ALS and Chiropractic Care

With everyone from former a former president to Justin Bieber dumping ice-cold water on their heads, ALS has more attention now than possibly ever before.

Commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a devastating disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Its victims eventually lose control of their muscle movement and it can lead to their death.

There is no cure and few treatments available, which is what makes the $41.8 million donated to the ALS Association since the ice bucket challenge videos went viral in late July so amazing.

One treatment that has proven effective at relieving some of the symptoms of ALS is chiropractic care. Patients with ALS have reported larger range of motion and less pain after receiving specific spinal adjustments, as well as gaining some muscle control they lost. One such sufferer, David Atkinson, was interviewed about all the treatments that have helped. Below he discusses his visit to a chiropractor:

[The doctor] said, “I already know I cannot cure your neurological problem, but I may be able to help you with some of your others. What is the number one problem that you would like to get rid of?” I said, "I would like to be able to eat again." Without hesitating, he said, "I can fix that right now."

He did a lot of different things, and when he finished, he said, "You can go out right now and have a roast beef dinner, vegetables, salad; eat anything you want." I couldn't believe it. But he was so convincing, and he didn't say, "Maybe this will work." He said, "You can now eat solid food.”

So I met my son Michael at a restaurant he was operating, and ordered prime rib, mashed potato, green beans, and a salad. He looked at me and said, "What are you going to do with that?" And I said, "I'm going to eat it." He was shocked. I wasn't convinced yet that I could do it, but I was going to try. They brought the meal, and I cleaned my plate. I had no trouble swallowing, which was unbelievable, and I have been eating ever since. Whether he physically changed something, emotionally changed something, or it was the placebo effect, I don't know, and I don't care.

Chiropractic care is all about making sure the spine is aligned, which allows the central nervous system to operate unabated by obstruction. This, in turn, improves the immune system and makes sure bodily functions are in working order. While everyone responds to the disease differently, chiropractic care can give ALS sufferers hope and keep them in fighting shape as they battle this terrible disease.