Effect of Thoracic Manipulation on Peripheral Muscle Oxygenation, Pain, and Disability in Office Workers With Back Pain

Office workers spend 70-85% of their time sitting at their workplaces, with an average working time of 8 hours. This prolonged inactivity can lead to serious health issues such as musculoskeletal disorders, repetitive movements, static postures, and improper body positions. Due to their limited mobility, office workers are at risk of experiencing problems with their body postures. Studies have shown that back pain is a common issue among office workers. However, thoracic spine pain between the T1-T12 vertebrae is less studied and less debilitating than cervical and lumbar pain. The most common causes of back pain are muscle tension, trauma, acute injury, strain, or poor posture. The posture, mobility, and stability of the thoracic spine are important factors in pain syndromes and degenerative changes. The success of treatment relies on understanding the anatomy and biomechanics of the spine. Research on mechanoreceptor effects is significant for manual therapy, including spinal manipulation and mobilization techniques. These therapies target intervertebral joints and affect adjacent joints and surrounding soft tissues. Chiropractic spinal manipulation, performed by professionals at the intersection of traditional and alternative medicine, has been found effective in treating back pain and reducing pain. Thoracic spinal manipulation may help relax spinal segments associated with secondary muscle spasms due to joint dysfunction. Studies have shown significant improvements in range of motion and pain in the acute period following thoracic manipulation. Spinal manipulation combined with exercise can enhance an individual's quality of life and improve pain conditions.

NIRS (near-infrared spectroscopy) has been used to measure the oxygen status of muscle tissue, demonstrating the balance between muscle oxygen delivery and tissue V̇O2. The fascial system encompassing the large muscle groups in the back can lead to muscle overload, reducing blood flow and creating myofascial adhesions. A recent study presented initial evidence that myofascial reorganization techniques could improve trapezius muscle tissue oxygenation and peripheral blood flow in patients with neck pain.

To our knowledge, there are no studies evaluating the effect of spinal manipulation on muscle oxygenation in individuals with back pain. Our research aims to contribute to the literature by examining the changes in oxygenation, pain, and disability in the upper trapezius and interscapular region and lumbar spine muscles following a single session of thoracic spinal manipulation.