SPONSORED CONTENT CONTENTntly ation: A case of mistaken identity?bser . George Rothlux Creating an Evidence-Based Practice R vations in a new light: L A Scientific Basis for the Evolution of Chiropractic By Dr. George B. Roth, DC, ND, CMRP An Unexpected Discovery During my studies in chiropractic school, one of my earliest discoveries was that the size of certain osseous structures, such as the tibial plateau, dis-tal femoral condyle, patella, femoral proximal head and acetabulum, or the proximal epiphysis of the humerus, on one side of the body was often larger than its counterpart on the other side. I first noticed this by observing radiographs and cadaver speci-mens. No one was able to explain these findings. It was only many years later that I encountered the scientific basis for these changes. 18 2-3dd cation of physical therapies might influence cell and tissue physiology.” — Donald Ingber, M.D., Ph.D. from “The Architecture of Life”, Scientific American, January 1998. As described by Donald Ingber and others 2, 3, the cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix respond to injury (strain or impact), by expanding at the mo-lecular level. This explains many of the structural and bioelectric changes 4, 5 observed in our clinical research (see: Figure 2). Finally, I had a proven model for the structure of the body that appeared to explain how tissue expands with injury at the cellular and molecular 2019-11-21 9:01 AM Figure 3: Microscopic Evidence of Bone Expansion with Injury, Paul Hansma Lab, University of California, Berkeley, 2005. (with permission from the author) BASED ON: “THE ARCHITECTURE OF LIFE” SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN 1998 searched the Internet for scientific Startling Observations: Bone Enlarges with Injury! ence to support chiropractic. Unfortu-ly , most of the references emphasized While studying radiology in chiropractic lack of scientific validation or measur-tcomes school, I noticed that the size of a structure on to support the basic tenets of one side of the body was often different than My Search A Sound Scientific Basis fession. At best, there are a few studies its counterpart on the other side. For example, A Testable Hypothesis for a Molecular Origin of Over 20 years ago, while the I was teaching in or the Over the I was fortunate Resistance to meet several Figure 3, Pre-treatment: Femoral and monstrate a modest advantage for chi-c proximal femoral humeral head, or years, the Fracture NORMAL tibial epiphyses enlarged, approximately 5 post-graduate department tibial at Logan College in St. researchers A clinicians from various fields manipulation over some prescription plateau on one side was noticeably larger and MOLECULAR mm. compared to the right. *Note relative tions for certain conditions, such as than the the new opposite side in the individual. Louis, a chiropractor studying technique I same of study (cell biology, biomedical engineering, narrowing of the medial joint space.NSORED STRUCTURE Before impact ain. However, was the overall impression is My professors were unable to shed any light on Flexible, Balanced teaching was inspired to begin looking at his orthopedic medicine, osteopathy, and physical iropractic science is still relatively un-and these findings. As an anatomy lab instructor at work in a new way. After completing the introduc-medicine), who were uncovering the underlying that chiropractors are only mini-ccepted the college and from subsequent observations the shape of the bone is possible and appears t effects of injury and biomechanical dysfunction tory program, he came to cadaverous me and showed me I a was able as part of the health care team. up of specimens, to confirm B allow for the restoration of the joint space an e been a chiropractor for over 40 years, these differences. At wallet the time, these facts were molecular and bioelectrical level. at the cellular, I impact plastic card that he had been carrying in his As an biomechanical function, resulting in improve begins to y in my career, I became that permanently filed away, and it was only many ultimately years later that healing of the entire joint complex. recognized that, for any system of ther-for several convinced years. It was embossed with separate fibrils ot achieving the kinds of results prom-hen these early observations came to be viewed in a his “listings,” so that any chiropractor who treated apeutics to be valid, it had to be congruent with I attended school. I also witnessed new light, based on my clinical research. Subluxation: RESTRICTED him would know what to treat. This was evidence, this emerging f my colleagues becoming disheartened By carefully examining a better quality skel-science. A Case of Mistaken Identity? C MOLECULAR proclaimed, that this the techniques he had been The underlying structure of the body is ng in practice. he They had come into etal model, which is cast from a real skeleton, The subluxation theory and the idea that bone STRUCTURE on with high taught expectations and a sincere you can verify many of the these same up until then, were not intended to resolve now discrepan-understood to be based on the inherent Rigid, Expanded “go out of place” has long been questione to help their underlying fellow humans, but cies for yourself. Besides the examples of the However, I believe that the entire premise ma cause of the the problem but were merely properties of the cytoskeleton and the extra-f treatments they were taught did not femur, tibia and humerus mentioned earlier, be a matter of mistaken identity. By this, I mea focussed on treating symptoms – ad infinitum! cellular matrix (ECM). These ground-breaking to these expectations.many a close inspection of the spine can be very re-that the palpatory impression of “misaligne Dred_Content_DPS_Dec19_EJS.indd After practising for 40+ years, I have continuous-discoveries were made by orthopedic sur-of you, I pursued a long search vealing. Note the differences in the size (width, vertebra” may be the result of enlargement o Tensegrity Structure. geon, Stephen Levin, M.D. 1 , the originator of Figure 2: Normal and Restricted ly pursued the goal of creating tional modalities to improve my results, depth an and evidence-based height of the articular processes) at part of the vertebral segment (see Figure After the impact my outcomes and give me the confi-o various levels throughout the spine. Figure 1 practice, based on quantifiable and predictable clin-the term “biotensegrity”, cell biologist Donald above). The fact that many patients achiev is over be able to find and resolve my patient’s differences in the size of through adjustment ma research from chiropractic the Universi-ical improvement. In other demonstrates words, I was these determined Ingber, M.D., Ph.D. 2 and others 3 . This structural levels. More recently, benefit ons. In this search, I was blessed to meet the articular processes of the atlas. I contend be due to its influence on the actual structur to find the holy grail of treatment: framework, which I have referred to as the Tenseg-ty of California has confirmed the fact that bone Figure 2: Microscopic Evidence of Bone researchers and clinicians from other that on palpation, these areas of enlargement of the osseous enlargement, albeit inadvertent Expansion with Injury, Paul Hansma Lab, Precisely determining the underlying struc-rity rotation Matrix, or provides a balance between stability enlarges with injury, on just as I of had cell biology, 1. biomedical engineering, may be easily mistaken for a relative the part the observed, practitioner. so In my opinion, University of California, Berkeley, 2005. (With edic medicine, osteopathy and physical translation of the the problem, vertebral segment (see: Sub-and permission the author) tural or biomechanical cause of and mobility explains from many of the observed many years earlier. Dr. practitioners Paul Hansma and his aware team, of the fact tha were made ne). They were making amazing luxation: A Case of Mistaken below). related to body support, movement, injury Force alters the shape and size which was discov-gar producing the symptoms (pain Identity, phenomena using the powerful Atomic microscope, has of bone in th ding the underlying effects of injury Recent evidence from the University of Cal-male hockey player, who had been suffering spine and throughout the body, they woul and/or dysfunction) response to stress and trauma, as well as the ef-detected the presence of certain protein structures omechanical dysfunction at the cellular, ifornia, revealed by the powerful Atomic Force from knee pain for several months, which be eager to apply methods that would mor 2. the Providing therapeutic interven-fects of therapeutic interventions. within bone that expand with injury 5 , (see Figure ctrical and even molecular reproducible level. I microscope, under the direction of physicist prevented him from playing. The injury also precisely target these areas and thus achiev 1 tions, would Paul produce consistent and , has confirmed the caused considerable “Molecules, 3). Injury to bone has also been shown to cause zed that for a system of which therapeutics Hansma and his team pain during cells, normal daily even better results. alid, it had to be congruent with this activities, such tissues, as climbing stairs, which the he bioelectric changes 6 , which I have found to be presence of certain protein structures within measurable outcomes organs, and ng science. the bone that expand with an injury. These was only able to accomplish in a slow, hob-Evidence our entire bodies use a crucial factor in the Neurological diagnosis and treatment of findings are consistent with my clinical obser-bling manner. Fortunately for me, orthopedic One of the major factors, which drew me t I knew that if I could confidently produce (and “tensegrity” architec-these injuries. surgeons were monitoring the size of the bones vations, which were first made over 40 years chiropractic in the first place, was its emphas demonstrate) consistently positive clinical improve-ture a to mechanically at the knee with high degree of precision, ago (see Figure 2). on the central importance of the nervou due to an underlying genetic ment, then both myself and the patient would know stabilize their condition. shape, As a system. This made absolute sense to me, as result, they took consistent measurements to of Bone Size disruption of neurological signals to any are that we were on a path to Restoration recovery and resolution and to seamlessly within one-hundredth of a millimetre. They and Joint Healing of the body, could lead to serious functiona – rather than just temporary pain relief. Over the integrate structure were all surprised when the femoral condyle One of the significant clinical breakthroughs consequences and even threaten survival. Th years, I have noted that most (even when and function at knee, all which of the left that patients my colleagues and I were able to ac-and the tibial plateau unique anatomical structure of the spine they were still in some degree of discomfort) would size scales. Through had been approximately 5 mm larger than its complish was that bone size appeared to be exquisitely designed to afford substantial pr counterpart on building the right, system, had suddenly restored to normal with treatment. stay with the course of treatment because they were use At of first, this we tension-dependent me-shrunk tection to the spinal cord, while still allowin by that amount after only a few treatments (see questioned these results and followed them up for mobility and flexibility. However, it was a able to directly experience objective evidence of im-chanical forces applied at the macroscale produce Figure 3 and 4). Subsequently, the young man’s with precise measurements using callipers and ways a mystery to me why there was never an Model of C1, cast from a real provement. This included: tape improved range-of-mo-changes in biochemistry and gene within parents noted that expression he was once again “flying measures. Inter-tester validation appeared l specimen. Note the enlargement mention in the chiropractic literature regardin ght articular tion process the spinal and normalization and and joint stability, of posture, individual living cells. This structure-based system up” the stairs with absolutely no pain. This case to confirm our findings. the most significant concentration of neuron which measured 2 mm. larger in verified basis my contention that normalization of Several years ago, I treated provides a 15-year-old structure and neurological function. a mechanistic to explain how appli-in the body, housed in the equally protectivr imension.
Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor March/April 2021: Page 10
