None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Our literature search failed to reveal any strength and conditioning program for chiropractic students to prevent injury whilst learning manipulative techniques or in the first years of practice. The concept of a strength and conditioning plan with the aim of reducing the likelihood of injury is worth considering as the implementation of such a program early in a practitioner’s career could reduce the prevalence and progression of injuries. The purpose of this large-scale study to examine the effectiveness of a strength and conditioning program to prevent injuries related to manual therapy training and practice. All participants will undergo a series of baseline measures over seven days. This will include demographic information, history of musculoskeletal injury, and maximal strength of muscle groups, which will be estimated using the multiple repetition test procedure (5-10 submaximal strength test) instead of traditional one repetition maximum test (1RM). 1RM will be calculated for each of strict shoulder press (SP), bench press, seated row, Latissimus Dorsi pull down, deadlift, and back racked lunge. Participants will be instructed on correct usage of equipment prior to the testing session and given time to familiarize themselves with the equipment. A warm-up will be completed prior to testing. Thereafter, 3-5 separate single attempts will be performed. Subjects will lift a weight initially 40%-60% of the perceived 1-RM. The increments of weight are dependent upon the effort required for the lift. The weight added will become smaller as the effort to lift the weight increases. If subjects are able to perform more lifts than designated by the testing protocol, subjects are allowed a minimum of four min rest and then reassessed. Participants will be instructed to perform each exercise to acute muscular exhaustion or form fatigue. Any repetitions that are not performed with a full range of motion will be discarded. When the subject can only lift the weight five to ten times, that weight and the number of repetitions are considered to estimate the 1-RM. Grip strength dynamometry will be performed during the strength testing procedure. After completion of all baseline measures, each participant will be randomly assigned to either the intervention (n=106) or comparison (n=106) group using a random number generator. Intervention group participants will undergo a 12-week strength and conditioning program, whilst the control group will perform 30 minutes of moderate intensity walking 3 days per week. After the 12-week period, all participants will undergo the same assessments completed at the baseline.
Interventions
Intervention group participants will undergo an individual, unsupervised 12-week strength and conditioning program which centres around improving strength and endurance of the musculature surrounding the joints identified as being at risk of injury. After the 12-week period, all participants will undergo the same assessments completed at the baseline.
The intervention program is to be performed 3 days per week, at a time convenient to the participant. Exercises will be performed as 3 sets of
Intervention group participants will undergo an individual, unsupervised 12-week strength and conditioning program which centres around improving strength and endurance of the musculature surrounding the joints identified as being at risk of injury. After the 12-week period, all participants will undergo the same assessments completed at the baseline. The intervention program is to be performed 3 days per week, at a time convenient to the participant. Exercises will be performed as 3 sets of 15 repetitions, with 1minute rest periods between sets. Exercises include: internal/external shoulder rotation, scapulothoracic wall slide, push-ups, latissimus dorsi pull downs, shoulder press, seated rows, wrist flexion, wrist extension, radial deviation, ulnar deviation, weighted wrist rotations, stress ball squeezes, lunges, crab walks, and deadlifts. Participants will be provided with a length of theraband, which will act as resistance for the exercises. The exercises will follow a 3 second eccentric, 1-second pause, 3 second concentric tempo and will be performed at an intensity of 13/20 RPE. Participants will be given an information letter describing the exercises and their parameters at a 1 hour face-to-face information session administered by a registered chiropractor. This will occur at baseline and they will have an opportunity to ask questions at this point. Participants will also have access to video recordings and audio descriptions of the exercises. Each exercise session will take approximately 1 hour. An exercise diary will be completed by those in the active and controls groups. Furthermore, they will be required to report the dates and duration of their specific exercises above in an exercise diary provided, in order to monitor and keep record of compliance.
Sponsors
Murdoch University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Potential participants will be both female and/or male students who are studying chiropractic on either a full or part-time basis will take part in this study. Participants will be over 18 years of age.
Exclusion criteria
Potential participants will be excluded from this study if they are currently suffering from musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder, neck or low back region or have done so in the past 3 months or have a reported chronic physical disability.
Outcome results
None listed