Chiropractic Adjustments Alleviate Menstrual Pain

A prospective case series demonstrates that chiropractic adjustments significantly ease menstrual pain.

The study enrolled 13 women with an average age of 26 years who had suffered from dysmenorrhea for an average of 12 years. Treatment consisted of treating lumbosacral flexion and extension restrictions using drop table. Treatments took place 3 times during each of the 2 consecutive menstrual cycles.

“At baseline, all subjects reported pain severity scores of 5 or higher for at least 2 of 3 anatomical sites: lower or general abdominal pain and/or lower back pain,” according to the study. “Using the 95% confidence interval (CI) as an estimate, clinically meaningful changes (<5) in general abdominal pain and lower back pain were evident for most patients during the treatment phase, whereas for lower abdominal pain, the improvements were subject and cycle dependent. Menstrual pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea may be alleviated with treatment of motion segment restrictions of the lumbosacral spine with drop table technique,” conclude the study’s authors.

JMPT – March 2008;31:237-46

Fibromyalgia Education and Wellness

Fibromyalgia (pronounced fie-bro-my-AL-juh) is a common condition characterized by widespread pain in joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. Some other problems commonly linked with fibromyalgia include fatigue, morning stiffness, sleep problems, headaches, numbness in hands and feet, depression, and anxiety.

Fibromyalgia can develop on its own, or secondary to other musculoskeletal conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, or systemic lupus. Diagnosis of fibromyalgia requires a history of at least three months of widespread pain, and pain and tenderness in a least 11 of 18 tender-point sites. These tender-point sites include fibrous tissue or muscles of the neck, shoulders, chest, rib cage, lower back, thighs, knees, arms (elbows) and buttocks.

The overwhelming characteristic of fibromyalgia is long-standing, body-wide pain with defined tender points. Tender points are distinct from trigger points seen in other pain syndromes.(Unlike tender points, trigger points can occur in isolation and represent a source of radiating pain, even in the absence of direct pressure).

Fibromyalgia pain can mimic the pain experienced by people with various types of arthritis. The soft-tissue pain of fibromyalgia is described as deep-aching, radiating, gnawing, shooting or burning, and ranges from mild to severe. Fibromyalgia sufferers tend to waken with body aches and stiffness.

Symptoms include:

• Multiple tender areas
• Sleep disturbances
• Reduced exercise tolerance
• Fatigue
• Body aches
• Chronic muscle pain or aching

Chiropractic Care and Fibromyalgia
Chiropractic care including simple adjustments to the neck and spine have proven to be an effective treatment that can significantly reduce pain and symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.

Dr. Rooney is a member of the American Chiropractic Association and the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors.