The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 2013/01, 113(1):68-69. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2013.113.1.65, type of study: ,ppt,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Full text    (https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.7556/jaoa.2013.113.1.65/html)

Keywords:

biomechanics [69]
OMT [3925]
osteopathic manipulative treatment [3946]
pretest posttest design [241]
running [19]
sports [158]

Abstract:

Background: Recreational runners, compared with trained runners, are at greater risk of injury of the lower limb. Many of the mechanisms of these injuries are not well understood, but some may be associated with overpronation or excessive fascial tract. Both of these somatic dysfunctions may be improved with osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). Osteopathic manipulative treatment has been used to treat athletes in conjunction with normal injury protocol and was found to decrease lower limb injuries. Hypothesis: We postulated that the use of OMT may affect biomechanical parameters during running, which may improve somatic function and prevent injury. Methods: We examined the biomechanics of running in 10 participants using a 3-dimensional motion analysis system and a force plate. Each participant completed a pre-OMT and post-OMT running session. Markers were placed on bony landmarks to facilitate hip, knee, ankle, and talus angle calculation. Normality of each angle variable was examined and then variance between pre- and post-OMT measures were examined using Bartlett test and Welch analysis of variance (ANOVA) at foot touchdown and foot lift off. Peak and impulse force means were compared between pre- and post-OMT runs by ANOVA. Results: For the majority of participants, hip, knee, and ankle angle at touchdown exhibited a significant reduction in variance after OMT (P⩽.05). Limb angle variance at lift off was inconsistent in terms of significant differences in variance. In terms of forces, the majority of participants exhibited a significant difference in peak and impulse propulsive forces (for each participant: P⩽.05, df=9). Conclusion: These results suggest that OMT has a statistically significant effect on reduction of variance during running, although the mechanisms are not completely understood. Reduction in variance (although not in mean values) suggests that OMT may function like prestretch, and the change in forces suggests the muscles were reset to a different point along their physiologic length-tension curve. In keeping with these suppositions, the majority of treatments were muscle energy and counterstrain techniques. Further research should examine these mechanisms to determine whether recreational runners could benefit from these techniques.