Lateral cervical curve changes in patients receiving chiropractic care after a motor vehicle collision: a retrospective case series - Chiropractic Treatment for Cervical Curve

Lateral cervical curve changes in patients receiving chiropractic care after a motor vehicle collision: a retrospective case series
Received 5 February 2002; received in revised form 22 May 2002
Roger R Coleman, DCa, James O Hagen, DCb, Stephan J Troyanovich, DCc, Gregory Plaugher, DCd
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Elsevier

Abstract
Objective
To examine radiological changes of the lateral cervical curve in patients who received chiropractic care after motor vehicle collisions.

Design
A retrospective case series. Thirteen patients who had received chiropractic care after motor vehicle collisions were selected from a northeastern Washington chiropractic office. Patients had a lateral cervical radiograph taken prior to the initiation of chiropractic treatment and a comparative lateral cervical radiograph subsequent to a period of care. Cases were included if they met the previously stated criteria and if the radiographs were of sufficient quality to determine the lateral cervical curve from C2-C7.

Results
Adjustments rendered using an Activator Adjusting Instrument. Eleven of the subjects were also instructed to perform stretching exercises. Compared to the initial lateral cervical radiograph, the comparative radiographs demonstrated a mean increase in cervical lordosis between C2 and C7 of 6.4? (SD = 8.2). The standard error estimate of the population was 2.3?, with a 95% confidence interval of 1.4? to 11.4?.

Conclusion
There was a mean increase in the cervical lordosis of 6.4? (SD = 8.2). The standard error estimate of the population was 2.3?, with a 95% confidence interval of 1.4? to 11.4?. We were not able to determine the individual effects of adjustment, stretching, and natural progression of the condition. The results suggest that further study of this phenomenon should be undertaken.

Keywords: Chiropractic Manipulation, Cervical Vertebrae, Motor Vehicle Collision, Radiology
a Adjunct Research Faculty, Life Chiropractic College West, Othello, Wash, USA

b Private Practice of Chiropractic, Spokane, Wash, USA

c Adjunct Research Faculty, Life Chiropractic College West, Normal, Ill, USA

d Director of Research, Life Chiropractic College West, Hayward, Calif, USA

Submit requests for reprints to: Dr Roger R. Coleman, PO Box 564, Othello, WA 99344, USA

☆ Funding by: Life Chiropractic College West, Hayward, California, and Activator Methods, Inc, Phoenix, Arizona.

PII: S0161-4754(03)00069-1

doi:10.1016/S0161-4754(03)00069-1

© 2003 JMPT. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.