Successful Treatment of 25 Soccer Players Against Acute Tendinopathy
Marco Cazares, DC, Indio, CA 92201 United States
The following study presents a clinical review of 25 patients (soccer players) with lower extremity tendinopathy. Of this sample, 14 patients were seen for acute medial collateral tendonitis. 6 patients came for acute deltoid ligament strains (Great 1 to Great 2). The remaining 5 patients suffered from knee patella tendonitis associated with the Osgood Shatter syndrome. A review of all patients yielded the following common symptoms:
1. tenderness,
2. joint effusion and edema,
3. Decreased joint motion by at least 40%,
4. Pain with active motion and weight bearing.
Based on the radiologic findings 95% of the injuries (with the exception of three cases) proved to be normal. Positive cases revealed avulsion fractures with non displacement.
All 25 cases have been submitted to a trial therapy using ice packs and taping orthotic support. Every patient of the sample was prescribed with the Wei Musculoskeletal Institute herbal treatment. No other physical therapy was performed.
All 25 patients obtained very good to excellent responses (after the first week of trial). For more than 86% of the patients, two sessions of the herbal treatment were sufficient for an almost total resolution of the symptoms). 24% of the sample required four sessions of the herbal treatment to obtain the same response. It is noted that the use of herbal treatment of acute tendinopathy is a promising treatment protocol for all physicians who encounter this condition. A larger group trial should be performed.*
*DISCLAIMER: Individual results may vary. No gurantee of specific results.
Comprehensive Knee Osteoarthritis Program Results in 28 patients
Dr. Filippini, D.C., Danville, CA 2017
Introduction
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder and a major cause of disability in the adult population. The pathophysiology of the disease is characterized by progressive loss of articular cartilage, cartilage calcification, osteophyte formation, subchondral bone remodeling, and mild to moderate inflammation of the synovial lining. Symptoms include joint pain, tenderness, stiffness, inflammation, and creaking of the joints. Conventional treatment is focused on pain reduction using NSAIDs, local injections of glucocorticoid or hyaluronan, and joint replacement surgery in severe cases such as bone-on-bone conditions.
Wei Musculoskeletal Institute osteoarthritis herbal treatment solutions help increase blood flow and lymphatic circulation and help enhance the chondrocyte’s ability to synthesize required collagen and proteoglycan to restore the damaged joint cartilage matrix, eliminate joint pain, and improve its functionality. They also help reduce joint inflammation and matrix metalloproteinase activity to reverse joint degeneration.* By converting the chondrocyte phenotype to its healthy state, The herbal treatment solutions help reverse the bone-on-bone conditions. For severe and bone-on-bone condition or patients over 50, solution is also included which helps improve systemic microcirculation in order to achieve sustained results.*
A combined target approach utilizes Wei Musculoskeletal Institute herbal treatment solutions and Dr. Filippini, D.C.’s modalities such as Cold Laser, PEMF, BioCharger, ATM, Rebuilder, HakoMed, and Rife equipment. These modalities focus on improving circulation, promoting healing, and stimulation of stem cell growth. It was believed that a knee osteoarthritis program that utilized this approach would decrease treatment time and improve patient response rate (pain reduction, joint mobility, sustained results), thus improving total patient outcome.
Results
Patient case results do align with the expected success rate of 90% stated for Wei Musculoskeletal Institute musculoskeletal treatments. It is important to note that cases showing no response have complicated factors such as ulcerative colitis in one patient and issues with multiple organ systems and infections such as parasites in the second patient. Both patients are undergoing more complex herbal protocols to address these underlying health issues and improve their response to the program. However, many patients who expressed that their pain level was at 0 also presented with other confounding conditions. In patients who saw less than a 50% pain improvement (using as 0-10 scale), there were more indications that patients were very active during their program as well as had some compliance issues.
The average age of patients who had less than a 50% improvement were 65 compared to 64.7 for those who saw a 50% or greater improvement. The average time for patients to see the improvement they described was about 14 visits for those seeing 50% or greater improvement as opposed to 13 visits for those seeing less than 50% improvement.
Table 1 Average pain level after 1 month utilizing Osteoarthritis program*
| Pain Level | Percent of Patients (N=28) |
| Pain level at “0” | 43% |
| Less than 50% | 25% |
| Greater than 50% | 25% |
| Stayed the same | 7% |
Data on pain level of patients who have successfully completed 1 month of a comprehensive Knee Osteoarthritis program utilizing Wei Musculoskeletal Institute herbal treatment solutions and additional modalities.
Discussion
Patients who present with singular or bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis can expect a large degree of pain reduction in 13-14 visits through a knee program utilizing Wei Musculoskeletal Institute herbal treatment solutions and additional modalities such as the BioCharger*. As seen in a large cohort prospective study 92% of patients saw some degree of pain reduction, with 43% stating they were pain-free. Patients who did not respond as well as expected were often either less compliant, more active in their daily activities, or had underlying complications of a larger scope. The two patients who saw no pain improvement were known to have multiple complications. Both of these patients are currently working on addressing these underlying issues through more complex, individualized programs to address their entire well-being. This targeted approach will allow them to better absorb minerals and nutrients, allowing for improvement in their overall joint health.
Many of the patients surveyed had previously tried other approaches including surgery and stem cell therapy. This finding represents significant hope for patients who are looking for alternatives in their approach to healthcare. Currently, patients who opt in for knee replacement are at risk of being in the 20% of patients who still experience knee pain post knee replacement. This combined herbal and modality program has shown to reduce pain in 92% of the patients who started it, with further data needed as they continue their programs. This is promising for patients comparing options as an 8% risk of pain is preferable to a 20% risk of having pain. It would be the goal to continue to track patient outcomes and see if there is a decrease in pain for patients who have not yet finished their entire program. Regardless of the length of the program, it is evident that this targeted herbal, nutritional, and modality approach has hit the nail on the head and yielded patient results that speak for themselves.* For the 2 patients whose pain stayed the same, Dr. Filippini, D.C. is applying further customized treatment using additional herbal formulas.
Reference
[1] Beswick AD, Wylde V, Gooberman-Hill R, et al
What proportion of patients report long-term pain after total hip or knee replacement for osteoarthritis? A systematic review of prospective studies in unselected patients. BMJ Open 2012;2: e000435. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000435
* DISCLAIMER:Individual results may vary.
Selected Herbal Ingredients Employed for Musculoskeletal Treatment
Myrrh (Moyao/Myrrh)
Myrrha is traditionally used for moving blood, improving circulation, increasing sweating, and activating the immune system. Myrrha can be helpful for injuries that are slow to heal due to underlying health conditions or arthritic pain. Research has found out that a compound called Terpene found in myrrh species have been shown to relax smooth muscles.[1]
Radix Paeoniae Rubra (Chishao/Red Peony Root)
Red Peony Root is traditionally used for excessive bleeding or lack of blood flow and is helpful for conditions such as gout, osteoarthritis, fever, and menstrual cramps. Red Peony Root moves toxins from blood, eliminates blood stasis, prevents blood clotting, and acts as an antioxidant. Radix Paeoniae Rubra has a wide variety of pharmacological actions such as anti-thrombus, anti-coagulation, and anti-atherosclerotic properties, protecting heart and liver. [2]
Twotooth Achyranthes Root (Nuixi/Radix Achrantis Bidentatae)
Twotooth Achyranthes Root is traditionally used for lower back pain and joint pain. Twotooth Achyranthes Root nurtures the liver and kidneys, strengthens tendons and bones, and improves circulation in the lower half of the body. Furthermore, Twotooth Achyranthes Root can help lower cholesterol and is often used as treatment for atherosclerosis.
Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Danggui/Chinese Angelica)
Chinese Angelica is traditionally used to nurture the liver and spleen, enrich the blood, activate blood circulation, regulate menstruation, relieve pain, relax the bowels, and balance energy. Chinese Angelica helps anemia, menstrual disorders, constipation, and rheumatoid arthritis. Chinese Angelica is shown to have antioxidant properties[3]. It is also shown to prevent bone loss and potentially has anti‐osteoporosis effects.
Resina Ferulae (Awei/Chinese Asfetida)
Resina Ferulae are traditionally used for combating malaria, treating dysentery, counteracting toxins, deodorant, killing parasitic worms, removing stagnation, resolving phlegm, and others. [1], [4],[5] It is traditionally used to regulate Qi, activate the Blood, and remove food stagnancy.
Cortex Periplocae (Xiangjiapi/Chinese Silkvine Root-bark)
Cortex Periplocae is traditionally used to relieve rheumatic conditions and to strengthen tendons and bones. It is effective for Rheumatoid Arthritis with aching and weakness of the loins and knees, cardiac palpitation, shortness of breath and lower extremity edema.
Recent research shows that cortex periplocae can also inhibit the growth of leukemia, prostate and lung cancer cells. Periplocin, one of cardenolides isolated from cortex periplocae is foundout to contribute to this activity. [6] [7]
Radix Dipsaci (Xuduan/Himalayan Teasel Root)
Radix Dipsaci is traditionally used to replenish the liver and the kidney, to strengthen the tendons and bones, to heal bone fractures, and to arrest excessive uterine bleeding. It’s used for aching and weakness of the loins and knees; rheumatic arthralgia, abnormal uterine bleeding or excessive menstrual flow, uterine bleeding during pregnancy. Radix Dipsaci has also been used as an anti-osteoporotic drug. Research showed that the consumption of crude extract of Radix Dipsaci facilitates increase in bone density and bone volume/tissue volume ratio[8].
Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii Preparata (Zhicaowu/Prepraed Kusnezoff Monkshood Root)
Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii Preparata is traditionally used to relieve rheumatic conditions, warm the channels and alleviate pain. It is used in the treatment for Rheumatic and rheumatoid arthralgia, precordial and abdominal pain with cold sensation, abdominal colic caused by cold, etc. Research shows that Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii Preparata also has antitumor activities, and remarkable activities in stimulating and restore immune function.[9]
Rhizoma Seu Radix Notopterygii (Qianghuo/Incised Notopterygium Rhizome or Root)
Radix Notopterygii have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating colds, inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, and used as an analgesic for rheumatoid arthritis, back and shoulder pain, etc, because of its anti-inflammatory activity. [10] Also, Radix Notopterygii is also a potential anti-cancer agent, research has found that certain extracts of Radix Notopterygii exhibited strong cytotoxicity against human pancreatic cancer cells. [11]
Lignum Sappan (Sumu/Sappan Wood)
Lignum Sappan was traditionally used to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, and to cause subsidence of swelling and relieve pain. Lignum Sappan has anti-inflammatory activity[12]. Study revealed that multiple compounds extracted from Lignum Sappan contributed to the anti-inflammatory effect of Lignum Sappan and through multiple mechanisms.
Fructus Chaenomelis (Mugua/Common Flowering Quince Fruit)
Fructus Chaenomelis is traditionally used to lessen contracture, regulate stomach function and dispel damp. It is often used for patients with arthritis with ankyloses, aching and heaviness sensation of the loins and knees, systremma due to vomiting and diarrhea; edema and weakness of the legs.
[1] Garg SC. Essential oils as therapeutics. Natural product radiance. 2005; 4(1):18-26.
[2] Jin SN, Wen JF, Wang TT, Kang DG, Lee HS, Cho KW. Vasodilatory effects of ethanol extract of Radix Paeoniae Rubra and its mechanism of action in the rat aorta. Journal of ethnopharmacology. 2012; 142(1):188-93.
[3] Li X, Wu X, Huang L. Correlation between antioxidant activities and phenolic contents of radix Angelicae sinensis (Danggui). Molecules. 2009; 14(12):5349-61.
[4] Pharmacopoeia Committee of Ministry of Health. Pharmacopoeia of People’s Republic of China. Beijing: Chemical Industry Press; 2010. p. 176.
[5] Li X, Wang Y, Zhu J, Xiao Q. Essential oil composition analysis of three cultivars seeds of Resina ferulae from Xinjiang, China. pharmacognosy magazine. 2011;7:116-20
[6] Bloise E, Braca A, De Tommasi N, Belisario MA: Pro-apoptotic and cytostatic activity of naturally occurring cardenolides. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2009;64:793-802.
[7] Lu Z, J, Zhou Y, Song Q, Qin Z, Zhang H, Zhou Y, J, Gou L, T, Yang J, L, Luo F, Periplocin Inhibits Growth of Lung Cancer in vitro and in vivo by Blocking AKT/ERK Signaling Pathways. Cellular Physiology And Biochemistry 2010;26:609-618
[8] Wong, R. W. K., Rabie, A. B. M. and Hägg, E. U. O. The effect of crude extract from Radix Dipsaci on bone in mice. Phytotherapy Research. 2007; 21: 596–598.
[9] Gao T, Bi H, Ma S, Lu J. The antitumor and immunostimulating activities of water soluble polysaccharides from Radix Aconiti, Radix Aconiti Lateralis and Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii. Natural Product Communications. 2010; 5(3) 447-455
[10] Wang, H. M., Liu, J. N., & Zhao, Y. Progress on integrated Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Chinese journal of integrative medicine. 2010; 16: 378-384.
[11]Li, Feng, et al. Anti-austerity agents from rhizoma et radix notopterygii (Qianghuo). Planta medica. 2012; 78.08: 796-799.
[12] Washiyama, Makiko, et al. Anti-inflammatory constituents of Sappan Lignum. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 2009;32.5: 941-944.