A recent study at the University of Chicago reports that a specialized chiropractic adjustment on the vertebra may improve blood pressure.
The Atlas vertebra, known as C1, lies at the top of the spine. Unlike the other vertebrae, it is in direct contact with soft tissue and ligaments. This means a misalignment might cause some health issues. Researchers at the University of Chicago have been looking at how manipulation of the Atlas vertebra with a specialized chiropractic maneuver affects blood pressure.
A group of patients with a misaligned Atlas vertebra and high blood pressure received either the genuine maneuver or a ‘sham’ intervention which acted as placebo. A comparison showed that blood pressure went down among those having the genuine chiropractic. The mechanism by which this takes effect is not understood, but the results make it worthwhile undertaking a bigger trial. The connection could shed light on a new cause of high blood pressure, and on a new way of treating it.
