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

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether a vectored adjustment of the atlas in patients identified as demonstrating signs of upper cervical joint dysfunction would cause lowering of blood pressure in comparison with resting controls. Design: Test 1: controlled clinical trial with a treatment (adjustment) group and a control (resting) group. Test 2: controlled clinical trial with subjects serving as their own controls. Setting: Private chiropractic practice. Participants: Test 1: Forty established patients demonstrating signs of upper cervical subluxation/joint dysfunction and 40 established patients without such signs. Test 2: Thirty established patients demonstrating signs of upper cervical subluxation/joint dysfunction. Intervention: Specific, vectored upper cervical (atlas) adjustment or similarly positioned resting. Main Outcome Measures: Prerest, postrest, and postadjustment systolic, diastolic, and pulse rates as recorded through use of a digital oscillometric sphygmomanometer. Results: In test 1, subjects receiving adjustment had a significant (P <.001) decrease in systolic blood pressure whereas resting subjects did not. Intergroup comparison of the treatment (adjustment) and control (resting) groups demonstrated a significant difference (P <.001). A greater pre/post drop in systolic pressure was associated with greater age and higher initial systolic pressure. In test 2, the pre/postrest change in systolic blood pressure was not significant. The systolic blood pressure changed significantly (P <.001) from postrest readings to postadjustment readings. Conclusion: The results indicate that palpation and vectored atlas adjustment causes a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure in patients with putative upper cervical subluxation/joint dysfunction in comparison with resting controls. Similar results were also demonstrated when subjects acted as their own controls. The lack of randomization, blinding, and a manipulated control group are factors that weaken these findings. The sudden drop in systolic pressure is proposed to be due to stimulation of the cervicosympathetic reflex or moderation of muscle tone and elimination of the effects of the pressor reflex. (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2001;24:101-9)