[Localization of cracking sounds caused by cervical rotatory and local manipulation].

OBJECTIVE

To localize the facet joints that give rise to the cracking sounds caused by cervical rotatory and local manipulation.

METHODS

Cervical rotatory and local manipulation was performed in 30 healthy adults at the spinous process at the C(4 )level once on each of the left and right side, and a set of equipment we designed for acoustic signal acquisition was applied to collect and locate the cracking sounds, followed by statistical analysis of the data collected.

RESULTS

The cracking sounds caused by cervical rotatory and local manipulation were localized mainly at C(3-7) facet joints, and the times of cracking sounds at these facet joints had significant differences from those at the other facet joints.

CONCLUSION

The location of cervical rotatory and local manipulation can be only relative, and definite localization seems impossible.