Chiropractic T Cell Study

Impact of a Corrective Model of Chiropractic Care on Immune Cell Phenotype and Function

Some studies suggest that specific chiropractic care (techniques known as "spinal manipulation therapy") can have benefits to the immune system but studies are scarce, sample sizes small, and methodology and analyses often not of the highest scientific standards. The investigators will example how 36 sessions of chiropractic care over 9-12 weeks can impact immune cell function using a randomized clinical trial design.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Intervention; Waitlist Control
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: full spine corrective protocol

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 38
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • British Columbia
    • Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, V1V 1V7
      • University of British Columbia Okanagan

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Must be between the ages of 18-70.
• Must exhibit vertebral subluxation as measured by a misalignment between one or more vertebrae in relation to normal spinal alignment.
• Have not been sick for the past 3 weeks (immune function).
• Non-smoker.
• Must be able to fast for 10-12 hours.

Exclusion Criteria:

• To have had a chiropractic intervention within the past 6 months.
• To have a condition that may limit the ability to apply a high velocity, low amplitude (HVLA) thrust to the spine such as but not limited to ligament damage, reduced bone density, or other factors that weaken the body's ability to withstand reasonable care (bone cancer, fractures, osteoporosis, etc.)
• To have excessive scoliotic curvature of the spine (> 30º) as measured by identifying the first vertebrae, and the most laterally displaced vertebrae that exhibits tilt below it.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention; experimental group will receive 36 chiropractic treatments designed to correct vertebral subluxation over ~12 weeks	Procedure: full spine corrective protocol; 36 chiropractic adjustments over 12 weeks (3 visits per week) with in office spinal traction on the 3D Denneroll Traction Table, as well as supplemental home exercises
No Intervention: waitlist control; waitlist control will receive no chiropractic interventions and will be reminded that to successfully complete their condition, they do not seek alternative chiropractic treatments

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in CD25+ Regulatory T Cell	CD25+ Regulatory T Cell count will be measured by surface staining using flow cytometry	12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in CD4+ and CD8+ T cell	CD4+ and CD8+ T cell count measured by surface staining using flow cytometry	12 weeks

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in vertebral subluxation	Absolute rotation angle (ARA) of the cervical spine assessed by X-ray	12 weeks
Change in body mass	Body mass in kilograms will be measured by a scale	12 weeks
Change in Blood Pressure	Manual blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) in millimetres mercury assessed in the clinic	12 weeks
Quality of Life Assessment	Differences in quality of life as measured via Oswestry	12 weeks
Quality of Life Assessment	Differences in quality of life as measured via SF36	12 weeks
Quality of Life Assessment	Differences in quality of life as measured via Neck Disability Index.	12 weeks
Change in Posture	Posture analysis as measured by JTech Digital Inclinometer	12 weeks
Changes in TNF alpha secretion	Ex-vivo whole blood culture for either 4 hours in LPS or 24 hours in Poly I:C.	12 weeks
Changes in IFN gamma secretion	Ex-vivo whole blood culture for either 4 hours in LPS or 24 hours in Poly I:C.	12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of British Columbia

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 25, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 1, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): December 31, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 6, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 6, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): June 9, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 5, 2025
• Last Verified: February 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: H21-00643

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No