Tourette's Syndrome

The response of an adult Tourette patient to Life upper cervical adjustments.   Trotta N.   Chiropractic Research Journal 1989; 1: 43-48.

• Author's Abstract:   Tourette's Syndrome is a chronic familial neuropsychiatric disorder of unknown etiology accompanied by chemical imbalances in the brain. It is characterized by motor tics and uncontrolled vocalizations that wax and wane in severity. Although there have been anecdotal reports of total remission of symptoms in the patients while under chiropractic care, there are no known documented controlled studies existing in the current literature. The present study covers three months of care for a single patient; the results suggest that chiropractic care may have been useful in the management of this disorder. However, since no long-term follow-up data exist, the results must be preliminary. A 31 year old male originally diagnosed at age 4 with Tourette's. By middle age symptoms included uncontrolled sniffings and grunting which were most severe at night and when under stress. Psychomotor symptoms were also present. All symptoms had been worsening during the 6 years prior to chiropractic. Symptom reduction was seen immediately post adjustment (C-1 ASLP and C-2 R) with an increase occurring before the next visit. The patient was seen 12 times but not adjusted on four of those visits.

Tourette Syndrome, case study. LaBarbera, JA, Utica, NY.   International Chiropractic Pediatric Association Newsletter March/April 1998.

• "A 6-year-old boy diagnosed with Tourette syndrome whose presentation included eye-blinking, head shaking, mouth stretching, lateral eye movements and some vocalizations occurring at a frequency of several times per minute. History revealed a head injury one month before he was diagnosed. "Chiropractic evaluation including x-rays and heat pattern analysis revealed subluxation of occiput (AS), atlas (AS++LA) and Axis (PLI). There was an extremely high atlas angle of +20 degrees. Chiropractic care included upper cervical adjustments of C1 and C2. The boy was adjusted on a knee-chest table. He was adjusted 2 times per week for 9 weeks and then 1 time per week. "There was a noticeable change within 3 weeks of care. Symptoms continued to steadily improve. Within 4 months the patient was asymptomatic a majority of the time."