Case-series · July 29, 2026
Outcomes in Chronic Pain Patients Under Chiropractic Care: A Retrospective Case Series from TOPCHIRO Maastricht
Abstract
Background: Chronic pain is a widespread and debilitating condition impacting quality of life globally. Conventional treatments often provide symptomatic relief but may not address underlying biomechanical factors. This case series investigates the outcomes of chiropractic care for patients presenting with chronic pain at TOPCHIRO Maastricht. Methods: A retrospective case series review was conducted on three de-identified patient records from TOPCHIRO Maastricht who received chiropractic care for chronic pain. Data extracted included chief complaint, baseline status, post-treatment status, and reported quality of life changes. Quantitative pain and mobility metrics were not available for aggregation. Results: All three documented cases reported significant improvements in their chronic pain conditions. One patient experienced complete resolution of chronic pain, while another reported a profound transformation in quality of life due to pain resolution and improved function. The third case also noted chronic pain resolution and enhanced daily comfort over a two-year period. Conclusions: The findings suggest that chiropractic care at TOPCHIRO Maastricht may be beneficial for individuals experiencing chronic pain, leading to resolution of pain symptoms and substantial improvements in overall quality of life and daily comfort. Further prospective and controlled studies are warranted to substantiate these observations.
Methods
This study employed a retrospective case series design to examine the outcomes of chiropractic care for patients with chronic pain at TOPCHIRO Maastricht. The practice, located in Maastricht, Netherlands, was founded by Dr. Travis Corcoran and includes chiropractors Lisa Tacke, Alicia Tsang, and Neïma Morel. The patient data included in this series were extracted from de-identified records of individuals who received care at TOPCHIRO Maastricht and whose outcomes were verified. Inclusion criteria for this series were patients presenting with a chief complaint primarily characterized as 'chronic pain' who subsequently reported distinct changes in their condition following chiropractic intervention at the clinic. Three such cases were identified and included in this analysis. Data points collected for each case included the chief complaint, a description of the baseline severity or impact of chronic pain, and a description of the post-treatment status, specifically regarding pain resolution or significant improvement in quality of life related to pain. Other information, such as age range, gender, specific treatment protocols, or ICD-10 diagnoses, were not consistently recorded or available for all cases and thus were not included in the analysis. Quantitative metrics for pain reduction (e.g., VAS scores) or mobility improvement percentages were not systematically tracked in the patient records for these specific cases, precluding aggregate statistical analysis. The primary outcome measure was the qualitative assessment of pain resolution and improvement in overall quality of life as reported in the patient notes. The timeframe over which improvements occurred was noted when available. This method inherently relies on self-reported patient feedback documented by the chiropractors. Limitations include the retrospective nature of the data collection, the small sample size, the absence of standardized outcome measures (such as initial and final pain scores or objective mobility assessments), and the lack of a control group. The design also introduces potential for selection bias, as only cases with clearly documented positive outcomes were identified for this series, and relies solely on the internal records of a single chiropractic clinic.
Discussion
The outcomes observed in this retrospective case series from TOPCHIRO Maastricht suggest that chiropractic care may offer significant benefits for individuals experiencing chronic pain. All three presented cases reported substantial improvements, ranging from complete resolution of chronic pain to a major transformation in overall quality of life, which aligns with the general objective of pain management and enhancement of patient well-being. These qualitative results, while preliminary and based on a small sample, are consistent with the broad clinical expectations that chiropractic interventions can positively impact musculoskeletal pain conditions. The cases indicate a potential for chiropractic care to not only reduce pain intensity but also to restore functional capacity, allowing individuals to re-engage with work, hobbies, and daily life activities. This goes beyond mere symptomatic relief, suggesting a holistic improvement in patient experience. The reported improvements in day-to-day comfort and overall quality of life in these chronic pain patients highlight the potential for chiropractic care to address the multifaceted nature of chronic pain, which often includes limitations in activity and psychological distress. While the precise mechanisms by which these outcomes were achieved cannot be elucidated from this dataset, it is plausible that the chiropractic adjustments contributed to improved spinal biomechanics, reduced nerve interference, or decreased muscular tension, thereby alleviating pain and improving function. The fact that one patient experienced sustained improvement over two years further suggests that chiropractic care may offer not just acute relief but also long-term management benefits for chronic conditions. These findings underscore the clinical implication that chiropractic care may be a valuable component in the multidisciplinary management of chronic pain, particularly in contexts where traditional approaches may not have yielded satisfactory results. However, without quantitative pain scores or objective functional assessments, the exact magnitude of these improvements remains to be quantified. This series serves as an exploratory investigation, identifying areas where further structured research with robust methodology and larger cohorts would be beneficial.
Limitations
This retrospective case series is subject to several important limitations. Firstly, its retrospective design means that data were collected after the events occurred, relying on pre-existing patient records which may not have been standardized for research purposes. A significant limitation is the small sample size of only three cases, which severely restricts the generalizability of the findings. The study was conducted at a single site, TOPCHIRO Maastricht, meaning the results may not be representative of outcomes at other chiropractic clinics. The outcome measures were primarily based on self-reported patient feedback documented by the chiropractors, without standardized instruments for pain (e.g., Visual Analog Scale or Numeric Rating Scale) or mobility assessment (e.g., range of motion measurements). This lack of objective and quantitative metrics prevents a precise measurement of pain reduction or mobility improvement percentages. Furthermore, there was no control group, making it impossible to ascertain whether the observed improvements were solely attributable to chiropractic care or if other confounding factors or the natural course of the condition played a role. Lastly, potential selection bias exists, as only cases with documented positive outcomes were included, which could overstate the perceived effectiveness of the interventions.