Those of you familiar with talk show host Montel Williams may know that he has suffered with multiple sclerosis over the past 6 years. Montel has openly discussed the severe degree of pain he experiences regularly in both of his legs and feet, as well as postural balance challenges since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He continued to "soldier" on with his show in spite of these difficulties.
Montel decided to give upper cervical chiropractic care, specifically an instrument adjustment, a try in his quest for relief of any kind. Much to his surprise, Montel describes his experience, "it's the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me!" He experienced a substantial level of relief beginning with his first adjustment. Since he has been under upper cervical chiropractic care, Montel's friends have remarked that even they notice a marked change in his posture and gait. Not only is his pain significantly reduced, but the strength in his legs is returning.
Montel felt so strongly about his chiropractic treatment that he devoted a show segment to describing his experience and even interviewing his chiropractor, Dr. Patrick Kerr, as a guest of the show. The story video can be accessed on YouTube if you query Montel Williams upper cervical chiropractic.
I have seen many patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis throughout my chiropractic career. Though they all presented with unique symptoms and challenges, the common denominator for their Precision Cervical Correction experience was that the reduction in pain and increased level of physical function made their lives better. Like with so many conditions that find help under upper cervical chiropractic care, it is a shame that the only way for people to know that this potential for hope is available would be for stories like this to receive more distribution.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Upper Cervical Care and Blood Pressure: A Pilot Study
Several months ago, a story concerning the results of a pilot study conducted at the University of Chicago was released in numerous chiropractic publications. The study, comprised of a sampling of 50 volunteers, was designed for half the subjects (25) to receive upper cervical adjustments over an 8 week course of care. The other sampling group received sham adjustments performed to mimic a real correction to insure blinding for the study. The purpose of the study was to determine if upper cervical adjustments effected change in lowering blood pressure. The design, data acquisition and assessment was performed by a team led by George Bakris, M.D.; the atlas adjustments were administered by Marshall Dickholtz, D.C., a long time upper cervical specialist. The average age of study participants was 52.7 years old with 70% of subjects being men. All study members, adjustment group and control group, did not use any blood pressure medication during the 8 week study period.
The results of the study demonstrated very positive changes in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures measured at the beginning and end of the study. The adjustment group demonstrated an average drop in systolic blood pressure of 17 mm Hg and a lowered average of 10mm Hg diastolic readings. The control group with sham adjustments showed very slight average changes in their blood pressure readings. These findings led researchers to the conclusion that there was enough suggestive evidence to plan a much larger clinical trial in the near future. Further study will attempt to better understand the mechanism by which a C1 adjustment can create positive changes for patients diagnosed with hypertension because any explanation is theoretical.
More studies of this nature will be funded in the future with, what I hope to be, widely published results. The ultimate beneficiaries will be patients who seek to reclaim their health by less invasive, more conservative means.....not to mention the cost savings. Upper cervical practitioners have seen miraculous results for many conditions in their clinical practices since the inception of chiropractic. Studies such as this particular one serve to illuminate what a very small percentage of people (who have been lucky enough to be referred to an upper cervical chiropractor) know: the accurate analysis and correction of upper cervical problems can change our health dramatically for the better.
The results of the study demonstrated very positive changes in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures measured at the beginning and end of the study. The adjustment group demonstrated an average drop in systolic blood pressure of 17 mm Hg and a lowered average of 10mm Hg diastolic readings. The control group with sham adjustments showed very slight average changes in their blood pressure readings. These findings led researchers to the conclusion that there was enough suggestive evidence to plan a much larger clinical trial in the near future. Further study will attempt to better understand the mechanism by which a C1 adjustment can create positive changes for patients diagnosed with hypertension because any explanation is theoretical.
More studies of this nature will be funded in the future with, what I hope to be, widely published results. The ultimate beneficiaries will be patients who seek to reclaim their health by less invasive, more conservative means.....not to mention the cost savings. Upper cervical practitioners have seen miraculous results for many conditions in their clinical practices since the inception of chiropractic. Studies such as this particular one serve to illuminate what a very small percentage of people (who have been lucky enough to be referred to an upper cervical chiropractor) know: the accurate analysis and correction of upper cervical problems can change our health dramatically for the better.
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