October 2023

• Resolution of Post Concussion Syndrome Following Chiropractic Care
• Symptoms of Long COVID-19 Helped by Chiropractic
• Chiropractic Care Facilitates Successful In Vitro Fertilization After Multiple Failures
• Infertility Resolved Under Chiropractic Care - A Documented Case Study

A case study published on September 12, 2023, in the scientific journal Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research documented the elimination of all post-concussion symptoms in a case after chiropractic care was rendered. Post-concussion syndrome is when symptoms from a concussion last longer than what would normally be expected from a concussion. The study authors note that after a concussion, people can experience a wide variety of symptoms that can be physical, cognitive and/or emotional.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes concussion by stating, "A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury, or TBI, caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells." The CDC estimates that approximately 3.8 million people in the United States suffer a concussion each year.

In this case, a 20-year-old ice hockey player went to the chiropractor two weeks after having suffered a concussion while playing hockey. During a game, he received a severe hit from another player. He was wearing a helmet, but he remembers his head hitting the ice. Although the man did not lose consciousness, he was unable to skate and was assisted to the bench. Two days later, his M.D. diagnosed him with concussion and told the man to just rest. This was the third concussion the man had suffered in the prior five years.

At the time of his visit to the chiropractor, the man reported that he had been suffering with headaches, nausea, dizziness, sensitivity to light, and double vision. The man additionally reported that he was suffering with problems with his short-term memory, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, and a feeling of constant exhaustion.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included spinal neck x-rays. Based on the findings, chiropractic care plan for the correction of subluxations was initiated. After only his first adjustment, the man reported a 50% reduction of all his symptoms. The improvement continued as he reported a 70% improvement after just two visits.

Within one week of chiropractic care, the man reported that he was completely symptom-free. He continued to remain symptom-free throughout the remainder of his chiropractic care. The study authors noted, "This complete reduction of symptoms after one week of care contributes a positive correlation between the care administered and the patient's recovery from post concussion syndrome."

In their conclusion, the study authors summed up this case by stating, "This case study serves to provide the details of chiropractic intervention and its positive outcome on 20-year-old male athlete that presented with symptoms classified as post-concussion syndrome. The patient had suffered a concussion as the result of a forceful head trauma two weeks prior to presenting for care."

A study published in the 2023 third quarter issue of the Asian-Pacific Chiropractic Journal documented the successful results of a case study where chiropractic care helped an elderly woman with symptoms of long COVID-19. It should be noted that chiropractic is not a treatment for COVID. This study speaks to chiropractic as a means of addressing the symptoms associated with Long COVID.

On their website, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, (CDC) describes Long COVID by explaining, "Some people who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can experience long-term effects from their infection, known as Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions (PCC). Long COVID is broadly defined as signs, symptoms, and conditions that continue or develop after acute COVID-19 infection."

Although there is little literature about chiropractic and COVID, the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs does list "Chiropractic Care" as a "Consults to Consider" in their August 1, 2022, booklet "Whole Health System Approach to Long - Patient-Aligned Care Team (PACT) Guide".

In this case, a 79-year-old woman sought chiropractic care for her ongoing symptoms related to Long COVID. The woman had a long medical history of health issues and was therefore in a weakened state when afflicted with COVID-19 in December of 2022. Shortly after contracting COVID, the woman was hospitalized with pneumonia. She remained in the hospital for a month before she was finally released. Many of her COVID symptoms remained before going for chiropractic care three months later.

Her Long COVID symptoms included feeling shaky, dry mouth, labored breathing, itching, and fatigue. The woman also noted that since COVID she was experiencing severe memory impairment to the point where she no longer remembered how to write and had to learn this skill all over again. She reported that her worst problem was a sharp "razor blade" like feeling in the back of her throat.

After a chiropractic examination was performed, specific forms of chiropractic care were started. The woman reported some changes in how her throat felt after the first adjustment. By her fourth chiropractic visit, the woman reported that many of her symptoms had decreased. She noted that the sensation of razor blades in her throat were gone. As her care continued, most of her symptoms improved or stabilized. The study records that, as a result of chiropractic care, the woman could take a deep breath and her memory was starting to return.

The report does note that the woman did not see any improvement with her fatigue. The authors noted that one of her medications that she had been taking may be a factor with her fatigue, as fatigue is a direct side-effect of that particular medication.

At the writing of this case report, the woman had elected to continue chiropractic and was continuing to show improvement in all her non-fatigue related symptoms.

The Asian-Pacific Chiropractic Journal documented a case study of a woman who was trying to get pregnant and had been through multiple failed IVF (in vitro fertilization) attempts. With the addition of chiropractic care, the woman was able to successfully become pregnant.

The authors of this study begin by noting that infertility is generally believed to be the result of stress and/or hormonal abnormalities. In many cases, it can be a combination of both factors that leads to infertility. In describing how chiropractic might have a positive effect on this situation, the authors state, "A central tenet of chiropractic care is that the brain is the master controller of the body, and that when we adjust subluxations, we eliminate distortions and allow the body to better express health."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define infertility on their website as "In general, infertility is defined as not being able to get pregnant (conceive) after one year (or longer) of unprotected sex." The CDC further explains how common this issue is by stating "In the United States, about 1 in 5 (19%) married women aged 15 to 49 with no prior births in the United States are unable to get pregnant after 1 year of trying. Also, about 1 in 4 (26%) women in this group have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term."

In this case, a 32-year-old woman videographer, who had been under chiropractic care, decided to seek a different form of chiropractic care for her long-term problem of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). The woman additionally reported that she had suffered from General Anxiety Disorder and a feeling of a "brain fog" that she had since childhood. She was also given a medical diagnosis of Hashimoto's Disease, which is an autoimmune disorder that can affect the thyroid gland and create hormonal issues. The woman reported that she had a history of infertility and had previously attempted in vitro fertilization (IVF) five times without success. She had also suffered one ectopic pregnancy that was unsuccessful.

Because the woman had been under chiropractic care, her new chiropractor approached her issues using a different analysis and adjusting procedure. A chiropractic examination was performed which included several procedures to help monitor various aspects of her physiology. This was intended to see if the new chiropractic care would have an effect on her hormonal issues that could have an impact on her infertility. Based on her examination findings, an intensified specific 2-week regime of chiropractic care was performed.

Re-examinations showed that there were changes to the woman's physiology following the chiropractic care. Additionally, the woman underwent another IVF procedure and was able to conceive shortly after the intensified chiropractic care. Ultimately, the woman's baby was born without requiring medical intervention and without any complications.

The researchers described this outcome by saying, "Given the five failed rounds and the ectopic pregnancy, it is plausible that the systemic picture of health, regulation and nervous system function was part of this successful outcome, especially given the patient had made no other meaningful changes to her regime." They concluded, "It is important for the discipline that subluxation-based chiropractic care be established in the literature as a safe and effective treatment option for function loss in conditions such as infertility."

A case study reported in the third quarter issue of the Asian-Pacific Chiropractic Journal documents the case of a woman suffering with infertility who was able to become pregnant with the addition of chiropractic care.

The researchers in this study begin by explaining "Infertility is broadly described as a condition of the reproductive system in which there is an 'inability to conceive or an inability to carry a pregnancy to term after one year of unprotected intercourse'." They note the complexity of this issue that can involve neural, hormonal, biomechanical, and psychological issues.

With the nervous system being the master controller of the body, it is plausible that all causes of infertility can be affected by nerve system interference from subluxation. Subluxation is when there is some form of interference to the nervous system function, primarily due to spinal misalignments. Chiropractic care focuses on the location and correction of subluxations to allow proper nerve transmission and facilitate the body's return to normal function and health.

In this case, a 28-year-old woman sought chiropractic care for her primary concern of infertility. The woman, a salon owner, also reported a history of chronic stress, poor metabolism with weight control, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping, causing her to wake up stiff and tired. She and her husband had undergone fertility testing without any definitive reasons as to why she could not become pregnant.

A chiropractic examination was performed, and it was determined that subluxations were present. A regular series of specific chiropractic adjustments were started at the frequency of twice per week for 12 weeks. At the 13th week, a re-evaluation was performed to check on the woman's progress.

At the re-evaluation, the woman reported improvements in her stamina and energy level, as well as a better overall attitude and improved appetite control. However, the most exciting news was that the woman reported that she was now five-weeks pregnant. The study notes that the woman was thrilled that she responded so quickly to chiropractic care. She later was able to give birth to her first child.

In their study discussion, the authors explained, "Fertility is a process that requires the proper function of the female reproductive system as well as hormonal regulation, all of which may be impacted by stress and subluxation." They continued, "Given that the autonomic nervous system governs organ function, and the parasympathetic/sympathetic balance impacts hormones, it is feasible that chiropractic care and the reduction of subluxations may have contributed to an improvement in function that allowed a viable pregnancy to be achieved and maintained."