A diagnosis of epilepsy is something that no one wishes to receive. While it can occur at any age, it is particularly prevalent in children, adolescents, and adults over 60. The condition can affect individuals of any gender, cultural background, or socioeconomic status. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterised by seizures that affects approximately 50 million people worldwide, making it one of the most prevalent conditions of its kind. In Australia, approximately 1% of the population, or 260,000 individuals, live with it. [1]
Epilepsy is a complex condition that often requires a multidisciplinary approach to management. While traditional medical treatments are essential, there is growing evidence to support the potential benefits of chiropractic care as a complementary therapy for individuals with epilepsy.
Several case reports have demonstrated a reduction in the frequency and severity of epilepsy symptoms in patients receiving chiropractic care, leading to improved quality of life and overall well-being. The latest of these case reports appeared in the Asia Pacific Chiropractic Journal’s latest release of the Australian Spinal Research Foundation’s case report project. Prior to that, two notable case reports tracked symptoms of epileptic patients who were under chiropractic care.
- A 22-year-old female with a history of epilepsy sought chiropractic care for her condition. After undergoing a comprehensive evaluation, the chiropractor identified upper cervical subluxations and began a course of adjustments. Over 14 visits, the patient reported a complete cessation of seizures. Additionally, a follow-up quality of life assessment showed a significant improvement, indicating a substantial positive impact on her overall well-being. [2]
- A 19-year-old male with posttraumatic epilepsy following a brain injury presented for chiropractic care with symptoms of vertebral subluxation, headaches, and dizziness. Chiropractic adjustments were performed to address the subluxation, which was confirmed to have reduced after the first adjustment. Following the adjustments, the patient experienced decreased seizure frequency and complete resolution of headaches and dizziness. The patient remained seizure-free for ten years after the initial treatment. [3]
The following case report published in the Asia Pacific Chiropractic Journal also adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the potential role of chiropractic care in managing epilepsy and other seizure disorders, particularly in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
A female in her early twenties sought chiropractic care to address her epilepsy symptoms and improve her quality of life. Despite her young age, she had a history of epilepsy since birth, including severe infantile spasms. She also had Autism Spectrum Disorder and bulging spinal discs. The patient’s epilepsy significantly limited her physical activity, social participation, and overall well-being. She was concerned about her weight, medication side effects, and the perceived lack of progress in her condition. Understandably, this had a big impact on her ability to engage with what she perceived as a normal life and she sought alternatives.
She underwent a thorough evaluation at the chiropractic clinic, which included various assessment techniques such as thermal scans, surface electromyography (sEMG), postural analysis, motion palpation, static palpation, and standard neurological and orthopedic tests. The patient’s evaluation revealed several abnormalities in the spine, including subluxations, muscle imbalances, and abnormal curvature.
She then received chiropractic care using the Torque Release Technique and a spinal orthotic device. The frequency of visits gradually decreased as the patient’s condition improved. Throughout her course of care, she experienced significant improvements in sEMG readings, subluxation patterns, and overall well-being. Seizures returned during periods when her chiropractic care schedule was interrupted due to travel, highlighting the importance of regular adjustments for maintaining seizure control.
While chiropractors might be excited by the improvements in her subluxation patterns and her symptomatology that happened over the course of care, as always the patient’s priorities lie in the functional impacts on their lies. In this case, she could resume activities she had previously been unable to participate in due to fear of seizures, and reported a positive impact on her quality of life, including increased independence and a more positive outlook.
These case reports and additional pediatric cases demonstrate reduced or ceased seizure activity and contribute to the growing evidence supporting the potential benefits of chiropractic care for individuals with epilepsy. As obvious, much more research is required to nail down the mechanisms behind these improvements, and to allow us to generalize findings to a larger population. Still, epilepsy is a neurological disorder, and chiropractors care for nervous systems. These case reports indicate that, with further research, we may just find that Chiropractic might offer a non-pharmaceutical approach for pediatric patients with epilepsy. Preliminary findings suggest that addressing upper cervical vertebral subluxation may be particularly beneficial. [4]
Without bigger studies, we can’t make big claims. But these case reports offer hope. Reducing subluxations may help the body adapt more effectively, potentially preventing the nervous system from becoming overwhelmed and triggering seizures. While further studies are needed to confirm and explain the mechanisms and effects of chiropractic care for epilepsy, the results of these case reports demonstrate its potential benefits. Patients with epilepsy should consider chiropractic care as a potential option, but understand that it may require ongoing maintenance care after the initial corrective phase.
References
- Epilepsy Foundation 2024. Understanding Epilepsy https://epilepsyfoundation.org.au/understanding-epilepsy/about-epilepsy/what-is-epilepsy/
- Hartenburg, M. Denton, A., (2017). Resolution of Seizures and Improvement in Quality of Life in a 22-year-old Female Epilepsy Following Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care. Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research. 2017; Feb. pp 8-11. https://vertebralsubluxationresearch.com/2017/02/23/resolution-of-seizures-improvement-in-quality-of-life-in-a-22-year-old-female-with-epilepsy-following-upper-cervical-chiropractic-care/
- Null, L., Null, S., (2019). Resolution of Post-traumatic Epilepsy, Headaches and Dizziness Following Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care in a 19-year-old male: Case study and review of the literature. Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research. Vol. 2019, pp. 11-18. https://vertebralsubluxationresearch.com/2019/03/04/resolution-of-post-traumatic-epilepsy-headaches-dizziness-following-upper-cervical-chiropractic-care-in-a-19-year-old-male-case-study-review-of-the-literature/
- Pistolese, RA. 2001. Epilepsy and seizure disorders: A review of literature relative to chiropractic care of children. Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics, Volume 24, Issue 3, 199 – 205. https://www.jmptonline.org/article/S0161-4754(01)06188-7/abstract
