Question
Thank you kindly for your response. Sorry I just have one last question please. My chiro had given me an exercise because my head was protruding forward. She has me lay on my back on a bed, keeping my shoulders on the bed but having my head fall down off the bed. She said this helps with decompression and helps realign my head from the forward stoop. Does that exercise also help the curve in the neck? Thanks again and God bless!
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I have 2 questions please.
1) Do regular adjustments alone that fix subluxations also help put curve back into a neck that lost its curve? Or does that have to be exercises in addition to adjustments that help the curve in the neck?
2) If a chiropractor does not take an xray, is that a bad sign? Is it essential to take xrays?
Thank you and God bless!
-----Answer-----
Hi CT,

There are 31 different definitions of "Subluxations" in the chiropractic realm, as opposed to one definition in the medical (a bone that is luxated but less than dislocated).  These definitions are taylored to match the chiropractors technique system or belief system.  The old subluxation definition, of a bone out of place, was never confirmed to exist, and the chiropractic profession mutated the definition to included bones that get stuck or don't move properly.  That being said, adjustments alone have never been proven to restore neck curves (or the normal "lordotic" curve).  There is a chiropractic system that touts curve restoration, and it involves a head harness that tractions and extends the neck over a wedge or fulcrum.  While the research on the outcomes appears impressive, it is highly criticized by the clinical science community.  What we're not sure about is if restoring a neck curve is important, or essential to good health.  We assume it is.  Is it worth months and months of treatment and significant costs to improve a neck curve when it may not change your health, or your future neck pain history?   On that note, exercises will also not change your lost neck curve, but exercises to the neck and upper back and shoulder girdle muscles are probably good to do if you have a neck problem.   #2: It is not essential to take an xray for most people in a chiropractic office.  Only if a patient's history or physical exam findings warrant concern for pathology that would exclude them from treatment (or some forms of treatment) or make treatment dangerous would xray be necessary.  More important than neck curves on xray is a patient's functional outcome in their treatment program.  Is your neck pain gone?  Are your ranges of motion improved?  Can you perform daily activities without problems (this can be tracked with a Neck Disability Index questionnaire, for example.  Did your chiropractor administer one in the beginning and track it later on?).  

'Hope this helps,

Dr. G

Answer
CT,

Laying supine and hanging your head off the bed takes gravity off your spine, probably feels good, but will not change your neck curve.  It decompresses probably not much more than just laying on your back - but I've never seen anyone prove or disprove this, so it's really just opinion.  I've never seen this passive exercise improve forward head posture.  I would bet on rigorous strength training of neck, middle back and shoulder girdle muscles over laying passively on your back for improving posture.  The truth is that while lots of folks talk about improving forward head posture, nobody's proven that it changes.  I'd like to see any research, credible research (because there's lots of crap out there), that shows that forward head posture improves with chiropractic, PT, foot orthotics, TJM oral appliances, or even exercise.  I've searched the literature and there's nothing convincing out there except, possibly, for forceful, head-harness-weighted, and fulcrum extended neck traction - but is it really worth it?  You're probably better off in the gym with a trainer.

Regards,

Dr. G
www.drgillman.com