Effects of Two Sub-occipital Techniques on Limited Mobility According to the Flexion-rotation Test

University of Zaragoza

Status: Completed

Conditions: Upper Cervical Spine Rotational Hypomobility

Treatments: Other: Manual technique of sub-occipital inhibition; Other: Self-treatment by way of Occipivot®

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02855216

PI16/0147

Details and patient eligibility

About

The cervical spine should work as a functional unit. If hypomobility should exist in any of the segments it would limit the mobility of the spine as a whole. Although it is frequent that certain cervical segments present hypomobility, they are not always related to symptomatology. The effects of inhibition sub-occipital techniques on cervical mobility have not been evaluated.

The objetive of this trials is to assess and compare the effects on cervical mobility, of the manual technique of sub-occipital inhibition by applying pressure and self-treatment by way of Occipivot® cushion, in subjects with no cervical symptomatology but with limited mobility assessed by the flexion-rotation test.

Enrollment: 32 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 16 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Flexion rotation test with less than 32º or asymmetry of 10º between right and left, whenever one of the sides does not exceed physiological C1-C2 ROM (45º)
• Sing the informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

• Inability to tolerate FRT
• Contraindication to manual therapy.
• Cervical treatment during the study.
• Poor language and communication skills making difficult to undertand the informed consent.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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32 participants in 2 patient groups

Manual technique of sub-occipital inhibition

Experimental group

Description:

The technique applied to Manual Group was performed with the patient supine position. Physiotherapist in a sitting position at the head of the subject with forearms resting on the table . Suboccipital region was located , and flexing the metacarpophalangeal joints 90º a pressure was made ventrally , relaxing the rest of the head in the heel of the hand. The technique was performed for 5 minutes

Treatment:

Other: Manual technique of sub-occipital inhibition

Self-treatment by way of Occipivot®

Experimental group

Description:

The technique applied to the Instrumental Group was performed with the patient supine in the same position as the Manual Group . It was previously instructed the subject how to proceed with the cushion Occipivot® , indicating the installation location and method of affixing , correcting him if the application was inadequate. The subject placed the cushion Occipivot® under the suboccipital region and told him he had to stay in that position for 5 minutes. A physiotherapist warned the patient at the end of the application time so that the subject had to be aware not to control it.

Treatment:

Other: Self-treatment by way of Occipivot®