Chiropractic care is a holistic treatment in that the body as a whole is treated, rather than just isolated problems. Its main focus is on aligning the skeletal system so that ligaments, nerves, muscles, tendons and internal organs can operate optimally. By correcting spinal alignment, pain is able to be eased. The immune system also benefits greatly from this practice, as it is connected to the nervous system which in turn is responsible for performing all bodily functions.

A chiropractor is able to correct spinal abnormalities called vertebral subluxations. These subluxations interfere with the functioning of the nervous system by placing pressure on the nerves. If the nervous system is not functioning as it should, it results in the breakdown of the immune system. This can lead to the body becoming more susceptible to illness and viruses.

People who have regular chiropractic adjustments have up to a 200% stronger immune system than those who don`t. Children experience fewer bouts of flu and ear infection. Those suffering from prenatal discomfort, migraines or tension headaches, and back or neck pain can benefit greatly from chiropractic adjustment.

There are many more forms of chiropractic care than subluxation therapy. These include:

Preventative care therapy:

Manipulations, exercise and adjustments are done to prevent re-injury after recovering from a health complaint.

Maintenance care therapy:

This may involve regular adjustment and manipulative treatment to keep the patient healthy. It can be in the form of massages, specific exercises, weekly manipulations or complimentary herbal remedies.

Massage therapy:

Some chiropractors use this as a supplemental way to ease pain that may be aggravating skeletal alignment.

Home therapy:

This may involve having the patient do simple treatments at home after having chiropractic adjustment. These include, but are not limited to, specific exercises, the use of heating pads or ice packs and suggestions to improve sitting and standing postures that help eliminate further discomfort.

Intensive care therapy:

After the initial examination, this is the therapy used to address the problem at hand. It may involve questions regarding lifestyle habits, dietary habits, exercise habits and the suspected cause of the problem. Once these have been established, spinal alignment will most likely be performed immediately.

Even if an individual is not sick, regular chiropractic adjustments can help maintain a healthy immune system and fight against allergies and infections.

Sources:

http://www.immunesystemremedies.com/benefits-of-chiropractic-care.htm…
http://www.life123.com/health/alternative-medicine/chiropractic/chiro…
http://chiropractictables.blogsavy.com/health-benefits-of-chiropracti…

http://www.thejoint.com/health-benefits.aspx

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/033092_chiropractice_care_chronic_pain.html#ixzz2PcvlThjM

Low back pain or lumbago is a common musculoskeletal disorder affecting 80% of people at some point in their life. The can be either acute, sub-acute or chronic in duration. Chiropractic care involving spinal manipulations is considered a safe, efficient treatment for low back pain. Chiropractic is a health care system devoted to the non-surgical treatment of disorders of the nervous system and/or musculoskeletal system, generally done by special chiropractic doctors, quite efficient in carrying out spinal manipulation and treatment of surrounding structures.

While treating lower back pain, differential diagnosis using a triage concept of classifying low back injuries into categories helps to steer the doctor of chiropractic. These categories of chiropractic diagnosis include:

1. Potentially serious: tumor, infection, fracture, major neurological problem, local open wound or burn, prolonged bleeding (hemophilia), artificial joint implant problems, pacemaker problems, joint infection. In such case the chiropractic practitioner typically refers the patient to a relevant medical specialist or a surgeon, and chiropractic doctor may co-manage the patient’s care with other back pain specialists

2. Sciatica: it happens when the nerve root in the low back is pinched or compressed. The chiropractic method for such cases involves describing the symptoms experienced by patients.
3. Non-specific: when there is mechanical back pain in the lumbar spine (most common type of presentation). The chiropractic remedy for this category also involves detailing the symptoms.

With chiropractic analysis of potentially severe injuries, chiropractic manipulation is generally avoided over the relevant anatomy, although it may not be lined out on other areas. Doctors of Chiropractic, more commonly called as chiropractors, typically care for conditions involving lower back pain and/or neck pain through hands-on chiropractic care, including:

1. Spinal manipulation or adjustment: This chiropractic method involves a high-velocity, short lever arm thrust that is applied to irregular vertebra with the aim of improving functionality, reducing nerve irritability and restoring range of motion in the back, this manipulation is also known as chiropractic adjustment.
2. Mobilization: Chiropractic Mobilization aims to increase the range of motion in muscles and joints by applying low velocity manipulation, movement and stretching of those muscles and joints.

The chiropractic treatment plan is determined by the patient’s pain, disability issues and activity intolerance. Patient education with the supervision of the chiropractic doctor is significant to reduce anxiety levels that often accompany intense low back pain. The plan recommends chiropractic care 3-5 visits/week over 1-2 weeks. If no significant improvement is noted, the patient should be referred to another chiropractic expert or other appropriate chiropractic methods must be undertaken.
Furthermore, most chiropractic health centers offer a range of health services, such as:

Physical therapy: In various chiropractic methods, various types of equipment (ultrasound, traction, electrical stimulation, etc.) may be used with the aim of reducing back pain and inflammation.
Exercises: A range of cardiovascular, stretching and strengthening exercises may be prescribed by chiropractic doctors to decrease lower back pain, increase strength and restore range of motion.
Pelvic stabilization:. When flat feet and/or subtalar instability are present, the chiropractic doctor places a small heel lift in the shoe on the short leg side or prescribes corrective arch supports to help stabilize the pelvis.

Ergonomic: During the tenure of chiropractic care, the chiropractic practiotioner may advocate some procedure that should be employed at home and/or at work.

Patient education: Chiropractic care also involves advising a variety of lifestyle modifications including diet and nutritional programs to the patients suffering from lower back pain.
The doctors of chiropractic do not use any drugs or surgery in their practice. However, sometimes a chiropractic doctor may recommend that the patient to consult another practitioner.

What is Sciatica?

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body, and when it becomes inflamed, it can cause significant pain in the lower back and leg. Not only is the sciatic nerve the longest nerve in the body, it is also the widest. The nerve starts in the lower back, and runs through the buttock and down the leg. It provides nerve impulses for all the skin of the leg, as well as the muscles at the back of the thigh and of the calf and foot.

For those who have car accident pain, you will need chiropractic care
Go to our practice for chiropractic care as well as a car accident evaluation
Sciatica is the term used to describe leg pain that is caused by an inflammation of the sciatic nerve. The symptoms of sciatica can range from numbness, feelings of pins and needles and muscle weakness in the leg, to pain that can be quite severe. The pain and symptoms are not always localized and can be felt in the lower back or buttock area or anywhere throughout the leg or foot. Usually, sciatica only affects one side of the body, but it can lead to difficulty moving.

Causes of Sciatica

While many think of sciatica as a diagnosis, it is actually a symptom of another underlying problem. There are four common causes of sciatica, which are:

Disc injury ? This can be a herniated disc, also called a slipped disc, or a torn disc. If sciatica is caused by a disc injury, it is called sciatic neuritis.

Spinal stenosis ? This condition is caused by a narrowing of the spinal column or the bony canal where the sciatic nerve passes through. Spinal stenosis is a chronic condition that is common with aging. As the spinal column or bony canal narrow, they press against the nerve, which causes pain and inflammation.

Lumbar facet syndrome ? This is also a chronic condition that is affiliated with age and changes due to arthritis. Facet joints appear in pairs at the back of each vertebrae of the spine to allow movement. Over time, they can degenerate, which can lead to compression of the sciatic nerve. Lumbar facet syndrome is more common in the elderly, although it can be caused by a facet joint sprain.

Trapped nerves ? When it comes to the sciatic nerve, it becomes “trapped” when the surrounding muscle contracts and squeezes it. Chronic muscle spasms can cause the tightness and may be due to imbalances of the spine and pelvis and degenerating discs. This is commonly called “wallet sciatica” as it is caused by sitting on a wallet for long periods of time.

Before treatment can begin, it is important that the underlying cause of the sciatic symptoms is diagnosed. In order to determine if the pain is caused by the sciatic nerve, and why it is being caused, chiropractors will take the time to evaluate the entire spine, hips and leg that is symptomatic. In this way, not only will the correct symptoms be treated, but further damage by incorrect treatment will be avoided.

Treatment is dependent on what is causing the sciatic symptoms, and because different parts of the body are the root cause of the pain and inflammation, chiropractors approach each diagnosis differently. During your initial visit with a chiropractor, joint range and motion, potential disc injury, muscle spasm and ligament injury will all be tested. Also, your overall posture and walk will be evaluated. All of these tests will point out what is causing your pain.

Treating Sciatica with Chiropractic Care

Once the cause of your symptoms has been determined, the chiropractor will provide a treatment plan. This plan will be determined by the root cause of the condition and can involve spinal adjustment, spinal manipulation, manual therapy of soft tissues, like muscles and ligaments, and therapies to reduce the inflammation, such as ultrasound treatment.

Spinal manipulation and adjustments are used to improve joint motion and return soft tissues back to a healthy state. Depending on the patient, they can be hands-on and apply force directly to the affected joints, or more gentle with indirect force applied. Manual therapy involves applying pressure to muscles in spasm to release the tension and also stretching and resistance exercises. Finally, ultrasound or electrical stimulation may be used to reduce inflammation of the area and may be required before or at the same time as the other methods of treatment.

Whether your sciatic symptoms are caused by mechanical damage or nerve-related damage, working with a chiropractor is sure to reduce, if not remove entirely, your discomfort so you should be able to get back to your daily life activities.

Each year 21 million Americans die and over 1/3 of these deaths are due to just on cause- heart disease. Everyone knows that a poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking and genetics are risk factors for cardiovascular problems.

A less familiar factor affecting heart function is the nerve system.

Nerves from the upper back (sympathetic) stimulate the heart to beat faster and more forcefully. The vagus nerve (parasympathetic) passes through the skull and down to the heart to slow the pulse and decrease the power of each contraction. Normal function is the result of a balance between these two systems. Spinal misalignments, which interfere with these nerves (vertebral subluxations), can adversely affect heart function.

A number of studies have shown great promise for patients with heart disease and blood pressure problems by correcting vertebral subluxations with chiropractic adjustments. A 1995 study found improvement in cardiac arrhythmias after neck and upper back adjustments. A 1988 study, involving 21 hypertensive patients, found a statistically significant decrease in both systolic and disstolic blood pressure in the active treatment group, but not in the placebo or control groups.

A 1993 case study of a 38 year old man with a 14 year history of hypertension dramatically shows the potential benefits of chiropractic care. The side effects of his two medications included a bloating sensation, depression, fatigue, impotence, and low back pain. After seven visits all medication was discontinued. His blood preassure was normal and all the undesirable side effect symptoms disappeared.

Chiropractic care does not attempt to treat or cure heart disease. Adjustment simply correct vertebral subluxations which interfere with normal nerve and body function. Restoring normal nerve function allows the heart and the cardiovascular system to function at their genetic potential.

New Year = New Approach to Healthy Living
articlesbase

Each and every year people strive to make a difference in their lives with a New Year’s resolution or two.

?Quit smoking’

?Eat Healthy’

?Join the Gym’

?Actually Go to the Gym’

etc, etc, etc?

It’s all well and fine to plan these healthy aspects to life, but following through is a whole other monster! Unfortunately full body health and wellness doesn’t ?just happen’. It is something you have to work hard for. Not all of us are able to make an immediate/drastic change to our lives. We need to develop a plan of attack.

Let’s take exercise as an example. If you drive around the city or read the local papers you will no doubt see a lot of deals in order to entice us to sign up at the local gym. “Great!” You think. “This will make it easier to achieve my goals”.

But will it?

If you ask gym owners, or people who frequent the gym they will all tell you that there is a trend to have a lot of new members in January, that are only seen for the first month or two then never seen again.

Why is that?

Many factors come into play? but it seems to come down to a poor plan of attack on a desired goal! Many will start an exercise regime at full speed without taking into consideration the effect it will have on their body. Length of time since last being active, nutritional level, body type, cardiovascular ability, and more; all play a big part in our ability to thrive in exercise.

This begs the next question.

How do you plan a way of improving health?

Many of us have the tools to proceed and plan out an attack. Others may need to consult a professional.

My suggestion to most people is to start slow. If it is exercise and you have been idle for some time, a gym membership may not be the immediate answer. Start by increasing your level of exercise in easy ways like brisk walking or swimming. This will not only improve how your body functions; but also build your confidence in your ability to live a healthy lifestyle. If it is something like quitting smoking (which I recommend to all!); some will be able to quit cold turkey, whereas others will need to cut back slowly.

If you plan to consult a professional you have many options. Your family Chiropractor can give you advice on how to approach a wellness lifestyle. Since the 1890′s Chiropractors have been preaching the wellness philosophy as a way of preventing health issues in the future. Our approach has gained more and more popularity over the years as people nowadays want to avoid issues in the future as opposed to waiting for problems to arise before fixing the issues.

If you want to make a change this New Year I applaud you. But be sure to make your goals carefully, so that you may achieve them and proceed to a healthier lifestyle.

Contact your wellness professional today; and improve yourself for tomorrow!

Happy New Year!

Feet are abused. Day in and day out we demand incredible things from our five-toed friends. We walk, we run, we cycle, we stand, we jump and we kick. We also cram them into finely pointed dress shoes, precariously balance them on platform shoes, and punish them in our work boots. Poor feet.

I often explain to the massage therapy students I instruct as a Doctor of Chiropractic that a good foot massage will create clients for life. Since we not only abuse our feet but we also tend to ignore them, it isn’t until someone else pays any attention to them that we realize how good it feels to us when our feet are happy. Unfortunately, sometimes we let the damage continue until real problems arise: sprained ankles, shin splints, stress fractures, bunions, calluses, corns, hammer toes, arthritis and the list goes on.

Let’s take a quick look at how these feet are built. Fourteen bones make up the toes alone with joints found in between each. Five long bones make up the top part of your foot and those meet seven bones that make up your ankle. All the bones are held together at the joints by connective tissues like ligaments and joint capsules. Muscles and tendons cross the foot on all sides and on different angles to help control movement of the foot. Together, this system of bones, muscles, and other tissues create what is known as a “flexible tripod”.

The heel (known as the calcaneus) makes up the rear of the tripod while the ball of the foot at the great toe and at the 5th or smallest toe makes up the other two points of the tripod. Just like a stool with three legs is more stable than a stool with one or two legs, this tripod design provides for a balanced foundation. Thanks to the mobility provided by the joints and the support of all the soft tissues like the muscles and ligaments, the tripod is able to absorb shock kind of like a spring. Together, when all of the angles, positions, and forces are within normal limits the feet can be sturdy, strong and resilient while also providing intricate balance, sensitivity and control.

So what does it take to keep this intimate network of body parts in the foot happy? Here are some good ideas: 

• Wear comfortable shoes with appropriate support for the bottom or the arch of the foot. Allowing this arch to flatten over time can create mechanical problems and pain. 
• Massage your feet with a tennis ball or round dowel of wood as you sit during the day. Roll the ball from the heel to the ball of the foot with comfortably firm pressure. This will help keep the foot supple and increase the circulation in the legs. 
• Keep the feet clean and allow them to breathe as often as possible. Wear clean socks appropriate for the activity or work you are doing. 
• Keep the feet well manicured, massaged by a therapist if necessary, and examined by a chiropractor for any possible mechanical problems. Make sure the arches are equal on both sides and that at least 2 fingers will slide underneath past the first knuckle. The feet are not only important in and of themselves. Improper care and function of the feet can lead to knee problems, hip problems, and low back or spinal problems. Correcting for foot abnormalities through chiropractic care, the use of orthotics (shoe inserts), massage therapy, etc., can not only keep you dancing on happy feet, but can also improve the life of everything else those feet have to carry. After all, everyone’s health could use a good foundation.

Backpack Safety is Back-to-School Issue Chiropractic Research

Concern over children and their backpacks continues to grow. An article appearing in the The Times Herald features this problem by noting “Trudging their way around the school campus or to the bus stop, hunched-over kids could be dealing themselves a lifetime of back pain, experts warn.”

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 6,512 emergency room visits each year result from injuries related to book bags. CPSC also cites the statistic that backpack-related injuries are up 256 percent since 1996. The issue has become so widespread, that the California State Assembly passed legislation that forces school districts to develop ways of reducing the weight of students’ backpacks. Other states are also considering similar legislation.

In an online survey conducted last year of more than 200 chiropractors responding from across North America at www.backpacksafe.com, it was learned that:

89 percent of chiropractors surveyed responded that they have seen patients (ages 5-18) reporting back, neck or shoulder pain caused by heavy backpacks. 71 percent of chiropractors presently seeing such patients responded that they are currently seeing one to four patients (ages 5-18) reporting back, neck or shoulder pain caused by heavy backpacks. 20 percent of chiropractors presently seeing such patients responded that they are currently seeing five to nine patients (ages 5-18) reporting back, neck or shoulder pain caused by heavy backpacks. 9 percent of chiropractors presently seeing such patients responded that they are currently seeing 10 or more patients (ages 5-18) due to back, neck or shoulder caused by heavy backpacks. The American Chiropractic Association has offered the following tips to help prevent backpack problems in school children. Those tips include:

Make sure your child’s backpack weighs no more than 5 to 10 percent of his or her body weight. The backpack should never hang more than four inches below the waistline. Urge your child to wear both shoulder straps, and wide, padded straps are very important. The shoulder straps should be adjustable so the backpack can be fitted to your child’s body. The over-packing of backpacks was featured in a recent study conducted in Italy. In this study it was found that the average child carries a backpack that would be the equivalent of a 39-pound burden for a 176-pound man, or a 29-pound load for a 132-pound woman.

Children are amazing little human beings who are constantly growing and developing.

They typically don’t have all the common problems of adults like arthritis, old injuries, bad posture habits and illnesses but they can have little bumps along the road to adulthood that can set them back. And nowadays parents are more concerned than ever about detrimental medications effects have on their children. More often parents are asking once their child is handed by a prescription for a reoccurring problem – “Isn’t there any safer alternative treatment?”

If you observe your child and notice that he/she is crying or exhibits fussiness that can last over hours or days, he/she has a condition referred to “Colic”. Colic is characterized by problems of loud piercing cry, tensed abdominal muscles, flexed legs as well as clenched fingers. Generally it starts around three weeks of age and lasts until around three months yet sometimes lasts for as long as six months. Indeed, from the very beginning in the womb, babies can find themselves in less than ideal positions that put stress and strain on a developing musculoskeletal system. Some babies endure pulling, twisting and turning as doctors assist in their birth process. Toddlers are at a high risk for spinal cord treatment as half of them have been accidentally dropped within the first year of their lives causing spinal subluxations misalignment of the vertebrae causing nerve pressure or irritation.

There is preventative health care that helps children’s bodies function as close to their human potential while identifying and treating small problems early before they develop into larger ones as they grow. Chiropractic Care for Children is gentle, conservative and highly successful option for treating infants with colic and misalignments. Chiropractic adjustments for infants are also specific, gentle and safe. Children chiropractic care is a natural science neither stimulates nor inhibits body function but gradually allows normal body function to take place properly once again.

Keep in mind that trying to soothe a colicky baby may interfere with mother-baby bonding and can increase the risk of postpartum depression. Thus, colicky babies are more likely to be victims of shaken baby syndrome and child abuse. Many parents are cautious of taking their small, young babies to see a chiropractic doctor due to being the “snap, cackle and pop” sociology that chiropractor invokes. But on the contrary and reality, chiropractic care can be very valuable in helping to calm the colic tendencies.

Chiropractors like Chiropractors in New Hope are specialized in the direction and correction of subluxations and restore the normal function of nervous system without performing invasive procedures. Children generally respond to the treatment much faster than most adults and often necessitate fewer sessions to achieve desired results.

Some childhood conditions that may be improved with chiropractic care include ADHD, Autism/Behavioral/Learning disorders, bed wetting, colds, constipation, ear infection, sleep disorders, speech problems, and scoliosis, stuttering and facial symmetry.

Dr. Robert C Davis

Many different clinical case studies have emphasized the advantages and wonderful results of chiropractic therapy for patients who were unproductive in their effort to bear children. Although chiropractic care is not a direct treatment for infertility, it can contribute to enhanced homeostasis and physiological adjustment therefore allowing the body to have a better level of health as a result.

In three consecutive issues of the peer-reviewed Journal of Verebral Subluxation Research (JVSR), case studies were published regarding women who were struggling with their infertility, and who opted to utilize chiropractic rehabilitation. It demonstrated a strong connection linking the utilization of chiropractic therapy and the resolution of infertility. In the following cases, chiropractic care was initiated and the outcomes were recorded and published.

In the December 8, 2003 issue of the JVSR, a case study involving a 32-year-old female whose infertility was accounted for. Since August 1999, she attempted to get pregnant. Prior to this, she had tried various conventional medical interventions such as treatment with Clomid, a fertility drug, artificial insemination, detailed fertility testing, and in vitro fertilization. Having no success, she sought chiropractic therapy in November 3, 2001. Over the next six weeks, chiropractic examination and rehabilitation were done. At this time, the patient’s other concerns of headaches and pain in the lower back portion dramatically improved. In addition, the patient’s estrogen levels, endometrial thickness, and cervical mucus levels also improved compared to the time when the patient’s fertility specialists attempted the first in vitro fertilization. On February 17, 2002, the second in vitro fertilization was done and the patient displayed a positive pregnancy test on March 2, 2002.

Another case was about a 34-year-old woman who sought for chiropractic therapy on January 10, 2000. She had various conditions which included a history of infertility. Other than the onset of chiropractic rehabilitation, the patient made no changes in her clinical condition and lifestyle. About 4-5 weeks into the chiropractic care, the patient naturally became pregnant.

The last case was concerned with a 65-year-old female who presented with severe lumbar degeneration and low back pain. It’s fascinating because she was not trying to get pregnant. When she was 13 years old, she had an accidental fall which caused in a total cessation of her menstrual cycle at the age of 18. She was then diagnosed as infertile. It was interesting to note that after four weeks of chiropractic care, she began spotting again and diagnosed with having regular menses.

In these clinical studies, chiropractic care was utilized specifically for the improvement of vertebral subluxations that were verified to be meddling with the nervous system’s normal functioning. The subluxations resulted in the disruption of the patients’ reproductive system. The studies showed that women who were having difficulties with infertility had some evident interference in their nervous system, as perceived by the incidence of subluxations.

The studies also noted the vast expense of treatment options for infertility utilized by many couples. The range of expenses can go from a few hundred to impractical thousands. The studies also observe that there is proof of long term risks associated with in vitro fertilization. A research published online by the American Journal of Human Genetics (November 2002) reported that “babies conceived by in vitro fertilization may be at increased risk for a rare genetic disorder that predisposes them to cancer.”

According to the author, Elizabeth Anderson-Peacock, DC, DICCP, “Although chiropractic care is not a treatment for infertility, it is postulated that improvement of spinal neural integrity through specific chiropractic adjustments may have contributed to improved homeostasis and physiological adaptation thus allowing the body to express a greater level of health as an outcome.” In summary, these studies state that, “The human structure is naturally healthy and to procreate. Injuries of this capability signifies malfunction on an essential level. Spinal subluxations and dysfunction in the nervous system can hinder the normal functioning of the human systems.”

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_C_Davis

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5088287

Dr. Tom Scherer

With the nation?s healthcare and insurance payment system in a state that desperately needs to be renovated and improved, the introduction of more chiropractor provider care could offer positive solutions. According to one recent report, cost savings, care improvements, reduced surgeries and less pharmaceutical drug use could all occur when a chiropractor takes the lead as a primary care physician in an insurance provider network.

Healthcare reform has been bantered about in Washington D.C. for many years. Politicians have voiced concerns and some have tried to do something about it. New administrations entering the White House promise to make changes, yet, over 40 million Americans remain uninsured. COBRA insurance rates for those who lose their jobs but want to continue coverage are astronomical with annual fees of over $4,000 for individuals and $12,000 for families. The cost of surgery and a hospital stay is so enormous that even a short stint in a medical facility could financially wipe out the average individual or family.

The question remains; where lies the solution? The answer might be found in putting chiropractors in charge of a person?s healthcare with programs directed at keeping people well and free from drugs or surgeries.

A recent study showed that when chiropractors are in charge of a person?s healthcare, and where complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) solutions are part of their healthcare network, that not only costs but also the number of clinical visits can be reduced significantly. Consider these results collected over a 7-year period that compared a CAM-oriented primary care physician (PCP) network versus conventional medicine alone.

60.2 percent decrease of in-hospital admissions.
59 percent fewer hospital days.
62 percent fewer outpatient surgeries and procedures.
85 percent fewer pharmaceutical costs.

The clinical and cost utilization information in the report was based on 70,274 member-months in an independent physician association (IPA) network with a chiropractor as the primary care physician. This study compared results with conventional medicine IPA performance for the same health maintenance organization product in the same area and over the same time frame.

Granted, this is only one study performed by one group of researchers. However, what is clearly demonstrated in this quite extensive survey conducted over a significant period of time is this: CAM-oriented programs that use a non-surgical/non-pharmaceutical approach show significant reductions in clinical visits and costs when compared with conventional medicine networks.

With these amounts of savings and improvements in healthcare available, shouldn?t politicians sit up and take notice? More people utilizing CAM services with chiropractors in charge might be just the items needed to put healthcare on the right track in the United States.

Source: Alternative Medicine Integrative Group. ?Clinical Utilization and Cost Outcomes Form an Integrative Medicine Independent Physician Association: An Additional 3 Year Update.? May 2007. http://www.chiro.org/ChiroZine/ABSTRACTS/Clinical_Utilization_and_Cost_Outcome