Measuring the effects of specific cervical chiropractic adjustments on blood pressure and pulse rate: a randomized controlled trial

Subject: Hypertension/blood pressure

      Objective: Several studies have reported the effects of various specific cervical chiropractic adjustments on blood pressure and pulse rate.
      However, those studies have been criticized due to small sample size and various methodological concerns. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to measure the effects of specific cervical (C3 to Occiput [“C0”]) chiropractic adjustments on blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate (PR) in a larger sample size of both normotensive and hypertensive humans.

Methods: After IRB approval, informed consent was obtained and 331 human subjects who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to one of three groups: control (N=108; no treatment, no placebo); placebo treatment (N=117; sham adjustment with inactive device); or active treatment (N=106; adjustment with active device).
Subjects were seated in a relaxing climate-controlled room for a minimum of 15 minutes prior to obtaining a baseline bloodpressure (BP) (systolic and diastolic) and pulse rate (PR) measurement with an electronic oscillometric BP monitor.

   The subjects were then moved to chairs stationed according to the study group in which they were assigned. Subjects had another BP and PR measured (“anxiety” BP and PR measurements) after being called upon for active treatment, placebo treatment, or no treatment at all.
Active treatment involved the use of the Activator IV adjusting instrument to correct subluxations detected according to the Activator Methods Chiropractic Technique for cervical vertebrae C3 to C0.
Placebo treatment was performed with an Activator II adjusting instrument in the “off” position, which mimics all aspects of the treatment that is administered when in the “on” position but no manipulative force is delivered. Following active treatment (or placebo treatment or no treatment), subjects had their BP and PR measured once again.

Results: Subjects ranged in age from 18 to 85 years old (mean age=52) and 64 percent of them were female. Systolic and diastolic BP decreased significantly


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