Intervention, Waitlist Control
Conditions
Brief summary
Some studies suggest that specific chiropractic care (techniques known as spinal manipulation therapy) can have benefits to the immune system but studies are scarce, sample sizes small, and methodology and analyses often not of the highest scientific standards. The investigators will example how 36 sessions of chiropractic care over 9-12 weeks can impact immune cell function using a randomized clinical trial design.
Interventions
PROCEDUREfull spine corrective protocol
36 chiropractic adjustments over 12 weeks (3 visits per week) with in office spinal traction on the 3D Denneroll Traction Table, as well as supplemental home exercises
Sponsors
University of British Columbia
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Intervention model description
parallel-arm randomized control trial
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Must be between the ages of 18-70. * Must exhibit vertebral subluxation as measured by a misalignment between one or more vertebrae in relation to normal spinal alignment. * Have not been sick for the past 3 weeks (immune function). * Non-smoker. * Must be able to fast for 10-12 hours.
Exclusion criteria
* To have had a chiropractic intervention within the past 6 months. * To have a condition that may limit the ability to apply a high velocity, low amplitude (HVLA) thrust to the spine such as but not limited to ligament damage, reduced bone density, or other factors that weaken the body's ability to withstand reasonable care (bone cancer, fractures, osteoporosis, etc.) * To have excessive scoliotic curvature of the spine (\> 30º) as measured by identifying the first vertebrae, and the most laterally displaced vertebrae that exhibits tilt below it.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in CD25+ Regulatory T Cell | 12 weeks | CD25+ Regulatory T Cell count will be measured by surface staining using flow cytometry |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in CD4+ and CD8+ T cell | 12 weeks | CD4+ and CD8+ T cell count measured by surface staining using flow cytometry |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in IFN gamma secretion | 12 weeks | Ex-vivo whole blood culture for either 4 hours in LPS or 24 hours in Poly I:C. |
| Change in Blood Pressure | 12 weeks | Manual blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) in millimetres mercury assessed in the clinic |
| Change in body mass | 12 weeks | Body mass in kilograms will be measured by a scale |
| Quality of Life Assessment | 12 weeks | Differences in quality of life as measured via Oswestry |
| Change in Posture | 12 weeks | Posture analysis as measured by JTech Digital Inclinometer |
| Change in vertebral subluxation | 12 weeks | Absolute rotation angle (ARA) of the cervical spine assessed by X-ray |
| Changes in TNF alpha secretion | 12 weeks | Ex-vivo whole blood culture for either 4 hours in LPS or 24 hours in Poly I:C. |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed