Effects of Cervical Manipulation on Cervical Rotation Motion and Shoulder Rotational Motion and Strength in Overhead Athletes

Sacred Heart University

Status

Completed

Conditions

Manipulation, Spinal

Shoulder

Cervical Spine

Overhead Athlete

Treatments

Other: cervical manipulation

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT06903793

IRB-FY2025-216

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will examine the effects of a single session of a quick stretch technique delivered to the neck on neck and shoulder motion as well as shoulder strength in collegiate overhead athletes.

Full description

Athletes participating in sports such as baseball, softball, tennis, swimming, and volleyball, are uniquely predisposed to cervical and shoulder dysfunction due to repetitive, high-intensity movements that require coordination between the cervical spine, shoulder, and upper extremities. These repetitive motions involve extreme glenohumeral (GH) range of motion (ROM) as well as high angular velocities, often leading to adaptations such as Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit (GIRD). Overhead athletes with GIRD are at a higher risk of developing shoulder injuries.

This study aims to assess the effects of cervical spinal manipulation on cervical rotation ROM, GH rotational ROM and strength in overhead athletes. The current body of literature suggests an association between cervical rotation ROM deficits and arm injury risk in professional and collegiate-level baseball players. Restrictions in the cervical spine may alter neural and muscular pathways, potentially contributing to decreased shoulder ROM, compromised strength, and impaired performance. Given the complex interplay of cervical spine and shoulder function, understanding how cervical manipulation impacts the kinetic chain can play a vital role in developing shoulder rehabilitation and preventative programs for overhead athletes.

Enrollment

20 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

18 years old and above
Current overhead college athlete
No mental health considerations such as generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD, and schizophrenia

Exclusion criteria

Upper extremity surgery in the last year
Current shoulder pain
Current neck pain
Recent episodes of vertigo, dizziness, and migraines
Recent motor vehicle accident
History of cardiovascular disease such as hypertension, heart attack, stroke, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, arrhythmias, heart valve disease, congenital heart defects, and aortic aneurysm
Fear or unwillingness to undergo cervical manipulation