In the cervical spine, the gray rami from sympathetic cervical ganglion join the ventral primary divisions well outside the intervertebral foramina. The three sympathetic ganglia are usually in the connective tissue between the longus colli and longus capitis and the carotid sheath. The multiple branches of the cervical sympathetic chain include those ascending along the internal and external carotid arteries and those to the pharinx, cardiac plexus, and other areas, as well as those to the spinal nerves. Before dividing into anterior and posterior primary divisions each spinal nerve gives off a small recurrent or meningeal branch, which is joined by a filament from the communicating cord between the anterior division of the nerve and the sympathetic, and then runs upwards through the intervertebral foramen to the spinal canal, where it is distributed to the vertebrae and ligaments, the blood vessels of the canal, and to the dura mater. It is possible to conclude through these data that CMs have complex influence on cerebral blood flow which should be attentively investigated.
Total time involved is one year.
Phase I. Analytical investigation. Patients between the ages of 30 to 65 with symptoms of cervical spondylosis will be examined by superficial rheoencephalography or Doppler equipment. All signs and characteristics of cerebral blood flow will be noted. After routine chiropractic examination patients take a prescribed course of chiropractic treatment with emphasis on cervical spine, 5-15 procedures. After treatment, repeated examination should be done under the same conditions.