To Your HealthTYH Archives

December 17, 2002 [Volume 3, Issue 25]

 

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In this issue of To Your Health:

Therapies Not Neck-and-Neck

Between 10-15% of people suffer from neck pain, which is most commonly seen in middle-aged individuals and women. Chiropractors often provide a form of manual therapy called "mobilization," in addition to cervical adjustments, intended to increase neck flexibility and reduce pain.

In a recent study from the Netherlands, 183 patients with neck pain lasting at least two weeks were divided into three groups and received either manual therapy, physical therapy, or continued care from a general practitioner. Manual therapy involved weekly "hands-on" techniques in which the therapist sought to decrease restrictions in neck range of motion; physical therapy focused primarily on exercise in 30-minute sessions twice per week; and general practitioner care involved advice on recovery, self-care, and ergonomics.

After seven weeks of treatment, the success rate was nearly twice as high in the manual therapy group as in the group receiving care from a general practitioner. The recovery rates were 68%, 51%, and 36% for the manual therapy, physical therapy, and general care groups, respectively. The manual therapy patients had half the absences from work due to pain during the study as the other two groups. Also, manual therapy proved better than physical therapy in all outcome measures in this study in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The fundamental objective of manual therapy is restoration of normal joint motion. This goal was attained in the study, with a "relatively large" increase in neck range of motion. If you are suffering from neck pain, your chiropractor can treat your symptoms with manual therapy, adjustments, and neck exercises to address not just the pain, but also range of motion and strength.

Reference: Hoving JL, Koes BW, de Vet HCW, et al. Manual therapy, physical therapy, or continued care by a general practitioner for patients with neck pain. Annals of Internal Medicine 2002:136(10), pp. 713-722.

To read more about neck pain, go to https://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/neckpain.html.

Washing to Wellness

One of the best methods for avoiding the spread of germs and infections is handwashing. Yet handwashing rates in schools are low: Research has indicated that only a quarter of middle- and high-school girls wash their hands with soap after visiting the bathroom; less than 10% of boys appear to do the same.

The purpose of a recent study in the American Journal of Infection Control was to evaluate the effectiveness of a handwashing campaign on absenteeism rates in five elementary schools. Two "test" classrooms and two "control" classrooms were included from each school. Only test classrooms completed a one-hour educational class on germ-spreading and handwashing techniques and received a supply of hand sanitizer. Data on absences for nearly 300 children were tallied over three months.

Children using the hand sanitizer were 50% less likely to be absent than children who did not receive sanitizer and handwashing education. Also, absences were decreased in 23 of 27 months for the handwashing groups. Researchers estimated that the handwashing education saved each school approximately $24,000 per year in the form of time saved by teachers (preparing take-home and remedial work).

Schools, similar to hospitals, are areas prone to the transmission of microorganisms because of the high number of people in a small area and the sharing of objects. Teach your children about the importance of handwashing, and provide them the means to do so to reduce their number of sick days this year.

Reference: Guinan M, McGuckin M, Ali Y. The effect of a comprehensive handwashing program on absenteeism in elementary schools. American Journal of Infection Control 2002:30(4), pp. 217-220.

For more pediatric health information, go to https://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/childhood.html.

"Benching" Bad for Backs

In sports like basketball, football, and volleyball, it is common practice to have resting or "second-string" players sit on the bench during a game. Yet long periods of sitting can cause low back pain, and unsupported sitting on a bench results in hunching over, which may shift the spinal ligaments and discs out of place and reduce stability. Athletes who warm up for play and then sit on the bench prior to play may therefore have an increased risk for injury.

Nine male volleyball players were measured for lower back stiffness initially; after a 30-minute warm-up period; and again after 30 minutes of bench rest (post-warm-up). Stiffness was measured for forward, side, and backward bends and twisting in this recent study in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.

On average, bench rest following warm-up led to increased lower back stiffness. Increased stiffness was present in side and backward bending. Surprisingly, warm-up had neither positive nor negative effects on spine stiffness, however.

The common practice of sitting second-string volleyball players on the bench after warm-up exercises for prolonged periods, then later sending them into the game, may increase the likelihood of spinal stiffness and back injury. These results may even apply to other sports that involve "benching" players. Players should always continue moving to keep their muscles warm prior to play. Your doctor of chiropractic can provide you with more tips on preventing back problems.

Reference: Green JP, Grenier SG, McGill SM. Low-back stiffness is altered with warm-up and bench rest: Implications for athletes. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 2002:34(7), pp. 1076-1081.

To find more on sports and fitness, check out https://www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/sports.

Take Salt with a Grain of This

Americans love their salty foods. From potato chips and popcorn to canned and frozen foods, the flavor and long shelf life of high-sodium foods makes them popular items. At the same time, more Americans are dying from congestive heart failure (CHF); roughly 5 million people in the U.S. experience CHF annually.

The authors of this study in the Archives of Internal Medicine compared CHF cases in approximately 5,000 normal-weight and 5,000 overweight individuals. Up until 21 years after an initial diet questionnaire, CHF cases were recorded and classified based on sodium intake.

Overweight individuals in the highest sodium intake category (approximately 4,300 milligrams/day or more) were 43% more likely to suffer CHF than overweight individuals with the lowest intakes (approx. 1,900 mg/day or less). Sodium intake was not linked to CHF in normal-weight persons, however.

An intake of less than 2,400 mg/day of sodium is recommended by several government health agencies, because high sodium intake can also increase hypertension and cardiovascular disease risks. Try to eat fresh foods and prepare your own meals, as prepackaged foods are often loaded with sodium. Start reading labels on pre-prepared meals, too - you might be shocked at how much sodium you're already eating!

Reference: He J, Ogden LG, Bazzano LA, et al. Dietary sodium intake and incidence of congestive heart failure in overweight U.S. men and women. Archives of Internal Medicine 2002:162(14), pp. 1619-1624.

For more nutrition information, go to https://www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/nutrition.

 

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