Doctor,

This white paper discusses the significance of the 2017 study published in the Journal of Molecular and Genetic Medicine called “Increased telomere length and improvements in dysautonomia, quality of life, and neck and back pain following correction of sagittal cervical alignment using Chiropractic BioPhysics Technique”.

The spine has an intimate connection with the brain and central nervous system. For this reason, the benefits of a chiropractic adjustment extend beyond pain relief. This study has opened the floodgates for a new perspective on how and why chiropractic achieves positive outcomes for patients suffering from a plethora of symptoms and conditions. The research evaluated the effects of corrective chiropractic care on neck and back pain while also evaluating its influence of telomere length through a blood test. The findings were fascinating and as follows:

• An interesting proposal is to assess if chiropractic care has the ability to influence telomere length and in doing so, affect biological aging, longevity, and health. The study is a preliminary effort to explore these relationships.
• In various studies, observations of shortened telomere links are associated with metabolic and inflammatory diseases, pulmonary diseases, cardiovascular diseases, psychological stress disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, chronic illness, and mortality.
• Chiropractic BioPhysics technique is a full spine and posture rehabilitation approach to correcting poor posture, deviation of normal spinal alignment, and subluxation through mirror image exercise, adjustments, and traction procedures.
• This is a single person case study of a 35-year-old female with chronic neck and mid back pain of five years duration following a motor vehicle collision with nocturnal polyuria.
• Examination and x-rays revealed forward head posture and loss of cervical lordosis consistent with vertebral subluxation.
• Patient telomere length was measured from her white blood cells.
• Quality-of-life measures were determined by the short-form 36 health survey and heart rate variability was measured.
• The patient was treated with a poly therapeutic Chiropractic BioPhysics technique for 36 visits over five months. Postural corrective spinal exercises, full spine drop table adjustments, and traction.
• Following five months of care encompassing 36 patient visits: the patient reported to be virtually pain-free and had been able to sleep through the night without having to go to the bathroom to urinate.
• Cervical x-rays showed correction of cervical lordosis and forward head posture.
• A blood test showed significant improvement in patient telomere length and heart rate variability.
• The end of care assessment showed a telomere value increase of 8.23%
• For the first time, this study suggests that cervical spine alignment and posture is directly related to telomere length and healthy longevity. And that correction thereof may have a direct effect on healthy longevity as represented by telomere length.
• The authors claim that this is the first study to assess the effects of chiropractic care on telomere length.