The effectiveness of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) versus Graston therapy (GT) in the treatment of non-specific thoracic pain: A randomised controlled trial

Not Applicable

• Conditions: on specific Thoracic Pain; Non specific Thoracic Pain; Alternative and Complementary Medicine - Other alternative and complementary medicine

• Registration Number: ACTRN12608000070336
• Lead Sponsor: Bruce Walker

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Start: 2008-02-07
• Last Update Posted: 13 January 2020

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ot yet recruiting
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 100

Inclusion Criteria

Primary complaint of thoracic spine pain from T1-12
- Duration of pain for three months or less
- A VAS score of 3 out of 10or greater and an Oswestry Back Pain Disability index score of greater than 30% at baseline
- Only patients who received a diagnosis of non specific thoracic pain from the screening clinician will be accepted into the study. Diagnosis will be made by questioning and examining the participant. The descriptive classification by Triano et al (1980) will be used to diagnose non specific thoracic spine pain (Midline back pain, Non dermatomal referred pain difficult to localise, No signs of nerve root tension, No major neurological deficit, Pain with compression over the thoracic spine into spine extension. Reduced range of motion)
- Radiographs will be taken when deemed necessary to exclude patients with contraindications to manipulation or other complicating disease, as described in the exclusion criteria. This decision will be based on the criteria set by the National Health and Medical Research Council for Acute Thoracic (AAMPGG, 2003)
- Patients will be accepted into the study if they are able to comply with the treatment protocol

Exclusion Criteria

- Are aged less than 18 years
- Pregnant Females
- Have contraindication to manual therapy (inclusive of severe osteoporosis, thoracic fractures, spinal infection, neoplastic disorders, spondyloarthropathy, disc protrusion or generalised infection, i.e. anyone with a temperature greater than 37.5 degrees Celsius)
- Have contraindications to Graston therapy (Cancer, Kidney infection, Anti-coagulant Medication, Rheumatoid arthritis, Uncontrolled hypertension, Unhealed fracture, Inflammatory conditions due to infection, Osteomyelitis)
- Have somatic conditions found on examination to refer pain to the thoracic spine from outside the defined area (inclusive of cervical zygapophyseal joints, muscles and discs)
- Have an active history of visceral conditions referring pain to the thoracic spine (inclusive of myocardial ischaemia, dissecting thoracic aortic aneurysm, peptic ulcer, acute cholecystitis, pancreatitis, renal colic, acute pyelonephritis)
- Current and known substance abuse
- Are not fluent and/ or literate in the English language
- Are currently receiving care for thoracic pain from any other provider
- Cannot commit to full study protocol
- Are currently seeking compensation or have commenced litigation for thoracic spine pain

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Oswestry Back pain Disability Index (ODI) - participants must have an index score of greater than 30% at baseline[ODI: Baseline, one week after treatment commences, upon completetion of the 4 week intervention period and at 3, 6, 12 months post randomisation];Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)- participants must have a score of 3 or greater out of 10[VAS - Baseline, one week after treatment commences, upon completetion of the 4 week intervention period and at 3, 6, 12 months post randomisation]

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
36-item short form health survey (SF-36) - sociodemographic information such as age, sex, racial ethnicity, education, employment, maritall status and income[SF-36 to be taken at baseline]