Upper Cervical Adjustments Lower Blood Pressure

An association between manipulative treatment and decreases in arterial blood pressure has been observed in the past. In some cases, reduction in blood pressure after manipulation has been so dramatic as to induce a call for the monitoring of medicated high blood pressure patients. A recent study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics tests the hypothesis that there is a significant measurable change in blood pressure after upper neck adjustment.

Two tests were performed to check such a theory. In the first test, data was compiled from 40 patients demonstrating signs of upper neck joint dysfunction compared and compared with data from 40 patients without such symptoms. All participants were subjected to a resting and manipulation period in which their blood pressures were observed before and after as to changes in blood circulation rates. The second test involved 30 patients with upper neck joint dysfunction, under the same conditions, in which they acted as their own controls. Test one of this study revealed a statistically significant decrease in blood pressure between the treatment group and the nontreated group. Test two showed a statistically substantial decrease in systolic blood pressure from the postrest reading to the postadjustment reading.

"The results indicated that chiropractic adjustment causes a significant decrease in blood pressure in patients with supposed upper neck joint dysfunction in comparison with resting controls," stated lead investigator Dr. Gary Knutson of Indiana University.

If you have high systolic blood pressure, talk to your doctor about what steps you can take to ensure optimal health.

Reference: Knutson GA. Significant changes in systolic blood pressure post vectored upper cervical adjustment vs. resting control groups: a possible effect of the cervicosympathetic and/or pressor reflex. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2001:24(2), pp. 101-109.