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Biomedical subjects

Darren A Rivett

Publications and source records attributed to Darren A Rivett.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Manual forces applied during cervical mobilization.

OBJECTIVE: Manual therapists routinely use passive accessory mobilization techniques to treat patients with mechanical neck disorders, but little is known about the manual forces applied. The aim of this study was to quantify the manual forces applied to the cervical spine during joint mobilization. METHODS: Ten physiotherapists performed posterior-to-anterior mobilizations to C2 and C7 (both centrally and unilaterally, 1 right and 1 left, grades I-IV) on a single asymptomatic male subject. Manual forces were measured in 3 planes using an instrumented treatment table. RESULTS: The instrumented table showed excellent reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [2,1], 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.97-1.00) and accuracy (mean absolute error; vertical force, 1.1 N; SD, 1.5). There were considerable differences between therapists for mean peak force, force amplitude, and oscillation frequency for each technique and grade. Mean peak forces (grade I, 21.8 N; SD, 15.0; grade II, 34.9 N; SD, 20.9; grade III, 58.2 N; SD, 27.5; grade IV, 61.0 N; SD, 29.9) were considerably lower than previously reported lumbar mobilization forces. Intratherapist repeatability for all mobilization parameters was high. Force amplitude and oscillation frequency measures indicated that therapists generally adhered to the published definitions of the grades of mobilization when applying force, but when asked, provided quite different definitions of the grades. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary evidence that cervical mobilization forces vary considerably between therapists, but intratherapist repeatability is high.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Manual forces applied during posterior-to-anterior spinal mobilization: a review of the evidence.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review was to evaluate the evidence for the consistency of force application by manual therapists when carrying out posterior-to-anterior (PA) mobilization techniques, including the factors that influence the application and measurement of mobilization forces. METHODS: Studies were identified by searching 6 electronic databases up to April 2005, screening the reference lists of retrieved articles, and contacting experts by e-mail. Relevant articles were defined as those that described the measurement of forces applied during spinal mobilization or discussed the reliability of measurement of manual forces. RESULTS: Twenty studies described the quantitative measurement of applied force during a PA mobilization technique, with most focusing on the lumbar spine. When defined by magnitude, frequency, amplitude, and displacement, PA mobilization forces are extremely variable among clinicians applying the same manual technique. Variability may be attributed to differences in techniques, measurement or reporting procedures, or variations between therapists or between patients. CONCLUSIONS: The inconsistency in manual force application during PA spinal mobilization in existing studies suggests that further studies are needed to improve the clinical standardization of manual force application. Future research on mobilization should include forces applied to the cervical and thoracic spines in addition to the lumbar spine while thoroughly describing force parameters and measurement methods to facilitate comparison between studies.

Evidence-Based Medicine↗
PubMed2005

Manual therapy treatment of cervicogenic dizziness: a systematic review.

Dizziness is a common and often disabling disorder. In some people the cause of their dizziness is pathology or dysfunction of upper cervical vertebral segments that can be treated with manual therapy. The aim of the present study was to systematically review the literature on the manual therapy treatment of patients with cervicogenic dizziness, by identifying and evaluating both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs (controlled clinical trials and non-controlled studies). Seven electronic databases were searched up to July 2003, article reference lists were screened and an expert panel elicited to obtain relevant trials. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria and key data was extracted. Two reviewers assessed the validity of the studies using the Cochrane format and found that all studies had low methodological quality. However, a consistent finding was that all studies had a positive result with significant improvement in symptoms and signs of dizziness after manual therapy treatment. Therefore, Level 3 evidence for manual therapy treatment of cervicogenic dizziness was obtained indicating it should be considered in the management of patients with this disorder provided there is evidence of improvement. This review has identified the need for further RCTs of acceptable methodological quality.

Cervical Vertebrae↗
PubMed2005

A community-based sports massage course for Aboriginal health workers.

OBJECTIVE: To pilot a community-based and owned sports massage course for Aboriginal health workers (AHWs). DESIGN: Descriptive, pilot educational intervention study. SETTING: Rural, Indigenous Australian community. SUBJECTS: AHWs working in a rural community. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cultural and logistical acceptability of the program to AHWs. RESULTS: The course was delivered within a culturally acceptable framework with applicability for the evaluation of sports massage skills and knowledge changes in a larger sample. CONCLUSION: The sports massage course demonstrated its applicability in this rural Aboriginal community and it has the potential to be adapted and adopted in other similar settings.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Pre-manipulative testing of the cervical spine review, revision and new clinical guidelines.

Members of the Manipulative Physiotherapists Association of Australia (now Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Australia) were surveyed to determine their use of cervical manipulation, compliance with and attitudes to the Australian Physiotherapy Association's (APA) Protocol for Pre-manipulative Testing of the Cervical Spine, and the incidence of adverse effects from cervical manipulation. The questionnaire was mailed to 740 members and returned by 480 members (65%). Cervical manipulation (84.5%) and passive mobilization (99.8%) were used by a high percentage of respondents. Most were familiar with the protocol with 63% supporting its continued endorsement. Adverse effects were reported at a rate of one per 1000 years of practice (or 0.003/week). The most common effects were symptoms potentially related to VBI (94.4% responses), with no reported major complications. Only 37.1% of respondents always informed the patient about potential dangers of cervical manipulation and consent was sought on every occasion by 33% of respondents. The results suggest that the use and interpretation of the protocol are variable among members of MPA. The risk of adverse effects from manipulative (musculoskeletal) physiotherapy practice, including cervical manipulation, appears to be very low. Recommendations for revision of the protocol were made on the basis of results of the survey and treatment diary, in addition to a review of the literature related to testing for vertebro-basilar insufficiency, adverse incidents related to cervical mobilizing and manipulative technique, differentiating features of VBI related dizziness and vertigo related to benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and current issues surrounding informed consent. Finally, a summary of the content of the new Clinical Guidelines for Pre-Manipulative Testing of the Cervical Spine (APA, 2000) is provided.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Factors related to thumb pain in physiotherapists.

The aim of this study was to determine whether differences exist between physiotherapists with work-related thumb pain and physiotherapists without thumb pain. Twenty-four physiotherapists with work-related thumb pain (Pain Group) and 20 physiotherapists without thumb or wrist pain (Non-pain Group), who were working at least 20 hours per week in an outpatient musculoskeletal setting, were compared on a number of attributes: generalised joint laxity, hand and thumb strength, height, weight, working environment, hand position and force applied during mobilisation, mobility at individual thumb joints, extent of osteoarthritis at the thumb and radial-sided wrist joints, and demographic data including age, gender and years of experience. All physiotherapists in the Pain Group reported their thumb pain was related to and initially caused by the performance of manual techniques, and 88% had altered their manual techniques because of pain in the thumb. There was extreme variability in hand position and force applied during mobilisation, and a slightly high prevalence of osteoarthritis (22.7%) considering the mean age of the total sample (38.6 years). Statistically significant differences between groups included increased right carpometacarpal joint laxity (6.4%, 95% CI 0.19 to 12.6), decreased right tip pinch strength (0.84 kg, 95% CI 0.01 to 1.68), and lower body mass index (2.0, 95% CI 0.11 to 3.9) for the Pain Group. Other factors were not statistically different between groups. These results indicate that work-related thumb pain affects physiotherapists ability to administer manual treatments, and suggest that decreased stability and strength of the thumb may be associated with work-related thumb pain.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Professional responsibility in relation to cervical spine manipulation.

Manipulation of the cervical spine is one of the few potentially life-threatening procedures performed by physiotherapists. Is it worth the risk? A comparison of risks versus benefits indicates that at present, the risks of cervical manipulation outweigh the benefits: manipulation has yet to be shown to be more effective for neck pain and headache than other interventions such as mobilisation, whereas the risks, although infrequent, are serious. This analysis is of particular concern because the conditions for which manipulation is indicated are benign and usually self-limiting. Because physiotherapists have legal and ethical obligations to the community to avoid foreseeable harm and provide optimum care, it may be prudent to determine who in our profession should perform cervical manipulation. That is, the profession could restrict the practice of cervical spine manipulation. Although all registered physiotherapists in Australia are entitled to perform cervical manipulation, few choose to use this intervention. Therefore, it might be feasible to encourage those practitioners who wish to use cervical manipulation to undertake formal education programs. Such a requirement could be embodied in a code of practice that discourages those without formal training from performing cervical manipulation. By taking such measures, we could ensure that our profession exercises wisdom in its monitoring and use of cervical manipulation.

Australia↗