Forces generated during spinal manipulative therapy of the cervical spine: a pilot study
Related Experiment Videos
G N Kawchuk1, W Herzog, E M Hasler
1Faculty of Physical Education, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Objective:
To determine the forces imparted to the cervical spine using direct sampling methods during a clinical episode of spinal manipulative therapy.
Design:
Quantitative study.
Setting:
Human Performance Laboratory, University of Calgary.
Participants:
Two doctor/patient pairs. Patients were selected by the treating chiropractors from their existing patients pools.
Interventions:
SMT to the cervical spine (toggle method) on three separate occasions over a 2-wk period. The clinical relevancy of the treatment was assessed via before and after measures of tissue compliance.
Main Outcome Measure:
a) Forces during manipulation: preload and peak forces. b) Duration of applied forces.
Results:
a) Mean peak force = 117.7 N (+/- 15.6 N). b) Mean duration of force = 101.7 msec (+/- 14.7 msec).
Conclusion:
The forces obtained with direct sampling methods compare favorably to previous measurements obtained from indirect sampling techniques, yet the force duration times are smaller (faster) using the direct method.