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Spinal Abnormalities and Organ Disease

Spinal care and organ relationships have been described in the medical literature of the early 20th century and have been related to "minor curvatures" affecting specific levels of the spine. A 1921 study, reported in The Medical Times, of 50 cadavers with disease in 139 organs found "curve of the vertebrae" belonging to the same spinal nerve segments as the diseased organs 128 times. Similar fmdings were reported in a 1933 study of living patients that found that spinal abnormality could be the cause of the organ problem. Radiography could be used to assess alterations in spinal curves as well as malpositioning of a vertebra, and the author urged "a careful neurological examination assisted by x-rays of the spine" when needed for differential diagnosis. Several authors have reported a relationship between arthritic spurring in the spine and organ disease. A 1956 study reported in Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift discussed the relationship between cervical arthritis and coronary disease. In 1966 a JAOA study reported the presence of arthritis of the seventh or eighth thoracic vertebrae in 90% of post-mortem examinations in patients with gallbladder disease. These fmdings were conflfIDed by a 1968 study which examined 61 hospital patients radiographically. Segmental vertebral lipping between the seventh and tenth thoracic segments was found in 88% of patients with gallbladder disease. In patients with stomach disease, the author also noted the presence of spinal arthritic spurring at T9- Tll in 82% and at T5- T7 in 45%. Sixty-four percent of patients with pancreatic disease demonstrated arthritic spurring, mostly at T8-TlO. Thirty-one percent of patients with duodenal disease had arthritic spurring at T9-L2. A 1992 study reported in the J Manipulative Physiol Ther examined the lumbosacral spines of three elderly cadavers to determine the anatomical relationships between arthritic spurring and nerve problems. It was concluded there was a direct relationship between arthritic spurring and nerve-related problems. Although the relationship of spinal a normalities to organ disorders is not clear cut, correlation of radiographic, instrumentation, and clinical finilings enable the chiropractor to better derIDe this relationship in a given patient. Note from Dr. Christiana: Regular adjustments to your family's spine will help prevent spinal arthritis and further prevent organ disease.

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