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  • Chiropractic Helps Patients with Cervical Disc Herniations

    Chiropractic Helps Patients with Cervical Disc Herniations

    The 2025 first-quarter issue of the Asian Pacific Chiropractic Journal published the results of a case series documenting the care of two patients who were helped by chiropractic who were suffering with severe pain as the result of having cervical disc herniations.

    On their website, the Cleveland Clinic describes disc herniations as, “A herniated (slipped or bulging) disk occurs when the soft, jelly-like center of a disk in your spine pushes against and leaks out of its outer ring. This can lead to pain, numbness and weakness in your neck, back or legs.” They go on to further explain, “A herniated disk occurs when one of the disks in your spine (backbone) tears or leaks due to natural wear and tear or injury. This puts pressure on your spinal cord and irritates your spinal nerves, leading to pain, numbness and weakness.”

    In this study, both these patients had confirmed cervical disc herniations. Both of the patients were suffering with severe pain that was interfering with their daily ability to function. Both had been told by their medical physicians that they should have spinal surgery. Specific chiropractic care was rendered to subluxations of each of these patients’ necks to see if there was a change in their symptoms.

    The first patient was a 57-year-old woman who had disc herniations in her neck that had been confirmed by MRI. The woman was suffering with severe pain radiating from her neck into her shoulder and elbow, as well as weakness in her right hand. She experienced severe pain when she moved or when she was sitting in one place for more than 5 minutes.

    The second patient was a 49-year-old man who was suffering with left sided body numbness and severe pain in the left shoulder that severely limited his ability to move his left arm. Additionally, he had pain and limited movement in the neck and was suffering with dizziness. His grip strength was weak in his left hand compared to the right, and he stated that his left arm felt heavy and numb. The man also had pain in the left pelvis area that radiating down his left leg along with leg numbness. These problems caused him to walk with an unsteady gait and a limp.

    Both of these patients received specific forms of chiropractic care focused on removal of vertebral subluxation found in their necks. Both patients responded well to care and with a reduction and elimination of their symptoms.

    The authors of this study summed up the results these two patients experienced and how it had a positive effect on their daily lives by stating, “Both patients are now off their medications and feeling much better, with no plans now to consider spinal surgery. Five visits and 5 weeks later both patients were back to full time work with a few cautionary restrictions. They are treated once or twice a month and have active lives again today, where interaction with their family and hobbies resumed to the full.”

  • Chiropractic Care Helps Women Pregnant with Twins: a Case Series

    Chiropractic Care Helps Women Pregnant with Twins: a Case Series

    The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published the results of a study on February 19, 2025, documenting chiropractic care helping women who were pregnant with twins and suffering from a variety of pain issues. The study reports on three woman who were each pregnant with twins and suffering from pelvic pain.

    The study begins by pointing out there is an increased prevalence of health issues associated with pregnancies of twins. They report, “Common complications in twin pregnancies include preterm labor and birth, preeclampsia and eclampsia, anemia, birth defects, miscarriage, twin-to-twin transfusion, abnormal amounts of amniotic fluids, increase risk for a Caesarean delivery and postpartum hemorrhage to list a few.”

    The first case involved a 33-year-old woman who was 28 weeks pregnant with twins. The woman was suffering with daily bilateral hip pain and back pain that was made worse by sitting and walking. She stated it affected her daily life and made it difficult to care for her 2-year-old. She also reported that her obstetrician informed her that both her unborn babies were in a breech position.

    Specific forms of chiropractic care were started on her to address the subluxations that were determined to be present. As a result of her chiropractic care, the woman’s back pain was minimized and her obstetrician confirmed that both her babies had turned to a normal head-down position.

    The second case was of a 32-year-old woman who was 24-weeks pregnant with twins. This woman reported that she was suffering with bilateral hip pain and back pain located at her lower lumbar spine. She noted that walking and bending over made her back pain worse.

    Chiropractic care was started to address the subluxations in her spine. Because of her chiropractic care, the woman reported that her pain was greatly reduced, and she was able to function normally in her employment as an intensive care unit nurse.

    The third case involved a 30-year-old woman who was pregnant with twins and who was suffering with daily back pain, anterior pelvic pain and bilateral hip pain. A chiropractic examination determined that subluxations were present. Specific forms of chiropractic care appropriate for a pregnant woman were started. Over the course of seven chiropractic visits, the woman’s back and hip pain were completely resolved.

    The authors of this study pointed out that these results were not unusual. In a review of other scientific literature, they were able to identify multiple studies of chiropractic helping pregnant women. The authors commented that chiropractic care was a common form of non-medical care for pregnant women. They stated, “It is well documented that women of childbearing age commonly use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). In a survey of 10,002 women of childbearing age, representing 67.2 million women in the United States, it was estimated that 38 percent of all United States women of childbearing age (about 25 million women) were CAM users, regardless of pregnancy status.”

  • Study Shows School Aged Children Benefit from Chiropractic Care

    Study Shows School Aged Children Benefit from Chiropractic Care

    The Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies published the results of a study on February 19, 2025, showing that school aged children with a wide variety of health issues benefit from chiropractic care. The study data was tabulated and written by multiple authors in the United States, New Zealand, and the Netherlands.

    The authors of the study begin by noting “Chiropractic care is utilized in school aged children for a variety of health complaints, including headaches, postural issues, nocturnal enuresis, neurodevelopmental disorders, and back pain.” The study points out that there is an alarming increase in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD’s) among children. NDD conditions include problems such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD), dyslexia, attention-deficit hyperactivity order (ADHD), and other neurological conditions.

    The study reports that children are typically brought to the chiropractor for care with musculoskeletal disorders such as back pain, neck pain or headaches. However, there is a growing group of children who receive chiropractic for NDD issues. They state, “Chiropractic care for children has been used in the clinical setting to help co-manage individuals with NDD’s, particularly autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, and other behavioral disorders.” They continue, “Previous research on chiropractic care in the pediatric population has also shown improvements in quality of life and a high satisfaction of care.”

    In this study, the health records of children between the ages of 5 and 18 who had received chiropractic care in a public-school setting in the United States were reviewed. Children were offered chiropractic care if they were identified by their teachers as having an NDD, or if requested by the child’s parents or caregivers due to musculoskeletal problems or other health complaints.

    The records of the children included in this study were reviewed to determine the results of the care. The children were only included if they had received 12 weeks of continuous chiropractic care within the schools participating in this study. This study was ethically approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Life University, Marietta, Georgia, USA.

    Results of the chiropractic care were evaluated by standardized scientific questionnaires, and by tests to determine neurological function. The questionnaires included information about the child’s quality of life, mental health, school performance, and relationships with other children.

    The results of this study show positive changes for the children in the various areas that the study examined. The authors described the results by saying, “This retrospective case series in 180 children revealed statistically significant improvements following 12 weeks of chiropractic care in several areas.” They elaborated by stating, “Statistically significant improvements were noted in the ‘health and activities’ sub-section and overall score of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ and in the hyperactivity domain of the Strengths and Difficulties questionnaire.” The authors concluded, “These positive changes highlight the potential benefits of chiropractic care in addressing certain aspects of well-being and behavior of school-age children.”

  • Dairy Cows Helped by Chiropractic

    Dairy Cows Helped by Chiropractic

    The science behind chiropractic is concerned with the proper function of the nervous system. When there is interference to the nervous system from spinal subluxations, there is a resulting malfunction somewhere in the body. This concept has been shown to be true in the tens of millions of satisfied patients who have visited chiropractors over the years.

    Although the anatomies are different, this same principle can also be applied to animals with a spinal column. To date, horses and dogs have been the most common non-human recipients of chiropractic care. A new study now adds a new animal to that group, but this one may have a larger impact on humans, our food chain, and the economy.

    On November 24, 2024, the journal Veterinary Science published the results of a study that shows that chiropractic care helped dairy cows with lameness. This study suggests that chiropractic for dairy cows could result in a large financial benefit for the dairy industry. The research was performed at the Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, in Germany.

    The authors of this study begin by explaining, “Lameness, also attributed to musculoskeletal disorders of the back, is a major issue in dairy cow farming, affecting both animal welfare and economics. Chiropractic techniques are well studied in humans and horses for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.”

    This study reviewed five individual cases of dairy cows that were having a variety of problems due to lameness. Each of the dairy cows had issues from lameness causing activities and behaviors that resulted in a decrease of their productivity as a dairy cow.

    In each of these cases chiropractic adjustments appropriate to the specific anatomy of cows were applied to areas that were determined to be subluxated. The cases were each documented for changes resulting from the chiropractic care.

    The results showed that all of the cows in this study benefited from chiropractic care and eliminated their symptoms and activities. This allowed the cows to act normally and become productive dairy producers again.

    In their conclusion, the authors wrote, “Chiropractic treatment can relieve pain without the waiting period required by many medications. It can promote healing and improve performance parameters and cow comfort. This is desirable from an economic and animal welfare perspective.”

  • Severe Constipation Resolved with Chiropractic

    Severe Constipation Resolved with Chiropractic

    The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health Chiropractic published the results of a case study on February 3, 2025, documenting the resolution of a case of severe constipation in an infant after receiving chiropractic care. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, “Constipation has been defined as a delay or difficulty in defecation, present for two or more weeks, sufficient to cause significant distress to the patient.”

    The author of this study begins by noting “Constipation can compromise the quality of life for a child and can also put stress on the parents.” The author then continues by emphasizing the seriousness of this problem by saying, “The risk factors for children in cases of constipation include psychosocial stress, poor diet, obesity and poor treatment of the child. Many of these children will continue to deal with constipation even into adulthood. Common treatments include laxatives, dietary changes, impaction procedures, enemas, and behavioral modification.”

    In this case, a 2-month-old infant was brough to the chiropractor by his parents. The infant boy had been suffering with constipation since his birth. The infant boy was unable to unable to have a bowel movement without using an enema or other assistive devices. The infant’s mother was using these interventions to elicit a bowel movement every six days since her son was born.

    The infant was born via forceps delivery in a hospital after a long labor. The delivery resulted in bruising on his face and skull. The boy had to remain in the hospital for 10 days in the NICU due to difficulty breathing. The boy’s pediatrician had recommended a barium enema with a lower GI series, but his parents wanted to try more natural approaches before submitting their child to medical procedures.

    A chiropractic examination of the boy revealed a restricted motion of the infant’s neck. His parents confirmed that the restriction was present since birth. The results of the examination confirmed the presence of spinal subluxations in the infant’s spine. With the finding of subluxations, specific forms of chiropractic care were started. The infant was initially seen twice per week.

    The study reports that between week 1 to week 4 of his chiropractic care care, the infant began having three unassisted bowel movements per week. By the sixth week, the infant was having five bowel movements each week. Shortly thereafter, the study reports that the infant boy was experiencing a bowel movement each day.

    The researcher summed up this case by stating, “Chiropractic care over the course of 10 weeks was performed for this patient and they had positive outcomes. The patient increased his bowel frequency to daily and his cervical range of motion was restored.” She continued by explaining, “The principle aim of this study was the correction of vertebral subluxation to improve the quality of life of this infant. The subluxations determined on this patient were associated with severe constipation and moderate restriction of range of motion in the cervical spine.”

  • Sciatica Patients Under Chiropractic Less Likely to have Opioid-Related Adverse Events

    Sciatica Patients Under Chiropractic Less Likely to have Opioid-Related Adverse Events

    A large study published on January 28, 2025, in the PLOS ONE journal, showed that patients who were suffering with sciatica and selected chiropractic care were less likely to suffer Opioid-Related Adverse Events (ORADEs) as compared to those who did not receive chiropractic. The study was conducted by researchers at the University Hospitals Connor Whole Health in Cleveland, Ohio.

    An article on this study was released in the publication, Medical Press, on January 29, 2025, and gave an overview of the study by saying “A new study led by researchers at University Hospitals Connor Whole Health found that adults with newly diagnosed sciatica who initially received chiropractic spinal manipulation (CSM) were significantly less likely to experience opioid-related adverse drug events (ORADEs) such as overdose and poisoning over a one-year follow-up compared to those receiving usual medical care.”

    The researchers in this study reviewed 216 million patient records between 2009 and 2024 in order to create two groups for the study. All patients in this study were suffering with sciatic pain and were over the age of 18 years. Patients were excluded from being included in this study if they had previously had spinal surgery, a history of prior anesthesia, any serious type of pathology, or were at a higher risk of addiction or reactions from opioid drugs.

    After ruling out millions of cases from being included in this study, the remaining cases were divided into two matching groups of 372,471 patients in each. One group received standard medical care while the other group received chiropractic care, referred to by the researchers as “chiropractic spinal manipulation (CSM).”

    The results of the study showed that the group that received chiropractic care was three times less likely to have opioid-related adverse drug events (ORADEs) as compared to the group that had standard medical care.

    In commenting on this study, Dr. Françoise Adan, Chief Whole Health and Well-being Officer and Director of UH Connor Whole Health stated, “In light of the ongoing opioid crisis, these findings underscore the importance of offering evidence-based non-pharmacological alternatives for pain management.”

    Lead author Robert Trager, DC, also commented in the Medical Press article when he added, “Although previous studies demonstrated a reduced likelihood of opioid prescription among patients receiving chiropractic care, our study is the first to focus on opioid-related adverse events, adding a layer of clinical relevance to our work.”

  • Chiropractic Usage Increases in the Veterans Health Administration

    Chiropractic Usage Increases in the Veterans Health Administration

    Plos One published a research article on January 13, 2025, showing that the demand for chiropractic services continues to increase by veterans according to the Veterans Health Administration (VA). The research was also published that same day on the National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information website. The study predicts that the demand for chiropractic services will continue to increase for the next five years.

    The study begins by reporting that “The Veterans Health Administration (VA) introduced chiropractic services in stages starting in Fiscal Year (FY) 2001, and since then has steadily expanded its chiropractic care delivery.” They also report that the expansion was driven by Congressional mandates and by public demand. Another driving factor is that musculoskeletal pain and injuries is prevalent among military personnel.

    Chiropractic care for veterans is delivered in two ways. The primary way is through chiropractors being present at VA facilities and delivering the care on-site. In areas where that is not feasible, chiropractic care is also delivered by chiropractors at private facilities who are part of the VA chiropractic delivery system.

    The study showed that in the fiscal year of 2017, 1.4% of VA patients received chiropractic care. By 2022, that rate had more than doubled to 3.5% of VA patients. Of the total population of people in the VA program, the Department of Defense estimated that 13% of their total population utilized chiropractic. They also note that this percentage is higher than the general population which utilizes chiropractic at a rate of 11% of the general population.

    The study predicts that by the year 2027, the usage rate of chiropractic services will double. They predict that that increase will require additional resources within the VA system to handle the increased demand for services.

    For services rendered for VA eligible recipients outside a VA hospital or facility, it is estimated that 411,061 veterans will be using chiropractic by the year 2027. This increase will result in an increase in expenditures to $553.4 million by in the next two years.

    In their conclusion, the researchers note that the increase in chiropractic services being rendered to veterans is in line with the overall expected demand for chiropractic services in general. They state, “This trend aligns with the broader healthcare trends towards evidence-based non-pharmacological pain management strategies and highlights the VA’s role in addressing veterans’ musculoskeletal healthcare needs.”

  • Chiropractic Helped Low Back Pain and Increased Lung Function

    Chiropractic Helped Low Back Pain and Increased Lung Function

    The first-quarter issue of the Asian Pacific Chiropractic Journal published on January 1, 2025, documented the improvement of both chronic lower back pain and lung function in a patient undergoing chiropractic care.

    This study begins by noting just how prevalent lower back pain is. “Chronic lower back pain (CLBP) is a pervasive condition that affects a significant portion of the global population, with studies estimating that up to 80% of adults experience lower back pain at some point in their lives.”

    The authors of this study also point out that there is a direct correlation between lower back pain and poor posture. Poor posture can be both the result of long-term back pain, as well as a contributing factor causing back pain. They also note that abnormal spinal postures “can significantly impact the mechanics of breathing.”

    In this case, a 37-year-old man whose primary occupation involved working at a desk, went to the chiropractor to see if he could get help for his chronic lower back problem. The man stated that he had been suffering with lower back pain for the previous five years. He described the pain as dull and intermittent and would get significantly worse if he sat for prolonged periods of time.

    A chiropractic examination was performed which showed spinal misalignments and postural irregularities. The postural issues prompted testing the patient’s lung functions using spirometry. Spirometry is a pulmonary function test that measures lung function by assessing the amount and speed of air that can be inhaled and exhaled. The results of the spirometry test show deficiencies in the man’s lung functions.

    Specific forms of chiropractic care were started, and the man was seen twice weekly for 12 weeks. At that point, a re-evaluation was performed to check on the man’s progress. At that time, he reported that he had not had any back pain for three weeks and was no longer having the pain he had for the previous five years. The evaluation also showed that his posture had significantly improved compared to when he first started chiropractic care.

    A follow-up spirometry test was also performed. The results of his second spirometry showed considerable improvements in all parameters, indicating his breathing and lungs had returned to completely functioning normally.

    In the discussion section of this case report, the authors stated, “The findings of this case study are consistent with existing literature that elucidates the positive effects of chiropractic care on both structural alignment and respiratory function.”

  • Study Shows Chiropractic Has Positive Effect on Brain Function

    Study Shows Chiropractic Has Positive Effect on Brain Function

    The Journal Brain Science published a study on November 7, 2024, that documented the positive changes in brain function due to chiropractic care. The changes were measured by scientific technology measuring various aspects of brain function before and after chiropractic care.

    The researchers involved in this study, who were primarily from New Zealand, were looking for possible mechanisms to explain how chiropractic care could have such a wide positive effect on people’s health. They explained, “…the results from this study, exploring the impact of chiropractic care on subjective, behavioural, and brain network functional connectivity, help to explain the mechanisms of the wide-ranging clinical improvements observed following chiropractic care.”

    This study was conducted on 76 individuals who were all suffering from chronic lower back pain. The participants were randomly placed into two groups with 38 people in each group. One group was the control group while the other group received regular chiropractic care for four weeks. All participants were tested at the beginning of the study before any care was rendered. All the participants, including the group that did not receive chiropractic care, were tested again after their initial visit. Everyone was then again tested four weeks later.

    To determine if there were changes in brain function, the tests that were performed included resting electroencephalography (EEG), somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), clinical health assessments using continual reading on a Fitbit, and Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29). The results of these tests were reviewed for functional changes as well as for which parts of the brain were being affected by chiropractic care.

    The results of this study documented that the participants who received chiropractic care showed improvements in all areas of brain functions that were tested. These improvements have positive effects on life situations such as sleep, anxiety, depression, fatigue, memory and pain.

    Chiropractic care achieves the results in this study through the correction of vertebral subluxations. “Chiropractic care is based on the premise that correcting vertebral subluxations improves central neural function, improving human performance and clinical outcomes,” states the study authors. They also explain, “Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to influence various aspects of neurophysiology, including somatosensory processing, sensorimotor integration, and motor control all crucial for executing motor tasks accurately and recovering from central nervous system injuries.”

  • Chiropractic Helps Athletic Performance

    Chiropractic Helps Athletic Performance

    The online publication ResearchGate published a research excerpt of a book in November 2024, reviewing research showing chiropractic helping athletic performance. The research article is inside a book with the title “Complementary Medicine from Ancient times to the Present.” The research chapter dealing with chiropractic is titled, “The Role of Chiropractic Applications in Enhancing Athletic Performance.”

    The authors begin by explaining that multiple factors influence athletic performance. “The enhancement of athlete performance necessitates the incorporation of a multifaceted approach, encompassing physical, nutritional, training and psychological strategies.” They continue by explaining the role chiropractic plays in athletic performance, “The impact of chiropractic interventions on athletic performance has been explored through a range of avenues. Spinal manipulations have been demonstrated to enhance pain management by facilitating increased joint mobility and reducing pressure on nerve roots.”

    In this chapter of the book, the authors discuss the findings from the scientific research they have reviewed. They note that there is a volume of evidence showing that chiropractic care is beneficial for athletic performance not only in the area of injury prevention and recovery, but also in improvement in overall performance, function, and well-being.

    The authors describe how chiropractic helps performance by explaining, “Chiropractic treatment aims to promote optimal function of the nervous system through manual intervention to correct misalignments (subluxations) and joint dysfunction in the spine. Underlying this approach is the belief that the health of the nervous system has a critical impact on overall well-being and function.”

    Based on their findings, the authors make the recommendation that chiropractic should be included for athletic enhancement and performance. “Chiropractic is one of the most important strategies for optimizing athletic performance. This treatment method aims to improve the overall performance of athletes by improving spinal alignment and nervous system function.”

    In the conclusion the authors wrote, “The effects of chiropractic on improving athletic performance have been clearly demonstrated in an extensive literature review. Chiropractic is considered to be an effective method of optimizing athletic performance and accelerating the healing process following injury.”

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