Chiropractic Therapy May Reduce Blood Pressure

A chiropractic procedure may effectively treat high blood pressure, a new study suggests.

Researchers at Rush University Hypertension Center in Chicago, Ill. explained that anatomical abnormalities of the cervical spine at the atlas vertebra (first vertebra) are associated with relative ischaemia of the brainstem circulation and increased blood pressure (BP). Manual correction of this mal-alignment has been associated with reduced arterial pressure.

This study investigated the hypothesis that correcting mal-alignment of the atlas vertebra reduces and maintains a lower BP. Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled design at a single center, 50 drug naive (26 participants) or washed out (24 participants) patients with Stage 1 high blood pressure were randomized to receive either a National Upper Cervical Chiropractic (NUCCA) procedure or a sham procedure. Participants were between 42 and 62 years old, with the average age being 53 years. Seventy percent of participants were male.

Patients received no blood pressure-lowering drugs during the eight-week study duration. The primary end point was changed in systolic and diastolic BP, comparing baseline and week eight, with a 90 percent power to detect an 8/5 mm Hg difference at week eight over the placebo group.

By week eight, the researchers found that there were differences in systolic BP and diastolic BP. Heart rate was not reduced in the NUCCA group and no side effects were reported. Researchers concluded that restoration of atlas alignment is associated with marked and sustained reductions in BP, similar to the use of two-drug combination therapy.

Other integrative therapies with strong or good scientific evidence for high blood pressure include omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid, calcium, coenzyme Q10, hibiscus, Qi gong, stevia and yoga. For more information about integrative therapies for high blood pressure, please visit Natural Standard’s Medical Conditions database.

Comments

[Robin Haart]

Are there any safety concerns? Does insurance cover it? How do you find reputable chiropractors?

[Jen]

In the United States, chiropractors are the most frequently used non-physician primary health providers, after dentists. There are more than 60,000 licensed American chiropractors, a number expected to reach 100,000 by 2010.

Patients often ask their primary care physicians for recommendations of chiropractors who appear to be competent and trustworthy. Patients should also take into account their personal needs. Since there are many different chiropractic techniques, it is a good idea to ask a prospective chiropractor about the services he/she provides.

As chiropractic therapy gains more credibility as medical treatment, more and more insurance companies are beginning to offer coverage. Patients can contact their insurance company's customer service department to find out whether chiropractic therapy is covered.

There are many reports of serious complications during and after spinal manipulation (particularly with cervical spine/neck manipulation). However, the frequency of these events remains controversial and unclear. The most common adverse effect is believed to be local discomfort in the area of treatment, although most concern centers around the less common, but potentially life-threatening risks, of stroke/vertebral artery dissection and spinal cord/nerve damage. Deaths have been reported (275). Some researchers and practitioners blame poor technique, and others believe that the use of high-velocity forceful rotational (twisting) motions of the head increase the risk of serious complications, and suggest using lower-velocity/force non-rotational motion.

[Nick]

Wouldn't a neck brace do the same thing with none of the risk associated with seeing a chiropractor or would that just be temporary, ending when the brace get taken off?

[Jason]

Does frequent massage therapy reduce blood pressure for people with hypertension?

[Anonymous]

In response to Nick's post, I would think frequent massages provide better circulation throughout the body and provide increased oxygenation and even decreased blood pressure. For those with circulation problems, especially for those who have jobs that require them to stand all day, they would benefit from massage therapy every day at the end of their work day.

Has anyone heard of acupuncture as a possible treatment to decrease blood pressure? Any information would be helpful.

[Ceadda Wilcox]

I don't trust chiropractors. What's the point of "realigning" your spine if it's just going to get messed up again 5 minutes later? I think yoga is much more beneficial- for your back AND for high blood pressure. Having someone crack your back is an instant and temporary fix. I think people would be better off saving their money (esp. since most insurance providers don't cover chiropractic care) and doing yoga in their home or with some friends to strengthen the back, relieves stress and tension and to be social.

[Cultural relativism]

There isn’t much adults can do about an abnormally formed C1. But I love the idea of using chiropractic therapy as an integrative therapy to adjust the position of the body to improve blood flow.

I presume that vessels may be restricted between C1 and C2, since C1 pivots around its vertebral neighbor, or perhaps scar tissue builds up in and around the bursa, which forces the blood vessels to adjust in a way that increases blood pressure?

I wonder if there might be a low cost way to screen patients at risk for high blood pressure or vertebral abnormalities? In these cases, a preventative chiropractic intervention may be in order.

[W. Thomas]

Upon further investigation, I learned that the findings in this study were highly statistically significant. his has left me wondering how often the procedure was performed and exactly what it involved. If larger studies found that weekly adjustments could effectively lower blood pressure and eliminate the need for medication in a significant number of hypertensive people, what a boon that would be (well, not for the drug companies…)!

[Dagan B]

There's something about someone cracking my back that makes me slightly nervous. Although I might try it if I really didn't want to start a medication. THEN I could get into yoga to keep my back and body healthy in the future. I think this is definitely something I would look into.

[Bob]

I am also nervous about cracking my back with pressure. I do believe that movement on my own to crack my back, such as twisting and slight pressure, is OK, but forcefully jarring and twisting is probably a bad thing. I read that you can actually cause a stroke from constantly cracking your neck. The stretching of your carotid artery will cause slight tears and scar formation. A clot can start to accumulate there and one day break off and occlude blood, stroke. I don’t know if I can find the exact study, but has anyone heard about this before?

[Kayln]

I would like to know how effective chiropractic therapy is in reducing blood pressure when compared to hypertension medications. It is costly to attend regular visits for chiropractors if it's not covered by insurance.

[Emily P.]

I would also take caution while investigating treatments that involve constant pressure and realignment of the spinal chord. Back injuries can affect nearly every aspect of your body’s functions, especially in regard to movement, and they are extremely difficult and costly to treat.

[MV]

Going to a chiropractor might be difficult if it is expensive and not covered by insurance. From this article it sounds like other forms of exercise, such as yoga, could produce the same benefits and reduce arterial pressure. I wonder if all people with high blood pressure would respond similarly to this chiropractic treatment.

[Paul]

As skeptical as I am about chiropractic techniques, it's hard to argue with the logic and outcomes of this trial. It would be nice to see some follow-up and long-term results to ensure that this is not worse than drug therapy or dietary approaches for high blood pressure.

[orie]

I really enjoyed this article, or blog entry, whatever you want to call it. I'm also glad to find another source for chiropractic information on the web.

[Tim]

Today, on Good Morning America, they said the reduction in blood pressure from this procedure was an average of 17 points - twice what you listed above. Which is correct, since eight points may not be worth the risk?

[Matt]

Acupuncture may also help improve hypertension.
Researchers from Germany studied 160 outpatients (78 men, 102 women) between 50 and 66 years of age (average age 58) with uncomplicated arterial hypertension. The subjects were randomized in a single-blind fashion to a six-week course of active acupuncture or sham acupuncture. The patients participated in 22 sessions total that each lasted 30 minutes.

Researchers noted that 78 percent were receiving blood pressure-lowering medications, which remained unchanged. One hundred forty patients finished the treatment course (72 with active treatment, 68 with sham treatment).

The researchers found that there was a significant difference in post-treatment blood pressures adjusted for baseline values between the active and sham acupuncture groups at the end of treatment. In the active acupuncture group, average 24-hour ambulatory systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased significantly after treatment. At three and six months, mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures returned to pretreatment levels in the active treatment group.

[Imagine Wellness]

This is a really good entry. Thanks for sharing this with us all.

[William L. Reinholt]

Some excellent questions appear above. Consider this: where are these types of chiropractors who offer this special type of chiropractic? Shouldn't this be something all chiropractors are trained to be able to do? If these are specialty fields within chiropractic, wouldn't there be a special title to distinguish that? Why were these peoples necks out of alignment? What causes this to happen? As a person with high blood pressure, if I began to see a chiropractor, should I stop my medicine? That seems very risky to me. But if I do not, how will I know if it is working? If my BP meds are keeping my pressure down, as they are, I believe I will put more trust in this than seeing a chiropractor, particularly because of the uncertainty, I would have if I went to a chiropractor.
It would be a horse of a different color if the chiropractor was saying, "the reason you have high blood pressure is because your neck is out of alignment, that is what is causing your high blood pressure." Until you get the cause eliminated you will need to keep on taking meds the rest of your life -- stronger and stronger meds at that. So its your call. What do you want to do? Get at the cause, even if it means coming here every day because your neck won't stay in place for the rest of your life or once every month. Would you rather do that or treat the high BP with drugs that artificially lower your pressure?

[x-ray fluorescence]

Chiropractic therapy focuses on the relationship between the body's structure — mainly the spine — and the body's function. Chiropractic therapy is used most often to treat musculoskeletal conditions — problems with the muscles, joints, bones and connective tissue such as cartilage, ligaments and tendons.

[chiropractors in dc]

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