Neck and Back Pain for Five Years After Car Accident Helped with Chiropractic

The Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research published a case study on June 18, 2018, documenting chiropractic helping a patient suffering for five years with neck and back pain following an automobile accident. The patient also showed documented improvement in telemere length, and their urge to urinate at night.

Human TL length is best explained on the T.A Sciences website, "Telomeres are an essential part of human cells that affect how our cells age. Telomeres are the caps at the end of each strand of DNA that protect our chromosomes, like the plastic tips at the end of shoelaces. Without the coating, shoelaces become frayed until they can no longer do their job, just as without telomeres, DNA strands become damaged and our cells can't do their job."

This study begins with an explanation of human telomere length (TL), and why this is important. The study notes that human TL is longest at birth and shortens as we get older. Shortened TL are associated with metabolic and inflammatory diseases, pulmonary diseases, cardiovascular problems, psychological and stress disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, other chronic and serious illnesses, and can affect overall mortality.

In this case study, a 35-year-old woman who worked as an elementary school teacher presented herself for chiropractic with the primary complaint of neck and mid-back pain for five years following a head-on motor vehicle accident. She also complained of nocturnal polyuria, which is an increase production of urine at night causing her to urinate up to four times per night.

A physical and chiropractic examination was performed which included basic information about height and weight, as well as a postural analysis, a standardized health survey, and spinal x-rays. Based upon the results of the examination and x-rays, specific chiropractic care was initiated to create changes in the spinal structures, thus having an effect on the nervous system.

The study results reported that the patient felt significant improvement in all of her symptoms after weeks of chiropractic care. Follow-up examinations confirmed changes in her spinal structure as well as her self-health assessment. A second blood work was performed that showed that her telemere length had actually improved from a previous blood study. Eventually, the woman reported that she was virtually pain-free and had been able to sleep through the night without having to go to the bathroom to urinate.

In their conclusion, the authors noted the unique findings of the improving of human telemere length by stating, "Our case suggests, for the first time, that cervical spinal alignment and posture may be directly related to TL (health longevity) and that correction thereof may have a directly related effect on health longevity as represented by TL."