SPINAL DISPLACEMENT DURING THORACIC SPINAL MANIPULATIVE THERAPY

Abstract

Background: Vertebrae are linked together with facet and intervertebral joints. The application of a force to a spinal segment therefore impact adjacent areas of the spine. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the posteroanterior (PA) displacement of the thoracocervical spine during the application of thoracic PA mobilization. Methods: Forty-one healthy males were recruited. The participants were asked to lie prone and hold their breath at the end of normal expiration while a therapist applied a grade III of central PA mobilization to the T6 spinous process for 30[Formula: see text]s. The PA spinal displacements of C3, C5, C7, T2, T4 and T6 were investigated using a motion capture system. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used to analyze the PA spinal displacement and correlation between PA spinal displacement at T6 and the PA displacement of the thoracocervical spines, respectively. Results: The PA displacement of the T6 and the PA displacement of the marked spines (T4, T1, C7, C5 and C3) correlated well with [Formula: see text] being 0.83, 0.69, 0.63, 0.63 and 0.54 ([Formula: see text]), respectively. A trend toward a decrease in spinal displacement was noted when the distance from T6 spine increased. It showed that the mobilization force could be transferred from the local area to an adjacent area. Conclusions: These findings may provide plausible evidence that can explain the mechanism of how thoracic spinal manipulative therapy affects neck pain reduction.