| Chiropractic Adjustments May Boost Lung Function
Regular chiropractic care may improve pulmonary function, say scientists. One study followed 20 healthy, non-smoking individuals 18 to 28 years of age. Researchers divided the participants into four groups: 1) exercise only, 2) chiropractic care only, 3) chiropractic care followed by exercise and 4) no treatment (control). Each participant underwent six sessions of interventions over a four-week period (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2007;29:509-513). Researchers examined the patients who received chiropractic care for the presence of a spinal condition known as vertebral subluxation, characterized by area in the spine where movement is restricted or bones (vertebrae) are slightly out of alignment. When chiropractors detect these vertebral subluxations, they restore motion and alignment to the spine using specialized maneuvers called chiropractic adjustments. The study volunteers in the chiropractic groups received chiropractic adjustments as the main focus of their treatment. The study’s authors conclude that chiropractic care “appears to increase the respiratory function of normal individuals.” The authors also discuss “the potential for this intervention administered before exercise to permit additional tolerance within the respiratory system that could allow an extended exercise program.”Dr. Barbara Smith |
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