Opponents of Chiropractic have attempted a smear campaign over the last several years by suggesting that chiropractic adjustments to the neck increased the risk of a certain type of stroke. This campaign was never based upon any scientific evidence, but rather on biased opinions. A new study to be published in the medical scientific journal “Spine” on February 15, 2008 puts those false accusations to rest and clearly shows that chiropractic does not increase the risks of these types of problems.

The story only received limited press coverage including a story in the January 19, 2008 issue of the Globe and Mail out of Canada. The scientific journal “Spine” is an international journal and recognized as one of the most prestigious publications on spinal health matters. In this study, published on February 15, 2008, researchers conducted one of the largest studies of this kind. They looked at 818 patients with a specific kind of stroke that some suggested might be the result of neck manipulations. The difference in this study was that the researchers checked the prevalence of visits to chiropractors and to medical doctors related to this problem.

Dr. Frank Silver, one of the researchers and a professor of medicine at the University of Toronto and director of the University Health Network stroke program, noted that there was no incidence of increased stroke for a visit to the chiropractor than for a visit to the medical doctor. He explained the results, “We didn’t see any increased association between chiropractic care and usual family physician care, and the stroke.”

This scientific study shows that past assumptions attempting to relate chiropractic care with certain types of strokes were not due to the care, but rather to the fact that the people who went to chiropractors and medical doctors with certain types of problems were slightly more likely to suffer this type of problem anyway. Dr. Silver explained, “The association occurs because patients tend to seek care when they’re having neck pain or headache, and sometimes they go to a chiropractor, sometimes they go to a physician. But we didn’t see an increased likelihood of them having this type of stroke after seeing a chiropractor.”

The above headline appeared as the title of a feature article originally published in Northern Colorado Business Report of Feb. 20, 2004. The article, whose subtitle was, “Medical community losing its opposition to chiropractic care,” was written by Chryss Cada, and features a number of testimonials from chiropractic patients.

The opening testimonial came from a woman, Nancy Summers who took her 10-year-old daughter, Anna, to a chiropractor. It seems that Anna had been having “episodes”, for which she had been brought to general physicians and a neurologist. During these episodes, the athletic and otherwise healthy young girl became dizzy, had ringing in her ears and was unable to function. Her mom believes the episodes are the result of an ATV accident.

Neurologists, thinking Anna might be suffering from some type of migraine headache, put her first on anti-seizure medication and then diuretics (in an effort to drain excess fluid from her ears and restore her balance). The drugs did have some positive impact on Anna’s symptoms, but they also had side effects. “It wasn’t like she was totally zoned, but it’s like she was numb and not the same girl she had been before,” Anna’s mother said. “And we weren’t really happy with the idea of having her on medication for the rest of her life.”

Anna’s mother, Nancy, recalled that Anna had had three episodes the week before going to the chiropractor. However, after starting chiropractic care, her mother noted, “The weekend after there was not one episode. It was incredible. We were totally in shock.” The article further reported that since Anna began chiropractic care in November, she has had only a handful of episodes and those have been milder and up to nearly a month apart.

Ms. Summers said she felt her daughter’s doctors were trying to dissuade her from seeking chiropractic care. “It’s like the traditional medical community acts like seeking a treatment outside of that medical community is irresponsible,” she said. “It was a big step to take her to a chiropractor. But now I know it was definitely the best decision we made.”

The article’s author further noted that, according to a study published in the Nov. 11, 1998 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, approximately 11 percent of the population visited a doctor of chiropractic in 1997. That translates into approximately 30 million patients.

A study published in the February 2010 issue of The Spine Journal, the official journal of the North American Spine Society, provided additional evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of chiropractic for certain types of headaches known as “cervicogenic headaches”. A report on the results of this study was also published online on February 26, 2010, on the site “Modern Medicine”.

In this study, 80 patients with chronic cervicogenic headaches were divided into three groups. Two of the groups received various forms of chiropractic adjustments, which the study authors called Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT), and one group received just a light massage so as to be able to compare the results. Results were calculated using standard pain scales. Data from the subjects was collected every 4 weeks for a 24 week period.

The researchers found that the groups that received chiropractic showed significantly greater improvement in pain scores as compared to the group that got just light massage. Those receiving the chiropractic care were more likely to have a 50-percent improvement in their pain. The two groups of patients who received chiropractic care were only given either 8 or 16 chiropractic sessions. The study did see a slightly better response for the group receiving more adjustments, but due to the study parameters, no data was available beyond 16 visits.

Dr. Mitch Haas and a team of researchers at Western States Chiropractic College, were quoted in their conclusion as saying, “Our pilot study adds to an emerging picture of spinal manipulative therapy dose for the treatment of headache. It showed that a plateau in intervention effect might be found in the range of eight to 16 treatment sessions, although a dose effect at these treatment levels cannot be ruled out. The study also adds to the support of spinal manipulative therapy in moderate doses as a viable option for the treatment of chronic cervicogenic headaches.”

From the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research, comes a documented case study published on January 6, 2011 reviewing the successful care of a patient suffering from vertigo, headaches, and post concussion syndrome.

In this case study a 23 year old woman went to a chiropractor five months after suffering a slip and fall accident. It was reported that the woman had slipped in her bedroom and hit her head on the floor suffering a concussion. At the time of the accident she was treated at the emergency room and was diagnosed with a concussion.

It was noted that she had previously suffered with headaches for 10 years prior to the fall. After suffering the concussion the woman’s headaches had gotten worse, and she was also experiencing vertigo (dizziness), nausea, and a throbbing pain in her neck. After the accident she also reported having fatigue, irritability, insomnia, memory problems, and problems with concentration. Her problems were so severe that it was affecting her daily life.

A chiropractic examination was performed and numerous positive findings were noted indicative of vertebral subluxation in the upper neck. X-rays of the upper neck verified misalignment of the upper neck and a determination of upper cervical (neck) subluxation was made. Based on these findings a course of specific chiropractic care was initiated to correct the problem.

Within one week of starting chiropractic care the patient reported that she had not experienced any headaches or vertigo after receiving her first adjustment. Follow up x-rays and examination procedures showed improvement of the upper neck as well. Two weeks after the start of care she was experiencing some occasional slight mild headaches, but the other symptoms had disappeared. In essence, at the conclusion of this case study the woman was actually healthier than she was prior to the accident she suffered.

In a report from the Feb. 21, 2002 PRNewswire comes a story of a national telephone survey conducted by Media General Research in December 2001, in which it was revealed that consumers rely most on chiropractic as the number one natural, non-drug choice for most pains and injuries. The survey found for example, that 42 percent of consumers have experienced back pain during the past year. The number one natural choice was chiropractic care. The study also found that of those patients who saw a chiropractor, 91 percent rated their care as “very” or “somewhat” effective.

The study also showed that while sixty percent of consumers said they would go to an MD if they experienced an injury causing pain to their back or neck, about 23 percent said they would go to a chiropractor. This number was more than physical therapists at 7 percent, massage therapists at 4 percent, and acupuncturists at only 1 percent.

While it is a common public belief to associate chiropractic with back and neck pain, the survey also showed another area that is becoming more recognized by the general public when it comes to choosing chiropractic care and that area is the care of headaches. Although using drugs is still the most commonly used treatment for those who had experienced headaches in the past year, the second most popular choice of care for headache sufferers was chiropractic care.

The report also noted that in 1998, the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that chiropractic was the most frequently used drug-free treatment. Additionally the report mentioned that Chiropractic has been practiced in the United States for more than 100 years, and more than 3 million people visit one of the 60,000 chiropractors in the country every year.

A case study published in the November 30, 2009 issue of the scientific periodical, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, documents the improvement, with chiropractic care, of a young boy suffering from headaches.

In this case a 13 year old boy had been suffering from daily headaches for the previous 4 years. The young boy reported that his headaches would occur for a minimum of 5 hours per day, and nothing seemed to help the pain. The boy never took medication for the condition but, after 4 years of suffering from these headaches, he was brought to a chiropractic clinic for care.

The study notes that about 66% of the population will suffer from headaches at some time. Additionally the authors report that according to the International Headache Society, there are 14 distinct types of headaches. The author also notes that, “Standard medical care in treating headaches is often unsuccessful due to the complicated nature of headaches, and proper medical management is largely dependant upon a proper diagnosis.” Most medical care involves the use of medications and does not use a structural approach used in chiropractic.

The Chiropractic analysis and x-rays revealed a reversal of the cervical (neck) curvature. Normally when looking at a side x-ray of the cervical spine, the neck should have an even and smooth bowing curvature toward the front. Care was initiated with specific adjustment and procedures designed to correct the loss of the neck curve.

After only 6 weeks of care a follow up x-ray was taken that showed a complete restoration of the normal neck curvature. The author reported, “In addition to the positive changes in the radiographic measurements of the patient, the headaches he suffered from for 4 years subsided until, by the end of the care plan, they were completely eliminated.”

Evidence reports recently released by the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER) show the effectiveness of chiropractic care for sufferers of Tension Headaches. The story released February of 2001, was the continuation of a release of a study done at Duke University several years earlier. In the study many different types of physical and behavioral treatments were used for patients with headaches. Chiropractic care was specifically compared to amitriptyline, a common medication used for headaches.

In this study the staff at the Duke Center screened articles from the literature, created evidence tables, and analyzed the quality and magnitude of results from these studies. They then drafted an evidence report with peer review from a panel of 25 reviewers, including researchers and clinicians in chiropractic.

The results showed that chiropractic was highly effective for patients with tension headaches. When compared with the drug amitriptyline, chiropractic and the drug had similar short term effects during the episode. However, the drug carried with it an adverse reaction rate in 82% of the patients.

The most profound effects were seen after the care was discontinued in the study. In these instances the patients who were on drug therapy essentially returned to the same state as before. However, the patients who were under chiropractic care continued to show sustained reduction in headache frequency and severity even after the chiropractic care was discontinued. The implications are that chiropractic is not actually a therapy or treatment, but rather gets to the cause allowing the body to effect a correction that lasts beyond actual care.

From the August 3, 2003 issue of the Peer-Reviewed Scientific Journal, Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, comes a documented case study of a professional ice skater who had suffered from chronic migraine headaches. The study reports that when she was 23 years old and a professional skater she had sustained a concussion by hitting her head against the ice in a fall. Prior to her fall and concussion, she exhibited no health problems. Following the concussion, she suffered with tension and migraine headaches. These symptoms persisted over the next twelve years, during which time she utilized daily pain medications.

At age 35 she decided to initiate chiropractic care. The study notes that the initial examination showed evidence of subluxation in the upper neck (cervical spine) . The results were monitored by the doctor’s observation, patient’s subjective description of symptoms, and thermographic scans. Following three months of care all headaches were gone. After a one year follow up the patient still remained headache free.

The study’s conclusion noted, “The onset of the symptoms following the patient’s fall on her head; the immediate reduction in symptoms correlating with the initiation of care; and the complete absence of all symptoms within three months of care; suggest a link between the patient’s concussion, the upper cervical subluxation, and her headaches.

From the February 2004 issue of the Journal of Chiropractic Pediatrics, comes a documented case study of a 28 year old women who suffered with migraine headaches for over a decade before being helped with chiropractic care. In her case there was no history of previous trauma. Her migraines would last for several days and would cause nausea and dizziness.

In addition to her headaches, she also revealed a history of an irregular menstrual cycle, she would normally menstruate no more than twice per year. This problem resulted in infertility. After years of not becoming pregnant, she sought help from a reproductive endocrinologist. She was placed on medication which created additional side effects but did allow her to become pregnant. Unfortunately, after 9 weeks she suffered a miscarriage.

After years of these problems the woman started chiropractic care. She was initially given an examination and it was determined that she did have spinal problems. A series of specific chiropractic adjustments were then initiated. A re-examination was performed one month after care began. The patient reported a reduction in her headaches. After the second month of care another examination was performed and the patient reported that she had no incidence of migraine headache for the entire previous month. Additionally, the patient noticed that she had started a regular menstrual cycle. Within six months of the initiation of chiropractic care, she became pregnant.

From the June 7, 2003 issue of the Australian newspaper “The Advertiser” comes an article that features children and chiropractic. The article begins with, “Chiropractic, long perceived as the cracking of bones is becoming increasingly popular for babies.”

Dr. Paula Stacey, state president of the Australian Chiropractors’ Association is quoted, “Babies can’t tell you they’ve got a headache or a sore neck”. She notes that chiropractors provided gentle adjustment to the head and spine of newborns and also recommended regular maintenance visits. “They get born,” Dr. Stacey said. “The birthing process, coming down the birth canal, can be quite traumatic.” She continues, “If the spine is in ideal alignment, you’ve got the best chance of the nervous system sending the messages as they should be sent.”

Patient Hope Deane, said she first took her daughter Ruby to the chiropractor about two months after her birth. Now, Ruby goes for a “tune up” once per month. She explains her reason by saying, “Young ones crash all the time, or they land in funny ways, or sleep in funny ways. We’re stopping the problems before they start, rather than looking for short-term results. She hasn’t been sick. Maybe that’s helping her stay healthy.”