A case study published in the June 27, 2019, issue of the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health documented the improvement through chiropractic care of an infant who was one of a set of twins, and who was suffering from torticollis and breastfeeding problems.

The study begins by reporting that twin pregnancies and births have a much higher incidence of issues as compared to singular births. They report that twins have a 4-fold higher risk of death in pregnancy and a 7-fold higher risk of death shortly after birth. Additionally, twins have a 10-fold higher need for neonatal special care unit admission and have a 6-fold higher risk for cerebral palsy. There is also an increased risk of birth trauma which can lead to several additional problems.

In this case, a 13-days-old male infant who was one of twins was brought to the chiropractor with his twin sister for evaluation and possible care. The parents reported that during the pregnancy the boy was in the head down position for most of his time in utero with the weight of his sister on top of him. The birth was induced at 37 weeks and the boy was born vaginally 4 hours after his sister.

Since his birth, the infant boy had been struggling with breastfeeding due to a failure to latch. His parents reported that he was very gassy and seemed uncomfortable daily. Consultation with a lactation consultant and a pediatrician provided initial help to a degree, but the breastfeeding problem was still constant.

During the chiropractic examination, it was noted that the boy had a significant right head tilt with left rotation. Most of the testing of the infant was within normal, except for the head tilt, a visible cranial asymmetry, and some specific chiropractic testing that indicated spinal issues. Thermography was used to determine heat variations along the spine along with spinal palpation.

From the findings, it was determined that areas of subluxations were present. With the consent of the parents, chiropractic care was started at the rate of 2 visits per week for the first 4 to 6 weeks. Specific infant appropriate forms of chiropractic adjustments were used to address the subluxations that were present.

By the third visit, it was reported that the infant was able to able to latch on both breasts, and his symptoms of gassiness had also decreased. After 6 weeks of care, the parents reported that his head alignment was improved and positioned more in a neutral position, without the torticollis posture that was previously noticeable. A follow-up examination also documented a reduction in the cranial asymmetry that was initially found on the first examination.

In their conclusion the authors of the study wrote, "This case report provides supporting evidence that infants born with muscular torticollis, cranial distortion and difficulty breastfeeding may benefit from chiropractic care."

A research case study distributed on April 9, 2019, documented chiropractic helping a woman with anxiety, panic attacks, low back pain and neck pain. The study was originally published in the Volume 2, 2019, edition of the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic.

The study begins by noting how common a problem lower back and neck pain are. "Low back and neck pain are a significant public health problem affecting increasing numbers of people. In 2015, low back and neck pain were the 4th leading cause of disability-adjusted life years after ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and lower respiratory infection."

The study also reports that, according to the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study of 2015, mental disorders were among the highest-ranking causes of nonfatal burdens worldwide. Anxiety which they defined as the "fear or nervousness about what might happen" is the 9th leading cause of nonfatal disability.

In this case, a 38-year-old woman suffering with low back discomfort for 2 years, plus neck pain for the past 6 months and a 3-month history of anxiety and panic attacks, presented herself for a chiropractic evaluation. She stated that her back pain was constant for the past two years but got worse when she was under stress. The woman rated her neck pain as 6 out of 10, and it was made worse when sitting at a desk and leaning forward. These problems affected her ability to get a good night's sleep.

For the prior three months, the woman had also been suffering with anxiety and panic attacks. Her general physician diagnosed her with mild anxiety, but she was not given any medication or referred out for therapy of any kind.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included a postural analysis, range of motion evaluation, spinal palpation, a surface EMG study, and a thermography heat study. In addition, a PHQ-4 instrument was used to access the woman’s anxiety and depression. The PHQ-4 instrument is a commonly used self-reported assessment short-form that accurately measures depression and anxiety. It has been shown to be reliable and accurate. The woman’s initial PHQ-4 score was indicative of mild depression and anxiety.

Based on the presence of subluxations, specific forms of chiropractic care were started. By the 6th visit the woman reported that her neck pain was only present occasionally and had gone from what she rated as a 6 out of 10 down to a 1 or 2 out of 10. She also noted that her back pain had also gone away causing her to comment that she "rarely noticed back and neck pain."

The PHQ-4 screening instrument showed that her anxiety and depression had reduced to almost not being present at all. In addition, the woman showed improvements in her ability to manage stress, as well as her physical functioning and mental and emotional wellbeing.

The study authors summed up the finding in this case by reporting that chiropractic care "…for the assessment and correction of vertebral subluxation, was associated with resolution of subjectively reported musculoskeletal discomfort, improvement in measured mental health and physical function in a 38-year-old female." They explained how chiropractic was able to help this patient by stating, "One approach to chiropractic care aims to optimize health and wellbeing through enhancing nervous system function by correction or reduction of vertebral subluxation, typically by manual

In the August 8, 2019, issue of the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, is a case study documenting the resolution of a case of swollen tonsils that was recommended for surgery but became unnecessary after chiropractic care was started.

The adenoids and tonsils are both part of the lymphatic system and therefore an important part of a defense system from parasites and bacteria. Years ago, it was common practice to remove tonsils and sometimes adenoids if these were infected or swollen. The U.S. Library of Medicine Medline describes these organs by saying, "The lymphatic system clears away infection and keeps body fluids in balance. The adenoids and tonsils work by trapping germs coming in through the mouth and nose. Adenoids usually start to shrink after about age 5. By the teenage years, they are almost completely gone. By then, the body has other ways to fight germs."

Although the adenoids and tonsils are important parts of the body's defense against germs, there are times when these become enlarged to the point where they can cause sleep problems in children. If medications fail to reduce this situation, surgery is a common medical recommendation to address this issue, even though it may leave the child more susceptible to other types of respiratory issues and infections.

In this case, a mother brought her 2-year-old daughter to the chiropractor for a consultation and possible care. The girl was suffering with swollen tonsils and adenoids which was causing sleep problems. Her sleep disturbances observed by her mother included snoring, mouth breathing, choking in her sleep, and waking up on average three times per night.

Several months prior to the chiropractic visit, the girl's mother took her to the pediatrician and related that her daughter was having the variety of symptoms she had been observing. Her MD diagnosed the girl with hypertrophy (swelling) of the tonsils and/or adenoids. The child was prescribed medications and referred for surgery for removal of the adenoids and tonsils in a month.

A chiropractic evaluation was performed on the child which included a postural inspection and palpation. It was determined that subluxations were present. With the mother's permission, specific age-appropriate adjustments were started at the rate of two times per week.

The study reports that following the first adjustment, the child's mother reported that her daughter showed improved sleep, less snoring and was not waking up as often at night. Her mother estimated that the girl was 50% improved after just the first adjustment. As chiropractic care continued, the girl continued to show improvement. After 12 weeks of chiropractic care, the girl was examined by her pediatrician who stated that there was no evidence of swelling of the tonsils or adenoids and surgical intervention was longer necessary.

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A case study was published on August 1, 2019, in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, documenting the improvement of a pregnant woman who was helped by chiropractic care after an injury during her pregnancy.

The authors of the study begin by reporting that traumatic injuries complicate 6% to 8% of pregnancies. This results in approximately 30,000 pregnant women having to seek care for their injuries. The breakdown shows that 54.6% are from motor vehicle accidents, 22.3% from violent assaults, 21.8% from falls, and the remainder from a variety of other incidents.

Accidents and trauma during pregnancy can affect the mother and the unborn infant. Studies have shown that the infant survival rate after a serious trauma is reduced to 56% following the trauma with most of the fetal deaths occurring in the 2nd trimester. The study points out the serious consequences, "Among pregnant women who sustained severe injuries, there is 17-fold increased risk for placental abruption and a 30-fold increased risk for fetal death."

In this case, a 36-year-old woman who was in the 33rd week of her pregnancy presented herself for a chiropractic evaluation and possible care. Two weeks prior to her visit, she fell down a 15-step set of stairs. After the fall, she went into premature labor and was taken to the hospital. She was released two days later and told that she would probably have her baby early.

One week later, the woman developed pain in her hips, lower back and pelvis. She reported that it was becoming increasing difficult to lift her toddler son as well as perform her daily activities. She rated the pain as between 8 and 10 on a 1 to 10 scale with 10 being the worst.

A chiropractic examination showed several postural abnormalities including a forward position head and an increased curve on the lower back. Palpation of the woman’s spine showed multiple areas of sensitivity and tight musculature. Her spinal range of motion was both restricted and painful.

It was determined that subluxations were present and specific forms of chiropractic adjustments were given appropriate for her subluxations and being pregnant. It was recommended that she be adjusted 2-3 times per week for the remainder of her pregnancy.

The woman reported that within the first three chiropractic visits, she had a significant improvement in her pain and quality of life. After three visits, her pelvic pain had resolved as did her lower back pain after five visits. She delivered a baby girl just one day short of 38 weeks, which was longer than expected by her medical physicians and longer than for her first child.

In their discussion, the authors relate how common chiropractic care is becoming for pregnant women. "Since the inception of chiropractic, the care of the pregnant patient has taken place. In the modern era, the popularity of chiropractic for this patient population is justified in terms of chiropractic’s effectiveness in addressing pregnancy-related musculoskeletal complaints and improvements in quality of life."

On April 15, 2019, the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research published a case study documenting the resolution of Bell's Palsy in a patient undergoing chiropractic care. WebMD defines this condition by stating, "Bell’s palsy is a condition in which the muscles on one side of your face become weak or paralyzed. It affects only one side of the face at a time, causing it to droop or become stiff on that side."

This study begins by noting that Bell's Palsy was named after the Scottish anatomist, Sir Charles Bell, who lived in the late 1700s and early 1800s. This condition accounts for about half of all cases of facial paralysis, affecting between 11.5 and 53.3 per every 100,000 people. This condition can cause difficulty in eating and an inability to close an eyelid, which can lead to serious eye problems. Typical medical treatment is not overly successful and usually involves steroids and antivirals, sometimes in combination with surgical decompression.

In this case, a 68-year-old man went to the chiropractor to see if he could be helped with his drooping and paralysis of the left side of his face. The man stated that his facial paralysis started two weeks earlier, and mentioned that there was no pain with his paralysis. From this problem, the man was unable to close his left eyelid and because of this, he was suffering from dry eye. He also reported that he was having difficulty eating, drinking and speaking. His medical physician prescribed steroids and eye drops, both of which were ineffective. His history revealed that he had been involved in a serious car accident several months earlier.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included an inspection, postural analysis, range of motion, palpation, cranial nerve testing, a heart rate variability study and surface electromyogram (SEMG). In addition, spinal x-rays were taken of the upper portion of the man's neck. From these procedures, it was determined that the man had subluxations in the uppermost portion of his spine and specific chiropractic adjustments were begun.

Upon returning to the chiropractor's office after his initial chiropractic adjustment, it was recorded that the man's face was 80-90% improved in mobility. Two visits later, the study records that the man's facial paralysis was completely resolved.

In their conclusion the authors wrote, "This case report provides supporting evidence that patient's presenting with symptoms consistent with Bell's Palsy may benefit from chiropractic care..." They added, "We encourage continued documentation of chiropractic care of similar patients to inform practice and research."

In the September 9, 2019, issue of the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health appears a case study that documents how chiropractic helped a young girl who was suffering with ear infections recover and avoid scheduled ear tube surgery.

Otitis media is the technical name for an ear infection. According to the Mayo Clinic, "An ear infection (sometimes called acute otitis media) is an infection of the middle ear, the air-filled space behind the eardrum that contains the tiny vibrating bones of the ear. Children are more likely than adults to get ear infections."

This study begins by the authors reporting that acute otitis media (AOM), is a common disorder with 23% of children will have experienced this condition by year one. Most of the cases of AOM are observed ages at 6 to 12 months. Not too long ago, common medical treatment of AOM was to give the child ongoing antibiotics in an attempt to prevent further infections. More recently, the quick antibiotic approach has been less common in favor of managing the pain and monitoring the problem in the hope that the problem self-resolves.

In a growing effort to reduce the usage of drugs by children, many parents have turned to other forms of care or treatment for their children suffering with otitis media. The study reports, "A popular option and highly utilized alternative care approach for children is chiropractic."

In this case, a 3-year-old girl was brought to the chiropractor by her mother for a chiropractic consultation and possible care. The girl had been suffering with chronic ear infections. According to her mother, the girl's ear infections were made worse by a cold or the flu. The child had been through multiple rounds of antibiotics. Each time antibiotics were used, the ear infections would appear to clear up but then return again after the therapy was discontinued. At the time of the chiropractic examination the little girl was scheduled for tympanostomy ventilation tube surgery.

Upon examination, it was noted that the girl was suffering with infections in both ears and was visibly in pain as she appeared agitated and was continually grabbing at her ears. In addition to inspection of the ears, a spinal examination was performed which included both static palpation and light motion of the girl's spine. From the examination it was determined that subluxations were present in the girl's spine.

With the permission of the girl's mother, specific forms of age appropriate chiropractic adjustment were begun. The girl was scheduled for ear tube surgery two weeks after the start of her chiropractic care. Due to the results from her receiving chiropractic care in those two weeks, her medical doctor cancelled the ear tube surgery because the infection had cleared.

The study records the response of the girl's mother by stating, "Given the response of the patient to chiropractic care, the patient’s mother elected to have her child attend chiropractic care on a wellness basis. The child continues to receive chiropractic care on a wellness basis and has not experienced another bout of OM (otitis media)."

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published a case study on February 25, 2019, documenting chiropractic bringing about the resolution of intention tremors in an infant.

In describing what a intention tremor is, the authors of the study stated, "Kinetic tremor is a type of action tremor which is typically perceived while a limb is actually moving. If the movement is part of a goal-directed behavior, the tremor is termed an intention tremor; otherwise it is called a simple kinetic tremor."

When a person is suffering from intension tremors, the tremors seem to get worse as the person is getting closer to their target. For instance, if a person with intension tremors is trying to touch their nose, the tremor gets worse as their hand gets closer to their nose.

In this case, a 20-month-old boy was brought to a chiropractic clinic by his parents. The boy's mother reported that her son’s tremors occurred when reaching for toys or while eating dinner. She also reported that her son was speech delayed for which he had an appointment for a speech-hearing evaluation two weeks from his initial visit to the chiropractor.

The history revealed that the mother had a difficult birth with significant medical intervention. Additionally, the mother could only breastfeed her son for a week due to lack of milk production. Other than his birth, the boy’s development seemed within normal, and there were no issues with allergies or colic.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included a postural inspection, static and motion spinal palpation, spinal ranges of motion, and thermographic heat studies along the spine. From the findings of the examination, it was determined that subluxations were present. Age specific chiropractic adjustments were started to address the subluxations detected with the examination.

The outcome of the care documented in this study showed that, at the time of a re-evaluation seven weeks into the chiropractic care, the objective findings including the thermographic heat studies showed vast improvements. Additionally, the boy's parents reported that using a scale of 0 to 10 with 0 being no improvement and 10 being total resolution of all problems, they rated their son as a 9 out of 10 at that point.

The boy's parents noted that their son's overall quality of life, behavior, attention, activity levels, co-ordination, appetite and other symptoms had improved significantly. He also demonstrated higher energy levels and a reduced frequency of colds or infections. In less than two months after starting chiropractic care, the boy was able to speak in three word sentences.

"Chiropractic care focuses on the detection and treatment of the vertebral subluxation by interaction with the spinal cord," stated the researchers in their conclusion. They continued, "This case provides an instance in which multiple symptoms of cerebellar dysfunction in a pediatric patient have improved because of the application of chiropractic care."