Research into manipulative therapy is still in its relative infancy but there are some interesting studies out there. This list is of course by no means exhaustive but may get you started if this is an area you want to investigate.
Effectiveness of manual therapies: the UK evidence report, Chiropractic & Osteopathy 2010, 18:3 Gert Bronfort, Mitch Haas, Roni Evans, Brent Leininger & Jay Triano.
The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: www.chiroandosteo.com
Commentary on the United Kingdom evidence report about the effectiveness of manual therapies, Scott Haldeman and Martin Underwood
The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: www.chiroandosteo.com/
Warm-up and stretching in the prevention of muscular injury, Sports Med. 2007;37(12):1089-99. Review, Woods K, Bishop P, Jones E.
United Kingdom back pain exercise and manipulation (UK BEAM) randomised trial: effectiveness of physical treatments for back pain in primary care BMJ 2004;329:1377
Can be found electronically at: www.bmj.com
Effects of a stretching regime on stride length and range of motion in equine trot, The Veterinary Journal, Volume 181, Issue 1, July 2009, Pages 53-55 Natasha S. Rose, Alison J. Northrop, Charlotte V. Brigden and Jaime H. Martin
Effects of vertebral mobilization and manipulation on kinematics of the thoracolumbar region, American Journal of Veterinary Research, May 2007, Vol. 68, No. 5, Pages 508-516, Kevin K. Haussler, Ashley E. Hill, Christian M. Puttlitz, C. Wayne McIlwraith
Advances in Motion Analysis,Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice-Vol 7, No.2 Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine: Clayton, H (1991)
Effects of manipulative therapy on the longissimus dorsi in the equine back. Equine and Comparative Exercise Physiology ,3 , pp 153-160, James M Wakeling, Kate Barnett, Sarah Price and Kathryn Nankervis (2006).