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The Role of the Rate of Force Application in Responses to Spinal Manipulation Therapy

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Spinal Manipulation
Interventions
Procedure: Spinal manipulation
Device: Apparatus used to deliver spinal manipulations
Registration Number
NCT02550132
Lead Sponsor
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Brief Summary

The objective of the present study is to determine if spinal manipulations with a constant rate of force application but with different peak force and time to peak force lead to similar responses in healthy adults.

Detailed Description

Although there are indirect evidences that the rate of force application modulates neuromuscular responses to spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) through peak force or thrust duration modulations, such an assumption remains to be confirmed. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine if different SMT force-time profiles where a constant rate of force application would be maintained (through the modulation of the peak force and the time to peak force) lead to similar neuromechanical responses. Based on the available data relative to the effect of SMT biomechanical parameters modulation, it was hypothesized that neuromuscular responses would be similar across SMT force-time profiles, while vertebral displacements would increase as SMT peak force increases.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
25
Inclusion Criteria
  • Healthy adult
Exclusion Criteria
  • Thoracic or lumbar pain
  • History of back trauma or surgery
  • Severe osteoarthritis
  • Inflammatory arthritis
  • Vascular conditions
  • Contraindication to the use of SMT

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
ParticipantsApparatus used to deliver spinal manipulationsAll volunteers will participate in an experimental session. Participants will be delivered four different spinal manipulations (SMT) at T7 with a rate of force application of about 2200 Newtons/seconds and a preload force of 25 Newtons (N). SMTs will differed in their time to peak force (ms) and peak force (N), respectively fixed as follow for each applied SMT: (1)57 ms / 150 N, (2)80 ms / 200 N, (3)102 ms / 250 N and (4)125 ms / 300 N.
ParticipantsSpinal manipulationAll volunteers will participate in an experimental session. Participants will be delivered four different spinal manipulations (SMT) at T7 with a rate of force application of about 2200 Newtons/seconds and a preload force of 25 Newtons (N). SMTs will differed in their time to peak force (ms) and peak force (N), respectively fixed as follow for each applied SMT: (1)57 ms / 150 N, (2)80 ms / 200 N, (3)102 ms / 250 N and (4)125 ms / 300 N.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Left T6 Normalized Root Mean Square (RMS) ValueDuring the 300N spinal manipulation procedure, assessed up to 2 seconds following thrust onset

Normalized amplitude (RMS) of surface electromyography response. The normalisation was achieved by dividing the obtained RMS by the RMS value before thrust application.

Left T8 Normalized Root Mean Square (RMS) ValueDuring the 300N spinal manipulation procedure, assessed up to 2 seconds following thrust onset

Normalized amplitude (RMS) of surface electromyography response. The normalisation was achieved by dividing the obtained RMS by the RMS value before thrust application.

Right T6 Normalized Root Mean Square (RMS) ValueDuring the 300N spinal manipulation procedure, assessed up to 2 seconds following thrust onset

Normalized amplitude (RMS) of surface electromyography response. The normalisation was achieved by dividing the obtained RMS by the RMS value before thrust application.

Right T8 Normalized Root Mean Square (RMS) ValueDuring the 300N spinal manipulation procedure, assessed up to 2 seconds following thrust onset

Normalized amplitude (RMS) of surface electromyography response. The normalisation was achieved by dividing the obtained RMS by the RMS value before thrust application.

Vertebral Displacement of the Sixth Thoracic VertebraDuring the 300N spinal manipulation procedure, assessed up to 2 seconds following thrust onset

Absolute posterior to anterior vertebral displacement during the spinal manipulation in centimeter

Vertebral Displacement of the Seventh Thoracic VertebraDuring the 300N spinal manipulation procedure, assessed up to 2 seconds following thrust onset

Absolute posterior to anterior vertebral displacement during the spinal manipulation in centimeter

Vertebral Displacement of the Eighth Thoracic VertebraDuring the 300N spinal manipulation procedure, assessed up to 2 seconds following thrust onset

Absolute posterior to anterior vertebral displacement during the spinal manipulation in centimeter

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
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