Feature Articles:
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• Chiropractic and Medical Care for Low Back Pain Patients •
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A new study compared the long-term effectiveness of medical and chiropractic care for low back pain and assessed the effectiveness of physical therapy and modalities among patients receiving medical or chiropractic care. A total of 610 low back pain patients were successfully followed for 18 months after being randomly assigned to chiropractic with or without physical modalities, or medical care with or without physical therapy. Among patients not assigned to receive physical therapy or modalities, the improvements in pain and disability and 18-month risk of complete remission were greater in the chiropractic group than in the medical group. Also, compared with medical care only patients, chiropractic and physical therapy patients were much more likely to perceive improvement in their low back symptoms.
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| SOURCE: Spine. 31(6):611-621, March 15, 2006. |
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• Postural / Sitting Related Backache •
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A recent study was conducted to determine whether individuals with backache tend to sit for longer periods and have more forward-flexed and relaxed sitting posture than those without backache. Using student volunteers (half with backache, half without), researchers had students record their activity in a diary for a period of 3 days. Researchers found the most common activity during the day for both groups (backache and no backache groups) was sitting and the average sitting times were similar between groups. However, the group with backache sat for longer periods without interruption and had a more flexed relaxed sitting posture than the no backache group. Thus, be sure to sit up straight and take frequent breaks to stretch when sitting.
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| SOURCE: JMPT. 29(3);213-218, March 2006. |
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• Prevent Breast Cancer With Soy? •
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After reviewing the findings from 18 different studies on soy and breast cancer, researchers from John Hopkins University and Georgetown University found women who consume soy foods have a lower incidence of breast cancer. According to findings, there was an overall 14 percent lower risk in women who consumed soy. However, researchers could not be sure that these benefits were from the soy or the fact that those women eating soy possessed better health habits. These studies focused on soy-based foods such as tofu and soymilk and not soy supplements. It should be noted that soy supplements can have very different biological effects as compared with soy-based foods. The researchers also cautioned against supplementing with high doses of soy, especially those women are breast cancer survivors or those women at increased risk for breast cancer.
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| SOURCE: J Natl Cancer Inst 2006; 98: 430-431. |
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• Cervical Cancer Risk Increases Significantly With Smoking •
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Compiled findings from 23 previous studies conducted on smoking and cancer of the cervix were just reported in the International Journal of Cancer. The report finds woman who smoke significantly increase their risk of developing cervical cancer. Also, the more cigarettes smoked per day and the younger the woman first begins smoking further increases the risk of cervical cancer. According to authors of the report, current smokers have a 60 percent greater risk of cervical cancer than women who have never smoked.
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| SOURCE: International Journal of Cancer, March 15, 2006. |
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