Research Article
Effect of Manual Force on Lumbar Side Bending Range of Motion
Tomonori Sato*Department of Physical Therapy, Tokoha University, 1-30 Mizuochi, Aoiku 420-0831, Japan
- *Corresponding Author:
- Tomonori Sato
Department of Physical Therapy
Tokoha University, 1-30 Mizuochi
Aoiku 420-0831, Japan
Tel: 81-54-297-3244
E-mail: tomo310@mb.infoweb.ne.jp
Received date: December 10, 2014, Accepted date: February 12, 2015, Published date: February 17, 2015
Citation: Sato T (2015) Effect of Manual Force on Lumbar Side Bending Range of Motion. Occup Med Health Aff 3:194. doi: 10.4172/2329-6879.1000194
Copyright: © 2015 Sato T. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Objective: We evaluated the immediate changes in intervertebral motion after application of lumbar manual force.
Methods: Fifteen male volunteers (aged 26–43 years) with no history of significant low back pain were recruited to participate as a study group (manual traction). Control group (without manual traction) consisted of fifteen male volunteers who are matched with age (age 21-45 years). Consenting volunteers were referred for three radiographs (neutral position, right side bending position prior to manual force and right side bending position after manual force). The L3/4 segment was chosen for manual force, which was performed by a single examiner. Frontal angular rotation of each lumbar spine segment and total lumbar spinal motion were measured radio graphically before and after manual force by a single investigator (radiologist). Within-group differences were assessed with the paired t test.
Results: Analysis of the pre-and post-manual force radiographs showed a significant average increase at the L3/4 segment from 4.9° to 6.4° and an improvement in the total range of motion from 17.8° to 19.5° in the study group. No significant increase was found at the L1/2, L2/3, or L4/5 segments in the study group. In the control group, there were no significant changes in all measurements.
Conclusion: These results suggest that manual force targeting the L3/4 segment results in an immediate increase in the angular motion of the L3/4 segment and improvement in total motion of the lumbar spine.