Manual Therapy to Treat Acute Whiplash Injury

The purpose of this study is to determine the short-term effects of a manual therapy protocol on pain, disability and cervical range of motion in individuals with acute whiplash injury.

Design: Randomized clinical trial. Objectives: to determine the short-term effects of a a manual therapy protocol on pain, disability and cervical range of motion in individuals with acute whiplash injury. Methods and measures: sixty patients will be randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: the experimental group received a manual therapy protocol and the placebo group received two manual therapy techniques. Neck pain, disability and cervical range of motion data will be collected at baseline and 24-hr after the last manual therapy application. Mixed-model analyses of variance will be used to examine the effects of the treatment on each outcome variable.

The manual therapy protocol consists in the application of the following techniques: stretching diaphragm, Inhibition for phrenic center, Neuromuscular technique, technique jones and balance technique functional.

The two manual techniques applied to control group are: inhibition for phrenic center and neuromuscular technique.

The neck disability index consists of 10 questions addressing functional activities such as personal care, lifting, reading, work, driving, sleeping, recreational, pain intensity, concentration and headache.

Cervical range of motion is assessed with the patient sitting comfortably on a chair, with both feet flat on the floor, hips and knees at 90º of flexion, and buttocks positioned against the back of the chair.

Inclusion Criteria: To met Quebec Task Force Classification of WAD II- neck pain symptoms and musculoskeletal signs. No evidence of conduction loss on clinical neurological examination. Exclusion Criteria: Concussion during the motor vehicle accident. Loss of consciousness. Head or upper quadrant injury during the accident. Sought treatment prior to their accident for neck pain. A previous history of whiplash Neck pain Headaches Psychiatric or psychologic condition Neurologic or circulatory disorders

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