Measurement of in vivo lumbar intervertebral disc pressure during spinal manipulation: a feasibility study

J Appl Biomech. 2006 Aug;22(3):234-9. doi: 10.1123/jab.22.3.234.

Abstract

This paper presents the first reported measurements of lumbar intervertebral disc pressure in vivo during spinal manipulation. A pressure transducer was inserted into the nucleus pulposus of one normal-appearing lumbar disc in an asymptomatic adult volunteer. Pressures were recorded during several body positions and maneuvers, then during spinal manipulation, and lastly during a repetition of the preintervention body positions. Baseline pressures in the prone and side-lying positions measured 110 kPa and 150 kPa, respectively. During the manipulation, pressure rose to a peak of 890 kPa over 250 ms. Immediately following, pressures in the prone and side-lying positions measured 150 kPa and 165 kPa, respectively. These data do not support the hypotheses that manipulation can reduce a herniation by decreasing intradiscal pressure, or cause a herniation by raising pressure to failure levels. Further work may lead to a better understanding of this treatment method.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomechanical Phenomena / instrumentation*
  • Biomechanical Phenomena / methods
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intervertebral Disc / physiology*
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / physiology*
  • Male
  • Manipulation, Spinal / instrumentation*
  • Manipulation, Spinal / methods
  • Manometry / instrumentation*
  • Manometry / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Physical Examination / instrumentation*
  • Physical Examination / methods
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Therapy, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation
  • Therapy, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Transducers*