Possible Colorado Springs Chiropractic Benefits for Hypertension

Blood pressure. Hypertension. It is a topic among friends and family members and patient/physician interactions even in yoga classes and via meditation apps. Our uptight world has us all stressed out, back pain and neck pain creates worry, chronic pain anywhere stresses our bodies, pushing blood pressure higher. The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR presents recent studies that demonstrate some potential promise of chiropractic and spinal manipulation’s ability to positively affect blood pressure.

SPINAL MANIPULATION AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

Spinal manipulation’s effect on the nervous system, specifically its sympathetic (“fight or flight” reactionary part) and parasympathetic (“rest and digest” calm part) functions of the autonomic nervous system, is garnering notice in the clinical setting with normal clients as well as in the sport setting with athletes. A study of utilizing spinal manipulation versus a sham treatment with recreational athletes reported that spinal manipulation before exercise elicited a shift toward intensified parasympathetic system function resulting in impaired performance. (1) That is not all bad in the clinical setting! The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR knows it is all about when to apply what type of care to get the best results. Parasympathetic dominance to help reduce pain is good for athletes who may suffer with back pain after their exercise.  

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM, HYPERTENSION, AND MANIPULATION

Manual therapies like Colorado Springs spinal manipulation and mobilization at The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR are known for their ability to treat, ease, and manage spinal pain related conditions. As a bonus benefit, changes to the cardiovascular system have been documented. With hypertension being the global health concern (and even reason for death) that it is, such changes are potentially quite critical. Blood pressure control is complex, relying on the autonomic nervous system for its regulation while genetics and physiology may also influence it. Quite a few patients - 20-30% of them - with blood pressure issues don’t respond to common medications. Consequently, alternatives are being studied like chiropractic spinal manipulation therapy. An evaluation of the published literature found promising outcomes that encourage more study. (2) A recent study found that spinal manipulation and mobilization made a statistically significant reduction in systolic blood pressure as well as diastolic blood pressure and heart rate variability though these were statistically non-significant in this study. (3) More research is certainly needed. Systolic blood pressure reveals the force on the blood vessels when the heart beats (top number) while diastolic reveals the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats (bottom number). Doctors most often focus on the top, systolic number, so spinal manipulation’s effect would be welcome if more studies continue to show such effect.   The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR offers gentle spinal manipulation treatment via the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.  It’s research-documented and effective for reducing back and neck pain.                          

CONTACT The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes how the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management may assist the autonomic system.

Schedule your next Colorado Springs chiropractic appointment with The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR today. Hypertension may well meet its match - or at least back down a bit - with chiropractic spinal manipulation! Let us figure it out together.