Immediate Effects of Upper Thoracic Manipulation on Skin Surface Temperature of T3 Vertebral Region and Biceps Brachii Muscle

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Myofascial Dysfunction
• Interventions: Other: Manipulation sham; Other: Spine manipulation

• Registration Number: NCT01872676
• Lead Sponsor: Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba

Brief Summary

The aim of the present study was to assess the immediate effects of upper thoracic manipulation on skin surface temperature in the region of the T3 vertebra and biceps brachii muscle in healthy women. It is a randomized controlled blind study. Twenty-six healthy women of the university community were randomly allocated to an experimental group (n = 13) and a placebo group (n = 13). A single session of the upper thoracic spine manipulation (segment T3)was performed. Infrared thermography was used to determine changes in skin surface temperature in the region of T3 and the biceps brachii muscle, which would indirectly reflect sympathetic activity. Images were taken prior to manipulation, immediately after and both five and 10 minutes after manipulation. Repeated measures ANOVA with the post hoc Bonferroni test and the independent samples t-test were used for the intragroup and intergroup comparisons, respectively, with the level of significance set to 5%.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2011-01
• Primary Completion: 2012-01
• Study Completion: 2012-12
• Status Verified: 2013-06
• Study First Submitted: 2013-06-04
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-06-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2013-06-04
• Study First Posted: 2013-06-07
• Last Update Posted: 2013-06-07

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 26

Inclusion Criteria

• Healthy women
• 18 and 30 years of age

Exclusion Criteria

• use of vasoactive medication
• body mass index greater than 25 kg/m2
• having undergone spinal manipulation in previous month
• and any red flag sign, such as malignant tumor, inflammatory or infectious disease that contraindicated manual therapy

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Sham	Manipulation sham	The placebo group was placed precisely as the experimental group, with the exception of the positioning of the therapist's hand, which remained with the palm open and not in a pistol grip. Once positioned, the volunteers were instructed to breathe deeply. The maneuver was terminated after one cycle of deep breathing.
Manipulation	Spine manipulation	The experimental group received upper thoracic manipulation of the T3 vertebra. The volunteer was instructed to lie in the supine position, interlace her fingers and position her hands in the posterior region of the base of the neck. The therapist than positioned a stabilizing hand in a pistol grip immediately caudal to the T3 vertebra, pushing the volunteer's arms downward to generate flexion of the upper thoracic spine.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Skin temperature	1 years	Infrared thermography was used to determine changes in skin surface temperature in the region of T3 and the biceps brachii muscle, which would indirectly reflect sympathetic activity. Images were taken prior to manipulation, immediately after and both five and 10 minutes after manipulation.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Methodist University of Piracicaba; 🇧🇷 Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil