Changes in presence of a segmental dysfunction pattern associated with hypertension: Part 1. A short-term longitudinal study.

A statistically significant pattern of segmental components of somatic dysfunction associated with a history of high blood pressure was investigated for change after an interval of 4 to 8 months. The volunteer subjects, from an inner-city ambulatory clinic, included normotensive, borderline hypertensive, and hypertensive persons. A standardized palpatory examination determined whether there were specific motion asymmetries centered at spinal segments C6, T2, and T6 and confirmed by mirror-image motion asymmetries in adjacent segments. Blood pressure measurements and diagnosis of hypertension followed American Heart Association standards. The repeated presence of the pattern in subjects with a history of hypertension was statistically significant. Presence of the pattern in normotensive subjects, however, appeared to be random. The subjects' histories during the study period revealed no influence of antihypertensive medications, major accidents, or illness on the patterns' continuing presence in subjects requiring medical control of their hypertension.