Chiropractic case studies help us understand the potential impact of certain interventions on patients with unique and often complex health issues. Several reports have found chiropractic benefits in these situations. This article explores three 2024 chiropractic case studies finding benefits for patients with musculoskeletal issues combined with liver cancer, itchy back syndrome and tongue-tie.
#1. Chiropractic case study
Lumbar disc herniation with co-existing liver cancer
On January 1, 2024, Cureus published a case study involving a 30-year-old male with stage IV liver cancer. After falling on his construction job, it was suspected the patient had lumbar disc herniation, resulting in significant low back pain and leg numbness.
The patient initially sought medical attention, receiving a prescription for gabapentin but seeing only minimal improvement. After two weeks, he consulted with a DC who conducted a physical examination. An MRI showed disc desiccation, bulging and impingement in the L5/SI area.
Treatment consisted of low-force joint manipulation and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), the former to reduce pain and increase range of motion and the latter to ease muscle tightness and inflammation. The patient was also given low-impact exercises to improve muscle strength and coordination.
After one month, the patient’s pain decreased from 7/10 to 1/10 and his walking distance without pain increased from 100 meters to 800 meters. His quality of life also improved from 48% to 90% on the WHOQOL scale.
#2. Chiropractic case study
Neck tightness with co-occurring neurological and autoimmune disorders
A different Cureus case report, this one published on February 1, 2024, involved a 54-year-old woman with tightness on the right side of her neck and thoracic spine. The patient had been diagnosed with notalgia parasthetica (NP), known as itchy back syndrome, six years prior. Topicals provided little relief for the NP, so her dermatologist referred her for chiropractic evaluation.
During this evaluation, it was discovered the patient had also been previously diagnosed with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome. VKH is a rare autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system and impacts vision and hearing. Physically, she presented with rounded shoulders and increased thoracic kyphosis.
Due to the complexity of the patient’s health status, the DC ordered radiographs before beginning treatment. These images showed abnormal alignment, degeneration and narrowing in the cervical spine. One week later, treatment was initiated and consisted of high-velocity, low-amplitude manipulation and myofascial release.
Two days after the first treatment, the patient notified the practitioner that her neck tightness and itchiness were almost gone. Treatment was administered again one week later, after which care was only provided as needed due to symptoms being completely resolved at the three-week mark.
#3. Chiropractic case study
Tongue-tie with abnormal lower jaw positioning
A third 2024 case study published in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics involved an infant who was having trouble breastfeeding. When she was just over a month old, her parents sought chiropractic consultation.
The child had ankyloglossia, or tongue-tie, causing latching issues and hindering her ability to r
draw breastmilk. At two weeks, an ear nose and throat specialist performed a procedure to correct the posterior tongue-tie. However, the infant continued to struggle to feed, resulting in low body weight and lethargy.
In addition to tongue restrictions, the DC observed a recessed jaw (retrognathia), decreased range of motion in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and poor oral reflexes. Together, this made it difficult for her to breastfeed.
Treatment involved modified chiropractic adjustments with soft tissue therapy to the neck. Home exercises were also prescribed. The infant’s feeding started to improve immediately, with improvements continuing after subsequent chiropractic sessions. Jaw recession decreased and range of motion in the tongue and jaw improved. Her feeding also improved, resulting in weight gain.
Final thoughts on chiropractic case studies
When musculoskeletal issues occur in tandem with other health issues, chiropractic can often be part of the solution. Chiropractic case studies such as these highlight the value of spinal manipulation for complex p
