The Effects of Thoracic Spine Mobilizations in Individuals With Neck Pain. (THSPMOBS)

Chatham University

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Neck Pain

Treatments: Other: Mobilization Type

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02356380

ChathamU

Details and patient eligibility

About

To determine the affects of Physical Therapists clinical reasoning using thoracic spine mobilization for neck pain compared to a standard protocol.

Full description

The purpose of this research is to compare the effects of two commonly used, safe, thoracic spine treatments: grade 1-4 as performed by Cleland et. al. and grade 1-4 mobilization to the thoracic spine as selected by the Physical Therapist for cervical spine pain. The immediate effects of thoracic spine mobilization have been shown to facilitate greater range of motion increases in the cervical spine and greater pain decreases within a treatment session and on follow-up visits. There is no research utilizing pain threshold perception as an objective outcome of these treatments. Only one study compared the two treatment techniques and concluded that future research should be completed which includes manual therapy for the thoracic spine. (Cleland 2007) If the PT identifies an appropriate patient they will ask if they are interested in being a research subject. The Physical Theapist recruiting subjects all have completed their Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree and have advanced training in manual Physical Therapy. The techniques employed are considered standard practice and are defined as entry level skills by the Comission of Accredicdation of Physical Therapy Programs. These techniques are typically taught in DPT degree programs.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with Neck Pain
• Ages 18 - 60

Exclusion criteria

• Red flags: leg weakness, night pain, history of cancer, upper motor neuron signs, infection, tumors, osteoporosis, fracture (Boissonnault, 2011) (Cleland, 2004), cervical stenosis, CNS involvement, signs consistent with nerve root compression, previous surgery, pending legal action

The inclusion and exclusion above represent a conservative approach based on combining criteria of recent studies in published review articles. (Cross, 2011; Walser, 2009

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

60 participants in 1 patient group

Mobilization

Experimental group

Description:

Group One: Mobilization Group: this group will receive grade 1,2,3,or 4 mobilization in prone based on the PT's clinical judgement. The treatment parameters will be recorded. Group Two: Grade 3-4 mobilization group: this group will receive a grade 3-4 mobilization, for 30 seconds form the first through sixth thoracic vertebrae.

Treatment:

Other: Mobilization Type