Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Spinal reflex attenuation associated with spinal manipulation.

J D Dishman1, R Bulbulian

  • 1Department of Anatomy, New York Chiropractic College, Seneca Falls, New York 13148, USA. ddishman@nycc.edu.

Spine
|October 3, 2000
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Modulation of the tibial nerve H-reflex by mechanical stimulation of afferents in the lumbar spine.

Electromyography and clinical neurophysiology·2005
Same author

The short golf backswing: effects on performance and spinal health implications.

Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics·2001
Same author

Comparison of effects of spinal manipulation and massage on motoneuron excitability.

Electromyography and clinical neurophysiology·2001
Same author

The effect of activity history and current activity on static and dynamic postural balance in older adults.

Physiology & behavior·2000
Same author

Hemodynamic responses to the stroop and cold pressor tests after submaximal cycling exercise in normotensive males.

Physiology & behavior·1998
Same author

Blood pressure responses to acute exercise in type A and B females and males.

Physiology & behavior·1996
Same journal

To the Editor "Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Statin Usage Are Associated With Rates of Pseudarthrosis Following Single-Level Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion" by Lavu et al.

Spine·2026
Same journal

Sarcopenia Increases Adjacent Segment Degeneration Risk within 3 Years of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Spine·2026
Same journal

Two-Year Cervical Alignment Trajectories and Associated Radiographic Factors after Posterior Spinal Fusion for Lenke Type 1 Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Spine·2026
Same journal

Association of C7 Laminoplasty and Decompression Construct Length With Postoperative Axial Symptoms After Cervical Expansive Unilateral Open-door Laminoplasty.

Spine·2026
Same journal

Functional Assessment of Dysphagia and Dysphonia Following C3-C4 Anterior Spine Surgery: A Prospective Comparison Between Simplified Retropharyngeal and Anterolateral Approaches.

Spine·2026
Same journal

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Bone Growth Stimulation Improves Union Outcomes in Type II Odontoid Fractures: Insights from a Multicenter Propensity-Matched Pilot Study.

Spine·2026
See all related articles

Spinal manipulation and mobilization transiently reduce alpha motoneuronal excitability in healthy adults. These manual therapies may offer short-term inhibitory effects on the human motor system.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Physiology
  • Manual Therapy

Background:

  • The physiological mechanisms underlying spinal manipulation remain largely unknown.
  • Spinal manipulation is proposed to reduce back muscle activity, but its precise effects on the motor system are unclear.
  • Clinical trials suggest benefits for low back pain, yet the mechanisms of symptom amelioration are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of spinal manipulation (with and without thrust) on alpha motoneuron pool excitability.
  • To explore potential mechanisms by which manual procedures influence back muscle activity.
  • To assess the effects of high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust and mobilization techniques.

Main Methods:

  • Evaluation of lumbosacral spinal manipulation and mobilization in 17 healthy human subjects without low back pain.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Measurement of the amplitude of the tibial nerve Hoffmann reflex from the gastrocnemius muscle.
  • Recording of reflex activity before and after manual spinal procedures.

    • Main Results:

    • Both spinal manipulation with thrust and mobilization without thrust significantly attenuated alpha motoneuronal activity.
    • The reduction in motoneuronal activity, measured by the Hoffmann reflex amplitude, was statistically significant (P < 0.05).
    • This inhibitory effect was transient, with activity returning to baseline levels within 30 seconds post-intervention.

    Conclusions:

    • Spinal manipulation and mobilization procedures induce a significant but temporary decrease in alpha motoneuronal excitability.
    • These findings support the hypothesis that manual spinal therapies can exert short-term inhibitory effects on the human motor system.
    • The study provides evidence for a physiological mechanism through which manual therapies may influence motor control.