recent multicenter study of 298 adults with spinal deformity, positive
sagittal balance was identified as the radiographic parameter most highly correlated
with adverse health status outcomes.”
[Glassman SD, Berven S, Bridwell K, et al. Correlation of radiographic parameters
and clinical symptoms in adult scoliosis. Spine 2005;30:682-8.]
“Positive sagittal balance was defined as an anterior deviation of the C7
plumb line measurement.” [Like a forward head or forward body syndrome]
“Positive sagittal balance was more significantly associated with pain and
disability than curve magnitude, curve location, or coronal imbalance.”
The purpose of this study was to examine patients with adult deformity with
positive sagittal balance [a forward head or forward body syndrome] to define
parameters within that group that might differentially predict clinical symptoms.
Patient self-assessment measures of health status collected were the Scoliosis
Research Society patient questionnaire (SRS-29), MOS short form-12 (SF-12), and
Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).
In this study, “radiographic measures of deformity were recorded based on a
standardized manual of measurement techniques.” Anteroposterior and lateral 36-
inch standing radiographs were exposed. [IMPORTANT: standing AP and lateral
full-spine 36-inch radiographs were used].
“Coronal plane parameters included major and minor curve location, curve
magnitude by Cobb angle, and coronal imbalance by C7 plumb line deviation.”
“The sagittal balance [anterior-posterior] was determined based on the
deviation of the C7 plumb line, originating at the middle of the C7 vertebral body,
from the posterior superior endplate of S1.”
“Positive sagittal balance was defined as an anterior deviation of the C7
plumb line.” [Like a forward head or forward body syndrome]

“Patient reported health status measures, including the SF-12, SRS-29, and
ODI, were analyzed to determine a relationship between type, location, or
magnitude of deformity, and overall health status, pain, and function.”

RESULTS
“Positive sagittal balance [forward head or forward body syndrome] based on
C7 plumb line deviation ranged from 1 to 271 mm (mean 57.7 ± 51.2).”
There was a high degree of correlation between positive sagittal balance and
adverse health status scores, for physical health composite score and pain domain.
[Important]
“There was clear evidence of increased pain and decreased function as the
magnitude of positive sagittal balance increased.” [Important]
“All measures of health status (SF-12, SRS-29, and ODI) showed significantly
poorer scores as C7 plumb line deviation increased.”
“There was no significant correlation between thoracic or thoracolumbar
sagittal Cobb deformity and any of the health status measures.”

DISCUSSION
An increasing number of patients with adult deformity are seeking medical care.
“Several [surgical] studies have shown that adequate restoration of sagittal
plane alignment is necessary to improve significantly clinical outcome and avoid
subsequent pseudoarthrosis.”
“Positive sagittal balance [forward head / body] has also been identified as
the radiographic parameter most highly correlated with adverse outcome measures
in unoperated adult spinal deformity.”
“This study shows that although even mildly positive sagittal balance is
somewhat detrimental, severity of symptoms increases in a linear fashion with
progressive sagittal imbalance.”
Kyphosis is “very poorly tolerated in the lumbar spine.”
“These findings emphasize the importance of thoroughly accessing sagittal
plane alignment in the treatment of spinal deformity.”
“With surgical treatment, maintenance or restoration of lumbar lordosis
appears to be critical.”

KEY POINTS FROM AUTHORS:
1) Severity of symptoms increases in a linear fashion with progressive positive
sagittal balance.
2) Relative kyphosis is very poorly tolerated in the lumbar spine.
3) The use of reproducible radiographic and clinical outcome measures facilitates
the development of more effective treatment paradigms for patients with adult
deformity.
KEY POINTS FROM DAN MURPHY:
1) The analysis in this study was a measurement for forward head / body done
on an upright full-spine lateral x-ray.
2) These authors measured the sagittal plumb line distance between the center
of C7 vertebral body with respects to the superior posterior surface of the sacrum.
3) This study showed a deterioration of health status with progressive forward
head / body sagittal balance.
4) All measures of health status showed significantly poorer scores as C7 plumb
line deviation increased forward of the sacrum.
5) Even minor forward head / body sagittal balance is detrimental.
6) The severity of symptoms increases in a linear fashion with progressive
increase of forward head / body sagittal imbalance.
7) Kyphosis is very poorly tolerated in the lumbar spine.
There was clear evidence of increased pain and decreased function as the
magnitude of forward head / body sagittal balance increased.
9) “These findings emphasize the importance of thoroughly accessing sagittal
plane alignment in the treatment of spinal deformity.”
10) Relative kyphosis is very poorly tolerated in the lumbar spine.

Contributed by: Dr. Aaron on September 12, 2007   ·  Filed under: portland oregon chiropractic  ·  

Avoid peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers and other popular fruits and vegetables unless they have been grown organically. This is according to new data released by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)—a watchdog organization focusing on food and beverage safety.

Researchers at CSPI measured the toxin levels found in both organically grown and pesticide-treated fruits and vegetables. The differences were staggering, as non-organic fruits and vegetables were found to hold significantly higher levels of toxic chemicals. The biggest offenders posing the greatest health risks were non-organic peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce and potatoes. The CSPI is urging consumers to only eat organic versions of these fruits and vegetables.

Non-organic fruits and vegetables become “toxic” when they are sprayed with pesticide chemicals in an effort to ward off insect damage. But contrary to popular belief, these chemicals don’t just wash off; instead, the toxic pesticides are absorbed into the body of fruits and vegetables, which we then eat.

Knowledge is power. Make a conscious decision to improve the future of your health by choosing to eat organic produce. Drink plenty of water. And schedule regular chiropractic adjustments to enhance your body’s ability to naturally heal itself and ward off sickness.

[Source: Dr. Bob’s Healthy Living Tips, drbob4health.com]

Contributed by: Dr. Aaron on September 5, 2007   ·  Filed under: portland oregon chiropractic  ·  

Scientists Link Long-Lasting Pain With Reduced Levels of Gray Matter
A recent study published in The Journal of Neuroscience has revealed
that people who suffer from chronic back pain (CBP) for one year may
experience a reduction in the brain’s gray matter equivalent to the
amount lost by the average person in 10 to 20 years of normal aging.1
The study is believed to be the first of its kind to show brain
morphometric abnormalities in chronic pain.
Also found in the spinal cord, “gray matter” refers to the darker-
colored tissue of the brain, which is composed of the bodies of
neurons. In the brain, the gray matter includes structures such as
the cerebral cortex, the thalamus, the basal ganglia, and the outer
layers of the cerebellum. Gray matter is considered by many to be
the “thinking” center of the brain, and is responsible for functions
such as memory and information processing.
In the study, investigators compared 26 CBP patients with 26 matched
normal volunteers. The CBP patients experienced unrelenting pain for
one year, “primarily localized to the lumbosacral region including
buttocks and thighs, with or without pain radiating to the leg.” Of
those with CBP, 55 percent had musculoskeletal diagnoses, 20 percent
had pure radiculopathy, and 26 percent had a combination of
musculoskeletal and radiculopathic pain. CBP patients were divided
into neuropathic and non-neuropathic subtypes, with neuropathic
patients experiencing significant radiculopathy, with or without the
presence of musculoskeletal pain.
The normal decrease in neocortical gray matter volume was found to be
2.8 cm3 (0.5%) per year in both groups. After adjusting for age and
gender factors, the investigators found that the resultant gray
matter volume loss was 663 ± 27 cm3 in the control subjects and 590 ±
28 cm3 in the CBP patients, reflecting an 11 percent decrease in gray
matter volume for those with CBP. CBP patients with sciatica had the
largest decrease in gray matter. In addition, the more years someone
had chronic back pain, the more loss of gray matter they suffered.
Interestingly enough, the authors found that the “mean gray matter
volume was not different between neuropathic (nuCBP) and non-
neuropathic (non-nuCBP) subtypes.”
From their findings, the authors arrived at several conclusions:
“The role of the brain in chronic pain conditions remains
speculative. Our results imply that chronic back pain (CBP) is
accompanied by brain atrophy and suggest that the pathophysiology of
chronic pain includes thalamocortical processes.
“Our studies show that CBP (sustained for six months) is accompanied
by abnormal brain chemistry, mainly a reduction in the N-acetyl-
aspartate-creatine ratio in the prefrontal cortex, implying neuronal
loss or dysfunction in this region and reduced cognitive abilities on
a task that implies abnormal prefrontal processing.
“Our results demonstrate regionally specific reduced gray matter in
patients with CBP. At the whole-brain level, this reduction is
related to pain duration, regionally depends on multiple pain related
characteristics, and is more severe in the neuropathic sub-type.
“Given that normal whole-brain gray matter atrophy is 0.5% per year
of aging and that atrophy caused by CBP is 5-11%, the magnitude of
brain gray matter atrophy caused by CBP is equivalent to 10-20 years
of aging. However, this analogy only holds for the overall magnitude,
because the regional specificity of atrophy in CBP is distinct from
that seen with aging.”
While this is the first study to show brain morphometric
abnormalities in chronic pain, it is not the only study of
morphometry in pain conditions. Another study conducted in 2003
looked at migraine patients and found no significant differences. 2
Perhaps even more interesting was the revelation that “only 18% of
whole-brain matter variance could be explained by pain duration.” The
authors note that most of the whole-brain atrophy in CBP
patients “cannot be accounted for by the measured pain
characteristics. ” The authors suggest that this may imply “genetic
and experiential predispositions contributing to the observed
atrophy.”
While this study opens the door for significant speculation, it tends
to generate more questions than it answers. From a chiropractic
standpoint, it is easy to see why chronic back pain can cause
additional symptoms beyond those that would be considered mechanical
in nature. These findings most certainly serve as a serious warning
to patients with back pain to seek care as soon as possible in order
to prevent the condition from becoming chronic.
While there will likely be a number of studies that follow up on
these findings, chiropractic researchers should explore the
possibility of communicating with these authors in an effort to
better understand the details of their methodology and findings. This
is an area of research in which chiropractic could test the impact of
musculoskeletal pain, spinal joint function and the subluxation.
References
1. Apkarian AV, Sosa Y, Sonty S, et al. Chronic back pain is
associated with decreased prefrontal and thalamic gray matter
density. The Journal of Neuroscience, Nov. 17, 2004 24(46):10410-
10475.
2. Matharu MS, Good CD, May A, et al. No change in the structure
of the brain in migraine: a voxel-based morphometric study. Eur J
Neurol 2003;10:53-57.

Contributed by: Dr. Aaron on August 29, 2007   ·  Filed under: portland oregon chiropractic  ·