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Biomedical subjects

P Shambaugh

Publications and source records attributed to P Shambaugh.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Systemic abnormalities in idiopathic scoliosis.

Sixty-five to ninety percent of all scoliosis is of unknown origin or idiopathic. During the last 30 yr, researchers worldwide have found a variety of abnormalities in tissues throughout the body including peripheral muscle, skin, ligaments, platelets, bone, intervertebral discs, serum and urine. The primary defects appear to be related to collagen and proteoglycan synthesis. The systemic abnormalities seen in idiopathic scoliosis cannot be explained by the biomechanical effects of the curvature.

Bone and Bones↗
PubMed1989

Somatosensory evoked potential changes during muscle testing.

Fifteen naive subjects with no known neurological problems were tested by means of manual muscle testing to determine two "strong" and one "weak" muscle on a limb contralateral to the stimulated side. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) were then recorded from contralateral median nerve stimulation while a naive tester tested the three previously identified muscles. In all subjects the baseline (no muscle test) and control "strong" muscle test recordings were comparable while the recording from the "weak" muscle test showed increased amplitudes in contralateral layer components. These findings suggest a neurologic basis for manual muscle testing.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Reliability of the Derifield-Thompson test for leg length inequality, and use of the test to demonstrate cervical adjusting efficacy.

The Derifield-Thompson test for leg length inequality (LLI) is commonly used by chiropractors to assess a need for adjustment and to evaluate the results of adjustment. The two previous studies testing the reliability of the technique reported conflicting results. This study had two objectives: to demonstrate inter- and intraobserver reliability in detecting a LLI as little as 3 mm; and to document what effect Pierce-Stillwagon cervical adjusting has on a functional LLI. Twenty-six subjects walked into five successive examining rooms where a Derifield leg check was performed, including an estimate of the millimeters of difference in leg lengths. The subjects then entered a treatment room where they were randomly given no treatment, cervical adjusting, or gluteal massage. This process continued for 5 cycles. This study demonstrated that clinicians could reliably measure a LLI to less than 3 mm (both inter- and intraobserver), and also detect a change in LLI when the head was rotated. Neither cervical adjustment nor gluteal massage produced a significant change in observed LLI.

Cervical Vertebrae↗
PubMed1987

Changes in electrical activity in muscles resulting from chiropractic adjustment: a pilot study.

This study examines the effects of chiropractic adjustment on the muscles of the back. Vertebrae that are hypomobile may be held in that state by the erector spinae muscle group; adjusting such vertebrae should result in less muscle tension. By measuring the change in electrical activity, such relaxation can be observed. Hypomobile vertebrae were found by motion palpation. The patient was then placed prone and surface electrodes were placed over the upper trapezius, upper erector spinae (T3-T5), and lumbar erector spinae (L1-L3) muscle groups on both sides of the body. The patient was adjusted using full spine toggle recoil thrusts, and postadjustment readings were taken. Results from this study show that significant changes in muscle electrical activity occur as a consequence of adjusting. On average, a 25% reduction in muscle activity was observed across the 20 subjects tested, while no significant reductions were observed with the control group of 14 subjects. Significant reductions in side-to-side imbalances were also observed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Differential effects of honey, sucrose, and fructose on blood sugar levels.

It is now recognized that dietary carbohydrate components influence the prevalence and severity of common degenerative diseases such as dental problems, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Fructose and sucrose have been evaluated and compared to glucose using glucose tolerance tests, but few such comparisons have been performed for a "natural" sugar source such as honey. In this study, 33 upper trimester chiropractic students volunteered for oral glucose tolerance testing comparing sucrose, fructose and honey during successive weeks. A 75-gm carbohydrate load in 250 ml of water was ingested and blood sugar readings were taken at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 240 minutes. Fructose showed minimal changes in blood sugar levels, consistent with other studies. Sucrose gave higher blood sugar readings than honey at every measurement, producing significantly (p less than .05) greater glucose intolerance. Honey provided the fewest subjective symptoms of discomfort. Given that honey has a gentler effect on blood sugar levels on a per gram basis, and tastes sweeter than sucrose so that fewer grams would be consumed, it would seem prudent to recommend honey over sucrose.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nutrition as an environmental factor in the etiology of idiopathic scoliosis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this review is to examine the evidence implicating poor nutrition as a causative factor in the etiology of idiopathic scoliosis. Interactions between nutrition and genetics and biochemistry are considered. DATA SOURCES: Articles published in American or European journals or conference proceedings from 1955-1990. STUDY SELECTION: Relevant studies or observations published between 1955 and 1990 are included. DATA EXTRACTION: Data presented were selected by independent extraction by two reviewers. DATA SYNTHESIS: There is strong evidence from an animal model for an interaction between poor nutrition and genetics. There are anecdotal data and limited study data for humans. The biochemical mechanisms, explaining the actions of nutritional factors on spinal and paraspinal tissue, are partially known. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence that poor nutrition may play a role in the etiology of idiopathic scoliosis. This possibility should be examined further in humans.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗