NCT04398160

Bilateral Cervical Manipulation (C3/C4) on Thoracoabdominal Kinematics

Influence of Bilateral Cervical Manipulation (C3/C4) on Thoracoabdominal Kinematics on Healthy Young Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 90 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 40 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

There is evidence of the interdependence between the diaphragm and the C4 vertebral level with regard to nerve, fascial and muscular connections. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of cervical bilateral manipulation (C3/C4) on the thoracoabdominal kinematics in healthy young adults.

Detailed description

Due to respiration the thoracoabdominal kinematics is considered a complex mechanism that evolves the movement of the ribs and fascia, the diaphragmatic function, the respiratory muscles and the mechanical properties of the airways that includes a coordinated reflex neural activity. The phrenic nerve (C3 to C5) is responsable for the motor and sensory innervation of the diaphragm. The High Velocity Low Amplitude (HVLA) vertebral manipulation stimulates the corresponding spinal nerves. It is well known that when this manipulation is applied to cervical region induces vasomotor cutaneous and cardiorespiratory modifications in autonomic nervous system. The sample composed of healthy young adults (aged 18-40 years) will be assigned randomly in three groups: experimental group (bilateral C3/C4 HVLA manipulation), sham manipulation group (passive cervical mobilization) and control group (no intervention). The thoracoabdominal kinematics measures will be assessed at baseline, right after the intervention and five minutes after the second measure using the Qualisys Motion Capture System.

Conditions

• Healthy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	HVLA C3/C4 manipulation	The investigator will apply an anterior and lateral translation associated with extension, homolateral inclination and contralateral rotation of the cervical. This procedure will increase the tension of the soft tissues to reduce the remaining slack and, finally, the thrust will be applied in pure rotation. Subsequently the head of the volunteer will be repositioned in the neutral position without applying any pressure and will wait 10 seconds in this position. Finally, the previous procedure will be repeated to the opposite side.
OTHER	Sham technique	The investigator will apply an anterior and lateral translation associated with extension, homolateral inclination and contralateral rotation of the cervical until the perception of tissue tension at the point of contact, holding this position for 10 seconds. The investigator then repositions the head of the volunteer in the neutral position without applying pressure, holding again this position for 10 seconds. Finally, the previous procedure will be repeated for the opposite side.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-09-01
• Primary completion: 2024-12-01
• Completion: 2024-12-01
• First posted: 2020-05-21
• Last updated: 2024-04-02

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Portugal