Background and purpose: Neuropathic pain (NPP) is a major complication following spinal cord injury affecting all aspects of daily functioning.  Limited effective treatment options exist and NPP relief has been identified as one of the highest areas of unmet needs of people living with spinal cord injury (PLWSCI).  The purpose of this study was to determine whether spinal mobilisations are an effective treatment option for NPP in PLWSCI.

Methodology: A randomised pretest-posttest control trial was conducted, with twenty patients with SCI from the Tshwane rehabilitation centre.

Data collection: Data was collected by means of the DN4 questionnaire and a questionnaire comprising of patient demographics, SCI information and the VAS.  An experimental group were treated with grade III spinal mobilisations to the thoracic or cervical area, and the control group had a placebo treatment. Pain was assessed immediately before and after treatment, and at five minutes, one hour and 24 hours after treatment.

Data analysis: A one-way ANOVA comparing the groups was applied per “time of pain assessment”, to determine whether there were significant differences between the mentioned groups at a 5% significance level.  The longitudinal (over time) analysis of the effect of the mobilisations on pain was accomplished by a MANOVA using repeated measures.

Results: There was a significant reduction in pain levels immediately after intervention when compared to the control group, lasting for 5 minutes, where after pain levels slowly increased again.

Conclusion: SMT could be an effective treatment option for reducing NPP in PLWSCI. Further research needs to look at long term effects using longitudinal studies.

Keywords: spinal cord injury, neuropathic pain, spinal mobilisations