Impact of Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy on Hip Range of Motion

One way for runners to improve their performance and remain injury free is to preserve and improve joint mobility, especially at the hips. The femoroacetabular joints are a pivotal part of the running gait allowing the athlete to fully extend their leg to generate sufficient force in each stride. Improving hip range of motion can help reduce or prevent groin pain, make the runner more comfortable while running, improve running longevity, and prevent injuries. Thus, it is clear that a runner's commitment to improving the range of motion of their hips is crucial for both the enhancement of their performance and prevention of injury. Researchers assessed how the hip, and its biomechanics, can be impacted by Osteopathic medical treatment. The primary research question investigated is how Spencer Technique for the hip impacts femoral acetabular active range of motion (AROM) in flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation, and external rotation in those training 4 weeks for a 5K race. This study investigated the effect that 4 weeks of twice weekly, bilateral, Spencer Technique treatment had on femoroacetabular range of motion. During this 4-week period participant exercise and stretching habits in preparation for the 5k race were recorded.