New Research on Stroke

Recent research reported in the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research reveals that chiropractic may play an important role in helping patients following a stroke. The research reports on a 50-year-old female stroke patient who improved under chiropractic care. “Research is revealing that there is a relationship between abnormalities in the spine, the nervous system and the brain” stated Dr. Matthew McCoy, a chiropractor, public health researcher and editor of the journal that published the study. McCoy added “A stroke is a result of a blood flow issue within the brain that can cause the body’s homeostatic mechanism to be thrown off. When intricate vessels are blocked or rupture the effects can be devastating as the brain tissue deteriorates resulting in symptoms like sudden paralysis, therefore dampening communication between the brain and body.”

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“That chiropractic helped her makes perfect sense when you think about it” stated Dr. McCoy. “If there is interference with the neurological communication between the spine and the brain all sorts of malfunctions can occur.”  According to McCoy “The nervous systems need the constant stimulation of movement in order to develop and function properly. Abnormal position or movement of the spinal vertebra can develop and this can lead to nerve interference. It is this interference, called vertebral subluxations, that chiropractors correct.” 

The patient reported on in this study was a 50-year-old female suffering from a stroke caused from her prescribed medications.  She suffered from left arm paralysis and as a result she expressed having a “lack confidence in her abilities, a lack of independence, cognitive difficulties, feeling generally tired and weak, prone to mood swings and not coping with cold temperatures.”  In addition, she developed headaches and neck pain.  

The chiropractor examined her and found structural shifts in her neck, mid and low back. These structural shifts can lead to obstruction of the nerves and it is this obstruction, called vertebral subluxations, that chiropractors correct.  Other testing revealed decreased strength and muscle dysfunction. 

The woman was adjusted by the chiropractor and she experienced improvement in her arm motion, posture, muscle strength, and regained confidence in herself. The study’s authors called for additional research to investigate the clinical implications of chiropractic in this population of patients.  

Contact Information: 

Matthew McCoy DC, MPH
Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research
https://www.vertebralsubluxationresearch.com/vertebral-subluxation-research-1/
support@vertebralsubluxationresearch.com