Effect of Spinal Manipulation on Experimental Pain in Asymptomatic Subjects.

Spinal manipulation is defined as a quick, passive and forced manoeuvre applied to spinal joints, and sometimes followed by a characteristic cracking sound. It can be compared to a mobilisation, which is a passive manual therapy as well, but is applied slower and repetitively on the joints. Spinal manipulation has been shown to have a significant clinical impact in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain

"The sham procedure is a manual contact on both inferior angles of the scapulae by the chiropractor. After a short tensioning, a slight movement with low velocity and low amplitude is done, respecting scapula-thoracic sliding plans laterally, without repercussion on the spine. It is considered by us to be a credible sham procedure, as it resembles an actual act of thoracic manipulation, and it has been validated, with questionnaires"