We are happy to report, however, that in addition to chiropractic care, a study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology reports that a week of continuous auricular acupuncture can reduce pain and disability in pregnant women with low back and posterior pelvic pain.

Shu-Ming Wang, M.D., of the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., and colleagues conducted a randomized, controlled trial and found that women receiving auricular acupuncture reported the best results. At the seven-day mark, about 80 percent of the acupuncture group reported a clinically significant reduction in pain, whereas only 56 percent of the sham acupuncture group and 36 percent of those in the control group did.

Although Wang and colleagues concluded that long-term efficacy of auricular acupuncture as a treatment for pregnancy-related low back and posterior pelvic pain clearly shows promise but is “still inconclusive,” it may be a valuable adjunct to chiropractic care when needed.

A bonus to seeing a chiropractor routinely during your pregnancy, however, is that it has been shown to actually decrease labor time. Why? Simply put, if the pelvis is aligned properly, the muscles contracting during the labor process are more efficient and won’t have to strain against misaligned joints.  And, should the need arise, certain trained chiropractors can also help a mother who has a breached baby. This is done by using the Webster Technique, a low force technique to manipulate the uterus and get the baby into the proper presentation for delivery. A simple Google search on the Webster Technique can give you much more information.

For more on the study go to alegent.com

Technorati Tags: acupuncture, chiropractic, chiropractors, low back pain, pregnancy

Our aging “Baby Boomer” population is discovering just how true this cautionary advice is when it comes to energy, vitality, mobility, and good health in later years. With every year of our life, we have much to gain from being physically active…and plenty to lose by living an immobile or sedentary lifestyle.

An article I just read proves my point about this, mates, that our lack of movement and sedentary lifestyle causes obesity and other age-related problems. The article said that THE blueprint for a healthy nation has drawn headlines about controversial ‘’sin taxes,” but its toughest challenge will be to get Australians off the couch, says the public health campaigner Mike Daube.  ”The truth is that we may think of ourselves as a sporting nation but [we] are becoming a sedentary, car-focused and obese nation. We are a great nation of sports watchers,” said Professor Daube, the president of the Public Health Association.

He was deputy chairman of the National Preventative Health Taskforce, which this week proposed an array of measures to counter obesity that is threatening to afflict 6 million Australians by 2020 unless the population shifts behaviour to embrace physical activity.

As our age-related risks of chronic disease increase and our weight increases as well, regular physical activity can actually slow down the trend. In addition, research has shown that people who have already developed coronary artery disease, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Type 2 diabetes, and other age-related chronic diseases can benefit substantially by increasing their physical activity and, therefore, often can manage their chronic illness with fewer medicines.

Furthermore, some studies suggest that the cardiovascular benefits an individual gets from physical activity may also help the brain stay healthy. “Physical activity influences the frontal region of the brain,” says Dr. Bradley Hatfield, professor of Sports Psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park. So, if you’ve been wondering what the best thing is that you can do to keep your brain young, the answer may be for you to take a long walk. A key factor is that exercise thickens the brain tissue and builds more synapses in the brain.  The brain has 10 billion nerve cells, called neurons, and on average, neurons are connected to each other through 10,000 synapses.  Every time we exercise, more synapses form and the active brain gets stronger.

On a regular basis, being physically active increases the quality of life (period).  Some of the benefits include improved energy levels, mental sharpness, balance, strength, flexibility, and weight control. Moreover, regular aerobic exercise has been shown to help in the management of depression, anxiety, and stress.

With Australians now among the most overweight in the world, it will be the activity campaign that’s likely to face the most resistance, Professor Daube says. The taskforce has suggested tax incentives to get us active, similar to a program in Nova Scotia in which parents get a $150 credit for registering a child for sport or recreation. It urges the inclusion of health and physical education in the national core curriculum for schools and children up to year 10 to be given a minimum of two hours physical activity a week.

The report says if more people were active for just 30 minutes a day, the health system would save $1.5 billion a year. It sort of gives “move it or lose it” a whole new meaning!

Full article is at: theage.com

Technorati Tags: chiropractors, health, obesity, taskforce