Chiropractic Lowers Blood Pressure, New Study Suggests

A single chiropractic adjustment significantly reduced the blood pressure of patients with diagnosed hypertension. The improvement lasted through the 8 week duration of the study.

This double blinded placebo controlled trial included 50 participants with documented spinal misalignments at the C1 level (just below the skull). The participants were treated by a Chicago area chiropractor who specializes in a particular technique of upper cervical adjusting (NUCCA). The chiropractor performed a single, specific adjustment to the atlas vertebrae and blood pressure measurements were taken over an 8 week period. Though the improvement in blood pressure was significant, equal to taking 2 blood pressure medications at once, there was not a corresponding change in heart rate. Results were published in the Journal of Human Hypertension.

According to Dr. George Bakris, MD, the studies author, "The mechanism as to why this improvement in blood pressure occurs is unknown and cannot be determined by this study." "The data presented, however, raise a number of important questions including: a) How does misalignment of C1 affect hypertension?; and b) If there is a cause and effect relationship between C1 misalignment and hypertension, is malposition of C1 an additional risk factor for the development of hypertension?"

A larger trial involving multiple practitioners is being planned.


EurekAlert

Journal of Human Hypertension

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Dr. Richards' Comments:
This is a very exciting study. The lion's share of chiropractic research has focused on pain syndromes. This research helps to expand the understanding of chiropractic treatment to other health conditions. The study has several important limitations which must be taken seriously. Particularly relevant to me as a chiropractor is the fact that the chiropractic technique used in this study is not one in common use. It would be very interesting to determine if the same results could be achieved utilizing a mainstream chiropractic technique.