A clinical research study with the potential for significant
impact on the treatment of hypertension began in November at
the clinic facility of the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research
(PCCR) on Palmer’s Davenport Campus. The new collaborative
study on chiropractic and high blood pressure, called Chiropractic
for Hypertension in Patients (CHiP), involves the PCCR,
Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami, Fla., and Trinity at Terrace
Park Family Practice, Bettendorf, Iowa. The 165 participants
from the Quad-City community must have high blood pressure
and be between 21 and 75 years of age.
This new study is one of three projects that are part of a fouryear,
$2.8 million grant to the PCCR from the NIH National
Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Awarded
to Principal Investigator and Vice Chancellor for Research
and Health Policy Christine Goertz, D.C., Ph.D., last year, the
grant established a multidisciplinary Developmental Center for
Clinical and Translational Science in Chiropractic at Palmer
College. Chiropractic treatments include NUCCA (National
Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association) and Toggle Recoil.
“Although many medical treatments for diagnosed hypertension
are available, only about 30 percent of the more than 50 million
Americans with hypertension achieve blood pressure goals,”
said Dr. Goertz. “Many patients report that they’re unable to
tolerate medication side effects and find it difficult to sustain
significant lifestyle changes. Thus, a non-pharmacological
therapy that lowers blood pressure could become an attractive
option to many patients and their physicians.”