Clinical Pearls ...

• Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics 1988 December; 11(6):484-8. "Effects of Chiropractic treatment on blood pressure and anxiety: a randomized, controlled trial.
  Yates, R.G., Lamping D.L., Abram, N.L., Wright, C.

Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Toronto, Ontario

This study examined the effects of chiropractic adjustments of the thoracic spine (T1-T5) on blood pressure and state anxiety in 21 patients with elevated blood pressure. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions; active treatment, placebo treatment, or no treatment control. The adjustments were performed by a mechanical chiropractic adjusting device. Dependent measures obtained pre- and post-treatment included systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and state anxiety. Results indicated that systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly in the active treatment condition, whereas no significant changes occurred in the placebo and control conditions. State anxiety significantly decreased in the active and control conditions. Results provide support for the hypothesis that blood pressure is reduced following chiropractic treatment.

• 1990 Scandanavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 25, 1235-1241 by Jorgensen et al.

It is well known that diseases of the internal organs may be accompanied by referred pain, hyperesthesia, and tenderness in somatic areas belonging to the same spinal segments. Both experimental and clinical evidence suggest that the same findings may be provoked by disorders of the spine or by painful experimental stimulation of spinal structures. Most of the segmental abnormalities that we found in the functional abdominal pain patients was in the lower thoracic and thoracolumbar segments--that is, in the segments from which the sympathetic innervation of the upper abdominal organ arises. This is in support of the hypothesis of a connection between the abdominal pain and the back troubles, and it is in accordance with the experimental models and clinical studies concerning visceromatic reflexes. In essence, stimulation of receptors in some trigger area can affect and cause referred pain to an area, likewise, alterations found internally can cause nerve root irritation in cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues, muscles, tendons, or ligaments.

• The U.S. Office of Public Health (AHCPR), utilizing two hundred of the nation’s top researchers, and evaluating tens of thousands of the finest scientifically based research material, published government guidelines urging all physician to recommend spinal manipulation to patients as the BEST treatment for most low back pain. The AMA ignored these government guidelines, and published its own so-called guidelines four months after the government guidelines, claiming on the front cover that, All treatment options for low back pain are enclosed, yet avoiding ANY reference to spinal manipulation.

A YALE hospital study showed that 100,000 people a year DIE from prescription drug reactions...According to Dr. Arpad De Nagy of the Rockfeller Institute, Chiropractic care should begin at birth on a preventative basis...and finally...Albert Einstein said, "Great spirits have always experienced violent opposition from mediocre minds".

Don’t forget, an optimal spine=optimal health!