Q: Have health
professionals studied their practice members to
demonstrate the changes across both models of
health?
A: Some
studies have been done in various professions.
Members of the Association for Network Care have
participated in a study conducted by researchers
within the University of California, Irvine, College
of Medicine. One objective of this study was to
develop a practice member reported questionnaire to
evaluate health and well being through a wide range
of Biomedical and Wellness indicators
incorporating both models. This survey bridges the
Biomedical and Wellness assessments. The
study evaluated a population of over 2800 practice
members under Network Care in the U.S. and abroad.
It represents the largest study to date assessing
such a wide range of practice member reported health
and wellness benefits of any population.
Seventy-six percent (76%) of the practice members
studied reported improved combined wellness changes
in all categories assessed.
Q: What is Network
Care?
A:
Network Care utilizes Network Spinal Analysis (NSA).
NSA is a system of assessing and contributing to
spinal and neural integrity, as well as health and
wellness. Practitioners employ gentle force
applications to the spine assisting the body’s self
regulation of tension in the neurological system.
The body naturally develops strategies for
dissipation of stored tension/energy, thus enhancing
self-regulation of tension and spinal interference.
Q: What trends were
seen in practice members receiving this form of
care?
A: An
increasing percentage of practice members reported
progressively greater improvements in the areas
assessed as a function of duration of care; that is,
in the population studied, there was no "ceiling" to
results over time for the health and wellness
categories investigated. The benefits reported among
practice members respondents were evident from those
as recent as 1 to 3 months under care to those under
care for as long as 3 plus years. These results have
led the investigators to conclude that "within
the boundaries of this study design, these findings
provide substantial evidence that Network Care
should be included among those practices with
established health benefits."
Q: What Categories
relating to health and wellness have been
investigated and with what results?
A: The
following categories, with examples from each
section, all showed statistical and clinically
significant benefits:
Improved Physical State
relative to:
Less
physical pain
Less
tension or stiffness of spine
Improved
allergies, eczema, and skin rashes
Fewer
incidences of colds and flu
Fewer
headaches
Less
menstrual discomfort
Improved Mental/Emotion State relative to:
Improved
positive feelings about self
Less
moodiness, angry outbursts and depression
More
interest in life
Improved
ability to think and concentrate
Less
anxiety and concern about vague fears
Improved
ability to stay on task
Less
distress about pain
Improved Response to Stress:
Less stress relative to:
Family
Significant relationship
Health
Finances
Daily
problems
Work
General
well being
Improved Life Enjoyment relative to:
Openness
to guidance by "inner voice feelings"
Experience of relaxation and well being
Positive
feelings about self
Interest
in maintaining a healthy lifestyle
Feeling
open when relating to others
Confidence when dealing with adversity
Compassion for and acceptance of others
Incidence of feelings of joy or happiness
Improved Overall Quality of Life relative to:
Personal
life
Oneself
Extent
one adapts to change
Handling
of problems in life
Actual
life accomplishments
Life as
a whole
Overall
contentment with life
Significant other
Job
Life
being what one wants it to be
Romantic
life
Actual
work done
Co-workers
Physical
appearance
In addition
to these categories, there was also a significant
increase in health promoting practices and a decrease in
health detracting practices.
Demographics
A demographic analysis of the retrospective study
(conducted between Nov. 1994 and April 1995)
demonstrates that NETWORK CARE targets highly motivated
individuals interested in alternative and complementary
care, vitalistic, or holistic care.
- 95%
of respondents reported their expectations had
been met; and
- 99%
wished to continue Network Care.
A
longitudinal study has been completed to assess
practitioners’ finding and patients’ self reported
health and wellness changes over time.
Other
research is in progress to better understand the
mechanisms underlying the apparent effectiveness of this
approach. Researchers in a variety of scientific
disciplines are currently involved in studying the
benefits and mechanisms of NSA. It is hoped that the
interdisciplinary relationships established between the
communities representing the chiropractic, medical,
basic sciences, and social sciences will assist the
public in receiving and understanding the benefits of
NSA and other evidence based methods of health and
wellness.
References
Epstein, D.M., Theoretical
Basis and Clinical Application of Network Spinal
Analysis (NSA), Longmont, Colorado, Innate Intelligence,
Inc., November 1995
Epstein, D.M., Network Spinal
Analysis: A system of health care delivery within the
subluxation-based chiropractic model, Journal of
Vertebral Subluxation Research, August 1996, Vol. 1, No.
1, p. 51 - 59.
Blanks, R.H., Schuster, T.L.,
Dobson, M.A., Retrospective Assessment of Network Care
Using a Survey of Self-Related Health, Wellness and
Quality of Life, Journal of Vertebral Subluxation
Research, 1997, Vol. 1, No. 4, p. 15-31.
Several additional papers further evaluating the
relationship of Network Care to healthier choices,
lifestyles, life enjoyment, and the apparent "stress
busting" effect have been submitted for publication in
major journals. A longitudinal evaluation (of patients
in care over time) has been completed, and articles have
been submitted for publication.
Investigators:
Robert H. Blanks, Ph.D.
Tanya L. Schuster, Ph.D.
W. Ralph Boone, Ph.d., D.C.
Marnie Dobson
Literature produced by the:
Association for Network Care
444 North Main Street, Longmont, Colorado 80501
Ph: (303) 678-8101 Fax: (303) 678-8089
(Rev. 12/00)
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Early studies have
proven...
Research documents chiropractic's
role
in boosting immunity,
increasing muscular and athletic performance and promoting
vitality and well-being. Chiropractic adjustments improve
health without the side effects of toxic drugs and life
threatening surgeries.
