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Amy Warner Campbell, DC & Christie Kwon, MS, DC, MPH
Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research ~ March 5, 2026 ~ Volume 2026 ~ Pages 8-13
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Abstract
Objective: Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders affect an estimated 60–70 million Americans and are traditionally managed with pharmacological therapies, surgery, and lifestyle interventions. However, evidence supporting integrative approaches such as chiropractic care remains limited and underexplored. This narrative review synthesizes the available literature examining chiropractic interventions for GI conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease.
Methods: A total of nine relevant articles, including case reports and a clinical controlled trial, were identified, suggesting potential associations between chiropractic care and improvements in bowel regularity, abdominal pain, and overall quality of life. To complement the literature, a feasibility study was conducted in a private chiropractic practice to evaluate the practicality of implementing a standardized 3-month integrative protocol combining chiropractic adjustments, supplementation, dietary modifications, and lifestyle recommendations.
Results: The literature review the literature suggests a positive association between chiropractic care and gastrointestinal function. Recruitment and adherence challenges limited participant completion in the feasibility study, however outcomes from one full participant demonstrated improvements in gastrointestinal symptoms, sleep quality, thoracic spine function, and weight management, alongside favorable microbiome trends. Collectively, this work highlights both the therapeutic promise and logistical barriers to studying chiropractic care as an adjunctive GI intervention.
Conclusion: These results support the need for larger, controlled trials with structured support systems to evaluate the efficacy and isolate the mechanisms by which chiropractic care may impact gastrointestinal function.
Keywords: gastrointestinal disease, chiropractic, gut microbiome, vertebral subluxation, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease
