The addition of the upper cervical manipulative therapy to a multimodal program is beneficial in treating patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). A randomized clinical trial with one-year follow-up assessed 120 (52 female) patients with fibromyalgia syndrome who were assigned to a multimodal program (control group) or a multimodal program with upper cervical joint manipulation. Outcomes were the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), pain scores, anxiety, sleep quality and 3D postural analysis. These outcomes were assessed at three time intervals: baseline, 12 weeks, and 1 year after the 12-week follow-up. The addition of upper cervical manual therapy to a multimodal program has short- and long-term positive effects on 3D spinal posture. More importantly perhaps, results from the one-year follow-up revealed statistically significant changes that favored the manipulation group’s outcomes in terms of all of the FMS management outcome variables (pain, anxiety, sleep quality, fibromyalgia impact). At one-year posttreatment, the control group’s DHI scores were found to have regressed toward the baseline, pretreatment, and values, whereas the experimental group’s DHI scores were found to have continued to improve after the 12-week treatment trial.
Adding Neck Manipulation Helps Fibromyalgia Patients
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About the Author: Dean Smith, DC, PhD
Dean Smith, DC, PhD, husband, and father of two children, is a highly respected health and wellness authority. He is a chiropractor at Essence of Wellness Chiropractic Center and a researcher and clinical professor at Miami University.
Dr. Smith incorporates lifestyle intervention (exercise, nutrition, other non-drug methods) with chiropractic adjustments and other manual methods to encourage optimal wellness. He has helped countless adults and children lead a life of wellness.
His research interests lie broadly in the area of human movement and coordination. He is most interested in how chiropractic, exercise and rehabilitation affect human performance.
His scientific articles have been published in such journals as Human Movement Science, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, Chiropractic Research Journal, Chiropractic and Osteopathy and The Open Neurology Journal. His training includes a Master’s degree in exercise science, a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and a PhD in brain and cognitive science with a focus on motor control and coordination. The International Federation of Sports Chiropractic has awarded him with the International Chiropractic Sport Science Diploma (ICSSD).
