OBJECTIVE: To compare the analgesic effects of two types of spinal manipulation (SM) in acute lumbar radiculopathy (ALR) model rats induced by self-transplantation of autologous nucleus pulposus (ANP), and clarify the therapeutic mechanism. METHODS: Totally 108 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups by a random number table (18 rats in each group), including a blank group with no interference, a sham operation group with a surgery by making a local soft tissue incision on the left side of L5-6 vertebral segment, a model group with ALR of L5 extraforaminal nerve by ANP self-transplantation without other interference, a sham manipulation (SMA) group with simulating physical rotation, as well as a mobilization (MOB) group with simulating low-velocity and variable-amplitude rotation and a manipulation (MAN) group with simulating high-velocity and low-amplitude rotation. The interventions in SMA, MOB, and MAN groups started 1 day after modeling followed by another 5 treatments at days 3, 5, 8, 10 and 12. Rats in the other 3 groups did not receive any special intervention. Behavioral pain tests of 50% mechanical pain withdrawal threshold (50% PWT) and paw withdrawal latency (PWL) were conducted 1 day before operation followed by another 10 tests on days 1-7, 10, 12 and 14. Immunohistochemical expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was investigated on days 5 and 12 after operation. RESULTS: After 3 experimental SM interventions, 50% PWT and PWL were higher in the MAN group than the SMA group on days 6 and 7, and higher on days 10, 12 and 14 postoperatively (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while the same indices were significantly higher in the MOB group than MAN group on days 1-4 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The expression of NOS was lower in the MAN and MOB groups than SMA group on day 12 postoperatively (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Both manipulation and mobilization produced better results than sham interference in relieving pain by reducing neuroinflammation possibly. At the early period, compared with manipulation, mobilization presented less sensitive response to pain until later visit. SM may inhibit the overexpression of NOS, thereby alleviating severe radiculopathy.
Analgesia/methods* ; Animals ; Male ; Manipulation, Spinal ; Nucleus Pulposus/transplantation* ; Pain ; Radiculopathy/therapy* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transplantation, Autologous

Spinal manipulation is a manual treatment technique that delivers a thrust, using specific biomechanical parameters to exert its therapeutic effects. These parameters have been shown to have a unique dose-response relationship with the physiological responses of the therapy. So far, however, there has not been a unified approach to standardize these biomechanical characteristics. In fact, it is still undetermined how they affect the observed clinical outcomes of spinal manipulation. This study, therefore, reviewed the current body of literature to explore these dosage parameters and evaluate their significance, with respect to physiological and clinical outcomes. From the experimental studies reviewed herein, it is evident that the modulation of manipulation's biomechanical parameters elicits transient physiological responses, including changes in neuronal activity, electromyographic responses, spinal stiffness, muscle spindle responses, paraspinal muscle activity, vertebral displacement, and segmental and intersegmental acceleration responses. However, to date, there have been few clinical trials that tested the therapeutic relevance of these changes. In addition, there were some inherent limitations in both human and animal models due to the use of mechanical devices to apply the thrust. Future studies evaluating the effects of varying biomechanical parameters of spinal manipulation should include clinicians to deliver the therapy in order to explore the true clinical significance of the dose-response relationship.
Animals ; Humans ; Manipulation, Spinal

OBJECTIVE: To observe clinical efficacy of chiropractic manipulation in the treatment of degenerative scoliosis (DS). METHODS: From June 2017 to September 2019, 120 patients with degenerative scoliosis were randomly divided into treatment group (60 cases) and control group(60 cases). The patients in treatment group were treated with chiropractic manipulation once every other day for 4 weeks. The patients in control group were treated with eperisone hydrochloride tablets combined with thoracolumbar orthopedic(TSLO)brace, oral eperisone hydrochloride tablets 50 mg three times a day, wearing TSLO brace for not less than 8 hours a day. The course of treatment was 4 weeks. After the patients were selected into the group, visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were recorded before treatment, 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks after treatment and 1 month after treatment. The full length X-ray of the spine was taken before and 4 weeks after treatment, and the scoliosis Cobb angle, sagittal vertical axis (SVA) and lumbar lordosis (LL) were measured and compared. The adverse reactions during the treatment were recorded. RESULTS: There were significant differences in VAS and ODI between two groups at each time point after treatment (P<0.001), VAS and ODI at 2 weeks after treatment (P_VAS=0.025, P_ODI=0.032) and 3 weeks after treatment(P_VAS=0.040, P_ODI=0.044) in treatment group were significantly different from those in control group, but there was no significant difference in VAS and ODI at other time points between treatment group and control group (P>0.05). There was significant difference in Cobb angle between treatment group(P=0.010) and control group(P=0.017) after treatment, but there was no significant difference in LL and SVA between treatment group and control group. There was no significant difference in Cobb angle, LL and SVA between two groups before and after treatment. During the treatment, there were 4 mild adverse reactions in the control group and no adverse reactions in the treatment group. CONCLUSION Chiropractic manipulation can effectively relieve pain and improve lumbar function in patients with degenerative scoliosis. The onset of action is faster than that oral eperisone hydrochloride tablets combined with TSLO brace, and it has better safety and can improve Cobb angle of patients with degenerative scoliosis.
Humans ; Lordosis ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Manipulation, Chiropractic ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis/therapy* ; Spinal Fusion ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of lever positioning manipulation for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation and its effect on Cobb angle. METHODS: From December 2017 to November 2018, 67 patients with lumbar disc herniation were included in the study. The patients were randomly divided into treatment group and control group by digital table method. There were 34 cases in the treatment group, including 20 males and 14 females, with an average age of (36.09±8.26) years old and a course of (13.79±15.50) months. Treatment group was treated with lever positioning manipulation. There were 33 cases in the control group, including 18 males and 15 females, with an average age of(36.48±7.81) years old and a course of (12.82±15.68) months. Control group was treated with lumbar slanting manipulation. Two groups were treated 3 times a week, once every other day, 6 times for a course of treatment, after 2 courses of treatment, the changes of Cobb angle before and after treatment were compared between two groups by imaging. The symptoms and signs were scored with reference to clinical evaluation standard;overall efficacy was evaluated with reference to "Diagnostic Efficacy Criteria of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome" issued by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for lumbar disc herniation. RESULTS: One patient in each group dropped out. The symptom and sign scores of treatment group and control group before treatment were 18.56± 4.81, 18.61±3.72, while after treatment were 9.41±5.19, 13.55±3.68;treatment group was significantly lower than control group after treatment ( CONCLUSION Both the lever positioning manipulation and the lumbar slanting manipulation methods are effective for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation, but clinical effect of lever positioning method on lumbar disc herniation is more significant, and the effect on Cobb angle is more obvious. It is worthy of promotion.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/therapy* ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Manipulation, Spinal ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of individual characteristics of patients on the kinematics parameters of sitting lumbar spine manipulation. METHODS: From January 2016 to December 2016, 30 patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis were treatede, including 18 males and 12 females, aged from 45 to 61(52.33±2.34) years old, with a course of 2 to 72(29.13±3.23) months. Motion capture technique was used to measure the kinematics parameters of the same manipulator in sitting lumbar spine manipulation for 30 patients, including rotation time, maximum speed and maximum acceleration. The parameters of the left and right hands of the operator were different. The effects of individual characteristics on the kinematics parameters of sitting lumbar spine manipulation were analyzed. RESULTS: The kinematic and mechanical parameters of manipulation were as follows:spin time, maximum speed, maximum acceleration, the manipulation done by right or left hand showed the similar parameters(>0.05). According to multivariate linear regression, there was a significant correlation between the age of the patient and the rotation time of the operator(<0.01); the height of patient had a significant correlation with the maximum speed and maximum acceleration of the operator(<0.01). CONCLUSIONS There is no difference between the manipulation of left and right hand in clinical application. Age and height are important influencing factors of sitting lumbar rotation manipulation.
Biomechanical Phenomena ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Manipulation, Spinal ; Middle Aged ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Sitting Position

We describe the case of a patient who had infarction of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) after a chiropractic cervical manipulation. A 39-year-old man visited the emergency room with signs of cerebellar dysfunction, presenting with a 6-hour history of vertigo and imbalance. Two weeks ago, he was treated by a chiropractor for intermittent neck pain. At the time of admission, brain computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography revealed an acute infarction in the left PICA territory and occlusion of the extracranial vertebral artery (VA; V1/2 junction) as a result of the dissection of the VA. Angiography revealed complete occlusion of the left PICA and arterial dissection was shown in the extracranial portion of the VA. He was treated with antiplatelet therapy. Three weeks later, he was discharged without any sequelae. The possibility of VA dissection should be considered at least once in patients presenting with cerebellar dysfunctions with a recent history of chiropractic cervical manipulation.
Adult ; Angiography ; Arteries* ; Brain ; Cerebellar Diseases ; Cerebral Infarction ; Chiropractic* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Lateral Medullary Syndrome ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Manipulation, Chiropractic* ; Manipulation, Spinal ; Neck Pain ; Pica ; Vertebral Artery ; Vertigo

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of three different spinal rotation manipulations for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation.

METHODSFrom September 2011 to April 2013,180 patients diagnosed as lumbar disc herniation were randomly divided into seat fixed rotation group (A), lateral position rotation group (B) and supine position rotation group (C) by using a digital table. Finally 10 patients were excluded and dropped, 170 patients were included in the study. There were 57 patients in group A, 57 patients in group B and 56 patients in group C. Baseline demographic characteristics of patients, clinical findings and indexes of health status had no statistically differences among three groups (P > 0.05). The manipulation was performed every other day, and the treatment duration for all patients was 3 weeks. Body pain (BP), Physical function (PF) in SF-36, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and adverse reactions were observed statistically 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, one year and two years after finishing treatment.

RESULTSBP, PF scores in 3 groups were significantly improved and ODI scores were significantly lower than those before treatment and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05); However, there was no significant difference among three groups in the BP, PF and ODI scores (P > 0.05). There were no obvious and serious adverse reactions among these groups.

CONCLUSIONBased on the theory of dislocation of bone joints in TCM, three kinds of spinal rotation manipulations can be used safely for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation, and the efficacy was similar.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Manipulation, Spinal ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Rotation ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of spinal manipulation (SM) on brain functional activity in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

METHODSEleven patients with LDH were recruited in the study. All patients received 6 times of lumbar SM treatment and then clinical efficacy was evaluated. All patients received brain functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans before and after SM treatment.

RESULTSThree subjects dropped out and 8 subjects completed the study, among whom 4 cases were effective and 4 ineffective after SM treatment. The required pressure value producing the same level (VAS 50) pain was (7.43 ± 1.47) kg and (10.53 ± 0.55) kg before and after SM treatment in effective patients(P<0.05); however, there was no significant difference in ineffective patients (P>0.05). Compared to pre-treatment level, the brain functional activity in effective patients was mainly inhibited, the inhibited areas were located in the right side of prefrontal cortex and cerebellum; while the brain functional activity was generally enhanced in ineffective patients.

CONCLUSIONSM can affect the brain functional activity of patients with LDH, the inhibited areas is mainly located in prefrontal cortex and cerebellum when SM treatment is effective.

Brain ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Manipulation, Spinal

OBJECTIVETo investigate clinical effect and safety of bone-setting manipulation in treating isolated systolic hypertension combined with cervical spondylosis.

METHODSFrom January 2012 to January 2015, 320 patients suffered from isolated systolic hypertension combined with cervical spondylosis were randomly divided into treatment group and control group. In treatment group, there were 160 patients including 84 males and 76 females with an average age of (39.82 ± 10.33) years old, average blood pressure was (149.61 ± 10.75)/(81.01± 8.25) mmHg, NPQ score was 24.61 ± 8.14; treated with flexion top spin and lock bone-setting manipulation of cervical spine, once every two days for 20 days. While in control group, there were 160 patients including 90 males and 70 females with an average age of(41.37 ± 9.42) years old, average blood pressure was (151.48 ± 11.32)/ (79.65 ± 9.32) mmHg, NPQ score was 25.78 ± 9.53; treated with manipulation of reposition cervical spine by rotation, once every two days for 20 days. Blood pressure and NPQ score were tested and compared for evaluating clinical effects.

RESULTSBefore and after a period treatment, systolic pressure in treatment group was (149.61 ± 10.75) mmHg and (129.67 ± 12.26) mmHg; (151.48 ± 11.32) mmHg and (132.02 ± 11.73) mmHg in control group. After treatment, systolic pressure in both two groups was obviously decreased, and treatment group was better than control group. Before and after a period treatment, diastolic pressure in treatment group was (80.01 ± 8.25) mmHg and (78.15 ± 10.34) mmHg, (79.65 ± 9.32) mmHg and (76.89 ± 9.79) mmHg in control group, and there was no significant difference between two groups. NPQ score in treatment group was 24.61 ± 8.14 before treatment, 12.46 ± 7.94 after treatment, while in control group was 25.78 ± 9.53, 14.17 ± 8.86; NPQ score of the two groups after treatment was better than before treatment, while there was no obviously significance between two groups after treatment. The whole clinical effect in treatment group was better than control group.

CONCLUSIONBone-setting manipulation for isolated systolic hypertension combined with cervical spondylosis at early stage could receive good clinical result, and flexion top spin and lock bone-setting manipulation of cervical spine was better and safety than manipulation of reposition cervical spine by rotation.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; etiology ; therapy ; Male ; Manipulation, Spinal ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Spondylosis ; therapy ; Systole

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of manipulative reduction combined with percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) or percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in treating osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) using meta-analysis method, in order to provide a reference for clinical treatment.

METHODSA systematic computer-based search (from January 1987 to April 2014) from CNKI, Wanfang database, Web of Science and PubMed were performed for the collection of controlled clinical researches on manipulative reduction combined with PVP or PKP in treating OVCF. The quality of selected researches was evaluated. Meta-analysis was adopted to evaluate visual analog scale, Cobb angle, anterior height ratio of the injured vertebra.

RESULTSA total of 7 researches of 410 patients were included in the present analysis, there were 5 RCTs and 2 non-RCTs and all come from China. Manipulative reduction combined with PVP could got better improvement in Cobb angle (WMD=-7.35; 95%CI: -12.15, -2.54) and anterior height ratio of the injured vertebra (P<0.01) than simple PVP, but no significant difference was found in improvement of visual analog scale (WMD=-0.01; 95%CI: -0.45, 0.42). There were no significant differences in the improvement of visual analog scale, Cobb angle, anterior height ratio of the injured vertebra between manipulative reduction combined with PKP and simple PKP (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONCompared with simple PVP, manipulative reduction combined with PVP may result in more clinical efficacy on the improvement of Cobb angle and anterior ratio of the injured vertebra. And compared with simple PKP, manipulative reduction combined with PKP has no obvious advantages on the improvement of visual analog scale, Cobb angle, anterior height ratio of the injured vertebra. However, the number and quality of the literatures, may resulted in the effect of mistrust, so more large sample and high-quality RCTs are needed in future.

Combined Modality Therapy ; Fractures, Compression ; therapy ; Humans ; Manipulation, Spinal ; methods ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; therapy ; Spinal Fractures ; therapy