Impact of Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy on Hip Range of Motion

Impact of Spencer's Technique of the Hip on Hip Range of Motion in Recreational Runners

One way for runners to improve their performance and remain injury free is to preserve and improve joint mobility, especially at the hips. The femoroacetabular joints are a pivotal part of the running gait allowing the athlete to fully extend their leg to generate sufficient force in each stride. Improving hip range of motion can help reduce or prevent groin pain, make the runner more comfortable while running, improve running longevity, and prevent injuries. Thus, it is clear that a runner's commitment to improving the range of motion of their hips is crucial for both the enhancement of their performance and prevention of injury. Researchers assessed how the hip, and its biomechanics, can be impacted by Osteopathic medical treatment.

The primary research question investigated is how Spencer Technique for the hip impacts femoral acetabular active range of motion (AROM) in flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation, and external rotation in those training 4 weeks for a 5K race. This study investigated the effect that 4 weeks of twice weekly, bilateral, Spencer Technique treatment had on femoroacetabular range of motion. During this 4-week period participant exercise and stretching habits in preparation for the 5k race were recorded.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Runners
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Sham (No Treatment); Procedure: Spencer Technique

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Florida
    • Bradenton, Florida, United States, 34211
      • LECOM

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• All LECOM-Bradenton students will be included in recruitment.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects will be excluded from this research study if they cannot sign an informed consent. Additionally, subjects will be excluded if they are:

  • Pregnant or plan to become pregnant

  • Have a past medical history including:

    • Skin disorders or open wounds precluding skin contact
    • Neurological symptoms (i.e. numbness, tingling, weakness)
    • Recent bone fracture
    • Recent lower extremity ligamentous sprain
    • Recent lower extremity muscle strain
    • Adhesive capsulitis of the hip joint
    • Osteoarthritis of the lower extremity
    • Rheumatoid arthritis
    • History of hip or knee arthroplasty
    • 1 year history of any lower extremity surgery
    • Gout
    • Iliotibial band syndrome
    • Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
    • Slipped capital femoral epiphysis
    • Hip dysplasia
    • Avascular necrosis of the hip
    • Chronic hip bursitis
    • Hip dislocation
    • Osteoporosis/osteopenia
    • Severe Femoroacetabular impingement
    • Use of heel lift due to leg length discrepancy
    • Immunosuppressive syndromes
    • Radiation or chemotherapy within the past 3 years
    • Congestive heart failure
    • Unable to complete a 5 kilometer race after the 4 weeks of training
    • Down syndrome
    • Have been told by a physician or other medical professional that you should not participate in aerobic training activities.
    • Have medication changes in the last month
    • Run 30+ miles per week regularly

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Sham Comparator: Sham Comparator; Half of Participants receive Spencer technique and half of participants received a sham treatment.	Other: Sham (No Treatment); Spencer technique position but no pressure
Experimental: Experimental; Half of Participants receive Spencer technique and half of participants received a sham treatment.	Procedure: Spencer Technique; Spencer technique on the hip

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Range of Motion	Hip range of motion (flexibility) is measured to monitor changes in flexibility	4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Collaborators: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 29, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): February 29, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 14, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 14, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): October 16, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 24, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 22, 2024
• Last Verified: October 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy; Spencer Technique
• Other Study ID Numbers: Protocol 31-085

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No