Chiropractic Research Articles

Man With Bipolar Disorder And Anxiety Attacks Responds To Chiropractic

Care

The October 20, 2008 issue of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research reports on a case

study of a 52 year-old man with Bipolar Disorder and depression who showed measurable,

significant improvement after getting under chiropractic care.

When this patient was examined by the chiropractor, he reported achy low back pain and mild,

diffuse pain throughout his entire neck. He had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2001

and had chosen not to take medication for the condition. He also reported that he was

unemployed due to the effects of the disorder and had experienced 6 or 7 anxiety attacks in

the previous two weeks as a result.

Before his first adjustment, he filled out the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) that measures

mental and physical status. He scored 57 on his physical status and 16 on the mental status.

The norm for each is 50.

The man reported improvements almost immediately after beginning his care. After his third

adjustment, he reported that his depression was improving, he now only felt "lethargic instead

of suicidal, deep blues."

Six months after beginning care, his SF-36 mental status score had improved from the original

16 points to 49. The physical score stayed essentially the same at 56. His neck disability fell

from 12% to 0% within 2 months and his low back fell from 10% to 4% at the six month

mark. To date, the author states the patient still struggles with occasional bouts of depression,

he has not had an anxiety attack and reports that his depression continues to improve.

He concludes that while the patient "still has difficulty working, his quality of life has

improved."

He says that while "this case illustrates the benefits of chiropractic care for one individual,

there is a need for additional research" regarding the effects of chiropractic care on bipolar

disorder.

Commentary: We can't help but be encouraged to see that correcting vertebral subluxations

has such an effect on improving this patient's overall mental function to the point that his

mental status score improved from 16 points to 49. Everyone, no matter what their mental or

physical state, can benefit from the improved body performance that chiropractic care offers.

Quality Of Life In Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Improves After Chiropractic

Care

A study in the December 11, 2012 issue of the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research reports on the cases of

nineteen people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) who experienced significant improvements in their quality of life

after being under chiropractic care for the six month period of the study.

Authors H. Charles Woodfield, BS Pharmacy, DC and Marshall Dickholtz, Sr., DC, FICA, studied 19 people who met at

least 4 of the diagnostic criteria for CFS and had been fatigued for at least 6 months. At the beginning of the study, they

filled out the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire to determine their baseline quality of life rating. The questionnaire was

filled out again at the three-month point of the study and at the end at the six month point.

At the end of the study period, the SF-36 findings revealed a significant increase in the General Health component, from

30.3 (pre) to 55.6 (post) and Mental Health, from 46.4 to 68.6 (higher scores indicate improvement).

The authors concluded, "Unlike treatment approaches for some chronic illnesses, where measurable changes recorded

immediately after an intervention dwindle or vanish over time, our subjects' SF-36 scores continued to improve compared

to baseline; appreciably at three months, and substantially at six months."

"If correction of [vertebral subluxations] in clinically diagnosed CFS patients is the single variable that appears

responsible for self-reported improvement of functional and mental health status, then further study is warranted…"

Colic Resolves In Eight Week-Old Infant After Beginning Chiropractic Care

The November 28, 2012 issue of the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal and Family

Health reports on a case study involving an eight week-old infant who experienced a

resolution of her colic symptoms after a short course of chiropractic care.

According to author Ron R. Castellucci, BS, ACP, DC, the baby's mother brought

her to the chiropractor with the classic symptoms of colic. The mother reported the

baby cried for up to 5 hours at a time, lasting well into the night, and winced in pain

with her bowel movements. She also was unable to sleep or breastfeed due to the

crying.

During the case history, it was discovered that the baby experienced a stressful

birth involving 18 hours of labor, a blocked birth position that led to an induced labor

that eventually resulted in a cesarean delivery. She had been placed on the drug

Levsin to control her gastric distress symptoms.

Her chiropractic examination revealed subluxations in the upper neck at the C1

level and the lower back at the T11 level.

According to the author, the patient, "on her initial visit, was crying and in obvious

distress. She left the office, after her first adjustment, crying less and with less

distress. She was scheduled for a second visit on the following day. On this visit the

patient was sleeping and there were no signs of distress. The parents reported the

following: "after her first visit, she slept the entire night. She did not have the crying

spells and we reduced the medication to once per day. After two weeks of

chiropractic care the parents reported the following "she (the patient) no longer

takes her medication daily. She is now a happy baby. She eats, sleeps and has

regular bowel movements with no pain. For the first time since she was born, she

slept through the night."

"Complete resolution of the colic symptoms was seen after 8 visits over 4 weeks.

A follow up discussion with the patient's parents found that the colic symptoms have

not returned and the patient has been very healthy."

Patients With Fibromyalgia Respond To Chiropractic

The May 2000 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapuetics reports that

60% of a group of patients with Fibromyalgia responded very well to chiropractic care.

The patients in the study had Fibromyalgia for more than 3 months and were adult members

of a regional Fibromyalgia association. Each participant was adjusted during 30 visits with selfadministered

assessments taken at the beginning of the study, after 15 visits, 30 visits and 30

days after completion of the study. Researchers were looking for improvement in three areas;

pain intensity, fatigue level and sleep quality.

15 women completed the trial. 9 of them (60%) were classified as "respondents".

Respondents were those participants who experienced at least a 50% improvement in pain

intensity over the course of the study.

After 30 visits, the respondents showed an average lessening of 77.2% in pain intensity and

an improvement of 63.5% in sleep quality and 74.8% in fatigue level. The improvement in all

three areas continued after 1 month without chiropractic care.

A similar study in 1986 and reported in the American Journal of Medicine (1986; 81:7--14)

found that 45.9% of people who had Fibromyalgia and went to a chiropractor experienced

moderate to great improvement. In the same study, anti-depressant medication benefited only

36.3% of those studied and exercise was limited to a 31.8% rate of improvement.

By way of commentary, there is absolutely no doubt that removing interference to your central

nervous system by correcting vertebral subluxations helps restore the body's in-born, built-in

ability to heal itself. Whether you suffer from a serious condition like Fibromyalgia or not, you

will benefit from chiropractic care. Your body will be healthier and function better as a result.

7 Year-Old With Chronic Asthma Responds To Chiropractic Care

The November 26, 2007 issue of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research reports on a

case study where a 7 year-old girl with chronic severe persistent asthma responded very

quickly to a course of chiropractic care.

Her mother reported that her symptoms began around the age of 2 and by 4 years of age she

was diagnosed with asthma. Almost anything from dust to cold drafts would trigger an asthma

attack.

She was taking oral medication twice a day and using 24 inhalations from three different

inhalers four times a day. Singulair, Claritin, Albuterol, Pulmicort, Tussi, Elidel, Nasonex,

Xopenex, Pred Atrovent, Advair, Crantex, Zantac, PhenerganW/Codeine, Histenex, Tussionex,

Tilade, and Theo 24 were being used to manage her chronic coughs and fevers. Even at this

level of medication she was unable to engage in any physical activity and experienced daily

attacks, nearly constant wheezing and coughing, a tight and heavy chest and approximately

five visits per year to the emergency room.

Previous research has shown that spinal subluxation involvement in the upper and lower

thoracic spine correlated with the reduction in forced expiratory volume (the amount of air a

person can force out) that is normally associated with asthma. This patient showed very high

levels of abnormal muscle function in these areas indicating spinal subluxations or

misalignments.

After her first adjustment, the patient's cough disappeared that evening. Over the next four

weeks, her attacks had stopped completely and her inhaler use decreased to 0 per day as

well. The wheezing, chest tightness and heaviness subsided and her mother reported that her

activity levels increased from only walking to participating in swimming and running sports.

Before beginning chiropractic care her lung function measured 54% of the normal for her

height and weight. At her last medical evaluation her lung function had improved 74% and

was now less than 5% below normal for her height and weight.

The patient is currently being seen 1-2 times per month on a wellness care basis. She has not

been sick or had an attack in more than 3 years.

Commentary: Three months after this patient began chiropractic care, her pediatrician was

elated at her progress and credited the medications. When he found out that the mother had

stopped giving her daughter many of the prescribed medications and had her under

chiropractic care, his disagreement with their decision forced them to find a new pediatrician.

Good for them! Concern for the patient should always override concern for the doctor's ego.

Patient With Depression Reports Quality Of Life Improvement After

Chiropractic Care

The January 31, 2010 issue of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research reported that a

49 year-old female with depression experienced considerable decrease in her symptoms and

an improved quality of life after undergoing a course of chiropractic care.

Before the woman began her chiropractic care program, she had a history of depression,

asthma, high stress, mood and gastrointestinal changes. She described it as a general loss of

lust for life. She had been prescribed the antidepressant Aropax by her medical doctor and had

been taking it for the previous 14 months.

Previous to and at several points during her chiropractic care, she was given Self-rated

health/wellness questionnaires that measured Overall Quality of Life as well as four domains of

health: Physical state, Emotional/Mental state, Stress and Life Enjoyment. This questionnaire

has been specifically developed to analyze a patient's wellness level.

Over the next 7 months of chiropractic care, she "exhibited a substantial increase in quality

of life ratings alongside a considerable decrease in presenting symptomology."

She told her doctor, "After 6 weeks I have been able to come off the anti-depressants

already."

According to the author, all domains of the completed survey have showed notable

increases in ratings between initial and follow-up: Combined Wellness, 35%; Physical State,

61%; Mental/Emotional State, 49%; Stress Evaluation, 19%; Life Enjoyment, 12%; Overall

Quality of Life, 23%.

Commentary: According to the author, previous research has "described the profound

effects chiropractic has had on patients well being in the self-reported retrospective study of

2818 people. After 3 years of chiropractic care patients found their quality of life was

maintained and did not plateau." That is to say that under chiropractic care, wellness doesn't

just improve and level off. It just keeps getting better and better over time. Can you give a

better reason for getting and staying under chiropractic wellness care?

Two Year-Old With Asthma, Digestive Problems And Frequent

Colds Responds Positively To Chiropractic Care

The August 4, 2011 issue of the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal &

Family Health reports on a case study involving a two year-old girl with

asthma, digestive problems and frequent colds who experienced

significant improvement after a course of chiropractic care.

Co-authors Heather Whittle-Davis, DC and Krystal Czegus, B.S., DC,

reported that being under chiropractic care themselves, the girl's

parents brought her to the chiropractor hoping adjustments would help

alleviate her Stage 3 Moderate Persistent Asthma. The girl also had a

history of frequent colds and digestive problems.

She had been prescribed two antibiotics for her digestive problems

and various asthma medications that had been prescribed by her

pediatric pulmonologist who she had been visiting every six months.

Her chiropractic examination revealed numerous vertebral

subluxations and areas of mild to moderate heat imbalances.

She was placed on a care program of 2-3 visits per week with

reevaluation every 12 visits. After 11 months, she was being seen 1-2

visits per week and her parents reported a 90% improvement in her

condition with no more "real breathing episodes." Five months later,

they reported a decrease in her sinus problems and no more need for

any asthma medications.

According to the authors, "the girl is currently being seen once per

week for wellness care. She has not experienced any more asthma

attacks and has been much healthier overall. She no longer has

digestive problems or frequent colds. Her parents reported that when

their child does have a cold, she is able to get over it much faster and

with greater ease."

They went on to conclude that "this case report provides supporting

evidence that chiropractic care can have a positive impact on children

suffering with asthma and help balance immune system functioning."

Immediate Neurological Improvement After Chiropractic Adjustment

A clinical study reported in the September 17, 2012 issue of the Annals of Vertebral

Subluxation Research discusses the case of a 26 year-old male who experienced immediate

neurological improvement after his first chiropractic adjustment.

In this study, neurological function was monitored with thermography, which measures skin

surface temperature over the muscles on either side of the spine. In a normal spine, the

temperature on both sides of the spine should be equal, with small allowable differences. An

imbalance at any level is indicative of vertebral subluxation and the resulting neurological

disturbance.

The 26 year-old patient in this case had no complaints or symptoms and presented himself

to the chiropractor for a chiropractic evaluation.

According to author Brandon Mahaffy, DC, of Huntersville, NC, the thermal scan showed

severe heat differences at the spinal levels of C2, C4 and C5 of up to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mild heat differences of up to 0.8 degrees were found at T5, T6, T10, T11, and T12.

Within 30 seconds after all subluxations were adjusted, a follow up thermography scan to

check for thermal asymmetry was performed.

According to Mahaffy, "The scan showed marked improvement over both previous scans

with only a moderate temperature differential of 1.2 degrees Fahrenheit at C1 with all other

spinal segments being within the normal range."

He went on to conclude the increased symmetry in thermal readings right after the

adjustment demonstrates that reducing subluxations immediately improves neurological

function.