Daily News and Events
The Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Sunday, March 21 at Turkey Brook Park, Flanders Road in Budd Lake. Rain/snow/bad conditions date is March 28.
Preregistration is $5.00 donation per child.
On-field registration is $7.00 donation per child.
Registration and activities for children begin at 12:00pm.
Easter Bunny arrives at 12:30pm.
Hunt begins at 1:00pm SHARP.
There are many prizes to be won. See website for current list. Every paid ticket will have an opportunity to win a $100 gift card.
Tickets can be purchased at Optimal Family Chiropractic and at Georges Liquors, Route 46 West at Netcong Road. Please check website for additional information and hunt updates if weather looks questionable: www.mtolivekiwanis.org. For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation, please contact Adele Perkins at 973-978-6067 or adeleperkins@hotmail.com.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Chiropractic and Neck Pain: Conservative Care of Cervical Pain and Injury
By the American Chiropractic Association
Your neck, also called the cervical spine, begins at the base of the skull and contains seven small vertebrae. Incredibly, the cervical spine supports the full weight of your head, which is on average about 12 pounds. While the cervical spine can move your head in nearly every direction, this flexibility makes the neck very susceptible to pain and injury.
The neck’s susceptibility to injury is due in part to biomechanics. Activities and events that affect cervical biomechanics include extended sitting, repetitive movement, accidents, falls and blows to the body or head, normal aging, and everyday wear and tear. Neck pain can be very bothersome, and it can have a variety of causes.
Here are some of the most typical causes of neck pain:
Injury and Accidents: A sudden forced movement of the head or neck in any direction and the resulting “rebound” in the opposite direction is known as whiplash. The sudden “whipping” motion injures the surrounding and supporting tissues of the neck and head. Muscles react by tightening and contracting, creating muscle fatigue, which can result in pain and stiffness. Severe whiplash can also be associated with injury to the intervertebral joints, discs, ligaments, muscles, and nerve roots. Car accidents are the most common cause of whiplash.
Growing Older: Degenerative disorders such as osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease directly affect the spine.
· Osteoarthritis, a common joint disorder, causes progressive deterioration of cartilage. The body reacts by forming bone spurs that affect joint motion.
· Spinal stenosis causes the small nerve passageways in the vertebrae to narrow, compressing and trapping nerve roots. Stenosis may cause neck, shoulder, and arm pain,as well as numbness, when these nerves are unable to function normally.
· Degenerative disc disease can cause reduction in the elasticity and height of intervertebral discs. Over time, a disc may bulge or herniate, causing tingling, numbness, and pain that runs into the arm.
Daily Life: Poor posture, obesity, and weak abdominal muscles often disrupt spinal balance, causing the neck to bend forward to compensate. Stress and emotional tension can cause muscles to tighten and contract, resulting in pain and stiffness. Postural stress can contribute to chronic neck pain with symptoms extending into the upper back and the arms.
Chiropractic Care of Neck Pain
During your visit, your doctor of chiropractic will perform exams to locate the source of your pain and will ask you questions about your current symptoms and remedies you may have already tried. For example:
· When did the pain start?
· What have you done for your neck pain?
· Does the pain radiate or travel to other parts of your body?
· Does anything reduce the pain or make it worse?
Your doctor of chiropractic will also do physical and neurological exams. In the physical exam, your doctor will observe your posture, range of motion, and physical condition, noting movement that causes pain. Your doctor will feel your spine, note its curvature and alignment, and feel for muscle spasm. A check of your shoulder area is also in order. During the neurological exam, your doctor will test your reflexes, muscle strength, other nerve changes, and pain spread.
In some instances, your chiropractor might order tests to help diagnose your condition. An x-ray can show narrowed disc space, fractures, bone spurs, or arthritis. A computerized axial tomography scan (CT or CAT scan) or a magnetic resonance imaging test (MRI) can show bulging discs and herniations. If nerve damage is suspected, your doctor may order a special test called electromyography (EMG) to measure how quickly your nerves respond.
Chiropractors are conservative care doctors; their scope of practice does not include the use of drugs or surgery. If your chiropractor diagnoses a condition outside of this conservative scope, such as a neck fracture or an indication of an organic disease, he or she will refer you to the appropriate medical physician or specialist. He or she may also ask for permission to inform your family physician of the care you are receiving to ensure that your chiropractic care and medical care are properly coordinated.
Neck Adjustments
A neck adjustment (also known as a cervical manipulation) is a precise procedure applied to the joints of the neck, usually by hand. A neck adjustment works to improve the mobility of the spine and to restore range of motion; it can also increase movement of the adjoining muscles. Patients typically notice an improved ability to turn and tilt the head, and a reduction of pain, soreness, and stiffness.
Of course, your chiropractor will develop a program of care that may combine more than one type of treatment, depending on your personal needs. In addition to manipulation, the treatment plan may include mobilization, massage or rehabilitative exercises, or something else. Doctor Brenda Rooney develops a treatment plan that addresses the specific needs of each patient in her practice.
Research Supporting Chiropractic Care
One of the most recent reviews of scientific literature found evidence that patients with chronic neck pain enrolled in clinical trials reported significant improvement following chiropractic spinal manipulation.
As part of the literature review, published in the March/April 2007 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, the researchers reviewed nine previously published trials and found “high-quality evidence” that patients with chronic neck pain showed significant pain-level improvements following spinal manipulation. No trial group was reported as having remained unchanged, and all groups showed positive changes up to 12 weeks post-treatment.
Your neck, also called the cervical spine, begins at the base of the skull and contains seven small vertebrae. Incredibly, the cervical spine supports the full weight of your head, which is on average about 12 pounds. While the cervical spine can move your head in nearly every direction, this flexibility makes the neck very susceptible to pain and injury.
The neck’s susceptibility to injury is due in part to biomechanics. Activities and events that affect cervical biomechanics include extended sitting, repetitive movement, accidents, falls and blows to the body or head, normal aging, and everyday wear and tear. Neck pain can be very bothersome, and it can have a variety of causes.
Here are some of the most typical causes of neck pain:
Injury and Accidents: A sudden forced movement of the head or neck in any direction and the resulting “rebound” in the opposite direction is known as whiplash. The sudden “whipping” motion injures the surrounding and supporting tissues of the neck and head. Muscles react by tightening and contracting, creating muscle fatigue, which can result in pain and stiffness. Severe whiplash can also be associated with injury to the intervertebral joints, discs, ligaments, muscles, and nerve roots. Car accidents are the most common cause of whiplash.
Growing Older: Degenerative disorders such as osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease directly affect the spine.
· Osteoarthritis, a common joint disorder, causes progressive deterioration of cartilage. The body reacts by forming bone spurs that affect joint motion.
· Spinal stenosis causes the small nerve passageways in the vertebrae to narrow, compressing and trapping nerve roots. Stenosis may cause neck, shoulder, and arm pain,as well as numbness, when these nerves are unable to function normally.
· Degenerative disc disease can cause reduction in the elasticity and height of intervertebral discs. Over time, a disc may bulge or herniate, causing tingling, numbness, and pain that runs into the arm.
Daily Life: Poor posture, obesity, and weak abdominal muscles often disrupt spinal balance, causing the neck to bend forward to compensate. Stress and emotional tension can cause muscles to tighten and contract, resulting in pain and stiffness. Postural stress can contribute to chronic neck pain with symptoms extending into the upper back and the arms.
Chiropractic Care of Neck Pain
During your visit, your doctor of chiropractic will perform exams to locate the source of your pain and will ask you questions about your current symptoms and remedies you may have already tried. For example:
· When did the pain start?
· What have you done for your neck pain?
· Does the pain radiate or travel to other parts of your body?
· Does anything reduce the pain or make it worse?
Your doctor of chiropractic will also do physical and neurological exams. In the physical exam, your doctor will observe your posture, range of motion, and physical condition, noting movement that causes pain. Your doctor will feel your spine, note its curvature and alignment, and feel for muscle spasm. A check of your shoulder area is also in order. During the neurological exam, your doctor will test your reflexes, muscle strength, other nerve changes, and pain spread.
In some instances, your chiropractor might order tests to help diagnose your condition. An x-ray can show narrowed disc space, fractures, bone spurs, or arthritis. A computerized axial tomography scan (CT or CAT scan) or a magnetic resonance imaging test (MRI) can show bulging discs and herniations. If nerve damage is suspected, your doctor may order a special test called electromyography (EMG) to measure how quickly your nerves respond.
Chiropractors are conservative care doctors; their scope of practice does not include the use of drugs or surgery. If your chiropractor diagnoses a condition outside of this conservative scope, such as a neck fracture or an indication of an organic disease, he or she will refer you to the appropriate medical physician or specialist. He or she may also ask for permission to inform your family physician of the care you are receiving to ensure that your chiropractic care and medical care are properly coordinated.
Neck Adjustments
A neck adjustment (also known as a cervical manipulation) is a precise procedure applied to the joints of the neck, usually by hand. A neck adjustment works to improve the mobility of the spine and to restore range of motion; it can also increase movement of the adjoining muscles. Patients typically notice an improved ability to turn and tilt the head, and a reduction of pain, soreness, and stiffness.
Of course, your chiropractor will develop a program of care that may combine more than one type of treatment, depending on your personal needs. In addition to manipulation, the treatment plan may include mobilization, massage or rehabilitative exercises, or something else. Doctor Brenda Rooney develops a treatment plan that addresses the specific needs of each patient in her practice.
Research Supporting Chiropractic Care
One of the most recent reviews of scientific literature found evidence that patients with chronic neck pain enrolled in clinical trials reported significant improvement following chiropractic spinal manipulation.
As part of the literature review, published in the March/April 2007 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, the researchers reviewed nine previously published trials and found “high-quality evidence” that patients with chronic neck pain showed significant pain-level improvements following spinal manipulation. No trial group was reported as having remained unchanged, and all groups showed positive changes up to 12 weeks post-treatment.
Netcong Craft and Sports Memorabilia Fair
The Netcong School PTA, in all its efforts, continuously seeks community support of all initiatives to provide quality extra-curricular activities for Netcong School students.
Netcong School PTA will be hosting a Spring Holiday Craft & Sports Memorabilia Fair on Saturday, March 20, 2010 at Netcong Elementary School, 26 College Road in Netcong. The event's hours are 10 am-4 pm.
Over 85 crafters with handmade items and vendors with quality merchandise will be participating in this one-of-a-kind event. This area has never before hosted such a shopping extravaganza, guaranteed to have something for everyone. Maria Patamia, PTA President is the coordinator of this event and can be reached at 973.296.7638 or e-mail: netcongschoolpta@yahoo.com for additional information. Space is completely sold out for this event.
Admission is free to the public. However, donations will gladly be accepted at the door. This event is the largest fundraising initiative for the PTA. Food will be available for purchase throughout the day. A Raffle/Tricky Tray Drawing will be held at 3 pm with items donated by major corporations, local businesses and crafters/vendors attending the fair. All proceeds will help fund student programs, trips, and a new playground. Any individual or business interested in being a sponsor of this event should contact Maria Patamia. All donors/sponsors will be recognized in the event directory.
A host of items including a pet Bakery, Designer handbags, Pampered Chef, Wooden Rose Arrangements, Silpada, Belgium Chocolates, Usborne Books, Lia Sophia, Avon, Tupperware, Scentsy, Discovery Toys, Ant E Bees Hives Candles, Photography, World Ventures Travel, Gourmet Bakery, Barefoot Books, Fun4All Entertainment, Initials Inc. , Nature Names, Mary Kay, Longaberger and Tastefully Simple are just a few of the home based business consultants who will be participating in this event.
Handmade items include a variety of jewelry, wood creations, stained glass, and hand painted items.
Do you have unwanted, broken, or out of date gold jewelry? Bring it to this event and the “Gold Fairies” will turn it into cash on the spot.
Do you need spring holiday gifts for the young and old? Come visit the many crafters with holiday baskets.
Do you have unwanted clothing, linens, shoes, purses, or small stuffed animals? Please bring it to Netcong School on Sat. Mar. 20th. Neighbors Helping Neighbors will be on hand to collect all articles for various charities in the front of the school.
Have you been thinking about adoption or becoming a foster parent? Representatives from the Division of Youth and Family Services will be on hand with information on how to go about it.
Are you looking for chiropractic services? Optimal Family Chiropractic, LLC will be on hand offering free neck and foot screenings. Dr. Brenda Rooney will answer questions about the benefits of chiropractic therapy for a variety of conditions.
Are you a sports memorabilia collector? Then you won’t want to miss this extraordinary collection of authentically signed sports artifacts by Steiner Sports Memorabilia house, a portion of their proceeds will be donated to Netcong School from an on-site auction and sale of memorabilia.
Do you enjoy raffles or tricky trays? This event will also be hosting a 50/50 raffle throughout the day and a tricky tray drawing at 3 pm. With over 100 donated items from crafters and businesses.
Mark your calendars. This will be an event you won’t want to miss. Bring the whole family. Welcome spring with a visit to the Netcong School PTA Spring Holiday Craft and Sports Memorabilia Fair.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Headaches and Chiropractic
If you have a headache, you’re not alone. Nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea.
What do you do when you suffer from a pounding headache? Do you grit your teeth and carry on? Lie down? Pop a pill and hope the pain goes away? There is a better alternative.
Research shows that spinal manipulation – the primary form of care provided by doctors of chiropractic – may be an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck.
A report released in 2001 by researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, NC, found that spinal manipulation resulted in almost immediate improvement for those headaches that originate in the neck, and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of tension-type headache than a commonly prescribed medication.
Also, a 1995 study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that spinal manipulative therapy is an effective treatment for tension headaches and that those who ceased chiropractic treatment after four weeks experienced a sustained therapeutic benefit in contrast with those patients who received a commonly prescribed medication.
Headache Triggers
Headaches have many causes, or “triggers.” These may include foods, environmental stimuli (noises, lights, stress, etc.) and/or behaviors (insomnia, excessive exercise, blood sugar changes, etc.). About 5 percent of all headaches are warning signals caused by physical problems.
Ninety-five percent of headaches are primary headaches, such as tension, migraine, or cluster headaches. These types of headaches are not caused by disease. The headache itself is the primary concern.
“The greatest majority of primary headaches are associated with muscle tension in the neck,” says Dr. George B. McClelland, a doctor of chiropractic from Christiansburg, VA. “Today, Americans engage in more sedentary activities than they used to, and more hours are spent in one fixed position or posture. This can increase joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck, upper back and scalp, causing your head to ache.”
What do you do when you suffer from a pounding headache? Do you grit your teeth and carry on? Lie down? Pop a pill and hope the pain goes away? There is a better alternative.
Research shows that spinal manipulation – the primary form of care provided by doctors of chiropractic – may be an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck.
A report released in 2001 by researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, NC, found that spinal manipulation resulted in almost immediate improvement for those headaches that originate in the neck, and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of tension-type headache than a commonly prescribed medication.
Also, a 1995 study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that spinal manipulative therapy is an effective treatment for tension headaches and that those who ceased chiropractic treatment after four weeks experienced a sustained therapeutic benefit in contrast with those patients who received a commonly prescribed medication.
Headache Triggers
Headaches have many causes, or “triggers.” These may include foods, environmental stimuli (noises, lights, stress, etc.) and/or behaviors (insomnia, excessive exercise, blood sugar changes, etc.). About 5 percent of all headaches are warning signals caused by physical problems.
Ninety-five percent of headaches are primary headaches, such as tension, migraine, or cluster headaches. These types of headaches are not caused by disease. The headache itself is the primary concern.
“The greatest majority of primary headaches are associated with muscle tension in the neck,” says Dr. George B. McClelland, a doctor of chiropractic from Christiansburg, VA. “Today, Americans engage in more sedentary activities than they used to, and more hours are spent in one fixed position or posture. This can increase joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck, upper back and scalp, causing your head to ache.”
What Can You Do?
The American Chiropractic Association suggests, and Dr. Brenda Rooney concurs with the following:
- If you spend a large amount of time in one fixed position, such as in front of a computer, on a sewing machine, typing or reading, take a break and stretch every 30 minutes to one hour. The stretches should take your head and neck through a comfortable range of motion.
- Low-impact exercise may help relieve the pain associated with primary headaches. However, if you are prone to dull, throbbing headaches, avoid heavy exercise. Engage in such activities as walking and low-impact aerobics.
- Avoid teeth clenching. The upper teeth should never touch the lowers, except when swallowing. This results in stress at the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) – the two joints that connect your jaw to your skull – leading to TMJ irritation and a form of tension headache.
- Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to help avoid dehydration, which can lead to headaches.
What Can a Doctor of Chiropractic Do?
Dr. McClelland says your doctor of chiropractic may do one or more of the following if you suffer from a primary headache:
- Perform spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustments to improve spinal function and alleviate the stress on your system.
- Provide nutritional advice, recommending a change in diet and perhaps the addition of B complex vitamins.
- Offer advice on posture, ergonomics (work postures), exercises and relaxation techniques. This advice should help to relieve the recurring joint irritation and tension in the muscles of the neck and upper back.
- “Doctors of chiropractic undergo extensive training to help their patients in many ways – not just back pain,” says Dr. McClelland. “They know how tension in the spine relates to problems in other parts of the body, and they can take steps to relieve those problems.”
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Back in Shape and Pain Free
Exercises to Safeguard Your Back
Stretching and an active lifestyle are recommended by the American Chiropractic Association to help reduce back pain and speed the recovery process following an injury. Improving flexibility through stretching is also an excellent way to avoid future injuries.
Depending upon one’s individual injury and level of pain, the exercise and rehabilitation program may vary. Dr. Brenda Rooney agrees that the key is to start slowly and increase the repetitions as you feel stronger. Consult with your doctor of chiropractic prior to starting a new exercise program, especially when associated with low-back pain. An individualized program can be developed and instructions provided on proper stretching technique.
Passive Stretches
Passive stretches help facilitate movement in the affected muscle or joint. Stretches should be held for 15 to 30 seconds, allowing the muscles to gradually relax and lengthen. Stretches should never cause pain nor should you feel tingling in the extremities. Stop immediately if you experience any discomfort.
Hamstring Stretch
Lie on your back with both legs straight. Bend one leg at the knee and extend one leg straight up in the air. Loop a towel over the arch of the lifted foot, and gently pull on the towel as you push against it with your foot; you should feel a stretch in the back of the thigh. Hold 30 seconds. Relax. Repeat 3 times per leg. This stretch may be performed several times per day.
Piriformis Stretch
The piriformis muscle runs through the buttock and can contribute to back and leg pain. To stretch this muscle, lie on the back and cross one leg over the other; gently pull the knee toward the chest until a stretch is felt in the buttock area. Hold 30 seconds. Relax. Repeat 3 times. This stretch may be performed several times per day.
Back Stretch
Lie on your stomach. Use your arms to push your upper body off the floor. Hold for 30 seconds. Let your back relax and sag. Repeat. This stretch may be performed several times per day.
Active Stretches
Active stretches facilitate movement and improve strength. Stretches should never cause pain nor should you feel tingling in the extremities. Stop immediately if you experience any discomfort.
Leg Raises
Lie on your stomach. Tighten the muscles in one leg and raise it 1 to 2 inches from the floor. Return the raised leg to the floor. Do the same with the other leg. Repeat 20 times with each leg. This leg may be performed several times per day.
Bridges
Lie on your back with your knees flexed and your feet flat on the floor. Keep the knees together. Tighten the muscles of the lower abdomen and buttocks; slowly raise your hips up from the floor and then lower them back to the resting position. Repeat this exercise 20 times. This exercise may be performed several times per day.
The Pointer
Kneel on mat on hands and knees, with palms directly under shoulders and knees hip-width apart. Slowly raise your right arm, and extend it forward parallel the floor. (Balance by contracting your abdominal muscles.) Keep right palm parallel to the floor, then lift the left leg, and straighten it behind you. Hold opposing limbs off the ground for 30 to 60 seconds without arching your back. Switch sides. Repeat 3 to 6 times.
Stretching Tips
To get the maximum benefit from stretching, proper technique is essential. The American Chiropractic Association recommends the following tips:
• Warm up your muscles before stretching by walking or doing other gentle movements for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Slowly increase your stretch as you feel your muscles relax. Don't bounce.
• Stretch slowly and gently only to the point of mild tension, not to the point of pain.
• Don’t hold your breath. Inhale deeply before each stretch and exhale during the stretch.
· As your flexibility increases consider increasing the number of repetitions.
• Stop immediately if you feel any severe pain.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Designing an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Help your patients prevent chronic disease by reducing inflammation risk factors.
By James Gerber, MS, DC.
Reproduced from the February 2010 issue of ACA News, a publication of the American Chiropractic Association.
The pathological process of inflammation has been understood for decades, but only recently health conditions not previously associated with inflammation, such as heart disease, cancer and degenerative brain disease, have been linked with this process. As a result, there has been an expansion of interest in discovering how anti-inflammatory interventions might help in the prevention or management of many diseases.
Natural approaches to achieving anti-inflammatory effects through the diet typically include: 1) an attempt to shift dietary fatty acid intake to reduce pro-inflammatory products of fatty acid metabolism, 2) an increased intake of plant-based foods that are naturally high in antioxidants and other anti-inflammatory phytonutrients and 3) a search for potentially allergenic foods, which, when eliminated, may lower systemic immune responses that promote inflammation. Let’s consider each of these strategies, the evidence supporting their rationale and the steps needed to implement them.
The Complexity of Fatty Acids
Fatty acids, specifically certain members of the omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated families, are precursors of eicosanoids such as prostaglandins that have many influences on local tissues, including the mediation of inflammatory mechanisms. One of the omega-6 family, arachidonic acid, can be converted to a variety of powerful promoters of inflammation, while conversion of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA, another omega-6 fatty acid) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid) does not help promote inflammation to any considerable degree.
Since these precursors compete with each other for conversion to their respective eicosanoid products, a relative anti-inflammatory balance would be achieved by minimizing arachidonic acid and/or maximizing GLA and EPA in the diet. This is the rationale for modifying fatty acid intake in the anti-inflammatory diet, as well as for the use of anti-inflammatory fatty acids, such as fish oils, as supplements.
Popular anti-inflammatory diets often oversimplify the relative contribution of different omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids to the inflammatory response. Since arachidonic acid can be produced in the body from other omega-6 precursors, a broad recommendation is typically made to limit omega-6 intake from all sources, even though some omega-6 precursors, such as GLA, are anti-inflammatory. Similarly, since EPA can be produced from other omega-3 precursors, a broad recommendation to increase intake in general from all omega-3 sources is common, even though short-chain omega-3s are converted to EPA to a limited degree only.
Clinical studies have shown the most promise for increasing food and supplemental sources of EPA and other long-chain omega-3s, beginning at about 500 mg/day for heart disease prevention and up to 3,000 mg/day for clinical anti-inflammatory effects. Reducing dietary sources of arachidonic acid by minimizing animal fats and flesh has some support, as well. GLA has shown promise as a supplement in amounts beginning at about 1,000 mg/day, but it is not present in edible foods. Flaxseed and its oil are rich in short-chain omega-3 and have some
healthful properties, but flaxseed oil was ineffective in the only clinical trial to date that investigated effects on a chronic inflammatory disease.
Clearly, the best evidence for designing the fatty acid contribution of an anti-inflammatory diet is to increase EPA intake from marine sources such as oily fish (salmon, sardines, herring, trout, black cod) and oysters, aiming for consuming these foods several times a week, and to reduce dietary sources of arachidonic acid (meat, high-fat milk and cheese products, eggs) as much as possible. This was demonstrated well in a randomized controlled trial in rheumatoid arthritis patients that found benefits from either a diet low in arachidonic acid or supplementation with fish oils—but an even larger clinical effect when both strategies were combined.
Switching to Plants
Plant-based foods are the richest dietary sources of substances known to affect the biology of inflammation, such as antioxidants and phenolics, which include the flavonoid family. The Mediterranean diet, with its emphasis on unprocessed plant-based foods and phenolic-rich olive oil, as well as recommending seafood as a preferred source of animal protein and fat, has emerged as a healthful anti-inflammatory diet. (To view Mediterranean Diet Food Pyramid, go to www.mediterraneandiet.com/tag/new-mediterranean-pyramid/.)
This diet has not only been found helpful for the prevention of heart disease through anti-inflammatory and other mechanisms, but has even helped reduce symptoms and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The Mediterranean diet and probably other, similar plant-based diets are certainly legitimate models for an anti-inflammatory diet.
Reducing Allergic Response
The role of food allergy in inflammatory disease has primarily focused on disorders of joints, such as rheumatoid arthritis; of the intestine, such as Crohn’s disease; and of the skin, as in atopic dermatitis. While benefits from food allergy identification and avoidance have been frequently demonstrated in individual cases and some clinical trials, controversy persists due to lack of double-blind challenges to confirm true sensitivities in most research. Of course, most dietary interventions cannot easily be concealed from subjects in a clinical trial, so placebo effects could explain the positive results on symptoms reported in these studies. Nonetheless, at least one rheumatoid arthritis trial has demonstrated persistent benefits of a low-allergen diet for up to one year.
A Combined Approach
Clinical benefits of anti-inflammatory diets may be due to a combination of the above mechanisms. Researchers in Sweden and other countries have shown that a “vegan diet free of gluten” has positive effects on symptoms and clinical signs of inflammatory diseases in trials lasting as long as one year. Such a diet would be void of arachidonic acid; free of potentially allergenic wheat, dairy and egg products; and high in plant-based antioxidants and other potentially anti-inflammatory phytonutrients. Similarly, the Mediterranean diet will typically have a more favorable omega-3/omega-6 fatty acid balance and might significantly limit potential allergens from animal-based foods. Clearly, there is more than one way to design an anti-inflammatory diet or to explain the benefits of such an approach.
Dr. Gerber is associate professor of clinical sciences at Western States Chiropractic College (WSCC) and is the lead instructor for WSCC nutrition courses. He has authored conservative care pathway protocols for treating dyslipidemia and obesity, as well as for using specialized supplements for treating joint disorders and musculoskeletal trauma. Dr. Gerber can be reached at jgerber@wschiro.edu.
Sources
1. Adam O, Beringer C, Kless T, et al. Anti-inflammatory effects of a low arachidonic acid diet and fish oil in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatol Int 2003 Jan;23(1):27-36.
2. Gamlin L, Brostoff J. Food sensitivity and rheumatoid arthritis. Env Toxicol Pharmacol 1997;4:43-49.
3. Harris WS, Mozaffarian D, Rimm E, et al. Omega-6 fatty acids and risk for cardiovascular disease: a science advisory from the American Heart Association Nutrition Subcommittee of the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism; Council on Cardiovascular Nursing; and Council on Epidemiology and Prevention. Circulation 2009 Feb 17;119(6):902-7.
4. Hafström I, Ringertz B, Spångberg A, et al. A vegan diet free of gluten improves the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis: the effects on arthritis correlate with a reduction in antibodies to food antigens. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2001 Oct;40(10):1175-9.
5. Kapoor R, Huang YS. Gamma linolenic acid: an antiinflammatory omega-6 fatty acid. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2006 Dec;7(6):531-4.
6. Pischon T, Hankinson SE, Hotamisligil GS, Rifai N, Willett WC, Rimm EB. Habitual dietary intake of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in relation to inflammatory markers among US men and women. Circulation 2003 Jul 15;108(2):155-60.
7. Skoldstam L, Hagfors L, Johansson G. An experimental study of a Mediterranean diet intervention for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2003;62:208-14.
By James Gerber, MS, DC.
Reproduced from the February 2010 issue of ACA News, a publication of the American Chiropractic Association.
The pathological process of inflammation has been understood for decades, but only recently health conditions not previously associated with inflammation, such as heart disease, cancer and degenerative brain disease, have been linked with this process. As a result, there has been an expansion of interest in discovering how anti-inflammatory interventions might help in the prevention or management of many diseases.
Natural approaches to achieving anti-inflammatory effects through the diet typically include: 1) an attempt to shift dietary fatty acid intake to reduce pro-inflammatory products of fatty acid metabolism, 2) an increased intake of plant-based foods that are naturally high in antioxidants and other anti-inflammatory phytonutrients and 3) a search for potentially allergenic foods, which, when eliminated, may lower systemic immune responses that promote inflammation. Let’s consider each of these strategies, the evidence supporting their rationale and the steps needed to implement them.
The Complexity of Fatty Acids
Fatty acids, specifically certain members of the omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated families, are precursors of eicosanoids such as prostaglandins that have many influences on local tissues, including the mediation of inflammatory mechanisms. One of the omega-6 family, arachidonic acid, can be converted to a variety of powerful promoters of inflammation, while conversion of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA, another omega-6 fatty acid) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid) does not help promote inflammation to any considerable degree.
Since these precursors compete with each other for conversion to their respective eicosanoid products, a relative anti-inflammatory balance would be achieved by minimizing arachidonic acid and/or maximizing GLA and EPA in the diet. This is the rationale for modifying fatty acid intake in the anti-inflammatory diet, as well as for the use of anti-inflammatory fatty acids, such as fish oils, as supplements.
Popular anti-inflammatory diets often oversimplify the relative contribution of different omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids to the inflammatory response. Since arachidonic acid can be produced in the body from other omega-6 precursors, a broad recommendation is typically made to limit omega-6 intake from all sources, even though some omega-6 precursors, such as GLA, are anti-inflammatory. Similarly, since EPA can be produced from other omega-3 precursors, a broad recommendation to increase intake in general from all omega-3 sources is common, even though short-chain omega-3s are converted to EPA to a limited degree only.
Clinical studies have shown the most promise for increasing food and supplemental sources of EPA and other long-chain omega-3s, beginning at about 500 mg/day for heart disease prevention and up to 3,000 mg/day for clinical anti-inflammatory effects. Reducing dietary sources of arachidonic acid by minimizing animal fats and flesh has some support, as well. GLA has shown promise as a supplement in amounts beginning at about 1,000 mg/day, but it is not present in edible foods. Flaxseed and its oil are rich in short-chain omega-3 and have some
healthful properties, but flaxseed oil was ineffective in the only clinical trial to date that investigated effects on a chronic inflammatory disease.
Clearly, the best evidence for designing the fatty acid contribution of an anti-inflammatory diet is to increase EPA intake from marine sources such as oily fish (salmon, sardines, herring, trout, black cod) and oysters, aiming for consuming these foods several times a week, and to reduce dietary sources of arachidonic acid (meat, high-fat milk and cheese products, eggs) as much as possible. This was demonstrated well in a randomized controlled trial in rheumatoid arthritis patients that found benefits from either a diet low in arachidonic acid or supplementation with fish oils—but an even larger clinical effect when both strategies were combined.
Switching to Plants
Plant-based foods are the richest dietary sources of substances known to affect the biology of inflammation, such as antioxidants and phenolics, which include the flavonoid family. The Mediterranean diet, with its emphasis on unprocessed plant-based foods and phenolic-rich olive oil, as well as recommending seafood as a preferred source of animal protein and fat, has emerged as a healthful anti-inflammatory diet. (To view Mediterranean Diet Food Pyramid, go to www.mediterraneandiet.com/tag/new-mediterranean-pyramid/.)
This diet has not only been found helpful for the prevention of heart disease through anti-inflammatory and other mechanisms, but has even helped reduce symptoms and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The Mediterranean diet and probably other, similar plant-based diets are certainly legitimate models for an anti-inflammatory diet.
Reducing Allergic Response
The role of food allergy in inflammatory disease has primarily focused on disorders of joints, such as rheumatoid arthritis; of the intestine, such as Crohn’s disease; and of the skin, as in atopic dermatitis. While benefits from food allergy identification and avoidance have been frequently demonstrated in individual cases and some clinical trials, controversy persists due to lack of double-blind challenges to confirm true sensitivities in most research. Of course, most dietary interventions cannot easily be concealed from subjects in a clinical trial, so placebo effects could explain the positive results on symptoms reported in these studies. Nonetheless, at least one rheumatoid arthritis trial has demonstrated persistent benefits of a low-allergen diet for up to one year.
A Combined Approach
Clinical benefits of anti-inflammatory diets may be due to a combination of the above mechanisms. Researchers in Sweden and other countries have shown that a “vegan diet free of gluten” has positive effects on symptoms and clinical signs of inflammatory diseases in trials lasting as long as one year. Such a diet would be void of arachidonic acid; free of potentially allergenic wheat, dairy and egg products; and high in plant-based antioxidants and other potentially anti-inflammatory phytonutrients. Similarly, the Mediterranean diet will typically have a more favorable omega-3/omega-6 fatty acid balance and might significantly limit potential allergens from animal-based foods. Clearly, there is more than one way to design an anti-inflammatory diet or to explain the benefits of such an approach.
Dr. Gerber is associate professor of clinical sciences at Western States Chiropractic College (WSCC) and is the lead instructor for WSCC nutrition courses. He has authored conservative care pathway protocols for treating dyslipidemia and obesity, as well as for using specialized supplements for treating joint disorders and musculoskeletal trauma. Dr. Gerber can be reached at jgerber@wschiro.edu.
Sources
1. Adam O, Beringer C, Kless T, et al. Anti-inflammatory effects of a low arachidonic acid diet and fish oil in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatol Int 2003 Jan;23(1):27-36.
2. Gamlin L, Brostoff J. Food sensitivity and rheumatoid arthritis. Env Toxicol Pharmacol 1997;4:43-49.
3. Harris WS, Mozaffarian D, Rimm E, et al. Omega-6 fatty acids and risk for cardiovascular disease: a science advisory from the American Heart Association Nutrition Subcommittee of the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism; Council on Cardiovascular Nursing; and Council on Epidemiology and Prevention. Circulation 2009 Feb 17;119(6):902-7.
4. Hafström I, Ringertz B, Spångberg A, et al. A vegan diet free of gluten improves the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis: the effects on arthritis correlate with a reduction in antibodies to food antigens. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2001 Oct;40(10):1175-9.
5. Kapoor R, Huang YS. Gamma linolenic acid: an antiinflammatory omega-6 fatty acid. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2006 Dec;7(6):531-4.
6. Pischon T, Hankinson SE, Hotamisligil GS, Rifai N, Willett WC, Rimm EB. Habitual dietary intake of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in relation to inflammatory markers among US men and women. Circulation 2003 Jul 15;108(2):155-60.
7. Skoldstam L, Hagfors L, Johansson G. An experimental study of a Mediterranean diet intervention for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2003;62:208-14.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Patients in Medicare Demonstration Project Give Chiropractors High Marks
A Press Release from the American Chiropractic Association
According to long-awaited results from a congressionally mandated pilot project testing the feasibility of expanding chiropractic services in the Medicare program, patients have a high rate of satisfaction with the care they receive from Doctors of Chiropractic.
When asked to rate their satisfaction on a 10-point scale, 87 percent of patients in the study gave their Doctor of Chiropractic a level of 8 or higher. What’s more, 56 percent of those patients rated their chiropractor with a perfect 10.
Contributing to that satisfaction was the attention given to patients’ needs and the accessibility of chiropractic care. Patients reported that doctors of chiropractic listened to them carefully and spent sufficient time with them. Some 95 percent said they had to wait no longer than one week for appointments.
“Doctors of Chiropractic everywhere should feel pride in these patient satisfaction results and in being part of a profession that still sees the great need for spending time with patients and truly listening to them,” said Dr. Rick McMichael, president of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). “It’s clear that patients deeply value the time their chiropractic providers spend with them and the expert care that Doctors of Chiropractic offer.” ACA is the largest chiropractic organization in the United States, representing more than 15,000 Doctors of Chiropractic and students.
The pilot, known as a “demonstration project” in Congress, was conducted from April 2005 to March 2007 throughout the states of Maine and New Mexico, and also in Scott County, Iowa, 26 counties comprising the Chicago metropolitan area, and 17 counties in central Virginia.
Current chiropractic coverage under Medicare is limited to spinal manipulation. Under the demonstration project, however, chiropractic care was expanded to include diagnostic and other services, such as X-rays, examinations, physical therapy and rehabilitation services.
The final report to Congress also includes information on the costs of expanding chiropractic services in the demonstration sites. The report indicates that in all but one of the demonstration sites, patients’ health care costs were not significantly changed by expanding coverage of chiropractic services. In contrast, a cost increase was found in the Chicago metropolitan area. Further research into the reasons why the results in Chicago differ from the rest of the demonstration project sites is needed to better understand these findings.
“We already know that Medicare costs in general tend to be higher in Chicago than other similar areas of the country. We must find the underlying cause of the cost difference found in the chiropractic demonstration project and determine whether it had anything at all to do with the expansion of chiropractic services,” Dr. McMichael noted.
To further analyze the results of the demonstration project, ACA is creating a taskforce of Medicare experts and researchers who will review the report and develop a response for the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services.
To view the report online, visit www.acatoday.org/pdf/demo_report.pdf.
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