Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating, inflammatory, chronic, and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system. Among the myriad symptoms that characterize the condition, about 80% of MS patients have sensory and motor impairment ranging from very mild to very severe. While there’s no cure for MS, recent studies have found that chiropractic care directed at the neck may have a role in helping to manage this aspect of the condition.

The somatosensory nervous system helps maintain balance and move through space. Part of this sense is obtained from the receptors in the joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments and constitutes the position perception of the extremities and the body. The number of proprioceptors varies in different body structures and tissues, but their density is especially rich in the cervical region or neck.

Past research has demonstrated that manual therapies can positively affect mechanotransduction, which helps facilitate the signals from the proprioceptors to the brain. This is even more important for the proprioceptors in the tissues in the neck, which are essential for postural stability and the movement of the head and eyes. These neurophysiological benefits have been observed in orthopedic cases and healthy individuals, but little-to-no research has been conducted on the benefits of manual therapies applied to the neck region in patients with MS, until recently.

In a 2022 study, researchers recruited 12 MS patients to receive two treatments a week for four weeks consisting of joint traction and gliding types of cervical mobilization therapies in addition to myofascial relaxation techniques. The investigators observed that the participants experienced noted improvements in proprioception and forefoot loading, average foot pressure, and body weight distribution between their left and right sides following treatment. The authors added that cervical manual therapies can positively affect balance and plantar loading distribution compared to traditional treatment. A follow-up study published two years later with 16 MS patients found the same treatment approach resulted in noted benefits with respect to joint position sense, balance, and gait and these benefits persisted following the conclusion of care.

The study authors concluded that manual therapies could be used to support neurological rehabilitation in patients with MS. Doctors of chiropractic are well-versed in the delivery of several types of manual therapies, including those used in the studies covered in this article.