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Advances in Manual Therapy: Diagnostics, Prevention and Treatment
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Advances in Manual Therapy: Diagnostics, Prevention and Treatment

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Pain Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 July 2025 | Viewed by 2022

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Adam Kawczyński

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Paralympic Sport, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, 51-612 Wrocław, Poland
Interests: exercise science; muscle physiology; muscle function; rehabilitation; sports injuries; musculoskeletal disorders
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Rafal Studnicki

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Physiotherapy, Medical University of Gdańsk, 7 Dębinki Street, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland
Interests: exersise; physiotherapy; manual therapy; analysis of bimechanical disorders; validation of measuring tools

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The use of current technologies and methodologies for the evaluation and monitoring of results enables the introduction of new guidelines or protocols for the use of manual therapy in the prevention of injuries or in the treatment of the musculoskeletal system.

There exists a need to improve therapeutic protocols to make them more appropriate for different diseases or disorders of the musculoskeletal system and further study of the results of the use of manual therapy would benefit patients, researchers, and clinicians. It is important for the development of clinical practice and research that the practical application of manual techniques is widespread.

In this Special Issue, specialists are invited to contribute to this field through their research and through meta-analyses of high-quality randomized controlled trials on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and reduction in complications related to the compensatory mechanism, aimed at improving muscle strength or proprioception. This will allow manual therapy in the broad sense to play its part in improving motor skills, preventing injuries, and achieving therapeutic improvements.

We are pleased to invite you to provide clinicians and researchers with evidence-based recommendations on which manual techniques to use in prevention or treatment, providing new information on the effectiveness of manual therapies.

Dr. Rafal Studnicki
Dr. Adam Kawczyński
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mobilization
  • manipulation
  • injury prevention
  • outcome measures
  • assessment
  • improvement of the musculoskeletal system
  • monitoring
  • diagnostics

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 1675 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Cervical Manipulation Compared with a Conventional Physiotherapy Program for Patients with Acute Whiplash Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial
by Joan Parera-Turull, Maite Garolera, Jose-Blas Navarro, Dolors Esteve Bech-Decareda, Josep Gual-Beltran, Jose-Vicente Toledo-Marhuenda and Emilio-Jose Poveda-Pagan
Healthcare 2025, 13(7), 710; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13070710 - 24 Mar 2025
Viewed by 584
Abstract
Whiplash injuries (WLs) are the most frequent cause of emergency room visits after motor vehicle collisions. In clinical practice, massage, electrotherapy, mobilization, or therapeutic exercise are used. As part of manual therapy, high-velocity, low-amplitude manipulative techniques can also be used. Objectives: To [...] Read more.
Whiplash injuries (WLs) are the most frequent cause of emergency room visits after motor vehicle collisions. In clinical practice, massage, electrotherapy, mobilization, or therapeutic exercise are used. As part of manual therapy, high-velocity, low-amplitude manipulative techniques can also be used. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of the cervical Specific Adjustment Technique (SAT) in adults affected by whiplash on pain, functionality, cervical mobility, and radiological changes in cervical curvature through a prospective, single-blind, randomized clinical trial. Methods: One hundred and nineteen patients with grade II acute WL were randomly assigned to either the manipulation group (MAN group = 59) or the rehabilitation group (RHB group = 60) to receive 3 or 20 sessions of treatment, respectively. Both groups were measured at baseline and 15, 30, and 120 days after starting treatment. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in the MAN group in flexion (p = 0.041) and left-side bending (p = 0.022); similar statistical values were found in the other measures. According to the interaction treatment-time effect, statistical significance for the Cobb angle was obtained in the MAN group (p = 0.047). Conclusions: the effects of SAT were comparable in terms of pain, functionality, and mobility of the cervical spine. Although further research is needed on its effects in the acute phase, due to its effectiveness and lower associated cost, SAT could be considered a useful technique, at least during the first 3 months after a traffic collision. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Manual Therapy: Diagnostics, Prevention and Treatment)
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16 pages, 5675 KiB  
Article
Effects of Pilates Training Combined with Fascial Massage on Upper Cross Syndrome in Office Workers
by Liao Jiang, Yada Thadanatthaphak and Kukiat Tudpor
Healthcare 2025, 13(4), 410; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13040410 - 14 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1007
Abstract
Objective: Upper crossed syndrome (UCS) is an abnormal upper extremity movement pattern characterized by muscle tightness in the neck, shoulders, and upper back, coupled with weakness in opposing muscle groups. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Pilates training combined with fascial [...] Read more.
Objective: Upper crossed syndrome (UCS) is an abnormal upper extremity movement pattern characterized by muscle tightness in the neck, shoulders, and upper back, coupled with weakness in opposing muscle groups. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Pilates training combined with fascial massage as an intervention in office workers with UCS. Methods: 34 subjects were recruited and randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 17) and a control group (n = 17). The control group underwent 12 weeks of Pilates training, and the experimental group received 12 weeks of Pilates training combined with fascial massage. Body posture was assessed using the forward head angle (FHA) and forward shoulder angle (FSA), joint mobility was evaluated using cervical spine range of motion (ROM), muscle activity was assessed using surface electromyography (sEMG), and quality of life was evaluated using pain level (VAS) and cervical spine dysfunction index (NDI). Results: After 12 weeks of intervention, the FHA, FSA, VAS, and NDI of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the pre-intervention group (p < 0.05) and significantly lower than those of the control group (p < 0.05); the extension and left–right rotation cervical spine ROM of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the pre-intervention group (p < 0.05) and significantly higher than those of the control group (p < 0.05); and sEMG indexes (mean power frequency and median frequency) of the upper trapezius and the pectoralis major in the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the pre-intervention group (p < 0.05) and significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Compared with Pilates training alone, Pilates training combined with fascial massage demonstrated a more significant effect in improving muscle activation, body posture, and pain and enhancing the quality of life for patients with UCS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Manual Therapy: Diagnostics, Prevention and Treatment)
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