Quantifying the effects of spinal manipulations on gait using patients with low back pain

The purpose for conducting this study was to investigate the effects of chiropractic treatment on the gait of a group of subjects with sacroiliac joint syndromes. The clinical results suggest that chiropractic treatments reduce pain, increase mobility of the sacroiliac joint, and restore general functional ability of the patient. Force results obtained by using a force platform during gait of the subjects showed that external forces were significantly different for gait trials executed after chiropractic treatment compared to gait trials executed before chiropractic treatment. Force results were also significantly different for gait trials executed early in the rehabilitation process compared to those executed late in the rehabilitation process. It should now be investigated if and how these changes in external forces influence the internal forces acting on low back structures. Such an investigation may provide further insight into the mechanisms underlying low back problems.