Short-Term Effects of Manual Therapy on Balance: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Trial
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyze short-term changes in dynamic and static balance after a manual therapy protocol in healthy participants and analyze any repercussions on mood and perception of change after applying articulatory techniques. A single-blind, randomized, multicenter clinical trial was conducted.
Participants were allocated to either a manual therapy group (MTG) (n = 101) or a control group (CG) without intervention (n = 99), and measures were taken before treatment, after the intervention, and 1 week after treatment. Assessments included the Star Excursion Balance Test, Unipedal Stance Test (UPST), Profile of Mood States (POMS), and Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) scale.
Two hundred healthy participants completed the study (mean age, 22 [SD = 2.67]). There was a statistically significant interaction between groups and time measurements in the right leg for anterior (P = .003), posteromedial (P .05).
The MTG showed a significant improvement compared to the CG after treatment (P = .003) and at 1-week follow-up (P < .001) on the PGIC scale. The results suggest the MT intervention was effective on dynamic balance in post-intervention in healthy participants, and some of the directions maintained the results at 1-week follow-up.
Perception of change in post-treatment and 1-week follow-up also significantly improved. The protocol did not seem to produce changes in static balance and mood states.
Positive changes after manual therapy were maintained in the short term.