Manual muscle testing as an indicator for dysfunction of the cervical spine and the effect of chiropractic treatment on grip strength
A ChiroSecure Research Update
Abstract: This study aimed to determine if chiropractic adjustments are an effective treatment in the cervical spine and throughout the body, if manual muscle testing can be used to more accurately direct treatment of a chiropractic adjustment, and to see if grip strength can be used as an indicator to determine if the treatment has been successful.
Discussion: The data from this study was collected during routine visits to a chiropractic office. Pre-treatment grip strength and post-treatment grip strength were measured using a dynamometer, in patients after a full treatment, cervical spine manipulation only, or as a control group: before treatment, while waiting to be seen.
The group that was given a full treatment was made up of 67 females and 38 males. After the full treatment, the females had an average increase in grip strength of 3.48 kg (7.67 pounds) and with a standard deviation of 2.64 kg (5.82 pounds) and 17.19% and a p-value < 0.001. After the full treatment the males had an average increase in grip strength of 4.54 kg (10.00 pounds) and 12.12% with a standard deviation of 3.81 kg (8.41 pounds) and 9.57% and p-value of < 0.001. The group that was only given a chiropractic manipulation of the cervical spine was made up of 42 females and 33 males. After the cervical spine only treatment, the females had an average increase in grip strength of 2.44 kg (5.38 pounds) and 11.91% with a standard deviation of 2.42 kg (5.33 pounds) and 12.53% and a p-value < 0.001. After the cervical spine only treatment, the males had an average increase in grip strength of 4.45 kg (9.82 pounds) and 13.08% with a standard deviation of 3.92 kg (8.65 pounds) and 13.79% and p-value of < 0.001. The control group was made up of 32 people: 22 women and 10 men. It did not show a statistically significant difference in grip strength and had an average increase of 0.06 kg (0.14 pounds) and average decrease of 0.39% with a standard deviation of 5.53 lbs and 9.27% and a p-value of 0.89.
Conclusion: This study shows that manual muscle testing is a valid tool to indicate dysfunction of the cervical spine in a clinical setting and that chiropractic treatment is beneficial to the cervical spine and the upper extremities.
Reference: Marienthal J. Manual muscle testing as an indicator for dysfunction of the cervical spine and the effect of chiropractic treatment on grip strength. Asia-Pac Chiropr J. 2023;3.3 URL http://www.apcj.net/papers-issue-3-3/#MarienthalMMTCx