---
title: Do women with PMS have more spinal problems than women without PMS?
description: Yes. Women with PMS had significantly more spinal problems on 6 of 12 measures tested, with an average of 5.4 positive indexes compared to 3.0 in women withou
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-frequency-of-positive-common-spinal-clinical-examination-findings-in-a-1999/
---

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- Do women with PMS have more spinal problems than women without PMS?

Randomised trial, 1999

# Do women with PMS have more spinal problems than women without PMS?

Yes. Women with PMS had significantly more spinal problems on 6 of 12 measures tested, with an average of 5.4 positive indexes compared to 3.0 in women without PMS.

 Early or limited evidence

54 women with PMS and 30 without PMS

## What they did

Researchers compared 54 women with PMS diagnosed by questionnaire and daily symptom tracking to 30 women without PMS. Both groups had full chiropractic exams checking 12 spinal measures by two experienced chiropractors.

## What they found

Women with PMS had significantly more positive results on 6 of 12 spinal measures: cervical, thoracic, and low back tenderness, low back orthopedic testing, low back muscle weakness, and neck disability index. An average of 5.4 indexes were positive in the PMS group compared with 3.0 in the non-PMS group.

## What it means for you

The study suggests that spinal problems may be related to PMS and that chiropractic care might help. However, the study only shows an association and cannot prove that spinal problems cause PMS. This was also a small study with no comparison of whether treatment actually helps.

54

women with PMS

30

women without PMS

5.4 vs 3.0

average positive spinal dysfunction measures

## About the study

Original title The frequency of positive common spinal clinical examination findings in a sample of premenstrual syndrome sufferers Authors Walsh MJ, Polus BI Journal Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics Year 1999 Study design Randomised trial Participants 30 What was tested Chiropractic examination Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0161-4754(99)70047-3](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0161-4754(99)70047-3)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)

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