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Improvement in Motor Function, Postural Stability, Joint Position and Reaction Time with Chiropractic

A study published on April 10, 2017, in the scientific journal, the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research, documented the case of a 74-year-old man who showed improvements in function, reaction time, postural stability, and joint position awareness due to chiropractic care.

The study begins by pointing out that the processing of sensory input from one’s environment involves combining information from multiple sensory sources into the brain. Sensory processing is most efficient when both central and peripheral sensory organs are functioning properly. Since the nervous system controls all sensory organs, it is imperative that the nervous system be functioning at peak levels for the sensory input to be correct, and the body to formulate a proper response to the input.

The authors note that, as a person gets older, there is a decrease in the ability to properly process sensorimotor information. The result could include a reduction in postural stability, joint position sense, vibration perception and touch thresholds as well as a decrease in simple and complex reaction times.

To test if chiropractic could have a positive effect on the decrease in processing of sensory input, a chiropractic research trial was created. In this case, a 74-year-old man with no immediate symptoms was included in the clinical trial. His joint position sense, reaction time and postural stability were all measured prior to chiropractic care, and recorded as a base-line to be compared against during and after chiropractic.

The man’s joint position sense was measured using a computerized Macroderma Proprioception test platform (MTP-2). In this test, the patient is instructed to move their ankle to a specific position, then move it around and return it to the original position. It is then measured and averaged over 20 repetitions. This showed that his pre-chiropractic MTP-2 result was 2.26 degrees.

Reaction time was measured using a Macroderma Reaction Platform MP-3 device which measured how quickly a patient could move their feet into a position in response to a light. After 20 repetitions, the man’s average for this test was 1151ms.

The man’s postural stability was measured using a computerized balance platform (CAPS). This tested his ability to keep postural position with his eyes closed. Initially, he was unable to keep his balance with his eyes closed during the this test.

A series of specific chiropractic adjustments were then performed on the man on a regular schedule based upon the findings of a chiropractic examination. At the 4 week and 12 week period, the man was re-tested for his joint position sense, reaction time, and postural stability.

The man’s joint positioning improved from 2.26° to 1.34° after just 4 weeks, and to 1.58° after 12 weeks of chiropractic care. This represented a 30% improvement when compared to his initial evaluation. Likewise, his reaction times improved by 15%, going from 1151ms initially to 1007ms after 4 weeks, and to 984ms after 12 weeks of chiropractic. His postural stability went from not being able to perform the test prior to chiropractic, to where the man was able to keep his balance with his eyes closed during the testing.

In summing up the positive results of this case, the authors stated in their conclusion, This case report documents significant improvements in sensorimotor function in an asymptomatic 74-year-old male receiving chiropractic care. This suggests that chiropractors may have a role to play in caring for older people even if they are asymptomatic.

May 11, 2017
Resolution of Breech Presentation and Successful Vaginal Birth After Cesarean with Chiropractic

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published a case study on April 13, 2017, describing the successful chiropractic resolution of a frank breech presentation in a pregnant woman. The woman had previously had a cesarean birth, but was able to deliver this baby vaginally.

According to the study, the incidence of breech presentation occurs in 3%-4% of all labors and in 7% of all pregnancies at 32 weeks. The most common breech presentation is what is known as a frank breech presentation and occurs in 64% of all breech pregnancies. A frank breech presentation is when the fetus’s head is up, the legs are flexed at the hip with both knees extended, and the buttocks is down toward the birth canal.

Medically, very few breech presentations spontaneously turn after 34 weeks, thus leading to a caesarean delivery rate of between 80% to 100% of these cases. The study noted that, overall, the rate of caesarean births has increased over the years in the United States to where, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 32.2% of all deliveries in the U.S. were delivered by cesarean in 2014.

The medical approach for correction of a breech presentation is external cephalic version (ECV). This involves the baby being pushed or manipulated by pressure through the mother’s abdominal wall in an attempt to move the baby into a head down position. This ECV procedure is only successful 50% of the time in selective cases.

In this case, a 35-year-old woman in her 34th week of pregnancy came to the chiropractor. An ultrasound by her obstetrician confirmed that her pregnancy was a frank breech presentation. This was her third child. The previous 2 pregnancies both went to full term with the first resulting in a cesarean section and the second resulting in a vaginal birth.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included postural analysis, thermography, and palpation. From the examination, chiropractic care was started including the specific application of a procedure known as the Webster technique. The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association defines the Webster technique as …a specific chiropractic analysis and diversified adjustment. The goal of the adjustment is to reduce the effects of subluxation and/or sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction. In so doing, neurobiomechanical function in the sacral/pelvic region is improved. This technique has long been recognized to have a positive result on breech pregnancies with the result being a spontaneous turn into a vertex position.

The woman was adjusted 4 times over the next two weeks. On her fifth visit, the woman reported that the fetus had turned and was now in the normal vertex position. This was confirmed by an ultrasound performed after her fourth chiropractic visit. The woman was able to go on to have a normal vaginal birth with no complications.

In explaining how chiropractic could help this woman with her breech pregnancy, the authors described the process in their discussion section. Chiropractic adjustments, often for the purpose of correcting vertebral subluxation, confer measurable health benefits to people regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms. These health benefits are unique for each individual person and involve many physiological and/or biomechanical changes. The Webster Technique specifically addresses the subluxation complex of the sacrum and the pelvic articulations with the round ligament.

May 11, 2017
Woman Experiences Improved Quality of Life and Decreased Pain with Chiropractic

The Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research published a case study on April 24, 2017, documenting the improvement from chiropractic of a woman suffering from pain in a variety of places who had been diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica.

According to the Mayo Clinic website, Polymyalgia Rheumatica is an inflammatory disorder that causes muscle pain and stiffness, especially in the shoulders. Symptoms of Polymyalgia Rheumatica usually begin quickly and are worse in the morning. Most people who develop Polymyalgia Rheumatica are older than 65.

In this case, a 64-year-old woman sought chiropractic care for multiple pain complaints. Her pain included low back pain, bilateral shoulder pain, right elbow pain, right knee pain, neck pain, numbness of the left hand and left and right thumb pain. The lower back pain started over 40 years ago after a car accident. The woman described the pain as a constant sharp and dull pain, rating it as a 9 out of 10. The pain was worse at the end of the day and would last 2-3 weeks at a time.

Her right knee pain had been off and on for 20 years. She blamed the knee pain on the hip dysfunction she had before she had bilateral hip replacements. The pain, which she rated as a 10 out of 10, was worse in the evenings as well as with certain activities. The woman’s bilateral thumb pain started 15 years ago. She did not recall any particular reason for it starting. Initially, she rated the pain as 10 out of 10, that was made worse by exercising and writing. She had been medically diagnosed with osteoarthritis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica.

The woman did try to lead a healthy lifestyle as her diet consisted of 4-5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, lean meat such as chicken, some white pork, some beef, tofu, turkey, and fish. Additionally, she claimed to drink about 6 to 8 glasses of water per day. She avoided things such as caffeinated beverages, tobacco, alcohol or recreational drugs. She slept about 7 hours per night and rated her sleep as good. She was taking a number of prescriptions for her problems as well as dietary supplements she felt were helpful.

A chiropractic examination was performed. She demonstrated difficulty in walking, with her gait being more of a shuffle. She needed assistance to sit or stand. She also experienced difficulty standing by herself or lying down. Her posture showed multiple abnormalities and her mobility was significantly restricted. X-rays of her spine showed multiple areas of calcification, degeneration, and subluxations.

With the determination of the presence of subluxations, specific chiropractic adjustments were started. After only the second visit to the chiropractor, it was noted that the patient was able to get up and down with less difficulty. By the third visit, the patient reported that she was able to do some cooking on her own without difficulty. As care progressed, she continued to show improvement, and by the sixth visit, she was able to clean her house by herself with little problem. By the ninth visit, the woman stated that she felt more like her old self , and was able to get around by herself without difficulty. By the eleventh chiropractic visit, she reported that she was able to start sewing again. As the woman continued with her chiropractic care, she progressed even further. She reported being able to engage in such activities as water aerobics and work-outs.

In their discussion, the authors noted that the woman was not only receiving chiropractic care. They commented, Over the course of the six months of combined Chiropractic care, functional rehabilitation, and co-management with a Rheumatologist, this patient has gained more mobility, more range of motion, increased degree of ambulation, decreased level of pain, and ability to do her regular activities.

May 11, 2017
Stroke Patient Improves Under Chiropractic – A Case Study

In the April 17, 2017, issue of the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research is a published study documenting the case of a man who had suffered a stroke 18 years earlier being helped by chiropractic.

According to the study authors, Stroke is the leading cause of disability, third leading cause of mortality, and fifth leading cause of death in the United States. They continue, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines stroke as something that occurs to interrupt blood flow causing brain cells to die within minutes due to the lack of available oxygen. It is estimated that approximately 800,000 people suffer a stroke in the United States each year.

There are three types of stroke: ischemic, hemorrhagic and transient ischemic attack (TIA). Ischemic strokes, either transient or permanent, occur when there is some sort of blockage of an artery that brings oxygenated blood to the brain. These types of strokes account for 80% of the cases. The remaining 20% of strokes are hemorrhagic strokes, which is when an artery in the brain ruptures and leaks blood.

Statistics show that 40% of stroke survivors will experience moderate to severe impairments that require some form of specialized care. Of those, 25% will have minor impairments, and only 10% of those that have a stroke will recover almost completely. The statistics show that 14% of those who suffer one stroke will have another one. The mortality rate of those that suffer a stroke is not encouraging. Within 10 years of suffering a stroke, 32% of stroke victims die.

In this case, a 58-year-old man went to the chiropractor seeking relief from left hip pain that he rated as 8 out of 10 in severity. The man had tried therapy and cortisone shots which gave little relief. In his history, he noted that he had suffered a stroke 18 years earlier which left him with some residual paralysis bilaterally with little to no control over his fine motor skills and widespread muscle spasticity. His right hand was contracted in a complete fist which left it unusable. His motor skills were also impaired such that he had trouble putting on his jacket, buttoning it, or zipping it up. The man’s medical doctor told him that these effects were permanent.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included a postural evaluation, range of motion, palpation and spinal x-rays. Based on the finding of the presence of subluxations, chiropractic adjustments were started on a regular basis.

After a short period of time, the patient reported that his back pain had eased considerably. However, in addition to his back pain being helped, it was also noted that after two months of chiropractic, the man was able to turn the pages of a book with his right hand, something he had not been able to do since his stroke. Additionally, after eight months, he reported improvement in his fine motor skills, reduction of muscle spasticity, and overall easier movement. Over time, he was able to take his right hand, which had been locked in a fist, and flatten it out on a table. He also reported that he was able to move well enough to put on his own jacket, snap the buttons, and zip it without help. He also noted that he was able to workout on his home workout equipment, which was something he was unable to do since his stroke.

The man also noted one other interesting effect that he attributed to his chiropractic care. After chiropractic, the man visited his optometrist and was told that for the first time since his stroke, his eyewear prescription did not change. The man found this strange because at each optometrist evaluation visit since his stroke, his eyes had gotten worse.

In the conclusion of this study, the authors wrote, The clinical progress documented in this case suggests that chiropractic care addressing the vertebral subluxation.

May 11, 2017
Medication Errors Cause One Death Every Day and 1.3 million Injuries annually in the US

A News Release by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 17, 2017, states the fact that, “Medication errors cause at least one death every day and injure approximately 1.3 million people annually in the United States of America alone.” Their press release announces an initiative to reduce that number by half within the next five years.

Although the release notes that many countries do not keep good records on drug errors, the WHO estimates that worldwide the cost of medication errors is $4.2 billion, equal to about one percent of the world’s total expenditures on healthcare. According to the WHO release, “The Global Patient Safety Challenge on Medication Safety aims to address the weaknesses in health systems that lead to medication errors and the severe harm that results.”

Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General stated, “Apart from the human cost, medication errors place an enormous and unnecessary strain on health budgets. Preventing errors saves money and saves lives.” Dr. Chan continued, “Most harm arises from systems failures in the way care is organized and coordinated, especially when multiple health providers are involved in a patient’s care. Any one of these, or a combination, can affect the prescribing, dispensing, consumption, and monitoring of medications, which can result in severe harm, disability and even death.”

In the WHO release, Liam Donaldson, WHO’s envoy for Patient Safety, stated, “Over the years, I have spoken to many people who have lost loved ones to medication-related errors and their stories, their quiet dignity and their acceptance of situations that should never have arisen have moved me deeply.” He continued, “It is to the memories of all those who have died due to incidents of unsafe care that this Challenge should be dedicated. There is a need for an organizational culture that routinely implements best practices and that avoids blame when mistakes are made.”

Dr George Curry, president of the International Chiropractor Association commented on this issue by saying, “While every healthcare professional should applaud the effort to reduce medication errors that lead to harm, the discussion should also address ways to reduce the over utilization of medications in the population.” Curry continued, “One sure way to reduce the incidence of medical errors is to look to other forms of care that do not involve medications. Chiropractic has always represented an alternative to the medication approach for many millions of people.”

Dr. Robert Braile, chiropractor and author makes the point, “I guess a half reduction in the number of deaths and injuries would be considered by some as progress. But even if the WHO initiative is successful, that would mean that the WHO has a goal of only one death every other day and 650,000 injuries each year. Why is this level of carnage acceptable from a healthcare delivery systems that touts the mantra, ‘First do no harm?’”

April 13, 2017
Study: Smoking Kills 1 in 10 Worldwide

The headline above comes from a story published on April 6, 2017, by United Press International reporting on an April 5th study published in The Lancet showing that 11% of all deaths world-wide were due to smoking. This translates into 6.4 million deaths due to smoking each year.

The study also showed that half of those deaths occur in only four countries. Those countries are the United States, Russia, China and India. These numbers are in spite of the fact that most all smokers know the risks and health hazards associated with smoking.

In spite of the facts and figures about the health risks, the study showed that almost 1 billion people worldwide are daily smokers. The numbers are much higher for men that woman. The actual percentage of smokers has actually gone down over the past few decades, but due to the rise in population, the number of smokers has increased.

In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 15 of every 100 U.S. adults age 18 and older smoke cigarettes. Worldwide, India has 11.2% of the world’s total smokers. More men than women smoke but the study showed that USA, China and India, which were the leading three countries in total number of female smokers, accounted for 27.3% of the world’s female smokers. The countries with the most male daily smokers in 2015 were China with 254 million, India with 91 million, and Indonesia with 50 million. The countries with the most female smokers were the Unites States with 17 million, followed by China with 14 million, and India with 13.5 million.

“Despite more than half a century of unequivocal evidence of the harmful effects of tobacco on health, today, 1 in every 4 men in the world is a daily smoker,” said study author Dr. Emmanuela Gakidou, in a press release. “Smoking remains the second-largest risk factor for early death and disability, and so to further reduce its impact we must intensify tobacco control to further reduce smoking prevalence and attributable burden.”

A similar study published in JAMA Internal Medicine late last year showed that 28.6% of all cancer deaths in the US in 2015 were attributable to cigarette smoking. In the conclusion of that study, the authors wrote, “The proportion of cancer deaths attributable to cigarette smoking varies substantially across states and is highest in the South, where up to 40% of cancer deaths in men are caused by smoking. Increasing tobacco control funding, implementing innovative new strategies, and strengthening tobacco control policies and programs, federally and in all states and localities, might further increase smoking cessation, decrease initiation, and reduce the future burden of morbidity and mortality associated with smoking-related cancers.”

In an ongoing attempt to reduce the number of smokers worldwide, in 2003 the World Health Organization created the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). The WHO FCTC created guidelines to provide the foundation for countries to implement and manage tobacco control programs. In 2008, the WHO FCTC created the MPOWER measures to help implement the tobacco control measures.

Dr. Douglas Bettcher, Director of the Department of Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases at WHO headquarters in Geneva stated, “The WHO FCTC and its guidelines provide the foundation for countries to implement and manage tobacco control. The MPOWER measures help make this a reality and have changed the landscape of global tobacco control.” Dr. Bettsher continued, “Along with national and local governments and other partner organizations in high-burden countries, we are making positive change happen in some of the toughest tobacco industry strongholds. Together, we have protected nearly 1.8 billion people with at least one new MPOWER measure at the highest level of achievement since 2007.”

April 13, 2017
Pregnant Woman with Surgical Spinal Rods Helped with Chiropractic

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published a unusual study on March 23, 2017, documenting the case of a pregnant woman with lower back pain being helped by chiropractic. What makes this case unusual is that the woman had previous spinal surgery and had Harrington rods inserted into her spine.

According to Wikipedia, the Harrington rod is a stainless steel surgical device that was implanted along the spinal column to treat curvatures of the spine, or scoliosis. Up to one million people had Harrington rods implanted for scoliosis between the early 1960s and the late 1990s.

The study begins by noting that chiropractic care for pregnant women has been a popular occurrence for much of the chiropractic profession’s history. Commonly, women seek chiropractic care to address physical complaints such as pregnancy-related musculoskeletal complaints. However, many pregnant women seek chiropractic for wellness care and to improve the birth experience.

In this case, a 28-year-old woman who was in her 21st week of pregnancy, sought chiropractic care with a chief complaint of shoulder and neck pain, which she attributed to her scoliosis. She had surgery seven years prior for a moderate scoliosis. Harrington rods were inserted into her spine from her second thoracic to her second lumbar vertebrae.

She rated her constant pain as 6 out of 10, with 10 being the worst. She recalled that this episode started when she was lying on her left side and she felt a muscle tightened so tightly that it was pulling on the rods from her scoliosis surgery. Her pain was worse at night and was too painful for her to get a massage. Her left shoulder was restricted and she claimed that she could not lift anything with her left arm. Additionally, she reported that she occasionally suffered with headaches and sinus congestion.

A chiropractic examination was performed, and it was determined that subluxations were present. A series of specific chiropractic adjustments were begun to address the woman’s subluxations. After each adjustment the patient reported a decrease in her pain.

After 13 weeks of chiropractic care, it was reported that the woman’s pain had significantly decreased and was now only a 2 out of 10. Additionally, her posture had improved as had her spinal range of motion. A week later, the patient suffered a fall which caused a minimal increase in her symptoms. Care was continued and she continued to improve in most areas. She delivered a seven pound girl vaginally with minimal assistance.

The complexity of this case, due to the patient’s spinal surgery history, contributed to variations in her symptoms as care was given. Overall, the quality of her life was improved and she was able to deliver a healthy baby. In their conclusion, the study authors summed up this unusual case by stating, “This case report provides supporting evidence on the effectiveness of chiropractic care throughout pregnancy and in particular, pregnant women with surgical rods to address scoliosis.”

April 13, 2017
Study Finds 21 Percent of Patients are Misdiagnosed

A study published in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice on April 4, 2017, found that more than 20 percent of patients are misdiagnosed. The study titled “Extent of Diagnostic Agreement Among Medical Referrals” looked at the diagnosis originally given to patients and compared that to the diagnosis later given upon the patient seeking a second opinion.

The study reviewed the records of 286 patients who were referred by their primary care doctor to the Mayo Clinic’s General Internal Medicine Division in Rochester, Minn., over a two-year period from Jan. 1, 2009 to Dec. 31, 2010.

Overall, the results showed only 12 percent of those seeking a second opinion at the Mayo Clinic had their diagnoses confirmed. However, 21 percent of the patients had their diagnosis completely changed, while 66 percent of those patients received a refined or redefined diagnosis. Overall, the study showed that almost 88 percent of patients seeking a second opinion at the Mayo Clinic receive a new or refined diagnosis.

Previous research cited in the new study showed that errors in diagnosis “…contribute to approximately 10 percent of patient deaths.” Additionally they “…account for 6 to 17 percent of adverse events in hospitals.”

“Effective and efficient treatment depends on the right diagnosis,” said study co-author James Naessens, a health care policy researcher at the Mayo Clinic, in an April 4th press release in Science Daily. “Knowing that more than 1 out of every 5 referral patients may be completely [and] incorrectly diagnosed is troubling — not only because of the safety risks for these patients prior to correct diagnosis, but also because of the patients we assume are not being referred at all.”

In a Washington Post article, Mark L. Graber, a senior fellow at the research institute RTI International and founder of the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine, who was not involved with the study noted, “Diagnosis is extremely hard. There are 10,000 diseases and only 200 to 300 symptoms.” He added, “Doctors are humans, and they make the same cognitive mistakes we all make. If you are given a serious diagnosis, or you’re not responding the way you should [to medication], a second opinion is a very good idea. Fresh eyes catch mistakes.”

Second opinions are still encouraged, but the concern is that they may be limited due to in-network insurance issues preventing patients from seeking second opinions. In response to the problem of diagnosis error, the National Academy of Medicine has called for dedicated federal funding for improved diagnostic processes and error reduction.

It is obvious that there is an increase in cost both in diagnosis and medical treatment if the first diagnosis is not confirmed by the second opinion. However, Naessens sums up the concerns if a second opinion is not sought saying, “Total diagnostic costs for cases resulting in a different final diagnosis were significantly higher than those for confirmed or refined diagnoses, but the alternative could be deadly.”

April 13, 2017
Fibromyalgia Helped Following Chiropractic – A Case Study

On March 13, 2017, the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research published a case study documenting the improvement from chiropractic of a woman who had been suffering with fibromyalgia, widespread pain, fatigue, depression, and headaches.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic, widespread pain syndrome with an unknown medical cause. The word itself is actually a descriptive term that can be broken down into three words. “Fibro” is a Latin word meaning fibrous tissues such as tendons and ligaments. The middle part “my” is short for “myo” which is Latin for muscles. And the word “algia” is Latin meaning pain. The study authors note how common this problem is by stating that, “It is estimated to affect 2-3% of the American population and is the second most common diagnosis made in rheumatology clinics in the United States.”

Fibromyalgia is about ten times more common in women than men, and commonly starts between the ages of 60 to 79 years. Due to many patients with fibromyalgia also suffering from depression, common medical treatment is low-dose antidepressants as well as pain medication.

In this case, a 40-year-old woman went to the chiropractor with an 8-year history of medically diagnosed fibromyalgia. Her symptoms included widespread pain, including neck pain, mid and upper-back pain, and arm and shoulder pain. She was also suffering from headaches, high blood pressure, and depression. The medical care she had been receiving for her condition included three non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) per day, seizure medication, and a series of three cortisone injections.

A chiropractic examination was performed to access the woman’s spine and nervous system. This consisted of postural evaluation, x-rays of the spine, paraspinal surface electromyography (sEMG), paraspinal thermography, range of motion (ROM), and motion and static palpation. Additionally, a 36-question short-form (SF-36) questionnaire was given. This questionnaire is a standard and verifiable measurement of quality of life as stated by the patient. It is often used to gauge the overall improvement of a patient in their abilities to have a normal and function life. The scores that the patient can give themselves in each of the areas range from 0 for the worst possible, to 100 representing the highest level of functioning possible.

The woman received a total of 44 chiropractic visits over a 5 month period after which a re-examination was performed and all tests were compared to the original findings. The study records that all objective findings showed improvement including the patient’s range of motion, the sEMG tests, as well as x-ray findings.

The SF-36 patient questionnaire showed considerable improvement in most all the areas as reported by the woman. Her emotional well-being improved 10 points from 39.6 to 49.6. Her reported energy/fatigue improved 37.5 points from a 16.6 to 54.1. She reported that her general health improved 35.0 points from a 3.0 to 38.0. As for pain, her original rating was a complete 0, which improved 36.7 points. Likewise she rated her physical functioning at 0 before her care which improved to 39.4 after chiropractic. Her limitations due to emotional problems improved 8.3 points from 50.9 to 59.2. The woman reported that her social functioning improved 37.5 points from an original 21.2 to 58.7 after chiropractic.

In their conclusion the authors wrote, “Reduction in radiographic vertebral subluxations and improvements in spinal alignment and posture, ranges of motion, musculoskeletal pain, headaches, and health-related quality of life were achieved using [chiropractic] on a patient diagnosed with fibromyalgia.”

April 13, 2017
Reduction of Labor and Delivery Time Due to Chiropractic Care

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published a case study on April 3, 2017, documenting the case of a woman who experienced a shorter and easier birth due to chiropractic care. This improvement was compared to her first pregnancy and delivery where she did not receive any chiropractic care.

The study begins by noting that chiropractic care has been involved in the care of pregnant women since the early days of the profession over a century ago. The authors note that over 76% of practicing chiropractors report that the care of pregnant women is a part of their practices. This care is rendered for both musculoskeletal issues related to pregnancy as well as care for overall wellness during pregnancy.

In this study, a 28-year-old woman went to the chiropractor for evaluation and possible care. She sought chiropractic for a pain in her tailbone area as well as for wellness care. The woman believed that her pelvis had shifted due to her first pregnancy. She reported that after the delivery of her firstborn, she experienced pain and discomfort at her tailbone any time she sat on a hard surface. The woman reported that her first pregnancy went well, but that her delivery was very long and difficult. This was one of the factors in her desire to receive chiropractic care in anticipation of her second pregnancy.

Her history revealed that between the ages of eight and sixteen, she was a competitive gymnast and was receiving chiropractic intermittently during that time. She also noted that she did not receive any chiropractic care during her first pregnancy. Prior to her first pregnancy, she did not have tailbone pain. She later attributed her long and difficult labor and delivery as being the cause of the tailbone pain.

A chiropractic examination was performed and it was determined that multiple vertebral subluxations were present. Care was started to address the subluxations through a series of adjustments to the areas involved. After a number of adjustments, the woman reported a 50% reduction in the tail bone pain. She then became pregnant for the second time. The chiropractic care was continued to, hopefully, facilitate an easier delivery process.

As with her first birth, the woman decided to have her second child at home. She was supervised by the same Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) that attended her first home birth. According to the midwife, the woman’s first labor and delivery time combined was 32 hours and 25 minutes. After chiropractic care, the midwife reported that the woman’s labor and delivery times for her second child was only two hours and 45 minutes combined.

In their conclusion, the study authors note that chiropractic care during pregnancy is far more valuable than just symptomatic relief of musculoskeletal pains, and should be considered for the overall wellness and process of pregnancy. They stated, “This case report provides supporting evidence that subluxation centered chiropractic care on pregnant patients can have beneficial effects on the birthing process.”

April 13, 2017

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