None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Objective: To investigate whether a manual therapy intervention can prevent the occurrence of hamstring and lower-limb injuries.
Interventions
A manual therapy approach consisting of high-velocity low-amplitude (HVLA) manipulation (either manual or mechanically assisted techniques), mobilization and/or supporting soft tissue therapies: various stretching and soft tissue massage techniques to the spine, pelvis and extremity. The intervention was administered to players during the week and not on match days. There was no set time frame for the duration of each manual therapy session, with each being patient specific in duration. Treatmen
A manual therapy approach consisting of high-velocity low-amplitude (HVLA) manipulation (either manual or mechanically assisted techniques), mobilization and/or supporting soft tissue therapies: various stretching and soft tissue massage techniques to the spine, pelvis and extremity. The intervention was administered to players during the week and not on match days. There was no set time frame for the duration of each manual therapy session, with each being patient specific in duration. Treatment scheduling was also pragmatically determined. The minimum scheduling adhered to was: 1 treatment per week for 6 weeks followed by 1 treatment per fortnight for 3 months and 1 treatment per month for the remainder of the season (3 months). Both the intervention and control group continued to receive the standard club medical, paramedical and sports science management including medication, manipulative physiotherapy, massage, strength and conditioning and rehabilitation as directed by club staff, which acted as the control.
Sponsors
Wayne Hoskins
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
Male
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Players were eligible to participate if they were listed players on their respective Victorian Football League (VFL) squad
Exclusion criteria
"Red flag" conditions including: fractures, infections, inflammatory diseases, tumours and other causes of destructive lesions of the spine. "Yellow flag" conditions including: insurance claims, litigation; history of malignant disease. Clinical signs suggesting inguinal or femoral hernia. Vascular disease. History of motor vehicle accident, or other serious fall or accident in the last three months. Neurological signs and symptoms (muscle wasting, nerve root signs, bowel, bladder or sexual dysfunction). Organic kidney, urinary tract or reproductive disease. Previous recent spinal surgery (less than 2 years). Club doctor or medical staff excludes the players participation. Players with a severe history of chronic hamstring problems. Players with serious injury or who undergo surgery preventing play for the remainder of the season.
Outcome results
None listed