title: Measurement of in vivo lumbar intervertebral disc pressure during spinal manipulation: a feasibility study.
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.
authors.affiliation: Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, Davenport, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lisi
authors.forename: Conor W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: Derek P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Lindsey
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cooperstein
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cooperstein
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Zucherman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000502:physiology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D020393:Manipulation, Spinal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008365:Manometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014159:Transducers