In This Issue:
On the-Job Back Pain Isn't Going Away
Shoulder Tendinitis
Alcohol, Breast Cancer and Folate
Add Walnuts to List of Foods that Fight Cholesterol
The Early Bird Gets the Worm
Weight Training: More or Less?
Six Cups a Day May Keep Bladder Cancer Away
Teach Your Children the VALUE of Exercise
Too Many Children Still Drinking (and Driving)
 

On the-Job Back Pain Isn't Going Away
Lifting boxes, pushing brooms, reaching for files, carrying supplies -- is it any wonder that so many people suffer from job-related low back pain? No matter what your occupation, back pain can make your life miserable at any time. But how big is the problem? To answer that question, researchers analyzed claim data from three major sources: the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries; the Bureau of Labor
Statistics; and a national workers' compensation provider, over a period of 4-9 years. Results indicated that low-back pain claim rates decreased by 34% from 1987-1995, and claim payments declined by 58% over the same time period. But the problem isn't going away, either. Just look at these numbers:

A Chiropractic Approach to Shoulder Tendinitis: Ultrasound Instead of Drugs
If the tendon connecting the shoulder muscles to the bone becomes inflamed or irritated, you're probably suffering from tendinitis. Calcium deposited into the tendon may increase the pain and restrict shoulder movement and flexibility. The potential side effects of anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are well-documented, making this study on a nondrug alternative -- ultrasound -- that much more interesting. Fifty-four patients (61 total shoulders) received either ultrasound therapy or a "sham" treatment (in which the ultrasound machine was not turned on) for six weeks. After the treatment period, calcium deposits had disappeared in six shoulders and decreased by at least 50% in nine shoulders. The sham group showed no resolution of calcium deposits, and 50% improvement in only three shoulders. These differences were even greater at a follow-up visit nine months later. If you're experiencing shoulder pain or tenderness, schedule a consultation and a thorough examination with your chiropractor. If tendinitis is the culprit, ultrasound might be the solution.
Ebenbichler G, Erdogmus CB, Resch KL, et al. Ultrasound therapy for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. The New England Journal of Medicine, May 20, 1999: Vol. 340, No. 20, pp1533-1538.

Alcohol, Breast Cancer and Folate
Approximately 180,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States. One out of every eight women in the U.S. is at risk for developing breast cancer, and women who drink alcohol regularly only increase their risk. But the news isn't all bad. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that high folic acid intake was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer among women who consumed more than 15 grams a day of alcohol (approximately 1 beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1 shot of liquor). Green-leaf vegetables, fruits, brown rice, chicken, barley, dates, and certain seafood (salmon and tuna) are all good sources of folic acid, and many multivitamins provide the recommended daily requirement. Ask your chiropractor to help outline a nutritional program specific to your needs.
Zhang S, Hunter D, Hankinson S, et al. A prospective study of folate intake and the risk of breast cancer. Journal of the American Medical Association, May 5, 1999: Vol. 281, No. 17, pp.1632-1641.

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Add Walnuts to List of Foods that Fight Cholesterol
Unsaturated fatty acids, especially those found in many oils and nuts, are regarded as keys to preventing cardiovascular disease and promoting healthy cholesterol levels. Walnuts are of special interest because they are primarily polyunsaturated (72%) and monounsaturated (18%) fatty acids. A recent study of 793 inhabitants of a French farming community examined the potential effect of walnut consumption on blood cholesterol levels. Results showed that people who ate walnuts more than twice a week and used walnut oil every day (at least six months out of the year) had higher levels of the "good" cholesterol than nonconsumers. People who consumed at least some walnuts/walnut oil also showed increased levels of the "good" cholesterol compared with nonconsumers. So what is "good cholesterol?" Technically, it's known as HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol -- but don't let the fancy name confuse you. Research shows that it really is just plain "good" because it actually carries cholesterol out of the bloodstream (As opposed to LDL -- low-density lipoprotein -- cholesterol, which is considered the "bd" cholesterol). So add walnuts to your list of foods that help keep your good cholesterol levels high. And ask your doctor for more information on cholesterol and the many food sources high in unsaturated fatty acids. 
Lavedrine F, Zmirou D, Ravel A, et al. Blood cholesterol and walnut consumption: a cross-sectional survey in France. Preventive Medicine, 1999: Vol. 28, pp333-339.

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The Early Bird Gets the Worm
As we get older, we become more susceptible to health problems that can dramatically affect our lifestyle and enjoyment of daily activities. When these conditions lead to disability or limitations in function, our ability to work may also suffer. In 1992 and again in 1994, more than 8,000 people (aged 51-61) were interviewed as part of the Health and Retirement Survey. The results of the survey were used to provide estimates of the impact of musculoskeletal conditions in the United States (estimated percentage of people aged 51©61 reporting at least one musculoskeletal condition): 

Weight Training: More or Less?
If those two-hour-a-day, 15-sets-per-bodypart workouts are driving you to the brink of madness, listen up: You might be working a lot harder than you have to. A paper presented in the journal Sports Medicine reviewed a number of studies on the effectiveness of single vs. multiple training sets for increasing muscle strength and size. The researchers looked at studies that evaluated the value of performing one set vs. two sets, one set vs. three sets, and one set vs. three or more sets (i.e., performing one set of biceps curls vs. performing two, three, or more sets). Now here's the big news: After a thorough review of the material, the researchers concluded that "the benefits of resistance training may involve undertaking the minimal amount of exercise needed to achieve the desired response"Think about your current exercise regimen -- is the amount of effort you're putting in worth the results you're getting? If you're slaving away at the gym but don't seem to be making any improvements, try slimming down your program for a while, and see what happens. Less might actually be more.
Carpinelli RN, Otto RM. Strength training: single vs. multiple sets. Sports Medicine, August 1998: Vol. 26, No. 2, pp73-84.

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Six Cups a Day May Keep Bladder Cancer Away
Having to make frequent trips to the bathroom, even if you haven't been drinking that much, can be an early sign of bladder cancer -- the fourth most common cancer among men. If you haven't been drinking a lot of fluids, you may want to start. According to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine, adequate fluid intake may help prevent bladder cancer. In this study, nearly 50,000 men were evaluated over a 10-year period. Results showed that men who drank at least six cups per day (of almost any fluid -- water, juices, tea, coffee, soft drinks, etc.) had a 51% lower risk of bladder cancer compared to men who drank only 1 cup per day. Making sure you get enough fluids isn't as difficult as it sounds, no matter how active or hectic your life gets. Simply fill a plastic container or bottle (an average water bottle holds 64 ounces, or 8 cups) every morning and bring it with you wherever you go. 
Michaud D, Speigelman D, Clinton S, et al. Fluid intake and the risk of bladder cancer in men.
The New England Journal of Medicine, May 6, 1999: Vol. 340, No. 18, pp1390-1397.

Teach Your Children the VALUE of Exercise
Evidence suggests that behaviors established at a young age persist in adulthood. If you're a parent, you probably believe the evidence -- that's why you don't want your children "picking up bad habits" from other children, or hanging out with "the wrong crowd." But this might not be quite accurate, at least not when we consider a potential "good" behavior -- physical activity. According to a recent study, simply increasing the amount of exercise as a child doesn't necessarily mean that your children will exercise as adults. The study compared two adult groups: one that received five hours of physical education weekly for six years during primary school, and a group that received only the standard physical activity requirements (about 40 minutes per week). Questionnaires completed by the groups showed that childhood physical activity did not have a significant effect on attitudes toward, frequency of, or intentions to exercise as adults. The authors believe that it may be consistent exposure to the process of exercise and to an overall health-oriented program in childhood may be a more important contributor to positive exercise/fitness patterns in adulthood. Don't just encourage (or pressure) your children to participate in sports. Teach your children the value of staying healthy and active, and schedule regular visits for them with your family chiropractor. The lessons they learn could last a lifetime.
Trudeau F, Laurencelle L, Tremblay J, et al. Daily primary school physical education: effects on physical activity during adult life. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 1999: Vol. 31,
No. 1, pp111-117. 

Too Many Children Still Drinking (and Driving)
The U.S. Surgeon General's Office reports that in the last 75 years, life expectancy has increased for every age group but one: young adults (ages 15-24). Even more troubling is the observation that nearly half of the deaths in this age group can be attributed to alcohol and drug-impaired driving. To better understand the problem of teenage drinking and driving, an article in the American Journal of Public Health presented data from 10 years of national surveys of American high-school seniors. Three main points emerged from the data, along with a conclusion:

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