May 2022

• Improvement in ADHD Symptomatology Following Chiropractic
• Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disorder Resolved Under Chiropractic According to Study
• Resolution of Eczema, Ear Infections & Balance Problems with Chiropractic
• Trigeminal Neuralgia Resolved Under Chiropractic Care - A Case Study

On May 2, 2022, the result of a case study was published in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health documenting the improvement in symptoms of a young boy who was diagnosed with ADHD. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, "Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development."

The study begins by noting that ADHD is one of the most widely diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders affecting children. It is estimated that 9.4% of children from the ages of 6 to 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD in the United States. They also point out that the rate of diagnosis of this condition is continuing to rise. The study reports that more parents are turning toward non-medication approaches to helping children with ADHD. 

There is currently much debate on why ADHD is becoming more prevalent, but it is known that those with immediate family members who have ADHD are between two to eight times more likely to be also diagnosed with ADHD than those whose family members do not have this condition.

Medications are a common mode of treatment for ADHD but these medications come with much controversy and side effects. The U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not recommend medication as a first line of treatment for younger children. "For preschool-aged children (4-5 years of age) with ADHD, behavior therapy, particularly training for parents, is recommended as the first line of treatment before medication is tried."

In this case, a 5-year-old boy was brought to the chiropractor by his mother. The boy was exhibiting behaviors of ADHD and his mother wanted to see if chiropractic could help without having to go the medical route and receive an official diagnosis of ADHD. She was looking to explore non-medical options for her son and was interested in seeing if a cause could be found for his, as she described, "out of control" behavior.

The boy’s history, as reported by his mother, included a continuous urge to bounce and jump. He also had a history of ear infections, and his mother reported that he skipped crawling during his developmental progression and currently exhibited toe walking.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included spinal range of motion, motion and static palpation, visual observation, paraspinal thermography, and a static EMG study. The results of the examination confirmed the presence of vertebral subluxation. Based on the finding of subluxation, and with the mother’s permission, a series of specific chiropractic adjustments were started to correct the subluxations.

Changes during care were measured both against the original exam findings as well as the perceived changes as noted by the boy’s mother. After 14 chiropractic adjustments, the boy’s mother reported that his teacher noticed that the boy exhibited behavioral changes and that he was becoming more focused with fewer disruptions in class. His mother also reported that, shortly thereafter, her son was able to be a part of family gatherings without being a disruptive factor.

Over time, the boy continued to improve as measured by both the examination procedures as well as his activity. At one point, his mother reported that her son wrote a letter by himself, a task that he was previously not been able to accomplish. The study authors stated, "The results of this case study reveal an overall positive outcome of ADHD symptomatology following chiropractic care."

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published a case study on April 8, 2022, that documented the case of a baby who was suffering with Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD) and was helped by chiropractic.

According to John Hopkins Medicine, "Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common condition in which the stomach contents move up into the esophagus. Reflux becomes a disease when it causes frequent or severe symptoms or injury. Reflux may damage the esophagus, pharynx or respiratory tract."

In this case, a seven-month-old was brought to the chiropractor for help with unresolved gastric reflux. She had been previously diagnosed by her pediatrician with GERD. The baby girl’s mother stated that her daughter could not sleep through the night because she was gassy and constipated.

Oral drops were first tried to help the girl, but only provided limited temporary relief. Her MD prescribed Pepcid which also offered no relief. Eventually, the MD prescribed Zantac. The girl had great difficulty taking this medication, and no change or improvement was seen from it anyway.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included postural observations, both static and motion spinal palpation, and leg length assessment. The purpose of the examination was to determine the presence of subluxation and how best to correct them. From the examination, it was determined that multiple areas of subluxations were present, and specific forms of age-appropriate pediatric adjustments were started.

On the visit after the girl’s first adjustment, her mother reported that her daughter’s reflux symptoms were slightly improved, and she was able to sleep through the night easier than before. Due to this improvement, the girl’s mother took her off half the dosage of medication she was taking for the GERD.

One week later, the mother reported that her baby girl’s reflux symptoms were subsiding allowing her to reduce her daughter’s medication even further. She also reported that the baby girl was now sleeping eight hours a night, which she had not been able to do for several months prior to starting chiropractic care.

After one month of chiropractic care, the girl’s mother said that her daughter was like "a new baby!"  By that time, her mother had taken the girl off all reflux medications, and her symptoms had completely resolved. The study recorded that, after one month, the girl was reactive, pleasant, and continued to be sleeping well.

In this study’s discussion section, the authors summed up the overall reasoning for chiropractic in this case and those similar to this. "The importance of having a child’s spine checked for vertebral subluxations at birth cannot be over stated. A trauma at birth, no matter how minimal it seems, can cause stress on the vertebral column and lead to a subluxation that may cause interference with sensory or motor function of the nerve root. These anatomical and physiological problems are not always obvious and may remain subclinical for months, as in the case of this seven month old, or even years. Chiropractors are the only professionals adequately trained to detect and correct vertebral subluxations of the infant spine. If proper spinal joint health is restored, then there is the opportunity for proper human health to be restored."

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published the results of a case study on April 18, 2022, documenting the successful resolution under chiropractic of a small boy who was suffering with eczema, ear infections and balance problems.

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, "Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is an inflammatory skin condition that affects an estimated 30 percent of the U.S. population, mostly children and adolescents. It is a chronic disease characterized by dry, itchy skin that can weep clear fluid when scratched. People with eczema also may be particularly susceptible to bacterial, viral, and fungal skin infections."

The authors of this study suggest that eczema may be the result of an over-protection from microbes causing a weakness in a child’s immune response. "Exposure to microbes at a young age primes future immunological response, therefore restricting exposure to infectious disease may skew the child’s adaptive immune response." They also note that food can play a role in the condition as well as being overly clean, thus not allowing normal immune development. Because of the unsightly look of the skin, children with eczema have a significantly higher chance of developing behavioral issues.

In this case, a 28-month-old boy was brought to the chiropractor by his mother. The boy had been suffering with eczema since around his first birthday. Additionally, the boy was suffering with ear infections, and he had balance issues. The boy’s mother reported that her son’s eczema was the most severe behind the left knee, and occasionally at his elbows. She noted that the itching would be so severe that her son would scratch himself enough to break the skin.

An age and size appropriate chiropractic examination was performed, and it was determined that vertebral subluxations were present in the boy’s spine. With this information, specific chiropractic adjustments were started on a regular basis to address the subluxations.

At the three-month point in care, a follow-up evaluation was done which included giving the boy’s mother a questionnaire concerning her son’s health. The mother reported that her son’s eczema was gone, that he had not had any ear infections since beginning the chiropractic care, and additionally, his balance was 60% improved. At both the 6-month and 12-month re-evaluation, the boy had not had any relapses of his eczema, even though this condition usually has frequent relapses.  

In their conclusion, the authors wrote, "This study details relief of symptomatology associated with eczema, ear infections and balance in a child under chiropractic care." This case study shows improvement in eczema in a two-year-old boy undergoing subluxation-based chiropractic adjustments. With the increasing prevalence of eczema in the United States and ‘control not cure’ approach that is the standard of care for eczema, there is a need for chiropractic care in children with eczema."

On April 6, 2022, the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic published the results of a case study documenting the resolution of trigeminal neuralgia for a patient who was undergoing chiropractic care.  Trigeminal neuralgia is a painful condition that causes severe electric shock-like pain on one side of the face.

According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, "Trigeminal neuralgia (TN), also known as tic douloureux, is sometimes described as the most excruciating pain known to humanity. The pain typically involves the lower face and jaw, although sometimes it affects the area around the nose and above the eye. This intense, stabbing, electric shock-like pain is caused by irritation of the trigeminal nerve, which sends branches to the forehead, cheek and lower jaw. It usually is limited to one side of the face. The pain can be triggered by an action as routine and minor as brushing your teeth, eating or the wind. Attacks may begin mild and short, but if left untreated, trigeminal neuralgia can progressively worsen."

The study begins by pointing out that trigeminal neuralgia is a common condition affecting between 12.6 and 28.9 per 100,000 people each year. This condition is three times more common in women than in men, and typically strikes between the ages of mid 30’s to mid 60’s. Typical medical care for this condition starts with medications but may include a recommendation for surgery if no relief is found.

In this case, a 25-year-old man went to the chiropractor after having suffered for six months with burning left-sided jaw pain. The man’s medical doctor had diagnosed him with trigeminal neuralgia. A chiropractic examination was performed, and it was decided to start a regime of conservative care including spinal adjustments.

The study reports that, after three months of care, the man was no longer having symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia and was completely pain free. The study also reported that at some time in the future, the man’s trigeminal neuralgia did return after a boxing match in which he was hit in the jaw. This second episode was again successfully corrected under chiropractic care.

The authors of this study acknowledge that pharmaceuticals are a common medical approach. "The treatments for TN are not universally agreed upon and controversy still exists regarding treatment options. Pharmacological treatment seems to be the most widely accepted and utilized form of treatment; however, few randomized control trials exist, and many of the medications are associated with significant side effects."