Table 1

Summary of the four intervention protocols and procedures

For all

  1. 30 min appointment

  2. Clinical findings, intervention, consent and adverse events (separate form to use if they do) recorded in participant individual form

Duration
Articulation/HVT group

  1. Observation+AROM (standing or sitting)+clinical examination for SD (sitting, prone or supine)

  2. Techniques:

    1. SD found: HVT to the area unless contraindicated (info on BP/HA)

    2. No SD found:

      1. HVT TSp and ribs

      2. Articulation of hips in extension

  1. 10 min

  2. 20 min

Soft tissue groupFull body, slow and superficial

  1. Prone:

    1. upper/mid/lower back

    2. upper buttocks

    3. hamstrings

    4. calves

  2. Supine:

    1. Neck incl. suboccipital muscles

    2. Shoulders

    3. Pectoral muscles

    4. Arms

    5. Quadriceps

    6. Feet

  1. 15 min

  2. 15 min

Cranial groupLooking for stiffness, asymmetry and tenderness on:

  1. Sacrum

  2. Head


Dysfunction found: myofascial release technique (10 min/area); if no dysfunction found: functional techniques applied to each area (10 min/area)
3. CV4

  1. 10 min

  2. 10 min

  3. 10 min

Combined group

  1. Observation+AROM+clinical exam for SD

  2. HVT TSp

  3. Soft tissue upper and lower back prone

  4. CV4 and suboccipital release

  1. 9 min

  2. 7 min

  3. 7 min

  4. 7 min

  • AROM, active range of movement; BP, blood pressure; CV4, Compression of the Fourth Ventricle technique; HA, headache; HVT, high velocity thrust techniques; SD, somatic dysfunction; TSp, thoracic spine.