Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the immediate effects in asymptomatic participants of manual and instrument-assisted cervical manipulation on pressure pain thresholds, pressure pain perception, and muscle mechanical properties (tone, stiffness, and elasticity) over muscles anatomically related and unrelated to the manipulated level.

Methods: Fifty-nine asymptomatic participants (34 women and 25 men; age [mean ± standard deviation] = 21.1 ± 1.6 years) were randomly assigned to 4 groups in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Two groups received cervical (C3/C4) manipulation, 1 manual and the other instrument-assisted; the third group received a sham manipulation; and the fourth group served as the control. Bilateral pressure pain threshold, pressure pain perception, muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity in the upper trapezius and biceps brachii were evaluated before and immediately after the interventions.

Results: At baseline, there were no differences among the groups on any variable. After the interventions, a significant increase in pressure pain threshold was observed with both manual and instrument-assisted manipulation at local and distal sites (P < .05), whereas no changes were observed in either the control or the placebo group. The perception of pain pressure did not change significantly in any group. The interventions did not promote any statistically significant differences in muscle tone, elasticity, or stiffness at any site (local or distal).

Conclusion: Cervical (C3/C4) manual and instrument-assisted manipulations produced an increase in pressure pain threshold bilaterally and over muscles related and unrelated to the vertebral segment, but had no effect on muscle tone, elasticity, or stiffness.

Author keywords: Muscle Tonus; Manual Therapy; Neurophysiology; Pain

Author affiliations: NN: Vale do Sousa Higher School of Health, Polytechnic Health School of the North, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário (CESPU), Gandra, Portugal; Physiotherapy Department, School of Health, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Center for Rehabilitation Research-Center of Human Studies and Human Activity, Porto, Portugal; NOC, AL, ASPS: Physiotherapy Department, School of Health, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Center for Rehabilitation Research-Center of Human Studies and Human Activity, Porto, Portugal; RT: Vale do Sousa Higher School of Health, Polytechnic Health School of the North, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário (CESPU), Gandra, Portugal; Physiotherapy Department, School of Health, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Center for Rehabilitation Research-Center of Human Studies and Human Activity, Porto, Portugal; FR: School of Health Sciences and Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

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