Cerebral Metabolic Changes in Men After Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation for Neck Pain
Cerebral Metabolic Changes in Men After Chiropractic
Spinal Manipulation for Neck Pain
SOURCE: Altern Ther Health Med. 2011 (Nov); 17 (6): 12-17
Takeshi Ogura, DC, PhD; Manabu Tashiro, MD, PhD;
Mehedi Masud, MD, PhD; Shoichi Watanuki et. al
Division of Cyclotron Nuclear Medicine,
Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
Background: Chiropractic spinal manipulation (CSM) is an alternative treatment for back pain. The autonomic nervous system is often involved in spinal dysfunction. Although studies on the effects of CSM have been performed, no chiropractic study has examined regional cerebral metabolism using positron emission tomography (PET).
Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of CSM on brain responses in terms of cerebral glucose metabolic changes measured by [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET).
Methods: Twelve male volunteers were recruited. Brain PET scanning was performed twice on each participant, at resting and after CSM. Questionnaires were used for subjective evaluations. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was rated by participants before and after chiropractic treatment, and muscle tone and salivary amylase were measured.