Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether sacroiliac joint (SIJ) manipulation decreases
alpha-motoneuron activity and increases the pressure pain threshold (PPT) over
the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS) in healthy women. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental study. SETTING: A university medical center. PARTICIPANTS:
Healthy young women (N=20) aged 18 to 30 years were recruited from among the
students of a university medical center after a request for volunteers.
INTERVENTIONS: Joint manipulation consisted of the supine rotational glide
manipulation for the sacroiliac region. PPT measurements from the PSIS and
Hoffman-reflex (H-reflex) amplitudes from the tibial nerve on the same side were
recorded before and after joint manipulation. PPT was monitored for 15 minutes
and H-reflex for 20 minutes after the procedure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes
in tibial nerve H-reflex amplitude and PPT values after SIJ manipulation.
RESULTS: SIJ manipulation attenuated alpha-motoneuronal activity significantly
(P<.05) but transiently, since the decrease was seen only for 20 seconds after
the intervention. There was no positive significant difference in the PPT after
SIJ manipulation at any time during postintervention follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: SIJ
manipulation produced a transient attenuation of alpha-motoneuron excitability in
healthy women. These findings demonstrate that our manipulation technique can
lead to a short-term reduction in muscle tone as a result of changes in sensory
discharge, predominantly in la afferents. SIJ manipulation did not significantly
affect the PPT in healthy women.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS