Applied Kinesiology, Chiropractic, And Nutritional Management Of A Multi-Symptom, Premenopausal Woman: A Case Report By Carl T. Amodio, B.A., D.C.

(First published in the professional journal of ICAK-U.S.A)

Introduction

The following case report describes the symptoms of a 43 year old Caucasian woman that presented to my office complaining of having shortness of breath, light-headedness, and mood swings. Other symptoms included: arthritic pain, back pain, chest pain, fatigue, headaches, menstrual cramps, neck pain, numbness, and dizziness. It was apparent from our initial consultation and examination that she was suffering from significantly disturbed functional biomechanics and also disturbed functional biochemistry. Objective findings correlated well with subjective complaints and suggested the need for conservative therapeutic intervention.

Initial therapeutic intervention included efforts to address systemic nutritional factors vital for proper healing; and having a direct impact on nerve, brain, and immune function, inflammation, energy production, tissue oxygen supply, cartilage, and connective tissue repair. Numerous allergies were present, so initial efforts included allergy desensitization techniques as well as histamine lowering nutrients and essential fat supplementation to help decrease inflammatory processes. Systemic structural factors resulting in aberrant postural patterns (often secondary to immune system dysfunction and having a direct impact on the mesencephalic reticular formation, affecting pattern generation, TMJ muscle function, and autonomic expression) were also addressed (7). Hair analysis was taken to rule out heavy metal toxicity and added stress on the immune system. The endocrine system was out of balance and the patient showed adrenal hypofunction as well as thyroid and ovary involvement.

A saliva test was also taken to check hormonal balance and rule out Cortisol/DHEA divergence and immune suppression. Recommendations were made regarding: diet changes, exercise, and nutritional supplementation (to help reduce inflammation, for endocrine and immune support, and to encourage tissue healing) was also suggested. Patient responded favorably to initial therapeutic intervention with increased range of motion, improved cerebellar tests, functional improvement in muscle strength from inhibited muscles, as well as elimination of presenting symptomatology. A progressive and continual alleviation of all symptoms occurred with subsequent visits.

Materials and Methods

A 43 year old, Caucasian woman presented at my office feeling “light-headed”, having shortness of breath, and mood swings. Additional questioning on history revealed the presence of arthritic pain, back pain, chest pain, fatigue, headaches, menstrual cramps, neck pain, numbness, and dizziness. Patient was initially examined using a combination of orthopedic tests, postural analysis, cerebellar testing, palpation, and muscle testing. Additionally, a hormone evaluation and hair analysis were performed.

Postural analysis revealed an elevated left ilium and an elevated left scapula. The patient performed the one-leg Romberg’s test with eyes open and eyes closed (1). One leg stance was stable for 20 seconds bilaterally with eyes open, 15 seconds on the left leg with eyes closed and 5 seconds on the right leg with eyes closed. Palpation tenderness was noted at the following levels: C1, C4-C7, T8, 10, 12, L1, 3, 5 and the left ilium.

Subluxations were identified at C1, C5, T4, T6, T12, and L3, with a pelvic category two. Manual muscle testing demonstrated that the left Gluteus Medius, left Psoas, bilateral Sartorius, and bilateral Gracilis were conditionally inhibited (2) during the initial visit. Further examination of the patient’s hormonal status was obtained with a saliva hormone test that demonstrated decreased estradiol and decreased testosterone for a premenopausal woman. Saliva estradiol measured 1.0 pg/ml, (normal range indicated for the test was 1.3-3.3 pg/ml). Testosterone measured 13 pg/ml, (normal range indicated as being within 16-55 pg/ml). Hair analysis displayed results for mercury and aluminum at toxic levels (.068pg/mg, and 1.71pg/mg. respectively).

Over the course of eleven visits spanning three months, the patient was examined utilizing the Quintessential Applications clinical protocol, a 32-step protocol that is a physiologically based, basic science driven, neurological hierarchy, for the ordered application of clinical procedures and techniques. Neurolymphatic (Chapman’s) reflexes (CR), associated with the conditionally inhibited muscles were stimulated with gentle but firm rotary massage for approximately 60-90 seconds each. Adrenal, ovary, and thyroid CR’s were treated along with nutritional support for the adrenals and ovaries. The anterior CR’s associated with the Gracilis and Sartorius (adrenal muscles) are located approximately one inch lateral and two inches superior to the umbilicus bilaterally. The anterior CR for the Gluteus Medius (reproductive muscle) is located at the superior aspect of the pubic bone. The anterior CR for the Teres Minor (thyroid muscle) is located at the second intercostal space bilaterally.

An aspirin mix (Aspirin/Acetaminophen/ Ibuprofen), was orally tested and showed a temporary facilitation of an inhibited muscle, indicating excessive systemic inflammatory responses. Fish oil was then orally tested and indicated at this point. In addition, an antihistamine mix (Yakitron, Cimetidine, and Diphenhydramine) was orally tested with an inhibited muscle and showed a strengthening response. This indicated excessive histamine and a systemic allergic reaction. The allergies were then treated by Injury Recall Technique (IRT) to the involved CR with the offender on the tongue, and patient was instructed to modify her diet accordingly. All subluxations were corrected with specific chiropractic adjustments utilizing the FRA (Flexor-Reflex Afferent) technique to determine the subluxation hierarchy (3).

The initial examination and treatments, including CR stimulation, nutritional supplementation, neurological muscle facilitation, and chiropractic adjustments, alleviated the patient’s presenting symptomatology. Subsequent appointments were scheduled for once a week and continued to reduce symptomatology, appropriate neurologic facilitation of muscles, and eliminate active Chapman’s reflexes. Gustatory stimulation of various nutritional products were tested and revealed muscle facilitation responses corresponding to the organ in need of support, to maintain biochemical and neurological integrity (4). Follow up visits focused on proper TMJ function to regulate proper facilitation and inhibition of the muscles of mastication, due to the prevalence of TMJ dysfunction and headaches (5); and the cranial-sacral respiratory system as corrected with the S.O.T. blocks (6).

The TMJ dysfunction was addressed with the use of IRT to restore proper muscle spindle cell activity and “unlock” the encoded trauma in the area. The immune system was driving the TMJ dysfunction due to overall stress precipitated by adrenal dysfunction. Adrenal Challenge test was performed and addressed on the second visit and checked each visit subsequently. The immune circuits were also addressed on most of the visits and needed to be reset and strengthened frequently with nutritional supplementation and CR work (3). After eleven visits, the patient reported that she was asymptomatic. Subsequent lab tests of hair analysis and salivary hormones were not performed as of yet, so objective changes, if any, were unable to be recorded.

Discussion

A patient presenting with light-headedness, shortness of breath, and mood swings, coupled with previous complaints of chest pain, dizziness, numbness, fatigue, neck pain, and back pain, should immediately receive further examination and differential diagnosis in order to rule out potential pathologies or life threatening conditions. After the doctor has determined that the patient’s complaints are not life threatening, further examination and treatment options can be pursued.

Quintessential Applications (QA), an AK clinical protocol developed by Dr. Walter H. Schmitt, D.C., D.I.B.A.K., D.A.B.C.N., is a 32-step physiologically based, basic science driven, neurological hierarchy for the ordered application of clinical procedures and techniques (7). QA focuses first on resolving systemic dysfunction,

in order to reveal what might otherwise be mistakenly misconstrued as primarily a local problem. Manual muscle testing is used in order to evaluate the status of anterior horn motor neuron pools associated with the tested muscle. Sensory receptor based challenges may result in a change of anterior horn motor neuron pool activity, resulting in a change in muscle testing outcome, causing an inhibited muscle to become facilitated or vice versa, thereby directing the practitioner to provide appropriate therapy (4). It is this author’s opinion that the QA protocol allowed for a quick and effective resolution of the patient’s presenting symptomatology as well as her more chronic complaints.

Conclusion

A 43 year old woman with various systemic complaints experienced benefits from chiropractic care, applied kinesiology, and an ordered application of clinical procedures approached in a neurological hierarchy. Patient presented with shortness of breath, dizziness, light-headedness, fatigue, chest pain, neck pain, back pain, headaches, mood swings, numbness, and menstrual cramps. This case suggests correlations between the systemic symptomatology and subluxations, aggravated and affected by structural, chemical, and emotional factors. The protocol incorporated allowed the doctor to clear the underlying systemic factors first, to allow for more permanent and lasting corrections of the more local complaints and issues.

Finally, this case suggests that specific chiropractic adjustments to reduce subluxations, nutritional supplementation, and applied kinesiology applied in an ordered neurological hierarchy, can be greatly beneficial to patients that are experiencing the aforementioned symptomatology, when further immediate medical attention is not necessary. Further study is needed to confirm and validate these findings.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Dr. Walter H. Schmitt, DC, DIBAK, DABCN, for his development of the Quintessential Applications clinical protocol and for providing me the information on which this paper is based.

References

1. Brinkman DM, Kuipers-Upmeijer J, Oosterhuis HJ. Quantification and evaluation of 5 neurological equilibrium tests in test subjects and patients. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 1996 Nov 2; 140 (44): 2176-80.

2. Leisman, G., et al. Electromyographic effects of fatigue and task repetition on the validity of estimates of strong and weak muscles in applied kinesiology muscle testing procedures. Perceptual and Motor Skills. 1995; 80:963-977.

3. McCord KM, Schmitt WH. Quintessential Applications A(k) Clinical Protocol. 1st ed. St. Petersburg, FL: Health Works!; 2005. Sections 5, 6, 9-11, 14-16, and 26-29.

4. Schmitt W., Yanuck S. Expanding the neurological examination using functional neurologic assessment part II: neurologic basis of applied kinesiology. International Journal of Neuroscience. 1999; 97:77-108.

5. Feteih RM. Signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders and oral parafunctions in urban Saudi Arabian adolescents: a research report. Head & Face Medicine. 2006 Aug 16; 2:25.
6. Getzoff H, Sacro occipital technique categories: a system method of chiropractic. Chiropractic Technique. May 1999; 11(2): 62-5.
7. Schmitt WH. The neurological rationale for a comprehensive clinical protocol using applied kinesiology techniques. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the ICAK, June 2005.

Copyright 2009 Dr. Carl Amodio   Whole Body Health, Inc.555 Sun Valley Dr. NW,Suite A1,Roswell, GA 30076, USA. (770) 993-4633 www.wholebodyhealth.org