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Archive for January, 2010

Bad Medicine.

January 24th, 2010 Brian Starry, D.C. 1 comment

For years Chiropractors have fought for thier right to properly diagnose, treat and help patients, effectively, safely, and without the use of medication.  More and more, people are seeking alternatives to dangerous drugs, and innefective surgies, to releive thier pain.  This has put a strain on physicians that prescribe medication and/or perform surgery, and many of them are having to sell thier yacht to continue raking in the dough.  So what does one do when one doesn’t get thier way, change the rules right?  And so it is that organized medicine is trying to use big money, politicians, and judges to force healthcare to play by THIER rules, by taking away the rights of all healthcare professionals to properly diagnose pastients, which is absolutely necessary in the plan of care for each individual.  If they have thier way, you would HAVE to go to a ”physician”  AKA medical doctor, to be assesed and diagnosed.  This would have huge ramifications for all, including those that have health insurance.  For example, if you have a sore neck, you would have to go to your MD and get assesed initially.  What would have been a safe and much cheaper fix by a Chiropractor, would now not be covered because an MD says that your diagnosis requires a regimine of expensive medication or worst yet surgery.  We work with medical doctors on a daily basis, and have a great relationship with them.  It is a fringe group that wants to push this down the throats of unexpected Americans for monetary gain and control of healthcare.  Control of healthcare you ask?  Sounds familiar doesn’t it?  At least the socialized healthcare that is trying to be pushed in washington is in public view and you can voice your opinion, ie MA Senator election, but this is behind the public’s back and isn’t getting the exposure as it should.  Voice your opinion, protect your healthcare, and have it the way you want it, not the way one group makes you have it.  Here is an addendum article for further reading:

TCA Clear Header

 
Organized Medicine Pushes Back
 
Chris G. Dalrymple D.C., F.I.C.C.
 
Published 01/18/2010 – 6:56 a.m. CST
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Chris Dalrymple
Chris G. Dalrymple D.C., F.I.C.C.
 
Website:
http://www.fixback.com
 
Email:
cdal@fixback.com
 

In the full article found here the American Medical Association claims that “in 2009, physicians fought a blitz of scope-of-practice expansions by other health professionals on legislative, legal and regulatory fronts.  Organized medicine defeated attempts by naturopaths to seek licensure, prevented chiropractors from being able to perform invasive procedures and achieved further regulation of lay midwives. The efforts were among more than 300 scope-related bills the American Medical Association tracked last year. Physicians don’t expect the battles to let up, and with patient safety on the line, they are countering such efforts with some fresh tactics.”

“In anticipation of another onslaught in 2010, physicians, with the help of AMA model legislation, plan to push lawmakers to establish state scope-of-practice review panels to evaluate plans by nonphysician health professionals who wish to expand their practice realm.”

“The AMA also is helping states with model legislation requiring nonphysicians to identify their credentials clearly — for instance by wearing badges or limiting use of the term doctor.”

“When legislative avenues fail, nonphysicians are turning to regulatory boards to expand their realm of expertise — a tactic that increasingly is landing scope debates in the courts, said Rocky Wilcox, vice president and general counsel at the Texas Medical Assn.”

“In a recent win, a Travis County District Court judge, on Nov. 24, 2009, struck down a 2005 state chiropractic board regulation allowing chiropractors to perform manipulation under anesthesia and needle electromyography. The court said state law forbade nonphysicians from performing such surgical procedures. The TMA and Texas Medical Board sued the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the Texas Chiropractic Assn. over the regulation. An appeal is under way.”

“The court also found, however, that state law may not preclude a portion of the board regulation allowing chiropractors to use the term “diagnose.” A trial on that issue is expected to begin in March.”

If you want to understand WHY your state professional association is “political”, the AMA states it very clearly:

“This is a problem that all states are having, and our view is the Legislature has the policy power to decide who can safely do certain things,” Wilcox said. “If these [regulatory] decisions are not challenged, then it allows agencies to go way outside of what the statute says, and allied professionals will be practicing medicine and diagnosing medical conditions when they are not qualified to do it. So it’s a safety issue….Pending a lack of resolution, we are looking at legislative remedies and would not foreclose the possibility of landing in a court of law.” 

“Nonphysician health professionals and their boards say their scope and authority are being restricted unfairly, risking access to care.”

“Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners Executive Director Glenn Parker said chiropractors performing manipulation under anesthesia and needle EMG undergo extensive training and are well-qualified to do what he said were nonsurgical procedures. Moreover, they must be able to diagnose patients to determine if chiropractic or medical care is appropriate.”

“The Texas case ‘brings up legal questions about the state of Texas allowing medical associations to determine what is and is not within the scope of chiropractors,’ Parker said. State chiropractors also are expected to push for legislative remedies, he added.”

The AMA claims “team-based collaboration among physicians and other health care professionals is key to resolving access issues. “Do you want patients to have access to just anything or have access to a quality standard of care?”  

This author eagerly awaits the day when the AMA decides to be a “team-player”.  So far it seems that they are merely attempting to “take away” the “turf” of other duly licensed and regulated healing arts professionals.

For ways to voice your opinion, visit the Texas Chiropractic Association’s website.

Visit us at All Injury Rehab for more information and to set up an appointment.

 
Categories: Chiropractic Tags: , , ,

What is an adjustment?

January 16th, 2010 Brian Starry, D.C. No comments

Often I’m asked what an adjustment is.  I explain to them that it is joint mobilization for your spine and or extremity.  If you have a few restricted segments of your spine or extremity, wether it be from recent trauma, a chronic condition, or just something from activities of daily living,  joint mobilization is for you.  Remember when you popped your knuckles the last time, we all do it and on a daily basis,  you get pain relief in your hand right?  You gain motion right?  Chiropractors are well trained in moving those joints where they are supposed to be.  Here’s a little article:

What is an adjustment?
A Chiropractic adjustment is the use of a specific force in a precise direction that helps normalize spinal function. The adjustment is applied to a joint that is fixated, “locked up”, or not moving properly. Adjustments help return the bones to a more normal position or motion, restoring body’s natural healing.

What does it do?
Adjustments help normalize spinal function and avoid bone and soft tissue degeneration. When nervous system function improves in this way, the body can begin the natural healing process.

What do adjustments feel like?
After the adjustment, many patients report a sense of well-being or a feeling of calmness. Others feel improved mobility. Inflammation or muscle spasms may delay these positive effects. Chiropractors excel at making adjustments comfortable and effective.

Is it safe?
YES! Chiropractic adjustments are so safe, even newborns and children receive adjustments to repair the damage caused from the birth process, learning to walk, or other childhood trauma. Each adjustment is tailored to each patient’s age, size, and unique spinal problem. After years of training, each Chiropractor has selected a variety of methods and become skilled in their delivery.

In fact, adverse effects of medical treatment is the principal cause of death in people under 45 years of age, as well as being the leading cause of morbidity and permanent disability. Costing Australians $401 million dollars per year and consumed 16% of Australia’s total annual health system expenditure for injury. 17% of hospital admission results in adverse events, 5% results in death, and 50,000 people per year are permanently disabled as a result of their medical treatment (from The report, Health System Costs of Injury, Poisoning and Musculoskeletal Disorders in Australia 1993-1994).

Yes! A New Zealand government study concluded that Chiropractic adjustments are “remarkably safe.” Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever is about 100 times more risky.

Why an adjustment?
A Chiropractic adjustment corrects Vertebral Misalignments. An adjustment helps your body to restore itself to optimum health! When the 24 bones that protect the spinal cord lose their normal position or motion, delicate nerve tissue can become choked or irritated. If a thorough examination reveals malfunctioning areas of the spine, Chiropractic adjustments are recommended to help correct this malfunction.

Each day millions of delighted people choose Chiropractic over drugs or surgery, as a common sense approach to better health.

Visit us at All Injury Rehab for more information and to set up an appointment.

Categories: Chiropractic Tags: ,

Subscapularis Injury: Diagnosis and Treatment

January 2nd, 2010 Brian Starry, D.C. No comments

Happy New Year!!!  Many resolutions include increasing activity, and for those that are not conditioned, injuries often occur.  Shoulder injuries are a very common thing that we see at our clinics.  Here’s an article explaining one of the causes:

By Todd Turnbull, DC, CCSP

The subscapularis muscle is an internal rotator and therefore is overused by almost every patient, especially those involved in throwing sports such as baseball. When a patient complains of shoulder pain, this is usually one of the factors that causes shoulder dysfunction.

Symptoms

The most common area of complaint is along the anterior humeral head or just a generalized region of pain in the shoulder joint. The onset of pain can be either acute, due to a specific mechanism of injury, or a gradual chronic condition that slowly develops. Strain can occur due to sleeping on the involved side, excessive throwing or a fall that traumatizes the shoulder.

Diagnosis

Evaluate shoulder range of motion bilaterally by having the patient elevate both elbows to horizontal. Have the patient internally rotate both forearms and look for a loss of end-range motion and/or an internal rotation of the whole scapula. Next, muscle test bilaterally and note the deficiency of the involved subscapularis.

Treatment

The subscapularis originates along the medial border of the anterior surface of the scapula and inserts into the lesser tubercle of the humerus. There are several approaches to correcting the subscapularis. Cross-fiber massage, instrument-based adjusting and/or contract, relax and stretch principles can all be utilized to obtain good results.

Cross-fiber massage of the belly can be accomplished by the doctor sliding their fingers into the axilla until the subscapularis muscle is found (usually an uncomfortable procedure for the patient). Adjusting instruments can target the origin while the patient’s arm is externally rotated. Contract, relax and stretch protocols tend to be less uncomfortable, but more time-consuming. Post-treatment evaluation should note increased strength and range-of-motion function and decreased pain.

Rehabilitation

Resistance-band strengthening exercises (multiple sets of 15 to 20 repetitions) should be incorporated a minimum of three times per week. I prefer that my patients first work their good side and then train the injured side.

Visit us at All Injury Rehab for more information and to set up an appointment.