The Effectiveness of Osteopathic Treatment in Cervical Whiplash.

Summary

Introduction. Whiplash is common after road traffic accidents and affects millions of people worldwide; 50% develop chronic symptoms and 15% have their ability to work compromised. The aim of this study was to evaluate an osteopathic intervention in whiplash and determine whether pain, mobility and quality of life improve with respect to conventional treatment.

Methodology. A randomised, controlled clinical trial between 13/01/2021\_10/08/2022 conducted at Hospital San Juan de Dios del Aljarafe. The control group followed the hospital's protocol, and the experimental group also received an osteopathic intervention. Statistical analysis: Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS-vs27.0); intra-subject comparison: Student's t-test for dependent samples, Wilcoxon's test; inter-group comparisons: Student's t-test for independent samples, Mann-Whitney U, chi-squared.

Conditions

• Whiplash Injury of Cervical Spine
• Osteopathia
• Quality of Life
• Chronic Pain Syndrome

Interventions

OTHER

Osteopathic intervention

The experimental group received the same treatment as the control group and one osteopathic intervention per week for the 21 days of the study (days 2, 9 and 16). Each session was performed on a different day from the conventional treatment to prevent interactions. The physiotherapist performed an osteopathic assessment involving a static/dynamic inspection and palpation and other osteopathic tests: Mitchell test, Quick Scanning, standing flexion (Piedallu) test, Gillet test, sphenobasilar synchondrosis (SBS) test, sutural palpation test and diaphragm test. Techniques used: the dog technique in flexion, scalene muscle energy technique, Jones' first rib adjustment, first rib trust in posterior subluxation, occipitomastoid thrust, Sutherland's posterior needle-scratch, SBS decompression, semi-direct thrust for the sacrum, Sutherland's sacrum, posterior occipital condyle thrust, SBS equilibration.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Seville

  collaborator OTHER

• Hospital San Juan de Dios del Aljarafe de Sevilla

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• José Larios Ortega, Graduate · Physiotherapy Unit. Rehabilitation Service. Hospital San Juan de Dios del Aljarafe.

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

55 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-01-13

Primary Completion

2022-07-10

Completion

2022-08-10

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations