• Bialosky JE
• Bishop MD
• Robinson ME
• George SZ

• Audible Release
• Manipulation, Spinal
• Pain / physiopathology
• Sensation / physiology
• Somatosensory Disorders

Methods: The current study represents a secondary analysis of 40 participants. All participants underwent thermal pain sensitivity testing to their leg and low back using protocols specific to Aä fiber-mediated pain and temporal summation. Next, participants received HVLA manipulation to their low back, and the examiner recorded whether an AP was perceived. Finally, participants underwent immediate follow-up thermal pain sensitivity testing using the same protocols. Separate repeated-measure analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to observe changes in pain sensitivity before and immediately after HVLA manipulation.

Results: Hypoalgesia of Aä fiber-mediated pain was observed in the low back after HVLA (P < .05), and this was independent of whether an AP was perceived (P > .05). Hypoalgesia of temporal summation was observed in the lower extremity after HVLA (P < .05), and this was independent of whether an AP was perceived (P = .08). However, a moderate effect size for temporal summation was observed favoring participants in whom an AP was perceived.

Conclusion: The current study suggests hypoalgesia is associated with HVLA manipulation and occurs independently of a perceived AP. Inhibition of lower extremity temporal summation may be larger in individuals in whom an AP is perceived, but further study is necessary to confirm this finding.

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