Williams, Kevin (2003) An investigation of the lasting effects of thoracic manipulation and rib raising on spirometric measurements of asymptomatic participants. Coursework Master thesis, Victoria University.

Abstract

Although research has been undertaken into the effects of manual intervention on common respiratory conditions, very little research has been undertaken into whether manual therapy can produce a significant improvement in the respiratory function of asymptomatic volunteers one week after the manual intervention. To test whether a relationship exists between the effects of thoracic HVLA and rib raising (RR) on the pulmonary function of asymptomatic volunteers one week after the manual intervention, 38 participants (males = 25, females = 13) were randomly assigned to either a HVLA (n=11), RR (n=14) or a HVLA + RR group (n=13). Statistically significant increases were observed in both FVC (p=0.005) and FEV1 (p=0.002) within each of the three groups over time (pre-test, post-test, 1 week). However, no significant increases were found neither in the chest diameter values within the three treatment groups with respect to time nor between the three groups at any of the three time periods. The greatest increases in percentage change occurred in FEV1 and FVC values at the 1 week time period, particularly for the HVLA + RR and the RR group in which respective FEV1 increases of 10.5% and 7.41% occurred. The results of this study suggest that HVLA and rib raising ought to be equally effective in improving the pulmonary function of asymptomatic individuals , given that no statistically significant difference was found between the mean FEV1 and FVC values within the 3 groups over time. Since previous research shows that rib raising produces within subject increases in both FEV1 and FVC over time that are statistically significant in asthmatics, it may be possible to infer that HVLA may be as useful an adjunct as rib raising in the long-term management of stable asthma. This minor thesis was written by a post-graduate student as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program.

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