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  • Patient with Parkinson’s Disease Helped by Chiropractic

    Patient with Parkinson's Disease Helped by Chiropractic

    A case study, published on October 2, 2023, in the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research documented a case of a woman suffering with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) being helped with her symptoms through chiropractic care. According to the National Institute of Aging, “Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination.”

    This study begins by reporting that the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation states that “Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects almost one million people in the United States with approximately 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year.”

    In this case, a 58-year-old woman went to the chiropractor for help with symptoms from her Parkinson’s disease. She had been diagnosed with PD one year before seeking chiropractic care. Her symptoms included pain in her shoulder and tremors in her right arm. Her general movements were slow and jerky which is typical in patients with PD. The woman’s intention for seeking chiropractic care was to get relief from the symptoms she was experiencing with the PD.

    A chiropractic examination showed postural anomalies as well as muscle spasms in her right shoulder and along her upper mid-back. The woman exhibited weak muscles upon testing and several orthopedic tests were positive. Spinal x-rays were taken and showed multiple areas of subluxation in the woman’s spine along with a reduction in her neck curvature.

    Based on these findings, chiropractic care was started. After several months of regular care, the woman reported that she noticed decreased tremors of the right hand. Additionally, the pain she was experiencing in her shoulder had decreased enough to allow her to resume longer walks, an activity she enjoyed but was unable to do recently.

    Upon follow-up examination, it was reported that her muscle spasms were reduced, although her overall range of motion had not improved. However, as her chiropractic care continued her range of motion continued to improve as did most all of the symptoms and tremors the woman was suffering from.

    In their conclusion, the authors of this study noted that there are several case studies in addition to this one that show chiropractic helping specific people with the symptoms resulting from Parkinson’s disease. “The case study in addition to previous chiropractic research demonstrates the success of chiropractic care in managing PD symptoms.”

  • Rheumatoid Arthritis Helped by Chiropractic – A Case Study

    Rheumatoid Arthritis Helped by Chiropractic – A Case Study

    A patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis was helped by chiropractic care according to a case study published on October 4, 2023, in the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease, which means that your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake, causing inflammation (painful swelling) in the affected parts of the body. RA mainly attacks the joints, usually many joints at once.”

    The authors of the study begin by noting that RA affects between 0.4-1.3% of the population of the industrialized world and is 2 to 3 times more common in women. They report that the hands and feet are most commonly affected with pain and swelling. The neck is also commonly involved in RA cases. The study points out that the typical medical care for RA is medications. However, they report that the effects of the medications are not only limited, but they come with a wide variety of serious side effects.

    In this case, a 28-year-old woman went to see a chiropractor for joint pain and swelling. The woman reported that she was suffering with the joint pain and swelling for the past three years. She recalled that her problems seemed to start three days after falling off a fence. The pain was frequent and was worse in the mornings. Oddly, her pain only affected one joint at a time, but the pain would migrate between her shoulders, knees, feet, and hands. When her problems flared up, her joints appeared red and swollen, and would be hot to the touch. Not long after her problems began, the woman was diagnosed as having RA and placed on medications.

    In addition to her primary problems of joint pains from her RA, the woman also reported to the chiropractor that she was suffering from a variety of other issues including frequent colds, irritability, trouble sleeping, headaches, dizziness, ear infections, fainting, blurred/double vision, chest pain, digestive problems, heartburn, lower back pain/stiffness, and menstrual problems. It is unclear if these problems were a result of the medications she was taking for the RA.

    A chiropractic examination with x-rays was taken to specifically see if the woman’s spine had subluxations. In addition, her ranges of motions were measured to chart any progress from her chiropractic care. Because it was determined that subluxations were present, specific forms of chiropractic adjustments were regularly administered to address the subluxations.

    After 12 weeks of care, the woman reported that she was no longer taking medications for the migrating joint pains she was experiencing. Additionally, she reported that the symptoms of fatigue, swollen and painful joints, sleep problems, headaches, dizziness, blurred/double vision, chest pain, frequent colds/flu, and digestive problems had all dramatically decreased. Upon re-examination, the woman’s ranges of motions had also improved.

    In the discussion section of the study, the authors explained how chiropractic care could have a positive effect on an autoimmune condition such as Rheumatoid Arthritis. They stated, “The role of the nervous system is to control and coordinate all the functions of the body. Thus it would only make sense to begin the search for the etiology or expression of dis-ease in the body within the nervous system. The autonomic nervous system, with subcategories of parasympathetic and sympathetic immune systems, exhibits an extraordinary amount of regulation over the immune system.”

  • Aggression and Hyperactivity in a Boy with Autism Spectrum Disorder Helped with Chiropractic

    Aggression and Hyperactivity in a Boy with Autism Spectrum Disorder Helped with Chiropractic

    A case study reported in the fourth quarter issue of the Asian-Pacific Chiropractic Journal documented the case of a young boy who was helped by chiropractic with issues of aggression, hyperactivity, and poor social functioning stemming from his Autism Spectrum Disorder, (ASD).

    The National Institute of Mental Health describes this condition by stating “Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is described as a “developmental disorder” because symptoms generally appear in the first 2 years of life.” The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities estimates that 1 in 36 children have ASD.

    In this case, a 4-year-old boy was brought to the chiropractor by his mother. The boy had been previously diagnosed with ASD. The mother reported that her son was exhibiting aggressiveness, suffered from speech delay, had poor eye contact and was hyperactive. She also reported that her son would hit anyone who gets close to him and would also bang his head on the floor whenever he got frustrated or angry.

    An age-appropriate chiropractic examination was performed. The results of the examination confirmed the presence of spinal subluxations. In simplest terms, a subluxation (a.k.a. Vertebral Subluxation) is when one or more of the bones of the spine (vertebrae) move out of position and create pressure on, or irritate spinal nerves. Spinal nerves are the nerves that come out from between each of the bones in the spine. This pressure or irritation on the nerves then causes those nerves to malfunction and interfere with the signals traveling over those nerves.

    Based on the finding of subluxations, specific chiropractic care was started. After the first week of chiropractic care, the mother reported that her son was less aggressive, less hyperactive, and was no longer hitting other children or banging his head on the floor.

    Within the first 6 weeks of chiropractic care, the boy’s mother noted that her son was talking a lot more and had better eye contact. Over time, the boy continued to show improvements in development, speech, and socialization. The boy’s teacher also commented that the boy was doing better in class.

    The study authors noted that a single case of chiropractic helping a boy with ASD should not be generalized to every case of ASD. However, they comment that the growing number of reported and documented cases of chiropractic helping ASD is important. They stated “The Chiropractic evidence surrounding Autism Spectrum Disorder is currently limited to case report data. While this limits our ability to make sweeping claims as to the impact of Chiropractic care on ASD, and the highly complex and political nature of the disorder would likely make unsubstantiated claims problematic, it is of clinical value to note that numerous case reports have shown improvements in ASD-related symptomatology while under chiropractic care.” They also added, “While the mechanisms behind the improvement in the patient’s behavioral characteristics are yet unknown, it is possible that by removing the interference in the nervous system, the brain can communicate better with the rest of the body.”

  • Migraines and Women – Effects, Triggers, and Chiropractic

    Migraines and Women – Effects, Triggers, and Chiropractic

    A study was published on October 25, 2023, in the Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences with the title “The physical impact of migraines on female chiropractic patients: A qualitative study.” The study was conducted in the eThekwini region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

    According to the National Institute of Neurological disorders and Stroke, “Migraine is a type of headache characterized by recurrent attacks of moderate to severe throbbing and pulsating pain on one side of the head.” Migraines are one of the most debilitating types of headaches. The American Migraine Foundation estimates that at least 39 million Americans suffer from migraines which affect women three times more often than men.

    The researchers in this study investigated three “themes” as they called them, concerning women who were experiencing migraine headaches. The first theme reviewed how often the woman had migraines and what seemed to be the “trigger” factors that started their migraines. The second theme dealt with the physical effects of the migraines and how they impacted the woman’s daily life. The third theme examined how chiropractic care affected the women’s migraines and their views on chiropractic care for migraines.

    The first theme in this study showed that most of the women suffered from severe and excruciating pain usually on one side of their head near their temples or behind their eyes. The woman would typically characterize the pain as heavy, throbbing and pounding. One of the women in the study described their migraine by saying “I get a throbbing sensation behind my eyes and behind my forehead. The pain runs from the front of my head all the way through to the back. Majority of the time it’s on one side.” All the woman shared that the migraines left them incapacitated and unable to function in their daily life.

    In looking at the second theme involving triggers, the researchers found that many of the women related their migraine attacks to their hormonal cycles. All the women stated that stress was a major factor in triggering a migraine. Some also noted that weather, bright light, certain foods, or dehydration could trigger a migraine.

    All the woman in this study underwent chiropractic care for their migraines. Their reactions to chiropractic were overall very positive. They reported that chiropractic reduced the frequency and severity of their migraines, as well as their disability and the duration of suffering. One of the women in the study reported, “When it comes to pain, it has reduced significantly after going to a chiropractor… the quality of life is so much better now. It’s one of the only things that helped me.” Another woman commented how chiropractic helped her when drugs could not, “I can take as much medicine as I want to and it just doesn’t help, and as soon as I go to the chiropractor it definitely helps.”

    In their conclusion, the authors summed up their findings by stating, “The majority of the participants experienced moderate to severe chronic migraines and migraines without aura. During their migraine attacks, the participants experienced debilitating effects, felt mentally or physically incapacitated, described that their life came to a standstill, were unable to complete daily activities and had a resultant decreased quality of life. The study highlighted that chiropractic treatment was favourable (sp) among the female population in improving the quality of life and reducing the severity, disability, duration of suffering and frequency of migraines.”

  • Infertility Resolved Under Chiropractic Care – A Documented Case Study

    Infertility Resolved Under Chiropractic Care - A Documented Case Study

    A case study reported in the third quarter issue of the Asian-Pacific Chiropractic Journal documents the case of a woman suffering with infertility who was able to become pregnant with the addition of chiropractic care.

    The researchers in this study begin by explaining “Infertility is broadly described as a condition of the reproductive system in which there is an ‘inability to conceive or an inability to carry a pregnancy to term after one year of unprotected intercourse’.” They note the complexity of this issue that can involve neural, hormonal, biomechanical, and psychological issues.

    With the nervous system being the master controller of the body, it is plausible that all causes of infertility can be affected by nerve system interference from subluxation. Subluxation is when there is some form of interference to the nervous system function, primarily due to spinal misalignments. Chiropractic care focuses on the location and correction of subluxations to allow proper nerve transmission and facilitate the body’s return to normal function and health.

    In this case, a 28-year-old woman sought chiropractic care for her primary concern of infertility. The woman, a salon owner, also reported a history of chronic stress, poor metabolism with weight control, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping, causing her to wake up stiff and tired. She and her husband had undergone fertility testing without any definitive reasons as to why she could not become pregnant.

    A chiropractic examination was performed, and it was determined that subluxations were present. A regular series of specific chiropractic adjustments were started at the frequency of twice per week for 12 weeks. At the 13th week, a re-evaluation was performed to check on the woman’s progress.

    At the re-evaluation, the woman reported improvements in her stamina and energy level, as well as a better overall attitude and improved appetite control. However, the most exciting news was that the woman reported that she was now five-weeks pregnant. The study notes that the woman was thrilled that she responded so quickly to chiropractic care. She later was able to give birth to her first child.

    In their study discussion, the authors explained, “Fertility is a process that requires the proper function of the female reproductive system as well as hormonal regulation, all of which may be impacted by stress and subluxation.” They continued, “Given that the autonomic nervous system governs organ function, and the parasympathetic/sympathetic balance impacts hormones, it is feasible that chiropractic care and the reduction of subluxations may have contributed to an improvement in function that allowed a viable pregnancy to be achieved and maintained.”

  • Chiropractic Care Facilitates Successful In Vitro Fertilization After Multiple Failures

    Chiropractic Care Facilitates Successful In Vitro Fertilization After Multiple Failures

    The Asian-Pacific Chiropractic Journal documented a case study of a woman who was trying to get pregnant and had been through multiple failed IVF (in vitro fertilization) attempts. With the addition of chiropractic care, the woman was able to successfully become pregnant.

    The authors of this study begin by noting that infertility is generally believed to be the result of stress and/or hormonal abnormalities. In many cases, it can be a combination of both factors that leads to infertility. In describing how chiropractic might have a positive effect on this situation, the authors state, “A central tenet of chiropractic care is that the brain is the master controller of the body, and that when we adjust subluxations, we eliminate distortions and allow the body to better express health.”

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define infertility on their website as “In general, infertility is defined as not being able to get pregnant (conceive) after one year (or longer) of unprotected sex.” The CDC further explains how common this issue is by stating “In the United States, about 1 in 5 (19%) married women aged 15 to 49 with no prior births in the United States are unable to get pregnant after 1 year of trying. Also, about 1 in 4 (26%) women in this group have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term.”

    In this case, a 32-year-old woman videographer, who had been under chiropractic care, decided to seek a different form of chiropractic care for her long-term problem of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). The woman additionally reported that she had suffered from General Anxiety Disorder and a feeling of a “brain fog” that she had since childhood. She was also given a medical diagnosis of Hashimoto’s Disease, which is an autoimmune disorder that can affect the thyroid gland and create hormonal issues. The woman reported that she had a history of infertility and had previously attempted in vitro fertilization (IVF) five times without success. She had also suffered one ectopic pregnancy that was unsuccessful.

    Because the woman had been under chiropractic care, her new chiropractor approached her issues using a different analysis and adjusting procedure. A chiropractic examination was performed which included several procedures to help monitor various aspects of her physiology. This was intended to see if the new chiropractic care would have an effect on her hormonal issues that could have an impact on her infertility. Based on her examination findings, an intensified specific 2-week regime of chiropractic care was performed.

    Re-examinations showed that there were changes to the woman’s physiology following the chiropractic care. Additionally, the woman underwent another IVF procedure and was able to conceive shortly after the intensified chiropractic care. Ultimately, the woman’s baby was born without requiring medical intervention and without any complications.

    The researchers described this outcome by saying, “Given the five failed rounds and the ectopic pregnancy, it is plausible that the systemic picture of health, regulation and nervous system function was part of this successful outcome, especially given the patient had made no other meaningful changes to her regime.” They concluded, “It is important for the discipline that subluxation-based chiropractic care be established in the literature as a safe and effective treatment option for function loss in conditions such as infertility.”

  • Symptoms of Long COVID-19 Helped by Chiropractic

    Symptoms of Long COVID-19 Helped by Chiropractic

    A study published in the 2023 third quarter issue of the Asian-Pacific Chiropractic Journal documented the successful results of a case study where chiropractic care helped an elderly woman with symptoms of long COVID-19. It should be noted that chiropractic is not a treatment for COVID. This study speaks to chiropractic as a means of addressing the symptoms associated with Long COVID.

    On their website, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, (CDC) describes Long COVID by explaining, “Some people who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can experience long-term effects from their infection, known as Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions (PCC). Long COVID is broadly defined as signs, symptoms, and conditions that continue or develop after acute COVID-19 infection.”

    Although there is little literature about chiropractic and COVID, the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs does list “Chiropractic Care” as a “Consults to Consider” in their August 1, 2022, booklet “Whole Health System Approach to Long – Patient-Aligned Care Team (PACT) Guide”.

    In this case, a 79-year-old woman sought chiropractic care for her ongoing symptoms related to Long COVID. The woman had a long medical history of health issues and was therefore in a weakened state when afflicted with COVID-19 in December of 2022. Shortly after contracting COVID, the woman was hospitalized with pneumonia. She remained in the hospital for a month before she was finally released. Many of her COVID symptoms remained before going for chiropractic care three months later.

    Her Long COVID symptoms included feeling shaky, dry mouth, labored breathing, itching, and fatigue. The woman also noted that since COVID she was experiencing severe memory impairment to the point where she no longer remembered how to write and had to learn this skill all over again. She reported that her worst problem was a sharp “razor blade” like feeling in the back of her throat.

    After a chiropractic examination was performed, specific forms of chiropractic care were started. The woman reported some changes in how her throat felt after the first adjustment. By her fourth chiropractic visit, the woman reported that many of her symptoms had decreased. She noted that the sensation of razor blades in her throat were gone. As her care continued, most of her symptoms improved or stabilized. The study records that, as a result of chiropractic care, the woman could take a deep breath and her memory was starting to return.

    The report does note that the woman did not see any improvement with her fatigue. The authors noted that one of her medications that she had been taking may be a factor with her fatigue, as fatigue is a direct side-effect of that particular medication.

    At the writing of this case report, the woman had elected to continue chiropractic and was continuing to show improvement in all her non-fatigue related symptoms.

  • Resolution of Post Concussion Syndrome Following Chiropractic Care

    Resolution of Post Concussion Syndrome Following Chiropractic Care

    A case study published on September 12, 2023, in the scientific journal Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research documented the elimination of all post-concussion symptoms in a case after chiropractic care was rendered. Post-concussion syndrome is when symptoms from a concussion last longer than what would normally be expected from a concussion. The study authors note that after a concussion, people can experience a wide variety of symptoms that can be physical, cognitive and/or emotional.

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes concussion by stating, “A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury, or TBI, caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells.” The CDC estimates that approximately 3.8 million people in the United States suffer a concussion each year.

    In this case, a 20-year-old ice hockey player went to the chiropractor two weeks after having suffered a concussion while playing hockey. During a game, he received a severe hit from another player. He was wearing a helmet, but he remembers his head hitting the ice. Although the man did not lose consciousness, he was unable to skate and was assisted to the bench. Two days later, his M.D. diagnosed him with concussion and told the man to just rest. This was the third concussion the man had suffered in the prior five years.

    At the time of his visit to the chiropractor, the man reported that he had been suffering with headaches, nausea, dizziness, sensitivity to light, and double vision. The man additionally reported that he was suffering with problems with his short-term memory, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, and a feeling of constant exhaustion.

    A chiropractic examination was performed which included spinal neck x-rays. Based on the findings, chiropractic care plan for the correction of subluxations was initiated. After only his first adjustment, the man reported a 50% reduction of all his symptoms. The improvement continued as he reported a 70% improvement after just two visits.

    Within one week of chiropractic care, the man reported that he was completely symptom-free. He continued to remain symptom-free throughout the remainder of his chiropractic care. The study authors noted, “This complete reduction of symptoms after one week of care contributes a positive correlation between the care administered and the patient’s recovery from post concussion syndrome.”

    In their conclusion, the study authors summed up this case by stating, “This case study serves to provide the details of chiropractic intervention and its positive outcome on 20-year-old male athlete that presented with symptoms classified as post-concussion syndrome. The patient had suffered a concussion as the result of a forceful head trauma two weeks prior to presenting for care.”

  • Bedwetting Helped by Chiropractic According to Study

    Bedwetting Helped by Chiropractic According to Study

    A study published in the third quarter 2023 issue of the Asian-Pacific Chiropractic Journal documented three cases of children being helped by chiropractic with Nocturnal Enuresis, more commonly known as bedwetting.

    The study explains this condition by saying “Nocturnal Enuresis is when bedwetting continues past an age where the bladder is neurologically and physically developed to be able to hold the urine all night.” By age five, most children are developed enough and should have control of their bladders. The study reports that nighttime bedwetting is not an uncommon occurrence. They note that it occurs in 15% of 7-year-olds, 10% of 10-year-olds, 2% of adolescents, and 1% of adults.

    Medical care for nocturnal enuresis is mainly centered around the other conditions that may be present. Most times, this condition is considered self-limiting.  However, it can persist and can lead to self-esteem and emotional or psychological problems.

    This study consisted of three children who all suffered with nighttime bedwetting. The first, a 7-year-old girl, also suffered from abdominal pain, alternating constipation and diarrhea, and emotional distress. The second child was a 7-year-old boy who suffered with an overactive bladder during the day, and bedwetting at night. The third child, a 10-year-old boy had to be awakened by his parents twice each night to go to the bathroom.

    All three children were given physical examinations and checked for subluxations. All three were found to have subluxations, and chiropractic care was started to address these subluxations. Reassessments were performed to determine the level of progress in the children.

    At the three-week mark, re-examinations were performed. In all three of these children, the parents reported that this child’s bedwetting had significantly decreased. The issues continued to improve as care continued. Additionally, all objective examination findings showed improvement in these children.

    In their conclusion, the authors wrote, “Nocturnal enuresis is a considerable problem for the families involved. There is not only the stigma of bedwetting, but also the associated social, psychological and physiological issues.” They noted that all three children had seen significant reduction of bedwetting as early as the three week point in care.

  • Cholesterol Levels Return to Normal with Chiropractic – A Case Study

    Cholesterol Levels Return to Normal with Chiropractic – A Case Study

    The Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research published the results of a case study on August 24, 2023, documenting the results of a patient having their cholesterol levels return to normal under chiropractic care. The CDC estimates that 2 in 5 adults have high cholesterol. The CDC website describes three types of blood cholesterol.

    Bad Cholesterol, known as LDL (low-density lipoprotein), when at higher levels can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries and can increase the chance of heart disease or stroke.

    Good Cholesterol, known as HDL (high-density lipoprotein), can carry bad cholesterol away from the arteries and thus may lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.

    Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in the human body. They are a type of fat, mainly from a person’s diet, that the body uses for energy.

    In this case, a 63-year-old woman sought chiropractic care for help with a variety of symptoms. According to her history, the woman was suffering with pain in her right hip and leg, headaches, neck pain, arthritis, and pain from her gout. The woman noted that she had been experiencing these problems for many years.

    A chiropractic examination was performed which included observation, palpation, some orthopedic tests, range of spinal motion exam, and spinal x-rays. As a result of this examination, it was determined that multiple vertebral subluxations were present in the woman’s spine. Chiropractic care was started to address the subluxations.

    It was only a few visits into her chiropractic care when the woman had her cholesterol checked and got her first lipid panel assessment. The results of that blood work showed that all her panels were abnormal. Her bad cholesterol and triglycerides were high and good cholesterol was low.

    As chiropractic care progressed, the patient reported improvement in her shoulder pain, headaches, neck pain, and hip pain. Eventually all her physical pains improved with most of her pains eventually resolving.

    On the woman’s second lipid panel, she showed a marked improvement in her levels. Initially, her total serum cholesterol was 287, HDL (good) cholesterol was 33, LDL (bad) cholesterol was 199, and triglycerides were 273. On the second panel, done after 8 weeks of chiropractic care, the woman’s cholesterol improved going from 287 to 147 in overall cholesterol. Additionally, her HDL (good cholesterol) elevated from 33 to 49, and her LDL (bad cholesterol) lowered from 199 to 84. Also, the woman’s triglycerides lowered from 273 to 68.

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