Can Mobilizations Applied to the Thoracic Spine Improve Oxygen Saturation Levels and Thoracic Kyphosis in E-Cigarette Smokers?

New York Institute of Technology

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Thoracic Kyphosis

Treatments: Other: Thoracic Mobilization; Other: Light Touch Contact

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07218614

NYIT-IRB-2025-299

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this study is to determine if manual therapy can improve thoracic spinal posture and pulse oximetery in individuals who use e-cigarettes.

The main questions the study aims to answer are:

• Is there an immediate improvements in thoracic posture
• Is there immediate improvements in pulse oximetery Research will compare an experimental group and a control group to examine the effects.

Full description

All participants will be recruited from flyers posted throughout the NYIT Long Island campus. The participants will be screened for inclusion using set criteria by the PI.

In this crossover design study, participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention experimental group or sham control group. The intervention group will received a thoracic extension mobilization to the mid-thoracic spine for a duration of 60 seconds and this will be repeated for a total of three times. The sham group will received a light, non-therapeutic touch to both scapulae which will be applied for three minutes. Both interventions will be performed in a seated position. Measurements of thoracic kyphosis and oxygen saturation will be taken before and after each procedure using inclinometers and a pulse oximeter, respectively.

After a washout period of one week, the participants will be return and receive the other form of intervention that they did no receive in in the first week. All procedures and outcomes will be performed as noted above.

Enrollment: 20 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Current e-cigarette user Accentuated thoracic kyphosis (Cobb angle >20 degrees) Age range: at least 18 years old Good overall health

Exclusion criteria

History of respiratory disease Recent vertebral fractures Recent spinal surgery Vertebral instability Congenital or acquired thoracic cage deformities Prolonged steroid use Osteoporosis/osteoporosis Inability to provide informed consent

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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20 participants in 2 patient groups

Thoracic Mobilization

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention group will receive a posterior to anterior directed thoracic mobilization to the mid-thoracic spine to facilitate extension. This will be imparted for a duration of 60 seconds, and this will be repeated for a total of three times. Interventions will be performed in a seated position.

Treatment:

Other: Thoracic Mobilization

Light Touch Contact

Sham Comparator group

Description:

The sham treatment will be applied to each subject. The sham treatment of light, non-therapeutic touch will be applied to both scapulae for three minutes. Interventions will be performed in a seated position.

Treatment:

Other: Light Touch Contact