Spinal Manipulation and Neuromuscular Performance on Amateur Cyclists

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The present study aims to assess the effects of spinal manipulation therapy on neuromuscular performance.

Detailed Description
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The present study will follow a parallel, pre-post design. The aim will be to determine the acute effects of spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) on different neuromuscular properties of recreational cyclists. Specifically, the investigators will measure the maximum force production capacity and muscle activation of the knee extensors concomitantly during a maximal voluntary contraction, as well as the maximum and mean power attained during a Wingate cycling test (i.e., 30 seconds 'all out'). Participants will undergo the tests on two different occasions separated by at least 48 hours and a maximum of 2 weeks. The same tests will be conducted in both testing sessions, but participants will be randomly assigned into two groups (sham or actual SMT) immediately before the second testing session.

Official Title
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Acute Effects of Spinal Manipulation on the Neuromuscular Performance of Amateur Cyclists: Pilot Study

Conditions
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Manual Therapies

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Spinal manipulative therapy
* Other: Sham spinal manipulative therapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Will be recruited from three different local triathlon and cycling clubs. Will have to cycle at least 4 hours per week during the preceding 3 months, and to have a cycling experience greater than 2 years Exclusion Criteria: Having suffered an injury in the month before the study that precluded regular exercise practice Having suffered any type of spine injury before the study Having previously received Spinal Manipulation Therapy

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 45 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Randomized, parallel, pre-post study design.
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Sham Comparator: Sham spinal manipulation<br>Participants in the 'sham' group will receive a sham mechanical thrust (force set at level 0) instead of an actual one. In the force level 0, no excursion of the stylus occurs, but the instrument produces the same clicking sound as in the actual SMT condition. Therefore, the subject does not distinguish between intervention or placebo. | Other: Sham spinal manipulative therapy<br>* Participants in the sham SMT group will undergo a protocol identical to the actual one, with the exception that a sham mechanical thrust (force set at level 0) will be delivered to the targeted areas. In the force level 0 no excursion of the stylus occurs, but the instrument produces the same clicking sound as in the actual SMT condition<br>|
| Experimental: Actual spinal manipulation<br>Participants in the actual actual spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) group will be assessed through the Activator basic method. SMT will be performed with the Activator IV Adjusting Instrument (Activator Methods International, Phoenix, AZ) varying the force level depending on the adjusted segment. | Procedure: Spinal manipulative therapy<br>* Participants in the actual spinal manipulative therapy group will be assessed through the activator basic method protocol. SMT will be performed with an Activator IV (Activator Methods International, Phoenix, AZ) setting the force at level 3 for the low thoracic spine (T7-T12), and level 4 for the lumbar spine and pelvis.<br>* Other names: Spine thrust manipulation;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Maximal force | Peak force registered during an isometric maximal voluntary contraction of the knee extensors. | On the control session and on the intervention session (immediately after the sham or actual SMT procedure) | 
| Voluntary activation | Electromyographic activity of the vastus lateralis muscle registered during an isometric maximal voluntary contraction of the knee extensors. | On the control session and on the intervention session (immediately after the sham or actual SMT procedure) | 
| Peak power | Peak power registered during a 30-second Wingate anaerobic cycling test | On the control session and on the intervention session (immediately after the sham or actual SMT procedure) | 
| Mean power | Mean power registered during a 30-second Wingate anaerobic cycling test | On the control session and on the intervention session (immediately after the sham or actual SMT procedure) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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neuromuscular properties, strength, power, performance