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.

Hypothyroidism Improved Under Chiropractic Care – A Case Study

The Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research published a case study on December 10, 2015, documenting chiropractic helping a patient suffering hypothyroidism. WebMD describe this condition by saying, “Hypothyroidism, also called underactive thyroid disease, is a common disorder. With hypothyroidism, your thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone.”

Hypothyroidism Improved Under Chiropractic Care - Austin-TX-Chiropractor-celebrity-downtown-300x200The study notes that hypothyroidism is the number one endocrinological condition seen world-wide. People with hypothyroidism can typically experience joint pain, cold intolerance, constipation, depression, difficulty concentrating, dry skin, fatigue, hair thinning, hair loss, memory impairment, muscle pain, weakness and weight gain. Medical treatment of this condition is typically medications given to replace the hormone not being produced by the thyroid.

This case involved a 44-year-old woman who went to the chiropractor for primary complaints of pain in the upper back and between the shoulders. These problems seemed to be the result of an automobile accident she was involved in 23 years prior. The accident was a severe head-on collision which resulted in loss of consciousness and some amnesia. She was taking a thyroid medication for her thyroid problem.

A chiropractic examination was performed that included postural inspection, palpation, surface EMG, thermography, and spinal x-rays. The results of the examination showed a loss of the normal neck curvature and the presence of subluxations. Specific chiropractic adjustments were started at the rate of three visits per week for a month after which the frequency of visits was reduced.

After one month of care, the patient came into the chiropractor’s office with her teeth chattering, her hands shaking, and the signs of tremors. The chiropractor suggested that the woman return to her endocrinologist to be retested for her thyroid issue. The results of that testing showed that her thyroid had regained enough function that the endocrinologist recommended a reduction in the woman’s medication.

At the six month point of her care, the patient showed significant functional and structural improvements, and her neck curvature returned to a near normal forward curvature. In their conclusion, the authors reported that chiropractic, “…treatment regimen is shown to be effective in reducing vertebral subluxation as well as improve cervical curve in a 44-year-old patient with hypothyroidism. The reduction in signs and symptoms of VSC (vertebral subluxation complex), in this case, correlated to a reduction in hypothyroid symptoms and an overall increase in thyroid function.”

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.

Pregnant Woman with Migraines, Hypothyroidism, and Tachycardia Helped with Chiropractic

Can Chiropractic Help Pregnancy Related Issues? Can Chiropractic Care Help Delivery?

From  the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, a case study published on March 25, 2015, reports on the case of a pregnant woman suffering from migraine headaches, hypothyroidism, and tachycardia being helped with chiropractic.

Pregnant Woman with Migraines, Hypothyroidism, and Tachycardia Helped with Chiropractic - Austin TX ChiropractorThe study authors begin by pointing out that the use of chiropractic by pregnant women is fairly common. A survey of women between the ages of 18 and 49 years who were pregnant or had children less than 1 year old found that 37% of pregnant women and 28% of postpartum women reported using some form of CAM (complementary or alternative medicine) in the last 12 months. Of the practitioner-based CAM therapies, chiropractic remains the popular choice for care.

In this case, a 28-year-old woman, who was in the 14th week of her pregnancy, presented herself for chiropractic care. A previous pregnancy resulted in a cesarean delivery. She sought chiropractic care in the hopes that it would help improve her chances of an easier labor and a vaginal delivery. From her medical physician, she had received a diagnosis of hypothyroidism with mild tachycardia, and occasional migraine-type headaches.

A chiropractic analysis was performed consisting of a spinal postural analysis, and spinal  range of motion, as well as static and dynamic palpation. From this, it was determined that subluxations were present in the upper cervical, pelvic, and upper thoracic spine.  Chiropractic adjustments were begun and continued throughout her pregnancy.

On several occasions during her chiropractic care the woman would experience a variety of symptoms such as headaches, pelvic pain, and dizziness.  These problems were quickly corrected after her chiropractic adjustment.

During the 30th week of her pregnancy, the woman fell at home and her obstetrician’s discovered that her fetus had moved from the proper vertex position to a transverse lie.  She received two chiropractic appointments, and performed a set of recommended inversion exercises at home. Shortly thereafter, she reported that she felt her baby had shifted back into the normal vertex position.  This was confirmed by her medical physician.

The study reports that the woman was able to successfully carry her fetus through a normal labor, and at 40 weeks plus 4 days, she delivered a baby girl vaginally weighing 8 lbs., 9 oz., and measuring 21 inches long.

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.