NCT05475652

The Influence of Manual Therapy Applied to the Cervical Spine in the Prevention of Balance Disorders in the Elderly

The Influence of Manual Therapy Applied to the Cervical Spine (Versus Light Touch) in the Prevention of Balance Disorders in the Elderly: a Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (actual)
• Sponsor: EZUS-LYON 1 · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Falling is a major trauma that can occur with aging, leading to very significant psychological and physical health effects with financial and societal consequences. It is therefore essential to explore therapeutic treatments that can reduce this risk. Some recognized effective treatments exist, concerning in particular the re-education of the muscles of the lower limbs. However, to our knowledge, none of them focus on the cervical spine although the latter is located at an essential physiological crossroads. Manual therapy, which has already demonstrated its impact on pain and balance parameters in the elderly, could be a painless and non-invasive tool of choice in addressing this problem.

Detailed description

The main hypothesis of the present study is therefore that manual therapy applied to the cervical spine may have a beneficial impact on the balance and motor performance of seniors. The study also aims to propose an assessment of the physical parameters of balance, in order to validate the contribution of the cervical spine in compensatory mechanisms. To do so, an interventional study was designed, monocentric, prospective, controlled, randomized double-blind (patient and evaluator performing the measurements). The experiment will take place over three measurement periods on D0, D7 and D21.

Conditions

• Balance, Postural
• Gait
• Elderly

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Manual therapy	The manual therapy intervention is performed twice on the experimental group, once on day 0 (D0) and the second time on day 7 (D7). This intervention consists of a manual therapy protocol (base on myofascial release) applied to the cervical spine. Protocol consists of succession of techniques: suboccipital decompression, disengagement of Cervical 0-1-2,vibratory stimulation at C4 level and myofascial release technique of the cervical aponeuroses. Outcomes are evaluated before and after intervention.The same schedule will be reproduced on D7. On D21, only one assessment will be done at the beginning of the session.
OTHER	Placebo intervention	The Sham group receives placebo treatment twice (D0 and D7). This placebo treatment also called "light touch" treatment consists of applying light pressure with broad support from both hands on either side of the joint, in contact with the skin, without equal bone pressure or therapeutic intention, for a duration comparable to that of manual therapy. Outcomes are evaluation before and after placebo intervention. The same schedule will be reproduced at D7. On D21, only one assessment will be done at the beginning of the session and a manual therapy treatment on the cervical spine is provided to balance access to care in the two group

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-02-04
• Primary completion: 2022-09-01
• Completion: 2022-12-01
• First posted: 2022-07-27
• Last updated: 2022-07-28

Locations

1 site across 1 country: France