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Alternative Health News

Blue Cross Blue Shield Rethinks DC Designation
Doctors of chiropractic are once again "physicians" in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program (FEP), a designation stripped earlier this year when BCBS classified chiropractors as "other covered health care professionals."

Back Pain in a Child
History and examination: The patient is a pleasant 17-year-old male referred by an orthopedic center. Patient history is remarkable for a chest wall congenital finding, and patient complains of tenderness in the chest wall region during exercise.

News in Brief
Turning Veterans Into Chiropractors. Life Gets $3 Million Donation From the Harris Foundation. Have-a-Heart Campaign Right Around the Corner. Recognizing Quality at NYCC.

A Comprehensive Program for the Osteoporotic Patient
It hasn't been that long since the arthritis drug Vioxx was taken off the shelves for producing adverse side effects. Merck stopped selling Vioxx in September 2004 after a clinical trial showed it increased the risk of strokes and heart attacks in some patients.

Core Stiffness and Cross Fitness
In this third installment in our series on cross-fitness, let's discuss the importance of core muscle activation during cross-fitness exercise.

Research Abstracts From the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Research Abstracts From the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. Sept. 2009 Abstracts Volume 32, Issue 7.

Manifesto for Plant-Based Food Therapy
Food therapy needs to reclaim its central place in the practice of Chinese medicine and reconnect with the spirit of Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, who echoed the Yellow Emperor with his motto: "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."

Not in My Hospital!
The chiropractors at our hospital here in New Jersey have been serving on-call for over eight years and have assisted in the care of more than 3,000 patients. It is a successful program because it is based upon a foundation of ethics.

School Seeks Input on New Degree Program
The academic leadership at Seattle Institute of Oriental Medicine (SIOM) is creating a proposal for a master's of acupuncture degree with an emphasis in public health, qi development, nutrition and bodywork.

Why Public Health Matters
It's time for some straight talk. Did you ever wonder why chiropractic students have to take board exams in public health? Does public health ever matter to chiropractic practice? For that matter, does public health matter at all?

Ethical Purchasing and Selling by DCs
"Ethical purchasing put simply is buying things that are made ethically by companies that act ethically..." We would like to suggest another way of looking at ethical purchasing - from a chiropractic professional viewpoint.

News in Brief
The Society for Acupuncture Research (SAR) is sponsoring its 2010 research conference Translational Research In Acupuncture: Bridging Science, Practice & Community. The primary goal of translational research is to speed the application of basic and clinical research findings to patient care.

DC PracticeINSIGHTS: A Forum for Success
As participants each contribute their ideas, the challenge becomes better defined. Ultimately, a synthesis of the best ideas emerges as the solution. This is precisely the concept behind our newest publication, Dynamic Chiropractic PracticeINSIGHTS.

Going Back to the Theory of Yin and Yang
When I was a student of Chinese medicine and starting my internship, I was struck with the overwhelming amount of signs and symptoms that patients were presenting to me during their initial interviews.

It's Never Too Late
If you believe what media pundits have to say, it is too late to panic. The barn door has been open for quite awhile now and just about everything that can run out has. However, it's never too late to put your financial house in order now so that you can ride out this mess and be prepared when everything settles down.

Government-Defined Meaningful Use Results in Meaningful Dollars
Say it once, they hear you. Say it twice, they understand you. Say it three times, they take action. That's precisely what the government is doing regarding meaningful use of electronic health records (EHR), and each time they communicate, they get more specific.

Be Prepared
In March 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved new guidelines for which acupuncturists dispensing dietary supplements across the nation will be accountable. According to the FDA, Chinese herbs are classified as dietary supplements.

Snow-Shoveling Safety Tips
As I sit down to write this article, it is still warm and sunny, but by the time it shows up in print, late fall will be upon us, with winter not too far behind. A fresh snow is one of the most beautiful and peaceful things to witness, but shoveling snow can be very stressful.

Researchers DO Get It
After reading "Is Most of Acupuncture Research a Sham?" in the August 2009 issue, I feel compelled to respond. I was disappointed in the emotional tone of Dr. Amaro's article. Instead of the article being a scholarly critique of the study's design flaws and offering suggestions for improvement, it sounded like complaining about how Western researchers "don't get it."

Shining a Positive Spotlight on Chiropractic
All it takes is a bright spotlight to show the world that chiropractic is an amazing healing profession. Creating that spotlight is the sole focus of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (FCP).

UHC Fined $536,000, Reopens 50,000 Claims
The Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration has levied fines totaling $536,000 against UnitedHealthcare (UHC) of the Midwest, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, and ordered them to re-examine 50,000-plus chiropractic claims dating back to November 2004.

Educating Older Patients About Good Health
Aging is an unavoidable fact of life, and our country as a whole is getting older as more and more baby boomers approach retirement age. How can we chiropractors reach out to the middle-aged population and explain how chiropractic care can help them continue to lead active, healthy lives as they get older?

Acupuncturists Help Homeless Vets "Stand Down" Safely
Stand down is a military term, originally used to describe what soldiers did when leaving a castle's walls: standing down in safety with their heads down. Putting down arms and letting some one else be on patrol. This came to mean any ceasing of combat behind the lines.

Healing Body and Soul
We are all trained in a variety of techniques to assist our patients. What usually brings them into our clinics are their needs to look younger, get free of pain or to get more healthy. Basically, most people want to be free to do what they want without dysfunction. If it were only that easy.

Comprehensive Military PTSD Treatment Programs
So far, there are four comprehensive posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and combat stress treatment programs in the U.S. Army that have incorporated different CAM approaches in their treatment programs. Many of these comprehensive programs started as a result of the Ft. Bliss Restoration and Resilience Center, near El Paso, Texas.

Thinking Outside the Box to Reach a World-Wide Market
I want to share with you one of the most important lessons I learned in building my own practice over the past several years and in coaching so many acupuncturists to expand their entrepreneurial skills and knowledge.

What Are You Doing About Muscle Weakness?
Chiropractic treatment for extremity dysfunctions has a long history. Extremity dysfunction has also been correlated with muscle weakness extensively in the research literature. Dysfunctions in the foot, ankle, knee, wrist, elbow and temporomandibular joint consistently correlate with muscle weakness.

Lag Signs Are Important in Diagnosing Shoulder Lesions
Two primary ways of testing for rotator cuff ruptures is to determine whether the shoulder has enough strength to maintain a position against resistance, and by passive testing whereby the examiner attempts to determine if a passive position can be maintained in space (Lag sign).

Selling You: Your Most Important Product
As a doctor, it's very easy to dislike selling or even the idea of having to sell. When you decided to become a chiropractor, the last thing on your mind was the notion of having to sell it to others. Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but all of life is about selling.

Is the Meridian System the Most Senior?
Chinese medicine starts with the teaching of meridians and acupoints. Western medicine starts with the teaching of anatomy, which is the foundation of Western medicine. Here, we discover heart, nerves, blood, hormones, cells and DNA.

We Get Letters & E-Mail
I recently read a letter to the editor titled "Chiropractors Eating Their Own" [Aug. 12 DC]. I am glad I did and would like to add to the doctor's comments. Here in Utah, we have a managed care group owned by chiropractors who have done just what she was talking about.

East/West Protocols for Dysmenorrhea, Part 2
In my last article, I discussed options for integrating two effective Western herbs with TCM medicinals to minimize the pain of dysmenorrhea. In this part, I will continue to examine ways to use TCM medicinals to treat dysmenorrhea and discuss important natural supplements which can complement herbal protocols to more effectively assuage menstrual pain.

The CAM Legislative Scorecard
The process of reforming health care is complex and will need to consider all stakeholders - the public, providers, institutions, third-party payers and public insurers. Each of these entities has its own vested interest and issues, which may result in confusion and challenges. This article will attempt to unravel some of these complexities and address areas of interest to acupuncturists.

The Power of Teamwork
Are doctors of chiropractic team players in the health care system? Are we even in the game? As you ponder these questions, consider how you represent yourself to patients, other health care professionals, third-party payers, the media, government officials and the general public.

Trauma: The Hidden Pathogenic Factor
A burn feels better over time, but trauma becomes worse. We all know of a college football or tennis player who felt great until hitting 40 or so. Then the trauma that resulted from acute injuries during the teenage years has enough time to warp the joints and create arthritis, twist the bones and cause spurs, or dry the tendons, which results in chronic tendonitis.

Important Safety Issues on Mycotoxins
A mycotoxin is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by an organism of the fungus kingdom, including mushrooms, molds and yeasts. While there are several different groups of mycotoxins, this article will focus on aflatoxins and ochratoxins.

It Doesn't Matter What You Say
I have written in the past about the importance of clear and accurate documentation. I continue to receive comments about that topic. There is no argument. Paperwork is a pain, but it is necessary. Whether you like it or not, some day, someone will look at your treatment notes.

The Problem With Prevention
As the swine flu spreads, there is greater urgency to try and prevent illness. Acupuncture and herbal medicine are natural approaches that support the immune system, reinforcing the body's ability to heal and protect itself.

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Massage Today
February, 2002, Vol. 02, Issue 02

Anatomical Confusion and a Mysterious Injury

By Ben Benjamin, PhD

True or False: The terms "cruciate crural ligament" and "extensor retinaculum" refer to the same structure in the foot.

Answer: True.

Various anatomical structures in the body go by several names, depending on the text you are using.

This can be confusing, but it's a fact of anatomical study.

True or False: The extensor retinaculum is the primary injured structure in most sprained ankles, and is frequently missed as a cause of ankle pain.

Answer: False.

The extensor retinaculum of the foot. The extensor retinaculum is not the primary structure that is injured in most sprained ankles. However, when a serious sprain occurs, it is one of the structures frequently injured, and it is true that this injury is often missed and goes untreated.

The extensor retinaculum looks like a bracelet draped around the foot. There are actually two of them in the ankle; they hold the extensor tendons of the foot in place as we dorsiflex our toes and feet. If the retinaculum were not there, all of our extensor tendons of the toes, our anterior tibialis tendon and others would pop off of the foot each time we brought our toes back toward our nose. On the underside of the retinaculum are little channels of tissue, one for each tendon, through which the tendons slide as they are held in place. A pretty ingenious arrangement, if I do say so.

When we get a serious ankle sprain, or if we fall over on the ankle or bang it, a small tear may appear in the extensor retinaculum. We may feel pain when we tie our shoes, when we touch the top of the foot, or if we plantar flex the foot.

If the extensor retinaculum becomes injured, daily gentle movement of the ankle and toes are needed to prevent the formation of unwanted adhesive scar tissue. Transverse massage or friction therapy are effective methods of treatment for this condition.

Click here for more information about Ben Benjamin, PhD.