The Impact of Vertebral Subluxation Correction on the Pittsburg Sleep Index, Perceived Stress Scale and Short Version of Depression Anxiety Stress Scale

The Impact of Vertebral Subluxation Correction on the Pittsburg Sleep Index, Perceived Stress Scale and Short Version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. Lead Investigator: Matthew Hudson D.C., Charles Kenya D.C. Co-investigator: Shannon Martin D.C., Amilliah Kenya D.C., Alan Brewster D.C. Abstract Salutogenic chiropractic care focuses on the restoration and promotion of health through the correction of vertebral subluxation, by means of improved vertebral alignment and motion and the vertebrae’s relationship to improved nervous system communication to promote adaptation in the human body through its innate intelligence. According to the World Health Organization’s definition, chiropractic is “a health care profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system, and the effects of those disorders on general health.” This study aims to evaluate the impact of utilizing three outcome assessments (Pittsburg Sleep Index, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and Perceived Stress Scale) in a clinical setting to determine if subluxation-based chiropractic adjustments provide evidence of improved sleep, as well as perception of stress, depression, and anxiety. The objective is to track changes in health metrics outside of the typical musculoskeletal or pain related conditions often associated with chiropractic care. The study evaluated these outcomes assessment scores for new patients beginning chiropractic care at a college-based chiropractic clinic. The outcome assessments were performed with no reported clinical expectations regarding patient outcomes to reduce or improve outcome assessment score, reducing the likelihood of patient bias between outcome assessment completion. The results of the study demonstrated that correction of vertebral subluxation improved all three measurements regardless of the segment adjusted, with improvements in the PSQI demonstrating the best statistical significance of the three