Knowledge is power. In healthcare, that phrase is especially true. That's why we've put together some information of the most common, and not so common, problems our patients face. We invite you to browse our library and become a better informed, more knowledgeable patient.
Acupuncture is an alternative medicine methodology originating in ancient China that treats patients by manipulating thin, solid needles which have been inserted into acupuncture points in the skin.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder characterized primarily by "the co-existence of attentional problems and hyperactivity, with each behavior occurring infrequently alone".
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. It is the displeasing feeling of fear and concern.
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints. There are over 100 different forms of arthritis.
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm.
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior.
Back pain (also known as dorsalgia) is pain felt in the back that usually originates from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures in the spine.
Carrying a heavy backpack can be a source of 'chronic, low-level trauma,'and can cause chronic shoulder, neck and back pain in children.
Nocturnal enuresis, commonly called bedwetting, is involuntary urination while asleep after the age at which bladder control usually occurs.
Bell's palsy is a form of facial paralysis resulting from a dysfunction of the cranial nerve VII (the facial nerve) that results in the inability to control facial muscles on the affected side.
Cancer, known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a broad group of various diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth.
Cerebral palsy (CP) is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement.
Chest pain may be a symptom of a number of serious conditions and is generally considered a medical emergency.
Throughout pregnancy, birth, and childhood, the chiropractic lifestyle offers choices and benefits for greater health and well-being.
Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced
Substance dependence, commonly called drug addiction is defined as a drug user's compulsive need to use controlled substances in order to function normally.
A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function.
Otitis, or ear infection, is a general term for inflammation or infection of the ear, in both humans and other animals.
Gardening can provide a great workout, but with all the bending, twisting, reaching and pulling, your body and back may not be ready for exercise of the garden variety.
For the first time in the VA's history, veterans will be able to receive certified chiropractic care at 26 selected Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities.
A headache or cephalalgia is pain anywhere in the region of the head or neck. It can be a symptom of a number of different conditions of the head and neck.
Physical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness (a state of health and well-being), and specific fitness (the ability to perform specific aspects of sports or occupations).
If you suffer from a hearing loss, especially on the right side, you may want to consider chiropractic care; you may notice an improvement in your hearing almost immediately.
Hypertension (HTN) or high blood pressure, sometimes called arterial hypertension, is a chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated.
Chiropractic care is not just for adults and children. Infants can benefit from chiropractic care too!
Infertility primarily refers to the biological inability of a person to contribute to conception. Infertility may also refer to the state of a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term.
Learning disability is a classification including several areas of functioning in which a person has difficulty learning in a typical manner, usually caused by an unknown factor or factors.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring.
Neck pain (or cervicalgia) is a common problem, with two-thirds of the population having neck pain at some point in their lives.
The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body.
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. The motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease result from the death of dopamine-generating cells.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a collection of physical and emotional symptoms related to a woman's menstrual cycle. Medical definitions of PMS are limited to a consistent pattern of emotional and physical symptoms.
Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an acute, viral, infectious disease spread from person to person, primarily via the fecal-oral route.
During pregnancy, there are several physiological and endocrinological changes that occur in preparation for creating the environment for the developing baby.
Sciatica is a set of symptoms including pain that may be caused by general compression or irritation of one of five spinal nerve roots that give rise to each sciatic nerve.
Scoliosis is a medical condition in which a person's spine is curved from side to side. The spine of an individual with scoliosis may look more like an "S" or a "C", rather than a straight line.
An epileptic seizure, occasionally referred to as a fit, is defined as a transient symptom of "abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain".
An important advantage for seniors receiving chiropractic care is an increased range of motion in both the spine and limbs.
If you are having trouble sleeping at night, you are not alone. More than one-quarter of the U.S. population report they occasionally do not get enough sleep.
Spinal stenosis is an abnormal narrowing (stenosis) of the spinal canal that may occur in any of the regions of the spine. This narrowing causes a restriction to the spinal cord, resulting in a neurological deficit.
Playing sports can cause all kinds of injuries for children as well as adults. Chiropractic care is critical to keep you on top of your game and performing at your best.
Contemplating surgery? It's a big decision. Chiropractic care is a non-invasive and safe alternative for some forms of surgery. Explore all your options before you commit to surgery.
TMJ is used to refer to a group of problems involving the temporomandibular joint and the muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, and other tissues associated with them.
Vertigo (from the Latin vertō "a whirling or spinning movement") is a subtype of dizziness, where there is a feeling of motion when one is stationary.
The visual system is the part of the central nervous system which enables organisms to process visual detail, as well as enabling several non-image forming photoresponse functions.
Whiplash is a non-medical term describing a range of injuries to the neck caused by or related to a sudden distortion of the neck associated with extension.
Above is the headline of a USA Today story published on July 20, 2012. The article is based on a Memorandum Report issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, from Stuart Wright, the Deputy Inspector General for Evaluation and Inspections. The title of the memorandum report is, "Few Adverse Events in Hospitals Were Reported to State Adverse Event Reporting Systems."
The memorandum report, and the USA Today article highlight the fact that hospitals seem to be ignoring state regulations that require them to report cases in which medical care harmed a patient. The USA Today article noted that this makes it almost impossible for health care providers to identify and fix preventable problems.
The Memorandum Report begins by stating that previous studies show that "…an estimated 27 percent of Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized in October 2008 experienced harm from medical care." Many of these events were classified as serious adverse events, defined as events resulting in prolonged hospitalization, permanent disability, life-sustaining intervention, or death. Other events were classified as temporary harm events, defined as events requiring intervention but not resulting in lasting harm.
The report further stated that "…an estimated 60 percent of adverse and temporary harm events nationally occurred at hospitals in states with reporting systems, yet only an estimated 12 percent of events nationally met state requirements for reporting." This meant that most events falling into this area did not get reported because they were not required to be reported.
Also alarming was the fact that hospitals often do not even recognize adverse events. The report stated, "We also found that hospitals reported only 1 percent of events. Most of the events that states required to be reported, but that hospitals did not report, were not identified by internal hospital incident reporting systems. This suggests that low reporting to state systems is more likely the result of hospital failure to identify events than from hospitals neglecting to report known events."
From the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health comes a case study published on March 28, 2013 documenting the case of an infant who was suffering from colic and torticollis, who was helped by chiropractic care.
The study authors start by noting that colic affects 29% to 39% of infants. According to the US government website MedlinePlus, "Colic is crying in a baby that lasts for longer than 3 hours a day and is not caused by a medical problem. About 1 in 5 babies cry long enough to be considered colicky." The study authors also note that the signs of colic go beyond just crying, "In addition to abdominal pain and distension, the patient will have excessive bowel gas and legs held in a position drawn up toward the body."
In this case a 3 month old baby boy was brought to the chiropractor suffering from incessant crying and torticollis. Infant torticollis is when the baby's head is tilted to one side and the chin turned toward the other, due to muscle contraction. The baby's history revealed he was born six weeks early by cesarean section and spent two weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. He started experiencing gastric reflux and colic in his first month of life. At the baby's first pediatric check-up he was diagnosed with colic, torticollis and flattening of the bones on the top of his head as well as the left side of the back of his head. The boy's mother noted that he could not turn his head comfortably to either side. His medical doctor suggested a helmet for the torticollis.
The boy cried during the entire chiropractic examination. The results of the examination showed a number of postural abnormalities and restrictions in ranges of motion. His abdomen was extremely sensitive to touch with the muscles being hard. It was determined based on the chiropractic examination that the child had a subluxation of the top bone in his neck, C1, as well as misalignments in his pelvis and mid back area. Specific chiropractic adjustments were initiated to correct the baby's subluxations.
The case reports notes that on the second chiropractic visit the mother reported that her son was able to sleep with his head turned to the left, which he had not been able to do previously. His mother also reported that her son exhibited positive behavioral changes, noting that he was a happier baby and was crying less. By the third visit the baby was sleeping better and continued to cry less. By the fourth visit the patient’s mother stated that her son's torticollis as well as the colic were completely resolved. The child continued to be healthy and happy from that point forward.
The authors of the study summed up the outcome by stating, "The child showed marked improvement after each chiropractic visit with complete resolution of the colic and torticollis after just four visits. This completely changed the demeanor and character of this child illustrating the positive effect of chiropractic on this child as well as his parent’s lives."
In the research periodical, the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research, a case study was published on April 18, 2013 documenting the improvement of a case of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with chiropractic care.
The author of the study notes that in the Unites States Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) will affect between 12% and 30% of the population. It is interesting to note that the rest of the world only reports this issue in between 5% and 10% of their populations. In the US IBS accounts for 12-14% of primary care physician visits and 28% of referrals to gastroenterologists. The authors note that standard medical care is aimed at reducing symptoms like pain, diarrhea, and constipation.
In this case a 32 year old woman, who was an optometrist, went to the chiropractors with complaints of loose, painful, runny stools upon waking with abdominal pain and bloating that began ten years earlier. The woman also suffered from mild depression which began three years earlier, and anxiety that began 10 years prior to her visit to the chiropractor. Her history included being in two car accidents, one at the age of 10, where she was struck as a pedestrian leaving her in a coma for three days, and the second at age twenty where she suffered a fractured pelvis.
A chiropractic examination showed abnormal spinal postural positioning and a decrease in the range of motion in her neck. Thermal (heat-reading) scans were performed which also showed irregularities in the neck area. Spinal x-rays were taken of the neck which showed malpositioning of the first and second bones in her neck. From these findings a determination of subluxations in the upper neck was made. Specific cervical (neck) adjustments were performed to correct the subluxations in the upper neck.
The results showed that on her second visit she reported that she had a pain free, solid bowel movement the morning after her first adjustment which has continued. She also reported that her mood was better and less frequency of anxiety when faced with issues that would normally trigger anxiety in the past. The study notes that the woman was reassessed three months later in care and she continued to show documented measurable improvement in her physical and mental issues.
In his conclusion, the author explains that a subluxation in the upper neck can cause nerve system dysfunction that can result in a problem with the bowels. He writes, "Correcting the misalignment at this level restores proper neurological function and thereby proper function of the gastro-intestinal track."
I’ve been playing Major League Baseball since 2001 and have had the privilege to play for the Phillies, Twins, Red Sox and am now with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2011, I had the honor to win the World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals. However, through all of these great years of playing Major League Baseball, my body has taken a beating.
When I first came to see Dr. MacAdam, it was because of my low back hurting in the off season. But now that he has helped me with my low back pain, I continue to see him during the regular season. His care helps me stay as healthy as possible during the season and bounce back quicker when injuries do occur. Whether it’s my back, hip, ankles or just to keep playing at my highest level, Dr. MacAdam has made a difference. I also have got a lot of benefit from seeing the Acupuncturist and Massage Therapists at Dr. MacAdam’s office. Having all of these specialties under one roof and so close to my home has been great not only for me, but for my wife and kids too!
Nick Punto - Major League Baseball Player
The medical research journal Spine, published a report on April 15, 2013 titled, "Adding Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy to Standard Medical Care for Patients With Acute Low Back Pain: Results of a Pragmatic Randomized Comparative Effectiveness Study." The study was conducted on military personnel.
This study did not compare chiropractic care to medical care for patients with back problems. This study looked at the difference between patients who received only medical care versus those who received both chiropractic and medical care for acute lower back pain.
This study looked at patient responses relative to pain and physical functioning for the both the group receiving only medical care and the group that also received chiropractic. The 91 subjects in this study were active-duty US military personnel between the ages of 18 and 35 years. The study was conducted from February 2008 to June 2009 at William Beaumont Army Medical Center (WBAMC), Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas.
Lead author, Christine Goertz, D.C., Ph.D., vice chancellor for research and health policy for Palmer College of Chiropractic, explained the reasoning behind the study by saying, "While a number of studies have shown spinal manipulation to be effective in treating low back pain in research settings, the appropriate role of chiropractic care in treating low back pain within the health care delivery system, including the military, has not been clearly established."
The results showed that those who received the chiropractic care in addition to the medical care did significantly better both with pain reduction and functional ability, than those who received only medical care. Col. Richard Petri, Chief of the Interdisciplinary Pain Management Center (IPMC) at WBAMC commented, "This is a significant step for recognizing the value of chiropractic care in the military," he said. "Continued research in this area will ultimately result in better healthcare delivery systems as well as the improved health of our beneficiaries."
Wayne B. Jonas, M.D., President and CEO of Samueli Institute who funded the study noted, "It is critical that we explore drug-less approaches to reduce pain." He added, "Chiropractic manipulation is an important option to consider for musculoskeletal disorders, which is the most prevalent pain complaint in the military."
The study authors concluded, "The results of this trial suggest that CMT (Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy) in conjunction with SMC (Standard Medical care) offers a significant advantage for decreasing pain and improving physical functioning when compared with only standard (medical) care, for men and women between 18 and 35 years of age with acute LBP.
The above headline comes from an NBC News story on May 7, 2013. The story, and several more in other news outlets, is based on a report released April 30, 2013 titled "Surviving the First Day", by the organization, Save the Children. The study shows that the United States ranks 68th in the world for infant survival beyond the first day. This places the US last among industrialized nations, and behind such countries as Cuba, Egypt and Mexico.
The report shows that in the US three babies die in their first day for every 1000 born. Page 55 of the report states it clearly by saying, "The United States has the highest first-day death rate in the industrialized world. An estimated 11,300 newborn babies die each year in the United States on the day they are born. This is 50 percent more first-day deaths than all other industrialized countries combined."
The US spends more on healthcare than any other nation. The US also uses a very high rate of medical intervention in child birth with a national cesarean birth rate of over 32 percent. In some hospitals the cesarean rate is almost 70 percent.
An article in Consumer News on May 8, 2013 questions medical intervention in childbirth in the US. The article starts off by saying, "Pregnant women often undergo medical procedures and invasive interventions, including induced labors and cesarean sections, without fully understanding the risks or being involved in making decisions about their care."
According to the findings of a major new survey conducted by Childbirth Connection, a nonprofit organization that focuses on maternity care, many procedures are unnecessary and carry risks the expecting mother may not be aware of. Maureen Corry, M.P.H., executive director of Childbirth Connection stated, "Our survey suggests that pregnant women need to take a more active role to make sure they get the care that is best for themselves and their babies. They need access to trustworthy information about the benefits and harms of interventions, to educate themselves, and be their own advocate."
The Surviving the First Day report notes that the US has a very high rate of premature births, which they feel contributes to the high death rate. The report notes, "Many babies in the United States are born too early. The U.S. preterm birth rate (1 in 8 births) is one of the highest in the industrialized world (second only to Cyprus). In fact, 130 countries from all across the world have lower preterm birth rates than the United States. The U.S. prematurity rate is twice that of Finland, Japan, Norway and Sweden. The United States has over half a million preterm births each year – the sixth largest number in the world (after India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and Indonesia)." The report continues, "According to the latest estimates, complications of preterm birth are the direct cause of 35 percent of all newborn deaths in the U.S., making preterm birth the number one killer of newborns."
The report also points out that the US has a high rate of adolescents giving birth. "The United States also has the highest adolescent birth rate of any industrialized country. Teenage mothers in the U.S. tend to be poorer, less educated, and receive less prenatal care than older mothers."
In a May 12, 2003 release from the "Canada NewsWire" was some information and advice about gardening. The news release reported on a new poll just released that reveals that gardening and yard work are the number one causes of back and/or neck pain in the spring and summer months. The poll was conducted by national research firm Pollara, where 500 Ontario Canada chiropractors were asked what were the largest causes of back and neck pain among their patients. The results of the poll showed that eighty-eight per cent of Ontario chiropractors report that working in the yard and garden are the most common sources of back and neck pain they see during the warm weather season. Golf ranked in second place at 31 per cent, tied with outdoor sports in general at 30 per cent.
Dr. Dennis Mizel, President of the Ontario Chiropractic Association noted, "In Canada, gardening is an estimated $3.5 billion business and all that digging, lifting, raking, pruning, planting, weeding and watering can cause significant strain to the muscles and back." Dr. Mizel continued, "The good news is that it's preventable. Gardening can be a serious workout. That's why we're encouraging people to treat it like any other kind of exercise. Warming-up before digging in, and using the proper techniques and tools can go a long way to letting people enjoy the results of their labor pain-free."
The Ontario Chiropractic Association is partnering with the Ontario Horticultural Society, the Garden Clubs of Ontario and Sheridan Nurseries to help get the word out about back safe yard work and gardening. "Thousands of people visit our gardening centers once the warm weather hits," says Mary-Beth Brown, Marketing Coordinator, Sheridan Nurseries. "So we're pleased to be able to reach our customers with this public education program. It's a good idea to limber up before you get to the gardening centre and start loading supplies into your car or truck, and we always have someone to help out if a customer needs assistance."
In the article the Ontario Chiropractic Association offered several tips for back smart gardening:
- Stretch Before You Start: Warming-up your muscles with stretches before going out helps to reduce the stress and strain on your joints and muscles, reducing the chance of injury.
- Bend Your Knees to Lift with Ease: When lifting, keep your back straight and bend your knees. Always carry the load close to your body and avoid twisting.
- The right tools, the right moves: Use the right tools and moves for the job. Kneel to plant and change positions frequently when raking, digging, hoeing or pruning.
- Use ergonomically designed, long handled, lightweight tools.
- Take a Break Before It Aches: Give yourself and your back a break. As a rule-of-thumb take a brief rest or stretch break at least three times each hour, and drink fluids frequently.
In a May 12, 2003 release from the "Canada NewsWire" was some information and advice about gardening. The news release reported on a new poll just released that reveals that gardening and yard work are the number one causes of back and/or neck pain in the spring and summer months. The poll was conducted by national research firm Pollara, where 500 Ontario Canada chiropractors were asked what were the largest causes of back and neck pain among their patients. The results of the poll showed that eighty-eight per cent of Ontario chiropractors report that working in the yard and garden are the most common sources of back and neck pain they see during the warm weather season. Golf ranked in second place at 31 per cent, tied with outdoor sports in general at 30 per cent.
Dr. Dennis Mizel, President of the Ontario Chiropractic Association noted, "In Canada, gardening is an estimated $3.5 billion business and all that digging, lifting, raking, pruning, planting, weeding and watering can cause significant strain to the muscles and back." Dr. Mizel continued, "The good news is that it's preventable. Gardening can be a serious workout. That's why we're encouraging people to treat it like any other kind of exercise. Warming-up before digging in, and using the proper techniques and tools can go a long way to letting people enjoy the results of their labor pain-free."
The Ontario Chiropractic Association is partnering with the Ontario Horticultural Society, the Garden Clubs of Ontario and Sheridan Nurseries to help get the word out about back safe yard work and gardening. "Thousands of people visit our gardening centers once the warm weather hits," says Mary-Beth Brown, Marketing Coordinator, Sheridan Nurseries. "So we're pleased to be able to reach our customers with this public education program. It's a good idea to limber up before you get to the gardening centre and start loading supplies into your car or truck, and we always have someone to help out if a customer needs assistance."
In the article the Ontario Chiropractic Association offered several tips for back smart gardening:
- Stretch Before You Start: Warming-up your muscles with stretches before going out helps to reduce the stress and strain on your joints and muscles, reducing the chance of injury.
- Bend Your Knees to Lift with Ease: When lifting, keep your back straight and bend your knees. Always carry the load close to your body and avoid twisting.
- The right tools, the right moves: Use the right tools and moves for the job. Kneel to plant and change positions frequently when raking, digging, hoeing or pruning. Use ergonomically designed, long handled, lightweight tools.
- Take a Break Before It Aches: Give yourself and your back a break. As a rule-of-thumb take a brief rest or stretch break at least three times each hour, and drink fluids frequently.
In a July 15 PR-Newswire release from Denver is a story of two local chiropractors recently hired as team chiropractors for the two-time NFL champion Denver Broncos. Dr. Dan Hill and Dr. JT Anderson became the official team chiropractors after being appointed by the team trainer Steve Antonopulos. The two doctors had been taking care of several of the players for several years in their private practice. Last year head coach Mike Shanahan integrated chiropractic into the Broncos full-time fitness regime. From the results, it obviously helped, so the decision was made to have the chiropractors with the team again this year. Drs. Hill and Anderson will provide chiropractic to the players at least twice per week during the regular season and off-season.
Derek Parra, a U.S. Olympic speed skater, should have a good shot for a medal in the 1,500 meters at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He previously won the gold medal in the mens 1,500 meters November 24 2001, at the World Cup in the Netherlands.
Derek is also a huge fan of chiropractic care. "I've always believed in chiropractic care. I've used a lot of other treatments for injuries and pain, but the problem doesn't get fixed until I go to a doctor of chiropractic," Derek explained. Derek is also an "endorsed" (spokesperson) athlete of the American Chiropractic Association.Derek made the 1998 Olympic speed skating team, but a technicality prevented him from competing. He is determined nothing like that will happen again. "I'm working pretty hard and gradually climbing the ladder," Derek says. "Over the past few years, I've been getting better and better. I'm starting to feel the comfort and the confidence on ice I had on inline skates." The fact he was a roller skater first, then an ice skater has both drawbacks and advantages. "I had so many habits from inline and roller skates that didn't apply to the ice," he says. "I got tired from scratching the ice and had to get off my inlines for a while so I could figure out the ice skates."
Derek joins the large and growing list of Olympic and professional athletes who regularly depend on chiropractic care. Chiropractic care not only helps them in recovering from injuries, but because chiropractic removes interference from the nervous system, (subluxations) it allows the athletes to compete at a higher level. And at the Olympic or professional level, any extra advantage or edge in performance can make all the difference in the world.
The above is a headline from a HealthDay article appearing on WebMD on April 1, 2013. What is interesting is the sub-headline for this story which reads, "But many children who get diagnosis may not really have the condition, experts say."
According to a recent report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 11 percent of all children attending school, and a whopping 19 percent of high school males, are diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A total of 6.4 million school-age children have been diagnosed with ADHD which is a 16 percent rise since 2007 and a 53 percent increase since 2003 as reported by the New York Times.
Approximately two-thirds of the children are prescribed Adderall, Ritalin, or other psychotropic drugs which carry side effects such as anxiety, psychosis, and addiction. According to a New York Times article dated April 6, 2013, doctors are increasingly concerned about the overuse of the ADHD diagnosis and the overuse of the drug treatments for ADHD in US school children.
"Mild symptoms are being diagnosed so readily, which goes well beyond the disorder and beyond the zone of ambiguity to pure enhancement of children who are otherwise healthy," said Dr. William Graf, a pediatric neurologist in New Haven, Conn., and a professor at the Yale School of Medicine.
The over-diagnosis of ADHD is expected to get worse with the newest version of the American Psychiatric Association’s manual, the DSM5. According to the online Australian, new.com.au article by Sue Dunlevy on March 31, 2013, Australian psychiatrists are calling for a boycott of DSM5 because of their concerns. Australian psychiatrist Professor Jon Jureidini believes the adoption of the DSM5 will bring about the over-diagnosis of mental conditions such as ADHD that will subsequently lead to over-medication.
US psychiatrist Professor Allen Frances supports the Australian psychiatrists’ fears stating that "…it will provoke a rash of new fad diagnoses that will see young children heavily medicated."
According to an April 9, 2013 article on the Huffington Post blog "The Psycho-Therapeutic School System: Pathologizing Childhood" by John W. Whitehead, children with symptoms such as distraction, fidgeting, daydreaming, nonstop talking, and trouble sitting still, are usual and normal behaviors for children. Because there is no clinical test for ADHD, normal childish behaviors in perfectly normal children are being diagnosed as ADHD.
CDC director Dr. Thomas Friedan characterized the nation's current fixation on ADHD as an over diagnosis and a "misuse [of ADHD medications that] appears to be growing at an alarming rate."
In an article from Reuters Health Information, printed in the Journal of the AMA is a report of a survey that showed many children with asthma were seeking what the article termed, complementary medicine for their problem. Dr. Sheldon Spier, of Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary, surveyed the parents of 117 pediatric asthma patients. Thirty percent reported using complementary medicine to help manage their children's asthma symptoms, most commonly herbal medications, chiropractic, homeopathy, and vitamin C supplementation. One of the common reasons given for the usage was, the non-medical practitioners were perceived as treating the whole patient."
The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association lists several studies on their web site ( www.icpa4kids.org ) discussing the benefits of chiropractic for children with asthma. The following are some of those excerpts: "76.5% of patients with bronchial asthma said they benefited from chiropractic treatment. Peak flow rate and vital capacity increased after the third treatment. Significantly lower quality of life impairment rating scores were reported for 90.1% of children after 60 days of chiropractic care. During this same time period the average number of asthma attacks decreased an average of 44.9%, and asthma medication usage was decreased an average of 66.5%. Among parents of asthmatic children who had received chiropractic treatment, 92% considered this treatment beneficial."
In an article from Reuters Health Information, printed in the Journal of the AMA is a report of a survey that showed many children with asthma were seeking what the article termed, complementary medicine for their problem. Dr. Sheldon Spier, of Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary, surveyed the parents of 117 pediatric asthma patients. Thirty percent reported using complementary medicine to help manage their children's asthma symptoms, most commonly herbal medications, chiropractic, homeopathy, and vitamin C supplementation. One of the common reasons given for the usage was, the non-medical practitioners were perceived as “treating the whole patient."
The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association lists several studies on their web site ( www.icpa4kids.org ) discussing the benefits of chiropractic for children with asthma. The following are some of those excerpts: "76.5% of patients with bronchial asthma said they benefited from chiropractic treatment. Peak flow rate and vital capacity increased after the third treatment. Significantly lower quality of life impairment rating scores were reported for 90.1% of children after 60 days of chiropractic care. During this same time period the average number of asthma attacks decreased an average of 44.9%, and asthma medication usage was decreased an average of 66.5%. Among parents of asthmatic children who had received chiropractic treatment, 92% considered this treatment beneficial."
The July 30, 2012, issue of the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research published a case study documenting the improvement of a Parkinson’s patient using chiropractic care.
The author of the study begins by reporting that in the United States, 50,000-60,000 new cases of Parkinson’s disease (PD) are diagnosed each year. It is estimated that over one million people currently suffer from this chronic and progressive disorder.
According to the National Parkinson’s Foundation, "Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative brain disorder that progresses slowly in most people. What this means is that individuals with PD will be living with PD for twenty years or more from the time of diagnosis. While Parkinson’s disease itself is not fatal, the Centers for Disease Control rated complications from the disease as the 14th top cause of death in the United State."
In this case, a 63-year-old male pastoral counselor complaining of resting tremors of the right hand, anxiety and stabbing middle back pain, went to the chiropractor. His complaints started a year and a half earlier and seemed to start shortly after he suffered a severe case of the flu that lasted 2-3 weeks which caused him to lose 15 pounds. Due to his symptoms, he was diagnosed by a neurologist with Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease.
At the time the pastoral counselor presented himself for a chiropractic evaluation, he appeared frail, had a low tone of voice, and had reduced facial expressions. He stated that he also works as a marriage counselor which increases his daily stress level, and he had been experiencing restless leg syndrome at least twice a week for the past two years which affected his ability to get quality sleep.
Multiple chiropractic examination procedures and x-rays confirmed the presence of spinal subluxations, most notably at the level of the top bone in the neck, the atlas. A specific course of corrective adjustments was initiated to correct the atlas subluxation.
Following his first adjustment, the man noted an improvement in his tremors. After a week of care, he also reported an increase in energy. The study records that by the end of the second week of care, he had a greater range of motion in his neck and higher level of energy, allowing him to complete his week of work and participate in extra activities on that weekend. Shortly afterwards, his mid back pain also stopped.
In his conclusion the author wrote, "We conclude that improvement of the Atlas alignment was associated with reduction of most of his Parkinson’s symptoms including decrease in frequency and intensity of his middle back pain, improvement in his quality of life and improvement in his motor function."