top of page

Research You Can Use >>>>

An ever expanding collection of evidence-based studies and reviews show that chiropractic physician services are safe, effective, and a cost-effective approach to treat a variety of conditions.

​

Recent Studies of Interest on Chiropractic Physician Services

​

Low Back Pain

​

Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) (7/2021) recommends spinal manipulation (90% is performed by chiropractors in the US) as an effective and viable solution to low back pain. JAMA recently published a “Patient Page” to educate patients on the best options for acute and chronic low back pain. It recommended that patients with acute low back pain (less than 12 weeks) get spinal manipulation ahead of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and muscle relaxants. And chronic low back patient recommendations included spinal manipulation before NSAIDs. 1

​

​

Hypertension Reduced with Exercise and Stretch

​

A 2019 Colorado study showed that diaphragm muscle training by repeating 30 inhales at 75% maximum inspiratory pressure, 6 days a week for 6 weeks reduced average systolic blood pressure from 137 to 127 mmHg. 2

​

A 2021 meta-analysis study further suggested resisted diaphragm strengthening during inspiration muscle training dropped systolic pressure by 16mmHg and Diastolic by 7 mmHg. The authors attribute reduction due to increased parasympathetic tone. 3

​

Multiple recent studies show isometric muscle contractions a few times a week lower blood pressure. A paper published by Wiley, et al. had subjects perform hand grip isometric exercises with squeeze at 30% of what they could do and hold 2 minutes, three minute rest and repeat four times, three times a week for 8 weeks. Study showed a systolic and diastolic resting pressure reduced by 12.5 and 14.9 mmHg respectively for total of 24 minutes per week. 4

​

Studies have shown that stretching arteries (blood vessel remodeling) in the calf, quadraceps and hamstrings (femoral and popliteal arteries) with 45 second holds, reaped 5 times) for 12 weeks increase femoral arterial blood flow and reduced peripheral artery stiffness and reduced blood pressures. 5

​

 

References

​

  1. Traeger AC, et al. Low back pain. JAMA, 2021;326(3):286.

  2. Craighead D, Inspiratory muscle strength training lowers resting systolic blood pressure and improves vascular endothelial function in middle-aged and older adults. FASEB J, 2019;33:541-4

  3. DaSilva C. Can respiratorymuscular training change the blood pressure levels and hypertension? A systemic review with meta-analysis. Scand J Med Sci Sports, July 2021;31(7):1384-1394.

  4. Wiley RL, Dunn CL, Cox NH, et al. Isometric exercise training lowers resting blood pressure. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 1992;24:749-754.

  5. Bisconti, A, Ce E, Longo S, et al. Evidence for improved systemic and local vascular function after long-term passive static stretching training of the musculoskeletal system. J Phys, 2020:1-22.

american chiropractic association logo and link
harvard health publishing logo and link
spine journal
bottom of page