High-velocity low-amplitude manipulation (thrust) and athletic performance: a systematic review

Abstract

Introduction:The high demand level in sports has encouraged the search for strategies to increase the yield. In this context, manual therapy through high-velocity low-amplitude (thrust) has been employed in many sports. Despite the adhesion of manual therapists in clinical practice, there were no systematic reviews on this topic. Objective: To evaluate the effects of thrust on the performance of athletes in relation to the outcomes hand-grip strength, jump height and running speed. Methods: The databases used in the search were MEDLINE / PUBMED, LILACS, CINAHL, PEDro, WEB OF SCIENCE, CENTRAL and SCOPUS, and Randomized controlled trials were included, whose participants were professionals or recreational athletes and had thrust as intervention. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the PEDro scale of 10 points. Intervention effects were determined by the mean difference and confidence interval. The data analysis was done in the descriptive form due to the heterogeneity found among studies. Results: Five trials were included with a total of 95 individuals. The methodological quality of studies was low, with an average value of 5.6 on the PEDro scale. It was found two articles for each outcome, but in none of them was presented differences between the experimental and control groups considering the confidence interval. Conclusion: The current evidence is insufficient to determine the use or nonuse the MAVBA in sports in order to improve performance.

The effects of spinal manipulation on performance-related outcomes in healthy asymptomatic adult population: a systematic review of best evidence

“…The present systematic review provides an update to previous reviews by including articles investigating the effect of SMT in asymptomatic adult populations rather than athletes alone. The systematic review by Cerqueira et al [11] examined the effect of HVLA SMT and athletic performance and found only five relevant studies [11]. Only two of these studies were included in our systematic review [40, 45], as two others were critically appraised but deemed to have a high risk of bias [50, 51], and one was not retrieved by our search strategy as the intervention was a HVLA thrust to the tibiotarsal joint, not the spine.…”

“…Only two of these studies were included in our systematic review [40, 45], as two others were critically appraised but deemed to have a high risk of bias [50, 51], and one was not retrieved by our search strategy as the intervention was a HVLA thrust to the tibiotarsal joint, not the spine. Botelho et al [12] conducted a similar systematic review and included seven relevant studies [12], four of which overlapped with Cerquira et al [11] and four included in our systematic review. The three studies not included in our review were deemed to have a high risk of bias [50–52].…”

“…The theoretical frameworks identified by Miners [10] include the improvements of abnormal spinal mechanics, muscular coordination, activation and reaction time, and motor training [10]. In 2017, Cerqueira et al [11] and Botelho et al [12] conducted similar but separate systematic reviews assessing the effect of SMT on performance in athletes, with the Botelho et al review including three additional studies. Cerqueira et al [11] concluded that current evidence is insufficient to determine the use or non-use of SMT to improve athletic or sport-specific performance [11].…”

“…In 2017, Cerqueira et al [11] and Botelho et al [12] conducted similar but separate systematic reviews assessing the effect of SMT on performance in athletes, with the Botelho et al review including three additional studies. Cerqueira et al [11] concluded that current evidence is insufficient to determine the use or non-use of SMT to improve athletic or sport-specific performance [11]. In contrast, while Botelho et al [12] agreed that while the evidence is weak, most studies showed an improvement in athletic performance with SMT [12].…”

“…In contrast, while Botelho et al [12] agreed that while the evidence is weak, most studies showed an improvement in athletic performance with SMT [12]. Both authors recommend that this topic requires greater methodological rigor and further investigation [11, 12].…”