As chiropractic moves away from neck and back pain alone and further into whole-of-nervous system care, it is vital that we understand the broader impacts of Chiropractic on a person’s state of adaptability. Whetherthis manifests as a major health crisis, a minor ache or spasm, or simply an increase in mood and mental acuity is a matter for the nervous system and the body to decide.
The evidence is increasingly revealing the possibility that chiropractic care may be an important part of a person’s care regime when it comes to increasing adaptability. For cancer survivors, this may be especially important as thewhole body recovers and adapts to its future. A recent study published in the Asia Pacific Chiropractic Journal discusses the case of a cancer survivor presenting for care with a primary musculoskeletal complaint but reporting increased mental acuity among other outcomes.
This is not the first case to report improvements in health outcomes of a Chiropractic care patient with a history of cancer. A case report was published in a previous release of the Australian Spinal Research Foundation’s Case Report Project (2023) where a 74-year-old male with a history of prostate cancer presented for chiropractic care. The primary complaints included lower back pain, headaches, and reflux. Following a 15-week course of care, the patient noted improvements in his predominant concerns, as well as the speed at which he could process information. He reported that his ability to think quickly and strategically increased to a level competitive with those around him who were younger and more educated. Despite his ever-increasing workload, he reported his productivity was still up, and he could fit more into the time he had.
In this case, a 26-year-old apprentice mechanic, who was moderately active, sought chiropractic care for recurring pain in his left anterior thigh. The pain began four years earlier during squats at the gym when his leg gave way inwardly upon standing, causing a sharp thigh pain. Initially, the pain lasted only briefly initially, however, it recurred days later outside of an exercise scenario and lasted around 20 minutes. Over four years, the pain persisted intermittently with some improvement but never fully resolved.
This particular patient’s medical background included testicular cancer at 21, resulting in orchidectomy. He had also experienced various past traumas, including fractures in the right big toe and fingers, stress fractures in the foot two years prior, a fractured kneecap from a bicycle accident nine years ago, and childhood fractures of the collarbone and elbow.
Following the examination, the patient commenced a twelve-week course of care, receiving adjustments twice a week using the Advanced Bio-Structural Correction Technique. Additional care recommendations included daily exercise such as walking, running, and swimming. The care plan aimed to correct and stabilise identified subluxations, prevent further progression of subluxation degeneration, enhance active range of motion, and minimise episodes of intermittent pain.
A review was conducted upon completion of the patient’s care plan which showed marked improvements across all of the initial examination findings (You can read more about that at the reference below). Additionally, the patient completed a questionnaire regarding his care and progress, rating his improvement as 7 out of 10 on a numerical scale. While his initial reason for starting Chiropractic care was his concern with his sore leg, he reported improvements in the following:
- More relaxed
- Stronger
- More energy
- Better memory
- Thinking more clearly
- Improved mood
- Improved sleep
- Improved performance
- Increased flexibility
He also reported less pain and significantly more alertness. He highlighted decreased brain fog, enhanced moods, and a return to normal motivation as the most impactful. Specifically, he emphasised a notable enhancement in mental sharpness, citing improvements in memory and overcoming moments of forgetfulness. This improvement in mental acuity seemed to be much more meaningful and substantial to the patient than the improvement in his pain occurrence. While the pain in his leg had decreased somewhat and continued to improve, it had not yet fully resolved.
This aspect of improved mental clarity became a significant, positive outcome affecting the patient and his quality of life.
The outcomes of this case report extend beyond the quality of life, though, even though this aspect alone is significant. The unexpected outcome of improved mental acuity meant decreased stress and, therefore, increasedquality of life.
As always, a case report provides insight into an individual’s response to treatment, and we can’t take a broad view until larger studies are conducted. However, we are beginning to see more and more case reports that indicate this could be something to look at. For the moment what we can ascertain is this: case report data is beginning to indicate that individuals under chiropractic care have (in at least two cases) experienced an increase in mental acuity and clarity.
We look forward to seeing what other research emerges.
References:
Hawkes D, Postlethwaite R, McIvor C. Decreased thigh pain and increased mental acuity and physical performance in a 26-year-old male under Chiropractic care: A case report. Asia-Pac Chiropr J. 2024;4.4. apcj.net/papers-issue-4-4/#HawkesMentalAcuity
