
Chiropractors view health from the philosophy that misalignments in the spine (called subluxation) create interference in how the brain and nervous system communicate with the rest of the body - muscles, glands, and organs - resulting in symptoms of illness. Therefore, your DC focuses on identifying and correcting these misalignments.
The theory behind how chiropractic works for digestive disorders is that subluxation interrupts communication between nerves and the gut. Restoring communication promotes healthy mobility of the muscles in the digestive tract. It also promotes proper secretion of digestive juices and regulation of hormones important to gut health.
Chiropractors restore normal function by using hands-on therapies called adjustments to correct the subluxation in the spine and other joints that may be affected. They may also use massage and corrective exercises, depending on the condition. This approach honors the body's innate ability to heal and aims to reduce/eliminate symptoms, restore healthy function, and enhance quality of life.
Chiropractic may be an important adjunctive treatment in managing digestive health concerns for some people. A review of research published between 1980 and 2012 indicated mild to moderate improvements in report of patient symptoms for a variety of digestive conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, GERD, and colitis. Other studies did not find significant improvement in patient symptoms. There is a need for more well-designed clinical studies in order to make definitive statements about chiropractic treatment for digestive disorders. As with other treatments where research is still emerging, individual patient considerations play an important role in how someone responds to a treatment.
If you are interested in chiropractic care for your concerns, visit our qualified chiropractor Dr. Moe Gebara at Activecare Chiropractic and Wellness Clinic in Edmonton, AB.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Chiropractic: In Depth https://nccih.nih.gov/health/chiropractic/introduction.htm
Chiropractic and Digestive Concerns https://idealspine.com/chiropractic-care-and-acid-reflux-disease-gerd/
NaturalNews.com "Chiropractic Helps Digestive Disorders." Posted by Dr. David Jockers ( 09 July 2010). Accessed on 15 November 2016: http://www.naturalnews.com/029164_chiropractic_digestive_disorders.html
Angus, K., Sepideh A., & Gleberzon, B. "What Effect Does Chiropractic Treatment Have on Gastrointestinal (GI) Disorders: A Narrative Review of the Literature." The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association 59.2 (2015): 122-133. Accessed on October 6, 2016: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4486990/
Ernst, E. "Chiropractic Treatment for Gastrointestinal Problems: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials." Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology 25.1 (2011): 39-40. Accessed 15 November 2016: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3027333/
Alcantara, J., & Anderson, R. "Chiropractic Care of a Pediatric Patient with Symptoms Associated with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Fuss-Cry-Irritability with Sleep Disorder Syndrome and Irritable Infant Syndrome of Musculoskeletal Origin." The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association 52.4 (2008): 248-255. Accessed October 6, 2016: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2597889/
Tsuchie, H. , et al., "Impact of lumbar kyphosis on gastric myoelectrical activity and heart rate variability in a model using flexion posture in healthy young adults." Biomedical Res (2011) Aug;32(4):271-8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21878734
Young, M.F., et al, "Chiropractic manual intervention in chronic adult dyspepsia" Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. (2009) Apr;21(4):482-3. doi: 10.1097/MEG.0b013e3282fc7370.
American Chiropractic Association: Why Choose Chiropractic http://www.acatoday.org/Patients/Why-Choose-Chiropractic/What-is-Chiropractic
Clinical Effectiveness: http://www.acatoday.org/Patients/Why-Choose-Chiropractic/Key-Facts
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