Health & Chiro Articles

Several news stories appeared in the general press citing cases of migraine sufferers being helped by chiropractic care. One such story appeared on the June 7, 2007 WIStv.com, one in the June 6th Times Plus of Wisconsin and still another on the June 4, 2007 Boston channel 2 news. These stories noted that migranes affect nearly 28 million people and cost an estimated $13 billion a year in reduced productivity.

One of these stories describes the plight of Pam Delrosso a woman who suffered from debilitating migraines for 25 years. Ms. Delrosso described her life with migranes by saying, “My quality of life just went downhill. I’d be in bed for days on end.”

A second migraine sufferer, Adriana Grassi was a personal trainer who was very much into physical fitness. She describes her passion for fitness by saying, “This is my job, my career. I love doing what I do. I think I can help people change their lives.” Unfortunately, Grassi’s career almost came to an end due to the onset of migraines. She remembers, “I had a problem training my clients because I had terrible migraines. I couldn’t talk, I couldn’t even see, sometimes, the light.”

According to the two stories both women went to neurologists, both had MRIs, CAT scans, and both were given a variety of medications. In both cases, medical care did not work. Fortunately, both women turned to chiropractic care.

Both articles report that the two women underwent a form of chiropractic care known as Orthogonal Chiropractic. According to Dr. Ryan Alther, a chiropractor interviewed for these stories, “Ortho meaning 90 degrees. We’re trying to get the skull 90 degrees to the atlas, which is the top vertebrae, and the atlas at 90 degrees to the rest of the neck.” Dr. Alther explains that when the head and neck are not at right angles, it can cause nerve interference and alter blood flow, resulting in severe headaches, neck and back pain.

For Pam Delrosso the results from chiropractic care were life changing. She states, “They don’t devastate me like they did before. I’ll get an occasional headache — maybe once a month, every 2 months. It goes away in an hour and it doesn’t put me in bed for three days.”

Adriana Grassi also had a life changing experience because of her chiropractic care. The articles note that she’s been headache free for months. She commented, “I would definitely say it’s a miracle.”

A scientific study published in the February 2010 issue of, The Spine Journal, from the North American Spine Society offered future evidence of how chiropractic helps headaches. The study was conducted at Western States Chiropractic College by the Dean of Research, Dr. Mitchell Haas, who is also a faculty member of that institution.

In this study a total of 80 participants who were suffering from a specific form of headaches, known as cervicogenic headache (CGH), were separated into different groups. These groups received either 8 or 16 visits consisting of either chiropractic care or massage. The researchers referred to the chiropractic care as “spinal manipulation” (SMT), and listed the massage as LT for light manipulation. In addition to these groups, an additional number of participants received no care at all and were used as a control group for comparison.

In the two groups that received chiropractic care, the procedures were described as ” high velocity low amplitude spinal manipulation”. Care was only rendered for either 8 visits or 16 visits. The results of this care was compared with participants who received a light massage on either 8 visits or 16 visits.

To grade the changes the researchers used a modified version of the Von Korff pain and disability scale, which is a standard scientific way of measuring pain and rating it on a scale from 10 to 100. The researchers also noted the number of headaches and the amount of medication that the participants took because of the headaches. Information was collected every 4 weeks for a period of 24 weeks.

The results showed a significant decrease in pain for the group that received chiropractic care over the group that did not receive any care at all. Both the groups that received chiropractic showed an approximate 50 percent decrease in the number of cervicogenic headaches as well as a decrease in severity.

The groups that received massage also showed improvement over the control group, but that improvement was significantly less than the group that received chiropractic care. The researchers wrote in their conclusion, “Clinically important differences between SMT (spinal manipulative therapy, aka chiropractic adjustments) and a control intervention were observed favoring SMT.”

In the January 2002 edition of the peer reviewed scientific journal, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, (JMPT) appeared a case study on a 41-year-old woman who sought chiropractic care with complaints of pain at the TMJ on both sides, ear pain, ringing in the ears, vertigo, decreased hearing ability, and a sensation of pressure or fullness in both ears. She also reported that movements of her jaw while talking or chewing provoked pain at the TMJ.

Before seeking chiropractic care she was treated for her TMJ by two medical doctors. She was also referred to an eye, ear, nose, and throat specialist, who diagnosed her with TMJ syndrome. Additionally, she was referred to a dentist for the problem. Medical recommendations were to apply heat to the area, reduce talking and yelling, and change her diet to a soft diet. Even with all this medical and dental care her symptoms steadily continued to get worse.

Eventually she sought the care of a chiropractor. After an examination it was determined by the chiropractor that the patient had an Atlas subluxation, (first bone in the neck). Care was begun by a series of adjustments. After only a few visits the patient reported significant improvement in her symptoms. After two and a half months she reported complete relief from the TMJ symptoms. She also reported a decrease in the frequency and severity of her headaches. Prior to starting chiropractic care, she was experiencing 1 to 2 migraine headache attacks per month. The effects of the chiropractic care were long term as shown at her 1-year follow-up where she had not experienced any headache symptoms for a period of 9 months and her TMJ complaints had completely resolved.

A case study published in the February 9, 2011, issue of the scientific periodical, the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research documented the case of a woman who was suffering from cluster headaches and was helped with chiropractic. Cluster headaches are one of the most painful types of headaches and get their name because they occur in cyclical patterns or clusters.

The authors of the study noted that headaches are one of the most common complaints presented for medical treatment leading to 18 million doctor visits per year. They also report that according to the National Center for Health Statistics, headaches cause an estimated 5.5 million days of activity restrictions per year in the United States which leads to $61.2 billion per year in restricted activity costs and medical expenses.

In this case, a 47-year-old woman came to the chiropractor with a history of severe headaches over the past two years. The study notes that her headaches were right sided, behind her right eye, lasting fifteen to forty-five minutes and occurring five to eight times per day.

According to this case study, she was originally misdiagnosed with migraine headaches. Standard medical treatment for migraine headaches was initiated which consisted of Imitrix, Maxalt, and oxygen. She got only some minor relief from her headaches with these treatments but after six weeks of non-retractable pain, she was later diagnosed with cluster headaches.

The authors of the study reported that chiropractors see nearly 38 million patients per year with headache complaints. Out of desperation, the woman in this case went to a chiropractor to see if she could be helped. A chiropractic examination was performed and a determination was made that vertebral subluxations were present. A course of specific chiropractic adjustments was initiated.

After the woman’s first chiropractic adjustment, and in consultation with her medical physician, her medication was reduced. Additionally, she reported that she was sleeping better and felt more relaxed. She reported that after the initiation of her chiropractic care, she experienced a significant decrease in the severity of her headache episodes.

Within five months of beginning chiropractic care, the woman was able to discontinue the use of all medication and her headaches had resolved completely. The study authors wrote, “Currently, she reports being headache and drug free, and reports an increase in the quality of her life. She received a job promotion and is now attending college.”

The June 10, 2004 Reuters Health reports that a new study released June 10, shows that nearly one quarter of children and teens with chronic headaches are overusing over-the-counter pain relievers. The study defined overuse of pain relievers as taking more than three doses per week for over six weeks.

The study noted that approximately one in seven kids said they took the medicines without telling their parents. Almost one in five participants said they had headaches every day, or nearly so. Most of the daily headache sufferers were girls and students who got high grades in school. Study author Dr. A. David Rothner, of the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio told Reuters Health, “Most likely children and teens are taking this medicine because they think it will relieve their headaches, and not to get any type of “high.”

The study noted that there are many reasons why kids shouldn’t overuse these medicines. Some pain relievers contain aspirin, which puts children under the age of 19 at risk of Reye’s syndrome, a potentially fatal disorder. Additionally, other risks of overuse of over-the-counter pain medicines include kidney failure, liver problems, and intestinal and stomach bleeding.

The study author, Dr. Rothner concluded with a warning for parents, “If you see they’re using the medicine more than twice a week, then bingo! You’ve got a problem on your hands, and you’ve got to do something about it.”

A documented case study appeared in the scientific periodical, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health on August 11, 2011 showing chiropractic helping an 8-year-old boy suffering from headaches. The study authors begin by noting that about 75% of children report a notable headache by age 15.

The authors report that cervical (neck) subluxations, and the resulting changes in cervical curves have been shown to be a factor in headaches. Past studies show that people with necks that do not have their normal forward curvature and have become straight or reversed are particularly prone to headaches.

In this study, the 8-year-old boy was brought to the chiropractor with complaints of headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, allergies, and digestive problems. The boy’s headaches were described as sharp and throbbing, and were made worse with noise, but improved when he was lying down. The boy’s headaches were mainly in the front of his head and would last the entire day, sometimes even waking him at night.

Over the previous year, the boy’s health continued to decline, and he became less able to engage in normal activities that he had previously enjoyed. In response, his parents had taken him to a pediatric neurologist-headache specialist, an allergist, a nutritionist, and a psychologist. Recommendations and medications from the medical health practitioners gave little or no relief to the boy.

A chiropractic examination and x-rays were performed, and revealed subluxations with cervical curve changes in the neck area. Chiropractic care was initiated with the child initially being seen three times per week and gradually reduced in frequency.

As a result of the chiropractic care, the child’s headaches were alleviated and post x-rays showed an improvement of the neck curvature. The boy was involved in an auto accident later in his care. Fortunately, his headaches did not return, and he suffered no ill effects from the incident.

In the discussion area of the study, the authors conclude by stating, “It seems that evidence points to the cervical spine and its alignment as a critical factor in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cervicogenic headache in the pediatric population.”

A case report was published in the January 2010 issue of the scientific publication, “Explore, the Journal of Science and Healing”, documenting the case of an 11 year old boy who was suffering from migraines and was helped with chiropractic care.

In this case an 11 year old boy was brought to a chiropractor after having suffered with headaches for the previous four years. The boy was diagnosed by their family physician with “migraine-type headaches” three years prior to the chiropractic visit. He was prescribed medications which provided only minor and temporary relief. According to the boy’s mother her son experienced at least one severe headache every seven weeks and two to three mild to moderate headaches on a monthly basis.

In his description of the pain, the young boy described his pain as throbbing, but he was unable to point to any one spot. His headache attacks would last from a couple of hours to 5 hours in duration, and were sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

A chiropractic examination revealed that several areas of the boy’s neck were very sensitive to the touch causing him to pull back as the chiropractor was examining these areas. Care was initiated using specific adjusting procedures for his spinal findings with the sensitivity to his neck being considered.

After a four week period it was noted that the boy experienced only one “mild” headache attack during this initial period of care. At a follow up visit nine months later the boy reported that he had only experienced “couple of mild headaches but no migraine-type headaches.” Six months after that visit the report noted that the boy was symptom free. At the mother’s request the boy continued periodic chiropractic visits for preventative purposes.

According to the American Chiropractic Association 14% of the public who see chiropractors presently go for headaches. For these patients the good news has gotten even better. Researchers at Northwestern College of Chiropractic in Minnesota, compared chiropractic care to certain drug therapies used for tension and migraine headaches.

The study, published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, followed 218 headache sufferers who were given either chiropractic care or drug therapy or both. Pain was reduced 40 50% in all groups initially. However, four weeks after all care was stopped, only the chiropractic group still retained the benefits, while those who received the drug therapy lost about half of their improvement.