Non-Specific Effects of Manual Therapy

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

24 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2017-01-31

Study Completion Date

2017-10-31

Brief Summary

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The mechanism responsible for improvement following manual physical therapy techniques is unknown. Previous studies have indicated both biomechanical and neurophysiologic effects which may be responsible for clinical changes observed. Yet, other studies report clinical changes following sham interventions. Through a mixed-methods design, this study aims to gain more understanding of the social and contextual factors that may be related to the improvement often observed following manual therapy techniques.

Detailed Description

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A convenience sample will be utilized to obtain subjects. Subjects will be given a brief questionnaire to identify possible contraindications for manual therapy treatment techniques and exclude individuals if necessary. Subjects will be randomized into one of eight groups (three variables, each with two conditions including: therapist gender match/mismatch, lab coat worn/not worn, detailed explanation/colloquial conversation about the technique) and participate in neurodynamic testing for the upper quarter via the Upper Limb Provocation Test. Subjects who are determined to be positive for one or more extremities will receive a sham thoracic spine manipulation technique. After application of the technique, previously positive limbs will be retested. Individuals who respond favorably to the sham technique upon reassessment will participate in an exit interview with open-ended questions in attempt to gain more insight into the factors which may have influenced their neurodynamic mobility improvement.

Conditions

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Musculoskeletal Manipulations Placebo Effect

Keywords

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Patient-Therapist Interaction Non-Specific Effects Manual Therapy Neurodynamics Sham

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Gender Match, Labcoat, Explanation

Subjects will receive Spinal Manual Therapy (sham thoracic spine manipulation) by a gender matched therapist, wearing a labcoat and receive a detailed anatomic explanation of the technique.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL