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Alternative Health News
Do Dietary Supplements Really Increase Mortality?
In an article scheduled to appear in the Feb. 26 issue of DC, I provide the raw data on cardiovascular protection with statin use in the JUPITER trial.
The Spirits of the Points: The Liver Meridian - Part I
The Liver, belonging to the Wood Element, is associated with the season of Spring. The powers of Spring include birth, growth, regeneration, vision, activity, forward movement, upward direction, vitality, optimism and hope.
We Get Letters & E-Mail
Foundation Ad Rejected by Medical Journals: No Surprise; Why Am I Still Struggling? Let's Use Wikipedia to Our Advantage.
Helping Pregnant Patients With Their Pain: Using the Fascial System as our Guide
Pregnant women are frequently at a loss for answers with respect to pain associated with their growing abdomen.
The Problem With Statistics
I'm not sure when I began to mistrust statistics; I think it was in college in the late "'60s."
Wisdom of Wellness in Chinese Medicine
Wellness, health, longevity and happiness are endless and eternal topics in our life. They are the fundamental questions in human wellnessiology, too.
The Implications of GMO's, Epigenetics and Chinese Medicine on Performance Enhancement
Performance enhancement depends upon creating an optimal environment for training to occur.
News in Brief
Protecting Our Nation's Heroes From Back Pain; Texas Chiropractic College Partners With PA University; AECC Student Awarded Scholarship by FICS; Palmer Toys for Tots Drive: Nearly $2,000 in Donations; New Career Path for Foot Levelers' Jamie Greenawalt; ChiroTouch: $25,000 to FCP; New Face at CLA.
The Expanding Acupuncture Practice
The average acupuncture practice in the United States is changing. The trend of acupuncturists adding new products and services to their practice continues to rise at a fast pace.
Acupuncture Study Brings Hope For Parkinson's Disease Patients
For people living with Parkinson's disease, the future is full of obstacles and uncertainty.
Navigating Difficulties in Pediatric Acupuncture Practice
Many of you treat children -- at least your own children. You might treat a relative's or neighbor's child too. It's one thing to treat a child you know, but how do you approach and treat a child that's not your own?
The Integrated Components of Stability
Use of the term stability is widespread across the physical and rehabilitative medicine disciplines. Stability is generally referenced as a positive outcome we are looking to achieve in order to help alleviate our patient's presenting complaint.
Chiropractors Storm the Capital
On Oct. 29, 2011, a rare early winter snowstorm struck the East Coast of the U.S., blanketing the nation's capital in white. In Washington, D.C., it was the heaviest October snowstorm in history.
Effective One-Point, One-Minute Hemorrhoid Treatment
Hemorrhoids are characterized by inflammation and edema of the vessels surrounding the anus and rectum. It is a common condition effecting millions of people all around the world.
The Environment and Food: A Conversation with Laurie David
In my last article, I wrote about overeating, obesity and its environmental impact. I'd like to expand on this topic with a short interview from one of our leading environmental activists - Laurie David.
From a Different Playbook
Just to be clear, the above is not the beginning of my article. On the contrary, it is the beginning of "Seven Ways to Boost Your Income with Medical Activities," an article written for medical doctors that was posted in early December 2011 on Medscape.com.
Balance Strategies to Improve Health
You already know how complicated the process of human balance is; but are you aware of the simple tools many providers are using to improve their patients' balance?
Some Inflammatory Remarks About Manipulation
There is an anonymous quote which reads, "An archer cannot hit the bullseye if he doesn't know where the target is." In the case of some of chiropractic's detractors, that seems to have been the case when it comes to vertebral arteries.

The Psychobiology of Pain
At its worst, acute pain can be unimaginably intense and stressful, and chronic pain can wreck havoc on a person's quality of life. Because pain is such a universal problem Traditional Chinese medical practitioners devote a considerable amount of time treating it.
Everyone and No One Has Carpal Tunnel
Yogis, writers, tailors, hair cutters, software engineers, carpenters, baristas... For many of these people, wrist pain is the bane of their existence. Ask, and most will tell you they have carpal tunnel.
Ancient Medicine, Modern Gadgets: A Guide for Your Practice
There are lots of applications and devices out there for the acupuncturist-on-the-go.
Recent Report Highlights Growing Dangers of Anti-Inflammatory Medications
In the Sept. 27, 2011 posting of the Biomedical Central Journal: Family Practice, R.J. Adams and colleagues commented on concerns raised by the common prescribing of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications.
Modern Pain, Ancient Solutions Part II
In my previous column, I presented two case studies using modification of Golden Chamber (Jin Gui Yao Lue) formulas to assuage physical pain.
On Point
The year of the Dragon is here. As fierce, mystical and wonderful as the dragon may be – 2011 was very exciting. Here is a recap, along with latest happenings in the profession.
Managing Sesamoid Injuries
The word sesamoid is Latin for "sesame seed." These small bones are located inside specific tendons, where they improve mechanical efficiency by pulling the tendon farther away from the joint's axis of motion.
Direct Marketing Strategies For Your Practice
While going through a pile of papers on my desk I came across a marketing newsletter for publishers from 1999!
The One-Sport Syndrome
I recall that as a kid, I participated in sports based on the season. In spring and summer, it was baseball and basketball; in fall, it was football; and in winter, it was ice hockey.
OIG Reveals Audit Targets for 2012
Each year, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) releases its annual Work Plan for the fiscal year, which details new and ongoing reviews that will be conducted in federal programs such as Medicare.
CCE Recognition Extended for Only One Year
A storm has been brewing over the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) for more than two years. It began in mid-2009 when the CCE released the first draft of its Accreditation Standards.
A Fresh Look at the Meric System and Modern Neuroscience
The use of manipulation in the management of biomechanical disorders of the spine may now be regarded as a mainstream approach across health care.
Many Offices, Many Lessons
This past September marked my 13th anniversary of being a New York State licensed acupuncturist. I have seen and learned much since the first day I inserted an acupuncture needle for pay.

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Massage Today
August, 2004, Vol. 04, Issue 08

The Most Common Shoulder Injury

By Ben Benjamin, PhD

Question: Which is the strongest rotator cuff muscle?

Answer: The subscapularis muscle.

The subscapularis muscle is, mechanically, the best situated of all the rotator cuff muscles.

Illustration of shoulder musculature. It is not only the strongest of the four rotator cuff muscles, but also the muscle most frequently used. In most individuals, the subscapularis is at least two-to-three times stronger than the supraspinatusinfraspinatus muscles, and 5-to-10 times stronger than the smaller, weaker teres minor muscle. The subscapularis is the muscle we use for forehand strokes in racquet sports, as well as for a tennis serve. It is one of the primary muscles used in swimming, hitting or throwing a ball. When the subscapularis is injured, we have trouble getting dressed or lying on our side to go to sleep.

Dr. Benjamin tests the shoulder of a patient. True or False? If pain is felt on resisted medial rotation of the arm, the subscapularis tendon is likely to be injured.

Answer: True. Medial rotation is the primary action of the subscapularis muscle-tendon unit (see image at left). When pain is felt during this action, injury to the subscapularis tendon is the usual cause. The muscle belly is broadly attached in the subscapular fossa and is rarely injured.

Dr. Benjamin tests the shoulder of a patient. True or False? If the resisted test for subscapularis tendinitis is negative when performed in the standard 90-degree angle position, laterally rotating the arm to the 180-degree angle will increase the stress on the muscle-tendon unit and often tests positive.

Answer: True. When you wish to increase the stress on any muscle-tendon unit, beginning the anatomical testing procedure with the muscle in a stretched position removes its mechanical advantage and increases the stress placed on the structure.

Click here for more information about Ben Benjamin, PhD.

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