Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "Chiropractic Best for Work-Related Low Back Pain"

This is an interesting article that appeared in a recent edition of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. What the authors wanted to know was,..."what were the chances of repeated disability for low back pain patients seeking care from different health care providers?" A simple enough question it seems, so researchers sought out to compare the effects comparing three different health care options; physicians (MD), physical therapists (PT) and chiropractors (DC). 

The researchers looked at 894 patients who had suffered a work place injury and then followed their progress over the following year. The participants of the study were divided between the three different treatment providers. The year following tracked progress from their first episode of disability through their subsequent return to work.(This period was referred by researchers as the 'health maintenance care period')

To analyze the data the researchers collected, they had to account for the workers demographics and severity of pain. Once this was done, they could get a clearer pictures of the difference the three therapies actually made to the patients. What they found was very surprising!

This study found that the likelihood of recurrent disability due to low back pain was consistently higher for patients receiving care from a physician or a physical therapist compared to a chiropractor. In fact the difference was huge! According to the data, patients were 60% more likely to suffer recurring disability if they were treated by a physician compared to a chiropractor. What's even more astonishing was patients were TWICE as likely to suffer recurring disability if they were treated by a physical therapist compared to a chiropractor!

The main conclusion of the study was; 'In work-related nonspecific low back pain (LBP), the use of health maintenance care provided by physical therapist or physician services was associated with a higher disability recurrence than in chiropractic services or no treatment.' This is something that I have also personally noticed in practice. I have seen patients who were suffering from joint dysfunction and muscle imbalances who sought my care after being disappointed with physical therapy/physiotherapy. These patients often reported that the physical therapist had them performing exercises that they were clearly not ready for. Only leading to frustration for the patient and even in rare cases, re-injury!


This study shows that work related cases of low back pain should be treated by chiropractors. The size of this study was good. With nearly 900 participants in the study, I think the results are pretty clear and hard to refute.


In the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver? visit Dr. Chan's office or visit the website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC!!!


References:JOEM or online: Cifuentes M, Willetts J, Wasiak R. Health maintenance care in work-related low back pain and its association with disability recurrence. JOEM, April 2011;53(4):396-404. 

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "Want to Lose Weight?...Eat on a Schedule!"

Eating too many calories may not be the only reason people gain weight. A new study appearing in the journal; Cell Metabolism has found that mice given food on a schedule, gained less weight than mice who were allowed to eat whenever they liked. Eventhough, the diets for the two groups consisted of the same foods!

According to researchers, the study shows that restricting eating times is an under appreciated way to keep off the pounds.  "Every organ has a clock," said study researcher Satchidananda Panda, of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Calif. That means there are times that our livers, intestines, muscles and other organs work at peak efficiency, and other times when they are — more or less — sleeping, Panda said. The body has natural biological 'clocks' that determine when certain organs work at their best. When mice or even people eat frequently throughout the day and night, these 'clocks' can be thrown off.


The researchers suggest that there is evidence that our eating habits have changed over the years. For one thing, we in western culture have access to an abundance of food at our fingertips. We are able to eat whatever we want almost whenever we want. It's not hard to find fast food restaurants that now cater to late night eaters with '24 hour' access to junk food. But the other problem is also that we have a lot more stimulus that keep us up later at night. We have computers, the internet, TV, streaming video, Tivo, video games, cell phones etc. All these things that we traditional resort to to 'unwind' after a hard day, also helps to keep us up. 


It's no secret that when people are engaged in these activities, we tend to snack. So what's the take home message. Well if you are really committed to losing weight, you have to look at ALL the factors that help you pack on the pounds. Engaging in exercise and watching what you eat is a great start, but actually understanding how your body naturally processes calories is important as well.


In the Commercial Drive area of East Vancouver? come drop by the office, or visit the website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC!!!

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "Trying to Quit Smoking?......Try Some Veggies!"

This recent article came out extolling yet again the health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables. But not in the way that you might think. Researchers from the University at Buffalo found a link between eating lots of fruit and veggies and maintaining a tobacco-free lifestyle in smokers. This article published in the journal of Nicotine and Tobacco Research, included 1000 participants. The researchers had the participants answer surveys regarding their fruits and vegetables intake and smoking habits. 

What the researchers found was that there was a positive correlation between a participants fruits and vegetables intake and the likelihood that they had quit.......and stayed away, from tobacco. To go further, the researchers also noticed that those who ate the most produce, were about 3 times more likely to also have reported not smoking at all in the last month!

Now it's not possible to draw a direct correlation between consumption of produce and smoking cessation, but it does make you wonder about what the relationship is. Some possible explanations are; perhaps those who ate more fruits and vegetables have made a concerted effort to become healthier in all aspects of their lives? Thus motivating them more intensely to quit smoking. Perhaps, the consumption of more fruits and vegetables increases a person's intake of fiber. Making them feel more 'full' and more likely to ignore the craving to light up? Another interesting possibility posed by researchers is that eating more fruits and vegetables can actually alter the body and brain's biochemistry! Meaning, eating more produce actually made cigarettes taste WORSE and thus less enjoyable for the smoker!

 "With a few modifications to their diet -- consuming items that make cigarettes taste bad, such as a cold glass of milk, and avoiding items that make cigarettes taste good, like a pint of beer -- smokers can make quitting a bit easier," Joseph McClernon, Ph.D commented.


Wow, that idea is truly fascinating indeed. Now whatever mechanism is at work, the overall benefit of quitting smoking is undeniable. But to think that eating more fresh fruits and vegetables could aid in your attempts to quit, is fantastic on so many levels!


Please leave your questions or comments here if you like or if you're in the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver, stop by the office. Click the link to visit the website; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "Long Commutes May Jeopardize Your Health"

This article seemed interesting to me not only because I commute to work but it made me wonder why some patients explain that they can't find the time to exercise. Being a doctor, I realize today's lifestyles are extremely busy but you must make time for your health, or suffer the consequences.

This article was written by  Dr. Christine M. Hoehner of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Dr. Hoehner and her team looked at the commuting habits of 4,297 people. She also measured key metabolic and health indicators and compared them among the participants. Body Mass index (BMI), Cardiorespiratory Fitness (CRF), blood pressure, cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, waist circumference were among some of the indicators monitored. In addition, Dr. Hoehner also had the participants complete a survey regarding individual assessments of their activity/ exercise levels.


The study found that those who had to travel the farthest to and from work were the ones who showed the poorest measurements in the health indicators mentioned. These people were also the ones who reported the lowest activity/exercise levels as well. Now that just might seem like common sense, those who spend more time commuting have less time to exercise, right? Yes, but lets look at the consequences for a moment. The longest commuters were measured to have the lowest cardiorespiratory fitness as well as the highest BMI's, waist circumference and blood pressures. 


Another interesting finding was that the 'tipping point' distance was somewhere around 15 miles (about 24 kms) At this distance and further, the likelihood participants would show poor health indicators measurements was significantly higher.


Moral of this story is that if your commute to work is long or especially long, you really must make an effort to exercise! Understandably, the time spent during your commute takes away from the time doing the things you 'want' to do, but your health and even your life, may depend on it!


Questions or comments? Leave them here. In the Commercial Drive area of East Vancouver? visit Dr. Chan's office or check out the website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC!!!

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "How Much Does Chiropractic Treatment Cost?...(As little as $8 a treatment!*)

 At times I get calls to my office inquiring about how much it cost for Chiropractic Treatment. For some people, they may be eligible for treatments starting at just $8 per visit. Understandably, when patients hear this, they are ecstatic and can't believe it!

I thought I'd write a quick post today about the fee schedule at my clinic to help those of you

who would like more information about this. Now to start off, first time visits to my office carry a $60 charge. The first visit includes a thorough history, examinations, testing, report of findings, treatment and a follow up plan. Because of everything covered, I recommend patients set aside 40-45 minutes for this visit.  Many patients who visit my office enjoy the benefit of having their Chiropractic treatments covered by their insurance providers through work. Depending on your employer and/or health insurance company, the reimbursement levels may vary. (Please refer to your HR department and they can help explain the exact level of coverage your employer provides). All patients, provide payment for the services at the end of their appointments and a receipts is issued to them. Patients can then submit these receipts to their insurance companies so they can get their appropriate reimbursements. 

Subsequent visits are charged $45/visit. Again, the procedure as described above is followed in order for patients to get reimbursements from the insurance company. 

Now here's where things get interesting. Some patients are eligible to receive Chiropractic care that is subsidized by the government. These patients qualify under a billing program called; "Premium Assistance". Generally, patients qualify for this program based on their income. But people who suffer disabilities and people of first nations status also often qualify. (If you would like to confirm if you qualify for the "Premium Assistance" program, the process is done in about 2 minutes and can be completed over the phone. Please call my office manager, Susan at 604-876-4988 and she will gladly check for you.)

*Patients who qualify for the Premium Assistance program only pay a "User Fee" at my office. 
The User Fee for the first visit is $15. After the first visit, subsequent visits after that are only $8/ visit! (There is a limit of 10 visits/calender year that a qualifying patient may use for therapy including things as; Chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, physiotherapy etc.) Also important to note is that each individual office will handle Premium Assistance differently, however, this is just an explanation of how it is handled at my office. The $8 user fee for Chiropractic treatment has been very beneficial for patients who otherwise could not afford the regular fee. Many of my patients who first learn that they qualify for Premium Assistance are not only shocked but very happy indeed! (Please note that $8 is the current user fee and can change without notice)


Also, my office accepts Worksafe BC and ICBC claims as well. Often times, patients with these claims can receive Chiropractic care at NO cost to them! 


If you have any questions or are in the COMMERCIAL DRIVE neighborhood of EAST VANCOUVER, stop on by or visit my website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN!!!!

Commerical Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "Sitting Too Much May Be Killing You"

This is a very interesting study that came out this week from the University of Sydney in Australia. Now what I find very impressive about this study is the number of participants involved; according to the study, over 220,000 people over the age of 45! That is a staggering amount of people involved in this study using self-reported data.

The findings included a sharp increase in the risk of death after more than 11 hours of daily sitting was reported. These numbers were compared to the risk of death for people who sat for less than 4 hours/day and those who sat between 8-11 hours/day. The researchers found that those who sat more than 11 hours/day had a 15% increased chance of death in the following 3 years compared to those who sat between 8-11hours. However, the shocking result was that compared to those who sat for less than 4 hours/day, the increased chance of death shot up to 40% for the 11 plus hours group. 

 "The evidence on the detrimental health effects of prolonged sitting has been building over the last few years," said study author Hidde van der Ploeg, a senior research fellow at the University of Sydney. "The study stands out because of its large number of participants and the fact that it was one of the first that was able to look at total sitting time. Most of the evidence to date had been on the health risks of prolonged television viewing."

This study appeared in the March 26 edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine. Some background would also be helpful in relation to this article. Of the over 220,000 Australian participants in this study, about 62% considered themselves to be overweight or obese. This number is very close to North Americans as well. As mentioned before, the participants were also over the age of 45. With the huge global concern regarding chronic illnesses that only increase with time, the age of the participants is also important. 

After reviewing this article, a word of caution is warranted here. As the authors also noted, this study does not provide a 'smoking gun', cause and effect relationship between increased sitting time and death. However, other factors may also come into play. For instance, perhaps people who sit for more than 11 hours/day are simply less active and have increased cardiovascular risk factors than those who sit for less than 4 hours/day. Perhaps it's the other 'factors' that are contributing to their increased mortality? 

But I think it's fair to say that sitting for more than 11 hours/day is clearly unhealthy for your health. I would even venture to say that it's common sense. Having  a sedentary lifestyle is harmful to your health. Period. Now if the myriad of health problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle weren't enough, isn't the increased chance of death enough to get you moving? Something to think about and take to heart. 

Come visit your COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR or visit the website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC!!!!

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "Family Doctors are Finally Catching Up"

A report published online last Thursday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US found that more and more doctors are recommending exercise to their patients. The report found that in 2010, about one in three people (32.4%) who had seen their doctor, had been advised to take up or continue regular physical activity. The report noted that this was a huge improvement from 2000 when just under one in four patients (22.6%) received the same advice.


The report also revealed some surprising information. For example, adults who were 85 or older were about twice as likely to be advised to exercise regularly than the same age group just 10 years ago. However, the age group that was still most likely to receive the recommendation of regular exercise were people between the ages of 45 -74. The report also found that other health issues increased the likelihood of being recommended daily exercise. Chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes, increased the chances of a doctor advising you to take up exercise. 


The results in this report are not surprising at all. With increasing longevity and the rates of chronic diseases, like diabetes on the rise, doctors are recognizing the importance of exercise. Increasing a person's activity levels has numerous health benefits. Decreasing blood pressure, controlling weight, improving aerobic capacity, helping to control blood sugar, improving muscle tone and improving vitality are only some of the benefits. 

However, what's perplexing is when you scrutinize this report deeper, you realize that almost 70% of people who are in contact with their doctor, are not recommended exercise. That's right, with everything we know about the benefits of exercise, most people are never advised to take up regular activity!! As a Chiropractor practicing a health care option that does not rely on pharmaceuticals, we have to encourage our patients to adopt a different perspective. I can speak from my own experience that every patient of mine, in fact from the very first visit, is advised to stretch and exercise! I have only encountered a handful of patients where maybe exercise was not advised from the beginning. But instead, stretching and breathing exercise were encouraged until the patient was physically able to do more, for example going for walks.


The moral of the story is, exercise and regular physical is so beneficial and crucial to your overall health. Only a miniscule fraction of society may be unable to exercise but believe me, this group is very small indeed. Everyone else should be engaging in regular activity and the best thing is; it's Free! Knowing what doctors and other health professionals know about exercise and how it can improve health, I feel it is a disservice to our patients if we don't recommend regular exercise to everyone. So the question remains, "....what's taking so long???"


If you have a comment about this article, let me hear from you. Or if you're in the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver visit my office or website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC