Using MRI Scans to Evaluate Spinal Manipulation

Lumbar spinal manipulation, or chiropractic adjusting, is thought to separate the surfaces of the spinal joints and thereby relieve lower back pain. This study will use MRI scans to evaluate the spinal joints before and after spinal manipulation.

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Key information

Conditions

Lower Back Pain Back Pain Low Back Pain Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

21 year–29 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

National University of Health Sciences

Lombard, Illinois, 60148, United States

About this study

Zygapophysial joints, better known as facet or "Z" joints, are located on the back (posterior) of the spine on each side of the vertebrae where it overlaps the neighboring vertebrae. Z joints provide stability and allow the spine to bend and twist. Adhesions in the Z joints may develop following hypomobility of vertebrae. These adhesions may be alleviated by separation (gapping) of the Z joints.

Side posture adjusting (spinal manipulation) is thought by many to gap the Z joints, yet no measurable differences of the Z joints before and after spinal manipulation have ever been published. This study will evaluate gapping of the L3/L4, L4/L5, and L5/S1 Z joints by taking measurements directly from MRI scans of the Z joints before and during positioning for a side posture adjustment, and before and after side posture adjusting.

Health volunteers will be randomly assigned to one of four groups: 1) neutral position followed by side posture positioning (trunk rotated to the volunteer's right); 2) neutral position followed by side posture spinal adjusting followed by neutral positioning; 3) neutral position followed by side posture spinal adjusting, followed by side posture positioning; and 4) neutral position followed by neutral position (control group). MRI scans will be taken with the volunteers in the original neutral position and in the final position (either second neutral position or side posture positioning).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Student at the National University of Health Sciences
185 pounds or less for males and 145 pounds or less for females
No previous history of lower back pain lasting more than 2 weeks, or no more than three episodes of back pain of brief duration (1 to 2 weeks) in any given year

Exclusion criteria

History of lower back pain
Presence of disc degeneration, significant osteoarthritis, scoliosis of greater than 20 degrees (Cobb's angle), or other significant pathology seen on x-rays
Positive findings on orthopedic or neurologic test
Pregnancy
Inability of the examining chiropractor to obtain articular releases (audible pop) during lumbar side posture adjustment given at the conclusion of the examination

Treatment and study plan

Lumbar side-posture spinal adjusting

Procedure

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Nih

Registry information

Official study title

The Effects of Positioning and Adjusting on the Z Joint

Important dates

Study start: 2000
Study completion: 2002
First posted: Oct 13, 2003
Registry last updated: Aug 18, 2006

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed