Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40067264›Full record

Trial reportThe Journal of manual & manipulative therapy2025

Evaluation of lumbar segmental motion using ultrasound imaging following common joint mobilization techniques.

Nathan J Savage, Katelyn George, Evante Gibson, Kayleigh Taylor

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. A Pilot Study of a Synchronous Virtual Ultrasound Imaging Module for Physiotherapy Education.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy · 2026
    Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Nathan J SavageDepartment of Physical Therapy, Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-7819-7398
Katelyn GeorgeDepartment of Physical Therapy, Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
Evante GibsonDepartment of Physical Therapy, Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
Kayleigh TaylorDepartment of Physical Therapy, Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesSpinal mobility is clinically important in managing mechanical low back pain. Manual methods are commonly used for diagnosis and treatment in orthopedic practice. This study quantified changes in sagittal plane lumbar segmental motion using ultrasound imaging (USI) following common joint mobilization techniques in asymptomatic individuals. Additionally, tibial H-reflexes and sagittal plane trunk motion in standing were evaluated for association with lumbar segmental motion.Participants aged ≤ 30 or ≥ 50 years were recruited from among students, faculty, and affiliates of the Department of Physical Therapy at Winston-Salem State University and randomized to receive L4 central posterior-to-anterior (CPA) mobilization or left lumbar rotation mobilization interventions. Joint laxity was assessed using the Beighton score, and standing sagittal plane trunk motion was measured using the fingertip-to-floor method. Lumbar segmental motion was evaluated using USI in neutral, extension, and flexion positions at baseline, immediately following joint mobilization, and following 5 minutes of prone resting. Tibial H-reflexes were measured at baseline, immediately following joint mobilization, and in real-time during CPA mobilization. The primary outcome was lumbar segmental motion analyzed by position, mobilization group, sex, age category, and Beighton risk.

resultsRepeated measures ANOVA revealed significant increases in L4/5 flexion ( DISCUSSION/

conclusionSignificant increases were observed in L4/5 flexion immediately following joint mobilization regardless of mobilization group, with significant statistical interactions observed between segmental motion, sex, and/or Beighton risk. This is the first investigation to demonstrate the value of USI for quantifying lumbar segmental motion following joint mobilization. Quantifying lumbar segmental motion helps clarify the underlying mechanisms of manual therapy. Future studies should include patients with low back pain.

Indexed as

Low Back PainLumbar VertebraeManipulation, SpinalRange of Motion, ArticularAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedUltrasonographyYoung AdultJoint mobilizationlow back painmanual therapysegmental motionsonographyspinal mobilitytibial H-reflexultrasound imaging

Identifiers

PMID40067264
PMCPMC12281658

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.