Acute Stabilization Of Postural Sway After A Cervical Spinal Manipulation

The present study investigated the effects of a cervical spinal manipulation on postural control of healthy individuals. Seven subjects stood over a foam pad set on a force platform, as quietly as possible, in unipodal stance. The stabilogram area (estimated from center of pressure (COP) signals) was measured before and after a cervical manipulation maneuver. Besides the experimental condition, a placebo condition involving the same procedures (but without effectively applying the manipulation maneuver) was tested. The cervical spinal manipulation generated a transient effect, reducing COP Area during the first and second repetitions of the postural task performed after the intervention (experimental condition). Such an effect was not observed in the placebo condition. Therefore, it is concluded that the cervical spinal manipulation caused an acute stabilization on postural oscillations during the unipodal balance task.