Case-series · July 28, 2026

Chiropractic Management of Musculoskeletal Pain: A Retrospective Case Series from a Single Clinic

Abstract

Background: Musculoskeletal pain is a widespread condition causing significant discomfort and functional limitation. Chiropractic care is a common non-pharmacological approach for managing such conditions. This article evaluates patient-reported outcomes following chiropractic care in a private practice setting. Methods: A retrospective case series was conducted on 11 de-identified patient cases from Pure Wellness Chiropractic in Dover, DE. Data were extracted from verified patient-reported outcomes focusing on chief complaints of musculoskeletal pain (ICD-10 R52). The primary outcome measure was the percentage of self-reported pain reduction. Results: The 11 cases had a mean pain reduction of 42% (median 40%). Mobility improvement was not quantitatively tracked. Case reports indicated that many patients experienced subjective improvement within one to a few visits. For example, one patient with pain severe enough to affect breathing noted 60% relief and improved respiratory function after initial care. Other patients reported feeling “much better” and more confident after their first visit. Conclusions: Patients in this case series reported clinically meaningful reductions in musculoskeletal pain following chiropractic care. While promising, these findings are preliminary. The lack of a control group, the retrospective design, and the use of non-standardized subjective metrics necessitate more rigorous, prospective studies to validate these observations.

Methods

This study was conducted as a retrospective case series to evaluate patient-reported outcomes at a single chiropractic clinic. The data were sourced from 11 verified, de-identified patient cases at Pure Wellness Chiropractic in Dover, DE. Inclusion criteria for this series required a chief complaint related to musculoskeletal pain (corresponding to ICD-10 R52) and the availability of a patient-reported outcome. The providers at the clinic, including Dr. Eric Marks, Dr. Brooke Mazujian, and Dr. Rebecca Leary, employ a range of chiropractic techniques such as Diversified, Thompson, Gonstead, Sacro Occipital Technique (SOT), Activator, Extremity Adjusting, Myofascial Release, and Cox Flexion Distraction. However, the specific protocols applied to each individual case were not detailed in the provided data. The primary outcome measure was the patient-reported percentage of pain reduction. This metric was derived from qualitative patient statements and post-care summaries. No standardized pain scale (e.g., Visual Analog Scale or Numeric Pain Rating Scale) was systematically used across all cases. Mobility improvement was not quantitatively tracked. Aggregate data were analyzed for descriptive statistics, including mean and median pain reduction. Individual case narratives were reviewed to provide qualitative context for the quantitative results.

Discussion

The findings from this retrospective case series suggest that chiropractic care delivered at this clinic was associated with positive patient-reported outcomes for musculoskeletal pain. A mean pain reduction of 42% in a cohort of 11 patients is a clinically relevant finding, indicating that patients, on average, experienced substantial relief. The median value of 40% suggests this effect was consistent across the sample. The case vignettes further illustrate that for many patients, this relief was perceived rapidly, often within the first one to three visits. This observation aligns with a common clinical goal of conservative care: to provide safe and effective pain relief in the acute or subacute phase of a condition. The report from Case 9, where significant pain reduction was accompanied by improved breathing, highlights the potential for chiropractic interventions to impact function beyond simple pain modulation. Furthermore, the outcome in Case 1, where a patient gained confidence and understanding of their condition, underscores the value of the patient-provider interaction, which includes assessment, diagnosis, explanation, and treatment. These results support the potential utility of the multimodal approach—encompassing techniques like Diversified, Gonstead, and Myofascial Release—employed at the clinic. While the data are preliminary, they indicate that patients at this center are reporting positive experiences and symptomatic improvement.

Limitations

The conclusions drawn from this study are subject to several significant limitations. First, its retrospective case-series design is inherently susceptible to bias and cannot establish causality. There was no control group, making it impossible to differentiate the effects of the treatment from the natural history of the conditions or placebo effects. Second, the data originate from a single clinic, so the findings may not be generalizable to other patient populations or clinical settings. Third, the primary outcome—pain reduction—was based on self-reported, non-standardized metrics rather than validated instruments like a Numeric Pain Rating Scale, which limits objectivity and comparability. Fourth, there is a high potential for selection bias, as the cases may represent a sample of patients who had favorable outcomes. Finally, key clinical and demographic data, such as patient age, gender, chronicity of the condition, and specific treatment protocols for each visit, were not available, precluding a more detailed analysis of which factors contributed to the observed outcomes.