Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
There is a constant demand for sports performance enhancement. Changes in the alignment and biology of the spine can affect signals relating to body positioning (proprioception), control of movement and brain interaction, which could then reduce performance in sports. An athlete could be unaware of these changes, because they might not produce any noticeable symptoms. Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT), which involves a therapist physically moving the spine, can make adjustments to nerves and other parts of the spine that could influence sports performance.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether SMT can change elite soccer athletes' sprint and agility performance.
Who can participate?
Healthy soccer players aged 18-20
What does the study involve?
The participants are randomly allocated to receive a single SMT or dummy (placebo) manipulation for 10-15 minutes. Immediately before and after the treatment, they do the sprint and agility tests twice.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no expected risks or benefits of participating.
Where is the study run from?
CLIC Salvador, Brazil
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2012 to April 2017
Who is funding the study?
The study was self-funded by the principal investigator
Who is the main contact?
Marcelo Botelho, quiropraxia@hotmail.com
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr MARCELO BOTELHO
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7284-2336
Contact details
AV. PROF MAGALHAES NETO
1541
SALA 2015
SALVADOR
41820-011
Brazil
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
n/a
ClinicalTrials.gov number
n/a
Protocol/serial number
3993
Study information
Scientific title
Spinal biomechanical corrections via Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT) can help elite soccer athletes' performance: a randomized controlled trial with internally validated placebo
Acronym
n/a
Study hypothesis
Asymptomatic spinal biomechanical alterations are believed to generate impaired proprioceptive input and motor control and central processing deficits, which could lead to loss of performance. Our hypothesis is that spinal biomechanical correctionsusing Spinal Manipulative Therapy can help soccer athletes' sports performance.
Ethics approval
Ethics and Research Committee at the Instituto Mantenedor de Educação Superior, 12/11/2012, 3993
Study design
Single-centre randomised placebo-controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet.
Condition
Vertebral subluxation complex (ICD-10: M99.1)
Intervention
20 elite soccer athletes were randomized 1:1 using a coin flip to SMT or placebo. A single intervention (SMT or placebo) was performed, with a total duration of 10-15 min per intervention. Crossover was not performed. The placebo intervention was internally validated.
The sprint test was carried out on a 30-m straight line track, using a system of three photocell devices (Microgate, Bolzano, Italy), one at the beginning, one at 10 m (split time) and the last one at the 30-m mark. The athlete's starting point was with the preferred foot just before the starting line, and it was their own decision when to start the sprint, to avoid reaction time influence. The first barrier of photocells was located right after the starting line. Time recording was started when the athlete's body crossed the photocell barriers. This procedure was repeated twice with a rest interval of 5 minutes. The best value was used for analysis.
The agility test track was 20 m long. Athletes were required to run in a zigzag pattern while crossing four 5-m distance barriers located each at a 100° internal angle from the next. The time was measured by a system of two photocells (Microgate, Bolzano, Italy), one at the beginning of the track and another at the end. The starting athlete position was the same as used for the 30-m run. This procedure was repeated twice with a rest interval of 5 minutes. The best value was used for analysis.
Intervention type
Procedure/Surgery
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
1. 10-m and 30-m sprint times immediately before and after the intervention
2. Agility test immediately before and after the intervention
Secondary outcome measures
n/a
Overall trial start date
09/01/2012
Overall trial end date
06/04/2017
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Athletes who train or compete for at least 5 days a week
2. Understood and signed an informed consent form
Participant type
Healthy volunteer
Age group
Adult
Gender
Male
Target number of participants
20
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Common listed contraindications to SMT, as included in the World Health Organization guidelines, as assessed by a sports medical doctor, including acute fracture, acute infections, neurological deficits, signs of joint instability or pathological ligament laxity
2. Acute musculoskeletal lesions that may prevent the athlete participating in the tests
3. Previously treated using SMT.
Recruitment start date
12/02/2014
Recruitment end date
17/02/2014
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Brazil
Trial participating centre
Fluminense Football Club training facilities
R. Álvaro Chaves, 41 - Laranjeiras
Rio de Janeiro
22231-220
Brazil
Sponsor information
Funders
Funder type
Not defined
Funder name
N/A
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Results to be published in a leading journal of the sports medicine and physiology field.
IPD sharing statement
The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study during this study will be included in the subsequent results publication.
Intention to publish date
25/06/2018
Participant level data
Not expected to be available
Basic results (scientific)
Placebo intervention was internally validated. Athletes that underwent SMT kept the same level of performance for 10- and 30-m sprint times, while placebo ones performed worse. No changes were observed for the agility test immediately after interventions.
Publication list