Short-Term Effects of Global Pelvic Manipulation on Knee Joint Position Sense in Asymptomatic Participants: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

• Published in: Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics 2020-09, Vol.43 (7), p.675-682
• Main Authors: Paredes, Ricardo, Crasto, Carlos, Magalhães, Barbara, Carvalho, Paulo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Manipulation, Spinal; Proprioception; Tectum Mesencephali
• ISSN: 0161-4754; 1532-6586
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2018.11.036

The purpose of this study was to evaluate short-term effects of the global pelvic manipulation (GPM) on knee joint position sense (JPS). This randomized, controlled double-blind trial included 26 asymptomatic participants (X¯± 25.3; standard deviation ± 4.4 years) who were randomly allocated into 2 groups. Sixteen participants were allocated into the experimental group, in which GPM was performed, and the rest of the participants (n = 10) were included in the control group, which received sham ultrasound therapy. Each participant attended 1 session only, and the evaluations were assessed pretreatment and 5 minutes posttreatment through an isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex Medical Systems), in which the data regarding knee JPS ipsilateral to the manipulated sacroiliac joint were collected. Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests were used, with a 95% significance level. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups concerning active and passive JPS at 30° and 60° (P > .05). The results showed a lack of significant differences between the moments in both groups (P > .05). This investigation demonstrated that GPM, with high-velocity low-amplitude thrust, has no effect on knee JPS, suggesting that this manipulative technique does not have a relative effect on muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organ activation in asymptomatic participants.