Chiropractic co-management of medically treated asthma

Asthma is the most common chronic disease in the UK. An inflammatory disorder, it is characterized by increased mucus production and airway hypersensitivity, both of which contribute to a decreased airflow. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and a feeling of chest tightness. This article presents three cases where patients, being treated by conventional pharmacological means, had chiropractic manipulation administered to the upper thoracic spine twice a week for a period of 6 weeks. Objective measurements were collected using a peak flow meter and subjective data using an asthma specific questionnaire. All three cases resulted in increased subjective and objective parameters and suggest the need for larger studies with appropriate methodology.