Chiropractic Bio Physics (CBP) is, in short, a higher level of chiropractic.  It is a more knowledgeable, comprehensive, systematic, scientific approach to chiropractic that provides predictable results for patients.

CBP combines standard chiropractic joint adjustments with mirror image (opposite position) postural adjustments, mirror image spinal/postural exercise and mirror image traction to provide more permanent relief and improved health through spine and posture correction.

Your body and spine are an incredible marvel of engineering, able to withstand large forces and yet maintain great flexibility.

The model spine at rest consumes practically no energy to support upright standing posture.  If it were maintained properly, the spine could easily last 120 -150 years with minimal degeneration or arthritis.

The goal of the CBP technique is to restore the patient’s spine to normal or as near normal as possible.  But what is normal?  The Harrison Spinal Model, developed by Don Harrison, D.C., PhD., M.S.E., is our goal of care for correction.  Just like blood pressure, there are normal ranges for spinal alignment.  When you fall outside of these normal ranges, the spine degenerates faster than it should and wears like a car tire that is not properly balanced.

Dr. Donald Harrison originated CBP Technique in 1980.  He holds the equivalent of three Bachelor’s Degrees (mathematics, mechanical engineering, and education), two Masters Degrees (mathematics and mechanical engineering), and two Doctorate Degrees (mathematics and chiropractic). As President of the CBP Nonprofit, Inc. research institute, he is author of approximately seventy publications in the Index Medicus.

Dr. Harrison used engineering and physics principles that explain how all objects move and applied them to human posture and spinal biomechanics.  He was the first person to analyze postural and spinal alignment in this manner.  This led to CBP being the most researched, published and proven method in chiropractic and developed ways to restore posture and the spine back to normal or as near normal as possible.

The ideal standing posture from the front view is the head should be centered over the rib cage, the rib cage over the pelvis and the pelvis over the feet.  If the posture in this view is aligned properly it results in a straight spine from the front (or behind).

The ideal standing posture from the side is the ear over shoulder, shoulder over hip and hip over ankle.  The normal spinal alignment from the side is a spine with three curvatures.  The neck curve bends forward like part of a circle, the mid-back bends toward the back and the low back curve also bends forward.  The mid back and low back have elliptical curvatures.  Each curvature is different in its shape.

Our head, ribcage and pelvis shift out of alignment from side to side, front to back and even rotate or twist out of alignment.  They can even shift out of place with combinations of all three of these positions.  In fact, research has shown that there are over 130 million different abnormal posture combinations that can happen and all of them effect the alignment of the spine.  Ultimately, if the spine is out of alignment it leads to nervous system dysfunction or subluxation.  CBP improves and corrects the posture and that leads to a better aligned spine and a better functioning nervous system.

Many suffering people have been helped thanks to the work that was started by Dr. Harrison over 25 years ago.  Click here to read a few of the patient testimonials of Paint Creek Chiropractic Center.

Dr. DeRusha has been certified in CBP since 2002.  He was one of the first to bring Chiropractic Bio Physics to Michigan.  If you have any questions or would like to speak with Dr. DeRusha, he may be contacted at Paint Creek Chiropractic Center, 134 West University Drive, Suite 126, Downtown Rochester.  (248) 601-4540

A case study research article published on August 31, 2009 in the scientific periodical, the Journal of  Pediatric, Maternal and Family Health, documented a case of a 2 year old girl with developmental and emotional growth issues, also known as Developmental Delay Syndrome or DDS. In this case study these issues were subsequently resolved with chiropractic care.

In this case a 2 year old girl was brought to the chiropractor with an interesting history. It seems that she was the younger of fraternal twins, with her brother being born vaginally, while she required a c-section to be born. From the trauma of her birth it was noted that her head and facial features were asymmetrical.
At the age of 28 months the young girl was suffering with Developmental Delay Syndrome or (DDS), and exhibiting frequent rages, furious temper tantrums, and nightmares that caused her to wake up screaming. She was described as a child that was not able to function in pre-school or at home with the family. She was notably slower than her twin brother in both intellectual and emotional development.
After a chiropractic evaluation was performed a specific regimen of care was initiated. After only 2 visits the child had noticeably improved posture. The case study also reported that after the 5th visit, the child was very stable within her family and pre-school environments, and she had stopped walking on her toes as she had prior to beginning chiropractic.  Long term follow up years later at age 7, showed that she was equal in development to her twin brother and she was doing well in school.
In the conclusion to this case study the authors wrote, “Since there is some question as to the causation of the various developmental delay syndromes, this ultimately leads to some lack of clarity on treatment options, particularly for children sensitive to medication or who do not choose medication as an option. Patients are seeking alternative care, and particularly care that offers low risk and some benefit should be brought to their attention. While the studies are inconclusive, there is an emerging evidence base that does show chiropractic care can be involved in the treatment and care of patients with developmental delay syndromes.”

Paint Creek Chiropractic Center is a family oriented chiropractic office.  ALL children should have their spines checked for subluxations from birth.  Studies have measured up to 60-90 pounds of pulling force on the baby’s neck at birth if the doctor needs to pull the baby out or if forceps or vacuum extractors are used.  That is more than enough force to mis-align a baby’s neck vertebra and cause spinal cord and nerve irritation.  Having a baby or child adjusted by a chiropractor is very safe and can help avoid a lifetime of spinal and health problems.

Several news stories recently reported on the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine study released on July 30, 2009 titled, “Costs of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and Frequency of Visits to CAM Practitioners: United States, 2007″.  Although it was included in this study, many no longer consider chiropractic as an “Alternative Medicine” since the profession has become more accepted as a main stream form of healthcare.

The study focuses on the amount of out-of-pocket money spent by consumers on the non-medical forms of care they refer to as “CAM” for the year 2007. The study reports that in 2007 Americans spent $33.9 billion of their own money out of pocket on visits to CAM practitioners and purchases of CAM products. The largest portion of that amount, $22 billion, was spent on CAM products classes and materials. Another $11.9 billion was spent on practitioner visits which include all chiropractic care.
The study points out that in 2007, 38.1 million adults made an estimated 354.2 million visits to CAM practitioners. Of this number almost half were chiropractors accounting for about $3.9 billion out of pocket expenses. As a comparison the study noted that Americans spent $49.6 billion out of pocket for medical doctor visits.
The study results also noted that chiropractic was one of the most affordable types of CAM care as they stated, “Some of the highest per-person, out-of pocket costs are associated with visits to practitioners of naturopathy and chelation therapy, while one of the lowest per-person, out-of-pocket costs is associated with visits to practitioners of chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation therapy.”
In the total scheme of healthcare CAM is not a large portion of the expenses but is a large part of the number of people receiving care. The study notes that all of the CAM expenditures combined only amounts to 1.5% of the total health-care expenditures in the United States. However, as many people are willing to pay for these services CAM does total 11.2% of all out-of-pocket health-care expenditures in the US.

In April 2009 Consumer Reports released the results of a patient survey study, that will be published in their May 2009 paper edition, showing that chiropractic rated highest among patients in satisfaction of relief of back pain. Results of the study were reported on in several news articles including an April 6, 2009 Web-MD article and an April 8, 2009 CBS news story.
The survey noted that 80% of US adults report having back pain some time in their life. Of those responding to the survey chiropractic received the highest grade with 59% saying that they were “highly satisfied” with their results. Physical therapy and acupuncture rated second and third with 55% and 53% respectively. In comparison, satisfaction with medical specialist and primary care medical physicians rated only 44% and 34% respectively.
CBS News medical expert Dr. Jennifer Ashton commented that the results of this study reflect what she is seeing in her practice. She noted that back pain is the most common ailment in the country and it is difficult to treat. Dr. Ashton stated that her patients are looking elsewhere, “They’re staying away from things like medication, prescription drugs and surgery.” Dr.  Ashton also warned against a “quick fix” to get rid of the pain. She noted,  “A lot of times that’s prescription narcotics, which is actually probably the worst thing for you.” She also warned, “Surgery is another option, but one that should be used as a last resort.”
American Chiropractic Association President Glenn Manceaux, DC, responded in a press release, “For the treatment of back pain, few options are better than chiropractic. As shown in this latest survey, chiropractic spinal manipulation is an evidence-based and effective treatment for low-back pain and other musculoskeletal injuries. Coupled with the high levels of patient satisfaction, patients should turn to chiropractic as their first choice.”
Dr. John Maltby, President of the International Chiropractors Association added, “For well over 100 years chiropractors have been seeing a large number of patients suffering with back problems. And although chiropractic does not directly treat the pain, we do work to correct the underlying structural and neurological problem that in many cases is causing the problem. This study shows what we have known for a long time. Chiropractic get results and helps people lead normal and healthier lives.”

Read more about Paint Creek Chiropractic patient experiences with back pain in the patient testimonial category.

August 2009 is “Be Kind To Your Spine” month at Paint Creek Chiropractic Center.  New patients will receive a spinal exam, digital posture analysis, 2 x-rays (if Needed) and 1st adjustment for only $25.00.  Offer expires August 31st.  Call (248) 601-4540 to schedule an appointment.  Paint Creek Chiropractic Center is located in downtown Rochester, Michigan at 134 W. University suite 126.

A review of previous studies on the effectiveness of chiropractic for pregnant women with lower back pain was published in the July  2008 edition of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT).  This study looked at previously published works on this subject to review the body of evidence for the effectiveness of chiropractic care.
The JMPT report starts off by noting that between 50% and 80% of pregnant women suffer from low back pain (LBP) during their pregnancy. They noted that a review of previous work showed that from 68% to 85% of pregnant women with back pain during pregnancy do not look for any care for their lower back pain. The authors theorize that this is because most pregnant women consider back pain to be a normal part of the pregnancy.
 In reviewing all the scientific literature on the subject of chiropractic for low back pain in pregnancy, the authors of the JMPT review narrowed their selection down to 6 studies that met their specific criteria. The results of the various studies showed a high percentage of pregnant women did get relief from their lower back pain through chiropractic.
In one reviewed study 84% of the 25 subjects reported relief of their lower back pain.  In a larger study of 103 patients who received chiropractic care during their pregnancy, all of the women reported greater than 50% decrease in back pain on a questionnaire.  In yet another case series where 120 pregnant women with LBP underwent an average of 15 chiropractic treatments, the results showed that 25% had complete remission of their back pain, 50% reported feeling very well, 15% were feeling better, and 10% noted no change in condition.
Interestingly, none of the studies reviewed for the JMPT report indicated any adverse effects or evidence of harm to either the pregnant woman or unborn child from the chiropractic care.  The authors of the JMPT report noted that there was a need for more comprehensive studies involving control groups, but they did note that all studies they included reported positive results for the subject under chiropractic care. They noted in their conclusion, “Results from the 6 included studies showed that chiropractic care is associated with improved outcome in pregnancy-related LBP.”

This is a great review of research showing the effectiveness of chiropractic for low back pain during pregnancy.  It is an honor to adjust expecting mothers and then checking their babies for subluxations when they are born.  -Dr.Eric DeRusha, Paint Creek Chiropractic Center.

 Research published in the November-December issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics and reported on by Scoop Health from New Zealand on November 23, 2007, shows how chiropractic helps affect the brain and nerve system function.  An exciting release on the research by the New Zealand Chiropractors Association states, “Ground-breaking research has, for the first time, identified the actual changes that occur in the body, the nervous system and the brain during chiropractic spinal adjustments.”The study demonstrates that chiropractic care sends signals to the brain that change the way the brain controls muscles.  Award-winning Auckland researcher, Dr. Heidi Haavik-Taylor commented, “The process of a spinal adjustment is like rebooting a computer.  The signals that these adjustments send to the brain, via the nervous system reset muscle behavior patterns.”  She went on to explain how this can have a broad effect on a person’s health by saying, “By stimulating the nervous system we can improve the function of the whole body.  This is something that chiropractors and their patients have known for years; and now we have some scientific evidence to prove it.”According to the Scoop Health article, Dr. Haavik-Taylor has spent the last seven years researching the effects of chiropractic adjustments on the nervous system.  On this new research, Dr. Haavik-Taylor was able to measure how brain waves are altered before and after spinal adjustments.  She reported, “This is the first time that anyone has used EEGs to prove that there are definite changes to the way the brain processes information after chiropractic care.”Dr. James Burt, the president of the New Zealand Chiropractors Association, touted Dr. Haavik-Taylor’s breakthrough research by noting, “Heidi’ work is ground-breaking on an international level by proving that chiropractic adjustments do alter and benefit the nervous system.”  

            The above headline came from a January 4, 2008 TV and online article from the NorthWest Cable News seen in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and western Montana.  This TV and online story interviewed Dr. Marshall Dickholtz, the chiropractor who was involved in the original study linking high blood pressure with spinal misalignments (subluxations). 

            The original scientific study authored by George Bakris, MD, was conducted at the Hypertension Center at the University of Chicago Medical Center and published in the March 2, 2007 issue of the Journal of Human Hypertension.

            The most recent NorthWest Cable News TV and online story interviewed the doctor who had rendered the specific adjustments that were used in the groundbreaking study.  Dr. Dickholtz has been in practice for over 50 years and focuses exclusively on the top bone in the neck called the atlas.  He commented, “Think about it.  If your neck is not balancing your head, it’s like blowing a fuse.  Your wonderful brain does not control your body as well.”

            In the original study at the University of Chicago doctors showed that chiropractic could lower blood pressure by 17 points.  Dr. Dickholtz explained how this works by saying, “When you have a pinched brain stem, it closes out your arteries.  If the arteries close down, the blood pressure has to be higher to go through those arteries.”

            The news story interviewed two patients of Dr. Dickholtz.  Because she received chiropractic care, one 80-year-old patient, Maribeth, is now off her blood pressure medication.  She commented, “At my age, to be on no medication is almost a miracle I think.”  A second patient, Denise, had an initial blood pressure of 144 over 98 before chiropractic care.  After care, she reported, “After one treatment, my blood pressure was 115 over 76.”

            In the news story, Dr. Dickholtz summed up the importance of this study and chiropractic care for those with high blood pressure by saying, “In our high blood pressure research, the average age was 53 and they had 40 years of damage in their spine that could have been taken care of years before and maybe never had high blood pressure.”