In the February 3, 2011 issue of the Journal Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research, a case study research article documents the improvement of a 9-year-old girl with Occipital Lobe Epilepsy under chiropractic care. In this case, improvement was shown with specific chiropractic adjustments being rendered to the upper cervical (neck) spine.
The study notes that epilepsy is a condition characterized by two or more seizures, brief attacks of altered consciousness and abnormal motor activity. The worldwide population with epilepsy is estimated to be 10.5 million, 25 percent of whom are children under the age of 15.
In this case, a 9-year-old girl was brought to the chiropractor by her mother. The child was suffering with uncontrollable blinking of the left eye. She had been previously brought to a neurologist who diagnosed the girl with occipital epilepsy. The neurologist recommended an anti-convulsion medication but the girl’s mother decided to seek chiropractic care rather that subject her daughter to drug therapy.
The girl started suffering from uncontrollable eye blinking approximately two weeks before the visit to the chiropractor. Additionally, she had shown other associated symptoms including seizures, tics, spasms, dizziness, and fainting. Other conditions the patient suffered from included constipation, seasonal allergies, rashes, itching, and skin lesions.
A chiropractic examination was performed that included a variety of specific procedures including x-rays designed to look for subluxations in the upper cervical spine.  These tests confirmed that the girl was a candidate for upper cervical chiropractic care. Care was initiated with a specific adjustment to the top of the neck.
Within six days of the initial visit, the girl’s mother reported that the left eye blinking had decreased in frequency. Shortly thereafter, it was noted that her symptoms were progressively decreasing and were only present at night.  After two months of care, the eye blinking had completely stopped. The blinking only returned once after that but disappeared again following another adjustment.
In his conclusion, the author summed up this case and explained how chiropractic can help those with epilepsy by saying, “The relationship between an upper cervical subluxation and epileptic conditions in children exists but remains elusive. Evidence from this case supports the elimination of the upper cervical subluxation in the resolution of occipital lobe epilepsy signs and symptoms. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder and it is the opinion of this author that it should be treated conservatively in children before medical and surgical intervention.”

A study published in the December 2009 issue of the scientific periodical, the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics shows that chiropractic care is extremely safe for children. In research for this report, the study author undertook a review of all previously published reports of “adverse events” for chiropractic care delivered to children.

In this study the author, a chiropractor from the Anglo European College of Chiropractic, and lead tutor for Advanced Practice for Chiropractic Pediatrics, Joyce Miller, B.Sc., D.C., D.A.B.C.O., set out to review and examine the chiropractic safety record for care of children in comparison to the safety record of medications given to children. She noted that the safety issue of medications given to children is an increasing concern.

In her published study, Dr. Miller reported that according to the United Kingdom’s, National Patient Safety Agency, in 2006 out of a total of 33,446 reports of medical pediatric care, 19% experienced a medication problem, 14% had a procedural safety breech, 9% showed errors in documentation, and an additional 7% had errors in medical clinical assessment.

The reported results of the authors research showed that there were six separate published reports that addressed safety of what was called “Manual Therapy” for children delivered by either chiropractors or medical practitioners. The author specifically looked at the care rendered by chiropractors for the purpose of this study.

The results showed that over a 59 year time frame, a systematic review of the literature only uncovered 8 incidences of hurt or harm to children due to chiropractic adjustments.  With an estimated 30 million pediatric adjustment visits to chiropractors made each year, the risk factor is calculated to be extremely low.

In her conclusion, Dr. Miller wrote, “Based on the published literature, it appears that manipulation, when given by a skilled chiropractor with years of training carried out with low forces recommended for pediatric care, has few side effects in the healthy infant and child and their recorded incidence is exceedingly low.

Dr. DeRusha’s comment:

Paint Creek Chiropractic Center is a family oriented chiropractic office.  Chiropractic is a safe and drug free approach to wellness for children.

For further information you can contact Dr. DeRusha at Paint Creek Chiropractic Center, 248-601-4540,  in downtown Rochester, Michigan.

A case study research article published on August 31, 2009 in the scientific periodical, the Journal of  Pediatric, Maternal and Family Health, documented a case of a 2 year old girl with developmental and emotional growth issues, also known as Developmental Delay Syndrome or DDS. In this case study these issues were subsequently resolved with chiropractic care.

In this case a 2 year old girl was brought to the chiropractor with an interesting history. It seems that she was the younger of fraternal twins, with her brother being born vaginally, while she required a c-section to be born. From the trauma of her birth it was noted that her head and facial features were asymmetrical.
At the age of 28 months the young girl was suffering with Developmental Delay Syndrome or (DDS), and exhibiting frequent rages, furious temper tantrums, and nightmares that caused her to wake up screaming. She was described as a child that was not able to function in pre-school or at home with the family. She was notably slower than her twin brother in both intellectual and emotional development.
After a chiropractic evaluation was performed a specific regimen of care was initiated. After only 2 visits the child had noticeably improved posture. The case study also reported that after the 5th visit, the child was very stable within her family and pre-school environments, and she had stopped walking on her toes as she had prior to beginning chiropractic.  Long term follow up years later at age 7, showed that she was equal in development to her twin brother and she was doing well in school.
In the conclusion to this case study the authors wrote, “Since there is some question as to the causation of the various developmental delay syndromes, this ultimately leads to some lack of clarity on treatment options, particularly for children sensitive to medication or who do not choose medication as an option. Patients are seeking alternative care, and particularly care that offers low risk and some benefit should be brought to their attention. While the studies are inconclusive, there is an emerging evidence base that does show chiropractic care can be involved in the treatment and care of patients with developmental delay syndromes.”

Paint Creek Chiropractic Center is a family oriented chiropractic office.  ALL children should have their spines checked for subluxations from birth.  Studies have measured up to 60-90 pounds of pulling force on the baby’s neck at birth if the doctor needs to pull the baby out or if forceps or vacuum extractors are used.  That is more than enough force to mis-align a baby’s neck vertebra and cause spinal cord and nerve irritation.  Having a baby or child adjusted by a chiropractor is very safe and can help avoid a lifetime of spinal and health problems.

A review of previous studies on the effectiveness of chiropractic for pregnant women with lower back pain was published in the July  2008 edition of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT).  This study looked at previously published works on this subject to review the body of evidence for the effectiveness of chiropractic care.
The JMPT report starts off by noting that between 50% and 80% of pregnant women suffer from low back pain (LBP) during their pregnancy. They noted that a review of previous work showed that from 68% to 85% of pregnant women with back pain during pregnancy do not look for any care for their lower back pain. The authors theorize that this is because most pregnant women consider back pain to be a normal part of the pregnancy.
 In reviewing all the scientific literature on the subject of chiropractic for low back pain in pregnancy, the authors of the JMPT review narrowed their selection down to 6 studies that met their specific criteria. The results of the various studies showed a high percentage of pregnant women did get relief from their lower back pain through chiropractic.
In one reviewed study 84% of the 25 subjects reported relief of their lower back pain.  In a larger study of 103 patients who received chiropractic care during their pregnancy, all of the women reported greater than 50% decrease in back pain on a questionnaire.  In yet another case series where 120 pregnant women with LBP underwent an average of 15 chiropractic treatments, the results showed that 25% had complete remission of their back pain, 50% reported feeling very well, 15% were feeling better, and 10% noted no change in condition.
Interestingly, none of the studies reviewed for the JMPT report indicated any adverse effects or evidence of harm to either the pregnant woman or unborn child from the chiropractic care.  The authors of the JMPT report noted that there was a need for more comprehensive studies involving control groups, but they did note that all studies they included reported positive results for the subject under chiropractic care. They noted in their conclusion, “Results from the 6 included studies showed that chiropractic care is associated with improved outcome in pregnancy-related LBP.”

This is a great review of research showing the effectiveness of chiropractic for low back pain during pregnancy.  It is an honor to adjust expecting mothers and then checking their babies for subluxations when they are born.  -Dr.Eric DeRusha, Paint Creek Chiropractic Center.

A case study research article published on March 25, 2009 in the scientific periodical, the Journal of  Pediatric, Maternal and Family Health, documented a case of improved hearing and the resolution of ear infections with chiropractic care. This case followed the progress of a  three year old girl who had right and left ear pain and hearing loss after three unsuccessful implantations of tympanostomy tubes as well as multiple medications.
The research article starts off by noting that ear infections are one of the most common diagnoses of children by pediatricians in the United States. According to the study, over one third (35%) of all pediatrician visits in the U.S. in 1990 and 46% of all three year-olds have experienced three or more episodes of this condition.
The case study author also reviewed the literature involving chiropractic care for children with ear infections. Dr. Crystal Brown, the author of the paper noted, “Numerous case studies and some clinical studies are revealing that there is a relationship between abnormalities in the spine, the nervous system and the various problems related to ear infections. These types of structural problems in the upper part of the neck cause a back-up of the lymphatics and problems with the tubes draining the middle ear. By removing the structural imbalance chiropractic helps these fluids drain, and improves nerve supply and range of motion.”
In this case the young girl was first diagnosed with ear infections when she was one year old. For the next several years the child had repeated infections that were not helped by multiple rounds of oral antibiotics, ear drops and three separate insertions of tubes in the ears. This case reported that the little girl’s health condition continued to get worse to the point where her preschool teacher even began noticing both hearing and speech problems. Hearing tests confirmed these findings and the third set of tubes were removed due to complications of excessive fluid accumulation, rupture of the eardrum, worsening speech disturbances and bilateral hearing loss.
At this point the girl’s mother decided to try chiropractic care prior to another set of tubes. The child was examined and the finding of upper cervical (neck) subluxations was made. A course of specific adjustments was initiated to correct the subluxations.
After about one month of chiropractic the child improved dramatically including a normalizing of the audiology testing. The child reported an increase in hearing and told her mother, “I can hear again”. The child’s mother reported the child had less ear pain, was less irritable, and had better speech. It was even reported by the preschool teacher that the girl was more attentive.
Dr. Matthew McCoy, a chiropractor, public health researcher and editor of the journal that published the study commented, “With everything we know about the dangers of antibiotic abuse, chiropractic intervention makes perfect sense in the case of childhood ear infections. In fact, chiropractic is the treatment of choice for dealing with the structural and neurological aspects of ear infections. This child was experiencing speech, hearing and school challenges as a result of her ear infections and the medical intervention was not helping. It wasn’t until the chiropractic intervention that the child improved dramatically and in a very short time.”

Paint Creek Chiropractic Center is a family practice and we love providing chiropractic to children as well as adults.  In fact, many of the health problems we see in our adult patients may have started in childhood, perhaps during the birth process. 

If you would like a consultation for your child with Dr. DeRusha, call us at (248) 601-4540.  We are located in Rochester, Michigan.

A case study published on November 26, 2007 in the scientific periodical the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research documented the case of a 7 year old asthmatic girl whose life was changed with chiropractic.  This documented case followed the care of this little girl who had suffered from chronic asthma since age two.

The study noted that by the age of 4, she was diagnosed as having asthma.  Her mother reported that almost anything from dust to cold drafts would trigger an asthmatic attack.  Her asthma was so bad that the 7 year old girl was taking oral medication twice a day and utilizing three different inhalers four times per day each, for a total of 24 inhalations per day.

As a complication to her asthma, she was suffering from a cough and persistent fevers.  Because of this, she was using more than ten other medications to attempt to manage the cough and fever.  Even with this extensive level of medications, this little girl’s life was problematic.  The study noted that she experienced daily attacks, almost constant wheezing and coughing, and a persistent tight and heavy chest.  As a result, she was unable to engage in any physical activities.  Her condition was so severe tht she would be forced to go to the emergency room for treatment approximately five times per year.

Finally at age seven, the child was brought into an office for chiropractic care.  A chiropractic examination showed the presence of vertebral subluxations, and care was initiated.  She was seen and given specific chiropracitc adjustments for 2-3 times per week for an initial period of 3 weeks.

The results for this little girl were life changing.  After just the first adjustment, the case study reported that she had a noticeable reduction in her symptoms that evening, with the cough discontinuing.  Over the next three weeks of care, she experienced no asthma attacks and no coughing.  Additionally, her wheezing, and chest tightness and heaviness had subsided.

The girl’s mother reported that her daughter was able to increase her activity without the usual increase in symptoms.  Three months following the start of chiropractic care, an examination with the girl’s medical doctor documented a significant improvement in respiratory function.  Her pediatrician was elated with her progress and attempted to give credit to the medications.  When the girl’s mother explained they had stopped giving her several of the medications prescribed and that she was receiving chiropractic care, the pediatrician did not approve and terminated his care thus forcing the parents to change pediatricians.  

In the conclusion of the case study the authors summed up this case study by stating,”We presented the chiropractic care of a patient with severe asthma and chronic cough.  Perhaps this case will encourage future testing and screening for subluxations which could potentially cause dysponesis, resulting in a variety of symptoms that include asthma.” 

If your child is suffering from asthma and you are interested in a chiropractic examination to determine if chiropractic may help, call Dr. DeRusha at Paint Creek Chiropractic Center at  (248) 601-4540.  We are located in downtown Rochester, Michigan.

A case study published in the February 19, 2008 issue of the scientific periodical, the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (JVSR), documents a case of an infant with bronchopulmonary dysplasia being helped with chiropractic.  Bronchopulmonary dysplasia, (BPD), is a serious lung condition that affects infants who are born premature and have resulting breathing and lung problems. 

The usual course of medical care for infants with BPD is continual administration of oxygen for the first 28 days in an intensive care unit.  The National Institutes of Health estimate that the average length of intensive in-hospital care for babies with BPD is 120 days.  In most cases after the child leaves the hospital, the infant will be on antibiotics and will need ongoing breathing treatments and intermittent oxygen.

In this case a female infant was born premature at 24 weeks gestation, weighed only 593 grams and was diagnosed with BPD.  As a result of the premature birth she had surgery for retinopathy, several rounds of antibiotics and a feeding tube for three months.  After 17 weeks in the hospital she was discharged.  Her medical care continues and consisted of nightly requirements of 1/8-liter of oxygen, a ventilation machine and continuation of antibiotics.

Three months after her release from the hospital she was brought to a chiropractor for an analysis.  At that time she weighed twelve pounds and it was observed that she was listless, constipated and colicky with pasty skin and sinus congestion.  Additionally it was noted that her breathing was short and rapid, her limbs were rather flaccid and she did not make eye contact.  She had also recently completed her last round of antibiotics. 

Chiropractic care given was specific adjustments initially twice daily – morning and afternoon for two weeks, then three times per week for two weeks;  reducing to twice a week for one week, then once a week and eventually once every two weeks.  The case report noted that after the initial adjustment, her mother reported when her baby was placed on her back, she used her abdomen more to hold her legs up; she was not colicky and was able to pass gas easily for the first time.  After the second visit, her sinuses drained and congestion resolved.  After the third adjustment, the baby made a loud noise and was drawing in more air.

As care continued other improvements noted included, the ability to hold her head up with more control and improved facial color and symmetry.  Additionally, her bowel movements improved and she became verbally louder and more alert.  After her 14^th chiropractic adjustment, the baby girl was breathing fully on her own with no signs of cyanosis.  There was no medical intervention during her chiropractic care.  

After 24 visits this baby’s life had been changed as she was then able to roll over on her own, was asymptomatic and has not needed to be readmitted to the hospital nor administered antibiotics.

  Ear infections are the most common illness affecting babies and young children. Published statistical studies show that up to a third of American children will have six or more episodes of ear infections before entering school, with some children experiencing six to twelve ear infection episodes in one year.[1]  Approximately half of all children will have at least one middle ear infection before their first birthday, and two-thirds of them will have at least one ear infection by age 3.[2] 

With 10 million cases each year, ear infections, which can be excruciatingly painful, are the number one reason for visits to pediatricians, accounting for 35% of all pediatric visits.

The standard medical treatment is with antibiotics, usually amoxicillin.  While antibiotics may be effective in acute bacterial infection, they do nothing to stop repeat ear infections.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, amoxicillin is not an effective treatment for ear infections.  In fact, when treated with antibiotics, recurrence of ear infections was two to six times greater in the amoxicillin treated children than those treated with a placebo.[1] 

Repeated doses of antibiotics can lead to drug-resistant bacteria.  In 1995, Dr. Richard Bresser of the CDC said that the number of unnecessary antibiotics prescribed annually for viral infections was 20 million.  Dr. Bresser, in 2003, now refers to tens of millions of unnecessary antibiotics.[3]

 Frequent ear infections are also the second most common reason for surgery in children under the age of 2.  Myringotomy and tympanostomy or “ear tubes” may be prescribed.  During the surgical procedure a small opening is made in the eardrum to place a tube inside.  In many cases the membrane pushes the tube out after a couple of months and the hole in the eardrum closes.  Although the treatment is effective, it needs to be repeated in 20-30% of the cases and this treatment requires general anesthesia, never a minor thing in a small child.[2] 

Before another round of “maybe it’ll work or maybe it won’t” antibiotics or the more drastic step of surgery, more parents are considering chiropractic to help children with chronic ear infections.  At Paint Creek Chiropractic Center, in downtown Rochester Michigan, we often see kids with ear infections, and most cases respond very favorably to chiropractic care.  In Part 2 of this article I will discuss why chiropractic works so well.

-end- part I –Ear Infections

 References

1. Peet, Jennifer Brandon D.C.: Chiropractic Pediatric & Prenatal Reference Manual.  2^nd edition  1992 by Baby Adjusters, Inc. Publications
2. Chiropractic Approach to Ear Infections.  American Chiropractic Association website; www.americanchiro.org
3. Kent, Christopher, D.C, J.D.:“Recreational Drugs Far Less Likely to Kill You Than Prescribed Drugs.”  www.mercola.com  Jan 15, 2008.

The October 1998 issue of the Ladies Home Journal has an article entitled,” Chiropractic Adjustments for Chronic Ear Infections”  The article reviews several studies showing the effectiveness of chiropractic care for preventing recurring ear infections known as Otitis Media or OM.

According to the article, recurring ear infections account for over 35% of all pediatrician visits in the United States.  Sometimes the ear infections are due to a virus and sometimes from bacteria.  The most common treatment from medical doctors is with antibiotics even though antibiotics are ineffective on viruses.  While the antibiotic may be effective with acute bacterial infections, they do nothing to prevent future ear infections.  Research has shown that repeated use of antibiotics is contributing to future infections by creating drug resistant-infections.  The surgical result has met with little long term results as the “tubes” placed in the ears often come out and usually require a child to be put under general anesthesia to do the surgery.

The article states, “Chiropractic care is thought to prevent recurrent infections by correcting misalignments (called subluxations) and allowing normal fluid drainage from the middle ear.”  The article also noted that 6 months after the chiropractic care was given to the children in the study, 80% had not suffered a recurrence of ear infections.

The article also recommended that: “If your child is between ear infections and his doctor suggests ear-tube surgery, ask if you can try chiropractic treatment first.”  My suggestion is don’t bother asking their permission, it is your child’s health at stake.  You don’t need the pediatrician’s o.k. to see a chiropractor.  Call Paint Creek Chiropractic Center @ 248-601-4540 and make an appointment TODAY!