Acquired Torticollis Resolved Under Chiropractic: A Case Study

What is Wry Neck? Can Chiropractic Help Torticollis?

The Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics published a case study in their December 2016 issue documenting the resolution of a case of acquired torticollis in a baby. Torticollis, sometimes known as wry neck, is a condition where the head is tilted significantly downward and to one side. This is usually due to a pulling from the muscles of the neck.

Acquired Torticollis Resolved Under Chiropractic - Austin Texas Chiropractor Best Reviews Most Trusted Palmer CollegeThe study points out that there are two types of torticollis, congenital and acquired. Congenital torticollis is present at birth and is defined by WebMD as, “Congenital torticollis occurs when the neck muscle that runs up and toward the back of your baby’s neck (sternocleidomastoid muscle) is shortened. This brings your baby’s head down and to one side.” Acquired torticollis is similar except that it was not present at birth, and may have been caused by some form of trauma to the child.

In this case, a 31-month-old boy was brought to the chiropractor because the boy was suffering from neck pain and torticollis for the past six weeks. The history revealed that two weeks prior to the onset of problems the boy had fallen while trying to climb into a stroller. No one witnessed the actual fall, but the boy was complaining of left knee and ankle pain and he was limping. A few days later, the torticollis appeared.

A week after the fall, he was brought to a pediatric hospital where x-rays of the left knee and ankle were taken and determined to be normal. The medical diagnosis was an ankle sprain. A prescription of ibuprofen was given for the pain and inflammation. One week later, the child was again brought back to the hospital for the neck pain and torticollis. At that time, additional x-rays and blood tests were performed but determined to be normal.

One month after the hospital visit, the boy was brought to the chiropractor. He was suffering persistent limping and torticollis. The neck pain was more severe at night and had gotten so bad that the boy had started to hit his forehead with his hands. He was also suffering from fatigue, and was lethargic and irritable.

A chiropractic examination was performed and chiropractic care was initiated. Each visit, the results and improvements were recorded. After the first visit, it was reported that the boy had improved about 25% and was now able to lie on his back. By the second visit, he was sleeping better, was less irritable, and the ibuprofen was discontinued. By the third visit, there was no visible torticollis and no complaints on all subsequent visits.

In their conclusion the authors noted, “Neck conditions are the second leading reason for patients seeking chiropractic care in Canada and the United States. It is therefore probable that a parent may seek chiropractic care for a child who develops a torticollis.” They continued, “Pediatric chiropractic care proved beneficial for this young boy with acquired torticollis.”

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson. We are located in north central Austin, TX.


Now You Know, Inc.

Speech and Coordination Developmental Delays Helped by Chiropractic – A Case Study

Can Chiropractic Help With My Kids Development? Do Chiropractors See Children?

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published a study on October 10, 2016, reporting on the case of a toddler suffering with developmental delays in speech and coordination being helped through chiropractic care.

speech-and-coordination-developmental-delays-helped-by-chiropractic-austin-tx-chiropractor-pediatric-health-wellness-safe-pregnancy-laborThe study begins by discussing the increased usage of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) by children. CAM consists of a wide variety of non-medical forms of health care. While some classify chiropractic as a separate and distinct form of healthcare, many classify it within the umbrella of CAM professions. The authors note that several studies have shown that chiropractic is the most popular form of CAM for children in the U.S. since an initial study in 2007. They report that one in four children with common neurological conditions use some form of CAM.

In this case, a 2-year-old boy was brought to a chiropractic clinical training center for evaluation. The toddler had developmental delays in speech and coordination. According to his mother, her son was delayed and had consistently failed to meet developmental milestones. His symptoms included below average locomotion skill, delayed hearing comprehension and expressive communication, and difficulty swallowing certain food textures. The boy was born several weeks pre-mature and had suffered one seizure when he was three months old.

The boy had been receiving speech and physical therapy for one year prior to any chiropractic care. The therapy did show some signs of improvement. The therapy consisted of 30-minute sessions twice a month for six months designed to increase the child’s motor skills through the use of therapeutic play, gait training, ball skills and a home program. The boy’s physical therapist performed several standardized tests prior to chiropractic care that measured and confirmed the boy was developmentally delayed.

An examination was performed which included a visual inspection, palpation, and a postural analysis. Based upon the history and the examination, subluxations were determined to be present affecting the child’s spine and nervous system. Specific chiropractic adjustments were given to address the subluxations.

The study records that the boy responded well to care with a steady improvement in his speech and coordination. His mother also reported that his “outbreaks” had decreased to only occurring rarely, late at night, if her son was tired. In a follow up examination performed by the physical therapist after starting chiropractic care, there was a continual improvement in the boy’s developmental issues.

In their conclusion the authors wrote, “This case report informs clinical practice and research on the possible benefits of chiropractic care in children with developmental delays through chiropractic adjustments to address the presence of subluxations.”

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson. We are located in north central Austin, TX.


Now You Know, Inc.

Resolution of Infertility with Chiropractic – A Case Study

Can Chiropractic Help With Infertility? How Does Chiropractic Help Me Conceive?

From the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health comes a case study and literature review published on July 7, 2016, documenting a case of infertility being resolved with chiropractic. Infertility is the inability to conceive within one year of attempting to get pregnant.

Resolution of Infertility with Chiropractic - Austin TX Pediatric Fertility Care for Mom and DadThe study begins by noting that about 85% of couples attempting to conceive are successful in the first year. Therefore, a timeframe longer than one year is classified as infertility. It is estimated that 6 million couples are struggling with infertility in the United States.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common form of infertility that prevents ovulation. It affects approximately 6.6% of reproductive-aged women and is characterized by swollen ovaries, cysts or follicles on ovaries, infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods, excess hair growth, acne, and obesity. Women with PCOS often have difficulty becoming pregnant, and could develop other health issues such as diabetes and heart disease.

In this case, a 30-year-old woman went to the chiropractor with a chief complaint of ulcerative colitis and neck pain which extended into her upper back. She was also suffering from tension headaches on a regular basis. Her history revealed three car accidents with the oldest dating back to over 30 years ago. She also reported that she had been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). She was unable to get pregnant and was told by her MD that her ovaries were “covered in cysts.”

A chiropractic examination was performed which included a spinal analysis, postural analysis, leg length analysis, static palpation, motion palpation, paraspinal thermography, and spinal x-rays to determine the levels of vertebral subluxation. Based on the findings, chiropractic care was initiated to address the spinal subluxations at the rate of two visits per week.

By the fifth chiropractic visit, the patient reported that her neck pain had significantly decreased, and she reported having no headaches that week. By her 14th visit, the woman reported that she was no longer having pain from her ulcerative colitis.

As she continued her care, she noticed that she had begun ovulating for the first time in eight years. Because of this, the woman and her husband decided to try to conceive again. This time, after only the first attempt, they were successful and she became pregnant. Shortly over 40 weeks later, she gave birth to a baby boy. The woman continued under wellness chiropractic care and, one year later, became pregnant again, delivering a baby girl 9 months later.

In the study conclusion, the author wrote, “Chiropractic adjustments, resulting in reduced vertebral subluxations, appear to have benefited a female who was previously anovulatory. Reduction of vertebral subluxations may have a relationship to improved female fertility and the ability to achieve pregnancy.”

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson. We are located in north central Austin, TX.


Now You Know, Inc.

Resolution of GERD in an Infant Following Chiropractic Care

What is GERD? Can Chiropractic Help Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease?

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published a study on May 19, 2016, documenting the case of an infant with gastroesophageal reflux disease, (GERD) being helped with chiropractic. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic digestive disease. GERD occurs when stomach acid or, occasionally, stomach content, flows back into your food pipe (esophagus).”

Resolution of GERD in an Infant Following Chiropractic CareThe study authors note that GERD is the most common reason for visits to a gastroenterology clinic in North America. They report that the prevalence of GERD is highest in North America at between 18.1 to 27.8% of the population having the condition. In Europe, the rate is about 9.8–18%, while in Asia, the rate is the lowest at only 5% of the population suffering from GERD at some point.

There has been an increase in alternative healthcare usage, such as chiropractic, for children with problems like GERD. In August of 2008, a study published in Pediatrics noted that, “Almost 40% of parents of pediatric gastroenterology patients are turning to complementary and alternative medicine for their child. Lack of effectiveness of conventional therapy, school absenteeism, and adverse effects of allopathic medication are more important predictors of complementary and alternative medicine use than the type of gastrointestinal disease.”

In this case, a 1-month-old baby girl was brought to the chiropractor. According to her mother, the infant had been suffering with GERD since birth. Her symptoms included gurgling at night, wakeful sleep, and the appearance of a facial grimace. The symptoms were worse at night, but occasionally appeared during the day.

An examination was performed and a determination was made that subluxations were present in the child’s spine. Specific adjustments were given over the following weeks to address the subluxations found by examination.

The study reported that the infant responded well to chiropractic care with the infant showing relief early in care. The length of time the relief was noted got longer as time under care progressed. In rating her child’s improvement, the mother recorded that her child was “…a very great deal better.”

The authors also reviewed a number of other case studies of GERD being helped by chiropractic. This body of evidence adds to the documented effectiveness of chiropractic care for patients with GERD. In their conclusion, the authors wrote, “We reported the successful chiropractic care of a 1-month old female with subjective complaints consistent with GERD. This study opens the possibility that similar patients may benefit from chiropractic care.”

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson.


Now You Know, Inc.

Resolution of Breastfeeding Difficulties With Chiropractic

Why Is My Baby Refusing To Latch? Can Chiropractic Help Latching Problems During Breastfeeding?

A study published on April 25, 2016, in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health documented the case of an infant who was having difficulties with breastfeeding being helped with chiropractic care.

Resolution of Breastfeeding Difficulties With Chiropractic Austin TX Chiropractor Pregnancy Infant LatchingThe authors of this study begin by noting the seriousness of breastfeeding problems. Breastfeeding difficulties in the newborn can have dire consequences. Beyond the obvious need for sustenance, studies indicate that breastfed infants have fewer ear and respiratory tract infections, diarrheal illnesses, and atopic skin disorders.

In this case, a 2-week-old boy was brought to the chiropractor for help with difficulties of latching to breastfeed. The infant had not had any previous medical care for this problem and was not on any medication. Examination of the baby’s abdomen and lungs were normal, as were his neurological reflexes.

The history also showed that the baby was born vaginally by vacuum extraction. In many cases, this procedure can lead to damage and nerve impingement of the structure of the upper neck. This process is known as subluxation.

Palpation of the spine along with visual inspection led to the conclusion that multiple subluxations were present in this infant’s spine. With parental consent, the infant started receiving specific forms of adjustments designed for infants.

The study reports that the infant started showing improvement early in care. Over a period of four months, the infant continued to improve to the point where there was no longer a problem breastfeeding.

The authors reviewed additional literature on chiropractic helping breastfeeding problems and found 24 articles and research on this issue showing similar findings to their own. A common thread through all these studies was the finding of subluxations in the child or infant’s spine. Correction of the subluxations led to the positive results.

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson.


Now You Know, Inc.

Baby’s Life Changed With Chiropractic

What is Sandifer Syndrome? Can Chiropractic Help With Digestive and Neurological Problems?

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published a case study on April 14, 2016, documenting the case of a baby girl who was suffering with a variety of digestive and neurological problems being helped by chiropractic. The baby had been diagnosed medically with Sandifer syndrome since birth.

Chiropractic-Baby-Adjustment-Austin-Tx-Pediatric-Family-Chiropractor-Health-WellnessThe study reports that Sandifer syndrome is when a baby exhibits contortions of the head and neck, sometimes the chest, and abnormal postures, in an effort to relieve their symptoms from severe gastro-esophageal reflux with or without hiatal hernia. It is believed that these spasms may actually be seizures and appear as sudden extensions of the head and neck where the head may be twisted from side to side and the upper part of the trunk bent from side to side.

In this case, a 12-pound, 11-week-old baby girl suffering from reflux and digestive problems, possible seizures, and possible colic, was brought to the chiropractor. She had been diagnosed by a pediatric neurologist and pediatric GI specialist with Sandifer syndrome. Her symptoms included explosive bowel movements since birth, but she started to become constipated, going 3-5 days without a bowel movement. It was reported that the infant screamed uncontrollably during her first week of life.

The infant girl also experienced regular hiccups, vomiting, and difficulty lying flat which would cause her hands to shake, eyes bounce, face to become red, and she would scream. Due to the severity of her suffering, the baby was placed on the powerful medication Zantac twice per day.

A chiropractic examination with spinal palpation was performed. Vertebral subluxations were found and specific adjustments were done as needed. By the seventh visit, the study reports that the baby showed more frequent bowel movements, decreased reflux, decreased gagging, decreased spitting up, and was able to lay flat again.

As care continued, by the 10th visit it was noted that the patient began sleeping in her crib for six hours a night and was having bowel movements daily. On the 12th visit, the baby’s mother was asked to fill out an evaluation form to report on the progress of her baby girl. In the evaluation, she noted that her daughter was less congested, had no more episodes of shaking, was better during tummy time, showed less fighting when eating, had better sleeping, and more frequent bowel movements. The baby girl also exhibited more energy, and an overall increase in playfulness.

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson.


Now You Know, Inc.

Health Issues Caused by Birth Trauma Helped by Chiropractic

Do Chiropractors Care for Infants? How Does Chiropractic Care Help Birth Trauma?

On March 21, 2016, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published a case study showing chiropractic helping an infant with multiple health issues resulting from a traumatic birth.

Health Issues Caused by Birth Trauma Helped by Chiropractic - Chiropractor Austin Texas help for pain from car accidentThe study begins by noting that about 5% of all births in the U.S. are either by forceps or by vacuum extraction.  They report that forceps delivery is associated with an increased death rate during birth, and that vacuum extractions are associated with increased head injuries, facial paralysis, and other head and nerve problems. Chiropractors are interested in this problem from a standpoint of the effect these types of births have on the upper portion of the neck.

In this study, a 6-week-old baby boy was brought to the chiropractor for consultation and possible care with problems of infantile colic, acid reflux, restlessness, inability to relax and/or lay on his back, difficulty sleeping and general irritability. The baby’s mother described her son as being fussy, restless, always tense and frustrated. She reported that in the first six weeks of life he was screaming and could not be comforted during all his waking hours. While sleeping, the infant would moan and whimper.

The baby had been given a medical diagnosis of acid reflux and infantile colic and he was given the label of a “high needs baby.” With this diagnosis, the infant was prescribed and given a generic form of the medication Zantac for his colic and reflux.

A history of the birth process revealed that infant’s mother did not experience any contractions prior to the beginning of labor. After only 17 minutes, it was reported that the baby’s heart rate had decreased. Because of this, an episiotomy was performed and the baby was pulled out with the aid of vacuum extraction. This resulted in a large bruise on the infant’s skull from the vacuum extraction.

A chiropractic examination of the infant revealed the presence of multiple vertebral subluxations, including several in the upper neck region.  Chiropractic adjustments were performed  specific to the subluxations, and the age and size of the infant.

After the first adjustment, the mother reported that her son had the longest nap he had experienced since birth. The parents also reported that within the first week, the infant had six large bowel movements within 36 hours of being adjusted, was less fussy, less gassy, sleeping more soundly and peacefully, showed improved postural alignment of the neck and entire body, and appeared to be much happier, more comfortable, and demonstrated an overall improved demeanor. After several more visits, the child no longer had any of the digestive issues or other health concerns seen on the initial evaluation.

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson.


Now You Know, Inc.

Breech Pregnancy Corrected Under Chiropractic Care

Can Chiropractic Help Turn A Breech Baby? How Does Chiropractic Help Pregnancy?

The March 31, 2016, issue of the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health documented the case of a woman who was 35 weeks into her pregnancy with a breech presentation who was helped and gave birth normally due to chiropractic care.

Breech Pregnancy Corrected Under Chiropractic Care - Chiropractor in Austin TX for car accident injuriesThe usage of chiropractic care by women who are pregnant has been increasing. The most common reason that woman seek chiropractic is for musculoskeletal pain, specifically back pain. However, more women are turning to chiropractic with breech pregnancies after reading information about a chiropractic procedure known as the “Webster Technique.”

In this case, a 37-year-old woman went for a chiropractic consultation and possible care at 35 weeks of her second pregnancy. She was suffering from right hip and pelvic pain. Additionally, an ultrasound examination performed the week prior showed that her baby was in the frank breech position.

The history revealed that the woman gave birth to her first child after being induced at 37 weeks into her pregnancy. The baby was born vaginally in the posterior position but showed significant bruises on his head.

A chiropractic examination was performed using structural analysis and palpation of the spine and pelvis. Subluxations were noted and adjustments along with the Webster Technique was utilized. Pillows and a specialized adjusting table were used to accommodate her pregnancy. Care was rendered three times over a five day period prior to her delivery.

The patient reported that after the first visit she felt the baby had changed position. She stated that her “baby was sitting in the pelvis and was moving differently.” As a result of the chiropractic care, the woman’s baby was delivered normally, in the head-down vertex position, with no complications.

In their discussion, the authors explain the results by stating, “The use of the Webster Technique during pregnancy has been well documented in the peer-reviewed and non peer-reviewed literature.” They describe the Webster Technique as “a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment to establish neuro-biomechanical balance and function in the pelvis via the correction of sacral subluxation.”

The authors’ conclusion stated, “This case report provides supporting evidence on the effectiveness of chiropractic care via Webster Technique during pregnancy with positive outcomes.”

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson.


Now You Know, Inc.