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HEALTHBEAT SHOW NOTES .... Episode #47 - Recorded June 2, 2006

Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of HealthBeat, Chiropractic OnLine Today’s Health, News and informational Podcast.

In this week’s news:  We’ll Look At –

• MRI Limitations

• Orthopedic Diplomate Exam October 14 at Northwestern

• Musculoskeletal Pain and Menopausal Status

• Early Signs of Dementia

• And Finally, Chiropractic Corner talks about the Wilk-AMA lawsuit with Chicago Sun-Times reporter Howard Wolinsky

For HealthBeat, This is Dr. Todd Eglow.

Welcome to HealthBeat Podcast #47, recorded June 2, 2006.  HealthBeat is Chiropractic OnLine Today’s radio program, providing current news and commentary about Chiropractic and Health.

This week’s Episode is sponsored by DaVinci Laboratories.  Please surf to our web site at ChiropracticRadio.com and click on the DaVinci link for your Health and Nutritional needs.

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Finally, Chiropractic OnLine Today has always provided our news and education content for free and plan on continuing this policy.  However, we do request that if you are enjoying these podcasts, that you surf to ChiropracticRadio.com and consider clicking on our PayPal link to make a donation to keep these Podcasts airing.  We thank everyone for their continued support.

And Now for some news ….

MRI Limitations

In a study published back in 1997, in the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, a case study reported on he case of a 49-yr-old man who developed neck pain and arm numbness. He was found to have extensive cervical spondylosis, with spinal cord impingement at C3-4 and cervical radiculopathy.

The patient underwent a C3-7 laminectomy, with transient improvement in his symptoms. During the ensuing year, he developed increased weakness of the upper limbs, evidence of cervical myelopathy, and a severely flexed posture of the cervical spine.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed cervical spinal cord atrophy but no evidence of extrinsic spinal cord compression. Cervical flexion and extension films revealed reversal of the normal cervical lordosis without segmental instability.

Despite the absence of confirmatory radiologic studies, the patient was felt to have clinical evidence of intermittent compression of his cervical spinal cord attributable to excessive cervical kyphosis, was provided with a cervical collar, and subsequently underwent surgical stabilization.

The patient’s cervical myelopathy showed marked improvement with these treatments.

The authors concluded that intermittent compression of the spinal cord, occurring in the erect position, was not apparent on the MRI films obtained in the supine position.

Flexion and extension films, obtained in the upright position, documented his abnormal cervical anatomy but did not reveal substantial segmental instability. Spinal deformity without segmental instability may cause cervical myelopathy after multilevel cervical laminectomies without evidence of extrinsic compression on MRI.

For more information, surf to our Show notes for a link to this study’s abstract, and of course, stay on top of current trends in health technologies by reviewing current Journal abstracts - http://www.amjphysmedrehab.com/pt/re/ajpmr/abstract.00002060-199701000-00016.htm;jsessionid=G4nKBK2vxRmTSWR9VMVjtTq9gpvLpD7gKCLbcpJ6rwJGV6tK7WGF!-801141804!-949856145!8091!-1?&fullimage=true

Orthopedic Diplomate Exam October 14 at Northwestern

The Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists will hold its next Diplomate certification exam on Saturday, October 14, 2006, on the campus of Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington, Minnesota.

For requirements and all the details, surf to our Show Notes for a link to the Academy web site - http://www.dcorthoacademy.com/diplomate_exam.htm

Musculoskeletal Pain and Menopausal Status

A study in the May 2006 issue of the Clinical Journal of Pain examined whether self-reported menopausal status is associated with musculoskeletal pain in a multiethnic population of community-dwelling middle-aged women after considering
socio-demographics, medical factors, smoking, depression, and body mass index using a cross-sectional study design.

Prevalence of aches and pains was high, with 1 in 6 women reporting daily symptoms. Compared with premenopausal women, those who were early perimenopausal, late perimenopausal, or postmenopausal, reported significantly more aches and pains in age-adjusted analysis.

This study demonstrates an association between pain and self-reported menopausal status, with postmenopausal women experiencing greater pain symptoms than premenopausal women.

Surf to our Show Notes for a link to this study’s Abstract - http://www.clinicalpain.com/pt/re/clnjpain/abstract.00002508-200605000-00001.htm;jsessionid=G7Wfh1BnvQ2tQBgSVLNBplkNnwLLk4PRXn3cVpBYsvKxsJ86Cln2!-801141804!-949856145!8091!-1

Early Signs of Dementia

According to the DrKoop.com web site, Poor physical function may be a warning sign of increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.  According to the authors of the study, the goal was to point out that you don't want to separate the mind from the rest of the body.

The study concluded that lower levels of physical performance were associated with an increased risk of dementia and AD. The study suggests that poor physical function may precede the onset of dementia and AD and higher levels of physical function may be associated with a delayed onset.

As always, COT’s HealthBeat recommends getting a full Chiropractic examination as a starting point to see if further Neurological testing is warranted.

For more information surf to our Show Notes for a link to this May 22^nd study in the Archives of Internal Medicine - http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/166/10/1115

As always, please surf to our Podcast Show Notes at ChiropractiRadio.com for a full listing of web references mentioned in today’s show.

And remember - COT’s Healthbeat always recommends discussing any nutritional or exercise lifestyle modifications with a qualified healthcare professional.

Chiropractic Corner –In this edition of HealthBeat’s Chiropractic Corner, we present an interview with Mr. Howard Wolinsky, reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times.  Mr. Wolinsky was the co-author of the book, the Serpent and the Staff.

According to the book’s review from the Amazon.com web site, Chicago Sun Times reporters Wolinsky and Tom Brune argue that what is good for the American Medical Association (AMA) is not necessarily good for the public or its health. Since the AMA is a doctors' organization, few readers will be surprised by the authors' revelations of conflicts of professional vs. public interests.

The authors provide an overview of the AMA, discussing its organization and membership and how it works; its political "wheeling and dealing"; and some of its less altruistic actions regarding alternative (i.e., nonallopathic) medicines, Medicare, and the tobacco and drug industries and its ethical waverings on health issues such as abortion and AIDS. They write that "the AMA is a cheerleader for just enough reform to avoid a major overhaul" of the U.S. healthcare system.

One of the topics covered is the landmark 1987 decision by judge Susan Getzendanner, in the Wilk vs. AMA case, who held that the AMA was guilty of anti‑trust violations by attempting to eliminate chiropractic as a competitive form of health care.

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Finally, I leave you with the following quote:

"Wherever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision." 
- Peter Drucker

For Chiropractic OnLine Today’s HealthBeat, This is Dr. Todd Eglow.

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