Upper cervical care: a unique approach to healthcare

Approximately 133 million people in the United States – nearly half the country’s population – suffer from at least one chronic health condition of any kind, accounting for 83 percent of all health care spending. Projections indicate this rate will increase. By 2030 the number of Americans afflicted by a chronic condition is expected to rise to 171 million – an increase of more than one percent per year. ❧ Musculoskeletal conditions such as low back pain, arthritis, and headaches are the leading cause of activity limitations among working age adults. Among these, chronic back pain is the leading cause of disability in Americans under the age of 45. ❧ The patient in this documentary reported suffering from lower and upper back pain, arthritis, muscular spasms, numbness, headaches, fatigue, depression, anxiety and insomnia for approximately 10 years. After receiving treatment from medical specialists for several years without more than temporary relief of his symptoms, he found an alternative treatment called Upper Cervical Specific Chiropractic. After six months of care, he reported a marked amelioration of all his symptoms. ❧ Upper Cervical Specific Chiropractic is based on the premise that when one or both of the top two vertebrae of the spine – the atlas and axis – become misaligned, they create pressure on the brainstem, leading to chronic musculoskeletal and neurological conditions and an overall state of degenerative health. Practitioners of this treatment allege that by realigning these vertebrae, they are removing interference from the nervous system allowing the body to gradually return to optimal function. ❧ Upper Cervical Specific Chiropractic was developed by B.J. Palmer and A.A. Wernsing during the first half of the 20th century and taught at Palmer College of Chiropractic beginning in the 1950s. Today, there are several hundred practitioners that specialize in this form of chiropractic. Numerous Upper Cervical Specific techniques have also evolved – each with its own philosophy on how to best realign the vertebrae. ❧ While studies in chiropractic and, more recently, European medical journals appear to back the clinical findings of Upper Cervical Specific chiropractors, in the United States, medical research into the efficacy of this alternative treatment has been scarce. However, recently, researchers from the University of Chicago conducted a double-blind, placebo controlled study that shows promising results in Upper Cervical Specific’s treatment of hypertension. More large-scale research on the efficacy of this treatment continues in Europe for conditions such as whiplash, ear, nose and throat disorders and multiple sclerosis. ❧ Through one patient’s story, this documentary explores Upper Cervical Specific practice, technique, research and philosophy as well as mainstream medical approaches to chronic health conditions.美国约有1.33亿人口——接近全国总人口的一半——罹患至少一种慢性疾病，此类病例占全美医疗总支出的83%。据预测，这一比例还将持续上升：到2030年，美国慢性疾病患者数量预计将增至1.71亿，年均增幅超1%。 ❧ 肌肉骨骼疾病（如腰痛、关节炎与头痛）是造成劳动年龄人群活动受限的首要诱因，其中慢性背痛更是美国45岁以下人群致残的主要原因。 ❧ 本纪录片中的患者罹患上下背痛、关节炎、肌肉痉挛、麻木、头痛、疲劳、抑郁、焦虑与失眠症状已近10年。此前他接受了数年的专科治疗，仅能获得暂时性症状缓解，之后他尝试了一种名为上颈椎精准整脊（Upper Cervical Specific Chiropractic）的替代疗法。经过6个月的治疗后，他自述所有症状均得到显著改善。 ❧ 上颈椎精准整脊的理论基础为：当脊柱最上方的两节椎骨——寰椎（atlas）与枢椎（axis）——发生错位时，会对脑干造成压迫，进而引发慢性肌肉骨骼、神经系统疾病，整体健康状态陷入退行性恶化。 ❧ 该疗法从业者声称，通过复位这两节椎骨，可消除神经系统受到的干扰，使身体逐步恢复至最佳功能状态。 ❧ 上颈椎精准整脊疗法由B.J.帕尔默（B.J. Palmer）与A.A.沃森（A.A. Wernsing）于20世纪上半叶研发，并于20世纪50年代起在帕尔默脊椎按摩学院（Palmer College of Chiropractic）进行授课。如今全球已有数百名该疗法的专科从业者，同时衍生出多种上颈椎精准整脊技术，各类技术对于椎骨复位的最优方案各有理论侧重。 ❧ 尽管脊椎按摩领域乃至近年的欧洲医学期刊研究似乎佐证了上颈椎精准整脊从业者的临床结论，但美国国内针对该替代疗法疗效的医学研究仍较为匮乏。不过近期芝加哥大学的研究人员开展了一项双盲安慰剂对照试验（double-blind, placebo controlled study），结果显示上颈椎精准整脊在治疗高血压方面具有可观前景。目前欧洲地区正针对该疗法在颈鞭伤、耳鼻喉疾病与多发性硬化症（multiple sclerosis）等病症中的疗效开展更多大规模研究。 本纪录片通过一位患者的亲身经历，探讨了上颈椎精准整脊疗法的实践、技术、研究现状与核心理念，同时也展现了慢性疾病的主流医学诊疗方案。