A study at the Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies, Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington, MN, found that chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy (SMT), in addition to optimal medical management, resulted in clinically important changes in asthma-related outcomes in children. A total of 36 children with mild and moderate persistent asthma were admitted to the study. After 3 months, the children rated their quality of life substantially higher and their asthma severity substantially lower. Asthma severity ratings showed a reduction of 39% and there was an overall improvement rating corresponding to 50% to 75%. These improvements were maintained at the 1-year follow-up assessment.

SOURCE: Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics 2001 24:369-7