Objective: The purpose of this study was to review the literature regarding the relationship between spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) and sports performance.

Methods: PubMed and Embase databases were searched for original studies published up to July 2016. Inclusion criteria were if SMT has been applied to athletes and if any sports performance–related outcome was measured.

Results: Of the 581 potential studies, 7 clinical trials were selected. Most studies had adequate quality (≥6/11) when assessed by the PEDro scale. None of those studies assessed performance at an event or competition. Four studies revealed improvement in a sports performance test after SMT. Meta-analysis could not be performed because of the wide differences in methodologies, design, and outcomes measured. Spinal manipulative therapy influences a wide range of neurophysiological parameters that could be associated with sports performance. Of the 3 studies where SMT did not improve test performance, 2 used SMT not for therapeutic correction of a dysfunctional vertebral joint but to an arbitrary previously set joint.

Conclusions: Although 4 of 7 studies showed that SMT improved sports performance tests, the evidence is still weak to support its use. Spinal manipulative therapy may be a promising approach for performance enhancement that should be investigated with more consistent methodologic designs.

Author keywords: Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Athletic Performance; Sports; Athletes; Spine

Author affiliations:  Federal University of Bahia. Faculty of Medicine. Graduate Program in Medicine and Health, Faculty of Medicine
(Brazil / Salvador); University of Lisbon. Human Motricity Faculty (Portugal / Lisbon); Federal University of ABC. Center for Mathematics, Computation and Cognition (Brazil / São Paulo)

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