Comments on: Chiropractic May Reduce Deaths And Injuries From Falls Among Older People

By: Boston Chiropractor

Boston Chiropractor — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 21:29:35 +0000

It is fantastic that these studies are being followed and published. We need more of this to add to the collection of case studies to help the public become more aware of the benefits of chiropractic care. The improvement in balance and proprioception with older patients is such an incredible help to them. Good article!

By: Schotzko Chiropractic

Schotzko Chiropractic — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:47:25 +0000

It amazes me how many of our elderly patients report having much better movement and balance as part of their health benefits of chiropractic yet we hear almost nothing from the medical profession about it as a preventative measure. I would be curious to see any articles about forward head posture and elderly people leading to a decrease of mechanoreception into the cerebellum.

By: Better Health Chiropractic

Better Health Chiropractic — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 09:33:53 +0000

It really is no wonder that chiropractic can help lessen incidences of deaths and injuries among the elderly. Chiropractic, after all, helps improve balance and strength.

By: Frank M. Painter, D.C.

Frank M. Painter, D.C. — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 22:01:28 +0000

Hugo, That was a rather caustic comment. If you are so scientific, why did you fail to offer any evidence of my ever having done that? ("manipulate what you read to (be) favorable to us") I'm also curious why you didn't respond to my original comments to you? You do not appear anywhere on Google, especially not as a DC practicing anywhere. Most curious. Please respond to the e-mail I sent you, before you post here again. This is, after all, a Doctor's forum.

By: Daniel Bockmann, DC

Daniel Bockmann, DC — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 21:58:05 +0000

Wow — thanks for all the resources, Frank! I’m looking forward to reading these.

By: Frank M. Painter, D.C.

Frank M. Painter, D.C. — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 21:22:08 +0000

Hi Daniel

I agree that joint neurology is the most interesting topic, and perhaps the best window for viewing the power of the chiropractic adjustment.

Here are some links to articles I have collected over the years:

http://www.chiro.org/research/ABSTRACTS/Exploring_the_Neuromodulatory_Effects.shtml

http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/ABSTRACTS/Neurophysiological_Effects_of_Spinal_Manipulation.shtml

http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/ABSTRACTS/Response_of_Muscle_Proprioceptors.shtml

http://www.chiro.org/research/ABSTRACTS/Preliminary_Morphological_Evidence.shtml

http://www.chiro.org/research/ABSTRACTS/Manual_Therapy_With_and_Without_Vestibular.shtml

http://www.chiro.org/research/ABSTRACTS/Improvement_in_Ataxia.shtml

http://www.chiro.org/research/ABSTRACTS/Cervicocephalic_Kinesthetic_Sensibility.shtml

http://www.chiro.org/research/ABSTRACTS/Cervical_Kinesthesia.shtml

http://www.chiro.org/research/ABSTRACTS/Vestibular_Diseases.shtml

http://www.chiro.org/research/ABSTRACTS/Reflex_Effects_of_Subluxation.shtml

http://www.chiro.org/ChiroZine/ABSTRACTS/Seaman_dysafferentiation.shtml

AND my personal all-time favorite:

http://www.chiro.org/research/ABSTRACTS/Visceral_Disease_Simulation.shtml

By: Daniel Bockmann, DC

Daniel Bockmann, DC — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 15:49:05 +0000

I would like to see some more direct comparisons of proprioceptive function before and after manipulation – perhaps after a single manip, then after a series of manipulations over some time frame.

While we’ve correlated some clinical outcomes with manipulations with research, to my knowledge we’re not really sure WHY manipulation helps. The “bone-on-nerve” and “garden hose” hypotheses don’t hold much water for me, and the generic “to improve joint function” rationale, while it may be true, doesn’t really explain anything either.

CMT is a fast stretch of a joint, and thus can be objectively proven to increase joint ROM. Since both muscle spindles and golgi tendon organs report data about joint stretch, and therefore joint position, I think it makes sense to run some studies on whether CMT affects proprioception in any way.

By: Hugo Stiglitz, DC

Hugo Stiglitz, DC — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:39:04 +0000

As usual Frank you manipulate what you read to favorable to us and when a topic comes up negative, it has to be the PT’s and DO’s doing the bad stuff. You’re quite the scientist Frank.

Basic research is like shooting an arrow into the air and, where it lands,
painting a target.
— Homer Burton Adkins (1892-1949, American organic chemist)

See My Reply Below

By: Frank M. Painter, D.C.

Frank M. Painter, D.C. — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:51:32 +0000

Dr. Stiglitz

If you have a subscription to JMPT, you can access the Full-Text article, to determine how many of the 11 articles they discuss may have been related to care provided by DCs vs. other manual providers.

Even so, the discussion is that improved joint function appears to improve balance. Chiropractors pride themselves on being the Masters of manipulation/adjusting, and the research bears that out nicely.

Although the RAND report is dated now, at least in the 90s they found that more than 90% of ALL SMT was being provided by DCs, so John is not really “stretching it”.

By: Hugo Stiglitz, DC

Hugo Stiglitz, DC — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 22:56:09 +0000

The article says Manual Therapy, not Chiropractic. “a manual therapy component” only infers CMT. You’re stretching it John.

By: Russell Berg D.C.

Russell Berg D.C. — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 22:49:14 +0000

It would only make sense that spinal manipuation would help with the proprioception and mechanics that would improve balance. Athletes that utilized chiropractic will tell you receiving adjustments helps with their particular sport including balance.