Drop Attacks – FACTS
Drop attacks are sudden falls with or without loss of consciousness sometimes followed by a seizure, a disruption of the electrical communication between neurons.
Drop attacks are sometimes called atonic, drop, or akinetic seizures. Causes of drop attacks can include brain tumor, hyperventilation, photosensitive seizure, cardiac disorders, hypotension, syncope, Menieres disease, cerebrovascular insufficiency, and epileptic seizures.
In drop attacks, the muscles suddenly relax causing immediate loss of muscle tone and strength which leads to a fall. The head may drop, eyelids could droop, and weakness in grip strength may occur. In most cases, the forward fall is responsible for face and front of the head injuries. If the person does not get injured, they typically regain balance within about 15 seconds.
Drop attacks are diagnosed via thorough history and physical exam. Diagnostic testing could include electroencephalogram (EEG), electrocochleography (ECog), electronystagmogram (ENG), audiogram, MRI, and CT scan. Once the cause is identified, the most appropriate management plan would be developed, which could include medication, dietary modifications, hearing aids, therapy, or vagal nerve stimulation.
Evidence has been found linking upper cervical nerve obstruction, headaches and other related problems. Chiropractic adjustments reducing the structural shifts that obstruct nerves associated with vertebral subluxation may help those suffering from drop attacks.
People’s nervous systems need the constant stimulation of movement in order to develop and function properly. Abnormal position or movement of the spinal vertebra can develop and these structural shifts can lead to nerve obstruction. It is this obstruction, called vertebral subluxations, that chiropractors correct.
By removing the structural shifts, chiropractic improves nerve supply and function. The chiropractic adjustment is the means in which the structural shifts are removed. It is a safe, specific force applied to a joint.
Chiropractic Care Helps with Drop Attacks
The patient reported on in this study was a 23-year-old male with a history of drop attacks, nausea, vomiting, severe headaches, and back pain. He has been suffering from low back pain and headaches for about five years. When the headaches were severe, he would become nauseous, vomit, and blackout losing consciousness. His past medical history included lung surgery and a misdiagnosis of testicular cancer.
The chiropractor examined him and found structural shifts in his neck. He had restricted range of motion. X-rays confirmed these findings. Following the upper cervical chiropractic care, he experienced complete resolution of the drop attacks and he experienced improvement in the headaches, vomiting, and low back pain.
The study’s author called for additional research to investigate the clinical implications of chiropractic in this population.
Reference: Drop Attacks, Daily Vomiting, & Headaches Resolved Following Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care: A Case Study. Nathan Berner, DC & Cory Meuleman, DC. Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research ~ Volume, 2023.
