The long-term goals of this research are to gain insight into mechanisms of spinal stability and develop measurement techniques that will be critical for assessing the effects of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) on ligament-mediated reflexes in healthy individuals and patients with low back pain. The basis of this investigation is that neuromuscular mechanisms of spinal stability are inherently connected with the structure of the spine and surrounding tissues. Therefore, techniques of SMT likely have a direct effect on mechanoreceptors in the passive tissue that may alleviate pain during movement by improving timing of stabilizing reflexes in the lumbar spine as defined by neuromuscular neutral zones (NNZs). In order to investigate the effects of manipulative therapy on NNZs, the presence and reliability of measuring these in humans must first be established using a healthy population. The mentored phase (K99) of this award will last one year, and be used to demonstrate the presence of NNZs in humans, examine which muscle are involved, and scrutinize their interactions within this phenomenon. Three hypotheses will be tested that are relevant to this single specific aim. The independent phase (ROO) will last three years, and is centered on two specific aims.
The first aim will be to develop a non-invasive technique to measure intervertebral kinematics.
The second aim will be to establish reliable methodology to quantify NNZs, examine differences between three rotational paradigms, and investigate sex effects on these measures. Four hypotheses will be tested relevant to these aims. This research will be conducted in a movement science laboratory located at the University of Colorado Denver. Successful completion of this research will provide foundational methodology for future testing in patient populations and implementing clinical trials designed to gain insight into therapeutic mechanisms of SMT and physiological nature of functional spinal lesions. This research trajectory will provide quantitative and evaluative assistance to clinicians when diagnosing and treating the large population of patients who seek therapy for low back pain.

Public Health Relevance

The goals of this project are to establish new methods for evaluating lumbar spine stability. In addition to providing insight into mechanisms of spine stability, these techniques may eventually provide diagnostics to Doctors of Chiropractic for efficiently treating patients with low back pain.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
Type
Research Transition Award (R00)
Project #
5R00AT004983-04
Application #
8305413
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAT1-LD (30))
Program Officer
Khalsa, Partap Singh
Project Start
2010-09-30
Project End
2013-07-31
Budget Start
2012-08-01
Budget End
2013-07-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$185,189
Indirect Cost
$53,633
Name
University of Denver
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
007431760
City
Denver
State
CO
Country
United States
Zip Code
80208
Currie, Stuart J; Myers, Casey A; Durso, Catherine et al. (2016) The Neuromuscular Response to Spinal Manipulation in the Presence of Pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 39:288-93
Currie, Stuart J; Myers, Casey A; Krishnamurthy, Ashok et al. (2016) Methods of Muscle Activation Onset Timing Recorded During Spinal Manipulation. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 39:279-87
Simons, Craig J; Cobb, Loren; Davidson, Bradley S (2014) A fast, accurate, and reliable reconstruction method of the lumbar spine vertebrae using positional MRI. Ann Biomed Eng 42:833-42
Myers, Casey A; Enebo, Brian A; Davidson, Bradley S (2012) Optimized prediction of contact force application during side-lying lumbar manipulation. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 35:669-77