Vibrating the spine may reveal more when it comes to treating back pain than an MRI scan, according to a study published online March 11 in Scientific Reports.
When Canadian and Danish researchers examined the lumbar spines of 10 twin pairs, they found that structural changes within the spine affected the vibration response.
The vibration responses were statistically similar when twins had nearly identical spines, the group found. However, if one twin had a different spine, due to an event such as accident or injury, the vibration responses were significantly different (Sci Rep, March 11, 2016).
MRI scans are overutilized for patients with back pain, which is a waste of healthcare resources and leads to overtreatment and the potential for increased disability, said co-author Jan Hartvigsen, PhD, a professor at the University of South Denmark, in a statement from the University of Alberta.
The findings also have long-term implications and could provide new diagnoses not seen by current imaging tests.
