J Chirop Ed | 2009;21(1): 109-10
|Background: Little research exists regarding the primary complaint of itching and its alleviation with chiropractic care. Patients seeking chiropractic care seldom present with itching as their primary complaint.
Objective: To discuss the case of a patient with 2 years of daily itching whose symptoms were relieved with spinal adjustments.
Clinical Features: A 34-year-old female patient presented with chronic itching of unknown etiology in the upper and lower extremities, worse at night. No visible skin lesions were apparent and this case was never determined to be eczema. All orthopedic and neurological signs were negative on examination.
Intervention and Outcome: Standard diversified adjustments were administered to the mid-dorsal region. Analysis according to Sacro Occipital Technique (SOT) was used to guide the clinician’s treatment. Manual pressure was also applied to specific reflex areas associated with possible visceral dysfunction related to the spinal levels treated. The symptom resolved within 4 visits.
Conclusion: Chiropractic intervention seems to have been responsible for the elimination of itching in this case. Other case studies may reveal further evidence that chiropractic care is a feasible approach in cases of itching. This case illustrates that chiropractic care may help other patients with non-musculoskeletal complaints. (This is an abstract from a conference presentation only and does not represent a full work that has been peer-reviewed and accepted for publication.)