Manipulation and selective exercises decrease pelvic anteversion and low-back pain: a pilot study.

Objectives: To study the effect of a protocol involving joint manipulation and specific exercises for pelvic stability to influence proprioceptive input to the spinal tissues and to observe the effects on sensorimotor function.

Methods: Seven patients with pelvic anteversion and low back pain participated in an eight-week protocol (three sessions per week/nonconsecutive days). At each session, a high-velocity, low-amplitude manipulative thrust was applied to the sacroiliac joint, followed by quadriceps eccentric and hamstring concentric contractions. The perceived pain symptoms, pelvic anteversion as determined by photogrammetry analysis, and the electromyographic activity of the rectus femoris and lateral and medial hamstrings during flexion and extension exercises were assessed before and after treatment. Non-parametric tests were used to compare the groups before and after treatment with α=0.05.

Results: Perceived pain symptoms decreased after treatment (p=0.0007). The differences in the pelvis angles (p=0.0130) suggested significant differences between the assessments, and the electromyographic activities of all the muscles during isometric voluntary contraction increased.

Conclusion: The eight-week manipulation/exercise protocol was effective for these subjects' needs. Further research should include a greater sample size to confirm the results and to determine the lead factors of pelvic stability.