Research, Articles & Case Studies

This is an Author manuscript pertaining to the discovery of structural and functional features of central nervous system lymphatics. This article explains the findings after an experiment with mice. 

Patients with fibromyalgia (FM) are usually difficult to treat, and new concepts are needed to improve patients’ outcome.

Only recently they reported a promising therapeutic approach in patients with long-standing FM according to the ACR 1990 criteria and limited C1–C2 range of motion based on the flexion–rotation test. After stratification of patients primarily on pre-medication and age, the patients completed a 12-week multimodal program with education, cognitive behavior therapy and exercise. In addition to the multimodal program, patients in the experimental group also received upper cervical manipulative therapy. 

Abstract

Background: Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a commonly used but under-researched therapeutic approach. This case study explores the implementation of CST in the integrative inpatient treatment of sequelae of postoperative meningioma and traumatic brain injury. 

Case: A 50-year-old woman was admitted for 2 weeks of integrative inpatient treatment following meningioma resection and traumatic brain injury. In addition to the integrative treatment approach, which included conventional as well as complementary and alternative medicine, she received five sessions of CST for refractory headaches, vertigo, and cervicobrachial syndrome during this time. At discharge, the reported intensity of her headaches on a 10-cm visual analogue scale decreased from 6–9cm to 2–4cm and her level of vertigo decreased from 6–10cm to 2cm. Her cervical mobility and muscle tension, sleep quality, and general wellbeing also improved. The attending physicians saw CST as having contributed greatly to this improvement alongside use of phytotherapy and hyperthermia. 

Conclusion: Implementation of CST in integrative inpatient care could benefit patients with headache and vertigo from intracranial injuries.

A 41 year old female was referred to Visceral Manipulation for sever constipation rectal pain and levator ani spasm. She had an 8 year history of constipation following Cholecystectomy and a 4 year of rectal pain following a hemmorrhoidectomy. The decreased visceral mobility may be contributing to her abdominal bloating and pain and can be treated with visceral and nerve manipulation techniques.

Treatment goals were the following:

1. Improved ability to relax the external anal sphincter

during bearing down

2. Decreased pain with bowel movement

3. Decreased abdominal bloating and related pain with

urination

The research has presented strong evidence that Parkinson’s disease begins in the gastrointestinal tract and spreads via the vagus nerve to the brain. Many patients have also suffered from gastrointestinal symptoms before the Parkinson’s diagnosis is made. “Now that we have found an association between the vagus nerve and the development of Parkinson’s disease, it is important to carry out research into the factors that may trigger this neurological degeneration, so that we can prevent the development of the disease. To be able to do this will naturally be a major breakthrough,” says Elisabeth Svensson.