Doctors practicing Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care across the country have known for years that migraine headaches respond well to their care. However, a recent small scale clinical study is showing that the clinical anecdotal evidence is being supported by current research. In this article, we will review a study that was published and explain what upper cervical chiropractic care is and how it can help migraine sufferers.
In 2016 a clinical study was carried out using 11 migraine cases using upper cervical chiropractic care as the only intervention. Below we will discuss the study and its results.
Study outline
All subjects were chronic migraine sufferers and they were required to have at least 10-26 migraines in each month over a four-month period. Also at least half of the headaches the patient suffered it was required to be at least a 4 out of a 1-10 pain scale or greater. Additionally, candidates that had a concussion or car accident or both in their history in the prior year were excluded from the study.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care doctors use many objective scientific tests to determine when an upper cervical misalignment is present or not. In this study postural indicators were used, such as a supine leg balance check (check whether the legs are balanced or not) and upright gravity postural analysis. Imbalances in posture, short leg, uneven pelvis are indicators that the first cervical vertebrae in the neck is misaligned and causing brain-stem interference. Following positive indicators for upper neck misalignment, a series of x-rays were taken to determine the exact direction of misalignment.
Following the radiographs, which determine direction of misalignment, a precise correction is applied to the top vertebrae to reposition it and reduce interference on the brain-stem. Follow up visits were used to determine whether the misalignment had returned or not.
What Were the Results for Migraine Patients in This Study?
Following one month of upper cervical chiropractic care patient’s in the study experienced 11.4 headache days per month. This was a reduction in frequency of migraine headaches compared to their experience prior to care.
Quality of life measurements in 3 classes were also dramatically improved over the course of two weeks as follows:
Restrictive increased from 38.4 into 73.5
Emotional enhanced from 53.3 into 81.2
Physical enhanced from 54.1 into 86.8
This was a small-scale study and indicates more study is needed. While upper cervical chiropractic care may not be a cure all for migraine, practitioners throughout the country see hundreds of cases annually improve from migraine headaches and other chronic pain conditions.
What Is Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care?
Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care is a niche technique within the chiropractic profession. It focuses ALL its attention on the upper neck. Injuries to the neck cause misalignments to the vertebra and damage to the ligaments and soft tissue. Upper Cervical Doctors are trained to locate these misalignments and precisely correct them. There is no pulling, twisting, or cracking of the neck. It is painless precise and effective. Once corrected the goal of the upper cervical doctor is to monitor the patient over time to ensure healing occurs. When the spinal segment misaligns again a correction is made. When the patient is “holding” the correction nothing is done. The goal is stabilization.
“Upper Cervical practitioners hypothesize based on their success in addressing many health conditions that the misalignment of the atlas is blocking communication to various parts of the body and thereby affecting the body’s own ability to correct the problem. “
