The effect of low force chiropractic adjustments for 4 weeks on body surface electromagnetic field.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of 4 weeks of low-force chiropractic adjustments on body surface electromagnetic fields (EMFs).


METHODS
Thirty-five chiropractic students randomly assigned into control (17 subjects) and experimental groups (28 subjects). A triaxial fluxgate magnetometer was used for EMF detection. The subjects' body surface EMF was determined in the prone position before and after the chiropractic adjustment. A Toftness low-force chiropractic adjustment was applied to the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral areas as determined by the practitioner. Heart rate variability analysis was recorded once a week to determine autonomic nervous system activity in both the control and experimental groups.


RESULTS
The EMF on the subjects' body surface decreased after chiropractic adjustment at the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions in all 6 visits during the 4-week treatment period. The EMF showed a downtrend over the 4-week period after the low-force adjustment. The same changes were not observed in the control group. The chiropractic adjustment group had a slight decrease in heart rate over the 4-week treatment period, and no significant change was observed in the control group. Heart rate variability analysis did not show consistent changes before and after the low-force adjustments during the treatment period.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-force chiropractic adjustment in the cervical and thoracic areas resulted in a consistent reduction of the body surface EMF after 4 weeks of active treatment. No statistically significant differences were found in the heart rate and heart rate variability in the 4-week study.
Zhang
John
J
Research Department, Logan College of Chiropractic, Chesterfield, MO 63017, USA. John.Zhang@Logan.edu
Snyder
Brian J
BJ
D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D026882:Manipulation, Chiropractic; D008875:Middle Aged; D016684:Prone Position; D012447:Sacrum; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D013997:Time Factors