Sleep Apnea Helped with Chiropractic Care: A Case Study

A study published on Feb. 3, 2014, in the scientific periodical, the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research, documents the case of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) being resolved with chiropractic care. The U.S. National Library of Medicine's National Institutes of Health website describes OSA as, "...a condition in which the flow of air pauses or decreases during breathing while you are asleep because the airway has become narrowed, blocked, or floppy."

The authors of the study note that symptoms of OSA can include excessive daytime sleepiness, unrefreshing sleep, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, and an overall decrease in quality of life due to a lack of quality sleep. They report that, as of 1997, the prevalence of OSA in the United States was between 3-7% of the population.

In this case, a 34-year-old male went to the chiropractor in hopes of receiving help for his sleep apnea. He suffered with the symptoms of OSA for many years before finally being diagnosed five years earlier with the condition by his MD. His symptoms included daytime drowsiness, lack of energy, loud snoring, and difficulty breathing while he slept at night. Based on the prescription of this MD, the man had been using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine every night for the past three years.

A chiropractic examination was performed specifically looking for vertebral subluxations that were causing nerve system interference that could be affecting the man's breathing mechanisms. The examination consisted of palpation, postural analysis, spinal range of motion, surface electromyography (SEMG), and spinal x-ray imaging.

The examination results indicated the presence of subluxations. The neck x-rays showed a reversal of the neck curvature and subluxation degeneration, indicating significant amount of nerve system interference. Based on the positive findings of subluxation, a specific course of chiropractic corrective care was started.

A three month evaluation showed an improvement in the man's neck curvature. The study authors reported that the man was no longer snoring and was experiencing an increase in energy. As a result, he was not experiencing daytime drowsiness. He was also able to sleep throughout the night and discontinue use of his CPAP machine. The man also showed a significant increase in his quality of life as he was able to discontinue his medications and was no longer experiencing anxiety or acid reflux.