Effects of side-posture positioning and side-posture adjusting on the lumbar zygapophysial joints as evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging: a before and after study with randomization.

OBJECTIVE: To test the a priori hypothesis that one of the positive mechanisms of action of chiropractic side-posture manipulation (adjusting) of the lumbar spine is to separate, or gap, the zygapophysial (Z) joints. DESIGN: Before and after study with randomization. SETTING: Chiropractic college clinic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) facility. PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen healthy student volunteers (8 men and 8 women) ages 22 to 29 years with no history of significant low back pain. Nineteen volunteers were screened, with 3 disqualified from the study. Subjects were randomized into 4 groups, each with 2 men and 2 women. INTERVENTIONS: Lumbar side-posture spinal adjusting (manipulation) and side-posture positioning. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparison of anterior to posterior measurements of the Z joints from MRI scans taken before and after side-posture spinal adjusting and before and after side-posture positioning, and a rigorous subjective evaluation protocol of the Z joints by 3 radiologists blinded to the randomized groups. MAIN RESULTS: Observers making measurements were blinded to what group subjects were placed in and whether they were measuring first or second scans; radiologists were blinded to what group subjects were assigned. Differences were found between the groups. Those receiving side-posture spinal adjusting and remaining in side posture showed the greatest increase in gapping (0.7 mm vs 0.0 mm for controls). CONCLUSIONS: Lumbar side-posture spinal adjusting produced increased separation (gapping) of the zygapophysial joints. Side-posture positioning also produced gapping, but less than that seen with lumbar side-posture adjusting. A larger clinical trial should be performed to further define the results of this study.

The holey spine: a summary of the history of scientific investigation of the intervertebral foramina.

The intervertebral foramina (IVFs) are important to all individuals who treat disorders of the spine, but this region is of special historic significance to chiropractors. This is because some of the earliest descriptions of the mechanism of action of chiropratic were related to the IVFs. The history of investigation of the IVFs is very rich spanning time from the fifth century B.C. to the present. Several professions were based upon theories related to the IVFs or upon serious investigations of the IVFs, and the results of other investigations were reported out of proper context in order to criticize chiropractic and other professions. The history of investigation of the IVFs can be divided into three time periods: 1) very early descriptions of neural foramina and the IVFs; )2 discussions of IVFs by developing professions and the studies of the IVFs by Swanberg in the early twentieth century; and 3) studies of the IVFs in the middle and late twentieth century. This paper discusses the major activities of each of these time periods.

The American Council of Women Chiropractors from 1935 to 1960.

Equal rights for women have been a never ending battle in the professional world. Even though many women influenced the chiropractic profession, these same battles could not be avoided. For this reason, several students from the Lincoln Chiropractic College worked to form the American Council of Women Chiropractors (ACWC), a council of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). From 1935 to 1960, the organization was represented in the House of Counselors of the NCA, had a monthly section in the Journal of the National Chiropractic Association to publish information about the council along with scholarly work by their members, and formed a Scholarship Foundation for Women Chiropractic Students. Perhaps one of the most important roles the ACWC played was in its support of women chiropractors. Through annual meetings and personal contacts, the members were able to endure many difficulties that existed both inside and outside chiropractic.