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October 18, 2005
[Volume 6, Issue 22]
In this issue of To Your Health:
Back Pain Not Cured by Back Exercises Alone
Dairy Foods May Ward off Metabolic Syndrome
Injuries: The Downside of the Sporting Life
Back Pain Not Cured by
Back Exercises Alone
Chiropractors and other
health care providers often prescribe specific types of exercise
to help their patients strengthen and mobilize the lower back.
However, a growing body of evidence suggests that targeting the
back does not always help relieve back pain, and that in some
instances, it may even aggravate the condition. The results of a
recent study add to this evidence, and imply that general
"recreational" exercises may do a better job of easing back pain
than specific exercises.
In the study, 681 patients with low back pain were randomized into
two groups and tracked for 18 months. People who participated in
"recreational physical activities" such as brisk walking for three
or more hours per week were more likely to report low levels of
back pain, disability, and psychological distress. By contrast,
those who performed exercises designed specifically for their
backs were more likely to experience back pain and disability.
Exactly why specific back exercises may increase back pain remains
unclear; people may perform them incorrectly, or they may be not
be prescribed a specific exercise that could benefit their
condition. Whatever the reason, staying active also seems to play
a key role in reducing back pain. If you have back pain, talk to
your doctor of chiropractic about a wellness plan that includes
various types of activities, along with a balanced diet, to help
you achieve optimal well-being.
Hurwitz EL, Morgenstern H, Chiao C. Effects of recreational
physical activity and back exercises on low back pain and
psychological distress: findings from the UCLA Low Back Pain
Study. American Journal of Public Health, October
2005;95(10):1817-1824.
Dairy Foods May Ward off
Metabolic Syndrome
The American Heart
Association estimates that more than 50 million Americans suffer
from metabolic syndrome. Not everyone agrees on what "metabolic
syndrome" is, but many experts agree that having a combination of
disorders such as high blood pressure, excess abdominal fat, and
elevated levels of blood glucose and triglycerides, puts a person
at increased risk of the disease. Previous research has suggested
that eating dairy foods may help prevent weight gain. A new study
goes one step further by suggesting the more dairy products a
person consumes, the less likely that person is to develop
metabolic syndrome.
Researchers in this study analyzed the dietary habits of 827
adults in Iran, looking specifically at their daily consumption of
dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cheese. They also
conducted waist and blood pressure measurements to see how many of
them met different risk factors for metabolic syndrome.
People in the highest quartile (25 percent) of dairy intake were
31 percent less likely to meet the study's definition of metabolic
syndrome compared to people with the lowest level of dairy
consumption. They also were 37 percent less likely to have a large
waist circumference, and 29 percent less likely to suffer from
hypertension.
The researchers believe that the high calcium content in milk,
cheese and yogurt may have accounted for the decreased risk of
metabolic syndrome. Other good sources of calcium include eggs,
sardines, tofu, and green, leafy vegetables.
Azadbakht L, Mirmiran P, Esmaillzadeh A, et al. Dairy consumption
is inversely associated with the prevalence of the metabolic
syndrome in Tehranian adults. American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, September 2005;82(3):523-530.
Injuries: The Downside of
the Sporting Life
Each year, an estimated two
million high school athletes are injured while practicing or in
the course of a game. Most studies of high school athletic
injuries have looked at specific sports, or a variety of sports at
just one school. A new study has taken a much broader view of
sports injuries at the high school level, with significant
findings that could affect the care of both male and female
athletes.
This study of more than 6,100 varsity-level athletes from 15 high
schools compared injury rates among boys and girls who
participated in the same sports (baseball/softball, basketball,
soccer, track/cross-country, tennis, or lacrosse). The students
were followed for one year, with information collected on the
student's age, gender, sport, skill level, injured body part, type
of injury, and days lost due to injury.
Overall, 966 injuries occurred - 515 among girls, and 451 among
boys. There were significant differences in injury rates between
boys and girls for each area of the body. Girls were more likely
to injure their ankles, knees, and tibias, while boys had a higher
rate of injuries to the tendoachilles complex of the foot. Girls
suffered more major injuries (loss of seven days or more) in
basketball and soccer, while boys incurred more major injuries
while playing baseball or softball.
Understanding why certain types of injuries occur more often among
female athletes than male athletes, or during one type of sport
compared to another, is crucial to preventing these types of
injuries from happening in the future. This information can also
be used by doctors of chiropractic, athletic trainers, and others
to design effective injury-prevention and rehabilitation programs
in the future.
Goldberg A, et al. Injury rate and injury risk in female vs. male
high school athletes in gender-matched sports: a prospective
cohort study. Presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics
National Conference and Exhibition, Washington, D.C., Oct. 9,
2005.
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