Impact of Manipulation of Sacroiliac Joints on the Static Balance of the Body

The aim of the project was to determine the effectiveness of HVLA manipulation in maintaining static body balance. To implement it, it was necessary to conduct an experiment consisting in performing HVLA manipulation in people with SIJs hypomobility and checking whether it affects the COP parameters. It was assumed to measure these parameters twice (before (PRE) and after (POST) manipulation) and compare them with the measurements in the C group (sham manipulation).

The sample size necessary to power the study was determined at the test planning stage, using the G * Power 3.1.9 software. The standard threshold α = .05 was established; then the acceptable power level of the 1-β = .90 test and the expected moderate effect size η2 = .30 were determined for within-between interaction. The calculated total expected size of the sample is N = 32, i.e. 16 subjects in one research group, assuming that their number will not decrease during the study. With a higher test power 1-β = .95 and a moderate achieved result for observed effect size η2 = .25, the sample should have to consist of 26 subjects per subgroup. It was decided to examine a slightly larger number of available entities due to the possibility of excluding incorrect data.

Poznan University of Physical Education's students were invited to the research, electronically. Before starting the research, they were informed about the purpose and manner of conducting the research, and the type of methods used. Participation in the experiment was voluntary and free. Participants could withdraw from cooperation in the research at any time. They obtained assurance that the data obtained will be used only for scientific purposes and their processing will be fully anonymous.

Among 202 students of the Poznań University of Physical Education who responded to the invitation to the study project interview has been conducted, as a result of which 22 people were excluded from further actions due to disqualification criteria. Then sacroiliac mobility tests has been performed which made it possible to recognize hypomobility in 72 people. From the group of people with hypomobility, 36 people were randomly selected and included in the E group. From among people without hypomobility, 31 people were randomly selected for the C group. An random number table was used in the draw. The subjects did not know any group they were assigned to.

Subsequently, the examination of each project participant consisted of performing podometric measurements and SIJs mobilization in the E group or placebo in the C group, and re-performing functional tests and podometrics in both groups after the procedure. At the stage of analyzing data rejected 8 people who did not meet the assumed criteria, thus finally there were 30 people in the experimental group and 29 in the control group.

Functional tests

Qualification of the subjects to the E and C group was conducted by a researcher who had seven years of experience in using manual therapy techniques. The following tests of SIJs mobility were performed:

1. Standing forward flexion test: the symmetry of posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS) displacement during forward flexion is assessed. In the case of hamstrings tension, the result may be false positive, so it should be repeated in a sitting position or with slightly bent knees.
2. One leg standing / Stork / Gillet test: the hip joint is bent in the standing position, the downward and medial displacement of PSIS in relation to S2 is observed.
3. Measurement of the Derbolowsky symptom (Pidellou symptom / long sitting test): was performed as determined by Bemis and Daniel. It allows determining the dysfunctional side and the rotation of iliac bone. The level of medial ankles during lifting of the torso from lying back position to straight sit with simultaneous traction of legs is observed.
4. Lower limb adduction test: the patient is lying back, upper anterior iliac spine stabilization (ASIS) is required. The adduction of the bent at the hip and knee joint lower limb follows it. On the limited side, the adduction angle will be smaller compared to the healthy side. The test has screening character, because blockage of the joint may occur without limitation of adduction in the case of hip over-mobility, but due to the simplicity of implementation, it is a valuable indicator.

The majority of SIJs mobility tests are burdened with the accuracy and reliability errors in situations when they are performed individually. However, performing more tests increases the accuracy of the diagnosis. For this reason, there were performed four SIJs mobility tests, as well as complementary measurements of PSIS, ASIS, and iliac crest levels before (PRE) and after (POST) treatment to determine its effectiveness.

Podometric measurement After conducting functional tests, the study participants were directed to a podometric measurement, which was performed twice - PRE and POST. The measurement was carried out using the Medicapteurs PEL 38 platform, which allows conducting both static and dynamic measurements, and it cooperates with the TWINN software in Windows. The equipment was designed and tested in leading medical centers in Europe and put into use in the USA by Physical Support Systems. The platform has 1024 sensors with a total measuring surface of 320x320 [mm] and the appropriate resolution for testing the distribution of foot pressure and tracking the position of COP. The platform was calibrated automatically accordingly to the bodyweight of each participant, and the measurement was taken in a standing (Frankfurt) position with upper limbs hanging freely. Participants were asked to maintain a stable position without unnecessary movements and to look straight ahead at eye level. During the study, patients did not have visual access to a graphical record of the measurement carried out to avoid attempts to correct body posture. Each measurement was conducted for 30 seconds, recording the current COP position at a frequency of 10 frames per second.

Experimental manipulation Persons with blocked SIJ on one or both sides, constituting an E group, were manipulated on the blocked joints. People without blocked SIJs constituted a C group that underwent placebo manipulation.

The procedure of experimental manipulation: the patient lay on the healthy side with the straight lower limb, and the torso turned towards the dysfunctional side, whose lower limb was bent in the hip and knee joint, and the hands rest on the lower ribs on the same side. The therapist allowed the initial loosening of the tissues and chose the movement barrier with his stabilizing hand. Then, with the treatment hand, he introduced the HVLA thrust through the iliac bone towards the bottom, while giving the iliac bone a posterior or anterior rotation - meaning, the opposite to the occurring dysfunction. If during the manipulation, no cavitation sound was heard, the HVLA thrust was repeated once. In the C group, the placebo procedure was the same, but no external force was introduced in the form of a therapeutic impulse.

Statistical methods The collected data were analyzed in a statistical program Statistica version 13. The normality of the distribution of all measured variables on the quantitative scale in both groups was checked by the Shapiro-Wilk test .

In order to study the effect of the manipulation on the measured variables, there was carried out quantitative analysis of variance with repeated measures, plus a number of comparisons using the Student's t-test for dependent and independent attempts, and in some cases for the characteristics whose distribution differed from the standard - with the use of non-parametric the Mann-Whitney U-test for independent pairs or Wilcoxon test for dependent pairs. The Cohen d effect power measure was also used in data analysis.