A case study published in the November 30, 2009 issue of the scientific periodical, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, documents the improvement, with chiropractic care, of a young boy suffering from headaches.
In this case a 13 year old boy had been suffering from daily headaches for the previous 4 years. The young boy reported that his headaches would occur for a minimum of 5 hours per day, and nothing seemed to help the pain. The boy never took medication for the condition but, after 4 years of suffering from these headaches, he was brought to a chiropractic clinic for care.
The study notes that about 66% of the population will suffer from headaches at some time. Additionally the authors report that according to the International Headache Society, there are 14 distinct types of headaches. The author also notes that, "Standard medical care in treating headaches is often unsuccessful due to the complicated nature of headaches, and proper medical management is largely dependant upon a proper diagnosis." Most medical care involves the use of medications and does not use a structural approach used in chiropractic.
The Chiropractic analysis and x-rays revealed a reversal of the cervical (neck) curvature. Normally when looking at a side x-ray of the cervical spine, the neck should have an even and smooth bowing curvature toward the front. Care was initiated with specific adjustment and procedures designed to correct the loss of the neck curve.
After only 6 weeks of care a follow up x-ray was taken that showed a complete restoration of the normal neck curvature. The author reported, "In addition to the positive changes in the radiographic measurements of the patient, the headaches he suffered from for 4 years subsided until, by the end of the care plan, they were completely eliminated."