New Research Sheds Light on Chiropractic & Pre-Menstrual Syndrome

Recent research reporting on improvement in a 27 year old woman undergoing chiropractic care reveals that chiropractic may play an important role in managing women with pre-menstrual syndrome. 

The research, reported in the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research, includes a discussion of the literature supporting the role of chiropractic in these types of problems. 

“Research is revealing that minor disturbances to spinal alignment and function may be a factor in a number of disorders. These disturbances lead to nerve interference and can result in a host of disorders such as amenorrhea and related reproductive disorders” stated Dr. Matthew McCoy, a chiropractor, public health researcher and editor of the journal that published the study.  Other chiropractic researchers have reported on similar results and reviews of the scientific research reveal other studies that have shown a similar connection. 

“It makes a lot of sense when you think about it” stated McCoy. “If you damage or compress or otherwise interfere with the neurological structures in the spine this can have far reaching implications on the functioning of the body. Through research reports like this we are finding that correcting the misalignments or abnormal motion associated with these spinal problems reduces the nerve interference and people improve. In this study it was a woman experiencing a number of health challenges in addition to pre-menstrual syndrome.  

“Finding the cause of the menstrual symptoms is a much better strategy than simply treating the symptoms” according to McCoy.  One such cause is thought to be spinal misalignments and/or abnormal motion of the spine, termed vertebral subluxations by chiropractors, which result in structural and neurological interference to the spine and nerve system. It is this interference that may cause symptoms such as those seen in this study and chiropractors correct or reduce this interference. 

The patient in this study arrived to the chiropractic office with the chief complaints of depression, insomnia, severe effects from pre-menstrual syndrome and headaches. She also occasionally suffered from dizziness, mood swings, buzzing in ears, stiff neck, constipation, menstrual pain, irritability, back pain, urinary problems, nervousness, upset stomach, cold feet and heartburn. 

The patient was diagnosed with vertebral subluxations in her cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. The patient’s management plan consisted of chiropractic adjustments delivered to the patient’s spine. After three months of chiropractic care, the patient’s subjective and objective symptoms significantly improved including the regularity and severity of the patient’s depression-related symptoms. 

The study’s authors call for more research on the role of chiropractic and women’s health issues.   

Contact Information:

Matthew McCoy DC, MPH

Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research

http://www.vertebralsubluxationresearch.com