When Evidence Says No, but Doctors Say Yes

For all the truly wondrous developments of modern medicine—it is distressingly ordinary for patients to get treatments that research has shown are ineffective or even dangerous compared to conservative care. There are many reasons for this and this Atlantic article explains the reasons.
Three common treatments that fall into this category are heart stents for people who are symptom free or who have stable angina ( intermittent chest pain only), many knee meniscal surgeries for people with non acute knee cartilage tears, and spinal fusion surgery for disc degeneration.
I spend much time explaining this to patients who are interested because decisions on these procedures can have a huge impact on their lives. This is a longer article, but I encourage you to take the time to read at least part of it.
Has anyone received what they now perceive as an unnecessary treatment?When Evidence Says No, but Doctors Say Yes

American College of Physicians new low back pain treatment guidelines

The new guidelines for low back pain by the American College of Physicians (national society of the internists) recommends first using non-invasive, non-drug treatments before resorting to drug therapies.
ACP’s guidelines, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, cite spinal manipulation (a centerpiece of chiropractic care), heat therapy, massage, acupuncture as possible options for non-invasive, non-drug therapies for low back pain.
Only when such treatments provide little or no relief, the guidelines state, should patients move on to medicines such as ibuprofen or muscle relaxants, which research indicates have limited pain-relief effects. 
The chiropractic profession has long advocated for doctors and patients to use a more conservative approach to treating low back pain. Do you agree on this approach?

American Chiropractic Association Applauds Low Back Pain Guidelines Advocating Non-Drug Treatments First

Ibuprofen for people with back pain has no significant effect - new study

Earlier research has shown that acetominophen (Tylenol) is not effective for back pain and opioid (narcotic) drugs are only minimally effective (with significant possible side effects). 
Now a new study from the University of Sydney and published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases which reviewed 35 previous studies on more than 6,000 showed no significant clinical benefit of ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin)
I have said for many years that if the pain meds worked as advertised, I would have many less patients in my clinic.
Would this info change you decision to get chiropractic or physical therapy treatment if you had a back issue in the future?

Ibuprofen for people with back pain has no significant effect - new study

Older Adults with Arthritis Need Just 45 Minutes of Activity Per Week

More good news concerning exercise. Current federal exercise guidelines show that only 150 minutes of exercise per week can confer large health benefits. Unfortunately only 1 out of 10 older Americans with knee arthritis meet these guidelines.
Now a recent study from Northwestern Medical shows that only 45 minutes of exercise per week will keep an older person with knee arthritis functional, and it does not even have to be done in at least 10 minutes blocks of time.
So if you are in this category, just do a little more exercise like walking or activities that you enjoy and it significantly help with the knee arthritis.
Anyone have improvements with knee arthritis from exercise?
Older Adults with Arthritis Need Just 45 Minutes of Activity Per Week

Good to see the Congress can sometimes get together and pass beneficial legislation. Recently the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 921, the Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act. The bill, passed unanimously by the House on Sept. 12, ensures that sports medicine professionals are properly covered by their malpractice insurance while traveling with athletic teams to another state. 
 As all professional football teams, as well as 28 of the 30 major league baseball clubs, have a doctor of chiropractic as part of their medical training staff this will also benefit my profession who works in sports medicine.
Doctors of Chiropractic Included in Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act

Pentagon to conduct a study on the feasibility of providing chiropractic services to military retirees.

The American Chiropractic Association recently announced that a new bill authorizes funding for a provision directing the Pentagon to conduct a study on the feasibility of providing chiropractic services to military retirees. 
Currently military personnel have no chiropractic insurance benefits. 
Do you think this should be changed?

Young doctors could work 28 hours straight under new plan, despite possible dangers

I have always thought it was crazy that medical interns and residents are made to work hours that we would never tolerate for other professions or industries that service the public. Now I see that the private group that oversees physician training in the United States has proposed rolling back rules so that young doctors just out of medical school can work shifts as long as 28 hours.
Did you know that Medicare pays hospitals up to $130,000 or more and pay the average medical resident a salary of just $60,000, with no overtime! They are very low cost labor.
We have seen 4 large studies in the last 15 years showing that hundreds of thousands of patients die every year from hospital mistakes. Why would we want sleep deprived doctors treating patients?
As I have written before, another indirect benefit of chiropractic care is keeping some patients from be admitted into these dangerous hospitals.

Young doctors could work 28 hours straight under new plan, despite possible dangers