Evaluating Changes in C5-C6 Facet Joint Capsule Length and Stiffness After High-Velocity Thrust Manipulation Using Ultrasound and Elastography

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying healthy adults aged 18 to 35 without neck pain to understand how a high-velocity, low-amplitude long-axis thrust manipulation affects the C5-C6 facet joint capsule in the neck. This quasi-experimental study uses quantitative measurements of joint capsule length, width, and stiffness before, immediately after, and 24 hours following the manipulation. Both the practitioner performing the manipulation and the ultrasound operator measuring the outcomes are blinded to each others results. Participants undergo three sessions over two consecutive days. The first session includes consent, collection of general information, and baseline measures of cervical flexion range of motion and joint capsule imaging using ultrasound and elastography. The manipulation is then applied at the C5-C6 joint. Post-manipulation measurements are taken immediately after and repeated 24 hours later to observe changes over time. During the study, participants have their neck joint capsule length and stiffness measured while lying prone in standardized head positions at 45 and 90 degrees. Cervical flexion is assessed with a fluid-filled inclinometer, and ultrasound imaging uses a specific positioning and probe angle to identify the C5-C6 joint. Researchers compare the baseline, immediate, and 24-hour post-manipulation measurements to evaluate the tissue response. The entire study takes place at Florida Gulf Coast University and involves detailed imaging and range of motion assessments with repeated visits within two days.

Assessing Tissue Response to High-Velocity Thrust Manipulations on Capsule Length and Stiffness at the C5-C6 Facet Joint Capsule