The prevalence and economic impact of acute\u00a0 and chronic back pain (BP) and the understanding that many BP problems\u00a0 have mechanical origins have prompted clinicians and researchers to the\u00a0 search for improved analytic and experimental methods to quantify the\u00a0 biomechanical characteristics of the normal and abnormal human spine.\u00a0 This chapter provides a brief review of the biomechanics of spinal\u00a0 manipulation, which is followed by a detailed summary of the dynamic\u00a0 response of the human spine to the Activator Method of chiropractic\u00a0 posterior anterior (PA) manipulation.<\/p>\n
Basic Spine Biomechanics: <\/strong>The spinal column combines an\u00a0 intricate architectural arrangement of bone, muscle, and soft tissue\u00a0 components to form a structure of mechanical as well as physiologic\u00a0 significance. Not only does the spinal column serve to protect the\u00a0 spinal cord but it also transmits, attenuates, and distributes the\u00a0 static (time-invarying) and dynamic (time-varying) forces associated\u00a0 with daily activities. Although the spinal column provides the\u00a0 structures for load transmission and attenuation, the pathways for load\u00a0 transmission and attenuation may be greatly altered during voluntary\u00a0 (postural changes) and involuntary (fatigue) activities, producing\u00a0 unstable and pathologic changes to the kinematic behavior of the spinal\u00a0 column. Segmental instability and pathology of the spine are believed to\u00a0 produce abnormal patterns of motion and forces, which may play a\u00a0 significant role in the etiology of low back pain (LBP).2\u00b0 The ability\u00a0 to quantify in vivo spine segment motion or kinematics, tog ether with\u00a0 the concomitant forces or kinetics, is therefore, of clinical\u00a0 significance in terms of both diagnosis and treatment of spinal\u00a0 disorders and back pain.<\/p>\n Reference: <\/strong>Keller TS. Engineering \u2013 in vivo transient\u00a0 vibration analysis of the normal human spine. Section VIII, Chapter 22, pp 431-450, in Fuhr AW,\u00a0 Green JR, Collaca CJ, Keller TS. Activator Methods Chiropractic\u00a0 Technique textbook, St. Louis: Mosby, 1997.<\/p>\n
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