Open Access
Open access
volume 33 issue 1 publication number 8

Preliminary insights into the effects of spinal manipulation therapy of different force magnitudes on blood biomarkers of oxidative stress and pro-resolution of inflammation mediators

Felipe C.K. Duarte 1, 2
Martha Funabashi 2
David Starmer 2
Wania A Partata 3
1
 
School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, Brisbane, Australia
2
 
Division of Research and Innovation, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Toronto, Canada
Publication typeJournal Article
Publication date2025-02-18
scimago Q1
wos Q1
SJR0.624
CiteScore3.7
Impact factor2.3
ISSN2045709X
Abstract
Background

Evidence has been reported that spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) leads to spine segmental hypoalgesia through neurophysiological and peripheral mechanisms related to regulating inflammatory biomarker function. However, these studies also showed substantial inter-individual variability in the biomarker responses. Such variability may be due to the incomplete understanding of the fundamental effects of force-based manipulations (e.g., patient-specific force-time characteristics) on a person’s physiology in health and disease. This study investigated the short-term effects of distinct SMT force-time characteristics on blood oxidative stress and pro-resolution of inflammation biomarkers.

Methods

Nineteen healthy adults between 18 and 45 years old were recruited between February and March 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic and clustered into three groups: control (preload only), target total peak force of 400 N, and 800 N. A validated force-sensing table technology (FSTT®) determined the SMT force-time characteristics. Blood samples were collected at pre-intervention, immediately after SMT, and 20 min post-intervention. Parameters of the oxidant system (total oxidant status, lipid peroxidation and lipid hydroperoxide), the antioxidant system (total antioxidant capacity and bilirubin), and lipid-derived resolvin D1 were evaluated in plasma and erythrocytes through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and colorimetric assays.

Results

The COVID-19 global pandemic impacted recruitment, and our pre-established target sample size could not be reached. As a result, there was a small sample size, which decreased the robustness of the statistical analysis. Despite the limitations, we observed that 400 N seemed to decrease systemic total oxidant status and lipid peroxidation biomarkers. However, 800 N appeared to transitorily increase these pro-oxidant parameters with a further transitory reduction in plasma total antioxidant capacity and resolvin D1 mediator.

Conclusion

Despite the small sample size, which elevates the risk of type II error (false negatives), and the interruption of recruitment caused by the pandemic, our findings appeared to indicate that different single SMT force-time characteristics presented contrasting effects on the systemic redox signalling biomarkers and pro-resolution of inflammation mediators in healthy participants. The findings need to be confirmed by further research; however, they provide baseline information and guidance for future studies in a clinical population.

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Duarte F. C. et al. Preliminary insights into the effects of spinal manipulation therapy of different force magnitudes on blood biomarkers of oxidative stress and pro-resolution of inflammation mediators // Chiropractic and Manual Therapies. 2025. Vol. 33. No. 1. 8
GOST all authors (up to 50) Copy
Duarte F. C., Funabashi M., Starmer D., Partata W. A. Preliminary insights into the effects of spinal manipulation therapy of different force magnitudes on blood biomarkers of oxidative stress and pro-resolution of inflammation mediators // Chiropractic and Manual Therapies. 2025. Vol. 33. No. 1. 8
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TY - JOUR
DO - 10.1186/s12998-025-00575-2
UR - https://chiromt.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12998-025-00575-2
TI - Preliminary insights into the effects of spinal manipulation therapy of different force magnitudes on blood biomarkers of oxidative stress and pro-resolution of inflammation mediators
T2 - Chiropractic and Manual Therapies
AU - Duarte, Felipe C.K.
AU - Funabashi, Martha
AU - Starmer, David
AU - Partata, Wania A
PY - 2025
DA - 2025/02/18
PB - Springer Nature
IS - 1
VL - 33
SN - 2045-709X
ER -
BibTex
Cite this
BibTex (up to 50 authors) Copy
@article{2025_Duarte,
author = {Felipe C.K. Duarte and Martha Funabashi and David Starmer and Wania A Partata},
title = {Preliminary insights into the effects of spinal manipulation therapy of different force magnitudes on blood biomarkers of oxidative stress and pro-resolution of inflammation mediators},
journal = {Chiropractic and Manual Therapies},
year = {2025},
volume = {33},
publisher = {Springer Nature},
month = {feb},
url = {https://chiromt.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12998-025-00575-2},
number = {1},
pages = {8},
doi = {10.1186/s12998-025-00575-2}
}