Verificação do efeito imediato da manipulação espinal sobre o limiar de dor í  pressão em sujeitos assintomáticos

Abstract

Spinal manipulation is a manual treatment used, mainly, to treat musculoskeletal problems. Searches related this technique to numerous benefits, including pain relief. This study examined the immediate effect of third cervical vertebra and the twelfth thoracic vertebra manipulation, applied alone and together, on the pressure pain threshold in healthy subjects and, also, compared the employed techniques. Sixty healthy students were divided into the groups: sham (GS), cervical manipulation (GMC), thoracic manipulation (GMT), cervical and thoracic manipulation (GMCT). The pressure pain threshold was evaluated in spinous processes of C3 and T12 vertebrae, before and immediately after the interventions. In the GS group the pain threshold decreased significantly in the spinous process of T12; in the GMC group there wasn't significantly change in C3 threshold, like GMT group in relation to T12 threshold; in the GMCT group the threshold increased significantly only in the spinous process of C3. Comparisons between groups were not significant. It was concluded that the associated manipulation of C3 and T12 increased the pressure pain threshold in the spinous process of C3, in asymptomatic subjects, but it wasn't found superiority in the association of techniques in relation its stand-alone application.