World Chiropractic Alliance

Responding to
Eight Chiropractic Issues

 
 

ISSUE 3: Thermal Scanning

The literature supports the use of thermography in chiropractic practice including the existence of normative data and reliability studies.1-40 Furthermore, according to the CCP guidelines:

Temperature reading devices employing thermocouples, infrared thermometry, or thermography (liquid crystal, telethermography, multiple IR detector, etc.) may be used to detect temperature changes in spinal and paraspinal tissues related to vertebral subluxation.

The measurement of paraspinal cutaneous thermal asymmetries and other measurements of anomalies have been shown to be a mode of sympathetic nervous system assessment, which may be used as one indicator of vertebral subluxation. Demonstrable changes in thermal patterns have been observed following chiropractic adjustment. Thermocouple instruments have been shown to demonstrate an acceptable level of reliability and clinical utility applicable to the assessment of vertebral subluxation related temperature changes.

Normative data have been collected concerning the degree of thermal asymmetry in the human body in healthy subjects. These values may serve as one standard in the assessment of sympathetic nerve function and the degree of asymmetry as a quantifiable indicator of possible dysfunction.

The ICA practice guidelines41 additionally support the use of thermal scanning in chiropractic practice:

Temperature reading devices

Highly significant temperature changes have been noted in spinal and paraspinal tissues following a chiropractic adjustment. Hand-held thermographic devices "have been evaluated and shown to have moderate to excellent inter-examiner reliability over short time durations."

Early chiropractic investigators recognized three basic physiological concepts that underlie the value of cutaneous thermography:

>> the body is segmented into "dermatomes";

>> side-to-side skin temperatures are generally symmetrical unless dysfunction exists; and

>> any anomalous deviation from a gradually increasing paraspinal skin temperature from S-2 to C-1 may be indicative of the vertebral subluxation and other malpositioned articulations and structures or other dysfunction.

1. Thermocouple: The use of thermocouple instrumentation in chiropractic practice is well established.
 

2.

a. Single-channel (e.g., chirometer)

b. Dual-channel (e.g., Neurocalograph (NCGH), Thermoscribe, Analograph)

The dual probe devices give a bilateral comparative temperature reading of the paraspinal tissues. However, the instrument requires skin contact.

16.6.1. Rating: Established

Evidence: E, L

 

2. Infrared Thermography

Infrared instruments detect and record changes in temperature rapidly and require no skin contact, and are relevant to chiropractic practice.


1. Single-channel (dermathermagraph) double-channel (e.g., Accolade, Tytron C-2000, VT 2000)

16.6.2. Rating: Established

Evidence: E, L


B. Multi(channel (e.g., Visitherm II)

16.7.1 Rating: Established

Evidence: E, L

 

References

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  2. Kirby S. A case study: the effects of chiropractic on multiple sclerosis. CRJ 1994; 3(1): 7-12.
  3. Stude D, Mick T. Clinical presentation of a patient with multiple sclerosis and response to manual chiropractic adjustive therapies. JMPT 1993 Nov; 16(9): 595-600.
  4. Elster E. Upper cervical protocol for five multiple sclerosis patients.Today's Chiropractic 2000 Nov; 29(6): 76-92.
  5. Amalu W. Chiropractic management of 47 asthma cases. Today's Chiropractic 2000 Nov; 29(6): 94-101.
  6. Amalu,W. Autism, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, strabismus and illness susceptibility: a case study in chiropractic management. Today's Chiropractic 1998 Sept; 27(5): 32-47.
  7. Amalu,W. Cortical blindness, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and recurring otitis media: a case study in chiropractic management. Today's Chiropractic 1998 May; 27(3): 16-25.
  8. Amalu, W. Upper cervical management of primary fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome cases.Today's Chiropractic 2000 May; 29(3): 76-86.
  9. Elster E. Upper cervical management of ten Parkinson's disease patients. Today's Chiropractic 2000 July; 29(4): 36-48.
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  11. International Thermographic Society. Thermography protocols. In: Amalu W, Tiscareno L. Clinical neurophysiology and paraspinal thermography: module 2-applied upper cervical biomechanics course.Redwood City, Calif: International Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association; 1993. p.67-70.
  12. American Academy of Thermology.Thermography Protocols. In:Amalu W, Tiscareno L. Clinical neurophysiology and paraspinal thermography: module 2-applied upper cervical biomechanics course. Redwood City, Calif: International Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association; 1993. p.67-70.
  13. American Academy of Medical Infrared Imaging. Thermography Protocols. In: Amalu W, Tiscareno L. Clinical neurophysiology and paraspinal thermography: module 2-applied upper cervical biomechanics course. Redwood City, Calif: International Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association; 1993. p.67-70.
  14. Amalu W,Tiscareno L, et al. Clinical neurophysiology and paraspinal thermography: module 2- Applied Upper Cervical Biomechanics Course. Redwood City, Calif: International Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association, 1993. p.62-70.
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