• Snyder B
• Zhang J

• Association of Chiropractic Colleges / congresses

Materials and Methods:This study was reviewed and approved by the institutional review board of Logan College of Chiropractic. This randomized controlled study of 54 subjects recruited three groups of subjects suffering from low back pain using a random table. There were two experimental groups and two control groups. All experimental subjects received Toftness chiropractic adjustments and the control group did not receive adjustments. The first experimental group was subjects suffering from low to moderate back pain (1-5 on the VAS scale). The second experiment group was subjects with high moderate to severe low back pain on the VAS scale of 6-10. The control group was subjects who were also divided into low pain and high groups based on VAS scales, the same as in the experimental groups. Subjects in the study were recruited from the student body, faculty, and staff at a chiropractic college. HRV was measured using the BioComp device.

Results: Fifty-four subjects were recruited from a chiropractic college (20 female, 16 male, 18 in the control group). The average age of the study population was 34 „b12 years old. There were statistically significant deceases in VAS in subjects with low back pain in both high pain and low pain groups. There were no statistically significant changes in the control groups. The EMF readings in the below 5 VAS group showed a significant increase in EMF compared to the above 5 VAS that showed a significant decrease. In the below 5 VAS group the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral regions all showed a statistically significant increase. In the above 5 VAS group the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral regions all showed a significant decrease. There was no statistically significant change in the control groups EMF readings in the above and below 5 VAS. The HRV analysis in the high pain group showed a decrease in the sympathetic response and an increase in the parasympathetic response. There were no significant changes in HRV analysis in the control groups.

Discussion:The data collected show promise for Toftness chiropractic adjustment for pain. This finding is comparable to studies in related areas. The significant reduction in pain before and after chiropractic care was similar to other studies that reported pain reduction after chiropractic adjustment. The decrease in the above 5 VAS group and an increase in the below 5 VAS group is a very significant finding as it relates to the clinical improvement of patients. This study indicates that the Toftness system of Chiropractic adjusting affects the EMF changes differently depending on the patients¡¦ pain level and also produces a positive result in HRV analysis. This is a very important clinical finding that will promote further research in this area.

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