CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT04404829Updated Nov 4, 2020

Informational Manual Therapy to Improve Standing Balance

An interventional study of Manual Therapy in Balance Postural, Pain and Quality of Life, sponsored by Universitat Internacional de Catalunya. Completed at 1 site in Spain. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2020-11-04.

Sponsored by Universitat Internacional de Catalunya · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
57
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the effect of Informational Manual Therapy (IMT) on quiet standing and quality of life in healthy individuals. The IMT also is known as the Poyet-Pialoux method, is a holistic, no orthopedic, and soft manual therapy.

Design: This is a one-group pretest-posttest design. It is a within-subjects experiment in which each participant is tested first under the control condition and then under the treatment condition.

Setting: University laboratory. Intervention: One IMT session was performed on 57 healthy individuals aged from 18 to 65 years. They were grouped into three age groups. The treatment session was performed by 5 therapists on two days. The primary outcome was quite standing assessed by the SATEL force platform. Secondary outcomes were bodily pain assessed by the pain sections of the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and quality of life by EQ-5D-3L (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression). The primary outcome was evaluated before and immediately after treatment and after 7-10 days. The secondary outcomes were assessed after treatment and 3 weeks later.

Read the detailed description

Methods Study Design: The study has a one-group pretest-posttest design. The personal data of individuals were kept confidential and the data were shared anonymously upon request from the principal researcher. The TREND statement will be followed.

Subjects Fifty-seven participants will be recruited to participate in this study; the sample was one of convenience. The inclusion and exclusion criteria are as follows: age from 18 to 65 years old, not having a positive diagnosis for any disease which influences balance, no participation in any other trial, not suffering from an injury in the 3 months before the study or fractures in the previous 6 months, and no falls in the previous month. All individuals provided informed consent before enrolment.

Intervention All the participants received a single session of 30-45 min of IMT. All the treatment sessions took place at the UIC laboratory. The IMT session was performed over two days by four physiotherapists and a doctor. All have more than five years of experience in IMT treatment.

The first level of IMT was treated in this study: the objective is to harmonize the Cranio-sacral and sacro-pelvic systems, as this is fundamental for maintaining good posture. The first therapeutic maneuvers should be focused on releasing of the sacrum and the pelvis. The first is considered a key area for the correct transmission of forces and loads from the lower limbs to the upper limbs and vice versa and shares the role of rigid elements for this purpose (bones) and tensile elements (muscles, ligaments, fascia) in the whole body. At this level. Compensatory injuries that the body has started after a primary injury are treated on this level, through the Fluidic Chains. This also includes the treatment of some traumatic injuries, such as cranial strains, the compression of spheno-basilar synchondrosis, injuries of the pelvis and occipital bone, and damage to the flexion-extension and lateral displacement of the vertebrae. The diagnosis of this level is performed by cranial somotopias (reflex points on the skull and face). Practically all the treatment is carried out on the sacrum. The first step is the "fuses," which are vibration zones that act as a protection system for the body (1). These points sometimes stop working, which interrupts the correct movement of the PRM: 1st fuse: Inn-trang (on the forehead between the two eyebrows, the 4th sacral vertebra is stimulated if it is not adjusted). A massage on the scalp in several very soft circles that goes from the frontal to the occipital area is performed 6 times. 2nd fuse: 1st dorsal vertebra, 4th cervical, 4th dorsal, and 3rd lumbar. 3rd fuse: C0 (base of the occipital), a zone of the 2nd sacral vertebra, and the space between the spines of the 2nd and 3rd dorsal vertebrae and finally point R1 (between the 2nd and 3 rd metatarsal). If any point is blocked it is treated and harmonized with a soft touch towards the occipital.

02

Conditions studied

  • Balance Postural
  • Pain
  • Quality of Life

Keywords

  • balance
  • pain
  • quality of life
  • manual therapy
03

In context

Lead sponsor

Universitat Internacional de Catalunya is the lead sponsor of 144 studies on the registry; 43 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

Healthy people

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

Not having problems with balance, Not suffering from an injury in the 3 months before the study, Not suffering from a fracture in the previous 6 month before the study

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
57 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Informational Manual Therapy

    It is an integral no orthopedic and very soft manual therapy

    Other: Manual Therapy

Interventions

  • OtherManual Therapy

    The first level of IMT was treated in this study: the objective is to harmonize the cranio-sacral and sacro-pelvic systems, as this is fundamental for maintaining good posture. The first therapeutic maneuvers should be focused on releasing of the sacrum and the pelvis. The first is considered a key area for the correct transmission of forces and loads from the lower limbs to the upper limbs and vice versa and shares the role of rigid elements for this purpose (bones) and tensile elements (muscles, ligaments, fascia) in the whole body. In this level. Compensatory injuries that the body has started after a primary injury are treated on this level, through the Fluidic Chains. The diagnosis of this level is performed by cranial somotopias. Practically all the treatment is carried out on the sacrum. The first step are the "fuses," which are vibration zones which act as a protection system for the body. These points sometimes stop working, which interrupts the correct movement of the PRM.

    Also known as: Poyet-Pialoux method

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. static standing posture

    It was assessed using the force platform Satel 40 Hz model PF2002, software v 33.5 8C (France).

    Time frame: baseline, pre-intervention

  2. static standing posture

    It was assessed using the force platform Satel 40 Hz model PF2002, software v 33.5 8C (France).

    Time frame: immediately after the intervention

Secondary outcomes

  1. How much bodily pain have you had during the past 4 weeks?

    by the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). 1 - None,2 - Very mild,3 - Mild, 4 - Moderate, 5 - Severe, - 6 very severe

    Time frame: baseline, pre-intervention

  2. How much bodily pain have you had during the past 4 weeks?

    by the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). 1 - None,2 - Very mild,3 - Mild, 4 - Moderate, 5 - Severe, - 6 very severe

    Time frame: three weeks, post-intervention

  3. During the past 4 weeks, how much did pain interfere with your normal work (including both work outside the home and housework)?

    by the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). 1 - Not at all, 2 - A little bit, 3 - Moderately, 4 - Quite a bit, 5 - Extremely

    Time frame: baseline, pre-intervention

  4. During the past 4 weeks, how much did pain interfere with your normal work (including both work outside the home and housework)?

    by the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). 1 - Not at all, 2 - A little bit, 3 - Moderately, 4 - Quite a bit, 5 - Extremely

    Time frame: three weeks after treatment

  5. mobility

    by the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. Each dimension has 3 levels: no problems, some problems, and extreme problems

    Time frame: baseline, pre-intervention

  6. mobility

    by the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire.Each dimension has 3 levels: no problems, some problems, and extreme problems

    Time frame: three weeks post-intervention

  7. self-care

    by the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. Each dimension has 3 levels: no problems, some problems, and extreme problems

    Time frame: baseline, pre-intervention

  8. self-care

    by the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire.Each dimension has 3 levels: no problems, some problems, and extreme problems

    Time frame: three weeks post-intervention

  9. usual activities

    by the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. Each dimension has 3 levels: no problems, some problems, and extreme problems

    Time frame: baseline, pre-intervention

  10. usual activities

    by the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. Each dimension has 3 levels: no problems, some problems, and extreme problems

    Time frame: three weeks post-intervention

  11. pain/discomfort

    by the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. Each dimension has 3 levels: no problems, some problems, and extreme problems

    Time frame: baseline, pre-intervention

  12. pain/discomfort

    by the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. Each dimension has 3 levels: no problems, some problems, and extreme problems

    Time frame: three weeks post-intervention

  13. anxiety/depression

    by the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. Each dimension has 3 levels: no problems, some problems, and extreme problems

    Time frame: baseline, pre-intervention

  14. anxiety/depression

    by the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. Each dimension has 3 levels: no problems, some problems, and extreme problems

    Time frame: three weeks post-intervention

  15. visual analogue scale for health

    by the EQ-VAS, ranging from 0 ("worst possible") to 100 ("best possible").

    Time frame: baseline, pre-intervention

  16. visual analogue scale for health

    by the EQ-VAS, ranging from 0 ("worst possible") to 100 ("best possible").

    Time frame: three weeks post-intervention

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
    Barcelona, Catalonia 08195, Spain
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Bordoni B, Zanier E. Sutherland's legacy in the new millennium: the osteopathic cranial model and modern osteopathy. Adv Mind Body Med. 2015 Spring;29(2):15-21. PubMed 25831430 ↗
  • Tseui JJ. Eastern and western approaches to medicine. West J Med. 1978 Jun;128(6):551-7. PubMed 664653 ↗
  • Liem T, Neuhuber W. Osteopathic Treatment Approach to Psychoemotional Trauma by Means of Bifocal Integration. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2020 Mar 1;120(3):180-189. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2020.021. PubMed 32091561 ↗
  • Lee RP. The living matrix: a model for the primary respiratory mechanism. Explore (NY). 2008 Nov-Dec;4(6):374-8. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2008.08.003. PubMed 18984549 ↗
  • Frymann VM. A study of the rhythmic motions of the living cranium. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1971 May;70(9):928-45. No abstract available. PubMed 5207590 ↗
  • Ballester-Rodes M, Carreras-Costa F, Versyp-Ducaju T, Ballester-Rodes M, Mehta D. Field dynamics in atrioventricular activation. Clinical evidence of a specific field-to-protein interaction. Med Hypotheses. 2019 Mar;124:56-59. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2019.02.012. Epub 2019 Feb 2. PubMed 30798917 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — There is not any plan

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 4, 2020, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04404829
Lead sponsor
Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Responsible party
Rosa Cabanas Valdés (Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya) — Principal investigator
First posted
May 28, 2020
Start date
May 1, 2020
Primary completion
May 22, 2020
Completion
Jun 15, 2020
Last update
Nov 4, 2020

Study contacts

Rosa Cabanas Valdés, PhD
principal investigator · Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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