The Effects of Spinal Manipulation on Thigh Muscle Strength

Grant Sanders21 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of chiropractic low back adjustments on thigh muscle strength. Force production was measured during different types of muscle contractions with a device called an isokinetic dynamometer. The study included 21 college-aged subjects who did not have any pain and had never received chiropractic treatment with spinal manipulation. During two separate sessions, subjects' thigh muscle forces were recorded while performing maximal muscle contractions on the isokinetic dynamometer. Baseline measurements of muscle force were acquired before either treatment form of spinal manipulation or a sham spinal manipulation, followed by identical muscle force measurements within five and twenty minutes post-treatment.

Spinal manipulation is a therapeutic procedure employed by various healthcare practitioners for alleviating acute and chronic musculoskeletal complaints. This form of treatment is also delivered to enhance the performance and augment the rehabilitation of athletes. However, despite research findings alleging the strength-modulating effects of spinal manipulation alongside numerous professional athletes' positive anecdotal claims concerning its results, the physiological processes to explain its effects remain largely unexplained. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to investigate the effects of spinal manipulation in a college-aged sample population. This study examined the effect of spinal manipulation delivered to the lumbosacral region on concentric force production of the knee extensors and flexors. A randomized, controlled, single-blind repeated measures design was utilized with 21 subjects. Isometric and isokinetic peak torques (Nm) were recorded during two separate session while subjects performed maximal voluntary contractions post-treatment of either spinal manipulation or a sham manipulation.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

SINGLE

Interventions

Spinal ManipulationOTHER

Side-posture, high-velocity low-amplitude spinal manipulation targeting the lumbar spine and sacroiliac joints

Sham ManipulationOTHER

A simulated lumbar spine manipulation in which no vertebral contact was made

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 20 YearsMax age: 35 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Between the ages of 20 to 35 years * Asymptomatic with regard to low back, pelvic or lower extremity pain Exclusion Criteria: * Previously received spinal manipulation from a chiropractor or other health care provider * Contraindications to lumbar spine manipulation (such as fractures, lumbar disc herniation, abdominal aortic aneurysm or cauda equina syndrome)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Changes in isometric and isokinetic peak torques compared to baseline

Peak torque measurements were recorded in newton meters (Nm) while subjects performed maximal voluntary contractions of concentric knee extension and flexion during a randomized protocol of isometric and isokinetic contractions, all of which measured with an isokinetic dynamometer

Time frame: Baseline peak torque measurements were acquired before either treatment form of lumbosacral manipulation or sham manipulation, followed by identical peak torque measurements recorded within 5 minutes and at 20 minutes post-treatment

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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