Extremity Manipulation Impact on Postural Sway Characteristics (Balance1)

Parker University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Procedure: Lower Extremity First (LEF); Procedure: Upper Extremity First (UEF)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03414749

Parker17_001

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will evaluate the multi-segmental postural sway after upper versus lower extremity manipulation.

Full description

The focus of this study is to explore the effect of upper and lower extremity chiropractic adjustments (manipulation) as well as surface condition (hard surface vs rocker board) on multisegmental postural control as represented by postural sway. Using a rocker (tilt) board, the participant cannot stand still, but has to adjust posture continuously to maintain balance. Body sways are considered to be self-induced because the design of the rocker board creates a natural instability without any external perturbation. This task provides a self-driven sensorimotor condition in addition to amplifying the sway dynamics. Because the rocker board has only one degree of freedom of motion, anteroposterior and lateral sways were considered separately on the device.

The investigators had the following hypotheses.

Hypothesis 1: Lower extremity adjustments will lead to reduced postural sway magnitude compared to upper extremity adjustments.

Hypothesis 2: Lower extremity adjustments will reduce sway variability of the rocker board, trunk and head compared to upper extremity adjustments.

Hypothesis 3: Lower extremity adjustments will facilitate the organization of sway behavior as assessed by the chaotic structure of sway.

Enrollment: 25 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• student in Parker University's Doctor of Chiropractic program and patient at the Parker University Wellness Clinic;
• available to take part in the study for all 3 test days;
• willing to forgo all non-normal daily activities and chiropractic treatments during the test days;

Exclusion criteria

• pregnant;
• previous major injury involving the extremities;
• previous surgeries to an extremity joint; and
• known neurological or systemic diseases.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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25 participants in 2 patient groups

Lower Extremity First (LEF)

Experimental group

Description:

The treatment was a non-specific long-axis distraction to the ankle, knee, and hip provided was at the discretion of the clinic doctor (over 25 years experience).

Treatment:

Procedure: Lower Extremity First (LEF)

Upper Extremity First (UEF)

Experimental group

Description:

The treatment was a non-specific long-axis distraction to the shoulder, elbow and wrist provided was at the discretion of the clinic doctor (over 25 years experience).

Treatment:

Procedure: Upper Extremity First (UEF)