Spinal Manipulative Therapy influence on soccer players' performance

ISRCTN ISRCTN29691307
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN29691307
Secondary identifying numbers 3993
Submission date
24/06/2018
Registration date
02/07/2018
Last edited
07/11/2019
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

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

Contact information

Dr Marcelo Botelho
Scientific

Av. Prof Magalhaes Neto, 1541, Sala 2015
SALVADOR
41820-011
Brazil

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0001-7284-2336

Study information

Study designSingle-centre randomised placebo-controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Other
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet.
Scientific titleSpinal biomechanical corrections via Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT) can help elite soccer athletes' performance: a randomized controlled trial with internally validated placebo
Study hypothesisAsymptomatic 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(s)Ethics and Research Committee at the Instituto Mantenedor de Educação Superior, 12/11/2012, 3993
ConditionVertebral subluxation complex (ICD-10: M99.1)
Intervention20 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 typeProcedure/Surgery
Primary outcome measure1. 10-m and 30-m sprint times immediately before and after the intervention
2. Agility test immediately before and after the intervention
Secondary outcome measuresn/a
Overall study start date09/01/2012
Overall study end date06/04/2017

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Healthy volunteer
Age groupAdult
SexMale
Target number of participants20
Participant inclusion criteria1. Athletes who train or compete for at least 5 days a week
2. Understood and signed an informed consent form
Participant exclusion criteria1. 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 date12/02/2014
Recruitment end date17/02/2014

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Brazil

Study participating centre

Fluminense Football Club training facilities
R. Álvaro Chaves, 41 - Laranjeiras
Rio de Janeiro
22231-220
Brazil

Sponsor information

N/A
Not defined

N/A
N/A
N/A
Brazil

Website N/A

Funders

Funder type

Not defined

N/A

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date25/06/2018
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot expected to be made available
Publication and dissemination planResults to be published in a leading journal of the sports medicine and physiology field.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study during this study will be included in the subsequent results publication.

Editorial Notes

07/11/2019: Internal review.