Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Volume 29, Issue 4 , Pages 257-266, May 2006

The Effect of Chiropractic Adjustments on Movement Time: A Pilot Study Using Fitts Law

  • Dean L. Smith, DC, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Private Practice of Chiropractic, Essence of Wellness Chiropractic Center, Eaton, Ohio; Visiting Faculty, Department of Physical Education, Health and Sports Studies, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
    • Corresponding Author InformationSubmit requests for reprints to: Dean L. Smith, DC, PhD, Essence of Wellness Chiropractic Center, 890 South Barron St., Eaton, OH 45320.
    • ,
  • Marvin J. Dainoff, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Professor, Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
    • ,
  • Jane P. Smith, DC

      Affiliations

    • Private Practice of Chiropractic, Essence of Wellness Chiropractic Center, Eaton, Ohio

Received 10 May 2005; received in revised form 27 June 2005

Abstract 

Objective

To investigate the effect of chiropractic adjustments on movement time using Fitts Law.

Methods

This was a prospective, randomized controlled trial. Ten patients from a private chiropractic practice participated. Participants in the treatment group received high-velocity, low-amplitude chiropractic adjustments to areas of joint dysfunction (chiropractic subluxation). A nonintervention group was used to control for improvement resulting from time and practice effects.

Movement time was measured as participants moved a cursor onto a target appearing on a computer screen. A range of target widths and target distances were used to vary the index of difficulty.

Results

All participants in the experimental group had significantly improved movement times following spinal adjustments compared with only 1 participant in the control group. The average improvement in movement time for the experimental group was 183 ms, a 9.2% improvement, whereas the average improvement in movement time for the control group was 29 ms, a 1.7% improvement. The difference (improvement) scores after the intervention were significantly greater for the chiropractic group compared with the control group as measured by a 2-tailed independent samples t test (P < .05).

Conclusion

The results of this study demonstrated a significant improvement in movement time with chiropractic care. These results suggest that spinal adjustments may influence motor behavior.

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 D.L. Smith received fellowship support from the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER) during this study.

PII: S0161-4754(06)00053-4

doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2006.03.009

Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Volume 29, Issue 4 , Pages 257-266, May 2006

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