Impact of audible pops associated with spinal manipulation on perceived pain: a systematic review
Impact of audible pops associated with spinal manipulation on perceived pain: a systematic review
Objectives
An audible pop is the sound that can derive from an adjustment in spinal manipulative therapy and is often seen as an indicator of a successful treatment. A review conducted in 1998 concluded that there was little scientific evidence to support any therapeutic benefit derived from the audible pop. Since then, research methods have evolved considerably creating opportunities for new evidence to emerge. It was therefore timely to review the evidence.
Methods
The following electronic databases were searched for relevant studies pertaining to the impact of audible pops in spinal manipulative therapy: PubMed, Index to Chiropractic Literature (ICL), Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Web-of-Science. The main outcome was pain. Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias and quality of the evidence using the Downs and Black checklist. Results of the included literature were synthesized into a systematic review.
Results
Five original research articles were included in the review, of which four were prospective cohort studies and one a randomized controlled trial. All studies reported similar results: regardless of the area of the spine manipulated or follow-up time, there was no evidence of improved pain outcomes associated with an audible pop. One study even reported a hypoalgesic effect to external pain stimuli after spinal manipulation, regardless of an audible pop.
Conclusions
Whilst there is still no consensus among chiropractors on the association of an audible pop and pain outcomes in spinal manipulative therapy, knowledge about the audible pop has advanced. This review suggests that the presence or absence of an audible pop may not be important regarding pain outcomes with spinal manipulation.
Audible pop, Chiropractic, Pain, Spinal manipulation, Systematic review
Moorman, Annelieke Cesanne
d4e85e58-4bd4-494a-8bfb-52d29f5fb924
Newell, David
f1a21938-9604-4f10-aac2-bb19337a638e
4 October 2022
Moorman, Annelieke Cesanne
d4e85e58-4bd4-494a-8bfb-52d29f5fb924
Newell, David
f1a21938-9604-4f10-aac2-bb19337a638e
Moorman, Annelieke Cesanne and Newell, David
(2022)
Impact of audible pops associated with spinal manipulation on perceived pain: a systematic review.
Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, 30 (1), [42].
(doi:10.1186/s12998-022-00454-0).
Abstract
Objectives
An audible pop is the sound that can derive from an adjustment in spinal manipulative therapy and is often seen as an indicator of a successful treatment. A review conducted in 1998 concluded that there was little scientific evidence to support any therapeutic benefit derived from the audible pop. Since then, research methods have evolved considerably creating opportunities for new evidence to emerge. It was therefore timely to review the evidence.
Methods
The following electronic databases were searched for relevant studies pertaining to the impact of audible pops in spinal manipulative therapy: PubMed, Index to Chiropractic Literature (ICL), Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Web-of-Science. The main outcome was pain. Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias and quality of the evidence using the Downs and Black checklist. Results of the included literature were synthesized into a systematic review.
Results
Five original research articles were included in the review, of which four were prospective cohort studies and one a randomized controlled trial. All studies reported similar results: regardless of the area of the spine manipulated or follow-up time, there was no evidence of improved pain outcomes associated with an audible pop. One study even reported a hypoalgesic effect to external pain stimuli after spinal manipulation, regardless of an audible pop.
Conclusions
Whilst there is still no consensus among chiropractors on the association of an audible pop and pain outcomes in spinal manipulative therapy, knowledge about the audible pop has advanced. This review suggests that the presence or absence of an audible pop may not be important regarding pain outcomes with spinal manipulation.
Text
s12998-022-00454-0
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 13 September 2022
Published date: 4 October 2022
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
None.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s).
Keywords:
Audible pop, Chiropractic, Pain, Spinal manipulation, Systematic review
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 473195
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/473195
ISSN: 2045-709X
PURE UUID: 3c095d30-b210-4d5b-932b-284af2191b7b
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Date deposited: 11 Jan 2023 18:03
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:48
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Author:
Annelieke Cesanne Moorman
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