Justin Brown DC Bio, Jonathon Chung DC Bio, Belinda McCullen DC Bio
Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research ~ Issue 1 ~ March 1, 2012 ~ Pages 16-19
Abstract
Objective: To describe the upper cervical chiropractic management of a female patient with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
Clinical Features: A female patient with Multiple Sclerosis presented to the office with neck pain, numbness, ringing in the ears, fatigue, balance problems, and dizziness. This was the patient’s second experience with chiropractic. An atlas subluxation was detected from leg length evaluation, postural analysis, and radiographic measurements. She was adjusted using an upper cervical technique.
Intervention and Outcomes: The patient received orthogonal-based, upper cervical low-force (UCLF) chiropractic care based on the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA) technique protocol. At the patient’s 30th visit she reported having a 90% improvement in her neck pain, 90% improvement in her numbness, 70% improvement in her fatigue, and a 90% improvement in her balance since her initial visit.
Conclusion: The positive response observed in the case suggests that atlas subluxation may have a positive effect on the symptoms of patients with Multiple Sclerosis. However, follow up to this case is needed due to the nature of exacerbations and remissions in MS. The need for further investigation of the connection between atlas vertebra subluxations and Multiple Sclerosis is indicated.
Key Words: Upper Cervical, Subluxation, Multiple Sclerosis, NUCCA, orthogonal, neck pain, fatigue, and numbness
