Evaluation of peak force of a manually operated chiropractic adjusting instrument with an adapter for use in animals

Felipe Coutinho Kullmann Duarte; Carolina Kolberg; Rodrigo R Barros; Vivian G A Silva; Günter Gehlen; Jakson M Vassoler; Wania A Partata

doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2014.02.004

Evaluation of peak force of a manually operated chiropractic adjusting instrument with an adapter for use in animals

J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2014 May;37(4):236-41. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2014.02.004. Epub 2014 May 2.

Authors

Felipe Coutinho Kullmann Duarte¹, Carolina Kolberg², Rodrigo R Barros³, Vivian G A Silva⁴, Günter Gehlen⁵, Jakson M Vassoler⁶, Wania A Partata⁷

Affiliations

¹ Academic Researcher, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Health Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul/UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil. Electronic address: felipe.quiropraxia@gmail.com.
² Academic Researcher, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Health Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul/UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
³ Technician, Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
⁴ Private Practice, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
⁵ Professor, Chiropractic Graduation Program from Feevale University, Novo Hamburgo, Brazil.
⁶ Professor and Academic Researcher, Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
⁷ Professor and Academic Researcher, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Health Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul/UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil.

PMID: 24793371
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2014.02.004

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to assess the peak force of a manually operated chiropractic adjusting instrument, the Activator Adjusting Instrument 4 (AAI 4), with an adapter for use in animals, which has a 3- to 4-fold smaller contact surface area than the original rubber tip.

Methods: Peak force was determined by thrusting the AAI 4 with the adapter or the original rubber tip onto a load cell. First, the AAI 4 was applied perpendicularly by a doctor of chiropractic onto the load cell. Then, the AAI 4 was fixed in a rigid framework and applied to the load cell. This procedure was done to prevent any load on the load cell before the thrust impulse. In 2 situations, trials were performed with the AAI 4 at all force settings (settings I, II, III, and IV, minimum to maximum, respectively). A total of 50000 samples per second over a period of 3 seconds were collected.

Results: In 2 experimental protocols, the use of the adapter in the AAI 4 increased the peak force only with setting I. The new value was around 80% of the maximum value found for the AAI 4. Nevertheless, the peak force values of the AAI 4 with the adapter and with the original rubber tip in setting IV were similar.

Conclusion: The adapter effectively determines the maximum peak force value at force setting I of AAI 4.

Keywords: Biomechanics; Chiropractic; Manipulation, Spinal.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Equipment Design
Humans
Manipulation, Chiropractic / instrumentation*
Mechanical Phenomena