Effect of Spinal Manipulation on Experimental Pain in Asymptomatic Subjects.

What is the Regional and Remote Effect of Spinal Manipulation on Pressure Pain Threshold in Asymptomatic Subjects Over Time: A Randomized Placebo-controlled Study

Spinal manipulation is often used for its effect on pain, but more information is needed concerning its mechanisms of action.

The effect of spinal manipulation on the pressure pain threshold in asymptomatic subjects should be challenged by a validated sham procedure, regionally and remotely over time. Further information is needed concerning its duration and its size.

Research questions:

1. What is the regional effect of spinal manipulation on the pressure pain threshold in asymptomatic subjects, when compared to a valid sham procedure?
2. What is the remote effect of spinal manipulation on the pressure pain threshold in asymptomatic subjects, when compared to a valid sham procedure?
3. What is the duration of the effect of spinal manipulation on the pressure pain threshold in asymptomatic subjects?
4. What is the size of the effect of spinal manipulation on the pressure pain threshold in asymptomatic subjects over time?

Inclusion Criteria:

• The subjects must be young (18-30 years old)
• asymptomatic (no pain in the tested area, but the study accepts pain elsewhere, as long as it is less than 1/10 on the BOX-scale).
• Chiropractic students.

Exclusion Criteria:

• The subjects must not be reporting any spinal pain lasting more than a month
• and/or having taken painkillers 24h prior to the study.
• Contra-indications to the spinal manipulation (instability, fracture, malformation, bone or ligament fragility, and inflammations).