A Patient's Perspective
Up C Spine Home about up c spine a new approach evidence practitioners shop stop press contact us blog
Up C Spine - Is your Head on Straight?
Evidence Skull Base The Anatomy Of The Atlas Subluxation Cervical Spine Biomechanics Imaging And Radiographs The TMJ Link Research Library Scientific Studies Case Studies Anecdotal Newspaper Reports Book Reviews Other Papers Grostic Measurment & Analysis Upper Cervical Animations Anatomy Testimonials View Testimonials Submit Testimonials A Neck DotesTestimonial Links References Web Links Literature And Publications Video, Audio, Graphics & Animation Search The Internet Books of Interest My Viewpoint
Home | Evidence | Research Library

RESEARCH LIBRARY - DOCUMENT [92]

Category: Case Studies
Date 1-oct-1999
Case Title Upper Cervical Chiropractic Management of a Patient with Parkinson's Disease: A Case Report
Author Erin Elster, D.C.
Main Condition/ Disease  Parkinson's disease
Source J. Manipulative & Physiol. Therapeutics Vol. 23,No. 8, October 2000
Abstract A single case of a 60 y.o. man diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at age 53. He was subject to upper cervical chiropractic care for 9 months. Radiographic and thermographic analysis revealed and upper cervical misalignment. There was a marked improvement in both subjective and objective symptomatic findings. Upper cervical chiropractic care may be an important treatment approach for PD.
Summary B.J. Palmer (upper cervical chiropractic developer), reported PD (shaking palsy) patients as far back as 1934. Following correction of their upper cervical misalignments many patients reported improvement and correction of symptoms associated with PD. This case is of a 60 y.o. man whose PD symptoms progressed in the 18 months prior to upper cervical care. Elster utilized paraspinal thermal imaging which measures infrared heat emission from the skin to confirm nervous system interference. There have been over 6000 peer reviewed articles over 20 years which point to the overall efficacy, sensitivity and reliability of thermography. Upper cervical x-rays revealed right laterality of the atlas (C1) vertebra. Upper cervical chiropractic treatment involved correction of this right laterality by the knee-chest approach. Thermal scans post adjustment revealed only minor thermal differences. Following further upper cervical maintenance the patient reported 43% improvement in symptamology previously experienced. Over a 6 month period of treatment/care the patient reported maintenance of his previous improvements and no deterioration in his condition. Later he initiated an exercise and weight training regime with his personal trainer. Importantly the patient has recalled 6 incidences of trauma prior to onset of symptoms, including concussion (football), helicopter and car crash (hit windshield), sledding accident and being thrown from a horse. Whilst this is only a single case, taken with all of the other upper cervical evidence emerging, it may be that PD patients will achieve improvements under upper cervical chiropractic care. I recommended that PD research provide some focus on the upper cervical spine trauma as a casual link in the disease and upper cervical chiropractic as a plausible treatment.
References  
Keywords upper cervical spine, Parkinson's disease, chiropractic, head trauma, thermography
 

Select another document
 

Select another Category of Research Documents
Return to top of page
Site Map Disclaimer Credits Privacy