The Effects of Spinal Manipulation on Thigh Muscle Strength

Grant Sanders

Status: Completed

Conditions: Subluxation of Joint of Lumbar Spine

Treatments: Other: Sham Manipulation; Other: Spinal Manipulation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02407418

12-0280-F1V

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of chiropractic low back adjustments on thigh muscle strength. Force production was measured during different types of muscle contractions with a device called an isokinetic dynamometer. The study included 21 college-aged subjects who did not have any pain and had never received chiropractic treatment with spinal manipulation. During two separate sessions, subjects' thigh muscle forces were recorded while performing maximal muscle contractions on the isokinetic dynamometer. Baseline measurements of muscle force were acquired before either treatment form of spinal manipulation or a sham spinal manipulation, followed by identical muscle force measurements within five and twenty minutes post-treatment.

Full description

Spinal manipulation is a therapeutic procedure employed by various healthcare practitioners for alleviating acute and chronic musculoskeletal complaints. This form of treatment is also delivered to enhance the performance and augment the rehabilitation of athletes. However, despite research findings alleging the strength-modulating effects of spinal manipulation alongside numerous professional athletes' positive anecdotal claims concerning its results, the physiological processes to explain its effects remain largely unexplained. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to investigate the effects of spinal manipulation in a college-aged sample population.

This study examined the effect of spinal manipulation delivered to the lumbosacral region on concentric force production of the knee extensors and flexors. A randomized, controlled, single-blind repeated measures design was utilized with 21 subjects. Isometric and isokinetic peak torques (Nm) were recorded during two separate session while subjects performed maximal voluntary contractions post-treatment of either spinal manipulation or a sham manipulation.

Enrollment: 21 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 35 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Between the ages of 20 to 35 years
• Asymptomatic with regard to low back, pelvic or lower extremity pain

Exclusion criteria

• Previously received spinal manipulation from a chiropractor or other health care provider
• Contraindications to lumbar spine manipulation (such as fractures, lumbar disc herniation, abdominal aortic aneurysm or cauda equina syndrome)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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21 participants in 2 patient groups

Spinal Manipulation

Active Comparator group

Description:

In a repeated measures, crossover design, all subjects received spinal manipulation during the second or third session. The selection of spinal manipulation or sham was randomized.

Treatment:

Other: Spinal Manipulation

Sham Manipulation

Sham Comparator group

Description:

In a repeated measures, crossover design, all subjects received the sham manipulation during the second or third session. The selection of spinal manipulation or sham was randomized.

Treatment:

Other: Sham Manipulation