Improvement in Sleep and Quality of Life in a Child with Cerebral Palsy Undergoing Chiropractic Care
Lori Goodsell, B.S., D.C. Bio & Jennifer Schneider, B.S. Bio
Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic ~ Volume 2010 ~ Issue 3 ~ Pages 130 -135
Abstract
Objective: To report on a female patient with cerebral palsy who presented for chiropractic care.
Clinical Features: Sixteen year old female with a history of cerebral palsy and findings of vertebral subluxation resulting in poor sleep habits and muscle spasticity. She was non-ambulatory, uncommunicative and non-responsive, and due to these complications she had been fed through a feeding tube and had a complete liquid diet since birth.
Interventions and Outcomes: Over a period of six months, a specific, conservative chiropractic adjustment regimen for the correction of vertebral subluxation was administered to the patient, explicitly the motion palpation technique utilizing a specific seated cervical adjustment. The patient exhibited a considerable decrease in sleep disturbance. Static surface EMG and thermal scanning were performed using the Insight® surface EMG and thermal scanning technology. Improvements were noted in surface EMG scanning over the six months of care and thermal scanning revealed a dynamic pattern.
Conclusion: While under chiropractic care, subjective and objective improvements resulting in physical changes for the patient and quality of life improvements within her family were documented in a patient with cerebral palsy and sleep disturbances.
Key Words: chiropractic, vertebral subluxation, quality of life, cerebral palsy, sleep disturbance, surface EMG, thermography
