Influence of osteopathic manipulation on blood flow velocity of the cerebral circulation in chronic mechanical neck pain*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Osteopathic manipulation is indicated for pain, myofascial tensions and/or decreased movement amplitude. This study aimed at checking whether osteopathic manipulation with cervical rhythmic articulatory technique generates abnormal blood flow velocity oscillations or risks to internal carotid, vertebral and basilar arteries circulation. METHODS: The sample was made up of 58 individuals with chronic mechanical cervical pain (40 females and 18 males), with mean age of 36 years, submitted to internal carotid, vertebral and basilar arteries ultrasound before and after a single osteopathic manipulation with cervical rhythmic articulatory technique. Individuals were evaluated by ultrasound in three moments: control evaluation, rest control evaluation and study evaluation. Separation was sequential and methods were randomly and blindly applied. RESULTS: Ultrasound has shown no significant differences in the comparison of flow velocity variables means among evaluations. However, a slight increase in vertebral, intracranial and basilar arteries blood flow was observed after osteopathic manipulation with cervical rhythmic articulatory technique in the study evaluation, without statistical significance. CONCLUSION: In this studied population, osteopathic manipulation with cervical rhythmic articulatory technique has not generated significant blood flow velocity oscillation of internal carotid, vertebral and basilar arteries and has not posed risk to brain circulation.