The effect of low force chiropractic adjustments for 4 weeks on body surface electromagnetic field.

Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics · 2005 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5187

Study snapshot

PublicationJournal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics · 2005

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of 4 weeks of low-force chiropractic adjustments on body surface electromagnetic fields (EMFs). METHOD: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typerandomized_trial

Effect directionmixed

PopulationChiropractic students

Sample size35

Exposure4 weeks (6 visits)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Body surface EMF decreased after low-force chiropractic adjustment at cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions across all 6 visits over 4 weeks, with a downtrend over time; these changes were not observed in the control group. Heart rate showed a slight decrease in the adjustment group, while heart rate variability did not show consistent changes; no statistically significant differences were found for heart rate or heart rate variability.

Outcomes measured

Body surface electromagnetic field (EMF) measured by triaxial fluxgate magnetometer
Heart rate
Heart rate variability (autonomic nervous system activity)

Limitations

Frequency characteristics of the measured EMF are not described.
Statistical details (effect sizes, p-values) are not provided in the abstract.
Population limited to chiropractic students.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "chiropractic adjustment (Toftness low-force)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "4 weeks (6 visits)"
  },
  "population": "Chiropractic students",
  "sample_size": 35,
  "outcomes": [
    "Body surface electromagnetic field (EMF) measured by triaxial fluxgate magnetometer",
    "Heart rate",
    "Heart rate variability (autonomic nervous system activity)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Body surface EMF decreased after low-force chiropractic adjustment at cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions across all 6 visits over 4 weeks, with a downtrend over time; these changes were not observed in the control group. Heart rate showed a slight decrease in the adjustment group, while heart rate variability did not show consistent changes; no statistically significant differences were found for heart rate or heart rate variability.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Frequency characteristics of the measured EMF are not described.",
    "Statistical details (effect sizes, p-values) are not provided in the abstract.",
    "Population limited to chiropractic students."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "chiropractic adjustment",
    "Toftness technique",
    "body surface electromagnetic field",
    "triaxial fluxgate magnetometer",
    "heart rate variability",
    "randomized controlled trial"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2005.02.009
PubMed: 15855902

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