Question
My 12 yr. old daughter dislocated and fractured her left elbow on April 9, doing a back hand spring.  She has been in PT regularly since the injury and while full extension has been restored her flexion is only 138 (one her other arm it is 162) She has had x-rays, MRI and CT scan that determined nothing is blocking flexion.  Could a chiropractor help try torestore range of motion in ways that differ from PT?

Answer
Diane,

Yes, unlike PT', doctors of chiropractic (DC) have extensive training in performing joint manipulation.  Also, high velocity joint manipulation will increase joint range of motion.   You need to find a chiropractor that has additional training in treating extremity joints.  While everyone says that they do joint manipulation, including PT's, there is a huge difference between those that simply wiggle a joint around and call it joint manipulation and those that expertly deliver a skilled high-velocity/low-amplitude manipulation into the joint.   If the doctor is well skilled, they should be able to determine how to treat the elbow.  They should also do some active myofascial release work on the elbow.  First, you could find DC's with better extremity skills via this web site: www.acbsp.com   Also, ask if they do "Active Release."   Lastly, ask if they ever took an extremity class by Dr. Keven Hearon... If you get 2 out of 3, then you're doing good.  If all goes well, your daughter should notice improvement in joint range of motion after her first or second session.  The DC should be able to measure this.  They should also test her muscle strengths before and after, including the strength of her triceps (test the triceps with the wrist in neutral, wrist/fingers in extension, and wrist/fingers in flexion...the DC will know what to do if you mention this), strength of her forearm pronators and supinators, and also the strength of her biceps and brachialis muscles.  If she fails to get improvement withing a few treatment sessions, then there may be more going on around the elbow joint or the fracture site has cause ligament thickening that is causing the motion impairment.  Again, a skilled DC should be able to review this with you.

'Hope this helps.  

Dr. G'