The Relationship of Chiropractic With Biology - Research Paper Example

and Number of the Teacher’s Research Paper: Biology The Relationship of Chiropractic with Biology Introduction Lyn W. Freeman and G. Frank Lawlis state that Chiropractic is a profession employing manipulation as a form of treatment on the musculoskeletal system of the body. From historic times till the present day, chiropractic focuses mainly on the spine and its effects on the nervous system (Freeman and Lawlis 286). Joseph C. Keating observes that although there is a lack of an extensive body of research in chiropractic, the system is believed to work effectively based on several epistemological or knowledge-based concepts. One of these notions is that “chiropractic methods may be deduced from the immutable laws of biology” (Keating 184). Widespread comparative analyses of chiropractic philosophies would promote a more critical, scientific attitude, and the implementation of greater clinical research activity in chiropractic. Significantly, over three decades ago, Dr. Robert Leach found that the basic theories of chiropractic were consistent with a substantial body of biomedical knowledge. Since that time, there has been an exponential increase in the amount and complexity of chiropractic research (Leach vii). The principles of chiropractic philosophy and research are based on medical and health sciences which are related to biology. Daniel David Palmer (1845-1913), the founder of the chiropractic system, states that biology is “the science of life, the study of living beings” (Palmer 40); it consists of knowledge of the principles and facts concerning life; and that life may be either one of health or one of disease. While biology encompasses a knowledge of living matter, it presents only facts, the laws of which are related to nature whether in health or disease. Physiology includes the functions which create and maintain a living existence which is normal, congenial and of health, consequently resulting in bodily ease. On the other hand, pathologic physiology “is that condition in which the functions are performed abnormally” (Palmer 42). Pathology deals with the modification of functions and the resultant changes of tissue. Pathology includes functions which take place in an abnormal manner, changes of organ position from that of normal, as well as the abnormal structure of organs. Essentially, the phenomena of life in health and disease are explained by the philosophy of chiropractic, and the reasons related to its science and art. Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper after completing chiropractic internship, is to examine how chiropractic relates to the field of biology. Chiropractic is Related to the Field of Biology Samuel Homola states that “chiropractic is a health care discipline which emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery” (Homola 71). The principles and the science of chiropractic are identified by the principles of biology. Chiropractic is based on biological self-evident facts or primary biological constituents. According to Palmer (42), “to comprehend chiropractic, it is essential that we should know of biology, the science of life, the physiological action of organs”. Hence, chiropractors are interested in biology as the branch of knowledge encompassing the activities and phenomena characteristic of living organisms. The science of chiropractic dealing with the principles and facts pertaining to life is different from anatomy, the branch of knowledge related only to the structure. Thus, although knowledge of anatomy is essential, the science of chiropractic is more closely concerned with the principles of biology. For example, Palmer (42) argues that although the medical fraternity have studied tissue structure for centuries, they did not identify the practical application of the science of chiropractic. Further, in biology, any part of the body having a special function is an organ. A system is made up of those organs which together contribute towards one important, complex, vital function; they are structures which are anatomically or functionally related. This is exemplified by the entire body of an organism, the osseus system, the muscular system, the digestive system, the nervous system, the glandular system, the vascular system, the cerebro-spinal system, the central nervous system, the sympathetic nervous system, the peripheral system, the ganglionic system, the human eye system, and other systems of the body. The force and expression of the vital and intellectual depend on the condition of the nervous system. “In all organic beings, there is a vital principle called nerve force, nerve energy, nerve-impulse or vital force” (Palmer 54). One of the functions of the nervous system is the transmission of sensation, which helps to maintain contact with one’s surroundings. Nerves connect organs located in different parts of the body, so that they may function as a united and harmonious whole. “In recent decades, chiropractic theories about how mechanical spinal joint dysfunction may influence neurophysiologic conditions” (Freeman and Lawlis 293) have been considerably modified, and portray a more contemporary approach to physiology. The physiology underlying chiropractic care includes the entire nervous system composed of three overlapping systems: the central nervous system, the autonomic nervous system, and the peripheral nervous system. The two main structures of the central nervous system are the brain and the spinal cord. While the brain is protected by the cranial cavity of the skull, the spinal cord is protected by the vertebral column also known as the spinal column. Any type of damage, disease, or structural change to the spine adversely impacts the health of the rest of the body. The spinal column or the bony structure surrounding the spinal cord is made up of 24 bones or vertebrae. Pairs of spinal nerves exit from between each individual vertebra, and extend to every body part including muscles, bones, organs, and glands. The spinal nerves in turn transmit messages to all the other nerves in the body, termed as the peripheral nervous system. The autonomic nervous system are composed of certain motor neurons that convey impulses from the spinal cord and brain stem to cardiac, smooth muscle, and glandular tissues. Thus, the autonomic nervous system is composed of those parts of the nervous system that regulate involuntary functions such as heartbeat, contractions of the stomach and intestines, secretions of the glands, and other processes. To maintain normal health, these three systems have to ensure balance and equilibrium of function. “Chiropractors emphasize that this balance can be disturbed by spinal injury, spinal subluxation, certain illnesses, and even stress” (Freeman and Lawlis 294). Michael T. Clusserath argues that the for wider acceptance of the fundamental principles of chiropractic within the scientific community, the philosophy of the system should be correlated with biology. This is especially required for the literature in biology “that articulates the complexity of living systems and the function of the nervous system as the primary organizing system of the body” (Clusserath 12). Early literature on chiropractic dating nearly a century ago elucidates the fundamental purpose of the nervous system as the matter that organizes and coordinates all the functional parts of the body. The five signs of life including adaptation, assimilation, elimination, growth and reproduction were used to explain the connection between the nervous system and the entire body. Recent literature in the biological and life sciences support and exemplify the correlation between the organization of the whole body and the role of the nervous system. There are several levels of organization, and a range of sizes of structures in the body. These extend from the smallest levels of organization, including sub-cellular and atomic interactions, to the organism level, and to external environmental interactions, to explain the composition and functions of the body (Clusserath 12). The Benefits of Spinal Manipulation are Based on a Biological Rationale The core concept of chiropractic treatment is chiropractic adjustment which refers to a wide variety of manual and mechanical interventions that may be delivered with high or low velocity, short or long lever using direct application to spinous processes as opposed to using arms and legs as fulcrums, high or low amplitude or force, and with/ without recoil. The procedures are usually directed at specific joints or anatomic regions; they may or may not involve cavitation or gapping of a joint, which produces the ‘pop’ or ‘click’ sound. The common factor for all these interventions is the objective for conducting them, for example the removal of a subluxation, that is the structural dysfunction of joints and muscles related to neurologic alterations. “However, the adjustment procedure that is the hallmark and defining technique of chiropractic treatment is the delivery of the short-lever, high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust to the bony processes of the spine” (Freeman and Lawlis 295-296). This adjustment procedure frequently leads to cavitation or gapping in a joint and creates an audible popping sound. This type of adjustment is also explained as a very fast but highly controlled thrust of specific force applied directly to the bony processes. This technique is referred to as ‘short lever’ based on the length of the lever arm used to adjust the spinous process. Significantly, Freeman and Lawlis (296) reiterate that “a chiropractor is trained to thrust into a spinal joint with a specific and exact amount of force and speed, resulting in a correct realignment of the spine”. Early chiropractic theory related misaligned spinal vertebrae with interference in nerve function, leading to a changed physiologic condition that contributed to pain and disease. A condition called subluxation was believed to result from a misalignment in the spine causing impingement of a nerve. Although pain was the main symptom of subluxation, impairment of the body’s defenses was attributed to spinal misalignment. Similarly, “today, chiropractors still believe and emphasize that adjusting the spinal joints and resolving subluxations will restore normal nerve function and optimal health” (Freeman and Lawlis 286). However, the term subluxation now encompasses a broader meaning. Thus, improved joint mobility and the alleviation of spinal fixation or restricted movement is emphasized by chiropractic today. In the last two decades, there has also been significant modification in chiropractic theories concerning the ways in which mechanical spinal joint dysfunction may impact neurophysiology; leading to a more contemporary approach to physiology. This modification of theory continues to expand the meaning of subluxation. The effects of manipulation are both mechanical and neurologic. The mechanical effects are related to the subluxation distinguished as a spinal joint strain or sprain with associated local and referred pain and muscle spasm. By relieving subluxations, mechanical issues are induced that lead to the reduction of pain and restoration of mobility. Earlier the “pinched nerve” hypothesis explained the neurologic effects; however this classic theory has been replaced by a model that encompasses both direct and indirect effects on the function of the peripheral and central nervous systems because of spinal dysfunction (Freeman and Lawlis 287). Howard T. Vernon observes that the original chiropractic theory attributed misaligned spinal vertebrae intervention with nerve function as the cause for altered physiology, which in turn created pain and disease in the human body. However, over recent decades there have been extensive modifications in chiropractic theories about the ways in which mechanical joint dysfunction might influence neurophysiology, thereby reflecting more contemporary views of physiology. Spinal manipulation procedures produce a high velocity, short-lasting impulse of 100 to 300 milliseconds into the body (Vernon 107). According to Walter Herzog’s research on manipulative forces in his laboratory, the peak and preload forces achieved in chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy (CSMT) were lowest for manipulations in the cervical spine; and they were similar in the thoracic and lumbo-pelvic regions. Further, the peak forces achieved using a mechanical assistive adjusting device were much smaller than any of the peak forces resulting from chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy (Herzog 271). Vernon (107) states that further research has quantified the applied forces of a manipulation and correlated them with physiologic responses such as leukocyte function whereby a threshold of approximately 500 N differentiates between potentially effective and noneffective procedures. There is evidence of absolute and relative intervertebral movements caused by Chiropractic Spinal Manipulative Therapy. Manipulation is “mechanical treatment with reflex effects” (Arkuszewski 132). Manipulation in most modern schools is either mechanical or neurological. In terms of mechanical issues, the manipulable spinal disorder termed as subluxation in chiropractic is characterized by a spinal joint sprain or strain with local and referred pain and muscle spasm. The static misalignment causes deranged spinal joint with a reduction of motion such as fixation, blockage, or hypomobility. The mechanisms proposed for this dysfunction specifically the hypomobility include the entrapment of a zygapophyseal joint inclusion or meniscoid heavily innervated by nociceptors; the entrapment of a fragment of posterior annular material from the intervetrebral disc; induced stiffness by adhesions and scar tissues, degenerative changes, adaptive shortening of myofacial tissues; and excessive activity of the deep intrinsic spinal musculature, particularly the unilateral, asymmetric patterns (Vernon 108). These mechanical issues are addressed by the mechanisms of action of manipulation which include release of synovial or disc tissues, thereby alleviating pain and restoring mobility; stretching and breaking of adhesions; the dynamic stretching of musculature and myofacial tissues, with manipulation causing dynamic stretching of muscle spindles and Golgi Tendon Organs densely located in the deep spinal muscles, resulting in setting of the length/ tension ratio in these muscles. Vernon (108) states that evidence from studies of reflex muscular responses to Chiropractic Spinal Manipulative Therapy reveal brief but substantial reflex contractions which depend on the speed of impulse, rather than the presence or absence of cavitation. Neurological issues form the second category of hypothesized mechanisms in chiropractic. The traditional theory of the ‘pinched nerve’ has been replaced by “a model that includes both direct and indirect effects on the function of the peripheral and central nervous system resulting from spinal dysfunction” (Vernon 108). The direct impact of non-impulse based mechanisms involve compression, and irritation of the neural structures in and around the intervertebral foramen. This area is prone to entrapment of neural structures responsible for pain, sensation, motor, and autonomic function. Partial occlusion of the nerve bed as in disc herniation, foraminal stenosis, or spinal instability were investigated. Inflammatory responses arise from dynamic perturbations of the nerve rubbing across a partial obstruction. The supposed effects of such neural compression are currently better understood in orthopedic terms as neurogenic pain, reduced sensation and motor power. The effects of compression on autonomic structures have been theorized by chiropractors to extend to visceral function. Spinal dysfunction with pain and hypomobility is addressed by models such as central sensitization. Evidence indicates that back and neck pain are best addressed by the mechanism of manipulation in two categories, including “reduction of compressive insult to neural tissues, and the creation of stimulus-induced reflex changes” (Vernon 109). Chiropractic research has provided evidence on the treatment’s effects on physiologic, biochemical and immunological parameters, although the clinical significance of these parameters have to be determined. Similarly, more clinically controlled trials with specified variables are required to evaluate its effects on nonmusculoskeletal conditions, while its effects on other musculoskeletal conditions are mixed. Freeman and Lawlis (287) observe that, on the other hand, chiropractic research has revealed short-term benefits in the treatment of acute low back pain, as well as neck and headache pain. Conclusion I wish to thank Dr.----------- for his invaluable guidance and assistance. The internship has been a rich learning experience, and it has reinforced my decision to take up chiropractic as my chosen career. I am sure that it will be a fulfilling profession, providing great job satisfaction. It is my vision to help alleviate people’s ailments through scientific, physical means, so that medical as well as surgical treatments as well as their side-effects can be safely avoided. At the same time, the effectiveness of the chiropractic approach will ensure long-term and permanent health benefits for patients. This paper has investigated how chiropractic is related to biology. The evidence from research reveals that the two fields are closely related, with chiropractic being rooted in biology which deals with the science of living things. This includes the organization of the human body, the systems particularly the nervous system which extends to all the parts of the body, and to human physiology. Further, the benefits of chiropractic spinal manipulation being based on a biological rationale have been comprehensively discussed. Chiropractic seeks to optimize health through physical manipulation of the spine and the nervous system. The body’s inherent recuperative power is influenced and integrated by the nervous system. Chiropractic deals with the preservation and restoration of health, and particularly emphasizes subluxation characterized by misalignment in the spine causing impingement of a nerve. Freeman and Lawlis (295) support this view, and add that terminology unique to the chiropractic system helps to emphasize the fact that chiropractors do not treat disease in the same way as physicians. On the other hand, they promote the healing of the body by working with the body’s ‘innate intelligence’, or the homeostasis of the body to heal itself. ----------------------------------- Works Cited Arkuszewski, Zbigniew. ‘Joint Blockage: A Disease, a Syndrome, or a Sign?’ Manual Medicine, 3 (1988), 132-134. Clusserath, Michael T. ‘A Treatise on Fundamental Principles of the Philosophy of Chiropractic and Related Topics in the Life Sciences. Journal of Chiropractic Humanities, 13 (2006), 12-20. Freeman, Lyn W. and G. Frank Lawlis. Mosby’s Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Research-Based Approach. St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby, 2001. Herzog, Walter. ‘Mechanical, Physiologic and Neuromuscular Considerations of Chiropractic Treatments’. Advances in Chiropractic. Volume 3. Eds. D.J. Lawrence, J.D. Cassidy, M. McGregor et al. Chicago: Mosby Year Book Publications, 1996. 69-285. Homola, Samuel. ‘Chiropractic’. Skeptic, 8.1 (2000), 70-74. Keating, Joseph C. ‘A Survey of Philosophical Barriers to Research in Chiropractic’. The Journal of the California Chirpractic Association, 33.4 (1989), 184-186. Leach, Robert A. The Chiropractic Theories: A Textbook of Scientific Research. Edition 4. Baltimore, Maryland: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2003. Palmer, Daniel David. The Chiropractor. The United States of America: Kessinger Publishing, 1997. Vernon, Howard T. ‘Biological Rationale for Possible Benefits of Spinal Manipulation’. Chiropractic in the United States: Training, Practice, and Research. Eds. Daniel C. Cherkin and Robert D. Mootz. The United States of America: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research Publications, 1997. Chapter X, 107-112. Read More