Charmaine Herman, D.C. & Jessica Harris, D.C.
Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research ~ July 9, 2018 ~ Pages 26-32
Abstract
Objective: To report on the health outcomes in a 46-year-old woman with neck pain and hand numbness undergoing chiropractic care for the management of upper cervical vertebral subluxation.
Clinical Features: The patient is a 46-year-old woman that presented to the office with neck pain and hand numbness. She was examined and found to have upper cervical subluxation and dysautonomia along with a loss of the normal cervical curve and cervical spine degeneration.
Intervention and Outcome: The patient received specific chiropractic adjustments using the Blair Upper Cervical chiropractic technique protocol. Eight adjustments were administered over a 4-month period. At each visit, the patient was evaluated for subluxation using thermography, palpation and leg length inequality. Neck pain was decreased from 4/10 to 0/10 on a verbal pain scale. There was improvement in her neck pain and hand numbness after her initial adjustment and resolution of neck pain and hand numbness after two months of care.
Conclusion: This case study demonstrated successful management of a 46-year-old woman with neck pain, spinal degeneration, hand numbness and dysautonomia managed with upper cervical chiropractic care. Due to the natural limitations of a case study, more research is needed to examine how upper cervical chiropractic care benefits patients suffering with neck pain and paresthesias.
Key words: Chiropractic, upper cervical, upper cervical subluxation, vertebral subluxation, dysautonomia, adjustment, spinal manipulation, neck pain, numbness, Blair Technique, thermography
