While spinal manipulation is widely seen as a reasonable treatment option for biomechanical disorders of the spine, such as neck pain and low back pain, the use of spinal manipulation to treat non-musculoskeletal complaints remains controversial. This controversy is due in part to the perception that there is no robust neurobiological rationale to justify using a biomechanical treatment of the spine to address a disorder of visceral function. This paper therefore looks at the physiological evidence that spinal manipulation can impact visceral function. A structured search was conducted, using PubMed and the Index to Chiropractic Literature, to construct of corpus of primary data studies in healthy human subjects of the effects of spinal manipulation on visceral function. The corpus of literature is not large, and the greatest number of papers concerns cardiovascular function. Authors often attribute visceral effects of spinal manipulation to somato-autonomic reflexes. While this is not unreasonable, little attention is paid to alternative mechanisms such as somato-humoural pathways. Thus, while the literature confirms that mechanical stimulation of the spine modulates some organ functions in some cohorts, a comprehensive neurobiological rationale for this general phenomenon has yet to appear.
Grant Value: $30,268
Chief Investigator: Dr Philip Bolton – University of Newcastle
Status: Complete
Publications:
- Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, Volume 22, Issue 5, October 2012, Page 777-784
Budgell B & Bolton PS (2012) Visceral responses to spinal manipulation. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2012.02.016 - Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Volume 33, Issue 5, June 2010, Page 355-361
Budgell BS & Bolton PS (2010) Cerebrospinal fluid pressure response to upper cervical vertebral motion and displacement in the anaesthetized rat. - Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Volume 30, Issue 5, June 2007, Page 351-356|
Budgell B & Bolton PS (2007) Cerebrospinal fluid pressure in the anaesthetized rat. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2007.04.002
Posters:
- Australian Neuroscience Society Conference, 2010. Sydney, Australia
Budgell BS & Bolton PS (2010) Somato-Adrenal Reflex and Upper Cervical Spinal Cord Compression – A Pilot study
Presentations:
- New Zealand College of Chiropractic Research Conference, 2009. Auckland, New Zealand.
Bolton PS (2009) Does vertebral motion influence cerebrospinal fluid pressure? New Zealand College of Chiropractic Research Conference, Auckland NZ