Attention Deficit Disorder, Pain And Upper Cervical Care

(Upper Cervical) Chiropractic care improves quality of life, sleep & attention in patient with Attention Deficit Disorder

Marshall Dickholtz Sr., D.C. & Evan White D.C.

J Upper Cervical Chiropr Res. 2012 Aug;27:71-76

Objective: To report an improvement in quality of life, sleep and attention following reduction of an upper cervical vertebral subluxation in a patient with Attention Deficit Disorder.

Clinical Features: A 19-year-old male presented for (upper cervical) chiropractic care with complaints of Attention Deficit Disorder and chronic dorsal and lumbar pain.

Intervention and Outcomes: National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA) technique was utilized to evaluate the appropriateness of chiropractic care.  Several objective clinical findings were noted.  The atlas misalignment was corrected with an upper cervical adjustment and immediate improvement was observed. Visual evoked responses revealed normalization of a previously abnormal steady-state visual evoked response.  Outcome assessment tools showed significant improvements in overall health.

Conclusion: The reduction of the upper cervical vertebral subluxation was concomitant with improved quality of life, sleep and visual evoked responses.

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

Upper Cervical Care And The Patient With Brachioradial Pruritis

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for Brachioradial Pruritis, vertigo, neck pain or any other condition, disease or symptom.)

Upper Cervical Care Helps Patient with Brachioradial Pruritis, Vertigo & Neck Pain - A Case Study

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, April 26, 2011 issue, published a case study documenting upper cervical care helping a woman with Brachioradial Pruritis, neck stiffness, and vertigo. Brachioradial Pruritis (BRP) is a nerve condition of the upper extremities characterized by intense itching, burning, and tingling sensations that often prevent the suffering individual from sleeping.

In this case, a 37-year-old woman described her condition as an intermittent bilateral itching with burning sensations to her arms for the past 9 months. She noted that she was getting progressively worse, and was now at the point that she was unable to sleep for more than 4 hours a night due to the intense itching. By the time the woman presented for care, her condition had gotten so bad that her lack of sleep affected her ability to care for her young children as well as work as a registered nurse. Additionally, her arms were itching so intensely that she would scratch them until they would bleed.

In addition to the severe BRP symptoms, the woman suffered from neck stiffness and vertigo (dizziness). The study reports that she was taking non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) several times per week for the neck discomfort. In the previous 6 months, she had also experienced 3 or 4 episodes of vertigo so severe that it caused nausea and vomiting. In her history, it was noted that 8 years earlier she fell down stairs injuring her head and neck, causing immediate numbness in both arms.

An upper cervical examination showed positive findings in postural abnormalities, thermal scans, spinal x-rays, leg lengths and ranges of motion. It was determined that this patient had nerve interference due to head neck misalignment. Care was inithttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifiated using specific corrections designed to reduce the misalignment and improve neurological integrity.

The results noted that after the woman's first correction, her dizziness had stopped. After the second, her symptom of itching diminished significantly that night. After her third, the woman stated that she was able to sleep for more than 6 hours without the discomfort of itchiness. After being under upper cervical care for 2 ½ months, she reported that all of the BRP symptoms had resolved. Three months into care, the study reported that the woman had a normal neck range of motion, no muscle spasms, and a 70 percent reduction in neck stiffness.

In their conclusion, the authors wrote, "Dramatic improvement in the symptoms associated with the condition is noted following the introduction of upper cervical care, concomitant with a reduction in vertebral subluxation."

Post Concussion Syndrome, Positional Vertigo and Headaches

(Editors Note: The following is an abstract from the research journal mentioned in our last post. A big thank you goes out to Matthew McCoy DC, MPH for his work on this journal and all his efforts for the profession. Enjoy the post and pass it along.)

Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care of a Patient with Post Concussion Syndrome, Positional Vertigo and Headaches

Alisha Mayheu DC & Matthew Sweat DC

Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research ~ January 6, 2011 ~ Pages 3-9

CASE STUDY

Abstract

Objective: To outline clinical changes after (upper cervical) chiropractic care in a patient with vertigo, headaches and post concussion syndrome.

Clinical Features: A 23-year-old female presented for (upper cervical) chiropractic care five months after a slip and fall that resulted in a concussion. The patient presented with symptoms of vertigo and headaches consistent with post concussion syndrome. The patient had a longstanding history of headaches that were exacerbated by the concussion and a new complaint of positional vertigo that occurred immediately following the trauma. Radiographs ruled out fracture but were remarkable for upper cervical subluxation.

Intervention and Outcomes: The patient received upper cervical specific chiropractic care through the technique of Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractic. Atlas Orthogonal protocol of upper cervical palpatory scanning and supine leg length analysis were used to indicate when an upper cervical adjustment was to be administered. Radiographic analysis was used to determine the misalignment and the exact vectors of the upper cervical adjustment.

Conclusions: Clinical findings suggest that upper cervical vectored manipulation was beneficial in this patient with vertigo, headaches and post concussion syndrome.

Depression and Upper Cervical Care

Abstract from JVSR

Improvement in Depression Following Reduction of Upper Cervical Vertebral Subluxation Using Orthospinology Technique

Glenndon C. Genthner, M.Div. Bio, Harris L. Friedman, PhD Bio, Charles F. Studley, DC Bio
[November 7, 2005, pp 1-4]

Background: It has been long speculated that chiropractic interventions may affect mental health problems. One such intervention, an Orthospinology technique to correct the occipitoatlantoaxial subluxation complex using the Grostic procedure, has been anecdotally noted to improve depressive symptoms.

Methods: Consequently, 15 adults were selected by their treating chiropractors as both clinically depressed and having an upper cervical subluxation, then treated with this intervention in 3 private practice settings in the southern United States. These participants were administered the Beck Depression Inventory II prior to an a Grostic correction of the upper cervical complex, as well as post-procedurally.

Results: A paired t-test demonstrated significant improvement in depression test scores (t=3.96, df="14," p<0.001). Conclusions: The data supports the hypothesis that the orthospinology technique to correct the occipito-atlantoaxial subluxation complex using the Grostic procedure may relate to reduced depressive symptoms.

Clinical Efficacy of Upper Cervical Versus Full Spine Chiropractic Care on Children with Autism: A Randomized Clinical Trial

The abstract below is from the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research

Khaled A. Khorshid Bio, DC, MS, MBBCh; Roy W. Sweat Bio, DC; David A. Zemba, Jr. Bio, DC; Brett N. Zemba Bio, DC
[March 9, 2006, pp 1-7]
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Background: Children with autism are presented with multiple categories of clinical pictures that affect their social, sensory, speech, and physical development. Parents of autistic children seek all possible therapies available including chiropractic. In this study, the clinical outcome of an upper cervical based chiropractic technique is compared to full spine adjustment in autistic children.

Methods: The clinical effects of full spine adjustment for 14 autistic children were evaluated using the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC). ATEC is a questionnaire about children’s development and progress answered by parents. It was developed and is scored, online, by the Autism Research Institute of San Diego, CA. Seven of these children were randomly assigned to be shifted to Atlas Orthogonal upper cervical adjustment. The remaining seven children continued full spine adjustment. Repeated monthly clinical assessments were done for 3-5 months. Pre and post x-ray and leg length analysis was also monitored.

Results: The clinical improvement of the autistic children showed in the parent’s observations through decrease of ATEC scores. This improvement of ATEC scores was seen in the cases of six of the seven children under upper cervical adjustment and in five of the seven children under full spine adjustment. The total ATEC average improvement in the upper cervical group was 32%, while only 8.3% in the full spine group. Two autistic children under the upper cervical adjustment protocol no longer met the criteria to be considered autistic following the interventions.

Conclusion: In this study, the clinical outcome of chiropractic care showed higher efficacy with upper cervical adjustment when compared to full spine adjustment in autistic children. Further studies are recommended.