Chiropractic Treatment of Upper Extremity Conditions

Chiropractic is known for its management of spinal problems but in contrast, in the area of peripheral regions, physical therapists are well known (1). Although the focus for many chiropractors are spinal related, many chiropractors also treat peripheral conditions, making up 17.1% of chief complaints to chiropractors, the third most reported area of complaints (1,4).
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Over three quarters of chiropractors use full spine and extremity manipulation management protocols, where less than 20%  use a full spine or “spine only” approach (1,4). These statistics show that chiropractic is not just a spine-based profession.

A systematic review study was brought out to investigate chiropractic management of upper limb peripheral conditions. Through these reviews, it was shown that most chiropractors use a multimodal approach to manage extremity conditions. It was suggested more of an “integrative approach”.

This review of literature concludes that there is a strong low-level evidence to support the chiropractic care of a large number of upper extremity conditions. Based on the papers included in the study, management of peripheral conditions is of a multimodal approach and more prevalent than the “classic” spine only approach. Further, more research is still needed for stronger results.
 
Citations

1. Andrew McHardy, Wayne Hoskins, Henry Pollard, Rorey Onley, Ross Windsham. Chiropractic Treatment of Upper Extremity Conditions: A Systematic Review. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2008;Volume 31, Issue 2; Pages 146-159. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0161475407003375
2. Nelson CF, Lawrence DJ, Triano JJ, Bronfort G, Perle SM, Metz RD, et al. Chiropractic as spine care: a model for the profession. Chiropr Osteopat 2005;13:9.
3. Christensen MG, Kollasch MW. Overview of Survey Response. In: Job analysis of chiropractic: a project report, survey analysis and summary of the practice of chiropractic within the United States. Greeley, CO: National Board of Chiropractic Examiners; 2005.
4. Menke JM. The integrative chiropractor. J Am Chiropr Assoc 2000;37:32-3.