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Palpatory and Ultrasound Assessment of Cervical Dysfunctions and the Effect of Cervical High Velocity Low Amplitude (HVLA) Technique

NCT02249858 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 51

Last updated 2017-10-09

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Osteopathic medicine is a distinct school of medicine. Osteopathic physicians evaluate the neuromusculoskeletal system and work to achieve normal body mechanics. They use palpation to identify somatic dysfunctions. After performing osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), such as high velocity low amplitude (HVLA), a dysfunction is reassessed by palpatory assessment. While there are studies which show the effectiveness of OMT, a challenge remains to objectively assess a somatic dysfunction.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the content validity of the palpatory examination for the cervical spine using ultrasonography and the effects of a single cervical HVLA technique. Content validity is the extent to which a measure adequately and comprehensively measures what it claims to be measuring. The Investigators aim to objectively assess diagnosis and treatment of the cervical spine.

HVLA technique employs a rapid, therapeutic force of brief duration that travels a short distance within the anatomic range of motion of a joint, and that engages the restrictive barrier in one or more planes of motion to elicit release of restriction. It is also known as a thrust technique. The goal of the treatment is the restoration of physiological motion to the dysfunctional joint.

Proper diagnosis of a joint dysfunction is important for spinal manipulation. Little assessment has been made of the clinician's ability to reliably identify a joint with biomechanical dysfunctions. Few studies attempt to address the challenge of evidence-based clinical practice. These have found the benefit of consensus training.

In a study conducted by Shaw et al., ultrasound machine was used to assess the content validity of palpatory examination and objectively assess the effect of HVLA in the lumbar spine. The investigators aim to adapt the protocol for the cervical spine, but with the addition of a control cohort. Subjects will be subjected to the cranial vault hold, which assesses the primary respiratory mechanism in and the degree of participation of each bone in the general motion of the cranium. In the experimental group, participants will be receiving cervical HVLA to the key somatic dysfunction.

The Investigators hypothesize that an ultrasound is a reliable instrument to objectively evaluate somatic dysfunction of the cervical spine. Furthermore, the investigators hypothesize that after performing cervical HVLA, the left and right articular pillars of the key somatic dysfunction vertebrae should be symmetrical compared to baseline.

Conditions

  • Cervical Dysfunction

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Cranial Vault Hold

PROCEDURE

Cervical HVLA

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • New York Institute of Technology

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Theodore Flaum, DO · New York Institute of Technology

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2013-11-30
Primary Completion
2017-05-31
Completion
2017-05-31

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT02249858 on ClinicalTrials.gov