Spinal manipulative therapy and somatosensory activation.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Manual Therapy

Background:

• Manual therapies, including spinal manipulative therapy (SMT), have a long history of use for healing.
• The precise mechanisms underlying SMT's therapeutic effects are not fully understood.
• Previous theories suggested the nervous system plays a key role in mediating SMT's benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To update knowledge on the physical aspects of SMT application.
• To review the signaling properties of sensory neurons in the vertebral column responding to spinal manipulation.

Main Methods:

• Review of experimental literature on spinal manipulation.
• Analysis of physical characteristics of applied SMT.
• Examination of sensory neuron signaling in response to manipulation.

Main Results:

• SMT involves applying high-velocity, low-amplitude forces to the spine.
• Specific types of mechanosensitive paraspinal neurons are activated by SMT.
• A high-frequency, bursting discharge pattern was observed from these neurons.

Conclusions:

• SMT may induce lasting changes in central neuron synaptic efficacy.
• This effect is proposed to be mediated by the high-frequency neural discharge evoked by SMT.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the neurophysiological underpinnings of SMT.