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  • Chiropractic Care Reduces Opioid Usage in Military Personnel with Low Back Pain

    Chiropractic Care Reduces Opioid Usage in Military Personnel with Low Back Pain

    The Journal of General Internal Medicine published a study on May 20, 2025, with the title “The Impact of Chiropractic Care on Opioid Prescriptions in Veterans Health Administration Patients Receiving Low Back Pain Care.”

    The authors of this study begin by reporting on why the Veterans Administration is interested in non-drug approaches to back pain. “Since the start of its Opioid Safety Initiative (OSI) in October 2013, through its current Pain Management Opioid Safety and Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PMOP), the Veterans Health Administration (VA) has been working to embrace a culture of effective pain treatment while reducing the risks associated with long-term opioid therapy.”

    The study reports that low back pain (LBP) is the most common reason veterans seek healthcare services through the VA. VA medical facilities have been offering chiropractic care since 2004 in certain facilities. However, the study also reports that the only 4.1% of veterans seek chiropractic services while 11-14% of the general population seek chiropractic care. This potentially speaks to restrictions or barriers to receiving chiropractic care in the VA system.

    The authors note that other studies have shown chiropractic care has decreased the needs for other forms of care. They state, “Prior observational studies outside VA have shown that patients receiving chiropractic visits for LBP tend to subsequently use less of other healthcare services such as advanced imaging, therapeutic injections, and pharmacological therapies, including opioids.”

    Researchers reviewed the records of patients from 2015 to 2020, who went to a VA facility for lower back pain. Patients were excluded from the study if they only went to the VA for one visit for LBP, or if they received an opioid prescription within 180 days prior to their study timeframe.

    The patient records were organized into two groups. One group was called the “Chiropractic users” and the other group was referred to as “Chiropractic non-users”. After removing cases that did not fit the study parameters, the researchers reviewed the records of 128,377 veterans that did meet the study criteria. This included 7327 (5.71%) chiropractic care users and 121,050 (94.29%) non-chiropractic patients.

    The researchers then compared these two groups looking to see the rate of new opioid prescriptions for patients in each of the groups. The results showed a statistically significant reduction in opioid prescriptions filled by those LBP under chiropractic care as compared with those that did not receive chiropractic care.

    In the discussion section of the study the authors wrote, “Our results add to the existing literature showing an inverse relationship between receipt of chiropractic care and receipt of opioid prescriptions among patients with LBP in private sector and VA Populations.” They concluded, “The results of this study show that nonpharmacologic chiropractic care can be an important component of opioid sparing strategies for VHA patients with LBP.”

  • Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Helped with Chiropractic

    Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Helped with Chiropractic

    A case report published on February 7, 2025, in the open access science journal Cureus documented chiropractic care helping reduce scoliosis in an adolescent patient. The National Library of Medicine defines this condition as, “Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most common form of pediatric scoliosis occurring in individuals between the ages of 10 to 18. By definition, idiopathic scoliosis implies that the etiology is unknown or not related to a specific syndromic, congenital, or neuromuscular condition.”

    This study begins by describing how scoliosis is measured and the possible health issues related to severe cases. “This spinal deformity is measured by the Cobb angle. Scoliosis is classified as mild (Cobb angle: 10-24°), moderate (25-39°), or severe (≥40°). Mild-to-moderate scoliosis can lead to cosmetic deformities, back pain, functional limitations, and psychological challenges. Severe scoliosis is associated with cardiac dysfunction and pulmonary complications.”

    One of the ways scoliosis is treated medically is by spinal surgery. The authors of this study point out that surgery can provide cosmetic improvements but may present other issues. “Surgery involves significant recovery time. Surgical procedures carry inherent risks, such as infection, neurological injury, or complications from implants.”

    In this case, a 14-year-old boy was diagnosed with scoliosis. Upon a referral to a pediatric orthopedist, the curvature was measured to be a Cobb angle of 43 degrees. The pediatric orthopedist told the family that there was “not much that we can do” and recommended bracing. If the curvature continued to get worse, then surgery would be recommended.

    An examination was performed at a non-medical center and included palpation, range of motion and orthopedic tests. The results showed asymmetry of the hips, shoulders, and spinal muscles. Spinal x-rays were taken and digitally measured to determine the amount of scoliosis. At that time, the scoliosis measured 42.4 degrees for the Cobb measurement angel.

    Care was started on the boy in the forms of mechanical rehabilitation, stretching, and specific chiropractic adjustments. After 20 visits of the various forms of care, and again at 13 months after the initial visit, the chiropractor performed a follow-up set of spinal x-rays to measure the progress of the curvature of the boy’s spine. The new x-rays showed that the scoliosis had significantly improved, going from initially 42.4 degrees to being reduced to 28.9° after care and reduced further to 23.8° at the 13-month follow-up.

    In their conclusion the authors wrote, “The results of this case report are consistent with the findings of previous research on the efficacy of scoliosis-specific exercises and chiropractic interventions in the management of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. These studies have demonstrated that nonsurgical approaches can lead to significant improvements in spinal alignment, respiratory function, and physical capacity.”

  • Infant Helped by Chiropractic After Birth Trauma

    Infant Helped by Chiropractic After Birth Trauma

    The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published the results of a case study on May 27, 2025, documenting the improvement through chiropractic care, in a variety of health issues, of a newborn who suffered severe birth trauma. According to the study authors, “Birth trauma has been defined as an event occurring during labor and delivery that results in threatened or actual serious injury or death to the mother and / or infant.” The title of the case study best describes the level of health concerns for this infant. “Positive Health Outcomes Following Chiropractic Care in an Infant with Birth Trauma, Clavicular Fracture, Subluxation, and Breastfeeding Dysfunction.”

    Clavicular fracture is a break in the clavicle. This type of injury is not uncommon during the birth process. The Nationwide Children’s Hospital describes this condition by saying, “Clavicle, also known as collar bone, fractures are the most common injury sustained by newborns during birth. A clavicle fracture is a break in the collar bone and occurs as a result of a difficult delivery or trauma at birth.”

    Typical medical care for a clavicular fracture is a “wait and see” approach, as the medical perspective does not consider this issue to be overly serious. However, when there is enough trauma at birth to cause a clavicular fracture, there are usually other health issues for both the infant and the mother.

    In this case, a 16-day-old infant girl was brought to the chiropractor by her mother. The infant had suffered a right clavicle fracture that was attributed to birth trauma. The history for this case showed that the mother had a very difficult birth with labor lasting 35 hours. During the second phase of pushing, the infant’s clavicle was broken. After the birth, the mother and infant were sent home with no care or recommendations as to the clavicular fracture.

    The mother also reported that her infant daughter had difficulty breastfeeding and could not properly latch to her breast causing significant pain and irritation for the mother. The pain associated with the clavicular fracture and inability to feed properly resulted in the infant girl excessively crying and disturbance to her sleep.

    A chiropractic examination was performed which revealed a reduced range of motion of the infant’s head, along with sensitivity and swelling of the neck muscles. The infant girl would wince and try to swat away the hand when her clavicle was touched by the doctor.

    With the mother’s permission, specific forms of age-appropriate chiropractic care was started on this infant. The infant was initially seen twice per week. The study records that after about 10 visits, the infant girl’s mother reported that her daughter’s neck range of motion had significantly improved. The mother further reported her daughter was no longer experiencing latching problems during breastfeeding. The infant was also more comfortable when left to sleep and was more comfortable in her car seat.

  • Nonspecific Low Back Pain Helped by Chiropractic According to Study

    Nonspecific Low Back Pain Helped by Chiropractic According to Study

    On May 26, 2025, the Annals of Rheumatology and Autoimmunity published the results of a study with the title, “Effect of Chiropractic on Pain and Disability in Patients with Nonspecific Low Back Pain.” The study begins by noting that “Nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) is characterized by low back pain, that is, not associated with any underlying pathology and is accompanied by burning, dull aching, or sharp pain.”

    According to the study authors, the purpose of this study was “…to evaluate the effect of chiropractic on pain and disability in patients with NSLBP.” They report that, worldwide, approximately 1.63 billion people suffer from musculoskeletal disorders like back pain and are the second-leading cause of disability.

    They also note that typical medical care for low back pain (LBP) involves nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, opioids, or surgery. However, the authors express their concerns about treating lower back pain with medications due to the possibility of side effects and drug related problems. They state, “Due to the adverse effects and potential harm to the patient, complementary therapy such as chiropractic is being increasingly used in the management of LBP.”

    In this study, a total of 30 people, 16 males and 14 females with NSLBP, were recruited to participate. All patients were between the ages of 20 and 50. Anyone who was diagnosed with a spinal pathology, or who was undergoing physical therapy for pain relief, or under pain medication were not included in this study.

    For the purposes of this study, chiropractic adjustments were rendered to each of the participants for only 4 days in a row. Before and after the four days of care, each participant completed standardized questionnaires to measure their pain indexes from their LBP. The two types of pain measurement included a “Pain disability index” (PDI) and a “Oswestry disability index” (ODI) which measures pain and how it affects activities of daily life.

    The study reports that all the 30 participants showed a significant reduction in both the PDI and ODI pain index scores in the post chiropractic care assessments compared to the assessments performed before chiropractic care was given. The study also recorded that none of the patients in this study reported any adverse effects during the study period.

    In the report’s discussion section, the authors commented that “The results of the study showed a significant reduction in PDI and ODI scores in the post-test compared to pretest assessments. It indicates that four days of chiropractic was effective in reducing the pain intensity and its related disability in patients with NSLBP.” They concluded, “Chiropractic was safe and effective in reducing the pain and disability in patients with NSLBP.”

  • Lifelong Gastrointestinal Symptoms Resolved Under Chiropractic Care

    Lifelong Gastrointestinal Symptoms Resolved Under Chiropractic Care

    The Asian-Pacific Chiropractic Journal published the results of a case study in their second quarter 2025 issue that documented the resolution through chiropractic care of lifelong gastrointestinal problems.

    In this case, a 9-year-old girl was brought to the chiropractor by her mother. The girl had a history of gastrointestinal problems since birth. The mother reported that her daughter would suffer with uncontrollable loose bowels and would have multiple accidents per day. The girl had also been experiencing bloating since birth that would cause abdominal pain and result in further accidents.

    Because of her condition, the girl’s attendance at school was significantly reduced, she would not participate in any after school activities, and she was socially withdrawn with significant self-esteem issues. Her mother reported that her daughter experienced up to 30 episodes of bowel incontinence per day, leading to low mental health and frequent emotional distress.

    Over the years, the girl’s mother continually sought medical help for her daughter. The girl had received a medical diagnosis of childhood irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and had undergone several years of unsuccessful medical management with laxatives and dietary modifications. Although the girl’s mother was initially uncertain about trying chiropractic care, she was determined to find a solution to her daughter’s suffering.

    A detailed chiropractic examination was performed. The results of the examination led to the recommendation that specific forms of chiropractic care should be started. With the mother’s permission, a regular regime of chiropractic care was started. The study noted that no additional therapies, nutritional guidance, or other interventions were introduced.

    The results of the care were dramatic. The girl’s episodes continually decreased until there was no longer an issue. Her bloating and pain were also resolved. After 12 weeks of chiropractic care, the study reports a total resolution of all the girl’s problems.

    So profound were the results and the impact on the young girl’s life, that the mother made comments that were recorded in the study. “We can now enjoy days out, holidays, and social events. She attends birthday parties, school, and clubs without fear or issues. She is thriving in all aspects of life again. We have hosted friends at home, attended the theatre, and taken her friends along, previously impossible things. After years of struggle, we can finally see a glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel. Her school attendance has improved dramatically, and social events are no longer a source of fear.”

  • Stabbing Back Pain and Leg Pain with Herniated Disc Helped by Chiropractic

    Stabbing Back Pain and Leg Pain with Herniated Disc Helped by Chiropractic

    The second quarter 2025 issue of the Asian-Pacific Chiropractic Journal published the results of a case study documenting the resolution of symptoms under chiropractic care of a patient who suffered a fall resulting in stabbing back pain, leg pain, and side pain.

    This case involved a 36-year-old woman who suffered a fall while hiking. Within 24 hours of her fall, she began having symptoms which continued to get worse for the next 14 months before she decided to visit a chiropractor.

    At the time of her chiropractic visit, the woman reported that she was suffering with severe, constant, bilateral heaviness and squeezing pain in both her legs. She had visible swelling in both lower legs with the right leg being significantly worse. The woman also reported sharp low back pain and right lower leg pain between her knee and ankle. The severity of her symptoms was affecting her ability to stand, walk, exercise, sleep and work as a teacher. She rated her pains as a 7 out of 10.

    Prior to seeking chiropractic care, the woman was seen by a general practitioner and a neurologist who ordered an MRI. The results of the MRI revealed two herniated discs between her fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae, and the fifth lumbar and her sacrum. Physical therapy and a compression sock did not help the woman as her symptoms continued to get worse.

    Upon her very first visit to a chiropractor, a consultation and examination were performed. The examination included a posture analysis, spinal palpation, a spinal range of motion analysis, as well as some orthopedic and neurological testing.

    Specific forms of chiropractic adjustments were started to address the subluxation complexes that were determined to be present. On the second visit, the woman reported that she was able to move more comfortably and had less pressure in her right lower leg. She also reported that her leg swelling had started to decrease.

    On the third chiropractic visit, the woman stated that she was able start recreational cycling again. On the forth visit, she reported that she was able to sleep through the night without difficulty. On her fifth visit, she said that she felt a sense of stability while standing and walking. The woman steadily improved as chiropractic care continued. After eight months of care, the woman reported that all activities of her daily life had returned to normal.

  • Teenage Athlete with Spondylolisthesis Helped by Chiropractic

    Teenage Athlete with Spondylolisthesis Helped by Chiropractic

    The Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic published the results of a case study on March 19, 2025, documenting the improvement in the symptoms related to spondylolisthesis in a young adolescent athlete.

    Spondylolisthesis is a condition where the front body portion of one of the bones in the spine slips forward on the bone below it. This is usually caused when there is a separation in the connecting part of the bone that holds the front and rear portion of the vertebrae together. This part of the vertebrae is known as the pars interarticularis. This separation can be genetic, age related, or caused by trauma.

    In this case, the patient was a 15-year-old girl. She was a competitive softball pitcher who started having progressively worse back pain after pitching back-to-back days in a softball tournament a week prior. The pain was rated as 7 out of 10 with 10 being the worst. The girl reported that her pain was somewhat better with rest and exacerbated with activity, especially movements involving lower back extension and rotation. Her history showed no previous neuromusculoskeletal injuries and no other medical history that would have contributed to her problem.

    A chiropractic examination was conducted and revealed multiple areas of muscle tightness and tenderness along the girl’s lumbar spine. Her range of motion was also restricted due to muscle spasm and pain. There were no additional neurological signs or symptoms.

    Initially, two weeks of conservative care with activity avoidance was tried, with little results. It was then determined that an MRI should be conducted. The results of the MRI showed that the girl did indeed have a bilateral fracture or separation of the pars interarticularis, and therefore was suffering from a spondylolisthesis. With the new information about the girl’s condition, an intensive regime of specific forms of chiropractic care, patient education, and exercises were started and maintained over an initial 8-week period. The patent education involved information on short-term restrictions as well as a plan for reintroduction to sports activities over time.

    After an 8-week evaluation, the study reports that there was improvement in both subjective and objective findings. The patient reported a decrease in pain from the previous 7 out of ten, down to just 1 out of ten. The girl also showed an increase in her range of motion as well as the ability to perform certain spinal movements without having any pain.

    As the girl continued to improve, she was able to begin softball pitching and was again able to gradually participate in competitive softball. Over time, she was able to return to 100% of her competitive level.

  • Chronic Lower Back and Neck Pain Helped by Chiropractic, A Case Study

    Chronic Lower Back and Neck Pain Helped by Chiropractic, A Case Study

    The MDPI journal “Healthcare” published the results of a case study on April 3, 2025, documenting the long-term improvement of chronic lower back pain and chronic intermittent neck pain of a patient under specific forms of chiropractic care. MDPI is a non-profit organization in Basel, Switzerland, that publishes a number of open-source scientific journals.

    This study begins by describing the impact that chronic lower back pain has on society. “CLBP has been the leading cause of disability globally for the past few decades, resulting in decreased quality of life physically and emotionally.” CLBP is first on the list of health conditions that cause disability worldwide. Chronic neck pain is fourth on that list. The study also reports that lower back pain expenses exceed 40 billion dollars each year in the U.S. alone.

    In this case, a 38-year-old man presented himself for chiropractic care because he had been suffering for the past five years with severe lower back pain. On a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being the worst, the man rated his pain as a 7. His pain was interfering with his daily activities and his work and was made worse by long days at work and with prolonged periods of driving. Over the prior five years, the man had sporadically received some chiropractic care but not specific forms of care on a regular basis.

    A detailed history and assessment of his condition showed that the man was significantly disabled from his back pain with a disability score of 54%. Standardized survey forms also showed that his pain was causing a significant decrease in his overall quality of life.

    A chiropractic examination and spinal x-rays showed significant overall postural deviations as well as specific spinal segment misalignments commonly known as subluxations. With the findings of the examination and x-rays, a regular regimen of specific chiropractic care along with specific spinal exercises was started.

    After 36 chiropractic visits over a three-month period, a reassessment was done, and new x-rays were taken. The results showed a significant improvement in his posture and spinal positioning. Testing also showed a drastic reduction in his symptoms and the disability related to those issues. The improvements produced a significant improvement in the man’s quality of life.

    One year after the beginning of the man’s regular chiropractic care, a follow-up examination showed that his improvements were maintained, and he was still enjoying a higher quality of life. The authors commented, “This case documents the successful treatment of a male who suffered from chronic spine pain and significant disability.” The authors went on to explain, “…all the postural improvements corresponded with improvements in pain, disability, and function after only 3 months. The improved posture and symptom reductions were maintained at a long-term follow-up.”

  • Chiropractic Helps Improve Academic Performance in Dyslexic Students

    Chiropractic Helps Improve Academic Performance in Dyslexic Students

    The 2025 second-quarter issue of the Asian Pacific Chiropractic Journal published the results of a case series documenting the chiropractic care of three students diagnosed with dyslexia and struggling with learning disabilities.

    According to this study, “Dyslexia is a neurobiological learning disability, defined by word recognition difficulty and poor spelling abilities despite normal intelligence and adequate education and exposure to written material.” Estimates vary by authority, but it is commonly believed that between 5% and 15% of the world’s population has some form of dyslexia.

    This case series involved three students who were underperforming in school and had been diagnosed with dyslexia. The first student was a 9-year-old girl who had been diagnosed with dyslexia by her pediatrician. The second student was a 7-year-old girl who was diagnosed with dyslexia by her psychiatrist. The third student was a 15-year-old boy with no formal diagnosis of dyslexia but who was struggling with academic performance in school.

    These students were all expressing a variety of symptoms associated with dyslexia including poor long-term and short-term memory, poor concentration, struggling with reading, writing and spelling, as well as difficulty retaining information, and a lack of motivation for learning.

    Each of these students received a comprehensive chiropractic and neurological examination. All three started specific forms of chiropractic care in addition to other forms of brain and neurological therapies.

    The study documents that each of the three students experienced improvements in their various symptoms. These improvements included better concentration, improved reading including reading out loud, better comprehension, more motivation for learning, and a noticeable improvement in memory. One of the student teachers even reported that her student had improved 5 levels of reading within 1 term. Another student became more talkative, more willing to accept challenges, showed improved handwriting, began enjoying homework, and was generally happier.

    All three students involved in this case series saw various improvements with their dyslexia symptoms. They authors explained “Case 1 and 2 student subjects were both diagnosed with specific learning disability with impairment in reading (Dyslexia) under DSM-5 criteria. Case 3 student was not formally diagnosed, but was identified by his school as struggling in academic performance.” They concluded, “A 12-week treatment program yielded significant improvement in reading levels, learning behavior as well as academic grades across all subjects.”

  • Post Spinal Surgery Patient with Neck Pain and Headaches Helped by Chiropractic

    Post Spinal Surgery Patient with Neck Pain and Headaches Helped by Chiropractic

    The Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research published the results of a case study on March 10, 2025, that documented the resolution of neck pain and headaches in a patient who had previously had spinal neck surgery.

    According to the American Society of Spine Surgery, an estimated 132,000 Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) surgeries are performed in the United States each year. Healthline states that between 73 to 83 percent of people who had ACDF surgery for neck pain reported positive results. This means that between 17% and 27% do not report positive results. However, long-term results statistics are harder to find as most of these ACDF surgeries are considered successful if they give short term relief, so long-term improvement rates are probably smaller.

    In this case, a 52-year-old woman, who had previously had ACDF surgery went to a chiropractor seeking help for her pain. At that time, the woman was suffering with constant, dull neck pain with daily headaches. She described her neck pain as severe with a rating of 7 out of 10 with 10 being the worst. She also was suffering with muscle spasms and headaches that were getting progressively worse over the previous four weeks. Her pain was not responding to any of the natural remedies she was using. She did, however, see some temporary relief from lateral stretching of her neck.

    A chiropractic examination and x-rays were performed. The results of these tests showed that vertebral subluxations were present in her spine. A vertebral subluxation is when one or more of the bones of your spine (vertebrae) move out of position and create pressure on, or irritate spinal, or other related nerves. The result of subluxation is an alteration in the transmission of normal nerve impulses that can result in malfunctions within the body or pain.

    A care plan focused on specific chiropractic adjustments for the correction of subluxations that were present. The result of this care was that the patient experienced a reduction in pain intensity and improvement in range of motion in just four weeks of care. The study reported that these benefits continued to be present at a three-month follow-up period with a reduced frequency of her chiropractic adjustments.

    In the conclusion the study author wrote, “This clinical scenario involves a female patient exhibiting persistent and deteriorating neck pain and headaches alongside a medical background that includes a past posterior surgical fusion procedure at the C5-C6 vertebral level. The patient experienced improvement through a combination of chiropractic interventions…”

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