Successful integrative medicine case management of blepharospasm.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this case study was to use integrative medicine to treat a debilitating and long-standing case of blepharospasm. SUBJECT: The patient suffered from blepharospasm, which conventional medicine had failed to alleviate despite numerous and varied attempts over the course of 3 years of treatment. Blepharospasm involves the uncontrolled or abnormal blinking or twitching of the eyelids, which impairs the ability to see. The patient's symptoms were so severe that she was unable to work, drive, or in general lead a normal life. INTERVENTION: Conventional and Chinese medicine practices were used in examining and diagnosing the patient. Treatment involved 6 weeks of electroacupuncture. RESULTS: The patient's symptoms were reduced from severe to nearly nonexistent, and this improvement persisted at least 6 months after treatment ended. CONCLUSIONS: While this study involved only 1 patient, it demonstrates the effectiveness of electroacupuncture as a treatment for blepharospasm in a case where the patient was experiencing debilitating symptoms, which conventional allopathic treatment had failed to alleviate. This suggests that electroacupuncture may be similarly effective in treating other cases of blepharospasm.

The neuroarticular lesion in the elderly: a condensed literature review.

OBJECTIVE: This condensed literature review was performed to show how inappreciably known are the aging effects of the neuromuscular system, especially the neuroarticular function. To give a needed perspective on the aging process of the musculoskeletal system of a rapidly aging population that is all-important to the chiropractor. DATA SOURCES: An online search of several databases (MEDLINE and MANTIS) provided several guidelines for review. Comparison among the guidelines was made on different aspects: format, focus, significance of aging of the neuroarticular process, and primary diagnostic considerations. For brevity, no tables were cited for comparisons on the aspects covered and supported by the references. DATA SYNTHESIS: Condensed literature review from abstracts and full-length articles were used to establish the review conclusions. RESULTS: The data and information found in this literature search are insufficient to draw primary conclusions about the aging process and the neuroarticular complex. CONCLUSION: It may be simply concluded that there needs to be additional concentrated research in the area of the neuroarticular process and the lesion that occurs at some point in time to a significant majority of individuals. As a large portion of chiropractic patients are elderly, this perspective should be read by all chiropractors. There were several criteria in mind when the project began, especially to improve the chiropractic care of the aged patient, to review and to develop needed data, and to understand the neuroarticular process involvement. This article was to accomplish the understanding and build interest in the degeneration ramifications in the neuroarticular complex of the elderly. This interest may stimulate more attention on the subject with an extensive literature search of the topic and additional research needed.

The use and role of sport chiropractors in the national football league: a short report.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze chiropractic utilization on National Football League (NFL) medical teams and the role played by chiropractors. DESIGN: Postal survey of head athletic trainers of the 36 teams. Survey questions were developed from responses to a questionnaire submitted to a pilot group of 30 sport chiropractors and a panel of 20 postdoctoral faculty of the sport chiropractic program of the American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians, as well as a representative from the University of South Alabama. RESULTS: Twenty-two of 36 questionnaires were returned for a return rate of 66%. Of the trainers who did respond, 45% have personally been treated by a chiropractor, and 55% have not. Seventy-seven percent of the trainers have referred to a chiropractor for evaluation or treatment, and 23% have not. Thirty-one percent of NFL teams use a chiropractor in an official capacity on their staffs, and 69% do not. When asked to identify conditions appropriate for referral to a chiropractor, the respondents identified low back pain (61%), "stingers" and "burners" usually associated with neck injury (31%), headaches (8%), asthma or other visceral disorders (0%). All respondents (100%) agree that some players use chiropractic care without referral from team medical staff. CONCLUSION: There is significant chiropractic participation in US professional football. Certified athletic trainers see a role for the sport chiropractor in the NFL, primarily as a spinal specialist treating low back and other musculoskeletal injuries. A substantial majority of NFL trainers have developed cooperative relationships with chiropractors, with 77% having referred a player to a chiropractor. Thirty-one percent of NFL teams have a chiropractor officially on staff, and an additional 12% of teams refer players to chiropractors but do not directly retain these chiropractors.