Reduction of cervical dystonia after an extended course of chiropractic manipulation: a case report.

OBJECTIVE The diminution of the signs and symptoms of cervical dystonia following an extended course of specific chiropractic manipulation is described. CLINICAL FEATURES A 38-year-old man had gross anterior-lateral torticollis, focal dystonia of the head and neck, and radicularlike pains which failed to respond to physical therapy, medication, and injection. INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES Two specific spinal manipulative technique systems unique to the chiropractic profession (Applied Biostructural Therapy [ABT] and Atlas Coccygeal Technique [ACT]) were applied to the patient. The patient's grading on a modified cervical dystonia scale dropped from a grade 16 to a grade 5 after an extended course of these specific chiropractic manipulative techniques. CONCLUSIONS The application of Advanced Biostructural Therapy and Atlas Coccygeal chiropractic techniques for management of cervical dystonia is presented. Substantial reduction in the cervical dystonia rating scale was observed with this approach, even after standard medical interventions had failed.