upper cervical chiropractic management of a patient with parkinson's disease: a case report

by Prof. Roger Hahn PhD 10 min read

Upper cervical chiropractic management of a patient with …

8 hours ago Objective: To discuss the use of upper cervical chiropractic management in managing a single patient with Parkinson's disease and to describe the clinical picture of the disease. Clinical features: A 60-year-old man was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at age 53 after a twitch developed in his left fifth finger. He later developed rigidity in his left leg, body tremor, slurring … >> Go To The Portal


Upper cervical chiropractic management of a patient with Parkinson's disease: a case report Abstract Objective: To discuss the use of upper cervical chiropractic management in managing a single patient with Parkinson's disease and to describe the clinical picture of the disease.

Full Answer

Can chiropractic care help an 81-year-old man with Parkinson disease?

An 81-year-old male with a 12-year history of Parkinson disease sought chiropractic care. He had a stooped posture and a shuffling gait. He was not able to ambulate comfortably without the guidance of his walker.

Can adjustments to the spine create plastic changes in the neuraxis?

Chiropractic manipulation was given to the patient in an erect posture in order to elicit plasticity within cortical structures. Previous studies done with cortical blind spot mapping have hypothesized that adjustments to the spine create plastic changes within the neuraxis.

What are the clinical features of Parkinson disease in an 81 year old?

Clinical features An 81-year-old male with a 12-year history of Parkinson disease sought chiropractic care. He had a stooped posture and a shuffling gait. He was not able to ambulate comfortably without the guidance of his walker. The patient had a resting tremor, most notably in his right hand.

Abstract

Objective: To discuss the use of upper cervical chiropractic management in managing a single patient with Parkinson's disease and to describe the clinical picture of the disease. Clinical Features: A 60-year-old man was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at age 53 after a twitch developed in his left fifth finger.

Introduction

A total of 1.5 million Americans have Parkinson's disease (PD), more than are afflicted with multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy combined.1 Although PD is generally considered a disease that targets older adults, 15% of patients are diagnosed before age 50. 1

Case report

A 60-year-old man first experienced PD symptoms at age 53 when his left fifth finger began to twitch. His neurologist diagnosed the patient with PD and prescribed medications, including carbidopa/levodopa, selegiline hydrochloride, and pramipexole dihydrochloride.

Discussion

An important aspect of this patient's medical history was his recollection of head and/or neck traumas before the onset of PD.

Conclusion

This case report described a successful outcome for a patient with PD who was treated with upper cervical chiropractic care.

Acknowledgements

I thank Drs William Amalu and Louis Tiscareno for their Applied Upper Cervical Biomechanics Course and the Titronics Corporation for the Tytron C-3000 Paraspinal Digital Thermal scanner.

What is the best chiropractic care for Parkinson's?

If you or a loved one are suffering from Parkinson’s and are looking for a natural alternative to supplement traditional care, upper cervical chiropractic may be the right option for you. Schedule a consultation with a practitioner near you to learn more, especially if you have a history of head or neck trauma that may have caused a misalignment. An examination of your upper cervical spine may be the first step on the path to better overall health and wellness.

What are the loops of the cervical vertebrae?

Each of the cervical vertebrae (neck bones) have loops of bone called vertebral foramen. These help to provide safe passage for the vertebral arteries that carry blood to the brain. A misalignment may affect this proper flow of blood. With inhibited blood flow comes less oxygen, and brain function can be affected.

What is the stage 3 of Parkinson's disease?

Stage 3. At middle stage, a Parkinson’s patient begins to struggle with balance, and movements become very slow and shaky. Eating and dressing may become difficult chores, but patients at this stage can still maintain independence.

Can CSF cause intracranial pressure?

CSF may pool and cause intracranial pressure. Correcting the misalignment is vital to allow proper flow to resume. As you can see, upper cervical misalignments may have powerful effects on the CNS. It is no wonder then that case studies have revealed the benefits of upper cervical chiropractic for Parkinson’s patients.

Does Parkinson's disease shorten life?

While health and quality of life deteriorate dramatically, Parkinson’s does not appear to shorten a person’s lifespan. Thus, the focus of care is on slowing progression of the disease and maintaining quality of life and independence for the patient for as long as possible.

Does Parkinson's disease affect each patient in the same way?

While Parkinson’s disease does not affect each patient in the same way or in the same progression, these stages represent the typical way the condition would occur.

Is there a cure for Parkinson's disease?

While there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, there are ways to slow the progress, including a natural way that we will discuss later in our article.

Some Common Symptoms Include

One of the more common symptoms of Parkinsons is tremors. They are usually active when the body is at rest and usually begin in a limb, such as an arm or hand. Pill-rolling tremors are particularly common.

Parkinsons Disease: Can It Be Prevented

Unless you live under a rock, youve probably heard a lot about Parkinsons disease lately. In recent years, this formerly obscure disorder has captured the media spotlight.

What Role Does Chiropractic Play

Chiropractic care has shown to improve the quality of life as well as slow down the progression of the disease for those suffering from Parkinsons. Medications may help, but these are often only short-term solutions that mask the symptoms for a short period of time.

Does It Really Work

When first told about the amazing benefits of chiropractic care for improving health and wellness, many people are skeptical. But case studies show that chiropractic can indeed help with the management of Parkinsons.

Chiropractic Care For Parkinsons Disease

Parkinsons disease affects over 1.5 million Americans. Each year, 60,000 people in America are diagnosed with Parkinsons. It can affect both men and women, although the rate among men is slightly higher. Most men and women diagnosed with the disease are over the age of 60.

Care For Patients With Parkinsons Disease

While health and quality of life deteriorate dramatically, Parkinsons does not appear to shorten a persons lifespan. Thus, the focus of care is on slowing progression of the disease and maintaining quality of life and independence for the patient for as long as possible.

Chiropractic Can Improve Quality Of Life For Those With Parkinsons

Parkinsons disease is characterized by nerve cells in the brain that are unable to make dopamine. Dopamine is an important chemical that plays an important role in telling your brain and body to move.