CHIROPRACTIC CARE MAY PREVENT BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH COLIC
 
Infants who suffer from colic often experience long-term behavioral problems, even after they recover from the disorder. Fortunately, a new study reveals that chiropractic care doubles a child’s odds of being spared these long-term problems.
 
The study compared 117 post-colicky toddlers who had received chiropractic care for colic during infancy and 111 post-colicky toddlers who had not received chiropractic care.
 
The study found that “toddlers who were treated with chiropractic care for colic were twice as likely to not experience long-term sequelae of infant colic, such as temper tantrums … and frequent nocturnal waking …than those who were not treated with chiropractic care as colicky infants.”
 
“Untreated post-colicky infants demonstrated negative behavioral patterns at 2 to 3 years of age,” conclude the authors. “In this study, parents of infants treated with chiropractic care for excessive crying did not report as many difficult behavioral and sleep patterns of their toddlers. These findings suggest that chiropractic care for infants with colic may have an effect on long-term sequelae.”
 
JMPT – October 2009;32:635-8.
www.jmptonline.org
 
 
 
STUDY LOOKS AT VERTEBRAL SUBLUXATIONS IN PREADOLESCENTS WITH NECK PAIN AND HEADACHE
 
Neck pain and headache in preadolescents is linked with vertebral subluxation in the lower cervical spine, according to a new analysis.
 
As part of the study, 131 students, ages 10 to 13 years, completed questionnaires to determine if they suffered from neck pain and/or headache. In addition, “A physical examination was performed by a doctor of chiropractic to establish head posture, active cervical rotation, passive cervical joint functioning, and muscle impairment.”
 
According to results: “Forty percent of the children (n = 52) reported neck pain and/or recurrent headache. Neck pain and/or headache were not associated with forward head posture, impaired functioning in cervical paraspinal muscles, and joint dysfunction in the upper and middle cervical spine in these subjects. However, joint dysfunction in the lower cervical spine was significantly associated with neck pain and/or headache in these preadolescents. Most of the students had nonsymptomatic biomechanical dysfunction of the upper cervical spine. There was a wide variation between parental report and the child's self-report of trauma history and neck pain and/or headache prevalence.”
 
JMPT – October 2009;32:625-34.
www.jmptonline.org
 
 
 
GENETIC COMPONENT TO BACK AND NECK PAIN
 
Genetics may play a factor in a person’s risk of developing neck or back pain, according to a study in Arthritis & Rheumatism.
 
The Danish study enrolled 15,328 twins (44% monozygotic and 56% dizygotic), ages 20 to 71 years.
 
Genetic susceptibility explained about 38% of lumbar pain. In addition, hereditary accounted for 32% of thoracic pain, and 39% of neck pain. Genes played a more significant role in women than in men.
 
The study’s authors also point out that genetics appear to be the most important factor in predicting the progress of degenerative disc disease. And, that genes play a significant role in predicting both chronic and intermittent pain.
 
Arthritis & Rheumatism – October 2009;61:1343-51.
www.rheumatology.org
 
 
 
DARK CHOCOLATE MAY LOWER EMOTIONAL STRESS
 
Why do some people crave chocolate when they are feeling overwhelmed? There is scientific evidence that dark chocolate may lower emotional stress, according to a study published in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Proteome Research.
 
Specifically, researchers found that eating 40 grams (1.4 ounces) of dark chocolate a day for two weeks reduced levels of stress hormones in people who reported being highly stressed. Eating dark chocolate also partially corrected other stress-related biochemical imbalances.
 
Journal of Proteome Research – October 7;Epub.
pubs.acs.org/journal/jprobs
 
 
 
LOW-CARB DIETS NOT GOOD FOR MOOD
 
A low-calorie, low-fat diet appears more beneficial to dieters’ mood than a low-carbohydrate plan with the same number of calories, according to a report in the this week’s issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
 
“While recent clinical studies have shown that low-carbohydrate diets can be an effective alternative dietary approach for weight loss, their long-term effects on psychological function, including mood and cognition, have been poorly studied,” explain the study’s authors.
 
The experiment enrolled 106 overweight and obese participants who were an average age of 50. Of these, 55 were assigned to follow a very–low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet and 51 to a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet. Both diets included the same amount of calories.
 
After one year, the overall average weight loss was 13.7 kilograms (about 30.2 pounds), with no difference between the two groups. Both groups initially (after the first eight weeks) experienced an improvement in mood. However, most measurements of mood revealed a lasting improvement in only those following the low-fat diet, while those on the high-fat diet returned to their initial levels.
 
Archives of Internal Medicine – November 9, 2009;169:1873-80.
http://archinte.ama-assn.org/

Highlands Ranch Chiropractor, Dr. Rob Anderson, Doctor of Chiropractic, specializes in family health, sports performance, spine degeneration, disc injuries, disc herniation, children's health, ear infections, correction, traction, decompression, headaches, back, neck, and shoulder pain.  He has served as the Chair for the Douglas County Health Advisory Committee, as Director of Sport Sensory Performance for HitStreak Baseball Academy, as Team Doctor for Highlands Ranch High School and Valor Christian High School and been honored to be a guest speaker for many local groups and businesses.  He also owns and operates the Vitality Performance ZONE in Centennial which teaches elite athletes to dominate their sport with enhanced vision techniques, reaction time, hand-eye coordination, breathing enhancements, balance and coordination.   He serves practice members from Castle Rock, Englewood, Littleton, Centennial, Denver, Lakewood, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree.  He is seen by his colleagues and practice members as the Best of the Best in Chiropractic in Colorado.