A Comparison of Seated Thoracic Manipulation and Targeted Supine Thoracic Manipulation on Cervical Flexion Motion and Pain

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Neck Pain
• Interventions: Other: seated thoracic manipulation; Other: supine specific thoracic spine manipulation

• Registration Number: NCT01938209
• Lead Sponsor: Chatham University

Brief Summary

Thirty-nine patients with cervical spine pain were randomly assigned to either a seated thoracic manipulation or targeted supine thoracic manipulation group. Pain and flexion range of motion measures were taken before and after the intervention.

Detailed Description

DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of seated thoracic manipulation versus targeted supine thoracic manipulation on cervical spine pain and flexion range of motion. There is evidence that thoracic spine manipulation is an effective treatment for patients with cervical spine pain. This evidence includes a variety of techniques to manipulate the thoracic spine. While each of them is effective, no research has compared techniques to determine which produces the best outcomes.

METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with cervical spine pain were randomly assigned to either a seated thoracic manipulation or targeted supine thoracic manipulation group. Pain and flexion range of motion measures were taken before and after the intervention.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2011-09
• Primary Completion: 2012-10
• Study Completion: 2012-10
• Status Verified: 2013-09
• Study First Submitted: 2013-09-03
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-09-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2013-09-09
• Study First Posted: 2013-09-10
• Last Update Posted: 2013-09-10

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 39

Inclusion Criteria

• Inclusion criteria required patients to be between 18-60 years old with a primary complaint of neck pain

Exclusion Criteria

• identification of red flags suggestive of nonmusculoskeletal etiology, history of whiplash injury within six weeks of the initial visit, diagnosis of cervical spine stenosis, central nervous system involvement, or signs of nerve root compression (two of the following limited at the same level: strength, sensation, reflexes).

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
seated general thoracic spine manipulation	seated thoracic manipulation	seated general thoracic spine manipulation
supine specific thoracic spine manipulation	supine specific thoracic spine manipulation	Specific supine manipulation

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
neck pain	pain measure taken immediately on first visit	As measured by patient response at end range of flexion on a scale of 0 - 10.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
neck range of motion	range of motion assessed immediately in first visit	As measure using a bubble goniometer, shich has been shown to be valid and reliable.