Electromyographic reflex responses to mechanical force, manually assisted spinal manipulative therapy. (Logan College of Chiropractic, St. Louis, MO) Spine. 2001;26:1117–1124.

Abstract

This is the first study demonstrating neuromuscular reflex responses associated with mechanical force, manually assisted (MFMA) spinal manipulative therapy in patients with low back pain. Noteworthy was the finding that such mechanical stimulation of both the paraspinal musculature stimulation and spinous processes produced consistent generalized sEMG responses. Identification of neuromuscular characteristics, together with a comprehensive assessment of patient clinical status, may provide for clarification of the significance of spinal manipulative therapy in eliciting putative conservative therapeutic benefits in patients with pain of musculoskeletal origin.