Neck crack science: ultrasound reveals lasting tissue changes after spinal adjustment
NCT ID NCT07704853
First seen Jul 15, 2026 · Last updated Jul 24, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This study looks at what happens to the small joints in the neck after a chiropractic-style thrust manipulation. Researchers use ultrasound to measure changes in joint capsule length and tissue stiffness right after the adjustment and again 24 hours later. The study involves 40 healthy adults aged 18 to 35 with no neck pain. The goal is to understand whether the adjustment produces lasting physical changes in the joint.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- a high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust manipulation applied to the neck (C5-C6)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help explain how neck adjustments physically affect spinal joints, potentially guiding more targeted treatments for neck pain.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study in healthy volunteers, not people with neck pain. The measured changes may be too small to matter or may not translate to real-world benefits.
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The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Study contacts
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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Florida Gulf Coast University Marieb Hall 101
RECRUITINGFort Myers, Florida, 33965, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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