Does Passive Spinal Mobilization Improve Shoulders Strength in Healthy Adults?

Overview

Previous studies have shown that peripheral muscles weakness or inhibition is related to spinal disorders. Passive mobilization and manipulation are likely to reverse such muscle weakness for patients with spinal pain. The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of spinal mobilization on the maximal muscle strength of the shoulders.

Study Type

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design
    • Allocation: Randomized
    • Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
    • Primary Purpose: Prevention
    • Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
  • Study Primary Completion Date: August 2015

Detailed Description

Participants without existing neck pain or shoulder problem will be recruited. Subjects will be screened by 2 investigators independently for shoulder muscle weakness. Weakness is determined by the strength of the other side when one side is remarkably weaker or by comparing with the general strength of the deltoid muscle if both sides are suspected involved. Suitable participants will undergo shoulder strength testing with a handheld dynamometer. Participants will be divided into the intervention group and the control group randomly. The shoulder strength will be tested by the second, individual blinded assessor. Subjects in the intervention group will receive passive spinal mobilization at cervical 4-5 segment on the involved side(s); the control group will receive placebo intervention. Each participant will be tested for 2 times, before and immediately after a C4-5 joint mobilization on the involved side (s).

Interventions

  • Behavioral: Passive mobilization
    • An anterior-posterior manual pressure act on the cervical spine of the subject
  • Other: Placebo
    • The elbows will be put into a 90 deg elevated position and held for 5 secs, then back to resting position

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • Experimental: Experimental group
    • Passive mobilization on cervical spine
  • Placebo Comparator: Control
    • Placebo exercise on arms

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • Deltoid muscle strength (dynamometer)
    • Time Frame: 10 minutes after the intervention
    • Immediate measure after the intervention by dynamometer
  • Electromyography (EMG) (signal from deltoid muscle)
    • Time Frame: 10 minutes after the intervention
    • The EMG measure on the signal from deltoid muscle immediately after intervention

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

  • Healthy adults Exclusion Criteria:

  • People with active neck or should pain

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Maximum Age: N/A

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Principal Investigator: LO CHI NGAI, Mr. Lo Chi Ngai – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Chi Ngai Lo, Master, Principal Investigator, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

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