The Impact of HVLA Manipulations and Therapeutic Massage in Increasing the Mobility of the Lateral Flexion of the Neck

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish if high-velocity, low-amplitude manipulation (HVLA) combined with therapeutic massage can improve cervical spine mobility, particularly neck lateral flexion, on the left and right sides, given that lateral neck flexion is 90 degrees. The sample of 75 participants was comprised of 35 men (46.6%) and 40 women (53.3%), all of whom were between the ages of 20 and 60 and were divided into four groups based on their average ages: 20 to 30 years, 31 to 40 years, 41 to 50 years, and 51 to 60 years. These groups were further subdivided into two groups by gender, male and female. Patients' lateral flexion was measured with a goniometer, which displays the angle of lateral flexion before and after treatment. C1-C7 vertebral level and shoulder joint level HVLA procedures were conducted. The therapeutic massage concentrated on the trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, platysma, splenius, and semispinalis muscles using relaxing techniques. Each patient's left and right elbow lateral flexion was measured with a goniometer following HVLA manipulations and therapeutic massage to see whether or not there was a significant increase. After combining the findings and measurements, we were able to determine that these combined methods increase the cervical spine joint mobility of the 75 participants by a mean of 12.36 degrees.