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Scott Baker, DC & Joel Alcantara, DC, PhD
Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research ~ August 5, 2026 ~ Pages 8-17
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Abstract
Objective: To report on outcomes following retrospective file reviews of patients receiving care with the Blair Upper Cervical Technique. Specific objectives were to assess changes in intervertebral disc (IVD) height, anterior head translation (AHT) and cervical spine lordosis.
Methods: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Life University (Marietta, GA, USA). A retrospective file review was performed of patient files receiving care in a 1-year period. In addition to patient socio-demographic information (i.e., age and gender) and clinical information (i.e., clinical presentation), radiographic analysis of IVD height, AHT and cervical spine lordosis were performed at clinical presentation (T1), at 3 months (T2), 6 months (T3) and 12 months (T4) of care. Statistical analysis utilized descriptive statistics, Shapiro-Wilk test, Spearman’s rho, and one-way ANOVA. Statistical significance was set at p<.05.
Results: A total of 45 patient files (25 females; 20 males) were reviewed. Their average age was 51.98 years. After data cleaning, 38 patient files had complete records for IBVD height, AHT and cervical lordosis measurements. The IVD height at each functional unit from T1 to T4 increased in a statistically significant manner. There was a mean increase in AHT from T1 to T4 of 1.45mm however the increase was not statistically significant. Similarly, the mean increase in cervical lordosis from T1 to T4 was 8.24000 and not-statistically significant. Pairwise Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients between mean measures of IVD height, AHT and cervical lordosis at 6 months of care found that cervical lordosis was weakly negatively correlated with both IVD height and AHT At 12 months of care, cervical lordosis was moderately negatively correlated with both IVD height and AHT in a statistically significant manner.
Conclusion: Our retrospective file review demonstrated statistically significant increases in IVD height but not with measures of AHT and cervical lordosis in patients receiving care with the Blair Technique. The correlational patterns between IVD height, AHT and lordosis indicated that with a course of chiropractic, the cervical spine functions as a more cohesive unit rather than relying primarily on a single compensatory mechanism.
Keywords: Chiropractic, radiology, vertebral subluxation, chiropractic adjustment, spinal manipulation, Blair Upper Cervical Technique
