Recent research re
porting on a 51-year-old woman suffering from Meniere’s Disease reveals that chiropractic may play an important role in caring for people with this condition.
The research reported in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research showed improvements in Meniere’s Disease after chiropractic adjustments to the upper part of the neck.
“Research is revealing that there is a relationship between structural abnormalities in the spine, the nervous system and brain” stated Dr. Matthew McCoy, a chiropractor, public health researcher and editor of the journal that published the study.
Research has shown not only that the brain relies on normal structural integrity and joint movement, but that complex neurological communication and pathways involved in helping humans balance and orient themselves in space are tied into spinal biomechanics and their related neurological pathways.
“It makes perfect sense when you think about it” stated Dr. McCoy. “Meniere’s disease may be related to how the entire body communicates with the brain and the most critical area for this is the spine and the most critical area of the spine is the upper part of the neck.”
The patient reported on in this study was a 51-year-old female suffering with Meniere’s Disease, Type I Chiari malformation, migraines, vertigo, whiplash, and jaw problems. She had a bicycle accident several years ago resulting in a concussion and swallowing her two front teeth. She experienced several other significant traumas, like car accidents and falls. She also had issues with her ear such as ringing, pain, hearing loss, headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain, and low back pain. She suffered from anxiety, sleeping issues, fatigue, and restless leg syndrome. Surgical intervention provided only temporary relief and medication did not help.
The chiropractor examined her and found structural shifts in her neck. She had postural changes, decreased range of motion, and tight muscles in her neck. X-rays and other testing confirmed these findings. These structural shifts can lead to obstruction of the nerves and it is this obstruction, called vertebral subluxations, that chiropractors correct.
The woman was adjusted by the chiropractor and she experienced resolution of her symptoms associated with her Meniere’s Disease and her quality of life improved as she felt she had gotten her life back.
The study’s author called for additional research to investigate the clinical implications of chiropractic in patients with Meniere’s Disease.
To learn more about this study and chiropractic research, visit Vertebral Subluxation Research.
