Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Trauma and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis:
a report of 78 patients. Gallagher, JP, Sanders M Acta Neurol
Scand Feb, 1987, 75(2):145-50.
135 patients who had developed
ALS before the age of 45 completed a survey. “78 (58%) reported having sustained
injuries severe enough to have required medical attention
prior to the onset of their motor neuron illness.” Many
of those patients reported a trauma involving the head, neck,
shoulder and/or arm.
Since ALS was originally described by Charcot
in 1869, he and others have speculated on the relationship
between ALS and trauma. Over the years many researchers noted
that ALS sufferers had often suffered a prior injury. There
are many anecdotal accounts of people engaged in dangerous
occupations (acrobats, weight lifters, rodeo performers,
stunt riders and others) who later developed this disease.
Comments:
Since a vertebral subluxation complex can occur from micro-trauma
as well as macro-trauma, a study of ALS sufferers using chiropractic
methods is badly needed.
Copyright 2004 Koren Publications,
Inc. & Tedd Koren,
D.C.