Easter Chiropractic Service Project

Chiropractic care for the needy was a grand success with four chiropractors volunteering throughout the day. This service project of the Georgia Chiropractic Association District 1 began in 2010, and provides chiropractic care at four events each year in downtown Atlanta at Thanksgiving, Christmas, MLK Day and Easter. We were part of the Easter Day of Services at the Georgia Dome. The chiropractors involved were Drs. Winston and Chantaye Carhee, Dr. Bianca Kiovanni and myself. Men and women from the ages of 81-21 who came to the Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless Event received exams and chiropractic adjustments. There were folks with years of accumulated stress and strain, old injuries that were not properly treated and joints and muscles that bear the burden of poverty and ill health. We had a steady flow of people wanting to have their spines checked, and ask questions about their health concerns. I appreciate the opportunity to serve, and am thankful that I have a home and food on the table.

Chiropractic Care for the Needy

Chiropractic care is a wonderful healing art & science. The stress and strain of everyday life can accumulate and result in distortion of the vertebral column. Spinal nerves can become hyper-irritated and joints and disks compressed. Besides stiffness, numbness and pain, nerve flow to vital organs can become disrupted, and set the stage for illness and dis-ease. Chiropractic adjustments help to restore alignment of the spine, ease tension and stress on the nervous system and promote overall well-being.

The way our healthcare system operates in the US, many people in need never make it to a chiropractor's office. Chiropractors are seldom seen in public healthcare clinics or hospitals.

People without insurance or the means to pay for chiropractic care seldom receive the benefits that chiropractic care can provide. I believe that this is unfair, so I make a point of volunteering my chiropractic services at certain times of the year to help the needy.

This Easter Sunday I will be joining other chiropractors and scores of other volunteers at the Georgia Dome for Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless Day of Services. Sometimes people ask... "What can one adjustment do?" My answer is, "Always more than none".

Visit www.hoseafeedthehungry.com for more information and how you can provide support.

What's the best treatment for neck pain?

By ANAHAD O'CONNOR
Tony Cenicola/The New York Times, January 3, 2012,


What’s the best treatment for neck pain?
Seeing a chiropractor or engaging in light exercise relieves neck pain more effectively than relying on pain medication, new research shows.
The new study is one of the few head-to-head comparisons of various treatments for neck pain, a problem that affects three quarters of Americans at some point in their lives but has no proven, first-line treatment. While many people seek out spinal manipulation by chiropractors, the evidence supporting its usefulness has been limited at best.
But the new research, published in The Annals of Internal Medicine, found that chiropractic care or simple exercises done at home were better at reducing pain than taking medications like aspirin, ibuprofen or narcotics.
“These changes were diminished over time, but they were still present,” said Dr. Gert Bronfort, an author of the study and research professor at Northwestern Health Sciences University in Minnesota. “Even a year later, there were differences between the spinal manipulation and medication groups.”
Moderate and acute neck pain is one of the most frequent reasons for trips to primary care doctors, prompting millions of visits every year. For patients, it can be a difficult problem to navigate. In some cases the pain and stiffness crop up without explanation, and treatment options are varied. Physical therapy, pain medication and spinal manipulation are popular options, but Dr. Bronfort was inspired to carry out an analysis because so little research exists.
“There was a void in the scientific literature in terms of what the most helpful treatments are,” he said.
To find out, Dr. Bronfort and his colleagues recruited a large group of adults with neck pain that had no known specific cause. The subjects, 272 in all, were mostly recruited from a large HMO and through advertisements. The researchers then split them into three groups and followed them for about three months.
One group was assigned to visit a chiropractor for roughly 20-minute sessions throughout the course of the study, making an average of 15 visits. A second group was assigned to take common pain relievers like acetaminophen and — in some cases, at the discretion of a doctor — stronger drugs like narcotics and muscle relaxants. The third group met on two occasions with physical therapists who gave them instructions on simple, gentle exercises for the neck that they could do at home. They were encouraged to do 5 to 10 repetitions of each exercise up to eight times a day. (A demonstration of the exercises can be found at www.annals.org).
After 12 weeks, the people in the non-medication groups did significantly better than those taking the drugs. About 57 percent of those who met with chiropractors and 48 percent who did the exercises reported at least a 75 percent reduction in pain, compared to 33 percent of the people in the medication group.
A year later, when the researchers checked back in, 53 percent of the subjects who had received spinal manipulation still reported at least a 75 percent reduction in pain, similar to the exercise group. That compared to just a 38 percent pain reduction among those who had been taking medication.
Dr. Bronfort said it was a “big surprise” to see that the home exercises were about as effective as the chiropractic sessions. “We hadn’t expected that they would be that close,” he said. “But I guess that’s good news for patients.”
In addition to their limited pain relief, the medications had at least one other downside: people kept taking them. “The people in the medication group kept on using a higher amount of medication more frequently throughout the follow-up period, up to a year later,” Dr. Bronfort said. “If you’re taking medication over a long time, then we’re running into more systemic side effects like gastrointestinal problems.”
He also expressed concern that those on medications were not as empowered or active in their own care as those in the other groups. “We think it’s important that patients are enabled to deal with as much control over their own condition as possible,” he said. “This study shows that they can play a large role in their own care.”

Homeless on Christmas

Christmas Day 2011. The rain fell and the wind blew. It was bleak. Not the kind of morning that invited being outdoors. Yet men, women and children lined up outside the Georgia World Congress Center. They waited for some warmth, some food and some relief from life on the streets and shelters of downtown Atlanta. I set up my portable chiropractic table inside and waited for them, along side my colleague Winston Carhee, Jr. of Atlanta. We were part of the volunteer chiropractors for Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless.

Homelessness may seem foreign to most of us, but it lingers as a real threat to millions. All it can take is the loss of a job, a broken down vehicle, an illness or a broken family relationship. People that don't have savings or family/friends that can take them in wind up on the street. One young man stood out to me. He was 24 years old, suffered from Bi-Polar Disorder. He got out of prison 3 weeks ago, then got in a car wreck 2 weeks ago. He was hobbling around with pain and muscle spasms. After a brief examination to make sure he didn't have any spinal instability, I gave him his first chiropractic adjustment. Afterwards he smiled, gave me the thumbs-up and said he could walk all day now (which you have to do to keep warm in the wind and the rain).

I felt sad for him, but glad that I was able to make his life a little better. The number one way to help the poor is to make sure that you do not become one of them. The next best way is to be thankful, and extend yourself through your time or financial resources to help bring others up.

What are your ideas on helping the poor and homeless?

Avoid Neck and Nerve Trouble with Smart Use of Phones

Mobile technological devices, such as digital
personal assistants (PDAs) and smartphones
have made our lives more convenient. We can
now send e-mails, access the Internet, manage
our schedules, and use spreadsheets and other
office software from our phones. While this
makes it easier to accomplish tasks without
being tethered to an office, it has also increased
the amount of time we spend using these
devices, which is not without risks.
Before these advances in technology, our bodies
moved as we used the phone and the computer,
we walked to the fax machine, and we flipped
through our calendars. Now we slump over a
small screen with little change in our position.
Our bodies are made to move—not to maintain
the same posture for long periods of time. This
doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice these modern
conveniences for your health, but you
should be aware of the risks and what you can
do to minimize them.
Protect Your Neck
The bent-forward position common among
mobile device users increases disc pressure. It
also increases loads on the muscles. This is
similar to the faulty forward position often used
when working on the computer. Remember
these tips:
• Sit upright, keeping your ears over your
shoulders.
• Look down with your eyes and gently
tuck your chin in, not forward.
• Never pinch the phone between your
ear and shoulder. Using a headset
reduces muscle fatigue and frees your
hands for typing or writing.
• Support your forearms on a pillow
during extended texting to reduce the
strain on your neck and shoulder
muscles.
Prevent Elbow Injury
The ulnar, or “funny bone,” nerve wraps around
the inside of your elbow. Keeping your elbows
bent can compress the nerve. As the nerve
becomes irritated, you can experience pain,
numbness, tingling, and even weakness or muscle
atrophy. The nerve sits close to the surface
and is also damaged by external pressure. To
prevent injury:
• Minimize the time you bend the elbows
to hold the PDA screen up to see it.
• Instead of returning all your e-mails on
the phone, wait until you can use the
computer.
• Avoid leaning on the flexed elbow while
talking on the phone or in the car.
Like a Sore Thumb
Our thumbs are not made to quickly and forcefully
press the small keys on cell phones to text
and input data. Use the following tips to minimize
the risk of injury:
• Alternate among using your thumb,
index finger, and a stylus, if available.
• If your only choice is a stylus, change
how you hold it. Switch between holding
it like a pen and holding it between the
index and middle fingers.
• Several multi-tip pens are available at
office supply stores that enable you to
switch between pen and stylus tips. This
is a good option, as the barrel of the
pen is thicker than a standard stylus and
requires less force on the joints and
muscles.
• Minimize the use of scroll wheels as
they often cause inflammation of thumb
tendons.
As technology progresses, there will likely be
more tasks we can complete on our phones.
While this is convenient, remember to take
breaks and think about the effects on your
body.
Tips to Minimize PDA and Cell
Phone Use
• Return only urgent e-mails on the PDA.
Respond to other e-mails from your
computer.
• Use key shortcuts (cut, paste, etc.) and
abbreviations.
• Enter all contact info on the computer,
and synchronize the devices to transfer the
data to the PDA.
• Monitor the time spent on the phone or
PDA.
• Avoid, or at least minimize, using
word processing and spreadsheet programs
on your PDA.
• Take breaks to stretch and shake out
the hands.
• Turn the PDA off when possible! If it is
on all the time, it’s more likely to be overused.
For more information on injury prevention
and wellness, or to find a doctor of
chiropractic near you, go to the patient
information section on ACA’s Web site
at www.acatoday.org/Patients or call
800-986-4636.
This patient information page is a public service of the Journal of the American Chiropractic Association. The information
and recommendations appearing on this page are appropriate in most instances, but they are not a substitute
for a diagnosis by a specialist. For specific information concerning your health condition, consult your doctor
of chiropractic. This page may be reproduced noncommercially by doctors of chiropractic

Advice for Parents- Children Need Good Computer Ergonomics Too

At least 70 percent of America's 30 million elementary school students use computers, according to a recent New York Times article. As a result of this increased usage, doctors of chiropractic are treating more young patients suffering from the effects of working at computer stations that are either designed for adults or poorly designed for children. Many children are already suffering from repetitive motion injuries (RMI) such as carpal tunnel syndrome and chronic pain in the hands, back, neck and shoulders.

A recently published study conducted by a team of researchers from Cornell University found that 40 percent of the elementary school children they studied used computer workstations that put them at postural risk. The remaining 60 percent scored in a range indicating "some concern."

"Emphasis needs to be placed on teaching children how to properly use computer workstations," stated Dr. Scott Bautch, a member of the American Chiropractic Association's Council on Occupational Health. "Poor work habits and computer workstations that don't fit a child's body during the developing years can have harmful physical effects that can last a lifetime. Parents need to be just as concerned about their children's interaction with their computer workstations as they are with any activities that may affect their children's long-term health," added Dr. Bautch.

What can you do?
To reduce the possibility of your child suffering painful and possibly disabling injuries, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and its Council on Occupational Health offer the following tips:
•If children and adults in your home share the same computer workstation, make certain that the workstation can be modified for each child's use.


•Position the computer monitor so the top of the screen is at or below the child's eye level. This can be accomplished by taking the computer off its base or stand, or having the child sit on firm pillows or phone books to reach the desired height.


•Make sure the chair at the workstation fits the child correctly. An ergonomic back cushion, pillow or a rolled-up towel can be placed in the small of the child's back for added back support. There should be two inches between the front edge of the seat and the back of the knees. The chair should have arm supports so that elbows are resting within a 70- to 135-degree angle to the computer keyboard.


•Wrists should be held in a neutral position while typing - not angled up or down. The mousing surface should be close to the keyboard so your child doesn't have to reach or hold the arm away from the body.


•The child's knees should be positioned at an approximate 90- to 120-degree angle. To accomplish this angle, feet can be placed on a foot rest, box, stool or similar object.
•Reduce eyestrain by making sure there is adequate lighting and that there is no glare on the monitor screen. Use an antiglare screen if necessary.


•Limit your child's time at the computer and make sure he or she takes periodic stretch breaks during computing time. Stretches can include: clenching hands into fists and moving them in 10 circles inward and 10 circles outward; placing hands in a praying position and squeezing them together for 10 seconds and then pointing them downward and squeezing them together for 10 seconds; spreading fingers apart and then closing them one by one; standing and wrapping arms around the body and turning all the way to the left and then all the way to the right.


•Your child's muscles need adequate hydration to work properly and avoid injury. Encourage your child to drink four 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Carbonated beverages, juices and other sweet drinks are not a substitute.


•Urge your child's school or PTA officials to provide education on correct computer ergonomics and to install ergonomically correct workstations.
"If your child continues to complain of pain and strain from sitting at a computer, see a doctor of chiropractic," urges Dr. Bautch. "A chiropractor can help alleviate your child's pain and help prevent further injury."

Article courtesy of the American Chiropractic Association.

Dr. Schantz can perform a Spinal Analysis and Posture Exam to determine if your child is at risk for neck and back trouble due to improper computer use, or other issues. Visit www.LeadingEdgeAtlanta.com or call (770) 993-9287 for an appointment.

Back to School doesn't have to mean a Bad Back in School

Backpack Misuse Leads to Chronic Back Pain, Doctors of Chiropractic Say
Back pain is pervasive among American adults, but a new and disturbing trend is emerging. Young children are suffering from back pain much earlier than previous generations, and the use of overweight backpacks is a contributing factor, according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). In fact, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that backpack-related injuries sent more than 7,000 people to the emergency room in 2001 alone.

"In my own practice, I have noticed a marked increase in the number of young children who are complaining about back, neck and shoulder pain," said Dr. Scott Bautch, a member of the ACA's Council on Occupational Health. "The first question I ask these patients is, 'Do you carry a backpack to school?' Almost always, the answer is 'yes.'"

This new back pain trend among youngsters isn't surprising when you consider the disproportionate amounts of weight they carry in their backpacks - often slung over just one shoulder. According to Dr. Bautch, a recent study conducted in Italy found that the average child carries a backpack that would be the equivalent of a 39-pound burden for a 176-pound man, or a 29-pound load for a 132-pound woman. Of those children carrying heavy backpacks to school, 60 percent had experienced back pain as a result.

According to Dr. Bautch, preliminary results of studies being conducted in France show that the longer a child wears a backpack, the longer it takes for a curvature or deformity of the spine to correct itself. "The question that needs to be addressed next is, 'Does it ever return to normal?'" Dr. Bautch added.

The results of these types of studies are especially important as more and more school districts - many of them in urban areas - remove lockers from the premises, forcing students to carry their books with them all day long.

The problem has become so widespread, in fact, that the California State Assembly passed legislation that would force school districts to develop ways of reducing the weight of students' backpacks. Similar legislation is being considered in New Jersey as well. The ACA believes that limiting the backpack's weight to no more than 10 percent of the child's body weight and urging the use of ergonomically correct backpacks are possible solutions.

What Can You Do?
The ACA offers the following tips to help prevent the needless pain that backpack misuse could cause the students in your household.
•Make sure your child's backpack weighs no more than 5 to 10 percent of his or her body weight. A heavier backpack will cause your child to bend forward in an attempt to support the weight on his or her back, rather than on the shoulders, by the straps.
•The backpack should never hang more than four inches below the waistline. A backpack that hangs too low increases the weight on the shoulders, causing your child to lean forward when walking.
•A backpack with individualized compartments helps in positioning the contents most effectively. Make sure that pointy or bulky objects are packed away from the area that will rest on your child's back.
•Bigger is not necessarily better. The more room there is in a backpack, the more your child will carry-and the heavier the backpack will be.
•Urge your child to wear both shoulder straps. Lugging the backpack around by one strap can cause the disproportionate shift of weight to one side, leading to neck and muscle spasms, as well as low-back pain.
•Wide, padded straps are very important. Non-padded straps are uncomfortable, and can dig into your child's shoulders.
•The shoulder straps should be adjustable so the backpack can be fitted to your child's body. Straps that are too loose can cause the backpack to dangle uncomfortably and cause spinal misalignment and pain.
•If the backpack is still too heavy, talk to your child's teacher. Ask if your child could leave the heaviest books at school, and bring home only lighter hand-out materials or workbooks.
•Although the use of rollerpacks - or backpacks on wheels - has become popular in recent years, the ACA is now recommending that they be used cautiously and on a limited basis by only those students who are not physically able to carry a backpack. Some school districts have begun banning the use of rollerpacks because they clutter hallways, resulting in dangerous trips and falls.
Chiropractic Care Can Help...
If you or your child experiences any pain or discomfort resulting from backpack use, call your doctor of chiropractic. Doctors of chiropractic are licensed and trained to diagnose and treat patients of all ages and will use a gentler type of treatment for children. In addition, doctors of chiropractic can also prescribe exercises designed to help children develop strong muscles, along with instruction in good nutrition, posture and sleeping habits

Chiropractic Storm Relief

It was a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, quite different from the day that tornadoes stormed through Georgia and Alabama.
Massage therapist Theresia Greer and I exchanged chiropractic and massage services (along with homemade cookies and Jana water) for donations to the American Red Cross Storm Relief. We had a booth at the Roswell Cycling Festival on Canton Street where we worked on necks, backs, legs, knees and feet of cyclists, vendors and spectators. We raised over $100 and spread the good will of chiropractic across the land. If you didn't have an opportunity to participate in the Mayor's Ride, test out the mountain bike trails or watch the Criterion Races, make sure you put the first Sunday in May on your calendar for next year.

Protecting Patients and their Chiropractors in Georgia

There is a saying, "All it takes to let Evil triumph is enough good people doing nothing." There are those in Georgia who would like to see chiropractic patients and their chiropractors lose access to care, lose reimbursement for care and further limit the scope of practice. Insurance companies, medical associations and those who disparage governmental regulation are among those forces who would like to see chiropractic wither on the vine. I am not one to sit by idly and let my patients face discrimination because they have chosen to use chiropractic instead of drugs and surgery.

Last week I spent Thursday morning, along with other Doctors of Chiropractic, lobbying our legislators to support a pro-chiropractic bill in the Georgia Senate. The bill would limit chiropractic adjustments, chiropractic manipulation and chiropractic services to only a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic. This would prevent HMO's from tricking citizens into signing up for health plans that stated that "chiropractic" was included in the plan, and then having the "chiropractic" services being supplied by someone who was not a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic. I meet with Senator John Albers and stopped off at the office of Senator Judson Hill to urge them to support this bill, and protect chiropractic patients and their chiropractic doctors. I believe it takes more than good intentions, it takes action on those intentions to make Good triumph over Evil.

Get Outside & Keep Yourself Happy!

Do not feel guilty if you do not belong to a gym or fitness center. I do not belong to a gym, and I spend a good amount of time (I could do more) staying fit. Last weekend was a welcome break in the South Freezer temperatures. My daughter Lexi and her friend joined us on a hike along Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga, TN. The trail leads to Sunset Rocks, a popular climbing area and historic site.

We have plenty of natural resources available within a 1-3 hr. drive from Atlanta that many people in Florida would love to have. Take advantage of the great outdoors. I having nothing against gyms and fitness centers. My God! If it weren't for the Roanoke Athletic Club, I would have never met my wife Dixie back in 1980. I LOVE AEROBICS!

Outside Your Comfort Zone: Flying Doctors Mission to Cambodia

"How will you explain to people what your are going to do? We don't speak Cambodian." Dixie asked me. "Just lie down on the table, and I will start working on you. They'll get the idea." I replied. Soon we had people crowding around, eager and curious to be next. Folks on crutches, wheelchairs, there was even a fellow without any legs in a wagon encircling the portable chiropractic table. We had set up an impromptu chiropractic clinic in the courtyard of the Siem Reap Hospital in Cambodia. Dixie and I were part of a 19 person health care mission with Flying Doctors of America in November 2010 providing free medical, dental, surgical and chiropractic care in the impoverished Southeast Asian country of Cambodia.
Chiropractic is a wonderful healing art. It also make great entertainment on mission trips. People love to see and hear the groans, moans, winces, cracks, pops and smiles that emanate from our treatment table.

For five days we travel to villages on the outskirts of Siem Reap. Siem Reap is the primary tourist destination for travellers to Cambodia. It sits just outside the entrance to the UNESCO World Heritage Site- Angkor Wat. Highlights of my trip included adjusting blind villagers, diagnosing Parkinson's disease in a farmer, improvising a splint for a little girl who was run over by a motorbike, performing acupuncture on an ailing monk and exploring the archaeological ruins.

Traveling the world to alleviate human suffering is exciting, exotic and exhausting. Getting back to work helps me recuperate. Where will my next mission take me? Stay tuned!

One Friday night when I was 15 years old, my friend Rob Feldman brought over a book of poems by Alan Ginsberg called "Howl". Illustrating the book were images of a statue of Buddah wrapped in a Banyan tree rising from the jungle floor. I was entranced by these images which were from Angkor Wat, the largest temple complex in the world. Angkor Wat sits at the outskirts of Siem Reap, where our Flying Doctors of America Mission will land at the end of this week. 20 American doctors, nurses, dentist and support personnel will arrive, equipped to triage, examine, diagnose, and treat men, women and children in and around Siem Reap, Cambodia. All of our services and medicines will be supplied for free, courtesy of the volunteers and those who have supported us. We will also tour Angkor Wat as part of our mission, thus achieving a goal that I first conceived 40 years ago! After our mission is completed, Dixie and I will travel to Singapore and Malaysia. In Singapore we will visit with Charles Lee, a former intern at our practice who is now married, expecting a child, and practicing chiropractic in Singapore. In Malaysia we will tour the newest chiropractic college in the world located in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. We arrive back in the USA just before Thanksgiving.

How does a 5 year old know if he needs a chiropractor?

Most 5 years olds don't walk into our office on their own. The most dramatic episode in my professional life was when one was carried in by his father.

I was working as an Associate in an established chiropractic office in Sandy Springs in the late 1980's.

On Saturdays I saw all the patients in the practice. I was getting ready to leave for the day when our receptionist told me that we had one more patient to see. There in the doorway was a man in his mid-30's clutching a young boy wheezing and gasping for breathe. I exclaimed to the father, "This boy belongs in the Emergency Room-not a chiropractic office!". The man replied, "We have tried that route before, but it doesn't work-please help my son!" I couldn't say no, so I had him place the boy on the chiropractic table. I palpated his spine and found several vertebra associated with the nerve supply to the lungs misaligned. I carefully placed my hands in the proper position and performed a swift thrust. The vertebra popped in to place. The boy immediately began breathing rhythmically and regularly with no sign of respiratory distress. He fell asleep in his father's arms, and together they left the clinic for their home.

The clinical experience of most chiropractic doctors will show that children tend to respond to chiropractic treatment for internal disorders. This is because their nervous system is more sensitive than adults, and subluxations of their spines will more commonly result in nerve disruption to internal organs, rather than trigger pain.

By the time a child has reached the age of 5 they have grown 500% or more since birth. They have learned to crawl, sit up, stand, climb, walk and run. Along the way they have had an opportunity to accumulate spills, falls and upsets that can result in subluxations of the spine.

The subluxations may cause nerve interference-even in the absence of pain.

44% of patients surveyed at our practice felt that it would be OK to bring a child to a chiropractor after the age of 5.

What do you think?

Chiropractic & Infants- Safe? Necessary?

Our August patient survey, "When Should a Child Have Their First Chiropractic Visit?", revealed that 36% of those surveyed believed that "Anytime after birth" was an appropriate time to bring a child for a chiropractic visit. Among the comments we heard were, "The younger you get started, the better chance you have of staying healthy", and "If an infant had some kind of trauma, and wasn't getting better under medical care, then of course I would recommend chiropractic".

The International Chiropractors Assocation (ICA)recommends the earliest possible evaluation, detection and correction of chiropractic lesions (subluxations) in children, especially infants, to maximize the potential for normal growth and development. The ICA points to research indicating that vaginal deliveries, especially when forceps are used, can lead to excessive force on the cervical spine, leading to trauma and subluxation in newborns.

Some patients expressed concern about the safety of adjusting infants, since their bones had not hardened enough.

Let's look at a 2008 study from Great Britian, "Adverse Effects of Spinal Manipulative Therapy in Children Younger Than 3 Years", published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics. The objective of the study was to identify any adverse effects to chiropractic care occurring in the pediatric patient and to evaluate the risk of complications arising in the pediatric patient resulting from chiropractic care. A 3-year review of pediatric case files from the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic teaching clinic were evaluated. The results showed that out of 697 children receiving 5,242 chiropractic treatments, 85% of parents reported an improvement. 7 parents reported an adverse effect. There were no serious complications resulting from chiropractic treatment (reactions lasting >24 hours or severe enough to require hospital care.

Infants don't complain about back pain.

If your use of chiropractic care is limited to reducing back pain, then you probably would never conceive of a situation where an infant could benefit from chiropractic treatment. If you take a closer look at what chiropractic treatment does- improve the function of the nervous system- then you may be able to see how chiropractic may be appropriate for infants.

Case Study from Our Practice- 11 month old baby with painful bowel movements becoming less and less frequent, from every other day to every 4 days. Increase in medication from using up a whole bottle of maltsupex once a month to every two weeks, even while increasing fruit and vegetable intake. Incredibly hard stools and rectal bleeding.

One treatment improved the baby to having soft movement every day. She needed another treatment the following week, and now she's having 2-3 movements regularly, every morning with no medication at all. No more tears and screaming.

This baby had subluxations in the lower spine and sacral region resulting in decreased nerve stimulation to the bowel. There was inadequate musculature contraction to initiate normal bowel movements resulting in chronic constipation. Infants typically respond quickly to chiropractic treatment (1-2 visits), because their nervous and musculoskeletal system is less mature.

Other Conditions of Infants that May Respond to Chiropractic Treatment

Ear Infections

Respiratory Distress

Breast Feeding Problems

Digestion and Elimination Problems

Developmental Delays- Lifting head, balancing, crawling, standing, walking

Colic

When Should a Child Have Their First Chiropractic Visit?

We asked our patients last week, "When should a child have their first chiropractic visit?". We told them to give us their opinion, not what they thought we wanted them to say. We gave them four choices.

#1 Any time after birth.

#2 Any time after age 5.

#3 Any time after age 13.

#4 Any time after age 18.

Over the next few weeks we will take a look at our patients' answers, and explore the rationale for chiropractic care at different ages. We will share stories about children that we have treated here in our office, and let you decide if and when it make sense for a child to see a chiropractor.

NEXT WEEK- CHIROPRACTIC AND INFANTS: Is it safe or necessary to perform chiropractic on newborns or infants?

Medicare Fee Increase

Congress has approved a 2.2% fee increase for Medicare chiropractic services and other physicians services that will take effect in our office beginning September 1, 2010. This means that Medicare patients will pay between $.66-$1.31 more for chiropractic adjustments. The difference is due to the number of regions of the spine that must be treated on each visit. If just one or two regions are adjusted, then the lower fee applies. If five or more regions are adjusted, then the higher fee applies. You may think, an adjustment is an adjustment, is an adjustment.

Medicare and most other healthcare plans count each region of the spine as a distinct, reimbursable area of treatment including the cervical (neck& head), thoracic (mid back & ribs), lumbar (low back), pelvis (hips). Other segments of the body may be adjusted, but are not reimbursable by Medicare, such as the hand, elbow, wrist, knee, ankle and feet. It is not known if Congress will stick with the 2.2% increase, or enact at 20.2% decrease for chiropractic and other physician services after November 1st, 2010. Sources claim that a decrease of that proportion will cause many primary care providers to refuse to accept Medicare patients. The fallout from that could overwhelm hospital emergency rooms, as they would now become the only alternative for seniors needing primary medical care.

Fundraiser a Success!

The enormous generosity of our patients showed through this week with an outpouring of donations. We far exceeded our goals for Flying Doctors Day, ending up with over 50 patient visits and over $3,000 in donations. More than 30 patients contributed $50 or more, with the top donation of $500! Lots of patients will be sporting a Flying Doctors of America T-Shirt this summer. I am due to depart on November 10th and return on Thanksgiving. It may seem like a far way off, but it will probably be here before we know it. Thanks again for every one's help and support to make it possible for me to give chiropractic care to the impoverished people in Cambodia.

Join us for Flying Doctors Day-Wednesday, July 14th

Flying Doctors Day is an opportunity for you to help yourself, help a loved one or a friend- and support a worthy cause- Flying Doctors of America's Mission to Cambodia. This Fall, I will be traveling to Southeast Asia with a group of medical doctors, nurses and allied healthcare providers to provide the impoverished children, men and woman with free medical care. My wife Dixie and I are volunteering our time, but that doesn't mean we get to go for free. With your help, we can raise the money necessary to fund our expenses for the mission. I am providing all my chiropractic services for new and existing patients on Wednesday, July 14th in exchange for a donation of any amount to Flying Doctors of America. All donations of any size are welcome in exchange for new patient exams, x-rays, and chiropractic adjustments. Donations are tax-deductible. When you donate $50 you will receive a Flying Doctors T-shirt, and when you donate $100 you will receive a t-shirt, plus a Cambodia DVD. Call us at 770-993-9287 or visit our website- http://www.leadingedgeatlanta.com/ to arrange your visit.

Could chiropractic have helped save Tiger Woods' neck?

Tiger Woods dropped out of The Players Championship this weekend, complaining of neck pain that was interfering with his ability to play. Neck pain is second only to low back pain for spinal conditions affecting Americans. Considering the abuse we give our necks, this should not be surprising. We sleep with too many pillows. We scrunch our cellphones between our neck and shoulders. We hunch over computers all day. We fall asleep on the couch. All these positions put physical strain on our neck. From minor stiffness to a full blown herniated disk , many who suffer from neck pain could be helped with regular chiropractic care. A healthy neck should be supple, pain-free and properly aligned so that the nerve endings leading to the head and arms are free of impingement.

Chiropractors specialize in detection and correction of the most common cause of neck pain, vertebral subluxation. Vertebral refers to the spinal bones, and subluxation refers to a partial dislocation. Chiropractic doctors experts in helping the underlying cause of neck pain, and working with patients to help relieve pain, restore mobility and free-up impingement to nerves.

Tiger... see your chiropractor. An adjustment today, may keep the surgeon away!

Climbing with a rock star!

Rockclimbing legend, Lynn Hill congratulates Frank Nederhand and Jamie Schantz, D.C. on their second place finish at the Craggin' Classic, hosted by the American Alpine Club this past weekend in Chattanooga, TN. Lynn Hill is best known for the first free ascent of the Nose Route on El Capitan in Yosemite Valley, California. She is now a rockclimbing ambassador for Patagonia.

Lynn is not just a talented climber, she is a warm and sensitive person. Just being in her presence was a thrill. I have read about her in magazines, seen her on posters and climbing videos. I got to help her sore hip with a chiropractic adjustment, for which she was very thankful. The next day we climbed together on Diamond Cutter (5.10b/c) at Foster Falls, then enjoyed the festivities at Urban Rocks in Chattanooga.