Chiropractic and Degenerative Disc Disease

Chiropractic research on disc degeneration has gained attention in recent years. Several studies have explored the effectiveness of chiropractic care in managing disc degeneration and related symptoms. Here are some key findings from relevant research: A systematic review published in The Spine Journal in 2018 assessed the outcomes of chiropractic treatment for degenerative disc disease. The study concluded that chiropractic care can provide significant improvements in pain reduction and functional outcomes for patients with disc degeneration. Another study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics in 2014 evaluated the long-term effects of chiropractic care for chronic low back pain, including disc degeneration. The findings suggested that chiropractic treatment can lead to sustained improvements in pain and disability over a one-year period. In a randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics in 2009, researchers compared the effectiveness of chiropractic care and exercise therapy for chronic low back pain with disc degeneration. The study concluded that both treatments can provide significant pain relief, but chiropractic care showed additional benefits in terms of disability reduction. 

While these studies suggest that chiropractic care can be beneficial for individuals with disc degeneration, it is important to note that individual outcomes may vary. It is advisable to consult with a qualified chiropractor or healthcare professional to determine the most appropriate treatment approach for your specific condition.

Red Light Therapy and Restorative Sleep

 Sleep struggles are an epidemic, and the consequences to your health are immense.

Red Light Therapy (aka: low level light therapy, LLLT and photobiomodulation, PBM) can support your natural sleep cycles and lead to more energized days.

In this article, adapted from Red Dot LED, click here for full article, we will dive a bit deeper into the concept of red light therapy and its impact on sleep.

Red light therapy is the use of precise wavelengths, specifically visible red light and invisible near-infrared light, to stimulate beneficial cellular responses. The photons (light “cells”) penetrate the skin and are absorbed by the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cells. This absorption process triggers a series of cellular reactions that can have positive effects on different bodily processes, like:

• skin health
• pain mitigation and/or relief
• anti-inflammatory product production
• exercise performance / recovery
• mood enhancement
• sleep enhancement

How Red Light Therapy Enhances Restorative Sleep?

For sleep specifically, red light therapy helps by:

• Balances Circadian Rhythms – Red light exposure at strategic times can help “reset” your internal clock for a more consistent wake/sleep cycle.[1]
• Eases Insomnia – Red and near-infrared light can help calm the hyperactive brain wave activity linked to insomnia, allowing you to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.[2]
• Supports the Natural Release of Melatonin – Light therapy helps to regulate healthy melatonin release, improving sleep onset and quality without disrupting next-day energy.[3]
• Reduces Anxiety/Depression – Red light can help to elevate mood and relaxation by boosting serotonin and endorphin levels naturally. [4]
• Enhances Mitochondrial Function – Better cellular energy means you maintain alertness during the day, and avoid restless nights trying to replenish your “batteries”.

Light therapy works cumulatively over several weeks to deliver lasting sleep improvements instead of quick fixes. Red light is 100% natural and safe to use nightly without building tolerance or dependence, a boon compared to OTC or prescription sleep aids! (Of course, medical sleep interventions like sedatives or melatonin supplements have their place for acute issues.  ALWAYS talk to your health care provider before stopping any medication and before starting any new intervention.)

Learn more here

Schedule your LED light therapy session(s) here

Contact Dr. C for more information here

References:

[1]Sophie M Faulkner, Penny E Bee et al. Light therapies to improve sleep in intrinsic circadian rhythm sleep disorders and neuro-psychiatric illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Med Rev. 2019 Aug;46:108-123.

[2]Annette van Maanen, Anne Marie Meijer et al. The effects of light therapy on sleep problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Med Rev. 2016 Oct;29:52-62.

[3]Jiexiu Zhao, Ye Tian et al. Red Light and the Sleep Quality and Endurance Performance of Chinese Female Basketball Players. J Athl Train. 2012 Nov-Dec; 47(6): 673–678.

[4]Emad Eshaghi, Saeed Sadigh-Eteghad, et al. Transcranial photobiomodulation prevents anxiety and depression via changing serotonin and nitric oxide levels in brain of depression model mice: A study of three different doses of 810 nm laser. Lasers Surg Med. 2019 Sep;51(7):634-642

Yoga for Wellbeing

While we didn’t need new research to tell us that stress levels across the globe have increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other world traumas, here is some positive news!

2024 has revealed promising studies demonstrating that yoga as a complementary therapy to traditional counseling, to assist in improving feelings of well-being, as well as potentially improving sleep quality and social connectedness, among other beneficial effects.

Three recent (2024) studies found that yoga significantly reduced feelings of stress and improved feelings of well-being:

In a study newly published in the March 2024 issue of Acta Psychologica journal, individuals who practiced a particular yoga focused on yogic breathing demonstrated a significant reduction in stress scores following the yoga participation. 

In February 2024, an online study reported in Frontiers in Public Health revealed that in another form of yoga focused on postural yoga with chanting, breathing (prāṇāyāma) and meditation, participants reported significantly lower levels of stress and mental distress, as well as higher levels of well-being than individuals who were not practitioners of yoga.

Finally,  the well-being effects of yoga were also examined in the January 2024 issue of the Journal of Health Psychology, which reported on a 6-week randomized controlled trial (RCT), the gold standard of research. In this study, a specific yoga intervention improved participants’ extrinsic affect (ability to express emotions) and their self-compassion, as well as their spiritual well-being.

The Takeaway:

Practicing your preferred form yoga and/or mindfulness regularly can help lower stress and improve your sense of well-being.

And, as always:

• check with your health care practitioner before you start any new health program
• start slow
• schedule it in your calendar to make it a consistent habit
• be present for yourself and your practice

Adapted from Psychology Today, see full article here.

Greens are good for your Grey Matter

Spinach may be a nutritional powerhouse that feeds the body, and the mind. A new study finds adding more spinach and other leafy greens to your diet could slow down cognitive decline as you age.

Be like Popeye…

Researchers followed more than 950 older adults for up to a decade. At the start, participants filled out detailed questionnaires about their daily food and beverage intake. Then, they underwent a battery of tests annually to assess cognitive abilities.

The researchers found that men and women who ate one to two servings of green leafy vegetables per day had the cognitive ability of a person 11 years younger than those who consumed none. They looked more closely at individual nutrients and found that vitamin K, lutein, folate and beta-carotene were most likely helping to preserve brain function.

The lead researcher says, “increasing consumption of green leafy vegetables could offer a very simple, affordable and non-invasive way of potentially protecting your brain from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.”

From MedLine Plus

Chiropractic and Degenerative Disc Disease

Chiropractic Care for Arthritis Pain

Many studies support chiropractic to be effective in pain management, patient satisfaction and cost containment when compared to pharmaceutical as well as other forms of health care for those with arthritic pain.

View full article from Arthritis Health here.

There are a variety of manual (hands-on) therapies that some people find helpful in managing their arthritis symptoms. One of the more common treatments include manual manipulation, which is one very common form of chiropractic care.

Chiropractic and Arthritis

Chiropractors have become an integral part in pain management, frequently working side-by-side with massage therapists, acupuncturists, medical doctors, physical therapists, and others in a group or multidisciplinary setting.

While some people with arthritis say they benefit from chiropractic manipulation, certain types of manipulation such as the commonly employed “high velocity low amplitude” (HVLA) thrust manipulation (this is the type that commonly leads to the joint “popping” sound) can carry serious risks for certain people, such as those with active, inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis and those experiencing certain stages of ankylosing spondylitis. Luckily, there are many choices chiropractors have to reduce the likelihood or risk of serious side effects ( drop table, instrument assisted adjustments, joint distraction and mobilization, to name a few).

Better joint motion => improved quality of life

Along with joint manipulation, chiropractors have a number of other tools that can be beneficial in reducing inflammation, reducing chronic pain and improving joint motion, thereby improving your quality of life!

Talk to your provider about things you can do / they can do, to help relieve the joint pain associated with arthritis.

Contact / Schedule with Dr. Caroleigh here

References:

Muller R, Giles LGF. Long-term follow-up of a randomized clinical trial assessing the efficacy of medication, acupuncture, and spinal manipulation for chronic mechanical spinal pain syndromes. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2005;1(28):3-11.

Sarnat RL, Winterstein J, Cambron JA. Clinical utilization and cost outcomes from an integrative medicine independent physician association: An additional 3-year update. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2007 (May);4(30):263-269.

Shengelia R, Parker SJ, Ballin M, George T, Reid MC. Complementary therapies for osteoarthritis: are they effective? Pain Manag Nurs. 2013 Dec;14(4):e274-88. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2012.01.001. Epub 2012 Mar 21. Review. PubMed PMID: 24315281; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3857560.

Chiropractic Care for Arthritis Pain

Many studies support chiropractic to be effective in pain management, patient satisfaction and cost containment when compared to pharmaceutical as well as other forms of health care for those with arthritic pain.

View full article from Arthritis Health here.

There are a variety of manual (hands-on) therapies that some people find helpful in managing their arthritis symptoms. One of the more common treatments include manual manipulation, which is one very common form of chiropractic care.

Chiropractic and Arthritis

Chiropractors have become an integral part in pain management, frequently working side-by-side with massage therapists, acupuncturists, medical doctors, physical therapists, and others in a group or multidisciplinary setting.

While some people with arthritis say they benefit from chiropractic manipulation, certain types of manipulation such as the commonly employed “high velocity low amplitude” (HVLA) thrust manipulation (this is the type that commonly leads to the joint “popping” sound) can carry serious risks for certain people, such as those with active, inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis and those experiencing certain stages of ankylosing spondylitis. Luckily, there are many choices chiropractors have to reduce the likelihood or risk of serious side effects ( drop table, instrument assisted adjustments, joint distraction and mobilization, to name a few).

Better joint motion => improved quality of life

Along with joint manipulation, chiropractors have a number of other tools that can be beneficial in reducing inflammation, reducing chronic pain and improving joint motion, thereby improving your quality of life!

Talk to your provider about things you can do / they can do, to help relieve the joint pain associated with arthritis.

Contact / Schedule with Dr. Caroleigh here

References:

Muller R, Giles LGF. Long-term follow-up of a randomized clinical trial assessing the efficacy of medication, acupuncture, and spinal manipulation for chronic mechanical spinal pain syndromes. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2005;1(28):3-11.

Sarnat RL, Winterstein J, Cambron JA. Clinical utilization and cost outcomes from an integrative medicine independent physician association: An additional 3-year update. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2007 (May);4(30):263-269.

Shengelia R, Parker SJ, Ballin M, George T, Reid MC. Complementary therapies for osteoarthritis: are they effective? Pain Manag Nurs. 2013 Dec;14(4):e274-88. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2012.01.001. Epub 2012 Mar 21. Review. PubMed PMID: 24315281; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3857560.

Love your heart – lose weight

 

Carrying too much body fat is generally not good for your health, especially if it’s around the midsection.  A quick check of that is to take a tape measure and measure your waist, which is right at the level of your belly button.  The American Heart Association recommends that women be less than 35 inches and then the less than 40 inches.  This weight around your midsection is especially bad because it is around and in(!) your internal organs.  Excess body fat increases your risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol and diabetes.

 

Love your heart – lose weight

 

Carrying too much body fat is generally not good for your health, especially if it’s around the midsection.  A quick check of that is to take a tape measure and measure your waist, which is right at the level of your belly button.  The American Heart Association recommends that women be less than 35 inches and then the less than 40 inches.  This weight around your midsection is especially bad because it is around and in(!) your internal organs.  Excess body fat increases your risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol and diabetes.

 

Love your heart – know your numbers

 

The American Heart Association has identified the following 3 measurement as important risk indicators for heart disease:

• Blood pressure.  Of the one in 3 adult Americans that have high blood pressure, 21% don’t know they even have it!  Know what your blood pressure is.  Keep track of it and maintain it at a level you and your doctor have discussed.  Pay particular attention to the 1^st number (systolic blood pressure) as it indicates the amount of pressure placed on your arteries when your heart beats (as opposed to the bottom number, or diastolic blood pressure, when the heart is at rest).

For most Americans this means having the 3 sequential blood pressure readings with a systolic rating of less than 120 mm Hg and diastolic rating of less than 80 mm Hg.

 

• Blood cholesterol.  The most recent numbers from the AHA recommends that your total cholesterol should be below 200 mg per dL.  Consult with your doctor to see if you’re able to moderate your cholesterol levels naturally by eating foods full of heart healthy fats, lower in saturated fat and definitely trans fat-free.

• Blood glucose.  Though controllable, adults with diabetes are 2 to 4 times more likely to have heart disease or stroke than the adults without diabetes.  Your fasting blood glucose should be below 100 mg per dL of blood.  Ask your doctor for a quick blood glucose test to make sure you are within healthy range.

Luckily following the other 4 steps in the simple 7 criteria will help to decrease all of these blood related numbers into a healthier range.