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.