“Obviously, there are a number of steps that have to take place before the final legislation is signed by the president, but it’s certainly an important step forward,” Wood said.

Wood said patients do not have to “believe” in chiropractic.

“What we have is data that has come from dozens of well-constructed studies that show the efficacy of chiropractic,” he said.

That is particularly true of complaints for back pain, neck pain and headaches, he said, adding that research shows the cost-effectiveness of chiropractic in “maintaining the health and well-being of the individual.”

The use of chiropractic by all kinds of elite athletes, from football players to Olympians, also is a reflection of how “chiropractic has become more mainstream as opposed to being an alternative,” Wood said.

What is important is that chiropractors are part of the health-care team, he said.

“In the past, chiropractors were a separate part of the health-care system,” Wood said. Now chiropractors have become a productive member of a person’s health-care team.

Not every patient responds to a particular type of treatment, he said. “What we’re interested in is what is in the best interest of the patient.”

Article written in Quad City Times. Thomas Geyer | Posted: Saturday, November 21, 2009 1:00  am

http://www.qctimes.com/news/local/article_aa6eee38-d659-11de-8c3a-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story

- Dr. Matthew C. Ferris is a chiropractic physician practicing at Health Connections in Fishers, Indiana. Dr. Ferris has completed post doctorate certification in Whiplash and Brain Traumatology from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego. If you live in the Indianapolis area and would like a complimentary consultation and exam to find out if you are a candidate for our services, call 317-585-9111 or go to www.hcfishers.com.

- – Dr. Matthew C. Ferris is a chiropractic physician practicing at Health Connections in Fishers, Indiana. Dr. Ferris has completed post doctorate certification in Whiplash and Brain Traumatology from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego. If you live in the Indianapolis area and would like a complimentary consultation and exam to find out if you are a candidate for our services, call 317-585-9111 or go to www.hcfishers.com.

Airbags come out at speeds of up to 200mph! They are designed to be used only in conjunction with a standard seatbelt in order to deploy fully before the head hits it. Increased injury can occur when used alone.  In the event of a crash keep your hands away from the airbag module cover to avoid injury.

Overall, your best bet in reducing your risk of a fatal crash is your seat belt. Seat belts are more effective than air bags alone. When used alone, airbags are 12% effective whereas seat belts are 42% effective. Using seatbelts in combination with airbags is 47% effective. Therefore, one should always wear a  seat belt and shoulder harness when riding  in a vehicle.

Clinical side note…in my office I have noticed many cases where impact was sufficient to total the vehicle and yet did not result in air bag deployment.

Resources:  Facts and figures were compiled from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego

- Dr. Matthew C. Ferris is a chiropractic physician practicing at Health Connections in Fishers, Indiana. Dr. Ferris has completed post doctorate certification in Whiplash and Brain Traumatology from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego. If you or someone you know has been in an auto accident of any magnitude,  call for a complimentary consultation and exam to find potential underlying injury see if you are a candidate for our services. 317-585-9111.

Many people think of and use head restraints according to their other known name, head rest. This leads them to think that everyday comfort is reason for this device. However, a properly positioned restraint is one of the most important safety features to prevent injury to the neck due to the whiplash effect of accidents. If the top of the restraint is even with the middle or bottom of your head, the neck will bend over the top of the restraint allowing the restraint to act as a fulcrum to create an even greater force of whiplash and more potential ligamentous damage to the neck.

Tip #2- Use Your Seat Belt… Always

It is still the most important device to prevent injury in an accident. Don’t count on your airbag to keep you safe. Clinically, patients who come to our office rarely report that their airbag deployed even in major accidents where their car was totaled.

Tip #3- Get Examined for Ligament Damage if You Are in an Accident

Many times ligament damage goes undetected. Either the person does not have significant symptoms and does not get any medical check or they go to a hospital and get released with just pain medication. At the hospital, the primary priority is to discover if there are any major medical issues, like fractures or internal bleeding. So many times the proper x-rays and examination for ligament damage is not done. Therefore, it is important to go to a chiropractic physician trained in whiplash diagnosis and treatment.

- Dr. Matthew C. Ferris is a chiropractic physician practicing at Health Connections in Fishers, Indiana. Dr. Ferris has completed post doctorate certification in Whiplash and Brain Traumatology from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego. If you or someone you know has been in an auto accident of any magnitude,  call for a complimentary consultation and exam to find potential underlying injury see if you are a candidate for our services. 317-585-9111.

Dr. Arnold Milstein is one of the world’s foremost experts on clinical and cost effectiveness in health care, and the Mercer Reports, written by him and his team, are considered the gold standard among medical establishments, third party payers and legislators. In essence, if Dr. Milstein says it’s so, it’s accepted as unchallengeable, based on his reputation for objectivity and scientific reason.

Dr. Milstein’s curiosity with chiropractic connected him with the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress who commissioned him to study the effectiveness of chiropractic care compared to medicine and physical therapy, concentrating on neck and low back patients to begin with.

The results were startling. Chiropractic care was found to be more effective than either medicine or physical therapy – in fact, up to twenty-five times more cost-effective than a program of physical therapy exercises.

Dr. Milstein concluded, “Using data from high quality randomized controlled EU trials and contemporary US based average unit prices payable by commercial insurers, we project that insurance coverage for chiropractic physician care for low back and neck pain for conditions other than fracture and malignancy is likely to drive improved cost-effectiveness of US care. In combination with the existing US-based literature, our findings support the value of health insurance coverage of chiropractic care for low back and neck pain at average fees payable by US commercial insurers.”

Results of study:

• Chiropractic care is more effective than other modalities for treating  low back and neck pain
• Chiropractic physician care for low back and neck pain is highly cost effective, represents a good value in comparison to medical physician care and to widely accepted cost-effectiveness thresholds.

If you are experiencing a musculoskeletal condition,  such as neck or back pain, do some online searching for a chiropractor in your area to get a consultation and exam.

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- Dr. Matthew C. Ferris is a chiropractic physician practicing at Health Connections in Fishers, Indiana. Dr. Ferris has completed post doctorate certification in Whiplash and Brain Traumatology from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego. If you or someone you know is experiencing neck or back pain, call for a complimentary consultation and exam to see if you are a candidate for our services. 317-585-9111.