Study: Active Duty Military with Low Back Pain Show Significant Improvement from Chiropractic Care

“Chiropractic care is an important option to consider for musculoskeletal disorders—the most prevalent pain complaint in the military.”

Wayne B. Jonas, MD

President and CEO

Samueli Institute

A study published in the scientific journal Spine in 2013 shows that active duty military who receive chiropractic care along with standard medical care for low back pain have a significant reduction in acute pain compared to colleagues who get standard care only.

Patients receiving chiropractic care also reported improved physical function. The study is the result of a randomized controlled trial, the gold standard in scientific evidence for health care policy, which took place over a period of 18 months at William Beaumont Army Medical Center (WBAMC), Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas. Participants were 91 active-duty military personnel between 18 and 35 years old.

Samueli Institute funded the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research to conduct the study to learn what works and to put good practices into use.

“It is critical that we continue to explore drug-less approaches to reduce pain,” said Wayne B. Jonas, MD, President and CEO of Samueli Institute. “Chiropractic care is an important option to consider for musculoskeletal disorders—the most prevalent pain complaint in the military.”

Patients with acute low back pain receiving a combination of chiropractic manipulative therapy and standard medical care experienced a statistically and clinically significant reduction in their back pain and improved physical functioning when compared to those receiving standard medical care alone.

“This is a significant step for recognizing the value of chiropractic care in the military,” said Col. Richard Petri, Chief of the Interdisciplinary PainManagement Center (IPMC) at WBAMC. “Continued research in this area will ultimately result in better healthcare delivery systems as well as the improved health of our beneficiaries.”

The study was conducted by Samueli Institute and Palmer College of Chiropractic. The project was funded by Samueli Institute, out of grant #MDA905-03-C-0003 received from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. The views, opinions and/or findings contained in this report are those of the author(s) and should not be construed as an official Department of the Army position, policy or decision unless so designated by other documentation.

1737 King Street, Suite 600 | Alexandria, VA 22314 | www.SamueliInstitute.org

Patient Advice: Military Veterans and Managing Chronic Pain

http://blog.aapainmanage.org/comprehensive-pain-management-incorporating-complementary-and-integrative-medicine-the-military-medicine-experience/

VA Research Update: Back Pain Treatments

This article appears in the Spring 2015 edition of Veterans’ Wellness - A Guide to Healthy Living for Veterans in Upstate New York[1]

Back pain - specifically lower back pain - is very common among Veterans and causes significant disability. Given the prevalence of this condition, the Canandaigua VA Medical Center is carrying out three studies to help identify effective treatments.

Results of two of the studies, which involved 380 Veterans from the Greater Rochester area, were recently published in the journals Chiropractic &Manual Therapies  and Geriatric Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation. The third study is expected to be completed in December, according to Paul Dougherty, DC, staff chiropractor and chiropractic residency director at Canandaigua VA Medical Center and Institutional Review Board chair at Syracuse VA Medical Center.

“Our research so far shows that treatments including spinal manipulative therapy and active exercise can relieve lower back pain,” Dougherty says. In spinal manipulative therapy, a chiropractor applies pressure to the spine to promote movement in spinal joints that are not moving well. Active exercise is exercise patients perform on their own at a doctor’s direction.

Another finding is that fear of pain may actually make back pain worse. “It is important that people with lower back pain continue to remain active and engaged in their lives and not let the pain defeat them,” he says. “If you are suffering from lower back pain, talk to your VA provider about what treatment alternatives are best for you.”

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[1] DeLancey, Darlene A., M.S., and Kathleen Hider, eds. "VA Research Update: Back Pain Treatments." Veterans' Wellness Spring 2015: 11. Print.

Daily Health Update for Friday, 10 April 2015

“To the best of our ability, Life in Motion Chiropractic and Wellness agrees to provide our patients convenient, affordable, and mainstream Chiropractic care. We will not use unnecessary long-term treatment plans and/or therapies.”

www.Chiro-Trust.org

Mental Attitude: Poor Sleep Increases Dementia Risk Among Veterans.

Failure to achieve restful sleep can have a significant negative impact on the cognitive function of aging veterans. A study involving over 179,000 veterans over the age of 55 found that those who suffer from disturbed sleep are 27% more likely to receive a diagnosis for dementia within the next decade.

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, February 2015

Health Alert: Energy Drinks Increase Resting Blood Pressure Among Non-Caffeine Drinkers.

Mayo Clinic researchers are concerned that energy drinks may elevate the risk of cardiac events among users who don't typically consume caffeinated beverages. While previous research has shown that blood pressure increases when regular caffeine drinkers consume energy drinks, new research indicates the increase is much greater when non-caffeine drinkers consume such beverages. Lead author Dr. Anna Svatikova writes, "We and others have previously shown that energy drinks increase blood pressure. Now we are seeing that for those not used to caffeine, the concern may be even greater. Consumers should use caution when using energy drinks because they may increase the risk of cardiovascular problems, even among young people."

American College of Cardiology's 64th Annual Scientific Session in San Diego, March 2015

Diet: Tips for Choosing Healthier Fast Food for Kids.

Sometimes life can get so busy that fast food may be the only viable food option for your children. To help parents make healthier fast food choices for their kids, the American Heart Association recommends the following options: order a burger or sandwich without any sides, choose vegetables or fruit over fries, order a baked potato instead of a burger, limit toppings to reduce fat and calories, choose grilled chicken over fried, and skip soda for low-fat milk or 100% juice.

American Heart Association, March 2015

Exercise: The Power of the Push-Up.

Many fitness experts consider the push-up to be closest thing there is to a perfect exercise. A push-up is a common exercise performed in a face down position by raising and lowering the body using one's arms. When performed correctly, the standard push-up works your chest, shoulders, triceps, and core. American Council on Exercise spokesperson Jonathan Ross writes, "One of the reasons the push-up has endured so long is it's cheap, it's easy, it doesn't require any equipment, it can work multiple parts of the body at the same time -- and pretty much everyone, from beginners to athletes, can derive benefits."

WebMD, March 2015

Chiropractic: Don’t Smoke, Especially if You're in Chronic Pain!

An investigation into smoking behavior among fibromyalgia (FM) patients found that FM patients who smoke cigarettes experience their pain at a greater intensity than FM patients who are non-smokers. While researchers found no evidence that smoking is a possible cause of FM, they note that it appears to exacerbate the condition.

Pain Medicine, March 2015

Wellness/Prevention: Do Your Sheets Smell Fresh?

If you want to improve your sleep quality, make sure your bed sheets smell nice. The National Sleep Foundation suggests the following: wash sheets and pillow cases weekly, have a second set to use when washing the other, use a pleasant smelling laundry detergent, freshen the mattress with upholstery cleaner or baking soda, and vacuum pillows regularly.

National Sleep Foundation, March 2015

This information should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a health care professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.