May 2018 Health Newsletter

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine has published a study that formalizes the efficacy of chiropractic care in reducing opioid usage among adults with low back pain. The study, which included over 13,000 adults, found that patients receiving chiropractic care for low back pain (LBP) filled opioid analgesic prescriptions 55 percent less often than those not receiving chiropractic care. Overall, the research indicated chiropractic pain management practices can reduce or eliminate the need for opioid pain relievers, resulting in fewer risks and reduced patient costs. Key findings included:

• Only 19 percent of patients under chiropractic care filled prescriptions for opioids in contrast to the subjects not under chiropractic care, of which 35 percent filled opioid prescriptions.
• When considering all types of prescriptions, the group under chiropractic care filled significantly fewer prescriptions than the non-chiropractic care group. 
  

With over 2 million people in the U.S. suffering from opioid addiction and 15% of the population fearing addiction to opioids, finding safe and cost-effective methods of managing pain is critical. Chiropractic care, along with other drug-free therapies, has been recommended by the Institute of Medicine to treat patients presenting with chronic pain. Guidelines from the American College of Physicians are even more explicit on recommendations for treating back pain, clarifying non-pharmacologic treatment as the primary choice. Opioids are considered as a last resort only, or in cases where patients’ complicating factors make other options incompatible. If you’re suffering from back pain, contact a chiropractic near you to help manage your pain safely, effectively, and without drugs.

Until recently, the call for rear-facing carseats has been predicated on results garnered from side-impact and head-on accidents, which are deadliest. However, a rear-impact collision has potential to cause head-and-neck injuries in infants and toddlers when the back-and-forth motion of the impact causes a whiplash effect. Experts agree that infants and toddlers should remain seated in rear-facing carseats until they’ve reached the age of two or until they’re too big to be positioned correctly for maximum front- and side-impact protection. A new study by Julie Mansfield of the Injury Biomechanics Research Center of Wexner Medical Center now proves this rear-facing position is protective even when the car is impacted from behind. The study used a crash-test dummy to demonstrate how crash energy is absorbed through the rear-facing seat to keep the child’s head, neck, and spine safely aligned. Employing four of the most commonly-used U.S. carseats, the study recreated a series of rear-impact collisions that found all four carseats, when used in the rear-facing position, allowed the crash energy to travel through the carseat and vehicle seat, reducing crash forces on the child’s body. In this scenario, the child is cradled by the seat, allowing the energy of the crash to be distributed evenly over the child’s back. Because the carseat and child move as one unit, the head and spine remain supported. These results should assure parents that keeping their children in rear-facing seats for as long as possible is the best way to protect them from injuries sustained in any collision scenario.

According to researchers, children who participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity not only benefit physically, they also improve their cognitive performance and brain function. Results from a new study involving 221 children aged 7 to 9 show regular participation in moderate to vigorous physical activity increases their ability to block out distractions, increase focus and improve their multi-tasking skills. U.S. and European exercise guidelines for children and teens currently call for a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. If you're a parent with a child or teen, encourage and assist them in becoming and staying physically active. Enroll them in after school programs that involve physical activity. Get them into a sports league. Join the YMCA. Take them to the park. Play in the back yard. Be safe but definitely be active!