Dr. Snow’s Chiropractic and Jiu-Jitsu: Effect of Cervical Spine Manipulative Therapy on Judo Athletes' Grip Strength

Abstract: 

Objective

The objective of this study was to perform an investigation evaluating if cervical spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) can increase grip strength on judo athletes in a top 10 national-ranked team.

Methods

A single-blinded, prospective, comparative, pilot, randomized, clinical trial was performed with 18 athletes of both sexes from a judo team currently competing on a national level. The athletes were randomly assigned to 2 groups: chiropractic SMT and sham. Three interventions were performed on each of the athletes at different time points. Force measurements were obtained by a hydraulic dynamometer immediately before and after each intervention at the same period before training up to 3 weeks with at least 36 hours between interventions.

Results

Analysis of grip strength data revealed a statistically significant increase in strength within the treatment group after the first intervention (6.95% right, 12.61% left) as compared with the second (11.53% right, 17.02% left) and the third interventions (10.53% right, 16.81% left). No statistically significant differences were found in grip strength comparison within the sham group. Overall differences in strength were consistently significant between the study groups (P = .0025).

Conclusion

The present study suggests that the grip strength of national level judo athletes receiving chiropractic SMT improved compared to those receiving sham.

Key Indexing Terms: Martial Arts, Manipulation, Spinal, Chiropractic, Athletic Performance