Table 1 Descriptive check-list of selected articles in the literature review of the action of SMT on ROM
From: The effect of spinal manipulative therapy on spinal range of motion: a systematic literature review
Author year and references | Design | Type of study sample | n° of subjects | n° males | n° females | Ages | Type and area of symptoms (if any) | Duration of symptoms | Treatment and control activity (sham, other or nothing) | N° experiments | When was ROM measured? | Was SMT performed at level of problem? | What was measured? | How was ROM measured? | Approval from ethics committee? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cassidy 1992[36] | RCT | Patients | 100 | ? | ? | 34.5 SD13.0 | Unilateral neck pain with radiation to trapezius | <1week n=16 1w - 6m=34 >6 months n=50 | - SMT (cervical, clinically determined) (n=52) - Mobilization (cervical) (n=48) | 1 | Before and 5’ after | Yes | Cervical ROM, 3 planes | Goniometer 3 D | Yes |
Pollard 1997[48] | RCT | Chiropractic students | 34 | ? | ? | 21-33 | None | N/A | - Sacroiliac manipulation (n=18) - Sham=Mastoid pressure (n=16) | 1 | Before and 30” after | N/A | Straight leg raise on SMT side | Digital goniometer | Yes |
Goodsell 2000[45] | Cross-over | Patients | 26 | 13 | 13 | (16–69) 39.5 | Low back pain | 0.5 – 60 months | - Clinically determined lumbar mobilization - Nothing (lying down) | 2 | Before and after | Yes | Lumbar motion (extension/flexion) | Fingertips-to-floor Inclinometer | ? |
Whittingham 2001[40] | Cross-over | Volunteers obtained through adverts | 105 | 42 | 63 | Group=39.4 Group2=41.9 | Cervicogenic headache occipital region | > 6 months | - SMT upper cervical - Sham (deactivated instrument) | 3 | Before and after weeks 3, 6, 9 | Yes | Lateral flexion, rotation | Strap-on head goniometer | Yes |
Martinez Segura 2006[37] | RCT | Patients referred to physiotherapy to osteopathic clinic | 70 | 25 | 45 | (20–55) 37 | Neck pain | >1Month | - SMT (C3-C5) - Sham neck mobilization | 1 | Before and 3’ after | Yes | Cervical ROM, 3 planes | Goniometer | Yes |
Konstantinou 2007[46] | Cross-over | Patients referred for physiotherapy suitable for SMT | 26 | 15 | 11 | >18 38.3 SD11.7 | Low back pain +/− Leg pain | >3 months | - PA mobilization - Nothing | 2 | Before and 5’ after | Yes | Lumbar flexion/extension | Double inclinometer | Yes |
Tuttle 2008[41] | Cross-over | Volunteer staff and students from university | 20 | 10 | 10 | (19–55) 31 | Neck pain that limited movement | >2 weeks | - PA cervical mobilization at symptom level - Placebo (PA mobilization but asymptomatic side) - Nothing (lying down) - general MT but no high velocity thrust | 4 | Before and after | Yes | Cervical ROM 3 planes | Post/ant assessment device and head sensor | Yes |
Krauss 2008[42] | RCT | Patients referred for physical therapy | 32 | 6 | 26 | (19–50) 34.2 | Neck pain | ? | - Thoracic SMT - Nothing | 2 | Before and after | No (thoracic adjustment) | Active ROM - Left/right rotation | Inclinometer compass system | Yes |
Kanlayanaphotporn 2009[43] | RCT | Patients | 60 | 24 | 36 | Goup1 39.7 Goup2 44.8 | Neck pain | Mean Goup1 804d Goup2 999d | -Clinically determined mobilization - Random mobilization | 1 | Before and 5’ after | Yes | Cervical ROM, 3 planes | Magnetic neck brace + 3 inclinometers | Yes |
Mansilla-Ferragut 2009[34] | RCT | Volunteers obtained through advert | 37 | - | 37 | (21–50) 35+/−8 | Neck pain < 40 mm mouth opening | >6 months | - SMT atlanto-occipital - Sham (cervical manual contact) | 1 | Before and after | Yes (atlanto-occipital) | Mouth opening | Universal caliper | Yes |
Mc Clatchie 2009[38] | Cross-over | Orthopedic patients | 21 | 7 | 14 | 49.8 (+/−9.8) | Shoulder pain No neck pain last year | >6 weeks | - Mobilization (C5- C7) - Sham (same mobilization position but without external force) | 2 | Before and after | Yes | Cervical ROM, 3 planes | Goniometer | Yes |
Passemore 2010[39] | RCT | Volunteer chiropractic students with C1-C2 fixation | 15 | ? | ? | 21-42 | N/A | N/A | - SMT(C1-C2) - Nothing (wait 5’) | 1 | Before and 5’ after | N/A | Cervical ROM, 3 planes | Goniometer | Yes |
Kanlayana-photporn 2010[44] | RCT | Patients | 60 | 18 | 42 | 42.2 (23–68) | Neck pain | Mean Group1 1575d Group2 1811d | - Post/ant (PA) cervical mobilization - random mobilization (PA, right or left) | 1 | Before and after | Yes | Cervical ROM 3 planes | Magnetic neck brace + 3 inclinometers | Yes |
Oliveira Campello 2010[35] | RCT | Volunteer students | 122 | 31 | 91 | 18-30 | N/A | N/A | - SMT atlanto-occipital - Soft occipital tissue treatment - Nothing | 1 | Before and 2’ after | N/A | Mouth opening | Universal caliper | Yes |
Stamospapastomous 2011[47] | Cross-over study | Volunteer students | 32 | 16 | 16 | 25.5 SD4.5 | N/A | N/A | - SMT(lumbar) - Mobilization (lumbar) | 2 | Before and after | N/A | Bending stiffness and ROM lumbar extension/flexion | Electromagnetic tracking device | Yes |