Unpublished MSc thesis, Wiener Schule für Osteopathie, 2007/03, 89, type of study: ,cct,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Free full text   (https://www.osteopathicresearch.com/s/orw/item/3036)

Keywords:

ergometer [2]
osteopathic manipulative treatment [3945]
performance increase [2]
running [19]
sports [158]
WSO [508]
controlled clinical trial [324]

Abstract:

Purpose: Osteopathic treatment usually aims at enhancing or restoring a state of health in the patient. This study investigates whether osteopathic treatment can be used to increase the athletic performance of healthy hobby runners. Study Design: retrospective, comparative, statistically evaluated clinical case study Method: Two comparative groups with a defined age limit (test group n=17, control group n=14) followed a constant individual training regimen over a period of two months. During this period, the test group received three osteopathic treatments at regular intervals of two weeks. Before each treatment, the personal fitness level was assessed by means of a PWC 150 ergometer test. One month after the third treatment, the ergometer test was repeated in order to assess a possible sustained effect of treatment. The performance of the control group was measured in the same routine and at similar intervals as that of the test group. Additionally, a questionnaire was answered by all participants for subjective self evaluation of fitness levels before each test. Results: The results of the two groups are graphically presented for comparison. Conclusion: Compared to the control group, the osteopathically treated test group showed a statistically significant increase in performance capability. The experimental group was able to increase performance capability by an average of approximately 4.5%. Measured performance increased by an average of 8% among female and 5.5% among male test persons compared to the control group. Treatment showed a sustained effect in three out of five achievement groups, with a further increase in performance levels between the third and the fourth test. One achievement group of the control group also increased performance in this period. Evaluation of questionnaires proved that neither of the two groups was able to accurately self evaluate their performance capability. Apart from the low number of participants, the results confirmed that osteopathic treatment is able to enhance performance capability and improves the sustained effect of training.