Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics
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J Manipulative Physiol Ther · Feb 2013
Effects of thrust amplitude and duration of high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulation on lumbar muscle spindle responses to vertebral position and movement.
Mechanical characteristics of high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulations (HVLA-SMs) can vary. Sustained changes in peripheral neuronal signaling due to altered load transmission to a sensory receptor's local mechanical environment are often considered a mechanism contributing to the therapeutic effects of spinal manipulation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether variation in an HVLA-SM's thrust amplitude and duration alters the neural responsiveness of lumbar muscle spindles to either vertebral movement or position. ⋯ Relatively low-amplitude thrust displacements applied during an HVLA-SM produced sustained increases in the resting discharge of paraspinal muscle spindles regardless of the duration over which the thrust was applied. However, regardless of the HVLA-SM's thrust amplitude or duration, the responsiveness of paraspinal muscle spindles to vertebral movement and to a new vertebral position was not affected.
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J Manipulative Physiol Ther · Feb 2013
Test-retest reliability, repeatability, and sensitivity of an automated deformation-controlled indentation on pressure pain threshold measurement.
The purpose of this study was to construct a computerized deformation-controlled indentation system and compare its test-retest reliability, repeatability, and sensitivity with a manual algometer for pressure pain threshold (PPT) measurements. ⋯ Although computerized algometry offers the benefits of eliminating the effects of operator reaction time, operator anticipation, alignment error, and variation in indentation rate on PPT measurements, these results indicate that manual algometry using load-controlled strategy may be better than computerized deformation-controlled algometry in terms of test-retest reliability, repeatability, and sensitivity. Constant load-controlled indentation protocol may be more favorable for PPT measurements. Future computerized instrumentation for PPT measurements should adopt a load-controlled mechanism.
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J Manipulative Physiol Ther · Feb 2013
Intrasession and intersession reliability of postural control in participants with and without nonspecific low back pain using the Biodex Balance System.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the Biodex Balance System (BBS) (Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, NY) in chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients and healthy individuals in various conditions of postural and cognitive difficulty. ⋯ Biodex Balance System stability indices appear to be reliable measures of postural control in the CLBP patients especially in more challenging conditions, such as when standing with eyes closed.
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J Manipulative Physiol Ther · Feb 2013
An investigation into the onset, pattern, and effects of pain relief on lumbar extensor electromyography in people with acute and chronic low back pain.
The aim of this study was to use an experimental pain relief model to determine the effect of pain relief on lumbar muscle function in people with low back pain. ⋯ This study showed that the EMG activities from the lumbar region, including lumbar multifidus and iliocostalis, are reliable, and specific EMG profiles are identifiable. Pain relief as achieved in this study did not affect the pattern of EMG activity, onset of muscle activation, or peak activation values.