Publications

 

The force sensing technology used in our FSTT® system has been around for a long time. Several research papers have been published using the hardware incorporated into our system, or our system directly.

Please see below for a reference list of studies related to force sensing technology in manual therapies to better understand the impact this technology has had on the profession, and opportunities for the future.

 
  1. Funabashi M, Starmer D, Smith NM, Choi G, Dane A, Downie AS, et al. The role of force-sensing devices in spinal manipulative therapy research, education, and clinical practice. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2025 Apr;69(1):6-15. 
  2. Trowbridge M, Ward K, Smith M. Chiropractic students' force-time parameters for chiropractic adjustments at the beginning and end of an academic term. J Chiropr Educ. 2025 Sep 23;39(1):eJCE-24-11. doi: 10.7899/JCE-24-11. 
  3. Nim C, Smith N, Starmer D, Wang S, Choi G, Alayed A, et al. Chiropractic students' characteristics influencing confidence and competence in modulating spinal manipulation force. Chiropr Man Therap. 2025 Apr 27;33(1):15. doi: 10.1186/s12998-025-00577-0. 
  4. Perron F, Funabashi M, Starmer D, Murphy BA, Howarth SJ, Wong J. Comparison of force-time characteristics of prone cervicothoracic spinal manipulative therapy between chiropractic interns and chiropractors: a cross-sectional study. J Chiropr Educ. 2025;39:eJCE-24-10. doi: 10.7899/JCE-24-10. 
  5. Duarte FCK, Funabashi M, Starmer D, Partata WA. Preliminary insights into the effects of spinal manipulation therapy of different force magnitudes on the shoulder. Chiropr Man Therap. 2025 Feb 18;33(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s12998-025-00575-2. 
  6. Choi G, McGuinty A, Smith NM, Frangakis EM, Starmer D, Howarth SJ, et al. Efficacy of different biomechanical strategies for modulating force-time parameters of high-velocity low-amplitude spinal manipulation. Chiropr Man Therap. 2025 Jun 11;33(1):25. doi: 10.1186/s12998-025-00585-0. 
  7. Maiers MJ, Sundin AR, Oster RJ, Kreul S, Becker WC, Crow WT, et al. Contextual factors related to aging determine force-based manipulation dosage: a prospective cross-sectional study. Chiropr Man Therap. 2025;33(1). doi: 10.1186/s12998-025-00584-1. 
  8. Gleberzon BJ, Ross JK, Kinsinger FS, Szaraz Z. The evolution of teaching chiropractic manual skills: part 2 - a narrative review and discussion of the impact of research evidence authored by faculty at Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2024 Aug;68(2):160-171. 
  9. Nim C, Smith N, Starmer D, Wang S, Choi G, Alayed A, et al. The association between students' confidence and ability to modulate spinal manipulation force-time characteristics. Chiropr Man Therap. 2024 Nov 11;32(1):34. doi: 10.1186/s12998-024-00557-w. 
  10. Mikhail J, Funabashi M, Sobczak S, Descarreaux M, Pagé I. Investigation of the factors influencing spinal manipulative therapy force transmission through the torso. Chiropr Man Therap. 2023 Aug 7;31(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s12998-023-00493-1. 
  11. Pasquier M, Memari S, Lardon A, Descarreaux M. Can self-assessment and augmented feedback improve performance and learning retention in manual therapy skills? Chiropr Man Therap. 2023 Sep 12;31(1):35. doi: 10.1186/s12998-023-00505-0. 
  12. Choi G, Giuliano D, Tibbles A, Howarth SJ, Starmer D, Funabashi M. Investigating force-time characteristics of prone thoracic SMT and self-reported patient outcome measures: a feasibility study. Chiropr Man Therap. 2023;31(1). doi: 10.1186/s12998-023-00491-3. 
  13. de Kock E, Yelverton C, Myburgh C. Developing spinal manipulation psychomotor skills competency: a systematic review of teaching methods. J Chiropr Educ. 2023 Oct 1;37(2):116-123. doi: 10.7899/JCE-22-10. 
  14. Duarte FCK, Funabashi M, Starmer D, Partata WA, West DWD, Kumbhare DA, et al. Effects of distinct force magnitude of spinal manipulative therapy on blood biomarkers of inflammation in asymptomatic adults. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2022 Jan;45(1):20-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2022.03.012. 
  15. Thomas J, Murphy T, Tran S, Howarth SJ, Starmer D, Funabashi M. Characteristics of forces at the clinician-patient and patient-table interfaces during thoracic spinal manipulation in asymptomatic adults are consistent with deformable body mechanics. J Appl Biomech. 2022 Feb 1;38(1):39-46. doi: 10.1123/jab.2021-0255. 
  16. Owens EF Jr, Dever LL, Hosek RS, McGinnis JE, Wilder DG, Russell BS. Development of a mannequin lab for clinical training in a chiropractic program. J Chiropr Educ. 2022;36(2):147-156. 
  17. Duquette SA, Starmer DJ, Plener JB, Gaudet DAG. A pilot study to determine the consistency of peak forces during cervical spine manipulation utilizing force-sensing table technology. J Chiropr Educ. 2021 Mar 1;35(1):8-13. doi: 10.7899/JCE-18-33.
  18. Funabashi M, Son J, Pecora CG, Tran S, Lee J, Li A, et al. Characterization of thoracic spinal manipulation and mobilization forces in older adults. Clin Biomech. 2021;86:105374. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2021.105374.
  19. Pasquier M. Chapitre 4–Article II-Learning spinal manipulation: objective and subjective assessment of performance [dissertation]. Trois-Rivières: Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières; 2021. 
  20. Pasquier M, Chéron C, Barbier G, Dugas C, Lardon A, Descarreaux M. Learning spinal manipulation: objective and subjective assessment of performance. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2020 Mar-Apr;43(3):189-196. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2019.12.010.
  21. Mikhail J, Funabashi M, Descarreaux M, Pagé I. Assessing forces during spinal manipulation and mobilization: factors influencing the difference between forces at the patient-table and clinician-patient interfaces. Chiropr Man Therap. 2020;28(1):46. doi: 10.1186/s12998-020-00346-1. 
  22. Pasquier M, Barbier-Cazorla F, Audo Y, Descarreaux M, Lardon A. Learning spinal manipulation: gender and expertise differences in biomechanical parameters, accuracy, and variability. J Chiropr Educ. 2019 Mar;33(1):1-7. doi: 10.7899/JCE-18-7. 
  23. Lardon A, Pasquier M, Audo Y, Barbier-Cazorla F, Descarreaux M. Effects of an 8-week physical exercise program on spinal manipulation biomechanical parameters in a cohort of chiropractic students. J Chiropr Educ. 2019 Oct;33(2):118-124. doi: 10.7899/JCE-18-15. 
  24. Starmer DJ, Guist BP, Tuff TR, Warren SC, Williams MG. Changes in manipulative peak force modulation and time to peak thrust among first-year chiropractic students following a 12-week detraining period. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2016 May;39(4):311-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2016.02.010. 
  25. Starmer D, Stainsby B, Ellul N, Lester S. Force-Sensing Table Technology: a system for training complex manual therapy procedures. Cureus J Med Innov. 2016;8(2). 
  26. Triano J, Giuliano D, Howard L, McGregor M. Enhanced learning of manipulation techniques using Force-Sensing Table Technology (FSTT). In: Proceedings of the World Federation of Chiropractic; 2014. 
  27. Triano JJ, Gissler T, Forgie M, Milwid D. Maturation in rate of high-velocity, low-amplitude force development. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2011 Mar-Apr;34(3):173-80. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2011.02.007.