Table 1 Summary of retrieved records included in the qualitative synthesis

Ballantyne et al. [22]

Asymptomatic participants

Flexibility increase

1 session

Hamstring

Increased ROM

n/a

n/a

167.3°

170.0°

n/a

Bindra [10]

Patients with chronic LBP

Effect of technique

6 sessions

Sacroiliac joint

Decreased Pain

6.5

1.6

n/a

n/a

Oswestry disability index

Burns et al. [33]

Asymptomatic participants

Flexibility increase

1 session

Cervical spine

Increased ROM

n/a

n/a

71.5°

+ 3.9°

n/a

Cassidy et al. [14]

Mechanical neck pain patients

Effect of technique

1 session

Upper trapezius

Pain decreased more than ROM improved

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

NRS-101 pain score (pre 37.7 vs post 20.4)

Fryer et al. [15]

Asymptomatic participants

Flexibility increase

1 session

Atlanto-axial joint

Increased ROM

n/a

n/a

52.41°

59.06°

n/a

Fryer et al. [34]

Asymptomatic participants

Neurophysiological responses

1 session

L5/S1 segment bilaterally

Decreased motor excitability (increased silent period and decreased H reflex)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Hamilton et al. [16]

Asymptomatic participants

Effect of technique

1 session

Sub-occipital region

No difference in pressure pain thresholds

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Kamali et al. [35]

Women with thoracic Kyphosis

Effect of technique

15 sessions

Thoracic spine

Reduced Kyphosis and increased Strength

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Sitting kyphosis angle pre 45.7°

Sitting kyphosis angle post 40.6°

Küçükşen et al. [17]

Patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis

Effect of technique

8 sessions

Elbow

Improvement on strength, pain and function

7.39

3.28

n/a

n/a

DASH score pre 46.7 post 22.7

Laudner et al. [36]

Asymptomatic participants

Effect of technique

12 sessions

Pectoralis minor

Increased muscle length, Decreased forward scapular position

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Pectorali s length pre 8.0 post 8.8, Scapular position pre 13.6 post 12.1

Lenehan et al. [21]

Asymptomatic participants

Increase trunk ROM

1 session

Thoracic spine

Increased ROM

n/a

n/a

26.4°

36.7°

n/a

Moore et al. [37]

Asymptomatic Athletes

Flexibility increase

1 session

Glenohumeral joint

Increased Joint mobility

n/a

n/a

−13.5

−8.5

n/a

Nagrale et al. [38]

Patients with non-specific neck pain

Effect of technique

12 sessions

Upper trapezius

Pain and Disability reduction

8.2

6.1

n/a

n/a

Neck disability index pre: 42.9 and post: 31.9

Oliveira-Campelo et al. [39]

Patients with unilateral latent trigger points

Effect of technique

1 session

Upper trapezius

Improves cervical motion and pain pressure sensitivity

n/a

n/a

57.4

58.7

n/a

Phadke et al. [13]

Neck pain population

Effect of technique

6 days

Upper trapezius and levator scapulae

Decreased VAS

5.5

1.64

n/a

n/a

n/a

Sadria et al. [12]

Patients with latent trigger points

Effect of technique

1 session

Upper trapezius

Decreased VAS and increased ROM

7.61

6.65

5.68 cm

6.56 cm

n/a

Sakshi et al. [40]

Patients with chronic neck pain

Effect of technique

8 sessions

Suboccipitalis, upper trapezius, and pectoralis major

Reduced Pain

6.4

1.6

n/a

n/a

Disability index pre 34.9 post 11.9

Schenk et al. [41]

Asymptomatic participants

Effect of technique

7 sessions

Cervical region

Increased ROM

n/a

n/a

Flexion: 51.8°

Extention: 69.1°

L Rotation: 35.6°

R Rotation: 35.2°

Flexion: 54.4°

Extention: 71.9°

L Rotation: 40.8°

R rotation: 43.4°

n/a

Schenk et al. [18]

Asymptomatic patients

Flexibility increase

8 sessions

Lumbar region

Increased ROM

n/a

n/a

13.8°

36.7°

n/a

Selkow et al. [7]

Patients with non-specific LBP

Effect of technique

1 session

Lumbar region

Decreased pain

2.9

2.5

n/a

n/a

n/a

Shadmehr et al. [20]

Female with Knee Rom impairment

Effect of technique

10 sessions

Hamstrings

Increased ROM

n/a

n/a

145.1°

167.2°

n/a

Smith et al. [19]

Asymptomatic participants

Flexibility increase

2 sessions

Hamstrings

Increased ROM

n/a

n/a

145.5°

154.0°

n/a

Tanwar et al. [42]

Patients with plantar fasciitis

Effect of technique

18 sessions

Gastrocnemius

Increased ROM and reduced pain

6.46

2.2

6.73

14.53

n/a

Ulger et al. [9]

Patients with chronic low back pain

Effect of manual therapy

18 sessions

Low back

Pain reduction and increase of functional parameters

6.9

2.08

n/a

n/a

n/a

Wilson et al. [8]

Patients with acute low back pain

Effect of technique

8 sessions

Low back

Change in ODI score (functional improvement)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Oswestry Disability Index pre 45 post 7

Yeganeh Lari et al. [11]

Female with latent trigger points

Effect of technique

4 sessions

Upper trapezius

Decreased VAS and increased ROM

6.8

4.6

23.8°

31.1°

n/a