Spinal Manipulation & Asthma Care

Some physicians and patients believe that spinal misalignment may lead to asthma symptoms. As a result, spinal manipulation, a therapeutic intervention preformed on the joints of your back, may improve asthma symptoms such as:

• Wheezing
• Chest tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Chronic cough

However, a recent review of randomized controlled trials examining the use of spinal manipulation for the treatment of asthma concluded that spinal manipulation was no more effective than sham or placebo treatments. Spinal manipulation failed to demonstrate differences in lung function or symptoms in comparing patients receiving spinal manipulation compared to sham manipulation.  Additionally, there is some risk of side effects associated with spinal manipulation and a significant cost due to the number of required treatments.

While a number of other research reviews seem to contradict this study's findings, most of the other reviews included not only spinal manipulation, but other types of manual therapy including massage therapy-- making it difficult to compare to this review of only spinal manipulation.

While some may still believe in the benefits of spinal manipulation for asthma, this review does not demonstrate that spinal manipulation decreases signs or symptoms of asthma.

Have you ever had spinal manipulation for your asthma? Leave a comment or go to the forum and participate in the discussion.