The study aims to observe the influence of manual therapy on physical and sporting performance. Manual therapy and physiotherapy have always been associated with post-exercise or as a means of recovering from injuries. The objective is to see if a physiotherapy intervention based on manual therapy causes changes in physical and sporting performance. To do this, after a brief warm-up, a series of sports tests will be carried out, where the investigators will measure variables such as strength, range of motion, and autonomic nervous system parameters. Subsequently, a series of techniques will be applied in various anatomical regions, and finally, the sports tests will be repeated, and the results will be compared.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
60
The techniques were divided into three main groups: first, those carried out in cervical, thoracic and upper limbs; second, lumbar, pelvic and lower limbs; and finally, only spine. The techniques are carried out by physiotherapists with more than 15 years of healthcare experience and trained in manual therapy with more than 10 years of experience in this field.
The placebo protocol places the hands on the same areas as the experimental one and for the same application time but without making a manipulative intervention.
Control group without treatment or manual contact
Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud
San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Mobility
Measure joint mobility of the spine and upper and lower limbs through photo and video capture and subsequent evaluation with software. Measurements are also taken with goniometry and an inclinometer (angles and/or degrees).
Time frame: Baseline; previous the first manual intervention and inmediatly posterior the first manual intervention (first day); 3, 7 and 14 days after the first manual intervention
Strength
Measure the force (kilograms) of the column, lower and upper limbs through dynamometry capture, horizontal force in a treadmill, viewing the force in the Russian belt and jump test.
Time frame: Baseline; previous the first manual intervention and inmediatly posterior the first manual intervention (first day); 3, 7 and 14 days after the first manual intervention
Speed
Measure the speed (metres/second) of the column, lower and upper limbs through jump, encoder, and race tests.
Time frame: Baseline; previous the first manual intervention and inmediatly posterior the first manual intervention (first day); 3, 7 and 14 days after the first manual intervention
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) as a biomarker of Stress
These parameters were evaluated before, during, and after the manual protocols were applied. For this purpose, the Elite HRV smartphone application was used, which connects to a Polar transmitter band placed on the person's chest at the level of the xiphoid process of the sternum, which allowed constant monitoring of the subject during each of the interventions. 1. HRV analysis in time domain - SDNN (Standard Deviation of NN intervals): represents overall HRV and total autonomic activity. Units: ms. 2. HRV analysis in time domain - RMSSD (Root Mean Square of Successive Differences): reflects parasympathetic (vagal) activity. Units: ms. 3. HRV analysis in time domain - NN50 / pNN50 (Number or percentage of consecutive NN intervals differing by \>50 ms): indicates short-term vagal regulation. Units: %.
Time frame: Baseline; previous the first manual intervention and inmediatly posterior the first manual intervention (first day); 3, 7 and 14 days after the first manual intervention
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) as a biomarker of Stress
These parameters were evaluated before, during, and after the manual protocols were applied. For this purpose, the Elite HRV smartphone application was used, which connects to a Polar transmitter band placed on the person's chest at the level of the xiphoid process of the sternum, which allowed constant monitoring of the subject during each of the interventions. 1. HRV analysis in Frequency-Domain - Total Power (0-0.4 Hz): Overall HRV across all frequency bands. Units: ms². 2. HRV analysis in Frequency-Domain - HF (High Frequency, 0.15-0.4 Hz): Reflects parasympathetic activity (vagal tone). Units: ms². 3. HRV analysis in Frequency-Domain - LF (Low Frequency, 0.04-0.15 Hz): Represents sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. Units: ms². 4. HRV analysis in Frequency-Domain LF/HF Ratio: Balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. Units: ms².
Time frame: Baseline; previous the first manual intervention and inmediatly posterior the first manual intervention (first day); 3, 7 and 14 days after the first manual intervention
Stress Salivary Test
The Saliva Stress Test is a non-invasive diagnostic test that measures the levels of key stress biomarkers in the body's response. This analysis uses saliva samples collected at different times of the day (or night) to assess the rhythm of these biomarkers and their fluctuation. The saliva samples will be analysed for cortisol and IgA concentration using Ipro LFDs on a standard reader. After sample collection and mixing (2 minutes), two drops of saliva/buffer mix from the OFC will be added to the sample window of the cortisol or IgA LFFD. 1. Cortisol measure. Unit: nM. 2. IgA measure. Unit: µg/ml.
Time frame: Baseline; previous the first manual intervention and inmediatly posterior the first manual intervention (first day); 3, 7 and 14 days after the first manual intervention
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