Athletic Performance and Physiological Measures in Baseball Players Following Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care

This study from the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research in 2007 is an amazing example of how specific upper cervical chiropractic can have an integral part in your progression as an athlete. The study focused on athletic performance and physiological measures before, during and after 14 weeks of specific upper cervical chiropractic care. I agree with the study when they stated the importance of utilizing chiropractic for the improvement of human performance as an alternative to the current use of illegal drugs to boost performance, which often has long term physical consequences. Thank you Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic Research and the University of South Carolina (Spartanburg) baseball team for getting the truth published.

28 male baseball players were recruited to be a part of the study and 21 players completed the study. 9 players were in the chiropractic group and 12 players were part of the control group. Only players who were free of physical injury were selected for the study and in order to complete the study, the players needed to remain injury free from physical injury throughout the entire study. Both the control group and the chiropractic group received radiographic analysis and thermographic profiling before the study began as well as at the end of the study. They all also received baseline profiles of athletic ability and physiological function pre and post study. In order for the chiropractic group to receive a specific Palmer toggle-recoil adjustment during the study, the patient needed to have at least 2 established pattern scans prior to the adjustment and were rested for at least 10 min post adjustment.

The athletic performance tests were the vertical jump test, Broad jump specified, standing broad jump, and muscle strength (free weight abduction). The physiological tests performed were resting blood pressure and resting pulse rate, treadmill stress test, and Natilfold microcirculation (capillary count before and after 8 minute treadmill run).

The results should inspire ANYONE, whether you are an athlete or not to add specific upper cervical care to your health and performance routine. There was very evident improvement within the adjusted group in regard to muscle strength, long jump distance, and vertical jump distance and there was a decrease in distance of specific broad jump. The trend was similar with the controlled group other than an additional decrease in long jump. Although the trends were similar, the percentage of improvement was substantially greater with the adjusted group. With the adjusted group, there was a significant increase in capillary counts. The control group on the other hand did not show a significant improvement. There was a downward trend with the adjustment group and an upward trend with the control group in terms of resting heart rate and systolic/diastolic blood pressure. This is probably one of the most important aspects to me in this study because resting heart rate is s very good indicator of overall fitness.

As you can see making sure the upper cervical area is clear of subluxations and your brainstem is free to function optimally is absolutely critical to reaching your God given maximum potential.

Schwartzbauer J, Kolber J, Schwartzbauer, DC, Hart, JDC, Zhang J. Paper Presented at the National Subluxation Conference, October 12-13, 1996 Phoenix, Arizona, Sponsored by Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic. Published in the J of Vertebral Subluxation Research 1997; 1 (4): 7

http://cafeoflife.de/download/research%201497-0043_athletic.pdf

Upper Cervical Chiropractic and Cognitive Function

I just saw some pretty cool published research about neurocognitive function and the upper cervical spine. 40 subjects were part of the study where 30 of them received a knee chest upper cervical specific adjustment and the other 10 were part of the control group. All participants were examined using a computer-administered neurocognitive assessment at the start of the study and after 4 weeks of care. The results showed significant improvement with neurocognitive function for those receiving upper cervical specific adjustments where the control group did not demonstrate the same trend.

This is a pretty cool study especially since cortical function is becoming such a hot topic due to the fact that over 4 million Americans each year are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's attacks the neurons of the brain and progressively interferes with the ability of someone to feel, move, and think. Chiropractic may not be able to cure Alzheimer's but it can maintain and even improve neurological integrity which is important in preventing Alzheimer's and any other neurological disease or disability. And to go even further with that, by maintaining optimal neurological integrity and cognitive function you will drastically improve your quality of life and live the life you always dreamed of.

Kessinger RC, Boneva DV. Neurocognitive Function and the Upper Cervical Spine. Chiropr Res J, 1999; 6(2):88.

Why Upper Cervical Chiropractic is Perfect for Runners

I have spent over half my life in the running community and know that every competitive or even non-competitive runner will do whatever they can just to run a little faster. Whether that be train multiple times a day, sleep in a tent at night that limits the amount of oxygen available to breath, or even give up the opportunity to get a "real job" and make more money. Due to the fact we distance runners make so many sacrifices to do what we love, we should get the most out of our training and time. The key to this is to stay clear of preventable injuries. If we are injured, we cannot reach our goals. My college coach used to always say "do the little things." There is a lot more to "the little things" than just stretching, hydrating, and getting sleep, etc. The little things are the simple things that can make a big difference in your fitness. Over the past 4 years I have realized one of the most important little thing we can do is make UPPER CERVICAL CHIROPRACTIC part of our regimen. Here is my reasoning....

1) First off, in order to reach our maximum potential we need to be running on all cylinders. We need our immune system to be working 100% so that we don't get sick and miss training days. We need our digestive system to be in 100% communication with our brain in order to properly utilize our food for energy and recovery. We need every gland and organ in our body to be working correctly so that we are producing the right hormones at the right time. If any one of these aspects or any other autonomic function in our body is less than 100%, it is impossible to perform at 100%.

How does this work? Well the top two bones in our neck surround one of the most important organs in our body, the brainstem. We have over 450 million nerve fibers crossing over through the brainstem in order for our brain and the rest of the body to communicate and work in unison. Due to physical, emotional, and chemical stressors we put on our body daily, these bones can move out of alignment and actually put pressure on our brainstem. We call this a SUBLUXATION. When this happens it is impossible for all 450 million nerve fibers to work properly. When communication from our brain to the rest of our body is interfered with, our body deviates from homeostasis and we are not able to reach our maximal, God given potential. This is also a time when dis-ease can set in.

As upper cervical chiropractors we specialize in locating these subluxations using instrumentation and xray analysis. Then very specifically removing this subluxation in order for your body to start functioning back at 100%. We then continue to utilize instrumentation to make sure that adjustment holds and allows those 450 million nerve fibers to function properly. This is when your body works at its best!

2) Secondly, our body has a natural tendency to make sure our pelvis is properly underneath us in order to maintain balance. When either of the top two bones in our neck move out of alignment, our head moves out of positional balance and therefore the body begins to react. This is when one shoulder rises to counter the tilted head, and the pelvis rotates and tilts creating a short leg. With all this the muscles and ligaments in our entire body begin to tighten or lengthen in order to support the new position of our body. Long term this is not a good thing for the body, and as an endurance athlete it is usually the reason for many injuries. If you think about running, you will take around 2,000 steps when running a mile. That is 1,000 steps on each leg. If your body is not in balance, one leg will take more of a pounding than the other. So if you weigh 150 pounds you may put 195,000 pounds of stress on one side of the body and 105,000 pounds of stress on the other side. As you could probably figure, this would make a big difference on how your body can function and recover. And this is only 1 mile! Over time most will start to develop overuse injuries. When your top two bones in your body are aligned, your body is aligned, and when your body is aligned your body can properly distribute your weight and be less susceptible to overuse injuries.

As upper cervical chiropractors we specialize in locating these subluxations using instrumentation and xray analysis. Then very specifically removing this subluxation in order for your body to start functioning back at 100%.

The reason Upper Cervical Chiropractic is so important for runners is that no matter how much we train or prepare, it is IMPOSSIBLE to reach our GOD GIVEN POTENTIAL when our nervous system is unable to work at 100% and our body is out of balance .

So go out and train hard, train smart, and get your nervous system checked!

Children and Chiropractic

The nervous system plays a key role in the health of children and yet is often overlooked as the cause of health problems. Chiropractors and medical researchers have found that birth trauma is the first cause of nervous system interference. This is because the process of most birthing processes is a physical insult to the baby’s body. Often the first subluxation in a person’s life occurs at birth, and usually being the first bone of your spine known as the atlas. This is the most important bone in your body not only because it is responsible for holding up your head but because it houses and protects your spinal cord and brain stem. When this bone is out of alignment, pressure builds around you brain stem and spinal cord causing nerve interference. When your body’s afferent and efferent communication is not in balance your body begins to fall away from homeostasis and pulls you away from optimal health. When this occurs in an infant during their most important time of development major consequences will follow. Having your child checked for a subluxation at birth or soon after will allow that inborn intelligence inside of them that has been developing them from conception work at 100%.

Get your family checked!!

Upper Cervical Care and the Pediatric Patient

by Dr. Claudia Anrig

from: Dynamic Chiropractic - April 10, 2006, Volume 24, Issue 08

Upper cervical technique is not new to the chiropractic profession. It started with the toggle (HIO) technique, developed by Dr. B.J. Palmer, followed by other upper cervical techniques, such as Grostic, NUCCA, orthospinology and atlas orthongal. In preparing this article, I interviewed Dr. Julie Mayer Hunt, a second-generation upper cervical chiropractor who is board certified in orthospinology and has earned diplomate status in chiropractic pediatrics. She is currently a board member of the Society of Chiropractic Orthospinology and the Academy of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Organizations (AUCCO).

According to Dr. Mayer Hunt, "The upper cervical spine is one of the most vulnerable areas of the spine and is a critical area to keep free from nerve interference." She cites a study published in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics that identified approximately 58 articles regarding chiropractic care of the pediatric patient.1 All of the literature reviewed involved upper cervical adjustments (UCA) and reported the overall level of improvement as a result of rendering specific chiropractic care. Many of the studies involved cases in which any of a myriad of conditions frequently affecting children was resolved completely. Moreover, the response time of a UCA often was seen within one to three treatments. The conditions cited included infantile colic, glaucoma, irritability, head trauma, hemiparesis, projectile vomiting, tonsillitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, nocturnal enuresis, allergies, sleep disorders curvature of the spine, fever, otitis media, asthma, ADHD, headaches, torticollis and seizures. The JCCP study summarized studies involving more than 1,000 children under chiropractic care; the findings suggested the focal area of care involved the upper cervical spine.

Dr. Kirk Eriksen best describes the upper cervical biomechanics as not moving in only one plane of motion. During normal cervical movement, coupled motion occurs. Coupling is defined as motion in which rotation or translation of a rigid body about or along one axis is consistently associated with simultaneous rotation or translation about or along another axis. During normal range of movement, coupled motion helps reduce tension on the nervous system. This is accomplished by offsetting pure lateral flexion or rotation, with small amounts of movements in the X, Y or Z axes.2

One feature of an upper cervical subluxation is that the occipito-atlanto-axial articulations have misaligned in an uncoupled fashion. This condition is measured radiographically in a neutral posture, with the spine at rest. The body must continually adapt, from a biomechanical and neurological standpoint, to this type of subluxation.2

The birth process alone can contribute to upper cervical trauma and instability. Abraham Towbin, MD, reported the results of a study on newborn spinal cord/brainstem injuries that he conducted at the Harvard Department of Neuropathology.3 He performed autopsies on more than 2,000 newborns that died shortly after birth. In his report, Latent Spinal Cord and Brain Stem Injuries in Newborn Infants, Dr. Towbin stated: "Spinal cord and brain stem injuries often occur during the process of birth, but frequently escape diagnosis. Respiratory distress is a cardinal sign of such injury."3

A study by H. Biedermann, published in the Journal of Manual Medicine, high lights the importance of checking the newborn following delivery. In his evaluation of 1,000 newborns, he discovered that 119 cases revealed kinematic imbalances of the suboccipital spine. The finding of suboccipital strain equated to approximately 12 percent of the population group.4

Upper cervical techniques traditionally use the supine leg-length evaluation to determine necessity for adjusting the atlas. When evaluating the pediatric patient with the supine leg check, a leg-length difference is often readily apparent, usually half an inch or greater. Dr. K. Eriksen notes the following hypothesis regarding the short leg findings:

"The spinocerebellar tracts are located along the lateral edge of the spinal cord and are located at the most probable site of maximal mechanical irritation via the dentate ligaments. These proprioceptive tracts are primary pathways for regulating muscle tone and joint position sense. The spinocerebellar tracts are arranged in a laminar fashion (although somewhat angulated) with the most lateral fibers innervating the most caudal structures (i.e., legssacrallumbarthoracic cervical [very limited]). Irritation of these tracts could lead to muscle tone imbalance of the pelvic girdle resulting in a functional short leg."5

Upper cervical chiropractors also note postural corrections as a byproduct of specific upper cervical adjustments. These doctors advocate that one of the benefits of chiropractic care for the pediatric population is eliminating spinal stress (weight of the head centered and structurally/neurologically balanced) on the child's developing spine.

A resource regarding upper cervical techniques for both pediatric and general practice is Dr. Erikson's book, Upper Cervical Subluxation Complex: A Review of the Chiropractic and Medical Literature. The book reviews the anatomy and kinematics of the upper cervical spine, and explains how impaired biomechanics causes neurological dysfunction and physiological concomitants.5 This textbook is not intended to be about chiropractic technique; rather, the text provides the "why" as opposed to the "how" of upper cervical chiropractic care. A follow-up book providing specifics on upper cervical techniques including pediatric care is scheduled to be released in spring 2007.

Claudia Anrig, DC, practices in Fresno, Calif. She is on the board of directors of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. For more information, including a brief biography, a printable version of this article and a link to previous articles, please visit Dr. Anrig's columnist page online: www.chiroweb.com/columnist/anrig

Chiropractic at 37,000 ft.

This past week I was flying from San Diego to Oakland, California and there was a very fussy baby (to put it mildly) sitting across the isle from me and one row back. He was somewhere between six and eight months old by my best guess. Everything started out fine, but about ten minutes into the flight he began whimpering, then crying a little harder. This kept up for about five minutes or so when he suddenly reared back and let out a yell that sounded like someone was torturing him. He cried at the top of his lungs no matter how his mother tried to comfort him. He wouldn’t be distracted, he wouldn’t nurse, all he would do is scream, scream, scream! I was thinking about saying something to the mother after roughly ten minutes or so of this to see if she would allow me to help her when she said to her baby, “Oh Honey, it won’t be much longer before you will get to se Dr. Rich. We’ll go right to his office from the airport!” I turned around and asked her, “Dr.? Does he have a problem he’s being treated for?” She answered, “No, he’s usually very happy. But we’ve been out of town for two weeks and he’s been in a lot of strange places and hasn’t seen his chiropractor for an adjustment since we left.” I smiled and replied, “I’m a chiropractor, is there something…” Before I could finish she got up out of her seat, holding her baby out in front of her, arms fully extended and pleaded, “Would you mind?!” I put him on my lap, assessed him, adjusted him once very gently in his upper neck and once in his mid-back, and he was quiet within twenty seconds. The people around us were amazed and a few even clapped. She took him back and he went to sleep for the rest of the flight. As we landed, the flight attendant thanked everyone for flying Southwest, and then added, “And how about a huge thank you and a round of applause for the wonderful chiropractor who not only helped that little guy asleep there, but who also saved the rest of us from whatever horrors we might commit as the result of listening to over an hour of screaming!” Everyone clapped and cheered. You may think the point of this story is to tell you how wonderful chiropractic is at helping babies in distress – it’s not. You may think it’s about the fact that more and more people are not only accepting but actually praising chiropractic care – it’s not. No, the one and only point I want you to get goes back to what the flight attendant said, even if she meant it as a joke. She talked about how I, “not only helped that little guy asleep there, but who also saved the rest of us from whatever horrors we might commit as the result of listening to over an hour of screaming!” B.J. Palmer once said, “You never know how far reaching something you may think, say, or do today will affect the lives of millions tomorrow.” Who knows how everyone on that plane’s lives were different because they had a better experience after he went to sleep? Who knows what may have been said out of frustration to an innocent person by any one of the 163 people on that plane? And what about the ripple effect of all those people everyone on that plane interacted with after the flight? You may not realize just how important you and your health are to those around you, but I can tell you that there are 163 people who now know that truth a whole lot better now than they did a week ago.

By kevin Donka D.C.