The Relationship between Dorsal Spine Dysfunction and Gastrointestinal Pain and the Efficacy of Manipulation on Them

Background: The goal of this study was to check the exact relationship between gastrointestinal (GI) pain and dorsal spine dysfunction. Methods: This was a case-control study. 62 patients without underlying GI problems were divided into two groups. The first group included patients with minor intervertebral dysfunction (MID+) and the second group had no MID. Spinal manipulation was performed for patients with MID and for the MID- group. The rate of recovery of GI symptoms was compared before and after the manipulation between the two groups. Results: After the first session of manipulation, the decrease in pain intensity in the MID+ group was more than the MID- group (P < 0.001). After the second session, the pain intensity in the MID+ group decreased sharply, while no significant decrease was recorded in the MID- group one and three months after the manipulation. However, after the third manipulation session, the pain increased in the MID+ group; this was also observed one and three months after manipulation (P = 0.048). Conclusion: The results indicate that treatment with manipulation has a temporary effect; it can improve the quality of life along with pain alleviation for at least three months.