Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease that is often referred to as "Lou Gerhig's Disease." It usually occurs in people between 30 and 60 years of age, and it affects the use of muscles to the point of paralysis. The nerve cells that control the muscles begin to degenerate, causing muscles to weaken and eventually stop functioning. It also affects the lungs and the ability to write and speak. There is no cure for this ALS, but there are methods to help with the pain and mobility.
Spinal Cord Therapy
It usually takes numerous tests and lots of time to diagnose ALS. One study, done by James Connor, professor and vice chair of neurosurgery at the Pennsylvania State University, along with colleagues from Hershey Medical Center, showed that patients who complained of muscle problems, like weakness and cramps, could be diagnosed with ALS by drawing and testing their spinal fluid. In the study, scientists found 11 proteins that were significantly higher in the patients that ended up with ALS, and these proteins prove that ALS could be considered an inflammatory disease of the spinal cord. In this case, these doctors feel that the therapy should be targeted at the spinal cord directly instead of throughout the body. This could be done through chiropractic spinal techniques.
Spinal Adjustments
Another study, performed at Life Chiropractic College West Health Center in June 2002, and explained by chiropractic intern Jennifer James Padrta, showed that spinal manipulation could help ALS. Conservative adjustments of the spine were performed on an ALS patient in a wheelchair. The adjustments were made manually by a chiropractor once a week, and then only twice a week because of the distance the patient had to travel. Still, this treatment resulted in him complaining less of pain and demonstrating a larger range of motion in all directions. According to the ALS Association, no two patients have the same experience, so each patient must experiment with treatment options to find what will work best.
Emotional Health
Aside from spine adjustments and physical techniques, other chiropractic techniques can help with emotional health, calm nerves, increase comfort and decrease depression. Massages can be done manually by the chiropractor or with an electronic stimulator that places minor vibrations on the person's spine or painful joints. This can increase blood flow to these areas, which in turn will help the person's mobility. But mostly, it will allow the person to relax and forget about her pain for a time.
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