Expert: Gerald Anzalone, D.C. - 11/17/2010

Question
I recently moved to a new state and started to see a new chiropractor. He took x-rays and showed me that I am near the end of stage one of a cervical subluxation and mild scoliosis. He has been treating my spine for the scoliosis and I have been responding well, he said.  The last time I was there, he started to adjust my cervical spine. I was laying down on the table and he used a hand to push down 3-4 times really hard on the back of my neck to work on getting the normal curvature back. This hurt a lot, and I was told to cool it down until the pain went away. Is this a normal treatment for the subluxation?  Are there other, less painful ways, to treat it?

Answer
Tracy,

Thank you for your question.

Firstly, "near the end of stage one of a cervical subluxation" is an ambiguous diagnosis that has no clear validity in the established evidence-based literature.

Secondly, correction of scoliosis by manipulation, especially in an adult, who has passed skeletal maturity, is a highly controversial topic. There is, to my knowledge, no clear evidence that this can be accomplished in an adult.

Thirdly, any manipulation procedure that produces pain or discomfort should be avoided.

A musculoskeletal-based chiropractor is trained to use a variety of manipulation and low-force techniques, including soft tissue manipulation, to ensure the comfort and safety of the patient.

Examples of musculoskeletal-based chiropractors who base treatment on the best available evidence, in addition to their clinical judgment and the patient's preferences, can be found in this link:

http://www.westhartfordgroup.com/LocateaDoctor2.html

If your chiropractor is unwilling to accommodate your needs based on your response to care, I would recommend finding another chiropractor. You may also consider seeing a physical therapist or massage therapist.

I hope this helps to answer your question.