Spinal manipulation and mobilization forces delivered treating sciatica: a case report.

Area of Science:

• Chiropractic Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitative Medicine

Background:

• Accurate measurement of forces during spinal manipulation is crucial for understanding biomechanical effects.
• Low back pain with sciatica significantly impacts daily living and work, often leading to surgical recommendations.

Observation:

• A patient with sciatica, a sequestered disk fragment, and left lower extremity motor deficit presented with severe pain and functional limitations.
• Previous non-surgical and surgical consultations yielded minimal improvement.

Findings:

• Force-based Cox Technic flexion distraction decompression (CTFDD) spinal manipulation, alongside electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), infrared light therapy (ILT), and a home exercise program, resulted in positive clinical outcomes.
• The treatment effectively addressed the patient's sciatica and motor deficit without surgical intervention.

Implications:

• Force-based CTFDD spinal manipulation offers a viable non-surgical alternative for discogenic sciatica.
• Further research into the neurological and biomechanical effects of force-based CTFDD is warranted to optimize treatment for low back pain.