This study looked at a 67 year old male who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease about 3 years before seeking Chiropractic care. During the Chiropractic examination in addition to evaluating his spinal structure he was also asked about overall health factors and symptoms he was experiencing. During this exam he was found to have symptoms typical of Parkinson’s patients such as resting tremors in his hands, neck stiffness, decreased facial expression and drooling. He was also suffering with neck pain, double vision, headaches, lack of energy, unexplained weight loss, right hand weakness, knee arthritis, difficulty breathing while walking up and down stairs, low back pain, left hip pain, cramping in his calf muscle, difficulty holding in urine and erectile dysfunction. The Chiropractic examination also revealed many changes to his normal spinal structure. The normal forward curve of the spine in the neck was reduced by half and his head was forward of his shoulders. Additionally his torso or ribcage was shifted forward and his right hip was rotated. He was also found to have subluxations (misalignments, fixations) in several areas of his spine.
His Chiropractic treatment consisted of structural adjustments, exercises, and rehabilitation. After 12 weeks of treatment he was re-evaluated. At this time there were significant improvements in his spinal structure with his posture moving toward more normal balance and an increase in the curve in his spine in the neck which was initially decreased. Also he reported 30-90% improvement in all of the symptoms he initially presented with and improvements in his ability to carry out normal activities of daily living most of us take for granted. Before treatment he had trouble buttoning his shirt, preparing meals, eating meals and swallowing, and difficulty sleeping resulting in decreased energy throughout the day. He was able to do all of these things with greater ease which made him feel more independent. So how was structural Chiropractic care able to help?
First we need a basic understanding of what is happening in Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s is a slow degeneration of a specific region of nerve cells in the upper most part of the spinal cord. These nerve cells are a gateway to the region of the brain to control movement, which is why the hallmark sign of Parkinson’s is the shaking tremor. As a spine is moved from its normal structure it puts stress on the spinal cord. This stress decreases blood flow to the spinal cord and applies excessive tension to the nerve cells of the spinal cord themselves. Improving the spinal structure towards normal will restore blood flow to the spinal cord and reduce the tension on the nerve cells.
That’s the Chiropractic story restore normal spinal structure and function, allow the nervous system to function and see improvements in your health. It’s as simple as that!
A. Vertebral Subluxation Res. April 19, 2012
By Dr Scott Szela