The effect of an upper cervical high velocity thrust on ankle dorsiflexion range of motion
Item
- Title
- The effect of an upper cervical high velocity thrust on ankle dorsiflexion range of motion
- Author(s)
- Cooke David
- Abstract
-
Objective: To investigate the immediate effect of an upper cervical high velocity thrust (HVT) technique on active ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM).
Summary of Background data: Cervical spine HVT techniques are widely used within osteopathic treatment to increase local range of motion in the cervical spine. Recent studies however, have linked treatment to the cervical spine, and in particular the upper cervical spine, to changes in peripheral joint range of motion, muscle tone, and standing balance. Theories proposed to explain this phenomenon include the tonic neck reflex and a dural mechanism.
Setting: Exercise physiology laboratory, British College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lief House, and London NW3.
Design: A controlled, same subject, pre and post-test experimental design. Two groups were used; a control group and an intervention group. The control group remained supine for a period of four minutes between pre and post-test measurements. The intervention group received a single bilateral HVT to the upper cervical spine, and then remained supine until a period of four minutes had elapsed. Subjects were randomly allocated to each group and the dependent variable measured was active ankle dorsiflexion ROM.
Subjects: The subject group consisted of 40 asymptomatic osteopathic college students, 20 male and 20 female. The age range was from 21 to 39 years (mean 27.6 years, SD 5.29 years). The control group consisted of ten asymptomatic subjects, 5 male and 5 female. The age range was 21 to 39 years (mean 28.7 years, SD 5.40 years). The intervention group consisted of 30 asymptomatic subjects, 15 male and 15 female. The age range was 21 to 37 years (mean 27.2 years, SD 5.29 years).
Method: Cybex NormTM Dynamometer was used to record pre and post-test measurements of active ankle range of motion. An increase or decrease in active ankle range of motion from pre to post-test measurements represented a relative increase in active ankle dorsiflexion ROM.
Results: In the control group, statistical analysis using a paired two-tailed t-test revealed there was no statistically significant change in active ankle dorsiflexion ROM (t=1.36, df=9, p>0.05), indicating there was no measurement effect. In the intervention group, statistical analysis using a paired two-tailed t-test revealed a statistically significant increase in active ankle dorsiflexion ROM following a single bilateral upper cervical HVT (t=3.61, df=29, p<0.05).
Conclusion: Results in this study revealed that an application of a single bilateral upper cervical HVT produces a statistically significant increase in active ankle dorsiflexion ROM in asymptomatic subjects. This suggests that treatment to the upper cervical spine may have a role in the treatment and rehabilitation of peripheral joints. - presented at
- British College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Date Accepted
- 0
- Date Submitted
- 1.1.1970 00:00:00
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 13576
- Inst-Identifier
- 1076
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Cooke David, “The effect of an upper cervical high velocity thrust on ankle dorsiflexion range of motion”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 3, 2025, https://www.osteopathic-research.org/s/orw/item/1181