Analysis of Crepitus in Human Subjects

Objective: This is an expansion of the initial study "Analysis of Crepitus in Human Subjects" to assess the feasibility of simultaneously recording zygapophyseal (Z) joint crepitus using piezoelectric accelerometers and Z joint motion using diagnostic ultrasound (US), and qualitatively assess the US images with particular focus on images taken of Z joints exhibiting crepitus. Like the original study (n=12), the results of a recently developed automated method (AM) is compared with two human observers in the analysis of recordings of human lumbar zygapophyseal (Z) joint crepitus. The recordings will be taken during ranges of motion performed before and after lumbar side-posture spinal manipulation (SMT). Methods: Six (6) healthy and 6 low back pain subjects will participate in the study. Using clinical study procedures developed previously, subjects will be given an initial phone screen before being scheduled for a clinical study appointment. At the appointment, subjects will undergo the informed consent process, and those consenting will be further screened and examined by the Research Clinician who will use the inclusion/exclusion criteria to determine eligibility for the study. Eligible subjects will be enrolled and scheduled for an accelerometry visit. At the accelerometry visit, 11 accelerometers will be applied to the lumbar region, allowing assessment of Z joint crepitus. US imaging of the right L4/L5 Z joint will be included. Each subject will undergo full flexion and full extension (ROM) while recordings are made from the accelerometers. Subjects will then undergo bilateral lumbar SMT, and immediately thereafter will undergo repeated ROM while recordings are made. Two human observers and the AM, blinded to the results of one another, will then assess the recordings to identify Z joints from which crepitus originated. The primary outcomes will be: 1) weighted kappa inter-rater reliability statistic comparing AM and the 2 human observers in identifying Z joint crepitus, and 2) ANOVA test statistic comparing time to complete the crepitus analysis by the AM and human observers. Hypotheses: 1) The automated method will be reliable, agreeing with the human observers' analysis. 2) The automated method will be significantly more time efficient than the analyses made by the human observers. Application: The investigators believe that this program will improve the efficiency of identifying the site of Z joint crepitus, thereby advancing the line of investigation designed to use crepitus as a biomarker of spinal joint dysfunction.

Participants currently experiencing low back pain will have small accelerometers taped along spine, Ultrasound (US) Clinician will place an US transducer at the right L4/L5 Z joint. Participants will complete a range of motions while accelerometers are recording back sounds. Subsequently, they will receive a chiropractic adjustment, then repeat the range of motions

Participants without low back pain will have small accelerometers taped along spine. Ultrasound (US) Clinician will place a US transducer at the right L4/L5 Z joint. Participants will perform a range of motions while accelerometers are recording back sounds. Subsequently, they will receive a chiropractic adjustment, then repeat the range of motions

Other: Range of motion with spinal adjustment

With accelerometers affixed to spine recording vibrations, the participants complete range of motion. After completing, they receive a low back spinal adjustment and repeat range of motion

Plazo: 6 month following data collection

Piezoelectric accelerometers are taped to the participants spine. The participant then completes a range of motions while the accelerometers are recording any sounds being produced during the movement. Following range of motion, the participant receives a side posture chiropractic adjustment and then repeats the range of motion while the accelerometers are recording. All participant recordings will be collected prior to the start of analysis. Utilizing previously validated methods to analyze accelerometer recordings taken during participants range of motion, spinal crepitus will be identified and defined and programmed into a computer automated method of analysis. Kappa inter-rater reliability statistic will be compare consensus of two human observers to the computer automated method of analysis will be compared.

Plazo: 6 month following data collection

Piezoelectric accelerometers are taped to the participants spine. The participant then completes a range of motions while the accelerometers are recording any sounds being produced during the movement. Following range of motion, the participant receives a side posture chiropractic adjustment and then repeats the range of motion while the accelerometers are recording. All participant recordings will be collected prior to the start of analysis. Utilizing previously validated methods to analyze accelerometer recordings taken during participants range of motion, spinal crepitus will be identified and defined and programmed into a computer automated method of analysis. The time it takes to complete analysis of all crepitus recordings will be compared by ANOVA between two human observers and the computer automated method of analysi

Plazo: 6 month following data collection

Piezoelectric accelerometers are taped to the participants spine. The participant then completes a range of motions while the accelerometers are recording any sounds being produced during the movement. Following range of motion, the participant receives a side posture chiropractic adjustment and then repeats the range of motion while the accelerometers are recording. For each participant, crepitus produced during range of motion performed prior to chiropractic adjustment will be compared to crepitus produced following chiropractic adjustment. All participant recordings will be collected prior to the start of analysis. Ultrasound outcomes will be subjective and descriptive to identify imaging of the right L4/L5 Z joint.

Simultaneous Crepitus and Diagnostic Ultrasound Assessment of the Lumbar Zygapophyseal Joints Expansion of Validation and Reliability of Automated Analysis of Crepitus in Human Subjects