Randomized Controlled-Comparison Clinical Trial of Chiropractic Adjustments and Brief Massage Treatment In Patients With Essential Hypertension: A Pilot Study

Plaugher G ,Long CR, Shelsy A, Menke JM, Lotun K, Meeker WCProceedings of the Int’l Conference on Spinal Mani1996 Oct: 71-2

ABSTRACT: Background and Objective: Approximately 30-50 million adults in the United States have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is an extremely common risk factor for cardiovascular-renal disease. It is associated with an increased risk for coronary artery disease, stroke,congestive heart failure, renal insufficiency and peripheral vascular disease. The primary purpose of this pilot study is to determine the feasibility of conducting a randomized clinical trial that will examine short and long-term effects of chiropractic adjustments in the treatment of subjects with essential hypertension compared to soft tissue massage and non- treatment control group.

Conclusion: The RCT design of this study was successfully integrated and conducted in a private practitioner’s office. This approach has implications for the implementation of practice-based research with a RCT study design. This pilot study elucidated several procedural issues before undertaking a full scale clinical trial on the effects of chiropractic adjustments in patients with essential hypertension. Among the most important of these are the use of a one week run-in period prior to subject randomization and block randomization of subjects based on weight. A multidisciplinary approach may need to be used in any future efforts because of the limited subject pool of patients who have hypertensive disease but are not taking medications for its control.

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