Posture, Science, and SMT

The Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology published a special issue focused on spinal manipulation (for a list of the articles published, click here).

Knowledge of SMT has grown tremendously, and the editors looked at the “hows” and “whys” of linchpin chiropractic therapy. The cutting edge papers from scientific leaders came from different backgrounds and directions, and while some points may be disagreed with and more research is needed, the overall takeaway was that SMT is safe and a very valuable tool in a clinical arsenal.

My personal observation: Though not specifically named, many of the studies supported the StrongPosture® protocols in concept as logical, complementary and synergistic to SMT.

Some of my favorites articles:

“Spinal manipulation epidemiology: Systematic review of cost effectiveness studies”
Z.A. Michaleff, C.-W.C. Lin, C.G. Maher, M.W. van TulderAuthor’s Conclusions: This review supports the use of SMT in clinical practice as a cost-effective treatment when used alone or in combination with other treatment approaches.IMPLICATION FOR CPEPs and other professionals teaching the StrongPosture® protocols: It makes sense to combine SMT with exercises progressively added in a matrix to empower people–Self care helps create psychological independence with patterned motion to improve biomechanics and neurology.
“Non-thrust manual therapy reduces erector spinae short-latency stretch reflex asymmetries in patients with chronic low back pain”
David A. Goss Jr., James S. Thomas, Stevan Walkowski, Shawn C. Clark, John C. Licciardone, Guang H. Yue, Brian C. ClarkAuthor’s Conclusions: Non-thrust SMT “down regulates the gain of the muscle spindles and/or the various sites of the Ia reflex pathway”.IMPLICATION FOR CPEPs and other professionals: Patterned StrongPosture® protocols can help reprogram muscle spindles toward symmetry for both proprioception as well as motion.
“Performance based objective outcome measures and spinal manipulation”
Steven R. Passmore, Martin DescarreauxIMPLICATION FOR CPEP® Posture Specialists and other professionals: From ROM and grip strength to joint re-positioning and mechanically quantified spinal stiffness, the many ways researchers are demonstrating functional benefits of SMT can also be applied to future research on StrongPosture® protocols.
“Association between history and physical examination factors and change in lumbar multifidus muscle thickness after spinal manipulation in patients with low back pain”
Shane L. Koppenhaver, Julie M. Fritz, Jeffrey J. Hebert, Greg N. Kawchuk, Eric C. Parent, Norman W. Gill, John D. Childs, Deydre S. Teyhen
Author’s Conclusions: Four variables best predicted the magnitude of increases in contracted LM muscle thickness after SMT. When combined, these variables suggest that patients with LBP, (1) that are fairly acute, (2) have at least a moder- ately good prognosis without focal and irritable symptoms, and (3) exhibit signs of spinal instability, may be the best candidates for a combined SMT and lumbar stabilization exercise (LSE) treatment approach.IMPLICATION FOR CPEP® and other professionals: Targeting multifidus engagement may explain the reported benefits of StrongPosture® BAM protocols for low back pain.

And, my personal FAVORITE…

“The role of spinal manipulation in addressing disordered sensorimotor integration and altered motor control”
Heidi Haavik, Bernadette MurphyAuthor’s Conclusions: ” an initial episode(s) of back or neck pain may lead to ongoing changes in input from the spine which over time lead to altered sen- sorimotor integration of input from the spine and limbs.”IMPLICATION FOR CPEPs and other professionals: SMT unlocks motion…StrongPosture® retrains that motion… SEE VIDEO BELOW