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  • Chiropractic Care Helps Toddler with Numerous Neurological Dysfunctions

    Chiropractic Care Helps Toddler with Numerous Neurological Dysfunctions

    On July 1, 2024, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health Chiropractic published the results of a case that documented a toddler’s improvement, with chiropractic, of a variety of neurological issues and developmental delays.

    The study begins by explaining, “Developmental delay occurs when a child does not achieve developmental milestones in comparison to children of the same age.” Another measure of delayed development is the retention of “primitive reflexes.” These are reflexes that are present before birth and start to disappear in the weeks and months after birth. If these reflexes remain present, it is considered a form of developmental delay.

    In this case, a 3-year-old girl was brought to the chiropractor for help with a variety of developmental issues. Those issues included delayed speech, sleep disturbances with frequent nighttime awakenings, lack of eye contact, vomiting and reflux, and picky eating habits where she would only eat certain foods.

    The history revealed that the child was born to a mother that suffered from gestational diabetes during pregnancy. This led to complications which necessitated a C-section delivery at just over 39 weeks of pregnancy. The baby had difficulties in breastfeeding and later had delays in sitting, crawling and walking.

    The examination showed a decrease in facial tone on the left side along with a noticeable left head tilt. Overall, the girl had low muscle tone and was observed to be walking on her toes. It was also noted that her eye movements were abnormal. The examination also showed that a number of the primitive reflexes were still present well beyond the time when they should have disappeared.

    Specific age-appropriate forms of chiropractic adjustments were started to address the subluxations that were found to be present in the girl’s spine. Additionally, several forms of sensory integration therapies, speech therapy, and auditory stimulation were also a part of the multidisciplinary approach in this case.

    Over time, the girl showed multiple area of improvement due to her care. This included significant speech improvements. Initially, the girl was only able to speak 15-20 words and was not able to create a single sentence. After care, she could maintain and initiate conversations.

    The girl’s emotional regulation and sleep routines improved to where she could sleep for 8-9 hours in a single night. Additionally, her motor coordination improved as did her ability to maintain eye contact. Also, her digestive issues and picky food preferences both improved.

  • Nagging Sacroiliac Pain and Abnormal Posture Helped with Chiropractic

    Nagging Sacroiliac Pain and Abnormal Posture Helped with Chiropractic

    The Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research published the results of a case study on June 17, 2024, documenting the improvement is postural irregularities and nagging sacroiliac pain with chiropractic care. The sacroiliac joints, often called the “SI” joints, are the joints where the two hip bones (ilium) come together with the base bone of the spine (sacrum).

    This study begins by noting that, “Low back pain problems are one of the most prevalent health care challenges in the United States. For working adults, low back pain is the most common ailment causing disability for men and women less than 45 years old.”

    In this case, a 54-year-old man went to the chiropractor to see if he could get help for his chronic low back pain. The man reported that he was having long-standing nagging pain in his right sacroiliac joint that did not run down his leg. The man was a TSA officer and his job required that he stand on his feet all day, which made the problem worse.

    The first part of the man’s chiropractic examination involved a postural analysis. This showed that the man’s head was in a more forward position than is normal. It was also noticed that his spine showed a deviation curvature in the middle back area when viewed from behind. Leg length analysis showed that the legs were not even in length, even though they were both the same anatomical length. Spinal x-rays documented the lower back curvature issues and postural abnormalities.

    Based on the information from the examination, specific forms of chiropractic care were started and continued over a 16-week period. The care was focused on correcting subluxations and making changes to the postural irregularities found during the examination and confirmed on x-rays. The man was seen twice a week for the first four weeks followed by weekly visits for the next eleven weeks.

    The study recorded that after the man’s fifth chiropractic visit, he was no longer having any pain, even when standing for more than four hours. Follow-up x-rays were taken after his 20th visit. These x-rays confirmed that his postural and spinal anomalies had measurably improved.

    In their conclusion, the authors pointed out the effect that posture and subluxation can have on the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). “Abnormal postures and subluxations of the spine can potentially lead to impairment of blood flow and delivery of nutrients through the spinal cord consequently causing neural dysfunction in the CNS and PNS.”

  • Cancer Patient Undergoing Chemotherapy Receives Additional Help Under Chiropractic

    Cancer Patient Undergoing Chemotherapy Receives Additional Help Under Chiropractic

    The Asian-Pacific Chiropractic Journal published the results of a case study in their second quarter 2024 issue documenting chiropractic helping a cancer patient recover from a variety of symptoms while undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer.

    The researchers in this study begin by explaining, “A cancer diagnosis is known to be a life-interrupting diagnosis that may bring a high level of psychological and physical stress. Increasingly, research is highlighting how decreased levels of nervous system adaptability (as indicated by decreased heart rate variability) often accompany cancer.”

    In this case, a 47-year-old woman sought chiropractic care for a number of health concerns. She had been medically diagnosed with stage four bilateral breast cancer with lymphatic involvement two months earlier, for which she was undergoing medical treatment. The woman’s history revealed that 18 years earlier, she had been successfully treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She reported that she was under a lot of stress as she was going through a divorce and was the primary caregiver for her mother who was suffering from dementia.

    At the time of her initial visit to the chiropractor, she reported that she was gaining weight, had TMJ pain, shoulder pain, and was suffering with migraine headaches. She also reported that she felt head pain three days per week with brain fog and memory loss. She stated that she felt anxiety approximately 50% of the time.

    A thorough chiropractic examination was performed which included a self-questionnaire, body composition assessments, spinal x-rays, and additional clinical tests. The conclusion of these tests was that subluxations were present in the woman’s spine.

    Specific forms of chiropractic care were started along with dietary recommendations for detoxification and what researchers referred to as some “at-home strategies.” She also continued her medical treatment for her cancer diagnosis.

    The combination of all of her care had a profound positive impact on her health and life perspective. The study reports that she experienced a reversal of stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Additionally, the study reports that all her pain was gone except for an occasional slight TMJ pain. She also reported much less anxiety and had a much more positive outlook. She reported that her care, “helped her save her life.”

    In their discussion, the authors of the study summed up this case by stating, “The significant impact of this course of care on this patient’s quality of life, as well as her objective findings, cannot be overstated. While this course of care was in conjunction with her usual oncologist-recommended cancer care, the impact subluxation-based care had on adaptability, neurological function, and a reduction in toxicity is potentially significant.”

  • Chronic Insomnia Helped Under Chiropractic Care

    Chronic Insomnia Helped Under Chiropractic Care

    The June 3, 2024, issue of the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research published the results of a case study documenting the resolution of chronic insomnia in a patient who received chiropractic care.

    The National Library of Medicine describes the requirements for chronic insomnia. “The sleep disturbances occur at least three times a week and have been present for the last 3 months.” They note that “Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder in the United States affecting about one-third of the general population.” They continue that insomnia “…is characterized by difficulty in either initiating sleep, maintaining sleep continuity, or poor sleep quality.”

    The author of this study notes that “Sleep disturbances are a common complaint among aging adults. Yet, sleep problems are not necessarily an inherent part of the aging process.” She continues by stressing the importance of good sleep. “The relationship between sleep and health are crucial as adequate amounts of undisturbed sleep is an essential component to a healthy lifestyle. Undisturbed sleep contributes to optimal daytime function and wellbeing in an individual, particularly for older adults.”

    In this case, a 69-year-old man went to a chiropractor even though he did not have any outward symptoms. He had previously been under chiropractic care at another facility for neck pain which had resolved. He stated that he felt much better while under chiropractic and wanted to continue care on a wellness basis.

    During a case history, it was discovered that the man had sleep issues. He reported that each night he would sleep for 2-3 hours, then wake for 2-3 hours, then again sleep for 2-3 hours, then finally waking for the rest of the day.

    A chiropractic examination was performed which included a visual inspection, a posture analysis, both motion and static palpation, leg length symmetry measurements, and an analysis of the x-rays of his neck. The conclusion of the examination was there were subluxations present in multiple areas of the man’s spine. Based on this information, specific forms of chiropractic adjustments were started.

    After five chiropractic visits, the man reported that he was sleeping better, and his sleep had increased by about one hour per night. He also noted that his daily tasks seemed easier to do. After nine chiropractic visits, the man reported continual improvement in the quality of his sleep to where he could now sleep for six uninterrupted hours per night.

    In the study conclusion the author states, “This case demonstrates a situation in which chiropractic care has helped a patient increase sleep quantity and quality. The decrease of symptoms within four months of care suggests a relationship between insomnia and vertebral subluxations.”

  • Less Tramadol Prescriptions in Adults Under Chiropractic Care

    Less Tramadol Prescriptions in Adults Under Chiropractic Care

    On May 1, 2024, the British Medical Journal Open edition, (BMJ Open), published the results of a study showing that patients with radicular low back pain are less likely to get prescriptions for tramadol compared to those patients with the same condition under typical medical care.

    According to the HealthDirect resource website from Australia, “Tramadol is an opioid medicine used for the short-term relief of moderate to severe pain.” They explain, “Tramadol works directly on opioid receptors in the central nervous system and reduces feelings of pain by interrupting the way nerves signal pain between the brain and the body.”

    In this study, researchers reviewed thousands of patients’ records who had been suffering with radicular lower back pain. They then eliminated thousands of potential subject’s records until they had two groups of closely similar conditions and circumstances. Of this final group, there was 1171 people with radicular low back pain who received chiropractic care. This group was known as the “CSM” group, (short for Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation.) They also identified 1171 patients with similar radicular low back pain who received “usual medical care” and did not receive chiropractic care.

    The researchers were careful to not consider patient records of people in either group whose health history were not similar to the rest of the people in the two groups. They wanted the only difference to be that one group received chiropractic care. The researchers looked at the records of these people to see if, over the course of a year, patients receiving chiropractic care had been prescribed Tramadol at a different frequency than those who got chiropractic care.

    The study showed that patients with radicular lower back pain, who received usual medical care, were more than three times more likely to get a prescription for tramadol as compared to those who receive chiropractic care.

    In their conclusion, the researchers summed up their findings by saying, “This study found that US adults initially receiving CSM for radicular LBP had a reduced likelihood of receiving a tramadol prescription over 1-year follow-up.”

    Considering all the additional issues and side effects that come with this type of medication, Chiropractic should be considered as a viable avenue of care for patients with radicular lower back pain.

  • Resolution of Atrial Fibrillation Under Chiropractic Care – A Case Study

    Resolution of Atrial Fibrillation Under Chiropractic Care – A Case Study

    The Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research published the results of a case study on May 20, 2024, documenting the complete resolution of long-term persistent atrial fibrillation in a patient receiving chiropractic care.

    According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, an NIH official website of the United States government, “atrial fibrillation is a type of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat.” They continue by explaining, “Long-term persistent atrial fibrillation occurs when abnormal heart rhythms last for more than a year without getting better.”

    This study’s authors begin by emphasizing the dangers of atrial fibrillation, aka. AFib, by stating, “Atrial fibrillation can be episodic or persistent, and it has dangerous complications if not managed appropriately.” They continue, “Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia. This condition is marked by irregular heartbeat, heart palpitations, lightheadedness, fatigue, dyspnea, and chest pain.” They also report that AFib increases a person’s risk for stroke by four to five times, and that a stroke from AFib is often more severe.

    In this case, a 64-year-old man, who was a preacher, presented himself for chiropractic care. His entered with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation and right elbow pain. He explained that his AFib had been long-standing as he had been suffering with symptoms from the condition since he was 16 years of age.

    The man reported that when he was younger, he would occasionally become very dizzy and feel strong palpitations if he physically exerted himself or was subjected to sudden emotional or physical stress. His problems prevented him from participation in sports. As his condition progressed, the man would have attacks weekly causing him to feel extremely weak. During these attacks, he would also suffer with severe tachycardia and his heart rate would elevate to as high as 400 beats per minute.

    His AFib attacks regularly continued throughout the man’s entire adult life and lasted anywhere from 20 minutes up to 7 hours. He eventually sought medical care where his MD gave him a variety of medications. The man reported that the medications many times would either aggravate his symptoms or that they would do nothing to help him. Over time, the man discontinued all his medications as he felt they were not helping him. His condition was severe enough that he had been hospitalized multiple times.

    The man initially decided to go to the chiropractor because of the occasional elbow pain and back pain that he was having. He was also curious to see if chiropractic could do anything to help with the life-long symptoms of AFib he was suffering with.

    After a full chiropractic examination, it was determined that the man had multiple vertebral subluxations. A specific care plan of chiropractic adjustments was started with the man being seen initially twice per week.

    The results of care were nothing short of life changing. After his initial chiropractic adjustment, the man experienced complete remission of all symptoms and signs of his AFib. He stated that he was completely free of fatigue, chest pain, palpitations, dizziness, and shortness of breath. After his tenth visit, the man had still not experienced any attacks, symptoms or issues with AFib. Over the course of the next year, he reported only having one minor AFib episode.

  • Improvement in Digestive Health with Chiropractic

    Improvement in Digestive Health with Chiropractic

    The Asian-Pacific Chiropractic Journal published the results of a case study in their second quarter 2024 issue documenting the resolution of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) under chiropractic care. According to the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, “Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a group of symptoms that occur together, including repeated pain in your abdomen and changes in your bowel movements, which may be diarrhea, constipation, or both. With IBS, you have these symptoms without any visible signs of damage or disease in your digestive tract.”

    In this case, a 24-year-old engineer presented himself for a chiropractic evaluation. The man was suffering with stomach pain and diarrhea which he attributed to IBS. He reported suffering with these issues for about one year prior to seeking a chiropractor. This was his first visit to a chiropractor.

    The man’s history revealed that he engaged in a high-level of elite physical activity and exercise. He reported that his symptoms occurred daily, usually in the morning. The problems seemed to be made worse after he engaged in intense gym training sessions. Although he consulted both general practitioners and gastroenterologists, he was not given any formal diagnosis for his problems.

    A chiropractic examination was performed which included checking spinal ranges of motion, a self-assessment survey, and spinal x-rays. The x-rays showed that the man had a reversal of the normal forward neck curvature and a loss of the backward midback curve. There were also areas of Degenerative Disc Disease present in the man’s spine.

    From the information obtained in the examination and x-rays, it was determined that the man had multiple areas of subluxations present in his spine. With this information, specific chiropractic adjustments were started. The chiropractic corrective care plan included three visits per week for four weeks, followed by two visits per week for six weeks.

    A review conducted at four weeks into the man’s care showed that he had already seen a 70% improvement in his symptoms. He reported that his IBS had reduced from daily episodes to only once or twice in a two-week period. As his care continued, the man continued to see improvements. By the completion of his initial chiropractic corrective care plan, he was no longer having any symptoms of IBS at all. The man elected to continue chiropractic on a wellness basis. At a follow-up six years later, the man was still symptom free and was no longer having any IBS issues.

    The authors of this commented on the success of this case by saying, “Given the patient was an elite athlete, and a very fit and otherwise healthy man in his twenties, the impact of this very sensitive personal health problem was significant. He reported that traditional health practitioners were unable to assist in managing or reducing symptoms, but without changing any other aspects of his care, he was able to achieve excellent results from Chiropractic care.”

  • Chronic Urinary Retention Helped Under Chiropractic Care

    Chronic Urinary Retention Helped Under Chiropractic Care

    On April 23, 2024, the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research journal published a case study showing chiropractic helping a woman who had been suffering with chronic non obstructive urinary retention, (UR). Non obstructive UR can be a bladder weakness from muscle and nerve problems where there is an interference with signals between the brain and the bladder. If the nerves aren’t working properly, the person’s brain may not get the message that the bladder is full, and leakage or an overactive bladder can occur.

    The study begins by pointing out, “Non obstructive urinary retention (UR) is considered a difficult disease to treat in women due to the high occurrence of urinary tract infections and renal function decrease.” Commonly, the first avenues of medical treatment include diet and lifestyle changes, pelvic floor muscle training, urinary bladder retraining, biofeedback, and drug therapies. If these medical procedures do not work, some patients then receive sacral neuromodulation, a therapy where an implant creates electrical stimulation to a sacral nerve root in hopes of changing the nerve function.

    In this case, a 61-year-old woman presented herself to the chiropractor for an evaluation and possible care. The woman had been suffering for years with symptoms of urinary retention causing her to wake up 2-3 times a night to urinate. She also reported trouble feeling when her bladder was full as well as difficulty emptying her bladder and trouble starting to urinate.

    The woman had been treated medically for her problem and had a sacral neuromodulation device, “InterStim,” surgically implanted. She reported that she had spent over $100,000 on this procedure and was being advised by her medical physician that if her problem did not improve, she would have to undergo the procedure again.

    A chiropractic examination and spinal x-rays were performed. The results of the examination and x-rays showed a number of postural and spinal positional issues. The conclusion was that postural abnormalities were apparent with the presence of vertebral subluxations. Specific forms of chiropractic adjustments and procedures were initiated to address these findings.

    The initial care involved 24 visits over a 60-day period. After that initial care, a re-evaluation was performed which showed objective improvements in the woman’s spine and posture. Additionally, she reported a resolution of her urinary retention problems that she had been suffering with for years and had spent thousands of dollars on.

    In the study discussion, the author explains how chiropractic was able to help in this case by quoting the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation, “…the unique role of the chiropractor is separate from other health disciplines and that the professional practice objective of chiropractors may be limited to the analysis, correction or stabilization of the subluxation.”

    The author sums up this case by stating, “This case shows that the effect of spinal misalignment, through subluxation, can affect the nervous system. By taking pressure off of her nervous system over the course of 24 adjustments her bladder function was greatly improved, and incidental findings of various musculoskeletal conditions had their severity reduced.”

  • Pediatric Encopresis Resolved Following Chiropractic Care

    Pediatric Encopresis Resolved Following Chiropractic Care

    The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published the results of a case study on April 9, 2024, documenting the resolution of a patient with pediatric encopresis after receiving chiropractic care. The National Center for Biotechnology Information describes this condition as “Encopresis or fecal incontinence is defined as the involuntary passing of stool into inappropriate places such as the underwear in children older than four years of age. It represents severe psychological distress on children and their families.”

    The authors of this study noted that a number of prior studies on this subject interchanged the terms “encopresis” and “fecal incontinence”. They also reported that previous studies on encopresis showed that boys were more common to have this issue than were girls. Additionally, children suffering from encopresis more commonly suffered with anxiety or depression, had attention difficulties, and were either more withdrawn or aggressive than other children in the same age groups.

    In this case, an 8-year-old girl was brought to the chiropractor because the girl’s gymnastics coach commented that he noticed the girl’s “hips were uneven”. Her health history revealed that the girl had previously had asthma, had suffered four elbow dislocations between the ages of one and four, and was currently suffering with irregular bowel movements, having only 3-4 per week. She was on Colace medication and taking four pills per day to try to help regulate her colon.

    An examination was performed which showed no positive orthopedic or neurological findings. X-rays that were taken did not show any pathologies or underlying diseases. The spinal x-rays did, however, show multiple area of misalignments, believed to be vertebral subluxations.

    Based upon the examination and x-rays, specific forms of chiropractic adjustments were started to address the subluxations present in the girl’s spine. The girl was initially seen multiple times per week. On each of these visits, she was accessed for the presence of subluxations, and adjusted accordingly.

    The study reports that over the course of the girl’s chiropractic care, steady improvements in her bowel movements and her encopresis. After the first month of care, it was reported that the girl was almost completely accident free and was able to sleep in panties for the first time in her life. As chiropractic care continued, the girl continued to improve. The study authors reported, “After two and a half months of adjustments, the patient was no longer having any incontinence issues, was no longer taking the Colace pills, and was living a normal, happy life.”

    In discussing the results of this case in the study’s conclusion, the authors stated, “The objective of this case study was to outline the results from subluxation-based chiropractic care of an 8-year-old female with fecal incontinence. As described above, after 2 months of receiving chiropractic adjustments, the patient was no longer suffering from fecal incontinence.”

  • Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Helped with Chiropractic

    Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Helped with Chiropractic

    The Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research published a case study on May 6, 2024, showing chiropractic care helping relieve the symptoms of a patient with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The Mayo clinic’s website describes IBS by saying, “Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the stomach and intestines, also called the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation, or both.”

    The study authors begin by reporting just how common this issue is by reporting that “Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders, a chronic condition with a prevalence of approximately 10% to 20% worldwide.” This condition is more common in women, and accounts for 12-14% of primary physician visits and 28% of referrals to gastroenterologists. IBS is estimated to cost the U.S. economy between 15 and 30 billion dollars annually.

    In this case, a 20-year-old woman presented herself to a chiropractic clinic to see if she could get some help with the symptoms she was experiencing from her IBS. Her symptoms included bloating, nausea, painful gas, fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, menstrual pain, ulcers, stomach upset, as well as neck and back pain. Her history also revealed that two years before seeking chiropractic, she was struggling with bulimia and anorexia.

    A chiropractic examination was performed to determine if vertebral subluxations were present in the woman’s spine. The examination included static and motion palpation, a posture analysis, leg length measurements, orthopedic testing, spinal thermography, and surface electromyography (sEMG).

    From the examination, it was determined that multiple areas of subluxation were present. With this information, a care plan of specific chiropractic adjustments was started to address the subluxations. Initially, the woman was seen at the rate of three visits per week. After a month, the care was reduced to one visit per week.

    This case study was written based upon the care rendered during the initial corrective portion of the woman’s chiropractic care, which represented the first 12 visits only. A re-evaluation was performed on the 12th visit of her care. On the 12th visit, the woman reported that her IBS symptoms had reduced by 70%. She reported having less abdominal pain, a reduction in diarrhea, and less frequent bowel movements.

    In the discussion section of this study, the authors explained how chiropractic care was able to help a patient suffering with IBS. “According to Gray’s Anatomy textbook, the role of the nervous system is to control and coordinate all functions of the body. With this in mind, it can be said that the nervous system must play some role in the pathological process irritable bowel syndrome. The main objective of subluxation-based chiropractic care is to achieve optimal function of the nervous system. Therefore, reduction of vertebral subluxation, thereby improved neurological function, may have a role to play in the co-management of irritable bowel syndrome.”

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