Relationship Between Chiropractic Care and Autonomic Nervous System Regulation

Palo Alto (17 mi)

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Male

Travel: May be covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: N/A

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: Northeast College of Health Sciences

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?The objective for this study is to explore the utility of biometric devices to measure changes in heart rate variability (HRV) during chiropractic maintenance care. The study will use WHOOP wearable technology to measure HRV. Chiropractic maintenance care refers to regular visits to manage recurrent musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction \[1\]. Beyond managing pain and dysfunction, regular chiropractic visits may also promote improvements in homeostatic regulation of internal physiological conditions, but the evidence-based is lacking for these effects \[2\]. The hypothesis of this study is that chiropractic maintenance care may lead to an increase in HRV as compared to a control group that do not receive chiropractic care. 1. Eklund A, Jensen I, Lohela-Karlsson M, Hagberg J, Leboeuf-Yde C, Kongsted A, et al. The Nordic maintenance care program: Effectiveness of chiropractic maintenance care versus symptom-guided treatment for recurrent and persistent low back pain-a pragmatic randomized controlled trial. PLoS One. 2018;13:e0203029. 2. Kovanur Sampath K, Mani R, Cotter JD, Tumilty S. Measureable changes in the neuro-endocrinal mechanism following spinal manipulation. Med Hypotheses. 2015;85:819-24.

Eligibility Criteria

Treatment Details

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: Chiropractic Maintenance CareExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

The intervention group will receive weekly chiropractic care, in the form of high-velocity, low amplitude (HVLA) chiropractic adjustments delivered to restricted vertebrae of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal segments. The intervention duration is 8 weeks. Subjects in the intervention group who do not attend at least four (4) scheduled chiropractic visits will be withdrawn from the study.

Group II: ControlActive Control1 Intervention

The control group will not receive any chiropractic care during study protocol.