THE STUDY The original 50 subjects, in the study, were randomly divid- ed into two groups of 25 each. The control group received a placebo “adjustment.” This was possible for two basic rea- sons: 1) because the “adjustment” is so light and 2) because the head could be braced and the adjusted vector controlled so well that no measurable change would take place in the misalignment. The treatment or experimental group received an equally light adjustment but the vector used and the head placement were specifi c for each subject based on NUCCA’s “under- standing” of the presenting biomechanics as interpreted from X-rays for that particular patient. Patients were blinded as to whether or not they had received the sham “adjustment” or had received the real adjustment. The nurse taking the blood pressure readings was not aware of which subjects had been given the real adjustment. Hence, in this sense only, the pilot study was a double-blind study. With regard to posture mea- surements, X-rays, and adjustments the chiropractor was, of course, not blinded. Posture measurements in this study included both supine leg check (non-load bearing) and standing (load-bearing) pelvic inclination (frontal plane) as measured on the anatom- eter as well as bilateral weight distribution, pelvic distortion in the transverse plane (“rotation”) and lateral displacement of C-7 off a vertical axis. A laser light system was used to www.canadianchiropractor.ca CANADIAN CHIROPRACTOR | SEPTEMBER 2008 • 43
Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor September 2008: Page 43
