Exciting Research Happening in NUCCA

Years of clinical evidence suggest that the atlas vertebra misalignment may be related to a negative impact on human nervous system function resulting in chronic health symptoms, conditions and diseases affecting a decrease of quality of life. Within the chiropractic profession, investigation and validation of the mechanisms involved in supporting theories on spinal misalignments are lacking and long overdue.

It has long been suspected that upper cervical spinal misalignments result in altered cerebral blood flow. Correction of the misalignment may produce a ‘normalization’ of blood flow and a reversal of related patient reported conditions (Scott R et al. 1-8). Accuracy and validity in noninvasive measurement of cerebral blood flow has been limited due to technology.

A new method using Phase Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Angiography (PC MRA) now exists that significantly increases accurate valid measurements. Using PC MRA, cerebral arterial and venous blood can be measured in almost every vessel in the brain with an added ability to measure cerebrospinal fluid flow and determine Intra-cranial Pressure (ICP).

It has been proposed to measure all these parameters using PC MRA before and after a NUCCA correction of the atlas misalignment. From these proposed pilot investigations, evidence of mechanisms detrimental to the central nervous system may be discovered.

Changes in cerebral blood flow have been demonstrated by medical research to be connected to a number of medically diagnosed conditions and diseases. With the appropriate tools now available, the effect of the NUCCA atlas correction procedure on cerebral blood flow can be accurately evaluated.

Research Goals

The desired outcome of the blood flow investigations is two fold. Most significant is to discover neural mechanisms involved for two specific conditions involving a large population of our society: migraine headaches and hypertension. The second outcome will attract interest within the scientific community for further investigation of these mechanisms and the funding required to conduct the Gold Standard, Controlled Clinical Research Trials required for validation.

Two studies, each involving ten medically diagnosed patients with Stage I hypertension and ten medically diagnosed patients with migraine headaches are planned. Mechanisms already suspected in migraine headaches and hypertension may be related to in the brain stem nuclei, a critical area that may be involved in the atlas misalignment.

Measurable changes in cerebral blood and cerebrospinal fluid flow may substantiate a neural homeostatic mechanism affected by atlas misalignment in the brain stem nuclei. This research will lay the foundation for further research into the effect of the atlas misalignment on the central nervous system.

For more information visit: www.ucrf.org