Jonathan Mark Williams1, Antonio Cuesta-Vargas2. 1. Lecturer in Physiotherapy, School of Health and Social Care, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK. Electronic address: jwilliams@bournemouth.ac.uk. 2. Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Physiotherapy, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the linear acceleration, time-to-peak acceleration, and effect of hand position comparing 2 clinicians completing a thoracic manipulation. METHODS: Thirteen volunteers received a right- and left-"handed" prone thoracic manipulation while accelerations were recorded by an inertial sensor. Peak thrust acceleration and time-to-peak thrust were measured. RESULTS: There were differences in thrust acceleration between right- and left-handed techniques for one therapist. The mean peak thrust acceleration was different between therapists, with the more practiced therapist demonstrating greater peak thrust accelerations. Time-to-peak acceleration also revealed between therapist differences, with the more practiced therapist demonstrating shorter time-to-peak acceleration. Cavitation data suggested that manipulations with greater accelerations were more likely to result in cavitation. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that with greater frequency of use, therapists are likely to achieve greater accelerations and shorter time-to-peak accelerations. Furthermore, this study showed that an inertial sensor can be used to quantify important variables during thoracic manipulation and are able to detect intertherapist differences in technique.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the linear acceleration, time-to-peak acceleration, and effect of hand position comparing 2 clinicians completing a thoracic manipulation. METHODS: Thirteen volunteers received a right- and left-"handed" prone thoracic manipulation while accelerations were recorded by an inertial sensor. Peak thrust acceleration and time-to-peak thrust were measured. RESULTS: There were differences in thrust acceleration between right- and left-handed techniques for one therapist. The mean peak thrust acceleration was different between therapists, with the more practiced therapist demonstrating greater peak thrust accelerations. Time-to-peak acceleration also revealed between therapist differences, with the more practiced therapist demonstrating shorter time-to-peak acceleration. Cavitation data suggested that manipulations with greater accelerations were more likely to result in cavitation. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that with greater frequency of use, therapists are likely to achieve greater accelerations and shorter time-to-peak accelerations. Furthermore, this study showed that an inertial sensor can be used to quantify important variables during thoracic manipulation and are able to detect intertherapist differences in technique.
Authors: Manuel González-Sánchez; Maria Ruiz-Muñoz; Ana Belén Ávila-Bolívar; Antonio I Cuesta-Vargas Journal: BMC Med Educ Date: 2016-10-06 Impact factor: 2.463