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“Research is revealing that there is a relationship between structural abnormalities in the spine, the nervous system and brain” stated Dr. Matthew McCoy, a chiropractor, public health researcher and editor of the journal that published the study. “Researchers from different fields are now showing that trauma and related structural shifts in the neck may lead to nerve and blood flow obstruction and could possibly result in a host of health problems such as 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 structural shifts of the bones in the neck and rest of the spine resulting in obstruction. It is these obstructions, called vertebral subluxations, that chiropractors correct. The trauma along with the structural shifts can lead to obstructions of nerve and 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. McCoy. “This 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 McCoy, “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”.
The patient reported on in the study was a 39-year-old wheelchair bound female with a 20-year history of suffering from multiple sclerosis. Multiple brain lesions on MRI confirmed the diagnosis and she was previously managed medically with increasing disability noted. She had multiple health concerns including sensory deficits, pain, visual loss and inability to walk or move her arms.
The chiropractor examined the woman and found significant structural shifts in her upper neck. These structural shifts, more commonly known as vertebral subluxations by doctors of chiropractic, result in nerve obstruction and doctors of chiropractic correct these obstructions.
The patient received chiropractic care for over a year to reduce the subluxations in her neck. She gained the ability to walk again, her vision returned, her pain reduced and follow-up MRI results revealed no active plaques in the brain. She can feed, comb her hair, put on make-up and dress herself on her own now.
The authors of the study call for more research on the role of chiropractic care in these types of disorders.
Contact Information:
Matthew McCoy DC, MPH
Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research
http://www.vertebralsubluxationresearch.com
