Improved Femoroacetabular Range of Motion in Runners Following the Spencer Technique for the Hip: A Secondary...

The Spencer technique of the hip is an osteopathic manipulative technique used to treat somatic dysfunction and increase hip range of motion (ROM), including flexion, extension, internal rotation, external rotation, abduction, and adduction. The application of this osteopathic manipulative technique in runners versus non-runners to assess potential differences in improvements of femoroacetabular ROM has not been clinically investigated in existing literature.

The goal of this research was to determine if the application of the Spencer technique of the hip improves femoroacetabular ROM in runners compared to non-runners.

In this retrospective analysis of results from a randomized controlled trial, the effects of the Spencer technique on the hip were investigated in nine runners and eleven non-runners (n = 20). The Spencer technique of the hip was performed on all participants twice per week for four weeks. Participants were retrospectively categorized into either "runners" or "non-runners" groups based on self-reported exercise habits during the treatment period. "Runners" self-reported running a ten-minute mile, or faster, on at least two days per week for at least two of the four weeks investigated, whereas those in the "non-runners" group did not report exercising to this threshold. Before and after the four-week treatment period, goniometer ROM measurements were recorded. Using averaged bilateral data, the average percent change over the four weeks for each motion was compared between the two groups using a two-sample, two-tailed t-test.

One significant difference was found comparing the average percentage change of hip internal rotation over four weeks of treatment in runners (+31.7% ± 29.8) compared to non-runners (-8.6% ± 17.8) for a difference of 40.3% (95% CI: (15.40, 65.20), p = 0.001). The average percent change over the four weeks for all other motions (flexion, extension, external rotation, abduction, and adduction) when compared between groups demonstrated no significant difference (p > 0.05).

The results obtained in this study indicate that exercise programs that rely more on aerobic training may play a significant role in the impact of the Spencer technique therapy on the femoroacetabular joint, specifically in internal rotation. These findings are limited by a small sample size (n = 20) and restricted participant demographics (strictly medical students aged 21-30), creating the need for samples of larger quantity and greater diversity in future studies of this topic. These findings may help osteopathic physicians more effectively utilize the Spencer technique when treating their diverse patient populations with varying aerobic exercise habits.