Russ Chiropractic's Wellness Blog

Case report reveals interesting data

ADHD Chiropractor Wilmington NC

(Chiropractor Wilmington NC). The 2010 Proceedings of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) Research Conference recently published a case study involving the response of a 7-year-old child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to chiropractic adjustments over the course of a year.

Approximately 8 million children in the United States are labeled with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD and generally are being medicated for this condition.  ADHD is a childhood mental disorder with onset before 7 years of age and involving impaired or diminished attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. The behaviors must be excessive, last for at least six months, and cause a problem in a social environment, such as at school or home. Wilmington-based Dr. David Russ, D.C., explains that “Ritalin is a common prescription given for ADHD, but since medications offer risk as well as possible dependencies, alternative options are worth investigating.”

A male child was diagnosed by a psychiatrist at age 3 with ADHD, due to behaviors such as uncontrolled violent outbreaks, difficulty following directions, and inability to function in social situations.  From 3-7 years the child was prescribed anti-psychotropic medications, which only moderately controlled the patient’s behavior.  His parents were under extreme stress attempting to cope with their child’s aggressive behavior and sought chiropractic care as a last resort at age 7.

“Within one month of care the patient demonstrated significant behavior improvements.” Dr. Russ related. “The parents reported the child was significantly calmer, “less defiant,” and had reduced aggressive behavior.”  Working with the psychiatrist after 5 months of chiropractic care the child was able to be weaned off all psychotropic medication without any relapse of prior behavior.

“Chiropractic care of children with ADHD has some evidence in the published literature,” explained Dr. Russ, “so it is possible that a mechanical and/or neurological dysfunction could be contributing to a patient’s presentation as well as explain the success of chiropractic care with some cases.  Greater research is needed into the study of chiropractic care of pediatric patients presenting with ADHD.”

Case study and selective review of literature show positive correlation:

(Chiropractor Wilmington NC). A nine-month-old boy with a history of recurring ear infections who received chiropractic care during an episode of otitis media which resulted in the reduction of symptoms within a week.  Additionally, according to the case study published in The Journal of Maternal & Family, no ear infections have been reported since.

Wilmington-based Dr. David Russ, D.C., who has seen similar results in his own practice stated, “Chiropractic care has historically had favorable and lasting results for patients with otitis media. Unlike the typical allopathic method of attempting to kill the bacteria or virus, chiropractic seeks to restore normal function of the nervous system which in turn results in a stronger immune system.”

Acute otitis media results in inflammation of the middle ear and is caused by bacteria is 70% of the cases.  The most common cause of childhood hearing loss is chronic otitis media and can result in developmental impairment affecting linguistic, behavior, motor and social skills.

In 1990 there were more than 20 million prescriptions for Ear infection-related antibacterials prescribed and 25 million visits made to office-based physicians in the United States for this condition.  Approximately 10% of infants by 3 months of age will have an episode of acute otitis media and 50% of children by 3 years of age will have had more than three episodes of acute otitis media.  The annual costs associated with management of pediatric otitis media has been estimated at $5.3 billion.

“Prescribed treatment is typically a course of antibiotics.” Dr. Russ related.  “Problems with antibiotic use include allergic reactions and cross-reactions, GI upset and the increased resistance of pathogens to antibiotics necessitating stronger antibiotics.”

In this study the 9 month old patient was brought into the chiropractic clinic by his mother who stated he was having recurring ear infections.  She also relayed that there was a possibility of having tubes placed in his ears in the future.  The patient’s mother stated that the ear infections started after four months of vaccinations; he was four months old at the time.  The child was administered antibiotics and was afflicted with ear infections about every three weeks.

“Within the first week of regular adjustments the child was sleeping better,” said Dr. Russ.  An examination performed on the second week found both ears clear, with some wax, but no fluid.  The child was adjusted three times that week as well as the next and twice a week for the fourth week of care.  Both ears were clear and the patient was assessed as showing improvement.

A re-examination performed in the fifth week of care found no infections and the mother reported his naps were longer and he was getting better quality sleep.  On the seventh week of care the patient visited his ENT and his ears were reported as clear with no need for tubes.

“Chiropractic literature has several studies showing the benefit of chiropractic adjustments and otitis media,” explained Dr. Russ, “and these studies show that there is a strong correlation between the resolution of otitis media and chiropractic adjustments.  That being said, further research concerning the efficacy of chiropractic care and otitis media should be pursued.”

Case study illustrates promising results

(Chiropractor Wilmington NC). A recent article in the Journal of Maternal & Family Health reported on a 6 year old male child originally diagnosed with Autism who received chiropractic care over a period of 16 weeks.

Following the study, the child showed a reduction of autistic signs and symptomatology as determined by objective and subjective findings. Wilmington-based Dr. David Russ, D.C., who follows health and wellness issues closely in professional journals and other publications, was not surprised by these findings.  “Studies of a similar nature have been conducted previously with similar outcomes,” said Dr. Russ, “but more research needs to be conducted in order to evaluate the precise connection between chiropractic care, Autism and other Autistic-like Disorders.”

Autism is defined as a brain development disorder that causes impaired social interaction, decreased communication ability, restrictive repetitive or stereotypical behaviors, and decreased cognitive and learning abilities.  In the United States, the number of people with autism ages 6-21 has risen from 5,145 in 1991-1992 to 118,602 in 2001-2002.  The increase in students in the United States with Autism has risen 1700% over that same time period

“This has profound implications not only on the population, but also on the economy.” Dr. Russ related.  “It is estimated that as of 2000, $18,581,511,000 is spent annually in the United States for children with autism and autistic-like disorders in their education.”

In this study, an Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) was utilized to evaluate the child in order to have a baseline for the monitoring of future clinical changes in the patient.  ATEC was designed by the Autism Research Institute to assist parents, physicians and researcher to evaluate virtually any treatment for Autism.

“Improvement was noticed after the 4^th adjustment,” said Dr. Russ.  After the 4^th adjustment the mother mentioned that the child no longer rocked his head and jabbered less.  After the 6^th adjustment the child began spelling out the words on video cassette covers, which is something he had never done before.   By 7 weeks the child began to vocalize his name, as well as the words that he had been spelling.

After 8 weeks, a reassessment was conducted which showed marked improvement.  Positive structural and postural changes were noted and by the 12^th week of care the child was performing well in school.  It was reported that the child did exceptionally well in math and reading class.  The mother was able to change the child’s diet to a more healthy option and also withdrew Ritalin.  The mother also stated there were improvements in his communication skills, sociability, awareness and behavior.  The child was able to use sentences that contained four or more words; he would make eye contact and show less disagreeability; he began to understand his own name more often and would understand explanations more frequently; and there were no incidences of rocking, less incidences of crying, obsessive speech and hyperactivity.

After the 16 weeks were completed, a second ATEC was given to the mother in order to measure the progress of the patient.  The overall improvement on the ATEC measured 54.3%, bringing him up from a moderate severity classification to mild severity.

Double-blind, placebo-controlled study has promising results

(Chiropractor Wilmington NC). A recent article in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics reported on a study involving 326 children, ages 3 to 5, who participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled test of the effects of probiotics on cold and flu-like symptoms.

Wilmington-based Dr. David Russ, D.C., follows health and wellness issues closely in professional journals and other publications.  “People often think of chiropractors in terms of treating neck and back pain,” said Dr. Russ, “but many of my colleagues and I, myself, are involved in all aspects of our patients’ health and well-being, including proper nutrition and illness-preventative measures.”

In this particular study, children in the study group were assigned at random to get one of three planned dosages.  One group received just a placebo, or common sugar pill with no therapeutic value.  A second group got a single probiotic dosage, and the third group got a combination probiotic dosage.

“The study participants received their allocated dosage twice a day for six months,” Dr. Russ related.  “They were then analyzed to determine both the incidence of cold and flu-like symptoms during the test period, as well as the duration of such symptoms.”

In comparison to the placebo group, those children who had taken the single-strain probiotic had a 53% reduction in fevers, a 41.4% reduction in coughing, and a 28.2% reduction in rhinorrhea, or runny nose.

“The combination-strain probiotic group fared even better,” said Dr. Russ.  “The incidence of fevers was reduced by 72.7%, coughing by 62.1%, and rhinorrhea by 58.8%.”

The study also measured the duration of cold and flu-like symptoms in the study group, and, once again, there was a marked improvement for those children using some form of probiotics over the placebo group.  The single-strain probiotics usage resulted in a lesser duration of symptoms by 32%; the combination-strain usage caused a 48% reduction in the duration of the symptoms.  The study also concluded that children getting some form of probiotics had less need to take antibiotics during the test period and also were absent much less from nursery school or other group child care facilities.

I came across an article in which Doctor’s were asked the question, “Which Medications would you skip?” Here’s their response:

1. Advair – It’s asthma medicine that can make your asthma deadly. Advair contains the long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) salmeterol. A 2006 analysis found regular use of LABA’s can increase the severity of an asthma attack. Researchers estimate salmeterol may contribute to as many as 5,000 asthma-related deaths in the United States each year.

2. Avandia – Diabetes is destructive enough on its own, but if you try to control it with rosiglitazone, better known as Avandia, it could cause a heart attack. A study found that people who took rosiglitazone for at least a year increased their risk of heart failure or a heart attack by 109 percent and 42 percent, respectively.

3. Celebrex – This painkiller has been linked to increased risks of stomach bleeding, kidney trouble, and liver damage. According to a 2005 study, people taking 200 mg of Celebrex twice a day more than doubled their risk of dying of cardiovascular disease. Those taking 400 mg twice a day more than tripled their risk.

4. Ketek – This antibiotic, which has traditionally been prescribed for respiratory-tract infections, carries a high risk of severe liver side effects. In February 2007, the FDA limited the usage of Ketek to the treatment of pneumonia.

5 & 6. Prilosec and Nexium – The FDA has investigated a suspected link between cardiac trouble and these acid-reflux remedies, although they did not find a “likely” connection. Whether this is true or not, they can raise your risk of pneumonia, and result in an elevated risk of bone loss. The risk of a bone fracture has been estimated to be over 40 percent higher in patients who use these drugs long-term.

7. Visine Original – These eye drops “get the red out” by shrinking blood vessels. Overuse of the active ingredient tetrahydrozoline can perpetuate the vessel dilating-and-constricting cycle and may cause even more redness.

8. Pseudoephedrine – This decongestant, found in many drugs, can raise blood pressure and heart rate, setting the stage for vascular catastrophe. Over the years, pseudoephedrine has been linked to heart attacks and strokes, as well as worsening the symptoms of prostate disease and glaucoma.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24777955/ns/health-health_care/

If you are looking for natural ways to get healthier and reduce your need for medication call 910-395-5066. Click here -> Chiropractor Wilmington NC for more information

Most parents today understand the importance of feeding their children healthy food but more often than not fail to do so due to the convenience of of fast food. This is another topic in and of itself. The issue today is what are the schools feeding our kids?

The answer………

Pizza, cheeseburgers, sloppy joes, hot dogs, corn dog, french fries, fried chicken, and all of this is washed down with sugared-up fruit juices or even worse, soda. Even when options like salads and vegetable are offered the children usually gravitate towards the fatty or sugar laden foods.

What do mom and dad usually pack with their child’s lunch?

The answer….

HoHo’s, DingDongs, potato chips, candy bars, little debbie’s cakes, and other “treats” that ultimately contribute to the demise of their child’s health in the long run. Think of the last time you ate a bunch of junk food for lunch…. You probably got hyper for a little while and then you crashed for the rest of the afternoon.

Could this be why teachers are having difficulty controlling their classes? Imagine being in a room of 30 sugar-high kids and trying to get them to learn. This is the struggle going on in the class rooms everyday which is contributing to the increase in diagnosis of ADD/ADHD. Many studies have been done linking ADD/ADHD to nutritional issues.

So what can we do about this?

Parents need to take action!! These are YOUR kids and YOU are responsible for their health, end of story. Parents need to educate their children at home about proper nutritional choices and empower them to do the right thing.

The schools need to remove the soda and candy machines. We are allowing people to take advantage of our children for financial gain the the very place that they should be the safest. This is an absolute disgrace and poor reflection of this country’s commitment to the next generation. Schools need to abandon all junk foods from their menus which, in my opinion as well as other prominent researchers, would eliminate many of the behavioral issues that have been affecting kids today.

The bottom line is that everyone needs to do their part and get healthier themselves. By setting a better example we can lead the next generation to make better choices and start reversing the downward trend that the American health care system has been experiencing.

-Dr. David Russ is a Chiropractor in Wilmington NC who is passionate about health of his community and especially that of its children. For more information please visit Russ Chiropractic and Wellness Center or call 910-395-5066.

Chiropractic corrects spinal abnormalities called vertebral subluxations that result in interference of the nervous system. Since the nervous system controls all functions of the body — including the immune system — chiropractic care can have a positive effect on immune function.

“Contemporary research is beginning to shed light on the neurobiological mechanisms which may explain the outstanding clinical results chiropractors have experienced when managing patients with viral and infectious diseases,” stated Dr. Christopher Kent, Co- Founder of Chiropractic Leadership Alliance.

Dr. Kent explained: “A comprehensive review of the research literature reveals the current understanding that the brain and immune system are the two major adaptive systems in the body. During an immune response, the brain and the immune system ‘talk to each other’ and this process is essential for maintaining homeostasis or balance in the body.”

Since its inception, chiropractic has asserted that viruses and microbes don’t threaten us all equally and that a healthy immune system easily repels most invaders. The immune system protects us from the flu, as well as any other infectious disease, and strives to get us well again when we do fall ill. Our immune system, like every other system in the body, is coordinated and controlled by the nervous system.

Chiropractors are also aware of the importance of positive health life style practices (rest, drinking ample quantities of water, diet, exercise, proper diet, use of multivitamins and minerals, and stress reduction approaches) that can also positively influence the nervous system and immune response. According to a large study of the chiropractic profession recently conducted by the Institute for Social Research, Ohio Northern University (McDonald et al., 2003), chiropractors also customarily advise their patients as to the benefits of these other modalities in optimizing overall health.

Chiropractors helping patients battle the flu is not a new occurrence either. During the 1917-18 influenza epidemic, which brought death and fear to many Americans, it has been estimated that 20 million people died throughout the world, including about 500,000 Americans. It was chiropractic’s success in caring for flu victims that led to the profession’s licensure in many states.

Researchers reported that in Davenport, Iowa, out of the 93,590 patients treated by medical doctors, there were 6,116 deaths — a loss of one patient out of every 15. Chiropractors at the Palmer School of Chiropractic adjusted 1,635 cases, with only one death. Outside Davenport, chiropractors in Iowa cared for 4,735 cases with only six deaths — one out of 866. During the same epidemic, in Oklahoma, out of 3,490 flu patients under chiropractic care, there were only seven deaths. Furthermore, chiropractors were called in 233 cases given up as lost after medical treatment, and reportedly saved all but 25. In another report covering 4,193 cases by 213 chiropractors 4,104 showed complete recovery.

“These results are not so surprising given what we now know about the interaction between the nervous system and the immune system” stated Matthew McCoy DC, MPH, Editor of the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic. “Through research we know that chiropractic has beneficial effects on immunoglobulins, B-lymphocytes (white blood cells), pulmonary function and other immune system processes.”

One such study, conducted by Patricia Brennan Ph.D and her team, found that when a chiropractic “manipulation” was applied to the middle back, the response of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (white blood cells) taken from blood collected 15 minutes after the manipulation was significantly higher than blood collected 15 minutes before and 30 and 45 minutes after the chiropractic procedure. This research demonstrated an “enhanced respiratory burst” following the chiropractic adjustment. This “burst” is needed for our immune cells to destroy invading viruses and bacteria.

Another small study of HIV positive patients was conducted to study the effects of specific chiropractic adjustments to correct vertebral subluxations in the upper neck on the immune systems of HIV positive individuals. Over the six-month period of the study, the group that did not receive chiropractic care experienced a 7.96% decrease in CD4 cell counts, while the adjusted group experienced a 48% increase in CD4 cell counts over the same period.

A large retrospective study conducted by Robert Blanks Ph.D and colleagues studied 2,818 individuals undergoing chiropractic care – these individuals reported an average overall improvement, ranging from 7-28 percent, in a battery of physical symptoms including stiffness/lack of flexibility in the spine, physical pain, fatigue, incidence of colds and flu, headaches, menstrual discomfort, gastrointestinal disorders, allergies, dizziness and falls (Blanks et al., 1997, Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research).

More importantly, the incidence of colds and flu was reduced by an average of 15 percent in this large population who were undergoing regular chiropractic care.

“In addition to the passive recommendations regarding hand washing, avoiding large gatherings, coughing and sneezing into your hands – it makes a great deal of sense to do everything you can to ensure that your immune system is functioning at its best. And that strategy should include chiropractic care,” stated Dr. McCoy.

Are you and your family ready for flu season?

The July 2008 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics reports on a study that concludes chiropractic care is safe for children under 3 years of age.

The 3-year retrospective study was done at the teaching clinic practice at Anglo-European College of Chiropractic in Bournemouth, England. It examined the chiropractic files of 781 children. 574 (nearly 75%) of them were under the age of 12 weeks.

Over the period of the study, 697 children received 5242 adjustments. 85 percent of the parents reported an improvement. Only seven parents reported an adverse effect (such as slight muscle tightness and/or soreness) with none of them serious enough for hospitalization or lasting longer than 24 hours. This translated into a reaction rate of 1 child in 100, or one reaction for every 749 adjustments with no serious complications.

The authors concluded that chiropractic care produced very few adverse effects and was safe for children in this age group.

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Chiropractors have been urging parents to bring their chilren to get checked for nervous system irritation for years. Many childhood problems ranging from ADHD to ear infections have in the past, and continue to respond well to chiropractic. If your child is struggling with anything be sure to ask your local chiropractor if he/she may be able to help your child.

If you need a chiropractor in Wilmington NC call 910-395-5066 and ask for a complementary consultation with Dr. Russ.

A case study documented the success with chiropractic of the care of an infant suffering from ear infections and respiratory tract infection. The study was published in the scientific periodical, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, on December 22, 2010.

In this case study, a twenty-one-month-old girl was brought to the chiropractors office suffering from Otitis Media, (“OM”), more commonly known as ear infections, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (“RSV”), a respiratory tract infection. The young girl was medically diagnosed with her first ear infection when she was only one month old. She was diagnosed with respiratory infections at nine months old.

The study denotes that otitis media is the most frequent reason for physician visits for children under the age of fifteen and the second most common diagnosis in medicine. The authors report that the girl was not breastfed and note that studies have shown that infants who are not breastfed have double the odds of developing recurring otitis media as compared to infants who are breastfed for the first four months of life.

According to the study author, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of viral lower respiratory tract infection in infants and children with 90% of children infected by 2 years of age. Most commonly children affected by this are diagnosed with bronchiolitis or pneumonia.

In this case the girl’s mother brought her baby daughter to the chiropractor because her baby was not getting any results after a year-and-a-half of medical care. According to the study, the mother reported that her daughter had been on a nebulizer for the past year and found the current care plan by the pediatrician consisting of antibiotics and bronchodilators to be frustrating because her daughter was not getting well.

A chiropractic examination was performed and the conclusion was that the child did have vertebral subluxations resulting in interference to the baby’s nervous system. A course of chiropractic care was initiated designed to correct the spinal misalignments from the subluxations.

Within one week of the onset of chiropractic care the mother reported an improvement in her baby’s sleep. Within one month the ear infections had resolved and the girls mother discontinued the antibiotics. Within three months of care, she brought her child back to the pediatrician and was told the child no longer had a respiratory infection, and therefore the nebulizer treatments were discontinued.

In the discussion of this case report, the authors explain the positive results of this case by stating, “The chiropractic profession has claimed favorable clinical responses for otitis media and other upper respiratory infections for nearly 100 years and evidence is increasingly suggesting that the nervous system is capable of modulating the immune system.”

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Those of you who know me already know my passion for any type of ear issue. For those of you who don’t, I had issues with my ears almost right from birth which lead to partial loss of hearing in both ears. I had tubes put in my ears multiple times as a child, ear drops, antibiotics, steroids, etc. My parents never knew that something as simple as chiropractic could have such profound effects on the immune system and the health of the ears. Chiropractic has been found to be very effective in helping with ear infections and if you someone you know has problems in this area, please get them to their local chiropractor.