STUDY DEFINES MORE CLEARLY HOW ACUPUNCTURE AFFECTS PAIN In a new study this
year, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston did a follow-up on a pilot
study from three years ago, showing with MRI that acupunture has far-reaching effects.
It was shown to affect centers that relate to pain, memory and also affective centers of
the brain. Since we extensively employ acupuncture in this office, I have had great
interest in the progress of this study. It is a landmark research piece, and I have
discussed it at length with one of the authors, who indicated that it will lead to future
studies that will tell us more about how health care practitioners can treat pain more
effectively. Interestingly, the pilot study showed that acupuncture had similar effects in
the brain, regardless of the anatomic area treated. Rupali P. et al. (2008). Acupuncture
Modulates Resting State Connectivity in Default and Sensorimotor Brain Networks.
Pain. 136(3): 407–418.
---
TO PRE-STRETCH OR NOT? There are conflicting opinions regarding methods of
reducing muscular injury through warm-up and stretching techniques and these authors
performed a metanalysis to examine the potential of a warm-up stretching routine in
deterring muscular injury during physical activity. Recently, there was more than one
study that indicated that those who pre-stretched more often were injured than those
who first exercised for a few minutes, then performed stretches, then resumed their
primary exercise activity. The authors state that many of the differences within previous
research were due to conflicting definitions and they provide clear definitions of terms.
The research included here concludes that, to the contrary of other recent literature,
certain techniques and protocols have shown a positive outcome on deterring injuries.
As a result, a warm-up and stretching protocol should be implemented prior to physical
activity. The routine should allow the stretching protocol to occur within the 15 minutes
immediately prior to the activity in order to receive the most benefit. In my view, this is a
welcome study to re-define issues that had resulted in confusion for both health care
providers as well as consumers. Woods K, Bishop P, Jones E. (2007). Warm-up and
stretching in the prevention of muscular injury. Sports Med. 37(12):1089-99.
---
EXERCISE AND THE USE OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS Few studies have
investigated the association between physical activity practice and medicine use and
these authors evaluated this association in adults aged 20 years or more. This was a
population-based cross-sectional study, with physical activity assessed with the
International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Out of the 3,182 individuals interviewed,
the level of physical activity was inversely associated with the number of medicines
used. This is a study that likely will not surprise many in health care, for multiple
reasons, but it is reassuring to finally read a study that addressed this relationship.
Andrea D Bertoldi , Pedro C Hallal and Aluisio J D Barros (2006). Physical activity and
medicine use: evidence from a population-based study. BMC Public Health. 6:224.
---
TEAMWORK AND OUTCOMES There are some interesting studies that discuss
chiropractors and coordinating care between family physicians, other health care
providers and chiropractors. The first one that I can recall dates to 1992 in a family
practice journal and they reiterate the same theme: that patients benefit and that and
costs decline. These are two of the more recent studies. The Sarnat study covered 7
years and found that PCPs using a nonsurgical/nonpharmaceutical approach as a first-
line plan demonstrated marked reductions in both clinical and cost utilization when
compared with PCPs using conventional medicine alone. In the Garner study, 12 primary
care physicians and two chiropractors worked together in two community medicine
clinics operated by the University of Ottawa, showing high levels of satisfaction from all
participants. Richard L. Sarnat, MD, James Winterstein, DC, Jerrilyn A. Cambron, DC, PhD
(2007). Clinical Utilization and Cost Outcomes from an Integrative Medicine Independent
Physician Association: An Additional 3-year Update J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 30 (4):
263–269 AND Aker, P. et al. (2006). Developing Integrative Primary Healthcare Delivery:
Adding a Chiropractor to the Team. EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing
Volume 4, Issue 1, 18-24
---
PAIN AND SLEEP There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that the greater the
impact of chronic back pain, the higher the severity of sleep problems. This works both
ways. This new paper in the journal Pain supports the fact that pain and sleep disorders
may be intimately related and that next-day pain levels are correlated with previous
night's sleep: less than 3 hours of sleep or more than 9 hours of sleep may exacerbate
the pain experienced the next day. Edwards R. et al (2008). Duration of sleep contributes
to next-day pain report in the general population. Pain. 137(1):202-7.
---
FIBROMYALGIA SENSITIVITIES Muscle tenderness is the hallmark of FM, but the
findings of this study and others suggest that persons with fibromyalgia display
sensitivity to a number of sensory stimuli, including auditory input. 30 subjects were
exposed to auditory tones and pressure, and their responses were recorded on a self-
report. In addition to pressure sensitivity, these subjects were much more sensitive to
auditory stimuli than the control group. These findings suggest that FM is associated
with a global central nervous system augmentation of sensory information. These
findings may also help to explain why persons with FM display a number of comorbid
physical symptoms other than pain. Geisser ME, et al. (2008) A Psychophysical Study of
Auditory and Pressure Sensitivity in Patients With Fibromyalgia and Healthy Controls.
The Journal of Pain. Vol. 9, Iss. 5, pp. 417-422.
---
AN ALTERNATIVE TO CONVENTIONAL NSAIDS This interesting article from the
neurosurgery department at the University of Pittsburgh is from the latest of three
studies that I am aware of about the use of omega-3 essential fatty acids (O3EFA) as an
anti-inflammatory. 60% of the 125 people in this study reported improvement in their
back pain symptoms, with the conclusion that O3EFA is a safer and essentially
equivalent alternative to ibuprofen. The O3EFA dosage ranged between 1200 and
2400mg per day. We have had a number patients report very good results with the use
of this for spinal pain. Maroon JC, Bost JW. (2006) Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) as an
anti-inflammatory: an alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for discogenic
pain. Surgical Neurology. 65(4):326-31.
CLICK THE "RESEARCH REVIEW" TABS AT TOP FOR MORE ARTICLE REVIEWS
year, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston did a follow-up on a pilot
study from three years ago, showing with MRI that acupunture has far-reaching effects.
It was shown to affect centers that relate to pain, memory and also affective centers of
the brain. Since we extensively employ acupuncture in this office, I have had great
interest in the progress of this study. It is a landmark research piece, and I have
discussed it at length with one of the authors, who indicated that it will lead to future
studies that will tell us more about how health care practitioners can treat pain more
effectively. Interestingly, the pilot study showed that acupuncture had similar effects in
the brain, regardless of the anatomic area treated. Rupali P. et al. (2008). Acupuncture
Modulates Resting State Connectivity in Default and Sensorimotor Brain Networks.
Pain. 136(3): 407–418.
---
TO PRE-STRETCH OR NOT? There are conflicting opinions regarding methods of
reducing muscular injury through warm-up and stretching techniques and these authors
performed a metanalysis to examine the potential of a warm-up stretching routine in
deterring muscular injury during physical activity. Recently, there was more than one
study that indicated that those who pre-stretched more often were injured than those
who first exercised for a few minutes, then performed stretches, then resumed their
primary exercise activity. The authors state that many of the differences within previous
research were due to conflicting definitions and they provide clear definitions of terms.
The research included here concludes that, to the contrary of other recent literature,
certain techniques and protocols have shown a positive outcome on deterring injuries.
As a result, a warm-up and stretching protocol should be implemented prior to physical
activity. The routine should allow the stretching protocol to occur within the 15 minutes
immediately prior to the activity in order to receive the most benefit. In my view, this is a
welcome study to re-define issues that had resulted in confusion for both health care
providers as well as consumers. Woods K, Bishop P, Jones E. (2007). Warm-up and
stretching in the prevention of muscular injury. Sports Med. 37(12):1089-99.
---
EXERCISE AND THE USE OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS Few studies have
investigated the association between physical activity practice and medicine use and
these authors evaluated this association in adults aged 20 years or more. This was a
population-based cross-sectional study, with physical activity assessed with the
International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Out of the 3,182 individuals interviewed,
the level of physical activity was inversely associated with the number of medicines
used. This is a study that likely will not surprise many in health care, for multiple
reasons, but it is reassuring to finally read a study that addressed this relationship.
Andrea D Bertoldi , Pedro C Hallal and Aluisio J D Barros (2006). Physical activity and
medicine use: evidence from a population-based study. BMC Public Health. 6:224.
---
TEAMWORK AND OUTCOMES There are some interesting studies that discuss
chiropractors and coordinating care between family physicians, other health care
providers and chiropractors. The first one that I can recall dates to 1992 in a family
practice journal and they reiterate the same theme: that patients benefit and that and
costs decline. These are two of the more recent studies. The Sarnat study covered 7
years and found that PCPs using a nonsurgical/nonpharmaceutical approach as a first-
line plan demonstrated marked reductions in both clinical and cost utilization when
compared with PCPs using conventional medicine alone. In the Garner study, 12 primary
care physicians and two chiropractors worked together in two community medicine
clinics operated by the University of Ottawa, showing high levels of satisfaction from all
participants. Richard L. Sarnat, MD, James Winterstein, DC, Jerrilyn A. Cambron, DC, PhD
(2007). Clinical Utilization and Cost Outcomes from an Integrative Medicine Independent
Physician Association: An Additional 3-year Update J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 30 (4):
263–269 AND Aker, P. et al. (2006). Developing Integrative Primary Healthcare Delivery:
Adding a Chiropractor to the Team. EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing
Volume 4, Issue 1, 18-24
---
PAIN AND SLEEP There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that the greater the
impact of chronic back pain, the higher the severity of sleep problems. This works both
ways. This new paper in the journal Pain supports the fact that pain and sleep disorders
may be intimately related and that next-day pain levels are correlated with previous
night's sleep: less than 3 hours of sleep or more than 9 hours of sleep may exacerbate
the pain experienced the next day. Edwards R. et al (2008). Duration of sleep contributes
to next-day pain report in the general population. Pain. 137(1):202-7.
---
FIBROMYALGIA SENSITIVITIES Muscle tenderness is the hallmark of FM, but the
findings of this study and others suggest that persons with fibromyalgia display
sensitivity to a number of sensory stimuli, including auditory input. 30 subjects were
exposed to auditory tones and pressure, and their responses were recorded on a self-
report. In addition to pressure sensitivity, these subjects were much more sensitive to
auditory stimuli than the control group. These findings suggest that FM is associated
with a global central nervous system augmentation of sensory information. These
findings may also help to explain why persons with FM display a number of comorbid
physical symptoms other than pain. Geisser ME, et al. (2008) A Psychophysical Study of
Auditory and Pressure Sensitivity in Patients With Fibromyalgia and Healthy Controls.
The Journal of Pain. Vol. 9, Iss. 5, pp. 417-422.
---
AN ALTERNATIVE TO CONVENTIONAL NSAIDS This interesting article from the
neurosurgery department at the University of Pittsburgh is from the latest of three
studies that I am aware of about the use of omega-3 essential fatty acids (O3EFA) as an
anti-inflammatory. 60% of the 125 people in this study reported improvement in their
back pain symptoms, with the conclusion that O3EFA is a safer and essentially
equivalent alternative to ibuprofen. The O3EFA dosage ranged between 1200 and
2400mg per day. We have had a number patients report very good results with the use
of this for spinal pain. Maroon JC, Bost JW. (2006) Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) as an
anti-inflammatory: an alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for discogenic
pain. Surgical Neurology. 65(4):326-31.
CLICK THE "RESEARCH REVIEW" TABS AT TOP FOR MORE ARTICLE REVIEWS
Recent research articles - other musculoskeletal conditions
336-294-8383
| This website provides recent research for health care professionals that we work with, although there is also information for patients and members of the public searching for information here. We encourage you to visit our main website for patients at http://greensboro-chiropractor.com/ |
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