recent study published in an international peer reviewed journal found that patients with neck pain as a result of cervical spine disc herniation respond favourably to Chiropractic adjustments¹.

The Swiss study investigated 50 patients with symptoms consistent with nerve compression in the neck, and MRI was used to confirm the presence of disc herniation (otherwise known as a disc bulge or prolapsed disc). Patients were treated with manual chiropractic adjustments to the cervical spine at the site of the prolapsed disc, and investigators measured changes in signs and symptoms over a 3-month period. The study found 55.3% of patients had improved symptoms after just 2 weeks of Chiropractic care and furthermore, improvement continued over time, with 43 of the 50 patients (85.7%) reporting less pain at 3 months.

The severity of a prolapsed disc will vary from case to case, but this study adds to the body of published literature that has found that the majority of cases (even those with severe symptoms) respond well to Chiropractic care. A very small number of cases may require surgery, but it is important that those people who experience neck pain and arm pain be assessed by a registered Chiropractor to determine whether surgical intervention is required.

Chiropractic care aims to restore function to the body, removing tension from the nervous system and tissues, thus allowing the body to heal itself and function naturally. Chiropractors use varying methods and techniques to assess and correct areas of imbalance in the spine.

A copy of the full journal article profiled in this blog is available to read at your Melbourne Chiropractor’s office, located at 380 Lygon Street, Carlton.

Reference:

1.            Peterson, C.K., Schmid, C., Leemann, S., Anklin, B. & Humphreys, B.K. Outcomes From Magnetic Resonance Imaging – Confirmed Symptomatic Cervical Disk Herniation Patients Treated With High-Velocity, Low-Amplitude Spinal Manipulative Therapy: A Prospective Cohort Study With 3-Month Follow-Up. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2013: (13) S0161:4756.