Low force chiropractic adjustment and post-isometric muscle relaxation for the ageing cervical spine: a case study and literature review

An elderly gentleman with chronic neck pain presented with several relative contraindications to chiropractic treatment including hypertension and previous cancer. The patient was treated for one month using post-isometric muscle relaxation methods prior to low force chiropractic adjustment of the spine. One month after starting treatment cervical lateral flexion and rotation increased between 200% and 300% and the neck disability index improved from moderate disability to mild disability. These improvements were largely maintained at three- and six-month follow-up visits, and were associated with improvements in the physical functioning and social functioning components of the medical outcomes short form 36 (SF 36) questionnaire. This conservative approach may prove useful for treating the ageing cervical spine.