The Effect of Thoracic Spine Manipulation on Peripheral Neurodynamic Mobility

Shenandoah University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Musculoskeletal Manipulations

Treatments: Procedure: Spinal Manual Therapy; Procedure: Spinal Range of Motion

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02842918

ShenandoahU

Details and patient eligibility

About

No studies have investigated the effects of a supine thoracic spine manipulation (TSM) on neurodynamic mobility, as compared to a sham intervention. This study aims to determine the immediate effects of TSM on the Upper Limb Provocation Test (ULPT) and Seated Slump Test (SST) compared to a sham intervention in asymptomatic subjects with neurodynamic limitations.

Full description

A convenience sample will be utilized to obtain subjects. Subjects will be given a brief questionnaire to identify possible contraindications for spinal treatment techniques and exclude individuals if necessary. Subjects will be randomized into one of two groups (spinal manual therapy or spinal range of motion which will serve as the name for the placebo group) and participate in neurodynamic testing procedures of the upper extremity (Upper Limb Provocation Testing) as well as lower extremity (Seated Slump Test). Subjects who are determined to be positive for one or more limbs will receive either a thoracic spine manipulation technique (spinal manual therapy) or a thoracic spine sham manipulation technique (spinal range of motion/placebo). After application of the technique, previously positive limbs will be retested. In attempt to determine validity and believability of the sham procedure and perception of its effect, subjects will be asked if they believe their upper/lower quarter mobility will change based on the group name and after the technique is applied. Subjects will also be asked if they believed they were in the treatment or placebo group.

Enrollment: 43 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Upper Limb Provocation Test results with limitation of greater than 60 deg of elbow extension at the time of measurement
• Seated Slump Test results with limitation of greater than 22 deg of knee extension at the time of measurement

Exclusion criteria

• History of cervical or lumbar pain requiring medical intervention within the last two years, history of upper or lower extremity paresthesia/numbness, self reported bone density disorders, previous spinal cord injury, diagnosed intervertebral disc herniation, previous diagnosis of spinal stenosis or disc pathology, current pregnancy, history of circulatory or neurological disorders, history of spine and extremity fractures or dislocations in the last two years

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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43 participants in 2 patient groups

Spinal Manual Therapy

Active Comparator group

Description:

Supine thoracic spine manipulation located between the levels of T4-T7

Treatment:

Procedure: Spinal Range of Motion

Procedure: Spinal Manual Therapy

Spinal Range of Motion

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Supine thoracic spine sham manipulation located between the levels of T4-T7; identical procedure as the active treatment intervention but without the delivery of high velocity low amplitude thrust

Treatment:

Procedure: Spinal Range of Motion

Procedure: Spinal Manual Therapy