Study Shows Chiropractic Care Helps Patient Suffering from Tourette Syndrome (TS)

Chiropractic care is often thought of by the public only in terms of relief from back and neck pain, but doctors of chiropractic have long espoused the health benefits received by patients for a wide variety of ailments.
"There are certainly no guarantees with any course of care," said Dr. Robert Wrieden, a Norwich-based chiropractor who strives to keep current with the latest research and developments in health and wellness. "And every case depends on the specific factors associated with that case. But we see, from time to time, individual case studies that give rise to hope for many."
Dr. Wrieden cited a recent case study involving a 20-year old female suffering from Tourette syndrome symptoms since the age of three. The young woman exhibited uncontrollable throat-clearing and blowing of air through her nose. She also experienced muscle contractions in her face, rapid eye-blinking and whole body shaking. Frequent and severe headaches also were a problem.
"Tourette syndrome is characterized by unwanted, irresistible movements of body parts and vocalizations, called motor and vocal tics," said Dr. Wrieden.
This particular patient and her family wanted to avoid traditional treatment for Tourette-pharmaceutical intervention. She presented herself for chiropractic examination, which determined the presence of vertebral subluxations.
"A subluxation is a misalignment of the spine that disturbs normal nervous system function," said Dr. Wrieden. "Many chiropractors, including myself, have special, non-intrusive technology that allows them to conduct thermal and Surface Electromyography (sEMG) tests to assist in locating where such conditions exist."

According to the case study, which was reported in a recent issue of the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal, and Family Health,
Due to the unknown etiology of motor and vocal tics in TS, the mechanism of how the corrections of vertebral subluxations through chiropractic adjustments can decrease the occurrence of these tics is difficult to propose. Knowing that TS is a condition arising from supraspinal structures, and in the case of this patient, are brought on by stress, a general mechanism can be established with reasonable backing.

The patient was placed in chiropractic care for a total of 32 visits over a one-year period. She reported significant decreases in the length and severity of her motor and vocal tics, as well as a reduction in the headaches she had been experiencing.
"This is just one case study," Dr. Wrieden emphasized, "and more studies are needed before any absolute conclusions can be drawn. But as chiropractors, we believe that the nervous system is the master-controller of the systems and functions of the human body. It stands to reason, then, that improvement in nervous system function, which is what we do as chiropractors, can have a beneficial effect on overall health."
Anyone wishing more information may contact Dr. Wrieden, whose office is located at 60 Mitchell Street Norwich, NY 13815 (telephone 607-336-7030).