Investigation of the factors influencing spinal manipulative therapy force transmission through the thorax: a cadaveric study - Chiropractic & Manual Therapies

While some studies observed greater forces at the clinician-patient interface (applied forces) [11], others reported greater forces at the patient-table interface (transmitted forces) [8,9,10]. Indeed, both studies revealed an increase in the “force amplification” phenomenon with the increase in the rate of force application. [11], this could potentially be related to degenerative changes, which is also likely to occur in cadaveric specimens. In contrast, increasing the rate of force application was associated to a decrease in the absolute displacement of T6. SMT peak force, thrust duration and rate of force application, as well as degenerative changes, may further modify the force transmission.