Effect of Chiropractic Therapy on Asthma and Asthma SymptomsZac Gassman
Background
Asthma
Asthma and Allergy Specialist Medical Group
Background
Chiropractic
Research
Nielsen et al (1995)
Balon et al (2000)
Bronfort et al (2001)
Divided patients into two groups (active and sham)
Performed breathing tests
Personal journal entries
Results
Nielsen et al (1995)
Balon et al (2000)
Bronfort et al (2001)
• P>0.05 in all but two tests
Results (cont.)
• Bronchial hypersensitivity decreased by 36%, p=0.01
• However no difference was seen between trial groups
Results (cont.)
Significant improvement in quality of life seen in many categories measured
Nielsen et al (2001)
Conclusions
No correlation between chiropractic adjustments and increased performance on breathing tests
Only difference between all tests and baseline reading was in hypersensitivity test
Sandburg et al (2000)
See stress can cause asthma symptoms
Surveyed 90 children over 620 days
Results
• Having chronic stress greatly increased the probability of having an asthma attack after severe event has occurred
• Nearly three times more likely to have an attack in the next two weeks as compared to those without chronic stress
Sandburg et al (2000)
Whelan et al (2002)
Looking to see the affect of chiropractic adjustment on salivary cortisol levels
30 men divided into three groups (active, sham, and control)
Salivary cortisol levels take prior to chiropractic adjustment
Salivary cortisol levels taken 5, 15, 30, and 60 minutes after adjustment
Results
A significant decrease in cortisol levels was seen from the baseline test to the post adjustment measurements
No significant differences between active and sham groups
Use of Low level lasers in clinical setting
Promotes cellular healing by acting on the mitochondrial level
Reduces inflammation and proceeds to prompt normal cellular metabolism
Aimbire et al (2006)
Trachea of dissected rats was removed and placed in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) in order to induce inflammation
Trachea smooth muscle was placed on a sensor where force output from the muscle could be measured.
Experimental group was exposed laser treatment
Acetylcholine was added to force an entire muscle contraction
Isoproterenol was added to act as a muscle relaxant, in order to cause smooth muscle relaxation
Results
Laser therapy had a significant impact on the relaxation of the smooth muscle (p<0.05)
Overall Conclusions
Both chiropractic adjustments and higher technological techniques have been suggested to have an impact on the presence and severity of asthma
Through the measurements made in hypersensitivity after adjustments, effects of cortisol on asthma, and the effects of lasers, there is still evidence to support this claim
Thank you
Mentor Dr. Davis
Advisor Dr. Shealer
Biology Faculty
Chiropractors
Dr. Thomas Jensen
Dr. James Sullivan
Dr. Dan Johnson
Dr. Joel Maloof
Bibliography Aimbire, F., J. Bjordal, V. Iversen, R. Albertini, L. Frigo, M. Pacheco, H. Castro-Faria-Neto, M. Chavantes, R. Labat, R. Lopes-
Martins. (2006). Low level laser therapy partially restores trachea muscle relaxation response in rats with tumor necrosis factor a-mediated smooth airway muscle disfuction. Lasers in surgery and medicine. 38. Pgs. 173-178.
Asthma and Children Fact Sheet. (2014). American Lung Association. Retrieved 10/26/14, from http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/asthma/resources/facts-and-figures/asthma-children-fact-sheet.html
Balon, J., P Aker, E Crowther, C Danielson, P Cox, D O’Shaughnessy, C Walker, C Goldsmith, E Duku, M Sears. (1998). A comparison of active and simulated chiropractic manipulation as adjunctive treatment for childhood asthma. The New England Journal of Medicine. 339(15). Pgs. 1013-1020.
Bronfort, G., R. Evans, P. Kubic, P. Filkin. (2001). Chronic pediatric asthma and chiropractic spinal manipulation: A perspective clinical series and randomized clinical pilot study. Journal of manipulative physiological therapeutics. 24(6). Pgs. 369-377.
Ebrecht, M., J Hextall, L Kirtley, A Taylor, M Dyson, J Weinman. (2004). Percieved stress and cortisol levels predict speed of wound healing in healthy male adults. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 29(6). Pgs. 798-809.
Frass, M., R Strassl, H Friehs, M Mullner, M Kundi, A Kaye. (2012). Use and acceptance of complementary and alternative medicine among the general population and medical personal: a systematic review. The Ochsner Journal. 12(1). Pgs. 45-56.
Hawk, C., R Khorsan, A Lisi, R Ferrance, M Evans. (2007). Chiropactic care for nonmusculoskeletal conditions: a systematic review with implications for whole systems research. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine. 13(5). Pgs 491-512.
Nielsen, N.H., G. Bronfort, T. Bendix, F. Madsen, B. Weeke. (1995). Chronic asthma and chiropractic spinal manipulation: a randomized clinical trial. Clinical and Experimental Allergy. 25(1). Pgs. 80-88.
Sandberg, S., J Paton, S Ahola, D McCann, D McGuinness, C Hillary, H Oja. (2000). The role of acute and chronic stress in asthma attacks in children. The Lancet. 356. Pgs 982-987.
Whelan, T., J. Dishman, J. Burke, S. Levine, V. Sciotti. (2002). The effect of chiropractic manipulation on salivary cortisol levels. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics. 25(3). Pgs. 149-153.
Woolcock, A., J Peat. (1997). Evidence for the increase in asthma worldwide. Ciba Foundation symposium. 206. Pgs. 122-134.
Questions?