New Research on Chest Pain - Chiropractic May Ease Suffering

Recent research reported in the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research reveals that chiropractic may play an important role in helping patients with chest pain. “Research is revealing that structural shifts in spinal alignment and the nerve obstruction they cause may be a factor in chest pain as they relate to the biomechanics of the body” stated Dr. Matthew McCoy a chiropractor, public health researcher and editor of the journal that published the study.   

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McCoy added, “This case adds to the body of scientific literature suggesting that chiropractic should play an important role in managing people with structural spinal distortions.”   Abnormal spinal alignment and posture are associated with poor general health, physical function, emotional function, social function, and low back pain.  McCoy stated “Abnormal spinal alignment also increases stress and strain to the nerve and blood supply of the spinal cord. This can seriously affect the nervous system.” It is a rare phenomenon for resolution of these abnormalities in the absence of intervention. 

The patient reported on in this study was a 45-year-old female suffering from constant chest pain after housecleaning.  The pain got progressively worse to the point that she could not move without any pain.  She was on several medications from a previous heart surgery in addition to others to manage her reflux, scoliosis, muscle spasms and gallbladder symptoms.  She had multiple visits with different medical specialists involving a lot of imaging in hopes of gaining some relief.   She discontinued her medication on her own as none of her doctors would, because of the negative side effects she was experiencing.  

The chiropractor examined her and found a significant decrease in range of motion through her mid back.  Structural shifts were also found in her lower back.  These structural shifts can lead to obstruction of the nerves and it is this obstruction, called vertebral subluxations, that chiropractors correct.  

The woman was adjusted by the chiropractor and she experienced complete resolution of her chest pain by the 4th visit. The study’s authors called for additional research to investigate the clinical implications of chiropractic in this population of patients.