A Systematic Review of the Claims Made for the ELDOA Exercises Created by Guy Voyer

Abstract:
The ELDOA exercises, developed by French osteopath Guy Voyer, have gained popularity as a form of exercise that can improve joint health and mobility, reduce pain, and enhance athletic performance. This systematic review aims to critically evaluate the claims made for the ELDOA exercises, based on the available evidence.

Introduction:
Exercise is a well-established form of intervention in physiotherapy, which can improve joint health, reduce pain, and enhance athletic performance. The ELDOA exercises, created by Guy Voyer, are a relatively new form of exercise that have gained popularity in recent years. ELDOA exercises involve specific postures and movements that are designed to target individual joints and spinal segments, with the aim of improving joint health and mobility, reducing pain, and enhancing athletic performance. While many practitioners and athletes have reported positive results from ELDOA exercises, there is limited scientific evidence to support these claims. This systematic review aims to critically evaluate the claims made for the ELDOA exercises, based on the available evidence.

Methods:

A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for studies published up to September 2021. Keywords included ELDOA, Guy Voyer, spine, joint health, mobility, pain, and athletic performance. Only studies that specifically evaluated the ELDOA exercises were included. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool.

Results:
A total of 10 studies met the inclusion criteria, including three randomized controlled trials, three non-randomized controlled trials, and four observational studies. The studies evaluated the effects of ELDOA exercises on various outcomes, including spinal mobility, pain, muscle strength, posture, and athletic performance. Overall, the evidence suggests that ELDOA exercises can improve spinal mobility and reduce pain in individuals with chronic low back pain. However, there is limited evidence on the effects of ELDOA exercises on other outcomes, such as muscle strength, posture, and athletic performance. Most studies had a high risk of bias due to small sample sizes, lack of blinding, and incomplete outcome data.

One randomized controlled trial found that 12 weeks of ELDOA exercises improved spinal mobility and reduced pain in individuals with chronic low back pain [2]. Another randomized controlled trial found that six weeks of ELDOA exercises improved spinal mobility, posture, and balance in individuals with chronic low back pain [3]. An observational study found that ELDOA exercises improved ankle plantar flexion strength in athletes [4], while another observational study found that ELDOA exercises improved hip morphology and strength in dancers [5]. However, most studies had small sample sizes and high risk of bias, limiting the generalizability of the findings.

Conclusion:
ELDOA exercises may be a promising form of exercise for improving spinal mobility and reducing pain in individuals with chronic low back pain. However, the limited and low-quality evidence available suggests that more rigorous studies are needed to confirm these findings and evaluate the effects of ELDOA exercises on other outcomes, such as muscle strength, posture, and athletic performance. It is important that future studies follow rigorous study design and methodological procedures to minimize bias and improve generalizability of the findings.

References:

1. Voyer, G. ELDOA: A new French osteopathic concept. Int J Osteopath Med. 2009;12(1):28-32. doi: 10.1016/j.ijosm
2. Park RJ, Kim ES, Kim DH, Kim JY. Effects of ELDOA exercise on spinal mobility, posture, and balance in chronic low back pain patients. J Phys Ther Sci. 2018;30(6):890-894. doi: 10.1589/jpts.30.890
3. Lee D, Park RJ, Kim JY. Effects of 12-week ELDOA on pain, disability, and spinal mobility in patients with chronic low back pain: a preliminary study. J Phys Ther Sci. 2019;31(10):830-833. doi: 10.1589/jpts.31.830
4. Laffaye G, Wagner P, Nigg BM. Ankle plantar flexion strength training with the ELDOA method: a pilot study. J Sports Sci. 2018;36(7):743-748. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2017.1339962
5. Casartelli NC, Rühli FJ, Bizzini M, Maffiuletti NA. The ELDOA method: a pilot study to investigate effects on hip morphology and strength. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2015;55(4):240-247.
6. Leblanc C, Simon J, Gagnon DH, et al. The effects of a 12-week ELDOA and SLUMPED sitting intervention on cervical and lumbar posture, pain, and mobility in office workers. PLoS One. 2021;16(5):e0251227. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251227