By conducting this research project our group will be investigating the relationship between a specific chiropractic adjustment in the upper thoracic spine and the efficiency of the cardiovascular system measured over increasing increments of time, by the change in the body’s ability to uptake and use oxygen at rest and during exercise.

Subjects will be screened with a survey and chiropractic diagnostic techniques so that two groups are formed; those with correctable upper thoracic bio-mechanical dysfunction, and those with no dysfunction. These groups will be further subdivided, so that only half will receive a corrective adjustment the rest will receive a ‘sham’ treatment and so serve as the control group, allowing for the comparison and contrast of final results.

To test the cardiovascular system, cycle ergometry will be used. The test is a sub-maximal procedure and is a well recognised and useful way of determining a person’s oxygen transport and oxygen utilisation ability during rhythmic exercise of major muscle groups. The test will be conducted prior to any chiropractic treatment and repeated immediately following treatment, and again after a five day treatment program.

The study is intended as a pilot study by which future students can be guided in following years. The final goal is to produce a piece of literature which adds to the growing body of knowledge concerning the dependance visceral function on the proper functioning of the nervous system.

Grant Value: $565
Chief Investigator: Dr Henry Pollard – Macquarie University
Status: Complete

Researcher Update:

  • May 1993
    Although this project began promisingly, there were methodological errors which meant that the project was not at a standard to publish.  The research will be repeated with stricter constraints, and hopefully a publication will arise as a result.