Increased salience network connectivity following manual therapy is associated with reduced pain in chronic low back pain patients

Chronic low back pain (cLBP) has been associated with changes in brain plasticity. Non-pharmacological therapies such as Manual Therapy (MT) have shown promise for relieving cLBP. However, translational neuroimaging research is needed to understand potential central mechanisms supporting MT. We investigated the effect of MT on resting-state salience network (SLN) connectivity, and whether this was associated with changes in clinical pain.Fifteen cLBP patients, and 16 matched healthy controls (HC) were scanned with resting functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), before and immediately after a MT intervention (cross-over design with two separate visits, pseudorandomized, grades V ‘Manipulation’ and III ‘Mobilization’ of the Maitland Joint Mobilization Grading Scale).
Source: The Journal of Pain - Category: Materials Science Authors: Tags: Original Reports Source Type: research