Abstract

Introduction: vertebral manipulation is used to address vertebral problems such as movement restriction and pain. The conductance of the skin reflects the effect of vertebral manipulation, regarding pain and mechanosensitivity. Objectives: to measure changes in skin conductance and pressure pain threshold after cervical-dorsal manipulation, as well as changes in pressure pain threshold in remote area tissues with respect to the manipulation technique. Material and method: randomized pilot clinical trial with masking of the evaluator (n = 16), with two groups. In one, a vertebral manipulation of the cervical spine was performed and in the other of the dorsal spine. Pre-post manipulation measures were taken for pain and skin conductance, using algometry at the local and distal levels, and a biofeedback team, respectively. Results: significant differences were found between the pre and post variables for the region-PPT in both, dorsal (p < 0.05) and cervical (p < 0.001) mobilization groups, as well as for tibial-PPT variable in both, dorsal (p