None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This study endeavours to investigate how a single specific vs. non-specific chiropractic spinal manipulation changes brain activity. Therefore, the study hypothesis is that there is no difference between a specific versus a non-specific chiropractic spinal manipulation.
Interventions
The intervention will be a specific adjustment to the cervical spine using an Activator Instrument. Before the intervention, the principal investigator will first screen all the participants for inclusion. Then, a registered chiropractor will check for subluxated cervical segments. Eligible participants will attend a single data collection session lasting approximately an hour. Following inclusion, a pre-intervention assessment of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) will be undertaken by the p
The intervention will be a specific adjustment to the cervical spine using an Activator Instrument. Before the intervention, the principal investigator will first screen all the participants for inclusion. Then, a registered chiropractor will check for subluxated cervical segments. Eligible participants will attend a single data collection session lasting approximately an hour. Following inclusion, a pre-intervention assessment of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) will be undertaken by the principal investigator to assess the sensorimotor integration. The pre-intervention assessment will involve the application of electrical stimulation over the participant's wrist, to stimulate the median nerve, as they focus their gaze on a fixed target on the wall. During the stimulation, 1000 SEPs will be recorded via electroencephalography (EEG) cap placed on the participant's head. The chiropractor will then deliver the intervention comprising of specific high velocity, low amplitude spinal manipulation (HVLASM) to the cervical spine with the Activator Instrument. HVLASM is a form of manual therapy commonly used by chiropractors to restore the movement of the spinal joints. It is to emphasise here, that only one thrust will be applied. The activator instrument is a hand-held device that delivers fast, precise and low-force adjustment to the spine. Its use reduces the amount of variability in the thrust amplitude and duration. Overall, the specific HVLASM intervention will take five minutes. Immediately after the intervention, the participant's SEP will be re-assessed. All the assessments and intervention will be delivered as the participant comfortably sits on a chair.
Sponsors
New Zealand College of Chiropractic
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
All individuals with subclinical pain between the age of 18 and 50 years will be eligible. Individuals with subclinical pain defines them as having no severe pain-related problems but with the occurrence of repeating neurophysiological dysfunction such as mild neck pain, ache or stiffness. Participants may include students, staff, faculty, and previous patients of the college’s chiropractic centre. Participants will be eligible for inclusion if they are English speaking and have previously sought chiropractic care.
Exclusion criteria
People with subclinical pain having no detectable subluxation on the experimental day will be excluded. Other exclusion criteria are: people with a cardiac pacemaker or any metal plates on their skull and those who have had received chiropractic treatment less than a week before the experiment day.
Outcome results
None listed