Brain plasticity following lumbar disc herniation treatment with spinal manipulation therapy based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging
Hong-Gen Du,
Ya Wen,
Jun-Xiang Dong,
Shao Chen,
Xin Jin,
Chen Liu,
Dong-Ya Ling,
Li-Jiang Lv
Affiliations
Hong-Gen Du
The Third Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China; Department of Tuina, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, 310006, China; Corresponding author. The Third Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
Ya Wen
Department of Tuina, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, 310006, China
Jun-Xiang Dong
Department of Tuina, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, 310006, China
Shao Chen
Department of Tuina, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, 310006, China
Xin Jin
Department of Tuina, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, 310006, China
Chen Liu
Department of Tuina, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, 310006, China
Dong-Ya Ling
Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, 310006, China
Li-Jiang Lv
The Third Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China; The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310005, China; Research Institute of Tuina (Spinal disease), Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China; Corresponding author. The Third Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
As a prevalent spine disorder, Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) has been affecting more than 2 % of the worldwide population and is characterised by uncertain causes and recurring episodes. Studying the brain activity of patients could potentially provide insights into its pathogenesis and significantly enhance therapy. Therefore, we here examined brain function in patients under Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT). By analysing regional homogeneity (ReHo) at different frequency bands, we identified the discrepancies in brain activity between LDH patients and healthy people, highlighting the frequency dependence of spontaneous low-frequency oscillations among patients with LDH. Choosing seeds based on the peak ReHo differences helped to elucidate the functional connectivity alterations in the brain regions of LDH. Overall, this study showed that SMT significantly reduced pain, improved dysfunction, and partially rectified aberrant local consistency and functional connection in patients with LDH, not only offering insights into the pathophysiology of LDH from a neurological standpoint, but also providing inspiration for the development of new therapies based on neurobiology.
