Affiliations: [a] Baix Llobregat Centre Rehabilitation Service, DAP Costa de Ponent, Catalan Institute of Health, Barcelona, Spain | [b] Jordi Gol Institute of Research on Primary Health Care, Barcelona, Spain | [c] Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, International University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain | [d] Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain | [e] OMT, Spain
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Vanessa González-Rueda, Baix Llobregat Centre Rehabilitation Service, DAP Costa de Ponent, Catalan Institute of Health, Avinguda de la República Argentina, s/n. 08940 Cornellà de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. Tel.: +34 934711912; E-mail: vgonzalezr@ambitcp.catsalut.net.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Hypomobility on a cervical segment is a frequent finding which is sometimes asymptomatic. The effects of inhibitory suboccipital techniques on cervical mobility have not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect on cervical mobility, of pressure maintained suboccipital inhibition manual technique versus a self-treatment using an Occipivot cushion, in asymptomatic subjects with limited mobility assessed by the flexion-rotation test. METHODS: Before-after randomized uncontrolled trial. Thirty-two subjects were recruited and randomized into two groups: Manual Group and Instrumental Group, receiving a single session of the assigned technique. Upper and overall cervical spine mobility was measured. Subjective sensation during technique application and post-treatment, and number and intensity of headache episodes during the following 15 days after treatment were also registered. RESULTS: Comparing with the Instrumental Group, the Manual Group showed statistically significant improvements on flexion-rotation test (p< 0.01 to p< 0.03), upper cervical extension (p< 0.01), overall right rotation (p< 0.05) and overall right (p< 0.01) and left (p< 0.01) side-bending. CONCLUSION: In asymptomatic subjects with limited cervical mobility, pressure maintained suboccipital inhibition manual technique achieves further improvement on cervical range of motion than the technique using the Occipivot cushion.
Keywords: Range of motion, cervical vertebrae, atlantoaxial joint, suboccipital muscle inhibition
