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Chiropractic & Manual Therapies

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Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research

The effect of spinal manipulation on deep experimental muscle pain in healthy volunteers

Authors: Søren O’Neill, Øystein Ødegaard-Olsen, Beate Søvde

Published in: Chiropractic & Manual Therapies | Issue 1/2015

Abstract

Background

High-velocity low-amplitude (HVLA) spinal manipulation is commonly used in the treatment of spinal pain syndromes. The mechanisms by which HVLA-manipulation might reduce spinal pain are not well understood, but often assumed to relate to the reduction of biomechanical dysfunction. It is also possible however, that HVLA-manipulation involves a segmental or generalized inhibitory effect on nociception, irrespective of biomechanical function. In the current study it was investigated whether a local analgesic effect of HVLA-manipulation on deep muscle pain could be detected, in healthy individuals.

Methods and materials

Local, para-spinal muscle pain was induced by injection of 0.5 ml sterile, hyper-tonic saline on two separate occasions 1 week apart. Immediately following the injection, treatment was administered as either a) HVLA-manipulation or b) placebo treatment, in a randomized cross-over design. Both interventions were conducted by an experienced chiropractor with minimum 6 years of clinical experience. Participants and the researcher collecting data were blinded to the treatment allocation. Pain scores following saline injection were measured by computerized visual analogue pain scale (VAS) (0-100 VAS, 1 Hz) and summarized as a) Pain duration, b) Maximum VAS, c) Time to maximum VAS and d) Summarized VAS (area under the curve). Data analysis was performed as two-way analysis of variance with treatment allocation and session number as explanatory variables.

Results

Twenty-nine healthy adults (mean age 24.5 years) participated, 13 women and 16 men. Complete data was available for 28 participants. Analysis of variance revealed no statistically significant difference between active and placebo manipulation on any of the four pain measures.

Conclusion

The current findings do not support the theory that HVLA-manipulation has a non-specific, reflex-mediated local or generalized analgesic effect on experimentally induced deep muscle pain. This in turn suggests, that any clinical analgesic effect of HVLA-manipulation is likely related to the amelioration of a pre-existing painful problem, such as reduction of biomechanical dysfunction.

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Title: The effect of spinal manipulation on deep experimental muscle pain in healthy volunteers
Authors: Søren O’Neill
Øystein Ødegaard-Olsen
Beate Søvde
Publication date: 01-12-2015
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Chiropractic & Manual Therapies / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 2045-709X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12998-015-0069-4

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

The effect of spinal manipulation on deep experimental muscle pain in healthy volunteers

Abstract

Background

Methods and materials

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods and materials

Results

Conclusion

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