New Research Sheds Light on Chiropractic and Multiple Sclerosis

Recent research reported in the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research revealed improvement in symptoms related to multiple sclerosis in a woman undergoing chiropractic care suggesting that chiropractic may play an important role in managing people with such disorders. 

The 58 year old woman reported on in the study was confined to a wheelchair and had a 22 year history of multiple sclerosis. The research includes a review of the literature on the role of chiropractic in such disorders.

“Research is revealing that there is a relationship between abnormalities in the spine, the nervous system and brain” stated Dr. Curtis Fedorchuk, lead author of the paper. “Researchers from different fields are now showing that trauma, problems in the upper neck and problems with blood flow to and from the brain may be playing a significant role in multiple sclerosis.”

Research has shown that in many cases people who have multiple sclerosis have a history of head and/or neck trauma and researchers studying this in chiropractic suggest that this trauma also causes misalignments of the bones in the neck and rest of the spine. Abnormal position or movement of the spinal vertebra can develop and this can lead to nerve and vascular interference. It is this interference, called vertebral subluxations, that chiropractors correct. The trauma along with the misalignments can lead to compression of nerve structures as well as alterations of blood flow leading to the degenerative conditions and other problems associated with multiple sclerosis. 

“It makes perfect sense when you think about it” stated Dr. Fedorchuk. “Our study is one more example of how people with these debilitating conditions can be helped through specific chiropractic adjustments to restore normal spinal and nervous system function.” 

According to Dr. Matthew McCoy, a chiropractor, public health researcher and editor of the journal that published the study, “Chiropractors have been talking about these links for some time now and I think research in this area will soon reach a critical mass because its not just chiropractors saying this any more. You have researchers in several different fields coming to similar conclusions. The real challenge with these models is going to be showing what works best and chiropractic has a respectable foundation of research in this area” stated McCoy.      

The woman reported on in the study was 58-years-old and confined to a wheel chair. X-rays of her spine along with measures of neurological and strength function were performed. Her ability to breathe was also measured before and after care using spirometry.  

Follow-up examination revealed that the patient achieved correction of spinal structural changes, improvement in lung function and improvement in strength following chiropractic care. This was in conjunction with improved neurological function.

The authors of the study call for more research on the role of chiropractic care in these types of disorders.

CLICK HERE for a copy of the paper

Contact Information:

Matthew McCoy DC, MPH

Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research

http://www.vertebralsubluxationresearch.com

matthewmccoy@comcast.net