Balance Improvement Following Chiropractic

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic published the results of a case study on August 16, 2021, documenting chiropractic care causing measurable improvement in balance of a 9-year-old who was having problems with coordination and balance due to having a congenital abnormality known as Klippel-Feil Syndrome (KFS).

According to the NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, "Klippel-Feil Syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by the congenital fusion of two or more cervical (neck) vertebrae. It is caused by a failure in the normal segmentation or division of the cervical vertebrae during the early weeks of fetal development." They continue by explaining, "The most common signs of the disorder are short neck, low hairline at the back of the head, and restricted mobility of the upper spine. The fused vertebrae can cause nerve damage and pain in the head, neck, or back."

In this case, a nine-year-old boy was brought by his parents to the chiropractor's office. The boy had been medically diagnosed with KFS at the age of four. Although the boy had met most of his developmental milestones, he was unable to hop on one leg. This inability persisted through his first visit to the chiropractor. It was also reported that the boy had problems coordinating daily activities both at home and in school. These problems had led to additional problems with self-confidence and socialization.

A chiropractic examination and x-rays were performed. The results of the examination documented the presence of subluxations in the boy's spine. With his age and special spinal structures being taken into account, specific forms of chiropractic adjustments were started to address his issues.

After several months of care, an update evaluation was performed to check on the boy's progress. At that time, the boy's parents reported observing improvement in their son's balance and co-ordination in daily activities. They also noted that this led to a positive effect on his self-confidence and social skills.

In the discussion portion of the study, the authors point out the importance of balance in children. "Balance problems are an especially important concern with children. Fall injuries are among the leading causes of death and disability in children." The author continued in the conclusion by explaining, "This single patient showed measured improvement in postural balance following chiropractic adjustments for subluxation correction, along with. limited prescribed exercise. Chiropractic adjustments of vertebral subluxation for patients with KFS and balance problems may be considered an effective management option."