• Zacariah SK
• Vining RD
• Gudavalli MR
• Boesch RJ

• Affiliation / Keiser University. College of Chiropractic Medicine
• Affiliation / Palmer College of Chiropractic. Department of Clinical Sciences
• Affiliation / Palmer College of Chiropractic. Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research
• Affiliation(G) / United States / Florida / West Palm Beach
• Affiliation(G) / United States / Iowa / Davenport
• Education, Chiropractic
• Formative Feedback
• Kinetics
• Manipulation, Chiropractic
• Motor Skills
• Open Access Document
• Task Performance and Analysis

Objective: High-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulation (HVLA-SM) may generate different therapeutic effects depending on force and duration characteristics. Variability among clinicians suggests training to target specific thrust duration and force levels is necessary to standardize dosing. This pilot study assessed an HVLA-SM training program using prescribed force and thrust characteristics.

Methods: Over 4 weeks, chiropractors and students at a chiropractic college delivered thoracic region HVLA-SM to a prone mannequin in six training sessions, each 30 minutes in duration. Force plates embedded in a treatment table were used to measure force over time. Training goals were 350 and 550 Newtons (N) for peak force and ≤150 ms for thrust duration. Verbal and visual feedback was provided after each training thrust. Assessments included 10 consecutive thrusts for each force target without feedback. Mixed-model regression was used to analyze assessments measured before, immediately following, and 1, 4, and 8 weeks after training.

Results: Error from peak force target, expressed as adjusted mean constant error (standard deviation), went from 107 N (127) at baseline, to 0.2 N (41) immediately after training, and 32 N (53) 8 weeks after training for the 350 N target, and 63 N (148), −6 N (58), and 9 N (87) for the 550 N target. Student median values met thrust duration target, but doctors' were >150 ms immediately after training.

Conclusion: After participation in an HVLA-SM training program, participants more accurately delivered two prescribed peak forces, but accuracy decreased 1 week afterwards. Future HVLA-SM training research should include follow-up of 1 week or more to assess skill retention.

Author keywords: Formative Feedback, Manipulation, Chiropractic, Motor Skills, Task Performance and Analysis

Author affiliations: SZ, VR: Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport, Iowa, United States; GM: Keiser University College of Chiropractic Medicine, West Palm Beach, Florida, United States; RJB:Department of Clinical Affairs at Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport, Iowa, United States

This excerpt is reproduced with the permission of the publisher. Click on the above link for free full text.  Publisher Record | PubMed Record | PDF