Can Chiropractic Slow Down The Ageing Process?
New research found one patient undergoing chiropractic care showed that they experienced an increase in telomere length following 5 months of chiropractic treatment. This is the first evidence documented of it's kind.
What are telomeres?
Telomeres are found at the end of each strand of DNA, they are there to protect our chromosomes. Telomeres cover the end of our DNA strands, without them they would deteriorate or fuse together. As our cells divide the telomere ends become shorter and shorter.
How does this relate to Chiropractic care?
Chiropractors correct the deviating position and movement of the spine and spinal vertebrae, if left uncorrected this can lead to nerve interference called vertebral subluxations. "Research is revealing that vertebral subluxations effect the nervous system and have wide ranging effects on the chemistry of the body." said Curtis Fedorchuk DC, the lead author of the study.
"This research is important because telomeres are an essential part of human cells that affect how our cells age" said Dr. Matthew McCoy, a chiropractor, health researcher and one of the co-authors of the study. McCoy continues "Our cells replenish by copying themselves and this happens constantly throughout our lives. Telomeres get shorter each time a cell copies itself and eventually they get too short and cause our cells to age."
"Abnormal spinal alignment and posture also increase stress and strain to the nerve and blood supply of the spinal cord. This can seriously affect the nervous system and the theory is that because the nervous system controls all functions of the body this can negatively affect our biochemistry including telomere length" stated Deed Harrison DC another author of the study.
The patient featured in the study sought out the chiropractor because of chronic neck and mid-back pain. The patient was diagnosed with vertebral subluxations and a loss of normal spinal curves. After testing her nervous system it was found that there was dysfunction from the problems in her spine, she then had her blood analyzed for telomere length. The patient saw the chiropractor 36 times over 5 months, she reported her pain gone and a better quality of life. When the patient’s blood was drawn again the telomere length had significantly increased.
The research done by the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation and Chiropractic Biophysics Non-Profit supports the effectiveness of chiropractic to not only restore a healthy spine but also the possibility of reducing the rate of cell degeneration.
This study opens up the chance for more research into this area; the research authors call for an in-depth investigation into the clinical implications of chiropractic on telomere length.
The research was first published by the Journal of Molecular and Genetic Medicine and was conducted by researchers from the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation and Chiropractic Biophysics Non-Profit.
Fore the full research follow this link:
https://www.omicsonline.org/peer-reviewed/increased-telomere-length-and-improvements-in-dysautonomia-qualityrnof-life-and-neck-and-back-pain-following-correction-of-sagitta-90524.html
