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Chiropractic Correction May Reverse MS, PD Progression

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Sept 03 - Chiropractic correction of trauma-induced injury to the upper cervical spine may halt or reverse the progression of both multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson's disease (PD) symptoms, according to a retrospective study published in the August issue of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research.

Erin L. Elster, DC, an upper cervical chiropractor in private practice in Boulder, Colorado, presents her experience with 44 MS and 37 PD patients she treated over the past 5 years.

Seventy-eight of the 81 patients reported that they experienced at least one traumatic head or neck injury 2 months to 30 years prior to the onset of MS or PD. Paraspinal digital infrared imaging and laser-aligned radiography confirmed the presence of upper cervical subluxation (misalignment of the upper cervical spine from the neural canal) in all 81 patients.

According to Dr. Elster, 40 of 44 (91%) MS patients and 34 of 37 (92%) of PD patients showed symptomatic improvement following chiropractic care to correct vertebral subluxation.

Of the 44 MS patients, improvement in MS symptoms was "substantial" in 28, "moderate" in 8, and "minor" in 5 patients. Of the 37 PD patients, 16, 8, and 11, respectively, showed substantial, moderate, and minor improvement.

No further progression of MS or PD occurred over a 1- to 5-year period in the "improved" cases.

Some studies have suggested a causal link between head and neck trauma and the subsequent development of PD or MS (see Reuters Health report May 19, 2003), although the link remains controversial.

Dr. Elster concludes the current uncontrolled data support a causal link, and therefore a larger controlled study is warranted.

J Vertebral Subluxation Res 2004.