Relief of Asthma with Chiropractic Care - Case Study Example

Relief of Asthma with Chiropractic Care al Affiliation address, e-mail, phone number Advisors Objective: This article describes and discusses relief of asthma in a patient with back and shoulder pain receiving chiropractic care. Clinical features: A patient admitted to a hospital with back pain, shoulder pain and asthma as a co-condition was presented for chiropractic care. Intervention and Outcome: The patient received spinal adjustments based on the full spine technique protocol and analysis with subluxation found at T5 and C2. After six weeks of chiropractic care, the patient was able to exercise without the use of an albuterol inhaler, nearly no chest tightness or shortness of breath and no interruptions of sleep at night due to asthma symptoms. Conclusion: There are a growing number of case reports that provide detail of an improvement in asthma symptoms in patients receiving chiropractic care. Relief of back pain and shoulder pain is also one of the significant improvements that have been reported by this group. However, further studies and data from clinical trials is essential in establishing a direct link between asthma relief and chiropractic care as a form of alternative medicine. Keywords: Spinal manipulation Chiropractic Subluxation Alternative medicine Introduction Asthma, a respiratory disease affects a number of people and is characterized by a certain level of discomfort when breathing (Alcantara, Roo and Oman 7). It affects the lungs and causes narrowing of the airways leading to restricted breathing that can be extremely frustrating. The symptoms of the condition are mainly triggered by environmental factors, infections and exercise. This limits the level and nature of activity that the patient can undertake prompting common management methods that include use of inhalers, drugs and steroids. However, recently, there have been advancements in research that have implicated chiropractic treatments in relieving the condition (Alcantara, Roo and Oman 5). Chiropractic treatment is recommended under the care of a trained professional and is an alternative treatment method that has provided relief for the condition. The treatment option places emphasis on the concept that the respiratory system is affected by the nervous system. As such, the treatment options seeks to improve the functions of the nervous and musculoskeletal system which in turn improves the functioning of the respiratory system (Postles, Taylor and Holt 37). This however, is still a form of alternative treatment and may not work for some patients who may still have to use conventional medicine. The treatment often involves a process that relieves neck and back pain through careful cervical adjustments and spinal thrusts. The effects of the treatments may be experienced either immediately or after several months of therapy (Alcantara 30). The result is not only efficient breathing system for asthma patients but also general overall wellbeing of the individual. Case Report A patient identified as #123708 was admitted at C-HOP clinic with upper back pain and shoulder pain. On admission, he filled out a PGIQ form and listed asthma as a co-condition before the initial physical examination. The patient was to be placed under the care for the management of back and shoulder pain in connection to the underlying asthma condition that may have been related. The full spine technique protocol was initiated in order to manage the back and shoulder pain that the patient has presented with. This involves application of specific thrusting movements to the vertebra, utilizing parts of the vertebra and contiguous structures as levers that directionally correct a condition (Alcantara, Roo and Oman 5). This was done with the intention of correcting the alignment, motion and function of a vertebral joint and vertebral subluxations. The patient was subjected to this treatment twice in a week; in addition, he also had subluxation in the cervical region at C2 and the thoracic region at T5. Following exposure of the patient to this treatment regimen for 6 weeks, the patient reported some improvement. He was able to exercise without the use of albuterol inhaler and had nearly no chest tightness nor shortness of breath. He also reported no interruptions of sleep at night due to the symptoms of asthma. Discussion Asthma presents with various symptoms including coughing at night, difficulty in breathing and shortness of breath, wheezing,pain, pressure or tightness in the chest. This presents a considerable level of suffering to children or adults with the condition who may suffer for a long time without relief. The muscles around the airways are constricted and inflamed which is what commonly leads to manifestation of the asthma symptoms (Kaminskyj et, al. 30). If left untreated for long, the condition may lead to a significant deterioration in lung function. Even in the absence of the symptoms, inflammation may still occur which leads to related pain in other areas of the body causing shoulder pain. As such, it is vital that the condition be managed effectively to ensure overall well being before waiting for the symptoms to be serious. The governments medical care system spends a significant amount of revenue acquiring drugs for the management of the condition for patients all over the country. As a result of its complex nature of manifestation, there is no known cure; treatment for the symptoms associated with the conditions can be lifelong making it a extremely costly venture not only for the government, but for the individual as well. Chiropractic care, a concept that has been practiced over the years for the management of musculoskeletal conditions are now increasingly being used to manage asthma in both children and adults. Case studies are increasingly documenting that patients who have been enrolled in chiropractic care no longer need to use asthma medications and inhalers. In addition, they have received significant relief from various asthma symptoms; a situation that has enabled them to resume sports and other physical activities (Alcantara 24). In this study, the chiropractors used a variety of techniques to deliver their care including low force, activator and manual adjusting. The force can be delivered to the patient through a variety of mechanisms that can be as simple as a hand delivered low force blow to a more complicated activator method. The activator method uses the activator adjusting instrument instead of the use of hand adjustments in order to provide a consistent mechanical low force, high speed clicks to the body. Full spine technique protocol and subluxations were implemented in this care. The full spine was examined and adjusted, and the patient also had subluxations in the cervical region at C2 and in the thoracic region T5 of the spine (Alcantara, Roo and Oman 6). The patient received relief from back and shoulder pain through the use of spinal adjustment, which is a technique that has been used over the years. This is as a result of the techniques ability to reduce muscle tension and reduce stress in these patients. In addition, there is an improvement in the neurological functions which lead to an improvement in asthma related symptoms. The full spine technique protocol details a less active manual method during which a three joint complex is taken past the normal range of movement but not too far that could lead to a joint dislocation. It involves the implementation of a dynamic thrust in a manner that does not lead to damage of a joint in which the sudden force is meant to cause an audible release in an attempt to increase the joints range of motion (Alcantara, Roo and Oman 7). This skill materially varies from one practitioner to another with the duration and amplitude of thrust profoundly affecting the degree of spinal activation. These skills are often employed using the hands which are used to massage, adjust and stimulate the spine in order to achieve the desired effects. Joint misalignment is one of the leading causes of back and shoulder pain, greatly affecting the bodys daily functions and ability to heal itself. Vertebral subluxation is also carried out in chiropractic care in which the joint surfaces remain intact (Postles, Taylor and Holt 38). However, the movement integrity, alignment and physiological functions are altered in order to enhance their functions. The biomechanical and neural integrity of the joints is enhanced thus ensuring that they function optimally with minimal resistance that can cause pain to the person. And because the effects of this kind of therapy cannot be represented in an x-ray or other form of media, it is becoming increasingly difficult to demonstrate the effects of this therapy on an individual. Subluxation is essentially a functional entity and not a structural one that enhances the essential and optimal functioning of the musculoskeletal system (Postles, Taylor and Holt 39). Conclusion There are a growing number of case reports that provide detail of an improvement in asthma symptoms in patients receiving chiropractic care. Relief of back pain and shoulder pain is also one of the significant improvements that have been reported by this group. However, further studies and data from clinical trials is essential in establishing a direct link between asthma relief and chiropractic care. Works Cited Alcantara, Joel. The Chropractic Care of a Pediatric Patient with Asthma, a systematic review of the literature to inform clinical practice. Clinical Chiropractic (2012), 15: 23-30. Print. Alcantara, Joel, Laura V. Roo, Rosemary E. Oman. Chiropractic Care of a Pediatric Patient with Asthma, allergies, chronic colds & vertebral subluxation. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic. (2009). 3: 1-7. Print. Balon, Jeffrey, Peter D. Aker, Edward R. Crowther, Clark Danielson, Gerard Cox, Denise OShaugnessy , CorinneWalker, Charles H. Goldsmith, Eric Duku, and Malcolm R. Sears. A comparison of active and simulated chiropractic manipulation as adjunctive treatment for childhood asthma. 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J Can Chiropractic Association. (2010). 54: 24-32. Print. Leboeuf-Yde, Charlotte, and Eva N. Pedersen . Self reported nonmusculoskeletal responses to chiropractic intervention: A multination survey. Journal of manipulative physiology. (2005). 28: 294-302. Print. Postles, Ali, Heidi H. Taylor, and Kelly Holt. Changes in asthma symptoms and bedwetting in a four year old child receiving chiropractic care: A case report. Chiropractic journal of Australia. (2010). 40: 34-36. Print. COVER LETTER I do hereby declare that this is my original work and has not been presented for publication in any academic or professional institution. Neither has it been presented for consideration for publication in any other academic or professional institution. Name Date Signature Read More